You may view the 5 minute update in two ways:
1) Listen to the audio
2) Watch the video
In this week’s 5 minute update, we focused on three things:
1) The current status of the Israel / PLO peace process
2) The current status regarding potential war with Iran
3) The current status of the US economy
Regarding the current situation with the Israel / PLO peace process, “indirect talks” are planned to start in March. There is a Mideast Quartet (US, Europe, Russia and the United Nations) scheduled to take place in Moscow on March 19 at the ministerial level. The European Union has ruled to goods made in the West Bank by Jews are not covered by EU trade agreements with Israel. Finally, a senior PA negotiator is reporting that the Obama administration would be willing to recognize a PLO state through the United Nations without a negotiated settlement between Israel and the PLO.
At the moment, the main purpose of the “indirect talks” is for Israel and the PLO to come to a negotiated agreement for a PLO state with agreed upon borders. The USA would prefer that Israel and the PLO agree to a negotiated settlement regarding the borders of a PLO state. The USA will encourage this negotiated settlement to the very end. However, the USA also wants to increase greater pressure upon the Netanyahu government to reach that negotiated settlement on borders within the next 3-6 months. In order to increase that pressure, there is a planned Mideast quartet meeting in Moscow on March 19 and the US is giving Israel indications that it will recognize a PLO at the United Nations without a negotiated settlement. An agreement to divide Jerusalem and establish a PLO state is a tribulation event.
The link to these articles are as follows:
1) Indirect Israel / PLO talks may restart in March
2) Mideast Quartet meeting to be held on March 19
3) European Union rules that West Bank goods aren’t Israeli
4) White House ‘on board’ to possibly recognize PLO statehood in the United Nations without a negotiated settlement
Regarding the current situation with Iran, the US had decided to begin the “pressure track”. Simply put, this is a plan to cripple the Iranian banking and energy sectors of their economy. In effect, this would be a major escalation of an “economic war” with Iran. The US and Europe is supportive of the “pressure track”. Russian and China oppose efforts to cripple the Iranian banking and energy sectors. If Russia and China remain firm in their position, it will mean that the USA and Israel will have to attack Iran militarily by themselves. Russian warned the USA that if they attacked Iran that it would cause the US economy to collapse. A war between Iran and the USA is a tribulation event.
The links to these articles are as follows:
1) US places Iran on the “pressure track”
2) European Union plans massive sanctions against Iran
3) Russian rebuffs Israel over tougher sanctions on Iran
4) Russian will not support “crippling” Iran sanctions
5) Only China has the power to cripple Iran – and the West knows it
6) Russian general warns that if the USA attacks Iran that the US economy could collapse
Regarding the US economy, things are looking worse. New homes sales in January hit a record low. There is a 27% jump in problem US banks. Nearly, 25% of all US mortgages people owe more on their house than their house is worth. States tax collections are down from a year ago. Consumer confidence hits an all-time low. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke is vulnerable to the same debt crisis as Greece in now experiencing. Finally, the IMF (International Monetary Fund) suggests a new world reserve currency to replace the US dollar. These economic developments in the US indicate that the US economy and dollar has the potential to collapse at any time. When it does, this would be a tribulation event.
The link to these articles are as follows:
1) New home sales hit record low in January
2) Regulators report a 27% jump in problem banks
3) Nearly 25% of all mortgages are underwater
4) States tax collections fall again
5) Consumer convidence hits an all-time low
6) Ben Bernanke warns on US debt levels
7) IMF proposes new world reserve currency
These events are related to the tribulation. An agreement to divide the land of Israel and the city of Jerusalem is a tribulation event. A US attack against Iran is a tribulation event. A collapse of the US and world economy is a tribulation event (fall of the financial Babylon system). From a Biblical prophetic perspective, the reason why the God of Israel would allow these events to happen is because it will result in the end of the exile of the house of Jacob and the reunification of the 12 tribes of Israel (Ephraim and Judah).
We will to be “watchmen on the walls of Jerusalem” and we will not rest until the God of Israel makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth (Isaiah 62).
Shalom in Yeshua the Messiah,
Eddie Chumney
Hebraic Heritage Ministries Int’l