Final Push for World Government

Jerusalem Launches Debate on Sharing Holiest Site

June 18, 2009

Reuters - Espousing a dream of harmony that may stretch credibility among even the most fervent believers in dialogue among the great religions, clerics in Jerusalem launched a project on Thursday aimed at finding a way to share the city's holiest, and most fought over, site.

Even the Jewish religious scholar promoting it acknowledges it might need divine intervention before a peaceful remapping of the area where Muslims built the 7th century Dome of the Rock and al-Aqsa Mosque on the site of the biblical Jewish Temple.

"We offer this vision for a long and deep discussion, and of course want to continue with a parallel research from other religions," said Yoav Frankel, director of the project promoting a vision of "God's Holy Mountain."

Invitations to Thursday's launch conference depict a sunlit imagined future for the area Jews call Temple Mount. Happy Muslims and harp-playing Jews mingle between the Dome of the Rock and a new Temple, as Christians walk over from the nearby Sepulchre Church, traditional site of Jesus's resurrection.

The project, headed by Jewish members of the Interfaith Encounter Association encourages all three faiths to re-examine the complex and perhaps foster a new theological outlook, making room for all to worship there.

But Frankel conceded it may take more than debate of Jewish law, or halacha, to alter centuries of tradition in favour of a compromise by which Jews would agree to build a temple nearby, not in the spot traditionally regarded as the correct site--right where the Dome has stood since the 7th century.

"Regular halachic discussion will not be powerful enough," Frankel said, referring to the need for a "holy revelation" to make such a shift possible in Jewish tradition.

Known to Arabs as the Haram al-Sharif, or Noble Sanctuary, and also respected by Christians and Jews who believe that the Dome covers a rock where Abraham prepared to sacrifice his son to God, the compound in Jerusalem's Old City has been the cause of bloodshed, from ancient times to today.

It still lies at the heart of Israeli-Palestinian conflict and sovereignty over the holy sites remains a sticking point in international efforts to draft a final peace settlement.

Not even all members of the interfaith group, which is dedicated to religious coexistence, favour the new project, which does not address political issues of whether Israel or Palestinians--or both, or neither--should control the city.

Muslim cleric Abdullah Darweesh, who was to speak at the official project launch on Thursday, said all "holy Christian and Islamic sites should be under Arab sovereignty."

Islam teaches that Mohammad rose to heaven from the rock under the Dome. Muslim clerics who run the compound have been wary of Jewish encroachment into the site since Israel captured the Old City and the rest of Arab East Jerusalem in a 1967 war.

A visit there in 2000 by Ariel Sharon, a right-wing Israeli politician who later became prime minister, helped spark a Palestinian uprising that became known as the al-Aqsa Intifada.

Since the Second Temple was destroyed under Roman rule in AD 70, Jews have prayed at the Western Wall, part of the ruins.

Many Orthodox Jews believe they must not set foot on the Temple Mount itself for fear of treading on the now unknown site of the inner sanctum. Some groups, however, call for Israel to seize the site and rebuild the temple, a step some believe would then herald the return of the Messiah and a time of world peace.

Obama, in Egypt, Calls for New Start

June 5, 2009

McClatchy Newspapers - ...For U.S. presidents over six decades, the Middle East has been impervious to change. Bush's attempts to remold the region through wars and democratization resulted in a backlash that handed power to extremist groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah.

In Cairo, even some who liked Obama's message were skeptical of its practical impact.

"Will there be a state of Palestine in Obama's administration? I doubt it," said Menna El Massry, 19, a law student. "Not because I don't think there should be a state - I do - but because I don't think the world is ready for that yet."

Arab leaders, wary of Iran's growing power and their own young, disgruntled populations, seem leery of dramatic moves toward peace with Israel or political openings at home.

Israel is governed by a new, right-wing coalition led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has not yet said that he's ready to accept the "two-state" solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that Obama seeks.

On Jewish settlements in the West Bank, Israel is offering substantially less than the complete freeze on construction that the White House wants.

Obama trod only briefly into two areas that would have been the centerpiece of any similar speech by Bush: Iran's suspected quest for a nuclear weapon and the need for more democracy in the Muslim world.

He acknowledged U.S. errors and missteps. He called the Iraq conflict "a war of choice," reiterated his order to close the Guantanamo Bay detention center that is detested among Muslims, and recalled the U.S. role in overthrowing Iran's democratically elected prime minister, Mohammed Mossadegh, in 1953.

He also spoke in detail about the Holocaust, in language that Arabs and Muslims typically don't hear in speeches aimed at gaining their support.

The Cairo University audience interrupted more than 30 times to applaud, including when Obama used his middle name, Hussein, tying him to his Kenyan Muslim father...

Obama in Egypt: One Speech, Many Audiences

May 31, 2009

McClatchy Newspapers - President Obama has a sweeping goal for his speech Thursday in Cairo, Egypt: to begin remaking the dynamic between the United States and Muslims abroad. He'll declare a clean break from the Bush administration's "war-on-terror" approach to foreign affairs and forcefully endorse establishing a Palestinian state. He'll talk about his respect for Islamic culture and call for an era of partnering with Muslim nations...

Pope to Visit Holy Land as 'Pilgrim of Peace'

May 2, 2009

Prophecy in the News - The Pope has announced that he will be undertaking his forthcoming trip to the Middle East as a "pilgrim of peace." The Roman Pontiff expressed hope that his tour will help to foster unity between Islam, Christianity and Judaism, as he visits the places revered by the 'three great monotheistic religions.' His tour is expected to include stops in Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Nazareth, Jordan and the Palestinian territories.

The Pope's visit will come just weeks after the Vatican announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the Arab League, agreeing to increase cooperation between them with a view to "promoting peace and justice in the world," and focusing in particular on the Middle East conflict.

The Pope intends to meet with Islamic leaders in the Prince Hussein Mosque in Jordan before travelling on to Israel, where he is expected to meet Jewish and Palestinian representatives. The last day of his trip will coincide with Western celebrations of Israel's 61st anniversary, on May 15th, and, conversely, the Palestinian Nakba on the same date.

The Pope has stated that he intends to bring a message of "justice and truth, mercy, forgiveness and love" on his trip.

"Reconciliation—difficult but indispensable—is a precondition for a future of overall security and peaceful coexistence, and it can only be achieved through renewed, persevering and sincere efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict."

"In just a few days I will have the privilege of visiting the Holy Land. I go as a pilgrim of peace," the pontiff said of his first papal trip to the Middle East. He said the region—"land of our Lord's birth, death and resurrection, a sacred place for the world's three great monotheistic religions—has been plagued by violence and injustice" for 60 years. "This has led to a general atmosphere of mistrust, uncertainty and fear—often pitting neighbor against neighbor, brother against brother... As I prepare for this significant journey, I ask in a special way that you join me in prayer for all the peoples of the Holy Land and the region. May they receive the gifts of reconciliation, hope and peace."

The Bible foretells of a day in which the religions of this world will be united under the authority of one man. The book of Revelation describes this man as having two horns like a lamb, but speaking as a dragon (Revelation 13). It seems that while this man will have all the appearance of innocence, meekness and goodness (like a lamb), the words he will speak will be from Satan himself (or the dragon - Revelation 13:4).

I am not saying that this Pope is the false prophet. He isn't performing any miracles, nor is he handing out marks and advocating all men worship the Beast. But there is no doubt that all this talk of peace and reconciliation between religions, particularly in the Holy Land, is preparing the way for the false prophet's coming. The Bible declares that the false prophet will be given power to perform great and lying wonders, convincing men of his supposed 'Divine authority' (Revelation 13:13-14).

Think it could never happen? Christendom is already being conditioned into accepting the idea of miracle-working (false) prophets, through movements such as the Kansas City Prophets and the recent Florida Healing Outpouring, among others. And calling down fire from heaven, a feat which the Bible predicts the false prophet will perform, happened to be one of Todd Bentley's specialities. The Lord Jesus Christ warned us that during the last days many false messiahs and false prophets would arise and would deceive many (Matthew 24:24).

The Pope talks of bringing a message of justice and truth, mercy, forgiveness and love to the Middle East. He talks of becoming a 'pilgrim of peace' to the Holy Land. But one word that the Pope left out is 'righteousness.' And there is a reason for that.

The Pope cannot bring righteousness to the Middle East. He can't make the Jews or Arabs good. And if all God could offer mankind was justice and truth, mercy, forgiveness and love, it would still not be enough to get us into heaven. Why? 'Justice' means getting what we deserve.

The Bible declares that our sins demand that we must die. The 'truth' about our sin will condemn us to a lost eternity if we die without Christ. 'Mercy' is withholding what we justly deserve, but mercy cannot make us right with God. 'Forgiveness' means to pardon a sin, but forgiveness is not enough to make us holy in God's sight. It's possible for someone who has been forgiven to continue on in sin. 'Love' cannot make us holy in God's sight. God loves sinners, but not all will repent of their sins.

If we are to make it into heaven, we need righteousness—to be made so that we are as good as God. Praise God that it is possible. "Mercy and truth are met together, righteousness and peace have kissed each other" (Psalm 85:10). Righteous means to have a 'right-standing' with God. And God provides this right-standing for all who believe on His Son Jesus Christ for salvation. Have you believed on Jesus Christ for salvation? Turn away from your sins, and trust in Him for salvation today.

Hearken unto me, ye stouthearted, that are far from righteousness: I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory. (Isaiah 46:12-13)

For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. (Romans 5:19)