“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: may they prosper who love you.” Psalm 122: 6
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Israel’s Enemies are Yahweh’s Enemies
Israel’s enemies don’t hate Zionism. Although they may not know it, they are serving their master and he hates Yahweh.
We are in a spiritual war, and we must choose sides whether we want to or not. It’s unavoidable. Yahweh’s enemy is trying to prevent Him from fulfilling His promises. We are either for Yahweh or against Him, and unlike President Obama, we can’t vote “present” or take a run-out powder. Yahweh requires a choice from each one of us.
The struggle between Yahweh and Satan isn’t new. It’s been raging since the beginning. For instance:
- Why did Satan tempt Eve in the Garden of Eden?
- Why did King Herod kill every male child in Bethlehem under the age of 2?
- Why did Hitler try to exterminate the Jews?
- Why are masses of people marching in the streets of London and Paris and other major cities around the world to protest “Israeli occupation”?
- Why do Islamists become violent lunatics when they hear the words “Israel” or “Jew”?
The answer to all of these questions is the same: to prevent Yahweh from fulfilling His promises. Does it sound too simplistic? It’s not. Problem is that we can’t see the spiritual war with our naked eyes. We need Yahweh’s help to understand what’s happening. Thankfully, He gave us an Instruction Manual.
In essence, that’s what the Bible is: a guide to understanding spiritual forces playing out in physical space. But Yahweh didn’t stop there. He also gave us the Holy Spirit to guide us if we will learn to lean on Him, and that’s the catch. We must make a conscious decision to let Him help us. Christian terminology for it is “asking Him into our lives”, and if we don’t do that, Satan has a field day.
The Bible tells us that Satan is the instigator of all the mayhem surrounding the Jewish people and Israel because they are central to Yahweh’s plan. I can’t tell you exactly why, but He made that fact clear in the Bible. It’s so clear that you need help to be confused:
“And I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing; and I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” Genesis 12: 2-3
Stated simply, you can’t believe the Bible and hate Jewish people or Israel because those beliefs are diametrically opposed. You may not know it but Yahweh does, and He meant what He said. If you curse Israel, the nation or the people, you will be cursed. You may or may not escape Yahweh’s wrath in this lifetime, but you can’t escape it in the next life no matter what.
Satan can’t prevent Yahweh from fulfilling His promises, but he keeps trying. Since Satan has powers that we don’t possess or understand completely, he can influence us and get us to do his bidding. We can’t see him, so we may not even know it unless Yahweh opens our eyes. It all starts with having faith in Yahweh and following His instructions. He even speaks to us personally. I’m not exaggerating. It really happens if we learn to listen for His voice.
As I said, everybody chooses sides. In Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis explained it this way:
“When that happens (when Yahweh returns), it is the end of the world. When the author walks on to the stage the play is over. God is going to invade, all right: but what is the good of saying you are on His side then, when you see the whole natural universe melting away like a dream and something else—something it never entered your mind to conceive—comes crashing in; something so beautiful to some of us and so terrible to others that none of us will have any choice left? For this time it will be God without disguise; something so overwhelming that it will strike either irresistible love or irresistible horror into every creature. It will be too late then to choose your side. There is no use saying you choose to lie down when it has become impossible to stand up. That will not be the time for choosing: it will be the time when we discover which side we really have chosen, whether we realised it before or not. Now, to-day, this moment, is our chance to choose the right side. God is holding back to give us that chance. It will not last forever. We must take it or leave it.”
These are the most terrifying words that anyone can ever hear, “Depart from Me. I never knew you.” I don’t want to hear those words coming from Yahweh’s mouth. Lewis says that Yahweh’s appearance will cause terror among those who don’t know Him, but I don’t think there is a word in the English language that accurately conveys what that feeling will be because punishment lasts for all eternity—forever and ever, amen. Terror doesn’t go far enough.
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SnyderTalk Comment: It’s difficult for decent people to comprehend reality in Gaza under Hamas. This video shows Hamas partisans positioning the corpse of a child next to a jihadist corpse for the cameras. Did those taking the pictures know about it? Of course they did. Did they report it? Of course not. Why? Because it contradicts their narrative. They won’t allow facts to interfere with their story.
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Michael B. Oren: In Defense of Zionism—They come from every corner of the country—investment bankers, farmers, computer geeks, jazz drummers, botany professors, car mechanics—leaving their jobs and their families. They put on uniforms that are invariably too tight or too baggy, sign out their gear and guns. Then, scrambling onto military vehicles, 70,000 reservists—women and men—join the young conscripts of what is proportionally the world’s largest citizen army. They all know that some of them will return maimed or not at all. And yet, without hesitation or (for the most part) complaint, proudly responding to the call-up, Israelis stand ready to defend their nation. They risk their lives for an idea. The idea is Zionism. It is the belief that the Jewish people should have their own sovereign state in the Land of Israel. Though founded less than 150 years ago, the Zionist movement sprung from a 4,000-year-long bond between the Jewish people and its historic homeland, an attachment sustained throughout 20 centuries of exile. This is why Zionism achieved its goals and remains relevant and rigorous today. It is why citizens of Israel—the state that Zionism created—willingly take up arms. They believe their idea is worth fighting for.
Shmuel Sandler: American Intervention in the Gaza Conflict—American intervention in the Gaza conflict has been difficult to understand. Washington acted against its own strategic interests in prodding Israel to pull back from clubbing Hamas, and in involving Turkey and Qatar – the lawyers and financiers of Hamas – in the ceasefire negotiations, while snubbing Egypt. The Obama administration has failed to recognize the emergence, importance and opportunities presented by an axis of moderate pro-American Middle East states that developed during the recent crisis. Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, many Gulf states (with the exception of Qatar), and Israel all shared similar interests in this conflict, as did Mahmoud Abbas’ Palestinian Authority. They all sought the dramatic weakening of the radical Islamic, Iranian-backed Hamas. Yet Washington declined to support this emerging bloc. U.S. behavior towards Egypt is worrying. The Obama administration seems incapable of dealing squarely with Egyptian President Al-Sisi because he deposed the Muslim Brotherhood government. Perhaps Washington was seized with the thesis that views the Muslim Brotherhood as a pragmatic actor and a potential ally against more extreme iterations of Islam.
Peter Berkowitz: U.S. Must Strongly Affirm Israel’s Right of Self-Defense— Over the last few days, Israel has pulled its troops out of Gaza and agreed to a 72-hour cease-fire with Hamas. The battle over international public opinion, however, continues to rage. On July 23 the United Nation’s Human Rights Council voted to establish a commission of inquiry — the United States was the only nation on the 46-member council to vote against the resolution — whose purpose is “to investigate all violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, particularly in the occupied Gaza Strip, in the context of the military operations conducted since 13 June 2014 and to report to the Council at its twenty-eighth session.” Since the resolution presumes that Israel committed “widespread, systematic and gross violations of international human rights and fundamental freedoms” and carried out “wanton destruction of homes, vital infrastructure and public properties,” there is good reason to worry that the U.N. is determined to reprise the wrongs done to Israel with its 2009 publication of the now-notorious Goldstone report.
Richard Landes: The Media’s Role in Hamas’ War Strategy—The IDF has found a Hamas training manual that advises its combatants to use civilian shields. Hamas’ war strategy works like this: 1. Attack Israel’s civilians to provoke a counter-attack. 2. Hide behind Palestinian civilians while forcing them to stay, guaranteeing that the return fire wounds or kills civilians. 3. Encourage Western news media to play up the civilian suffering. 4. Conjure a firestorm of outrage around the world that eventually pressures Israel into desisting from counteroffensive measures. The Hamas strategy is win-win. If the Israelis abort a strike to avoid civilian casualties (as they often do), then Hamas is spared the blow. If an Israeli strike causes civilian casualties, Hamas has dead babies to parade before the cameras.
Naama Lansky: Expert: IDF Fulfilled All Ethical Requirements in Gaza—The Israel Defense Forces carried out Operation Protective Edge in Gaza in compliance with ethical requirements, according to Israel Prize laureate Professor Asa Kasher, who helped formulate the IDF Code of Ethics. “Every battalion commander has an officer in charge of locating civilians, and everything is overseen by too many lawyers, who help direct the operation on the ground. The number of casualties is irrelevant – it does not speak of omissions or any wrongdoing on the part of the IDF.” Israel is facing a torrent of aggressive criticism because “there are people whose perspective is very shallow. They are shown photographs of a destroyed house and a doll’s severed leg, photographs that are sometimes even from Syria, and they cry out. They do not understand anything and they feel the need to express a shallow sort of good-heartedness that has them momentarily identifying with the underdog.”
Irwin J. Mansdorf: Hamas’ Psychological Military Strategies Against Israel—Hamas openly states that it is committed to Israel’s elimination. While militarily limited, Hamas employs functional psychological strategies to weaken Israel. As documented in manuals used by Hamas fighters, Palestinian civilian casualties and property destruction are tolerable for Hamas because they serve to engender support for their fighters. This can result in pressure on Israel to cease military operations and then to negotiate cease-fire terms to Hamas’ advantage. Israel has been able to withstand much of Hamas’ psychological strategy of using civilian deaths to improve its military position. It is important that this strategy not succeed in providing Hamas with tangible gains through misuse of legitimate humanitarian concerns. Humanitarian concern for civilian non-combatants by the media, governments and NGOs is a psychological tool that allows “enabling” of Hamas behavior.
Steve Huntley: Hamas’ Absurd Claims of Victory—If the picture in Gaza of collapsed buildings, demolished homes and rubble everywhere is victory, what would defeat look like? Hamas claims the 3,000 rockets it launched vanquished Israel. But nearly all of those rockets missed their targets or were shot out of the sky by Israel’s Iron Dome anti-missile system. If the deaths of hundreds of Hamas terrorists – 900 by an Israeli count – is success, what would defeat look like? This Gaza war was a disaster for Hamas. The civilian deaths and injuries that did occur were the sole responsibility of Hamas’ total disregard for the safety of the people it ruled.
Anthony Reuben: Caution Needed with Gaza Casualty Figures—In the Gaza conflict, most news organizations have been quoting from the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on numbers of Palestinians killed. If the Israeli attacks have been “indiscriminate,” as the UN Human Rights Council says, it is hard to work out why they have killed three times as many civilian men as women. IDF Spokesman Capt. Eytan Buchman said “the UN numbers being reported are, by and large, based on the Gaza health ministry, a Hamas-run organization.” He noted that “when militants are brought to hospitals, they are brought in civilian clothing, obscuring terrorist affiliations.” “Hamas also has given local residents directives to obscure militant identities.” “It’s important to bear in mind that in Operation Cast Lead [in December 2008-January 2009], Hamas and Gaza-based organizations claimed that only 50 combatants were killed, admitting years later the number was between 600-700, a figure nearly identical to the figure claimed by the IDF.” The writer is head of statistics at BBC News.
Peter Wehner: Israel’s Conduct in Gaza Is a Model for Other Nations—During his press conference Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was asked: “Do you feel your actions, Israel’s actions, were proportionate?” Netanyahu pointed out that Israel has gone to extraordinary lengths to avoid civilian casualties while Hamas has gone to extraordinary lengths to ensure civilian casualties. Netanyahu then posed a question to the journalist. What would you do in a similar situation, in which your nation was being attacked by 3,500 rockets and your territory was being infiltrated by terrorist death squads? The BBC reported on Feb. 14, 1945: “British and U.S. bombers have dropped hundreds of thousands of explosives on the German city of Dresden….Last night, 800 RAF Bomber Command planes let loose 650,000 incendiaries and 8,000 lb. of high explosives and hundreds of 4,000 lb. bombs in two waves of attack. They faced very little anti-aircraft fire.” According to History.com, the Allied firebombing raids killed as many as 135,000 people. My point isn’t to condemn Great Britain (or the U.S.). My point is that in war, terrible things happen and innocent people die. By historical standards Israel has conducted itself in its conflict with Hamas with remarkable care and decency. I’m not sure there are many parallels to it. The way Israel has handled itself in this conflict is a model for other nations to follow.
David Horovitz: Are IDF Tactics on Solid Legal Ground?—Robbie Sabel, a former legal adviser to Israel’s Foreign Ministry and professor of international law at Hebrew University, said the key to the rule of proportionality is that “you try to minimize” civilian casualties. In this respect, Israel was unique in that it issues warnings, “which no other air force does,” before striking at critical targets. Will Israel’s “careful” approach now ensure that it is vindicated in the looming wave of UN probes and possible war crime suits? “It is irrelevant in terms of public relations,” Sabel said. But Israel would be on firm legal ground “if the issue were to come to a neutral court of law.”
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Arabs See Gaza War Stoppage as Hamas Victory Despite Destruction
Report: Egypt, Palestinians reach new agreement on cease-fire deal in Gaza
Hamas threatens to resume strikes on Tel Aviv ‘if demands not met by Sunday’
Security sources: Israel to respond with force if Hamas resumes rocket fire
Israel, Hamas battle on, in day 2 since Egyptian-led talks failed to extend truce
South Africa threatens to prosecute citizens serving in Israeli military
Ex-Shin Bet chief Diskin slams army, government for declaring end to Gaza operation
Livni lobbies Netanyahu on plan for a ‘new Gaza order’
US ‘very concerned’ about Gaza developments, condemns rocket fire on Israel
Muslim Brotherhood stages large pro-Hamas demonstration in Amman
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Hamas Spokesman: Ceasefire Wasn’t Extended Because of Israel[’s Existence]
Former Military Intelligence Head: Gaza Goals Weren’t Achieved
Hamas Disturbs Sabbath Calm with Rocket Barrage
Islamists Take Hundreds of Women Captive in Iraq
White House Condemns Renewed Rocket Fire
UN Chief Condemns Rocket Attacks
US Airstrikes Hit ‘Islamic State’ in Iraq
Swedish Politician Quits After Anti-Semitic Post
Starbucks: We Don’t Provide Financial Support to Israel
SnyderTalk Comment: I don’t drink Starbucks coffee unless there is no alternative and I need a cup–emphasize the word “need”. I just don’t like it. I prefer Dunkin’ Donuts coffee. To me, Starbucks coffee even smells bad.
Livni Presents Six-Point Plan for Gaza Ceasefire
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Analysis: Hamas plays a dangerous poker game in Cairo
How Israel was seduced by deceptive calm in Hamas’s Gaza
One Palestinian dead, dozens wounded in West Bank clashes
Egypt court dissolves Muslim Brotherhood party
Things get political on Amsterdam’s Jewish gay love boat
Dutch hotelier cancels Israeli family’s reservation over Gaza
Can western mediators make peace in Gaza?
Obama: Netanyahu too strong, Abbas too weak for peace
SnyderTalk Comment: Obama must not know Yahweh. He certainly doesn’t know how foolish he sounds, or if he does, he doesn’t care.
Livni presents plan to end conflict with Hamas, restart talks with PA
Hamas vows ‘no concessions’ but says it doesn’t want escalation
SnyderTalk Comment: You can’t have your cake and eat it too. Hamas leaders want to kill Jews, but they don’t want their own lives, positions, and wealth compromised. Israeli leaders should focus on all three.
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Fighters abandoning al-Qaeda affiliates to join Islamic State, US officials say
Iraq crisis: 150000 Yezidi Kurds refugees surrounded by Islamic extremists
Hamas Warns: Don’t Divulge Information about Fighters Killed in Gaza War
View: Stunning Mosaic Found at Ancient Galilee Synagogue
Islamic State Accused of Capturing Yazidi Women in Iraq and Forcing Them to Convert
Obama Warns of ‘Long-Term Project’ in Iraq
SnyderTalk Comment: It was a long-term project when Obama cut-and-ran. He was told, but he didn’t listen—an all too common feature of the Obama presidency. Just ask Benyamin Netanyahu. He knows. Defense Minister Ya’alon will talk about it.
Netanyahu: The Battle Against Islamic Militants “Will Soon Come to a Theater Near You”
Palestinian Official: Hamas Executed Former Leader for Spying for Egypt
Foreign Journalists Reveal Hamas’ False Front
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Genesis 24: 42-44
42 “So I came today to the spring, and said, ‘O Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, if now You will make my journey on which I go successful; 43 behold, I am standing by the spring, and may it be that the maiden who comes out to draw, and to whom I say, “Please let me drink a little water from your jar”; 44 and she will say to me, “You drink, and I will draw for your camels also”; let her be the woman whom Yahweh has appointed for my master’s son.’”
SnyderTalk Comment: Read His Name is Yahweh.
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His Name is Yahweh explains why the Name of God, Yahweh, is so important. It’s available in eBook format and in paperback. It’s also available for free in PDF format.
- God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘Yahweh, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’ This [Yahweh] is my name forever, the name by which I am to be remembered from generation to generation.” (Exodus 3: 15)
- “Therefore behold, I am going to make them know—this time I will make them know My power and My might; and they shall know that My name is Yahweh.” (Jeremiah 16: 21)
- “Behold, the days are coming,” declares Yahweh, “when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch; and He will reign as king and act wisely and do justice and righteousness in the land. In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely; and this is His name by which He will be called, ‘Yahweh our righteousness.’” (Jeremiah 23: 5-6)
- Yeshua said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.” (John 8: 58)
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Blessings in the Book of Revelation is a book that you need to read, especially now. There are blessings throughout the Scriptures but Revelation is the only book in the Bible actually containing a specific blessing for reading it. It’s repeated twice, once at the beginning and again at the end. This is the reason that I believe Revelation should be the first step toward studying biblical prophecy. Though not easy to do, Revelation can be broken down and understood by anyone, not just the academic elite. So, Revelation’s blessings are for everyone. Click here to order the eBook. Click here to order the paperback.
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Other Books by Neil Snyder
- Stand! is a suspense novel that exposes the lies, corruption, and greed underlying the theory that man-made CO2 emissions are responsible for global warming. Professor Wes Carlyle and Karen Sterling, his research collaborator, carefully scan the audience for their would-be attacker—a member of the enviro-gestapo who has been following them for days. Wes spots his man in the back of the room leaning against the wall. Suddenly, another man in the audience steps forward and moves toward Karen at a menacing pace. With a vicious stroke, he swings a billy club at her head. Click here to order the eBook. Click here to order the paperback.
- What Will You Do with the Rest of Your Life? deals with a question that every Christian has to consider: what should I do with my life? Click here to order the eBook. Click here to order the paperback.
- Falsely Accused is a true story about a young woman who was accused of committing a double homicide. It’s about a travesty of justice, and it reveals Yahweh intervening in the life of a believer to rescue her from danger in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. Everyone will enjoy the book, but young people in particular need to read it because the mistakes made that led to the problem could have been avoided. They were the kinds of mistakes that young people are prone to make. As they say, forewarned is forearmed. Click here to order the eBook. Click here to order the paperback.
