Battle above the Clouds - Part 10

March 19, 2013

Battle above the Clouds – Part 10

My internet went down for about 36 hours, due to an internal problem on my server's side.  It was up briefly before it was down again for a separate reason (temporary setback), putting me behind five days.

I am behind on correspondence, work and my blog.  To those of you who have written me, I apologize for the delay in my response.  I will be answering them, in order of arrival, as soon as possible.  Your understanding is appreciated, as are the prayers of brethren. Thank you - BP 

Peace Must Come to Holy Land – President Obama

Although it is his third trip to Israel, President Obama arrived in Tel Aviv on his first visit to Israel as the president of the United States.  He was greeted by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Israeli President Shimon Peres, along with other delegates and a full military presence.  

In the CNN news video below, Pres. Obama is overheard joking that he had to “get away from congress.”  PM Netanyahu responded with a hearty laugh.  

*NOTE - sorry YouTube took down the video from its site.

In a speech to Israel, Obama stated, “The United States is proud to stand with you as your strongest ally and your greatest friend.”   With his famous and usual charisma, he continued on with yet another eloquent speech.

Although the video does not reveal the statement, Israel National News reported the following statements in its online blog:

“Peace must come to the Holy Land,” proclaimed US President Barack Obama on Wednesday after stepping down on to the tarmac at Ben Gurion Int’l Airport.

“We will never lose sight of an Israel at peace with its neighbors,” Obama insisted, making clear his determination to again try to revive the moribund peace process between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.” Source (Arutz Sheva 7 – INN): (incl 6 min video)

Peace Plan Confirmed

According to Arutz Sheva 7 (Israel National News), former minister Yossi Beilin confirmed that President Obama intends to reveal a “new peace plan for Israel and the Palestinian Authority.”

Reporter Maayana Miskin wrote:

“One of the main questions surrounding United States President Barack Obama’s impending visit to Israel is the issue of whether Obama will use his visit to renew political pressure on Israel over talks with the Palestinian Authority.

Now a left-wing activist and former minister, who bears major responsibility for the failed Oslo Accords that caused the deaths of over a thousand Israelis but did not bring peace, has cited top American officials in saying that Obama does indeed have a new plan for Israel-PA talks.

Speaking at a Geneva Initiative event, former minister Yossi Beilin said that U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry recently asked European leaders not to publish a peace plan for Israel and the PA at the present time, because America is planning to lead with its own plan.”  

(bolded text mine – BP) Source (Arutz Sheva) 
 
The source above provides a link to a News Brief posted on January 17, 2013 that reported on the peace plan for Israel and PA that Kerry asked European leaders not to publish at this time.

“Ma’ariv reports that French President Francois Hollande announced in a press conference that France will promote a new Israeli PA peace plan after the elections, to bring the sides to negotiate.

According to the report, the launch of the new initiative will be in March, in an EU leader summit declaration. French government sources say France sees 2013 as the year of the Middle East peace process conclusion.”  
Source - Arutz Sheva 7 – INN

Israel’s Nanotechnology Used for Obama’s Gift

According to Times of Israel, exchanging "tchotchkes" (silent t-chotch- kes) (small objects or trinkets that are decorative as opposed to functional) is an ancient custom of world leaders.  The article states:

“Obama is to receive a gold-coated silicon chip etched with the declarations of independence of Israel and the United States. The etching, 20 nanometers (0.00002 mm) deep, was done on a 0.04 square millimeter portion of the chip. The chip was affixed to a Jerusalem stone dating to the Second Temple Period (1st century BCE to 1st century CE), of the kind used to seal clay vessels.”   
Source - Time of Israel

An electron microscope will be provided by Netanyahu, in order for Obama to see the fine details.  According to Concise Encyclopedia, nanotechnology is: 

“Manipulation of atoms, molecules, and materials to form structures on the scale of nanometres (billionths of a metre). These nanostructures typically exhibit new properties or behaviours due to Quantum Mechanics.”  (Canadian publication)

As with all inventions and discoveries, nanotechnology has the potential for both positive and negative ramifications, but that is another topic in itself.  The tiny black speck on the Jerusalem stone below is the silicon chip.  It is hard to fathom that the words of two separate declarations are etched on something so miniscule.

Avoiding the Knesset

Before President Obama’s visit, rumblings of discontent were spoken by the former Knesset speaker MK Reuven Rivlin, who was displeased when news of Obama’s choice to not speak in Knesset was learned.
 
Finding the news disturbing, Rivlin equates the snub to an Israeli leader refusing to speak to Congress and opts to speak to a university.  He asked, “What would happen if an Israeli leader refused to speak in Congress, and chose to speak in Princeton University instead?”

It had previously been reported that Rivlin was concerned with Pres. Obama’s appointment of Chuck Hagel as the Secretary of Defence, declaring the leader shows “complete lack of understanding… about the roots of the conflict and the events in the Middle East.” Report - Arutz Sheva – INN  

Approval Desired for Attack on Syria?

Israeli sources state that Netanyahu will be seeking Obama’s approval for an attack on Syria if Bashar al-Assad attempts to transfer chemical weapons to Lebanon.  Obama is not expected to agree with the Israeli request to commit to a Syrian attack, but rather looked for support from the President.

A senior Israeli source disclosed that the missiles not only threatened Israel, but the U.S. also, as the United States navy has the “largest fleet in the Mediterranean”.  Source - Israel National News (INN)

Palestinians Protest Obama’s Allegiance

On a more somber note, Palestinian protesters began demonstrating against Obama’s visit to the West Bank city of Ramallah and against planned negotiations, four days before his intended visit.

Approximately 200 Palestinians pitched at least 15 tents on the site slated for a Jewish settlement, which is a site of great controversy.  The majority of the protesters feel that Obama is biased and supports Israel only

Some protesters query whether Obama will be influential in the release of over 3,800 Palestinian prisoners.  The area has been declared a “closed military zone”, with Israeli soldiers ordering the activists to vacate the area by 1800 GMT, which is 1300 EST.  Violators will be rejected by force, according to protest organizer, Abdullah Abu Rahma.

Palestinian peace negotiator Nabil Shaath, has published a request in Haaretz, an Israeli newspaper, urging Obama to “prove commitment to a two-state solution by turning pledges into deeds.”

 

Protestors are further upset by Pres. Obama’s vow to an “eternal alliance” with the Jewish state of Israel, cemented by his statement that “peace must come to the Holy Land.”  Further read - Breitbart

Temple Mount Visit

When Hamas (Palestinian Islamic fundamentalist movement) and Islamic Jihad terror groups heard of Obama’s visit to Israel, the statement was made public that if Obama steps foot in the Temple Mount, it would be a “declaration of war” towards the Islamic and Arabic world. 

A spokesperson for Hamas, Mushir al-Masri, requested an uprising (a third intifada) and assistance from Egyptians in the resistance, to prevent Obama from visiting what is considered one of most sacred sites in Jerusalem’s Old City.

 

Visiting the Temple Mount is not part of Obama’s itinerary, according to White House officials.  After President Obama met with leaders (10) of Arab American groups on March 11, 2013, the White House made a statement.

“Following the meeting, the White House said Obama told the group that his trip was not meant to resolve a specific policy issue, but that it was an opportunity for Obama to demonstrate U.S. commitment to the Palestinian people.

Obama told them he intends to reiterate the U.S. commitment to Israel’s security and to discuss regional concerns – including Syria – with Jordan’s leadership, the White House said.”  Source: Washington – CBS Local)

An ‘Unbreakable Alliance’ appeases Israel, represented by PM Binyamin Netanyahu, and a ‘commitment to the Palestinian people’, appeases Palestine, represented by PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas.  That certainly sounds like politics; however, if Obama’s trip is “not meant to resolve a specific policy issue”, then he has certainly covered all the bases.

Temple Mount (Dome of the Rock) History

“Solomon built the temple on the threshing floor David bought. The Dome of the rock is the highest point of the temple mount. Threshing floors were never built on hills, but in curved valleys, like directly under the Al Kas Fountain.

Under the Dome of the Rock, was where the Fortress of Antonia stood. In 135 AD, Hadrian filled in about 50 feet of earth over top of where the temple stood and enlarged the temple mount and built a temple of Jupiter where we see the Dome of the rock today.

In 325 AD Constantine tore down the Temple of Jupiter and assumed Hadrian built the temple of Jupiter on top of the spot where the temple of Solomon once stood. Constantine built an octagon church on the site. In 700 AD, the Muslims found the foundations of Constantine's octagon church and built the Dome of the Rock we see today.”

The site that I quoted from (above) gives also scripture references, carefully reminding modern-day disciples of Christ Jesus/Y’shua that we are the temple of the Lord, not a building. 

Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and will You rear it up in three days? But He spoke of the temple of His body. 

When therefore He was risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.  [Jn 2:19-22]

And has put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the head over all things to the ecclesia, Which is His body, the fullness of Him that fills all in all.  [Eph 1:22, 23]

 

(We are the Body of Christ)

Now therefore you are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

In whom all the building fitly framed together grows unto a holy temple in the Lord:In whom you also are built together for a habitation of God through the Spirit.  [Eph 2:19-22]

Source - Bible.ca – archeology

Jogging the Memory

With so much that has happened since President Obama was elected in 2008, it is easy to forget past positions and statements that were reported.  On November 4, 2008, Arutz Sheva 7 (Israel National News/INN) posted an article written by Hana Levi Julian, titled, “Obama Tells Abbas: I Support Dividing Jerusalem”.

According to the 2008 Arutz Sheva news item, Senator Obama privately confided to Fatah leader and PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas that he was supportive of a new Arab state within Israel’s [current] borders.  Israeli sources stated that Obama requested that his admission remain ‘secret’ (confidential).

“Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama privately expressed his support for a new Arab state within Israel's current borders, including eastern Jerusalem, during his meeting with Palestinian Authority Chairman and Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah this summer.

According to a report published Tuesday in the Lebanese newspaper al-Ahbar, Obama told Abbas that he supports a PA state, and Arab "rights to east Jerusalem" as well.  The sources said Abbas and PA Prime Minister Salam Fayyad "heard the best things they ever heard from an American president" during the meeting. However, said sources quoted in the report, the candidate asked them to keep his declaration a secret.

PA spokesman Nimar Hamad said he had no comment on the remarks, other than to describe the briefing Abbas and Fayyad had given to the presidential hopeful. Later official PA reaction to the report categorically denied that Obama had made the statements attributed to him.”
(emphasis mine – BP) Source - Arutz Sheva 7

CBN mirrored a report from YNet (Israel National News) from Jerusalem, Israel, with an article titled “Shalom: Jerusalem Will Remain Undivided”.

“In a special Knesset session marking Jerusalem Day, acting Prime Minister Silvan Shalom said the city would "forever remain the eternal capital of the State of Israel. This is a promise; this is a fact," he said.
Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat, former Mayor Uri Lupolianski and members of the Jerusalem City Council joined Knesset members for the ceremonies.

Shalom, who served as prime minister during PM Binyamin Netanyahu's trip to Washington this week, was responding to reports that U.S. President Barack Obama's new Mideast initiative calls on Israel to divide its capital.

"For every single Jew, Jerusalem is not just a capital city," Shalom told Knesset members.

"Jerusalem is the beating heart of the Jewish people. Jerusalem is a symbol. Jerusalem is protected by the current government and previous government's clear policy. We will never give up Jerusalem. Never," the deputy prime minister said.” 

“Following Shalom's address, opposition leader and Kadima chairwoman Tzipi Livni spoke.

"There is a lot of talk about a unified Jerusalem," Livni said. "Unfortunately, Jerusalem is also often used as a tool to divide the people by those who have turned Jerusalem, the symbol of the Jewish people throughout the ages, into an election slogan," she said.”   Source (CBN – Ynet-INN)
 
As with any event of significance, mixed reports are always circulated by the news media.  One such article was written June 6, 2008 by Glenn Kessler, reporter for Washington Post online, titled, “Obama Backs Away from Comment on Divided Jerusalem”. [emphasis mine – BP]

“Facing criticism from Palestinians, Senator Barack Obama acknowledged yesterday that the status of Jerusalem will need to be negotiated in future peace talks, amending a statement earlier in the week that the city "must remain undivided."

Obama's statement, made during a speech Wednesday to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, a pro-Israel lobbying group, drew a swift rebuke from Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

"This statement is totally rejected," Abbas told reporters in the West Bank city of Ramallah. "The whole world knows that holy Jerusalem was occupied in 1967, and we will not accept a Palestinian state without having Jerusalem as the capital of a Palestinian state."

“Obama quickly backtracked yesterday in an interview with CNN.
"Well, obviously, it's going to be up to the parties to negotiate a range of these issues. And Jerusalem will be part of those negotiations," Obama said when asked whether Palestinians had no future claim to the city.

Obama said "as a practical matter, it would be very difficult to execute" a division of the city.”   (Source: Washington Post)

Fast forward to February, 2013 – IINA (International Islamic News Agency) reported the following:

"President Mahmoud Abbas welcomes the visit of US President Barack Obama to Palestine," Nabil Abu Rudeina, spokesman for the Palestinian presidency told AFP. "We hope that President Obama’s visit to the region is the beginning of a new US policy that will lead to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the Palestinian lands occupied since 1967, in accordance with the international resolutions," Abu Rudeina said.

Spiritually Speaking

There have been several articles written regarding Obama’s trip to Israel, as many are looking at events through spiritual eyes, endeavoring to line things up with the word of God and the foretold prophecies.  It never ceases to amaze me how the Creator of all works through His people, and how He purposely designed everything...but we have to be careful and let the LORD to guide us. Meanwhile, we report as to what is happening around us.

In the physical realm, if the head is severed from the body, the latter dies.  Without the head, the body dies.  The exact same thing happens in the spiritual realm.  Any part of the Body of Christ that tries to do things without the Head (Jesus/Y’shua) will not function properly, will be out of order and will eventually wither up and die. 

As in the physical, so in the spiritual…every member of the Body depends on each other also, working together as one, yet with individual and unique functions.  For us all to function perfectly and harmoniously, we need the Head to command and direct us.

The same message will ripple throughout the Body; each part getting the message in its due time.  We each work as one unit, striving to carry out the commands, in order to accomplish that which we have been instructed to do by the Head.  As I write this, I am reminding myself of these things as well.

Many people have put much study into their areas of expertise and presented various theories regarding President Obama’s visit to Israel.  We see prophecy happening before our eyes, yet we still do not have the full picture yet, as we wait upon the Lord (the Head) to reveal more to us.  He promised He would do nothing until He reveals it to His prophets (those today who are filled with His Spirit and clinging to Jesus).

The Beast

Before I get into what others have shared from their own research and theories, I found something rather interesting in the news.  The presidential car is, of course, a limo, but what is rather intriguing is the name of President Obama’s car.  It is called The Beast, supposedly because it is built like a tank, although it appears as a car.

The Beast had been shipped from the United States to Israel, so that the president could drive in comfort, as well as protected.  However, it broke down on the way to the airport, much to the chagrin of Obama’s security staff.   

Apparently, the driver put gasoline in the car, rather than diesel.  Naturally, it ceased to function, so a tow truck had to take it to Obama’s mechanic.  Obama flew by helicopter to Palestine, so it did not present a problem, as Obama's entourage scrambled to rectify the situation.  

The President's back-up car, looking very much the same, was delivered, so the President would still have his 'ride' when he needed it.

Could this be symbolic of 'The Beast' not having 'power' (powerless) this trip, or that things are not always as they 'appear' to be - another taking the place of the one expected to be used?

There is much speculation and conjecture circulating around about Obama being the Antichrist.  I am not convinced of this at all. The reason behind my conclusion is that there has been a great effort taken in leading people to think along this line – call it mind control, conditioning, campaigning or whatever label – I am not yet convinced. (distraction-deception) There is no shortage of pictures portraying Obama as a Christ-type figure – nothing short of blasphemous. 

Just no...Newsweek got in on the hype when Barack Obama was re-elected as president.  The internet started buzzing when the magazine published a picture of Obama with ‘The Second Coming’ as the caption.

Several sites have posted the picture of the logo that was made up for President Obama’s visit to Jerusalem, Israel, which boasts ‘Unbreakable Alliance’.  

 Reference is immediately made to Daniel 9:27 -   

And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

I did research about James Strong and the concordance that he produced.  All the work was done by his direction; however, over 100 colleagues were involved in the work.  The words that are indexed with an entry number, which were then placed in a dictionary of the original language words.

When a word, such as “many” appears in text, every possible meaning of the word was recorded and indexed.  The original word could have various meanings, depending on the context with which the word was used in any given verse.  Every possible meaning is given/indexed beside each numbered word.

Below is what Strong’s concordance put for H7227, the index number for the word ‘many’, which is used in the verse from Daniel, above.

many - rab
By contraction from H7231; abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality)

KJV Usage: (in) abound (-undance, -ant, -antly), captain, elder, enough, exceedingly, full, great (-ly, man, one), increase, long (enough, [time]), (do, have) many (-ifold, things, a time), ([ship-]) master, mighty, more, (too, very) much, multiply (-tude), officer, often [-times], plenteous, populous, prince, process [of time], suffice (-ient).

One site that explains how Strong’s is not a translation of the Bible is Wikipedia, which explains how those without training in hermeneutics can misinterpret Strong’s numbers and thus stray from the accurate meaning of the Hebrew and Greek words by taking them out of cultural context.

 
“Strong's Concordance is not a translation of the Bible nor is it intended as a translation tool. The use of Strong's numbers is not a substitute for professional translation of the Bible from Hebrew and Greek into English by those with formal training in ancient languages and the literature of the cultures in which the Bible was written.

Since Strong's Concordance identifies the original words in Hebrew and Greek, Strong's numbers are sometimes misinterpreted by those without adequate training to change the Bible from its accurate meaning simply by taking the words out of cultural context.

The use of Strong's numbers does not consider figures of speech, metaphors, idioms, common phrases, cultural references, references to historical events, or alternate meanings used by those of the time period to express their thoughts in their own language at the time.

As such, professionals and amateurs alike must consult a number of contextual tools to reconstruct these cultural backgrounds. Many scholarly Greek and Hebrew Lexicons (e.g., Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon, Thayer's Greek Dictionary, and Vine's Bible Dictionary) also use Strong's numbers for cross-referencing, encouraging hermeneutical approaches to study.”

James Strong

Strong and his team of experts catalogued every possible meaning of one word, which was also used in numerous verses in the Bible.  Since Strong’s numbers do “not consider figures of speech, metaphors, idioms, common phrases, cultural references, references to historical events or alternate meanings used by those of the time period to express their thoughts in their own language at the time”, it is easy to see how some people can take scriptures out of context, thereby putting a completely different meaning to the word and thus changing the understanding of the entire verse.

For example, in English, there are sayings like:

“It’s raining cats and dogs”; “He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth”; “She has tons of shoes.  She should lighten her load so that her closet door will close”, are only some examples of idioms, metaphors etc. 

To those of us who understand the language well, we can immediately comprehend clearly what is meant, but to someone who does not know the language, such statements could easily be misunderstood or taken out of context.

I said all that to reveal how Daniel 9:27 is being understood by numerous people.  The logo for Obama’s trip, ‘Unbreakable Alliance’ has been understood to mean ‘covenant of many’ or ‘covenant of peoples’. 

The reference dictionary defines alliance thusly: (1) the act of allying or state of being allied (2) a formal agreement or treaty between two or more nations to cooperate for specific purposes (3) a merging of efforts or interests by persons, states, organizations or families.

The United States is considered one of Israel’s allies and vice versa.  “Alliance, ally, support” were just some of the words used in the speeches given by President Shimon Peres, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and President Obama in the opening ceremony that welcomed Obama to Israel.

Since the logo was ‘Unbreakable Alliance’, it stands to reason that such words would be incorporated into the speeches to keep the theme of the visit intact.  In all fairness, people are not just randomly picking out Daniel 9:27 and running with it, in some conspiracy to force prophecy to come to pass. 

The logo says Unbreakable Alliance in English; in Hebrew it says, Brit Amim meaning Covenant of Peoples. 

(Source: Global Post –dispatch)

Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesying. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.  [1Thes 5:19-21]

It will take a miracle to bring peace to the Middle East, which is exactly what the one who is called the Antichrist will do, but only for a season.  Those who study biblical prophecies believe a covenant for peace will be signed and then broken.

From what I understand, Daniel 9 covers the prophet’s prayer to the God (Yhwh) on behalf of his people, Israel and himself for their sins.  Daniel 21 speaks about the angel Gabriel, who came and spoke with the prophet, to tell him things to come.

The angel speaks of 70 weeks, the restoration and rebuilding of Jerusalem, even in troublous times.  He speaks of the coming Messiah, the Prince, with the time period of 62 weeks given before the Messiah is ‘cut off’, which to me is indicative of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ (Y’shua Ha’Maschiach). 

Gabriel goes on to speak of destruction of the city and sanctuary, a flood and war desolations.  Then Gabriel speaks of a ‘prince’ who will come and confirm a ‘covenant with many’ (after Messiah is cut off/crucified), causing the sacrifice and the oblation (offering) to cease, the overspreading (wing) of abominations, until the consummation (completion) and the pouring out upon the desolate.  (Dan 9:27)

In the same eschatological period, most interpretation declares there is a gap or a prophetic postponement in the weeks spoken of in Daniel, which many believers are waiting to be fulfilled.

Obama as Antichrist (this writer doesn't think he is)

There are those who believe that Obama’s trip was orchestrated to mirror the triumphal welcome Jesus/Y’shua experienced when He entered Jerusalem riding on a lowly donkey, as jubilant people lined the road with psalm branches.

President Obama’s arrival to Israel on March 20^th was Nisan 10 5773 on the Hebraic calendar.  With the donkey being the logo for the Democratic Party, speculators drew a parallel to Christ’s arrival to Jerusalem before Passover.  March 20, 2013 is also 33 days after the Russian meteor shower.  Daniel 11:31-33 was quoted on many websites, which speaks of the ‘abomination of desolation’ and which many are calling the ‘Obamination of desolation’.

To further drive home Obama being the Antichrist, many writers noted that Pope Benedict XVI announced his resignation six (6) days after President Obama’s trip to Israel was announced. 

March 20^th, being the date of the Vernal Equinox, not only marked the President’s arrival in Israel, but also the date the conclave was to choose the next pope.  That conjecture proved incorrect, as the new pope, Pope Francis, was elected on the 13^th day of March, as opposed to the twentieth day.
WHO is the author of confusion? (Satan)

Masonic 33

On March 22, 1980, the Georgia Guidestones were erected.  Thirty-three years later, March 22, 2013 is the 33^rd anniversary of the date the Guidestones were put in place.  The Twin Towers also came down 33 years after Tishman Realty and Construction began building the North Tower (January 1968). 

Since 33 is a high Masonic number, there is speculation that something will happen that day.  Multitudes have worked diligently crunching numbers, lining up dates and events to present possible scenarios that would line up with biblical prophecies.

From Tension to Warm Welcome and Gifts that Honor

It is no secret that there has been tension between Obama and Netanyahu in the past, particularly when the Israeli PM visited the United States.  In pictures I posted on a previous article, the cameras of various reporters caught it.  Yet, in the arrival of Obama in Israel, the welcome was cordial. 

The Washington Times reports: Israeli President Shimon Peres gave President Obama the Medal of Distinction, the first time a sitting president has received this award. Obama received the award on Thursday night during a ceremonial dinner at the Israeli president’s residence. (Source: Chicago Tribune)

The special gift from PM Netanyahu of the Jerusalem stone with the gold-coated nanochip, which has the declarations of independence for both Israel and the United States etched side by side is yet another impressive gesture.

Obama received a replica of the sheet music of a song written in Aramaic (Jesus’/Y’shua’s dialect) by Eljasz Maroko.  He was killed in a death camp (Sobibor) during the WWII.  The composition was the only one of Maroko’s that survived the Holocaust. 

The sheet music was preserved by his son, Simon Maroko, who lost his father and three siblings in the Sobibor death camp.  He alone survived.

“The musical notes to an original Passover melody composed by the former chief cantor of Amsterdam while the city was under Nazi occupation will be presented as a gift to U.S. President Barack Obama at the conclusion of his visit to Yad Vashem on Friday morning.

The sheet music to "Had Gadya," an allegorical song in Aramaic that is traditionally sung at the end of the Passover seder, was written by Israel Eljasz Maroko, who was killed in the Sobibor death camp during the Holocaust.

It is the only one of Maroko's original compositions to survive World War II and was found by his son Simon, the only member of the cantor's immediate family to make it through the war. In addition to his father, Simon's mother and three siblings were killed in Sobibor.”  Source (Haaretz):

It is a unique and special gift indeed that President Obama received.  Israel is certainly honoring him during his visit to the country.  Thoughtful gifts will be sent home with the President for his wife, daughters and even the dog.

“Sara Netanyahu, the wife of the prime minister, planned to send to Michelle Obama a silver Passover seder plate with the hope that it will be used at the annual White House seder. She was giving the president’s children, Sasha and Malia, chains with silver medallions in the shape of David’s harp set with Roman glass, and sending a rubber hamburger toy home for the family dog, Bo.”   Source (Jewish Exponent): 

Obama and Herod - No Connection

Also, an exhibition of King Herod is presently displayed at an Israel Museum, but at Ice City, Obama’s image has been carved in ice, a custom built ice sculpture.  Some say there is it no coincidence that King Herod is being featured at the Museum, known as an oppressor of the Israelites and a notorious ruler?
Personally, I do not see the connection.  Rome was not an ally of Israel.

The exhibition presents archeological finds, such as King Herod the Great’s tomb, located at Herodium, to discoveries at Jericho and other sites.  According to an Israeli website, some of the displays include “an imperial marble basin thought to be a gift from Augustus, carved stone elements from the Temple Mount and a reconstruct of his burial chamber in the mausoleum.”

He achieved notoriety with the execution of his wife and three of his children, as well as the massacre of all Hebrew male infants two years of age and under, when he heard that a new king (Jesus/Y’shua) was said to have been born.  

“Lionized as the “the greatest builder of human history,” King Herod was also demonized for his uncertain ethnic and religious pedigree, controversial political alliances, the execution of his wife and three of his children, and erroneous association with the New Testament narrative of the “Massacre of the Innocents” in Bethlehem.”

Obama has been called the messiah, lord and savior, king of the United States and president of the world.  Yes, must be a coincidence. Obama is NOT messiah nor is he the Antichrist!  Is the ice sculpture a message as well – is Obama’s heart cold?  Some have joked about the artwork being made of ‘black ice’.  Others quip that the ‘Unbreakable Alliance’ will melt away. People can be so 'cold' in some things they say. Pray...let's just pray. 

for His glory alone
Bonita                                       dovesofthevalleys4@gmail.com