Turmoil in Middle East setting the table for Gog & Magog?

from: http://flashtrafficblog.wordpress.com/

A number of influential rabbis say unrest in the Arab world signals the coming of the War of Gog and Magog and the soon coming of the Messiah, reported a leading Israeli news service on Wednesday.

The article is consistent with similar reports in recent years suggesting that a growing number of rabbis believe the War of Gog and Magog and the Messiah are coming soon.

Rabbi Michel Yehuda Lefkowitz, for example, described in the Ynet News article as “a prominent rabbi,” is reportedly “certain that God is causing the turmoil in order to put the people in their place.” Said Lefkowitz: ”God goes and humiliates (those feeling) sinful pride. At first there was this little fire here, and a state that thought that it is big and strong suddenly needed help from the entire world. Not a war, nothing special, just a small fire.”

Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky, described in the Ynet article as an “unconventional Lithuanian leader who is believed to have mystic powers,” recently spoke of the tumultuous events underway in Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Iran and elsewhere in the Middle East. “People have come to me and said that it’s ‘Gog and Magog,’” he said. “We cannot know. But it’s probable that any unrest that God creates shows that the Messiah is coming, and that we must begin to prepare for it and become stronger.”

On this, I agree with Rabbi Steinman – the War of Gog and Magog is approaching, the Messiah is coming, and we must be prepared and become stronger spiritually as the Lord’s return draws near. That said, I suspect the Rabbi and I disagree on the Messiah’s identity. That’s a good discussion to engage, particularly now. The Hebrew prophets told us the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem Ephratah, would minister to the people living darkness in the region of Galilee, would teach in parables, would do miracles, would suffer and die as a guilt offering for our sins, and then would rise again and His body would not see decay in the grave. What’s more, in Daniel chapter 9 we learn that the Messiah will come, atone for our sins, and be “cut off” before the Second Temple is destroyed and Jerusalem is crushed by the Romans. That means if the Messiah didn’t come before 70 A.D., He is never going to come.

I know beyond the shadow of a doubt that our Messiah has come, and that He is coming back, possibly sooner that we realize. Today, we are seeing the type of “uprisings” and “lawlessness” that the Lord Jesus warned in Matthew 24 and Luke 21 would precede His return. What’s more, I believe we are steadily approaching what the Hebrew Prophets called the “Day of the Lord,” the tumultuous events that will lead us right into what Jeremiah called “the time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jeremiah 30:7), what Jesus Christ called the “Great Tribulation” (Matthew 24:21), and what the Apostle John described in horrific detail in the Book of Revelation.

The Calm Before the Storm?

from: http://www.worldviewweekend.com/worldview-times/article.php?articleid=6677

Israel's outgoing military intelligence chief, Major General Amos Yadlin, made three remarkable statements in testimony to the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, reports Haaretz:

1. ISRAEL IS MORE SECURE THAN EVER BEFORE - "The recent security calm is unprecedented," Yadlin told the parliamentary committee. Despite emerging and serious threats from Iran and her Radical Islamic allies, for the moment Israel is enjoying a period of remarkable calm in light of the peace treaties with Egypt and Jordan, almost no terrorism emanating out of the West Bank, relative calm in Gaza in the aftermath of Operation Cast Lead, relatively calm borders for the last four years with Lebanon and Syria, and a regime change in Iraq that led to a nascent but improving democracy. "Israel's deterrence is very strong but the lull [in regional violence] shouldn't mislead anyone, the opposite is true. Our enemies are strengthening and arming," Yadlin added. Does this period qualify as Jews living "securely" in the land of Israel prior to the rise of a Russian-Iranian led coalition that will launch the "War of Gog and Magog" again Israel in the "last days," as foretold in Ezekiel 38-39? For the moment, it is, in my view, too early to draw a conclusion one way or the other, but it is certainly worth careful consideration.
2. IRAN IS ALREADY ABLE TO PRODUCE ITS FIRST NUCLEAR BOMB - Not that Iran has, but it could, apparently. "Yadlin also told the MKs [Members of Knesset] that Iran has sufficient enriched uranium to manufacture a single nuclear device and may soon have enough for making another bomb," reported Haaretz. Also, "Iran is busy setting up two new nuclear installations, according to�Yadlin�.[who added] that MI has indications that work has began on the installations, but did not comment on the sources." Haaretz reported that "Yadlin, who will be replaced by Brigadier General Aviv Kochavi after concluding his five-year term, also spoke of Iran as the greatest threat facing Israel, not only in the nuclear respect. 'Iran is sending its long arms to aid anyone who is working against Israel,' Yadlin said." Such assessements are undoubtedly weighing on Prime Minister Netanyahu's mind as he considers the possible need for an Israeli preemptive strike on Iran.
3. RUSSIA IS ACTIVELY HELPING ISRAEL'S ENEMIES BUILD UP THEIR MILITARY CAPABILITIES - "The next military confrontation will not be between Israel and another country, but between Israel and two or three different fronts at the same time," Yadlin said. "It will not be similar to anything we have grown accustomed to during the Second Lebanon War or Operation Cast Lead," he warned. "Yadlin also said that Syria has undertaken an intensive procurement program of advanced military hardware from Russia, and that nearly everything that comes off the manufacturing line is being delivered to the Syrians. 'The systems in question are advanced, mostly mobile, and are capable of hitting air force aircraft. The effective, deadly missiles will make it more difficult for the air force to have freedom of operations,' he said. Syrian's acquisition of anti-aircraft weapons will substantially hinder the ability of Israel Air Force to gain command of the air over Syria in time of war. 'In the past we estimated that within 48-72 hours we would command the sky over Syria. Currently the assessment is that it will take more time and we will have more losses,' Yadlin said." Consider, too, this headline from the Russian Information Agency: Russian weapons shifting balance of forces in Middle East � Israel's MI chief. And this one: "Russia, Iran to step up civil nuclear cooperation." Separately, a new report from the region indicate that "Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri confirmed Tuesday that Russia has agreed to supply the Lebanese army with advanced weapons. The new weaponry will include 31 tanks, 130 mm caliber cannon shells, six attack helicopters and various munitions." Again, to be clear, none of this is conclusive proof that we will see the "War of Gog and Magog" play out in our lifetime. But the trend lines in the epicenter continue to be remarkably consistent with the prophecies of Ezekiel 38 and 39.