[Steverino]

"Zion is a hill in Jerusalem on which the Royal Palce of David and the Temple were built and until that Temple is rebuilt there can be no second coming of Christ."

The Jews of Christ's day, as well as today were looking for an earthly kingdom and not one of heaven. Christ was himself crucified for talking against the temple in which he stated that it would be destroyed (which, of course it was in 70ad) The temple was "rebuilt" in Himself. The seperation or tearing of the temple curtain at Christ's death in the Holy of Holies within the temple, signified God's immediate access to us through His Son.

Also, interesting to note-Pontious Pilate's displaying of "The King of the Jews" placcard over Christ's crucifixtion was a slap in the face-a dig, if you will, to the Pharisee leadership whom, of course, did not wish to buy into Christ's messiahness so as to threaten their powerbase and very existence. Pilate himself converted to Christianity following his tenure as the Roamn perfect or governor in the Roman service.

I will step down from the pulpit now to comment on some other issues read herein:

As I continue to read about how there should be no action against Hezbollah because of the costs to innocent civillian life-mainly in Lebanon, I am frankly dismayed at the lack of backbone displayed. Granted, no one wishes to see innocent loss of life but sometimes-this is a necessary sacrifice to provide securities at a later point and less bloodshed. Big countries have to make big decisions that ultimately benefit the whole of a nation.

I too have lost loved ones in this war on terror but it is simply foolish to maintain a mindset that if the US were to completely drag up from the Middle East and become isolationists with no military presence or democratic allies in the region, we as a nation would be better off. Quite the contrary! Western civilization as a whole is hated throughout the Middle East because of it's dominance in every aspect of culture, business, and lifesyles (some of which-I personally understand and agree with though not on a fundamentalist extreme level) permeate the globe. Leaving radical extremists to their own devices, undeterred will bring about untold bloodshed the likes the US has never seen mingled with consequences that the world would not want and that the US would be expected to eventually bail everyone out with eventually anyhow.

If we cut aid to Israel, then what? Hezbollah through Syria and Iran demand that Saudi Arabia not export the 20% of oil that is earmarked for the US markets because we are the 'Great Satan.' Where does it end? You cannot, nor should we seek to negotiate with these types of extremist zealots. I am amazed when I see and hear people talk about how we should just walk away from people that are more than willing to strap bombs to themselves, spouses, and even children to kill us. Are you nuts??? Do you really believe yourself that this would be the better alternative.

I thank the Good Lord that WWII happened over 50 years ago lest we as a nation of spineless citizens determine that through a Gallop pole conducted by the NY Times that we should not proceed with Operation Overlord as the D-Day invasion would cost far too many lives.

Yes, war sucks but history has shown that pacifism causes far more in the form of human tragedy and suffering. Israel does not conform to the U.N. or international community when it comes to eradicating terrorists. I have no problem with that. Lest we forget that this is the same group responsible for the Maine barrack bombings in Beirut in 1982. I personally hope that Syria and Iran are next.