Will Israel Go for the Knockout in Gaza?

It certainly seems as if the conflict in Gaza will continue to escalate. Hamas repeatedly rejects cease-fire proposals and Israel may be inclined to expand this pin-prick operation into a thorough dismantling of Hamas. The support seems to be present for this expansion with Egypt and Saudi Arabia backing Israel. Debka is reporting 75,000 more IDF troops are being mobilized. Time will tell what will happen here but I would expect things to intensify before calming. Pray for both sides, especially the innocent civilians caught in the crossfire (and even used as human shields). 

Read full Debka File Report

IDF Launches Gaza Ground Offensive

Israel's defense force has launched the ground invasion into Gaza that many have expected over the last few days. An Israeli official stated tht the operation is aimed to deal a "significant blow to Hamas' terror infrastructure."
This has the potential to escalate quickly with Hezbollah to the north, armed to the teeth with rockets.
Full Story

Hamas Steps Up Rocket Attacks

Get ready for large scale military/ground incursions into Gaza. Hamas has rejected Egypt's  proposed ceasefire (which Israel had accepted) and has begun to increase rocket attacks. With the unpredictability of the region, things could get way out of hand even overnight. 

News report 
Note: the ground invasion believed imminent at the time of this post began at around 1pm PST shortly after this post. Link

What made the "Wise Men" so wise?

Why do we call the three Magi that visited Jesus as a child, "The 3 Wise Men"? 
After reading Daniel chapter 9 today, I decided to investigate, knowing that a "week" is 7 years, whether or not the wise men could know from this passage when the messiah would come. These verses specifically got my attention: "Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince, there shall be seven weeks. Then for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again with squares and moat, but in a troubled time.

And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing. And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. 

After a little research online I found a very interesting piece on the subject that outlines exactly the number of days between the decree for the Jews to return to Jerusalem from exile and the day that The Anointed One (Jesus) rode in on Palm Sunday. What do you know, exactly 69 weeks!  

The "Wise Men", from the vicinity of Persia (where Daniel ruled and wrote these words while the Jews were held captive),  were obviously aware of Daniel's prophetic words and were not going to miss the time of His coming. How did God's people miss it? They had neglected the study of prophecy concerning His coming! They failed to recognize that God's word is true and that scripture can be trusted, even to the smallest detail. Let us not make the same mistake in regards to His second coming. He says to watch, be ready, and understand the times in which we live. Let us all be "wise men" and heed this call. 

Obama Seeks $500 Million for Syrian Rebels

The BBC is reporting that President Obama is seeking for congress to approve $500 million for arming and supporting Syrian rebel forces aligned with ISIS.  Let us hope this is not approved. These weapons will inevitably fall into the wrong hands! 
Story

Both sides being armed in Iraq

Iran is arming the Iraqi government and the Saudis are arming a resistance faction aligned with ISIS. The US is allied with Saudi and opposed to Iran, but is supporting Iraq alongside Iran. Confusing? Yes. Read this Debka File article. 

http://app.debka.com/n/article/24034/As-first-US-advisers-reach-Baghdad-Iranians-and-Saudis-airlift-weapons-to-opposing-sides-in-Iraq

Middle East Made Easy

This newspaper clipping is certainly dated now and is thus far too simple. None the less, it is still entertaining and shows the insanity of the mid-east political scene. The complications that ISIS brings to the region is very disturbing. Though I know not all of the middle eastern nations descended from Ishmael, these verses from Genesis Ch 16 seem to be fulfilled today. 
10 The angel of the LORD also said to her, "I will surely multiply your offspring so that they cannot be numbered for multitude."
11 And the angel of the LORD said to her, "Behold, you are pregnant and shall bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, because the LORD has listened to your affliction. 
12 He shall be a wild donkey of a man, his hand against everyone and everyone's hand against him, and he shall dwell over against all his kinsmen." 
Pray for peace in the mid-east!
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