Weekly Prophecy Review

News from around the world...

• According to a U.N. report, AIDS is now the greatest plague in history. Nearly 21 million are now infected with the HIV virus, 2/3 of which live south of the Sahara desert in Africa. The Black Death killed 20 million during the middle ages, and an influenza epidemic killed 20 million following World War I.

• Janes Intelligence Review reports that India's nuclear capacity rivals that of France and China and is greater than Britain's. India's nuclear stockpile is estimated at 20-60 weapons. Its chief rival, Pakistan, has a nuclear capability that is described as limited. Guardian Newspaper has indicated Britain plans to cut its nuclear arsenal in half—to set an example of "ethical" foreign policy.

• Iraqi Foreign Minister, Tarik Aziz, said there could be another crisis if U.N. sanctions remain in place. He said the solution is not in another oil-for-food deal, but lifting sanctions altogether so Iraq could earn money. Meanwhile, U.S. Army tests on Iraqi missile fragments showed Iraq put VX nerve gas into missile warheads before the Gulf War. The fragments tested were from missiles which were destroyed after the conflict—not ones that had been launched.

• Bernard Swartz, CEO of Loral Corp. and the foremost contributor to the Democratic National Committee (DNC), should be glad he is not operating in Israel. It seems Israeli courts take a harsh view of those who do business with enemy states to the detriment of national security. This week an Israeli businessman, Nachum Manbar, was convicted of treason for selling chemical weapons components and know-how to Iran. For this he could receive a life sentence. (If only he had attended the DNC School of Campaign Finance, Mr. Manbar would have known that, for a price, waivers for such sales might be obtained which can serve to make even the most nefarious of transactions legal and above board.)

Religious news...

• The last 20 years have seen spectacular growth among churches in Asia. Current estimates put the number at believers at 75 million. An increasing number of Korean, Chinese, Indian and Filipino missionaries are serving at cross-cultural posts throughout Asia. In recent years some restrictions on these gospel workers have been lifted in Vietnam, Cambodia, Nepal and Mongolia.

• More than 3 million children enrolled in Southern Baptist vacation Bible schools during 1997. From these activities, 53,000 professions of faith in Jesus Christ were recorded.

• A Wilmington, North Carolina pastor was looking for new ways to kick his church's fund-raising drive into gear. He offered to give members $500 each to use as a "talent" for the Lord's use. In all, $10,000 was put to work by the congregation. Through bake sales, petting zoos, car washes, jewelry sales and other activities, each sought to multiply the Lord's money. After six months, the congregation had returned over $30,000 to the church.

• The ruling party in Bombay, India has vowed to continue its attack on Christian missionaries and churches. After beating a priest in a suburban Bombay church, a spokesman explained, "He spoke ill of Hindus because we have more than one god. He had been warned but he didn't listen, so we decided to teach him a lesson."

• According to AP, President Clinton preached a message of religious unity to a congregation in China.

News that could actually have something to do with prophecy...

Jerusalem, a cup that causes reeling to all the peoples around (see Zechariah 12:2).

50 Israeli families who reside in the so-called "occupied territories" have pitched their tents in a lot across from the Prime Minister's residence. They are protesting potential government withdrawals which would transform their villages into isolated enclaves under the control of the Palestinian Authority.

Nevertheless, last week Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu was reportedly set to sign the second- withdrawal agreement. This was scrapped at the last minute, however, because Arafat again reneged on his promise to convene the Palestinian National Council for the purpose of changing its charter. The present charter, which calls for the destruction of Israel, was supposed to have been amended after the Oslo agreement in 1993!

That fact does not seem to deter Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. As Newt Gingrich observed, she continues to act as though she were an agent for the Palestinians. Despite the fact that Israel has bowed time and again to U.S. pressure to cede its land to the Palestinians, this week Albright informed Netanyahu, "The U.S. will not be able to continue its support of Israel in the United Nations, and will find it difficult to defend it against new anti-Israel initiatives." (Source MA'ARIV). Specifically, Albright said the U.S. will probably not be able to veto U.N. Security Council decisions regarding Jerusalem during the Council's meeting on the issue next week.

"And I [Messiah] looked, and there was no one to help, and I was astonished and there was no one to uphold; so My own arm brought salvation to Me; and My wrath upheld me" (Isaiah 63:5).

The latest issues involving Jerusalem

Last week, much to the dismay of the Clinton Administration, the Israeli government approved a plan to upgrade the services and, hence, the quality of life in West Jerusalem. (Palestinians are ostensibly contending for control of East Jerusalem, though they are openly desirous of possessing the entire city). The purpose of the plan is to stem emigration from the city. Under the plan, several of the communities to the north and west would be annexed, housing benefits and financial benefits to high-tech industries will be granted, mass-transit systems will be established, and 140,000 new housing units will be built within the next 20 years. In addition, the Mt. of Olives will be refurbished, including fences, paths, rest areas, and a new parking lot.

Believe it or not, this plan will be scrutinized by no less than the U.N. Security Council! The U.N. Secretary-General has already condemned it as going against U.N. resolutions. (Clearly, he has ignored the fact that the separate status of East and West Jerusalem is already on the books in the form of existing U.N. resolutions.)

The Palestinian Authority responded to the Jerusalem plan in its customarily manner—with threats of new violence. Said one leader, "There will never be peace without Jerusalem, and the Palestinians will not sit with folded arms in the face of Israel's actions."

But how did the U.S. respond? In addition to Alright's threatened abandonment of Israel in the Security Council, we have a number of revealing statements from Treasury Secretary, James Rubin. In a press conference he made the following comments regarding the so-called "plan to strengthen Jerusalem."

Rubin: "For our part, we believe it is extremely hard to understand why Israel would even consider taking such a provocative step at this sensitive time in the negotiations."

Reporter: "What is so difficult to understand? The Prime Minister was elected saying Jerusalem would never be divided and now he's doing exactly what he said publicly. Why is it so difficult for you to understand that there's a politician in this world that keeps his promises?"

Rubin: "I have no comment."

Reporter: "Do you think the U.S.'s mediation role is hurt by the U.S. telling Israel that it isn't entitled to have control over its own capital? I mean, basically your position on every issue—a housing project here, a plan for redistricting the city, whatever—it all gets down the to the same thing...that the Israelis shouldn't do anything about Jerusalem except collect the garbage."

Rubin: "I would think you would have started by premising your question with demonstrating our consistency."

Reporter: "Oh, you are consistent on Jerusalem. You've been consistent on Jerusalem for 30 years."

Israeli response to U.S. pressure

From Yorum Ettinger, former attache in the Israeli Embassy in Washington: "The sharply negative American reaction is a good reminder that whoever fools himself into believing that pressure from the American administration will be toned down if we withdraw from part of Yesha [Judea and Samaria], had better wake up. The American administration has never recognized Israeli sovereignty in many parts of Jerusalem. Therefore, since this is the administration's position, as opposed to the American public's view, we should know that if it is decreed we must clash with the Administration, then Jerusalem is the best issue to do so."

He went on to say, "This should be a sign to us that the Americans will not simply settle for our 13% withdrawal, but will continue to pressure us to make more and more concessions in Jerusalem as well."

Conclusions

It is clear the United States is now the chief proponent of the movement to disenfranchise Israel form her land as well as from her capital of Jerusalem. May the Lord, God have mercy on us and miraculously bring the Clinton Administration into line with His position on these issues (see Joel 3:2 and Zechariah 12:2-3). For if He does not, the U.S. may soon begin reaping what it has been sowing.

"And it will come about in that day that I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who lift it will be severely injured..."

Till He returns...