"Signs Upon Signs":YASSIR ARAFAT'S PLO PIVOTS AGAINby Jon R. Welkerand the writings of MIKKEL DAHL(In this particular article, I have borrowed liberally from comments by Mikkel Dahl which have been presented in past publications. --J.R.W.) This morning (11/11/04) the news media announced the death of Yassir Arafat at a French military hospital. His recent health problems leading to his death were first declared November 3, 2004, the day after the American elections and the concession of the democratic presidential candidate. In other words, the announcement of Arafat's failing health focused the world's attention from the reelected President George W. Bush on the very day that it became clear to the world that President Bush would serve another 4 years as the world's foremost leader. It's also intriguing to note that November 11th is observed as Veterans Day. Originally named Armistice Day in 1919 by Woodrow Wilson, this date was set aside to commemorate the end of World War I, and was observed by the U.S., France, Britain and Canada. Let us remember the sad history regarding that "war to end all wars" and its armistice: within decades the world was engaged in another World War, then Korea, then Vietnam, Iraq, and other wars -- until now we are poised for World War III. Only after that will the true Prince of Peace be enthroned to rule the nations.... The amazing wonders which transpire at God's direction are too awesome to leave unreported. Sure, the media repeatedly give highlights of such events, but the spellbinding wonders hidden therein to glorify the Lord are never even suspected by the media; thus, the "signs upon signs" set before us aren't even recognized. This is because the media is under the power and blindfold of Lucifer. We need not dwell on the various splits in Arafat's camp with its consequent war and bloodshed -- all of such is diligently covered by the media -- but we should analyze various developments which have kept Yassir Arafat and the PLO before the world's attention. Whether we label Yassir Arafat "freedom fighter" or "terrorist," "peacemaker" or "bloody murderer," "saint" or "devil," nonetheless we must concede that he has played an integral and pivotal part in elevating the tactics of terrorism to achieve military and political goals. Even the media presently acknowledges his responsibility for initiating terrorism as an important tool for achieving attention and concessions through fear. This use of terrorism has added to the horrors of what to expect as we approach the very last days of this age. We have frequently brought to the attention of our readers the Scripture which states: "Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him. And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this? say ye that the Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him hither. And they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door without in a place where two ways met; and they loose him." Mark 11:2-4 "Where two ways met" bespeaks the Jewish and Arabic ways of life, coming to COLLISION -- leading to the termination of our era and Christ's return to earth. Yassir Arafat is a "son of Ishmael." And as we keep reminding you: "...The angel of the Lord said unto her, `Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name ISHMAEL; because the Lord hath heard thy affliction. And he will be A WILD MAN; HIS HAND WILL BE AGAINST EVERY MAN, AND EVERY MAN'S HAND AGAINST HIM; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.'" Genesis 16:11-12 We should not think for a moment that that applied to Ishmael only, no more so than the blessings upon father Abraham applied to him only; for those blessings were to be on the entirety of Abraham's seed (Gen. 12:2-3, 22:17-18). Therefore, let us consider a brief background of Yassir Arafat, as a son of Ishmael. SOME AVAILABLE BIOGRAPHY Known variously to his followers as Abu Ammar, or just as "the Doctor," Yassir Arafat emerged in the late 1960's as the spokesman of the al-Fatah movement, which was dedicated to the overthrowing of Israel and regaining its territory for the Palestinian Arabs. Yassir Arafat, which is a by-name of Rahman Abd Arra uf Al-qudwah, was born into an upper middle-class family of landowners and traders in Ramallah (or possibly Jenin), north of Jerusalem, in 1929. He was one of 7 children of a well-to-do merchant whose wife was related to the anti-Zionist grand mufti of Jerusalem, Amin al-Husayni. During the Palestinian war of 1948 his family relocated to Jordan and Lebanon. Arafat went to Cairo University, and graduated with a degree in civil engineering. After the Suez conflict in 1956 he joined the U.A.R. Army as an officer in the Engineering Corps. In 1959 he returned to Beirut, Lebanon, then went on to represent business concerns in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf area. He later returned to Lebanon where he began to devote himself to Palestinian politics. An historical time-line shows these milestones in Arafat's life. 1952-'59: Member, then President of the Muslim Brotherhood and the Union of Palestinian Students. Early 1960s: Helped found al-Fatah, which became the military facet of the PLO a few years later. 1969: Became PLO chairman. 1974: First representative of a nongovernmental organization (PLO) to address the U.N. General Assembly. 1982: Fled Beirut headquarters during Israeli invasion of Lebanon; relocated in Tunisia 1988: Recognized Israel as a legitimate state. 1990-'91: Publicly endorsed Saddam Hussein of Iraq. 9/13/1993: Signed peace agreement with Yizhak Rabin in Washington, D.C. 1994: Arafat, Rabin & Shimon Peres awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. 1/1996: Elected president of the Palestinian National Authority (created in 1993). 11/11/04: Died in a hospital in Paris. The PLO is not the Beast of Revelation 13, but because they are destined to fight alongside the "armies of the north" (Ezek. 38:15) against Israel and Christendom, they are shown to function through the same beastial number. The fact that the dislodged Palestinians grieve is understandable; but as we sow, so do we reap (Job 4:8). When Israel declared themselves a nation in Palestine in May 1948, the Palestinians instantly joined Arab states in opening a ruthless war in an effort to exterminate the Jews. But these forces were severely beaten. Eight years later, the Suez Canal operations were nationalized by Egypt, and all shipping to and from Israel was barred. By the spring of 1967, the Ishmaeli "voice of hate" repeatedly broadcast that they were awaiting the crucial hour to strike when they then would push Israel into the sea, showing mercy neither to women, children nor the aged. Then they closed off the Strait of Tiran -- Israel's one remaining lifeline from the Gulf of Aqaba to the Red Sea. The Jews, therefore, had to strike or face a slow perishing. They struck! And so, as Ishmael has sown, so must he reap. ISAAC, THE HEIR Over three millenniums ago, God granted to Abraham and to his seed by Sarah, all of Palestine, as well as a great deal of territory beyond (Gen 15:18). When Abraham's other sons (through his wife Keturah) were grown, he gave them gifts and livestock and sent them into the east so that they should not have any inheritance with Isaac and his children; nor that they would ever be a thorn in the flesh of Isaac or a source of trouble (Gen 25:5-6). WHO, then, are the usurpers? Backward and nomadic tribes would still be eking out the barest existence off a largely barren and vast territory had the Jews not made it to blossom like a garden within decades, despite harassment and much tragedy through wars. They would most probably be among the poorest peoples of the world, and most unproductive, were it not for the Americans and some Europeans going in to develop the natural resources of their lands, especially oil. And again, let us analyze other historical parallels. Has either the United States or Canada "restored" the vast territories taken from the native Indians? Do we treat them as first class citizens today? In Canada, they have been denied even the right to the oil found on their allotted reservations. And again, has Russia "restored" to China territories taken in previous wars? Numerous similar instances could also be cited. So, why the double standard applied to Israel? Well, I think we all should know.... So, what about the Jews? Dark, grim and tragic will still be some of the years before them. For, the Ever-living God, gazing into unborn millenniums, declared: "…The Lord shall set His hand again the second time to recover the remnant of His people…." Isaiah 11:11 In recent decades we have surely witnessed THAT! And, in order to accomplish that, God portrayed "four carpenters" who were to rebuild Israel (Zech. 1:20-21). The rebuilt Israel would then be envied and hated, which would constitute them "an ensign on a hill" -- which would "hiss" unto the nations -- goading them to come (Isa. 5:26-30, 11:12, 30:17). Then shall reborn Israel be "fished" (which we have now seen taking place). They shall be tempted to "bite," then "taken in a net." Thereafter shall the "hunters" come in one desperate attempt to exterminate the Jews. (See Jer. 16:16-21.) Then shall the lethal flame commence to spread -- engulfing the world -- terminating in the greatest, fiercest and most horrendous Battle of Armageddon, where our Lord shall "sit to judge all the heathen [nations] round about" which come to fight against Jerusalem (Joel 3:9-15). But BEFORE the demon-inspired nations go too far in their effort to extinct all life on earth (Matt. 24:21-22), the Lord will bodily return to earth, terminating all wars for at least 1,000 years (Joel 3:16-21). Certainly Israel has sinned, and that grievously; therefore their wars and tragic years ahead. BUT, God bequeathed to the seed of Abraham through Isaac-Jacob ALL of Palestine and beyond. HE will keep His word! And when He has, THEN shall Israel still have in their midst "an afflicted and poor people" (Zeph. 3:12). They are already there -- awaiting the consummation of the end of our era. Are you prepared and watching? The world's attention is now refocused on Palestine and the Mid-East -- with great hopes for peace, again. But must we remind you of God's words that He will "make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem"? (See Zech. 12:2.) It will be interesting to watch the developments following Yassir Arafat's demise. Yes, this is another pivotal point, but the question becomes -- pivoting unto WHAT? We must never forget the prophecy regarding Ishmael. And since the modern Palestinians claim Arafat as their "father," what can we expect of that which a "wild man," with blood on his hands, can produce? At one time the world bestowed upon him a "peace prize." What a sham! The United Nations embraced him as he approached the podium with an empty pistol holster around his waist and an olive branch in his hand, declaring "do not let this olive branch fall from my hands." The United Nations has continued its efforts to lead the nations into error. BEWARE THE UNITED NATIONS... "...There shall be a bridle in the jaws of the people, causing them to err." Isaiah 30:28 The U.N. is that "bridle in the jaws of the people" (nations which continue to lead into error). [Request a copy of The United Nations in Bible Drama from this publisher.] It is understandable that leaders may wish to seize an opportunity for peace in the Mid-East with the change of leadership in the PLO. Yet, as with the U.N., their judgment is blinded by their rejection of the God of Israel -- the only true God! Therefore, whatever short-term arrangements which may be made, the outcome is destined to failure. There can be no real peace anywhere, especially in God's Citadel of Peace (Jerusalem) as long as the true Prince of Peace is denied and rejected. Think about it.... Yassir Arafat was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize by the world's elite, while the true Prince of Peace is denied and even mocked in blasphemous speech. This should remind us of Jesus' statements about another coming to His own and being received: "He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe into His Name...." John 1:11-12 "I am come in My Father's Name, and ye receive Me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive." John 5:43 "Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen." Revelation 1:7 Let me remind you again: KEEP WATCHING!(Information on Yassir Arafat has been gleaned from Britannica's Book of the Year 1970; The New Encyclopedia Britannica, Micro & Macropedia copyright 1987; and Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia 2004 © 1993-2003.) |