NEWS FROM THE EAST AND THE NORTH SHALL TROUBLE HIM
Part XIX
Rise or Fall of American Empire
by
Doug Krieger
Part 1
“News from the east and the north shall trouble him; therefore he shall go out with great fury to destroy and annihilate many. And he shall plant the tents of his palace between the seas and the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and no one will help him” (Daniel 11:44-45).
These obscure and enigmatic texts found in Daniel’s account of the King of the South, who “shall attack him” and the King of the North, who “shall come against him” – “AT THE TIME OF THE END” – are all the more disquieting when one seizes upon the chronology, only to realize that the “him” mentioned in eschatological prose is none other than the infamous Despicable One, the final Antichrist, who has forthwith dispensed with these coalition of nation states allied against Israel in the horrific struggle known as the Gog-Magog War of Ezekiel 38:1 through Ezekiel 39:1-16 occurring at the opening of Daniel’s Seventieth Week (i.e., the “Forty Days of Testing”).
What is all the more disconcerting to the eschatologist are the subsequent texts which substantiate that Antichrist’s victories over the Radical Islamic hoards – led by Egypt of the South (including Sudan-Cush and Libya-Put—Daniel 11:42-43; Ezekiel 38:5) and the “Prince of Persia” – under the banner of the King of the North (led by the peoples of Iran-Persia and those occupying the modern state of Turkey—Ezekiel 38:2-6) wherein Israel is the target of these hoards in Ezekiel 38-39 and Antichrist and his allies (viz., the “ships of Tarshish,” – the ancient designation for the present Western trading nations headed up by the USA and “Sheba and Dedan” – the nations occupying today’s Saudi Arabian Peninsula) are the target of these hosts in Daniel 11:40-45 – are only a PRELUDE to the CAMPAIGN OF ARMAGEDDON, involving Antichrist and those jurisdictions “from the east and the north” which “trouble him.”
Indeed, after the utter destruction of Gog and his allies, Magog, there are those events which lead up to and include the entire “Campaign of Armageddon” which commences in Daniel 11:44 and continues through until the climactic “Battle of Armageddon” found in Ezekiel 39:17-20; Daniel 11:45; 12:11; Joel 3:9-16; Revelation 14:17-20; 16:12-16; 19:17-21.
Without
equivocation we maintain that the Oracle of Damascus – involving Israel and
the immediate belligerents now surrounding her (Syria—Isaiah
17:1-5; Zechariah 9:1-2a; Lebanon—Zechariah
9:2b-4; Gaza—Zechariah
9:5-7; and the amazing designation of “the stronghold of Ephraim” –
the current site of the Palestinian Authority’s Ramallah—Isaiah
17:3) will occur as the seventh and final conflict of the Arab-Israeli
Conflict commenced in 1948 and extending through to the “end of the war” as
found in
Daniel 9:26—which “war” we affirm to be the very “Burden of Damascus”
mentioned in
Isaiah 17:1 . . . but this “end of the war” is NOT the Gog-Magog
conflagration in that NONE of the constellation of nations mentioned in the
Oracle-Burden of Damascus aligned against Israel are so mentioned in
Ezekiel 38-39:1-16 nor in
Daniel 11:40-45. These two conflicts are altogether separate and distinct
and are interspersed by the manifestation of the Man of Sin, the Son of
Perdition, the Antichrist, who, at the commencement of Daniel’s Seventieth
Week shall culminate a DEFENSE PACT (not an economic trade pact) with Israel’s
majority (i.e., “the many” found in
Daniel 9:27) and that this defense pact will have exasperated the
constellation of nations allied against Israel and, subsequently, against
Antichrist, Israel’s protector, who has undoubtedly encouraged the building of
the Third Temple as part and parcel of his insidious Defense Pact, known in
Isaiah 28:15 and 18 as Israel’s “covenant with death and agreement with
Sheol (hell).”
Again, the inception of Daniel’s Seventieth Week marks the commencement – the first forty days – of the Gog-Magog conflagration which demands, according to Ezekiel 39:12 a “seven month” time frame wherein “the house of Israel will be burying them, in order to cleanse the land” prior to the inauguration and commencement of the sacerdotal rites of the Third Temple, which we affirm to be on the 250th day (40 days + 210 days or 7 prophetic months of 30 days each = 250 days) or what we calculate to be the precise day of the Festival of Lights, Hanukkah, Dedication (using Passover day as the start of the Seventieth Week, with 250 days there from until Hanukkah) wherein the Third Temple shall persist in sacrifice for 1,010 days until the midst of the Seventieth Week wherein the Abomination of Desolation will take place as mentioned by Daniel (Daniel 7:25; 8:11-14, 23-26; 9:26-27; 11:16, 21-23, 31, 36; 12:11 and rehearsed by Jesus Himself in Matthew 24:15 and Mark 13:14) and continue through until the 1,290th day (Daniel 12:11) for a grand total of both the “sacrifice” and “the abominations” of 2,300 days (1,010 days of sacrifice + 1,290 days of “abominations” = 2,300 days in accordance with Daniel 8:13-14). And, since ALL these prophetic prognostications are accorded to the Jews (“Seventy weeks are determined for your people and for your holy city”) of the “end of days” (Daniel 8:17, 19; 11:40; 12:4, 6, 9, 13), there is absolutely no domineering Dominionist who deigns to replace National Israel in the Almighty’s quest to demonstrate His sovereignty and awesome determination to recite His glory before the Gentile World Powers in the Latter Days!
But, again, the termination of the Gog-Magog Conflagration – the second prophetic conflict yet future (for a total of three): (1) The Oracle of Damascus; (2) The Gog-Magog War; and (3) The Campaign of Armageddon) – demarcates the commencement of this most interesting phraseology AFTER the defeat of Gog-Magog: “News (or “rumors”) from the east and the north will trouble him” or as in another version: “Then disturbing reports will come in from the north and east that will throw him into a panic. Towering in rage, he’ll rush to stamp out the threat. But he’ll no sooner have pitched camp between the Mediterranean Sea and the Holy Mountain—all those royal tents!—than he’ll meet his end. And not a soul around who can help!’” (Daniel 11:44-45 – “The Message”)
Let us convincingly argue that these “reports” – “rumors” – “news items” – set off the “Campaign of Armageddon” – for the reign and rule of the Antichrist-Beast is naught but civil, ethnic and world calamity during the entire Seventieth Week—there is NO PEACE with the Prince of Darkness—for he is the counterfeit of the Prince of Peace! But let us consider what commences “from the east” and extends until we read these foreboding extensions found in the Sixth Trumpet and amplified within the Sixth Bowl:
“Then the sixth angel sounded: And I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, ‘Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.’ So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind. Now the number of the army of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them . . . then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty . . . and they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon” (Revelation 9:13-16; 16:12-14, 16).
If the armies of the “King of the North” are resoundingly defeated in the Gog-Magog Conflict (and this is the sum of the matter) – then what of the “news from the north?” The only constellation of nations north of Gog-Magog are those of the Russian Federation of nations; however, those constituting “from the east” are a myriad of possibilities (China, India, Japan, etc.); however, a 200,000,000 (million) force descending from the East, across the dried-up Euphrates River into Iraq (the boundary of Rome’s extensions and of Israel’s millenarian boundaries – as “unto the River Euphrates” (Joshua 1:4) will be an awesome sight!
We have dubbed this final conflict prior to the Second Coming of Christ as the “Campaign” of Armageddon. As Dwight Pentecost has clarified:
“It has been held commonly that the battle of Armageddon is an isolated event transpiring just prior to the Second Advent of Christ to the earth. The extent of this great movement in which God deals with ‘the kings of the earth and of the whole world’ (Rev. 16:14) will not be seen unless it is realized that the ‘battle of that great day of God almighty’ (Rev. 16:14) is not an isolated battle, but rather a campaign that extends over the last half of the tribulation period (Editor’s Note: We would concur but extend that “Campaign” further into the first half of the Seventieth Week and beginning from Daniel 11:44 to its conclusion in Daniel 11:45 and that precise time frame would be at least 40 days into the Seventieth Week; the Gog-Magog War occurring at the very commencement of the Seventieth Week and extending for 40 days.). The Greek word polemos, translated ‘battle’ in Revelation 16:14, signifies a war or campaign, while machee signifies a battle, and sometimes even a single combat. This distinction is observed by Trench, and is followed by Thayer and Vincent (Editor’s Note: References omitted.). The use of the word polemos (campaign) in Revelation 16:14 would signify that the events that culminate in the gathering at Armageddon at the Second Advent are viewed by God as one connected campaign.” (Things to Come, Dwight Pentecost, Dunham Publishing Company, Findlay, Ohio, 1958, p. 340)
In other words – Antichrist – the “Ships of Tarshish” – along with the financiers of the Saudi Arabian Peninsula of nations (whether they are Islamic or not is irrelevant…have placed, by this time and even today, their material well being over any religious pronouncement or posture; siding with the West in all their financial infatuations – especially is this disconcerting to Islamic fundamentalists who, on the one hand, abhor the West’s decadent life style, but who on the other hand, relish the luxuries of “sin for a season”). It is this constellation of nations, allied with Israel – not because they care for Israel, but because they care for their own “spoil” or “booty” (Ezekiel 38:12-13). It is after the conclusion of the Gog-Magog War that the Campaign of Armageddon will commence and commence against the current financiers of American debt—for “trading” and “violence” are inseparable in so far as the King of Tyre concerns (“By the abundance of your trading you became filled with violence within, and you sinned.” Ezekiel 28:16).
COMMUNIST GIANTS BECOME AMERICA’S PIGGY BANK!
My
how times have changed! Soaking up America’s inflated dollars – buying up our
debt as fast as the Saudis are buying our fiat currency are our former
antagonists: The Russian Federation and China! This leads us, of course, to
some most astounding prophetic conjectures – in light of today’s financial
debacle now facing the United States of America. America’s PRIMARY creditor
of nations, without whom the American financial markets would crumble, are
those nations rich in petrol resources or cheap labor – viz., Russia, Saudi
Arabia and China—on a grand scale. Hey, someone’s got to do it and why not
those who understand us most!
Just this week (July, 2008), we learned how much our mortgage industry – especially Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac – are indebted to these former foes. Can you imagine – YOUR HOME IS ACTUALLY OWNED BY CHINA, RUSSIA AND THE MIDDLE EASTERN PETRO-MOGULS LIKE THE SAUDIS! (Note: That’s what happened to all your “toy money” you were spending at Wal-Mart and Toys-R-Us.—as well, of course, the big bucks you’re paying at the pumps.)
That’s incredible…but TRUE! Here’s the unbelievable truth of the matter – and now you might consider why “rumors from the east and the north” just might trouble him…
“Foreign banks own almost $1.5 trillion in debt from mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Most of this debt is owned by China, Russia and the Middle East, leading purchasers of American Treasury and debt.
“At current estimates, China possesses’ around $400 billion in debt, Middle Eastern nations $200 billion and Russians $150 billion, according to Telegraph.co.uk.
“While the financial institutions continue to implode in this credit crisis and the dollar continues decline, how long will these nations finance our extravagant spending? It is time for American politicians, businesses and citizens to begin living within the means of a responsible budget.” (America: A Nation of Debt, Jeff Bennett, 07/18/08, from Economy in Crisis…and fat chance they ever will live within their means...my little snide remark to punctuate the absurdity of Bennett’s restraint)
Allow me to confirm this incredible turn around . . . and then you’ll see why President Bush and Vladimir Putin’s relationship is so “precious” and why the USA would never bow out of China’s 8-8-08 Olympics; after all, that would be a slap in the face to the Chinese people (and somebody just might stop funding our debt)!
“Merrill
Lynch has warned that the United States could face a foreign ‘financing
crisis’ within months as the full consequences of the Fannie Mae and Freddie
Mac mortgage debacle spread through the world.
“Roughly $1.5 trillion of Fannie and Freddie AAA-rated debt - as well as other US ‘government-sponsored enterprises’ - is now in foreign hands. The great unknown is whether foreign patience will snap as losses mount and the dollar slides.
“But the lion's share is held by the central banks of China, Russia and petrol-powers. These countries could all too easily precipitate a run on the dollar in the current climate and bring the United States to its knees, should they decide that it is in their strategic interest to do so. (Interesting?)
“Merrill Lynch said foreign governments had added $241bn of US agency debt over the past year alone as their foreign reserves exploded, accounting for a third of total financing for the US current account deficit. (They now own $985bn in all.) By most estimates, China holds around $400bn, Russia $150bn and Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states at least $200bn.” (Ibid.)
Meanwhile the Congress considers a final bailout of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae to the tune of $400Billion to keep them afloat—and the Russians and the Chinese will belly up to the bar, along with the Saudis, and have one for the road. Ultimately, the so-called “tax papers” in the form of the Federal Reserve (talk about a bunch of nonsensical rhetoric on the part of the government) will have to step in and take over these two giants in order to insure the other two giants (Russia and China) their money is secure!
“And while it’s true that the government might be hesitant to step in after what many considered a taxpayer-sponsored bailout of The Bear Stearns Cos. Inc. (BSC), it’s also true that the government can’t afford to let Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae fail. Together, the two lenders guarantee about half of the $12 trillion U.S. home mortgage market.
“‘The impact of a failure of Fannie and Freddie, though technically insolvent, is beyond imagining, far greater than the bankruptcy of a Bear Stearns,’ said Barron’s Randall W. Forsyth on Friday. ‘For that reason alone, such an eventuality is unthinkable.’ (Possible Weekend Bailout for Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, Jennifer Yousfi, Money Morning, Monday, July 14, 2008)
CREDIT WORTHINESS OF THE USA ON THE BRINK – RUSSIA AND CHINA LOOK OUT!
Now,
here’s one for the books (and I’m talking “cooked books” at best – as in “not
everything appears to be what it is”) – China (the “east”) and Russia (the
“north”) have got to be wondering what in the world is going on here. These
two formidable colossi have tied their stars (no pun intended) to America’s
flagship big time – but look what could happen:
The disaster scenarios
“The Federal Reserve and the Treasury have taken great pains to point out that the government is not obligated to bail out either Fannie or Freddie if they face insolvency. (Sorry to keep talking about these two giants; however, they do constitute nearly 1/2 of all outstanding home mortgages held in the USA!)
“It’s debatable where the legal obligations lie, but as a practical matter, the government can’t let these institutions fail because they are being counted upon to help fix the mortgage mess. If Fannie and Freddie were unable to buy and back loans, banks would stop originating them and the pool of homebuyers would shrink, causing home prices to fall even further.
“‘If the government believes the companies serve an essential role in the market, which they do, they cannot let them fail,’ says Joseph Mason, an economics professor with the University of Louisiana who focuses on the mortgage markets.” (The Fannie and Freddie Doomsday scenario, Katie Benner, CNN Money/Fortune, July 11, 2008)
So – what in the world (viz. Russia and China and our buddies on the Saudi Arabian Peninsula) – would force the Fed from steeping in and saving Fannie and Freddie?
“Fannie and Freddie are among the most highly-leveraged companies around, meaning the amount of capital they have on hand is nowhere close to the level of assets they control.
“Fannie and Freddie must constantly borrow money in order to operate; if for any reason borrowing costs rose sharply they would not be able to make good on their guarantees or even fund their day to day operations. This is when the government would feel intense pressure to step in and, at the very least, pay contracts in a timely manner.
“In an April report, Standard & Poor’s said an Armageddon scenario whereby Fannie and Freddie are insolvent is unlikely, but that the mere possibility of failure at either is a greater threat to the economy than the actual collapse of any investment bank.” (Ibid.) (Editor’s Note: It would be altogether obvious that such an Armageddon scenario could take place if both Russia and China got upset at our actions in, let’s say, a Gog-Magog War?)
The bailout scenarios
“So what might it look like if the government had to lend a hand? Outright nationalization is an unlikely option given that neither the current administration nor the presidential candidates could afford to support such a move in an election year.
More likely, the Treasury Department or the Federal Reserve would come in and provide a liquidity backstop, in the form of a loan or guarantee to bondholders that they will be paid. Fannie and Freddie could even do a preferred stock deal with the government, much like the deal forged by Citigroup with the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, says Egan.
“That would allow given officials the ability to argue that they weren't bailing out the companies, but rather making an investment that would pay off in the long run. (Editor’s Note: Fat chance of that ever happening – the Fed is salivating over the possibility of taking over Freddie and Fannie for a pig and a poke!)
“Mason has a different twist on a possible intervention. If either were to face insolvency, he says the government should purchase a large voting block of equity in the institution and use that as a tool to eliminate any dividends, replace officers and manage the firms back to solvency. (Editor’s Note: Euphemism for “toilet” vs. “water closet.”)
“‘But [a rescue] would be a political situation, so it would be messy,’ says Mason. ‘Fannie and Freddie would fight against having officers replaced. They would want to keep the dividend.’ (Editor’s Note: Naturally, why give the Fed’s all the cash!)
“The doomsday scenario could cost taxpayers more than $1 trillion, says the S&P (Standard and Poor’s) report. The report went so far as to say that a government bailout of Fannie or Freddie could force the agency to lower its rating on the creditworthiness of the United States.” (Ibid.)