Prophecy and Current Events

Significance of Hebron IDF Withdrawl

The Hebron withdrawl may prove to be of importance from a prophetic as well as geo-political perspective.

In our last newsletter, we spoke of the "peace" options confronting Netanyahu and concluded that he was between a rock and a hard place. If he continued to stand against the "land for peace" policy of his predecessors, he risked continued escalation of the PLO intifada. If this happens, it would make the last uprising (purportedly over the reopened tunnel near the Temple Mount) look like a walk in the park -- as the PLO now has an armed force of over 40,000 men in the midst of the land. And if the intifada did escalate, Israel would have had no choice but to forcibly put down the violence thereby inviting military action from Syria and the other Arab states.

But the United States was successful in applying intense diplomatic pressure to revive the stalled peace process and Netanyahu caved in over Hebron. He has in effect broken his campaign promise not to compromise on Israel's security and has placed Israel once more on the road to additional land concessions. As a result, Netanyahu has come under attack, including attacks from his own Likud Party members who felt betrayed by his embracing of a peace process that he had long opposed. However, in spite of these protests, the Israeli Parliment approved the withdrawal by an 87-17 vote on January 16, 1997.

Hebron was the last West Bank city under Israeli control. With the exception of a few IDF forces left behaind to patrol the downtown area of the city where 500 Jewish settlers still live, the West Bank Cities are now largely under Palestinian control. The rural areas are still patroled by the IDF, however, they will also be withdrawn in stages beginning in March of this year.

As we discussed previously, continued land concession will eventually place Israel in a position where their only defense will be through the use of nuclear weapons; as indicated in the Ezekiel chapter 38 and chapter 39 account of ill-fated Russian/Muslim nation coalition invasion of Israel. For example, God tells us in Ezekiel 38:17-23 that He will defeat the invading force on the mountains of Israel as He rains down fire, brimstone, torrential rain and hail (all consistent with a nuclear burst).

Israel is far advanced in neutron bomb technology. These weapons could be used against invading forces while leaving the land and armaments largely unscathed. Therefore, the technology and the will to use it (the "Masada complex"), are in place. An invasion through the mountains would most likely be met with such a response. But it is also possible that Israel might launch A pre-emptive strike against Syria or other potential invaders if they feel that attack is imminent. How ever the logistics play out, it will happen because the Bible says so.

What is facinating, prophetically, at this juncture is that the mountains of Israel (Judean and Samarian mountains) will soon be largely under control of the PLO. And with the recently completed Hebron withdrawl of the last West Bank city and future withdrawal from the rural areas starting in March, the area will soon be wide open to attack by Syria or perhaps the prophesied Ezekiel 38 coalition of nations who now have an "inside man" in Arafat whose continued stated goal is to "push Israeli into the sea."

This may prove to be an irresistable opportunity for Syria, who has been threatening war with Israel for some time, to finally invade. Israel is currently at risk from a missile attack from Syria who has the delivery mechanisms in place as well as a well-developed arsenal of chemical and bilogical weapons. Given Israel's goal to have an anti-ballistic missile shield in place within the next few years, Syria, with each passing day, is in a position of losing its missile's effectiveness against Israel. Whether they will attack in the near future is a matter of conjecture. However, Isaiah chapter 17 clearly tells us that at some future time Damascus, the capital of Syria, will be utterly destroyed.

Again one more piece of the puzzle is in place for those who are watching, praying, and have ears to hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church of Jesus Christ.

Watch the Middle East and pray that you would be worthy to escape the judgment comming upon the world and be able to stand before the Son of Man!

Maranatha!

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