Perspective

Israel’s declaration of independence on May 14, 1948, was quickly recognized by the United States, the former Soviet Union and many other governments, fulfilling the dream of an internationally approved Jewish state. 

It has been uphill for Israel ever since. Immediately neither the United Nations nor other world leaders could keep Israel from a quick onslaught invasion by the armies of the five Arabic nations of Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria and Transjordan (now Jordan), and within a few days the state’s survival appeared to be at stake. The Arab invaders by far outnumbered the Israelis, which fielded only a few well-trained units. Against all odds, because of the will of Israel to survive, they have remained despite the conflicts with their neighbors. 

Since their declaration in 1948, Israel fought against the Palestinian Fedayeen insurgency, which was an armed cross-border conflict backed by Egypt, and peaked between 1949 and 1956. There was the Suez crisis of October 1956, the 6-Day War of June 1967 with neighboring Egypt, Jordan and Syria, while the nations of Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Algeria and others also contributed troops and arms to the Arab forces. Following the war, Israel significantly increased its territory to include the West Bank which included East Jerusalem from Jordan, the Golan Heights from Syria, and the Sinai and Gaza from Egypt.

Then came the Yom Kippur War of October 1973. The war began with a surprise joint attack by Egypt and Syria on the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur or Atonement. Egypt and Syria crossed the cease-fire lines in the Sinai and Golan Heights. Israel defeated the Arab forces, and there were no significant territorial changes.

There have been ongoing conflicts with the same character nations nonstop year by year as Israel fights for its survival. Some nations have softened their position against Israel, but the animosities and bitterness against what they consider to be an illegal state, are still there. They would like to blot Israel out and push them into the Mediterranean Sea.

All Nations Destroyed Which Come Against Jerusalem

The prophet Zechariah gave a prophecy about end-time Jerusalem: “And it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it” (Zechariah 12:3).

The Arabic nations and many other nations of this world would like to see Israel blotted out and pushed into the Mediterranean Sea. Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Yemen do not recognize Israel as a state. As well, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan do not recognize Israel as a state. 

Saudi Arabia has had close ties with the United States, but seem to be moving away from the friendship the two countries have enjoyed. An even more concerning move on the part of the Saudis, haaretz.com reported on May 10, 2023: “Saudi Arabia has invited Syrian President Bashar Assad to the upcoming Arab League summit in the oil-rich kingdom, the Syrian president's office said on Wednesday. The news comes as Damascus continues to slowly return to the Arab fold, following a 12-year-period of political isolation.”

Old alliances, perhaps seeing the weakness of the United States shown with the awful withdrawal from Afghanistan, do not see the U.S. as the powerhouse it used to be. Is it possible they intend to band together to bring about the destruction of Israel? It certainly is what they hope will happen eventually.

Jesus Christ gave us a warning sign of the end of the age: “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled” (Luke 21:20-22).

Jewish and Modern Nations of Israel Taken Captive

When the final assault on Israel begins, it will be the time when all will be fulfilled. Jesus goes on to say: “But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled” (Luke 21:23-24).

This indicates that many of the Jewish people will be slaughtered and those remaining will also enter a captivity, just as we believe the modern Israelite nations of U.S., Britain, and others will go into a captivity into other nations. Our booklet, "The United States and Britain in Bible Prophecy," explains this very well. Gentile (non-Israelite) nations will dominate the world prior to the return of Jesus Christ, and Jerusalem will be under the control of Muslim nations.

These events will culminate when all life could be blotted out, and it will be a time when God will take vengeance on all the nations who were so cruel against modern Israel. 

The events could yet be several years off, but we need to carefully watch our spiritual condition so we are not caught unprepared for what could come sooner than we think. Events are coming together before our eyes, but most are blind and do not notice. It behooves us to make sure we are wisely keeping our spiritual lamps filled with oil (Matthew 25:1-13).

This is my Perspective of these times and this edition of the Prophetic Times follows below: 

Prophetic Times

France insists on China’s role for peace in Ukraine

May 11, 2023 spacewar.com reported:

France said Wednesday that China had an important role to play for ‘global peace and stability’ as Beijing seeks to mediate in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang is visiting Germany, France and Norway this week, and met his French counterpart Catherine Colonna in Paris on Wednesday.

‘We know the importance of China’s role on the world stage and the importance of the role it can play for global peace and stability,’ Colonna told Qin at the start of their meeting. China should work ‘to convince Russia to return to fully respecting’ the UN Charter, she added, before a scheduled dinner with Qin at the French foreign ministry.

Colonna had earlier told a cabinet meeting that Beijing should urge Russia to ‘return to peace’, according to a post-cabinet press briefing.

‘It is necessary for China to use its relations with Russia to make Russia understand better that it is at an impasse, and to tell Russia to come back to its senses,’ she said.

The request comes after French President Emmanuel Macron visited China last month and sparked controversy by saying Europe should not be a ‘follower’ of either Washington or Beijing or get caught up in any escalation over the future of Taiwan.

Netanyahu after barrage of 270 rockets: We’re ready for extended campaign 

May 11, 2023 israelnationalnews.com reported:

Terrorists operating out of the Gaza Strip launched about 270 rockets towards central and southern Israel in Wednesday afternoon, including over 100 rockets in the space of one hour.

Rocket launch warning sirens were sounded Wednesday afternoon from the Gaza frontier to as far north as Rishon Letzion, Tel Aviv and Ramat Gan. Sirens were first reported in Sderot and nearby towns, with sirens reported minutes later in Ashkelon, Ashdod, and Lachish. Half an hour later, sirens were also reported in the Tel Aviv area…In response, Israeli forces bombed Islamic Jihad rocket launchers and mortar positions in the Gaza Strip, an IDF spokesperson said.

‘The IDF targeted rocket and mortar shell launch sites belonging to the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization along the Gaza Strip.’… Following the rocket attacks, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke to municipal leaders in the south by phone and told them: ‘We are ready for the possibility of an expanded campaign and harsh strikes against Gaza.’

Iran pressures Hamas to join response against Israel

May 10, 2023 Ynetnew.com reported:

Following the launch of Operation Shield and Arrow on Tuesday in which Israel killed 3 Palestinian Islamic Jihad Commanders in a series of attacks in the Gaza Strip, Iran is exerting ‘heavy pressure’ on Hamas to respond, according to Iran International, a news outlet associated with the Iranian opposition.

Meanwhile, preparations continue in Israel for an expected response from the Islamic Jihad for the targeted killing of the organization’s top three operatives overnight.

Initially, it was believed that the terrorist organization would respond immediately with rocket fire toward Israel. However, recent updates suggest that the response will likely take place later on Tuesday.

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant also instructed the military to be ready to strike at any Palestinian group preparing to launch rockets at Israel.

Saudi King Invite's Syrian President Assad to Attend Arab League Summit Amid Normalization Push

May 10, 2023 haaretz.com reported:

Saudi Arabia has invited Syrian President Bashar Assad to the upcoming Arab League summit in the oil-rich kingdom, the Syrian president's office said on Wednesday. The news comes as Damascus continues to slowly return to the Arab fold, following a 12-year-period of political isolation.

Assad received the invitation days after the Arab League restored Syria's membership into the organization during a meeting in Cairo on Sunday. Syria's membership was suspended for brutally cracking down on mass protests against Assad in 2011. Since then, the uprising turned into a vicious civil war that killed nearly a half million people and displaced half of the country’s pre-war population of 23 million.

Japan PM Visits Seoul to Forge Closer Ties Amid North Korea Threats

May 9, 2023 voanews.com reported:

Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visits Seoul Sunday to meet South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, facing a skeptical public there as the leaders seek deeper ties amid nuclear threats from North Korea and China’s increasing assertiveness.
Kishida’s bilateral visit, the first by a Japanese leader to Seoul in 12 years, returns the trip Yoon made to Tokyo in March, where they sought to close a chapter on the historical disputes that have dominated Japan-South Korea relations for years.

Yoon is facing criticism at home that he has given more than he’s received in his efforts to improve relations with Japan, including by proposing South Korean businesses — not Japanese companies as ordered by a court — compensate victims of wartime labor during Japan’s 1910-1945 colonial occupation.

After School Satan Clubs gain popularity amid legal victories 

May 9, 2023 thehill.com reported:

After School Satan Clubs have been steadily increasing in popularity and are not likely to slow as their supporters rack up media attention and legal wins fighting for free speech. 

The clubs, associated with the Satanic Temple and offered only in primary schools, began at the beginning of 2020 and quickly gained attention from parents who wanted an alternative to religious clubs, according to June Everett, campaign director of the After School Satan Club.

“That’s kind of when things started blowing up. And I anticipate that every year moving forward is going to get busier and busier,” Everett told The Hill. 

Last Monday, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania ruled in favor of the Satanic Temple and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which sued when a Northampton County school district would not allow the club to meet on its grounds.

Iran urges West not to ‘procrastinate’ over nuclear deal revival 

May 9, 2023 spacewar.com reported:

Iran on Monday said it is possible to salvage an agreement on reviving its nuclear deal if Western parties, particularly the US, put an end to repeated delays. It comes five years after the US withdrew from a 2015 nuclear deal that gave Iran relief from international sanctions in return for curbs on its nuclear programme.

An agreement ‘is possible both in term of the technical and political aspects’, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani said. He charged that ‘the other sides, especially the US, have procrastinated’ on reviving the deal, while expressing hopes that they would show ‘political determination’ for a committed return to its implementation.

Exactly five years ago, then US president Donald Trump unilaterally pulled out of the deal and reimposed sanctions on Iran, prompting Tehran to walk back on its commitments that were intended to prevent it from developing a nuclear weapon — an aim Iran has always denied having.

White House summons tech giants over AI dangers

May 5, 2023 spacewar.com reported:

The White House on Thursday summoned the CEOs of US tech giants to strategize about the dangers of artificial intelligence, afraid that companies are running blindly into a technology that could pose serious harms to society. Vice President Kamala Harris and other administration officials will discuss ways to ensure consumers benefit from AI while being protected from its dangers.

US President Joe Biden has urged Congress to pass laws getting stricter limits on the tech sector, but these efforts have little chance of making headway given political divisions. The lack of rules has given Silicon Valley freedom to put out new products rapidly — and stoked fears that AI technologies will wreak havoc on society before the government can catch up.
The White House was meeting with chief executives from Google, Microsoft, OpenAI and Anthropic on Thursday to discuss the promise and risks of artificial intelligence.