The Rest of the Story … Bibi’s Speech to the United Nations

Good, bad, or indifferent, my age makes me a Baby Boomer. One characteristic of the Boomer generation and even more so our parent’s generation is that sometimes we wish for the good old days! (Minus the Great Depression and World War II, which was before my time!) Not that they were all that good, but they were certainly different in one respect than today’s world: More often than not we were given or took the initiative to get as many facts, as much evidence as we could to determine if a news headline or a caption was true. It seems that today’s Facebook, Twitter, Hashtag generation wants only rapid-fire headlines to tell them the complete story.

Something like: I don’t have time for, so don’t bother me with all the facts; this is all I need to know.

I realize that this is an over-simplified generalization; nevertheless, it is generally true. Plus, it is not meant to be a criticism of today’s generation (my kids and grandkids are part of this generation!). Rather, it is intended to be a matter-of-fact observation with a touch of warning mixed in. A caution that experientially stems from those in a past global generation who fell for the Big Lie of Hitler and his Third Reich.

An American icon named Paul Harvey apparently recognized this post-modern disconcerting trend to skim over details, to accept at face value what one read or heard without concern for all of the facts. Though he was first and foremost a journalistic artist—with his broadcasting program geared to both drama and humor—he was also an ardent student of history. It hasn’t been all that long since he passed away (February, 2009); thus, many of us remember his famous radio program that aired Monday through Friday for some three decades: The Rest of the Story. For a short time thereafter, Paul Harvey’s son, then former Arkansas Governor and current Republican Presidential Candidate Mike Huckabee replaced Paul Harvey.

The gist of his radio show was to take a (headline) story of the past and provide us with little known or forgotten facts of an event or person. But sometimes the completed report would clarify or correct misperceptions and even outright discrepancies of what actually happened. After dramatically filling in some of these blanks, he would end the program with, “And now you know the rest of the story.”

Two weeks ago, the Eye of Prophecy article, Tell a Big Lie Long Enough, included excerpts from and commentary on the speech of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to the United Nations. You may want to read that article to realize just how much historical and contemporary distortion of the Israeli, Palestinian conflict was being foisted on the entire world.

A misrepresentation so glaring that there’s no other way to classify it except as a Big Lie.

Since that article and last week’s companion article, several more Israelis have been killed or wounded by Palestinian lone wolf attacks with an unmistakable connection to President Abbas’s incitement of his people.

Moreover, to demonstrate just how much our United States leaders don’t want to be bothered with the actual facts, Secretary of State John Kerry attributed the attacks to ongoing Jewish settlements (implying unlawful construction) in East Jerusalem or the West Bank. On the spur of the moment he simply regurgitated old headline lies repeated by Abbas to the UN … that Israel has been guilty of occupation (settlements) and aggression.

Secretary Kerry made absolutely no reference to the obvious reason confirmed by the known facts, i.e. that the attacks are retaliation to Israel’s alleged decision to change the visitation status (Status Quo) of Temple Mount for both Jews and Arabs. No such thing was planned or has been carried out. But this is exactly what Mahmoud Abbas told the United Nations and what the Palestinians needed or wanted to hear. Which led directly to the current murderous rampage against innocent Israelis. Does our Presidential Staff really believe Mahmoud Abbas’ Big Lie? Do they bother with the facts? Do they care about the truth?

John Kerry tried to backtrack on his assertion about settlements, but not by correcting his misstatement of the facts and cause of the riots. Instead he said, “There is no justification for violence against Israelis.” At least he got that part right.

Then State Department spokesperson John Kirby turned right around and accused Israel of violating the status quo on the Temple Mount—which as we already know is a flat-out lie.

But the good news is that the very next day (10-1-15) after Abbas’s inflammatory speech to the UN, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Bibi as he is fondly known) was permitted to present, The Rest of the Story.

As with Abbas’s speech, time/space doesn’t permit but a few excerpts from and commentary on Netanyahu’s message, but it’s important to realize that the facts contained in this rebuttal are just that, facts. Evidence that can be fully documented through any objective reference source one cares to examine. Which is the first definition or characteristic of truth—that of factual (truthful) accuracy—as presented in last week’s Eye of Prophecy article, The Whole Truth.

With the second vital component of Truth: that of an objective, exclusive (divine) source and standard so clearly contained in the Bible. Backed up with hundreds of fulfilled prophecies and with miracles that only the one true and living God can do.

Benjamin Netanyahu’s Address to the United Nations

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech is essentially in two parts. With the first and longer portion a solemn reminder of Iran’s hostility toward Israel and the United States and the P5 + 1 infamous nuclear deal with this deceitful, militant, rogue nation. For what I think are some insightful Eye of Prophecy articles on this subject, please refer to the following articles in particular: Let’s Make a Deal, posted 12-14-13. Divine Consequences of Iran’s Arrogance, Part I & II, posted 5-23-15 & 5-30-15. A Deal That Will Live in Infamy, published 8-1-15.

With the second part geared toward the Palestinians, including the lies being told by their leaders. But also to challenge the United Nations itself and its inexplicable animosity toward Israel. In fact, the speech commences with some chastisement of the UN.

The Speech Begins:

“Ladies and Gentlemen, I bring you greetings from Jerusalem. The city in which the Jewish People’s hopes and prayers for peace for all of humanity have echoed throughout the ages.

“Thirty-one years ago, as Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, I stood at this podium for the first time. I spoke that day against a resolution by Iran to expel Israel from the United Nations. Then as now, the UN was obsessively hostile towards Israel, the one true democracy in the Middle East. Then as now, some sought to deny the one and only Jewish state a place among the nations. I ended that first speech by saying: ‘Gentlemen, check your fanaticism at the door.’

“More than three decades later, as the Prime Minister of Israel, I am again privileged to speak from this podium. And, for me, that privilege has always come with a moral responsibility to speak the truth. So after three days of listening to world leaders praise the nuclear deal with Iran, I begin my speech today by saying, ‘Ladies and Gentlemen, check your enthusiasm at the door.’

“You see, this deal doesn’t make peace more likely. By fueling Iran’s aggressions with billions of dollars in sanctions relief, it makes war more likely. Just look at what Iran has done in the last six months alone, since the framework agreement was announced in Lausanne…”

Commentary:

Netanyahu proceeds to identify over ten specific actions conducted by Iran during this time-frame, such as setting up new terror cells in several countries and shipping missiles to Iran’s proxy Hezbollah in Lebanon, which borders northern Israel, as well as drones to Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

He then summarizes this part of the message by saying, “In the wake of the nuclear deal, Iran is spending billions of dollars on weapons and satellites. You think Iran is doing that to advance peace? You think hundreds of billions of dollars in sanctions relief and fat contracts will turn this rapacious tiger into a kitten? If so, you should think again … You know they say, actions speak louder than words. But in Iran’s case, the words speak as loud as the actions…”

He then cites a couple of quotes from Iranian leaders including Ayatollah Khamenei.

Although my previous two articles focused on the Palestinian, Israeli conflict, not Iran, the essence of those articles matched Benjamin Netanyahu’s assertion, i.e. that actions speak loud, but so do words, especially lies. If actions speak louder, it’s only in hindsight … after the fact. Lies told ahead of time can disarm, mislead, and desensitize us to the facts of what can and usually does happen if we blindly believe what we are told or think is happening without finding out what really has occurred and why it is taking place.

His Speech Concerning Iran Continues:

“I’ve said that if Iran wants to be treated like a normal country, let it act like a normal country. But this deal … will treat Iran like a normal country even if it remains a dark theocracy that conquers its neighbors, sponsors terrorism worldwide and chants, ‘Death to Israel, Death to America.’

“So here’s a general rule that I’ve learned and you must have learned in your life time—When bad behavior is rewarded, it only gets worse … I have long said that the greatest danger facing our world is the coupling of militant Islam with nuclear weapons.”

Commentary:

I and many others who care about these things continue to be perplexed and perturbed at the precarious view held by most leaders of many Western Nations including the United States.

Which is: The apocalyptic actions and words of Iran are only bluff. That their bark is bigger than their bite. That they wouldn’t dare follow through on their stated intentions. The end result is that we still don’t take them seriously. Or, at the very minimum, we think we can entice them through negotiation and appeasement to act and react like a normal civilized nation. But this is exactly what happened just before it was too late to prevent World War II. What makes the United States and its allies think that Iran doesn’t mean business? By the time Iran is nuclear armed, it will be too late.

A Dramatic Pivotal Point in Netanyahu’s Message:

“Last month, Khamenei once again made his genocidal intentions clear before Iran’s top clerical body, the Assembly of Experts. He spoke about Israel, home to over six million Jews. He pledged, ‘there will be no Israel in 25 years.’ Seventy years after the murder of six million Jews, Iran’s rulers promise to destroy my country. Murder my people. And the response from this body, the response from nearly every one of the governments represented here has been absolutely nothing!

“Utter silence. Deafening silence.”

(At this point Benjamin Netanyahu remained silent for a little over 40 seconds to let what he had said soak in. Some have already dubbed his message, The Silent Speech. Although I have read the entire speech, I haven’t watched all of it; however, I did watch a few minutes of it including this powerful pregnant pause. It was electrifying).

After a few more words, he said: “But throughout our history, the Jewish people have learned the heavy price of silence. And as the Prime Minister of the Jewish State, as someone who knows that history, I refuse to be silent. I’ll say it again: The days when the Jewish people remained passive in the face of genocidal enemies—those days are over. Not being passive means speaking up about those dangers. We have. We are. We will. Not being passive also means defending ourselves against those dangers. We have. We are. And we will.”

Commentary:

He then goes on to explain the brutal treatment of the Jews by Babylon, Rome, the Inquisitions, the Pogroms, and most of all the Holocaust. Followed by another potent and penetrating observation that echoes loudly hundreds of Old Testament prophecies concerning the end time’s rebirth of Israel as a nation and restoration of the Jews as a people (Which I’ve also written about in many Eye of Prophecy articles and in two books).

Said Netanyahu: “Yet the empires of Babylon and Rome are not represented in this hall of nations. Neither is the Thousand Year Reich. Those seemingly invincible empires are long gone. But Israel lives. The people of Israel live.”

Later in his speech, Netanyahu boldly declares: “So here’s my message to the rulers of Iran: Your plan to destroy Israel will fail. Israel will not permit any force on earth to threaten its future….”

Good for you Benjamin! The true and living God of the Bible said that would happen: Peoples and empires who sought Israel’s destruction would themselves be destroyed. Yet, Israel and her people would return and remain forever. That is happening before our eyes in this generation.

Netanyahu’s words were not boastful. Instead, as a man and Prime Minister who studies Scripture, he is fully aware that the promises to protect and preserve Israel since her rebirth as a nation come directly from Almighty God—the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Those are guarantees that will be kept because Scripture says that God never lies. That he is the Eternal Omnipotent God of truth and certainty. And that his Messiah IS TRUTH.

The Message Switches to the Palestinians

After discussing the strategically all-important alliance between Israel and the United States (with exception of disagreement over the Iran nuclear deal) and Israel’s amazing contributions to the world including innovations and advancements in agriculture, science, computer technology, medicine, and chemistry, the Prime Minister’s speech shifts to the Palestinians.

“Israel remains committed to achieving peace with the Palestinians as well. Israelis know the price of war. I know the price of war. I was nearly killed in battle. I lost many friends. I lost my beloved brother Yoni … I am prepared to immediately, immediately (he repeats for emphasis) resume direct peace negotiations with the Palestinian Authority, without any preconditions whatsoever. Unfortunately, President Abbas said yesterday that he is not prepared to do this. Well, I hope he changes his mind.”

Netanyahu continues: “… I remain committed to a vision of two states for two peoples, in which a demilitarized Palestinian state recognizes the Jewish state. You know, the peace process began over two decades ago (he was referring to the Oslo Accord of 1993). Yet despite the best efforts of six Israeli prime ministers—Rabin, Peres, Barak, Sharon, Olmert, and myself—the Palestinians have consistently refused to end the conflict and make a final peace with Israel. And, unfortunately, you heard that rejectionism again only yesterday from President Abbas. How can Israel make peace with a Palestinian partner who refuses to even sit at the negotiating table?”

Commentary:

My article of two weeks ago only alluded to, but did not elaborate on Abbas’s implied appeal that the United Nations make a resolution to unilaterally (without any input from Israel whatsoever) approve a Palestinian State. One, I might add, that is militarized; a state that will only result in a civil war between the Palestinian Authority and Hamas as they vie for authority; and/or a state that will eventually become a proxy to Iran. In other words, a Palestinian State that will become a perfectly unwanted replica of Syria.

The Address Continues:

“The Palestinians should not walk away from peace … if we actually sit down and try to resolve this conflict between us, recognize each other, not use a Palestinian state as a stepping stone for another Islamist dictatorship in the Middle East, but something that will live at peace next to the Jewish State, if we actually do that, we can do remarkable things for our peoples.”

Again, Netanyahu directs his remarks to the United Nations Assembly by saying, “The UN won’t help peace … by trying to impose solutions or by encouraging Palestinian rejectionism, and the UN, distinguished delegates, should do one more thing. The UN should finally rid itself of the obsessive bashing of Israel.”

UN Ambassadors before a Security Council Vote on Sanctions

He then uses the same example I used in the Eye of Prophecy article Tell a Big Lie Long Enough (which was written before I read Netanyahu’s address to the UN), i.e. the totally disproportional number of unjustified UN sanctions against Israel compared to the one sanction against Syria.

He continues:

“Talk about injustice. Talk about disproportionality … Well, frankly I am not surprised. To borrow a line from Yogi Berra, the late, great baseball player and part-time philosopher: When it comes to the annual bashing of Israel at the UN it’s, ‘déjà vu all over again.’

“President Abbas, here’s a good place to begin: Stop spreading lies about Israel’s alleged intentions on the Temple Mount. Israel is fully committed to maintaining the status quo there. What President Abbas should be speaking out against are the actions of militant Islamists who are smuggling explosives into the Al-Aqsa mosque and who are trying to prevent Jews and Christians from visiting the holy sites.

“…Far from endangering the holy sites, it is Israel that ensures their safety. Because unlike the powers who have ruled Jerusalem in the past, Israel respects the holy sites and freedom of all—Jews, Muslims, Christians, everyone. And that, ladies and gentlemen, will never change. Because Israel will always stay true to its values … This is the true face of Israel. These are the values of Israel.

*Note: See the Eye of Prophecy article, The Heart and Soul of Israel, posted 1-4-14.

Prime Minister Netanyahu concludes his speech with this straightforward probing challenge:

“So here’s a novel idea for the United Nations: Instead of continuing the shameful routine of bashing Israel, stand with Israel. Stand with Israel as we check the fanaticism at our door. Stand with Israel as we prevent that fanaticism from reaching our door. Ladies and Gentlemen, Stand with Israel because Israel is not just defending itself. More than ever, Israel is defending you.”

More Truth

“Why are the nations so angry? Why do they waste their time with futile plans? The kings of the earth prepare for battle; the rulers plot together against the Lord and against his anointed one. ‘Let us break their chains,’ they cry, ‘and free ourselves from slavery to God’” (Psalms 2:1-3).

It’s inexplicably bewildering how so many people throughout the ages, including today’s cynical, me-generation, have believed the original Big Lie that comes from Satan, himself. The Lie believed by Adam and Eve.

Which is: Freedom or liberty or the pursuit of bliss (which is mostly personal pleasure and self-indulgence) is possible only when they break the restraints that they perceive God has placed on them. That God’s divine laws and standards deprive them of self-realization or self-fulfillment or so-called deeper knowledge of mystical things, which is nothing more than a desire to become their own god; thereby, creating and maintaining their own criteria for right and wrong, good and evil.

In short, to say: “No thanks, God; I’ll go my own way and do my own thing.” Or, “I’ll create my own religion or belief system and, if I do just enough good or get lucky, maybe you’ll accept me.”

In fact, it’s just the opposite. Listen to the words of Jesus concerning real truth and actual freedom when he speaks of the transforming reality of Biblical salvation, which includes so many wonderful benefits such as forgiveness, redemption, and everlasting life. “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32). People the world over know these words. Few know who said them … or what truth Jesus is talking about.

Then a few verses later Messiah explains what it is that actually enslaves the human race. “…I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin. A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever (referring to sons and daughters in the family of God). So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free” (Verses 34-36).

It’s not so hard to figure out that global grief and turmoil is caused by oppression, ethnic and national disputes, deprivation, wars, crime, injustice … just to name a few of the world’s ills. There’s a whole dirty laundry load of reasons: Pride, greed, lust, hatred, lying, sexual immorality, sorceries, jealousy, and pursuit of pleasure no matter the cost. On and on we could go. These are the things that take away true mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual freedom.

Christ is telling us that doing anything and everything we please results in slavery, physically and spiritually. That is the truth of it. The only TRUTH that will set us free from the devastating consequences of slavery to sin is the liberating truth of God’s salvation.

King David knew of the coming Messiah as he wrote about God’s Royal Son in the passage cited above from Psalm Chapter 2; although he wasn’t privy to all of the details or sequence of events of Messiah’s arrival, some one thousand years later.

And David knew all about truth, as he writes about it frequently.

For example: “Declare me innocent, O Lord, for I have acted with integrity; I have trusted in the Lord without wavering. Put me on trial, Lord, and cross-examine me. Test my motives and my heart. For I am always aware of your unfailing love, and I have lived according to your truth” (Psalms 26:1-3)

He knew that real truth is God’s Truth.

Like all of us, David had sinned; but he knew the truth of redemption, long before his Redeemer came to the earth to retroactively purchase David’s salvation (proactively for all those who would choose Christ in the future). Thus, he was willing to be put on trial and cross-examined by God. Because he knew that if he trusted in and responded to God’s love and forgiveness, God’s promise of reconciliation and restoration was: The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

The Truth Rejected

Referring to Messiah Yeshua, (Christ Jesus) the Apostle John writes: “He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God” (John 1:10-13).

No, the Jews haven’t rejected God’s specific plan for them to possess the Promised Land of Israel forever (Abrahamic Covenant). Rather, most of them to this day have disbelieved the truth of God’s universal plan that salvation and eternal life would come through the New Covenant. The Covenant of Grace through God’s gift of his Son, Messiah Jesus to the whole world, Jew and Gentile alike.

But God knew this would happen and, just like with Joseph and his brothers, God made something wonderfully good (permanent redemption) come out of this horrible injustice … the crucifixion of Messiah. The just for the unjust.

As a result thousands of Jews in the first century believed and received Jesus as their Messiah, including the most devout of them all—a Pharisee who had staunchly defended the Law of Moses to the extent of imprisoning and killing Jews who had accepted Christ as their personal Savior. Only for Paul to have a life-changing encounter with the risen Messiah on the road to Damascus. Then to, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit which had been given to indwell the hearts of Jew and Gentile believers alike, write most of the New Testament; including numerous quotes from the Old Testament to show that (as is said): The Old Testament is the New Testament concealed, and the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed.

That the New Testament contains the Rest of the Story.

Though God withdrew his protection from Israel a second time (the first time when Assyria then Babylon conquered Israel) when the Romans destroyed the second Temple resulting in the Great Diaspora of the Jews until 1948, he would not completely abandon or reject them.

Concerning the destiny of Israel which is unfolding before our very eyes, the Jews have returned and are still returning to their providential place and time in God’s historical, eternal plan. As exemplified by the actions and words of their Prime Minister, they are beginning to once again understand their role in proclaiming the truth and essence of who they are and what they were chosen to do: To bring light and salvation to the whole world. But a salvation that, in large numbers, they have not yet experienced themselves.

Many Jews now understand that God’s promise for them to return and possess the Holy Land of Israel and the Holy City of Jerusalem is being fulfilled in this generation. That is the physical, corporeal truth of who they really are and what must actually happen. But most haven’t yet grasped the truth of the spiritual component of their destiny. That the Jewish Messiah they long for has already arrived, some two thousand years ago. That his birth, life, death, and resurrection from the grave was the culmination of both the law and sacrificial system of atonement, which was only a shadow of what and who was to come. That Yeshua is the prophetically fulfilled real object (person) of redemption, accomplished through his once for all universal sacrifice to bring so great a salvation to the human race.

Which is why their spiritual reconciliation to the Lord lags behind their physical restoration to the Land. But this, too, will change … and soon.

Listen to what the Jewish Apostle Paul says:

“I ask, then, has God rejected his own people, the nation of Israel? Of course not! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham and a member of the tribe of Benjamin. No, God has not rejected his own people, whom he chose from the very beginning…” (Romans 11:1-2).

To this day, many Jews including Rabbis concede the controversial point that God withdrew his protection of their people, which led to the greatest tragedy of all … the Holocaust. That part is true. As a result, many other Jews (and all too many Gentiles) believe that God did totally reject Israel. That part is not true.

Paul goes on to say: “Did God’s people stumble and fall beyond recovery? Of course not! They were disobedient, so God made salvation available to the Gentiles. But he wanted his own people to become jealous and claim it for themselves. Now if the Gentiles were enriched because the people of Israel turned down God’s offer of salvation, think how much greater a blessing the world will share when they finally accept it” (Romans 11:11-12).

And still later in the chapter: “…Some of the people of Israel have hard hearts, but this will last only until the full number of Gentiles comes to Christ. And so all Israel will be saved….” (Verse 25-26).

I say with the Apostle Paul:

“…the longing of my heart and my prayer to God is for the people of Israel to be saved. I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal. For they don’t understand God’s way of making people right with himself. Refusing to accept God’s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law. For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God” (Romans 10:1-4).

That time is near, so very near. Today is the day of salvation. Don’t wait until it’s too late.

Whether you are a Gentile or Jew, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13).

Things to Ponder

In some way, at some time or another have you thought about such things as: Who am I? Why am I (actually) here? How did I (really) get here? Where am I going? How will I get there? What will prevent me from getting there? Does anyone really care what happens to me? If so, what can they do about it?

Or: What is truth?

God puts those questions in our minds and hearts; because he loves us so much. He cares because he has the answers, some that we will understand in this lifetime, others we won’t truly grasp until we reach the other side. But there are two sides to the other side. One with answers. The other with perpetual doubt, confusion, and terror. Our choice in this lifetime will determine which side we will reach when we die.

He knows the heartaches that life brings our way, whether we cause them or whether they are beyond our control. The Bible says that if we draw near to God, he will draw near to us. First, to save us once and for all when we say, “Yes”, to Jesus. Then with the help of the Holy Spirit, to help us grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ until the day that we see him face to face.

It truly is a matter of eternal life and death. Choose Messiah Jesus (Son of God, Son of David, Son of Man) and live forever in heaven. Choose anything or anyone else and forever be separated from God and the host of heaven in a place too terrible for words.

“And this is what God has testified (sworn as truth): He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life” (I John 5:11-12).

And now we know: The Rest of the Story.

History. His Story.

Please, take a few more minutes and listen to this beautiful song written by Graham Kendrick, performed by Robin Mark