"Israel health and govt. officials believe that some of the 500 million migratory birds that pass through here twice every year could carry the strain of Avian influenza that has ravaged flocks in Asia and killed 62 people there since 2003."

Manfred Green, director of Israel's Center for Disease Control, said "There is no reason to believe that it (the H5Nl virus) will not arrive here." Health officials from around the globe are greatly concerned that the virus could mutate and spread worldwide. According to the World Health Organization [WHO], "if the virus mutates, it could kill 2 million to 7.4 million people." A similar type influenza in 1918 killed up to 50 million people worldwide has now been identified as a "bird flu." [The F.D. editor's father's first wife died in Duluth, MN from this 1918 plague]

But why do these 500 million birds fly over Israel, and not somewhere else? The news article states that "Israel is at the crossroads of three continents [Asia, Africa, Europe]." As a result those 500 million migrating fowl "fill the airlines twice a year" and "make Israel a bird-watchers paradise to spot enormous flocks of Spanish sparrows, White Pelicans, Griffon Vultures, Black Kites, White Storks, Barn Owls, Eurasian Cranes, Honey Buzzards and several types of rare eagles."

PROPHETIC FORESHADOW

NO. 1

The above article carries a double Biblical prophetic foreshadow. First, in Matt. 24:7, Christ predicted that before his revelation on earth, there would be a dramatic increase of "pestilences…in diver places." This prediction, as recorded by Luke is reiterated by Christ in Luke 24:11. While the writer believes that the actual fulfillment of this prophecy will take place after the rapture (I Thess. 4:13-18) and during the tribulation period, the current outbreak of new pestilences is preparation for the actual fulfillment of that sign and a definite foreshadow of its future occurrence.

PROPHETIC FORESHADOW

NO. 2

It is prophetically significant that Israel stands at the crossroads of three continents [Africa, Asia, Europe]. When Daniel chapter 2, 7 and 8-11 are compared with Revelation chapters 13 & 17, it becomes coherently clear that the future anti-Christ will arise out of the confederated states of Europe, now called the European Union.

After investing the first 3½ years consolidating his global power (Dan. 8:23-25, Dan. 9:27a, Daniel 11:36, Rev. 13:3-8) via false promises of peaceful flattery (Dan. 8:25, ll:21), the anti-Christ will be unable to fulfill his numerous promises of tranquility and prosperity. World-wide catastrophic earthquakes, famines, pestilences etc. (various stages of Rev. Chapters 6-19) will severely damage his global control and he will be staunchly challenged by conglomerate forces from three directions: the south (Dan. 11:40, the east (Dan. 11:40, Rev. 9:13-16, Rev. 16:12) and the north (Dan. 11:40).

THE BATTLE OF

ARMAGEDDON:

THE HILL OF SLAUGHTER!

These millions of armed forces from the four corners of the globe: North-East-South-West will pour into the little land of Israel for what will be the greatest bloodbath ever recorded in human history, called in Scriptural terminology, "Armageddon" (Rev. 16:16). This conflict has been predicted in numerous O.T. passages such as Is. 66:15-16, Joel 3:2-3, Zeph. 3:8, Zech. 14:2, etc.

Armageddon is a small hill or mountain in the plain of Jezreel, also called the Valley of Esdraeleon-and the Valley of Jehosaphat-Joel 3:2. Armageddon means the "mount of Megiddo" and the word Megiddo means the mount of troops, prophetically referring to the massive troops that will be slaughtered there. Is. 34:2 refers to this devastating cataclysm when the prophet forthrightly predicts that the "indignation" and "fury" of the Lord will be upon "all nations" to deliver "them to the slaughter."

While this ferocious attack will be centered upon Jerusalem-Zech. 14:2, it will encompass the entire land of Israel, extending to the Southeastern part of Judah and the land of Edom (cp. Is. 63:1 with Is. 34:5-6; Idumea was a later name for Edom.) When the armies from heaven (Jude 14) appear on the scene and the Lord steps his foot on the mount of Olives (Zech. 14:4), the "winepress of God's wrath" will trigger a human blood bath of these multiplied millions of troops that extends up to the "the horses bridle" (Rev. 14:20).

THE WINGED FEAST UPON MILLIONS OF CARCASES

The fowls [birds] "that fly in the midst of heaven" will then have a supper feast unprecedented in human history as they indulge themselves upon millions of carcasses of fallen humanity. Someday those 500 million birds that fly over Israel twice a year, undoubtedly joined by an innumerable host of other God-appointed fowls, will descend from those Israelian skies and feast upon the dead bodies of depraved humanity. The 500 million migratory birds validate the fact that coming prophetic events sometimes cast their shadows before- hand!

IRAN'S PRESIDENT CALLS FOR ISRAELI

EXTERMINATION

In a fiery speech delivered on Oct. 26, 2005 to "thousands of students at a World without Zionism" conference," Iranian president Mahmoud Admadinejad declared that "Israel is a 'disgraceful blot' that should be wiped off the map." Iran's "state-run television also quoted Admadinejad as saying that "anybody who recognizes Israel will burn in the fire of the Islamic nation's fury."

On next day, immediately following his outrageous speech, the Iranian President "joined more than a million demonstrators" and "stood fast behind his assertion that Israel should be wiped off the map and repeated the call during the nationwide protests" on "the Muslim day of prayer." According to the report, "fellow marchers carried placards reading 'Death to Israel, death to America.'"

IRAN AND THE BATTLE OF GOD AND MAGOG

The Iranian president's hate-filled rhetoric comes as no surprise to discerning Biblical dispensational pre-millennialists who are aware of the Scripture predictions concerning Iran's future vengeful anti-Semitic fury as graphically described in Ezekiel Chapters 38-39. In Ezekiel 38-39, the prophet predicts a future invasion upon the mountains of Israel (38:8) by an invader that is specified as Gog and Magog (38:2, 39:1) and is declared to come from the "north parts" (38:15, 39:2) of the Biblical geographic directional map.

Gog is the name of the diabolical dictator, while Magog represents the land territory over which he has control. Magog is easily identified with Russia. If you draw a pencil line straight north from Israel, \you will wind up in Russia! The dictatorial ruler, Gog, is declared to be "chief prince" of "Meshech and Tubal" (39:2), cities that C. I. Scofield identifies as Moscow and Tobolsk (p. 883, Scofield Reference Bible).

Magog (Russia) will have several countries allied with it in this despotic anti-Semitic battle, one of which is Persia (Ez. 38:5) a term that geography students knows is the ancient name for modern Iran! While Israel will be severely devastated in this tribulation, she will not be exterminated, with the severest damage occurring to Gog, as five-sixths of its military might is demolished (39:2) by a fracturous divisive slaughter within the Arab/Islamic camp (38:21).

GOD'S MIRACULOUS

PRESERVATION OF THE JEW

While the Jews will continue to undergo massive persecution and slaughter during the latter half of the tribulation period (Rev. 12:13), Satan will not succeed in his destructive endeavors to annihilate the Jews. The Jew is central to God's program of redemption for the human race and God's future magnification of His beloved Son (Rom. 11:1-36).

Though it will not occur until the end of the tribulation period, the Islamic directed militant terrorist plot to exterminate the Jews and their residency in their native land of Israel will ultimately wind up in the Biblical scrap pile! Is. 11:11-14, Is. 35:10, Ez. 37:21-28, Jer. 23:3-6, Joel 2:32, and a host of other verses make it plain that Israel's future existence is both assured and bright, despite the future holocaustic storms it must yet undergo.

The Iranian president's verbal tirade is a prophetic foreshadow of the anti-Semitic hostility that will intensify and culminate during the tribulation period. As believers observe the world's trends in the "last days" of this dispensation, our cry should be "even so, come Lord Jesus" (Rev. 22:20). Until He returns, we must earnestly plead with sinners-both Jews and Gentiles-to repent and turn to Christ who alone has power to save-Rom. 1:16, and seek to glorify our Lord in all that we say and do-I Cor. 10:31.