Saudi Arabia 2007

1. Saudi Arabia2007

2. Saudis back US Iraq strategy Headline Saudis back US Iraq strategy as fears grow over Iran's influence Daily Telegraph January 18 Event Saudi Arabia declared yesterday that it held Iraq's Shia-led government responsible for its sectarian strife and warned that America's new war strategy would fail without a radical change of heart by the Baghdad leadership. Condoleezza Rice, the US secretary of state, met Saudi leaders in Riyadh as part of a Middle East tour to shore up support from Washington's Middle Eastern allies for efforts to counter Iran's spreading influence in Iraq. Comment Condoleeza Rice’s next stop on her Middle East tour was Saudi Arabia. For many years Saudi leaders have hinted that the oil-rich state is ready to help Iraqi Sunnis defend themselves against Iranian-backed Shia militias. A leading member of the clerical elite has said that Teheran's influence in Iraq is the most serious threat facing their kingdom. "Iran has become more dangerous than Israel itself,” Iran and Syria are run by Shia Muslims. Saudi Arabia and Egypt and run by Sunni Muslims. We can see the clash of these different sects everyday in Iraq. Amazingly the alliance of Saudi Arabia with America is accurately foretold in the Bible. Note the verse below which talks of Sheba and Dedan. These places correspond to Saudi Arabia. In fact the ancient capital of Saudi Arabia is still called Dedan on many maps today. Bible students for at least 150 years, have consistently identified Britain and the English speaking countries eg USA as being Tarshish and the young lions. So we know Saudi Arabia will be “on side” with USA at the time Russia invades. Bible Quote Ezekiel 38 13 Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil?

3. Teheran backs Arab peace plan Headline Teheran backs Arab peace plan, say Saudis Headline Daily Telegraph March 7 Event Saudi Arabia claimed an important diplomatic breakthrough yesterday when it said Iran had agreed to support an Arab peace plan to end the Israeli-Palestinian crisis. By securing Teheran's apparent backing for the peace plan, which dates from 2002 and envisages a Palestinian state on land occupied by Israel in 1967, diplomatic pressure will mount on Tel Aviv. But there was no official confirmation from Iran about the agreement which would represent a significant watering-down of its traditionally hardline position that calls for all Israeli land to be given to Palestinians. The official Saudi news agency announced Iran's backing after its president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad met the Saudi leader, King Abdullah, in a weekend summit in Riyadh. It represented another apparent diplomatic coup for Saudi Arabia which has been working actively in recent months to reassert itself as the regional Sunni superpower capable of standing up to a resurgent Shia Iran. Comment There is an Arab League Summit to be held March 28-29 in Saudi Arabia. The peace plan mentioned above is to be tabled there and voted on. With Saudi Arabia apparently receiving Iran’s support for the agreement there is now a chance it will be accepted. The plan is 1. Israel gets out of the West Bank and Eastern Jerusalem 2. A Palestinian state is established there and 3. for that the Arabs will accept Israel’s right to exist. King Abdullah said this week that Israel must choose between "Israel, the fortress" or "living in peace and security with its neighbours". Bible Quote 2 Thessalonians 5 3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child safety = security

4. Jordan’s King urges US peace push Headline Jordan's king urges US peace push Headline BBC online March 8 Event King Abdullah of Jordan has told the US Congress that America must throw its weight behind an urgent drive to make peace in the Middle East. Addressing representatives and senators in Washington, the king said the status quo could not be allowed to continue. It "is pulling the region and the world towards greater danger... the cycle of crisis is spinning faster," he warned. The king suggested a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was more urgent than the conflict in Iraq. Comment We can see now how there can be a cry of “peace and safety” and then sudden destruction. As the king of Jordan says, there is an urgency now in the Middle East. A cycle of crisis spinning faster. There is a huge build-up of pressure in the region which is close to igniting. America knows this and is under pressure too to sort out the Israeli / Palestinian conflict. It thinks this will also help with the Iraq situation. It is not inconceivable that in coming weeks there is some sort of announcement from the Arabs (including Iran) that they will accept Israel’s right to exist if they withdraw to pre 1967 lines. Ie from the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Israel will be under massive pressure from the US and the world to accept this. Perhaps they will. But whether they do or don’t Israel will NOT get chance to physically withdraw. They will still be on the mountains in the West Bank when Gog invades. ie Sudden destruction will come shortly after any peace agreement. These things may happen very soon. Bible Quote Ezekiel 38 8 in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel Ezekiel 38 and Zechariah 14 say that Israel still possesses the West Bank and Jerusalem.

5. Saudis: Accept peace plan or face war Headline Accept peace plan or face war, Israel told Headline Daily Telegraph March 28 Event The "lords of war" will decide Israel's future if it rejects a blueprint for peace crafted by the entire Arab world, Saudi Arabia's veteran foreign minister warned yesterday. As leaders began gathering in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, for today's summit of the Arab League, Prince Saud al-Faisal told The Daily Telegraph that the Middle East risks perpetual conflict if the peace plan fails. Speaking inside his whitewashed palace, surrounded by luxuriant lawns and manicured flower beds resembling a green oasis in the drabness of Riyadh, Prince Saud delivered an unequivocal warning to Israel. "If Israel refuses, that means it doesn't want peace and it places everything back into the hands of fate. They will be putting their future not in the hands of the peacemakers but in the hands of the lords of war," he said. Comment And so Israel has before it an ultimatum from the Arab nations. Accept our plan (covered in next slide) and there will be peace. Do not accept it and there shall be war. These words came from Saudi Arabia – American ally. So what is happening here? Well Saudi Arabia has decided to play a more assertive role in Middle Eastern diplomacy. It has watched the menacing spectre of Iran loom large in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia is not happy with this. Therefore it now also pressures Israel into accepting their peace plan. Notice though that this was all said in a “whitewashed palace”. From the outside it looks peaceful and plausible – inside is deceit, death and destruction. Bible Quote Matthew 23 27 for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.

6. US 'plans huge Saudi arms deal' Headline US 'plans huge Saudi arms deal' Headline BBConline July 28 Event The United States is reported to be preparing a major arms deal with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states worth $20bn (£9.8bn) over the next decade. Defence officials quoted by US media said the sales would include advanced weaponry, missile guidance systems, upgraded fighter jets and naval ships. It is said to be an attempt to counter the regional threat posed by Iran. The officials said the secretaries of state and defence would discuss the deal on a visit to the Gulf next week. Comment And so the huge spend continues. $30 billion to Israel and now $20 billion to Saudi Arabia and other gulf states. Just look at the list of weapons above being sent into the Middle East. Note as well that America is doing this to “counter the regional threat posed by Iran”. In Ezekiel 38 we have two opposing forces. Russia with other nations including Iran who invade Israel. On the other side we have Sheba and Dedan, Tarshish (Britain) and her lion offspring (USA, Australia etc). Sheba and Dedan are the very area of Saudi Arabia and other southern gulf states! So here is God’s word being fulfilled. 2500 years after the words below were written we see a young lion of Britain arming the area of Sheba and Dedan because of the threat from Iran to Israel!! Bible Quote Ezekiel 38 13 Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil?

7. Queen welcomes Saudi Arabia king Headline Queen welcomes Saudi Arabia king Headline BBConline October 30 Event The Queen has said Britain and Saudi Arabia must work together against terrorists "who threaten the way of life of our citizens". At a state banquet hosted by the Queen, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia spoke of "ominous signs of war and conflict in the world". The last visit by a Saudi king to the UK was 20 years ago. Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Tory leader David Cameron attended the banquet at Buckingham Palace, along with more than 170 guests. Comment Gordon Brown, the British prime minister, held talks with King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia this week in London. They were very positive, British officials have said. They say there was a "meeting of minds" in the discussions which included the Middle East peace process and a planned US-sponsored peace conference. So at this “positive” meeting we have Biblical ‘Sheba’ (Saudi Arabia) and Biblical ‘Tarshish’ (Britain). It is interesting of course that in Ezekiel 38:13 (quoted below) that Sheba is mentioned directly with Tarshish. They comment together when Russia invades Israel. Which is why as Christadelphians we have long held the view (based on these verses) that Britain and Saudi Arabia would be allies at the time of the end. The events above are proof that our interpretation of this verse is correct as we see events coming to pass exactly as God said they would. There is one other place where Sheba and Tarshish are mentioned together. Psalm 72:10. It tells us that the kings of Tarshish and Sheba will offer Christ gifts when he returns! Bible Quote Ezekiel 38 13 Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil?