"The Beginning of the End: Obama's Betrayal of Israel: How It Will Affect You"

For the first time in U.S. history, the United States of America joined forces with Israel's enemies.

UN Security Council Resolution 2334, which was passed on Friday because of U.S. abstention, is much, much worse than even its critics realize. President-elect Donald Trump tweeted: "This is the beginning of the End," meaning Obama's deal with Iran, coupled with this latest outrage, is the beginning of the end of U.S. friendship with Israel (not to mention God).

The resolution (a direct result of U.S. actions) is not just unfair, unbalanced,and untruthful--it is unimaginably stupid. Why?

Because it demands Israel do the impossible: withdraw to its pre-1967 borders. They might as well ask Israel to commit national suicide. The pre-1967 borders make Israel too narrow to defend. Palestinian missiles (among other things) would destroy them. It also demands Israel give up Jerusalem, the very heart of their Holy Land and turn it over for the Palestinians to desecrate, something the Jewish state cannot do.

Resolution 2334 wrongly claims that the Jewish "settlements in the Palestinian territory, occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem has no legal validity and constitutes a flagrant violation under international law."

This is blatantly incorrect.

International law permits states to retain territory acquired in wars inflicted upon them by aggressive enemies. Israel won that land fair and square when attacked (though grossly outnumbered) by their invading Arab neighbors in 1948 and again in 1967. Israel has improved the land by building homes, hospitals and schools for both Palestinians and Jews to live side-by-side.

Resolution 2334 ignores the fact that the Palestinians are a dysfunctional, divided, violent, undemocratic society that rewards terrorists with a monthly income and whose Charter formally calls for the destruction of the Jewish state and the murder of all Jews. It overlooks the fact that the Arab community has over 600 times the land mass as the Jews and could easily assimilate the Palestinians.

How will this affect you? The Bible says that when the nations of the world gather against Jerusalem (as happened at the UN on Friday): "It shall be in that day that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem" (Zechariah 12:9).

Like it or not, our government has set the stage for the destruction of the nation of Israel. First, through the deal with Iran and now through UN Resolution 2334.

Even if President Trump is able to reverse the vote in the UN, he'll never be able to walk this back in the minds of the Palestinians.

Resolution 2334 gives the Palestinians everything-but-the-kitchen-sink and turns the Jews living in the land God gave them (Genesis 12:6-7; Gen. 15:18; Gen.17:7-8; Numbers 34:1-5; 2Chronicles 20:7; etc.) into criminals.

Over 200 times in Scripture God calls Himself  "The God of Israel" and has declared the Jews "His Chosen People"--the apple of His eye. (And woe to those who poke it!)

We are witnessing the Last Days re-gathering of the Jews to Israel (Isaiah 43:5-6; Ezekiel 37:21; etc.) which is why they need to build housing for them.

The dividing of Jerusalem is the true story of what's happening here with no regard to Israel's security and exactly as foretold in the Bible. Jerusalem has been the Jewish capital for over 3,300 years. It is mentioned over 700 times in the Old Testament (not even once in the Koran). How dare the UN steal it from the Jews and hand it over to the Palestinians.

The Bible repeatedly warns that the nations who try this will bring God's Judgment down on their own heads.

If you think this won't affect you--think again.

"...I will judge them for harming My people, for scattering My inheritance among the nations, and for dividing up My land" (Joel 3:2).

 "On that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone, a burden for the world. None of the nations who try to lift it will escape unscathed" (Zechariah 12:3).

A wise man once said: "The UN Security Council just targeted the only democracy in the Middle East: the State of Israel. This is a cultural genocide that is no less dangerous than terror attacks. It is based on anti-Semitic lies and creates the atmosphere not for achieving "peace", as disingenuously claimed, but for perpetual war." -- Hal Lindsey

News:

• DEBKAfile: UN vote against Israel was planned by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Palestinian Official Saeb Erekat a week before UN meeting condemned Israel.
• The Weekly Standard: Report: Obama made secret deal with Iran allowing the terror-sponsoring state to stockpile uranium in larger amounts than the "official" deal disclosed.
• Fox News Channel: Netanyahu claims "iron-clad proof" Obama helped craft UN Resolution 2334; will supply evidence to Trump. 

"Supernatural Instructions: Read This First"

"The words Read This First have taken an important role in the packaging of modern consumer products," says Bible editor Barry J. Beitzel, Ph.D.

Why? Because most of us think life is too short to read instruction manuals.

The Bible is a supernatural instruction manual; all of it "is given by the inspiration of God" (2 Timothy 3:16), but the Gospel of John is the Read This First of the Bible.

The Gospel of John was written "to tell individuals how to find eternal life" (John 20:31), says Beitzel.

"This clearly identified purpose sets the Gospel of John apart from the other Gospels. It is not so much a life of Jesus as it is a powerful presentation of His deity.

"Every chapter presents evidence--both signs and statements--for His divine authority. According to John, believing that Jesus is the Son of God, the Savior of the world, is the beginning of eternal life (John 3:14-17).

"What could be more important? John's statement about his Gospel is as good as a Read This First sticker for one's eternal life."

A wise man once said: "The Gospel of John is a persuasive argument for the deity of Jesus. It concentrates on presenting Jesus as the Word, that is, God (John 1:1) who became a man (John 1:14). Thus John meticulously records the statements and describes the miracles of Jesus that can only be attributed to God Himself." -- Barry J. Beitzel, Ph.D.

"Jesus said, 'I assure you, unless you are born again, you can never see the Kingdom of God...Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives new life from heaven. So don't be surprised at My statement that you must be born again.'"                   -- John 3:3, 5-7

Learn how to be born again here 

News:

• The Jewish Press: IDF Prepares For Nuclear, Biological And Chemical Warfare; launches special unit for training
• Ynet News: France to convene Middle East peace conference involving 70 countries including Israeli and Palestinian leaders
• Vocativ: Exclusive: ISIS Puts Out Holiday Attack List Of U.S. Churches; threatens "bloody celebrations in the Christian New Year." 

"Beware The Christmas Spy: Are Talking Toys Recording Your Children?"

What do the talking doll, "My Friend Cayla" and the "i-Que" robot have in common? They're both spies!

That's right gang--both toys are equipped with technology that is linked through an app to your smart phone and can:

• ask children for very specific personal information
• record and collect conversations
• understand and respond to kids in real-time
• send all collected intel on to the manufacturer (presumably to be used for marketing purposes)

How is this legal, you ask? Apparently, it shouldn't be. Consumer advocacy and privacy organizations have filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) against the manufacturers, Genesis Toys and Nuance Communications, requesting an investigation:

"This complaint concerns toys that spy. By purpose and design, these toys record and collect the private conversations of young children without any limitations on collection, use, or disclosure of this personal information. The toys subject young children to ongoing surveillance and are deployed in homes across the United States without any meaningful data protection standards. They pose an imminent and immediate threat to the safety and security of the children in the United States."

The complaint goes on for 24 pages, but you get the idea--toys that spy are not just play things. They can be hazardous to your child's privacy or worse. Can anyone say 'Big Brother'?

A wise man once said: "If you want to keep a secret, you must also hide it from yourself...Big Brother is watching you." -- George Orwell, 1984

"What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the housetops." Luke 12:3

News:

• Yahoo! News: Some poor Venezuelan parents give away children amid deep economic crisis; trend highlights Venezuela's fraying social fabric.
• The Washington Free Beacon: U.S. Accelerates Deployment Of Troops To Poland, Baltic States, And Romania To Ensure Security In The Region
• Bloomberg: Major banks required to 'stock pile' cash against collapse in rule approved Thursday; most fall about $70 billion short

"Donald Trump:'We're In A Big, Fat, Ugly Bubble'"

Remember all the things that used to spook the markets and scare investors into dumping stocks?

Things like political and social unrest, struggling Italian banks and increased instability in Europe--now barely have investors batting an eye. Brexit, Trump and the Italian Prime Minister step-down have all failed to rattle the markets.

Michael Block, Chief Strategist at Rhino Trading Partners, quipped Monday that "everything is a buying opportunity and you need to not miss the boat."

"Heck, all we need is a coup d' etat in India and the entire Belgian banking system to go Kablooey and the S&P 500 will be at 3,000 by Christmas Eve," he joked.

You've got to admit it is a little freaky when the markets react by pushing higher on each new political shock wave. It's just not normal.

Block is worried--and he's not the only one. Some believe what is being dubbed "The Trump Rally" may be turning into a bubble.

"Donald Trump has made the stock market great again," writes Sue Chang of Market Watch. "But that frothiness is prompting warnings that the market is getting too bubbly, setting up investors for a disappointment in coming weeks."

Even Donald Trump says we're "in a big, fat, ugly bubble" and sold all his stocks in June.

Sherlock Holmes would call that a clue.

A wise man once said: "Do not value money for any more nor any less than its worth; it is a good servant but a bad master." -- Alexandre Dumas

"Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know...I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" -- John 14: 1-4, 6.

News:

• CNBC: Stocks trade at record highs after European Central Bank's decision to keep interest rates unchanged.
• Hawaii News Now: Tsunami watch issued after 7.7 magnitude quake strikes near Solomon Islands; 6.5 hits off Calif. coast Thursday.
• Fox News Channel: Trump Tower advertising Secret Service protection as amenity for tenants. 

"What's It All About (Alfie)?"

"Throughout the New Testament, the Christian life is compared to a race," says Greg Laurie of Harvest Christian Fellowship.

"With that in mind, we need to realize that it is not a short sprint, but a long-distance run."

Throughout all the twists and turns, ups and downs, good times and bad, Laurie contends the answer is the same: "A successful runner must keep his eyes on the prize."

In other words, remember what the race is all about.

"We must bear in mind," says Laurie, "for Whom and to Whom we are running: Jesus Christ. In essence, we need to keep our eyes on Jesus."

Corrie ten Boom, a Dutch Christian who survived the horror of Hitler's concentration camps during World War II, often said, "Look within and be depressed. Look without and be distressed. Look at Jesus and be at rest."

"God will see us through to the end," says Laurie. "He has given us His word."

"And I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again."-- Phil. 1:6 

 A wise man once said: "It's good to remind ourselves of God's faithfulness and the hope we have in Him...The same God who has been faithful in the past will continue His love for us in the future." -- James Banks, Christian writer

News:

• DEBKAfile: Syrian military spokesman confirms Israeli air strike on Damascus
• CBN News: Harvard study suggests millennials have given up on democracy; European millennials agree
• The Telegraph News: Russia hopes to 'normalise' relations with U.S. under Trump presidency, says Vladimir Putin in State of the Nation speech