Nov 6
Non-Proliferation Suffers a Nuclear Meltdown
Over the past several years, I’ve written several articles about the dangers of a nuclear arms race being triggered by rogue nations developing nuclear weapons. This past week, an atomic bomb of the news variety was dropped on the world when Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, UAE and Saudi Arabia were named by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) as seeking atomic technology.
All of these nations say they want to build civilian nuclear energy programs, as they are permitted to under international law. But their sudden interest in nuclear power has raised suspicions that the real intention is to acquire nuclear technology for military use.
“Some Middle East states, including Egypt, Morocco, Algeria and Saudi Arabia, have shown initial interest in using nuclear power primarily for desalination purposes” said Tomihiro Taniguch, the deputy director-general of the IAEA. It doesn't make any sense for Saudi Arabia to be spending billions of dollars to develop nuclear energy for desalination when it has a vast amount of cheap oil and gas reserves to accomplish this task.
Mark Fitzpatrick, an expert on nuclear proliferation at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said it was clear that the sudden drive for nuclear expertise was a direct reaction to Iran accelerating its nuclear power and enrichment programs. “If Iran was not on the path to a nuclear weapons capability, you would probably not see this sudden rush [in the Arab world],” he said.
Arab leaders had recently been pressing hard for a nuclear-free Middle East. This strategy was aimed at Israel, which is currently the only Middle East nation with nuclear weapons.
The arms race is not confined to just Arab nations. Japanese lawmakers are debating whether to acquire nuclear weapons as a deterrent against North Korea. Because Japan already has several nuclear reactors, it would be very easy for it to go nuclear.
It is very stunning for Japan's changed stance on the bomb. Japan is the only country ever to have suffered a nuclear attack. It has also been reluctant to upset its neighbors who still remember many of the atrocities that took place in World War II.
Once a hostile nation like Iran and North Korea develop nuclear weapons, it's very hard to do anything about them. This week, I read a Washington Times report that said military planners are considering "various military options" to remove North Korea's nuclear program. The plant calls for cruise missile strikes against a plutonium-reprocessing facility at Yongbyo.
Planners estimate that six Tomahawks could destroy the reprocessing plant and that it would take several years to rebuild. What makes this all wishful thinking is the fact that North Korea has 6 to 10 nuclear weapons. The outside chance that North Korea might retaliate with a strike against Seoul or Tokyo is enough to keep this plan from being carried out.
If there is going to be any preventive strike against nuclear facilities, Iran is the most likely target. Israel has its own survival to worry about. The revelation that Iran is motivating other Arab nations into an arms race can only put more pressure on Israel to act.
As much as the prophetic community has reported on the need for action on nuclear proliferation, very little has been done to prevent the world from sliding into the abyss. If we are close to the end times, it is fitting that there would be an arms race. The nuclear weapons being produced today will come in handy during the tribulation hour.
"Proclaim this among the nations: 'Prepare for war!" Stir up the mighty men. Let all the warriors draw near. Let them come. Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weak say, 'I am strong'" (Joel 3:9-10).
--- Todd
Jerusalem and the End of Days
Israel is the one nation, and Jerusalem is the one city on the planet God personally reserves unto himself. He does not equivocate; it is His nation and city, and anyone or anything that tries to wrest it from Him will suffer eternal consequences.
We ascertain this when reading verses such as follows:
“...for the land is Mine; for you are but aliens and sojourners with Me” (Lev. 25:23).
“...then I will uproot you from My land which I have given you...” (2 Chron. 7:20)
"Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it (Zech. 12:2-3).
The God of Creation, who in reality owns every atom of existence, clearly tells the inhabitants of Planet Earth that these are His geographical places He reserves for himself. The Lord, in warning those who would harm Jerusalem, refers to that city this way:
"For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye” (Zech. 2:8).
Jesus, the Messiah, said about this city, while weeping, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, [thou] that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under [her] wings, and ye would not!” (Matt. 23:37).
These and many other Scriptures make it undeniably clear that God loves Israel and Jerusalem. He considers them His personal earthly real estate. He loved them in the past, and has great prophetic plans for them. Therefore, He loves Israel and Jerusalem today.
This being the documentable case, I’ve always had a question within the milieu of eschatological consideration in which I’ve engaged for a number of decades.
The question: Why the following reference to this divinely designated real estate?
“And their dead bodies [shall lie] in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified” (Rev. 11:8).
The reference here is to the two witnesses who will preach to the earth dwellers of the tribulation era. The question that has always ruminated in my mind is why God calls this beloved city and nation, “spiritually,” “Sodom and Egypt”?
The people of Israel, before its dispersions and after its modern regathering in the land, have been wicked and done things contrary to God’s will. But, so has every other city and nation that has ever existed on Planet Earth.
The condemnation in this Revelation context, seems, to my mind, reference to prophecy yet future. Jerusalem is destined to become as wicked as the ancient city of Sodom and the idol-worshipping ancient Egypt, in God’s holy view. This shouldn’t surprise, considering how the devil is working overtime in every city and nation of the world today. Satan wanted to usurp the throne of God, e.g., Isa. 14:13-14. It stands to reason –and to scriptural analysis--that the wicked one would want to usurp Christ’s future earthly throne as well.
And, for a fact, not even the unbelieving heathens of the world can deny that Jerusalem and the nation Israel are at the center of global conflict today. It is the most feared potential point for triggering nuclear conflagration on this old troubled sphere.
Lucifer, the fallen one, is certainly working his devilish plan to bring all to Armageddon. This includes his all out-efforts against the apple of God’s eye –the city of Zion –Jerusalem. He will indeed succeed in making Jerusalem, spiritually, like Sodom.
Proof that Satan’s plan is far along in its progress toward that goal is in today's news, as follows:
JERUSALEM, Israel, September 19, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) - An ongoing battle over homosexual pride demonstrations in the city of Jerusalem came to an end today, after the controversial Gay Pride parade was rescheduled for November 10, the Jerusalem Post reported. After talks lasting three hours between the Jerusalem Police, State Prosecution, the Jerusalem Municipality and homosexual activist groups, Jerusalem police agreed to provide security to the event ("Jerusalem Loses Battle to Ban Gay Pride Parade—Court-Ordered Date Set for November 10" By Gudrun Schultz).
Things are prophetically setting up for the moment when the man of sin, Satan’s false messiah, Antichrist, sits in a temple atop Mount Moriah, precisely above the spot where the Ark of the Covenant once sat (2 Thes. 2:3-4). He might even sit upon the same Ark, if it is found, or a counterfeit one, declaring himself to be God, and demanding worship (Rev. 13).
So, the grand parade to pervert God’s order of things regarding sexuality will be on full display the week this commentary appears on Nearing Midnight. They have given it the title “Gay Pride.” Here’s what God says about mankind’s pride –especially that which perverts His creation order:
“The fear of the LORD [is] to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate” (Prov. 8:13).
Can there be serious doubt that this generation –as witnessed through the events in Jerusalem this week-- stands poised upon the precipice of the end of days?
--Terry
