Watchdogs

Latest U.S.-Israel News

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Bible Rebel continues to keep a watchdog’s eye on international and domestic news and events. Here’s some of the latest.

President Donald Trump Signs Executive Order Combating Antisemitism
This order directs federal resources to address the rise in antisemitism, particularly following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel. The order calls for federal agencies to report actions that can be used to fight antisemitism within 60 days and emphasizes the need to quell pro-Hamas vandalism and intimidation. – The Hill

Netanyahu Heads to U.S. for Ceasefire Talks with Trump
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is heading to the United States to meet with President Donald Trump to discuss the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal. The ceasefire has allowed for a surge in international humanitarian aid to Gaza. – Al Jazeera

American-Israeli Keith Siegel, 2 Other Hostages Released in Gaza
American-Israeli dual national Keith Siegel was among three hostages released by militants in Gaza as part of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement. The hostages were handed over to Red Cross personnel before being transferred to Israeli forces. – CBS News

Father of Released Israeli Hostage Thanks Trump
The father of newly released Israeli hostage Agam Berger thanked U.S. President Donald Trump for his efforts in securing his daughter’s freedom. The release was part of the ongoing ceasefire and hostage-exchange deal between Hamas and Israel. AP News

Faith News From Around The World

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Bible Rebel is keeping a watchdog’s eye on recent world events and religious/faith news and bringing it to you. Stay informed by checking in every day.

The Greek Orthodox Christian Network launches an online magazine. Interesting articles include a piece on ending homelessness.

Orthodoxy Now Quarterly Magazine—Issue 12

From Christianity Today, a story about peace efforts in Russia-Ukraine war and persecution of Russian Christians.

Moscow Continues Targeting Christians in Russian-Occupied Territories

The Parthenon in Athens, originally built to honor Athena, was converted into a Christian church from 500 AD to 1450. It became a pilgrimage center for Christians and was decorated with icons, mosaics, and frescoes.

https://greekreporter.com/2025/01/18/acropolis-parthenon-christian-church

Thousands gathered in Tirana, Albania, to pay their last respects to Archbishop Anastasios, who revived the country’s Orthodox Christian Church after the fall of communism in 1990. Anastasios, who was the Archbishop of Tirana, Durres, and All Albania, passed away at the age of 95.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/thousands-of-albanians-pay-last-respects-to-orthodox-christian-archbishop-anastasios/ar-AA1y72Nk

Current News Of Wars And Rumors Of Wars

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Here is Jesus, in Matthew 24:6-7, teaching his disciples about the end times. But also encouraging them to ‘see that ye be not troubled’.

“And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.” (KJV)

Much of what our Lord was prophesying here had to do with the coming destruction of Jerusalem and the Jewish Temple, which would happen within 40 years or so of this prophesy and his imminent death and resurrection.

However there is no reason not to consider that he was also making a double prophecy, which is fairly common in the Bible, extending the meaning here to also warn of the time immediately preceding the Final Judgement, which is still future as of this blog post.

Let’s remember though, that people and nations in all times and places have experienced wars, famine, earthquakes, and pestilence. This prophecy is referring to a specific people in a specific place and time(s)- the people are those disciples living in the place, Jerusalem and Judea, at the time preceding the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD and also in some future time right before The End.

Even so, as watchdogs living in this time and place we should always keep our ears tuned ‘rumors of wars’ and be aware of the seasons of God’s plans and purposes.

So here is a brief recap of some of the international war news happening right now.

Ukraine-Russia War

Russian drones targeted Kharkiv, but Ukrainian air defenses intercepted a Shahed drone during the attack. Additionally, Ukrainian forces claimed to have killed 21 North Korean soldiers supporting Russian troops in a standoff in Russia’s Kursk region: Sky News

Gaza Conflict

Tens of thousands of Palestinians have returned to northern Gaza for the first time since the early weeks of the war with Hamas. The ceasefire remains fragile as both sides trade blame over deal violations: AP News

Democratic Republic of Congo

Rebels have moved into the key city of Goma, leading to thousands fleeing the fighting as the situation continues to escalate: AP News

Sudan’s Darfur Region

About 70 people were killed in an attack on a hospital in Sudan’s Darfur region, according to the WHO chief. The ongoing conflict in Darfur continues to cause significant humanitarian crises: Associated Press

Churchianity’s Abuse And Division

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Methodist Violence Over LGBTQ Schism

A headline from the Associated Press last month reads, ‘Deadly violence in Nigeria linked to breakup of United Methodist Church over LGBTQ policies’.

The article goes on to say, “A religious schism has turned deadly in Nigeria, with a church member fatally shot and two young children killed as homes were set ablaze, according to United Methodist News Service. The news service said the reported violence on Sunday stemmed from a schism in the worldwide United Methodist Church over its decision to repeal LGBTQ bans — and the ensuing formation of the new Global Methodist Church by breakaway conservative churches.”

Catholic Movement Dissolved Over Abuses

Also from the AP, Dissolution of Sodalitium Christianae Vitae: Pope Francis has dissolved the Peru-based conservative Catholic movement, Sodalitium Christianae Vitae, following a comprehensive investigation that uncovered extensive sexual, financial, and spiritual abuses by its founder and leaders. This action reflects the Vatican’s ongoing efforts to address and rectify abuses within Church-affiliated organizations.

Across The Pond: Archbishop of Canterbury Resigns in Wake of Abuse Scandal

From The Times – It is right that Justin Welby resigned after the publication of the Makin review into the Church of England’s most prolific abuser, John Smyth. If the former Archbishop of Canterbury, and others, had acted with more resolution when they were made aware of the scale of Smyth’s offending then some boys he victimized might have been spared.

What’s Going On?

Do you notice a pattern in these three stories? I do – abuse and division. No wonder folks are fleeing religion in droves.

The words of Jesus come to mind.
Abuse: “It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.” Luke 17:2
Division: “And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.” Mark 3:25

And no wonder the chief enemies of Jesus were the religious leaders of the time. He exposed them.

What are we as followers of Jesus doing to expose the ‘whited sepulchers’ of our day and time?

Hegseth’s Jerusalem Cross Tattoo

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Pete Hegseth has been the target of a lot of criticism and outright smears recently because he’s Trump’s pick for Secretary of Defense.

One of the smears against Hegseth is that he has a tattoo that is a ‘white supremacist’ or ‘Nazi’ symbol. I call ‘bullshit’.

The Jerusalem Cross is a historic Christian symbol understood as representing the spread of Christianity to the four corners of the world or the Five Wounds of Christ.

The tattoo holds personal and spiritual significance for Hegseth, reflecting his Christian faith and connection to biblical history. It is also tied to his experiences, including his travels to Israel.

Here’s what Hegseth said about the tattoo as reported by the New York Post:
“These symbols are deeply rooted in Christian history and represent my faith and commitment to our nation’s values. The attacks on my character based on these tattoos are unfounded and represent a broader assault on religious expression.”

Interestingly, the program for former President Jimmy Carter’s memorial service had the Jerusalem Cross printed on the front.

So, was Jimmy a Nazi white supremacist too? Or is this just another glaring example of the double standard applied by the media and the left wing in American politics?

Here’s Hegseth, again in his own words, in an interview with Nashville Christian Family in 2023:
“To me, patriotism is not about love of government. It’s about love of our founding ideals that have pursued a more perfect union from the very beginning. It goes back to basics for me as a Christian: love of God and an understanding that my freedoms come from God—not from government—and that this nation was created as an experiment in self-governance and human freedom that every generation must perpetuate. Being patriotic doesn’t just mean waving the flag or cheering for Team USA. It requires teaching, instructing, and celebrating. In the most difficult times, the best thing we can do is go back to basics: faith, family, freedom—shining a light on those values—what this nation was founded on. If not America, then who? then where?”

“Godlessness ends great nations. The one thing we can all do is get on our knees and pray.”

In my opinion, Hegseth is exactly the kind of human being, grounded in faith, that we need more of in Babylon D.C. I hope he’s confirmed as Secretary of Defense, ASAP.


Wars, Rumors Of Wars, And Earthquakes

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‘Israel at war day 457: What happened in Gaza, Syria, Lebanon?’

Some of the latest troubling news from the Jerusalem Post, including the possibility of a return to full-scale war with Hezbollah in the North and and the ongoing conflict with Hamas in the South.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/2025-01-05/live-updates-836097

Major Earthquake in Tibet

6.8 magnitude earthquake near holy city in Tibet leaves at least 128 dead and many injured.
https://abcnews.go.com/International/68-magnitude-earthquake-strikes-holy-city-tibet/story?id=117405149

Reading current news and events, especially lately, makes me think of passages like these from Matthew:

Matthew 24:6-8 – You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains. (NIV)

Is the current unrest and violence in and around the land of Israel an example of biblical prophecy being fulfilled? Well, yes and no.

Yes, in the sense that we have been living in the ‘end times’ since the resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ over 2000 years ago.

But no, not specifically – because there have been wars and earthquakes and famine and pestilence all over the world, including in the Holy Land, on a regular basis for all of those 2000 years.

I hope to make the topic of biblical prophecy and its relevance, or non relevance, to current events a priority topic for discussion, commentary, and study on the biblerebel.com blog going forward. So stay tuned.

Watchdog Alert: British Rape Gangs

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The rape gang scandal has been making big news in Great Britain recently and has been hammered on by Elon Musk on his Twitter platform in recent days. I was not aware of the issue until recently and did a little bit of digging for a better understanding. Here’s a very brief summary of the problem:

From Wikipedia – The Huddersfield child sex abuse ring is one of the most notorious cases in the UK. A group of men were convicted of sexual offences against girls in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. The offences took place between 2004 and 2011, and the men were charged following the Operation Tendersea inquiry. The trials began in April 2017, and 20 men were convicted in 2018 in three separate trials. By August 2021, a total of 41 perpetrators had been convicted.

From BBC News – Recently, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch called for a full national public inquiry into the UK’s “rape gangs scandal”. This comes after Home Office minister Jess Phillips rejected Oldham Council’s request for a government-led inquiry into historical child sexual exploitation.

From Times of India – The debate has intensified on social media, with public figures like Elon Musk and JK Rowling demanding accountability over the UK’s handling of child sexual abuse cases.

It’s a deeply troubling issue that has sparked significant public outcry and calls for justice, because what we’re talking about here is basically child sexual exploitation.

And justice will come one way or another for such evil, as Jesus reminded his disciples in Luke 17:2 – “It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.” (KJV)

Watchdog Alert: Jabbar The Killer

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Shamsud-Din Jabbar was a monster. He intentionally plowed a truck into a bunch of innocent folks in New Orleans celebrating the New Year, killing at least 14 and injuring at least 37.

It is being reported that the killer was shot and killed by police at the scene and that the pickup truck he used to slaughter his victims had a black ISIS flag inside.

The name ‘Jabbar’ has special meaning in Arabic. According to the website myislam.org, “…there are several accepted meanings to this name. The most often quoted is The Compeller. He implements His decree without any opposition. There is no one that prevails over Him. The other interpretation is the repairer. He restores all of creation. He heals the broken-hearted, binds their wounds, and brings comfort to the weak. He compels each and everything to His divine will but is never Himself compelled.”

Right.

A more apt description for Shamsud-Din Jabbar and his hideous crime can be found in 1 Peter 5:8 – Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. (KJV)

What a horrible and tragic way to start 2025. My heart breaks for the victims of this evil madness and their families.

Be sober. Be vigilant. Remember, we are watchdogs.

Watchdog Alert: Do We Call Evil Good?

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There have been numerous news reports recently about Luigi Mangione, the 26 year old man accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in cold blood on a New York City street.

One of the most disturbing aspects of this case is that many people actually consider Mangione a hero rather than a villain for allegedly shooting a father of two young girls in the back, then viscously finishing him off execution style.

In fact, according to an article on ABC News website folks are not only swooning over and lionizing the accused killer but also raising lots of money for his defense fund:
The crowdfunding campaign prompted donations from thousands of anonymous donors across the country, many of them leaving messages of support for Mangione, including one person who called themselves “A frustrated citizen” and thanked Mangione for “sparking the awareness and thought across this sleeping nation.”

This morning Mangione pleaded not guilty to state murder and terror charges.

A court will decide his guilt or innocence in this matter, but what does it say about our society when we glorify an accused assassin because his victim represented the healthcare insurance industry.

Isaiah 5:20 – Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! KJV