The lawn was quite ugly as it was and had at least 10 ridges laid from the sidewalk to the building side by side. They looked like grave mounds. 

I decided I would get a head start on the work myself and started digging up the edge of the lawn so it could be smoothed out and pretty again. 

As I dug along the edge of the lawn, each mound ended in a thick dark brown rope. It was thick enough to tie up a ship to a dock. The rope was buried in the mounds. 

As I started loosening the end of the first rope, the ends were coming apart strand by strand and laying there limply. But when I moved on to dig up the second mound edge and looked back to the first mound the ends of the rope were coming alive and turning to green snakes which started to come up and slither out of the rope. 

I became squeamish at seeing the first snake so I turned my attention to another lawn on the other side of the main door of the building. 

This lawn had ridges laying horizontal in the same direction as the sidewalk. I thought it looked much neater until I saw that the ridges were made of rows of dead grass blades all laying in the same direction. There was a lot of work to do on the lawns and I knew I couldn't do it all alone. 

I decided to go inside the building and when I did, I received a phone call from a man telling me about the death of a prominent Jewish woman.  Her name was Esther and we were to go to her funeral. I was shown the map of the country and how to find the funeral where we would sing for her funeral. 

When I and some other women got to the funeral, I thought I would sing with the other women, but I didn't know the words to the song. Also we were told that the music was in two parts and the women would have to divide into two groups. Half the women would sing the left notes and half the women would sing the notes on the right. 

The music started. It was sung in a minor key appropriate for a funeral and when the women divided into the two parts, it oddly clashed notes from time to time but was orderly and it sounded all right. 

NOTE: Traditional Jewish Funeral Rituals  Reform rabbis may allow music at a funeral, and may do more of the service in English.

While I sat there watching them sing, I was sitting on a wide sofa and it became obvious I was sitting on the sofa where the young girls/ladies were allowed to come out and observe the funeral proceedings. 

Each girl came out from a back room, each one wearing a beautiful flouncy pastel colored dress, each one prettier than the one before. They all came and joined me on the sofa and sat with me and that was a joyous occasion. 

I went home then and it was dark out by now. Everyone was getting ready for bed and I looked out the window and I saw a large brown bear appear on the lawn. 

I started screaming, "Bear! Bear! - there's a wild bear out there!"  I was screaming so loud, my voice choked up and I couldn't scream anymore. 

I saw what I thought was a baseball laying out on the lawn. I thought that if I ran out there and threw the baseball at the bear that it might make the bear chase the baseball and the bear would run away. 

So I bravely ran outside to quickly pick up the baseball and when I saw it closer, the baseball turned into a black and white skunk and the baseball was its head.

The skunk got up and ran towards the bear so I ran back into the house where I closed and locked all the windows and doors. 

I was still afraid the bear might come back and break a window and try to get into the house. I told the others I would feel safer sleeping upstairs. I headed for the stairs and woke up. 

1. Esther means Star of the East.
2. The book of Esther is never mentioned or quoted in the New Testament.
3. God is not mentioned in the book of Esther.
4. The book of Esther teaches the reality of God's divine Providence.
5. Ruth was a Gentile who married a Jew; Esther was a Jew who married a Gentile.
6. Mordecai was Esther's cousin.
7. Hadassah is Esther's Hebrew name.
8. All the letters of the Hebrew alphabet are found in Esther 3:13
9. The Hebrew word Mishteh, meaning "banquet" occurs 20 times in Esther (which is equal to ALL the other times it is found in the rest of the Bible)
10. The longest verse in the Bible appears in Esther. It has 43 words in Hebrew (and approximately 90 words in the English translation) It appears in Esther 8:9

• According to Dr. David L. Brown's Iraq in the Bible, which has recently circulated the Internet:

  Israel is the nation most often mentioned in the Bible. But, do you know which nation is second? It is Iraq! However, that is not the name that is used in the Bible. The names used in the Bible are Babylon, Land of Shinar, and Mesopotamia. The word Mesopotamia means between the two rivers, more exactly between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. The name Iraq means country with deep roots. Indeed Iraq is a country with deep roots and is a very significant country in the Bible.

  The first world Empire was in Iraq. Daniel 1:1-2 & 2:36-38

  The events of the book of Esther took place in Iraq.

  No other nation, except Israel, has more history and prophecy associated with it than Iraq.

• Purim will occur on the following days of our present-day calendar. Remember that all Jewish holidays begin at sundown on the day before the date specified:

   

  • March 18, 2003 (Jewish Year 5763)
  • March 7, 2004 (Jewish Year 5764)
  • March 25, 2005 (Jewish Year 5765)
  • March 14, 2006 (Jewish Year 5766)
  • March 4, 2007 (Jewish Year 5767)

Queen Esther saves All the Jews (Book of Esther):

    This is the story of a beautiful Jewish woman, Esther (from the Hebrew meaning star, happiness), who became Queen of Persia when King Ahasuerus (or Xerxes ) married her without knowing she was a Jew. She was a Jewess of the tribe of Benjamin, daughter of Abihail, and bore before her accession to the throne the name of Hádássah (Edissa, meaning myrtle).
    Her family had been deported from Jerusalem to Babylon in the time of Jechonias (599 B.C.). On the death of her parents she was adopted by her father's brother, Mordecai or Mardochai, who then dwelt in Susan, the capital of Persia... he guided her and became a gatekeeper for the king to stay close to Esther.
    Haman or Aman, the prime minister, a wicked person, is offended when Mordecai refuses to bow down to him. Haman devises to have Mordecai hanged, and plans a massive persecution and a massacre, killing all the Jews in the world in one day!...  Mordecai, however, is honored by the king for reporting a plot against the king's life and the wicked Haman is eventually executed instead.
    Queen Esther, after many prayers and fasting for three days, persuaded the king to kill Haman and grant Mordecai the king's "signet ring" and the right to save the Jews. The king ordered that Aman should be hanged on the gibbet prepared for Mordecai, and, confiscating his property, bestowed it upon the intended victim. He charged Mordecai to address to all the governors of Persia letters authorizing the Jews to defend themselves and to kill all those who, by virtue of the previous decree, should attack them. During two days the Jews took a bloody revenge on their enemies in Susan and other cities.
    The festival of Purim commemorates this victory... the saving of the Jews by Esther. The word "Purim" is used because Haman determined by lot (pûr, pl. pûrîm), that the massacre should take place a twelvemonth hence.
    It is a Book with pious prayers by all the Jews for Esther when she is ready to intercede to the King... and beautiful prayers of Mordocai (Est.13) and of Esther (Est.14).
    

What is a Prophet?

Many people today think of a prophet as any person who sees the future. While the gift of prophecy certainly includes the ability to see the future, a prophet is far more than just a person with that ability.

A prophet is basically a spokesman for G-d, a person chosen by G-d to speak to people on G-d's behalf and convey a message or teaching. Prophets were role models of holiness, scholarship and closeness to G-d. They set the standards for the entire community.

The Hebrew word for a prophet, navi (Nun-Bet-Yod-Alef) comes from the term niv sefatayim meaning "fruit of the lips," which emphasizes the prophet's role as a speaker.

The Talmud teaches that there were hundeds of thousands of prophets: twice as many as the number of people who left Egypt, which was 600,000. But most of the prophets conveyed messages that were intended solely for their own generation and were not reported in scripture. Scripture identifies only 55 prophets of Israel.

A prophet is not necessarily a man. Scripture records the stories of seven female prophets, listed below, and the Talmud reports that Sarah's prophetic ability was superior to Abraham's.

A prophet is not necessarily a Jew. The Talmud reports that there were prophets among the gentiles (most notably Balaam, whose story is told in Numbers 22), although they were not as elevated as the prophets of Israel (as the story of Balaam demonstrates). And some of the prophets, such as Jonah, were sent on missions to speak to the gentiles.

According to some views, prophecy is not a gift that is arbitrarily confered upon people; rather, it is the culmination of a person's spiritual and ethical development. When a person reaches a sufficient level of spiritual and ethical achievement, the Shechinah (Divine Spirit) comes to rest upon him or her. Likewise, the gift of prophecy leaves the person if that person lapses from his or her spiritual and ethical perfection.

The greatest of the prophets was Moses. It is said that Moses saw all that all of the other prophets combined saw, and more. Moses saw the whole of the Torah, including the Prophets and the Writings that were written hundeds of years later. All subsequent prophecy was merely an expression of what Moses had already seen. Thus, it is taught that nothing in the Prophets or the Writings can be in conflict with Moses's writings, because Moses saw it all in advance.

The Talmud states that the writings of the prophets will not be necessary in the World to Come, because in that day, all people will be mentally, spiritually and ethically perfect, and all will have the gift of prophecy.

ESTHER'S PROPHECY OF THE HANGING OF THE 10 SONS OF HAM OCCURRED AFTER WORLD WAR TWO WITH THE HANGING OF THE 10 NAZI WAR CRIMINALS

Using the Jewish method of recording years, the number 707 can represent the year 5707 on the Jewish calendar. Webster's NewWorld Hebrew Dictionary states: "In practice . . . the thousands are skipped and the Jewish year is referred to by quoting, in Jewish numerical symbols, the figure from the hundreds down" (Introduction, The Jewish Calender, p. xxiv).

As shown above, 5707 on the Jewish calendar was the year that the 10 Nazi war criminals were hanged for their crime of attempting to eradicate the Jewish people. For centuries Jews who read the book of Esther had the future date for the fulfillment of her prophecy there in plain sight, but it could not be deciphered until the event actually occurred!

See: http://users.aristotle.net/~bhuie/code10.htm

The Ten Sons

Haman was hung on the gallows he had constructed for Mordecai immediately following the banquet with Esther and the king. His ten sons, however, were slain at a much later date, the time designated for the slaughter of the Jewish people according to Haman’s decree. That date being 13 Adar.

Each son’s name is listed separately in scripture. Names are listed in scripture to show a special significance, in this case to show that each son was prominent. In addition, the names of the ten sons are written singly; each on a separate line of text. Usually when names, or other words, are set apart in Hebrew scripture, they are stacked in the manner of bricks: one whole over two halves, etc. This is not the case with the names of Haman’s sons. Their names are written as whole name over whole name, thus showing a weakness in the foundation. In other words, though Haman’s sons enjoyed power and prosperity, they were easily defeated.

The Vav

There is another reason why the ten names hold a special significance. Remember that the Megillah, the Hebrew scroll of Esther, is written in Hebrew. One letter stands differently than the other Hebrew characters in the text. This vav is the first letter of the last son’s name. The letter also appears larger than the other Hebrew characters; therefore, special significance is drawn.

The rabbis taught that this letter is larger in order to show the manner of death of the ten sons. The larger vav, I, which resembles a large stake, represents a very large gallows upon which they believed the 10 sons were "hung" one above the other, rather than 10 separate gallows.

The term gallows is misleading for modern readers. The sons, and Haman himself, were not hung by a noose which is representative of capital punishment in the old west. Rather, the victims of hanging in Persian times were impaled on a large stake and left to hang for public exhibition. This would lend some credence to what the rabbis suspected.

The rabbis also speculated another reason the vav in the last son’s name is larger. They taught that the vav pointed to the sixth millennium. The letter vav is the sixth letter in the Hebrew alphabet, and is used for the number six. It is also a letter that is used to indicate man, as man was created on the sixth day. If Adam had not sinned, he would have remained immortal. However, when he sinned, he became mortal. The recording of the generations in scripture makes a distinction involving the vav.

These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the L-rd G-d made the earth and the heavens,

MORE PROPHECIES REVEALED

CONCERNING THE PROPHECY OF THE BOOK OF ESTHER 

THE most important book in the Bible for you to study now, and that most nearly about to be fulfilled, is one of the most mystic books in the Old Testament, the book of Esther.

This book is a mystic prophecy, written in the form of an actual history. If I give you the key, the clue of the threadof it, it will be! the easiest thing in the world to unravel the whole.

The great King Assuerus, who had all the world under his dominion, and possessed the wealth of all the nations, is the genius of the age.

Queen Vasthi, who for her disobedience to the king was deposed from her royal seat, is the orthodox Catholic Church.

The Jews, scattered among the nations under the dominion of the king, are the true Israel of God.

Mardochi the Jew represents the spirit of intuitive reason and understanding.

His enemy Aman is the spirit of materialism, taken into the favour and protection of the genius of the age, and exalted to the highest place in the world's councils after the deposition of the orthodox religion.

Now Aman has a wife and ten sons.

Esther--who, under the care and tuition of Mardochi, is brought up pure and virgin--is that spirit of love and sympathetic interpretation which shall redeem the world.

I have told you that it shall be redeemed by a "woman."

Now the several philosophical systems by which the councillors of the age propose to replace the dethroned Church are one by one submitted to the judgment of the age; and Esther, coming last, shall find favour.

Six years shall she be anointed with oil of myrrh, that is, with study and training severe and bitter, that she may be proficient in intellectual knowledge, as must all systems which seek the favour of the age.

And six years with sweet perfumes, that is, with the gracious loveliness of the imagery and poetry of the faiths of the past, that religion may not be lacking in sweetness and beauty.

But she shall not seek to put on any of those adornments of dogma, or of mere sense, which, by trick of priestcraft, former systems have used to gain power or favour with the world and the age, and for which they have been found wanting.

Now there come out of the darkness and the storm which shall arise upon the earth, two dragons. 

And they fight and tear each other, until there arises a star, a fountain of light, a queen, who is Esther.

I have given you the key. Unlock the meaning of all that is written.

I do not tell you if in the history of the past these voices had part in the world of men.

If they had, guess now who were Mardochi and Esther.

But I tell you that which shall be in the days about to come. 

From: http://www.sacred-texts.com/wmn/cws/cws13.htm

This seems obvious once it is pointed out. By the time Esther takes place, after all, Jews have already been released to return to the land, and have been rebuilding the temple. This restoration inspires confidence among Jews, which takes a distorted form in Mordecai's arrogant nationalistic Judaism. Haman would undoubtedly have seen that Jerusalem was the source of the problem, and would have wanted to strike at the head and not merely at the tail. This also strengthens Jim Jordan's interpretation of Ezekiel 38-39, which he understands as a prophecy of the events of the book of Esther as well.

See:  THE BUILDING OF SOLOMON'S TEMPLE

The next question that has been asked is a little puzzling. Jeremiah said (29:10) that after seventy years in the Babylonian exile, G-d would bring the Jews back to Israel. As a comfort to those who would soon be exiled, Jeremiah told them that the exile would be short. The Gemara in Megillah (12a) says that Daniel, while in Babylonia, tried to calculate when the seventy years ended and made a mistake in the calculations. How is this a problem with Jeremiah's prophecy? He told them that the exile would be short and Daniel was slightly mistaken about how short. In fact, the book of Ezra begins by demonstrating that this prophecy came true (see Ezra 1:1-4).

Indeed, this prophecy came true in many different ways. Esther Rabbah (2:11) tells us based on Esther (1:7) that Achashverosh used utensils from the Holy Temple. However, this is difficult because in Ezra (1:7-8) we are told that Cyrus had previously sent the utensils from the Temple to Israel. If the utensils had already been sent to Israel, how could Achashverosh use them in Shushan? The Ramban (Chiddushim on Talmud, Megillah, end of first chapter) answers this beautifully. We know from Daniel (1:2) that when Yehoyakim was exiled, some of the utensils from the Temple were taken to Babylonia. Eighteen years later, when the Temple was destroyed, the remaining utensils were taken (Jeremiah 52:17-23).

Seventy years after Yehoyakim's exile, in fulfillment of Jeremiah's prophecy, Cyrus gave the Jews permission to return to Israel and rebuild the Holy Temple (Ezra 1:1). This did not end up allowing the Jews to rebuild the Temple, as explained in the book of Ezra, because it had only been fifty two years since the destruction of the Temple. However, some people and, as Ramban points out, some but not all utensils were allowed to return to Israel. The remaining utensils stayed in exile until seventy years from their exile had passed. Not only was Jeremiah's prophecy fulfilled, it was even fulfilled with the utensils of the Temple.

From: http://www.aishdas.org/toratemet/en_prophecy.html

Spoke 17

God's Lot for His Enemies

Isaiah 17 Esther

Woe to the multitude of many people, which make a noise like the noise of the seas; and to the rushing of nations, that make a rushing like the rushing of mighty waters! The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters: but God shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, and shall be chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like a rolling thing before the whirlwind. And behold at eveningtide trouble; and before the morning he is not. This is the portion of them that spoil us, and the lot of them that rob us.

Isaiah 17

And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath. ... wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai. In the first month, that is, the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar.

Esther 3.5f

The Seventeenth Book of the Bible is one of two that does not explicitly mention any name of God. The reasons for this have long been seen as of deliberate divine design. The book of Esther reveals the hidden hand of God in what appears to be random events, such as wicked Haman's casting of the Pur, that is, the Lot (cf. Megillat Esther: Unveiling the Hidden).

This is, of course, the only way to understand the reality of the Holy Bible, Prophecy, and its divine structure in the form of the Wheel. And here with the incredible KeyLinks between Isaiah 17 and the 17th Book, we see Esther doing double duty providing evidence of God's hidden hand in both its message found in the plain text and in its geometric integration with the rest of Scripture.

The word Pur does not occur outside the book of Esther, but its synonym Goral (S# 1486) does. Beginning in Esther 3.5 we read:

And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath. And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai. In the first month, that is, the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar. And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep they the king's laws: therefore it is not for the king's profit to suffer them. If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring it into the king's treasuries.

Goral (Lot) appears 77 times, most frequently in Joshua where it was used under the direct command of God to determine each tribes inheritance in the land. In the Book of Isaiah, it appears only three times, which gives a 3/66 or 1/22 chance of it randomly falling in Isaiah 17 (corresponding to the Book of Esther). That's a little less than a 5% chance - not very good odds, but certainly not impossible.

These odds shift somewhat when we read the context in which the lot appears in Isaiah - it is speaking of what happens to those who seek to destroy God's People:

This is the portion of them that spoil us, and the lot of them that rob us.

The word translated as rob is bazaz (S# 962). It is translated as "prey" in Esther 3 as part of the destruction ordered by wicked Haman after he received his lot:

Then were the king's scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded unto the king's lieutenants, and to the governors that were over every province, and to the rulers of every people of every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king's ring. And the letters were sent by posts into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey.

Isaiah 17 and Chapter 3 of Esther are the only chapters in all the Bible that mention both Goral and Bazaz. We have therefore, this KeyLink declaring the eternal perfection of God's Holy Word:

 

	KeyLink: God's Lot for His Enemies
	Isaiah 17Bible 17

I challenge anyone to try to calculate the odds of this KeyLink happening by chance! The answer is in fact zero because there is no principle that demands Isaiah use either the word goral nor bazaz in any of his writings, let alone in a mathematically perfect integration with the order of the Christian Canon! Glory to God in the Highest! Hallelujah to the Name of the Most High God!

Yet for all this, we have just begun. Returning to Isaiah 17.12, we see God's description of the nations seeking to destroy Israel. I give an interlinear translation so God's Miracle can be clearly seen:

The second word from the right - Hamon (S# 1995) - differs from the name of the wicked Hamon by nothing but the vowel letter Vav. This means that the name of the enemy of God's people, who used a lot to find the time to rob and kill them, is implicit here in Isaiah 17 along with everything else that points to the Book of Esther. Oh Glory to God! How I tremble when I open His Holy Word!

Looking at the last word - Yehemayon - we see one of the Purim traditions, the making of loud noises! This word is from the root Hamah (S# 1993) which is closely related to Hamon and the name of Haman, the archvillain of Esther! Jews typically spin a mechanical noisemaking device - grogger - to make a loud grating sound to drown out the name of Haman when the Scroll of Esther is read. We have here a complete convergence of Rabbinbical tradition, the meaning of the Hebrew Letters, and the structure of the Christian Canon in the form of the Wheel! Praise God! His wonders never cease! This is the very wisdom of Almighty God - enacted in the History of Israel and enshrined forever in His Holy Word.

From: http://goodnewschristianministry.org/babylonchapter16.htm

Who is Gog? Ezekiel 38:10 let's us read his thinking: "On that day it shall come to pass that thoughts will arise in your mind, and you will make an evil plan: You will say, "I will go up against a land of unwalled villages; I will go to a peaceful people, who dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates ­ to take plunder and to take booty, to stretch out your hand against a people gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and goods, who dwell in the midst of the land."

As we see from these words, the plan of Gog is to murder the people of Israel and steal all their possessions. What happens when Gog tries to put his plan into action?

Ezekiel says: "And it will come to pass at the same time, when Gog comes against the land of Israel, says the Lord God, "that My fury will show in My face. I will call for a sword against Gog throughout all My mountains," says the Lord God. Every man's sword will be against his brother. And I will bring him to judgment with pestilence and bloodshed; I will rain down on him, on his troops, and on the many people who are with him, flooding rain, great hailstones, fire, and brimstone" (Ezekiel 38:18-22).

What will take place after this judgment of God against Gog and his followers? The Lord states in Ezekiel 39:11: "It will come to pass in that day that I will give Gog a burial place there in Israel, the valley of those who pass by east of the sea; and it will obstruct travelers, because there they will bury Gog and all his multitude. Therefore they will call it the Valley of Hamon Gog."

So that is a sketch of the judgment against Gog. It was a judgment that couldn't have come at a better time. God had brought His people into captivity. Due to their sin and unfaithfulness, He had punished the Israelites. Unarmed and captive, the condition of God's children was one of weakness and vulnerability. Like a hungry lion that spies a baby gazelle, Gog sees the utter weakness of the Israelites and moves in for the kill. It doesn't work. At the very moment when Gog and Magog are on the verge of annihilating the house of Israel, the Lord intervenes and delivers His people. The moment that Gog and his army are poised to massacre the helpless; they themselves end up as a massive array of corpses, scattered on the face of the earth. Just when Gog and his troops are salivating over the plunder of Israel; they themselves are plundered.

Now we come to a difficult question. When does this battle that Ezekiel describes between Gog and the Church take place? Is there a historical fulfillment we can point to? Some commentators don't think so. They insist that Ezekiel's prophecy is strictly symbolic, or mythological. It never took place, never will, and the best we can do is enjoy it as a figurative victory of God over His enemies.

Others prefer a historical fulfillment. They try to detect a realization of the Gog and Magog story in Israel's struggle against the Assyrians; or against Judah's encounter with the Babylonians; the Maccabees' struggle against the Roman tyrant Antiochus Epiphanies. Then there have been countless attempts to see a contemporary fulfillment of Gog and Magog. Medieval theologians asserted that Gog and Magog must correspond to Atilla the Hun and the ravages of the barbarians, or Genghis Khan and the terror of his Mongols. Martin Luther thought that Gog and Magog pointed to the Church's struggle against the Pope and Islam. Since Gog and Magog are mentioned in Revelation chapter 20, today's Dispensationalists tend to see fulfillment in the near future. In this view Gog and Magog appear at the end of the seven year Tribulation. Either the Russian army comes down against Israel, or the Islamic nations do.

Possibly the most persuasive and satisfying interpretation regards the first fulfillment of Ezekiel's Gog and Magog narrative in the book of Esther.

[See James B. Jordan, "The Battle of Gog and Magog" in Biblical Horizons, Nos. 2 and 3. The web site address is: www.biblicalhorizons.com/biblicalhorizons/ Also Gary DeMar's Last Days Madness; 1999; pp. 363-9. Other commentaries consulted: Keil and Delitzsch, Iain Duguid, Daniel Block, Fairbairn, Lind, and Schroeder. Duguid's is by far the best. Rearden's quote from St. James Daily Devotional Guide. The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt by Edmund Morris, and The Rough Riders by Theodore Roosevelt.]

What are the connections between Gog and Magog of Ezekiel, and the events of Esther? There are several. The regions involved in both passages encompass the extensive boundaries of the Persian Empire. So there is a geographical similarity. Then, the plunder idea is analogous: in both texts evil tyrants try to plunder the Church and instead are plundered themselves. What's more, the quantity of soldiers killed is commensurate; a huge number expire in both accounts. Furthermore, both Ezekiel and Esther highlight the burial of the dead. Ezekiel 39:11 tells us that Gog and his followers were buried in the Valley of "Hamon Gog." That is interesting. When the prophet Ezekiel tells us that the dead were interred at the Valley of Hamon Gog, maybe that is Ezekiel's way of uniting Haman with Gog. Thus, Haman is Gog, Gog is Haman, and Ezekiel's portrayal of Gog and Magog is a prophecy of what would happen after Esther became queen, a prophecy that has already been fulfilled.

Probably the most striking and memorable passage of Ezekiel has to do with the valley of bones. Ezekiel was given a vision of many dry, bleached, bones scattered over the land. That mystic vision is depicted on the stain-glassed window on the south wall. While Ezekiel watched, the bones gradually take on flesh, then life and breath, and the bodies stand up and walk. It is a graphic picture of the outpouring of God's Spirit along with resurrection of the dead. In the battle of Gog and Magog, the opposite happens. The flesh of the enemy troops deteriorates, and God leaves their bones scattered over the earth.

The entire story told by Ezekiel and Esther points to God's sovereignty. God declares in Ezekiel 39:23: "The Gentiles shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity; because they were unfaithful to Me, therefore I hid My face from them. I gave them into the hand of their enemies, and they all fell by the sword."

How can we observe God's sovereignty in these things? We see God's control of history by the way He sent His people into captivity. He hid His face from them. He let them suffer in bondage, and as a result they became easy prey for their enemies. During this season of Lent it is good to remember the hot anger and fiery wrath of God. He hates sin and unfaithfulness with a perfect hatred. His judgment is dreadful. Therefore, God's will for us is not always peace and prosperity, happiness and comfort. He may want to toughen and improve us with trials and tribulation, even death and torture. Through it all, in our darkest hours, we must cling to Him. Such trust in the midst of pain is one of the ways that God sets forth His glory.

Let's read Ezekiel 39:25-29 to see another angle on God's sovereignty. 

First, Ezekiel tells us about God's punishment upon His people. Now he speaks of the Lord's compassion. God brings His people back to the land. After the Church repents of her unfaithfulness and becomes ashamed of Her wrongdoing, God restores His church and revives her. God says: "I will not hide My face from them anymore; [I will pour out my Spirit on them]." First God poured out His wrath, then He poured out His Spirit.

The drama of Gog and Magog was first fulfilled during the life of Queen Esther. But Genesis chapter 10 tells about Magog, and St. John's mention of Gog and Magog in Revelation 20 suggests that Gog is a permanent threat (Rev. 20:8). Haman Gog is a symbol of those who would destroy the Church, and shatter our faith. The forces of evil will always attempt to crush the peace of God's people. Yet, if God is in control of our lives, and if He has poured out His Spirit on us, then we can expect the revival of our dry bones.

Ezekiel is a word of hope to you today. No matter what the forces of evil may do, God's purpose and victory stand secure. The Church's conquest and yours is based on the Cross of Christ and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. You can be sure that the Holy Almighty will vanquish His enemies and receive the glory. If God can defeat Gog and Magog how much more can He take care of you? He has given you His Holy Spirit. Place your anxiety and despair in the Lord's all-controlling hands. Put your trials and fears in the radiance of His glory.

Our Heavenly Father promises: "I will set my glory among the nations." The priority of God's glory may be the most important lesson we can learn on this Fourth Sunday in Lent. As we seek God's glory, our own selfishness and depression begin to retreat. Are you enjoying comfort and happiness? Give God the glory. Are you suffering pain and anguish? Give God the glory. Seek Him; find Him; cling to Him. Through it all, to the end, and forever, for He deserves the glory.

From: http://www.stlukesrec.org/sermons02/4lent02.html

Prophecy 41

Will My Real Bride Please Stand Up!

As Prophecy 46 was spoken and written on 9.17.00, I had 3 policemen surrounded my house in an unmarked white car pulled up in front of my house. I recognized the chief of police knocking on my door. My son saw another one in the back and another on the side of the house. He said he had come because of four 911 calls originating at that address. I told him I found that strange, because no one was here but my son and I was on the telephone at that time speaking to another friend. This actually happened minutes after I hung up the phone after reading the prophecy of "Don't Be Part of the Counterfeit Bride". Please pray for my protection. 

Elisabeth Elijah Nikomia.

* * * * * * *

My Bride cannot enter in without the fragrance of My anointing. You cannot overdue the fragrance of My anointing. You are to seek this higher anointing. Let it be known that no man or woman can give you this anointing, only My Sweet Holy Spirit can cleanse you with the sweet perfume of My anointing reserved for My bride. Prepare to go home and drench yourself in the power in the Holy Spirit's anointing. Put on your wedding gown. It is my robe of righteousness. I wore a crown of thorns ,you shall wear like a tiara a crown of My glory that is placed upon your head.

As Esther prepared herself for the king, you are preparing yourself for THE KING OF KINGS, THE LORD OF LORDS, YOUR LORD GOD ALMIGHTY YAHSHUA IS MY NAME, AND I AM YOUR SOON COMING BRIDEGROOM!

As a wedding announcements are sent forth, and invitations are sent, I too send forth My announcement by Gabriel blowing the shofar, and only those who are My bride will hear the announcement for My bride. It will be too late to think to get ready then ,so be prepared for the coming announcement, you'll either do it yourself or through My apostles and prophets. Heed My warning!  Heed the warning that says I AM coming. It is an elopement, only because the Bridegroom knows for sure. Now go forth, be not ashamed and give the invitation. They're not amazed how many will refuse it. But grieve not but they did not fit or pass the question or the loyalty test or the love test or the sacrifice test, nor the obedience test. Therefore, they are unfit to be called My Bride. There will be those that will take the invitation and rip them up, they will be those that will take the invitation and put them on the shelf for a long time and never use it. Neither I will call Mine.

My Bride has anxiously waited for Me and I'm coming to claim My Bride . I never see race or religion. Doesn't matter what your race or what your religion is, I seek a relationship with Me and I look for one thing, which is the color red which is My shed blood at Calvary. So I say again My home in Heaven will shortly be your home. You will be caught up to meet Me in the air to be drawn by My side while alive. My feet shall not touch the ground of the wicked world as it is now, so get ready My bride to be caught up while you are alive. Let them scoff and mock, I'm standing at the door and I'll knock. All they have to do is to open the door of their heart and repent and invite Me in and I am faithful and I will forgive them of all of their sins. 

Ask them, why do they want to be tortured in Hell or to be burnt in the lake of fire? It was not created for them. It was created for the evil ones. I paid the price at Calvary and to snatch from Satan's grip for all mankind to be set free. But I am a gentleman. I will not break down the door, I just knock and wait to be invited in. So one more time, to tell  them that Lord Yahshua others call me Lord Jesus Christ is coming again. Tell My Bride I'm coming again to take her home. Prepare to go home for My home is your home. Prepare to come home, because I AM coming to take My bride home! Shortly you should hear Gabriel's horn, and you will be caught up to be by My side as I call you forth as My bride. You shall hear the words come hither like a voice of the archangel as he blows the shofar horn. Prepare to go home for I'm coming for My bride! One will be taken and the other left.

Written on September 17, 2000 @ 6:15 pm.

So it is spoken, so it is written. Given to this handmaiden Elisabeth Elijah Nikomia.

From: http://amightywind.com/prophecy/proph41.htm

Consider young Esther, brought into the king's household in preparation to potentially become the new queen. When she came into the palace, was she left on her own, or was she given whatever she needed to please the king and to become the queen?

• Given things for purification (Esther 2:9).
• Given new belongings (Esther 2:9).
• Given seven maidens to assist her (Esther 2:9).
• Given the best place in the house (Esther 2:9).

See also:  

THE BEAR AND ISRAEL

BEAR

Licked Into Shape - The Wrath of God

Like many hibernating creatures, the bear was seen as an emblem of the resurrection when he emerged in the spring. At other times, he represented positive qualities such as bravery, strength, determination, and negative traits such as greed, bad temper, crudeness, brutality, and evil. He occasionally represents the devil and evil leaders - "Like a roaring lion and a charging bear is a wicked ruler over poor people" (Prov. 28:15).

The New Jerusalem is represented by the image of a cow and her calves grazing peacefully alongside a bear and her cubs (Is 11:7).

The phrase "licked into shape" came from the belief that bear cubs were born without any form and were shaped by their mother's tongue after birth. Because of this belief, the bear became a symbol of missions - the missionary licking new Christians into shape with the word of God. Along this same line, the bear is most often seen in the Bible as the arm of God's wrath (or fierce licking). When some youths mocked Elisha the Prophet, he cursed them in the name of the Lord and two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the youths (2 Ki 2:23-24). The kingdom of Persia (represented by a bear in Dan. 7:5) was allowed to destroy many nations as the arm of God's wrath before it was destroyed.

In Amos, God rebukes the wicked who did not even have the sense to fear His millenial coming. He warns, "Woe to you who desire the day of the LORD! For what good is the day of the LORD to you? It will be darkness, and not light. It will be as though a man fled from a lion, and a bear met him!" (Amos 5:18-19).

God, Himself is represented as a mother bear fiercely defending her cubs, the Israelites from their own errors. "I [God] will meet them [Israel] like a bear deprived of her cubs; I will tear open their rib cage...O Israel, you are destroyed, But your help is from Me. (Hosea 13:8-9).

In Lamentations, man's inability to understand the "licking" of God is aptly worded: "He [God] has been to me a bear lying in wait... He has turned aside my ways and torn me in pieces; He has made me desolate" (Lam. 3:10-11).

All scripture quotes are from the NKJV Bible.

From: http://ww2.netnitco.net/users/legend01/bear.htm

ISRAEL: Jittery At Russian Bear's Return To Middle East

 by K. Gajendra Singh

During his 4 day visit to Russia from 24 January, Syrian President Bashar Assad reiterated denial of a missiles deal with Moscow. But he defended Syria’s right to defend itself. He told the Moscow’s State Institute for Foreign Relations that "these are weapons for air defense, meant to prevent aircraft from intruding in our airspace". "If Israel objects to our acquisition of these defensive weapons, it is as if it is saying, 'We want to attack Syria but we do not want them to defend themselves. That's not logical.’"

Reports of a deal have been circulating since weeks for low-level SA-18 missiles and long-range Iskandar-E missiles that can reach all targets in Israel including nuclear site at Dimona. The reports were denied earlier by Russian Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov on a visit to Washington.

Ever since USA invaded Iraq in March 2003 , Syria has been repeatedly threatened both by Israel and USA . President Assad was furious when in 2003 , Israeli jets buzzed him in his palace in Damascus ,as a warning to rein in Hizbullah.

The Jerusalem Post reported that Russia might not finalize the deal for shoulder-held anti-aircraft missiles during the visit , but a jittery Israel was concerned that Moscow could mount the missiles on armored personnel carriers and sell them a few months later. This would take care of Israeli and US objections that the missiles might fall into the hands of Hizbullah or Iraqi resistance. The Post reported last week that Russian President Vladimir Putin told Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in a telephone conversation that the sale was not imminent.

To mark the first high level historic visit in decades , the Russians announced writing off 73 percent of $13.4 billion debt owed by Syria from the days of USSR . President Putin said that the debt write off created "opportunities for long-term cooperation."  This certainly marks the return of the Russian bear from the cold and heralds revival of earlier military co-operation between the two countries , in a limbo since the collapse of the Soviet Union.

A joint statement issued on 26 January included a conciliatory message to the U.S that both countries "vehemently condemn terror in all its forms and expressions, and affirm the strong need of the international community to channel its effort to fight effectively this dangerous challenge to the human race." But Assad invited Russia to the region because , "Russia has an enormous role, and has a lot of respect from Third World countries ... which really hope that Russia will try to revive the positions it used to hold," while talking to the university students, adding that U.S. foreign policy on Iraq policy was "disastrous."

Russia seems to be returning to the Middle East .At the time of the first Gulf war, when Mikhael Gorbachev made attempts for a peaceful settlement before the land attack on Iraq in February ,1991 ,he was brushed aside by US President George HW Bush.

The other main points of the joint statement are ;

On Iraq , the two sides , while stressing commitment to Iraq's territorial integrity, sovereignty and security, asserted support to the political process underway in Iraq to achieve reconciliation and secure the rights of all Iraqis regardless of their religious or ethnic belonging in line with the UN resolution No. 1546 whose implementation creates the proper conditions for the foreign troops pullout from the country

As for US unilateralism, they expressed confidence that the 21st century world system should be built on the international law, taking into consideration the interest of all countries and mechanisms of formulating unanimous stances to solve international issues through the pivotal role the UN assumes.

On Israel’s reported nuclear stock pile and western countries crusade against weapons of mass destruction (WMDs ),Syria and Russia agreed to cooperate in the field of boosting international stability and preventing the proliferation of the WMDs, pointing to importance of commitment to the UN Security Council resolution No. 1540 and freeing the Middle East from all kinds of WMDs.

The statement mocked at the US president’s daily lectures on spreading liberty, elections and democracy ."Democracy and reforms in the Middle East should be in line with the historical, spiritual and civilizational features of states and are strongly linked to the achievement of a just and comprehensive peace in the region," the statement added. Defence cooperation was muted in the phrase “ It underlined that two sides would develop traditional cooperation in the military technical field in a way that meets mutual concerns of both countries and their international commitments.”

Visit sends shivers down the Israeli spine:

Izvestia quoted Assad as saying that "during state visits we are absolutely not obliged to discuss the technical details of such contracts – whether we will buy or not buy, and what kinds of weapons we will buy." Itar-Tass quoted Putin as telling his cabinet Monday that Assad's "visit to Moscow is one of the remarkable international events this week."

Putin said that he recently discussed the situation in the Middle East with Sharon, and said: "Russia is an active participant in the settlement of the Middle East issue." The Syrian track, he said, "is one of the most serious directions in the Middle East settlement."

Commenting on the visit , a jittery Jerusalem Post , while describing Russian role in the region , moaned ,” Russia's planned sale of SA-18 missiles to Syria looms ominously as a throwback to the Brezhnev era's most misguided attitudes. Economically, Syria is a basket case whose debt-return record must make one doubt its financial commitments. Ideologically, Syria remains part of the terrorist internationale which has repeatedly victimized Russia. And diplomatically, arming Damascus while Washington suspects it of fueling the war on its troops in Iraq brings to mind memories of Russia's role in the Vietnam and Korea wars.

“ President Vladimir Putin has earned himself a reputation as a rational man out to restore Russia's global stature. In itself, this is a worthy goal. However, by pandering to regimes such as Assad's, not only will Putin not have restored Russia's clout, he will convince people that he has learned nothing from his Soviet predecessors' downfalls. He will also make people reconsider their impression of his rationalism.”

But then where would Israel be without massive annual US aid. Would it not be a basket case too ! Israel controls US legislators by openly interfering in US elections. Israeli policies were not even mentioned in the many debates recently between the two US Presidential candidates. It has literally USA’s UN veto on command for all its illegal and immoral actions. So it can blithely ignore the Hague International Court’s decision on encroaching on the territory of occupied West Bank. It openly assassinates Hamas leaders and had even threatened to kill Arafat too, but for the furor it would have created .

Or for that matter take another basket case and the massive aid to Pakistan, which continues to allow its territory to be used for training and recruitment of Jihadis, who attack Indian territory . Pakistan President Gen Pervez Musharraf was suitably compensated for restraining the Talibans and warlords for letting the elections be held peacefully in Afghanistan so that Hamid Karzai could become the President. Such farcical elections are then cited as spreading of liberty abroad, to protect liberty at home in USA. And soon there would be the first” real secret elections” in Iraq , where the candidates , polling stations , everything remains a secret!

Syrian strategic analyst Gamal Barout said recently that “Back in 2001 the Russian side showed a desire for a strategic alliance with Damascus , but traditional government wrangling poured cold water on the bid. Now, Syria needs Moscow to stave off European-American pressures.” In September last year , the UN Security Council adopted a resolution put forward by the US and France, demanding the withdrawal of foreign forces from Lebanon and non-interference in the Lebanese presidential elections.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice warned recently that Damascus faced new sanctions because of “its suspected interference in Iraq and ties to terrorism”. As a riposte the Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Yakovenko described Syria as one of its “most important partners” in the Middle East. He added that, “It's well known that slapping labels on countries and unilaterally describing certain states as part of the 'axis of evil' has not improved anyone's security,”

While an impoverished Syria needs to maintain and modernize its army , Russia also needs a foothold in the Middle East in view of the security and strategic significance of the region and the Euro-American competition. The revival of the old strategic alliance is mutually beneficial. An expert said “Moscow has been facing several problems recently. It realized that Washington had gone too far in extending its influence at the expense of Russia “-Washington was seeking to encircle Moscow, one way or the other.

Syrian journalist Hayan Niouf said that Syria can also play a positive role in pushing for Moscow's active role if not membership in the Organization of Islamic Conference( OIC), in exchange for Russian political support in the UN and Security Council. Russia with a population of tens of millions of Muslims was invited as a guest at the last OIC summit in Malaysia. But not India which has over 130 million Muslims citizens , second only to Indonesia .With distrust of US government and its policies by many Muslim nations , even some US allies and friends , and hatred against USA in the Muslim Ummah , OIC would be happy to give a bigger role to Russia.

Assad’s Visit to China :

Assad has been trying hard to come out of the suffocating strait jacket that the Israeli and US policies have boxed it in . US sanctions, signed into law in end 2003, included a near-blanket ban on US exports to Syria and the power to freeze Syrian assets in the United States. Except for food and medicines and items intended for certain exempt entities all US exports to Syria, estimated at some $ 100million a year, were banned. The US also banned the exportation of "dual-use" technology and restricted over flight rights for Syrian aircraft over US airspace.

Last June Assad visited China, the first ever by a Syrian head of state . A more liberal politician in economic field too than his late father Hafez Assad , the visit was also for learning from China’s economic revolution . Editor-In-Chief of Syria’s state-run Al-Thawra newspaper remarked that the landmark visit demonstrated Damascus’ keenness to follow in the footsteps of Beijing’s open-door economic policy, growth rates and political reforms. Syria was also interested in acquiring technology from China .

Chinese Foreign Minister Zhaoxing Li , while welcoming the visit endorsed Syria’s right to the occupied Golan Heights, and described the US sanctions on Syria a double standards policy. A Chinese diplomat in Damascus also highlighted the military cooperation between both countries, pointing to the mutual visits of military delegations. Syria of course has energy resources and many European and even Asian oil giants have shown interest in bidding for oil and gas contracts following with drawl by US companies.

Of course China is too far and not interested in upsetting USA , not yet , but would be happy if others cause problems for USA. It is accumulating US dollars and waiting for its chance.

But it was Israel’s Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom who first admited that Israel did ask Russia to halt the deal. ``We turned to the Russians and asked that they not complete this deal,'' said Shalom. ``Syria is a country that supports terror and is supplying Hezbollah with weapons nonstop.''  He added that the sale ``will disrupt regional stability and won't improve the chances for peace.''

Israeli analyst Gerald Steinberg said the reported sales came as a surprise because the Syrians did  not have money to buy Russian weapons. "If this report is true, it is very problematic and will pose a challenge to Israeli military planners," added Steinberg. The Jerusalem Post cited top Israeli diplomatic officials as saying that Israel asked the United States to pressurize Russia to scrap the deal claiming that the missiles could be smuggled into Iraq and endanger the U.S. forces there.

For Israel and US it would be an adverse development in the wake of deteriorating situation around Iraq, but Moscow has made the point and more. Russia would not be pushed around by US led western efforts to squeeze it out in Ukraine or Georgia , lectured  on sale of Russian oil giant Yukos and support to insurgency in Chechnya.

 US Nato ally Turkish  Prime Minister Recep Tayib Erdogan , recently completed his return visit to Moscow , soon after Putin’s postponed visit to Ankara last month, the first ever since President Podgorny’s visit in early 1970s. While relations between Turkey and USA have cooled down primarily because of differences over US led invasion of Iraq , Turkey is coming closer to its historical enemy Russia.

 In 1999 Ankara had threatened invading Syria if it did not expel Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan (which it did , and he was captured and imprisoned in Turkey), but since then relations between Syria and Turkey have warmed up , with exchange of visits by Assad and Erdogan. After exchange of visits by Erdogan and Iranian President Mohammed Khatami to Ankara , relations between them ,historically soured by Shia’ Sunni rivalry and enmity are also improving following US led invasion next door in Iraq and the consequent turmoil and chaos in the region. Neo-cons in US are itching to attack Iran .The situation is going to get worse.  

At the same time relations between Turkey and Israel which were quite close during the cold war and became almost like allies after the fall of the Berlin Wall , have deteriorated recently , with Erdogan accusing Israel of state terrorism in Occupied territories .Turkey also asked Israel to leave Kurdish North Iraq alone where Mossad has been training Kurdish peshmergas to operate in the neighbourhood, specially in Iran and Syria. Turmoil in North Iraq has always adversely affected its own Kurdish South East. In old days Turkey would have vehemently opposed missile sales to Syria

 Why is Putin angry:

 Speaking to media in Moscow end last month , Putin, expressed his anger at the West , whether it was about the latter’s encouragement to insurgency in Chechnya or a string of US led Western “ franchised “ successes in getting anti-Russian leaders elected in its strategic neighbourhood , ie ‘rose revolution “ in Georgia in November , 2003 and “ orange revolution “in even more vitally important Ukraine in the recent long drawn out battle , in which finally anti-Russian Victor Yushchenko won. His utterances and appointment of anti-Russian Ms Tymoshenko as Prime Minister are open provocations.

 Putin said last month that, "Every country has the right to choose the development path it considers best, including in organising its political system." Referring to US criticism of 21 November elections in Ukraine (Powell said US would not accept them), he retorted that he was not ecstatic about what happened there (USA) “ Do you think that the electoral system in the United States is entirely flawless? “"Do I have to recall the last elections in the United States or the one before?" he added. He also ridiculed the Texan judge’s ruling on the sale of the Russian oil giant Yukos. He also lambasted the scheduled 30 January elections in Iraq saying that “it could not be fair while the country remained occupied by US-led forces “ .

 Russia , in spite of US pressure , is going ahead with cooperation in setting up nuclear power stations in Iran . China recently signed a major long term agreement with Iran for energy purchase and development of Iranian oil and gas sector . Energy hungry China and India are aggressively bidding for investment and development of Yukos energy assets. 

US Reaction;

Before the Russian denial, while describing Russian arms sales to Syria as speculative, State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher made it clear that the United States was opposed in principle to all arms sales to Syria .He added that the Russian entities involved in such a sale would be subject to U.S. sanctions under a law aimed at curbing the flow of arms to countries on the terrorism list. The proposed sale has injected tensions not only in Russian-Israel relations but with USA as well. Israel said that the missiles might end up in the hands of Lebanese Hezbollah guerrillas Hezbollah, which is close to Syria , fought an 18-year guerrilla war against Israeli forces in south Lebanon, firing rockets at northern Israel until 2000 and threatens to do so , say the Israelis.

The developments might bring some restraint over a reckless Israeli policy pursued by Ariel Sharon. The missiles deal would beef up Syria’s air defenses and discourage Israel making regular threats to Syria. Moscow Daily Kommersant said that Damascus asked for 18 Iskander missiles in August but were told they were not been fully tested. The Syrians have now been told that the missiles were ready.

Paul Beaver, a London-based defense analyst, commented that while Russia has upgraded Syrian military equipment it had not sold new arms since 1990. Beaver added that the SA-18 evolved from the Russian shoulder-held SAM-7, which was widely used during the Vietnam War. The SA-18 is much more flexible and can even target non- heat-emitting section of an aircraft .It can also overcome many Western defensive maneuvers like flares, used to deflect anti-aircraft missiles. It weighs barely more than 10 kilograms, has a maximum range of six kilometers and can be used to shoot down planes and helicopters. It cost about US$250,000 each.

Israel asked for U.S. intervention in stalling the deal . David Siegel, a spokesman for the Israeli Embassy in Washington, said, "The reports in this regard are very disturbing and, as in other cases with strategic implications. We conduct an ongoing dialogue with the administration." The SA-18s are among the most sophisticated shoulder-held anti-aircraft missiles. Ideal weapon for militants, analysts said the United States might be concerned that Iraqi insurgents might get their hands on them, threatening U.S. warplanes in Iraq. This palpably is an Israeli line.

Israelis are keen not to jeopardize improving relations with Russia in place since the unraveling of USSR. Many millions of Russian Jews have immigrated to Israel, changing the demographic make up of Israel and making its policies more right wing and aggressive. Ariel Sharon, who is of Russian descent, has visited Moscow three times since becoming Prime Minister in 2001. He asked President Putin to stop Iran in its covert nuclear arms program and to restrain Syria along with its Lebanese and Palestinian proxies. It is like the wolf blaming the lamb!

Conclusion:

The discussions, decisions and perceptions of  Assad’s visit to Russia are the first stirrings of the Russian bear , which was sent into hibernation after USSR’s power was dismantled by a naïve Gorbachev , without leveraging anything in return,  and a drunk or drugged Yeltsin then set Russia on the road to economic ruin , robbing of public property , which saw the emergence of over a score of US$ billionaires in ten years time . One of them Yukos CEO Mikhail Khodorkovskii wanted to go beyond even the current capitalism ethos in USA where military- industry and energy corporate interests support Presidential candidates who later implement their policies .Mr Khodorkovskii wanted to telescope the process and planned to fight for elections for Russian Presidency .

 Vladimir Putin a Karate blue belt young leader has learnt first hand, strategic threats instigated at home in Chechnya, Beslan, or in near abroad Azerbaijan, Georgia and now in too close to comfort Ukraine , verily a historical part of its own. In a press conference on Wednesday President Bush cited Ukraine as a shining example of march of democracy, where US and western institutes openly supported the US leaning new President Yushchenko , reportedly with a sum totaling nearly US$ 60 million.

 Putin has come of age . He no longer trusts Bush, who once looked into heart and found a friend. Russia is still a world nuclear power and can defend itself and its interests. A majority of the nations, almost all Muslim countries, even US allies and clients oppose US’s unilateralist policies and targeting of Muslims. Russia has accumulated in its stabilization fund more than 500 billion rubles ($16.7 billion) because of unprecedented global oil prices. The oil prices are not likely to go down. So its economic situation would remain quite stable.

(K Gajendra Singh is currently chairman of the Foundation for Indo-Turkic Studies.  The views expressed here are his own.- Email-Gajendrak@hotmail.com)

From: http://www.saag.org/papers13/paper1237.html

Ezekiel chapters 38-39 prophesy that several Arab and North African nations will rally together in the latter days and mount a massive military operation against the Nation of Israel. Despite the fall of the Berlin Wall and the "collapse" of communism, Ezekiel prophesies that a "hook in the jaw" will be placed in Russia's mouth and she will be dragged into this war virtually against her will. It will not be her smartest move. It will be the end of her armed forces.

As with most of Bible Prophecy, Ezekiel's prophetic language is symbolic, requiring an enlightened view of all Scripture. Therefore, we must carefully examine the prophetical books of the Bible and compare them with other Scripture. Prophetical books are not meant just for "filler" material ... they are intended to guide generations by revealing the future *before* it occurs. All of Bible prophecy will be fulfilled. The only question is when?

Generally prophecy books are arranged in chronological sequence. Occasionally, prophecy will take quick jumps backwards or forwards to make a point. In this case, the prophecies in Ezekiel 38-39 are dependent on the prophecies of Ezekiel 36-37 being already fulfilled. In other words, Russia and the Arabs cannot attack the Nation of Israel until after the Nation of Israel had been restored. In the 20th century, the Nation of Israel has been restored, just as prophesied in Ezekiel 36:24, Ezekiel 37 and Isaiah 66:8.

Although the Russian-Arab invasion of Israel is foretold in the prophecy of Ezekiel (38, 39) after Israel is restored as a nation (Ezekiel 36, 37) this invasion is not the Battle of Armageddon. While the prophetic language in Ezekiel seems to describe Armageddon in many ways, there are several reasons to differentiate this invasion from the Battle of Armageddon (Prophecy Watch, 212-214). Drs. Thomas Ice and Timothy Demy quote Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum in assessing the Ezekiel invasion as a pre-tribulational event, though not necessarily pre-rapture:

First, in Ezekiel there are definite allies mentioned and they are limited in number while other nations stand in opposition. In the Campaign of Armageddon all nations are allied together against Jerusalem without exception.

Secondly, the Ezekiel invasion comes from the north, but the Armageddon invasion comes from the whole Earth.

Thirdly, the purpose of the Russian [38:6] invasion is to take spoil; the purpose of the Armageddon Campaign is to destroy all the Jews.

Fourthly, in the Ezekiel invasion there is a protest against the invasion; in the Armageddon Campaign there is no protest since all the nations are involved.

Fifthly, the Ezekiel invasion is destroyed through convulsions of nature; the Armageddon invasion is destroyed by the personal Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

Sixthly, the Ezekiel invasion is destroyed on the mountains of Israel; the Armageddon Campaign is destroyed in the area between Petra and Jerusalem.

Seventh, the Russian invasion takes place while Israel is living securely in the land; but the Armageddon Campaign takes place while Israel is in flight and in hiding. 

(Ice and Demy, Prophecy Watch, 1998, p.213, reformatted for emphasis)

Now Israel is back as a viable nation once again. An internal meltdown in Russia and trouble occurring in many former Soviet republics like Kosovo and Chechnya are creating unstable, unpredictable situations. North Africa has no shortage of issues, from war in Sierra Leone, to the battles between Ethiopia and Eritrea, to ongoing persecution in Sudan, Algeria, Togo and Burkina Faso. Libya is busy constructing chemical and perhaps biological weaponry. And now, due primarily to AIDS, most South African teenagers have an average life expectancy of just 33 years; down from 70 years a scant 5 years ago.

The winds of war are blowing once again in the Middle East. Iran is developing and testing a Medium Range Ballistic Missile with Russian assistance. Iraq is defiant to weapons inspectors once again. Iran and her protégé Syria have purchased several Soviet fight-bomber aircraft in 1997. Syria has also purchased 1000 Kornet anti-tank weapons. Israel has not been idly watching their neighbors arming. Israel is currently accepting delivery of advanced American F-15I fighter-bombers. An anti-missile missile system is being deployed. Israel has received 3 new German Dolphin-class submarines to augment their navy. And Israel is now launching their own spy satellites. What is the outcome of all this military buildup? Here is the answer ...

Ezekiel Chapter 38 (KJV)

Ezekiel 38:1-7 Here God directs Ezekiel to prophesy against the land of Russia. Several nations are named such as Persia (mostly Iran but includes parts of Iraq), Ethiopia and Libya:

1 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
2 Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and
prophesy against him,
3 And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal:
4 And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords:
5 Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet:
6 Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee.
7 Be thou prepared, and prepare for thyself, thou, and all thy company that are assembled unto thee, and be thou a guard unto them.

Ezekiel 38:8-13 In these passages, reference is made to Israel being restored from the nations she was scattered to by the Roman armies under Titus Vespasian in 70 A.D. Russian armies and their allies are massed for a swift invasion of Israel, being likened to a storm cloud. A former desolate land, Israel is now blooming again, and the temptation is too much. The nations of the West apparently offer diplomatic protest only, as no military action in response to this invasion is noted:

8 After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them.
9 Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee.
10 Thus saith the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought:
11 And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates,
12 To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land.
13 Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil?

Ezekiel 38:14-23 Ezekiel is once again instructed to prophesy against Russia for her forthcoming attack upon Israel. God will use this attack to bring glory to His Name by unbelievers. Since no nation will come to Israel's defense, God will send a fiery earthquake (perhaps nuclear war?) upon the attacking armies, confusing them, causing them to fight against one another:

14 Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say unto Gog, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In that day when My people of Israel dwelleth safely, shalt thou not know it?
15 And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army:
16 And thou shalt come up against My people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against My land, that the heathen may know Me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes.
17 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Art thou he of whom I have spoken in old time by My servants the prophets of Israel, which prophesied in those days many years that I would bring thee against them?
18 And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, that My fury shall come up in My face.
19 For in My jealousy and in the fire of My wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel;
20 So that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the Earth, and all the men that are upon the face of the Earth, shall shake at My presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground.
21 And I will call for a sword against him throughout all My mountains, saith the Lord GOD: every man's sword shall be against his brother.
22 And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone.
23 Thus will I magnify Myself, and sanctify Myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD.

Ezekiel Chapter 39 (KJV)

Ezekiel 39:1-8 The next prophecy of Ezekiel is delivered against Russia predicting that less than 17% (1/6th) of her armies will survive the vengeance of God. Also, an unknown "fire" (volcanic earthquake or nuclear war?) shall descend upon the land of Magog and others. Israel shall worship God for delivering her:

1 Therefore, thou son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal:
2 And I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee, and will cause thee to come up from the north parts, and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel:
3 And I will smite thy bow out of thy left hand, and will cause thine arrows to fall out of thy right hand.
4 Thou shalt fall upon the mountains of Israel, thou, and all thy bands, and the people that is with thee: I will give thee unto the ravenous birds of every sort, and to the beasts of the field to be devoured.
5 Thou shalt fall upon the open field: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD.
6 And I will send a fire on Magog, and among them that dwell carelessly in the isles: and they shall know that I am the LORD.
7 So will I make My Holy Name known in the midst of My people Israel; and I will not let them pollute My Holy Name any more: and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel.
8 Behold, it is come, and it is done, saith the Lord GOD; this is the day whereof I have spoken.

Ezekiel 39:9-16 After Russia's devastating defeat, Israel cleanses their land by burning the weapons that were intended for use against her. The bodies of the attacking armies will be buried, in the place where they fell, over a seven-month period:

9 And they that dwell in the cities of Israel shall go forth, and shall set on fire and burn the weapons, both the shields and the bucklers, the bows and the arrows, and the handstaves, and the spears, and they shall burn them with fire seven years:
10 So that they shall take no wood out of the field, neither cut down any out of the forests; for they shall burn the weapons with fire: and they shall spoil those that spoiled them, and rob those that robbed them, saith the Lord GOD.
11 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will give unto Gog a place there of graves in Israel, the valley of the passengers on the east of the sea: and it shall stop the noses of the passengers: and there shall they bury Gog and all his multitude: and they shall call it The Valley of Hamongog.
12 And seven months shall the house of Israel be burying of them, that they may cleanse the land.
13 Yea, all the people of the land shall bury them; and it shall be to them a renown the day that I shall be glorified, saith the Lord GOD.
14 And they shall sever out men of continual employment, passing through the land to bury with the passengers those that remain upon the face of the Earth, to cleanse it: after the end of seven months shall they search.
15 And the passengers that pass through the land, when any seeth a man's bone, then shall he set up a sign by it, till the buriers have buried it in the Valley of Hamongog.
16 And also the name of the city shall be Hamonah. Thus shall they cleanse the land.

Ezekiel 39:17-20 Before the bodies are completely buried by Israel, predatory birds and wild animals enjoy a human buffet as they dine on the fallen warriors of the Gog-Magog war (yuck!):

17 And, thou son of man, thus saith the Lord GOD; Speak unto every feathered fowl, and to every beast of the field, Assemble yourselves, and come; gather yourselves on every side to My sacrifice that I do sacrifice for you, even a great sacrifice upon the mountains of Israel, that ye may eat flesh, and drink blood.
18 Ye shall eat the flesh of the mighty, and drink the blood of the princes of the Earth, of rams, of lambs, and of goats, of bullocks, all of them fatlings of Bashan.
19 And ye shall eat fat till ye be full, and drink blood till ye be drunken, of My sacrifice which I have sacrificed for you.
20 Thus ye shall be filled at My table with horses and chariots, with mighty men, and with all men of war, saith the Lord GOD.

Ezekiel 39:21-29 The final outcome of this event is that God receives glory from Israel and others:

21 And I will set My glory among the heathen, and all the heathen shall see My judgment that I have executed, and My hand that I have laid upon them.
22 So the house of Israel shall know that I am the LORD their God from that day and forward.
23 And the heathen shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity: because they trespassed against Me, therefore hid I My face from them, and gave them into the hand of their enemies: so fell they all by the sword.
24 According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions have I done unto them, and hid My face from them.
25 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Now will I bring again the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel, and will be jealous for My Holy Name;
26 After that they have borne their shame, and all their trespasses whereby they have trespassed against Me, when they dwelt safely in their land, and none made them afraid.
27 When I have brought them again from the people, and gathered them out of their enemies' lands, and am sanctified in them in the sight of many nations;
28 Then shall they know that I am the LORD their God, which caused them to be led into captivity among the heathen: but I have gathered them unto their own land, and have left none of them any more there.
29 Neither will I hide My face any more from them: for I have poured out My Spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.

Think the Cold War is over? Israel and Russia have a prophetic appointment!!!

See:  http://www.tribulation.com/gogmagog.htm  for photos and other prophecies.

THE BASEBALL CONNECTION TO ISRAEL 

The folks over at Setting the World to Rights are still going strong with their pro-Israel but warts-and-all history-of-Israel series; the first chapter covered 70AD-1921, and chapters 2-5 cover 1923-56. There was some interesting stuff there I hadn't known, including some vivid accounts of the 1948 war. I'm sure some of their accounts are controversial -- in Israel, everything's controversial -- but it reads like a good primer if you're unfamiliar with the history.

From: http://baseballcrank.com/archives2/2003/06/historywar_hist.php

Last Update: 19/11/2003 22:17
French rabbi: Wear baseball caps, not skullcaps, in public
By Haaretz Service
The Chief Rabbi of France, Rabbi Joseph Sitruk, called on that country's Jewish community to wear baseball caps instead of skullcaps while not in their homes, in order "to prevent being attacked in the street." Daily newspaper Le Parisien reported in its Wednesday edition that Sitruk made the comments Tuesday in an interview on Radio Shalom, a Jewish community radio station.
Rabbi Sitruk's comments came three days after a Jewish school on the outskirts of Paris was the subject of an anti-Semitic arson attack. "I do not want young people traveling alone on trains or the Metro to become easy targets for attackers," he said. "Covering one's head is an important religious dictate, which should not be overlooked. On the contrary, today, more than ever, the Jewish community cannot shut itself off in a ghetto; it should be open, at ease and safe." Speaking Wednesday to Haaretz, a close aide to the rabbi tried to play down the controversial comments. "The Chief Rabbi has always said that head covering is an important commandment, and that the covering itself is not important. In the current climate, there is no point waving a red rag in public places." Synagogues and Jewish schools in France have been attacked repeatedly in recent years, violence authorities link to poor Muslim youths enraged by Israel's tough policies against Palestinian unrest. From: www.haaretzdaily.com Israel's Juvenile National Team Places 6th in European Championships Israel's National Juvenile (10-12 years) baseball team finished a very respectable 6th in the 9-team European Confederation of Baseball tournament in Moscow.   The squad had trained intensively for four months under the wise hands of Coaches Jeff chestnut and Craig Dunning.  After being thrashed by eventual tourney winner Czech Republic, they bounced back to resoundingly beat Belarus, behind the complete game, 3-hit pitching of Eitan Tarragin.  The Israeli boys then fought hard against the powerful Russian squad before succumbing and were two outs away from upsetting the well-funded, well-equipped Polish squad.  The road to sustained baseball excellence is a long one, and the Moscow journey was an important first step for Israel's future sluggers, who were led in Moscow by Ariel Ratner (.444 avg.) and Ofer Mali (.429).  Defensive stalwarts included Yuval Mali, who shined in centerfield, and Guy Baratz and Nitzan Bigman, who anchored the infield. From: http://www.iab.org.il/moscow.htm Back home in the United States, June is a special time of the year because it is -- especially in cities like Boston and New York -- which are called major league cities -- this is where what we call "the boys of summer" play baseball. Baseball as you know is our national pastime but it is much more than a game. It is a symbol of America, of our way of life, of our society, of our culture and of our democracy. To understand our country you have to know the game and understand its connection to its democratic system. Francis Miller, historian and biographer, said that baseball is democracy in action. In it, all men are free and equal regardless of race, nationality, or creed. Every man is given the rightful opportunity to rise to the top on his own merits. It is the fullest expression of freedom of speech, freedom of press, and freedom of assembly in our national life. Edward Abbey, another expert and also an author and environmentalist said that baseball serves as a good model for democracy in action. Every player is equally important and each has a chance to be a hero. Unfortunately, baseball in Israel is not yet a democracy building tool, but it will come I am sure some day. From: http://www.usembassy-israel.org.il/publish/mission/official/062203.html See:  BASEBALL SYMBOLISM  DREAMS OF BASEBALL GAMES WITH INTERPRETATION DREAMS AND VISIONS OF BASEBALL GAMES. WITH INTERPRETATION. ... Earthquake and Baseball Connections. In the book of Ezekiel, there are these significant verses - ... www.greatdreams.com/baseball.htm Humanity On The Pollen Path - Part Two ... _____. The Salvador Dali-Baseball Coincidence. ... Baseball has nine innings, nine players, three strikes, and three outs. ... www.greatdreams.com/plpath2.htm THE TEACHER ARRIVES ... I took the baby into my arms and carried him with me. Then, the man asked us to recruit some boys to play a game of baseball. He wanted only the best players. ... www.greatdreams.com/lessons/schldays.htm -  MINNIE MOUSE & MICKEY MOUSE - DREAMS, CROP CIRCLES AND SYMBOLISM ... I was astonished because I saw GH sitting in an easy chair, with a white baseball cap on his head, listening to the stereo. I walked ... www.greatdreams.com/crop/mickey_mouse.htm - The Tree of Life Crop Circle Formation ... same meaning. Cliff's Incredible Baseball Dream. Starting in 1990, I began to see symbolism in the American sport of baseball. I ... www.greatdreams.com/treeol.htm 11-2-02 - DREAM -  We were in a large empty garage  - practicing alleopathic medicine, but there were strange things going on. I had a baseball bat and and when I swung it to hit a baseball that was tossed to me, it made noise in the air and felt like it was moving energy or the force like the sword wands in the movie Star Wars. I wasn't very good at hitting the baseball, though my stance and swing looked good, but then a man was testing me by hanging a big ball of ice on an invisible string and when I touched it with the bat, it split in half. We all went outside then and when we went down the street, we saw that someone had drilled holes of various sizes all along the curb. Some were small that looked like they might be for planting flowers in, but others were large and deep enough to break a leg in and some large enough for a car or bus to fall into and none of us knew what they were for. We went home then, and my friend Mary said that her neck was hurting, so I held my hands on either side of her neck and did an energy healing on her - not touching her at all. We stayed that way about 5 minutes. When we were done, she said she felt fine, and that made me really happy. I woke up for a moment and thought about writing down the dream, but fell asleep and found myself back in the garage. I spread newspapers out on the garage floor and was writing down the dream with green paint on the newspaper with the baseball bat as a pen. At the same time reading out loud the words as I wrote them to some teenage boys who were watching. Again, I said I had been practicing alleopathic medicine.

THE SKUNK AND ISRAEL

Israel makes "skunk bomb" for Palestinian protests

August 25, 2004

No country in the world is more synonymous with armored warfare than Israel. And with good reason: no country is more dependent for its very survival on the quality of its armored formations. Thus armed with the experience of almost 30 years of tank warfare, and with full knowledge of its needs, the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) has come up with a marvel of tank engineering that boasts firsts in a number of categories: the world's only Main Battle Tank (MBT) with a forward mounted engine, and the world's only MBT capable of carrying an infantry squad or performing crew/ casualty extrication under battlefield conditions, to name a few. And that's not mentioning its impressive array of weaponry, and its fully integrated battlefield information recording and distribution system. Meet the Merkava, a tank that truly belongs in the digital age.

The driving factor in the Merkava's development was crew survival, followed by firepower, and then mobility. The engine for example, is mounted in front, where its mass serves as additional armor. While a penetrating hit to the front might disable the tank, the crew will survive (it takes several weeks to fabricate a new engine; it takes several years to fabricate a new tank crew). All main gun ammunition is stored in the hull, below the turret ring (where it is protected not only by the thicker hull armor, but by earth as well, when the tank is "dug in" in a hull down defensive position). Not only does the Merkava carry more tank ammunition than any modern MBT (the Merkava MK1 carried 85 rounds of 105mm ammunition), but the ammunition is also stored in removable modules. This, coupled with the fact that the Merkava comes with a rear access hatch in the hull means that ammunition modules could be removed to create space to enable a Merkava to safely recover a tank crew stranded in a disabled vehicle. Alternatively, Infantry can be carried in the Merkava's expanded crew compartment, thus providing the tank with an added measure of protection in urban or built-up areas.

See:  http://www.military.com/soldiertech/0,14632,Soldiertech_Merkava,,00.html

Israel and Syria: Correcting the Record

Friday, December 24, 1999; Page A15

The Syrian foreign minister came off as the skunk at the picnic for using the reopening of talks with Israel to speak harshly of his would-be peace partner. But at least some of what he said--calling Israel's fabled Gen. Moshe Dayan as a witness in Syria's favor, for instance--was fair and to the point and needs to be absorbed on all sides to help propel the negotiations forward.

Minister Farouk Charaa addressed a core cause of more than 1,000 armed clashes between Israel and Syria in 1948-67: the Israeli contention that the Syrians, sitting on the Golan Heights, repeatedly shelled Israel's farms and settlements below in the Galilee and its water projects in the Huleh valley. This shelling--in the common Israeli and American view--is what gave Israel its rationale for capturing the Golan Heights in the 1967 war. The disposition of this land is what the current peace talks are about.

Except, to cite Moshe Dayan, it didn't happen just that way. In 1976 Dayan gave an extraordinary interview to Israeli journalist Rami Tal but embargoed it. He died in 1981. Only on April 27, 1997, did his daughter Yael, a Labor parliamentarian, release it. It was not new news in Israel, but it made a stir. It made practically no stir in this country; I missed it at the time.

Said Dayan: "I made a mistake in allowing the [Israeli] conquest of the Golan Heights. As defense minister I should have stopped it because the Syrians were not threatening us at the time." The attack proceeded, he went on, not because Israel was threatened but because of pressure from land-hungry farmers and army commanders in northern Israel. "Of course [war with Syria] was not necessary. You can say the Syrians are bastards and attack when you want. But this is not policy. You don't open aggression against an enemy because he's a bastard but because he's a threat."

About those shellings: Syria shelled and otherwise emanated cold hostility. But, Dayan told his interviewer, "at least 80 percent" of two decades of border clashes were initiated by Israel. "We would send a tractor to plow some [disputed] area . . . and we knew in advance that the Syrians would start to shoot. If they didn't shoot, we would tell the tractor to advance further, until in the end the Syrians would get annoyed and shoot. And then we would use artillery and later the air force also, and that's how it was."

So, on the authority of what you could call an impeccable Israeli source, the situation is very different from what is commonly portrayed. Israel, with an appetite for land, for political profit and for strategic depth, was in the Golan instance--not in all instances--an aggressor, not the victim of aggression. In turn, the Dayan testimony largely supports the Syrian foreign minister's assertion the other day, and earlier, that "it was the other [Israeli] side who insisted on provoking the Syrians until they clashed together and then claimed that the Syrians are the aggressors."

Well, you may say, this is the way the game was played in the mean years of the Arab-Israeli conflict. It was hardball. Land, pride, strategic advantage: These were the stakes. Countries were prepared to fight repeatedly for them. Their public opinion congealed around the expectation of war. Peace was simply not seen as a realistic option.

Fortunately, things are different now, thanks to 25 years of American-sponsored diplomacy and much else. People remember, though, and peoples remember. As Israel has its own occasions to know, to be a victim of aggression burns deeply, the more so when your pain is generally unacknowledged and politically all but invisible.

In Israel's case, Arab threats to its viability and its very existence kindled an intense combativeness only now tentatively yielding to the proposition that security can be served by accommodation as well as power. In Syria's case, its own inability to put on a civil public face has deprived it of the appreciation it might otherwise have expected as a sometime offended state; it is also, of course, a sometime offending state as well.

It can be no surprise that Syria demands back all of its territory--territory it lost not to a failure of its own aggression but to a success of Israel's. Given the corrected record, it can hardly be without concern for its own ultimate security. Syria and Israel are entitled to have a mutual interest in security measures and in the political and economic initiatives that may by degrees shrink their hostility and make peace possible.

(c) Copyright 1999 The Washington Post Company

I was walking down the aisle of a shop and a voice popped into my left ear. It was a man[s' voice and he was saying that a meeting was to be held at 8 p.m. in the evening and that he wanted just as many blue beeswax candles on the altar as the other kind.

The voice faded out and I went to my desk. I was given some rolled up blueprints that I had to mail out and a dark blue sweatshirt, a little boy's size 2 to deliver. It was written on a yellow buckslip, that I should deliver it to 1621 Archie Ave.  When I went outside, I was in Washington State in Sumner. I thought I knew where I was going, but I found myself in the alley of a bunch of houses and I knew it wasn't Archie St. I wondered if there was an Archie St. in Bonney Lake, but I didn't think so.

NOTE: The name Archibald means ' bold ' in two languages, but it Teutonic, it means ' holy prince'.

Interestingly enough the New Testament, thought first printed in 1614 was re-printed in 1621

The number 1621 in Strong's Concordance means : neck

The symbol of the neck in the Bible is really important in the Old Testament. Until the time of Jacob, the Israelites had a plurality of gods; from Jacob (Isra-El), it was El; and from Moses onwards, it was Jahwe, with a frequent falling-off to other mythical gods. The prophet, Eli, (El-i), falling over backwards and breaking his neck, is symbolically considered to be the demise of El as the God of Israel. When the Babylonians captured and removed the Israelites to Babylon, (Book of Esther), the Israelites felt that Jahwe, who saved them from the Egyptians, had lost his power. They then discarded him to a large extent: the final eight books of the Old Testament barely refer to him; some not at all. Jesus stepped into this vacuum, but was rejected by the Israelites.

That would fit the topic, but why was I in Washington State and what did it mean?  The blueprints make sense, because I had designed the buildings for the community, using blueprints from books I sent for from Washington State log housing companies because it was my strongest desire to return there.

What I just read about Jesus stepping into the vacuum brings up a whole new topic I hadn't even been able to analyze correctly it seems until just this moment.  I've had several really good dreams with vacuum cleaners in them, and to me it just meant 'cleaning' the house, but when the dream is about a vacuum cleaner specifically, one has to know that there is more to it than just 'cleaning'.

I recently had a dream in which I was vacuuming an apartment which ultimately turned out to be the apartment of IESOUS (Jesus).  Thus I had created the vacuum into which IESOUS (Jesus) could step.

 That is an incredible thought when one thinks about it in depth.

The 216 - 3:16's of the Bible

... Esther 2:16 -, And when Esther was taken to King Ahasu-e'rus into his royal palace in the tenth month, which is the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his ... www.greatdreams.com/sacred/216_316.htm -

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE - JAIR FARM

... Chr. 2:23) which formed the ancient Havoth-jair. (3.) A Benjamite, the father of Mordecai, Esther's uncle (Esther 2:5). (4.) The ... www.greatdreams.com/jair-farm.htm

DREAMS AND ARTICLES ABOUT ROYALTY, PRINCE WILLIAM, PRINCESS DIANA ...

... ideals," she explained. "Hadassah was chosen as its name because it was the Hebrew equivalent of Queen Esther, the heroine of the Purim story who dedicated ... www.greatdreams.com/royalty/royalty.htm -

TREES AND BUSHES OF THE BIBLE

... Esther 2:22 And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told [it] unto Esther the queen; and Esther certified the king [thereof] in Mordecai's name. ... www.greatdreams.com/trees.htm -

DREAMS OF TREES AND THE TRUTH THEY TELL

... Minnie & CA Barrett, Esther Wynne, Hannah Miller, Florence & Edith Edmonds, ML Black, FY Morrow, Hugh Lynn Cayce, Mildred Davis and Helen Storey. READING. ... www.greatdreams.com/treedrms.htm -

Ascended Master Lanto - Lord of the Illumination Ray

... Sebastian, taken from the history of Esther, excited so much admiration that Paolo soon ranked nearly equal with Titian and Tintoretto. ... www.greatdreams.com/masters/paul-venetian.htm THE DAUGHTERS OF ZION ... "Hadassah was chosen as its name because it was the Hebrew equivalent of Queen Esther, the heroine of the Purim story who dedicated herself to 'the saving of ... www.greatdreams.com/sacred/daughters_of_zion.htm DEES DREAMS AND VISIONS - NOVEMBER, 1992 ... When the Babylonians captured and removed the Israelites to Babylon, (Book of Esther), the Israelites felt that Jahwe, who saved them from the Egyptians, had ... www.greatdreams.com/nov92.htm TYRE AND KING SOLOMON'S TEMPLE DREAMS OF THE GREAT EARTHCHANGES - MAIN INDEX