Australia’s hostage crisis: Iranian gunman wanted Islamic Flag
Lindt Chocolate Shop, Sydney (RosyGoes)
What appears to be an Islamic-related hostage situation has hit Australia:
December 15, 2014
A hostage crisis in Sydney, Australia, continues hours after it began early Monday.
Five people have escaped from the restaurant in Sydney’s central business district, where a gunman is holding an undetermined number of hostages. Estimates run from as few as 10 to as many as 25.
Chris Reason, a reporter at Channel Seven television, whose office is opposite the cafe, said on Twitter, “We can see gunman is rotating hostages, forcing them to stand against windows, sometimes 2 hours at a time.” …
Hostages have been seen standing with their hands pushed up against the windows. A black flag with Arabic writing on it also could be seen through the glass.
There are no known injuries from the hostage incident, which has been ongoing for several hours.
The apparent hostage taker has been seen through a window. He is wearing a white shirt with a black vest, and carrying some type of weapon. …
New South Wales Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione addressed a news conference but refused to call the situation a terrorist event.
“At this stage, the operational advice that I’ve got is we’re still determining what it is that may well be the motivation and at this stage we are still not yet in the position to determine where the individual is from,” Scipione said. …
Terrorism threat
Australia, a staunch ally of the United States and its escalating action against the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq, earlier this year raised its domestic terror threat level from medium to high, mainly due to concerns about home-grown extremists.
About 70 Australians are thought to be fighting for militant groups in the Middle East.
In September, Australia’s largest counterterror raids took place in Sydney and Brisbane. One person was charged with terror offenses. http://www.voanews.com/content/people-escape-australian-hostage-taker/2559048.html
December 15, 2014
The gunman released videos stating that he wants an Islamic State flag and a phone call from Austrian prime minister Tony Abbott. He also has made bomb threats, media outlets including Sky News Australia were reporting.
Sky News also reported the name of the suspect, who it identified as a 49-year-old Iranian native.
More than 12 hours after the siege began, Monday night turned into Tuesday morning in Sydney. Hundreds of heavily armed police officers, many in sniper positions, had taken control of the streets around the Lindt Chocolate Cafe in Martin Place, the heart of the city’s financial and shopping district. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/12/15/sydney-hostage-standoff/20422553/
December 15, 2014
The suspected jihadist holding up to 15 people hostage in a Sydney cafe is an Iranian sex offender and self-styled sheikh who has sent hate mail to the families of Australian soldiers killed overseas, police confirmed.
As the standoff entered its 15th hour, with police and news crews surrounding the shop as frightened hostages looked out through the front window, police identified Man Haron Monis as the gunman holding captives inside Lindt Chocolat Cafe. His identity was known early on to police and media alike, but was only released for the record by police sources as night fell on Sydney with the nation transfixed on the the televised scene.
Earlier, several people were seen with their arms in the air and hands pressed against the glass, and two people were seen holding up a black flag associated with Islamic fanaticism. http://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/12/15/sydney-siege-five-hostages-escape-police-contact-gunman/
December 15, 2014
A tense, 16-hour Australian hostage standoff ended with an eruption of gunfire in Sydney when heavily armed police stormed a cafe in the heart of the city’s financial center.
Two people died in the fiery end to the siege, local media reported. Sky News Australia said the gunman was one of the dead. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/12/15/sydney-hostage-standoff/20422553/
The incident certainly sounds like terrorism to me, though it could simply be one lone Islamic gunman acting on his own. It would be odd if the government of Iran itself was directly behind this.
Jesus spoke of a time of troubles and sorrows prior to the start of the Great Tribulation:
7 But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet. 8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows. (Mark 13:7-8)
We appear to be in that time of sorrows. The Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:21) will come relatively soon, though not yet (here is a link to the video: Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2015?). When it comes, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the UK, and USA will bear the brunt of the first part of this time of trouble (Jeremiah 30:7)–though not necessarily in that order.
As I have mentioned before, terrorism was prophesied in the Bible:
14 ‘But if you do not obey Me, and do not observe all these commandments, 15 and if you despise My statutes, or if your soul abhors My judgments, so that you do not perform all My commandments, but break My covenant, 16 I also will do this to you: I will even appoint terror over you, wasting disease and fever which shall consume the eyes and cause sorrow of heart. And you shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it. 17 I will set My face against you, and you shall be defeated by your enemies. Those who hate you shall reign over you, and you shall flee when no one pursues you. (Leviticus 26:14-17)
25 The sword shall destroy outside; There shall be terror within (Deuteronomy 32:25)
12 “Cry and wail, son of man; For it will be against My people, Against all the princes of Israel. Terrors including the sword will be against My people; Therefore strike your thigh. (Ezekiel 21:12)
12 Behold, these are the ungodly,Who are always at ease; They increase in riches…19 Oh, how they are brought to desolation, as in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors. (Psalms 73:12,19)
25 Because you disdained all my counsel, And would have none of my rebuke, 26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes, 27 When your terror comes like a storm, And your destruction comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you. (Proverbs 1:25-27)
5 Also they are afraid of height, And of terrors in the way (Ecclesiastes 12:5).
As I have written before, places like Australia are subject to being hit by terrors.
Terrorists should repent. What the Islamic ones seem to want will not turn out well for them according to the Bible (Daniel 11:40-43; Ezekiel 30:2-8).
The world needs the return of Jesus Christ and the establishment of the millennial kingdom. My prayers go out to those affected by terrorist incidents and groups.
Some items of possibly related interest may include:
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, English, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Saxon (non-Dutch) Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? What will happen to Jerusalem and the Jews in Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo-Saxon nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first? Here is a link to the Spanish version of this article: Anglo-América & las Tribus Perdidas de Israel. Information is also in the YouTube sermons titled Where are the Ten Lost Tribes? Why does it matter? and British are the Covenant People. A short YouTube of prophetic interest may be Barack Obama and the State of the Apocalypse.
Will the Anglo-Saxon Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves? Will the lands of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand be divided? What about Jerusalem? What does Bible prophecy teach? Are there non-biblical prophecies that support this idea? Who will divide those lands? Who will end up with the lands and the people? Here is a link to a video titled Will the USA and other Anglo-nations be Divided and Their People Made Slaves? Here is a related item in the Spanish language ¿Serán divididas las naciones anglosajonas?
British are the Covenant People What do ‘British’ and ‘Britain’ mean in Hebrew? Are the descendants of the Anglo-Saxons people of the covenant? Does the British royal family connect to the throne of David? What does the Bible teach? What does history show us? Is there any DNA evidence related to British-Israelism? When did Christianity make it to the British Isles? Could Jeremiah have made it to the British Isles? What type of Christians made it to the British Isles? Did the last King of England believe in British Israelism?
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2015, 2016, or 2017? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000? Here is a version of the article in the Spanish language: ¿Puede comenzar la Gran Tribulación en 2014 o 2015? ¿Es el Tiempo de los Gentiles? You can also see the English language sermon video: The Great Tribulation from the Mount of Olives. Here is a link to the video: Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2015?
The Prophesied ‘Islamic’ Confederation Where is an Islamic caliphate prophesied? Will one happen? Should you be concerned about it? A related video is Will an Arabic Calphiphate Destroy the West?
Obama Administration Pushing for an Islamic Empire? Because of the rise of groups such as the Islamic State, the Obama Administration and others are pushing for a coalition of Arab nations along with Turkey. Does this resemble the final King of the South of Bible prophecy? Is there an Islamic antichrist? Does the Bible teach that terrorism and the sword will affect the USA and some of its allies? What does the Bible teach in Ezekiel about a confederation involving Egypt? Will an Arabic confederation end in destruction for those who strongly support it? Are the 10 nations in the Arab coalition the ten kings of Revelation 17:12-13? Are the 10 nations including the USA and Turkey the ten nations of Revelation 17:12-13? Who is? Was the pushing of the Obama Administration to do this predicted by in 2009 in a writing by Dr. Thiel? What does the Bible show?
Iran in Prophecy Is Iran in Bible prophecy? If so, what does the Bible teach? What names, other than Persia, may be used to describe Iran? There is also a YouTube video titled Iran in Prophecy. Here is a related video Iran In Prophecy.
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God was the Emphasis of Jesus and the Early Church Did you know that? Do you even know what the gospel of the kingdom is all about? You can also see a YouTube video sermon The Gospel of the Kingdom.
Just What Do You Mean the Kingdom of God? A booklet that was written by Herbert Armstrong answers questions about the Kingdom.
Did The Early Church Teach Millenarianism? Was the millennium (sometimes called chiliasm) taught by early Christians? Who condemned it? Will Jesus literally reign for 1000 years on the earth? Is this time near? A related sermon is titled The Millennium.
The Arab and Islamic World In the Bible, History, and Prophecy The Bible discusses the origins of the Arab world and discusses the Middle East in prophecy. What is ahead for the Middle East and those who follow Islam? What about the Imam Mahdi? What lies ahead for Turkey, Iran, and the other non-Arabic Muslims? An item of possibly related interest in the Spanish language would be: Líderes iraníes condenan la hipocresía de Occidente y declaran que ahora es tiempo para prepararse para el Armagedón, la guerra, y el Imán Mahdi.
Is the Future King of the South Rising Up? Some no longer believe there needs to be a future King of the South. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? Might this King be called the Mahdi or Caliph? What does the Bible say? A YouTube video of related interest may be: The Future King of the South is Rising.
The Ten Commandments Reflect Love, Breaking them is Evil Some feel that the ten commandments are a burden. Is that what Jesus, Paul, Peter, James, and John taught? For a more detailed discussion of the first four commandments, please see the video The Ten Commandments: Loving God. For a more detailed discussion of the last six commandments, please see: The Ten Commandments: Loving Your Neighbor. Here is a link to a related article in Mandarin Chinese 十条诫命显示爱，违反诫命的就是邪恶的
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition. This electronic version is available for only US$2.99. And you do not need an actual Kindle device to read it. Why? Amazon will allow you to download it to almost any device: Please click HERE to download one of Amazon s Free Reader Apps. After you go to for your free Kindle reader and then go to Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition.
Prophecy Obama: Prophecies of Barack Obama? Reasons why Barack Obama is apocalyptic and reasons why Barack Obama is not the Antichrist. This article includes many biblical and non-biblical prophecies, from around the world, that seem to discuss Barack Obama. Did Nostradamus predict Barack Obama dealing with the Antichrist? Might Barack Obama set the stage for the kings of the North and South as at least one Shiite prophecy suggests? Read it and decide for yourself if President Obama seems to be fulfilling various prophecies. Watch also the YouTube Barack Obama and the State of the Apocalypse.
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