"The Significance of Sevens"

Give the Scriptures even a cursory reading and the number seven will appear over and over again, about--you guessed it--700 times!

Commonly known as 'the number of completeness or perfection', 'seven' derives much of its reputation from both the Book of Revelation (where it appears  54 times) and the Book of Genesis, where it's tied to creation.

In fact, the word created is used 7 times describing God's creative work in Genesis, along with a 7-day week and a 7th day Sabbath. And that's just for starters:

• Noah took 7 of every clean animal onto the ark...
• ...and after 7 days, it rained.
• Jacob served 7 years for Leah and 7 for Rachel.
• Egypt had 7 years of plenty and 7 of famine.
• There are 7 Feast Days on the Jewish calendar.

Jesus taught 7 parables in the Gospel of Matthew and performed 7 miracles on the Sabbath. Mary Magdalene had 7 devils cast out and one must forgive 70 times 7 times.

In the Book of Revelation there are:

• 7 churches
• 7 angels to the 7 churches
• 7 seals
• 7 trumpet judgments
• 7 bowl judgments
• 7 thunders
• a beast with 7 heads which are really 7 mountains on which a woman sits.

The number '7' is prominent in both the Old and New Testaments and signifies:

• God's perfection
• sovereignty
• holiness

All of nature is marked with patterns of '7'; for example:

• 7 basic musical notes
• 7 colors in a rainbow
• 7 directions (left, right, up, down, forward, back, and center
• 7 Wonders of the Ancient World
• 7 continents on the earth

'7' and its multiples permeate everything in and around us. The very cells in our bodies take 7 years to fully regenerate.

Even unbelievers associate the number '7' with good luck. What they may not realize is the association of the number '7' with God.

"Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made."-- Genesis 2:3.

A wise man once said: "By God's blessed inactivity on this seventh day, He showed that He was satisfied with the work He had done." -- Moishe Rosen, Jews for Jesus

News:

• Fox News Channel: Massive Russian troop buildup on Ukraine border; Putin could invade at a moment's notice.
• CBS: Study: 'Small' nuclear war would destroy the world; relatively small regional conflict could spark global environment catastrophe.
• Reuters: Syria refugee crisis pose major threat to Lebanese stability.

"Are We Witnessing the Rise of Magog?"

Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the United States and the West of practicing "cold war tactics" in a vitriolic speech before a cheering Russian parliament.

Fresh from his victory in Crimea, the Russian leader openly mocked and ridiculed the US for the sanctions approved on Monday.

Commodities and foreign currency expert Jim Sinclair says:

"To sanction Russia is to forget that Russia supplies Europe with its gas supplies. To sanction Russia is to forget there are many US and European corporations operating within Russia right now. I honestly believe sanctioning Russia is the same as shooting yourself in the foot."

Sinclair goes on to say, "Anybody that is nuclear capable to the degree that Russia is with its delivery systems is a world power."

"We hear constantly Russia is only a regional power. We hear lies. We hear untruths. We don't have a clear picture to what is taking place."

Sinclair believes the Russian's have "the upper hand. They have it in their ability to turn the US economy upside down and into collapse."

Strong words. But Sinclair stands behind them: "There is no question whatsoever", he says, "Putin doesn't need a nuclear bomb. He has a nuclear economic bomb he can set off at any time."

How?

According to Sinclair,

"The real teeth of retaliation for sanctions being in the simple acceptance of any currency whatsoever for payment for gas to Europe. It makes energy cheaper. Why in the world would anyone pay in dollars if they can pay in their own currency?"

Sinclair added, "We're in a hell of a mess. If the world drops the 'Petrodollar', we'll have a hot war in a week. We will go to war over the Petrodollar."

While the Bible doesn't mention a war between the US and Russia, it does detail a war between Russia (Magog & friends) and Israel. (Ez. 38 and 39)

Where's the United States?

Apparently, on the sidelines wringing her hands.

Jim Sinclair on USA Watchdog.com

"This is what the Sovereign Lord says: 'I am against you, Gog, chief prince of Meshek and Tubal. I will turn you around, put hooks in your jaws and bring you out with your whole army...'" Ez. 38:3-4

A wise man once said: "Many books can inform, but only the Bible can transform." - RBC

News:

• The Washington Post: Vice Pres. Biden: "US military well-prepared to defend NATO Allies from Russian aggression.
• Reuters: Russian forces storm Ukraine base in Crimea, US warned Moscow of 'dark path to isolation' on Wednesday.
• CBS: Family anger erupts in Malaysia, jet search enters 13th day; Israel on high alert

"Bad Omen for Israel?"

Israel caught Iran red-handed last week smuggling weapons to militants in the Gaza Strip.

"The ship was organized by Iran, dispatched by Iran, financed by Iran. The missiles were loaded by Iran, in Iran," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.

What does Iran say?

Israel is a big fat liar (in spite of the fact that Israel has got the ship and the weapons to prove it).

Meanwhile, Washington and the western world goes on pretending that the recent nuclear deal with Iran is valid. Not to mention Iran has lied and cheated in every agreement it has ever made with the United Nations (that's about 20 times, people!)

So, now we're suppose to believe this latest deal will be different?

What is wrong with this picture? Has everybody in charge taken stupid pills?

Iran makes no bones about its plans for Israel.

Tuesday, Iran's Brigadier General Hossein Salami declared, "The Iranian military commanders are prepared to attack and destroy the Zionist regime of Israel as soon as they receive such an order.

Last month, Iranian state TV ran a documentary featuring a computerized video of Iran's drones and missiles bombing Tel Aviv, Haifa, Ben Gurion Airport and the Dimona nuclear reactor.

In November, Iranian state television aired a shorter animated clip showing missiles targeting Israeli cities.

So why does the West cling to the illusion that Iran has changed?

Apparently, fantasy-based policy making rules the day (or could it be demonically-inspired self-deception?)

The Bible predicts Iran will attack Israel while the rest of the world watches and does nothing.

In contrast, if Israel so much as attempts to defend herself, the international community roars in harsh condemnation. Proving, yet again, that anti-Semitism is alive and thriving, just as the Bible says it will be.

"Now many nations are assembled against you. 'Let her be desecrated', they say. 'Let us see the destruction of Jerusalem.'"(Micah 4:11)

"For thus says the Lord: 'he that touches you (Israel) touches the apple of My eye.'" (Zech. 2:8)

A wise man once said: "The attacks of the wicked are not only against God's people but against God Himself." - James C. Galvan, PhD.

News:

• Jerusalem Post: Gaza terrorists bombard southern Israel in massive rocket attack
• Mail Online: Netanyahu blasted six powers for 'hypocrisy' for failing to condemn Iran after he unveiled a shipment of deadly weapons bound for Palestinian militants
• NYTimes: Obama Peace Plan includes permanently dividing the city of Jerusalem 

"Ukraine Crisis and Bible Prophecy"

How does what's happening in Ukraine factor into bible prophecy?

First, it's important to recognize that the fulfillment of bible prophecy does not happen out of the blue.

For example: Nobody is going to pull the Antichrist out of a hat one day. He will most likely rise to power in response to a global leadership vacuum.

Secondly, while bible prophecy gives us a complete overview of God's plan for mankind and this planet, it doesn't give us every detail. We must surmise the rest.

For example: Because the United States is not mentioned in the end-time scenario, we are left to guess (by watching events unfold) the reason why.

So how does Ukraine factor in?

If Russia is Magog (as detailed in Ezekiel 38), what is happening in Ukraine, and what happened in the former Soviet nation of Georgia in 2008, should come as no surprise. Whether Putin is Gog or not, it's way too early to tell.

But one thing is clear:

Vladimir Putin is taking Russia a giant step closer to fulfillment of Ez. 38 and the rise of the Antichrist.

How?

• His goal is to restore the power of the Soviet empire
• If Ukraine allies with Europe, it will be a huge blow to that goal. Putin will do everything in his power to stop that from happening.
• Russia, a major supplier of natural gas to Europe, uses it to manipulate and gain wealth and power (this will factor into their motivation to attack Israel, as Israel has recently discovered she is virtually swimming in oil).
• If the Ukraine situation ends up as the Georgia one did, Russia gains back a little more power, and will be emboldened to try for more.
• This will eventually cause Europe to seek a strong leader to counter Putin (and his like), and to unite into a much stronger union (as predicted in Revelation 17:12), going from 28 nations down to 10 regions.
• Meanwhile, Israel is on a collision course with Magog (Russia), Persia (Iran), Ethiopia, and Libya (along with many others).

In other words: Nations from all directions will form a coalition against Israel. But it won't happen out of the blue.

Because the student of bible prophecy knows what to look for, we've been alerted to watch this prophecy progress toward fulfillment for years in terms of:

• the Arab Spring
• the recent military alliance between Russia, Iran and a number of countries in the region
• the gutting of the US military, economy and subsequent unwillingness to fight
• the increasing aggression of Russia
• the discovery of massive oil reserves in Israel
• the increasing isolation of Israel and the unreliability of her allies

The crisis in Ukraine is (as Pink Floyd once lamented) Just another brick in the wall...

"I am God, and there is no one else like Me. Only I can tell you what is going to happen even before it happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish" - Isaiah 46:10.

A wise man once said: "As the Sovereign of the cosmos, God can do anything He desires. His pleasure (Ps. 147) includes the salvation of His people (Zeph. 3:17) and the worship of their hearts (John 4:23-24). - William Van Germeren, PhD.

News:

• Press Telegram: Hilary Clinton compares Putin's action in Ukraine to Hitler's run up to WWII
• NBC: US sends six fighter jets to Baltics, more airmen to Poland in response to crisis in Ukraine
• DEBKA File: Israel's navy seizes Iranian missile ship headed for Gaza
• Fox News Channel: Russia's Vladimir Putin nominated today for the Nobel Peace Prize