On January 23, 1950 Jerusalem was proclaimed the capital of Israel and the seat of the Knesset (Jewish parliament).

Two years previous on January 7, 1948 the Israeli War of Independence was halted with a cease fire, which was overshadowed by the Arab League's proclamation that from that time forward a perpetual state of war would exist against Israel.

It was also during the month of January in 588 BC that the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar began his siege of Jerusalem that would result in the defilement of the Temple of God in Jerusalem.

The date of Nebuchadnezzar's offensive is of such great significance to God that He had the date of the assault on Jan. 15th recorded four times in the Scriptures (II Kings 25:1, Jeremiah 39:1, 52:4 & Ezekiel 24:1-2).

To understand some of the horrors Nebuchadnezzar unleashed from that January siege read Jeremiah 52:4-20.

January has proven to be a very interesting month of the year on the Gentile calendar when looking at prophetically relevant events associated with Israel.

To clear up the difference between Israeli days and months in the Old Testament and our reference to January 15th, it must be understood that our solar month of January overlaps the two lunar Jewish calendar months of Tebeth and Kislev and aligns with the tenth month.

If there will be other dramatic developments in the saga of Israel during future Januarys God only knows. Yet still, we cannot help but look on with intense interest at this Gentile month named after Janus the Roman two-faced god. The myth of Janus is that he is the god of gates and doorways and the term "Janus-faced" refers to hypocrisy.

During 2001 a deadline of sorts had been imposed on Israel by Bill Clinton to accept a so-called peace plan before he left the office of President of the United States on January 20th.

Paramount to this agreement was that Israel relinquish its sovereignty over part of Jerusalem and all of the Temple Mount. Adding to the pressure to act upon this January deadline was the looming vote for the future prime minister of Israel on February 6th.

Historic defender of Israel proper Ariel Sharon who was the leading favorite received the popular vote.

Bill Clinton's Mid-East contract had been touted by New World Order adherents as the final opportunity to avoid a major Arab/Israeli war in the immediate future.

Nebuchadnezzar aspirants take different approaches to satisfy their desire to be the modern-day conqueror of Jerusalem and the Temple Mount. It would be wise of them to first read and believe the Bible regarding the history and prophesied future of those who attempt to thwart God's appointed destiny for Jerusalem and the Temple Mount.

A striking example can be found in Saddam Hussein of Iraq. For those who are not familiar with certain facts concerning this man who launched missiles against Israel during the 1991 Persian Gulf War, we share the following:

Saddam Hussein of modern-day Babylon believes he is the reincarnation of the same King Nebuchadnezzar who began his conquest of Jerusalem on January 15, 588 BC. For the purpose of his own glory he has rebuilt the ancient city of Babylon in its historical location along with Nebuchadnezzar's ancient palace and centers of idolatrous worship. Through a dream Hussein believes he was given a divine mission to destroy Israel from the dead Islamic prophet Mohammed.

Of all of the countries prophesied to be defeated in the upcoming war of Psalm 83, none have the extensive amount of prophecy revealing their destruction as does Iraq (listed as Assyria in this passage).

The entire Chapters of Jeremiah 50 & 51 along with numerous other mentions in Scripture focused on Babylon, Iraq's final days.

The question should then be asked, "Why all this extra attention to January 15th and the demise of a modern-day Nebuchadnezzar's restored Babylon?" The answer is given by God in Jer. 50:28 & 51:11.

The seething issue goes back to the assault on Jerusalem and the defilement of His Temple by Babylon on Jan. 15, 588 BC. The Lord proclaimed that when this prophecy of Jeremiah is fulfilled it will be His "vengeance for His Temple."

According to Jer. 51:60-62 this vengeance has been reserved for the literal geographical location of Babylon, Iraq and is to cause everlasting desolation.

Do not let anyone persuade you in contradiction to these words of God that this Babylon is only a symbolic version, or that the prophesied destruction of Babylon took place at sometime in the ancient past. The literal city of Babylon, Iraq stands to this day in 2002 on the very ground it is supposed to in order for this prophecy to be fulfilled. With all of the precision the God of Heaven and Earth intended, Babylon and her Nebuchadnezzar await His vengeance.

So what does Saddam Hussein the modern-day Nebuchadnezzar have occupying his uppermost thoughts? Reviewing a Colorado Springs Gazette article from Jan. 1, '01 which headlined, "Military parade held in support of Palestinians" and an Arabia.com article of Jan. 4, '01 which was titled, "Iraq" Ready to take on Israel in case of war," we would have to agree that his perceived instructions from Mohammed in his dream to attack Israel again remains foremost in his mind.

We quote, "Saddam Hussein on Sunday oversaw a parade of Iraqi tanks, warplanes and missiles apparently meant as a show of support for the Palestinian uprising against Israel. The previously unannounced ceremony in Baghdad was billed as "The Call of Jerusalem Day" and featured a truck bearing a statue resembling Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque, the focus of dispute between Israel and the Palestinians." "The Iraqi army is ready to take on Israel in case of a Middle East war," Defense Minister General Sultan Hashem Ahmad said while not ruling out a new confrontation with the United States. "We have a clear idea of all the eventualities, and we do not exclude a new military confrontation with Washington," Ahmad said, quoted by the weekly Al-Zawra, ahead of Iraq's army day which falls on January 6. In a show of force…the army staged a huge military parade…Turning to Israel, Ahmad said that if the Jewish states "ventures" to start a war in case of a total collapse of the US-sponsored Middle East peace process, "the Iraqi leadership will send troops to defend the Arabs." "We are ready to execute the orders of our command at any time and have taken the necessary measures to support our Arab brothers if they are the target of aggression" he said."

As of November 2002, war between Israel and her surrounding enemies appears to be on the horizon.

In closing it should be noted that Jer. 51:9 & 46 reveal that there would be stages to this Iraqi war with persistent rumors of the Babylonians impending devastation. Along the way a rejected offering of healing was to come among the hostilities. We of this last generation have been witness to these very events in Iraq since the start of the Persian Gulf War.

In Nov. 2002, President Bush said that this is Iraq's last opportunity for peace.
It is of profound interest during our present age to reflect on Jan. 15, 588 BC when the attack on God's Temple began. The Declaration of War against Iraq was signed by former US President George Bush Sr. on Jan. 15, '91.

We are not to be counted among those who believe this to be just a coincidence. On the very day in 1991 that the Babylonians began their assault against God's Temple in 588 BC the yet to be finished Persian Gulf War began, and Babylon will yet be a primary target you can be assured. Let all would-be Nebuchadnezzars sit up and take notice.

These are the last days and we are persuaded that the day of the Church's departure to Heaven is not far off. When looking at the urgency of the signs which determine the lateness of the hour before the revealing of the man of sin called Anti-Christ (I Thess. 4:15-18 & II Thess. 2:3), we can see that the end is very near.

If you would like to have all of your sins forgiven this very moment and be counted among the believers who are restraining the Anti-Christ by the indwelling Spirit of God, then without hesitation come with faith to Jesus Christ and trust in His shed blood on the cross as the immortal power which has delivered you from death unto life everlasting…then watch the miracles begin to happen.