THE BEGINNING OF SORROWS
Tom Cooper: "The Beginning of Sorrows" - The Israel Report, by Tom Cooper.
There are no words to properly express the deep and tragic sorrow that has gripped my heart today, and is spreading like a dark cloud over the nation of Israel tonight. I live in a village that is literally on the green line, and I drive through Arab controlled areas to get in and out of Jerusalem every day. The body language of the Arabs is more brazen today, and the faces of the Israelis are mostly a blank stare of hopelessness. How can this have ever happened in a country that has fought so hard to survive, and has received the blessings of the Living God?
All day I listened to broadcasts from inside Neve Dekelim and received phone calls from a friend inside and the desperation, and heartbreak was almost more than one could bare. Listening to a woman scream at the top of her lungs in hysterics the Shma, calling on the Lord, and wondering why God is letting this proceed, left me wondering the same thing. But our God is faithful, and no matter what devastation we may suffer now, I know that it is going to end one day soon, and that all Israel will be saved.
Yesterday I watched CNN air a report in which the reporter was riding along in a bus of Palestinian soldiers and the mood on the bus was one of elation. One soldier bragged "This is a victory for Allah. This is a victory over Israel. From Gaza to Lebanon all Palestine is ours." The CNN reporter said absolutely nothing but continued to smile and join in the celebration.
But wait a minute… didn't George Bush say his vision was two states living side by side in peace and security? Isn't the Blair position the same mantra? Isn't the Road Map based on this concept? But this soldier just announced to the world, in English, on CNN that the PA goal is all of Palestine (read Israel). PA President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) and Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei (Abu Ala) have both promised the world to stop terror (just as Arafat before them) and yet have been pronouncing non-stop since their accession to power that they will liberate all of Palestine. They are doing it again today as the Israelis retreat in the face of terrorism.
The world is gloating. The BBC announces that Israel is finally getting out of illegally occupied Palestinian land after 38 years of occupation, clearly happy with this end result of the combined efforts of Government pressures, media lies, and Arab terrorism.
But they shouldn't plan on gloating for too long.
For many years God has been warning the world to stop this full court press for the dismantling of Israel, but just as Pharaoh refused the mercy message of God, so does the world today.
Today the floodgates for worldwide terrorism were thrown wide open. Not just Israel went through a permanent change today, the world doesn't yet realize it, but they have begun the process of Divine judgment.
There are two unique events about to occur simultaneously, first Israel is going to go under the judgment of God to cleanse iniquity from its midst. This is not a judgment for destruction but for restoration and redemption. The nations however are about to fall under the judgment of God for their ultimate destruction and punishment. The world is about to quake.
I fully expect a full-scale war to be the result of today's destruction, not just regional, but global. Israel is right now at a point of strategic vulnerability and like the previous Arab wars against her in the past, a surprise attack could be launched at any moment. During this process of disengagement which is supposed to continue with Samaria and Judea in the days ahead, Israel will have its troops and resources focused inward, and mobilized to restricted territory, it would be the prime time for a resolute and united Arab front to attack in the hopes that this time they would finally win.
What the world doesn't count on is the defense of God for His land and His people and His Holy Name. How long everything will take to unfold is unclear, and all the details of the days ahead are somewhat speculative. We know certain things are determined to happen from scripture, but exactly how they will be manifest may not be so easy to really determine. All the prophecy books are about to become relics of the past rather than foretellers of the future.
All I can say is what I have said before only with perhaps more urgency, and that is repent, draw near to your God, pray continuously, and do not stray from your bible. We will need to hear from the Lord clearly, all the time. We may need to know from Him when to go out the front door and when to stay in and lock it. I am not saying this for the sake of frightening anyone, but rather to tell people to prepare. We should be a people of constant praise and worship, full of the glory of God in order to be a light to those who will come to the Lord in these last days.
Rejoice and lift your head up for your redemption draweth neigh. The Lord is about to come and establish His kingdom on earth. Praise the Lord.
__________________________________________________________________
There are no words to properly express the deep and tragic sorrow that has gripped my heart today, and is spreading like a dark cloud over the nation of Israel tonight. I live in a village that is literally on the green line, and I drive through Arab controlled areas to get in and out of Jerusalem every day. The body language of the Arabs is more brazen today, and the faces of the Israelis are mostly a blank stare of hopelessness. How can this have ever happened in a country that has fought so hard to survive, and has received the blessings of the Living God?
All day I listened to broadcasts from inside Neve Dekelim and received phone calls from a friend inside and the desperation, and heartbreak was almost more than one could bare. Listening to a woman scream at the top of her lungs in hysterics the Shma, calling on the Lord, and wondering why God is letting this proceed, left me wondering the same thing. But our God is faithful, and no matter what devastation we may suffer now, I know that it is going to end one day soon, and that all Israel will be saved.
Yesterday I watched CNN air a report in which the reporter was riding along in a bus of Palestinian soldiers and the mood on the bus was one of elation. One soldier bragged "This is a victory for Allah. This is a victory over Israel. From Gaza to Lebanon all Palestine is ours." The CNN reporter said absolutely nothing but continued to smile and join in the celebration.
But wait a minute… didn't George Bush say his vision was two states living side by side in peace and security? Isn't the Blair position the same mantra? Isn't the Road Map based on this concept? But this soldier just announced to the world, in English, on CNN that the PA goal is all of Palestine (read Israel). PA President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) and Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei (Abu Ala) have both promised the world to stop terror (just as Arafat before them) and yet have been pronouncing non-stop since their accession to power that they will liberate all of Palestine. They are doing it again today as the Israelis retreat in the face of terrorism.
The world is gloating. The BBC announces that Israel is finally getting out of illegally occupied Palestinian land after 38 years of occupation, clearly happy with this end result of the combined efforts of Government pressures, media lies, and Arab terrorism.
But they shouldn't plan on gloating for too long.
For many years God has been warning the world to stop this full court press for the dismantling of Israel, but just as Pharaoh refused the mercy message of God, so does the world today.
Today the floodgates for worldwide terrorism were thrown wide open. Not just Israel went through a permanent change today, the world doesn't yet realize it, but they have begun the process of Divine judgment.
There are two unique events about to occur simultaneously, first Israel is going to go under the judgment of God to cleanse iniquity from its midst. This is not a judgment for destruction but for restoration and redemption. The nations however are about to fall under the judgment of God for their ultimate destruction and punishment. The world is about to quake.
I fully expect a full-scale war to be the result of today's destruction, not just regional, but global. Israel is right now at a point of strategic vulnerability and like the previous Arab wars against her in the past, a surprise attack could be launched at any moment. During this process of disengagement which is supposed to continue with Samaria and Judea in the days ahead, Israel will have its troops and resources focused inward, and mobilized to restricted territory, it would be the prime time for a resolute and united Arab front to attack in the hopes that this time they would finally win.
What the world doesn't count on is the defense of God for His land and His people and His Holy Name. How long everything will take to unfold is unclear, and all the details of the days ahead are somewhat speculative. We know certain things are determined to happen from scripture, but exactly how they will be manifest may not be so easy to really determine. All the prophecy books are about to become relics of the past rather than foretellers of the future.
All I can say is what I have said before only with perhaps more urgency, and that is repent, draw near to your God, pray continuously, and do not stray from your bible. We will need to hear from the Lord clearly, all the time. We may need to know from Him when to go out the front door and when to stay in and lock it. I am not saying this for the sake of frightening anyone, but rather to tell people to prepare. We should be a people of constant praise and worship, full of the glory of God in order to be a light to those who will come to the Lord in these last days.
Rejoice and lift your head up for your redemption draweth neigh. The Lord is about to come and establish His kingdom on earth. Praise the Lord.
__________________________________________________________________
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