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But there is more to calling Bush Jr. the American “Pharaoh” than I thought. 

In 2 Chronicles 35:20-22 Pharaoh Neco believed that G-d commanded him “to make haste” in going to war against the house of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. (Similarly, President Bush Jr. is also convinced of his divine mission to conquer the house of Saddam Hussein who believes himself to be heir of Nebuchadnezzar).

When Hitler came to power and began his campaign for world dominion and the systematic genocide of the Jewish people, several assassination attempts were made. All failed and Hitler died ultimately by his own hand. Hitler had an evil mission and until it was accomplished, he could not be killed. For as harsh as this word is, without the Nazi Holocaust there would still be no State of Israel. It was the Nazi Holocaust that catapulted the Jewish people out of exile back into their own Land to build again a sovereign nation.

Saddam Hussein also believes to have a mission (one of which is the rebuilding of Babylon [see endnote "m"]) and now no one will succeed with eliminating him until it is completed. G-d had given the world with the Gulf war a chance to put a stop to it before it would be too late, a chance which was not fully realized. And now is not America's “appointed season” to come against Saddam Hussein a second time, for the whole matter is one of timing just as it is written in Ecclesiastes 3:1, “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.”

Similarly, when the children of Israel were to go up against the nations to drive them out of the promised land, they failed to do it (and suffered the consequences for it), just as the Gulf-war allies failed to drive Saddam Hussein from power (and the Iraqi people have suffered the consequences until now). After the Israelites realized their mistake they wanted to go up, but that time Moses said, “Don’t go ahead with your plan or you will be crushed by your enemies, for the L-RD is not with you.” But they went ahead anyway and suffered heavy losses¹⁰.

Turning to Jeremiah 45, we find that G-d commanded Jeremiah to prophesy against Pharaoh Neco (whom G-d allegedly had commissioned) however, and by the Euphrates river at the fortress city of Charchemish – a strategic crossing-place from North Mesopotamia into North Syria – Neco was defeated by Nebuchadnezzar in 605 BCE¹¹. 

These are Jeremiah’s words, revived once again by the Holy Spirit:

“Advance, O horses, and rage, O chariots! Let the warriors go forth: men of Ethiopia and Put who handle the shield, men of Lud, skilled in handling the bow (U.S./European alliance with Arab nations in this war?). That day is the day of the Lord G-D of hosts, a day of vengeance, to avenge Himself on His foes. The sword shall devour and be sated, and drink its fill of their blood.”

Yet Israel the Lord G-D of hosts promises :

“But fear not, O Jacob my servant, nor be dismayed, O Israel; for lo, I will save you from afar, and your offspring from the land of your captivity... Fear not, O Jacob, my servant, says the Lord, for I am with you. I will make a full end of all the nations to which I have driven you, but of you I will not make a full end…”¹³

Israel’s divinely designated northern boundary is the Euphrates, and its southern one the river of Egypt (which I don’t think is some tiny creek, but the Nile, the only “river of Egypt”). At both rivers G-d’s judgments are stored up^{14 O}. And now America goes and stirs up a hornet’s nest --- judgments at the river Euphrates.

But I was in a quandary: on the one hand the Holy Spirit clearly warned¹⁵ about going to war against Iraq --- on the other I kept seeing war and much bloodshed, because G-d does not let the nations that defy His oath regarding the Land of Israel go unpunished. Hence, I seemed to be getting two contradicting messages, until I realized: the Holy Spirit’s warning is meant specifically for the United States!

Every event has its appointed time. However, it can be delayed or precipitated, either willfully or inadvertently. Whatever the case, the consequences may prove disastrous, in this case for the "merchants of Tarshish" alias United States of America, should she go to war against Iraq. The year 2003 is a year of “destiny,” of tremendous changes for the Body of Messiah as well as for many nations, in particular in the Middle East. The prophecy of Ezekiel 38/39 is looming over us all, foremost over Israel!

After Lyndon B. Johnson, American Presidents¹⁶ have defied G-d’s oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob concerning the inheritance of the Land, insisting on dividing it up for the creation of a Palestinian State. Likewise beginning with Gamal Abdul Nasser, Egypt’s first President following the overthrow of King Faruk, Egyptian Presidents have defied G-d’s oath by trying to destroy – or at least divide - Israel¹⁷. 
 
 

Though prayer may not change President Bush’s mind about going to war against Iraq, pray that your sons and daughters won’t be sent there! And should that prayer not prevail and they must go, then pray Psalm 91 and that they will be sent to Israel to stand with her against possible attacks! Your prayers on behalf of your sons and daughters, your fathers, husbands, brothers will be far more effective! Pray that the Arab nations won’t prove turn-coats and unite against America. However, should they do this, pray that it be unto them as is written in Psalm 83:13-18. For they are ALL members of the Arab League, in league against G-d and Israel (verses 1-8).

Fast and repent for the American governments^U who have favored dividing up G-d’s own Land¹⁸  and His city, Jerusalem, in order to satisfy the Arabs’ demand which says, “Let us take possession for ourselves of the pastures of G-d”¹⁹ for a Palestinian State. Fast and repent and THEN pray! It is not a matter of one million intercessors or 91 days, although I would like to say with Jeremiah, “Amen! May your prophecies come true! I hope the L-RD will do everything you say…”²⁰

However, the word that the Lord gave Jeremiah for the people at that particular time of crisis was: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, filling you with vain hopes; they speak visions of their own minds… ‘Listen to the dream I had last night,’ they say. And then they proceed to lie in My Name.’”²¹

This present crisis is a matter of national repentance, such as Niniveh did!!! Fasting, putting on sackcloth and ashes! But how will a nation, indoctrinated by the beating of incessant propaganda drums, see the need for national repentance?

May G-d give the Church in America true prophets! May G-d give her prophets who speak the truth that saves and not generic utterances of their own minds! The Church needs champions of Truth who love not their lives unto death! May G-d rebuke those false prophets who speak, “Thus says the Lord!” when He did not speak to them.

G-d does not wish your loved ones to perish in this war He did not ordain for America! But your leaders incite you to go to war, and your prophets give you wrong counsel that does not save nor protect. It is not one million who pray for 91 days that saves²², but national repentance led by ALL churches nationwide, in perfect agreement, being of one heart, mind and purpose! It is the unity of the Body of Christ in America that is the will of G-d which saves. Then the intercession of even one man such as Elijah could turn things around. Does the Church have such a man?

Therefore, unless there be a concerted national effort by the Body of Christ in America according to Joel 2:12-17, America is heading for war against Iraq by the end of January, early February 2003. The aftermath of this war won’t be anything like the Gulf war of the early 90th. G-d favored that war and gave instructions how to wage it successfully²³. General Schwarzkopf followed that strategy, and there would have been no need to war against Saddam again, for the Lord let Iraq fall into the Gulf-war allies’ hands like a ripe plum --- but President Bush Sr. would not take it.

Now the Lord gives America only this instruction --- “Do not go to war against Iraq for I will not be with you this time!”