Ezekiel 36 and the Mountains of Israel.

[Sandylion]

Re: Ezekiel 36 and the Mountains of Israel.

Another article on the Gaza pullout.

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20050609/D8AK3EH00.html

Israeli Court Stops Gaza Pullout Challenge


Jun 9, 8:33 AM (ET)

By STEVE WEIZMAN

JERUSALEM (AP) - Israel's Supreme Court ruled Thursday that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's Gaza withdrawal plan is constitutional, removing the last legal obstacle to this summer's watershed pullout.

Also Thursday, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas was meeting militant groups in Gaza to try to resolve domestic political disputes and keep a shaky truce with Israel alive. Israel and the Palestinians are trying to keep the cease-fire intact to allow them to coordinate the Gaza pullout, scheduled to begin in mid-August.

The 11-judge Supreme Court rejected 12 petitions by opponents of the withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and four West Bank settlements, ruling the pullout does not violate the settlers' human rights.

In their 320-page ruling, the judges upheld four technical challenges dealing with financial compensation for settlers to be evicted, but stressed that the withdrawal itself is constitutional. One judge dissented, arguing that a law governing the pullout is unsound and should be repealed.

Yoram Sheftel, an attorney for the settlers, said his expectations were low because the Supreme Court has a tendency of backing the government against Jewish settlers.

Since Sharon already has won parliamentary approval for the withdrawal, the court decision exhausted the settlers' legal options for halting the withdrawal. The plan would uproot 9,000 settlers from their homes.

Justice Minister Tzipi Livni praised the court's decision, and expressed hope the ruling would defuse potentially violent settler resistance to the evacuation.

In recent weeks, opponents of the plan have blocked rush-hour traffic on major highways and sabotaged public buildings. Security officials have warned that a small number of hard-liners will likely resist the pullout by force.

"I hope this ruling makes it absolutely clear to the individual settler that the plan is going ahead," Livni told Army Radio.

The ruling comes as opinion polls show that the public's support for the plan - which was initially around 70 percent - is dropping. Recent polls show support for the plan at around 50 percent.

Despite the judgment, Gaza settler leader Avnr Shimoni said he still hoped that public opinion would l derail the plan.

"The polls show that the public is opposed," he told Army Radio. "In the end this is what will pressure our parliament to decide against this."

Israel and the Palestinians have agreed to coordinate the Gaza pullout to prevent violence or chaos during the operation. But the two sides have made little concrete progress.

Late Wednesday, Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz and Palestinian Interior Minister Nasser Yousef held talks in what was described as a "positive atmosphere." They agreed to step up cooperation ahead of the withdrawal, officials said.

But Palestinian Cabinet Minister Mohammed Dahlan, a top official in charge of preparing for the withdrawal, said Israeli coordination efforts have been poor. He accused Israel of failing to turn over key information about the settlements and failing to address Palestinian concerns about movement in and out of Gaza after the pullout.

"We are in a race against time. The Israelis are wasting this opportunity," Dahlan told journalists in the West Bank.

A new round of violence has increased Israeli fears that the cease-fire could collapse and militants will fire on settlers and security forces during the evacuation.

Abbas arrived in Gaza on Wednesday night against a background of violence - an Israeli air strike on a mortar launcher and empty vehicle; and rocket fire at Israeli targets by Hamas and Islamic Jihad. On Tuesday, six people were killed in a series of clashes.

Abbas hoped to shore up the truce during his visit. He also was seeking to resolve an election dispute with Hamas. Abbas recently postponed legislative elections, angering the Islamic group.

Israel has said it would like to reopen peace talks after the Gaza pullout, but is demanding that Abbas crack down on militants before returning to the negotiating table.

In Gaza, an explosion rocked a refugee camp Thursday, witnesses said. There were no reports of injuries. The Israeli army said the blast appeared to have been an accident.

[Sandylion]

Re: Ezekiel 36 and the Mountains of Israel.

HSB, you're such a romantic! How adorable! I hope those little fellas are getting out and about (oot and aboot ) to drum up more support for the settlements. I know they captured my heart!

Thanks HSB!

Re: Ezekiel 36 and the Mountains of Israel.

Well... Sandi and I were talking about this thread last night, so I popped in to see if there's any hope that I could possibly get a handle on it so late in the game and... what a delightful picture to see. I'm sure Sandi will be blessed by it. I know I am.

Re: Ezekiel 36 and the Mountains of Israel.

Sandi: something just for you...

[Sandylion]

Re: Ezekiel 36 and the Mountains of Israel.

http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=44650

I really liked this article about N. American Christians living among the Israelis in Gush Katif, protesting the withdrawl. The pictures of everyone wearing their orange t-shirts are interesting after what we heard from HSB's trip, the orange sheep and all.

"It blows your mind," Rabbi Ari Griever, a Philadelphia resident, told WND. "Gush Katif is nothing like the media tell you. This isn't Jews living in Arab lands. It's one of the most beautiful Jewish communities in the world, totally away from the Arab population. The residents here just want to live in peace."

Re: Ezekiel 36 and the Mountains of Israel.

HSB, I am not so much concerned about Christians in this nation alone escaping judgment, as I am for Christians all over the world. What the human race is doing, is provoking God to the kind of terror upon the earth, which only a prophet like Zephaniah spoke to, and which will cause even believers in Christ, to ask like David once did of God, "Has thou forgotten to be gracious."

Another point to be raised is this. I thank God--as all of us should--that it will not depend on my perfect stance--not even toward Israel, nor prophetic truth--in order to escape the judgment of God. Many presently theologically unsophisticated--and largely ignorant--believers will be in heaven

[Doug Fowler]

Re: Ezekiel 36 and the Mountains of Israel.

After completing my first 2 courses trough Temple Baptist Seminary (Tenn. Temple U.'s) I just had to come back and reaad, this is just so engrossing.

I was just reding the other day about Mephibosheth. He - like the ones under 20 whom God called "victims" of the decision at Kadesh Barnea - suffereed collateral damage (being made lame from a fall) but was still able to eat at the king'd table, and be treated as one of Dvid's own. Indeed, he did better than several of David's own.

I think tht's a very apt anaalogy to the situation we are in. We have to faace trials and problems, and may have to face severe ones, because of the actions of our leaders. However, our sins are the ones we are accountable for to God as far as eternity is concerned. (And they are certainly enough to condemn us without Christ.) It may be rather that those who suffer under ungodly rulers simly get that time in which they have to repent shortened, or they lose some sort of chance for blessings and rewards.

But, God doesn't change. His mercies endure forever. And, the fact there are Mephibostheths out there (hopefully with easier names to say :-) just means that there are some poeple who lose a little something in this life because of the errors of leaders. Saul's sins indirectly led to his nurse fleeing with him and him being mde lame. Other people may lose their very lives (like those judged when David wanted to take aa census.) But, all they lost was something that was going to be gone, anyway - use of part (M.) or all of their earthly bodies.

I think that's something that causes a lot of people to have problems. They think that life on this Earth is soooo important they lose the focus that what is taken from poeple when they are judged is something they couldn't keep anyway. Hey, I know the feeling, it's been tough for me, too, and required a lot of prayer asking God for wisdom, which He promises to give. (James 1:5)

So, whatever happens to America, I will keep praying for revival - it could still happen, perhaps there will be problems so severe many will wake up and this time not hit the snooze button. But, whatever happens, the things we lose were not ours to begin with. And if a person is saved they will gain eternity anyway, just as M. eventually got to sit at King David's table and be treated as Dvid's own.

Re: Ezekiel 36 and the Mountains of Israel.

ZionGene: the article in Arutz Sheva that you linked to really shows how frantic the folks are getting. I also felt folks should be aware of it (and agree that the best thing was to simply mention it as you did and let people do the linking themselves..as distinct from quoting the whole article). You had more courage than I to make the link. Regardless of what people in the USA think about all of this disengagement talk, there are now many people in Israel praying for God to act in judgment against the USA. So it seems that the country is between a rock and a hard place..the anger of millions of Muslims and the Moongod Allah, or the anger of some Jewish settlers and their God Yahweh, who just happens to be the Creator and sustainer of the Universe. I still find it incredible that we pray to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, then disregard what He says about His plans for the people of the Land.

ZionGene you refer to the blessed hope of missing the destruction that God might visit on the nation. I am not so sure that we will in fact escape the collateral damage. In fact the churches are full of folks who have no idea at all what is in store, even whole denominations who have swallowed replacement theology and who are adamant that God is NOT on any side of this issue. What right do we have to duck the destiny of grief and suffering that has been the lot of so many Christians down through the years?

Re: Ezekiel 36 and the Mountains of Israel.

CORRECTION HSB

You said that I posted that article. That is not quite correct. I deliberately gave the link only, and left it to the reader to go and take a look at it

Re: Ezekiel 36 and the Mountains of Israel.

Yes yes HSB, and if God in fury and anger decides to initiate The Day Of Vengeance Of Our God to complete and fulfill the double ministry of the Messiah, according to Isaiah 61:1-2, then you and I can see why He will pull out the Chruch "until the indignation be overpast." (Isaiah 26:20.)

Judgment will so terrible at one point, that its collateral damages upon His people would be so vast, that He will spare them from all of it. That is the only bright hope that anybody on planet earth has at this time. Talking about a blessed hope? It is the only one!

Re: Ezekiel 36 and the Mountains of Israel.

ZionGene: when God's judgment fell on ancient Israel there were a whole lot of nice folks who got crunched in the process. We often think that a president or prime minister does not speak for us if we disagree with the decisions that are made but in fact they do..and the consequences flow to all of us. I for one am not at all looking forward to the "ride" ahead. HSB

Re: Ezekiel 36 and the Mountains of Israel.

As I studied prophecy, I always wondered about the judgment aspect of things that were predicted. Now, we see the reasons behind a few cases, and why God's wrath will be displayed. One could say that the dire prophecies were written as the responses of God to what He knew people would do. What the nations are in for, is what they will deserve: that is becoming apparent by their actions, and they will have no reason to complain that He is unjust, when He lets loose in judgments; or to say that He is capricious. You might say that the sins of men is the cause of His judgments,whether He administers them directly or allows Satan and evil men to do so. Yet at the same time, God wil choose to treat some nations and indivuduals better than they deserve, the main ones of whom will be Israel and the Church

The seeming contradictions can only be completely resolved in the mind of God

Re: Ezekiel 36 and the Mountains of Israel.

Snoopy I like your analogy to the VCR tape (although most of us have now moved on to DVDs ) I agree that people do have "free will" and are making choices for which they will be held accountable. That was basically my response to PlumBob (but I am waiting expectantly for his insightful response)
Pharoah had a choice for a while then God started hardening his heart. A time will come when the "current" gets too strong to buck ...in black hole terminology it is called the Swartzchild radius I recall where nothing, not even light, can escape. The flushing action will take the whole country down the pipe (not just the pike)

Re: Ezekiel 36 and the Mountains of Israel.

I believe that there is a End of Days scenario that has been foretold in the bible. The people that believe and choose to heed this warning are the lucky ones. Everyone else will not be so lucky.
My problem with the last few posts, is the perception that God is orchestrating this scenario, and not just allowing it to unfold. With the thought that we as men have choice, a gift from God, how is an orchestration a choice. I understand that God will have already seen the outcome of what we are about to go through, but I believe that the people involved are choosing their own path, not playing out a part in a movie that is already written.
It is hard to wrap our small minds around an idea of us having a free choice, and God already knowing the outcome of that choice. But I believe that is exactly what is happening.
Its like watching a Sporting event again that you taped on you VCR from last week. You already know when the team will score, but in the moment of the sporting event, all the players had the freedom of choice to decide how to act. Now you can give that tape of the game to your friend who has not seen it yet and foretell the game to him. Thats the best example I could think of to explain the bible's foretelling of the End of Days. They have already seen the VCR tape of the big game, and are explaining the tactics of the two teams. Good (Jews) Bad (Gog).
If you are reading Ezekiel 36, then you are getting to see a glimpse of the big game on God's VCR tape...

Snoopy

Re: Ezekiel 36 and the Mountains of Israel.

Well we can all breathe easier now that we are past #666

Seriously I read the article from Arutz Sheva and decided not to post it on this thread. It was basically calling down a curse on America for being traitors. Pretty heavy stuff. That said, ZionGene had the guts to post it. It shows the desperation and anger that some of the religious folk are feeling (sell-out may be a better term) We will see if the God of Abaraham, Isaac and Jacob decides to get involved at a personal level. I think he will eventually, just not sure about Gush Katif..certainly in time for the Mountains of Israel. The President is moving fast to the point of no return I believe. he will drag America with him into judgment I fear. The Israelis are not concerned about UN resolutions..that is simply global politics (mostly third world politics at work) But when America abandons them, nay threatens them with accomodations to the PA, then things do get serious. Time will tell and soon at that. Button down the hatches folks for the disasters that are coming.
JudyAnn: I simply read the articles in the Toronto Star on the weekend. Today they had one about Jerusalem day and the unhappy plight of arabs in the unified city. I will try and find a URL for you to connect with. here it is
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/Con...IDSPnFxUm%2bw8 and
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/Con...t1016110013469
Regards HSB