by Tim Buck | Nov 3, 2023 | Islam, Isreal, Nations
Quick Facts
Over 1,400 Israelis (326 soldiers) have been killed, and over 5,400 have been injured.
The IDF has notified families of 240 being held hostage in Gaza.
To date, the IDF has struck over 11,000 Hamas targets.
Over 8,100 Rockets have been fired by Hamas toward Southern and Central Israel from Gaza (over 500 failed launches have fallen inside Gaza), with Lebanon and Syria also firing from the north.
One day after the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War, on Oct. 7th, thousands of Hamas gunmen Invaded southern Israel, kidnapping, raping, torturing, and killing Israelis, specifically targeting women, children, and the elderly.
On Oct. 8th, the Israel Security Cabinet voted to officially declare war for the first time since the 1973 Yom Kippur War.
War Update
The Surrounding Nations
11/3/23 By Tim Buck
Fotet.org
Please pray for Israel, the hostages and for the Lord to continue to give the government wisdom as they fight such evil!
Israel’s actions meet that “necessary and proper” criteria to protect the innocent and eradicate evil. This war is becoming a global event, and stirring the world against the Jewish people once again!
Gaza
The Israeli ground assault is continuing in Gaza. The plan is to cut the Gaza Strip in two, which will allow the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to wrap around and eventually surround Shifa hospital – the main hospital in Gaza. Now, New York Times, before you start saying, “See, we told you that Israel likes to bomb hospitals,” let me tell you why they are doing that. Within that hospital compound, built both above and below ground, are Hamas’s main headquarters. If Israel really didn’t care about civilians, they would have dropped a few bunker buster bombs on the Shifa property and been done with it. Instead, they are making a risky maneuver so that they can target Hamas terrorists, all the while announcing what they are going to do so that the hospital and the surrounding area can be emptied of civilians. Once again, we see the difference between Hamas and the IDF. Hamas targets innocent civilians. The IDF warns civilians so that they can escape. The reason non-combatants are killed is because Hamas forces them to remain behind to maintain the human shield, and so that they can use their bodies afterward as propaganda for the world’s media.
Gaza has had billions of dollars poured into it. Where has it all gone? First, to the Hamas leaders. Hamas Deputy Chairman Mousa Abu Marzuk is worth $3 billion, former Chairman Khaled Mashal is worth $4 billion, and current Chairman Ismail Haniyeh is also worth $4 billion. It’s understandable, though, because it takes a lot of money to pay for their luxury housing in Turkey and Qatar. I mean you couldn’t expect them to live in Gaza amongst the riff-raff, could you? Most of the remaining money went to the construction of an intricate, multi-leveled system of 1300 tunnels that stretch for 500 kilometers (311 miles) and reach 70 meters deep (229 feet).
The flaw in this tunnel system is that it needs gas for generators to power the ventilation system. So, while there is food and water in Gaza, as well as electricity in most areas, gas is very difficult to find. This is because the IDF has confiscated all the gas they can find. No gas, no ventilators. No ventilators, no air. No air, the terrorists will be forced to scurry out of their holes where they will surrender or be killed.
Lebanon and Syria
Iran desperately wants their militias in southern Syria to do something directed at Israel. But so far there has only been the occasional rocket or artillery fire. Hezbollah in Lebanon is receiving the same pressure from Iran. The skirmishes across the Lebanese/Israeli border have been more intense that those with Syria but have still mostly been in the form of rockets and airstrikes. However, there have been border breaches that had to be dealt with by the IDF.
Hassan Nasrallah, secretary-general of Hezbollah, has announced that he will make a very important speech Friday at 3:00 PM. The speculation is that he will declare Hezbollah’s entrance into the war.
This would be unfortunate for two reasons. First of all, the Lebanese don’t want war. Most civilians in Lebanon are good, hard-working people who are in the unfortunate situation of having their country commandeered by a terrorist organization whose puppet strings are being pulled by Iran’s radical Islamist regime. Maybe this will be the catalyst for the people to finally rise up and oust Hezbollah.
The second reason Nasrallah should think carefully before entering the fray is that him doing so would be a fatal mistake. Because of the organization and training of Hezbollah, it would likely take more Israeli lives to end Hezbollah. But rest assured, by the time the IDF has finished, there would be no more Hezbollah and no more Hassan Nasrallah. Last night, Ismail Qaani, commander of the Quds Force of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), visited Beirut, likely to discuss Hezbollah’s involvement in the next phase of the war.
Please pray that this front does not open wide.
Yemen
The Houthis of Yemen have declared war against Israel. You may wonder why this 50,000-strong rebel army based 1000 miles away from Israel is declaring war. Because they, too, are funded and directed by the ayatollahs in Tehran. These extremist Shiites have long-range ballistic rockets, and they have fired them at Israel. At least one was destroyed by a US Navy ship. Another was taken out while still in space by Israel’s new Arrow-3 hypersonic anti-ballistic missile system. So far, they have just fired missiles at Israel. But if one of those ballistic missiles finds its target, there will be mass casualties.
Iran
What do all of Israel’s enemies have in common? A connection to Iran. The Iranians have a superiority complex when it comes to their fellow Middle Easterners. If there is dirty work to be done, they would much rather it was Arab hands that did it. Their Persian hands are too finely manicured for grunt work. That is why they created the militias. Hezbollah, Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Houthis, Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada, and all the others, they are all the Persians’ fighting force, because it’s no use spilling Iranian blood when there are so many Arabs just hanging around. I know my words sound harsh and incredibly callous, but they are one hundred percent accurate when it comes to the attitude of the Islamist regime in Tehran. If Hezbollah and the militias in Syria attack from the north, Israel knows who will be behind it. When the time is right, there will be a reckoning.
Egypt
The Egyptian government is finally opening a field hospital on their side of the Rafah crossing. What they are not doing is opening wide their gates to an influx of Gazans. Why? Because they know the violence and trouble that comes with them. The Egyptian prime minister is so determined to keep Gazans out of the country that he recently said that he is prepared to sacrifice millions of lives to protect the border from Palestinians. When it comes to relations with Israel, there continues to be the same surface coolness between the two countries. Yet, behind the scenes there is secret cooperation.
Jordan
Jordan remains at peace with Israel. Their concern is with the missiles in Syria and Iraq, and they have asked the US to deploy Patriots to protect the skies above their country.
Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Bahrain
Each of these countries has made it clear that the Abraham Accords are here to stay. Both Russia and Iran want to drive a wedge between the Saudis and Israelis because of energy, but their ploys are not working. The UAE indicated that a strong relationship with Israel is “our future”, while the Bahrainis said keeping a relationship with Israel is in their common interest.
United States of America
The US has been Israel’s best friend through this fight, and we are very grateful for the help. Unfortunately, American bases in Syria and Iraq are paying the price. On an almost hourly basis, Iranian militias are attacking the US military with rockets and suicide drones, and the American casualties are mounting. As concerning as these developments are overseas, we need to be worried for the US mainland. So many terrorists have merged into the constant immigrant flow, and now the FBI has announced that they are very nervous about attacks taking place in US cities that are inspired by what Hamas did on October 7. There is also a new cultural divide taking place between virulent Palestinian supporters and those who criticize the horrors that Hamas perpetrated. Much of this ignorant hatred is originating in American academia and media.
Europe
There is a massive division between Europeans and the enormous Muslim population that now exists in their cities due to an open border policy. The tension between the old guard and the newcomers is getting stronger. For so long, European governments refused to admit there was a problem, but as Ayn Rand once said, “You can avoid reality, but you cannot avoid the consequences of avoiding reality.” I’m afraid that those consequences are just around the corner. It well may be the war in Israel that pushes Europe over the brink. As the anti-Israel protests swell and the number of Jewish houses that are being spraypainted with Stars of David grows, it is very likely that some flashpoint will occur which will set the streets on fire.
Turkey
On paper, Turkey and Israel are allies. But President Erdogan wants to be the leader of Islam so he is currently leading the pack in rallying Muslims worldwide to condemn Israel. Just this past week at a massive rally celebrating Turkish independence, he took the opportunity to go on a very antisemitic rant, including making it clear that he didn’t consider Hamas to be a terrorist organization and that Israel is guilty of war crimes and must be prosecuted.
Jewish People Around the World
Hollywood Jews had a very bad day last week when they suddenly woke up and realized that being liberal and progressive is not enough. Many discovered that their friends had begun to abandon them for the sin of being Jewish. They thought that the world was beyond hating Jews just because they are Jews. But the world was just taking a little break. Now antisemitism is back in vogue. In Germany, cases of antisemitism have risen 240%; in Austria, 300%; US, 400%; South Africa, 720%; and the UK, 1351%.
There is a dark cloud covering the world right now. Standing with Israel is soon going to exact a price. It may be relational. It may become physical. What we are seeing is symptomatic of the growing influence of the enemy. It is truly diabolical, and you will not understand it until you put your spiritual glasses on. But it is what we as believers expect because we know that this world is being prepared for the Tribulation.
You do not want to be around when that happens, because it will be a period when God’s judgment will come down upon this world. It will be a time unlike any other, when the Lord sets out to discipline His people and punish those who have rejected Him. But you don’t have to be here. The Bible tells us that salvation is a matter of believing and receiving Jesus as your Lord and Savior. If you want to know more about how to become a follower of Jesus, follow this link.
Thank you, and may God bless you for standing with the Jewish people and praying.
by Tim Buck | Oct 2, 2023 | America, Isreal, Nations, Saudi Arabia
WORLD NEWS UPDATE
Israel and the Middle East
10/2/23 By Tim Buck
Fotet.org
“Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together
against the Lord and against his anointed, saying,
Let us break their chains and throw off their shackles.”
Psalms 2:1-3
In Israel
A five-man terrorist cell was recently arrested by Israel’s Shin Bet. The three Palestinians and two Israeli citizens were gathering intelligence for a plot to harm National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, as well as a member of the Knesset. The cell was receiving its orders from Iran.
Israel Left Off Russia’s Financial Friends List
Last week, Russia published a list of more than 30 countries that are welcome to trade on their foreign exchange. Despite being included in the original draft created in the summer, Israel was left off the final document. This is just another sign of the deteriorating conditions between Moscow and Jerusalem brought on by Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
Prime Minister Netanyahu Addresses United Nations
It is said that one can tell how close they are to the truth by the number of people who attack them. If that is accurate, then Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to the UN General Assembly must have been overflowing with truth. It was certainly one of the greatest speeches I’ve ever heard Bibi make in his long career as Prime Minister.
During his presentation, he spoke of a proposed trade route from India to the West that would pass through the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Israel. He emphasized the many new relationships that Israel is forging and showed a map of a new Middle East emphasizing these new friendships. He also said that the US and Saudi Arabia shouldn’t let the Palestinians have the right to veto a peace deal that would normalize relations between Jerusalem and Riyadh.
All the usual suspects took offense at what he said, including Iran, much of Europe, the U.S., and others.
Israel Joins US Visa Waiver Program
In a huge win for Prime Minister Netanyahu, the US has included Israel as the 41st country on its Visa Waiver list. This means that Israeli citizens may now enter the US without a visa and remain for up to 90 days. Netanyahu called the move a “significant and joyous moment for all Israeli citizens.”
Saudis Send Delegation Team to West Bank
Large strides have been made last few weeks in the pursuit of normalizing relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia. Tuesday saw Saudi Arabia’s first ambassador to the Palestinian Authority arrive in the West Bank. The visit of Nayef al-Sudairi marked the first time a Saudi delegation has been in the West Bank since 1967.
At the same time, Israel’s Tourism Minister Haim Katz arrived in Saudi Arabia for a conference, marking the first official visit of an Israeli minister to the country. Later in the week, Israeli Communications Minister Shlomo Karai carried out an official visit, attending a conference in Saudi Arabia. The government of Israel is very optimistic regarding these developments.
Arab Nations Making Peace With Israel
Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said that he expects six or seven other Muslim nations to join Saudi Arabia in making peace with Israel. This would continue to expand the prophetic significance of peace between Israel and Saudi Arabia due to the wider impact of many Arab nations negotiating on the side of Israel for building their Temple on the Temple Mount.
Israeli Military Strikes Hamas in Gaza
Palestinians gathered Tuesday at the Gaza fence for a twelfth night of violent protests. After they floated incendiary balloons and kites over the border and threw all sorts of projectiles at Israeli forces, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) struck back hitting several Hamas targets. The next evening was more violence, and once more the IDF struck back destroying a border tunnel.
Deluge of Syrian Refugees Killing Lebanon’s Economy
Refugees of the Syrian Civil War are destroying Lebanon’s economy. The population of Lebanon is approximately 6 million. The latest estimate of Syrian refugees who have crossed the border is 2.5 million.
Lebanon is already in bad shape with the Iran-backed Hezbollah terrorist group involved in every level of government. But to have the burden of these refugees is far more than the economy can handle. Other nations are calling on the EU and other parts of the world to help Lebanon before it, too, devolves into civil strife.
Ukraine Hits Russia’s Black Sea Headquarters in Crimea
Ukraine’s military hit the headquarters of Russia’s Black Sea fleet in Sevastopol, Crimea, on Friday. In response, Russian missiles struck a high-rise building in Odessa used as Ukraine’s navy headquarters. Tuesday saw the Chkalovsky military airport near Moscow on fire following another Ukrainian attack. The back and forth of war continues.
Huge Explosion in Iran
A deafening noise accompanied a powerful tremor on Monday near the western Iranian city of Khorramabad. The authorities quickly explained it away as a minor 2.0 earthquake. “Not so fast,” said many. Near the epicenter of the event is an underground missile and weapons complex. According to witnesses, this below the surface cache was the source of what they say was a major explosion. The Iranian authorities deny the claim and Israel hasn’t said a word.
Canadian Parliament Unwittingly Honors Nazi War Criminal
Canada continues on it’s radical decline to the left. On Friday, members of Canada’s parliament stood and applauded Yaroslav Hunka, a 98-year-old World War II veteran, after he was introduced by Speaker Anthony Rota as a “Canadian hero”. The only problem was that Hunka served in a Nazi Waffen SS unit during the war.
There are certain things you just can’t come back from. Certainly for Hunka, who is now the subject of an extradition request by the Polish government. Also for Speaker Rota, who tendered his resignation Tuesday.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meets Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, April 19, 2023.(Photo: Saudi Press Agency/Handout via REUTERS)Saudi Arabia reportedly won’t make major Israeli concessions to Palestinians as a condition for normalization!
Saudi Arabia will not hold up a normalization deal with Israel if the Jewish state doesn’t agree to major concessions to the Palestinians, according to three regional sources who are familiar with the talks.
“The normalization will be between Israel and Saudi Arabia. If the Palestinians oppose it the kingdom will continue in its path,” one of the sources told Reuters.
“Saudi Arabia supports a peace plan for the Palestinians, but this time it wants something for Saudi Arabia, not just for the Palestinians.”
Riyadh would be satisfied with Israel’s pledge to ease certain restrictions that would fall well short of demands for Palestinian statehood, the source added.
Such concessions might include the transfer of some Israeli-controlled territory in the West Bank to the Palestinian Authority (PA), limitations to the building of settlements and a pledge to not annex parts of the West Bank.
The Saudi Kingdom’s main goal in these talks is to receive a broad security agreement from the United States, according to the source.
While this probably won’t amount to a NATO-style alliance, an American source said that the agreement could be similar to U.S. treaties with Asian states like Japan or the U.S. agreement with Bahrain, home of the U.S. Navy Fifth Fleet.
In addition, Washington could offer Riyadh the status of ‘Major Non-NATO Ally,’ a status that was already given to Israel and Egypt. While an Asian-style treaty would have to get passed by Congress, an agreement like the one with Bahrain would not face as many legal hurdles.
Saudi Arabia is willing to compromise on a NATO-style alliance but, in return, would demand additional guarantees for an agreement similar to the one with Bahrain.
Riyadh also showed a readiness to compromise on demands for a civil nuclear program, one source said.
On Thursday, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said the IDF and Mossad Intelligence would examine the Saudi nuclear issue before any agreement.
“Peace with Saudi Arabia is a welcome thing for Israel, but at the same time we will make every effort to hedge the risks and make sure that we are acting in the right and responsible direction,” Gallant said.
“The security system and I personally have been dealing with this issue since the beginning of the year. We have set up work teams for the issue and everything will operate on the right track through the IDF and the Mossad and then it will flow to the chief of staff and me. Every effort should be made to reach a move with Saudi Arabia,” he added.
Jewish men take part in the Hoshana Rabbah prayer on the seventh day of Sukkot at a lookout of the Mount of Olives, overlooking Jerusalem’s Old City, Oct. 16, 2022. (Photo: Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)Paying Attention:
The Rise of Israel’s Religious Right
The Rise of the religious-right in Israel, especially among Orthodox Jews, is an amazing site to behold and an increasing end-time sign aligning with Scripture. In the last days, a powerful religious element who believe in the Old Testament and who are seeking God, inside Israel, is necessary to successfully negotiate for Israel’s coming Temple.
by Tim Buck | Sep 18, 2023 | Isreal, Nations
WORLD NEWS UPDATE
Israel and the Middle East
9/18/23 By Tim Buck
Fotet.org
“Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together
against the Lord and against his anointed, saying,
Let us break their chains and throw off their shackles.”
Psalms 2:1-3
Israel Strikes Terror Target
In a rare daytime strike, Israel destroyed a Hezbollah site in Tartus in western Syria. Three terrorists were killed in the missile attack which originated from the Mediterranean. Israel, per usual, declined to comment on the event. Then, that same night, Israel struck again, flying over Lebanon to reach the Shariat Airbase in Homs. The base and other headquarters were damaged.
Mossad Thwarts Attacks on Jews Around the World
Mossad director David Barnea stated in a speech that his agency has thwarted 27 attacks against Israelis and Jews around the world over the past year. Countries where these attacks were planned included Cyprus, Tanzania, India, and others. “We are witnessing a significant increase in attempts to attack Jews and Israelis worldwide, and as we speak, we continue to track Iranian and proxy teams to prevent them from killing Jews and Israelis,” said Barnea. In his speech, he also explained how Israel was able to interdict a deal in which Iran would sell Russia short-range and long-range missiles to be used against Ukraine.
Israel Signs Wheat Deal with Muslim Countries
Israel signed a historic wheat deal with two Muslim countries, Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan. In exchange for wheat imports, Israel will provide these countries with advanced agricultural technologies. While a great deal for all three nations, the one country that will not be happy about this is Russia. Currently, Israel is a major importer of Russia
n wheat. This agreement could reduce the volume of imports from the Russians. This is just one more reason for Moscow to be unhappy with Israel.
Massive Quake Rocks Morocco
Last Friday evening, the ground in the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco began to shake. Buildings collapsed, landslides were triggered, roads were blocked, and people were killed. So far, the death toll from the earthquake has reached 2,901 with 5,530 injured, making it the deadliest North African earthquake in 63 years. Israel has offered to send search-and-rescue teams, joining the numerous nations who are willing to help in the quake’s aftermath.
Cyclone Daniel Devastates Libya
The Mediterranean storm, designated Daniel, has left large portions of Libya underwater. Worst hit is the city of Derna which was deluged when two dams collapsed in the mountains above the city. Whole neighborhoods were washed away in a moment. The Libyan Minister of Health expects the death toll to reach 10,000 and the missing to be ten times that number. Meanwhile, flooding continues in areas around the world: Shatoujiao, Shenzhen, China; Hong Kong; Yangchun, Guangdong, China; Gateshead, England; Shanghai, China; Molina de Segura, Murcia province, Spain; Weda Bay, Maluku, Indonesia; along with many other locations.
In Armenia/Azerbaijan Conflict, Iran is the One to Blink
The slow burn between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed autonomo
us oblast of Nagorno-Karabakh threatened to burst into flames this past weekend. Both sides raced troops toward their joint border, while calling on their allies to back them up. Iran threatened Azerbaijan saying they better back down. Turkey and Pakistan immediately told Iran that they best stay in their lane. Eventually, Iran backed down under pressure not only from outside the country, but likely also from the 20 million of their citizens of Azeri origin. Russia has also been involved in the past on the Armenian side, but they declined to get involved having enough problems of their own already in Ukraine. After a lot of saber-rattling, Armenia and Azerbaijan reached an agreement which should calm things back down, at least for now.
US Pays Iran $6 Billion for Hostages
The news media will sugarcoat the deal that the Biden administration has just made with Tehran’s Islamic regime saying that they simply waived sanctions on $6 billion as part of what is really just a prisoner swap. Our guys for their guys – oh, and $6 billion. In reality, everyone recognizes this for what it is. Tehran took US citizens as hostages, and Washington just paid $6 billion ransom to get them back. “Wait,” say Biden’s apologists, “the agreement is that this money will be used for humanitaria
n purposes.” But no one believes that, not even Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi. “This money belongs to the Iranian people, the Iranian government,” said Raisi, “so the Islamic Republic of Iran will decide what to do with this money.” Could it go toward their uranium stockpile, which the IAEA said is now within one month of having enough enriched uranium for six bombs and four months away from having enough for ten? Or might it go toward the airport that Iran is building in Lebanon – just 20km away from the Israeli border – which they will use to launch terrorist attacks? The ayatollahs are going to be able to check a lot of items off their to-do list with $6 billion.
Biden and Modi Announce New Railway and Trade System Connecting Asia with the West
A new railway and trade system could better unite India and Asia with the West, according to US President Joe Biden, Indian President Narendra Modi, and others at the G20 Summit in New Delhi, India. The route would pass through Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, and Israel before moving into Europe. This would essentially make Israel a substitute trade way in place of using the congested Suez Canal.
North Korea May or May Not have Launched their First Nuclear Sub
North Korea launched its first fully operational tactical nuclear attack submarine. South Korea immediately attempted to rain on Kim Jong-un’s underwater parade by saying that “fully operational” might be a bit of an exaggeration. The implication is that “somewhat operational” or “at least it doesn’t sink” might be better descriptors. Soon after leaving the unveiling of the sub, the North Korean leader hopped on his personal train and headed northeast to Vladivostok, Russia. Once there, he met Russia President Vladimir Putin at a cosmodrome for talks. The expectation is that Putin will ask Kim for artillery and ammunition
, while Kim will want technology in return. This is the first time the two neighbors have met since 2019.
God is in Control
Amid the many end-time crises in our own country and the troubles surrounding Israel, the Lord’s church must not give in to the deception, chaos, and lawlessness that we see all around us. To do so often leads to anger, despair, and depression. We must remember that God is in control.
Our duty is to keep one
eye on the world, but the other squarely focused on the Word of God. It is from the latter
that we may experience comfort, hope, and peace during society’s insanity. “LOOKING FOR JESUS, THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH.”
by Tim Buck | Aug 31, 2023 | America, China, How to Live the Last Days, Nations
Petrodollar, BRICS 11 Shifting Away From America
8/31/23 By Tim Buck
Fotet.org
“Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together
against the Lord and against his anointed, saying,
Let us break their chains and throw off their shackles.”
Psalms 2:1-3
Eight years ago when we started Focus On The End Times and our website began, there were no doubts as to the status of the US Dollar being the reserve currency of the world.
The US Petrodollar was set up in 1974 as the ticket to keep US dollars in demand internationally and therefore America’s buying power relatively stable. This unique pro-American system has kept the American dollar king of world currency for the last half century. Anywhere you travel in the world you can flash a $100 bill and people pay attention! And both the system and the dollar were still solid just eight years ago.
Decline of the Petrodollar
Since that time, there has been a growing movement by many nations to break the monopoly of the US dollar in international trade. China is the prime mover in this. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) wants to make China the dominant military and economic power on earth.
Nation by nation is chipping away at the hegemony of the US dollar as trade agreements are put in place for nations to trade in a currency other than the dollar.
The BRICS nations are at the center of this effort.
One rather large dent in the monopoly of the dollar has developed due to the Biden Administration’s failed Middle East policy toward Saudi Arabia. As a result, Saudi Arabia is now selling its oil to China in Chinese Yuan.
BRICS 11, Anti-Western Block
The leaders of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) gathered in Johannesburg last week in what is likely to be a pivotal meeting for the bloc’s trajectory. Russian President Vladimir Putin did not attend due to an International Criminal Court warrant. But Moscow and Beijing pushed for the group’s expansion in a bid to strengthen the bloc as an alternative to the U.S.-led liberal international order and as a counterweight to the Group of 7 (G7) and other Western-led alignments.
Along those lines, it was
announced that six additional nations are joining BRICS at the start of 2024. They are Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the oil producers the UAE, Iran, and Saudi Arabia. Over 40 more countries have applied to join revealing a major shift in world power from west to east.
The Petrodollar was used by the entire world decades ago. Now, only the Western allies of the United States are still using dollars to conduct trade and buy oil. That is, only half the world, not all the world. Half of the world population—contained in the BRICS 11—will not be.
Conclusion
Either way, how the Petrodollar ends does not matter, it will surely end as it seems inevitable Satan’s assault on America will continue unabated. Either way, if the Petrodollar goes away it spells a decline in Americans’ standard of living with the dollar continuing into high inflation.
Get yourself ready. Test yourselves. Pull any idols down in your hearts higher than Christ. Keep watch for “the coming of the Lord draws nigh!”
by Tim Buck | Jan 8, 2023 | How to Live the Last Days, Nations, Tim's Articles
Israeli Airstrike on Damascus
When I (Amir Tsarfati) was awakened at 1:30 AM on Monday morning to the sound of five F-16s taking off from nearby Ramat David Airbase, I was pretty sure I knew where they were going. Sure enough, I later saw that the Israeli Air Force (IAF) had struck the Damascus International Airport where they put two runways temporarily out of commission and hit a weapons cache that had arrived from Iran. The attack also hit a holy site in the suburbs of the capital city where more weapons were being stored. Two Syrian soldiers were killed and two more were wounded.
UN General Assembly Passes Another Resolution Against Israel
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) passed another of its meaningless resolutions requesting the International Court of Justice to weigh in on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Israeli “annexation”, and the “legal status of the occupation.” Promoted by the Palestinians, this is the 141st resolution against Israel that has come out of the UNGA just since 2015. Sadly for the rest of the globe, they have fallen way behind when it comes to UNGA condemnation, only managing to muster 68 negative resolutions worldwide in the same timespan. The nation of Israel promised to give the resolution the attention that it deserves, then everyone went out for falafel.
Main Obstacle for Peace Between Israel and Saudi Arabia is the Biden Administration
The surprising relationship between Israel and Saudi Arabia keeps growing. But there is an unlikely impediment to a peace deal being signed between the two nations. It’s the Biden administration. The Saudis recognize the closeness between Israel and the US, and they simply don’t trust an administration that was so eager to cut a deal with Iran. However, they also recognize that Israel is the one nation that is as concerned about a nuclear Iran as they are. It will be interesting to see if newly installed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is able to forge a peace agreement with this former enemy. Remember, prophetically speaking, Sheba and Dedan (Saudi Arabia) will not fight against Israel, but will instead protest the attacks on the nation.
Chief Rabbi of Moscow Who Fled Russia Suggests Other Jews Do the Same
Exiled Chief Rabbi of Moscow, Pinchas Goldschmidt, is encouraging Russia’s 165,000 Jews to flee the country while they still can. Russian Jews in the Tsarist and Stalinist eras were often made the scapegoats during difficult times, and the rabbi sees the real potential of this happening again. “We’re seeing rising antisemitism while Russia is going back to a new kind of Soviet Union, and step by step the iron curtain is coming down again,” Goldschmidt said. “This is why I believe the best option for Russian Jews is to leave.”
Deadly Ukrainian Strike on Russian Troops Blamed on Cell Phone Usage
A vocational college building that had been converted to a temporary barracks for Russian soldiers in Makiivka in the Donetsk region was hit by four rockets on New Years Day. The resulting detonation of the ammunition stored in the basement caused the building to be demolished. Russia puts their death toll at 89, while Ukraine says it is closer to 600. The truth is likely somewhere in the middle. Russian officials blamed the unauthorized usage of cell phones by its troops which allowed the Ukrainian military to target the building.
Russia’s War on Ukrainian Civilians
Ukrainian officials report that Russia launched a cruise missile attack on civilian areas of Kyiv on New Year’s Eve. At least one person was killed in the barrage. Earlier that same day, Russian President Vladimir Putin awarded the Order of St. George medal to General Sergei Surovikin, which is the nation’s highest purely military decoration. Obviously, Putin is happy with the general’s civilian-oriented tactics aimed at destroying Ukraine’s infrastructure, especially its electrical grid.
UK to put IRGC on Terrorist List
The United Kingdom is poised to place Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on its list of terrorist organizations within weeks. The move comes as the result of credible evidence that the IRGC intended to kidnap or assassinate British citizens or UK-based civilians who they claim were stirring up the protests in Iran. “We have seen at least 10 such potential threats since January [2022] alone,” said MI5 Director Ken McCallum.
Iran Condemns Another Protestor
Mehdi Bahman, a well-known author and illustrator, was sentenced to death by the Iranian regime on Monday. He was arrested in October, after the Iranian protests had begun, ostensibly for espionage after he gave an interview critical of the government to an Israeli news station back in April. He is reportedly being taken to Tehran’s notoriously violent Evin Prison to await his execution.
Political Chaos in Washington, D.C.
It’s been more than a century since the US has seen this kind of political chaos in Washington, D.C., as the House of Representatives have failed 12 times to elect a Speaker. In an internal party battle, there are 12 Republican congressmen refusing to cast their votes for the mainstream GOP candidate House Republican Conference leader Kevin McCarthy. Tempers are flaring and words are flying. Nebraska GOP congressman Don Bacon dubbed the holdouts the “Taliban 20”, while Republican congressman from Arizona, Andy Biggs, responded in a tweet his desire to “break up the DC cartel.” Meanwhile, Democrats in the House chamber cheered and chanted with every failed vote. The dividing of America seems to be the enemy’s #1 priority.
COVID Testing Requirements Expand for Travelers from China
As the number of COVID cases in China continues to grow exponentially, more countries are imposing testing and restrictions upon travelers from the country. The nations that now have some sort of requirement for travel from China include Italy, US, UK, France, Spain, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, India, Malaysia, Israel, Qatar, and Morocco. The final country on the list, Morocco, is the first to take the extreme step of banning all travelers originating in China from entering its borders.
by Tim Buck | Dec 21, 2022 | America, Joe Biden, Nations, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tim's Articles
U.S. Petrodollar Weakening
Ahead of the Tribulation Period 12/20/22 By Tim Buck
Fotet.org
The decline and fall of America is a biblical and prophetic necessity in order for God to deal with Israel alone during the coming 7-year Tribulation period. It’s sad sitting in a front row seat and watching it happen but God’s sovereign plan to redeem Israel takes precedence over all else in the last days.
That said, it stands to reason that the U.S. Petrodollar, one of the pillars upholding the U.S. economy must come to an end prior to the start of the 7-year Tribulation.
In 1971 a deal was struck between OPEC and the United States in which every barrel of oil purchased in the global marketplace would be bought with U.S. dollars. Any country, therefore, wanting to buy oil must have first exchanged its currency for U.S. currency. This “Petrodollar” system has created an artificial demand for the dollar as global oil demand has increased.
This has been responsible in large part for the US dollar’s relative strength over the last several decades, and thus also supporting Americans’ high standard of living.
Enter BIDEN!
Nothing better illustrates the utter ineptitude of the Biden administration’s dealings with the Middle East than Saudi Arabia’s decision to forge a strategic alliance with China.
Biden set the tone for his strained relationship with the Saudi royal family during the 2020 presidential election contest when he denounced the kingdom as a “pariah” state over its involvement in the murder of Saudi dissident Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul in 2018.
By any standard, the deepening military cooperation between Russia and Iran should serve as a wake-up call to the Biden administration to redouble its efforts to reaffirm its commitment to key allies in the region such as the Saudis, who are committed to resisting any attempt by Tehran to expand its influence in the region.
That the Saudi’s are now moving away from its traditional alliance with the U.S. and strengthening its ties with Beijing is a strategic disaster of epic proportions, and serves as a damning indictment of the Biden administration’s careless treatment of the Saudis, for which the president is personally to blame.
Schematic map of the States members of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa). Vector.
BRICS
There’s been a steady movement over the last decade to dump the Petrodollar by a substantial International coalition known as BRICS. The anacronym stands for Brazil, Russia, India, China & South Africa.
Thanks to the weak and feckless U.S. administration’s treatment of the Saudi’s, it appears that they also are considering joining this anti-American coalition. It seems the U.S. is moving into yet another danger zone in the vital, world, energy sector.
Group Photo of Heads of BRICS Nations Family now reaches 28 nations including Turkey at the BRICS Outreach Event in Johannesburg (July 27, 2018).
Momentum for BRICS and moving away from the U.S. Petrodollar is growing fast with more eastern and anti-American nations joining the movement every year.
Unlike their low key welcome of Biden, Saudi Arabia lays on lavish welcome as China’s XI heralds ‘New Era’ in relations.
This news item out of Saudi Arabia is a rather significant development in terms of the Petrodollar’s days being numbered.
Chinese President Xi was welcomed in Saudi Arabia with pomp and circumstance, as trade deals were made with Saudi oil being bought in Chinese Yuan, and relations between the Arab oil-rich states and China drew closer.
Conclusion
Today America is living proof that having the world’s most important currency translates into a higher standard of living than most nations.
At one point in our history, our nation’s largest export was a variety of consumer goods. Now our largest export is the U.S. dollar…a dollar that costs us practically nothing to create.
How long will it be before the nations of the world figure out the dollar fiasco is a fraud?
Pray for America! This is but another sign of the soon return of Jesus.
Keep looking up!
Rumble