Intentionally Blind :: By Daymond Duck

On Jan. 6, 2024, Israel used precise munitions to kill nine known terrorists inside 3 rooms at a United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) school.

The Hamas-controlled Palestinian media quickly suggested that Israel killed about 45 civilians.

The international media and global leaders quickly jumped all over Israel.

An Israeli spokesperson said:

  • We delayed our strike twice because we identified civilians in the area. We had aerial surveillance that had been monitoring the Hamas compound for a few days. We conducted the strike once our intelligence and surveillance indicated that there were no women or children inside the Hamas compound, inside those classrooms.
  • This is the fifth time we have had to target Hamas and PIJ terrorists operating from inside UNRWA facilities… in the last month alone.
  • Hamas wages war from schools and hospitals. Hamas hopes that international law and public sympathy will provide a shield for their military activities, which is why they systematically operate from schools, UN facilities, hospitals, and mosques.

As I understand it, the Hamas terrorists are violating international law by operating out of schools and hospitals, but the international media and many global leaders are deliberately turning a blind eye to that fact.

It is an established fact that Hamas and their Palestinian supporters have been exaggerating the number of citizens killed in this war, but the international media and many global leaders are deliberately disregarding that unpleasant truth.

Israel seems to be taking great pains to try to avoid killing innocent people, something the international media and most global leaders are bound to know (because they are not stupid), but they choose to ignore it.

Two days later, on June 8, 2024, Israel rescued 4 hostages that were being held in a civilian neighborhood; several people were killed, and, once again, the international media and several global leaders went bonkers.

The EU Minister of Foreign Affairs criticized Israel for “another massacre of civilians” and said, “We condemn this in the strongest terms. The bloodbath must end.”

Following Norway’s criticism of Israel, the Israeli ambassador to Norway said:

  • Hostages shouldn’t be kept in densely populated areas; Families shouldn’t be locking up hostages in their homes on behalf of terror organizations; Civilians shouldn’t be kidnapped.
  • Israel has not only the right to rescue its kidnapped citizens but the obligation to do so. Those who kidnapped civilians and paid families to keep them as hostages in their homes in the middle of a populated residential area are responsible for each and every casualty.

Once again, the Hamas terrorists were violating international law, but the international media and many global leaders continued to turn a blind eye.

They know what Hamas is doing, but they are intentionally blind or willfully avoiding the real problem (and that is why some problems never get solved).

Here are some recent events that seem to indicate that we are close to the end of the age.

One, on June 10, 2024, Israel announced that Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad have launched more than 19,000 missiles at Israel since the Oct. 7, 2023 Israeli-Hamas war began.

Most of the financing for these missiles was provided by Iran.

What have the international media and global leaders done about it?

My answer: other than jumping all over Israel for defending itself, they appear to be intentionally blind to why Israel is striking back.

On June 16, 2024, an Israeli spokesman said:

  • When we say that we will not let October 7th happen again on any one of our borders – we mean it.
  • Because of Hezbollah’s refusal to comply with UN Security Council Resolution 1701 — because of Hezbollah’s military infrastructure, weapons, and fire at Israel from the area south of the Litani River in southern Lebanon — and because of Lebanon’s failure to enforce 1701 on Hezbollah — Israel will take the necessary measures to protect its civilians — until security along our border with Lebanon is restored.
  • One way or another – we will ensure the safe and secure return of Israelis to their homes in Northern Israel. That is not up for negotiation.

(My opinion: If Hezbollah doesn’t stop attacking Israel – and I don’t think they will – this will soon turn into an all-out war, spread, and involve other nations.).

Two, concerning wars and rumors of wars, including the Battle of Gog and Magog: on June 14, 2024: CBN reported that:

  • The possibility of a war between Israel and Hezbollah is growing.
  • Iran warned Israel not to launch a war and notified the U.S. that Iran will join the war if one breaks out.
  • Israel’s military leaders are recommending that the government allow them to bring a quick end to the Rafah operation so they can focus on a wider war with Hezbollah in Lebanon.

(More: In a different article, it was reported that Israel intends to conclude its attacks in Rafah in the next 2 weeks.)

(More: In another article, it was reported that anonymous officials said the Biden administration is concerned that the war could get out of hand and the U.S. could be drug into it to prevent the defeat of Israel. The U.S. will send another diplomat to Israel on June 17, 2024, to try to calm the situation.).

(More: On June 17, 2024, Gatestone Institute posted an article by Carolyn Glick (author and columnist, that said, “Hezbollah is burning a swathe through northern Israel. The nature reserves, grazing land, fields, and orchards are burning to the ground. Military bases, including several strategic assets, are incurring major damage. More than 1,000 homes have been destroyed. Businesses are bankrupt. And some 80,000 displaced Israelis are living in hotels with no sense of when they may be able to go home.”)

(Update: On June 18, 2024, it was reported that the Israeli military has approved plans for an all-out war against Hezbollah and is preparing for it in case the government orders it. Israel’s foreign minister said, “We are very close to the moment when we will decide to change the rules of the game against Hezbollah and Lebanon,” Katz said in a statement. . .. In a total war, Hezbollah will be destroyed, and Lebanon will be hit hard.” For whatever it is worth, the U.S. is urging Israel not to get into another war.)

(My opinion: If this war breaks out and Iran gets involved, Russia, Turkey, and other Islamic nations and groups could be dragged in. It will provoke God’s wrath, He will get involved, and it will be a sure sign that the latter days and latter years have arrived.)

(My question: Pres. Biden has threatened to cut off U.S. support for Israel if Netanyahu doesn’t do what Biden says. How has Biden threatened Iran, Hezbollah, Hamas, or the Palestinians if they don’t do what he says?)

Three, concerning wars and rumors of wars: on June 15, 2024, it was reported that Israel’s enemies are using newer, more powerful drones, to drop small bombs on Israeli tanks, observation towers, armored personnel carriers, groups of troops, etc.

Israel needs to find a better way to deal with this new kind of warfare.

Four, concerning wars and rumors of wars and the government tracking people: on June 14, 2024, the U.S. House of Representatives passed an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that uses existing government data to automatically register all draft-age (18-26 years old) male and female U.S. residents with the Selective Service for a possible military draft.

Put another way, freedom of choice for military duty is over.

The U.S. military will soon be able to draft males and females who are 18-26 years old.

Five, concerning the use of nuclear weapons: a reader sent me a report dated June 17, 2024, that says Israel is significantly upgrading its nuclear capabilities.

(More: On June 17, 2024, it was reported that Israel has 90 nuclear warheads that can be launched from the air, land, or sea.)

(My opinion: This could explain how Damascus, Syria, could be destroyed in one night.)

(More: On June 17, 2024, it was reported that North Korea probably has about 50 nuclear weapons.)

(More: On June 18, 2024, a nuclear-armed Chinese submarine surfaced off the coast of Taiwan, sat still for several minutes, then joined several other Chinese ships and moved on.)

(My opinion: Because of Russia’s threats and naval maneuvers near Florida, several people have asked me if I believe the U.S. and Russia will get into a nuclear war. I doubt it. If it happened, I believe NATO would get involved, the EU and Russia would strike each other, and that doesn’t align with Bible prophecy. I believe Russia must exist to attack Israel in the Battle of Gog and Magog, and the EU must be a powerhouse to produce the Antichrist and head up the New World Order.)

Six, concerning a global economic collapse early in the Tribulation Period (rider on the black horse): on June 13, 2024, it was reported that Saudi Arabia has notified the U.S. that the dollar will no longer be the only currency that Saudi Arabia accepts from nations that want to buy oil.

This will be a major step in the global use of other currencies, and it will likely have a negative impact on the U.S. economy.

Seven, concerning a global economic collapse early in the Tribulation Period and a one-world economic system at the middle of the Tribulation Period: on June 17, 2024, it was reported that a UN report says the world’s debt is approaching 100 trillion dollars, and it is threatening the global economy.

According to the UN report, the global financial system needs to be overhauled.

Eight, concerning the U.S. and a digital ID: on June 14, 2024, Leo Hohmann (author and speaker) said the U.S. has secretly adopted a digital ID program.

Hohmann believes the program will begin in the U.S. as a voluntary program and ultimately become a required program.

He believes the first group that will be coerced into accepting it will be citizens who get benefits from the federal government (veterans, people drawing social security, on welfare, etc.).

(My opinion: Christians won’t be here when the Mark of the Beast is implemented globally, but a digital ID is a big step in that direction. Also, the Mark of the Beast is not every person having a different digital ID. It is every person taking the name, number, or Mark of the Beast.)

Nine, concerning who will govern the Gaza Strip if Biden can force Israel to withdraw: on June 18, 2024, it was reported that Hamas has instructed 2 battalions of troops to stay out of the war with Israel and to maintain their fighting abilities so they will have the military strength to become a governing force when Israel leaves.

(Note: Recent polls show that if a new election were held in Gaza, 67% of the Palestinians would vote for Hamas. It is likely that the terrorists would continue to be in power and continue to fire rockets into Israel. This is one reason Israel is determined to defeat Hamas no matter how hard Biden tries to protect them.)

Ten, concerning the possibility of corruption in the Pharmaceutical industry: on June 17, 2024, Kansas announced that it is suing Pfizer for misleading Kansans about the safety and efficacy of its COVID-19 vaccine.

Here is my daily update on the Israel-Hamas war.

Wednesday, June 12, 2024 (Day 251): The one hundred ninety-fifth day of the resumed war. Day 37 of the attack on Rafah.

  • S. Sec. of State Blinken said Hamas’ response to Biden’s ceasefire proposal includes changes that are unworkable.
  • The father of one of the 4 rescued hostages said his son was tortured by Hamas.
  • Hezbollah fired about 250 rockets into northern Israel.

Thursday, June 13, 2024 (Day 252): The one hundred ninety-sixth day of the resumed war. Day 38 of the attack on Rafah.

  • Two Israelis were slightly wounded by rockets that Hezbollah fired at the Golan Heights from Lebanon.
  • Hamas said they have no idea how many of the Israeli hostages are still alive.

Friday, June 14, 2024 (Day 253): The one hundred ninety-seventh day of the resumed war. Day 39 of the attack on Rafah.

  • It was reported that Hezbollah launched 16 drones toward Israel in the last 72 hours, and Israel shot down 11 (69%) of them.
  • Israel rejected a French mediation effort to negotiate a ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel on the grounds that France has adopted hostile policies toward Israel and ignored the atrocities of Hamas in Gaza. Macron has accused Israel of killing women and babies in Gaza and said nothing about the fact that Hamas has killed Israeli women, children, and men.

Saturday, June 15, 2024 (Day 254): The one hundred ninety-eighth day of the resumed war. Day 40 of the attack on Rafah.

  • There is fierce fighting in Rafah, Israel is using artillery and helicopters, there are loud explosions, and several people have been killed.
  • 8 Israeli soldiers were killed when their vehicle was hit by an explosion.
  • The U.S. said it destroyed seven radars, one drone, and two un-crewed surface vessels belonging to the Houthis.

Sunday, June 16, 2024 (Day 255): The one hundred ninety-ninth day of the resumed war. Day 41 of the attack on Rafah.

  • In response to the resignation of Benny Gantz, Netanyahu dissolved his war cabinet, said he will not need a war cabinet anymore, and said he will meet with his security cabinet more often to discuss the war.
  • Israel said it has defeated 2 out of the 4 Hamas divisions in Rafah, and the Israeli military now controls 60% of Rafah.

Monday, June 17, 2024 (Day 256): The two-hundredth day of the resumed war. Day 42 of the attack on Rafah.

  • Israel has destroyed about 200 tunnel shafts and half of Hamas’ forces in Rafah.
  • Israel has located at least 25 tunnels that go to the Egyptian border, and some may go into Egypt.
  • Israel said dozens of hostages are still alive, and Israel cannot halt the war until all of them are released.
  • Hamas released a short video that says Hamas will continue to attack Israel until they have destroyed the Jewish nation.

Tuesday, June 18, 2024 (Day 257): The two-hundred-first day of the resumed war. Day 43 of the attack on Rafah.

  • An Israeli official said after the war is over, Israeli troops will stay in Gaza until there is a negotiated agreement and there are mechanisms in place to ensure compliance with that agreement.

Wednesday, June 19, 2024 (Day 258): The two-hundred-and-second day of the resumed war. Day 44 of the attack on Rafah.

  • Hamas said no part of Israel will be safe if a full-fledged war breaks out.

FYI: God does not send anyone to Hell (all of us are born with a sin nature and destined to go to Hell because we sin), but God has provided a way (Jesus) for everyone to go to Heaven (and He is the only way to get there; John 14:6).

Finally, are you Rapture Ready?

If you want to be rapture ready and go to heaven, you must be born again (John 3:3). God loves you, and if you have not done so, sincerely admit that you are a sinner; believe that Jesus is the virgin-born, sinless Son of God who died for the sins of the world, was buried, and raised from the dead; ask Him to forgive your sins, cleanse you, come into your heart and be your Saviour; then tell someone that you have done this.

duck_daymond@yahoo.com

 

Walking In Peace Amidst Turmoil :: By Bill Wilson

There was a time when pageant contestants, in their interview portion, seemed to end with the goal of “world peace.” People want to say it, but do they really want to live it?

Everywhere we look today, there is no peace. If people don’t get their way, they throw tantrums, burn buildings, shoot people, start wars, whatever, then blame it on the ones who are attacked. How many times have you been accused of something out of nowhere, and doing such a deed had never entered your mind? But the person accusing you is doing that very thing?

There is so much division in the world today that it’s very difficult to find peace. Like Jeremiah declaring, they say, “Peace, peace when there is no peace.” But there can be.

In the weekly reading of Torah, called the parashah, Chapters 4-7 of Numbers go into great detail about how the Israelite camp is to be set up, the interaction of the priests, requirements for restitution of sin, the necessities of the Nazarite, even how a woman causing her husband to be jealous was to be handled. All these things seem to be unrelated, but spelling them out has deep meaning and purpose. In the midst of these details, the priestly blessing is given in Numbers 6:23-27,

“May Adonai bless you and keep you. May Adonai make his face shine on you and show you his favor. May Adonai lift up his face toward you and give you peace.”

Some question why this blessing is given after these detailed instructions.

In his commentary on this parashah titled Naso (Take), Rabbi Jonathan Sacks says,

“The answer lies in the last word of the priestly blessing: shalom, peace… shalom does not mean simply the absence of war or strife. It means completeness, perfection, the harmonious completion of a complex system, a state in which everything is in its proper place and all is at one with the physical and ethical laws of governing the universe.”

Consider that God brought order out of chaos when he created the world, and with all the creation, it was good, and there was peace. God was showing the Israelites what was expected of them and how to have order among themselves. And in that order, there would be peace. It is no coincidence that Naso includes the priestly blessing—a prayer for peace.

In fulfilling the Isaiah 9:5 prophecy as Prince of Peace, Christ brought true shalom to all of His people, Jew and Gentile, as is written in Ephesians 2:14-18,

“For He Himself is our peace, having made both one and having broken down the barrier of the partition of hostility, by destroying in His flesh the enmity caused by the law of commandments and decrees. He did this to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace and reconciling both of them to God in one body through the cross, by which He extinguished their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through Him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.”

Christ IS our shalom. Through him and by him, we can walk in that day by day, moment by moment, no matter what the world does. Shalom!

Posted in The Daily Jot