I Guess Rice And Apples Don't Mix

In case you're wondering about the strange title of this post it's all I could come up with this evening before heading off to bed! This entry is about the U.S. Secretary of State and the state of Israel. Rice was used for obvious reasons and apples were mentioned due to the fact that God refers to Israel as the apple of His eye in the Bible.

There are a number of things running through my head tonight. I'll start with the most important.

If you haven't made a decision for Christ - if you haven't been saved yet - you might want to take a few minutes and consider the eternal implications of such a simple act of faith. What are you waiting for?

Forget about the convergence of world events over these past few weeks (all of which have been reported here) that seem to be quickening and all pointing to some kind of a grand climax with prophetic significance. Just think of things practically for a moment.

In the last week, I've known of two people who were younger than 30 and one who was closer to 70 who all died suddenly and tragically. One of those individuals miraculously accepted Christ only A FEW DAYS before she suddenly became ill and passed away! I can't speak for the other two, but I sincerely hope that they accepted Him also, and that they recognized that their life could be gone at any moment and that the thinking "I'll worry about things like that when I get older..." would be a self prescribed death sentence.

Why am I so passionate this evening about reaching those who are lost or those who remain on the fence when it comes to matters of life and death? Because every day for the past month or so I have been witnessing news headline after news headline that all seem to be saying the same thing - whether months away or still years away, our time is short, our Lord and Savior is coming again!

Case in point, whenever major news emerges that involves Israel (the size of Texas and yet they hold the world's attention day after day, night after night. Why is that?) we expectant believers need to take notice.

Today, I read of one Palestinian negotiator who described as "crazy" the intensity and frequency of Israeli-Palestinian talks in recent weeks, saying both sides have been meeting on a daily basis, usually at the highest levels. The negotiator said Jerusalem is being discussed by both sides and that the two teams are "closer than ever" on coming to an agreement on the status of the city.

Let that sink in for a moment especially in relation to everything else that's going on in the world. Now, consider the spiritual and prophetic implications of such news reports.

Sometimes I'd swear that our national leaders have a deathwish because how else can you explain their constant pursuit of not only trying to be the broker of peace in the Middle East, but of also attempting to be the one to force Israel to divide Jerusalem?

As this article published today by WorldNetDaily tells us, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, completing a visit to the region today, has been pressing Israel to sign a document by the end of the year that would divide Jerusalem by offering the Palestinians a state in Israel's capital city as well as in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, according to top diplomatic sources involved in the talks.

Say that again? Are you kidding me!?!

I'm still baffled every time a so-called Christian President, along with his so-called Christian advisors and administration, conduct themselves and attempt to play politics in such a manner that is inconsistent with their supposed worldview.

Did they (we) learn nothing from the aftermath of the Annapolis Conference last year? How can a nation and its so-called Christian leaders be so ignorant of one of the Bible's most basic instructions?

Bless Israel, be blessed. Curse Israel, be cursed.

As if that weren't enough to give any God-fearing believer cause for concern some of the language used in that same WorldNetDaily article sent chills down my spine.

"The sources said the Palestinian team has been pushing to conclude a deal by January on all core issues, including Jerusalem, and has been petitioning the U.S. to pressure Israel into signing an agreement on paper that offers the Palestinians eastern Jerusalem. The diplomatic sources said the plan is that once an Israeli-Palestinian deal is reached on paper by January, Bush would issue an official letter guaranteeing that the U.S. supports the conclusions of the document. Any Israeli-Palestinian paper agreement is to finalize a process that began at last November's U.S. backed Annapolis conference, which seeks to create a Palestinian state, at least on paper, before Bush leaves office."

Did you catch that? We now have a precedent - complete with specific language and a specific process - to confirm a covenant of this maginitude. As students of prophecy, any talk of confirming an agreement (making it stronger) should raise some eyebrows.

Let me be clear, I'm not playing the Spot-The-Antichrist-Game or even suggesting we do anything of the sort. I'm merely pointing out that I'm beginning to see a vast number of things lining up (everything from world events to the very language and words used to describe them!) in such a way that could make the fulfillment of end times prophecy possible in our time.

How much longer will you wait before you admit that something bigger than yourself is going on here? I pray it won't be too much longer. I pray that you'll take this message to heart.

RECOMMENDED READING:

Finding Comfort Where Others Find Fear by Jeffrey K. Radt
Global Warning by Jeffrey K. Radt
The Stage Is Set: Will It Be Judgment Or Destruction? by Jeffrey K. Radt
The Stage Is Set: Will We Ask For Destruction Or Plead For Mercy? by Jeffrey K. Radt
When Prophecies Collide by Jeffrey K. Radt
Israelistan, Part 2 by Michael G. Mickey