Everyday in the news we hear more arguments about going to war against Iraq. At the same time we are already in Afghanistan with a force. Between the two countries is Iran.

When you look at the map of the Middle East you see that Iran is in the middle between Iraq and Afghanistan. At the present time we have a huge military presence in Afghanistan. At the same time President Bush is doing his best to bring our military to Iraq to topple Sadam Hussan who was empowered by the United States during the Iran Iraq war.

When you look at the possible sides in this war and compare it with Bible prophecy you see that the paths for the Kings of the East are open to march on Israel. You also see that all of the Islamic Arab states are keeping quiet about which side they are on. The Christian realizes that the are on whatever side that opposes Israel. Iraq has openly opposed Israel so the rest of the Arab states will side with Iraq in their hopes to topple Israel. These people will never learn from the lessons of history that Israel happens to be God's chosen country. They have also read the Bible that promises Israel the land from the Mediterranean Sea to the Euphrates River. They see all of their territory becoming Israel, thus for self preservation they will side with Iraq. China, Russia, and Syria have all been buying Oil from Iraq at a discount thus they want to see the status quo.

Revelation 16:12-16

12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.
13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.
14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
16 And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.

Is the world preparing for Armageddon with the coming war and the preparation for war? I think that the answer is clear that the world is preparing for the ultimate attack on Israel. Read the following from today's NY Post

Israeli intelligence has been warning for months that the two terror-sponsoring nations (via their terrorist front group, Hezbollah) were planning moves meant to complicate any effort to topple Saddam Hussein ( news - web sites).

First, the Lebanese (or, rather, their government, a puppet of Syria's) began diverting up to 30 percent of Israel's water supply, prompting a warning from Jerusalem.

Now it turns out that Syria has provided Hezbollah with a growing arsenal of Iranian-made surface-to-surface missiles capable of striking major cities in Israel's northern frontier.

Even before 9/11, Hezbollah had accumulated up to 9,000 Katyusha rockets, which have regularly rained down on Israeli border towns. But it has now begun acquiring more sophisticated weaponry with a range of up to 45 miles.

That puts major Israeli population centers like Haifa well within striking distance.

The Bush administration is concerned - and rightly so.

This goes beyond mere non-support of efforts to oust Saddam from power in Iraq. It is, in fact, a deliberate effort to protect the Iraqi dictator by opening a new military front and, perhaps, provoking a wider Arab-Israeli war.

Despite Damascus' token cooperation with some U.S. anti-terror efforts, Syrian President Bashir al-Assad has cemented a close relationship with Hezbollah - whose leader, Sheikh Hassan Nasrollah, last week led a mass rally in Beirut, at which he declared: "Our reverberating slogan remains: 'Death to America.' "

Syria also continues to flout United Nations ( news - web sites) sanctions by illegally importing 200,000 barrels of Iraqi oil a day.

That Syria and Iran would like to keep America from effecting regime change in Iraq is understandable: After all, they figure, if the United States can overthrow one totalitarian terrorist Middle East regime, it might seek to overthrow others.

Like Syria and Iran, for example.

Where are America's "moderate allies" in the Arab world - particularly Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia - in all this?

None of these countries has so much as lifted a finger to restrain the Syrians and their terrorist allies.

Some in Congress have tried to take the initiative by introducing the Syria Accountability Act, which would impose tough sanctions against Damascus unless it ends its occupation of Lebanon and its sponsorship, with Iran, of Hezbollah.

But the Bush administration last week asked Congress to shelve the legislation, saying it would "severely limit our ability to address a range of important issues directly with the highest levels of the Syrian government."

Both Vice President Dick Cheney ( news - web sites) and Secretary of State Colin Powell ( news - web sites) have in the past personally asked Syria's Assad to curb Hezbollah.

Obviously, such calls have fallen on deaf ears.

Ten years ago, Egypt and Saudi Arabia understood the threat posed by Saddam and backed America's military. Today, the choice remains the same: As President Bush ( news - web sites) put it, "Either you're with us or you're with the terrorists."

Syria and Iran have made their choice. What will America's putative Arab allies do about it?

I don't know about you, but I think that with all that is happening we are on the edge of a conflict that is called in the Bible Armageddon. Some of the more astute of my readers will be thinking that I am way off base for the events described in Revelation 16 happen at the close of the reign of the Antichrist which will be correct. But the question is, ``Will all of these events bring about the rise of the Antichrist?'' We must remember that the Antichrist comes to power as a man bringing peace. But in the end of his reign the peace falls apart with the final battle being Armageddon. Could all of the news that we are reading on a daily basis bring about the rise of the Antichrist?

If you are a Bible beliving Christian then you know in your heart that the answer is yes. We are living in the time described in the Bible as the last days. We are living in the era where the world is gearing up for World War III. Look at the alliances and the Bible alliances and we see that the world is against Israel and the Christian. We are seeing the beginning of a new era unfold that the world is not prepared to accept. We are seeing the beginning of a daywhen the Lord will appear with his saints in the air to conquer once and for all the evils of the wicked.

More Maps:

• middleeast_ref01.jpg
• races_balkan_shepherd_1923.jpg
• arton2057.jpg
• middle_east_pol01.jpg
• middle_east_ref2000.jpg

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