Verse of the Day

Zechariah 12:6 In that day will I make the governors of Judah like an hearth of fire among the wood, and like a torch of fire in a sheaf; and they shall devour all the people round about, on the right hand and on the left: and Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place, even in Jerusalem.

Commentary

Jerusalem once again is the focus of world attention. Zechariah 12 is like reading the modern media as Jerusalem has the world’s attention. Israel is building homes in Jerusalem and now the nations are upset. There really is no other city in the world that gets all this attention from the UN and other nations. I still feel that this coming all-out war between Israel and the Arabs will be over Jerusalem. Jerusalem will be the rallying cry of the Islamic caliphate when it organizes the Jihad to take the city. This Jihad is the final attack of Islam as God will destroy it.
Today’s events are focused on Jerusalem and Syria. This is right out of the Bible from Isaiah 17 and Zechariah 12!

Jerusalem will be focus of Third-Intifida
Palestinians: The Third Intifada Has Begun  12/17/12 When it starts, it will be the last one for the Palestinians as the Bible states that none are going to survive.
Emboldened by the “victories,” Abbas and Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal recently reached a secret agreement on the need to launch a “popular intifada” against Israel in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Their goal is to drag Israel into a confrontation with Palestinian civilians — one that would embarrass the Israelis among the international community and force them to capitulate.
As we see these events come to pass, we are to focus on the coming Day of the LORD. This means the coming of the Lord Jesus for His church! It looks like 2013 is going to be an incredible year with so many prophetic issues coming to a head. The big one is Iran and its nuclear program. Keep your eyes focused on the coming of the Lord Jesus and the marriage supper of the Lamb!
1Thessalonians 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. (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. (4-6) But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

Syrian Watch

Rebels seize towns in central Syria 12/19/12 Very slowly all of Syria is now being brought under the control of the Islamists.
Russia eyes Syria evacuation as rebels take Damascus district 12/18/12 This is a sign that the end is near for Assad.
“Moscow acted a day after insurgents waging a 21-month-old uprising obtained a possible springboard for a thrust into Damascus by seizing the Yarmouk Palestinian camp, an urban zone just 2 miles from the heart of the city, activists said. The Syrian opposition has scored significant military and diplomatic gains in recent weeks, capturing several army installations across Syria and securing formal recognition from Western and Arab states for its new coalition.”
A defector’s account of Syrian chemical weapons on the move 12/18/12 If this is true, it could trigger an Israeli attack on Hezbollah. This is very dangerous and could ignite the all-out war.
“Reports from inside two Syrian chemical weapons facilities offer chilling new evidence that President Bashar al-Assad’s regime developed special vehicles last year for moving and mixing the weapons — and an unconfirmed allegation that Lebanese allies of the regime, presumably in Hezbollah, may have been trained 11 months ago in the weapons’ use.”
Assad’s chemical stockpile ‘has reached similar levels to Israel’s nuclear weapons,’ defected Syrian general says 12/18/12 I believe that Syrian will use WMD against Israel. This will result in Israel hitting with Damascus with a nuclear weapon which will fulfill Isaiah 17:1 Assad might not do it, but the Islamic caliphate which follows him would.

Jerusalem Watch

Disgruntled Protestants Issue Irenic Jerusalem Declaration 12/17/12 I was really blessed to read this. People within the major denominations, who support Israel, are standing up against against their leadership. This leadership is always attacking Israel. May the God of Israel greatly bless these people.
“Protestants from three continents met in Jerusalem during November 5-8, 1912, to initiate a Protestant Consultation on Israel and the Middle East (PCIME). They subsequently issued a Jerusalem Declaration calling upon their churches to refrain from one-sided censure of Israel and to pay greater attention to the current miseries of Christians in such countries as Egypt, Syria and Iraq.”
Pressure ramps up, but Netanyahu says East Jerusalem construction to go ahead 12/18/12 Israel just agreed to build an additional 523 units. Truly, Jerusalem has become a burdensome stone for the nations.
“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed his statements Tuesday, saying that Israel would not back down from building in East Jerusalem. “Jerusalem is the eternal capital of the state of Israel, and we will continue to build there,” Netanyahu said. He added Israelis overwhelmingly believed in “united Jerusalem.” Rivlin also upbraided European parliamentarians, who he said are worrying too much about Palestinian statehood and not enough about the continued existence of the State of Israel.”
US: Israel’s settlement plans provocative 12/18/12 Once again, it is Jerusalem.
“In an unusually harsh statement, State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told reporters that Washington was “Deeply disappointed that Israelinsists on continuing this pattern of provocative action. “These repeated announcements and plans of new construction run counter to the cause of peace. Israel’s leaders continually say that they support a path towards a two-state solution, yet these actions only put that goal further at risk. “So we, again, call on Israel and the Palestinians to cease any kinds of counterproductive, unilateral actions and take concrete steps to return to direct negotiations.”
4 EU nations to condemn Israel’s settlements plans 12/18/12
“European nations in the 15-member United Nations Security Council are set to jointly condemn Israel over its plans for Jewish settler homes in east Jerusalem, a European diplomatic source said on Tuesday.  Israel approved plans for a further 1,500 homes on Monday after provoking international protests earlier this month against a project for another 3,000 such homes in a sensitive area known as E1. “We are working on a declaration from the European Union member nations at the Security Council on this subject,” the source said, adding that it would be issued in the coming days.”
UN steps up pressure on Israel over settlements 12/19/12 Now the UN is in pressuring Israel over Jerusalem. The final battle over Jerusalem is on the way.
‘Construction in Jerusalem is not negotiable’  12/18/12
Israeli leader vows more east Jerusalem building 12/18/12
Israeli envoy calls divisive settlement plan a politically necessary reprisal 12/11/12