US in the end times
IN my article in this column last week, I mentioned the names of three US presidents (George H.W. Bush, William J. Clinton, and George W. Bush) who declared that Israel should give away part of its land for the sake of peace in the Middle East – and who experienced catastrophic natural disasters during their terms when they pressured Israel for the division of its land. What is puzzling and frightening is that everytime the aforementioned heads of state initiated serious diplomatic efforts to remove part of the Biblical Promised Land from Israel, many of the catastrophes took place that very day that the so-called diplomatic peace talks started or close to that date. These amazing series of coincidences are unprecedented phenomena that continue to occur up to this day. Many books have been written documenting the dozens of disasters (like hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, raging fires, earthquakes) that have happened in the US within 24 hours (or close to that time) from the time pressure was put on Israel to decide.
*** One may ask: Was the attitude of Presidents George H.W. Bush, William J. Clinton, and George W. Bush towards Israel the same as the attitudes of the earlier presidents? History will show that many earlier US presidents were “friends” of Israel. To name a few: Presidents George Washington, Woodrow Wilson, Harry Truman, Abraham Lincoln, and Lyndon Johnson.
*** Of all the presidents who were friends of Israel, I find the relationship of the late US President George Washington, first US president, very touching and colorful. George Washington was best remembered and loved by Americans for leading an army against the British during the American Revolution. General George Washington’s army were freezing and dying of hunger in the snows of Valley Forge. It was a Jewish banker by the name of Haym Salomon who gave his personal fortune together with the big funds he raised through his shrewd business transactions buying and selling financial papers both in the European and American markets. Haym Salomon donated all his financial riches to buy the food, clothing, arms, and ammunition that George Washington’s army needed. The financial aid of the Jewish banker turned the tide of the war in favor of America.
In return, grateful Washington did a memorable act to document the contribution of Haym Salomon, the Jewish banker. I am quoting from the book by John Hagee titled “Final Dawn Over Jerusalem,” pages 24-25, to wit:
“Washington was so appreciative of the Jewish contribution to the birth of America that he instructed the engravers of the American one-dollar bill to engrave a tribute to the Jewish people over the head of the bald eagle. If you look carefully above the eagle’s head you’ll see the star of David surrounded by the brilliant light of the Shekinah glory that dwell above the Mercy Seat in the Holy of Holies in the Jewish tabernacle.
“If you turn your one-dollar bill upside down and place your thumb over the eagle’s head, the shield becomes the menorah, the seven golden candlesticks of Israel. Placing your thumb completely over the shield leaves the tail of nine feathers that represent the flames of the Hanukkah Menorah.
“But the symbolism doesn’t stop there. To the Israelites, the number thirteen was a significant number. Now look on the one-dollar bill – there are thirteen leaves in the olive branch in the right talon of the eagle, thirteen arrows in the left talon, thirteen stripes on the shield, thirteen stars in the cloud representing the thirteen colonies. Every American who carries a single dollar bill holds a constant reminder that in Israel, ‘all the nations of the earth shall be blessed.’”
*** From the foregoing discussion, we see that the past US presidents did not have one consistent stand in their relations with Israel. This being the case, many are wondering as to the situation now with the incumbent US President Barack Obama taking a position similar to the past three presidents immediately preceding him. Meaning that President Obama is also favoring the division of Israel to achieve Middle East peace. Is America on a collision course with God? Considering that President Obama is a party to the socalled Iran Nuclear Plan which Israel is objecting to. *** This column continues to give out copies of the Holy Bible for free to those who cannot afford to buy their own cop- ies. If interested, please send your letterrequest to Ms. Nelly Favis Villafuerte, 5233 Fahrenheit St., Palanan, Makati City. Kindly mention if it is the Tagalog, English, Cebuano, or Ilocano Bible that is preferred.