"Beware the Turkish wrath" and the pride of the rainbow cookie

Random headlines that stuck me today:

CULTURE

It isn't a coincidence that the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender and Transgender movement (LGBT) is that they chose "Pride" as their motto, clarion call, and founding principle. Wasn't that satan's main problem, too? (Isaiah 14:12-15)

OREO unveils rainbow-stuffed 'pride cookie'.

Image credit: facebook.com/oreo

"America’s favorite cookie is stirring up more than milk today after Kraft Foods posted a gay pride Oreo on the cookie’s Facebook page. Oreo posted the photoshopped picture of an Oreo cookie stuffed with rainbow-colored layers of frosting Monday evening with the caption “Proudly support love!” Over the past 17 hours more than 157,000 people have “liked” the image, 40,000 people have shared it and 20,000 have commented on it."

What struck me about this story is that the man refused to move! Man vs. Bison. BISON ALWAYS WINS!

Bison Gores Man In Yellowstone Park, Throws Him 10 Feet In Air 
"Officials in Yellowstone National Park say a Massachusetts man was gored by a bull bison that threw him 10 feet in the air and then pinned him to the ground. The man, who is in his mid-50s, suffered a broken collarbone, shoulder blade, several ribs and a groin injury in Saturday’s encounter near the Norris campground. He was airlifted to an Idaho Falls, Idaho hospital and is expected to recover. His name was not released. Park officials say the man was not taunting the animal, but let the bull approach within a few feet of where he was sitting and refused to move away.'

Is man just getting stupider? He certainly is not "evolving" ever higher. As a matter of fact, there's big news on the evolution front.

"Peer-Reviewed Paper Concludes that Darwinism "Has Pretty Much Reached the End of Its Rope"
"An interesting paper was recently published by David Depew and Bruce Weber in the journal Biological Theory. The paper bears the title "The Fate of Darwinism: Evolution After the Modern Synthesis." ... The second point of interest is the paper's claim that "Darwinism in its current scientific incarnation has pretty much reached the end of its rope."

CYBER

It isn't your grandfather's war any more. It's invisible, it's real, and it's devastating

Cyber criminals may have siphoned off 2 bn euros from 60 banks
"Cyber criminals may have attempted to siphon off anywhere between 60 million euros and 2 billion euros in fraudulent transfers from at least 60 banks globally, a McAfee and Guardian Analytics study today said. The study highlighted a highly sophisticated, multi- tiered, global financial fraud ring that is comprised of at least a dozen groups use active and passive automated transfer systems to steal high value amounts from high balance accounts."

World faces an ‘astonishing’ level of cyber threats:
"The West faces an "astonishing" threat of cyberattack and cyberespionage, the British spy chief said Monday. Thousands of hackers in underground, organized cybercrime networks are targeting businesses, universities and government data. And the threat isn't only from criminals. Government-sponsored cyber-spying is widespread is certain countries - China chief among them, ABC News reported. "The extent of what is going on is astonishing," said Jonathan Evans, director general of Britain's MI5, in a speech to financial executives in London Monday. It was his first public address in two years."

Al-Qaeda Trains Norway Islam Convert To Carry Out Terror Plots
"A Norwegian man has received terrorist training from al-Qaida's offshoot in Yemen and is awaiting orders to carry out an attack on the West, officials from three European security agencies told The Associated Press on Monday. Western intelligence officials have long feared such a scenario – a convert to Islam who is trained in terrorist methods and can blend in easily in Europe and the United States, traveling without visa restrictions."

MIDDLE EAST

Syria to get more arms from Russia soon-think-tank 
"Russia is expected to deliver air defence systems, reconditioned helicopters and fighter jets to Syria this year worth nearly half a billion dollars despite international pressure to halt arms sales to Damascus."

Russia's modern-day Czar, Vladimir Putin, is making the rounds in the Middle East. Russia is prophesied to be a major end times player in the war of Gog and Magog, holding an alliance with Iran, Turkey, Armenia, and other Arab nations to attack Israel in the last days. Putin also visited Israel on this trip.

Putin due in Kingdom today
Amman, Jordan: "Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to begin a working visit to Jordan on Tuesday, during which he will hold talks with His Majesty King Abdullah, according to a Royal Court statement. The talks will focus on bilateral relations and ways to develop them in various fields, the statement said. Discussions will also focus on political developments and changes in the Middle East, in addition to efforts to revive peace talks. Meanwhile, a Jordanian-Russian Business Forum convened in Amman on Monday to “strengthen investment and commercial relations between Jordan and Russia” . During his one-day visit, the Russian president will also attend the official opening of the Russian Pilgrimage House at the Baptism Site, where, according to Christian beliefs, Jesus Christ was baptised by John the Baptist."

We should pray that Vladimir Putin will be over come by the leading of the Spirit into repentance and submit to Jesus Christ as His sovereign!

Turkey sends letter to UN on jet downed by Syria
"Turkey sent a letter to the United Nations Security Council on June 24 over Syria’s downing of a Turkish warplane in the eastern Mediterranean two days previously. The letter, published by the New York Times, calls the shooting incident a "serious threat to peace and security in the region" and gives information on the coordinates of the location where the plane was struck and where it crashed."

"When people say, "There is peace and security," destruction will strike them as suddenly as labor pains come to a pregnant woman, and they will not be able to escape." (1 Thess 5:3 ISV).

NATO Backs Turkey Against Syria
"NATO on Tuesday firmly backed Turkey saying Syria’s shooting down of a Turkish jet was “unacceptable," NATO’s Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen condemned the incident saying, "We consider this act to be unacceptable and condemn it in the strongest terms…It is another example of the Syrian authorities' disregard for international norms, peace and security, and human life."

Erdogan tells Syria beware Turkish wrath
"Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan told Syria to beware the wrath of Turkey after the shooting down of a warplane and said he had ordered the armed forces to react to any military threat from Syria near the two countries' border. Erdogan's warning to Syria reflected increased tensions not only on the Mediterranean coast, where the aircraft was shot down last Friday, but on a long common land border criss-crossed by rebels fighting President Bashar al-Assad."

Beware the wrath of He who wrote the words and promised His own wrath in the ancient prophecises, which will come to pass and may even be coming to pass today!

"Then the kings of the earth, the important people, the generals, the rich, the powerful, and all the slaves and free people concealed themselves in caves and among the rocks in the mountains. They said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the lamb. For the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to endure it?" (Revelation 6:15-17).

NEW aviation incident between Turkey-Syria

UPDATE #1: 
Turkey reveals inside information for the first time. From Hurriyet Daily News in Turkey--
"Turkey has found out that the order to down a Turkish jet was given by the Bashar al-Assad administration, while a ranking Turkish source said the Syrian regime “should pay” for the attack...Breaking its silence about the incident yesterday, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu provided detailed information on how the incident took place and accused of Syria misinforming the international community. "

-------end update. more at link above-------------

Le Figaro, the nearly 200-year-old well respected French newspaper, reports the following today. It has been Google-translated:

"A new air incident between Syria and Turkey , which has no injury or property damage, occurred over the Mediterranean after the crash of a fighter aircraft F-4 Turkish killed Friday by Syria, today said a European diplomatic source. A Casa CN-235 aircraft search and rescue of the Turkish army who participated in the research of the two pilots of the F-4 has been pointed to by a system of Syrian air defense, the last step before opening fire, the source said. This defense system includes a radar and missiles. "When an aircraft is pointed to by a system of defense, he is warned by his instruments, and that's what happened," the source said. It is unclear whether the aircraft was at the time of this incident in Syrian airspace, or within 12 nautical miles (approx. 22 km) from the Syrian coast, or in the international arena. This incident, which held on Friday or Saturday, was reported by the Turkish Foreign Ministry diplomats of the countries of the European Union and NATO at a meeting Sunday in Ankara, the source said. A fighter plane F- 4 Turkey was shot dead Friday by Syrian air defense , while, according to Ankara, he made ​​a training mission, was unarmed, and was in international airspace, after a brief foray into space Syrian. Both drivers are missing. Following this incident, Turkey requested an urgent meeting with his allies of NATO , which will take place tomorrow in Brussels.'

Now the fact that Turkey is calling an urgent meeting of NATO is very interesting. The entire point of the North Atlantic Treaty Organizations is that it provides umbrella defense for each of its members. "The organization constitutes a system of collective defence whereby its member states agree to mutual defense in response to an attack by any external party' NATO has added new members seven times since first forming in 1949, and now comprises 28 nations," according to Wikipedia. The member nations are: Albania, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Rep, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States.

Did Turkey call an urgent NATO meeting for the purpose of requesting military defense? Turkey has promised to answer the Syrian attack definitively.

Washington Post reports, "NATO will discuss downing of Turkish plane by Syria; Turkey considers retaliation"

But the Post reports in its opening sentence that NATO will likely not respond militarily. There seems to be little appetite for yet another military intervention. However, the second incident, reported today of the missile radar locking onto the Turkish search and rescue jet, does not bode well for a peaceful outcome, or even of Syria passing a straight-face test about wanting to remain "neighborly."

Meanwhile, 38 Syrian officers defected to Turkey overnight, escalating tensions yet again.

With Turkey and Syria at odds in the north, Egypt and Israel in the south are at a low point in relations. With the election of a hardened Islamist to the Egyptian Presidency, on the back of a successful campaign that had vowed to march to Jerusalem and take it over, Israel is understandably worried. The rocket attacks from Gaza have been increasing. Yet another truce has been formed but Israeli PM Netanyahu vowed to hit Gaza if this one is broken.With Hamas's track record in keeping truces (the one agreed to earlier in the week lasted only a few hours) I am not holding out hope that Israel's patience will remain forbearing forever.

While hatred in Egypt is rising against Israel, at the same time, the new President Morsi wants closer ties to Iran.

What to do? Keep looking up for our Redemption, He is in total control. Don't you think it is amazing that the ancient, centuries old prophecies of Isaiah 17, Isaiah 19, Ezekiel 38-39, Psalm 83 are all unfolding so precisely?

Yet this is the very time for fervent prayer that people in the path of these prophecies to have their eyes and heart opened to the truth of Jesus's soon return. Pray, pray, pray, Don't just pray once a week, or once a day, fervent prayer at this tumultuous time at the very END of the age is called for.

There was a persistent widow, you see,

"Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’” Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? 8 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”' (Luke 18:1-8)

The disciples had asked when the Kingdom would come. Jesus answered in this parable, saying in the example that they should not ever, ever, ever give up praying. If an unjust judge responds to persistence, how much MORE so will the Righteous Branch of the Protector of Israel respond? Here is a preached explanation of the kind of faith Jesus will be looking for at His return:

"However, when the Son of Man comes will He find faith on the earth?" Will He find this kind of persevering faith? Will He find this kind of persevering prayer? Will He find this kind of enduring confidence? This is definitely eschatological praying. No one of us knows the time of the Rapture. We don't know when the events that are the Second Coming will be launched. We don't know when the day of the Lord is going to come, but two thousand years have passed by, believers have been waiting and waiting, and suffering at the hand of sinners. Sin escalates, evil men grow worse and worse and worse. We see the pollution inside and outside Christendom. False teachers abound everywhere. We're endeavoring to endure true and faithful, trusting in the Word of God. We have been promised that He will come. We believe that He will come. And here He says, "Keep praying for that event." He will come but part of the means of that coming is our prayer life. Prayer moves God to accomplish His work and therefore having accomplished His work, bringing it to its great culmination in His Second Coming. He will come. He promises He will come. He will be faithful to His elect. He will bring judgment to the ungodly. He will vindicate the saints. He will exalt Himself. He will establish His throne on earth. He will reign in a Kingdom on earth and He will establish the new heaven and the new earth. And that is what we are to pray for relentlessly." (source)

So pray for hearts to be changed. Pray for repentance. Pray for eyes to be opened to the nearness of the times. Pray for sins to be forgiven. Pray Pray Pray!

Enter the Kings of the East into prophetic play

I saw the following news article and I though, "Hmmm, that's a little strange."

Jerusalem Post: 'Iran, Russia, China, Syria plan 'largest' war game'
"Syrian, Iranian media reports say air, ground and naval forces to conduct 'Middle East's largest ever military exercise.' "

China? I can see Iran and Russia and Syria, they are prophesied to ally in the Gog Magog war. Russia has a port in Syria and Syria is the proxy nation for Iran. But China? Where's their stake in it?

Of course the next day Russia, Syria deny war games with China, Iran. But the inclusion of China into the prophetic mix perked up my ears.

Then I see the following by an an energy media outlet synopsizing from the Wall Street Journal:

"Saudi Arabia, China Sign Nuclear Cooperation Pact":

"With its energy consumption surging and its own power supply under threat, Saudi Arabia will rely increasingly on nuclear generation. To help it along, it has turned to the country that is emerging as the world leader in nuclear technology: China. The Wall Street Journal reports that the two countries have agreed to jointly develop nuclear power plants, reactors, fuel and maintenance. The agreement follows a 6-day visit to Saudi Arabia by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao." [Photo above from Lebanon Daily Star, released by Saudi Press Agency, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, left, meets with Saudi King Abdullah, right, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, Jan. 14, 2012."]

This deal, Saudi's oil free flowing to China in exchange for nuclear technology, is already shaping up to be be responsible for a dramatic shift of the security environment of the Middle East, not to mention the future of the petrodollar.

The Washington Times explained it this way:
"U.S. intelligence agencies are closely watching Saudi Arabia for signs that the oil-rich kingdom will seek to develop nuclear weapons, amid tensions in the region centered on Iran’s nuclear program. One key warning sign was the cooperation agreement signed Sunday in Riyadh by China and Saudi Arabia. According to the Saudi Jidda News, the agreement will seek joint development of “atomic energy for peaceful purposes, which will help to meet the kingdom’s rising demand for energy and cut its growing dependence on depleting resources.” The agreement was signed by King Abdullah and Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao "

The Asia Times simply said: Saudi Arabia pivots toward Asia

I kept thinking...hmmm, enter the Kings of the East. It wasn't until last night when this week's Hal Lindsey's report dropped the last penny for me and the pieces fell into place. He opened his weekly report by bluntly saying:

"Why is no one in the mainstream media talking about the latest deal between Saudi Arabia and China? In case you haven't heard, the Saudis recently offered to guarantee the Chinese unlimited oil until 2035. In exchange for Chinese off-the--shelf nuclear missiles. ... [Here, Lindsey cites the source DebkaFile, which is a dubious source, but the following is true:] "The raw fact, which the West does not want to acknowledge, is that the Saudis fear Iran and want nuclear weapons as a counterbalance to Iran's growing nuclear potential."

Lindsey continues:
"This is what the Israel has been warning the West about for years now. If Iran is allowed to acquire nuclear weapons, not only would it pose a direct threat to Israel, but it will force other nations in the Middle East to acquire nuclear weapons for heir own self defense. It will ignite an arms race in a rough neighborhood. I think it is interesting that even though most nations in the Middle East have long suspected that Israel possessed nuclear weapons, none of them felt threatened enough to seek their own arsenals. But now that is almost a guarantee that one of their own Muslim brothers is going nuclear, some of them suddenly feel the need for a nuclear deterrent."

Lindsey widens the picture from the looming new nuclear arms race in the unstable regions to the wider view of additional prophetic pieces entering the picture. It begins to bring into focus a long puzzling question: how or why China would be drawn into the war of Armageddon.

Revelation 16:12 says "The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the East."

Revelation chapter 9 describes the preparation for that war. It involves the King of the North and the King of the South. In Daniel’s prophecy of “the time of the end” beginning in Daniel 11:35, a king is pictured in the Mediterranean area who engages in a military conflict with the king of the south, the king of the north, and a military force from the east. A question that has always puzzled Lindsey is why would the kings of the East cross the Euphrates with a 200 million man army? Daniel 11:40-45 describes the battle plan of this final war.

'“At the time of the end the king of the South will engage him in battle, and the king of the North will storm out against him with chariots and cavalry and a great fleet of ships. He will invade many countries and sweep through them like a flood. He will also invade the Beautiful Land. Many countries will fall, but Edom, Moab and the leaders of Ammon will be delivered from his hand. He will extend his power over many countries; Egypt will not escape. He will gain control of the treasures of gold and silver and all the riches of Egypt, with the Libyans and Cushites in submission. But reports from the east and the north will alarm him, and he will set out in a great rage to destroy and annihilate many. He will pitch his royal tents between the seas at the beautiful holy mountain. Yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him.' "

Now, I don't understand all that. And by the disagreement over who, exactly, is the King of the South, others aren't sure either. But from what I have read on Bible.org, Hal Lindsey and Jack Kelley, there seems consensus that it looks like Iran and Turkey both want to be seen as the King of the North, while Egypt is the front-runner for King of the South, supported by Saudi Arabia.

Jack Kelley describes the final power struggle:
"According to Daniel 11 the End of the Age would see two Middle Eastern power blocks, which he called the King of the North and the King of the South. Today, although they appear to be allies, two countries from the former Seleucid Empire, the first King of the North, are openly competing for the right to be the Bible’s End Times King of the North. They are Turkey and Iran. ... Until recently it seemed like Syria and Iran would combine to take the title King of the North, but now there’s a new kid in town due to Turkish PM Erdogan’s vision of resurrecting the Ottoman Empire into the leader of the Moslem world."

If you have seen the news of Turkey's shift away from the West over the last five years, Prime Minister Erdogan's call for the reclusive but powerful Imam currently living in Pennsylvania to come home and take his place in the faith and in the nation, and the issue with Syria downing a Turkish jet fighter and Turkey's declaration that it will not be ignored, you know that Turkey's rise as a powerful player over these last few years is incredibly prophetic.

As we sort out the prophetic kings and the final pieces of prophecy, one consensus seems clear. The Kings of the East seem generally acknowledged to be an Oriental Confederacy, which includes the 200 million man army of China. China is now considered to have the most powerful army ever assembled in world history.

North Korea: Kim Jong Il's funeral

I used the photo above to demonstrate that the Oriental kings already have the ability to mass not only the military but their civilian populations, with ease. As we go forward on this day and this week and this month...let's remember Jesus. he is the King, Prophet, and Priest into whose hands God has delivered all authority. (Matthew 28:18). His hand is passing over the earth to bring these events about. He is in control, and nothing is out of control. All is progressing exactly as He ordained. The best thing we can do is obey him and be joyful in His works, which are to the good of those who love Him. (Romans 8:28).

We witness, sharing His peace with one and all, even in the face of mounting war. As Solomon said in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8:

"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.

First, war. Then, eternal peace.

Do you love Jesus? Do you want to? Here is what you must do. And here is a simple, concise explanation of the Gospel. Please read it, if you are not saved. We're experiencing a moral, spiritual, financial, and cultural implosion as we speak. Please don't be caught in the rubble. Jesus will forgive you, lift you, and bring you to heaven to feast with Him as part of His bride. You will be born (again), heal, build up, laugh, dance, embrace, seek, speak, and have peace.

US concerned about Israeli strike on Damascus; Turkish jet shot down by Syria?

It's getting serious...Isaiah 17, Isaiah 19, Psalm 83...

-----update #1---------
Some updates as details emerge. Regarding the downed Turkish jet, it is confirmed that Syria shot it down. AP: Office of Turkey's prime minister says Syria has downed a Turkish air force jet." Syria claims the jet was over Syrian territorial waters. Turkey says,

"REUTERS: TURKEY WILL TAKE ALL THE NECESSARY MEASURES "DECISIVELY" ONCE ALL THE DETAILS OF THE INCIDENT EMERGE-PM OFFICE STATEMENT"

Remember, Turkey has the largest Army in Europe, and the 2nd largest Navy. Turkey has the 2nd largest military in NATO, behind the US.
-----end update #1---------

-----update #2---------
From Zerohedge, a nice analysis about what this all means and what could happen next. For esample, one part:

"The only question remains whether Syria's act was offensive or defensive. Naturally, its version is one of self-defense. Turkey obviously will claim it was in its right to be wherever the plane may be, and will say this was an act of provocation. Then NATO, read Hillary Clinton, will promptly step in, and make this a case in which Turkey was in its right and that Syria committed an act of aggression. From there, things will just escalate..."

-----end update #2---------

US concerned about Israeli strike on Damascus
"U.S. intelligence agencies are closely watching Israel’s military for signs it will conduct strikes on Syria’s stockpiles of chemical weapons, amid concerns the deadly nerve agents could fall under the control of Hezbollah or al Qaeda terrorists, U.S. officials said. Syria’s arsenal remains vulnerable as the result of the internal conflict currently underway in Syria between government forces and opposition rebels, one official said."

Syria correspondent @AlexanderPageSY reports on Twitter: "CONFIRMED #Qudseya just 6km from presidential palace in #Damascus will face a full force military bombardment in the next 2 days #Syria"

Turkish jet shot down by Syria?
"Military aircraft crashes over Syrian waters after being intercepted by Assad's defense forces, media reports claim; Erdogan convenes emergency meeting with ministers...Turkey said on Friday it had lost contact with one of its military aircraft while it was over the sea off the southeastern coast, and a television station said it had crashed in Syrian territorial waters. Hezbollah's al-Manar television and Pro-Iranian Al-Mayadeen television station, which are both based in Lebanon, reported that the plane was shot down by Syrian defense forces. "Syrian security sources confirmed to a Manar correspondent in Damascus that Syrian defence forces shot down the Turkish fighter jet," the Hezbollah-owned channel said."

Saudi Arabia plans to fund Syria rebel army
"Saudi officials are preparing to pay the salaries of the Free Syria Army as a means of encouraging mass defections from the military and increasing pressure on the Assad regime, the Guardian has learned. The move, which has been discussed between Riyadh and senior officials in the US and Arab world, is believed to be gaining momentum as a recent flush of weapons sent to rebel forces by Saudi Arabia and Qatar starts to make an impact on battlefields in Syria.'

Keep praying and keep looking up.

"Turkey is No Longer a Friend of Israel" Says President of Turkey

Well. My previous post on Israel and Turkey became outdated almost immediately, like, in three minutes. I had mentioned that Turkish-Israeli relationship was deteriorating fast. A series of moves an comments over the last four days by Turkey indicated that their relationship was headed south. We know that the bible says in the end the two will be enemies. Turkey joins with other countries to attack Israel in the Gog-Magog battle. Ezekiel 38-39)

Now, Euronews reports the President of Turkey saying that his nation and Israel "are no longer friends." This Euronews interview began with the contextual comment that "Turkey is transforming and developing economic and diplomatic relations with its neighbors, prompting many to talk of an axis shift. The Turkish President sat down for a candid interview with Euronews as to where the country might be heading next."

The President emphasizes that he is leading his nation toward opening up relations with many, instead of being a dead end, Turkey is now more of a crossroads. Except, that is, Israel, I note. Turkey withdrew diplomats from Israel and has adopted a harsh stance in the last few days, In this interview, the President flatly admits that any friendship between Turkey and Israel is over. So the crossroads does not extend to Jerusalem, apparently.

When the interviewer asks the Turkish President about the Gaza Flotilla incident with Israel last year, he admitted that the incident irrevocably harmed their relationship. This admission comes at about 4:16. The interviewer follows up with the question, "Is Turkey's friendship with Israel over?" and the President says, "Absolutely. Israel has lost the friendship of Turkey and of Turkish citizens."

Here is the video if you want to watch yourself. It is interesting. The interviewer goes on with asking Turkey about Iran's nuclear activity.



Turkey has the second largest military in NATO, after the US. Israel is not part of NATO. Things are lining up, folks.
Tweet

Turkey-Israel relationship deteriorating

Anyone who reads the bible knows the end from the beginning. In many cases we don't know how the LORD will perform a certain thing that is prophesied to come to pass, but we know it will, because He said it will. In other cases, we do know how, we know who, and we even have a general time frame when.

For example, we know that Israel and Turkey will wind up enemies. In Ezekiel 38-39 it is prophesied that Turkey will be an aggressor against Israel, along with Russia, Armenia, Iran, Libya, Sudan and others. (Ez 38:3-6). They attack Israel. It is a surprise attack, at a moment when Israel thinks she can let down her guard. (Ez 38:11). Therefore it is especially devastating, and Israel almost loses the battle. But the LORD intervenes personally and Israel is saved. The world knows it is the LORD's power that defeated Israel's enemies, and not anything else. (Ez 38:22-23; Ez 39:6)

So over the last decade as Turkey had moved to a more democratic and less Muslim form of government and civic outlook, and seemed to be gravitating to the West in their persistent requests to become part of the EU, people who study prophecy knew that it would not last. We just did not know when the relationship would dissipate into a downward spiral of mistrust and hatred. It seems that that time is now.

Just before the Labor Day weekend, Turkey recalled its Ambassador from Turkey and began to engage in a diplomatic cold war. Arutz Sheva reports:

"Turkey Declares Diplomatic Cold War on Israel"
"Turkey has unofficially declared a diplomatic cold war, recalling its ambassador and threatening to charge Israel in the International Court. Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmet Davutoglu announced on Friday that Ankara was not only recalling its ambassador but also “will reduce its level of diplomatic representation in Israel to that of second secretary, a lower rank than consul. ... Turkey is suspending all military agreements with Israel..."

The split has begun. Even more dramatic, was two days later when Turkey shockingly harassed incoming Israelis at the airport. Yedioth News reports,

"Israelis held in Istanbul airport"
About 40 Israeli passengers on board a Turkish Airlines flight from Tel Aviv to Istanbul were held for several hours by local police on Monday after their passports had been taken away from them. The passengers said that the Turkish police officers were disrespectful, claiming that such an incident was unprecedented. "I think that the police officers didn't even know what they were looking for," one of the passengers told Ynet. "They apparently got an order to detain us, one by one. Everyone was in shock; we didn't know what they were going to do to us. Obviously this was done intentionally in order to create an unpleasant feeling."

In addition to personally harassing Israelis, the Turkish government decided to harass Israel militarily, also.

Turkey navy to escort aid ships to Palestinians in Gaza
Turkish officials tell Hurriyet Daily News that Turkish navy will strengthen presence in eastern Mediterranean Sea to stop Israeli 'bullying'.

In an even more provoking mood, Turkey is planning to visit Egypt, but to also visit the Gaza Strip. This is one step too far, as Israel is concerned.

'Erdogan visit to Gaza would hurt Turkey-US ties'
"A senior Israeli official on Sunday warned that it would be a diplomatic mistake for Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to visit the Gaza Strip as reports in the Turkish and Arab media suggested he was considering doing. The Qatar News Agency (QNA) reported on Sunday that Erdogan will pay a two-day visit to Egypt beginning September 12 and may subsequently cross the border into the Gaza Strip. ... Turkish Deputy Premier Bulent Arinc stated that the visit was expected to produce important decisions reflecting the strength of relations between Turkey and Egypt."

And today, the Washington Post wonders, "Turkey and Israel: Can they repair the relationship?"

They sum up, "With Erdogan in charge, a return to the good old days is highly unlikely. But Turkey, for now at least, needs to perform a balancing act — remaining on good terms with the United States, feeding its domestic audience a steady diet of anti-Zionist rhetoric and not entirely jettisoning the relationship with the Jewish state. With Syria’s Bashar al-Assad under siege and the rest of the Middle East convulsed in turmoil, Turkey may find it unwise to sulk for too long. Who knows which of Ankara’s allies will survive? Perhaps cooler heads and a desire to keep at least one foot firmly planted in the West will temper the Turks’ response."

Hope springs eternal, doesn't it? I hope that the people in these nations will find peace, I pray that they do. But any lull or temporary softening of the harsh stances will be short lived, because we know the end from the beginning.

Egypt suffers dreadful losses during the Tribulation, and a final defeat as a nation by Israel. (Isaiah 19:16-17). However, the LORD blesses Egypt at the beginning of the Millennium, along with Israel and Assyria. Egypt turns to the LORD en masse. They still must endure a 40 year desolation, (Ezekiel 29:8-16) they are welcomed back to the LORD after that.

Turkey does not fare as well. At the Gog-Magog battle, "I will execute judgment on him with plague and bloodshed. I will pour out torrential rain, hailstones, fire, and brimstone on him, as well as his troops and the many peoples who are with him."

The above articles all happened within the last few days. The relationship between Turkey and Israel is devolving fast. Hopefully the rapture is right behind.
Tweet