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November 5, 2001                                                                              Volume 1 Issue 2 

All articles included in this newsletter are for reference only. We include excerpts from media 
reports to pass along to our readers.We do not sell these excerpts or the newsletter.

Thank you for subscribing to the WATCH! newsletter. Our first issue was a big success. Thanks for all of the feedback you have sent in. We were not pleased with the final format of the newsletter as it arrived in your e-mail. It looked substantially different than we intended. As a result of the lessons learned from the first issue and reader feedback we made the changes that you are viewing here and have opted to send a link in the e-mail to this page instead of the actual newsletter. Only subscribers will have access to the most recent newsletter. Past newsletters will be posted in our WATCH! archives found on our website home page. This newsletter will mature with your help and prayers - THANK YOU!
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This biweekly newsletter is devoted to watching the events of our time through the "eyes" of the prophetic scriptures found in the Bible. The WATCH! newsletter is a news analysis and commentary from the Bible prophecy perspective. See how todays events are leading to the last days and fulfilling the prophetic scriptures of the Bible. The LORD Jesus told us to WATCH! for his coming (Matthew 13:37). The WATCH! newsletter is a tool that will enhance your study of end-time prophecy. Also included you will find biblical answers to featured questions from our readers. Join us as we prepare ourselves for the resurrection!!

In the name of Jesus Christ,
Randy Loudenslager

Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. Acts 17:11

Please take the time to follow up on the scriptures provided here. Be sure to listen to what God tells you in these scriptures. We come into end time prophecy with many different notions of what will happen. Let God tell you for himself what will happen.

ARAFAT GAINING GROUND - ISRAEL GIVING GROUND

Even as bombs fall in Afghanistan. And even when the vast majority of the worlds governments stand solid against terrorism. Israel is continuing to be quietly pressured to bring about a peace with the Palestinians. The great allies of the United States during this crucial time, the countries of the European Union, have been subsidizing terror in Palestine. This was discovered when as reported by DEBKA INTELLIGENCE FILES on October 30, 2001:

Israeli forces on Oct. 22 burst into the Ramallah headquarters of Yasser Arafat's presidential guard, known as Force 17, they found an extraordinary set of documents containing evidence the Palestinian leader was paying the entire body of Tanzim-Fatah terrorists out of his own "presidential" budget. The captured documents included Arafat's signed directive, issued three weeks before the outbreak of the intifada, to pay $22,000 each into the personal account of each of the leading Fatah terror masters to defray the costs of creating the terror body named the Tanzim. A corps of Palestinians was to be recruited who were prepared to engage in bombing, shooting, lynching and any other form of terror against Israel that was ordered by their masters. The recipients of these funds were the Tanzim commander Marwan Barghouti, Kemal Hamad, Ahmed Abayat (whom Israeli forces killed this month), Issam Abu Bakr and other Arafat associates. Arafat fills those wage packets from the subsidies awarded the Palestinian Authority by European Union member governments, including Germany, Belgium, France, UK and Italy, DEBKA's sources say. A simple reckoning shows that, in the last 14 months, the European taxpayer has been contributing – unknowingly but regularly – around INS 8,750,000 (roughly U.S. $219,000) per month to keep the Palestinian terrorist Tanzim militia afloat – a total of INS 122,500,000 (about U.S. $31 million) since September 2000. International terror experts estimate Osama bin Laden's war chest for his terror campaign worldwide as running to some $300 million. The Ramallah Force 17 documents, showing only a small portion of Arafat's outlay on his terror offensive against Israel alone, demonstrate that the Palestinian is spending funds on a scale not far short of the Saudi-born terrorist.

The focus on Yassar Arafat has taken a decidedly favorable sheen these days as he is increasingly being seen as a diplomat for peace. Mr. Arafat arrived in Rome on October 29th to visit the Prime Minister Bersculoni and the Pope for the 11th time. Italy is a strong proponent of Palestinian statehood and has called loudly for UN peacekeeping troops for the area. Arafat claimed to reporters that international pressure was behind Israel's decision to withdrawal troops from Bethlehem and nearby Beit Jalla.

As if to echo Arafat's statements, Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, while in Washington seemed to bend over backward in his attempts at appeasement when he said, "We are not fighting against a Palestinian state; on the contrary, we are for a Palestinian state, we don't want to downfall the Palestinian autonomy; on the contrary, we would like to see them successful. We don't want the Palestinian people to suffer; on the contrary, we would like them to enjoy freedom and prosperity. And we are not conducting a personal war against Arafat." What is more disturbing to those who pray for the peace of Jerusalem is the growing tide of agreement by the people of Israel with Peres reflected by Reuven Goder, a retired lieutenant colonel who served as a military attache to the Lebanese Christian militia, which allied itself with Israel. "In Lebanon, we learned things about Arab culture and the Arab mentality that apply everywhere in the region, including the West Bank, for Arabs, the importance of a parcel of earth cannot be exaggerated. A man without land is not a man." Chen Ravon, 26, a graduate student in Jewish philosophy at the University of Haifa said, "The occupation of the West Bank is the biggest mistake Israel has ever made, it's like a cancer eating at us from the inside, that we have to watch what our boys are doing to these people." The growing pressures of the international community are producing a fatigue on the people of Israel as they long for peace.

Israel has stood strong for 53 years. In part because of the seldom wavering support of the United States, but things are changing. Washington's view of her relationship with Israel has dramatically changed. The war against terrorism now has a much higher priority than its half century of support for the Jewish nation. As the leaders go - so goes the nation. With Osama bin Laden issuing statements like, “I swear to God that America will not live in peace before peace reigns in Palestine,” it is becoming clear that the support Israel once enjoyed in the U.S. has become a mile wide but only an inch deep. Americans don't have the stomach for this conflict as reflected in a University of Michigan poll taken earlier this month that found 64 percent of Americans believe our support for Israel was a key factor behind the Sept. 11 attacks. This poll is reflected in other polls that show most Americans believe we should not take sides in the Arab-Israeli conflict, and more than half of Americans back the creation of a Palestinian state.

As if to add insult to injury American Red Cross President Bernadine Healy announced her resignation. And why? She said policy differences with her board about how the American Red Cross should handle a decision by the International Red Cross to exclude the Israeli branch from membership in the global agency. Healy said she had withheld administrative dues to the Red Cross' parent in Geneva over the Israel controversy, calling it a "controversial but principled stand."

I don't need to remind us Christians what will happen if we become neutral on the issue or pull our support of Israel. I'll let the following respected Jewish American tell you in his own words.

DON FEDER October 31, 2001
It is a deep love of country that compels me to speak out against Bush's sellout of Israel. To appease our Muslim allies-in-name-only, the president is pushing Jerusalem to negotiate with assassins and allow another Afghanistan on its borders. Big mistake. Strategic interests aside, the fates of America and the seed of Abraham are intertwined. The Bible was as much America's founding document as the Declaration of Independence or Constitution. The founding fathers' beliefs in liberty, equality before the law and representative government came from Sinai. The Constitution is a covenant reflecting a much older covenant. The relationship hasn't been one-sided. America acted as midwife at the birth of the modern state of Israel. When its first chief rabbi met Harry Truman, he told the president, "God put you in your mother's womb to give the Jewish people back their land." "I will bless that nation that blesses you and curse the nation that curses you." That promise is verified by history. Has there ever been a nation as good to the Jews as America? Has any land been more blessed? Regarding the evil of slavery, Thomas Jefferson wrote, "I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just – that His justice can not sleep forever." And I tremble for our nation when I reflect on what's being done in the name of a war on terrorism. On the day this country deserts Israel, "God bless America" will become just so many empty words.

THE BIBLE VIEW

The scripture Mr. Feder quotes in his article above is from several different places in the Old Testament.

The first is the LORD's blessing of Abram.
"I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you and whoever curses you I will curse; and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you." Genesis 12:2-3

The second is Isaac's blessing of Jacob.
"May nations serve you and peoples bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, and may the sons of your mother bow down to you. May those who curse you be cursed and those who bless you be blessed." Genesis 27:29

The third is Balaam's blessing of Israel.
"May those who bless you be blessed and those who curse you be cursed!" Numbers 24:9

God sums it up in other ways.
"If you listen carefully to what he [angel or Spirit of the LORD] says and do all that I say, I will be an enemy to your enemies and will oppose those who oppose you." Exodus 24:22

You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. James 4:4

To take away any of Israel's land is to appease the world - that is to be friends with the world which makes you an enemy of God. Israel's shepherds will make deals to save their own skins, but they will answer to the LORD for it.

"He [anti-Christ] will confirm a covenant with many for one seven." Daniel 9:27

"He [anti-Christ] will distribute plunder, loot and wealth among his followers . . .He [anti-Christ] will return and show favor to those who forsake the holy covenant. Daniel 11:24-30

"The idols speak deceit, diviners see visions that lie; they tell dreams that are false, they give comfort in vain. Therefore the people wander like sheep oppressed for lack of a shepherd. My anger burns against the shepherds and I will punish the leaders; for the LORD Almighty will care for his flock, the house of Judah, and make them like a proud horse in battle." Zechariah 10:2-3

In order for the anti-Christ to establish global control and cooperation he will have to streamline, standardize and coordinate all technology systems, militaries, governments and even human beings. The push by governments around the world for a national ID card has gained momentum since the events of 9-11. Our staunchest allies, the British, have begun their national card under the auspices of a new form of passport called Smartcard.
As reported in THE TIMES (From Britain) November 1, 2001 BY MELISSA KITE

THE Home Office has secretly created a prototype national identity card in preparation for the introduction of ID cards for all Britons. The technical trials, detailed in todays Computer Weekly magazine, are understood to have produced a photocard passport that could form the basis of a national identity Smartcard. The card would hold personal data and a digitised photograph, using technology similar to that described this week by Mr Blunkett for a mandatory card that he is introducing for asylum-seekers. A 2001-06 report outlines the Smartcard project in full: “Working with its international counterparts, the UKPS will explore whether the photograph may be supplemented by other biometrics such as iris scan and automated face recognition. “Biometrics could be stored in a Smartcard that would incorporate security features to make it more resilient to forgery. Work is currently under way and it is anticipated that the first international biometric trials will begin next year.” After September 11, Mr Blunkett said that he was giving “fairly high priority” to the idea. He said they would be used not just for security purposes but also for holding social security information about the benefits to which the holder is entitled.

The first international biometric trials is an ominous sign of a coordinated effort by multiple governments. And as evidence of such collaboration the Pentagon announced October 29th the new generation of military ID, called a Smartcard, for all 4.3 million active military personnel -- including selected reserves, civilian employees and some contractors. The card will include a photograph, bar code, magnetic strip and other identifying text. The disturbing aspect of the card is that in the future the military could add encrypted medical information to the card or use it to gain this information from a secure computer file. The purpose of my analysis is not to discredit military security measures, after all it is understood that the military operates under a different set of privacy concerns than the private sector and this for obvious defense reasons. The disturbing part is that it hasn't and won't stop with the military and associated personnel. Assistant Secretary of Defense John Stenbit said other countries such as South Africa already used such cards to control access to voting booths and welfare benefits. Officials at the Pentagon and EDS Corp., the main contractor for the smart cards, said efforts were underway to boost the capacity of the cards within a year. Efforts were also underway to add an individual's fingerprint, which could be ready for implementation within two years, said Ken Scheflen, director of the Defense Manpower Data Center. Scheflen said the Pentagon's experience with the new technology could prove useful in any move to create national identification cards for the United States.

Should we rest in the laurels of our liberty? Should we be confident that the American people will never stand for such a thing? U.S. Sen. Diane Feistein (D-Calif.) has been vocally supporting the use of Smartcards. At the moment there is little support among the Congressional leadership or the President, but Feinstein is going forward with the preparation of a bill calling for mandatory IDs with fingerprints and other biometric data for noncitizens and a data base for immigration officials to check with the CIA and state criminal and other records. "It's just for people coming into the country," Feinstein said. "I think this is where we should start."

Not convincing enough? Last week, Jason King, the spokesman for the nonprofit American Assn. of Motor Vehicle Administrators said, "Your driver's license has become your de facto ID card, like it or not." The organization is meeting in hopes of hammering out recommendations to standardize the 50 state systems and toughen requirements. "If you have a nationwide unified framework, you will be able to, for the first time, uniquely identify that the person is who they say they are," King said. "We're trying to come up with a strong uniform voice to go to Congress."

Oracle Corp. Chief Executive Larry Ellison is one of the earliest advocates of a new identification system. Ellison told Oracle employees in a speech posted to the company's Web site, "We've been so busy protecting ourselves against our government that we have made it impossible for our government to protect us."
It is this kind of "rational fear" that is destroying our liberties and will make it possible for the anti-Christ to control the system.

What will be contained on your National-Drivers-License-Passport-ID-Smartcard? BIOMETRICS of course! Read the following excerpt from SILICON.COM by PIA HEIKKILAOctober 24, 2001

Biometrics ready for next generation. Forget iris identification, think financial behavioural analysis...
Biometrics has traditionally focussed on identifying individuals through iris or fingerprint identification, but this technique could be fundamentally flawed. Instead, the solution to securing financial transactions, according to security gurus is through behavioural biometrics - a technology that analyses and learns an individual's spending patterns and reports any discrepancies to the account holder's bank. When might this happen, when might the industry come to its senses?
Martin Hewgill, fraud and risk specialist at card payment technology company ACI, said: "Body biometrics such as fingerprint and iris scans have too great false rejection rate to be successfully deployed as a reliable form of identification.
"However, behavioural biometrics lets banks and credit card companies to alert the end user when the card is being compromised rather than user having to track down statements from months back." Some banks are already using basic types of risk analysis behind the scenes and Hewgill predicted this type of technology will become more widespread. "Banks can build a profile of users the minute they sign up for an account. They can calculate the possibilities of a risk behaviour of each customer." he added. Behavioural biometrics technology uses risk analysis software, which tracks down any unusual patterns in the user's bank account. Events that can trigger a warning include the transfer of large sums of money between accounts or the purchase of expensive goods through retail outlets.

But this is a free country you say! US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention doesn't agree and if it has it's way will claim rights to your body as well. The CDC has commissioned a model of legislation that would among other things allow states to be able to force patients to take medication. The model law would give people the right to appeal states' decisions to quarantine or isolate them. Individuals with contagious diseases, such as smallpox, wouldn't be able to appeal orders for treatment or vaccination under the law. The patient would remain quarantined or isolated until the appeals process was exhausted. Patients could be forced to take medicines or receive vaccines for contagious diseases that pose a public health threat, such as smallpox, under the model law. Patients wouldn't be allowed to appeal a state's decision, though the state would likely quarantine anyone who refused to comply which would then trigger the appeals process.
R. Alta Charo, a professor at the University of Wisconsin Law School says that states would avoid civil liberties violations if they enact laws that spell out penalties such as the loss of public benefits, instead of incarceration, for patients who refuse treatment.

How can this information best be summed up into a plan? Enter former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev. In an interview published Saturday with Rossiiskaya Gazeta, Gorbachev wrote, "The U.S.-led international coalition against terror must become a coalition for a new and fair world order if it is to succeed. If the fight against terrorism is reduced to force actions, the world will eventually lose. If it becomes part of joint efforts to build a just world order, everybody shall win, including those who today are not supporting the U.S. actions and the coalition." He urged politicians to remember the notions of solidarity. Issues such as the expansion of NATO and the future of the U.S.-Soviet anti-missile agreement "would be easier to resolve when we have a joint strategy of moving to the new world community," Gorbachev wrote.

THE BIBLE VIEW

The common denominator? Money. They want to track you, analyze you and ultimately control you. Each of the examples given to you above are happening as you read this. Each one has an underlining penalty for lack of cooperation. In the near future all of these apparent separate programs will be funneled into one form of convenience tracking device and system. Man is coming together for the final time to make a name for himself and build that tower of Babel that they started so long ago.

Not to resist this world system in your own life is not to resist Satan. We must love the Truth [Jesus] more than gratify the desires of safety or convenience. At some point when the number comes you will have to make a choice. If you have received the world's preparations for the number then you will not have the resolve to resist it later because you will not recognize it for what it is.

They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness. 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12

This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is man's number.
His number is 666. Revelation 13:18

The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. 1 Timothy 4:1-2

Submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double minded. James 4:7-8

ONE WORLD RELIGION

Since 9-11 the world has made huge leaps of progress in it's drive for a new order. An ideal place where every persons depiction of Almighty God is the right one and who would disagree except those hate mongering Christians and Jews. A little history lesson: When ancient Greece was at the pinnacle of her philosophical, artistic, political, economic and military power a movement began to flourish in the philosophical circles of the time. They were called Sophists, and from their name we derive the English word sophisticated. The premise of philosophy on which this movement was built was that every person could believe whatever they wanted (they had thousands of gods) and no one had the right to infringe upon another's right to do so. After a time, this democracy of individuals made it near impossible to communicate any sense of a national heritage or cultural values. In short, the Greek culture imploded upon itself because they were so severely divided by their rights to be right in their own mind - sound familiar? Consider the following excerpt from YAHOO NEWS By DUNSTAN PRIAL, Associated Press Writer October 23, 2001

NEW YORK (AP) - Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, in a subtle jab at his conservative colleagues, said those who favor a literal interpretation of the Constitution aren't necessarily following the framers' wishes. The men who wrote the Constitution left many important areas open to interpretation, Breyer said in a speech Monday at New York University School of Law. ``Those more literalist judges who emphasize language, history, tradition and precedent cannot justify their practices by claiming that is what the framers wanted,'' Breyer said, ``For the framers did not say specifically what factors judges should emphasize when seeking to interpret the Constitution's open language.'' Breyer noted the Constitution ``does not define the freedom of speech in any detail . . ."

The religion of tomorrow will not exclude anyone except Jews and Christians unless they are also tolerant of their oppressors. Multi-faith delegations and prayer meetings are all the rage these days. Beth Ferris, the executive secretary for international affairs at the Geneva-based World Council of Churches (WCC) said, "People always turn to religion in times of crisis. But this time it is more powerful because of the nature of the attacks and the feeling it could happen anywhere, coupled with a belief the world has changed in ways people can't understand." She doesn't know how right she is.

Even the pagans are coming out of their closets in this tolerant culture we have built. Take note in these excerpts from an article by SYBEL ALGER THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE October 29, 2001

On Halloween night pagans celebrated Samhain (pronounced so-when). Samhain is the fall festival that recognizes the harvest and remembers ancestors, said Jeff Albaugh, spokesman for the Touchstone Local Council of the International Covenant of the Goddess. On Oct. 31, the goddess, the earth mother and giver of life, symbolically dies and ends her rule. The lord of the underworld emerges and begins his reign over the dark winter months. The term "pagan" encompasses a wide variety of nature-based practices, all tracing their roots to pre-Christian Europe. Neopaganism refers to ideas that have sprung up in the past 30 or so years, expanding upon or experimenting with the work of the 1920s and 1930s. Wicca, or witchcraft, is the label for the tradition that includes magic. There are many Wiccan traditions, including Celtic, Druid, Dianic and Gardnerian. Not all pagans are witches, said Susannah Faith. Pagan practices are focused on the earth's cycles, with the year defined by a wheel with eight spokes or festivals, including fall, yule, spring and summer. Pagans believe that any power they use will be returned to them threefold, making negative spells risky. A spell is a formula, or series of steps, to direct the will to a desired end, according to the Covenant Web site. Energy is drawn from the earth, concentrated and sent into the world. It is believed that with proper training and intent, human minds and hearts are capable of performing magic and miracles through the use of natural psychic power, it said. "Everything is imbued with the life force," said Rowan Wakefield, 41, of Hemet.
"God is not outside. It is part of the world and everything we see in it. Rituals are steeped in symbolism. Pagans recognize the God and Goddess, so altars always include opposites, such as the ritual blade that symbolizes the male and the chalice that symbolizes the female, said Gary Shook, 45, of Highland, the council's first officer. The four elements -- earth, air, fire and water -- are shown plus a pentagram that symbolizes the earth and its properties. Pagans find it humorous that the culture has adopted many of their practices, but they resent the erroneous meanings assigned to them, said Shook. The desire to educate the public is one reason that Inland-area pagans organized the Touchstone Council this year, Shook said.
"Society has become more tolerant. We certainly appreciate that," said Faith, 43, an artist who lives in Redlands. "We are your neighbors. We have kids, families, heartaches, headaches. Our cars break down."
"We're not that different than other religions," said Shook, who has practiced Wicca for more than 15 years. "Our core values are very much the same." The main tenet is, "An ye harm none, do what ye will." Pagans are keenly aware that conservative Christians and others see them as an evil force, the embodiment of the devil of the Bible. "Many people can't wrap their minds around the idea of being accepting and open and allowing other people to have the freedom to be who they are," Wakefield said.

THE BIBLE VIEW

Jesus tells us that he is the way and the truth and the life and that the only way to the Father was through him! Since the fall of mankind in the garden of Eden there has been pagans, witchcraft and idolatry in the world. God makes it clear that there are no excuses for anyone. If you practice such things then Hell is you eternal destiny. As believers we are not called to hate these people and we are not called to forgive these people - are we God? We are called to love these people and reach them with the good news. They turn to these things because they lack hope, so give them the hope that is within you. They don't understand the truth because they have exchanged truth for wickedness and therefore they are blind, so help them see. They don't trust our love because they don't know how to love, so love them with the unconditional love of Jesus Christ! We are not to judge them, we can not judge those outside the church - God will. We can only judge those who are in the church and even that is discernment given by the Holy Spirit.

"I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6

" . . . since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. For although they knew God . . . They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator . . . Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them. Romans 1:18-32

What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. 1 Corinthians 5:12-13

The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment.
1 Corinthians 2:15

A WATCH! RETRACTION

In last weeks newsletter I mentioned that the corner stone for the new temple in Jerusalem was laid and ceremoniously consecrated. This is an error and I would like to take this opportunity to correct the statement by letting the people who are responsible for the building of the temple speak through excerpts from their newsletter.

A Cornerstone for the Third Temple Causes an “Earthquake”
in the Middle East and all over the World on Tisha B’Av 2001

The cornerstone for the Third Temple which The Temple Mount and Land of Israel Faithful Movement brought to the southern wall and gates of the Temple Mount, the main entrance for millions of pilgrims and worshippers in Biblical times, on Tisha B’Av (29/07/2001) aroused great fear in the enemies of Israel, shocked them and caused an “earthquake” in the Middle East and all over the world. At the same time it excited everyone in the world, especially those whose eyes are lifted in love to the G–d, the people and the land of Israel, Zion and Jerusalem. Each day people lay cornerstones all over the world. Who cares about this and who pays attention to this? But one cornerstone for the Third Temple, the house of G–d in Jerusalem, moved the hearts of all the world and caused an “earthquake” in the media and governments of all the nations. All of this again showed that the destiny of the people and land of Israel and all the world will be decided in one place which is the heart, soul and focus of Israel and the most holy place in the world - the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, the eternal capital of the G–d and people of Israel.This was a key event in the history of Israel and all mankind. However the cornerstone could not be laid on the Temple Mount on the location of the First and Second Temples because of the threats and violent demonstrations of the Arab enemies of Israel on the Temple Mount and in Biblical Jerusalem as a reaction to this event and at the same time the weakness of the Israeli G–d authorities under pressure from nations and powers all over the world. Despite this fact, the cornerstone caused a revolution in the middle East and all over the world.All of the enemies of Israel and the world powers understood the historical significance of the laying of the cornerstone for the Third Temple on Mt. Moriah and the start of the process of the rebuilding of the temple. They understood very well that the rebuilding of the temple will change the history, life and face of all the world. They understood that the materialistic and evil leadership of this time, together with the immoral and very materialistic character of life will forever pass away and mankind will no longer be led by politicians with all the negative hypocritical meaning of this leadership which has led mankind to strive after physical achievements which places the idol of money in the midst of life and rejects our One Living G–d, our Creator with His moral values. On the day after the event a large bulge was noticed on the southern wall of the Temple Mount. The media reported that there is a danger that the El Aqsa mosque which is on the southern wall of the Temple Mount could collapse as a result of this bulge. The bulge was not caused by the hands of any man. Everyone understands that it was caused by G–d Himself who did it on the same wall in front of and not far from which the cornerstone was brought even though it was not offloaded from the truck. People in Israel and all over the world understand and feel that this is a clear message from G–d that He expects Israel to immediately purify the Temple Mount, lay the cornerstone and start with the rebuilding of His house. It is so exciting to see in which marvellous ways G–d is acting in these end-times and how His presence appears in the campaign and activities of The Temple Mount and Land of Israel Faithful Movement in such a unique and godly way.

Two New Cornerstones for the Third Temple Anointed by the Faithful Movement in Jerusalem during Sukkoth - First Architectural Plans for the Third Temple Shown

On Thursday 4th October, 2001, The Temple Mount and Land of Israel Faithful Movement brought two cornerstones for the Third Temple. Despite the fact that a cornerstone could not be laid on the Temple Mount on Tisha B’Av and was only brought to the southern gates of the Temple Mount, the Faithful Movement decided this time to bring two cornerstones and to show progress in the battle for the rebuilding of the temple. We decide to continue to bring the cornerstones until the gates of the Temple Mount are opened, the cornerstones are laid and the great vision starts to be fulfilled. Each marble cornerstone weighs 6 tonnes and they are of the same kind as those used in the Second Temple. In accordance with Scripture they have been prepared without the use of iron implements. The authorities in Israel initially gave us permission to again bring the cornerstones to the southern gates of the Temple Mount and to anoint them there. They were not ready to confirm the plans of the Temple Mount Faithful Movement to lay them on the Temple Mount in the same location of the First and Second Temples because of the fear of Arab riots and under the pressure of other parties. During the days immediately before this historical event the pressure and the threats of violence became stronger and on the evening before the event the authorities rescinded the permission relating to the cornerstones. They only allowed us to hold the other parts of the event - to anoint the two cornerstones in Jerusalem where they lay not far from the holy hill waiting to be taken to the Temple Mount, to march to the western (Mugrabi) gate of the Temple Mount, the City of David and the Pool of Siloam for the Biblical ceremony of Nisuch Hamaim, and to display the initial architectural plans for the temple in front of the western gate of the Temple Mount. We immediately decided to bring the cornerstones to the Temple Mount and anoint them again during Hanukkah this year on the 16th December. The campaign for the rebuilding of the temple cannot be stopped and we shall continue with it until the cornerstones for the Third Temple are laid on the Temple Mount and the temple rebuilt in the same place as the First and Second Temples. In the early morning of the event, the two cornerstones were anointed in a very exciting ceremony with prayers and a great hope that during Hanukkah they will be anointed on the Temple Mount. The media from Israel and all over the world published the pictures of the cornerstones and brought them to the attention of all the world. Actually, the process of the rebuilding of the temple started when the cornerstones were brought to Jerusalem and anointed. For the first time in the history of Israel of the last 2000 years the initial plans for the Third Temple were presented by the architect of the Faithful Movement as well as a large model of the temple. A priest dressed in the original Biblical garments which have been recreated in Jerusalem during the last year according to the Biblical design presented the vessels for the Third Temple which have also been prepared according to Biblical design. He led the prayers accompanied Levites who played on Biblical musical instruments. Gershon called on the Israeli Government to have courage and spiritual godly motivation to fulfil Israel's historical task and to immediately purify the Temple Mount and rebuild the temple. This unique and exciting event of The Temple Mount and Land of Israel Faithful Movement caused much excitement and hope in Israel. The desire of the Israeli nation for the Temple Mount and the rebuilding of the temple is now more than at any time in the past in the midst of the public and the life of Israel. Prepare yourselves for the next laying of the cornerstones during Hanukkah and the G–d of Israel will be with us.

Well, you didn't withhold your questions and for this I am grateful. I look forward to answering your questions and as promised I will feature some of them here.

Tim and Laurie write:
Randy, where do you feel the rapture of the Church fits into all of this? And, at what point in the Tribulation do you believe it will happen?

My answer to this question may surprise many of you considering the popularity of the Left Behind series and movie. My initial reply is that given a choice, I would much rather prefer, as I suppose most of you would, to be raptured before the times of trial, known as the great tribulation. Who prefers severe trial over protection from trials? With that said I begin with this scripture:

For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. 2 Timothy 4:3-5

My itching ears want to hear that I will be raptured before the tribulation and my flesh desires to believe this myth, but in reading scripture thoroughly and in context, it is impossible to believe in this myth with a clear conscience.
There are several errors in understanding end-time terms that need to be cleared up before I conclude what God says on the subject.

1) RAPTURE: At the risk of sounding redundant, this word doesn't exist in the Bible. Christians understand the term to describe the experience of being taken up into the air with all believers to meet Jesus Christ and be with him forever more. I won't argue with that description because it is scriptural.

According to the LORD's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the LORD, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the LORD himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the LORD in the air. And so we will be with the LORD forever. 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17

Unfortunately the rapture has become a story that has been stretched to mythical proportions. I would like to take the opportunity to reintroduce the word RESURRECTION into Christian teaching. After all, it is the most essential doctrine of our faith.

And if Christ has not been raised your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through one man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through one man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own turn: Christ, the first fruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. Then the end will come . . . 1 Corinthians 15:17-24

In short, our salvation is our resurrection.

2) HOW MANY COMINGS?
Answer: 2

Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
Hebrews 9:27-28

Note: He APPEARS a SECOND TIME to bring SALVATION to those who are WAITING for him.

3a) TRIBULATION PERIOD (a.k.a. Great Tribulation): This term causes much confusion. In the NIV translation the word tribulation occurs only once, in Revelation 7:14. Jesus refers to this time as the desolation.

"When you see ‘the abomination that causes desolation' standing where it does not belong - let the reader understand - then let those who are in Judea flee . . . because those will be days of distress unequaled from the beginning, when God created the world, until now - and never to be equaled again. If the LORD had not cut short those days, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, whom he has chosen, he has shortened them."
Mark 13:14-20

Jesus speaks of the desolation as unequaled in it's distress. He also mentions us in this context as being spared complete annihilation in those days. By understanding that the tribulation is the desolation spoken of by Daniel then we will more readily comprehend it's purpose and meaning.

3b)PURPOSE OF THE DESOLATION:
To punish Israel, for the last time, for her waywardness. God will expend his wrath against Israel through her enemies, to punish her for her sins, before redeeming her out of the hands of her enemies when Jesus Christ comes.

"His [anti-Christ] armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation. With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist him. Those who are wise will instruct many, though for a time they will fall by the sword or be burned or captured or plundered. When they fall, they will receive a little help, and many who are not sincere will join them. Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined, purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time. The king will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will say unheard of things against the God of gods. He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed, for what has been determined must take place." Daniel 11:31-36

"When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city. For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written. How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. They will fall by the sword and be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled." Luke 21:20-24

In a nutshell: The desolation (tribulation) is the wrath of God primarily focused against Israel and will be perpetrated by the anti-Christ and the nations of the world.

3c) LENGTH OF THE DESOLATION (TRIBULATION)?
Three and one half years. The myth that the tribulation will be for seven years has been completely constructed upon a foundation of just a half of one verse.

"He will confirm a covenant with many for one seven."
Daniel 9:27a

Nowhere else do the scriptures specifically mention a seven year period, and nowhere is it associated as the time span of the tribulation. What we see in the second part of the verse is the anti-Christ ending the daily sacrifice and setting up the abomination that causes DESOLATION! This is a three and one half year period and is confirmed very literally in the scripture below.

"In the middle of the seven he [anti-Christ} will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing of the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him." Daniel 9:27b

"From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days." Daniel 12:11-12

Now, where do we as believers fit in? The resurrection of the saints will be on the last day when Jesus makes his second appearance.

. . . he [Jesus Christ] will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
Hebrews 9:28

"As for you [Daniel], go your own way till the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance." Daniel 12:13

So when does Jesus come into the scheme of things? The signs of the end of the desolation and his coming are clear from scripture. He says that there will be signs in the sky and his sign will appear in the clouds. It is then that we are to expect him. We are resurrected at the time the LORD comes and pours out his wrath upon the earth! This coming of the LORD marks the last day of earth the way we know it and marks the beginning of the millennial reign of Christ on earth.

". . . and he [anti-Christ] will set out in a great rage to destroy and annihilate many. He will pitch his royal tents between the seas at the beautiful holy mountain. Yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him. At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people - everyone whose name is found written in the book - will be delivered. Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. Daniel 11:44 - 12:3

There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." Luke 21:25-28

"Men will tell you, ‘There he is!' or ‘Here he is!' Do not go running off after them. For the Son of Man in his day will be like lightening, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other . . . Just as it was in the days of Noah . . . It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking ,buying and selling, planting and building. But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed. On that day no one who is on the roof of his house, with his goods inside, should go down to get them. Likewise, no one in the field should go back for anything. Remember Lots wife! Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding grain together; one will be taken and the other left."
"Where LORD?" they asked.
He replied, "Where there is a dead body, there the vultures will gather." Luke 17:23-37

The last verse above is in reference to:

"I am [God] against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. I will turn you around and drag you along. I will bring you from the far north and send you against the mountains of Israel . . . On the mountains of Israel you will fall, you and all your troops and the nations with you. I will give you as food to all kinds of carrion birds and to the wild animals. Ezekiel 39:1-4

These verses and a large volume of others (too numerous to reference here) show that those who are not resurrected will be killed and become food for the vultures. The coming of Jesus Christ will be the violent overthrow of Satan's kingdom and the establishment of his own kingdom.

This answer to Tim and Laurie's e-mail is by no means an exhaustive work, for that you will have to wait for my book to be finished (even then only the LORD has the exhaustive knowledge).
As you read the scriptures you will encounter numerous confirmations of what I have told you here. I have tried to deal specifically with just one question, but I understand the myriad of new questions that will flood your minds. I will be forever grateful for the opportunity to minister God's word to you as we search the scriptures for answers.