Global SITREP D6-23: The Great MidEast War

UPDATE 31 December 2023: This final update for 2023 is straight up and succinct. 

A new World War is coming. Russia wants ALL of Ukraine, Putin has zero interest in anything less. NATO, led by the U.S. will not allow that to happen. A NATO vs Russian Federation war in Europe from Finland to to Ukraine become more likely each month. China wants Taiwan, meaning the world war includes the Pacific "ring of fire." North Korea threatens South Korea, Japan and the US with nuclear war. Japan and the US will defend Taiwan. All ambiguity is out the window. 

Bible prophecy (Book of Daniel) hints strongly at this. The "beast" empire is here, albeit without the "Beast" at its head. 

Israel's war will continue for several months into 2024, to include Lebanon and Syria, and also Jordan. No reason to celebrate a New Year, it will prove to be less than happy for the world-at-large.

We pray for many more souls to find Salvation in Christ Jesus and partake in the blessed Harpazo of the Bride of Christ.

Marana'tha!

27 December 2023: Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced yesterday that Israel is a nation fighting a war on seven fronts. We've known this fact for quite some time, but it is good that all parties hear it from him.

To recap, there was a pitched battle fought in the skies over the Red Sea yesterday with the US Navy shooting at least three Iranian ballistic missiles fired from Yemen at Israel. Of note, this was the first time a US Navy anti-ship ballistic missile engaged and destroyed an incoming Iranian ballistic missile. Both Israeli and American combat aviation scored shoot downs of multiple Iranian drones also launched from Yemen. This war needs to be taken directly to the Ayatollah's doorstep.

In the north, Hezbollah expanded its tactical targets list by attacking a Greek-Orthodox church in the northern Israel town of Iqrit, injuring two Israeli Christians. A second Hezbollah missile was first injuring nine IDF troops who were first responders to the attack. Time to take the gloves of with Hezbollah.

 

The Magoi and the Birth of Jesus Messiah

The Eschatology Today tradition continues to bring this post forward.

27 December 2023 (Original Posting date 6 January 2010): The above image is an artistic rendering of the three Magoi (Magi). In fact, there had to have been quite an entourage who accompanied the Magoi, primarily because of the basic fact that no one makes a 1,000+ mile round trip journey across the desert east of the Jordan River, that between the Parthian Empire and Roman-occupied Israel west of the Jordan River without the supplies of a life-sustaining caravan and significant numbers of mounted cavalry for protection. The actual number of gentile visitors from the east was probably closer to 300 than just 3. It's also a minor miracle that the illegitimate Roman puppet King Herod did not think the appearance of this caravan from the east wasn't the advance guard of a Parthian invasion.

The importance of the whole story about the Magoi (Matthew 2:1-12) is quite likely unknown by most Christians. That's because we've not spent much time learning about it, even though it is Scripture, Old Testament (Numbers 24:14-25; Micah 5:2-5; Isaiah 60:2-6) and very specific prophetic Scripture at that.

Oh, we all know and have visualized one way or another the "We Three Kings" Christmas carol, and have seen Nativity scene imagery like the above for the sum of our lives, but that's not the half of it. There's more... so much more to the story.

The more I think about it, the more I am astounded by the fact that the gentile Magoi who came out of the Parthian (Persian) Empire and made this tremendous journey did so after fervently holding to the prophet Daniel's detailed prophecy (given by the angel Gabriel in Daniel 9:24-26) concerning the coming of the Messiah for over 600 years, and waited generation after generation for a very specific sign in the skies, and all the while knowing the precise number of days until the Messiah's birth because of the details given in the prophecy. They knew how to count Hebrew years, and exactly how many days each year had. They knew precisely when to look for the star.

And then once that sign appeared and the number of days had elapsed they rounded up the multiple parts of a large caravan and the water and provisions for the entire group's survival, plus the gifts for the object of their 500+ year devotion for what had to be a round trip of something well in excess of 1,900 miles across barren desert, mountains, marshes, rivers and wadis.... I stand here approximately two millennia and two decades later in complete awe just thinking about it.

The caravan was quite probably a round trip from Seleucia to Jerusalem and back, on foot and by beast of burden, of GENTILE believers coming from the Magoi's descendants of Nebuchadnezzar's Babylonian Empire, the Persian Empire, Alexander the Great's Empire, the Seleucid Empire to the Parthian Empire of the Roman Era.

That these GENTILES, these Magoi, had clung to and fervently believed in the exquisitely detailed God-breathed prophecy of Daniel concerning the coming birth of the Messiah for hundreds and hundreds of years, through all of the events, wars, and tumults that had occurred in this crossroads region of the known world, is without question the greatest account of the prophetic Word of God causing belief in the God of Israel among gentiles in history prior to the crucifixion, death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Having been in those same Middle Eastern deserts, such a specifically purposeful journey undertaken 2,000 years ago is mind-boggling to this author. These gentiles from the regions and lands of Israel's captivity knew the details of, believed in, and all the while eagerly awaited the birth of the Messiah. And the Jews, for the most part, due to their disobedience and the spiritual blindness and deafness placed upon them by the Covenant of Moab, besides the Covenant of Horeb, (Deuteronomy 29) knew nothing of His coming; that He would literally be the God of their fathers born in the flesh of a man.

And here we are, knowing in detail that the days of time which are left until the advent of Daniel's 70th Week are all but palpable... just stand in awe and in praise of God. My brothers and sisters, just stand in awe and praise to be a living part of all this.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

26 December 2023; Eschatological Statement

ESCHATOLOGICAL STATEMENT

Believe as you wish, but this is the overlook above the valley of the shadow of death where I stand watch, and whether by Divine vision, instruction or visitation, it matters not for it has been given.

It is not obvious to all searching God's Word, as Berean's would do at this late hour, there will be no distinct, book by book, chapter by chapter, verse by verse fulfillments of the several prophetic narratives. There will not be 9 prophetic wars, or 6 wars or even 3.

There is but ONE prior to the 70th Week of Years (which has its own unique God-breathed time-lime of appointments which are painstakingly detailed in The Apocalypse of Jesus Christ) and its fulfillment is completely dynamic, sequential, concurrent and unitary of purpose, like a flood, in preparing all Israel for redemption.

Israel today is in tremendous upheaval! Israel is at war on seven fronts!

There are no "gaps" of time, no here, now or next cases of occurrence, that's all worthless publishers boiler plate for the next book offering.

This is the reason why so very few do not see what is standing before us all - they cannot see past the learned construct they have convinced themselves is real. The "Dispensation of Grace" will end, as in "poof" it's gone, and with the trump and shout of an Archangel the Bride is translated into the Heavenly realm. 

Global SITREP D5-23: A Greater MidEast War Part IV

Bab al-Mandab Chokepoint

22 December 2023: It is no accident that three of the world's most important maritime choke points are in the Middle East: the Suez Canal, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Bab al-Mandab. And just as obviously this has never been lost in the mindset of the Shi'a Twelver Regime in Tehran. Close one and global economic disruption is guaranteed, close two, as the Twelver's regularly exercise, and war is assured to reopen them. 

With the effective shutdown of the Bab al-Mandab, there's little maritime traffic transiting the Suez. Effectively the Houthi's of Yemen have shut down two of these three critical chokepoints making military action by the West assured to reopen the Bab al-Mandab by force. At least 20 nations have signed on, with others on-standby or in supporting roles. And everyone knows who has pulled the strings to make this situation a reality - it is straight from the Twelver's apocalypse playbook, so do not expect the Islamic Republic to dodge out of this unscathed. Oh, and by the way, they're still working on installing working nuclear weapons into their missile force arsenal.

IDF Ready to roll in the North

This evening in northern Israel 19-year old Sergeant Amit Zod Hiv was killed during activity following rocket launches by Hezbollah, and another IDF soldier was seriously injured. Two other Israelis were hospitalized in in yesterdays rocket barrages. It is not believed that the IDF will hold its iron horses back much longer, all though the IAF and IDF artillery have met the increased Hezbollah rocket fire with intensive counter fires. Again, it is Iran's Twelvers and their vision of an apocalyptic conflagration that is the common denominator in all of this, always has been.

Global SITREP D4-23: A Greater MidEast War Part III

U.S. CENTCOM and IDF Commanders Meeting

UPDATE 17 December 2023: The commanders of United States Central Command (USCENTCOM) and Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have met for the third time since the war erupted on October 7, 2023. No doubt one of the topics discussed at this meeting is the continued resupply of munitions from the American arsenal and the preparations underway for escalating warfare on Israel's northern front. 

Few are they who believe Hezbollah will accept, or that Iran will allow them to accept, the diplomatic initiative for their forces to withdraw (retreat) north of the Litani River in Lebanon, per UNSC 1701 of 2006. Such a refusal will make a full-scale war in the north inevitable. A second and equally important topic is the initiation of Operation Prosperity Guardian in the Red Sea and strait at Bab al-Mandab against the Iranian Houthi proxy in Yemen. 

As the operation's name implies, global prosperity hangs in the balance with the Houthi attacks on all commercial vessels transiting the Red Sea through the strait. The top four or five global shipping concerns have shut down their commercial vessels from moving through at this strategic choke point. As a result the USS Eisenhower CSG moved from the Persian Gulf into the Gulf of Aden in preparation for possible military action against Houthi military forces. Such action might well follow the heels of U.S. SECDEF Austin's in Israel today and the message he will shortly convey to all willing to listen.

11 December 2023: PM Netanyahu definitively let the proverbial cat out of the bag today:

"First of all we will win in the south and then we will deal with the north. As a first step, we will push Hezbollah beyond the Litani River and later we will also have to take care of the organization itself."

Therefore, Hezbollah is not on a count-down timer to initiate full-scale hostilities with Israel, Israel will initiate its Hezbollah solution in due course. Yet Hezbollah cannot be solved in a vacuum - the IRGC-QF Unit 340 proxies in Syria will also need to be decisively defeated by the IDF. 

Of course this is how the men in charge of Israel's war cabinet, and those in the U.S. government may envision how current events will evolve over time. However, neither of the two allies appear to be cognizant of Isaiah 11:14, a direct statement which is very clear.

With respect to the Gaza operation, the most current interactive graphic available is found on the ISW and Critical Threats webpage. Click on the link if you're so inclined and you can explore the entire Holy Land in exceptional detail, but zooming in and moving the image around with the controls and your mouse.

The above graphic will be used as Israel and the IDF have to "deal with the north" in a military campaign that is all but inevitable. Secular Israelis have some hope pinned on diplomacy by France and the United States who singularly and together still have some influence in Lebanon, albeit not with Hezbollah or the other Islamic terrorist groups in the country. It's extremely doubtful the can convince Hezbollah to move all of its forces north of the Litani River (just north of Tyre on the map). And even this fails to deal with the Hezbollah organization itself, much less the IRGC-QF forces to the immediate east of Galilee and the Golan.

Once again, we're out in front of the issue because a head start is far better than having to play catch up. 

Global SITREP D3-23: A Greater MidEast War Part II

IDF image: Gaza War Resumes

UPDATE 1 December 2023: A week-long cessation of hostilities has ended and the war in Gaza resumed at 07:03 this morning Israel time. In accordance with the agreement HAMAS failed to deliver a list of hostages for release to the ICRC. Instead at 05:48 HAMAS began launching a barrage of rockets at Ashkelon, Sderot and Beersheba in southern Israel. About an hour later a second barrage was launched. The Iron Dome intercepted some of the rockets and ignored others that present no danger to the public. 

The Israeli Air Force then restarted where it left off by striking multiple targets, no doubt enhanced by intelligence collected during the cessation of hostilities, in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza. IDF artillery then commenced heaving artillery rounds in concentrated fires at known terrorist positions. The IDF then announced, "The IDF has resumed combat against the HAMAS terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip."  The IDF then distribute the "Map of Zones" for Khan Yunis residents to begin evacuations to the area of Rafah on the Egyptian border with instructions to "follow these instructions carefully." The elimination of HAMAS is now in full swing.

Also, Israel struck a Houthi missile and drone depot in Sana'a, Yemen yesterday in response to repeated Houthi attempts to strike Israel with ballistic missiles and drones. The war has expanded into a greater MidEast conflict.

 

UNRWA and HAMAS Terrorists

29 November 2023: It's been plainly evident for years that the United Nations is to a great extent an anti-Israel and antisemite global organization. This has never been more evident than the completely reprehensible statements made by U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in the aftermath of the October 7 massacre and taking as hostages of Israeli civilians in the "Gaza Envelope." It is also evident in the image above showing UNRWA staffers alongside black flag of Jihad terrorists.

Why Israel remains a member of the U.N. is beyond explanation at this point, especially with respect to the breaking report of two hours ago about the UNRWA actively working as a terror accomplice of HAMAS in the incarceration of Israeli civilians who were ripped from their homes on October 7, and with the distinct possibility that some of them remain in captivity with UNRWA staffers. While this is a major news item, expect globalist media to cover it up.

There have been several violations of the ceasefire agreement, all of them initiated by the terrorists. In the most recent three terrorists paid with their lives after throwing explosives and opening fire on IDF troops manning their operational pause lines. The IDF is prepared for the resumption of combat operations at a moments notice. 

Global SITREP D2-23: A Greater MidEast War

Iran Surrounded

UPDATE 18 November 2023: The big Ohio-class nuclear-powered submarine in the Middle East is sailing with the Eisenhower CSG somewhere in the Arabian Sea. The converted boomer boat is the USS Florida (SSGN-728) and she's carrying 154 Tomahawk cruise missiles for delivery to Iranian military targets should either Hezbollah or Iran join the war against Israel as they've threatened. 

There may be a significant indication that this US power-play is not enough to deter Iran (and its proxies) from entering the war. On Wednesday, 15 November, the Twelver regime's Houthi proxy in Yemen launched an armed drone strike against one of the Eisenhower CSG combatant vessels in the Arabian Sea. That ship was the Arleigh-Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Thomas Hudner (DDG-116) as it was transiting in international waters in the Red Sea. The Houthi drone was shot down at distance by the ships air defense systems. 

This attack by Iran's regional proxy forces is in addition to the current total of 61 attacks on US troops in their bases in Iraq and Syria as of yesterday, 17 November. The Biden Administration is between Iraq and a hard place in that it must put brute, kinetic military force on the table if deterrence of the Iranian Twelver's is to have any change of success. Thus far, and according the the Pentagon, 60 American troops have sustained minor injuries in the proxy attacks in Iraq and Syria, but all have since returned to duty. 

And can be seen in the above collage image, the Islamic Republic of Iran is surrounded by a most impressive array of American military power in every direction on the compass. The USS Ford CSG to the west, B-1 Bombers to the north, the USS Bataan ARG to the south, and the USS Eisenhower CSG to the east, not to mention dozens of the world's best strike aircraft based throughout the region. As Israel presses on to the south of Gaza in its hunt to exterminate HAMAS, PIJ and other terrorists, push will come to shove at some point as almost no one believes Iran will back down at this point.

IDF in Northern Israel

13 November 2023: The prospect for a much greater war across the MidEast looms today as the deterrent warnings from both Israel and the United States appear to have fallen upon deaf Islamist ears. From Lebanon, through Syria and Iraq to the heartland of the Islamic Republic of Iran the rhetorical flames of a great war increase by the hour. IDF commanders in the north want to take the war of attrition with Hezbollah deep into Lebanon but are, for the moment at least, being held back by political decisions and international pressure. This pressure will likely evaporate should the IRGC-QF proxies invite a large U.S. retaliation. At that time the IDF will initially seek to drive to the Litani River in Lebanon, but DM Gallant is not bluffing when he recently stated that Beirut could become Gaza.

In Israel the prospect of full-scale war with Hezbollah in Lebanon is being discussed in terms of not if it will escalate, but when. At this time the when this war will escalate is regarded as imminent. Hence the need for this new SITREP. Israeli civilians living in eight villages, moshavim and kibbutzim located along Israel's northern border, just inside the so-called 2000 U.N. Blue Line and within the Ma'ale Yosef Regional Council and the Upper Galilee Regional Council, have been instructed by the Northern Command to enter protective spaces.

Within prophetic Scripture this larger war can be seen within the texts of Jeremiah 49:23-27, Isaiah 17 and Joshua 13:1-7 which have never previously found fulfillment. The death toll will be great.

Global SITREP D1-23: Regional Warfare

USS Ford and USS Eisenhower CSGs in the East Med

UPDATE 6 November 2023: In the image above the USS Ford and USS Eisenhower Carrier Strike Groups (CSGs) cruising the Eastern Mediterranean Sea as part of the overall US military build up in the Middle East, as direct warning to Iran and its proxy forces in Lebanon and Syria to stay out of the Israel-HAMAS war in Gaza. For its part the Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed-Reza Ashtiani issued a direct threat yesterday saying the US forces would be "hit hard" if the war in Gaza was not stopped immediately. Right on cue two US International Coalition bases in Syria, Tel Haydar in al-Hasakah and al-Tanf on the Jordanian-Iraqi border, were attacked yesterday and early this morning by IRGC proxy drones. The drones were shot down. International Coalition retaliation is expected shortly.

In Syria, and due to the IAF's repeated knocking out of Damascus and Aleppo International Airports, the Russian military has given the IRGC-QF permission to fly in military hardware to the Hmeimim Air Base. The first IRGC-QF charter aircraft landed at Hmeimim this past Thursday under joint Russian and Iranian security forces protection. An IRGC-QF military convoy departed Hmeimim soon thereafter for IRGC bases to the east, T4 most likely. Iranian military flights are also landing at the Syrian al-Shayrat Air Base southeast of Homs.

Concurrent with these developments Israel's relations with Russia have deteriorated precipitously, to the point now that Israel will no longer provide advance deconfliction warnings to the Russian military in Syria when IAF aircraft are inbound to strike Iranian and Iranian proxy targets in Syria. Both the US International Coalition and Iranian military forces are pouring in large contingents of reinforcements. These movements indicate a steady decline into a regional conflagration.

War in Gaza City - IDF Grinding HAMAS into Pulp

2 November 2023: In continuing this series which began exactly one month ago today with Global SITREP C5-23: The Coming War, Eschatology Today assesses that the Iranian overlords of Hezbollah in Lebanon and IRGC-QF proxy militias have green-lighted the launch their offensive against Israel from Lebanon and Syria approximately on or before 24 hours from now.

There is no reason other than military for IRGC-QF overall commander, Esmail Qa'ani to be coordinating with Hassan Nasrallah in Lebanon on Wednesday, two days in advance of the expected address of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, at 3 PM Israel time (8 AM EDT in the US) which for all intents and purposes is a matter of semantics; a chance for him and his terrorist organization to save face and avoid total humiliation. Thus Lebanon will be destroyed due to the Shi'a Twelver's lust for Israel's blood to be spilled.

This is Esmail Qa'ani's second trip to Lebanon in three weeks time, the first being within 24 hours of HAMAS barbaric assault on kibbutzim in Israel on October 7th. Iranian fingerprints are all over this attempt at a war of extermination against Israel. To the apocalyptic Twelver Shi'a clerics of Iran this war is essential in their eschatological and theological beliefs, foremost of them being the hastening of their non-existent al-Mahdi messianic figure. Truly a massive satanic deception upon millions of their religion.

We are now learning in real-time that all of the associated prophecies of the Psalm 83 scenario are as most other Bible prophecy in that they find fulfillment over several months to years. Many have dual fulfillment over much longer periods of time. None of these prophesies are "one and done" in a single day, but as we've always made clear, have an active process towards their literal fulfillment. It occurs that this time ought not to be wasted, that active witnessing is the order of the day while there is still time to do so. This proves to the unbeliever that God has known the end from the beginning, His word is to be trusted in ALL things.

Global SITREP C10-23: War! By Air, Land and Sea

Gaza's Unprecedented Bombardment

UPDATED 27 October 2023: On the evening of the 21st day of the war IDF armor took up positions inside Gaza. This movement was preceded by the most intense bombardment to take place in Israel's 75 years. It came from the IAF, from Israeli naval forces offshore and from IDF tanks and mobile artillery. The IDF spokesman announced this expanded ground maneuver would take place as the IAF began pummeling the terrorist network of tunnels. With this action many are now watching to see if Hezbollah and IRGC-QF militias in Syria will join in full-scale warfare.

The Coming Northern Warzone

UPDATE 1 November 2023: Despite media reports to the contrary the Islamic Republic of Iran will set its proxy forces loose to open the northern front against Israel. These forces are composed of Hezbollah and IRGC-QF proxy Shi'a militias from Iraq. They are now staged near the front with Israel in a line that stretches from Quneitra to Nawa to Dara'a in southern Syria (see map above). The figurehead leader of Syria, Bashar al-Assad, is powerless to prevent the use of his rump nation, now a fully subjugated vassal state of the Iranian Twelvers in the assault upon northern Israel. 

Many should recall that an agreement between Russia, Syria and Jordan to not allow Iranian forces or their proxies to encroach upon Jordan's border or within a certain distance of the UNDOF Zone on the Golan frontier with Israel. Apparently Russia feels it is now free to ignore than agreement having given Iran tacit permission to stage thousands of its proxy troops and their advanced equipment on this front. Yesterday, the MEMRI website published its Special Dispatch 10920 which contains many details with abundant footnotes. It is obvious that precursory to the opening of the Syrian front the attacks against US Coalition bases in recent days, warned about here for the past few weeks, have now approached at least 30 rocket, missile and drone attacks. US retaliation has occurred and will almost certainly continue with the recent buttressing of US and Coalition military forces in the region. Hezbollah's Hassan Nasrallah has announced he will issue and address, most likely on Friday of this week.

Updates as they occur...

Global SITREP C9-23: WAR! Phase IV

IDF Armor On-The-Move

UPDATE 22 October 2023: Warfare is in progress across the Middle East, from Tehran to Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and of course in Israel where three fronts are active: the Southern Command, the Northern Command and the Homefront Command (Judea and Samaria). Bulleted highlights follow:

• The headquarters of the IRGC was attacked early Sunday. The source of the attack remain obscure for the moment, but videos have appeared indicating a series of explosions occurring in sequence. Possible drone attacks.
• The IAF blitzed many airports across Syria west of the Euphrates River knocking them out from receiving airlifted war materiel from Iran. Damascus and Aleppo international Airports were severely struck once again.
• Intense combat occurred across the Lebanese border between Hezbollah and Palestinian militias positions against the positions of the IDF.
• US Coalition bases across Iraq and Syria came under multiple drone and rocket attacks on Sunday. US forces around the Persian Gulf and Red Sea are in an increased DEFCON. A significant reinforcement of US air, sea and land forces occurring across the region.
• The IDF is engaged in Gaza, Lebanon and the Golan as well as in Judea, Samaria and the Jordan Valley. An aerial attack occurred early Sunday against the Al-Ansar mosque and its underground tunnel system in Jenin that was serving as a HAMAS and PIJ command center. This interdiction prevented an imminent attack against Israeli civilians. Israeli security forces seizing large quantities of weapons, ammo, explosives. The number of terrorists that have been arrested throughout the region is nearing 1,000.
• All of this occurring as dozens of rockets fired from Gaza and Lebanon continue to be engaged by the IDF Iron Dome air defense systems. The IDF increased attacks on Hezbollah infrastructure in Lebanon. The IDF ground operation in Gaza remains imminent, and will likely result in all-out warfare in all of the above areas.

20 October 2023: At the urging of the Holy Spirit and in anticipation of IDF ground operations commencing inside Gaza within hours, all due attention was drawing early this morning to the prophecy of Amos, the humble sheep breeder of ancient Tekoa, who was given this prophecy circa 762 B.C. as an amplification to the Psalm 83 prophecy of Asaph circa 1000 B.C., or about 240 years prior. 

The details provided in the first two chapters of the Book of Amos are extraordinary and serve us as guide to the events which lie in the coming days. No part of this prophecy is "minor" in the literal interpretive view of Eschatology Today. In this prophecy Amos literally orates the word of God as he heard it. The prophecy in Amos 1 begins with "The Lord roars from Zion, and utters His voice from Jerusalem; the pasture of the shepherds mourn, and the top of Carmel withers." We're all aware of Elijah's confrontation with the 850 pagan false prophets on Mount Carmel. Carmel is a very fertile region which extends from the Bay of Acre along the ridge of the Valley of Jezreel to a height of 1,700 feet above sea level and just south of Haifa. This sentence informs clearly about the damage that will occur as a result of this war, but the prophecy goes well beyond this. 

Amos 1:3 then turns to Damascus, Syria which is responsible for threshing the region of Gilead with sharp-pointed implements of iron. Rockets in other words. The next, verse 4, concerns the destruction of Damascus fire that is sent down upon it. The clearly reiterates Isaiah 17:1. Therefore, Amos' prophecy involves both Psalm 83 and Isaiah 17. The next, verse 5, speaks to the end of the government of Syria as we know it today, and reiterating Isaiah 17:3. 

In the same breath Amos then turns to Gaza, and this is an amplification of Isaiah 11:14. Why Gaza? "Because they took captive the whole captivity, to deliver them up to Edom." This verse looks as it came out of the newspaper and TV broadcasts from Israel in the past two weeks and continuing through today. Edom stands for the descendants of Esau and we all know the story about Esau. And again, in the next breath Amos turns to Tyre, Lebanon which also receives fire from above.  And Amos then continues on to Teman, which is in present day western Jordan and known today as Basira. And once again here is a direct reference to Isaiah 11:14. At Amos 1:13 the attention turns to Ammon (Amman, Jordan) due to a animalistic action which we know also occurred in HAMAS invasion of Israeli kibbutzim on October 7th.

Amos 2 reiterates that which is also found in Isaiah 17 and the waning of the glory of Jacob. The text here is self-explanatory as all who read it can see for themselves. 

When the ground war commences in Gaza these prophecies will fulfill as a flood. Until then, we watch patiently. Updates upon their occurrence.

Global SITREP C8-23: War Phase III

 

UPDATED 15 October 2023: The State of Israel is on the cusp of a major multi-front war. This part of the war on Eschatology Today will be referred to as Phase III. The enemies in this war are the modern day nations and peoples cited in Psalm 83 by Asaph, Isaiah 11:14, Isaiah 17, Ezekiel 28:20-26 and the whole of Jeremiah 49. 

In support of Israel in this war are the military forces of the USA, UK as well as most of the governments of the NATO allies. The LORD God has throughout history expressed His sovereign will by blessing Israel with solid allies and in these last days we can expect the same. Who is it who can say our sovereign God can or cannot do as He pleases? Scripture advises us clearly and unquestionably on this issue. In this vein as the war progresses and in comments to this SITREP questions about this will not be addressed. We will cover key events and allow the will of God to follow His chosen course because we know and have been told in Scripture the end from the beginning.

Al-Ahli Baptist (Arab) Hospital Parking Lot, Gaza

The above image is of the Al-Ahli Baptist (Arab) Hospital parking lot in Gaza City. Obvious to everyone (but Islamists and their allies) is that the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (Holy War) rocket that misfired did not hit the hospital and kill 200 to 300 people. The rocket impacted on the hospital parking lit and ignited the fuel tanks of several vehicles. Any and all human casualties from this misfire is the responsibility of Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Period. 

It only took the HAMAS-run Palestinian Health Ministry minutes to disseminate globally blatant lies and INFOWAR disinformation (INFOrmation WARfare) which was rapidly picked up and redistributed globally by the New York Times and CNN without any due diligence in assessing the truthfulness of the terrorist media report. 

Just as rapidly the PA, the governments of Egypt, Jordan and Turkey, as well as the World Health Organization (WHO) made grossly distorted statements blaming Israel. There were zero IDF or IAF activity over Gaza City at the time of the PIJ rocket barrage which resulted in this tragedy and carnage upon the hapless Gazans who had taken refuge at this hospital. This HAMAS INFOWAR gambit also led to the immediate cancellation of a war summit meeting between POTUS the terrorist PA, King Abdullah II of Jordan and other dignitaries scheduled for later today. One does not need to guess what this terrorist outrage will bring in the coming hours to the inflamed Middle East and around the world.

The anticipated and prophetic multi-front war seems assured at this point.

Global SITREP C7-23: WAR! Phase II

 

UPDATED 11 October 2023: Eschatology Today is expectant of the second phase of this war to commence shortly with the IDF ground invasion of the Gaza Strip, notwithstanding developments on the northern borders with Lebanon and Syria. 

It is anticipated that the IDF operation in Gaza will mirror very closely the imagery contained within the Hebrew text of Isaiah 11:14.  They key words as pronounced are Oof kah-thayf and their meaning is to cover or obscure the shoulder. This evokes the image above of the map of Gaza and the two "shoulders" of the region on the upper right and lower left. This text may be descriptive of a classic pincer movement of armored forces simultaneously moving into Rafah and Gaza City. Another visualization of these two words would be to liken them to a bird covering her young with her wings, or, if you will, how the cherubim covered the Mercy Seat on the Ark of the Covenant with their wings. There are the images that come to my mind, others may consider them differently.

There's one other important thing to note that relates to this war. Prior to Saturday Israel was deeply divided, to the point of violence and verbal assaults among the two political camps of the citizens. This appears to be reflected in Isaiah 11:13 where Ephraim and Judah join together and Oof kah-thayf against their common enemy. 

IN THE NORTH The developments in the north could intensify in ferocity and breadth of military action at any moment as for the past couple of days intermittent strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon and Syria push towards a literal fulfillment of the Psalm 83 prophecy. At the time of this posting there are ongoing alerts of airborne threats to Israel from Lebanon and Syria.

Today at approximately 10:30 Hezbollah fired and anti-tank missile (ATM) at an IDF M113 personnel carrier known in the IDF as a Zelda. The Zelda was along side the access road to the Blue Line in Avivim, northern Israel, less than a half kilometer from Lebanese territory. The rocket struck the reactive armor on the front of the vehicle but apparently did not destroy it. So we see here that Hezbollah troops are forward deployed up against Israel's border.  Israel's retaliation consisted of addition UCAV air strikes on Hezbollah observation towers in extreme southern Lebanon and saturation artillery fire in the area where the ATM had been launched from. Israeli residents in the Mater Asher region have been directed to their shelters. Israeli police and counterterror forces are prepared for extreme outbreaks of violence and rioting in Judea and Samaria and Jerusalem.

INTERNATIONALLY Russia, Byelarus, Turkieh, Iraqi militias loyal to Iran, Houthi-ruled Yemen and Taliban-ruled Afghanistan have clearly and unsurprisingly sided with the Islamic terrorists against Israel. In the US the Biden speech yesterday fell woefully short in complete omission on the culpability of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the IRGC-QF specifically, as bearing responsibility for instigating this war and providing materiel support which made it possible. This war might have been delayed had Biden moved the 6th Fleet much earlier into the Eastern Mediterranean Sea and said "Don't" to Iran weeks ago instead of releasing $6 billion in funds to the mullah terrorists. He bears personal responsibility for this  inaction. 

UPDATE 13 October 2023: Through the UN the IDF has given instructions to Gaza civilians where they are to immediately move to ensure their personal safety. In the map above is a dark line south of Gaza City that stretches from the Israeli border to the Mediterranean Sea. This line is the Wadi Gaza, or Nahal HaBesor, a/k/a the Gaza River. There are just a very few hours remaining before the IDF executes military operations in the entire region of Gaza north of the Wadi Gaza.

Given the Islamist threat of violence for today caution is advised in public gatherings and Jewish neighborhoods everywhere.

Updates will continue as necessary...

Global SITREP C6-23: WAR!

Barak (Lightning) Merkava V MBT of the IDF

8 October 2023: The Lebanese Hezbollah, with Iranian approval no doubt, have joined the war by launching missiles into northern Israel this morning.  This attack targeted three IDF posts in the Sheba'a Farms using artillery and guided missiles.

Sheba'a Farms is located in the tri-border region where Israel, Lebanon and Syria frontiers all meet on the Golan Heights. The IDF has engaged Hezbollah with UCAV airstrikes in southern Lebanon. The IDF-Hezbollah cross-border engagement continues. Unsurprisingly, global media (AP and NBC for example) continue to refer to the Golan Heights as Israeli-occupied Syrian territory. 

In southern Israel there remain groups of HAMAS terrorists in a handful of kibbutzim, several other kibbutzim have been cleared of terrorist by the IDF. Yesterday's invasion by HAMAS of southern Israel was carried out by hundreds of its soldiers by air, sea and land. In launching this invasion and war the HAMAS leadership, as Eschatology Today noted in Global SITREP C5-23: The Coming War, did so having been assured their Islamic allies would join them in a "comprehensive war" against the State of Israel. HAMAS allies include Iran, Iranian proxy militias under IRGC-QF operational control in Syria and other terrorist cells in Judea and Samaria. A watchful eye is also upon Jordan. 

And the Taliban of Afghanistan, flush with billions worth of American arms abandoned by the Biden Administration, has request Arab Muslim nations to allow their soldiers freedom of passage so that they also may join in the war against Israel. Iranian troops and the Taliban have fought numerous engagements along their common border recently, so this is an interesting potential development. 

At this hour (11:30-12:30 IST / 04:30-05:30 EST) Israel's security cabinet is engaged in a situational assessment at the Kirya in Tel Aviv. The Kirya is Israel's "pentagon" headquarters. One key item is the number of Israeli civilians taken by HAMAS, and who range in age from young children to grandmothers in their 80's. These Israeli are HAMAS; human shields deliberately taken to forestall the anticipated IDF storming of Gaza. Will Israel's government proceed with its vengeful retaliation in considering these civilian captives as "combat fatalities?" Perhaps, since the IAF continues to turn all known HAMAS and other terrorist-controlled high rise buildings in Gaza into piles of dust and rubble. Thus far no quarter is being given, even after a several hour warning for Gaza civilian non-combatants to flee into Egypt immediately.

7 October 2023: The State of Israel has declared a STATE OF WAR exists between itself and the terrorists in Gaza. HAMAS bears full responsibility.

In the early hours of this morning (06:30 Israel time) teams of heavily armed terrorists invaded Israel in multiple locations from Gaza. Several border communities in Israel were in enemy hands. There are many dozens, if not hundreds of casualties (dead and injured) amid fears that some Israeli soldiers and citizens have been taken as POWs (hostages) back into Gaza. Many of the terrorist squads entered Israel by way of paragliders. Several thousand rockets, some reports say as many as 5,000, have been fired into Israel in the first 20 minutes of hostilities. 

IDF and IAF forces, buttressed by extensive mobilization of reserves, are currently engaged in clearing operation battles in every location where Gaza terrorists have entered Israel. A counter-invasion and neutralization of all Gaza terrorist organizations is highly likely as the IDF ground battalions forward deploy in their battle formations following clearing operations.  DM Galant: "The State of Israel will win this war."  PM Netanyahu: "The enemy will pay an unprecedented price."

As expected and foretold in Bible prophecy, HAMAS has called upon its allies in Judea, Samaria and all Arab and Islamic nations to join the war against Israel. US President Joe Biden released $6 billion in frozen funds to the terrorists in Iran's theocratic dictatorship, and days later this war erupts. Once again Biden and the uniparty in Washington, DC have been played like a fiddle by the Ayatollah.

At least 10 zones have been identified by the IDF as points of the land invasion. Kfar Aza, Magen, Re'im military camp, Sderot, Zikim, Be'eri, and the Erez crossing are seven of the ten named locations. All parts of Israel within 80 km of Gaza and the entirety of Gaza itself have been designated as a "special military zone" by the IDF. Clearly robust IDF contingency planning has gone into full execution, and is inclusive of the Lebanon and Syria frontiers as well as Judea and Samaria.

Marana'tha!

Global SITREP C5-23: The Coming War

 

Nasrallah (center) with Al-'Arouri (right) and Al-Nakhaleh

2 October 2023: Exactly one month ago (2 September 2023) the above image appeared in Lebanese terrorist media. These terrorists held a series of meetings on the subject of the coming war with Israel. There is no way that the intelligence services of Israel the US and EU countries are unaware of these meetings and their purpose. What these intelligence circles are probably unaware of is the direct relationship to Bible prophecy.

That prophecy has long been a central thesis of the Eschatology Today blog -- the inspired Psalm 83 prophecy of Asaph. The first eight verses explain how the named enemies of Israel engage in crafty counsel and consult together against the people of Israel, the purpose of which is to "cut them off from being a nation, that the name of Israel be remembered no more." 

None of this is news to the readers of this blog over the past fourteen consecutive years. What may be news to the readers is what the terrorist media quoted the leader of HAMAS, Saleh 'Arouri, as saying with regards to what the series of meetings between Hezbollah, HAMAS and the PIJ were focused on. 

"We are preparing for a comprehensive war and are discussing this in closed chambers with all the elements and components [of the resistance axis] that are connected to this war. The resistance [has the] presence, motivation and the desire for a regional war to occur, and has an interest in this."

And some people say that Asaph the choseh (prophet) did not write an inspired prophecy for these last days? Well, here is the proof in imagery and in text from the one of the key participants in the "closed chambers and "consultations" in their plans for a comprehensive regional war against the people of Israel. Boom.

Global SITREP C4-23: Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles)

 

29 September 2023: At sundown this evening (14 Tishrei 5784) Israel marks Erev Sukkot, also known as the Feast of Tabernacles, or the Feast of Booths. 7 hours later in the USA the evening of Erev Sukkot begins in this country. Sukkot (the Feast of Tabernacles/Booths) is tomorrow, 30 September 2023 - 15 Tishrei 5784. Sukkot, a seven-day feast, is the 7th and final feast of the year that God commanded Israel to observe in appearing before the Lord in the place He shall choose (Deuteronomy 16:16). 

In history this feast occurred at the time when Solomon's Temple, the first Temple was dedicated before the Lord, and has since then been a time of great revival, confession and repenting of sins for Israel. This "great day" is also a great 'last days' expectation of Eschatology Today for the people of Israel; the current situation almost demands that all Israel turn to God in repentance. 

All we as Christians need to learn about this feast and its full meaning is contained in the Gospel of John, chapter 7. (Is it a coincidence that the number 7 appears to frequently as this text is being composed? You tell me what the Holy Spirit tells you!) There's an important lesson in John 7, study it well. Israel was divided, then as now, especially when it came to Jesus HaMashiach as this text makes perfectly clear. As divided as Israel is today with many of the tents erected for Sukkot being set alight with fires and the great upheaval over the public prayers of the devout. Ecclesiastes 1:9 is reverberating loudly.

This feast is symbolic of the Second Coming of Jesus HaMashiach. Not only that, but there are many, including yours truly, who believe that Jesus was born during the days of this feast; the shepherds were still in the fields with their flocks. So, Sukkot, the feast of Tabernacles, not only looks to Christ's return, but also to His birth as a babe in a manger. In John 1:14 the Greek word John used for Jesus dwelling with us is Skēnoō (Tabernacle). Was this a coincidental use of language? I don't think so, the inspired Word of God through the Holy Spirit does not utilize words coincidentally. 

Marana'tha!

Global SITREP C3-23: Tzohar

 

26 September 2023: As Yom Kippur came to a close, and reports of "protesters" disrupting Tzohar prayers all around Israel, a sense of indignation arose at the gall of such people in Israel doing such in Israel on its holiest of all days. Tzohar prayers are prayers of repentance in Judaism, for oneself and for all Israel, for the salvation of the world at large. That in itself is Messianic in its very nature. That indignation, some would call it righteous indignation, directly led to a new curiosity about what a Tzohar prayer was, and that led to a study which began at Genesis 6:16. 

A Tzohar is what God told Noah to put into the ark. It was a window from which he released birds until they did not return. The word also has other meanings besides window, and those meanings are directly related to its place within the ark - at the top and above the rest of the of the vessel. The Tzohar is also related to where the sun is located in the sky at high noon. So, to use the Tzohar Noah had to look up, high up, to raise his arm high up to release the dove which did not come back to has hand. The symbolism is inspirational to say the least.

Now it's often said in dispensational and prophecy circles that Israel is the Lord's clock. This symbolism is without question imagery everyone here knows very well. The rebirth of Israel is the prime indicator that the 70th Week of Years will take place within the generation that sees such become fact. In my thoughts on Yom Kippur it began to coalesce that Israel is not only the Lord's clock, but Israel is also akin to the Tzohar on the upper most point on Noah's Ark, the window through which the Bride of Christ today looks towards Heaven watching for our Groom's return to catch us up in the Harpazo.

Marana'tha! 

Global SITREP C2-23: Yamim Nora'im (Days of Awe)

UPDATED 6 September 2023: A few days from now Israel will commence observation of the Yamim Nora'im (Days of Awe). On the calendar those days begin on 15 September and conclude on 25 September. Collectively they are known as the Ten Days of Awe.

For some time now Eschatology Today has held to the expectation for Israel via the IDF, Shin Bet and Border Police to execute an unprecedented, large-scale counter-terror military operation throughout Judea and Samaria. Therefore it was not unanticipated that an acknowledgement of such action would be forthcoming. Moreover, just yesterday that the ruling coalition government of Israel made clear that it has always known the required measures to be taken in order to return Israel to a situation of economic prosperity and security for all of the people of Israel. 

The hiding in plain sight takeaway here is that the "required measures to be taken" have heretofore been thus far thwarted by political considerations, be they foreign or domestic, but most likely both. 

However, within the statement made by the Chairman of World Likud and former Israeli U.N. Ambassador, MK Danny Danon, a brief excerpt from the acknowledgment may just serve as a forewarning of the expected military actions.  Quoting MK Danon (emphasis added): 

"As a member of the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Security Committee and several subcommittees, I know the strength and the power of the IDF. The current situation cannot and will not continue. We will not remain silent at the ongoing provocations and waves of attacks. In the coming year we will use all our strength to restore governance and personal security to the citizens of Israel."

Yom Kippur for 2023 begins at sunset on 24 September and ends at nightfall on 25 September. This defines the start of "in the coming year" from the Israeli perspective. Might these be "Days of Awe" not seen in the past 50 years, that is since the Days of Awe preceding Yom Kippur 1973? We'll seen soon enough; this one's on a short fuse.

UPDATE

Just released Israel Defense Ministry imagery via Israeli media

11 SPTEMBER 2023: Defense Minister Yoav Gallant revealed a couple hours ago Israeli orbital intelligence imagery show the air base constructed by Iran (IRGC_QF) on Lebanese territory for use against the citizens of Israel. The airbase is located just 12 miles from Israel's border with Lebanon. DM Gallant pointed out via photo enlargement (below) that the Iranian national flag flies over the air base along with the terrorist Hezbollah flag.

DM Gallant said, "In other words: the land - Lebanese, the control - Iranian, the target - Israel." 

Global SITREP C1-23:The World Is A Big Place

Clickable Image: NASA Earth Observatory

UPDATED 8 August 2023: Before embarking on a temporary quick-halt stand-down (i.e. quasi-vacation) for the Eschatology Today blog, and by expressed popular demand, a brief survey of topics that must be duly noted is necessary. Global SITREP C1-23 is intended as a placeholder while real-world events synchronize with the prophetic interpretive manna offered here. The world is a big place from our perspective, and we've duly focused on Israel (the "fig tree") because it is the number one I&W of where we are on the eschatological time-table of the Lord's appointments. However, this placeholder SITREP must have a global aspect as the Lord's prophetic word makes abundantly clear.

"REVIVED ROMAN EMPIRE"

For decades, ever since the rise of the European Union, many postulations to the point of type of dogmatism, hold the EU is the "Revived Roman Empire." 

The phase "Revived Roman Empire" itself does not appear verbatim in Scripture, but allusions to such a regime and its supreme leader appear throughout the Book of Daniel (Dan. 2, 7, 8, 9 and 11) and in The Apocalypse of Jesus Christ (Rev. 13). The most germane of all of these verses within Scripture is found in Daniel 9:26 where it says, "...and the people of the prince that shall come, shall destroy the city (Jerusalem) and the Sanctuary (2nd Temple)." No doubt about this being a direct reference to the Roman Empire, in that Titus Flavius Vespasianus, son of Vespasian and future Caesar of the Roman Empire fulfilled this prophetic snippet precisely with several Roman Legions under his command. In Daniel 7:19-25 the Roman Empire is identified in the last days as the "fourth beast," that is the final world empire.

Eschatology Today now attempts to balance the above with the Scripture of Daniel 8:3-7 which is an exceptionally accurate account of the conflict between ancient Greece and the empire of the Medes and Persians. Here we find clear reference to Alexander the Great of Macedonia, the general of all Greek-Macedonian armies and symbolically identified as a goat having a single horn protruding from between his eyes. Then in Daniel 8:8-9 following the division of Alexander's vast empire into four lesser horns (empires) we see the first reference to Antiochus IV Epiphanes as the little horn who arose from among one of these four. Antiochus IV Epiphanes is the archetype or forerunner of the future antichrist. This prophetic narrative of direct reference to Greece, given to Daniel by the angel Gabriel, culminates in Daniel 8:23-26 speaking to the "latter time of their kingdom," and the rise of antichrist. This little horn corresponds to the little horn, the eleventh horn who rises among the ten horns (ten toes; ten kings) which are discussed at length in previous posts HERE and HERE. 

So, the question arose, according to Scripture is the eschatological identification of the EU as the "Revived Roman Empire" truly the singular descendant of both the ancient Roman Empire and its immediate predecessor the ancient Greek-Macedonian empire of Alexander the Great and its division into four rump empires? The interpretive answer from the Eschatology Today perspective is a resounding YES! and this is in accordance with 2 Timothy 3:16-17. 

The "Revived Roman Empire" is and will yet be comprised of ten principle national leaders (horns) which will be led by an eleventh leader (little horn) who rises up among the ten and subdues three of those ten for his own kingdom. Is this kingdom based entirely in the European and South West Asian regions? We think not because the descendant civilizations and nations of both the Greek-Macedonian and Roman empires live on today in North America, Central America, South America and Australasia, and that makes it a truly global empire of many peoples, tongues and national identities as the Scripture also declare.

RUSSO-UKRAINIAN WAR

Eschatology Today has long assessed the Russian invasion of Ukraine (2014 to the Present) as being a precursory conflict to the attempt to invade, conquer and despoil Israel per Ezekiel 38-39.  Contrary to the erroneous war planning that occurred in Russia and in Belarus (the "Union State") prior to the invasion of Crimea and the Donbas regions of southern and eastern Ukraine, the so-called "special military operation" has been an unmitigated disaster for the Russian Federation and its allies. Simply put, despite initial gains the Russian side is losing the war, badly. So badly in fact that we saw the best of the Russian forces, the Wagner PMC contract soldiers, briefly mutiny against the military leadership in Moscow.

The Russian fiasco in Ukraine has also resulted, despite oft-repeated threats of nuclear conflict, in the expansion of the NATO military alliance to now include 31 nations and will soon also add Sweden to its membership. The total population of the alliances member nation with Swedish ascension will be just under 1 billion people. Also, one of the Russian Federation primary goals was to prevent the inclusion of Ukraine into the NATO alliance. This goal has also failed as Ukraine is assured of NATO membership, and its ascension into the alliance will push the total population to well over 1 billion. The population of the Russian Federation is currently about one-tenth of NATO's population, making Russia's military manpower wholly insufficient to take on NATO and its overwhelming technological warfighting superiority. However, nuclear weapons are another calculus completely.

It was duly noted some time ago on Eschatology Today that in ancient times the southern coast of Ukraine including the Crimea was part of the maximum extent of the Roman Empire's territorial acquisitions. The Ukrainian counteroffensive against Russian forces will retake the occupied oblasts of southern and eastern Ukraine, and this will include Crimea. 

In what might be a final desperation move, a Russian-led (Wagner PMC) military seizure of sparsely populated and 60-mile wide NATO territory between Poland and Lithuania, known as the Suwałki Gap, (map image below) is being rumored (wars and rumors of wars) of late. Along NATO's eastern borders the Suwałki Gap is its weakest point and the currently most dangerous place for a military conflict with nuclear connotations on the earth. A Russian incursion here would without question trigger a NATO Article IV conflict with the Russian Federation.  

The Suwałki Gap

It would appear on the face of it that such a strike would be unthinkable if not suicidal. But these are desperate times in Russia and the need for the regime of VVP to save face, or to distract from the losses in Ukraine, or even to distract NATO from its military support of Ukraine's counteroffensive are worrisome considerations. To add credence to the threat, Belarussian forces accompanied by their Wagner PMC training cadre as of Monday this week began conducting highly provocative maneuvers in this very region of the Polish Lithuanian border.

Yet, there may be a prophetic clue in Ezekiel that involves hooks in the jaws that turn around a mass of Russian forces from the utmost north to their ultimate destruction on the mountains of Israel. In the coming days and weeks this situation bears close monitoring. 

"KING OF THE SOUTH"

In the Book of Daniel there are several references to the enigmatic "king of the South." Most often these references are to the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, one of the four rump kingdoms that emerged from Alexander the Great's Macedonian-Greek empire circa 332-30 B.C., and which fought several wars with another of the rump empires, that of the Seleucid Empire. However, in these last days, and specifically during the 70th Week of Years, there is a new "king of the South." This 5-verse reference is found in Daniel 11:40-45. It is tantalizingly brief, very short on details, but forecasts a candidate for a new "king of the South" which is not Egypt. This king of the South is apparently located in Africa, and will attack the Antichrist-led beast empire of the West with the king of the North. Israel becomes involved as the Antichrist enters "the Glorious Land" with his armies. The timing appears to be during the first 3 1/2 years of the 70th Week of years, prior to the Abomination of Desolation.

In the African Sahel, the African region south of the Sahara Desert, (image above) there has been a years-long and ongoing jihadist conflict involving up to fifteen different nations. Most of these nations were, or remain members of a type of E.U. in the Sahel known as ECOWAS, or the Economic Community of West African States, which was founded in 1975. 

As a type of fallout from this conflict there have a few coup d'etat by the military forces within these nations against elected leadership who've failed to subdue the Islamic State Sunni jihadists in the ever expanding conflict. These nations have been expelled from ECOWAS as a direct result of a coup d'etat in each of them. Those nations are Mali, Burkino Faso and Guinea. 

In late July 2023 yet another coup occurred in the nation of Niger which removed from power its democratically elected president, the first to have a peaceful transfer of political power in its brief history of independence. As a result of this the remaining ECOWAS nations, with Nigeria being chief among them, have threatened to invade Niger so as to restore the outed president to power. A one-week ultimatum threatening invasion of Niger expired on 6 August. The military juntas in Mali, Burkino Faso and Guinea all said they would declare war on the ECOWAS countries if Niger were invaded. A major sticking point is that a large majority of Niger's population have held mass demonstrations in support of Niger's coup d'etat junta in the capital city Niamey where they also denounced France, the European Union and the African Union, all while waving Nigerian and Russian flags.

As a result of this it cannot pass without noting that there is a significant presence of Russian Wagner PMC forces in several of these nations, and in neighboring nations which are not part of the pro-Western ECOWAS, principal among them is the Central African Republic previously noted in one of our SITREPs. There are also, as of last report, about 1,500 French and 1,100 U.S. combat troops remaining in Niger which have yet to be withdrawn. An evacuation of mostly western foreign national has ben ongoing since 1 August.

Nigeria has announced it will provide more than half of the 25,000 troops for an invasion of Niger, with Benin, Senegal and Ivory Coast also pledging troops. The military junta's in Mali, Burkino Faso and Guinea has pledged their forces to oppose the ECOWAS military intervention in Niger. This is another situation which warrant close monitoring, if for nothing other than the potential for a massive human catastrophe in West Africa.

Ghana's VADM Seth Amoama (center) is flanked by LG Drammeh
of Gambia (left) and GEN. Doumbia of the Ivory Coast (right) during the
Extraordinary Meeting of ECOWAS Chiefs of Defense Staff in Accra,
Ghana yesterday, 18 August 2023.

UPDATE 19 August 2023: At this time a delegation representing the 11 ECOWAS nations who have committed their military forces to intervention should be meeting with the junta leadership of Niger in a last-ditch effort to resolve the Nigerien July 26 coup d'etat diplomatically. Should this meeting be unsuccessful then, according to all available OSINT information the ECOWAS Defense Staff will order their troops into Niger to roll back the the military junta and restore the democratically elected government of President Mohammed Bazoum. The actual "D-Day" for ECOWAS troops and air forces to cross the border into land-locked Niger has not been disclosed.

The ECOWAS intervention comes at the same time as Islamic jihadists have launched deadly attacks which have killed scores of Nigerien troops in remote parts of the country. The ECOWAS forces will potentially square off against Nigerien, Malian and Burkino Faso forces as well as assistance from Russian Wagner PMC mercenary troops. According to most accounts the situation in Niger could quickly morph into a disaster that may place the physical security of the entire continent of Africa in jeopardy. A human disaster (food insecurity - starvation) is already in progress in this region.  

Marana'tha!