Israel Pounds Lebanon; World Puzzled On How To Solve Middle East Crisis

Israel pounds Lebanon as world scrambles to avoid war
Israel pounded Lebanon for the third straight day on July 14, targeting Hizbullah's power base and the airport in relentless attacks that have killed about 60 people and left world powers scrambling to avert all-out war in the region.

IAF Strikes Deep in Lebanon, Heavy Fighting at the Border
The Israel Air Force during the night struck Hizbullah targets deep in Beirut, including the Beirut-Damascus Highway, the airport and a major terrorist stronghold in a south Lebanon neighborhood.

War Exposes PA-Hizbullah-Iran Connection
A source within the Palestinian Authority revealed Friday that Fatah and Hamas factions are allied with Hizbullah terrorists. The connection is not new, said the source, who asked to remain unnamed.

Hizbollah chief defiant after Israel bombs home
BEIRUT (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert ordered more intense strikes on Lebanon on Friday, ratcheting up retaliation against Hizbollah guerrillas following the capture of two...

Hizbollah chief vows to take fight to Israel
Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, in a dramatic phone call to Hizbollah's TV station said an Israeli navy vessel was burning off Beirut and would sink.

Vatican condemns Israel for attacks on Lebanon, "A strong and free nation"
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - The Vatican on Friday strongly deplored Israel's strikes on Lebanon, saying they were "an attack" on a sovereign and free nation.

Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo Sodano said Pope Benedict and his aides were very worried that the developments in the Middle East risked degenerating into "a conflict with international repercussions."

Iran, Syria called 'playing with fire'
Israel's ambassador to Washington said yesterday that Iran and Syria are "playing with fire" and "will bear the consequences" if Hezbollah transfers two kidnapped Israeli soldiers to either of its patron nations.

Ambassador Daniel Ayalon did not rule out retaliatory strikes against Iran's nuclear facilities, though other Israeli officials said that was not being planned.

US pushes for North Korea vote
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United States and Japan pressed for a U.N. Security Council vote Friday on North Korea's missile tests after some progress had been made in negotiations to...

Oil surges to record $78 on Mideast conflict
LONDON (Reuters) - Oil surged to record highs above $78 on Friday on fears that conflict between Israel and Hizbollah guerrillas could escalate and spread to more Middle East countries.

Comments
Israel's Ambassador to Washington Daniel Ayalon said Thursday that Iran and Syria are "playing with fire" and "will bear the consequences" if terror group Hezbollah turns over kidnapped Israeli soldiers to either of them.

He wouldn't rule out retaliatory strikes against Iranian nuclear sites but at this time said they are not a part of the plan.

"It's premature to talk about military action against Syria and Iran," one Israeli official said. "We don't want the situation to escalate more than it already has."

Wayne White, a former State Department intelligence official, said Israel was trying to determine how direct Iran's and Syria's involvement was in the attack.

"It's really unlikely that they will directly attack Tehran right now, because they will respond in a tit-for-tat," Mr. White said. "Israel's done what it's going to do for now, and it's in a stage of waiting to see how Hezbollah will respond." http://www.washtimes.com/world/20060714-120632-5986r_page2.htm

I don't see Israel taking on another front but the danger still exist especially with Iran's president firing up the Arab bloc proclaiming that now was the time to destroy Israel.  And the rest of the free world isn't much friendlier! Without the veto of the U.S., the U.N. would have voted to condemn Israel's attack on Lebanon.  They weren't so fortunate with the Vatican...Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo Sodano made this statement today.

"In particular, the Holy See deplores right now the attack on Lebanon, a free and sovereign nation, and assures its closeness to these people who already have suffered so much to defend their independence," he told Vatican Radio.

"The right of defence on the part of a state does not exempt it from its responsibility to respect international law, particularly regarding the safeguarding of civilian populations," he said." http://asia.news.yahoo.com/060714/3/2n5ti.html

Even the religious bodies of this world are biased against Israel.  Is it any wonder that one day the whole world will gather to destroy them?

What I See For The Future
I have to be honest this is a very serious time.  Nobody wants to come out and say that the rapture of the church and the advent of the antichrist could be at hand...but certainly, that could be the case.  It has to happen sometime and today could be the day!

I have said in previous articles that this type of scenario could lead to the rise of the antichrist.  Just as Israel is embroiled in multiple conflicts and on the verge of regional war a great leader could immerge and solve the Middle East problem.  But he won't only bring peace to the Middle East but I believe he will solve the Iranian and North Korean missile crisis, and number of other world crisis' as well.  Because of this the world will love him and peace will rule the land.

Of course, this will all be a temporary peace.  Sometime near the middle of the tribulation period a major world war will break out that will claim the lives of one-quarter of the world's population (Revelation 6:1-8).  This may be the time he declares himself to be God (Revelation 13).

But before anything can happen the rapture of the church must take place first...and if it does, are you ready for what will come next!

If you have made this commitment to the Lord please send me an email.  I would like to hear from you.

If you haven't received the Lord your time is running out!

Pastor Malone