THE WAR AND DIPLOMACY
 
This is quite an unexpected War between Lebanon and Israel.I believe very few people were anticipating this.  As prophecy students this is one battle we should be watching.  Some people are saying this is a War that will stay local but every time I turn on the news commentaries people keep throwing Syria and Iran in the scenario.Many persons are looking at this and asking the same question.
 
Of course I would like to say that I really feel bad for the victims on both sides.  I could feel the anger, fear and pain as I saw the clips on television.I just pray they will come to know the Lord Jesus Christ through their hardships.My heart just fell as I looked at the panic on both sides.  God is in perfect control so my prayer is that some people in these War zones would come to know the Lord in a personal way as their Savior.
 
I feel if this War does escalate then indeed we will be very close to the Rapture and the 7 year Tribulation.  I do believe Isaiah, Chapter 17 is technically a different War than Ezekiel 38 and 39.  Both are future Wars of which the Bible speaks.  Isaiah 17 is talking about Syria.  In verse 1, it says "The burden of Damascus, behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap."  Usually most prophecy teachers spoke of this War as taking place right before the 7 year Tribulation period or right after the confirming of the 7 year peace covenant.  Ezekiel 38 and 39 is also a future War when I believe Russia will come down on Israel with Persia ( Iran ), Ethiopia, Libya, Gomer (Germany), and Togarmah (Turkey).  Syria is not mentioned in this coalition ( Ezekiel 38: 5-6).  I can only conclude that Isaiah 17 takes place before Ezekiel 38 and 39 ( the Battle of Gog and Magog).  As yourself one basic question.Why isn't Syria mentioned in Ezekiel 38: 5-6?
 
In Isaiah 17:12 " Woe to the multitude of 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!  ( 13) The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters..."  Wow!!!  That's a lot of rushing or rush.  These words are mentioned 5 times in a very small segment.  It almost sounds like a pun on words.  Rushing, rush, or Russia?  Could it be that right after Isaiah 17 takes place Ezekiel 38 and 39 will immediately follow?
 
I know this verse has been quoted before on End-Time prophecy web sites but just take one more look at this.  The righteous perished, and no man layeth it to heart: the merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taking away from the evil to come.  Isaiah 57:1.  I have believed for the longest while that this verse is referring to the Rapture of the Church.  Look at the phrase " and no man layeth it to heart."  You and I both know that if this verse is referring to the Rapture the nature of gossip gets around.I absolutely know the Rapture is going to be explained away but the question is how?  Could it be a regional War?  I still believe we should have left behind materials lying around for those who miss the Rapture because even if I am right there are still too many questions.The bottom line is seeking souls after the Catching Away of the Church are going to need guidance.  I am by no stretch of the imagination dogmatic about any of these things except to say we would have to be in the general area of the Lord's return.
 
As I look at the news I am surprised that they are talking about a peace settlement or at the very least they are insinuating it.  In the start and the heart of the Iraq War it was very rarely mentioned.  The focus was on the amount of people dying, was it a just War, or just plain division.That's happening here in this War also but now the tone has elevated a notch.  People want a person to step in and be a peace negotiator because now Israel is involved.  Could the antichrist be right on the horizon?  If this War stays local I do believe we will have some time left.  If the War goes regional I believe the Rapture and 7 year Tribulation period will be right at hand.  So what I am saying is the clock is either one minute before twelve or thirty seconds before twelve.  Either way we are really close to the Lord's Coming.
 
Keep Looking Up.
Bob D.