World News Alert: Israel at War!

Discussing current events and how they relate to Biblical prophesy. What are some critical signs are pointing to the imminent Rapture of the Church?

Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him, and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal. I will turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and lead you out, with all your army, horses, and horsemen, all splendidly clothed, a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords. Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; Gomer and all its troops; the house of Togarmah from the far north and all its troops—many people are with you. (Ezekiel 38:1-6)

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Netanyahu says Israel is ‘at war’ as Palestinian militants launch surprise air and ground attack from Gaza CNN, October 7, 2023

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that the country was “at war” on Saturday, after Palestinian militants in Gaza fired a deadly barrage of rockets and sent gunmen into Israeli territory in a major escalation of the long running conflict between the two sides.

Militants launched a barrage of some 2,200 rockets from the Gaza Strip into Israel, according to the Israeli military, while armed gunmen infiltrated into Israel by land, sea and air – in paragliders. Multiple explosions were heard over Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and in southern Israel – some blasts likely the interceptions of incoming rockets – while air raids sent Israelis pouring into underground shelters.

The Israeli military said it was dealing with hostage incidents in two locations in southern Israel.

By the early afternoon, some 70 were dead and hundreds more were injured in Israel, according to Israel’s rescue service Magen David Adom (MDA). Israel responded by launching strikes on what it called Hamas targets in Gaza.

The Palestinian health ministry said that nearly 200 Palestinians had been killed and 1,610 injured in the violence, but did not make clear where the deaths occurred or whether the toll included Hamas militants or civilians in Gaza.

Netanyahu said operations were under way to clear out militants from infiltrated towns and that he had also issued a call-up of reservists.

“We are at war, not in an operation or in rounds, but at war,” Netanyahu said in a video statement, adding that Hamas, the Palestinian militant movement that runs Gaza, had “launched a murderous surprise attack against the state of Israel and its citizens.”

The surprise assault on Saturday was unprecedented in recent history in its scale and scope, falling on the 50th anniversary of the 1973 War in which Arab states blitzed Israel on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar.

Dubbing the operation “Al-Aqsa Storm,” Hamas military commander Muhammad Al-Deif said in a recorded message that the group had “targeted the enemy positions, airports and military positions with 5,000 rockets” and that the assault on Israel was a response to attacks on women, the desecration of the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem and the ongoing siege of Gaza.

“If you have a gun, get it out. This is the time to use it – get out with trucks, cars, axes, today the best and most honorable history starts,” Al-Deif added.

Hamas said on Saturday that it had captured several Israeli soldiers near the border.

Israel’s military has not confirmed the reports, but one video published by Reuters appeared to show Palestinian gunmen dragging what looks like an Israeli soldier out of a tank at a fence separating Gaza from Israel. Other videos published by the militant group show at least three men dressed in civilian clothing held at gunpoint; Hamas said the men were Israeli soldiers.

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman Lt Col Richard Hecht said in a briefing that Israeli forces “are fighting on the ground as we speak,” listing multiple locations where fighting was taking place, including several villages, army bases and border crossings.

In Turkey, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for the parties involved to “act with restraint in light of the events in Israel this morning and to stay away from impulsive steps that will escalate tensions,” while Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said he is in “intensive” communication with international officials to stop the ongoing escalation.

Many European leaders have taken to social media to denounce the violence.

European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen said on X, formerly known as Twitter, that she “unequivocally” condemned the violence. “It is terrorism in its most despicable form. Israel has the right to defend itself against such heinous attacks.”

French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his “full solidarity with the victims,” while German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that “Germany condemns these Hamas attacks and stands by Israel.”

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Hamas says it has launched military operation against Israel Aljazeera, October 7, 2023

The leader of Hamas’s military wing says the group has launched a new operation against Israel.

In a rare public statement, Mohammed Deif said that 5,000 rockets had been fired into Israel early Saturday to begin “Operation Al-Aqsa Storm”. Israel also reported an infiltration from Gaza.

“We’ve decided to say enough is enough,” Deif said as he urged all Palestinians to confront Israel.

‘Attack tremendous shock for Israelis’: AJ correspondent
Reporting from Ashkelon in southern Israel, Al Jazeera’s Rob Reynolds says the unprecedented attack has left Israelis in “tremendous shock”.

“I spoke by text with an acquaintance in Tel Aviv. She says she was hurrying to get into a bomb shelter. The fact that several villages including some towns were attacked and captured – this is something that has never happened before,” Reynolds said.

“This took a lot of planning, strategising from Hamas,” he noted.

“It is also [near the anniversary] of the October War of 1973, when Israel was taken by surprise by Egypt and Syria. It appears maybe there is some symbolism there,” he added.

Hamas has said its surprise, large-scale military operation is in response to the desecration of Al-Aqsa Mosque and increased settler aggression.

It came after thousands of settlers in recent days forced their way into the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in occupied East Jerusalem during the Jewish holiday of Sukkot.

The Palestinian armed group Hamas has launched “Operation Al Aqsa Flood” against Israel, its biggest such offensive in decades. It began when Hamas began firing what it says were thousands of rockets towards Israel. Several casualties have been reported. Israeli military radio is reporting that Palestinian fighters from Gaza have “infiltrated” Israel.

Pictures show armed men on vehicles inside Israel and others paragliding into Israeli territory.

There is also footage of Palestinian fighters taking Israelis hostage. The Israeli army has urged people living near the border with Gaza to remain indoors and Israel’s defence minister has approved the call-up of military reservists. Meanwhile, the commander of Hamas’s military wing has called on armed groups in Lebanon to join the fight against Israel.

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One of the critical signs are pointing to the imminent Rapture of the Church is the invasion of Israel. This invasion was foretold in Ezekiel 38 – 39, and in Psalm 83:

Young Lebanese Hezbollah supporters carry models of Katyusha and RPG rockets launchers, in front of a portrait of Hezbollah’s Secretary-General Sheik Hassan Nasrallah, left, and Shiite Muslim spiritual leader Imam Moussa Sadr who disappeared on a trip to Libya in 1978, right, during a rally in Saksakkiyeh village, southern Lebanon, Sunday July 22, 2007. Hezbollah guerrillas have moved most of their rockets in south Lebanon among civilians in villages, an apparent attempt to avoid detection by Israel and U.N. troops, Israeli military officials said Sunday.(AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)

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God, do not keep silent.
Do not be deaf, God; do not be idle.
See how Your enemies make an uproar;
those who hate You have acted arrogantly.
They devise clever schemes against Your people;
they conspire against Your treasured ones.
They say, “Come, let us wipe them out as a nation
so that Israel’s name will no longer be remembered.”
For they have conspired with one mind;
they form an alliance against You—
the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites,
Moab and the Hagrites,
Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek,
Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre.
Even Assyria has joined them;
they lend support to the sons of Lot. (Psalm 83:1-8)

What is amazing is that the Book of Ezekiel was written between 593 and 571 BC, and Psalm 38 was written around 1,000 BC. What other religious book has specific prophecies with specific nations, from thousands of years ago, that are manifesting now?

The historically miraculous rebirth of the Jewish state in 1948, after 2,000 years of nonexistence, and the conquering of East Jerusalem during the Six-Day War in 1967 and other factors seems to have set the stage for a time clock for the “last days” of Israel and the fulfillment of many remaining prophecies relevant to that period. And, indeed, today Russia, a great power to Israel’s far north and the Shia Muslim  nations, particularly Iran, are growing increasingly intertwined and hostile toward Israel.

Bible scholars have long identified Gog as the leader of Russia, and the land of Magog as Russia.

The invasion of Israel will be primarily motivated by greed for their great wealth. The recent annexation of regions of Ukraine and all of Crimea will be their strategy.

The “hook in the jaw” will be an escalation between Iran and Israel, that will reach the point of no return. As the experts conclude, that ultimate confrontation is inevitable. In fact, it is likely to happen at any moment. Russian will then step in to defend her ally. Putin is inclined to make calculated geopolitical moves, with an impressive sense of timing and optimum use of Russia’s strategic cards.

He is trying to prevent an escalation involving Iran, but when the real war begins, he will use it as an excuse to invade Israel and try to annex it, just like he did with Crimea. This is Gog’s plan – to make Russia great again.

With the preparations for the Ezekiel battle being seen daily in our news headlines, our need to be prepared for the Rapture has never been greater!

Yes, it is coming, and it will happen.” This is the declaration of the Lord God. “This is the day I have spoken about. (Ezekiel 39:8)

Who will defend Israel? Who do we put our trust in?

The mighty God of the universe calls Himself I AM. In Exodus 3:14, the Bible says, “And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM”.

Moses had said, “When I go down to Egypt and the people ask me who sent me, what shall I tell them” (Exodus 3:13). God said, “You tell them that I AM sent you.”

Jesus completed the statement that was given to Moses. Jesus used the same phrase “I AM” in seven declarations about Himself. In all seven, He combines I AM with tremendous metaphors which express His saving relationship toward the world.

First He said, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger” (John 6:35).

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Second, Jesus said, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12).

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Third, Jesus said, “I am the door” (John 10:9). God has only one door to His Kingdom, and that door is Jesus Christ.

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Fourth, Jesus said, “I am the true vine” (John 15:1).

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Fifth, Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep” (John 10:11).

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Sixth, Jesus said in John 11:25, “I am the resurrection and the life.”

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Seventh, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). In John 6:44, He says, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him.” This is how we come to God.

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In these End Times, we choose to put our trust in Jesus – the “I Am“

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If you are not sure that you are saved, you can accept Christ into your life right now, by praying:

“Lord Jesus, I believe you are the Son of God. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins.  Please forgive my sins and give me the gift of eternal life.  I ask you into my life and heart to be my Lord and Savior.”

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Current events are aligning with Biblical prophecy