GM: "Scripturally, there is suggestion that an event of this nature, from area feints west and suddenly turns south into the Holy Land. Not an encouraging prospect to be sure but hopefully that's not where this is headed."

Peter T.:Wasn't there also Biblical prophecy, GM, that indicated the world would end two generations after the founding of Israel (1948)? Weren't Rapture-awaiting fundamentalists expecting the end times to occur in 1988? Now, some might interpret Milli Vanilli's 1988 release, "All of Nothing" , as the end of the world, and there's merit to that interpretation, but I don't think it was what the fundamentalists had in mind.

I mean no disrespect to you, my good neighbor to the north, but, after digesting "Letter To A Christian Nation", "God Is Not Great-How Religion Poisons Everything", and, most recently, "The God Delusion", I am emboldened to state that I am devoid of any faith in the Bible's prognosticative abilities. Now, there are always nuts out there determined to fulfill said prophecy, and THAT worries me. :)

Peter T.