In this world, everything is about money, isn’t it?
“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (1 Timothy 6:10).
But in the Middle East, hatred for Israel ranks right up there with lusting for oil and money. It seems that the whole world stands against Israel, but now with Israel’s new found oil, the hatred may certainly turn to war. After all, the abundance of Israeli oil was discovered in the Golan Heights. The United Nations still consider that territory to belong to Syria and call Israel an occupier.
If you know your history, you will remember that this piece of real estate became part of Israel after the 6 day war in 1967 – a war in which Israel was under imminent attack, but miraculously emerged victorious against insurmountable odds.
For those who do not remember the 6 day (miraculous) war, here is a timeline of the events leading up to, and during the war.
Events leading up to the Six Day War
Mid-May: Egypt begins troop movements in Sinai.
May 18: Egyptian President Nasser orders UN Emergency Forces to leave Sinai.
May 23: Nasser closes the Straits of Tiran to Israeli shipping and moves an estimated 130,000 troops to Sinai.
May 30: Jordan signs a defense pact with Egypt, enabling Egyptian command of the Jordanian Legion.
June 2: Israel forms national unity government.
6 Days in June 1967
June 5, 1967
Morning: Israel attacks Egyptian air force. Jordan bombs Jerusalem and center of country. Iraq and Jordan try aerial bombardment of Tel Aviv. Israel infantry crosses southern Gaza. Syria attacks Haifa by air.
Midday: Israel bombs Iraqi air base.
Afternoon: IAF attacks Cairo airport and destroys combat aircraft hidden along with civilian planes. Israel captures UN headquarters in Jerusalem.
Israel armor reaches El Arish in northern Sinai, finishing operation there. Israeli armor crosses border near Ta’anch settlements in Jezreel Valley. Meanwhile IAF destroys most of the Syrian air force.
Israel Navy reaches Alexandria and Port Said. IDF captures several Jordanian positions. Syria bombs Rosh Pina in Israel’s north.
June 6, 1967
Morning: IDF captures northern Gaza Strip. Ground forces capture police outpost in Latrun (between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv) and closes the road from Jerusalem to Ramallah. Syria continues bombing the north and tries to attack several northern settlements. Jordan attacks the Dotan Valley north of Shechem.
Midday: IDF completes Gaza operation. Amunition Hill captured in northern Jerusalem. Jenin surrenders. Dotan Valley fighting ends. Qalqilya, Abu Tor and Ramallah are captured by IDF.
Evening: Egyptian army retreats. Jordanian Arab Legion retreats from West Bank.
June 7, 1967
Morning: Fighting on Egyptian and Jordanian fronts. Syria continues bombing northern border. Jerusalem’s Old City is liberated.
Midday: Israel Navy reaches Sharm el Sheikh (southern tip of Sinai). Tulkarem (east of Netanya) and Shechem conquered. Jordan issues final general retreat. Bir Gafgafa airfield (east of Suez in central Sinai) captured.
Evening: Mitla Pass (east of Suez) is closed. IDF captures Gush Etzion (south of Jerusalem) and Jericho (east of Jerusalem). Egypt rejects UN ceasefire initiative.
June 8, 1967
Morning: Egyptian armor attacks IDF at Bir Gafgafa. IDF takes Hebron. Syrian bombing continues in the north. IDF Central and Southern commands meet west of Hebron. Fighting continues in Sinai.
Midday: Israel destroys bridges over Jordan River.
Afternoon: Egypt accepts ceasefire.
June 9, 1967
Overnight: IDF armor reaches Suez Canal. Minister of Defense Moshe Dayan orders attack on Golan Heights.
Morning: IDF advances toward Syrian lines in northern Golan Heights. Heavy fighting results in IDF victories. In Egypt President Nasser blames US for loss and resigns. Resignation is reversed.
June 10, 1967
Fighting continues in Syria. Kuneitra (southwest Syria in Golan Heights) and Massadeh (Druze village between Mt. Hermon and Sea of Galilee) fall.
June 12, 1967
Mt. Hermon and village of Majdal Shams captured by the IDF. [1]
So, Nasser blamed the U.S. for Israel’s victory. That’s humorous to me, since the U.S. declined to help Israel, when the world was sure that she would be annihilated. Nasser should have been wringing his hand at God, for Israel’s victory was certainly a miracle from Him!
Since that war, most of the Israel hating world have called her an “occupier” of territories which became part of Israel because of that war. Any other country which is attacked and emerges victorious, would never be questioned about the outcome of the war; any lands conquered and acquired. But not so Israel. The United Nations have agreed with the world that Israel is an “occupier.” This is ludicrous.
Back to Israel’s new found wealth. Putin and now China have gone into Syria to fight ISIS and to help Assad remain in power. Many Bible prophecy students have been discussing the possibility of this war being fought right next to Israel, might evolve into a larger war – possibly the war described in Ezekiel 38 and 39.
Now I believe that the chances of Syria’s conflict morphing into a full scale attack on Israel are that much greater. Russia’s economy has been faltering for years, and I’m sure that Putin has his eye on the oil in the Golan Heights.
If this becomes the great war of Ezekiel 38 and 39, then the world will see another miracle by the hand of God.
“Thus saith the Lord God; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought: And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates, To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land. Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil?” (Ezekiel 38:10-13). (Emphasis mine)
“And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord God, that my fury shall come up in my face. For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel; So that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground. And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord God: every man’s sword shall be against his brother. And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the Lord” (Ezekiel 38:18-23). (Emphasis mine)
We will watch to see how this unfolds. God is ALWAYS in control, and He loves his people Israel!
We read our Bibles to know what will happen. The world reads the headlines from news sources. These are exciting times, brethren. PRAY for the peace of Jerusalem!
MARANATHA!
