The following articles are compiled by:

Leo Wong

Leo@WatchmenWatching.com

 

 

 

Key security HQ in Gaza City, last Fatah stronghold, falls to Hamas

Source: Jerusalem Post

 

June 13, 2007 -- Hamas fighters overran Fatah-allied Preventive Security headquarters in Gaza City on Thursday, a key target in their battle to control the entire Gaza Strip, witnesses and a security agency official said.

 

One witness, Jihad Abu Ayad, said Hamas gunmen were bringing Preventive Security men out of the building and executing them in the street.

 

… the PA officials said that Abbas was expected to officially pull Fatah out of the PA unity government.

 

Comments:  The much feared Hamasistan (Gaza Strip) has finally arrived.  Hamas has taken complete control of Gaza and war with Israel looms on the horizon.  The ‘moderate’ Fatah has just endured some serious derriere kicking.  Bible prophecy authors and students have debated whether the Antichrist’s confirmation of the covenant with many for one week (see Daniel 9:27) would be proceeded by a total all-out war between Israel and her enemies.  Throughout history, peace followed on the heels of a devastating war.  With Hamas having seized Gaza and with the West Bank next on its cross-hairs, the next logical step is a major confrontation with Israel.  With Iran’s and Syrai’s military backing and Hezbollah salivating for another round of south Lebanon skirmishes, Hamas may be propelled into confronting the Jewish state.  It’s just a matter of time.  When the dust settles, the world community will declare that it has had enough of the Arab-Israeli conflict and will endeavor to settle this unsettling situation once and for all.  Enter the Antichrist.

 

 

Andy:

I believe this could be the beginning of an escalation of tensions and war in the Middle East such as we still have not yet seen.  Syria has warned Israel that if they get involved Syria will strike Israel.  We know Damascus holds no less than 10,000 rockets all capable of causing devastation and death to Israel.  Many believe they also have tons of chemical/biological weapons also in "hiding" in Damascus.  One thing we do know from prophetic scripture: Damascus will one day cease to exist as a city.  Laid to a heap of rubble I believe the world will be stunned at the destruction of this ancient city so proud and "mighty" (read the first few verses of Isaiah 17 to see what God has to say about this through the prophet Isaiah).  Watching these tensions rise only makes me wonder all the more just how soon these prophecies will unfold before our eyes...and where will the United States (and believers worldwide) be in all this?  As is always the case, time will tell.

 

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EU to create world's biggest bio-data pool

Source: EUObserver.com

 

June 13, 2007 -- The EU bloc has taken the final step towards having the world's largest biometric database with 70 million sets of fingerprints, designed to boost border security by allowing EU states to share data on short-stay visas and visa applications from non-EU citizens who wish to enter the Schengen free-travel zone.

 

On Tuesday (12 June), EU interior minister gave their backing to the so-called visa information system (VIS), which stores fingerprints and photos of people applying or holding a Schengen visa, and accessed by EU states participating in the Schengen free-travel zone as well as by the European police office, Europol.

 

The new system will "offer a new practical tool both for consulates and border checkpoints," to stop and apprehend criminals or terrorists at the bloc's external borders, EU home affairs commissioner Franco Frattini said, according to AP.

 

He added that the aim is to make the visa information system operational by spring 2009.

 

Currently, people from over one hundred countries are required to have a visa issued by an EU state before they enter the Schengen borderless area.

 

The newly-born database is designed to beef up border security and prevent what is known as visa shopping - when an applicant who is refused a visa by one Schengen country applies to others.

 

Comments:  Are we seeing the genesis of the Mark of the Beast?  One hundred years ago, there was no such database of fingerprints of criminals and suspected terrorists.  The technolgy just simply didn’t exist yet.  Now a day, even ordinary citizens (including children) are getting fingerprinted.  Under the guise of protecting our safety from the bad guys out there, it’s Big Brother’s intention to catalog every humanoid on this planet ahead of the planned New World Order of control, monitoring and tracking.  Individual freedoms will be but a faint memory.  International security will be paramount.  An authoritarian One World Government under Antichrist will rule Earth.  The EU is speculated to be the region from which the Antichrist will come from.  These days, it’s all about the EU this and the EU that.  The U.S. seems to have faded to black like the final scene of The Sopranos TV series.  This massive EU fingerprint database is only the beginning leading to a garantula elaborate eye in the sky system of monitoring and tracking of the activities of every Earth citizen.  Everyone ought to be very concerned.

 

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France preparing moves against Turkish EU membership

Source: EUObserver.com

 

June 13, 2007 -- France is already preparing to move against Turkish membership of the European Union by indicating it will block preliminary talks with Ankara on economic and monetary union.

 

According to articles in both the Financial Times and its German equivalent FT Deutschland, French officials have expressed specific concern about Turkey being allowed to open negotiations in this area - a step in the direction of eventually becoming a member of the euro.

 

The French blockade could come at the end of this month - indicating French president Nicolas Sarkozy is putting his wish that Turkey never joins the EU into effect earlier than expected.

 

Comments:  ‘Fowl’ play is suspected in France’s new president’s ‘anti-Turkey’ position.  He’s not partial to this bird for some reason.  The late Herb Peters (our dear brother passed away earlier today due to cancer) was adamant that the EU would reject Turkey’s application to join the EU.  France has always been the most progressive and opinionated member of the elite EU club of members.  France is also projected to surpass Germany in economic growth and prosperity.  When the French speak in Brussels, people’s ear perk up and listen.  What France wants, it usually gets.  In this instance, France doesn’t desire a Muslim country to be part of the ‘Christian’ EU.  Turkey is of course angered by France’s snub.  This anti-Turkey stance will no doubt nudge Turkey into leaving NATO and joining the Muslim nations and Russia that have courted Turkey in the recent past.  Turkey’s alignment with this Gog-Muslim confederacy would be the fulfillment of Ezekiel 38’s latter day prophecy.

 

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Southern Baptists consider what it means to be Baptist 

Source: www.chron.com

 

June 13, 2007 -- Southern Baptist Convention president Frank Page said today the denomination needs to set aside internal differences and be both "right and relevant" to revive languishing membership trends.

 

Page's words came as moderates took their first steps to slow down conservative attempts to more narrowly define what it means to be a Baptist.

 

The latest controversy centers on speaking in tongues, a Pentecostal practice that is spreading across denominational lines. Some on the Southern Baptist right denounce the practice and believe seminaries and other agencies should set standards preventing the hiring of people who advocate speaking in tongues.

 

Comments:  Once again, the priorities are all out of order for Christians.  The Lord Jesus’ Great Commission to us believers is to go out to all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature and make disciples out of them.  Instead, Protestant denominations such as the Baptist are spending valuable time redefining themselves.  In the days of the apostles, there were no denominations and no ‘churches’, just simple believers meeting in homes or ‘assemblies’.  They called each other brothers and sisters in Christ or simply ‘brethren’. All believers in Jesus formed the One Body of Christ.  It was only later that believers made names for their groups and thus sectarianism came about.

 

Recently, the Baptist denomination has come under attack from conservatives who see a drifting away from tradition.  Rick Warren, a former Baptist pastor, made headlines with his liberal seeker sensitive purpose driven church and life.  No longer making the Gospel his prime directive, he has accummulated a large following of professing believers in canvassing what the needs of the unchurched  and cater to such needs.  Pop psychology, self-esteem seminars, contemporary music, Eugene Peterson’s ‘The Message” Bible paraphrase, etc., were promoted.  Baptist no longer belonged to the domain of conservatism.  Now a day when you enter a Baptist church, you don’t automatically assume it’s an old fashion Baptist denomination.  You need to read their articles of faith and speak to the pastor, assistant pastor and congregants and take in a service or two.  It’s no longer “business as usual” and for some Christians, that’s a real wakeup call.  Church isn’t what it used to be in these final days before the Rapture event.

 

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Billy Graham's wife Ruth gravely ill, in coma

Source: www.kptv.com

 

June 13, 2007 -- A family spokesman said Ruth Graham, the ailing wife of evangelist Billy Graham, has fallen into a coma and appears to be close to death.

 

The news came the same day that Billy Graham said he and Ruth will be buried at the recently dedicated Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, N.C.

 

In a statement, Graham said his 87-year-old wife "is close to going home to heaven."

 

Ruth Graham has degenerative osteoarthritis of the back and neck and has been bedridden at their home in the mountains of western North Carolina for some time.

 

Family spokesman Larry Ross said Ruth Graham was treated two weeks ago for pneumonia and her health temporarily improved before declining because of her weakened condition.

 

Graham said his wife is his soul mate and best friend. The couple met more than 65 years ago as students at Wheaton College near Chicago.

 

Comments:  Who would have thought that Billy Graham’s wife will most likely precede him being called home to be with Jesus.  Mr. Graham’s advanced age and ever failing health have been reported extensively, but we’re just being alerted to his wife’s deteriorating health.  Just recently, Jerry Falwell was suddenly struck down by a heart attack.  Brother Herb Peters died today.  Our beloved Jewish brother in the Lord, Zola Levitt passed away due to cancer earlier this year.  One by one, faithful servants of the Lord have been/are taken away from this earthly scene.  It seems like God is gradually withdrawing his restraint as the Tribulation Period looms perilously close.  True Christians are the salt of the earth in that their presence and witness serve as a preservative and restraint of the evil that’s increasing all around us.  Take all believers out of this world at the same moment in time (i.e. at the Rapture event) and evil will swamp Earth like water from a bursted dam.

 

Jesus said the last days would be like the days of Noah.  It just so happened that Methuselah (the oldest living man ever) died the same year as the flood that God sent to destroy all human flesh except for Noah and his family.  God in that day was patient with mankind, but even with God, He had a limit.  With the recent passing away of dear beloved saints of God, could this be an indication from the Lord that the end of His dispensation of grace is at hand?  Genesis 5:[27] And all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty and nine years: and he died.  2 Peter 3:[9] The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

 

 

Andy:

Late Update:

Dear Ruth Graham has gone home to be with her Lord.  Please pray for comfort for the family especially for Mr. Graham who has lost his wife of 63 years.  Such a painful loss...but only a temporary "farewell" not a permanent "good-bye".  We've quoted these verses many times on this Newsletter but they hold such PROMISE for those of us in Christ Jesus!

1 Thessalonians 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

1 Thessalonians 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
1 Thessalonians 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
1 Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1 Thessalonians 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

 

 

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Keep watching (Matt 24:42)!

 

Until next time,

Shalom!

 

 

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