Judgment Day Tomorrow?!

I suppose I can’t let this blog go without some comment about Harold Camping’s prediction for the world to end tomorrow. I’m already a day late with this blog; let’s hope I’m not a day behind tomorrow. Fortunately, I’ll be in Vancouver tomorrow, probably the most beautiful place on earth to witness the world’s end.

I hope Camping is preparing his next date for judgment day. His last one was out by more than a decade, so despite his denial, he will need a plan B, or is it C, D, . . . He obviously missed plan A: “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” (Matthew 24:36.)

Unfortunately, wild predictions, such as Camping’s, based on conjectural parallels with past events of uncertain dates, bring disrepute to the seriousness of the Gospel. We may not know when, but the day will come when everyone will be held accountable for their response to Jesus Christ. (John 3:18)

Israeli Border Violence

The border clashes between Arab demonstrators from countries surrounding Israel erupted as forecast in my blog last Thursday. Israel was forced to defend its borders with Lebanon, Syria, Gaza and against demonstrators from the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Jordan.

Read the story at http://www.canada.com/news/Israel+Palestinian+violence+erupts+three+borders/4786716/story.html  

The result was more than a dozen protestors dead and over 100 injured in the biggest demonstrations for years. Is this the beginning of a new Intifada against Israel? The signs are menacing.

The intifadas against Israel in the past have been by terrorism and bombings within Israel. In many ways, this has worked to Israel’s advantage as the carnage inflicted by these means were discredited by most nations. However, the demonstrations yesterday suggest a new tactic to gain sympathy for the Palestinian cause.

The uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt, have generally received world approval on the basis of the people of those countries desiring a cessation of ruthless dictatorships and a change to democratic reform. The ongoing unrest in Syria and Yemen and attempts in other Arab states suggest there is an area wide reformation taking place.

If the Palestinians can identify themselves with other popular uprisings in the Middle East, their claims appear more reasonable and attract greater sympathy than previous terrorism and bombing of Israel. Now Israel is faced with defending against unarmed crowds, when shear numbers will provoke a violent response to repel invaders across the borders. Yesterday’s incidents have already provided martyrs for the Palestinian cause.

In addition, those seeking a return of the Palestinians from land given to Israel in 1948 are not those who were dispossessed. They would all be aged around 70 to 90 years of age. Later generations, taught hatred of Israel, continue the demand for repatriation. Arab nations surrounding Israel foster this by maintaining their refugee camps for the last 60+ years, using the squalid conditions to sustain anger against Israel.

Furthermore, despite ongoing attempts to broker a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians, it is clear that the populations are not interested—they want restoration of their lands. Hamas and Arab nations, still technically at war with Israel, may exploit this opportunity to “liberate” Israel’s “occupied” lands.

For prophecy buffs, the scene is set for Zechariah 14:1–9.