On Dec. 5, 2024, Robert Gottselig (author, host of an Israeli weekly newscast) wrote:

• There is a showdown (confrontation, clash, etc.) on the horizon with the countries that come against God’s chosen people, and it’s not going to fare well for the nations.
• It’s a spiritual battle.
• Satan hates Israel, Jerusalem, and the Jewish people.
• Why? Because God loves and has made promises to them.
• If Satan can destroy the Lord’s chosen people and nation, he believes he can render the promises void and make the God of Israel a liar.
• This endeavor by Satan to thwart God is an effort to avoid judgment.

Consider these facts:

• The nation of Israel was destroyed, and there was no nation of Israel for almost 2,000 years.
• In the 1800s, Jews started returning to Israel from the 4 corners of the earth.
• In 1948, Israel became a nation again.
• In 1967, Israel retook East Jerusalem, the Temple Mount, and the Golan Heights.

According to the Bible, Jesus will come back to Jerusalem.

Jesus will dwell in Jerusalem.

The Jews have rebuilt Jerusalem, Pres. Trump recognized Jerusalem as the undivided capital of Israel on Dec. 6, 2017, and the U.S. embassy was moved to Jerusalem on May 14, 2018.

Hear what the prophet Zechariah said:

• “Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I was jealous for her with great fury.
• Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain.
• Thus saith the LORD of hosts; There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand for very age.
• And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof.
• Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If it be marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be marvellous in mine eyes? saith the LORD of hosts.
• Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will save my people from the east country, and from the west country;
• And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness” (Zech. 8:2-8).

Here is my understanding of more Scriptures.

• The Lord’s name is on Jerusalem (2 Kings 21:7).
• The Lord will dwell in Jerusalem during the Millennium (God’s New World Order; Psa. 132:13).

• When Jesus comes back, His feet will touch down on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem (Zech. 14:4).

• The Lord will teach, and His Law will go forth out of Jerusalem during the Millennium (Isa. 2:3).
• During the Millennium, people will call Jerusalem “the throne of the LORD; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem” (Jer. 3:17).

• Jesus taught us to pray: Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven (Matt. 6:9-13).
• Jesus will come back as King of kings and Lord of lords (Rev. 19:16).

This is why a showdown is coming over Jerusalem.

Satan doesn’t want Jerusalem to be the capital of Jesus’ earthly kingdom.

Satan wants Jerusalem for his own purposes.

Here are some articles that seem to indicate that the end of the age is getting close.

One, concerning Jerusalem: on Dec. 3, 2024, the Pres. of Paraguay, Santiago Peria, announced that he will be in Jerusalem on Dec. 12, 2024, for the opening of Paraguay’s embassy in the Holy City.

Peria said,

• The State of Israel recognizes Jerusalem as its capital.
• The seat of the parliament is in Jerusalem.
• The president is in Jerusalem.
• So, who are we to question where they establish their own capital?

Paraguay joins five other countries that currently have their embassies in Jerusalem: the U.S., Guatemala, Honduras, Kosovo, and Papua New Guinea.

Two, concerning Israel’s borders and Jerusalem: on Dec. 3, 2024, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution,

• Demanding the establishment of a Palestinian state and Israel’s withdrawal from all territories secured in the 1967 Six-Day War in Judea, Samaria, and Jerusalem.
• That reiterated the UN’s rejection of Israel’s application of sovereignty over eastern Jerusalem in 1967.
• That includes plans for a High-Level International Conference at UN headquarters in New York in June 2025 to urgently chart an irreversible pathway towards the peaceful settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the implementation of a Palestinian state.

(My opinion: A showdown with God is coming. God has already decided what Israel’s borders will be and who will get Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria during the Millennium; see Gen. 15:18.)

(More: On Dec. 3, 2024, Al-Arabiya News reported that French Pres. Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salmen (MBS) will co-chair the Jan. 2025 UN conference to urgently chart an irreversible path towards peace and the creation of a Palestinian state. Between now and June, Macron and MBS will work with everyone – many – to bring along this path. Macron said, we want to involve several other partners and allies – many – both European and non-European, who are ready to move in this direction. Macron said there was a simultaneous aim to trigger a movement of recognition in favor of Israel, which could provide answers in terms of security – sounds like peace and safety – for Israel and convince people that the two-state solution is a solution that is relevant for Israel.)

Three, concerning Judea and Samaria: on Dec. 5, 2024, it was reported that Sen. Tom Cotton has introduced a bill in the U.S. Senate, that, if passed, would require all official US documents to use the historically accurate term “Judea and Samaria.”

Cotton said,

• The Jewish people’s legal and historic rights to Judea and Samaria go back thousands of years.
• The US should stop using the politically charged term West Bank to refer to the biblical heartland of Israel.

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney introduced the bill in the House.

Tenney said,

• The Israeli people have an undeniable and indisputable historical and legal claim over Judea and Samaria.
• At this critical moment in history, the U.S. must reaffirm this.
• This bill reaffirms Israel’s rightful claim to its territory.
• I remain committed to defending the integrity of the Jewish state and fully supporting Israel’s sovereignty over Judea and Samaria.

Jewish leaders representing about 500,000 Jews that live in Judea and Samaria believe that Pres.-elect Trump will support their claim of Israeli sovereignty over Judea and Samaria, so they are already making plans for the possible expansion of Israel’s borders.

I find it interesting:

• That the Tribulation Period will begin when the Antichrist confirms (strengthens) a covenant of peace with many in the Middle East (Dan. 9:27).
• That Trump has been elected, and he intends to push for a peace treaty in the Middle East.
• That the Jewish Temple will be rebuilt, and some of Trump’s nominees believe the Jews should be allowed to rebuild the Temple.
• That the Antichrist will defile the Jewish Temple at the middle of the Tribulation, and Jesus told the Jews in Judea to flee into the wilderness (Dan. 9:27; Matt. 24:15-16).
• That the Antichrist will rise to power over a world government, that the UN is a wannabe world government (New World Order), and that the UN has now scheduled a meeting to discuss ways to force Israel to withdraw from Judea and Samaria.

(I want to be clear: There must be an existing covenant for the Antichrist to confirm – strengthen – it. And pre-Trib Rapture believers – like myself – believe the Rapture will occur before the Antichrist confirms that existing covenant. We could be seeing the development of the existing covenant.)

(My opinion: God gave us signs of the Second Coming of Jesus and told us to watch for them so we would know when it is getting close. Current events seem to be signs that we are close.)

(My opinion: a showdown is coming over Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria, and it appears to be getting close. During the Tribulation Period, God said He “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.)

(My opinion: Fulfilled prophecy verifies that the Bible is the Word of God. Peter said, “We have a more sure word of prophecy, unto which ye do well that ye take heed” (II Pet. 1:19).

Four, concerning world government: the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) met on Dec. 2-6 to try to push forward the WHO Pandemic Treaty – a treaty to empower the UN to control global healthcare – before Trump takes office on Jan. 20, 2025, and they failed.

They decided to continue to meet until the end of May but recognize that Trump will probably not sign a treaty.

This is great news for the U.S. and the world, but we know that the Antichrist will be given control of a one-world government after the Rapture.

Five, concerning wars and rumors of wars at the end of the age: on Dec. 5, 2024, Michael Snyder (The Economic Collapse Blog) reported:

• According to the Institute for Economics & Peace, the number of military conflicts that are currently active is the highest that we have seen since World War II…Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, Ethiopia, Afghanistan, Syria, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Colombia… and so on.
• There are up to 56 active conflicts in the world, the highest number since World War II.
• Moreover, these carry an increasingly international component, with 92 countries involved in wars outside their borders.

Six, on Dec. 6, 2024, a Turkish diplomat said foreign ministers from Russia, Iran, and Turkey (the 3 most important nations that will attack Israel in the Battle of Gog and Magog) will meet on Dec. 7, 2024, to discuss Syria’s future.

Note: On Dec. 7, 2024, insurgents were moving into Syria’s third largest city (Homs, a city of 1.4 million people) from two directions. A Syrian watcher who seems to be from Israel said:

• If the rebels capture the Homs area, it is all over for Assad. His Alawite coastal heartland and all the ports will be cut off from the capital Damascus. Iran would lose access to all but two border crossings into Lebanon (mountain passes that Israel can, and routinely does, control via airstrikes. The Kurds are also pushing into Deir Az Zor, and if they succeed, Iran will lose its primary supply route to Hezbollah (they will be forced to run the gauntlet across the Syrian desert, within easy reach of US bases).

(My opinion: Things are changing by the minute. Syrian army troops are defecting and joining the insurgents. Things are not looking good for Damascus, Iran, or Hezbollah.)

Here is a link to the article: https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2024/12/is_damascus_going_down.html.

(More: On Dec. 7, 2024, it was reported that Syrian rebel groups say they have started encircling Damascus and they are closing in on the city. The U.S. embassy has started urging U.S. citizens to leave Damascus. U.S. Sec. of State Blinken contacted Turkey to stress the importance of protecting citizens. Thousands of citizens have been displaced in the last few days.)

(More: Syrian rebels entered a suburb of Damascus, toppled a statue of Pres. Assad’s father, and decapitated it.)

(More: In the early morning hours of Dec. 8, 2024, Bashar al-Assad’s government was overthrown. Later in the day, Russia announced that al-Assad and his family had arrived in Russia.)

(My opinion: These insurgents comprise several separate groups that came together to overthrow the Assad government. Some are on the U.S., UK, and UN terrorist list. They have now captured Syria’s nuclear reactor, and this situation is dangerous.)

(More: On Dec. 8, 2024, Israeli jets destroyed Syria’s chemical weapons factory, several weapons storage facilities, and Syria’s long-range rockets and missiles.)

(More: On Dec. 10, 2024, it was reported that, in hundreds of strikes, the Israeli air force and navy destroyed Assad’s army and navy: tanks, planes, helicopters, ships, air defense systems, missiles, military factories, intelligence facilities, and everything that Syria’s military has held and built for decades. Israel destroyed them to prevent the insurgents from capturing them and possibly using them against Israel.)

Seven, concerning the Battle of Gog and Magog: on Dec. 6, 2024, an Israeli delegation visited Moscow where they told Russia that Israel would not allow Iran and its proxies to use Syria as a haven to attack Israel.

(FYI: The Bible teaches that Russia, Iran, Turkey, and others will come from the north – Syria – and attack Israel in the latter days and latter years.)

Nine, concerning Israel expanding its borders at the end of the age: in 1974, Israel and Syria agreed to create a buffer zone along their border to keep their forces separated.

When Damascus fell on Dec. 8, 2024, Syrian troops abandoned their positions near the buffer zone.

To prevent the insurgents from taking over those positions and moving into the buffer zone, Israeli troops moved into the buffer zone, crossed it, and took over the Syrian positions on the other side (this included the Syrian side of Mt. Herman, and Israel took it to protect Jews on the Golan Heights. By the way: the Bible also says Jews will walk upon the Mountains of Israel at the end of the age: Ezek. 36.)

Israel wants peace with the insurgents and is not threatening to keep the area they have seized, but they want assurances from the insurgents that they will not move troops up to Israel’s old border with Syria.

Anyway, the Bible says Israel will expand its borders at the end of the age, and we may have just witnessed a partial fulfillment of it.

(More: On Dec. 8, 2024, a Syrian insurgent went on TV and said the group wants peace and cooperation with Israel.)

(More: When Trump recognized the Golan Heights as part of Israel, the UN, Syria, and others refused to recognize it. On Dec. 9, 2024, two days after the fall of the Syrian government, Netanyahu said the Golan Heights will remain part of Israel for eternity.)

(More: On Dec. 10, 2024, Turkey and Qatar condemned Israel’s occupation of the buffer zone between Israel and Syria.)

Ten, concerning false teachers and a falling away in the church at the end of the age: on Dec. 8, 2024, it was reported that Pope Francis unveiled the Vatican Nativity Scene over the weekend with the baby Jesus lying on a Keffiyeh – a Palestinian scarf – in a cradle.

The Palestinians worship Allah; they desecrate Jewish holy sites. Jesus was Jewish, and the Palestinians are trying to kill as many Jews as they can.

(My opinion: Pope Francis is catering to the Palestinians because he wants to merge all religions into a one world religion, and that will happen during the Tribulation Period. A showdown is coming.)

Here is a link to the article.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14171491/pope-francis-vatican-nativity-scene-baby-jesus-keffiyeh.html

Eleven, concerning a rebuilt Temple on the Temple Mount: on Dec. 4, 2024, a group of religious Jewish officials (Beyadenu) held their annual meeting to seek more freedom for Jews to worship on the Temple Mount.

They believe the opposition to a rebuilt Temple is still strong, but Israel’s success against Iran, Hezbollah, and Hamas has weakened the opposition, and the day will come when they receive permission to rebuild it.

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

Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024, (day 425) The three hundred and seventieth day of the resumed war. Day 203 of the attack on Rafah.

• S. officials believe Hezbollah is using the ceasefire to rebuild its forces in Lebanon and resume its attacks on Israel.
• Israel is continuing to strike Hezbollah forces that are violating the ceasefire agreement.
• A major faction of the Turkey-backed insurgents that are attempting to overthrow the Syrian government said they want to end foreign domination (Russian, Iranian, etc.) domination of Syria. They said they have a lot of respect for Pres. Trump and Israel.

Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024 (day 426), The three hundred and seventy-first day of the resumed war. Day 204 of the attack on Rafah.

• The Turkey-backed insurgents that are rebelling against Syrian Pres. Assad are continuing to capture more Syrian territory. Powerful shells are exploding, fear is setting in, banks are closed, thousands are trapped in their homes, and food and water are in short supply. Thousands of Syrian Christians have fled for their life.
• Hezbollah declared that it would help Syria fight off the insurgents.
• The insurgents (backed by Turkey) warned that Iranian-backed proxies should stay out of this war.
• Turkey’s Pres. Erdogan said the era of Western dominance is coming to a close (Wrong: Turkey, Iran, and other Islamic nations and groups are headed for defeat in the Battle of Gog and Magog).
• Israel is closely monitoring the events in Syria because Israel doesn’t want Turkey-backed insurgents taking over its border with Syria.
• Syria said Israel had destroyed caches of advanced weapons in northern Syria to prevent them from falling into the hands of Islamist rebel groups.

Friday, Dec. 6, 2024 (day 427), The three hundred and seventy-second day of the resumed war. Day 205 of the attack on Rafah.

• Israel believes the Syrian government is in danger of collapsing.
• Israel said it is beefing up its air and ground forces and raising its readiness level in response to the civil war that is taking place in Syria.
• The Turkey-backed insurgents are now only 6 miles from the Golan Heights (mountains of Israel).
• Israel is sending reinforcements to the Golan Heights.
• Israel warned the insurgents to stay away from the Israeli border.

Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024 (day 428), The three hundred and seventy-third day of the resumed war. Day 206 of the attack on Rafah.

• On Saturday night, Israeli jets and ships started striking targets across Syria.

Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, (day 429) The three hundred and seventy-fourth day of the resumed war. Day 207 of the attack on Rafah.

• Trump said the Gaza war must end, but Israel must be victorious.
• The Turkey-backed insurgents that overthrew the Assad government looted the Iranian embassy in Damascus.

Monday, Dec. 9, 2024 (day 430), The three hundred and seventy-fifth day of the resumed war. Day 208 of the attack on Rafah.

• The insurgents that have taken over Syria said they will not enforce a dress code on women in Syria.
• Israel has established direct communications with the insurgents.
• -elect Trump’s nominee for Middle East envoy sent a message to Hamas, “Listen to what the president has got to say (there will be all Hell to pay). It’s not a pretty day (when Trump becomes Pres. on Jan. 20) if they (the hostages) are not released.”
• The committee to monitor Hezbollah’s 60-day ceasefire agreement with Israel met for the first time, Hezbollah continues to violate the agreement, and Israel continues to retaliate.

Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024 (day 431), The three hundred and seventy-sixth day of the resumed war. Day 209 of the attack on Rafah.

• Hamas has changed its position and now wants a hostage deal.

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