Act of War / October 2001

September 11, 2001 will be a date in infamy just like the Pearl Harbor attack date of December 7, 1941. However, this attack was far more than hitting battleship row in Hawaii. The almighty American dollar was hit this time. Pearl Harbor brought the United States into World War II. The World Trade Center and Pentagon attack will bring us into a war of a new and very tragic kind. The world has no idea what is coming over the horizon, especially the American people.

It finally happened. America was attacked. We are calling it an act of war, rightfully so. It took two airplanes crashing into the tallest buildings in New York and one into the Pentagon for America to finally understand that terrorism is real and that we have very real enemies. We had to witness the collapse of the two buildings to understand that there is evil in the world and we are hated.

The planning for the attack started a long time ago. It was simple, yet highly coordinated. It was suicidal, yet brilliant. It was in broad daylight, but it was a nightmare. It was intended to make a statement; it was devastating. Armed only with small knives, razor sharp box cutters and a threat of a bomb, hijackers commandeered four commercial airliners from American and United Airlines. Apparently five were planned, but the aircraft landed quickly before being hijacked. The hijackers had flight training. They were able to navigate and direct the flight of aircraft into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. One of the aircraft apparently crashed in Pennsylvania after heroic attempts to recapture it from the hijackers. Before crashing the airplanes, the hijackers encouraged the passengers to call their families and say goodbye. They were told that they would all die. As we now know, they all did die in the sudden explosion of impact as they struck their targets.

The death toll is in the thousands. The shock is more than stunning and unbelievable. The harm done is far reaching. The need for justice is overwhelming. As the President said the next morning, "This is not an act of terror; this is an act of war."

The News Media was stunned and couldn't get it. They couldn't fathom how airplanes in broad daylight with instrumentation and air traffic control could run into large buildings. They couldn't understand that it was an attack. The government understood, but they couldn't respond quickly enough. Air traffic control knew that airplanes had been hijacked as soon as the pilots hit their emergency hijack squawk signals. The FAA notified the government that hijacked aircraft were heading for Washington D.C., but the evacuation signal to the Pentagon was late. Once airplanes began striking the World Trade Center, the horrifying reality sank in. The FAA began grounding all aircraft.
The military went to DEFCON 3, defense condition three, and began deploying large military assets, ships got underway and fighters were airborne. Meanwhile, hundreds of fire and rescue workers died in the dual collapse of the World Trade Center buildings. Mercifully, the buildings collapsed onto themselves instead of toppling over. The emergency brakes for the country came to a screeching halt with loss of air travel and the stock market.

In the days following, rescue and retaliation were the only two topics of discussion. These topics were punctuated by a national day of prayer on the following Friday. For me, this was more stunning than airplanes hitting buildings. I watched the leaders and people of this country turn to the Lord for spiritual help. I saw our fellow citizens realize that there was real evil in the world and genuinely appeal for God's justice and help. Sometimes, tragedies can carry blessings in the end. Maybe, just maybe, our nation has looked again to the real resource of the Lord. Too bad, we didn't look to Him before our enemies had their way with us. Regardless of the sequence, I'm relieved that the Lord has been called upon in this national tragedy.

One thing is certain in the near future. The United States is going to war against the perpetrators of this attack. Secretary of State Colin Powell has warned other nations that they are either with us or they are against us in this fight. You can't believe how quickly the anti-American rhetoric ended so quickly in virtually every nation. Even the Palestinian leaders put a clamp on jubilant demonstrations by the Palestinian people when they heard about the attack. In fact, the Palestinian Authority threatened to kill journalists if they broadcast and showed the pictures of the 4,000 demonstrators rejoicing at the news of American deaths. They knew that American anger would turn against them in a way never seen before. Other nations knew the same thing the Palestinian leaders knew. The United States was going to get whoever did it and everyone had better get out of the way.

Yamamoto, the Japanese Commander, was quoted as saying after his very successful and surprising attack on Pearl Harbor, AI fear that I have only awakened a sleeping giant." He was right. The United States entered World War II and soundly defeated Imperial Japan. President Bush referred to the United States planned response to the attack as a "mighty giant" with a "fierce anger."

Even the American people have no idea what the military can and will do. Even they would be afraid. History is about to record a new way and level to conduct warfare. There are weapons in the U.S. arsenal that the world has never seen before. There is a good possibility that they will make their debut. The U.S. has not ruled out the use of tactical level nuclear weapons.

Some folks are struggling morally with what the United States should do. Some are confused as to who it is that has done these actions. They are afraid that the United States will act like "cowboys" and shoot the place up trying to get revenge. They don't understand the difference between an act of terrorism and an act of war. They don't understand the difference between revenge and justice. They don't understand what is required to destroy evil.

My proposed solution.
I would like to propose a just and appropriate way to deal with those who planned, prepared, and led the attacks on America. It is a two-phase plan. First, we should clearly identify the individuals, organizations, or countries with convicting evidence. We should notify them that they are to be arrested and surrendered to U.S. authorities immediately. If there is any hesitation or delay whatsoever, phase II of the plan should be implemented. In phase II, the individuals, organizations, or countries should be given approximately 30 to 40 minutes to call their families or friends on cell phones to say goodbye. Then, in a moment not longer than the twinkling of an eye, they should step into eternity because of a very large explosion and fireball. This would be a just, measured way of bringing the matter to justice, rendering to them exactly as they did to others.

I might add that these murderers believe that their deeds will merit an eternal reward. In respect of their religion, I believe that we should assist them in getting their just reward. However, since I believe in the One and only True God of heaven and earth, the God of Israel, His Messiah who is King of all Kings, and the Spirit of the Holy One, I believe the matter of eternal reward should be determined by Him. I trust that His judgment will be righteous and pure.

The President said that he doesn't want to " in a two million dollar cruise missile to destroy a $10 tent and hit a camel in the butt." I agree. I also don't think we should send in troops to a region that supports guerrilla style fighting. I don't think we should put our armed forces at risk when we have the best stand-off weapons in the world. If we think they are hiding in caves in a particular mountain, then let's blow the entire mountain off the face of the earth. If they are deep in bunkers, then turn their fortress into a smoking hole for the next 25 years. I propose we use some of those billion dollar weapons systems and take out the entire target area.

Gee, that's great Monte, but who is it that really attacked us and how do we know it is them?
His name is Osama Bin Laden. He is a Saudi born man with a lot of money. He is an extremist in the Muslim faith and he thinks America is Satan. He has been sponsoring, organizing, and training others to be terrorists in a holy war against the infidels (that's Israel and the U.S.). He leads a world-wide secret organization called al Qaeda. He lives in Afghanistan under the supposed cover of the Taliban government. According to previous Afghani reports, Osama Bin Laden is the commander in chief of the military for the Taliban government. The Taliban government is an extremist Muslim group that hates television and western style clothing that dominates Afghanistan.

Al Qaeda operates in several countries but in particular seems to coordinate out of Sudan. There, the Iraqi intelligence organization is able to coordinate some of the policies of Iraq (Saddam Hussein). Saddam Hussein, as you recall, is the avowed enemy of America since the Gulf war of 1991. Iraq is militarily aligned with Syria. Syria is aligned with Iran and the famed Hezbollah in Lebanon. Hezbollah and Iraq are good buds with the Palestinians including the Fatah, Jihad, and Hamas organizations. Candidates for al Qaeda come from Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, Egypt, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Syria, Lebanon, and the Palestinians. It appears that the governments of Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and other gulf states do not cooperate with Bin Laden. It appears that the governments of Iraq, Sudan, Afghanistan, and others do actively cooperate with Bin Laden. Wherever Muslims are in governmental control, empathetic support is given to Bin Laden. Historically, Iraq has used the services of Bin Laden for its extended foreign policy. Recently, questions have been raised as the true identity of Ramsel Yousef, the convicted Bin Laden agent in the previous attack on the World Trade Center. Some believe that he is not Ramsel Yousef, but instead an Iraqi agent who stole the identity from a Pakistani man. The previous attack on the World Trade Center should be more than enough evidence to point the United States in the right direction as to who is responsible.

Therefore, I believe the priority list of initial targets should be as follows: Osama Bin Laden, the government of Afghanistan, the government of Sudan, the government of Iraq, Hezbollah in Lebanon, Jihad - Hamas - Fatah in Israel and Jordan. Understand of course, just hitting the known targets will trigger all kinds of wars in other places since al Qaeda is hosted in a number of countries. In fact, hitting any of these elements will most likely set off a sustained and difficult conflict. Maybe this is why the President is already warning us of a much longer and greater conflict ahead.

I do not want to alarm or frighten you as a reader, but we should be completely honest about what this war will include. The Lord knows what is going on and He is our defense. While I appreciate the men and women of the Armed Forces (I am a Vietnam veteran) and have great confidence in their abilities, my trust is in the Lord. Remember this before you read any further.

Weapons of mass destruction are in the arsenal of al Qaeda. They may include chemical and biological weapons. They may include small suitcase size nuclear weapons from the former Soviet Union (several of them are missing, according to the Russians). There are a host of scenarios that experts have put forth to define the possible threats to the civilized world. Still further, just as the enemy used our own airplanes against us, so there are a number of common items that could be used against us with devastating consequences. General aviation with private aircraft, community water supplies, water dams, bridges, and industrial plants are but a few of the means that can be used against us for further harm. Simply said, our free society and country is a target rich environment. If an enemy is willing to give up his own life to carry out an attack, then the possibility of attack is high and the threat profile is broad and varied. Bin Laden has been training people for years to die as martyrs when they attack. We have seen the examples in Israel with human bombs in buses, restaurants and shopping areas. Now we see the attack with airplanes into tall buildings. They are all places and methods that have harmed a large number of people.

Let me conclude with this thought. Any person who dies for a cause, will not be alive to win the cause. General Patton said it this way in World War II, AI don't want you to die for your country. I want you to make the other guy die for his country." In the war we are about to fight, we should help the enemy die for his cause before he is able to choose how he will die. In this case, a good offense is the best defense.

So, what will happen next and how does this fit into Biblical prophecy?
First, let us clear up any possible misconceptions. This is not the start of the Great Tribulation. This is not fulfillment of Revelation 18.

And he cried out with a mighty voice, saying, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! And she has become a dwelling place of demons and a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hateful bird. For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the passion of her immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed acts of immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich by the wealth of her sensuality."

Revelation 18:2-3

The word "fallen" is stated twice. This is not the twin towers of the World Trade Center. Yes, I agree that we match the description of Babylon given here in terms of its "passion for immorality" and the "rich by the wealth of sensuality" phrases. However, there is a difference between a prophetic harmonic and a prophetic fulfillment. Just because it harmonizes does not mean it is the intended song to be sung.

For this reason in one day her plagues will come, pestilence and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire; for the Lord God who judges her is strong. And the kings of the earth, who committed acts of immorality and lived sensuously with her, will weep and lament over her when they see the smoke of her burning, standing at a distance because of the fear of her torment, saying, "Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! For in one hour your judgment has come." And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn over her, because no one buys their cargoes any more; cargoes of gold and silver and precious stones and pearls and fine linen and purple and silk and scarlet, and every kind of citron wood and every article of ivory and every article made from very costly wood and bronze and iron and marble, and cinnamon and spice and incense and perfume and frankincense and wine and olive oil and fine flour and wheat and cattle and sheep, and cargoes of horses and chariots and slaves and human lives. And the fruit you long for has gone from you, and all things that were luxurious and splendid have passed away from you and men will no longer find them. The merchants of these things, who became rich from her, will stand at a distance because of the fear of her torment, weeping and mourning, saying, "Woe, woe, the great city, she who was clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls; for in one hour such great wealth has been laid waste!" And every shipmaster and every passenger and sailor, and as many as make their living by the sea, stood at a distance, and were crying out as they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, "What city is like the great city?" And they threw dust on their heads and were crying out, weeping and mourning, saying, "Woe, woe, the great city, in which all who had ships at sea became rich by her wealth, for in one hour she has been laid waste!" Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, because God has pronounced judgment for you against her.

Revelation 18:8-20

New York City is a great world class city. Like many world class cities it is a place of commerce and it is near the water. However, the merchants are defiantly rebuilding and conducting commerce. The Stock Market reopened with everyone cheering. I can also assure you that no saints, apostles and prophets are rejoicing over the harm to New York. So having dispensed with a prophetic harmonic about a city and the double "fallens," let's examine what we do know.

Back to Israel and Jerusalem…

If the United States starts a war with any country in the Middle East, if specifically, Osama Bin Laden's trail leads back to Iraq, we could have a very serious situation in the Middle East. An attack on them will lead to an Ara- attack on Israel. Even the coalition of nations against terrorism will not bring peace and unity in the Middle East. It will most likely ignite the existing powder keg.

In the most recent news reports, the U.S. and its coalition may not define terrorism on a true scale. For example, the U.S. may try to differentiate Osama Bin Laden on the U.S. from Palestinian terror on Israel. Let me assure you they are the same. Do this simple comparison between the two. They are suicidal in their attack. Their attack is based on religious hatred. Israel and the U.S. are defined as common enemies for both. Their attacks are intended to kill the most number of people (civilians) as possible. They use the same tactics of hit and run, and covert operations. They consider each other to be brothers in arms. Their victims are just as dead. How could anyone in their right minds say that the terrorism of Osama Bin Laden and the Palestinians is different?

This is the part that concerns me the most about the foreseeable future. The United States may not define terrorism as in the past and they may not follow the facts to pursue Iraq's role in the past terrorist actions. They may define the September 11 attack on America as something isolated and different from the past. History now shows us that allowing Saddam Hussein to remain in Iraq as a result of the Gulf war was a mistake. I fear that George W. Bush and Colin Powell will probably make the same mistake again. I pray that this won't happen.

I can understand the U.S. hesitancy to rush in after Iraq. Saddam Hussein has nothing to lose and everything to gain in the next war with America. He may very well use weapons of mass destruction (chemical or biological). He has proven that he can hit America, if he is hooked up with Bin Laden. Further, any attack on Iraq would send Iraqi SCUD missiles streaming toward Israel. Israel would not wait on the U.S. if that happened. There would be a Middle East war without the U.S. in control. Iraq wants a war with Israel and believes they can survive a war with the United States.

It is the attack on Israel and Israel's response that Bible prophecy speaks to specifically. It is possible that the United States might just trigger that war and lead to the prophesied events. The Scripture has warned us about Jerusalem in the last days. Any nation involved with Jerusalem would suffer consequences. The United States, to some degree, has suffered ill effects as a results of our policies and involvement with Jerusalem. The enemies of Israel have become the enemies of America.

Behold, I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that causes reeling to all the peoples around; and when the siege is against Jerusalem, it will also be against Judah. And it will come about in that day that I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who lift it will be severely injured. And all the nations of the earth will be gathered against it.

Zechariah 12:2-3

On an even broader scale, we live in the end times referred to as "wars and rumors of wars."

The Lord did not say that "wars and rumors of wars" was the sign of the end. He said that these were the "beginning of sorrows." For New York and Washington D.C., we are only now beginning to understand the meaning of those words. Let me say it again. The world has no idea what is coming over the horizon, especially the American people.

YAVOH, He is Coming is a monthly newsletter published as an outreach ministry of Lion and Lamb Ministries
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Editor - Monte Judah
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