SITE NEWS
Written Bible Studies on Colossians and Philippians have been added to the Epistles of Paul studies.  A study on Ephesians should be up by tomorrow. 

GAZA
The Egyptian barrier is almost complete as guard towers of steel and bullit proof glass are erected. 

AFGHANISTAN
Huge new military bases are being built on the Iranian border.  This is for the coming war against Iran and to secure the route of the proposed pipeline. This kind of information release is usually delayed for some time; often until the construction is completed. 

West Bank
Israel has ordered the demolition of an under construction Mosque; further enflaming public opinion. 

Meanwhile riots are expected on the Temple Mount  and in East Jerusalem today over the dedication of a Synagogue; claimed to be built over a Mosque site.

ISRAELI CRISIS
Israeli Right Wingers are adamant that they will not allow outside interference in their Jerusalem policies.  Senator [retired] Mitchell is due in Israel tomorrow; providing Bibi with little time to find a solution that will save his government and still mollify the US and the World.

Livni has offered to join the coalition if the extremist parties leave. I expect she will want to be the Prime Minister; or at least the Foreign Minister, with full powers to handle all peace talks. 

 

NEW YEAR: PASSOVER
There is considerable barley maturing in Judea and Samaria, which will be ready for the Wave Offering in a few days.  This is wild, naturally growing barley; not planted by men and not forced by irrigation or fertilizers. This means that a new year will begin with the next New Moon.  These photos were provided courtesy of: Brian Convery.  They are themb nails. Please click the pictures to see the full size view. 

The first light of the new moon will begin to be visible in the Western Hemisphere at sunset ending 16 Mar.  The first visible light of the new moon will be easily observed in the Middle East and around the world after sunset ending 17 Mar.  We shall be observing on both evenings to confirm which evening will be the beginning of the Biblical New Year!  Passover is expected on 31 March; subject to confirmation by observance of the new moon.

An announcement will be made as soon as the information is confirmed.  We will be going by actual observance at Jerusalem.  Please see our Biblical Calendar page.

ISRAELI GOVERNMENT CRISIS
Yesterday Secretary Clinton chastised PM Netanyahu for 43 minutes by phone and laid down a series of concessions that the US is demanding from Israel as necessary for peace talks to begin and for the United States to be placated.

Last evening a special Cabinet meeting was called to discuss the crisis and develop an approach to the concessions demanded.

Senator [retired] Mitchell is due in Israel in a few days to consult on the details.  He has already promised the Palestinians that no construction will take place in East Jerusalem during the talks; the other demands have not yet been made public.

Netanyahu will then report to VP Biden in Washington, before Obama is to make his Indonesia; Islamic outreach speach. 

PEACE TALKS AND THE ISRAELI POWER STRUGGLE
Senator [retired] Mitchell is to visit the Middle East next week and deliver explicit American guarentees that all construction in occupied territory will be halted by Israel.

This is in an effort to get the indirect talks started.  As reported yesterday Danny Ayalon has stated that there will be no construction halt in East Jerusalem and no more concessions for peace talks.

The European Union, the Quartet, the United States and most of the world's nations have condemned the announcement of new construction in Jerusalem and are fully behind the effort to get the Israeli government to back down.

If Netanyahu makes this concession, it puts him on a collision course with his coalition partnetrs and imperils his government.  If he refuses to bow to the foreign pressure; he will face the wrath of the whole world and the wrath of the majority of Israeli's who do want to reach a peace deal.

Yesterday I issued a Press Release on the subject.  This release was a rewriting of yesterdays post.

OBAMA ASIAN TRIP
The Asian trip of President Obama has been postponed for a few days.  When he arrives in Indonesia he will be making another "Cairo" type speach; reaching out to the world's Islamic peoples.

President Obama cannot expect to be credible if he goes soft on Israel now.  He must demand Israeli compliance with a settlement construction freeze; or lose ALL credibility in the Islamic World, as well as in the world at large.

THE COALITION
The extreme right wing coalition parties may or may not back down in the short term.  However they regard the seizing [stealing] of Palestinian land as their God given right. Ultimately this will be the downfall of Israel. Hosea 5:10 The princes of Judah are like them that remove the landmark; I will pour out My wrath upon them like water. [Hebrew Bible text]

There can be no peace agreement while they hold the balance of power in this government.  Sooner or later: a change in the government will take place.

The facts are:

1  If Netanyahu suspends construction plans; the right wing parties will be at odds with him; dividing the coalition.  While he will appear as a weak leader to his coalition partners by bowing to outside pressure.

2  If Netanyahu supports continuing construction, he will be perceived as a weak leader who allows the smaller parties to get away with whatever they want. This spells future troubles in the coalition.

3  If Netanyahu does not order a construction freeze; Israel will appear as the party refusing to make peace over a few months delay of construction while talks take place.  Angering their allies and the whole world.

EITHER WAY: HE WILL BE PERCEIVED AS WEAK, FURTHER IMPERILING HIS GOVERNMENT.

ISRAELI POWER STRUGGLE
President Abbas has informed the Arab League that he will not begin the proposed indirect peace talks, until Israel agrees to a full construction halt of Jewish settler homes in Jerusalem.  He is also demanding US pressure on Netanyahu to bring this halt about.

The indirect talks had been agreed; and US Vice President Biden had arrived in Israel to begin the talks; when they were sabotaged by the announcement of the construction of 1,600 new housing units for Orthodox Jews in East Jerusalem.

With this totally unnecessary announcement [it could take months for the final approval and construction to begin]; made against the direct instructions of the Prime Minister: Shas has scuppered the talks. Meanwhile Ayalon has layed down the Right Wing position by announcing that there will be no construction halt in East Jerusalem and that there will be no more concessions for peace.

Netanyahu is furious and so is the United States and the rest of the world.  The Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak is demanding that Netanyahu simply order a freeze on this new announcement; so that the peace talks can begin.  

Netanyahu is now caught between a rock and a very hard place.  If he does nothing; it will expose the present Israeli government in the eyes of the whole world as the ones who do not want peace [the majority of Israelis do] and incur the anger of Barak's Labor party.  If he does order a halt to East Jerusalem construction, until borders can be settled by the peace talks; the extreme Right parties may bolt from the government.

Biden has now summoned Netanyahu to a Washington meeting in ten days [Netanyahu will be there for an AIPAC meeting].  Will Washington lay down the law to Netanyahu?  If so they will have the Palestinians and the whole world behind them.  Will Netanyahu be forced to freeze the announced construction in East Jerusalem?  Will the Right Wing leave the coalition; bringing down the government?

IF these things happen; the government will remain in a caretaker status until a new government can be formed.  Will these extremists; seeing their time has run out; decide to launch their war, before a new government takes over?

I cannot say in detail what will eventually take place. That depends on the actors involved and the will of God.  I do know that a peace will eventually be agreed, 1 Thess 5; and the present deadlock will be broken.

The times are getting very interesting!

SITE NEWS
The audios on Timothy and Galations have been moved to the Epistles of Paul Audio page. A new audio covering: 1 & 2 Thessalonians has replaced them.

The Thesssalonians were a people filled with a love for God, his commandments and each other. They were the Children of Light in a darkened society.  They might well be labelled as Philadelphian Christians!  This Epistle has much that is encouraging; together with some vital instruction concerning the end times.

Some may be offended as I come down very strongly concerning the Primacy of Peter and those who practice such deception. I do NOT apologize for speaking the truth. 

THE ISRAELI POWER STRUGGLE
Against the strict instructions of Prime Minister Natanyahu; an Israeli Ministry has announced the approval of 1,600  new housing units for Orthodox Jews in East Jerusalem.  The timing of this was apparently calculated to embarrass the visiting US VP Joseph Biden [which it did] and scuttle the announcement of indirect peace talks.

The United States is furious, as is the International Community and the Palestinian National Authority.  Such an announcement at such a sensitive time was clearly deliberate.

The extreme Right Wing of the governing coalition is against any peace agreement; because such an agreement would obligate at least some withdrawal from occupied territory; which they regard as given to them by God. 

The Right Wing coalition members will obstruct and delay; and do anything to prevent any peace agreement.  There can be no peace agreement with this government.  Eventually this government will collapse over the peace talks or some other matter; opening the way for a new government that truly represents the desires of the majority of Israelis.

The issues of civil marriage and conversions are now throwing the government into crisis.  This, added to the resistance of and the attempt to sabotage the indirect peace talks with the incuring of the ire of the whole world, is throwing this government into a real crisis.

CONVERSIONS
This might seem like an exclusively religious matter and not a matter for governments; however it goes to the core of the power of the Ultra Orthodox.

In the past, a Jew was a person who was a racial descendant of Judah the son of Jacob.  In Israel today a Jew is defined not by racial descent, but by religion.  To be a Jew one must proclaim adherance to one of the facets of modern Judaism.

This means that anyone [even if racially Jewish] who does not accept the tenants of modern Judaism, [if for example, he does not accept the authority of the reasonings and commentary of the Talmud as being {oral law} and equal or superior to the scriptures] is NOT recognized as a Jew. For another example; no person who accepts Jesus [Yeshua] as Messiah is considered a Jew under the law.  This law is the basis for Rabbinic power in Israel.  You must be subject to Rabbinic power to be allowed to immigrate to Israel under the Law of Return.

Even if you are not religious, you must pay lip service to Rabbinic authority.  So the subject of conversions determines who is a Jew and who can come to Israel under the Law of Return.

This new law regulates conversions and makes it easier for conversions to be officially recognized.  The United Torah Judaism has now threatened to resign unless their ammendments are added to the bill.

CIVIL MARRIAGE
In Israel no one may marry without a religious ceremony performed by a Rabbi, Priest or Muslim cleric. Those couples who are of mixed religion or have no religion are not allowed to marry.  They must travel to Cyprus or other foreign lands to marry, and then return as a married couple. 

Civil marriiage will legalize marriages in Israel; performed outside of the accepted religious authorities; thus limiting the power of the Rabbinate.

It is important to note that the vast majority in Israel are NOT religious or are religious in name only.  The Ultra Orthodox are fighting to retain and increase their power against the majority of public opinion.  This is why such parties get so few seats in the Knesset while the mainstream parties get many more.

At this time, the Right Wing parties control the balance of power and are using their position in an attempt to further their agenda.  This will ultimately lead to the collapse of this government and the formation of a new government in Israel.

SITE NEWS
The Bible Studies of Second Timothy, Titus and Philemon; are now up, indented below  the Epistles of Paul page.  These are transcriptions of the Audio Studies; with some minor editing. This is true of all the Epistles of Paul material.

It was my intention that the Audios be an introduction or first exposure to this material; and that the visitor would then go on to study through the written material.

The written material is also to assist the deaf and those who would benefit from translating the written page into a language other than English.

The Epistles of Paul are perhaps the most mutilated, distorted and misconstrued books anywhere.  So much falsehood has been disseminated about Paul that I feel that it is extremely important to cover his writings. 

It is also extremely important that this material be studied and understood so that an answer can be given to those who would ask about various statements of Paul that have been twisted by mainstream religion.

MIDDLE EAST
Israel and the PA have agreed to start indirect talks.  Netanyahu has declared various sites as Israeli National Heritage sites, in an attempt to exempt them from the talks.

Hamas has been using the Holy sites as a means to try and sabotage the coming talks with an uprising; and has called for such an uprising over the Holy sites.  This tension is likely to increase if the talks are announced and actually begin.

Hamas is adamantly opposed to any talks that exclude themselves.  They are bent on proving that no peace can be made without Hamas.  This puts Hamas on a collision course with history.  If they continue to escalate on this course, they will eventually be faced with an Israeli invasion and their own overthrow in Gaza.  They will have laid the political foundation for their own distruction by letting themselves be perceived as the enemies of peace.

Events are now beginning to develop quickly.  This peace push may well result in a regional war.

The Israeli Chief of Staff has now left for week long consultations in the US.  This just after the American CoS visited Israel and the Israeli Defense Minister then visited Washington.

SITE NEWS
Audio Bible Studies on Phillipians and Ephesians have been added to the Epistles of Paul Audios.  All the Epistles are now covered except Thessdalonians [coming next] Romans and Corinthians.  These writings of Paul have been so distorted, confused and mutilated; that a good complete study is urgently needed.   A study through these Books is a matter of real importance to gain a proper perspective on the Apostle Paul, Law and Grace and a proper understanding of the New Covenant.

TEMPLE MOUNT
Violent confrontation and rioting once again broke out on the Temple Mount yesterday. Various Islamic Groups are following the lead of King Abdullah of Jordan and seeking international protection for the Temple Mount and other Holy sites.

It has been a part of the UN vision for peace for many years now that Jerusalem be internationalized and become the capitol of BOTH Palestine and Israel; and that the various Holy sites come under international protection and supervision.

This is the only possible plan; and it will be fulfilled when Messiah makes Jerusalem the capitol of the whole earth.  However, at this time there is no one that all sides will trust.  Even if this plan is adopted; extremists from both sides and especially the Settler Movement will act against such an agreement.

 

THE PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM
In the British system; the King or Queen is the Head of State, with the power to dissolve governments and call new elections.  This is a safety valve allowing a government that becomes too extreme or unpopular to be dissolved immediately, instead of having to wait for the next scheduled election.  It should be noted that a govenment that is popular cannot usually be dissolved without a very good reason. 

In non monarchical countries like Russia and Israel; the President serves as the Head of State and fulfills the same functions.  Usually such Presidents are elected in separate elections from the Parliament.

The Parliament is chosen by election and the leader of the party with the most seats in the Parliament becomes Prime Minister.

When there are many different parties, it can sometimes happen that the party with the most seats, still does not have a clear majority of 50% plus one in the Parliament.  This is called a minority government.  When this happens the possibility exists that the other smaller parties could gang up and prevent passage of bills by the largest party.

A minority government will always try to lure smaller parties into agreeing to support them.  If a agreement can be reached; a coalition is formed.

ISRAEL'S POWER STRUGGLE
In Israel today there is a coalition made up of mainly right wing parties; some more extreme than others, but all opposed to the compromises necessary to achieve a peace deal.

The Prime Minister is under intense pressure from the United States, the rest of the world and from the majority of Israelis to work out a genuine peace deal.  Any serious attempt to do so will not be approved by the coalition; and may result in the breakup of the coalition and the fall of the government.

The Prime Minister is attempting to lure many in the Kadima party back into Likud to increase the number of Likud seats in parliament and strengthen his position.  Failing this, he needs to bring Kadima into the coalition government to balance off the right, so that he can maintain his office if any of the other parties should leave the coalition.

Mrs Livni knows that if she can hold out, she need only wait until the inevitable collapse of the Netanyahu government takes place.  Then she will be asked to form a new government. Either Likud will join with her as the minor partner, or new elections [which no one wants] will be called.

The struggle is now about whether Netanyahu can lure enough seats away from Kadima to break up Kadima; or whether Kadima can outlast Netanyahu.

INDIRECT PEACE TALKS
Netanyahu has bowed to US pressure to conduct indirect peace talks with the Palestinian Authority.  He is doing this out of necessity and in the hope that some in Kadima will see that there is a potential for a peace, if they would only support Netanyahu's Likud.

Can Livni and Kadima weather this storm?  If so; they will form the next government. 

HAMAS
Hamas has been provoked endlessly by almost continual incidents of Israeli shellings of Gaza, attacks on fishermen, attacks on Hamas people in the West Bank and overseas;  Israel's refusal to allow any reconstruction or to relax the siege and the Israeli flip flops on Shalit.  It is a wonder that the ceasefire is still operating.  

In a very real sense the indirect peace talks are a slap on the face, yet another provocation for Hamas.  Having won the last election and then been deposed by a Fatah coup as their government was dissolved without cause, their government was forced to flee to Gaza.  Now an illegal government [an expired Presidency] is conducting talks with their enemy without any input from Hamas!

Months and months of reconciliation talks have been held between Hamas and Fatah; in the belief that such a reconciliation was essential for genuine peace talks with Israel.  Now the talks with Israel will take place without representation from Hamas and Gaza.  No wonder Hamas declares that they will not be bound by any agreement to which they have had no input.

Hamas may soon be forced to take some action in response.  With the new peace talks, Hamas may begin to feel marginalized and irrelevant.  They may strike to impress everyone with the fact that there can be no peace without Hamas participation.

CONCLUSION
While some may be encouraged by indirect peace talks, there will be no peace until the situation in Gaza has been resolved; and the Israeli political situation works itself out.  The coalition right wingers will prevent any real concessions for peace; and Hamas will not accept any deal made by a President who's term has expired, and which is made without input and consultations with Hamas itself.

 

PEACE TALKS
The Arab League has endorsed indirect Palestinian Israeli peace talks.  Senator Mitchell [retired] is to arrive in Israel Sat evening in preparation for a round of shuttle diplomacy.  VP Biden is to arrive in Israel on Monday and is expected to announce the start of talks after consultations with the two sides.

Hamas has already declared that the illegal PA government has no authority to engage in such talks [Abbas' presidency expired months ago] and they will not respect any agreement.

Netanyahu is limited by his extremist right wing coalition and cannot make any compromises. 

One wonders what the possible purpose of such talks could be?  Perhaps to make Hamas look like the spoiler of the peace?

IRAN
The United States has circulated a list of proposed sanctions on Iran.  This list is seriously watered down from previous demands for crippling sanctions.  The new list has so far been rejected by China and Brazil; Russia is not pleased.

The Obama administration was targeting passage in weeks, now Clinton admits it may take months and only if they are watered down even more during negotiations.  Presently the permanent members of the Security Council are not even willing to discuss further sanctions! 

In May the President of the Security Council will be: Lebanon.  With a strong Hezbollah presence in their government they are not likely to put Iran sanctions on the agenda.

CONCLUSION
I still believe that the nuclear issue is a means of pressuring Iran, however any conflict will likely originate with Gaza or Hezbollah and then spread.

SITE NEWS
I am finding that occasionally when I access audio pages the audio recordings show up as black lines only.  This is due to problems that may occasionally pop up in dowloading the page.  If this should happen; go to another page and then come back to the audio page; be sure to click directly on the text firmly; for a positive link.

For best computer operation and site access; remember to regularly delete the history and cookies from your computer.

WESTCOTT & HORT
It is very important to do some research on the fraudulent Greek Bible Manuscripts written by Wescott and Hort.  This material has been the basis for all the New Age Bible translations.  I rely only the KJV; with this research yiou will see why.  There is considerable information available on Westcott and Hort and their mentor Madame Blavatsky 

OPIUM
Under the Taliban opium production was banned and fell dramatically.  The Taliban knew what to do with drug producers and trafficers.  After the overthrow of the Taliban; production of opium has multiplied more than five times over.  While the Taliban are being blamed; they only produce a very tiny portion of the vast quantities of heroin coming out of Afghanistan.  They just do not have the chemicals and production capacity to pruduce such massive quantities.

Russia has recently complained that the great majority of this drug is produced by the CIA and sent into Russia and China; flooding thiose nations with narcotics in an effort to undermine their societies.

This would be nothing new. The British Empire fought wars with China to force them to accept British produced opium. opium wars  The CIA has financed many of its operations through the smuggling of such narcotics. CIA DRUG TRAFFIKING
A good book on the subject of the CIA control of narcotics may still be available from Amazon. Called The Politics of Heroin in Southeast Asia; it is an outdated but outstanding record of the CIA narcotics activites in Southeast Asia.  Very good as a history.

According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), in the report "Addiction, Crime and Insurgency" 3.4 billion USD are generated from opiates every year in Afghanistan. Of this the Taleban receives around 4 per cent, the farmers 21 per cent. And the remainder, the 75% goes to the corrupt in the Afghan gov [and the CIA]. moscowtopnews  The Afghan President's brother is considered one of the most corrupt. npr 

The war in Afghanistan WILL NOT stop opium production!  Opium has been used by intelligence agencies to raise money and start regional wars for generations.

What of the War On Drugs?  This is really a War on The Competition!  Notice that no matter how much money or effort is spent; the problem is still there and getting bigger.  Our nations have not been mankind's boon; as we like to think. 

SITE NEWS
This page has been reorganized; and audios on Second Timothy, Titus & Philemon; and Colossians have been added.

ANOMIA
1 John 3:4 says:  Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

In an attempt to explain this statement according to his own agenda, a certain anti COG person wrote: The word ANOMIA does not mean LAW; it means iniquity. Therefore this phrase does not mean what it appears to say.

This man would have us translate the phrase as: sin is the transgression of the iniquity!  In taking this position he goes against the language scholarship of the Bible translators; exalting himself above the experts in the field of language and translation.  We should not bow to any man in matters of doctrine; however in matters of fact, we should listen to the experts.

ANOMIA: FROM BLUE LETTER BIBLE SITE [STRONG'S]
In Fact: ANOMIA means any law that is broken; it refers to broken law, broken by ignorance or deliberately.  Depending on the context, the word can also mean: sin or iniquity: because they also represent breaking law.  Like most languages the precise translated word is chosen by the context.

The meanings of the word anomia

 

1) the condition of without law

  a) because ignorant of it

  b) because of violating it

2) contempt and violation of law, iniquity, wickedness

Clearly the word ANOMIA means to violate or to be OUTSIDE of any law!  And the Law being referred to, is God's law. For the context is that: he who sins violates the law; and is of the devil!  1 Jh 3: 4: Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. 5: And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. 6: Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth [does iniquity, wickedness or remains in violation of law] hath not seen him, neither known him. 7: Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. 8: He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning.

It also needs to be understood that no doctrine can be established by splitting hairs about one word.  The entirety of Scripture MUST be put together; to establish any prophecy or doctrine!  You cannot cherry pick the meaning of a particular word because it suites your agenda and then build a doctrine around your choice!

 
Hebrews 10:16, Hebrews 8:8-10 in reference to Jer 31:31-36, Ezek 11:19-20, Ezek 36:24-27 and Zech 8:23; indicate very clearly that the law of the New Covenant is the same as the law of the Mosaic Covenant.   It is the same God; and the same LAW!  The sacrificial part was fulfilled by the Sacrifice of Christ and we fulfill the Sacrificial Law every time we go to the Father and ask for that sacrifice to be applied to us.

BIBLE TRANSLATIONS

Our accepted text is the King James version. for information on the changes and deletions contained in modern versions inspired by the Wescott Hort rewriting of scripture, see kjvcomparison  and  chick    Wescott and Hort rewrote the Greek scriptures according to the direction of Madame Blavatsky [the founder of the New Age Movement and a practicing witch]  They were so clumsy that they did not even write in Koine Greek but wrote in Classical Greek. Some research on Wescott and Hort and the various Bible translations will be beneficial for those who rely on these New Age translations.  There is considerable information available with a simple Google search. 

BIBLE STUDY AUDIOS
Bible Study Audios on First Timothy, Second Timothy, Titus, Philemon and Colossians have now been added to the Audio Downloads page.

I strongly encourage everyone to download these audios and burn them onto discs and pass them on to friends.  If you find them interesting or helpful: Help spread the good word!

Most of the words of Paul have been grossly distorted by the enemies of the faith. Perhaps the most misused have been the books of Galatians and Colossians: while the pivotal Book of Hebrews is essential to an understanding of the Ministry and High Priesthood of Jesus Christ.

Here is our recent press release on the Book of Hebrews:
(I-Newswire) February 26, 2010 - An in depth study into the Book of Hebrews has been published at TheShiningLight. This Biblical Book covers the pre-existance of Jesus Christ, his marriage to Israel, his death and resurrection, the end of the Levitical Priesthood and the establishment of a New Covenant
with a new Priesthood.

In the Book of Hebrews: Paul, a Pharisee of the Pharisees: clearly explains that the very Creator God entered into a Marriage Covenant with Israel. Discarding his divinity and being made flesh in the person of Jesus Christ. Later the marriage ended with the death of the husband of Israel. This Marriage Covenant, commonly called the Mosaic Covenant, having ended; an end to the priesthood of the Mosaic Covenant is also evident.

Since the Mosaic Covenant ended with the death of the husband; the resurrected husband could then lawfully enter into a new marriage agreement; a New Covenant.

The Book of Hebrews also covers Paul’s real position on Law and Grace; and how Jesus Christ became the High Priest of a new Priesthood; and the High Priest of a New Covenant. A truly fascinating look at the Biblical legality of the transition of the Mosaic Covenant to Christianity.

AFGHANISTAN
The Marjah offensive has been declared successfully completed. There may still be two to four weeks of mopping up.  Now that Helmand province is almost secure attention is turning to Kandahar province.

Kandahar city has been held by the British and Canadians; now with the American surge, enough force will be available to take over the whole province.  Once all Kandahar province has been secured, the Taliban will have been pushed out of the low lands and up against the Pakistani border.

Later next summer will come the offensive designed to put an end to this conflict.  The Taliban will be bunched on the Pakistani border and encircled; caught between the American offensive on one side and a Pakistani blocking force on the other.

During the Marjah battle, large numbers of local Taliban were discouraged and seeking amnesty; giving up the fight.  It is the foreign fighters who are adamant. After Kandahar it will become obvious to the locals that the fight is lost and many will give up. Then the nucleus of foreign fighters will be destroyed in the final fight.  

Long time readers of TheShiningLight will remember that this offensive was foretold more than a year ago.

PREPARATIONS
The super carrier USS Nimitz is in the Pacific engaged with an international exercise.  The USS Eisenhower is in the Arabian Sea. The USS Truman has just resurfaced her flight deck and is making final preparations to deploy.  She will need to be on hand to support the coming battles in Afghanistan and Iran.

The Israeli Defense Minister is in Washington conferring with American Defense Secretary Gates. Just a week ago the American Military Chief Admiral Mullen was in Israel for talks.  Senior Israeli military commanders completed a command exercise on fighting a two front war on Thursday.  Meanwhile Israel and the United States held Security Cooperation discussions in Israel through last week.

Every effort is being made to make this diplomatic flurry look routine. This is anything but routime: both in scope and intensity.

IRAN
A UNSC decision on further sanctions is expected by early April.  If any further sanctions are voted, Iran is expected to reject them and the situation will heat up. If no positive vote is forthcoming; the US administration has the full support of the Congress to act unilaterally. The general idea being promoted is that Iran will order its Hamas and Hezbollah prosies to put pressure on Israel; giving Israel the pretext they need to invade Gaza: setting a chain of events in motion.

The Iranian President has held a summit in Damascus with the Syrian President and the leaders of Hezbollah and Hamas.  The Hamas leader has now been received in Tehran by Khomeini himself. 

THE CAUCASUS
Armenia and Azerbijan are once again threatening each other with war.  Georgia is also making threatening noises against its former territories who have declared independance and are backed by Russia.  An American warship docked in Georgia last week; for an exercise with Georgia.  The US has been working hard to build up the Georgian army over this last winter.

If other nations use the US involvment in a major conflict with Iran to settle their differences; it will only serve to magnify the crisis. 

CONCLUSION
Iran, Syria, Hezbollah and Hamas have now pledged to defend one another.  Iran is encouraging the others to deliver a fatal blow to Israel during any conflict; while Israel has pledged to deliver an overwhelming blow to Hamas, Hezbollah and Syria.

Once this begins: it will explode into intense violence.  A major economic crisis can be seen as a logical spinoff.

This will be a very scary time. This war IS coming!  Our very first post in 2007 was a warning of this coming conflict.  You need NOT fear:  V I C T O R Y  is certain!  Not without hardships, but it is certain!  It is when peace shall have been agreed that the Anglo/Judeo/American nations shall be corrected.

1 Thes 5:3: For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 4: But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 5: Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 6: Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

Yes sudden: immediate. NOT 3 1/2 years later as some would believe. See our 70 Weeks Prophecy page.

A MESSAGE TO ISRAEL AND JUDAH  
We are told through Daniel that in the last days; the King of the South [Egypt/Israel] shall provoke the King of the North [the last revival of the Holy Roman Empire; the feet of Babylon].

Dan 11:40: And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over. 41: He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon.

Then this new European entity shall come down and conquer Judea, Palestine and Egypt. Dan 11:42: He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape. 43: But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt.

The treausres of Egypt spoken of here would be the Suez Canal and the natural gas reserves.  These are the treasures of the modern world. 

In the imminent Middle East war: A great victory will be achieved as Almighty God fulfills his promises to the patriarchs and protects their descendants.  This is not because of the Mosaic Covenant; it is because Almighty God KEEPS HIS PROMISES!  The promises were made to Abraham, Jacob, and Moses.

ALMIGHTY GOD WILL ALSO KEEP ANOTHER OF HIS PROMISES!

The entire book of Deuteronomy is a farewell warning from Moses: detailing the blessings for obedience to God and the punishments for disobedience.  Go to Israel today; go to any nation and compare their behaviour with the Tanakh [written scriptures]. Can ANY nation of people be honestly said to be obeying God?

Becuase abominations abound;  The whole earth will be given over to correction and a period of great tribulation will take place; beginning with the House of Judah and the house of Israel.

Dan 8:23: And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. The new European entity.24: And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. 25: And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: In a time of peace he shall strike. Islamic Extremism SHALL BE DEFEATED and a peace shall be agreed and declared: before this war with Europe!  he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes [Messiah]; but he shall be broken without hand  BY God at his coming and not by human hand.

For it is written: Dan 2:40: And the fourth kingdom [the last revival of ROME. Rome being the fourth empire after Babylon, Media-Persia and Greece] shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise. 41: And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. 42: And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. 43: And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay. 44: And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.

Here we have it in the Tanakh: The Messiah to come to deliver Israel and humanity and set up the Great Kingdom: IS GOD!  And not a man! 

A Press Release featuring the Hebrews Bible Study has been sent out to two different agencies; and may be seen here and here.  These are free services and several ads have been added to the release by the publishers.  The little boxes allow people to send the release on to their Social networking accounts for sharing with their friends.

This Release has been written so that even if people do not click over to the site; they will still get a solid message of sound doctrine.
 
Such free releases are intended as a means to induce upgrades and are somewhat limited in distribution.  I don't mind that, as this is a trial run for us.  This is practice in preparation for a much more ambitious foray into the Media world.

I am intending to upgrade; to remove the ads and increase the distribution level in the near future. After having been studying extensively through the news every day and warning of the coming conflict for nearly three years; I am as well informed as most reporters on the beat.  As the conflict begins to approach I shall be issuing newsworthy Press Releases on a regular basis to the News Wires and Media.

This may result in some of the News Media carrying the stories, and will certainly help to establish the reputation of TheShiningLight.

IRAN SANCTIONS
There is a good analysis of the Chinese American  rivalry regarding the proposed UNSC sanctions on Iran at todays news page.  According to the article, the American administration does not believe that they can convince China to support sanctions and is working to avoid a veto.  They are putting pressure on China; and every time this gets too hot, China reminds the US of its power by dumping another ten or twenty billion dollars of US debt on the markets.  This is partly to blame for the difficult US economic recovery. 

The European Union has come out against any unilateral sanctions with the US against Iran and insists that they will only enforce sanctions inposed by the Security Council.  Still, some member nations will enforce any possible unilateral US sanctions. Thus creating division in Europe.

Russia says NO to any serious sanctions and seeks only another wrist slap.  Israel is demanding a complete energy embargo on Iran.

US ISRAEL MILITARY COOPERATION
The Israeli Defense Minister is on his way to the US to update the American military on Israeli security preparations.  This comes only a week after the top American Military Officer; Admiral Mullen held extensive talks with the Israeli military in Jerusalem.  This rush of meetings is hard to understand except in the context of war preparations.

GAZA BLOCKADE
In Gaza there has still been no reconstruction after last years devastation.  Any building being done is either with rescued materials, homemade mud bricks or what can be smuggled in; as Israel still refuses to allow building materials in.

A fleet of 20 ships is gathering in Turkey and intends to force the blockade of Gaza in April.  They are expected to be joined by other ships as time passes.  Loaded with food, medicine and building materials  they intend to put an end to the suffering in Gaza.

If this plan is not aborted or postponed; Israel seems to be faced with allowing them entry, ending the blockade; or creating a major international incident.  Such an incident would undoubtedly enrage public opinion in Turkey and accross Europe. Israel would be seen as a real ogre, defying international norms to prevent the delivery of food and medicine to a population on the edge of severe hunger due to the Israeli blockade.

Will this impending crisis impel Israel to move forward any possible invasion date?

THE SPRING FESTIVALS
We are now into the twelfth Biblical month and the spring Holy Days and Festivals will soon be here. An announcement will be coming, as it is confirmed by the new Moon sighting; about 18 March as to the date of Passover this year. 

The teachings of the various WCG based COG Groups on these Festivals are based on Protestant ideas; coming mostly from Commentaries and Bible Dictionaries.  Remembering that these works were written by unconverted and commandment defying men; who lack the Holy Spirit of God and therefore lack understanding on such spiritual matters; they should not be relied upon for doctrine or prophetic understanding; including explanations of the Festivals.  

At our Festivals of God site I go through these Holy days from an exclusively Biblical perspective.  At this time of year it would be especially important to study through this material once again.  This material goes well beyond anything currently taught and will provide even longtime faithful with much to think about.

When properly understood the Biblical Festivals are truely inspiring, informative and awesome!

A glimpse of this material is provided in this message and anwer.  My responses are highlited.

Hi James,
     Thanks for sending the e-mail.  It brings up these questions in my mind.  If, as you say, "a resurrection to spirit comes only by the atonement of Christ", then how will David, for example, be resurrected?  In other words, Christ hadn't yet died for David's sins. God called out people from Abel, Noah, Abraham, David ect; in FAITH that Christ would fulfill his mission.  For this was the plan from the foundation of the world. This is the meaning of the seven days of Unleavened Bread. For six thousand years God is putting sin out of his called first fruits and the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest; the millennium. Take another look through The Festivals of God site.Job also speaks of his change coming.  Did David know Jesus Christ would be coming?  Did he know that Christ was necessary? I believe so.  If my memory serves correctly, he did; I cannot remember which scriptures at the moment and that is necessary.  I still do feel that there is some allusion to resurrection in the Old Testament although any allusion may have pointed to Jesus Christ. Most of the prophets spoke of a resurrection; it was just not a part of, and not limited to the Mosaic Cov: it was for all peoples.  A resurrection to physical life and judgement was promised to the prophets.  A resurrection to SPIRIT comes through the atonement of Christ.  David ect; if they had not been called in faith, they would still have had a part in a physical resurrection to judgement.  Since the atonement of Christ was successful, those who were called previously; in faith and overcame, may now be resurrected to SPIRIT.  Of course, Jesus Christ may have had to come for David (and others), to be resurrected!  (I know, this last may sound like a stupid statement but I am thinking out loud)!  After all, he did come after David died but didn't David also live a relatively obedient life?  For example, wasn't David driven by the Holy Spirit to repent?  This also leads to another question, which is, where did David's atonement come from?  God had to forgive his sin!  Abraham and others as well!  And of course, they would have had to repent! One thing leads to the other here.  They all had God's spirit and were forgiven IN FAITH.  We are now getting to the heart of the Hebrews and festival material.
 
David, Enoch, Noah, Moses, Abraham and others were called into the New Cov; in faith that the sacrifice of Christ would be made successfully. God began his called church with Abel; in faith.  When that faith was confirmed by the successful sacrifice of Christ, then that faith and their part in the New Cov was also confirmed!  The Holy Spirit which had been given to these people in the past, was then poured out in a public manner on Pentecost to confirm and make official the New Covenant!  It would be a big help to go through the festival material at the link above and the written Hebrews studies at The Epistles of Paul page.

     I hope to be enlightened by our Father and his son Jesus Christ, further on this subject.  Thanks again very much.

TIMOTHY
Yesterday the Bible Study on First Timothy was posted above. Paul's letters to Timothy present a number of interesting points.

The major point is the qualifications for the ministry.  To be within the ministry one must be [or have been] married, have proved to have been a good parent, be of blameless reputation, and not be a novice in the faith. His wife must also meet the same standard.

No person just out of college could meet all of these qualifications.  When a person just out of school is ordained they have no experience in the delights and problems of marriage or child rearing.  They may have some academic knowledge; which must now be coupled with experience to develope REAL WISDOM.

Such people have never had the opportunity to live in; and earn a living: in the real world.  They have no idea of the problems of life; and no wisdom in handling life's situations.  One of the main problems with youth is that we THINK we know when we do not. When young I thought that I knew many things; now that I am older, I wonder how I ever survived my youth!

Ordaining men too young and too inexperienced is the cause for many problems in churches.  Besides lacking the wisdom of years and experience, it is natural to feel gifted or better than others.  Imagine a lad of 29 exercising eccesiastical authority over people in their 50's and 60's. Will that not make a young man feel superior?

Why then is this done?  To exercise control by certain leaders.  They know that these young and inexperienced men can be led about: that they fear losing their position because they do not know how to earn a living in the real world; and that they quickly learn to love receiving the awe of the members and will not give up their exalted positions easily.  Such men are easily led to accept doctrinal error or unethical behaviour on the part of their bosses, in order to maintain their own positions.

Ordaining anyone who does not have adult children and at least ten to fifteen years in the faith is not right.  There may be some rare exceptions, but in general no one under about forty years old should be in the ministry.

Younger men can still help out, assist or possibly study and apprentice; while learning and working in the real world and raising their families.  They SHOULD NOT be exercising authority or counseling until they are filled with the wisdom of experience and years.   

In this I am speaking of the ministry, which involves teaching, counseling and exercising some authority.  God may work through anyone that he wants and he has called and sent some very young prophets.  Remember that they delivered messages from God.  They were not [in most cases] a part of the priesthood or involved in what we would think of as ministerial responsibilities.

WOMEN IN THE MINISTRY
Paul states that women are absolutely forbidden to speak in the church.  In this Paul is deeply concerned about women usurping authority over men.  I emphasize: this is about women usurping authority over men.  Women should never be ordained to the ministry; this is absolutely FORBIDDEN by the scriptures.

Does that mean that women have no place.  Absolutely not!  Women have the responsibility and the authority to: teach their children, who are our most precious future;  to counsel and advise their husbands and to encourage and teach other women.  They also have the responsibility to give out advice to men when it is sought; and of always being ready to give an answer for their hope, to all who ask.  They are not to exalt themselves, or be exalted; over their men.

Through history, pious women like Miriam and Deborah have held lofty positions of esteem in the faith.  At the same time they were subject to their husbands and to lawful authority.  If a woman becomes famous for her wisdom it is in her interest to assist her husband and children to also become wise; they can then pass this on to others. She may also teach others with a proper humility.  

Yet things must be done decently and in order. She must not usurp any authority and must act in all humility; as did Sara, Miriam and Deborah; remembering the act of God to correct Miriam when she thought to ursurp authority and presumptiously began to condemn Moses.  That event was written for our instruction. I dare say that if she had approached him with respect and stated that she had reservations about the matter and sought an explanation; she would not have been struck down.  This is all about respect for the Godly authority of husbands and fathers. 

It is unseemly; for a woman to counsel a man about many things!  Let the men in the ministry handle that and let the wise women encourage the other women in well doing. 

This is not about men or women being better than the other; it is about balance, respect and each doing what they are best suited for!

A Helen Shapiro song has been put to the left of the moon; with a link to her site.

I want to make it very clear that none of the featured artists are familiar with much of the doctrine at this site and may disagree with much of what I say.  Further I may not agree with the doctrines espoused by these people.  I am only supplying certain music for the edification of our visitors.  I have chosen songs that I believe are appropiate; other music is available at their sites which I may not have heard yet.  Any music selected or purchased by anyone is at their own discretion and risk [as to personal doctrinal suitability]

A new Bible Study Audio on First Timothy has been added above.

HAVE A WONDERFUL SABBATH!
IRAQI ELECTIONS
In Iraq the main Sunni party has withdrawn from the March elections in protest after 515 candidates are rejected and removed from the ballot for possible links to the Baath party. This has turned the Iraq elections into a farce.

The situation comes as America works to bring new sanctions and  pressure on Iran.  Under the Bush administration there was an understanding between the US and Iran that led to a relative calm in Iraq [attributed to a troop surge].  The understanding was that Iran would hold back its Shia in Iraq if the US would leave them alone and concentrate on pacifying the Sunni Baathists.

Now that the Sunni Baathists are considered under control, the US is again increasing the pressure on Iran at the Security Council and with war preparations throughout the Middle East. Clearly itching for an excuse to strike at Iran to bring down the regime; they have chosen this moment to provoke the Sunni Baathists in Iraq.,

With most Sunni out of the election, the Shia can be expected to win the poll; or the election may be postponed.  At any rate Iran is not inclined to walk away from its Iraqi leverage, when the Iranian regime feels so threatened.  Hence the power politics in Iraq.

It needs to be understood that as not all Iranians support the present regime in Iran; so, not all Shia in Iraq support the Iranian regime either.  There is a struggle going on in Iraq to defang the Iranian regime's influence and turn the Iraqi Shia against the Iranian regime.  The success or failure of this struggle will eventually decide whether the Iraqi Shia rise up in support of Iran during the coming war.

Perhaps this disenfranchisment of the Sunni Baathists is an American peace offering to the Iraqi Shia in an attempt to split them off from Iran by offering them control of Iraq for remaining quiet; in preparation for the war with Iran.

Free and fair elections?  Bah! Humbug!

THIS IS ABOUT CONTROL AND GLOBAL POWER PROJECTION!

It will be very interesting to see how these things work out.  Iraq/Iran     This Global report has some good information. I do not agree with their position that what is coming is only about Iraq; it is about Iran and control of the whole region; as well as about creating a New World Order.

THE DALAI LAMA
Yesterday President Obama met with the Dalai Lama of Tibet.  The meeting was held under the label of promoting Democracy and freedom for Tibet.  Of course nothing could be further from the truth.  This is all a part of the Great Game called Geopolitics; perhaps more properly called Domination.

Tibet was a semi autonomous area within China until The British attempted to divide Tibet off from China [to weaken and dominate China] in 1904.  Subsequently a British China agreement calmed their relations. China then sent an expedition to Tibet to restore their contol in 1910. In 1913 with the fall of the Qing dynasty in China; the Dalai Lama returned and maintained a nominal independance during ther warlord period and WW 2. 

The present Dalai Lama was born in 1935. Official Biography In 1950 China again asserted its authority and the Dalai Lama fled in 1959.  HISTORY  From 1950 to 59 the Dalia Lama cooperated with the Chinese to maintain his position, [it must be said that at this tender age he was doubtless surrounded by very influential advisors] until popular sentiment made it necessary for him to join the revolt against the Chinese.

Tibet has always been a football between China and her enemies.

The Dalai Lama may provide lip service to democracy; he is anyhting but democratic.  As the absolute despot of Tibet he was forced to submit to China in 1950. And fled in 1959. As dictator, he used hordes of monks to seize the means of the people and exercise absolute control of society. Maintaining his authority through religion. Since that time he has been in the employ of the CIA and has been used by the US to keep pressure on China and tie down large numbers of Chinese troops in Tibet.  Dalai Lama CIA  The Dalai Lama The fraud of pacifism.
Behind the Dalai Lama's Holy Cloak 

China's enemies have supported Tibet, on  one side; and Taiwan on the other side.  This; not out of any regard for democracy, as publicly portrayed; but rather as a means of keeping China under some semblence of control.  

LATEST TACTICS
President Obama is now deliberately angering China by sealing an arms deal with Taiwan and meeting the Dalai Lama in the Presidential Office: Why?  To try and provoke a veto of coming Iran sactions by China.  Otherwise; why not hold off for a few weeks on the arms deal and the Dalai Lama trip?  These actions are contrary to stated American objectives on Iran and seem dileberately calculated to provoke China. A few weeks wait could scarcely hurt relations with Taiwan or the Dalai Lama.