Dangerous Dominos -- storm rising against Israel

Sun, 13 Jun 2010
an opinion exclusive
by:  Tom Kovach

(NOTE:  Be sure to also scroll down and read all of the comments.  They show the progression of events in the news after the publication of this column.  You can see the dominos line up.)

When the news of the Israeli commando raid upon the Mavi Marmara aid flotilla was only a few hours old, and fully five days before this WND column, I asserted in The Crossbow that the raid would be the spark for the War of Gog and Magog that is predicted by the Prophet Ezekiel in the Holy Bible.  It seems that certain international leaders are determined to prove me right.

World opinion seems to be mounting against Israel, who has been cast as the villain in the conflict between so-called "peace activists" -- who knowingly attempted to run Israel's naval blockade of Gaza -- and the Israeli naval commandos that enforced the blockade.  Not only has evidence surfaced that the commandos were mostly armed only with paint-ball guns (in a strategy to use "miminum force"), but evidence has also surfaced that a leading news-media organization had intentionally doctored photographs in order to minimize the violent acts by the "peace" activists.  Among the "peace activists" spotted by eyewitnesses at a Free Gaza Movement rally in Cairo before the flotilla were former Weather Underground terrorists and close Obama associates William Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn.  (Is anyone actually surprised?)

Obama himself has given Israel the cold shoulder with regard to both the raid and the larger issue of Israel determining the security of her borders and internal lands.  But, while it is true that Obama's turn away from Israel sets a remarkable precedent in American policy history, the reaction by other national leaders makes Obama's seem tame by comparison.

At the forefront of this new wave of anti-Israel rhetoric is Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.  He has suggested that he might personally ride aboard a future flotilla to Gaza.  Israel has made clear that such a move, especially if accompanied by Turkish naval vessels, would clearly be considered "an act of war".  Rather than apologize for his rash statement, Erdogan made clear that he plans to be accompanied by the Turkish Navy.

If that was happening in a vacuum, then it might be considered only rash saber-rattling by some electioneering candidate -- except that a) Erdogan is not up for re-election,   b) other nations are joining in his anti-Israel rhetoric, and  c) Erdogan has added the religious element to his statements.

As a result of this situation ("never waste a good crisis"), Erdogan has rapidly gained points throughout the Muslim world.  (People in the West often wrongly call it the "Arab world".  But, although Islam started in Arabia and is taught in the Arabic language, many of the religion's adherants are not Arabs.)  Erdogan's popularity has increased dramatically in the "Arab world", even though Erdogan does not speak any Arabic.  (Turks speak a language called Urdu.  People in Iran speak a language called Farsi.  Neither stems from the Arabic root.)  Some people in the Muslim world are going so far as to say that Erdogan is the man to revive the Ottoman Empire.

So, what does all this have to do with a war predicted in the Bible?  Everything.

The point about an Islamic empire resonates with Muslims around the world, and for a variety of interwoven reasons.  In the mind of a devout Muslim, the entire world is divided into only two entities:  the "house of peace" and the "house of war".  The house of peace exists in a country when that entire country has submitted itself to Allah.  The house of war exists everywhere else.  The pure Muslim will not be happy until he sees the entire world submit to Allah.  And, in the practice of that "religion of peace", it is entirely permissible to spread Islam at the point of a sword.  (NOTE:  Contrary to popular opinion, that exact phrase is not written in Quran.  However, the concept permeates that book's pages.)

The above map from this WorldNetDaily story shows (in the shaded area) the countries that are predominantly Muslim.  (However, it is debatable whether the entire shaded portion of Siberia is actually Muslim, because that is where Stalin sent so many Christians into internal exile.)  Note that these countries already stretch to "the uttermost parts of the north".  (Ezekiel 38:15)  Note also that Turkey is located in a more strategic place to unite those countries than is Arabia or Iran.  Turkey, as a member of NATO, also has better ties with Western countries than do other leading Muslim countries.  Global experts also forecast the pre-eminent leadership role of Turkey in any revived Islamic empire.

Now, add to this the linguistic fact that Turkey -- and not Russia -- fits the meaning of "Gog, of the land of Magog" (Ezekiel 38:2).  That meaning hinges upon the word "mountain".  Turkey is a mountainous country.  And, one mountain in Turkey has a significant place in the Holy Bible.  That mountain is Ararat -- the mountain, and range of mountains, where Noah's Ark came to rest after the Great Flood.  There is not one geographic region of Russia that is specifically mentioned in the Bible.  But, several geographic regions of Turkey are mentioned in the Bible.  One of the last references to a location in Turkey is to the city of Pergamos (modern-day Bergama) -- "where Satan's throne is" (Rev. 2:13).  (NOTE:  All of the "seven churches" named in the beginning of Revelation are located in what is now Turkey.)

What a coincidence that Jesus specified that Satan's throne is in a country that is most likely to lead a revived Islamic empire.  What a coincidence that Allah is the moon god of Mesopotamia, and is the son of Baal -- the sun god of Mesopotamia.  Thus, as described in my book Tribulation:  2008, the Old Testament is "father against Father", and the New Testament age is "son against Son".  What a coincidence that the Islamic "union" mapped above just happens to match Ezekiel's description of a huge coalition of nations that will rise up against Israel.  (That coalition even includes "Cush and Put" -- modern-day Somalia and Libya.)  What a coincidence that a relatively minor event -- the Israeli boarding of a boat full of agents provacateur -- could spark the leaders of those countries into joining such an empire.  What a coincidence that the prime minister of that same central country is the central figure promoting the rhetoric against Israel in the wake of that naval blockade incident.  (The United States Coast Guard routinely stops boats entering our territorial waters -- attempting to smuggle in everything from people, to drugs, to bootleg music -- but such boarding incidents do not spark international anger.)

What a coincidence that the Bible predicts that the War of Gog and Magog will occur during the first half of The Tribulation -- the final, terrible, seven-year segment of human history.  What a coincidence that The Tribulation began on the 29th of September 2008 -- the Hebrew Feast of Trumpets.  What a coincidence that, exactly seven years later (on the Hebrew calendar), there will be a solar eclipse accompanied by a "blood moon" -- just as Jesus predicted would happen "immediately after the tribulation of those days" (Matthew 24:29, emphasis added).  What a coincidence that the eclipse and the blood moon will occur on the Feast of Trumpets.  What a coincidence that the Bible predicts that our final victory (when "we shall all be changed"; see 1st Corinthians 15:51-52) will occur at the last trumpet.

For those that scoff at this analysis, citing Matthew 24:36, my suggestion is that they read Matthew 24:33.  Jesus was very specific in His language.  He said that we will not know the "hour nor the day".  But, only three verses before that, He said that we will know when it is near.  And, just to make sure that we got it and did not lose hope, Jesus gave us a sign that will occur after The Tribulation.  That sign rests upon precise mathematical calculations for the movement of the Sun and the Moon.  Those calculations are openly summarized by NASA for public viewing.  Keep in mind that God used the movements of the Sun and Moon to mark the schedule of many of His feasts by the Israelites.  So, it should be no surprise that Jesus would use those same movements as a guidepost for His followers.

If all of this timing is correct, then the War of Gog and Magog must be coming very soon.  Why?  Because, the peace deal that is predicted in Revelation is brokered by a figure known as The Beast.  He comes to global power with the help of The False Prophet.  The Beast makes a peace treaty with Israel at the end of The War of Gog and Magog.  He then breaks the peace, and is assasinated.  After three days, he will appear to "rise from the dead".  (NOTE:  He will not actually rise from the dead.  The Bible says that the False Prophet will cause people to worship the image of The Beast.  Those that do not have God's Holy Spirit will be duped into thinking that The Beast has been resurrected.  It is at that point -- the false resurrection -- that The Beast will enter his role as The Anti-Christ.)  The Bible states clearly that this false resurrection takes place at the mid-point of The Tribulation.  (It is the singular event that divides the two halves; the second half being even worse than the first half.)  Now, if it is correct that The Tribulation began in September of 2008, and will end in September of 2015, then the mid-point will be in Spring (at the Passover) of 2012.  Between now and then, a massive war must occur, and the peace deal must be arranged.

This year, the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan begins on the 11th of August on our Western calendar.  The Muslims are well known for starting wars and terrorist attacks during Ramadan.  Prime Minister Ergodan told the people of Gaza that, "There are 70 million Sultan Abd Al-Hamids in Turkey, and they all support you."  That was a reference to the last ruler of the Ottoman Empire.  If the increasingly-popular Erdogan does build a new Islamic empire, then it will be built upon anti-Israel rhetoric.  Thus, the sweeping war to destroy Israel must soon follow.  That is why I believe that The War of Gog and Magog will start very soon.

How soon?  Muslims are known for using a unique form of code-speech, in which they signal each other using dates that are known to followers of Islamic history.  Given that Prime Minister Ergodan has told the people of Gaza that the population of his country are like Sultan Abd al-Hamid, then we can surmise that the key to the code is a date related to that person.  Let's examine his birthday.  He was born on 22 September 1842, on the Gregorian calendar.  That converts to the date 16 Sha'ban 1258 on the Islamic calendar.  If we fast-forward to this year, we discover that 16 Sha'ban 1431 converts to 28 July 2010.  That is the date when I would expect something to start in Turkey and spread across the Muslim world.  That date just so happens to be three weeks -- or, less than one lunar cycle -- before the start of Ramadan this year.  The calendar of Islam is a lunar calendar.  (No wonder.  They worship a moon-god.)  Thus, it makes sense that they would "make an offering" of the destruction of Israel at that time.

Would you expect anything less from that "religion of peace"?

Even so, come Lord Jesus!  (Revelation 22:20 -- the final sentence in the Holy Bible.)

Tom Kovach (rhymes with "watch") lives near Nashville, is a former USAF Blue Beret, and has written two books plus columns for several online publications. Tom is an inventor, a horse wrangler, a certified paralegal, and former network talk-show host. He has also run for Congress, and is the AIP state chairman for Tennessee. To learn more, click: www.TomKovach.US.

The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author alone, and do not necessarily reflect the views of America's Independent Party or of any other specific organization.

At the time when this news article came out, I was working a lot of extra hours at my paying job (which isn't writing!).  Thus, I missed this, until seeing it on a message board a few minutes ago.

Obama sells arms to Arabs, but not to Israel
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=139953
(WorldNetDaily, 13 Apr 2010)

Had I known about this yesterday, I would've included it in the above column.

PS:  I'm still working extra hours.  That's mostly why I have not been on the conference calls, if anyone has been wondering.

As mentioned in the root column, many people do not distinguish between the "Muslim world" (religious ties) and the "Arab world" (ethnic ties).  But, the Arabs certainly do.

As mentioned in this recent report from the Jerusalem Post, the ethnic Arabs in charge of Saudi Arabia are more afraid of nuclear weapons in the hands of Iran (ethnic Persians) than they are afraid of Israel.

Saudi airspace open for Iran attack
http://www.jpost.com/IranianThreat/News/Article.aspx?id=178226
(Jerusalem Post, 12 Jun 2010)

The Saudis originally denied a similar report by the London Times, but the J-Post got confirmation from an American military source.

Keep in mind that the bloodiest fighting in the Middle East in the past hundred years was the border war between Iraq (ethnic Arabs) and Iran (ethnic Persians) throughout much of the 1980s.  Millions were killed in that war.  At the mouth of the River Euphrates is the oil-port city of Khoramshahar, whose name means "city of blood" in the Persian (Farsi) language.  Much of the war was over control of that port, which sits on the border of the two countries.

After watching this oil leak in the Gulf, I am convinced that it is going to be used by God for a future judgment. The leak started on April 20, and I examined this day very closely and nothing happened to make a link. With the hurricane season here and Obama shortly going to ramp up his bullying Israel to divide the land, a hurricane could hit the Gulf at the same time Obama is pressuring Israel. At first, no one knew how dangerous this leak was, but now it is clear that this leak has the potential of destroying the entire Gulf Coast and spreading to the East Coast and other nations like Cuba! The estimate is that one-million gallons or more a day is spilling into the Gulf!

Remember, it is very possible that as Obama is forcing Israelis to flee their homes in Israel, Americans might be driven from their homes because of this oil disaster.

Because of the magnitude of the destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina, I referred to it as a direct judgment from God and not a warning. I also warned that if the nation did not repent, that something worse was on the way. Now it is just five years after Katrina and something worse is building in the Gulf.

Katrina hit while New Orleans was holding its vile homosexual event called Southern Decadence. This did not stop but continues. The gambling casinos were all destroyed along the coast, but now they have been rebuilt. America continues to bully Israel and now Obama is using an "Iron fist" instead of the velvet gloves and the previous presidents. The LORD warned with Katrina in 2005, but the church and nation slept through the warning. Now the next round of judgment is building and it can be 10 times worse than Hurricane Katrina as the oil and chemicals can poison the land and make it uninhabitable! The entire Gulf coast could be a toxic dump with numerous cities unlivable! The air could become toxic and blown miles inland.

More at: http://johnmcternansinsights.blogspot.com/

I believe that the oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico can be used by God to bring about changes in America's behavior.  However, I stop short of declaring that it was, in itself, a specific punishment sent by God.  (I know that others have said that it is.)

The BP oil disaster was a "man-caused disaster"; that is, an act of economic terrorism.

Just days before the rig explosion, Goldman-Sachs sold off 44 percent of their shares of British Petroleum (the company that owns the oil).  They also sold the same percentage of their shares in Trans-Ocean (the company that owns the drilling rig).  Can you say the word "foreknowledge"?  Obama is promising to investigate BP (the target of the sabotage), but has not said a word about investigating his buddies at Goldman-Sachs.  Can you say the word "collusion"?

Last week, the EU Times quoted from a partially-released intelligence report by the Russian Navy.  (Contrary to popular opinion, Russia does not "have a dog in this fight"; at least, not this specific aspect of the larger fight.)  Therefore, it is actually in Russia's best interests to provide intelligence information to the United States.  (Whether our government will use that information wisely -- or be allowed to, under the current Usurper-in-Chief -- is another question.)

According to that intelligence report, North Korean commandos used a mini-sub to first sabotage the wellhead, and then destroy the drilling rig.  The Russian Navy report even named the North Korean ship, and the model of the mini-sub.

If you look at the TV-news video of the oil spewing from the broken pipe at the wellhead, you will see that the break appears to be a fairly straight line.  Given that those pipes are built to withstand enormous opposing pressures (deep-sea water pressing in, while gushing oil is pressing out), what are the chances that the pipe could break in a fairly straight line??  (This same analytical question was a key to unraveling the mystery of the explosion of TWA Flight 800, which was cut cleanly in two by the "continuous-rod warhead" of a surface-to-air missile.)

People that have worked on offshore oil rigs say that the explosion of this rig was much more volatile than what could normally be expected.  I grew up in South Texas, and have seen oil-well fires at fairly close distances.  The sudden destruction of this particular rig is atypical.  Crude petroleum tends to "burn" more than it does "explode".  The pattern in this incident suggests more than merely an oil fire.

Why?

What would North Korea have to gain from destroying an American oil rig, so close to American shores?  At first glance, nothing -- except, of course, for kicking the shin of the giant that prevented them from swallowing South Korea five decades ago.  But, if you look beneath the surface (pun not intended)....

If the oil production of the United States suddenly plummets, then Iran and Venezuela can extort even more petro-profits from the United States.  And, if the US is unable to sell as much oil on the global market, then Iran can finally make good on her threat to transfer the oil-commodity market to the Iranian Oil Bourse.  The stated goal of that organization, via President Mahmoud Ahmedi-Nejad, is to undermine the strength of the American Dollar by shifting the oil trade away from the dollar.  (Presently, the world oil trade is done exclusively in American Dollars.)

If the oil disaster boosts Iran's oil profits, and simultaneously hurts the profits of the United States, then Iran will have "money to burn".  What is one of Iran's long-stated national goals?  The complete destruction of the United States (whom they call the "great Satan") and Israel (the "little Satan").  If the profits of the Iranian Oil Bourse increase, then they can buy things.  What will they buy?  Iran has openly stated on numerous occasions that they will buy multi-stage ballistic missiles from ... North Korea.

The economy of North Korea -- the "hermit country" -- is in shambles.  Her people are starving, although their ruling elite lives in luxury.  Some flee across the border into Manchuria, and it seems that the Chinese government even turns a sympathetic blind eye to these "illegal aliens".  (Imagine a place that is so bad that one must flee into Communist China for a better life!)  If they help to hurt the United States, and thus help to put Iran into a position of wealth, then they can make huge profits from the sale of those missiles to Iran.

And, in the process of all this, forge an alliance among "the kings of the East", thus preparing the world for the Battle of Armageddon that will follow (after two or three years of phony "peace" under the Anti-Christ) the coming War of Gog and Magog.

As predicted in

the root column:

Turkish group ready for new flotilla

June 16, 2010

JERUSALEM (JTA) -- A Turkish humanitarian group that purportedly has ties to terrorism said it will send another flotilla to break the Gaza blockade.

Representatives of the Turkish Humanitarian Relief Foundation, or IHH, said Wednesday during a news conference at the European Parliament in Strasbourg that it will participate in another flotilla of aid and activists next month. According to IHH, which Israel and some U.S. Congress members say have ties to terrorism, it already has acquired six ships for the late July flotilla and called on others to add vessels. 

Several pro-Palestinian groups are scheduled to participate in what has been dubbed the Fleet of Freedom 2, including Turkish, Greek and Swedish nongovernmental organizations, Free Gaza and the International Committee to Lift the Siege on Gaza.

[emphasis added]

for the full report, click JTA:
http://www.jta.org/news/article/2010/06/16/2739647/turkish-group-ready-for-new-flotilla

Spread the word ... while you still can.

Sun, 20 Jun 2010, Israel National News

US, Israel Warships in Suez May Be Prelude to Faceoff with Iran

Egypt allowed at least one Israeli and 11 American warships to pass through the Suez Canal as an Iranian flotilla approaches Gaza. Egypt closed the canal to protect the ships with thousands of soldiers, according to the British-based Arabic language newspaper Al Quds al-Arabi.

One day prior to the report on Saturday, Voice of Israel government radio reported that the Egyptian government denied an Israeli request not to allow the Iranian flotilla to use the Suez Canal to reach Gaza, in violation of the Israeli sea embargo on the Hamas-controlled area.

International agreements require Egypt to keep the Suez open even for warships, but the armada, led by the USS Truman with 5,000 sailors and marines, was the largest in years. Egypt closed the canal to fishing and other boats as the armada moved through the strategic passageway that connects the Red and Mediterranean Seas.

Despite Egypt’s reported refusal to block the canal to Iranian boats, the clearance for the American-Israeli fleet may be a warning to Iran it may face military opposition if the Iranian Red Crescent ship continues on course to Gaza.

To read the full report, click here:
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/138164

All signs are pointing in the same direction.

The BP oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico is being used for at least two reasons.

1.  To set up the economic conditions for the War of Gog and Magog.  (re:  Iranian Oil Bourse)

2.  To prepare a very large "lake of fire" for the punishment of The Beast and the False Prophet.  Click the link to see The Beast's coat-of-arms.

Right now, both The Beast and the False Prophet are well-known in politics.

Obama to Abbas: I will make every effort to ensure Palestinian statehood

Not quite three full days after meeting with Netanyahu and stating that he supports the security of Israel.

Wasn't that about the same amount of time between Judas' meeting with the Sanhedrein and his betrayal of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane?  Hmmmmmm.

Abbas to Arabs: We'd Support a War Against Israel

INN

July 9, 2010

by Maayana Miskin

"If you want war, and if all of you will fight Israel, we are in favor. But the Palestinians will not fight alone because they don't have the ability to do it,” Abbas quoted himself as having said at the March Arab League Summit in Libya

For more on this story, click here.

Obama supports "Palestine".  Palestine supports Abbas.  Abbas supports Hamas and wants to start a war on Israel.  Hamas will soon receive supplies from a second Gaza aid flotilla from Turkey.  Iran says that they will send their navy to help the Turkish navy escort the flotilla.  Abbas says that Palestine "will not fight alone" against Israel.

Therefore, following the obvious dominos, Obama supports all-out, multi-national jihad against Israel ... and soon.  (see above:  28 July)

I wonder:  when Obama recently met with Netanyahu, did he kiss Bibi on the cheek in the Rose Garden??

God help us.  (At least, some of us!)

Within a 24-hour period (16-17 Jul 2010), minor earthquakes have struck three places that are significant.

I've been tracking earthquakes for years, and this pattern is definitely unusual.

The quakes have struck near, but not directly on:
1.  Washington, DC
2.  "Area 51", near Las Vegas
3.  Bohemian Grove, northeast of San Francisco.

Most people understand the significance of the first two, but many people do not understand the significance of the Bohemian Grove.  It is described in my book, Tribulation:  2008.  You can also read about it in The Crossbow.

In all three cases, the quakes are so minor that they could be precursors to larger ones.

Earthquakes often occur on/near the dates of prophetically-significant events.  For several weeks, I have predicted that the War of Gog and Magog will begin between the 9th of Av (Hebrew calendar -- equating to 20 July this year) and the birthday of Sultan abd al-Hamin (Muslim calendar -- equating to 28 July this year).

Coincidence??  I don't think so.

Hmmmmmm.

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 -- the 9th of Av on the Jewish calendar

from:  WorldNetDaily

 FROM WND'S JERUSALEM BUREAU

'Obama pledges big movement' on carving up Israel

Palestinian officials say they expect takeover of territory by end of year

Posted: July 19, 2010
10:15 pm Eastern
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=181281

Photo by: Associated Press

In Pakistan, on Wed, 28 Jul 2010 -- the exact date when I predicted the spark of the War of Gog and Magog -- there was a suspicious crash of a civilian airliner.

Was that crash caused intentionally?  Did fanatical Muslims plot to kill their fellow Muslims in order to spark a war against Israel and the United States?  Did the plot fizzle, when the airliner missed striking a famous mosque?  But, could it reignite -- in a war of Sunnis vs. Shiites -- if it is proven that Iran was behind the crash?  Could "Mad Mahmoud" divert the strife, and redirect it toward Israel and the Unites States?

You decide.

AirBlue ED202 -- mishap or ... murder??

http://www.aipnews.com/talk/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=15911

Spread the word.