LATEST UPDATES (10/13/2023)
The brutal Hamas attack, which saw mass executions, incidents of torture and the hideous slaughter of children, marked the single bloodiest day in Israeli history since the founding of the Jewish state. More than 1,300 people were killed by Hamas militants. As Israelis mourn the dead and worry over the fate of the at least 64 captives abducted and taken to Gaza as hostages, the Israeli military has embarked on a full-scale mission to root out Hamas and its allies in Gaza. In their messaging, Israeli authorities have likened their quarry not just to Nazis, but to “human animals” and to the Islamic State, the extremist militant group that beheaded hostages, enslaved women and children, and carried out myriad terrorist attacks in the Middle East and elsewhere.
Israel has called on all civilians in Gaza City to leave their homes and head south today ahead of a potential ground invasion in response to Hamas’ terror attacks that killed more than 1,300 people. The UN, however, said an order for the mass evacuation was “impossible” without major humanitarian consequences. Israel has amassed more than 300,000 reservists along its southern border for its possible intensified military operation, but Hamas militants told Palestinians living in the besieged Gaza Strip not to leave their homes.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian on Friday discussed Israel’s war against Hamas with the head of the powerful Tehran-backed Lebanese armed group Hezbollah, which has launched its own cross-border attacks on Israel.
Israel is “conducting a large-scale strike” on Hamas targets in Gaza, the Israel Defense Forces said today, as the conflict entered a sixth day. Officials in the region say Israel has amassed 300,000 reservists near the Gaza border as it readies for a huge mobilization of troops. For comparison, this amounts to roughly the combined number of reservists across the entire US military. Meanwhile, concern is growing within the Pentagon over the potential need to stretch its increasingly scarce ammunition stockpiles to support Ukraine and Israel in two separate wars, according to multiple US defense officials. But officials are racing against time as Hamas militants are holding as many as 150 hostages in Gaza, where a humanitarian crisis is rapidly spiraling.
Putin, who formerly had a close relationship with Netanyahu, has not reached out to the Israeli leader to offer his condolences after Hamas killed over 1,200 Israelis. The war in Ukraine has drawn Russia closer to Iran, Israel’s most powerful regional rival and a key backer of Hamas, according to Western intelligence.
During the Cold War, Moscow armed the Arab states that antagonized Israel, leading the Soviet Union to break off diplomatic relations after the 1967 Arab-Israeli war.
Zelensky accuses Putin of backing Hamas; Russian leader calls for Palestinian state
Fighting with Israel signals coordination between Hamas and Hezbollah, analysts say
Missiles fired from Lebanon, mortars launched from Syria as northern front heats up
Moscow sees ‘high risk’ of 3rd party opening front against Israel amid war on Hamas
October 2023 Gaza−Israel conflict
What happened in Israel? The Hamas attack, its grim toll and what’s next, explained
Russia Already Exploiting Israel Attacks to Bolster War in Ukraine
Israel May Be About To Launch Its Largest Ground War In 41 Years
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Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him, and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal. I will turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and lead you out, with all your army, horses, and horsemen, all splendidly clothed, a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords. Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; Gomer and all its troops; the house of Togarmah from the far north and all its troops—many people are with you. (Ezekiel 38:1-6)
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Netanyahu says Israel is ‘at war’ as Palestinian militants launch surprise air and ground attack from Gaza CNN, October 7, 2023
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that the country was “at war” on Saturday, after Palestinian militants in Gaza fired a deadly barrage of rockets and sent gunmen into Israeli territory in a major escalation of the long running conflict between the two sides.
Militants launched a barrage of some 2,200 rockets from the Gaza Strip into Israel, according to the Israeli military, while armed gunmen infiltrated into Israel by land, sea and air – in paragliders. Multiple explosions were heard over Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and in southern Israel – some blasts likely the interceptions of incoming rockets – while air raids sent Israelis pouring into underground shelters.
The Israeli military said it was dealing with hostage incidents in two locations in southern Israel.
By the early afternoon, some 70 were dead and hundreds more were injured in Israel, according to Israel’s rescue service Magen David Adom (MDA). Israel responded by launching strikes on what it called Hamas targets in Gaza.
The Palestinian health ministry said that nearly 200 Palestinians had been killed and 1,610 injured in the violence, but did not make clear where the deaths occurred or whether the toll included Hamas militants or civilians in Gaza.
Netanyahu said operations were under way to clear out militants from infiltrated towns and that he had also issued a call-up of reservists.
“We are at war, not in an operation or in rounds, but at war,” Netanyahu said in a video statement, adding that Hamas, the Palestinian militant movement that runs Gaza, had “launched a murderous surprise attack against the state of Israel and its citizens.”
The surprise assault on Saturday was unprecedented in recent history in its scale and scope, falling on the 50th anniversary of the 1973 War in which Arab states blitzed Israel on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar.
Dubbing the operation “Al-Aqsa Storm,” Hamas military commander Muhammad Al-Deif said in a recorded message that the group had “targeted the enemy positions, airports and military positions with 5,000 rockets” and that the assault on Israel was a response to attacks on women, the desecration of the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem and the ongoing siege of Gaza.
“If you have a gun, get it out. This is the time to use it – get out with trucks, cars, axes, today the best and most honorable history starts,” Al-Deif added.
Hamas said on Saturday that it had captured several Israeli soldiers near the border.
Israel’s military has not confirmed the reports, but one video published by Reuters appeared to show Palestinian gunmen dragging what looks like an Israeli soldier out of a tank at a fence separating Gaza from Israel. Other videos published by the militant group show at least three men dressed in civilian clothing held at gunpoint; Hamas said the men were Israeli soldiers.
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman Lt Col Richard Hecht said in a briefing that Israeli forces “are fighting on the ground as we speak,” listing multiple locations where fighting was taking place, including several villages, army bases and border crossings.
In Turkey, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for the parties involved to “act with restraint in light of the events in Israel this morning and to stay away from impulsive steps that will escalate tensions,” while Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said he is in “intensive” communication with international officials to stop the ongoing escalation.
Many European leaders have taken to social media to denounce the violence.
European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen said on X, formerly known as Twitter, that she “unequivocally” condemned the violence. “It is terrorism in its most despicable form. Israel has the right to defend itself against such heinous attacks.”
French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his “full solidarity with the victims,” while German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that “Germany condemns these Hamas attacks and stands by Israel.”
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Hamas says it has launched military operation against Israel Aljazeera, October 7, 2023
The leader of Hamas’s military wing says the group has launched a new operation against Israel.
In a rare public statement, Mohammed Deif said that 5,000 rockets had been fired into Israel early Saturday to begin “Operation Al-Aqsa Storm”. Israel also reported an infiltration from Gaza.
“We’ve decided to say enough is enough,” Deif said as he urged all Palestinians to confront Israel.
‘Attack tremendous shock for Israelis’: AJ correspondent
Reporting from Ashkelon in southern Israel, Al Jazeera’s Rob Reynolds says the unprecedented attack has left Israelis in “tremendous shock”.
“I spoke by text with an acquaintance in Tel Aviv. She says she was hurrying to get into a bomb shelter. The fact that several villages including some towns were attacked and captured – this is something that has never happened before,” Reynolds said.
“This took a lot of planning, strategising from Hamas,” he noted.
“It is also [near the anniversary] of the October War of 1973, when Israel was taken by surprise by Egypt and Syria. It appears maybe there is some symbolism there,” he added.
Hamas has said its surprise, large-scale military operation is in response to the desecration of Al-Aqsa Mosque and increased settler aggression.
It came after thousands of settlers in recent days forced their way into the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in occupied East Jerusalem during the Jewish holiday of Sukkot.
The Palestinian armed group Hamas has launched “Operation Al Aqsa Flood” against Israel, its biggest such offensive in decades. It began when Hamas began firing what it says were thousands of rockets towards Israel. Several casualties have been reported. Israeli military radio is reporting that Palestinian fighters from Gaza have “infiltrated” Israel.
Pictures show armed men on vehicles inside Israel and others paragliding into Israeli territory.
There is also footage of Palestinian fighters taking Israelis hostage. The Israeli army has urged people living near the border with Gaza to remain indoors and Israel’s defence minister has approved the call-up of military reservists. Meanwhile, the commander of Hamas’s military wing has called on armed groups in Lebanon to join the fight against Israel.
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One of the critical signs are pointing to the imminent Rapture of the Church is the invasion of Israel. This invasion was foretold in Ezekiel 38 – 39, and in Psalm 83:
God, do not keep silent.
Do not be deaf, God; do not be idle.
See how Your enemies make an uproar;
those who hate You have acted arrogantly.
They devise clever schemes against Your people;
they conspire against Your treasured ones.
They say, “Come, let us wipe them out as a nation
so that Israel’s name will no longer be remembered.”
For they have conspired with one mind;
they form an alliance against You—
the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites,
Moab and the Hagrites,
Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek,
Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre.
Even Assyria has joined them;
they lend support to the sons of Lot. (Psalm 83:1-8)
What is amazing is that the Book of Ezekiel was written between 593 and 571 BC, and Psalm 38 was written around 1,000 BC. What other religious book has specific prophecies with specific nations, from thousands of years ago, that are manifesting now?
The historically miraculous rebirth of the Jewish state in 1948, after 2,000 years of nonexistence, and the conquering of East Jerusalem during the Six-Day War in 1967 and other factors seems to have set the stage for a time clock for the “last days” of Israel and the fulfillment of many remaining prophecies relevant to that period. And, indeed, today Russia, a great power to Israel’s far north and the Shia Muslim nations, particularly Iran, are growing increasingly intertwined and hostile toward Israel.
Bible scholars have long identified Gog as the leader of Russia, and the land of Magog as Russia.
The invasion of Israel will be primarily motivated by greed for their great wealth. The recent annexation of regions of Ukraine and all of Crimea will be their strategy.
The “hook in the jaw” will be an escalation between Iran and Israel, that will reach the point of no return. As the experts conclude, that ultimate confrontation is inevitable. In fact, it is likely to happen at any moment. Russian will then step in to defend her ally. Putin is inclined to make calculated geopolitical moves, with an impressive sense of timing and optimum use of Russia’s strategic cards.
He is trying to prevent an escalation involving Iran, but when the real war begins, he will use it as an excuse to invade Israel and try to annex it, just like he did with Crimea. This is Gog’s plan – to make Russia great again.
With the preparations for the Ezekiel battle being seen daily in our news headlines, our need to be prepared for the Rapture has never been greater!
Yes, it is coming, and it will happen.” This is the declaration of the Lord God. “This is the day I have spoken about. (Ezekiel 39:8)
Who will defend Israel?
Who do we put our trust in?
The mighty God of the universe calls Himself I AM. In Exodus 3:14, the Bible says, “And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM”.
Moses had said, “When I go down to Egypt and the people ask me who sent me, what shall I tell them” (Exodus 3:13). God said, “You tell them that I AM sent you.”
Jesus completed the statement that was given to Moses. Jesus used the same phrase “I AM” in seven declarations about Himself. In all seven, He combines I AM with tremendous metaphors which express His saving relationship toward the world.
First He said, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger” (John 6:35).
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Second, Jesus said, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12).
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Third, Jesus said, “I am the door” (John 10:9). God has only one door to His Kingdom, and that door is Jesus Christ.
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Fourth, Jesus said, “I am the true vine” (John 15:1).
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Fifth, Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep” (John 10:11).
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Sixth, Jesus said in John 11:25, “I am the resurrection and the life.”
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Seventh, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). In John 6:44, He says, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him.” This is how we come to God.
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In these End Times, we choose to put our trust in Jesus – the “I Am“
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If you are not sure that you are saved, you can accept Christ into your life right now, by praying:
“Lord Jesus, I believe you are the Son of God. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. Please forgive my sins and give me the gift of eternal life. I ask you into my life and heart to be my Lord and Savior.”
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Send any comments, suggestions, or prayer requests to raptureandendtime@gmail.com
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Rapture and End Times 
I woke up Saturday morning and was shocked to read the headline, “Israel is at war.”
This is near the anniversary of the last time Israel was officially at war, in 1973, when she was attacked by Egypt, Syria, and others. But this was a different kind of war. Thousands of rockets rained on Israel from multiple directions. Hamas gunmen invaded by land, sea, and sky, and hundreds of people were murdered and kidnapped. They were using what we might describe as ISIS-like methods.
They specifically targeted young women and young children. They launched massive, indiscriminate rocket fire toward civilian population centers, as well as terrorist infiltration of cities and settlements close to the Gaza border. They went home to home, door to door, looking for the young and the elderly. Some of the women they took as hostages were survivors of the Holocaust.
When it’s all said and done, this number tragically will only get larger. There are 700 dead and over 2,000 wounded. This is without precedent, causing the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, to say they are now at war.
Who is Hamas? They’re a terrorist organization funded by Iran. That’s not a secret. In fact, a PR person from Hamas stated that this was funded by Iran. This is something that’s an established fact.
Iran has long stated their objective, which is to destroy Israel. An Iranian leader celebrated the attacks, putting out this message: “We will stand by the Palestinian fighters until the liberation of Palestine and Jerusalem is completed.”
Iran has also signaled that they are developing a nuclear weapon. In the past, they have threatened to, in their own verbiage, wipe Israel off the face of the map.
One leader of Iran said, “Is it possible for us to witness a world without America and Zionism? But you had best know that this slogan and this goal are altogether attainable, and surely can be achieved. This regime that is occupying Jerusalem must be wiped from the map.”
It’s interesting how it always comes back to Jerusalem.
The Bible predicted 1000s of years ago that the end-times events would revolve around Jerusalem. Not Irvine. Not Los Angeles. Not Moscow. Not Paris. Jerusalem, this tiny little city, this tiny sliver of land, will play a key role in the events of the last days. It’s a focal point of end-times events.
In Zechariah 12:2-3, God says, “Behold, I 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. And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.”
The irony of all of this is that the Biden administration just gave $6 billion to Iran. What a bad move it is to give any money to a nation that sponsors terrorism around the world.
But here’s where it gets interesting for students of Bible prophecy. The Bible tells us in the end times that Israel would be scattered and re-gathered. This has happened. You want to talk about signs of the times; the super sign of the last days, the sign that sets the prophetic clock ticking is the regathering of the nation of Israel into its homeland.
It happened on the heels of the Holocaust. Who would have ever thought that these Jewish people, who lost 6 million of their people to the Nazis, would somehow regather in their homeland, but it happened against all odds. On May 14th, 1948, Israel became a nation. The United States was the first nation to acknowledge the State of Israel.
In Ezekiel 37 and 38, the Bible speaks of the regathering of Israel, and then it speaks of a large force from her north attacking her. That force is identified as being led by Magog.
Who is Magog? No one can say with absolute certainty. But many, many Bible students and prophecy teachers believe it’s modern-day Russia. I think you can make a very good case for that. On a map of the Middle East, look to the north of Israel, and you will find Russia.
Why would Russia ever want to invade Israel? Well, there’s another thing that the Bible says about Magog: one of the allies that will march with her is Persia, the ancient name for modern Iran.
The Bible predicted this thousands of years ago. It’s only recently that the Iranians and the Russians have developed a special connection. Not once in the past 2,500 years has Russia formed a military alliance with Iran, but they have now signed a billion-dollar accord for the sale of missiles, and the Iranians have helped the Russians by providing them with weaponized drones to use in the Ukraine war.
How do you stop something like what is happening in Israel? Some hostages are women, little children, and soldiers. It’s very tricky.
Let’s just say, for the sake of a point, if they decided to strike at Iran, specifically because of their funding of this attack, what would that produce? It could produce the conflict we read about in Ezekiel.
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The BEAST is ready to mediate a peace agreement…
Turkey is ready to act as a mediator between Israeli and Palestinian authorities if the two parties make such a proposition, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said.
Speaking during a press conference after a cabinet meeting in Ankara, Erdoğan said Turkey is making necessary preparations to send humanitarian aid to Gaza, Reuters reported.
He urged Israel to stop bombing Palestinian lands and Palestine to stop harassing Israeli civilian settlements, adding:
We believe that there will be no peace in the region without an independent, sovereign Palestine.
Erdoğan’s remarks came after he held calls with the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, and the Israeli president, Isaac Herzog.
The Turkish leader told Abbas that Ankara “is making every effort to end the conflicts in the region and ensure calm as soon as possible,” a statement from his press office said, AP reported.
In his call with Herzog, Erdoğan “emphasised that any step that could harm the people of Gaza collectively and indiscriminately will further increase the suffering and spiral of violence in the region.” the presidential office statement said.
Erdoğan also told his Israeli counterpart that it’s “necessary to act with common sense and that establishing tranquility in the region as soon as possible is of great importance for the well-being of the entire region”, according to the statement.
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