The destruction from hurricane Katrina unleashed a disaster like our nation has never encountered. Like a guided missile, Katrina executed a mission of utmost devastation. Despite our advancements in technology, computers, satellites, healthcare and tons of mind-boggling innovations � the nation stood speechless and helpless. It seemed everything that could go wrong � went wrong. The breaking of the New Orleans levees; the thousands of trapped victims; the incessant looting; the perverse crime; the escalating gas prices; the complete collapse of the nation�s infrastructure for disaster aid � each day after Katrina brought new nightmares � each day after Katrina whispered something terrible went wrong. The aftermath from Katrina plowed deeper and deadlier. Our nation and the entire world watched in disbelief as the nightmare from Katrina grew and held the world�s most powerful nation hostage in her devastating grip. Many are asking, "Why? . . . Why did God permit this tragedy?" This commentary attempts to answer that question. . . Let me first say, my remarks are not without sympathy for Katrina�s thousands of victims, nor is it rooted in any political agenda. The author is neither Republican nor Democrat. I�m reminded of the young boy�s answer, when asked, "Are you a Republican or a Democrat?" His simple, but sincere reply was, "I�m a Christian." This article is a Bible Believer�s interpretation of Katrina. Our Lord commands to ". . . discern the signs of the times." (Matt. 16:3) Yes, we could easily stick our head in the sand while pretending God knew nothing of the wrath of Katrina. Yes, we could just as easily claim a mindless Mother Nature caused Katrina. Yes, we could, but we would be wrong. Is God sending America a warning? God�s presence and power should never be overlooked in tragedy. As Bible Believing Christians, we should always be faithful to "examine ourselves" � and our nation. We should never foolishly close our eyes and ears to a possible message from our Lord. The LORD is known by the judgment which he executeth:. . . Psalm 9:16 That they may know that this is thy hand; that thou, LORD, hast done it. Psalm 109:27 One dazed and shaken victim of Katrina standing in the ruined and ravaged streets of battered New Orleans shocked a reporter with, "This is the hand of God. Did you watch Katrina change course? Did you see how Katrina headed for New Orleans?" She then adds, "America needs to repent!" Was Katrina the wrath and judgment of God? Any Bible Believing Christian knows nothing happens without the knowledge and foreknowledge of God. The Lord Jesus says in Matthew 10:29, if a small sparrow falls to the ground, God knows. The Lord goes on to say, ". . . the very hairs of your head are all numbered." (Matt. 10:30) Nothing takes the Lord by surprise. The smallest event does not escape His Omnipresent eye. Zechariah 4:10 says, "For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth." Certainly, the Lord knew the coming devastation and death from Katrina. The scriptures reveal many "natural" disasters as instruments of wrath from the hand of God. The fire and brimstone raining down and destroying Sodom and Gomorrah promptly comes to mind. Let us not forget that the wrath of God once exterminated every breath on the whole earth, save Noah and his family. The Old Testament testifies over and over of the judgment of God. King David bows to the temptation of Satan to number Israel and an angry God kills 70,000 men (1 Chron. 21:14). We read of God�s hand in the Divine destruction of Jericho (Joshua 6:20), the termination of the kingdoms of Babylon, Assyria , Egypt, Amalekites (1 Samuel 15:8) among many others. The scriptures establish that God creates, controls and even commands the weather. Amos 4:13, say, "For, lo, he that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind . . ." Many times, God specifically employs the wind to preach His message. Just ask a backslidden prophet named Jonah. Jonah 1:4 says, "But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken." Ask the fearful apostles after watching the Lord Jesus calmly rebuke ". . . a great storm of wind. . . and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm." The Bible records the amazed apostles, "And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?" (Mark 4:41) The scriptures many times reveal the Lord God utilizes the wind as His instrument of action. In fact, of all the environmental resources at His Omnipotent disposal, the wind emerges as His first choice. The following scriptures, among scores of others, provide our proof: 13 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even rend it with a stormy wind in my fury; and there shall be an overflowing shower in mine anger, and great hailstones in my fury to consume it. 14 So will I break down the wall that ye have daubed with untempered mortar, and bring it down to the ground, so that the foundation thereof shall be discovered, and it shall fall, and ye shall be consumed in the midst thereof: and ye shall know that I am the LORD. Ezekiel 13:13-14 And Moses stretched forth his rod over the land of Egypt, and the LORD brought an east wind upon the land all that day, and all that night; and when it was morning, the east wind brought the locusts. Exodus 10:13 And the LORD turned a mighty strong west wind, which took away the locusts, and cast them into the Red sea; there remained not one locust in all the coasts of Egypt. Exodus 10:19 And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. Exodus 14:21 And the scriptures clearly reveal God employs the mighty wind to judge and destroy nations. The Old Testament pulls back the curtain of history and tragedy to reveal the judgment of God. The scriptures inform us that many disasters we label as natural disasters or accidents, are not natural and are not accidents. And the LORD shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with his mighty wind shall he shake his hand over the river, and shall smite it in the seven streams, and make men go over dryshod. Isaiah 11:15 Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will raise up against Babylon, and against them that dwell in the midst of them that rise up against me, a destroying wind; Jeremiah 51:1 Katrina was no accident. Katrina was no haphazard natural disaster. Katrina was no climatic coincident of Mother Nature. Katrina was a warning from the Lord. Remember, Katrina had to come with the foreknowledge and provision of God. To reason otherwise rejects the scriptures, and denies the sovereign presence of a Holy, Almighty God. With that as our solid foundation we can now ask, "Why did God allow Katrina to shatter America?" And more important, "What message from the Lord was wrapped in Katrina?" Can we dare attempt to answer such a question? Not only can we � we MUST! If the Lord is sending America a message � it is critical . . . it is essential for us to "find the message." If Katrina was indeed a severe warning from the Lord, the answer should not be difficult to find. I believe the answer clearly and precisely exists in the scriptures. . . Some Christians have aimed God�s wrath of Katrina toward the gambling casinos of Mississippi or the cesspool of sin and sodomy raging in New Orleans. It�s been noted that Katrina destroyed New Orleans just days before the depraved homosexual festive appropriately called "Southern Decadence" was scheduled there. While a Holy God fiercely condemns and judges such sins, I don�t believe that was Katrina�s mission. Katrina did not merely destroy the casinos, or the hell-holes and homosexual parade of New Orleans. No. Katrina was a warning for an entire nation. Katrina bruised and battered the soul of America. Without question � for so many years, much like God�s servant Job (Job 1:10), God placed a protective hedge around America. And like Job (Job 1:12), it appears God is removing His hedge. On September 11, 2001 God removed His hedge around America. On September 11, 2001 God blinded the protective eyes of America. On that horrific day, America stood in "shock and awe" as over 2700 people were brutally murdered by terrorists. Every precaution and prevention fell on deaf ears and blind eyes. Several reporters and commentators remarked it appeared as if "America was wearing blinders." Congress has appropriated hearing after hearing asking, "How did we miss the warning signals?" We didn�t miss it. We just couldn�t see it. Something unusual and something terrible happened in America on September 11. The catastrophe was much worse than the tragedy of September 11. . . God removed His protective hedge. What really occurred on September 11? Several days prior to September 11, 2001, violent terrorists rocked Israel. I remember watching the weeping Jewish mothers and fathers carrying the bodies of their children on the news. Innocent children were literally blown apart simply because they were Jews. During this time the American administration forbid and threatened Israel with financial bribery if they retaliated. That Sunday on September 9, 2001, I remarked to the church, if America keeps this hostile attitude toward Israel, America will suffer a major terrorist attack. Little did I realize, in two days America would suffer the greatest single terrorist attack in history. . . Make no mistake about it � God has chosen the nation of Israel as His people. Whether you like it or not and whether you believe it or not � God�s hand, both for His pleasure and His purpose, rests on the small nation of Israel. For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. Deuteronomy 7:6 For the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure. Psalm 135:4 But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend. Isaiah 41:8 And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day when I chose Israel, and lifted up mine hand unto the seed of the house of Jacob, and made myself known unto them in the land of Egypt, when I lifted up mine hand unto them, saying, I am the LORD your God; Ezekiel 20:5 Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt. Exodus 3:10 Blessed be the LORD thy God, which delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel: because the LORD loved Israel for ever, therefore made he thee king, to do judgment and justice. 1 King 10:9 Blessed be the LORD thy God, which delighted in thee to set thee on his throne, to be king for the LORD thy God: because thy God loved Israel, to establish them for ever, therefore made he thee king over them, to do judgment and justice. 2 Chronicles 9:8 When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt. Hosea 11:1 And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will be their God. Exodus 29:45 For thou hast confirmed to thyself thy people Israel to be a people unto thee for ever: and thou, LORD, art become their God. 2 Samuel 7:24 For thy people Israel didst thou make thine own people for ever; and thou, LORD, becamest their God. 1 Chronicles 17:22 Thus shall they know that I the LORD their God am with them, and that they, even the house of Israel, are my people, saith the Lord GOD. Ezekiel 34:30 O ye seed of Israel his servant, ye children of Jacob, his chosen ones. 1 Chronicle 16:13 When God called, separated and renamed Jacob as Israel, He proclaimed to Israel ". . . as a prince hast thou power with God and with men. . ." (Genesis 32:28) The name Israel literally means "he will rule as God." When God destined His Son to this wicked world to die for the sins of mankind, He chose a Jewish girl named Mary to birth and bear His Beloved Son. God committed the "oracles of God" [His Word] unto the Jewish people (Romans 3:2). In 606 B.C., during the time of Daniel, Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the tiny nation of Israel. Over 2,000 years the nation of Israel did not exist. In 606 B.C., Israel was literally wiped off the map. In 1917, after World War I, the famous Balfour Declaration set aside some land in Palestine for a homeland for the wandering Jews. But the Jews did not return. After the holocaust of Hitler resulting in the madness and murder of over 6 million Jews, they returned home. For hundreds of years, many Christians and Bible students discounted the promises from the Lord to rebuild and return Israel to their land. It just did not seem possible. But, "God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?" (Numbers 23:19). In Isaiah 43, the Lord promised He would one day bring Israel back home. He would call them from the east, from the west, from the north and from the south. Isaiah 43:1-6 1 But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. 2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. 3 For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee. 4 Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life. 5 Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; 6 I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth; After World War II, against all odds and against all obstacles � and there were many. Exactly as the Lord prophesied, from the east came Jews from Shanghai and Hong Kong; from the west came thousands of Jews from Egypt, Morocco, Tunis, Algeria, Europe, the United States and Latin America; from the north came over 20,000 Jews from Czechoslovakia, over 30,000 from Turkey, 36,000 from Bulgaria; and from the south came over 800,000 Jews from the land of the Arabs. The largest and most spectacular migration of a group of people occurred. As He promised, God was calling His people home. And in 1948, the greatest fulfillment of prophecy and the greatest miracle of the scriptures since the resurrection of the Lord Jesus occurred � the "resurrection" of the nation of Israel. It�s been said World War I prepared the land of Israel for the Jews, and World War II prepared the Jews for the land. When the Lord God called out Abram and foretold the coming of Israel, God issued a severe warning concerning the treatment of the Jewish people � ". . . I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee. . ." No other nation, no other people gets such protection from the Lord. 2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. Genesis 12:2-3 And the LORD thy God will put all these curses upon thine enemies, and on them that hate thee, which persecuted thee. Deuteronomy 30:7 Make no mistake about it � nations fall and nations rise on account of their relationship to Israel. William Blackstone writes of Israel in his classic Jesus Is Coming: Their wonderful preservation as a distinct people, through all the persecutions, vicissitudes and wanderings of the past 18 centuries down to the present moment, is a standing miracle, attesting the truth of God�s Word, and assuring us of His purposes in their future history, Frederick the Great said to his chaplain: "Doctor, if your religion is a true one, it ought to be capable of very brief and simple proof. Will you give me an evidence of its truth in one word? The good man answered, "Israel. (Blackstone, William, Jesus is Coming, Kregel Publications, Grand Rapids, MI, 1989 (1908) p. 160) God will judge His chosen people of Israel, as history testifies. But woe be that nation or people that judges and deals hostile to the Jewish people. The highways of history are littered with the remains of nations hostile to the Jews. In Matthew 25, the Lord Jesus forewarns the "judgment of the nations" that will take place after the Great Tribulation. The nations are judged (verse 40) according to their treatment of "my brethren" of the Lord Jesus � the Jews. Matthew 25:32-40 31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. If you doubt the identification of the Jews and Israel in Matthew 25, Joel chapter three describes that same event. Only this time there�s no mistaking the role of Israel. Joel 3:1-2 1 For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, 2 I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land Specifically notice the last four words of verse two: ". . . and parted my land." God is going "to plead" with the nations for MY HERITAGE Israel and for parting (dividing) MY LAND. For over 5400 hundred years the kingdoms of this world rose and fell. During this time, millions upon millions of people lived and died. Wars, atrocities, tears, fears, heartbreak, joy, inventions of man, houses built, pioneers paved paths and life slowly rolled along. And setting off to the side sitting quietly and insignificantly was a patch of land, virtually unbeknownst to the world. A land yet undiscovered by men. In that obscure land God would raise up a nation greater and more powerful than any in the history of the world. "America, America God shed his grace on thee. . ." The history of America is unique. The history of America is God. Dr. William Grady penned a magnificent 650 page history of America appropriately titled What Hath God Wrought! Despite the petty, silly whining of the humanist and atheist, America was indeed a land that God wrought. The Mayflower Compact marks the creation of America. It begins with these inspiring words, "In ye name of God, Amen. . ." Only 204 words long, The Mayflower Compact was the greatest declaration of the Christian God by any nation. America has tremendously lived up to her God given heritage. America has sent more missionaries with the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ than any nation. Despite her sins, and despite her failings, America has stood for the God of the Bible. America has been a beacon for other nations searching for "One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." And America has been the protective friend to God�s Heritage � Israel. As a student of history, it amazes me that despite the politics, despite Republican or Democrat, despite conservative or liberal sitting in the powerful White House, or walking the halls of Congress � until recently, America has consistently been Israel�s best friend. The United States of America was the first nation to recognize the nation of Israel. President Truman was the first to sign the credentials recognizing the State of Israel in 1948. From then on, an uncanny relationship occurred. America became Israel�s best friend. President Nixon firmly stated America would stand by its friends, and "Israel is one of its friends." President Gerald Ford declared the United States, "commitment to the security and future of Israel is based upon basic morality as well as enlightened self-interest. Our role in supporting Israel honors our own heritage." President Carter stated, "The United States has a warm and a unique relationship of friendship with Israel that is morally right. It is compatible with our deepest religious convictions and it is right in terms of America's own strategic interests. We are committed to Israel's security, prosperity, and future as a land that has so much to offer the world." President Reagan realized this God-given relationship with Israel, as he stated, "Since the rebirth of the State of Israel, there has been an ironclad bond between that democracy and this one." But President Lyndon Johnson put it best. When Soviet Premier Aleksei Kosygin asked President Johnson why the United States so strongly supports Israel against 80 million Arabs when there's only three million Israelis, the President replied, "Because it is right." When the former Soviet Union, the violent Middle East or other malicious countries would wink with violence against the tiny nation of Israel, a warning frown from mighty America would silently say, "Don�t even think about it!" America has provided billions and billions of American dollars to build and strengthen Israel. America�s most guarded and valuable military secrets have been at Israel�s disposal. Until recently, America has always been the best friend of Israel. It is no stretch to say, if it wasn�t for the protection and provision of America, Israel would not exist today. I have no doubt God wrought this great nation for the propagation of the glorious gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and the protector and provider of His Heritage, Israel. The early 1990s marked a surprising and sickening departure from previous U.S. policy towards Israel. Beginning with President George H. Bush, more and more political pressure was placed upon Israel to surrender their land to the Palestinian terrorists. The incredible book Eye to Eye: Facing the Consequences of Dividing Israel by White House Correspondent, William R. Koenig, proves many disasters befalling America come in direct and immediate response to George H. Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush's devotion to robbing Israel of their God-given land. Koenig documents the following incredible facts occur because of the U.S.'s pressure to evacuate Israel from their land: Nine of the ten costliest insurance events in U.S. history Six of the seven costliest hurricanes in U.S. history Three of the four largest tornado outbreaks in U.S. history Nine of the top ten natural disasters in U.S. history ranked by FEMA relief costs The two largest terrorism events in U.S. history Amazon.com says, "All of these major catastrophes transpired on the very same day or within 24-hours of U.S. presidents Bush, Clinton and Bush applying pressure on Israel to trade her land for promises of "peace and security," sponsoring major "land for peace" meetings, making major public statements pertaining to Israel�s covenant land and /or calling for a Palestinian state . . . In this book, Bill Koenig provides undeniable facts and conclusive evidence showing that indeed the leaders of the United States and the world are on a collision course with God over Israel�s covenant land." Koenig's book was published in 2004. In a bit of prophetic irony on the cover of his book, Eye to Eye: Facing the Consequences of Dividing Israel, shows a grim-faced President Bush twisting his eyes as a massive hurricane appears. The following events paint a picture of hypocrisy and hostility against Israel and defiance against the Word of God, beginning with President George H. Bush in 1991. Immediately following these political assaults against Israel occur some of the most catastrophic disasters in the history of the United States. To ascribe the disasters at these precise hours as coincident or random chance breaks the sound barrier of statistical probability. The possibility of these many major catastrophes happening by haphazard chance at these precise times is simply impossible. You want proof the Bible is the Word of God — here's your proof. You want proof Israel is God's Heritage — here's your proof. 1991 30 October - The Oslo Accord President George H. Bush promoted and proudly signed the infamous Oslo Accord at the Madrid Peace Conference on October 30, 1991. The Oslo Accord was labeled a "Land for Peace" accord that demanded Israel award their land to the Palestinian murderers and terrorists in exchange for peace. The perverse Oslo proposition was simple: give us your land and we�ll stop killing you. 1991 31 October - The Next Day � The Perfect Storm hits A very rare huge storm starting in the north Atlantic, moving east to west (wrong direction for storms to move - although in the Bible, the Holy Spirit and history move east to west). This storm was so unusual and contrary to "mother nature" it was immortalized by the book The Perfect Storm by Sebastian Junger and later a popular movie. Amazon says of the book The Perfect Storm, "Meteorologists called the storm that hit North America's eastern seaboard in October 1991 a "perfect storm" because of the rare combination of factors that created it. For everyone else, it was perfect hell. In The Perfect Storm, author Sebastian Junger conjures for the reader the meteorological conditions that created the "storm of the century" and the impact the storm had on many of the people caught in it." Interesting, one of the first places The Perfect Storm hit was Kennebunkport, Maine. Waves over 30 foot demolished the home of guess who � President George H. Bush, the instigator of the Oslo Accord. 1992 23 August A year later, President Bush literally picked up the pieces from Oslo attempting to rob Israel again. Meeting in Washington D.C. Bush and crew again attempted to "sell" the fictitious Madrid "Land for Peace" agreement. 1992 23 August � Same Day - Hurricane Andrew visits Florida Hurricane Andrew smashes and crashes into Florida. Andrew causes over $30 billion in damage while destroying over 180,000 homes. At that time, Andrew was the worst natural disaster ever to hit America. 1994 16 January President Bill Clinton meets with terrorist and Israel hater Syria's President Hafez el-Assad in Geneva. They talk about a peace agreement with Israel that includes Israel giving up the Golan Heights. 1994 17 January � less than 24 hours - 6.9 Earthquake rocks California In less than 24 hours, a powerful 6.9 earthquake rocks Southern California. This mysterious quake, centered in Northridge, is the second most destructive natural disaster to hit the United States, behind Hurricane Andrew. 1998 21 January Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with President Clinton at the White House and is coldly received. Clinton and Secretary of State Madeleine Albright refuse to have lunch with him. 1998 21 January � the same day - Monica Lewinsky scandal erupts After Clinton�s rejection of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, later the very same day, the Monica Lewinsky scandal breaks out, destroying the Clinton presidency and resulting in his impeachment. Before proceeding let us clarify who truthfully owns the Gaza Strip and West Bank. God does. He calls it "my land." Joel 3 deals EXACTLY with this issue. The Lord clearly states in no uncertain terms, He will "plead" with the nations such as the United States that "scatters" Israel and "parts His land." That is as much the Word of God as John 3:16. And the Untied States is not exempt � "all nations" means "all nations." Joel 3:1-2 1 For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, 2 I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land. In case you think "the land of Israel" became unimportant since the New Testament � think again. Galatians 4 deals with "the land." And the Lord says clearly and plainly, the land belongs to Isaac � not the Arabs. Galatians 4:22-30 22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. 23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. 24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. 25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. 26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. 27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. 28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. 29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. 30 Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son (Arabs): for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son (Jews) of the freewoman. With that settled, let us continue. . . 1998 28 September Secretary of State Madeleine Albright finishes the final details of an agreement which requires Israel to surrender 13 percent of Yesha (Judah and Samaria). President Bill Clinton meets with Yasser Arafat and Netanyahu at the White House to finalize another Israel "land for peace" hoodwink. Later, Arafat addresses the United Nations and declares an independent Palestinian state by May 1999. 1998 28 September � Same Day - Hurricane George hits Gulf Coast Hurricane George blasts the Gulf Coast with 110 mph winds and gusts up to 175 mph. The hurricane hit the coast and stalled until the agreement was finalized and Arafat addressed the UN. Then it hit and caused $1 billion in damage. At the exact time that Arafat departs the U.S., the storm begins to dissipate. 1998 15 October Arafat and Netanyahu meet at the Wye River Plantation in Maryland. The talks are scheduled to last five days with the focus on Israel giving up 13 percent of Yesha. The talks are extended and conclude on October 23. 1998 17 October � Two days later - Tornadoes hit Texas On October 17, heavy storms and tornadoes hit southern Texas. The San Antonio area is deluged with rain. The rain and flooding in Texas continue until October 22 and then subside. The floods ravage 25 percent of Texas and leave over one billion dollars in damage. On October 21, Clinton declares this section of Texas a major disaster area. 1998 30 November Arafat arrives in Washington again to meet with President Clinton to raise money for a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as the capital. A total of 42 other nations were represented in Washington. All the nations agreed to give Arafat $3 billion in aid. Clinton promised $400 million, and the European nations $1.7 billion. 1998 30 November � Same Day - Financial Disaster The Dow Jones average drops 216 points, and on December 1, the European Market had its third worst day in history. Hundreds of billions of market capitalization were wiped out in the U.S. and Europe. 1998 12 December President Clinton arrives in the Palestinian-controlled section of Israel to discuss another "land for peace" fiasco. 1998 12 December � Same Day - Clinton impeached The U.S. House of Representatives vote four articles of impeachment against President Clinton. 1999 3 May Yasser Arafat schedules a press conference to announce a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as the capital. 1999 3 May - Same Day - Powerful Storms in Oklahoma and Kansas The most powerful tornado storm system ever to hit the United States whips through Oklahoma and Kansas. The winds are clocked at 316 mph, the fastest wind speed ever recorded. Arafat postpones his announcement to December 1999 at the request of buddy President Clinton. In his letter to Arafat, Clinton praises and encourages Arafat for his "aspirations for his own land." 2001 8 June President George W. Bush sends Secretary Tenet to Jerusalem to promote his "Roadmap to Peace," the continuation of the failed Oslo Accord. 2001 8 June � Same Day - Tropical Storm Allison hits Texas Tropical storm Allison hits Texas the home state of President George .W. Bush. Allison causes over $7 billion in damage and closes George Bush Airport for two days. Allison continues for five long days. When Tenet leaves Jerusalem, Allison settles down. The following series of events during August � September of 2001 preceded history�s deadliest terrorist attack. 2001 23 August President George W. Bush rips Yasser Arafat on CNN. Bush suggests that Arafat "put 100% effort into stopping terrorism" if he wants Israel to negotiate. Saudi leader Abdullah is incensed. He tells Ambassador Bandar to immediately leave the U.S. because Bush supports Israel. 2001 27 August On his way out, Bandar meets with Condi Rice while Bush is on vacation. Bandar tells Rice how unacceptable Bush's comments were, threatens to withhold oil, and says that he's leaving in disgust. Condi reports to President Bush, who immediately issues a written letter to Bandar stating that "Palestinian people have the right to live in their own state in their own homeland." 2001 7 September Eleven days later, a jubilant Bandar returns to America and meets with Bush, Cheney, Rice, and Powell to hammer out the details and announce to the world the creation of the Palestinian State. The negotiations and details continue until September 9 2001. 2001 10 September Bandar and crew finish President Bush's plans to create a Palestinian nation in Israel in 2005. Bandar calls his offices to inform them the agreement is finally finished. 2001 11 September � Next Day - Terrorists Explode into the World Trade Center 8:45 a.m. (EDT) American Airlines Flight 11 out of Boston, Massachusetts, crashes and explodes into the north tower of the World Trade Center. 9:03 a.m. (EDT) United Airlines Flight 175 from Boston, crashes and explodes into the south tower of the World Trade Center. Both Towers come crashing down. Flashed across televisions around the globe, the world witnessed the greatest terrorist act in history. Over 2700 people die in a few short minutes. 9:43 a.m. (EDT) American Airlines Flight 77 crashes into the Pentagon. The great preacher, Charles Spurgeon preached a message on "The Judgment of the Nations" on July 12, 1885. Excerpts of Spurgeon�s message follows: There is a judgment also passing upon nations, for as nations will not exist as nations in another world, they have to be judged and punished in this present state. The thoughtful reader of history will not fail to observe, how sternly this justice had dealt with empire after empire, when they have become corrupt. Colossal dominions have withered to the ground, when sentenced by the King of kings. Go and ask to-day, "Where is the empire of Assyria? Where are the mighty cities of Babylon? Where are the glories of the Medes and Persians? What has become of the Macedonian power? Where are the Caesars and their palaces?" . . . The omnipotent, Judge has not ceased from his sovereign rule over kingdoms, and our own country may yet have to feel his chastisements. What is there about London [or the United States] that it should be more enduring than Rome? . . . What are we? What is there about our boastful race, whether on this side of the Atlantic or the other, that we should monopolize the favour of God? If we rebel, and sin against Him, he will not hold us guiltless, but will deal out impartial justice to an ungrateful race. (Charles Spurgeon, Judgment of the Nations, July 12, 1885) Middle East scholar, Robert Horenstein spoke on Israel's disengagement from Gaza Sept. 21 at the meeting of the Golda Meir/Mitzvah group of Hadassah. Horenstein stated, "If Israel does carry out this withdrawal, you will see the violence stepped up, because Hamas, Islamic Jihad, the Al-Aksa Martyrs Brigade will want to show their people that Israel is leaving as a result of their terrorist actions. They have already claimed Sharon's proposal is a result of their armed struggle.I believe that Israel is under a lot of pressure from the Bush administration. . ." A Haifa University demographer, Arnon Soffer, has projected that by 2015 all of Israel, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank will be 60 percent Arab, and this would make it impossible for Israel to retain both its democratic and Jewish character." (Jewish Review, "Disengagement could spawn civil, external violence") At the Mideast summit in Jordan on June 4, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas took the first tentative verbal steps toward a peaceful resolution of their longstanding and bloody conflict. Under pressure from President Bush, Mr. Sharon pledged to begin dismantling some "unauthorized outposts" of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, and Mr. Abbas declared for the first time that "the armed intifada must end." (http://www.wcpeace.org/israel-palestine.htm) Over the last week, emotional scenes of Jewish settlers being forcibly removed have dominated the television headlines. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has talked of how these have been the "saddest days" of his life, and the words "pogrom" and "dispossessed" have slowly slipped into the language of many newspaper reports. . . The Palestinian Authority and the United States want the pullout to be the beginning of the "road map" peace process, meant to bring about an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel. (Fox News, "Israeli Troops Pull Resisters Out of Synagogue", Friday, August 19, 2005) The Gaza withdrawal was backed by the U.S. government. Some Middle East analysts and senior Israeli politicians entirely attributed the evacuation plan to pressure coming from the American establishment. . . "I welcome the disengagement plan," stated Bush immediately following the announcement of the Gaza evacuation. "These steps will mark real progress toward realizing the vision I set forth in June 2002 of two states living side by side in peace and security." (Worldnetdaily, "Did God send Katrina as judgment for Gaza?", September 7, 2005 http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=46178) 2005 August - Under U.S. pressure, the Jews are forceably removed from their land. During the month of August 2005, with unparalleled pressure from the United States � dreaded D-Day came. Over 8500 begging Jewish settlers were forcibly removed from the Gaza Strip. I watched in unbelief as the Jewish people were crying and pleading to remain in their houses and land. The Israeli soldiers came and literally dragged them from their houses. At the orders of the United States and against the protests of the Israeli government, bulldozers came and demolished their homes. The land was then given to terrorists who celebrated and shouted, "Death to Israel!" US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told BBC News, "Jewish homes in the Gaza Strip will be destroyed when Israel pulls out its troops and settlers. . . The view is that there are better land uses for the Palestinians to better address their housing needs," adding that the parties would "work towards a plan for destruction and clean-up." After the Gaza Strip debacle, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice immediately began urging Israel to vacate the West Bank, "Everyone has compassion for what the Israelis are going through right now, but it can't stop with the Gaza Strip." The hypocrisy and hostility towards the nation of Israel by the Bush administration is unparalleled in U.S. history. Violently removing the Jewish settlers from the Gaza Strip, then giving the land to the terrorists and murderers of Israeli children equates to Bush giving Florida to Bin Laden and Al-Qaeda. Why didn�t President Bush give Saddam Hussein the land of Texas instead of bombing Iraq? That would be more logical than demanding Israel to forfeit a strategic defense area of the Gaza Strip and West Bank to vicious killers that hate and kill the Jews. 2005 23 August Israel completed the evacuation of the Gaza Strip and gave it to the Palestinians. The Gaza Strip evacuation came directly from President Bush's "Roadmap to Peace." As my wife and I watched the pleading Jews dragged from their homes and land, I said, "God is not pleased with this. Somebody�s gonna pay big-time for this. God might start destroying some homes and running some people out of their land." And somebody did. . . And boy did they. 2005 23 August � the Same Day - Tropical Storm Katrina appears August 23, a small insignificant tropical storm slowly appeared in the Atlantic below the Bahamas named Katrina. From her beginning meteorologists stated the U.S. had nothing to fear. Katrina packed little punch, plus the computer forecasts kept Katrina calmly corralled in the Atlantic. Defying the computer models, Katrina turned south-east, scraped the south tip of Florida and then with the vengeance of a runaway freight train Katrina took an unexpected turn into the warm Gulf Coast. Meteorologists tracking Katrina�s unusual path labeled Katrina one of history's most bizarre hurricanes. 2005 29 August - Hurricane Katrina hits New Orleans Katrina raced directly toward New Orleans, harnessing deadly strength every moment. Literally recording wind strength "off the scale" On Monday, August 29, the nation watched in horror as deadly Katrina slammed and slaughtered the fragile Gulf Coast. Destructive Katrina left beautiful homes as piles of worthless rubbish. Deadly Katrina tossed bodies like litter along the highway. When Katrina ended her deadly mission America suffered the worst disaster in her storied history. As I saw the thousands of homes destroyed, my mind kept going back to those U.S. ordered bulldozers destroying the Jewish homes in the Gaza Strip. As I saw the thousands and thousands of United States citizens being evacuated from their land, my mind could not keep from remembering the Jewish people crying and literally begging to stay in their land. America found no mercy for the Jewish people. . . With no mercy. . . Katrina completely "bulldozed" tens of thousands of homes. Katrina completely "evacuated" the celebrated city of New Orleans. Hundreds of thousands are homeless, helpless and hopeless. The greatest displacement of U.S. citizens in history occurred. Over 10,000 people are estimated dead. Over 400,000 jobs were wiped out. President Bush has requested $50 billion from Congress for the first round of Katrina�s expensive bill. Estimates put Katrina�s final bill � over $150 billion. Most reporters described the aftermath of New Orleans worse than anything they�ve ever seen. If America continues to blatantly defy the Word of God with their hostility and hypocrisy toward God�s Heritage, Israel, buckle up. . . you ain�t seen nothing yet. "Everyone has compassion for what the Israelis are going through right now, but it can't stop with the Gaza Strip." US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice after the Gaza Strip evacuation They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance. . . So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm. Psalms 83:4, 15 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee:. . . Genesis 12:3 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. Psalm 122:6 God open the eyes of the United States.