The Moral Fabric of our Culture is Unraveling; We are Holding On By a Thread!

I have said it for some time ... politics is not the answer for what ails our nation. Yes, I know we are a nation of laws, and government is the world's way of providing structure [through those laws] so that we might live a good quality of life. But ultimately, government is a political system administered by men. And that system is used to control men through the temptations of power, wealth, and reputation. A candid look at the men and women who were elected to represent the American people [in Washington D.C.] reveals a huge gap between those who are loyal and obedient to God, and those whose moral degeneracy is on full display. Sadly, that dichotomy mirrors the picture of our divided population. And no President, Congress, or law can solve the sickness of sin that is at the heart of our condition.

I'd like to quote the Reverend Franklin Graham from an article he wrote for Harbinger's Daily: "It's a spiritual degeneracy that can only be cured by repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no other remedy or hope. The Prophet Isaiah said it this way 700 years before the birth of the Savior, to an Israel that had long abandoned its loyalty and allegiance to God, and instead replaced it with idolatry, meaningless rituals and sacrifices that incurred God's wrath, not His blessings ... Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness: who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for Bitter!" (Isaiah 5:20).  

If Biblical Truth and Principles are not at the center of our lives, then there is no absolute right and wrong to guide us. If we don't affirm and uphold the authority of the Holy Scripture, then moral relativism becomes the accepted guidepost for humanity. In other words, if our culture rejects what the Bible says about loving your neighbor as yourself, then the culture will determine that the morally right thing in any situation is to do whatever behavior brings about the greatest good for the greater number. But that requires defining who your "neighbor" is. 

Through Satan's influence, our culture has too often defined "neighbor" as someone who looks like us. But, when we actually take a closer look at the meaning of that word, we find that the Old Testament word for neighbor is rēa, a noun meaning "friend, companion, fellow," or simply, "another person". The New Testament Greek is an adverb used as a noun, plēsion, meaning "the [one] near". So, how does Jesus define who our neighbor is?

We can find that answer in the familiar parable of "The Good Samaritan". But, first, what [and who] is a Samaritan? History [and Bible Study Tools] shows us that in 721 B.C., the northern kingdom of Israel fell to the Assyrians. Many people of the ten tribes of Israel who lived there were led off to Assyria as captives, but some remained in the land and intermarried with foreigners planted there by the Assyrians. These half-Jewish, half-Gentile people became known as the Samaritans. In 605 B.C., the Babylonians invade Judah, and the first wave of Jews are deported to Babylon, beginning their 70 years of captivity. By 586 B.C., the southern kingdom of Judah fell to the Babylonian Empire once and for all, and the last wave of Jews were deported to Babylon, and Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed. In 539 B.C., the Fall of Babylon to the Persian Empire occurs, and King Cyrus II allows the Jews to return to their homeland.

When Nehemiah attempts to rebuild the Temple, the Samaritans remaining in the land opposed the rebuilding efforts and caused problems for Nehemiah and his fellow workers. And thus began a generational hatred between Jews and Samaritans. So, here we see that although the two groups shared, at least, a partial ethnic bond, it wasn't enough to be considered a "neighbor". In fact, they despised each other, making them a good example for Jesus to define a true neighbor in His parable about the "good" Samaritan. We see the Jewish priest and the Levite who both walked right by a Jewish man who had been beaten and robbed; both were indifferent to his unfortunate situation. Then, we see the Samaritan, [normally an archenemy], moved with compassion, who goes out of his way to tend to the needs of the Jewish man lying on the side of the road. 

Using the parable, Jesus responds to an expert in the Law's question of "who is my neighbor?" by asking His own question: "Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the robbers' hands? And [the lawyer] said, 'The one who showed mercy toward him'. Then Jesus said to him, 'Go and do the same' ".

This simple, but direct parable [and commandment] shows us how far we've fallen from respecting and upholding Jesus's teaching. Where is our compassion, empathy, love, and mercy for our fellow man? Our culture no longer seems to have a Biblically enlightened conscience of who our neighbors are. And without that knowledge of Biblical Truth, "lawlessness will abound, and the love of many will grow cold" (Matthew 24:12). We have seen that in the countless attacks on innocent people in the streets of our cities across the land. And let us not forget the recent cold-blooded murder of the CEO of United Healthcare on a New York sidewalk. No matter what you think about the victim's connection to our broken healthcare system, the lack of moral conscience by the murderer as he walked up to the victim, lying bleeding on the sidewalk, and shot two more rounds into him, should make you feel disgusted.

Shockingly, too many people across the country have supported or applauded this heinous murder, expressing their opinions across social media platforms that the crime was a justified killing -- 40% of young adults (ages 18-29) felt the killer's actions were either "acceptable" or "somewhat acceptable". Oh, how Jesus must mourn how far removed we have become from a Biblically moral compass! And how long will He tolerate our lack of brotherly love; our heartlessness? I believe He does not want to give up on us; that God's grace is still available to us -- IF we can, like the Good Samaritan, find it in our hearts to be "neighbors" to each other, no matter the differences in our ethnicity, social class, political persuasion, or religious affiliation. 

We must overcome the bitterness, contempt, and hatred that have been sowed into our culture by spiritual forces that have engulfed the minds and hearts of men who have listened to the whispers of God's Enemy. We must recognize our moral decay and failings, and we must repent and believe in the power of God's ability to revive and restore our moral bearings according to the Biblical principles set forth by our Lord and Savior. In the midst of our nation's chaos, I have witnessed the Goodness of God as a result of the redeeming prayers of those who fear Him in righteousness and truth. Don't stop now! There is a wind of change coming. Whether it be a change for good or evil, remains to be seen. We, who are obedient followers of Jesus Christ can be an instrument of His Power and Love. Let us do our part in restoring our nation, as we take a Biblically moral stand against those who would destroy it. Let us work with Jesus to redeem our great nation and truly love our neighbor as ourselves. Amen!

Ephesians 3:20    Now to Him who is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes or dreams], according His power that is at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church [Body of Christ] and in Christ Jesus thoughout all generations forever and ever. Amen. 

What You Don't Know About April 8th -- And Need To!

It goes without saying that the world has gone crazy over April 8th! Unless you've been like Rip Van Winkle, and just woken from a long nap, you likely are aware of the event that has captured the interest of people around the planet. A new moon phase will bring about a total solar eclipse on the 8th of this month. This unique event will be visible in Mexico, 14 states in the U.S., and Canada. 

It is not only a celebrated celestial event, but has significance to many other interested groups. Everyone from scientists to pagans and witches are fascinated by the possibilities of tapping into the energy of the sun and moon during this time when they are perfectly aligned. For instance, many pagans, Wiccans, and Druids view April 8, 2024 as a time of supercharged energy that can be harnessed to bring about transformation in the world. (See link). The question remains, will that transformation be for good or evil?

That same question applies to the work of CERN, the European Organization of Nuclear Research, which operates the largest particle physics laboratory in the world. By this description, most of humanity would dismiss CERN and what it's all about. But ask Google, "What is CERN trying to do"? and this is the answer you get ... "What is CERN's mission? At CERN, our work helps to uncover what the universe is made of and how it works. We do this by providing a unique range of particle accelerator facilities to researchers, to advance the boundaries of human knowledge". Other less scientific-sounding explanations have pointed to their plan to develop the "God particle" that resulted in giving life to the universe, all in the hopes of becoming like God; discovering His knowledge of the creation so they can control it. In my view, it's just another "Tower of Babel" attempt by men.

But that's not all! In this post, I'm going to share some engrossing information provided by Pastor Jim Staley, founder and director of Passion for Truth Ministries. I highly recommend you watch his short video on all the information I will be presenting today. It will demonstrate all the implications that April 8th has for us and the world. To begin with, Pastor Staley points out that, on April 8th, CERN is going to be starting up their Large Hadron Collider, looking for the God particle, on the same day that NASA is launching rockets into the eclipse. But here's the interesting part of that -- NASA is naming their mission after an Egyptian serpent god. And did you know that April 8th is also the day that billions of cicadas are supposed to come out of the ground, covering a large portion of the U.S.; the first time we've seen that event since 1803? Also, there are plans for red heifers to be sacrificed in Israel for the first time in thousands of years, fulfilling ancient prophecies. All of this, and more, all happening on the same day?? Coincidence, or does it all [taken together] point to the Bible's prophecies for these End Times?

So, let's back up a moment and consider exactly what CERN's Hadron Collider does. It is a 17 mile long tube, sitting 300 feet underground that is designed to send particles in opposite directions at the speed of light, with the purpose of causing an explosion. Why? If they can reach their objective, they hope they can discover exactly what the "anti-matter" is; the particle that is holding matter together, and ultimately, what is holding the universe together. In other words ... the "God particle". What's the problem with that, you might ask? For starters, the process of colliding particles has the potential to cause a "black hole" in the fabric of the universe. So, the next question is, "What is a black hole"? The scientific explanation is that it is a region of spacetime [time and space continuum] where gravity is so strong that nothing, including light and other electromagnetic waves, is capable of possessing enough energy to escape it. Think of it as being "sucked in". In addition, it can potentially deform objects that come too close to it before being "swallowed up".       

Of course, critics of this concern will say we don't know that for sure, so there's no reason for worry. But CERN hasn't accomplished their task ... yet ... so there's reason to be cautious. But even more disconcerting than these exercises with the Hadron Collider is the spiritual implications of CERN itself. This organization was founded on September 29th, 1954, which just happened to be on the Feast of Trumpets which, [according to God's calendar], foreshadows "the blowing of the trumpet in Zion", sounding the alarm that the Day of the Lord and His Judgment is near (Joel 2:1). Kings were inaugurated on that day as well, foreshadowing that on some future Feast of Trumpets, Jesus will be coming as King to set up His Kingdom on earth. 

CERN is anything but a Godly-oriented organization. There is so much about it that points to God's enemies. To begin with it is situated in Switzerland in a region called Saint Denis Pouilly. In the time of Rome, it was called Apolliacum, and the town and a temple were dedicated to Apollyon. This name has great significance in the Bible. Revelation 9:11 tells us "They had as king over them the angel of the Abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek, Apollyon". In Hebrew, Abaddon means "place of destruction"; in Greek, Apollyon means "The Destroyer". What's also interesting is that Hinduism also has a god of destruction known as "the Destroyer", named Shiva. And guess what statue sits at the entrance of CERN, welcoming all who come to this "scientific laboratory"? You guessed it ... a statue of Shiva! And the plaque from the Indian government, that sits at the feet of Shiva, extols [in part] "the process of Creation and Cataclysm [that] is not just linked to the beginning and end of life in the universe, but to the particles of the whole Creation". By the way, the word cataclysm is defined as "a large-scale and violent event in the natural world".  Starting to get the picture? 

Furthermore, Sergio Bertolucci, Director of Research and Scientific Computing at CERN is quoted as saying this, "Something may come through dimensional doors at LHC [Large Hadron Collider]. And out of this door might come something, or we might send something through it". First of all, why are they consumed with "ripping open" the curtain of the universe? And secondly, what exactly is the "it" they might invite in -- or send out -- into the universe? Let's go back to Revelation 9 and read verses 1-3 ... "Then the fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star [angelic being] that had fallen from heaven to the earth; and the key of the bottomless pit [abyss] was given to him. He opened the bottomless pit, and smoke like the smoke of a great furnace flowed out of the pit; and the sun and the atmosphere were darkened by the smoke from the pit. Then out of the smoke came locusts upon the earth, and power to hurt was given to them, like the power which the earth's scorpions have". Sounds an awful lot like there's a possibility that CERN's "scientific experiments" could open a portal into the second heaven, giving the demonic realm access to earth and its inhabitants. 

BUT the CERN event is not the only thing that is happening on April 8th, and I want to touch on these other significant occurrences. On the same day as the eclipse, NASA is launching three rockets into the solar eclipse for research purposes. The disturbing part of this event is that the mission is named after Apep, the Egyptian god of destruction, chaos, and darkness, who "swallows up" his archenemy, Ra, the Egyptian sun god. Coincidence, or not?

Also, on that day, the world may get a glimpse of the rare "horned" comet, known as the Devil's Comet, which orbits the Sun once every 71.2 years. The last time we had a comet that appeared the same time as two solar eclipses that formed an X over the United States was in 1811. Three months later was the largest earthquake in the history of the U.S.; an earthquake so large that it caused the Mississippi River to flow backwards and the Liberty Bell to ring on the East Coast! And it occurred along the New Madrid fault line, which scientists have been saying for years is way overdue for a repeat performance. And guess where X marks the spot this time for the eclipses to intersect? You guessed it! Are we going to see another catastrophic earthquake at New Madrid?? I pray not, because my family lives very near the fault line.

As if all this is not enough, on April 8, 1904, Alistair Crowley, [a satanic cult leader] sought to breach the second spiritual realm, and claims he was contacted by the Egyptian god, Horus, to write down his [Horus's] Book of the Law, in which humanity would leave behind the tyranny of the Abrahamic religions and enter into a New Eon of "greater consciousness" and "self-actualization" characterized by "their own specific magick [occult] formula". The moral code of this new "Book of the Law" was Do as thy wilt. In other words, everyone can make up their own morality code and do whatever they want; there is no need for God's absolute moral law -- we will all have our own, defined by ourselves. If that is true -- if Crowley was able to break through the space and time continuum to contact a demon -- then what CERN is trying to accomplish could potentially unleash the same kind of contravention into our world.

And let's not forget the news that sometime near April 8th, the first time in over 200 years -- not since Thomas Jefferson was President -- two breeds of Cicadas are coming up out of the ground in the billions, covering a large swath of the U.S., EXACTLY at the intersection point of the two solar eclipses! Sounds kind of like the locusts from Revelation 9, doesn't it? 

Then there's the Biblical prophecy concerning the Red Heifer, that points to the reinstitution of the Temple sacrifices. In the Book of Numbers, burning the ashes of a red heifer is a mandatory (and lasting) act for beginning the temple offering to God, and the ashes are a key element in a biblically mandated purification ritual. Since there is currently no Temple in Jerusalem, the Jews have been looking forward [for centuries] of being back in their homeland and to the building of a Third Temple. And of course, because of the bloodshed on the Temple Mount for the last couple of millennia, the Mount itself must be cleansed before the Temple can be built. That presents a bit of a problem, as I'm sure you can discern, with the Muslim religion claiming that the Temple Mount belongs to them.

But there are actually red heifers in Israel waiting to be sacrificed. The government of Israel has given the Temple Institute [in Israel] permission for these red heifers to be sacrificed. Of course, there is no Temple yet. And the threat of violence from the Arabs and Muslims if the Temple Mount is used for daily sacrifices anywhere near their mosque or the Dome of the Rock has the Israeli government rethinking their permission. So, the heifers are now being held in Shiloh. You might be thinking that this is all part of the Jewish Torah, but as Christians, we must remember that Daniel prophesied that the AntiChrist would interrupt [and cease] the daily sacrifices in the End Times, so for that to happen, there must be sacrifices, right? 

While it looks like the building of a Third Temple is off the table, there is an interesting possibility that must be considered. The Book of Judges tells us the first temple of the Israelites was actually a tabernacle in Shiloh. So a tabernacle could be built much quicker than a Temple, and built in Shiloh [where the heifers are being kept] and the religious Jews could begin their daily sacrifices pretty quickly. 

The truth is, we just don't know how all this is going to play out, but no one can deny that there are a lot of prophetic and spiritual dynamics surrounding April 8th. I can certainly see aspects of the Bible's prophesied judgments within the predictions surrounding these events. And I can see the opportunities for Satan to exploit mankind's arrogance to "become like God" and the very real possibilities of destruction to the design of our planet and the universe. And we have testimonies of how the earth has responded in history to similar alignments of such events... earthquakes abounded!

So while it is anticipated that millions will flock to destinations along the path that the eclipses can be seen, I think I will stay at home and contemplate the Bible prophecies that may play a part on this compelling day. And I will be praying that just like at the Tower of Babel, God will confuse the machinations of men who scheme to "reach into the heavens" (Genesis 11:4); and He will scatter them abroad from there over the surface of the entire earth (verse 8), and they will stop trying to build something to alter His Creation. I will be praying for the earth to rest in peace, and the tremors, shaking and convulsions to be quieted. I will pray that the earth will not erupt in billions of cicadas in order to damage and destroy the crops in the "bread basket" of our nation. And I will be praying that God's will and timing be done regarding the sacrifices of the red heifers in Israel. 

In the power and authority given to me by Christ, I declare that the ancient gods of evil -- the "Destroyers" -- must bow down to Yeshua, yielding all their illegitimate and unsanctioned power, as they are sent to wherever the Lord wants them to go. And finally, I pray that the fabric [framework and structure] of the universe remains intact and just as our Lord created it, protecting us from the demonic realm and all who intend to do us harm. We praise You, Jesus, for the perfect world and universe, created by You; and we repent for our rebellion against all things made by Your Hand. Forgive us and Save us! Amen!

Genesis 11:6   ... This is only the beginning of what they will do [in rebellion against Me], and now no evil thing they imagine they can do will be impossible for them.            

   

What Do You Know About the Book of Revelation?

I ask the question above for the simple reason that so many Christians know nothing of this important prophetical Book of the Bible. Actually, they know very little about any of the prophecies that are revealed in it! Throughout my years of Biblical study, I have often  been surprised at how few Christians study this Book, and it has become obvious to me that Satan has closed the eyes, minds, and hearts of the Body of Christ to receive the revelations it contains. 

I have heard so many reasons why it is discounted. But here is a short summary of the four most prominent reasons sited by theologians: 1) The Idealist view believes Revelation is not to be believed as a presentation of actual events that will occur, but rather as symbolically representing the struggles that Christians will have throughout the ages; it simply presents Biblical themes. 2) The Book of Revelation is looking at events in the past. Everything it prophecies took place with the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD, and we are now living in the age of the new heaven and new earth. This is called the Preterist view. 3) The Book of Revelation is a symbolic presentation of the course of history from the Apostle's life through the end of the age. But this view, known as the Historicist view, finds that those who adopt this view usually interpret the Scripture through the lens of their own period in world history, thus resulting in lots of variations, depending on the generation in which you live. 4) Then there is the Futurist view, which teaches that the Book of Revelation reveals prophecies that will occur in the future. This view does not discount the symbolism or spiritual truths presented in the language of the Book, but applies a literal interpretation, based on the meaning of the language at the time of the prophecies. 

And of course, on top of the various views and interpretations, the different denominations that comprise "The Church" all have their own reasons for ignoring the Book of Revelation. All this disagreement results in a divided and oftentimes hostile environment among Believers, which further separates the Body of Christ from a deeper relationship with God. And Satan is clapping his hands in delight! But, as we increasingly see the prophecies of this amazing Book of the Bible come into view, I'd like to give you just a couple of things to think about.

To begin with, the very first sentence says, The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His servants the things that must soon take place. If we say we believe that the Bible is truth, then we cannot ignore that this is the revelation of Jesus, Himself! Some have mistakenly seen it as the revelation of the Apostle John, as if he might possibly have dreamed it, or the prophecies are of his own making or understanding. But the Bible clearly states that Jesus sent an angel to John to record everything he was about to see, and to write it down in a book and share it with the  specifically-named seven churches that Jesus commands. 

This is where Christians must develop their own Biblical worldview. And that takes time and study. But if it is important to you to fully know our God [who created us] and His Son, through the Holy Spirit, you will be drawn to spend the time and seek Biblical knowledge with all your heart. But, sadly, as it too often appears, our society and culture are all about instant gratification and instant answers. We are too easily distracted by everything that swirls around us, and unfortunately, we oftentimes make God a last priority. This results in our lack of knowledge about Him, the world, and the spiritual reality of a real Enemy who comes to steal, kill, and destroy. And so we are perishing in a self-centered demise of our own making.

And because we don't know that the Book of Revelation is Jesus's prophecies to prepare us for what He knows is coming in this battle between Good and Evil, we don't think it has anything to offer us for today. Furthermore, because of our failure to engage with the Bible and seek revelation through the Holy Spirit, we're afraid we won't understand it ... so why bother. But perhaps the biggest reason Christians ignore this last Book in the Bible is because it scares us. We've heard bits and pieces from other Believers [and also false teachers and prophets] that it predicts horrific persecution and world events, and the world is scary enough right now, in this moment. Even if we stay rooted in our "normalcy bias", there is a part of us that is afraid it might reveal the end of the earth and it's just too much to bear.   

But I would like to offer you a word of encouragement! No matter what your belief system is based on, if you call yourself a Christian and believe He died for your sins and went to Heaven to prepare a place for us, then you believe that He is coming again. The Book of Revelation is the voice of Jesus telling us what to expect regarding that future event. You've more than likely read [or heard] what Jesus has to say about His return in the future in Matthew 23 and 24. If you can believe that, then you should know that Jesus would not lead you astray as He reveals more details about those prophecies. Yes, He tells us the world will be full of evil, famines, wars, plagues, and an Anti-Christ figure that will seek to dominate the whole world under his Beast system.

I agree, all that sounds really scary. But if you know and understand who our God is, and who we are in Him, then you will rejoice at the positive things the Book of Revelation reveals to help us persevere through those trials. There will be a resurrection of the dead [just as Jesus experienced] and we will stand before Him to receive our inheritance for how well we stewarded the Kingdom He left us. We will then live with Him eternally, ruling and reigning with Him. That is why God gave us the promises of eternal life for those who believe in His Son; promises of hope and strength in the Might of the Lord! There is more Good News in the promise that there will be a righteous judgment against those who rejected Him and His ways; a judgment against the ungodly and evil men throughout history. You see, Jesus gave us the Book of Revelation, not only to prepare us, but to reward our faithfulness with a clear picture of His victory over the final attempts of Satan and his fallen angels to defeat us. And His victory will be our victory!

So, now I ask you ... don't you think understanding what Jesus revealed to us in God's Word [for our own benefit and well-being] is worth the time to read? Whether or not we are in those final days, there is much wisdom in the Book of Revelation that will train us up for the battle to come. We need not fear it! And I urge the silent Pastors to do their job and equip and train their flocks to be on the front line to overcome the Man of Lawlessness who is knocking at the door. It is time to remove the dirty veil from before your eyes. Seize the opportunity, while we still have time, to see Jesus's prophecies coming into view, and get prepared. Get excited! Suit up in your spiritual armor, and don your weapons of spiritual warfare! Be bold and share the truth as Jesus connects the dots for you. And be ready, for He will make all things new! 

I don't know about you, but I want to be prepared for that day we see Jesus coming on the clouds, and I want to fulfill my purpose in those last days when Evil will be revealed and defeated before the whole world, and the righteous saints greet our God who will dwell with us forever! Come, Lord Jesus!

Revelation 1:3    Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near".

The Beast System Will Offer a Way Out of the World Chaos. Don't Believe It!

I know that many people will be turned off by this post. They don't want to read that the possibilities of what the Bible says will come upon the world, will actually happen! And a lot of those wary people are Christians! But, it is on you to know what you believe about the Bible. Do you believe that salvation through Jesus Christ is true? Do you believe the history of the Hebrew people that the Bible relates? Then why wouldn't you believe what it tells us about a future Anti-Christ and his Beast System who will enslave all those who don't accept Christ's invitation?

So how do we identify what or who the Anti-Christ is? Are you among those who think anyone who is against Jesus qualifies as Anti-Christ? I think that it's time we begin to realize a broader application ... perhaps someone who will be identified as Christ "instead of" Jesus. Remember, Jesus had told the Disciples about His coming death and that He would return at sometime in the future. When the Disciples asked Him when those things would happen and what would be the signs that His return was approaching and the end was coming, He responded, See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my Name, saying, 'I am the Christ' and they will lead many astray. (Matthew 24:4-5)    

 Because Jesus declared this prophesy even before His crucifixion and resurrection, we can understand that "the end times" actually began at His First Coming. And if we are wise, we can see that the Bible also tells us that the signs and events He gave for His Second Coming will rapidly escalate as we get closer to His return. But it's not only the events that we need to be looking at; one of the clearest signs is someone claiming to be the Christ, a false Messiah. And although there have been false Christs throughout history, there will be one so convincing that even the Elect will be fooled... For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, even the elect. (Matthew 24:24)

Just think how easy it will be with the advancements we are seeing in technology. With the emergence of Artificial Intelligence, convincing an unbelieving populace that a savior has arrived to deliver them from the chaos, lawlessness, and evil will be easy to do. But even more frightening to me is the thought that even some of the believing elect will fall for the delusion! If you don't believe ALL the Bible reveals to us, you could be one of the fooled. It is important to know who Jesus Christ, the Messiah of the world, truly is.

There's an excellent article on harbingersdaily.com that provides the distinctions between the true Christ and the substitute Christ [or Anti-Christ] that will deceive the world ... the Anti-Christ is called "the man of sin" (2 Thessalonians 2:3) and Jesus is the sinless man; in Zechariah 11:17, Anti-Christ is called "the idol shepherd" and Jesus is "the good shepherd" in John 10:11; the Anti-Christ is seen as a beast in Revelation 13:1, and Jesus is the Lamb. Everyone MUST choose Jesus when that time of strong delusion comes ... and it is not far off! If anyone refuses to believe in the real Christ, or the truth of God's Holy world, God will give them over to their own ideas and false christs, which have no power to save. It's only Christ who can deliver you from the chaos that is here now and will be increasing. 

By now, you should be able to discern how easy it will be for people to turn to a person and/or system that promises relief from the pressures, fear, death, distress and oppression of the world. Those pressures are beginning to mount and as life becomes more difficult to navigate, the peoples of the earth will fall for the deceptive promises that will, at first, seem harmless. But we must develop our spiritual discernment to recognize that the words that proceed out of his mouth are filled with the spirit of Satan, Himself. 

It's not difficult to see that the monetary systems of the world are teetering, and the promise of a one-world monetary system to replace our failing ones will look inviting to a world that has lost millions in their buying power. But behind that false mask will be a system that will take control and authority over every financial decision and transaction made. So it will be with a one-world religion as well. The world will, at first, worship the Beast figure because again, of its false promises, but they will soon be manipulated and forced into bowing down to it. It should be apparent that the Anti-Christ's goal is to control the whole world and keep it in bondage to him.

Furthermore, the Bible tells us that the "spirit of the Anti-Christ, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already" (1 John 4:3). That spirit is here and it is growing stronger by the day. But our response is in the very next verse: "Little children [believers, dear ones], you are of God and you belong to Him, and have already overcome them [the agents of the anti-christ]; because He who is in you is greater than he [Satan] who is in the world [of sinful mankind]". By becoming knowledgable in the Bible, we will be able to discern the lies and deception of the Anti-Christ and his agents, and be able to identify his deceptive schemes, and turn our focus towards the true Christ and His divine truth. 

As believers, we must remain true to our Lord and stand firm in our faith, refusing to compromise, even when faced with the worst of trials and persecutions. That means our discernment radar must always be turned up loud and clear. We must not fall victim to the distorted and corrupted doctrines of the false christs that lead only to the perverted and depraved systems of Satan's Beast. Let us cling to Jesus until He returns; remaining obedient and steadfast in His Truth. The future looks shrouded in darkness, but we must hope in the Light of Heaven; our Savior and the Messiah Jesus Christ. He said we will suffer for His Name, but He will return for us and deliver us into everlasting Life with Him. There is no person or system on earth [or in the heavenly realms] that can promise us anything superior to that glorious future. So, yes, I'm afraid there is more bad news coming, but, Oh, the hope that we possess! 

Revelation 14:12    Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus. 

  

The Importance of Prophecy for Advancing The Kingdom of God

I recently had a conversation with a beloved Sister in Christ regarding "the prophetic". From some of my comments about "false prophets", she thought I might be expressing doubt in the gift of prophecy being viable for today. I assured her that I absolutely believe that prophecy is important in the Body of Christ today. I just struggle with the amount of men and women that I discern are prophesying from their soul [and from pride] and not out of their spirit. 

In other words, I believe what 1 Corinthians 12 says ... God, as the Holy Spirit, distributes the spiritual gifts [word of wisdom and word of knowledge; along with faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discerning between spirits, speaking in tongues, and the interpretation of tongues]. Jesus, as God, ordains the ministries of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. And the the Father, who is the same God as Jesus and Holy Spirit, empowers them [for His will to be done] through their gifts and ministries, as He energizes and activates them.   

And, of course, Jesus can use His ordained men and women to help grow and mature others until we are called to step into those ministries. But I'm very careful to discern who is a REAL and LEGITIMATE prophet, ordained by God, and not simply men giving each other that title, through a Church committee, or by self-proclamation. Furthermore, the fact that I believe God still ordains prophets today, is evidence that I believe God still speaks prophetically to His "called out ones", just as He did to Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Isaiah, Daniel, Zechariah, etc. 

These prophets all foresaw the coming Messiah, and spoke of what Almighty God told them, teaching ancient Israel about the laws and statutes of the One True God and how to live in them. When instructed by God, the prophets of old called the people to repentance when they strayed from those laws and the holy lifestyle they were meant to protect. And although they would not see Him, it was their assignment to bear witness that the Lord YHWH would send them a Redeemer; the Messiah. And, miraculously, all the prophesies in the Old Testament concerning the First Coming of Jesus were literally fulfilled -- among them, His divine conception and His place of Birth; the Holiness of His character; that He would be David's seed; that He would be crushed for our iniquities; and that His body would not be allowed to decay (prophesying His resurrection on the third day, before decay began to set in on the fourth day).  

These reasons that God sent prophets in the Old Testament are the same reasons He sent His Son, Yeshua Ha Mashiach -- to stress a return to the moral laws and statutes of God; to call the people to repentance (Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand!); to instruct them on how to live a holy lifestyle; and to bear witness of Himself, sent by God  And for the record, these same reasons are why I do believe that the spiritual gift of Prophecy is for the Believer today, and it did not cease after the Apostles died. 

My spirit clearly discerns that this gift [along with all the other spiritual gifts] was given to the early Church to advance the Kingdom of God that Jesus brought to the earth, and all the gifts are just as needed today! I don't understand why anyone in the Body of Christ would think that God revoked those gifts in the First Century. The Gospel of the Kingdom certainly had not spread throughout the world, and there was still so much work and progress that needed to happen to restore the earth and the Kingdom to God's original plan -- we're still far short of that goal! So, let me share with you a few reasons that the particular gift of Prophecy is so important for strengthening and cultivating a Kingdom culture.

First of all, God did not design us to be completely mature in our faith the moment we received our Salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. It is a process of growing up into the image of Christ, and that will take practice and commitment.  Also, the point of Salvation is not to give us a "get out of jail free" card so we can live out our lives, simply waiting on the promises of God -- His strength; His rest; His provision; the answers to our prayers; His protection; His freedom from temptation to sin; and most importantly, everlasting life. Additionally, "the prophetic" is more than what is predicted to happen in the future. If understood correctly, Prophecy gives us a spiritual foundation upon which to build a Kingdom lifestyle -- it instructs us how to live and gives us goals for spiritual growth.

NOTE: It is important for Christians to grow into the mature understanding that the Kingdom of God on earth is a spiritual kingdom -- NOT a physical kingdom. That's why Jesus responds to Pilate in this way when asked about His Kingdom: My kingdom is not of this world, if it were, My servants would fight to prevent My arrest by the Jews. But now My kingdom is not of this realm". But the influence of His spiritual kingdom can now [and will in the future] manifest changes in the earth and in nations and in peoples.

For example, Jesus gives many prophetic pronouncements to the Disciples before His Death on the Cross. He foretells the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD; and warns of false christs and prophets, wars, tribulation, persecution, lawlessness, and most importantly, the Coming of the Son of Man. All these prophecies will be fulfilled, just as the prophecies of the Old Testament were, and they will serve to validate that Jesus was who He [and the Bible] says He was! 

The state of this world is evidence that humankind has strayed far from the moral laws of God. If we only looked at the news and the events around us, it would be easy to lose hope and give up on this life and the reasons we are living. But prophecy serves to give us that hope and to inspire us to live a holy life, awaiting in patience and endurance for the return of the Lord. Now, if we lived only in the prophecies of Jesus in Matthew 24 [of wars, tribulation, persecution, and lawlessness], it would be  easy to become discouraged. But God provides those glimpses of the future so that we might not become too lax, but that we might become strengthened and prepared [in our faith] for the Enemy's strategies. As Amos 3:7 says, "The Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants the prophets". 

So, Jesus gave those prophecies for His Disciples [in their time] and for us, in our time, so that we might begin to understand and correctly identify the season we are in. Remember, we are not to know the hour or the day, but we are to watch and remain sober, because we are children of the Light. We can see and discern correctly, because we recognize the signs the prophets have given us, and begin to look forward to our Lord's return. 

I am thankful that God still sends us Prophets and Watchmen! I praise Him for continuing to validate Scripture and our faith through the words of those He appoints as prophets. I am thankful for the discernment He gives us, so that we might hear correctly from these men and women of God, and not be deceived by those who seek to validate themselves. God is still speaking to this generation, and Prophecy is still good for educating, encouraging, and comforting the Body of Christ. Let the true prophets of God share what they're hearing from the Lord!

#thegiftofprophecy #false prophets #GodstillspeaksthroughHisprophets #biblicalprophecy #isthepropheticfortoday

2 Peter 1:19    And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts   

More About The Importance of Biblical Prophecy In This Season on Earth

NOTE: I actually posted this exactly one year ago, but it seems even more timely today. So I am repeating it with some updates, in the hopes its message will reach even more people. "It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings to search it out". Proverbs 25:2

If you are like me and my husband, you are a Christian who is discerning the current season that the world is experiencing, and you are tuned in to the warning signs that Jesus and the Bible give us about what the world will look like before His return. To be honest, it amazes me that there might be Christians who, out of fear or unwillingness, are unable to consider the Bible's prophecies about the "End Times". Many are concentrating on looking at the Victory that will be ours as this Age comes to an end. And believe me, my hope lies in that glorious event, too! But I also believe it is important to take the whole counsel of God if we are to live out our lives with a Biblical worldview and in our purpose. And the Bible tells us mankind will have to endure some hard times before the King of the Universe appears on the scene. 

That brings me to the premise of this blog post. I do not want any follower of Jesus to live in fear about what may be coming upon us in the near future. Neither do I want them to live in ignorance and be unprepared for the days of darkness that the Bible prophecies. So before we broach the events that we might expect to experience, and why it's important to know what's coming, I would like to establish the importance of prophecy in the Bible. 

The minor prophet, Amos, recorded this from the Lord ... "For the Lord God does nothing without revealing His secret to His servants the prophets". Amos establishes that God uses hand-picked men to deliver His message of warnings of judgment, as well as the message of the hope of victory -- and He does nothing without instructing His prophets to share the news. The words they spoke were inspired by God, therefore we should listen. By warning of God's judgment upon sinful people and their ways, God's goal is that "all should come to repentance", be forgiven, and step into their purpose for His Kingdom on earth. 

Prophecy also gives us the clear message that God always wins in the end. As we contemplate the results of the sin that engulfed the world "in the days of Noah", as well as the defeat of the nations of Israel and Judah, it might not look like those events scored in the win column. But with each prophecy of judgment that God inspired, He also included a message of hope; an encouraging word that pointed to His ultimate victory, according to His plan. And when the will of God changes the direction of a person or a nation [and even the world] from utter destruction, [and the people repent], it is an expression of His love. By paying attention to the Biblical prophecies, we can see the "big picture" of God's heart, and what might be a scary scenario can be seen in a perspective to help us endure and persevere. If God's Judgment results in repentance, [which is changing the way we think from our own selfish desires to God's perspective], we have the opportunity to see His love for us through the entire course of events.

So, now that we have a better understanding of why prophecy is important and its purpose, I want to return to the significance of the prophecies of the End Times in the Bible. Jesus, Himself, tells us in Matthew 24:37-39 that the people were living their lives as normal before God sent the Flood in judgment of their evil ways... "they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man". We know that God promised He would not judge the world with another Flood, but Jesus prophecies that another judgment will come when the world is in the same condition "as it was in the days of Noah", and this will happen at the time of His Return. 

How will we know when the times we live in meet that criteria? According to Genesis 6:5, in the days of Noah, "The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually". The earth was covered with widespread violence, as Genesis 6:11 tells us: Now the earth was corrupt in God's sight, and the earth was filled with violence. Would you be interested to know that the word "violence" is translated in Hebrew as Hamas? Now, that might seem just a coincidence, but is it? Not only have we seen the violence in the streets of our cities for the past couple of years -- but it's gone from mob violence to personal brutality and savagery. And now that spirit of violence reveals itself to the whole world. 

And it's not just the violence that matches what the prophets warned about. In 2 Timothy 3:1-5, the Apostle Paul says, "But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power". Furthermore 1 Timothy 4:1 says, "Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons."  The violence and the above-mentioned sins come from these deceitful spirits who sear the minds of people so that they no longer can receive the thoughts of God. 

These are just some of the prophecies throughout the Bible that foretell the End Times season... there are many, many more! Here are just a few that should have our spirits sitting up and taking notice: 1) "For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short" (Matthew 24:21-22). Because of the proliferation of nuclear weapons, chemical weapons, and biological weapons, mankind is capable of wiping out everyone on the face of the earth ... no human being would survive. Those abilities make our generation a candidate for the End Times.

2) "But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase" (Daniel 12:4). Up until about 100 years ago or so, few people traveled beyond their own communities, but now with the advent of automobiles, trains, airplanes, and spacecraft, man can literally travel across the world and even into the universe. And the internet has made the exponential increase of knowledge beyond anything we could have imagined just 50 years ago. 

3) "And I looked, and behold, a pale horse! And its rider's name was Death, and Hades followed him. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth" (Revelation 6:8). Who can deny that the last few years have seen unprecedented Death? War and conflict are evident not only in Ukraine and Russia, but threaten to spill over into another World War. Famine is being predicted across the globe as food shortages are our new reality. Pestilence and disease ... do I need to say more? ... with new strains being predicted for this winter. And the wild beasts of the earth are certainly characterized by the random and brutal acts of men who are clearly devoid of any human empathy. Their consciences are seared, making them no different than a beast of the earth.

Then there are the prophecies that are specifically about Israel: 4) "Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall a land be born in one day? Shall a nation be brought forth in one moment? For as soon as Zion was in labor she brought forth her children" (Isaiah 66:8). Israel became a nation on May, 14, 1948, and Jews, who have been dispersed across the world for over 1500 years, have been regathering in their homeland. 

5) "Thus says the Lord: Behold, I will restore the fortunes of the tents of Jacob and have compassion on his dwellings; the city shall be rebuilt on its mound, and the palace shall stand where it used to be" (Jeremiah 30:18). Since 1948, the ancient city of Jerusalem, and the holy dwelling place of YHWH, has been rebuilt on the old ruins, exactly as foretold. 

6) "... nor did they repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts" (Revelation 9:21). Murders, sexual immorality, and theft are readily seen in the crime wave we are experiencing -- from the streets to the highest offices in the governments of the world; the transgender movement; and the loss of the value of our dollar through inflation. The word "sorceries" is English for the Greek word "pharmakeia ", and the deaths from the fentanyl crisis in this nation alone is astronomical. 

7) "Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons..." (1 Timothy 4:1). There's another aspect to this verse that I want to take a look at. It is quite apparent that witchcraft and the occult have taken a hold on the cultures of the world. Renewed worship of pagan gods has increased, and people reject the sound doctrine of God in search of ways that satisfy their own lusts. 

By now, you should be able to see that it is not just wishful thinking that we are closing in on the triumphant return of Jesus. And that's how I choose to see the End Times, rather than stay focused on the destructive events that precede His Second Coming. But that doesn't mean I ignore them, or the prophetic word that warns us to be awake and vigilant. It is a tough path to walk... many Christians would prefer we don't talk about the "negative", and only focus on the "positive". But the Bible tells us that we have to go through the unsettling days before we get to the joyous days of God's glory. And I do not want anyone to fall away from their faith because these days come upon them unexpectedly!

I know that many, if not all, of these few prophecies I have cited have been happening for centuries. But, I think if you will consider them carefully, we are the only generation that has seen these events come together at the same time. And there are so many more prophecies throughout the Bible [from Genesis to Revelation] that seem to point to our generation. Please don't look upon them with fear, but rather with joy, hope, expectation and strength. We may be about to be reunited with our Heavenly Father, who ordained us for a time "such as this". If you haven't yet, repent of your sins, and place all your trust in the Saving Grace of Jesus Christ! God will never leave us, and we have an eternal home awaiting us. 

Let the prophecies of the Bible enrich your prayer life and hear the voice of God as He warns you and encourages you! And last but not least, I pray that we Believers do not let one moment of this season of time pass away without walking in our purpose -- to take back territory from the kingdom of darkness and transfer it into the Kingdom of God and His Light! Snatch as many of the victories as you can from our Enemy and declare that we represent our King until He returns! God bless you all!

Revelation 1:3   Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.

 

The Battle In The Middle East Is Centuries Old; The Bible Tells Us The Ending

Whether you are a student of the Bible or not, I think it is essential that the world try and understand the players in the Middle East and how they all might align with End Times prophecy. For myself, I discern that it's increasingly important to look at everything I am seeing through the lens of Scripture. I t's not that I'm looking to be raptured -- (in fact, I happen to think that we Christians will be needed on earth, for a time, to offer words of hope, encouragement, and endurance during the battles leading up to God's wrath against the wicked) -- it's just that I am mindful that Jesus instructed us to be aware of the "seasons" in which we live, and what we see being played out now in the world is a definite "season", or stage, in world history.

That being said, I don't think we can afford to ignore some of the major world events we are seeing before our eyes. And it's really hard to look at them through Western eyes. We, in America, tend to forget that the Bible's inspired writers and prophets were Middle Eastern, and we try to translate and understand their epistles and letters through the lens of today's Western experience.  So, I'm not here to say that I am a Bible expert, by any means, but I have spent a lot of time asking God and Holy Spirit for insight and revelation as to how these age-old prophecies will play out in our time, and coincide with the End Times events spoken about in the Bible.

What has surprised me is that the alliances between groups in the Middle East have existed for centuries, right up to our present-day world. We think that what we see happening in Israel and Gaza today is a new event with only current implications. But, in reality, the rage and passions have never really ceased to exist. This very day, the world's media machines are working overtime to get "their truth" out about the crisis in Israel. Amid the recent rocket launches between the militant Palestinian group Hamas and the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), both sides of these attacks are scrambling to put forth their side to justify their actions. Just over a week ago, the world was horrified at the atrocities perpetrated against innocent Israeli citizens [both young and old] by the terrorist group Hamas. But just days later, factions of the media and politicians are proclaiming the cruelty and savagery didn't really happen. It's not surprising that people seeking the truth are asking, "Which came first? The chicken or the egg"? 

The historical truth concerning this hotbed of violence is this: Palestine has always been situated at a strategic location between Egypt, Syria and Arabia, and it is the birthplace of Judaism and Christianity.  The Palestinian region has a long and tumultuous history as a crossroads for religion, culture, commerce, and politics. The region has been controlled by numerous different peoples, including Ancient Egyptians, Canaanites, Israelites, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Ancient Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, the Sunni Arab Caliphates, the Shia Fatimid Caliphate, Crusaders, Ayyubids, Mameluks, Ottomans, the British and now, modern Israelis and Palestinians.

Boundaries of the region have changed throughout history, due to agreements between nations after various wars, and were last defined in modern times by a French-British boundary agreement (1920) and the League of Nations mandate in 1922.  Today, the region comprises the State of Israel and Palestinian territories in which the State of Palestine was declared. So, in reality, nothing is new.... this territory has long been in dispute and its ownership has often been determined by the victors of war. 

Today's conflicts can trace their roots to the aftermath of Hitler's diabolical Holocaust, and the birth of Zionism.  Of course, to many,  Zionism has become the trademark and secular "dirty word" for any attempt by Israel to defend itself. Originally, this term was understood as a movement for the re-establishment and (now) the development and protection of a Jewish nation in what is now Israel. In short, it is the rebirth and renewal in the Jewish homeland established for them by Jehovah God. In today's understanding, Zionism is often seen, by its critics, to mean it as a colonialist or racist ideology that led to the denial of rights, dispossession and expulsion of the "indigenous population of Palestine".

Those who claim that the Palestinians are innocent refugees in their own land, will side with the group Hamas, which was founded in 1987, when several Palestinians were killed in a traffic accident involving an Israeli driver, and the events that followed—a Palestinian uprising against Israel's West Bank and Gaza occupation—led to the founding of Hamas as an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood movement. It has since developed a militant military wing, devoted to the elimination of Israel as a state. It is this group who has been blamed for the violence and slaughter in Israel this month.

But once again, the tide of public opinion seems to be turning against the Jews in Israel, as the Palestinian population in Gaza is caught in the cross fire, and Israel is blamed for innocent deaths as they battle to recover hostages and defeat Hamas. As throughout its history, Israel will need to rely on their God to protect and deliver her. Yet, the nations of the world need to be aware ... much about the Jewish state mirrors our own rebellion against the God of Israel. Which nations are going to receive God's purifying discipline? Our own country needs to be careful about how they respond to this powder keg. What's more, are we seeing all the nations lining up against Israel as in Ezekiel 38 and Psalm 83?

But the world must also recognize that Israel did not start this war, and history shows that they have not been the aggressors in the modern age. We can go back to a statement made in 2014 by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who directly threatened the nation of Israel and the city of Jerusalem, saying, "The Jews thought we forgot Palestine and that they had distracted us from it ... Not at all, Jews. We did not forget Palestine for a moment. With the help of Allah, we will not forget it … The pioneers of the jihadist fighters will surround you on a day that you think is distant and we know is close. We are getting closer every day." Those threats have not, and will not, cease to exist against Israel. And from my limited perspective, it certainly looks [in the current situation] as if events are pointing towards Israel standing alone. And that fits what the Bible has forecast, too.  So, as we watch the world rushing towards the fulfillment of the Bible's prophecies, we can almost see it unfolding before our eyes.

None of us, and least of all me, can predict when and if we are on the precipice of seeing these prophecies achieved. But my discernment is telling me that the time is near; that we need to be right with God, and we need to pray for Israel. For just like we Christians, Her only hope is in God, Jesus (Yeshua), the Messiah. Evil is marching towards Her and the Day of the Lord is at hand. I will admit that I have at least as many questions as I do answers, but there is one thing I know for sure ... the enemies of Israel are the enemies of God. Nations and individuals need to think very carefully before they align themselves with those who God will judge guilty of cursing Israel.  No amount of media and political propaganda can change His mind. History has proven that this was once Israel's ancient homeland, and the Bible declares that it will remain so. That is the Truth of the entire dilemma.

NOTE: I invite you to read my previous posts to get a broader sense of my Biblical worldview. And I will be expanding upon the historical context of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict.

Isaiah 34:16       "Seek out of the book of the Lord and read: not one of these [details of prophecy] shall fail, none shall want and lack her mate [in fulfillment]. For the mouth [of the Lord] has commanded, and His Spirit has gathered them."