Where Will It All Lead?

     The news from the Middle East becomes more chaotic each day, and threatens to involve the whole world.  The latest headlines which disclose the execution of 47 dissidents by the government of Saudi Arabia has ignited the Arab world, and pitted the Sunni guardian of Islam (Saudi Arabia) against the Shia guardian of the Muslim faith (Iran).  It doesn't help their centuries-old battle for supremacy when a prominent Shiite cleric, Nimr Baqr al-Nimr, was among the executed.

     One must understand the basis of their acrimony in order to see how it might affect the fragile peace of the world.  The blog, Behold Israel, explains it succinctly and concisely.  The division between Shia and Sunni dates back to the death of the Prophet Muhammad, and the question of who was to take over the leadership of the Muslim nation.  Sunni Muslims agree with the position taken by many of the Prophet’s companions, that the new leader should be elected from among those capable of the job. This is what was done, and the Prophet Muhammad’s close friend and advisor, Abu Bakr, became the first Caliph of the Islamic nation. The word “Sunni” in Arabic comes from a word meaning “one who follows the traditions of the Prophet.”  (The adoption of the name Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, by the leader of ISIS, shows his allegiance to the Sunni branch of the Muslim faith).

     On the other hand, some Muslims share the belief that leadership should have stayed within the Prophet’s own family, among those specifically appointed by him, or among Imams appointed by God Himself.  The Shia Muslims believe that following the Prophet Muhammad’s death, leadership should have passed directly to his cousin/son-in-law, Ali bin Abu Talib. Throughout history, Shia Muslims have not recognized the authority of elected Muslim leaders, choosing instead to follow a line of Imams which they believe have been appointed by the Prophet Muhammad or God Himself. The word “Shia” in Arabic means a group or supportive party of people. The commonly-known term is shortened from the historical “Shia-t-Ali,” or “the Party of Ali.” They are also known as followers of “Ahl-al-Bayt” or “People of the Household” (of the Prophet). 

     Sayyed Ali Hosseini Khamenei is the current Ayatollah and Supreme Leader of Iran.  Khamenei claims to hold the title of Sayyid, which means that he claims direct patrilineal descent from Muhammad.  So you can start to put the puzzle pieces together and see why President Bashar al-Assad, of Syria, who describes himself as an Alawite, a sect of Shia Islam, is battling the Sunni fighters of ISIS, and receiving the support of Shia Iran.  This naturally puts Saudia Arabia (Sunni) in direct conflict with Iran, but also puts them in a precarious position with their own Sunni citizens.
     Because of their alliance with the West (and primarily with the United States) and their opposition to the rise of the barbaric Islamic State (ISIS, who is also Sunni), there is a growing tension among those in Saudia Arabia who would like to turn more toward the fiery doctrine of Wahhabism, which is at the heart of ISIS's ideology.  How does the new leader of Saudia Arabia, King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, maintain allegiance from his people and still preserve his oil dealings with the West?  How does our country's treaty with Shia Iran to continue their nuclear program sit with King Salman's Sunni populace?  It is a balancing act that threatens to engulf the entire world into choosing sides.
     Add to this the fact that Saudia Arabia lies between the ISIS-occupied regions of Iraq (Sunni) and Iran (Shia), and contains the holy Islamic sites of Mecca and Medina, and you can see that it is truly at the center of a powder keg. 

     Will that result in the Judgment of the Nations that Isaiah 17 speaks about?  Will we hear "the roar of many peoples, like the roaring of the seas?"  Will the "nations rage like the raging of many waters?"  And will there be "sudden terror" in the evening, and before morning, "it is gone?"

     I know that we can find many prophecies in the Bible that seem like they are pointing to current world events, and I know that none of us can know the mind or exact plans of God.  But even if the Day of the Lord is years or centuries away, we cannot ignore that the confluence of ISIS with the Sunni House of Saud and the Shia clerics of Iran could cause desolation that will spill over to the rest of the world.  We already see the effects of Middle Eastern refugees -- both innocent ones and those who wish to infiltrate Europe and the West with their hostility and hate.  How much more will we have to endure if nuclear weapons are engaged?  

     If nothing else, these executions in Saudia Arabia, the continued march of ISIS, and the disruption in relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran may have implications for peace efforts in Syria and the rest of the Muslim world.  We are fooling ourselves if we think that it won't affect us.  For now, we can't predict where all this leads, but it is wise for us to stay alert, pray for God's intervention, and be ready to share the Gospel with those who will be fearful.  That's it in a nutshell, and it goes without saying ... we are living in interesting (and dangerous) times!

Amos 13:40-41      Beware, therefore, lest what is said in the Prophets should come about: "Look, you scoffers, be astounded and perish; for I am doing a work in your days, a work that you will not believe, even if one tells it to you."

Part 2 - Defying ISIS: Knowing The History of Our Faith in the Middle East

   There is a statement in Johnnie Moore's enlightening book, Defying ISIS: Preserving Christianity In  The Place of Its Birth and in Your Own Backyard, that struck me to my core.  He states, "It has always been a mystery to me why so many Christians in the West struggle to live for what so many Christians in persecuted countries are willing to die for."  Please don't skip over that statement... think about it deliberately.

Christian Children Murdered
for Refusing Islamic Conversion: 'We Love Jesus'

     Why do so many people who call themselves Christian in this country have such a difficult time living their lives for Christ; living in obedience to God's commands and willing to sacrifice everything (home, family, material wealth) for a relationship with His Son?  And how is it that Christians who most likely live without the comfort and ease that we have; who are struggling to survive in this world, have a much easier time dedicating their lives to Him and following Him, even unto death?  After all, we are not beaten, imprisoned, and murdered for our faith... yet.  And still, we cannot find it within ourselves to make Him first in our lives!
      As Moore writes, "Sacrifice and martyrdom are deeply rooted in Christian identity and Christian theology.  They have been in place since the first century, and they are every bit as relevant today as they were back then.  Remember, all but one of Jesus's disciples was martyred, and the story of the early church is as triumphant as it is blood-laden."  I'm afraid that we Christians in the West assume that this kind of sacrifice is all a part of Christian history and we will get to heaven after a comfortable or natural death; while our brothers and sisters dying in the Middle East today know that they are no different than those who, centuries ago, were willing to affirm their love for Jesus in the midst of a horrifying death.
     Christians are giving their lives, affirming their love for Jesus... TODAY!  Once again they are being forced to pay for their faith with their lives, and once again -- as in so many times in history -- they are willing to do what is required of them in order to demonstrate to the world that hate is no match for the love of Jesus.  If we were willing to throw off our discomfort about this fact, we would see that Middle Eastern Christians are showing us that the brutality of ISIS (and Satan, himself) is only measured against the defiance of the faithful; the defiance which is exhibited in the very love of Jesus, Himself.
     Remember, Zena, from my post on Saturday?  She was the bright, educated, chemical engineering student who was forced to flee Mosul, and who expressed the devastation of losing the security of her church and Christian community.  Johnnie Moore asked her a difficult question:  "How has that experience affected your faith in Jesus Christ"?  He was surprised at the response he received, and describes it like this:  "The depression and hurt that had monopolized our conversation to this point went away almost entirely... A tender defiance filled her voice as she revealed to me her unwavering commitment to Jesus Christ.  She didn't say that she doubted God, or wondered why God allowed her and her fellow Christians to suffer so much, so often.  Instead she said, "We thank Jesus one thousand times for life... Our Lord Jesus saved us from death; maybe this is the beginning of our story."
     Is that how you or I would answer that question, if we suddenly lost our homes and possessions and were forced to flee from the onslaught of evil?  If we witnessed death and barbarity all around us because we professed faith in Jesus?  These Christians are actually living out the description that the Apostle Paul gives us in Romans, Chapter 8 of the persecuted church in Rome:  For Your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.  No, in all things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.  For [we] are convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
     Here we are 2,000 years later, and evil men are still beheading Christians, and the love of Christ continues to  prevail over their hatred.  These Christians have a very real and full understanding of the historic significance of the persecution they are enduring.  Moore says he heard numerous times, "Now, Jesus is requiring us to carry our own crosses."  They know that they are just the latest in a long line of Christians who are willing to show their defiance and commitment to Jesus.  Like Ignatius of Antioch (which is in Syria), they are willing to become martyrs in order to attain Jesus.  And like Tertullian, the Christian author who lived in North Africa in the third century, they believe that "the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church," and that "the Christian, even when he is condemned, gives thanks."
     I know that all of this seems so foreign to our Christian experience in the West.  It is hard for us to understand that such bastions of the Christian faith exist in the heart of what we perceive as Muslim strongholds.  But we do not understand the history of our own faith; that our faith has deep roots in ancient Assyria, which was one of the Great Mesopotamian powers along with the Babylonians and the nearby Persians. The areas they occupied are roughly close to the borders of modern day Syria (Assyria), Iraq (Babylon) and Iran (Persia).   It was in this region that Adam and Eve were created.  It was from here that Abraham was sent, and it was here where prophets like Jonah and Nahum preached.  The northern kingdom of Israel was taken captive by the Assyrians (modern day Syria), and then 166 years later, the southern kingdom of Judah was marched into exile to Babylon (modern day Iraq).  

Monastery of Mar Mattai/Saint Matthew
on Mount Alfaf, northern Iraq

     As you can see God has always had a place for Iraq in His plan.  And tradition teaches that the Disciple, Thomas, was responsible for the church in Syria.  In fact, Nina Shea, director of the Hudson Institute's Center for Religious Freedom, gives us some important information on the history of Christianity in this region and why the stories of our Christian brethren in the Middle East should affect us to our core:  "The Nineveh area (near modern-day Mosul, Iraq) is profoundly significant to Iraq's Christians.  From antiquity, it has been the homeland of the Assyrians, who accepted Christianity, according to tradition, from St. Thomas, the Apostle, himself.  It is studded with historic churches and monasteries, some dating from the 4th century (such as the monastery of Mar Mattai/Saint Matthew).  Christianity spread from this region by Syriac missionaries across Asia to Tibet, China, and Mongolia ... Western Christians owe an immense spiritual, theological, and cultural debt to this Church.  Iraq's Christians still pray in Aramaic, the language of Jesus."
     Moore's book also makes the following assertion, which I firmly believe, that one of the reasons we Western Christians fail to have the heart we should for our Eastern brethren is that we mistakenly think that Christianity was birthed in Jerusalem, grew westward to Greece, then Rome, and into the countries of Spain, France, England, and eventually, "the New World".  We have also been taught that by the Middle Ages, Christianity was mainly European, until it hopped the Atlantic and became American.  We have been taught that the heart of Christianity has always been westward.  What we fail to realize is that Christianity also moved east, as it moved west.
     If we were honest in our retelling of history, we would easily understand that Christianity originated in the Near East, and during the first few centuries, it had its greatest centers, monasteries, and churches in what was known as Syria, Palestine, and Mesopotamia.  In fact, Eastern Christians were at the heart of Christianity from the days of the apostles until at least the 1300s -- the first two-thirds of Christian history!  Furthermore, most of the modern Muslim world was once the Christian world, and so much of ancient history is built upon a Christian foundation.  And although Christianity has declined in prominence since the Arab conquests of the Middle East, in every one of these countries, until our modern era, there were Christian communities who could trace their lineage for a thousand years.
     And now ISIS is threatening to decimate every vestige of Christianity, and we in the West fail to both realize the threat, and to react to the historic significance.  Are we able to acknowledge that Christian genocide is a reality and that we are allowing the destruction of Christianity in the place of its birth?
     At the beginning of his book, Johnnie Moore makes the declarative statement, "The threat of ISIS is a threat to the livelihood of every sensible person on the planet, and in its crosshairs is the faith of the world's two billion Christians and nearly all of its Muslims, Jews, Hindus, and Buddhists.  If they have their way, you won't live another day.  There's nothing in the world truer than that.  That's why you should read this book."  Note that it is not only Christians who will suffer genocide, but all those who oppose Satan's will in using ISIS for his purposes.
     At the end of the book, Moore quotes the Archbishop of Washington, D.C., Cardinal Donald Wuerhl, who spoke out on the issue of Christian genocide:  "Where are the voices?  Why a silence?  I think each one of us has at least the power to raise our voice.  In solidarity with these people distant from us, unknown to us ... atrocities happen because there are those who commit them, and those who simply remain silent."   Moore then concludes:  "As for me ... I am done being silent.  I will not have it on my conscience that I stood by while 2,000 years of Christianity was eliminated from the Middle East.  What about you?"
     But, perhaps it is more important for us to hear from representatives of the Church inside the Middle East; those who have first-hand knowledge of the persecution and oppression.  The Reverend Canon Andrew White is the Anglican Vicar of Baghdad, and he’s become famous for being one of the few sources of news about Christians from inside ISIS-influenced areas.  His stories are difficult to hear, but leave us with no doubt that we must stand with our fellow Christians, storm the throne room of God with our prayers -- and do it now! 
     Finally, I conclude with these thoughts ... Will we stand by and watch the march of Evil across the globe?  Not only should we be raising our voices in support of Christianity in the Middle East, but we should be lending our financial support to those organizations that can make a real difference in their lives.  I am sorry to say that I no longer put my trust in elected officials to do anything meaningful, or to follow through on empty promises.
     Johnnie Moore suggests supporting refugees from this genocidal crisis through an organization called World Help, by visiting www.worldhelp.net/Iraq.  He is also the founder of The Cradle Fund, which provides immediate humanitarian assistance, and is focused on developing a stable future for the entire region.  You can visit his website at www.cradlefund.org.
     It think it is important for us to see that, as Christians, it is our duty to show the love of Christ to not only those who share our faith in the Middle East, but to all peoples, of all faiths.  That is what Christ commissioned us to do.  It is the way the pagan world was transformed in antiquity, and it is the surest way to see dramatic change in the chaos we are witnessing today.  Those dying, this minute, for Jesus in the Middle East are leading the way ... love must be the answer to hate; and it is time we intercede on their behalf, take our stand, declare our commitment to our Lord, and prepare to bear our cross.  How will history tell our story?

 Ephesians 6:18     Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God’s consecrated people).

Matthew 12:28-29

But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out the demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you [before you expected it].

Or how can a person go into a strong man’s house and carry off his goods (the entire equipment of his house) without first binding the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house.

     This particular Scripture is Jesus's answer to the Pharisees, who accused him of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebub, or Satan.  Here, Jesus is making it very clear that it is the Spirit of God who does the work of defeating the devil and his kingdom.  And he also makes it clear that the demon from Satan must first be bound before being cast out.  Which brings me to a matter of discussion among my fellow Christians.

     As you know, I am a firm believer that we are engaged in End Times spiritual warfare, and I assert that we have been given the authority of Christ to employ the power of the Holy Spirit to bind and cast out the demonic oppression that enslaves so many of us Christians in bondage -- the same power of the Holy Spirit that Christ used in this instance, and which He authorized His disciples and all His followers to use. 

     This topic has caused disagreement among the Body of Christ, and while I do not wish to add to this difference of opinion, I would like to state my position as clearly as possible for your consideration.  

     There are some well-respected evangelical Christian pastors, such as the late Ray Stedman, who unquestionably believed that we are engaged in spiritual warfare.  Yet he advocated that the New Testament offered no justification for direct attacks by Satan, or his demons, upon human beings, and saw no evidence that Christians should "bind" the powers of darkness.  In answer, I give you today's verses, Matthew 12:28-29, in the words of Jesus, Himself.

     Furthermore, Stedman and others allege that after our Lord physically left the world there seemed to be a reduction in the evidence of direct demonic activity against humans.  Let me be perfectly clear, Stedman believed wholeheartedly in indirect attacks by Satan through our "flesh" (the self-centeredness of our sinful nature that makes us want to be our own god), and "the world" (that human society which insists on satanic value judgments and is guided by satanic pride and philosophy).  He just did not see the Biblical instruction to "bind" such demons, nor the need to, due to what he saw as a lack of evidence of direct attacks.  I want to be clear that this difference of opinion in no way minimizes my respect and overall agreement with Ray Stedman on the subject of spiritual warfare.

     Perhaps, when he wrote his excellent book, Spiritual Warfare: How to Stand Firm in the Faith, in 1975, the evidence among society of demonic attacks was less noticeable, or people were less inclined to share their experiences.  But I can tell you that I know of at least a dozen close personal friends of mine -- all devout Christians, and among whom my husband is one -- that can attest to direct, physical attacks by demonic spirits.  And as a follower of Christ, I adhere to His admonition in Matthew 12 to "first, bind the strong man" before "plundering" his house.  

     This term "plundering" is probably a stumbling block for a lot of Christians in understanding this verse and the need to bind the demonic oppressors in our lives.  The word "plunder" is rendered "spoil" in the King James Version of the Bible, and Strong's Concordance refers us to the Greek word Harpazo, which means to "pluck" or "to snatch or catch away" as in the act of the Spirit of the Lord snatching Philip away from the sight of the eunuch in Acts 8:39; or the experience of Paul being caught up to paradise in 2 Corinthians 12:2-4.  Strong's Concordance emphasizes that this verb Harpazo conveys the idea of force suddenly exercised.

     So, in the course of our spiritual warfare, when we first bind the demonic spirits oppressing us, we are then enabling the force of the Spirit of God to "plunder" or "spoil" the parts of us that previously were influenced by the spirits.  Just as Jesus says in Matthew 12, "it is by the Spirit of God that I [we] drive out the demons...".  It is certainly not by our power, but by the power of the Holy Spirit.  And we have been given the authority of Christ to call upon that power to defeat the inculcations of the Enemy; those attitudes, ideas, or habits, that by the persistent whispers and temptations of the devil have taken up residence in our fleshly houses.  

     This subject of "binding" is further confused by how we interpret Jesus's words to the disciples in Matthew 16:19:  “Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven”.  There are some who, I surmise, incorrectly use this verse to say that Jesus was not talking about demons but about discipline, or prayer, or the influence of the Church, or any number of doctrinal philosophies.  

     Furthermore, there are those who say that humans are not authorized anywhere in Scripture to “bind or loose” Satan. They go on to say that even the archangel Michael did not tackle Satan on his own, and despite his wisdom and power, he called on God to rebuke Satan.  They state that Christians should never suppose that they are smart enough to engage Satan on their own. Rather they, like Michael, should pray, “The Lord rebuke you” (Jude 9).  

     But that's just my point!  First of all, I do not believe it is humans who have the power to bind Satan; it is the power of the Holy Spirit to do the work by means of the authority of Christ!  And secondly, I think Jesus is referring to two distinctly different things in Matthew 16:19.  I believe He is saying if you have put your faith in Jesus Christ, you have His authority and the power of the Holy Spirit to bind evil and loose God's plans in any situation.  See the difference?  That's what he instructed His disciples to do, and what our Great Commission is!

     Sadly, I see how ineffective the Church is in the lives of faithful Christians when it does not embrace the truth of spiritual warfare and the powers of darkness in this world.  I do not think it benefits the Body of Christ when religion and doctrine get in the way of understanding God's Word and the context in which Christ was teaching.  Let's pray for unification among the faithful and a removal of the dirty veil that the Enemy places over our eyes, ears, and hearts.  Let us follow in Christ's footsteps and be victorious in the Power of the Holy Spirit!

Part 1 - Defying ISIS: The War On Christianity

    I recently read an important little book by Johnnie Moore, titled Defying ISIS.  Moore is a humanitarian who has written about his work with genocide victims in the Middle East, Bosnia and Rwanda and visited the world’s largest refugee camps.  Currently, he is sounding the alarm about Christian martyrs in Iraq and Syria who are faced with the barbarism of ISIS and the one option they have: convert or die.
     This little book impacted me like none other I've read in a long time.  In his own words, Moore says he "relates the stories of men, women, and children who have given everything for their faith, even their lives, and stories of those who, when facing inevitable death, lifted their eyes to their God in hope that good will eventually triumph over this evil."  He tells their stories "so that the world will have the opportunity to remember those who stared down the hell of ISIS with the love of Jesus."  Moore tells the stories of the deliberate eradication of Christians in the land where Christianity once dominated.
     There is the story of Mazen, a middle-aged man who lived in what was known as "Iraq's Christian capital", the city of Qaraqosh.  Moore relates that his once strong posture is now reduced to a humbled crouch as he recounts the horror of the morning ISIS arrived:  [It was] nine in the morning when a mortar landed on our house.  My son died.  My nephew was hit in the head.  My other son remains wounded, and our neighbor next door died... We fled, all of us ... My other son, Milad, died on the way.  I have another son who needs an operation; it costs $15,000.  Where would I get that?  We don't have a house or property or anything [anymore].
     Then there is the tragic story of Aida, a young mother of a beautiful three-year-old daughter, Christina.  They also lived in Quaraqosh, one of the oldest Christian communities in the world.  It was four in the morning when ISIS arrived in their town, shooting their guns in the air, and shouting, "God is great!"  Then they began shouting something else ... "CHRISTIANS! Leave before we behead you!"  Aida tells us what happened next:  The situation deteriorated  day-by-day, and after ten days they told us to convert to Islam, or leave.  We were under house arrest.  They took our gold and money and even our extra clothing.  
     ISIS piled them on a bus and dropped them outside of town, to flee or die.  But before they did, they yanked Christina out of her mother's arms, and threatened to kill the hysterical mother on the spot.  Aida said, We don't know why they took our daughter; she was the only child left in Quaraqosh.  We don't know what happened to her.  I'm always thinking about her.  I can't eat or sleep... I keep seeing her in my dreams.  Can you imagine?  Why isn't the world screaming about this inhuman barbarity?  Why aren't we Christians in the West more aware this is happening and interceding on behalf of our Christian brothers and sisters?
     There are the stories of the kidnapping, selling, and trading of children.  As if that is not enough, there are the excruciating stories of the execution of children!  Moore says that "the most conservative estimates put the number of executed children in Syria alone at more than 10,000... [ISIS] revels in the chance to inflict a particular type of horror into the hearts of those they hate.  They sincerely believe they are doing a justice by ridding the world of another generation of Christians, and so they massacre them with pure joy."  What if this was a European child?  An American child?  Why is the world silent?
     It is also the goal of those who promote the Islamic Caliphate to enslave Christian wives and abuse Christian daughters.  I think you know what that means.  We, in the West, are aware of human and sex trafficking (although we are loathe to admit it or confront it openly).  But a smuggled price list from a slave market was recently published by Iraqi News.  The document states that Christian and Yazidi girls are particularly targeted and priced according to age:  ages 1-9 cost $172; ages 10-20 cost $130; ages 20-30 cost $86; ages 30-40 cost $75; and ages 40-50 are sold for $43.  Below the prices on the document, bearing the official seal of the Islamic State of Iraq, it reads, "Customers are allowed to purchase only three items [slaves] with the exception of customers from Turkey, Syria, and Gulf countries.  Obey and follow the rules and laws of the Islamic State or be killed."
     The website, Breaking Israel News, reports that theologians of the Islamic State (ISIS) have issued what can only be described as exceptionally detailed rulings on when “owners” can have sex with female slaves captured by the jihadist group.  The report also added that rather than hiding their practice of slavery, ISIS takes great pride and has even established a department of “war spoils” to manage their slavery trade.
     It is hard enough to read of this horrific abuse against women when it is written in general terms and statistics.  It is another to hear the personal story of Mayat, a 17-year-old Yazidi girl who had been kidnapped and told of "rooms of horror" where "women are raped, often by different men and throughout the day... Often I wish they would beat me so hard I will die.  But they are cowards even in this.  None of them have the courage to end our suffering... even if I survive, I don't think I'll be able to remove this horror from my mind.  They have already killed my body.  They are now killing my soul."
     Then there is the story of Zena, a 20-year-old chemical engineering student in Mosul.  When ISIS came to town she had three strikes against her:  First, she was a Christian; Second, she was a woman; and Third, she was a woman with ambition.  When Johnnie Moore met her, she was wearing the same pajamas she was wearing the night ISIS arrived.  Zena told him that her sense of hope was destroyed when ISIS decimated their church and Christian community; it was an assault "on their security in a deep and personal way."
    But Zena was one of the lucky ones.  In the Syrian city of Al-Mayadin, a female dentist was captured and beheaded because she dared to treat both men and women.  Many others have been stoned to death and buried in shallow graves, or kidnapped and forcibly married to ISIS fighters.  Needless to say, all women are being forced to comply with a strict dress code, and are threatened with death if they refuse.
     One elderly man, when questioned by Moore about why he fled his hometown, replied, "I will tell you why I left my district.  I left it because they stormed our house barbarically at 2 a.m., harassing us, pointing their flashlights toward our women.  We didn't come from another country.  We are from an eastern society.  We are Iraqis and we are jealous of our honor.  So we left to avoid them because they already threatened to arrest our women.  They told my mother that they would arrest her if they couldn't find us."  So, he left to protect his mother, his wife, and his daughters.
     There are more stories than these... thousands of stories, and many of them much more savage and cruel.  And I wanted to let the voices of Johnnie Moore (who has seen these atrocities first-hand) and the victims speak for themselves.  I wanted to shake us western Christians out of our comfort zones to face the existence of this very real war on Christianity.  It is a war that will not be confined to the Middle East, and is designed to be waged worldwide.  We must wake up and determine that we will  not only intercede in prayer on behalf of our fellow Christians, but turn our attention, time, and resources to supporting them in their hour of need.
     I want to leave you at this part of the story, if you will, with the words of Sister Rose, a young nun from Mosul, Iraq, who has poured her life into the lives of Christian refugees as they have fled from city to city, and she among them.  Sister Rose told Johnnie Moore, "I lived in America.  Americans are wonderful people.  It's shocking to me that they are so silent in the face of our genocide.  Please help us.  Raise your voice for us.  Our children are dying.  In America you care for your pets so well, can you care for your Christians brothers and sisters who are suffering?"
     Can we?  On Monday's post, I will finish my report on the work of Johnnie Moore and why he thinks these stories should matter to you; how he thinks we defeat ISIS; and his unique perspective on Christianity in the heart of a Muslim Middle East.  It's time that the world awakes from its slumber, and it is especially time for us Christians.  The very existence of our faith in its birthplace in the Middle East, and our lives, here in the West, depend on it.

1 John 5:19   "We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one."

It's A New Year ... Expect New Changes

   

      I'm wondering if 2016 is going to fly by as fast as 2015 did; and if we are going to continue to see the rapid changes in our lives that we experienced last year.  If the docket of the Supreme Court is any indication, we could see further transformation and upheaval in our social fabric.  Here are the issues that will come before the Court:
     Abortion.  The state of Texas will find out if it can enforce two new regulations that could effect the availability of abortion among its population.  Texas would like to require that clinics use only doctors with admitting privileges at a nearby hospital, as well as require abortion facilities to match the standards of an outpatient surgical center.
     The Supreme Court must decide if these measures will protect the health of women — as state lawmakers assert — or hinder reproductive care “by drastically reducing access to safe and legal abortion” in large parts of Texas, as abortion-rights advocates contend.   It seems to me that these measures are simply trying to call into question the accountability (and the quality of services) of those doctors and clinics that wish to perform abortions.
     But, of course, we can expect to hear arguments that the measures violate the Constitutional "right" of a woman to end the life of her baby, and that "right" supersedes safety measures -- never mind the "rights" of the unborn child.
     Affirmative Action.  Once again, the State of Texas is in the spotlight regarding a controversial decision.  In December, the Court heard Fisher vs. University of Texas for a second time to decide whether the school’s admission policy is constitutional.  At the center of this court case is the question, Does the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment permit the consideration of race in undergraduate admissions decisions?  Abigail N. Fisher, a Caucasian female, applied for undergraduate admission to the University of Texas in 2008. Fisher was not in the top ten percent of her class (which guarantees admission by the University's application process), so she competed for admission with other non-top ten percent in-state applicants. The University of Texas denied Fisher's application.  Fisher then filed suit against the university, citing the aforementioned Equal Protection Clause.
     Fisher has appealed the District Court decision, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit; both of which found in favor of the university.  The Supreme Court found in favor of Ms. Fisher, holding that the lower courts did not conduct a sufficient strict scrutiny examination in this case.  So, now it appears as if the Supreme Court could finally decide if the Constitution and civil rights laws forbid schools and colleges from admitting students based on their race.
     Union Fees.  The High Court will hear a free-speech challenge to pro-union laws in more than 20 states that require all public employees pay a “fair share fee” to their union, even if they are opposed to the union and refuse to join.  This case will clearly show us if the Constitution still has any teeth in it.
     Voting Districts.  This case has clear and strong implications for the future reliability of our election process.  Currently, voters elect representatives to Congress, state legislatures and city councils in districts that are drawn to represent equal numbers of people.  Texas is challenging the fact that these "equal numbers" are not comprised of eligible voters.  At the present time, the system counts all people, including children, immigrants and prisoners.  Texas's appeal relies on the “one person, one vote” rule established in the 1960s. If the justices agree in the case of Evenwel vs. Abbott, the ruling could have a major effect in states such as California, Florida, New York and Illinois because they have large populations of immigrants.  I think it is evident how easily this system could be abused and corrupted.
     Contraceptives.  This year, the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear its fourth case on The Affordable Care Act, and the second involving a religious-freedom challenge to a regulation that requires employers to include no-cost coverage for contraceptives in their health insurance policies.  At this time, churches are exempt from this requirement. Under a separate accommodation, religious nonprofits, such as Catholic charities or the University of Notre Dame, need not provide nor pay for the coverage, but they must notify the government of their religious objection.  But in a series of lawsuits, Catholic bishops and Protestant colleges contend that opening themselves up to government scrutiny of their religious objections could open the door to challenges that would force them to provide the contraceptives and make them complicit in what they consider sin.  In essence, they feel they should be afforded the same exemption as churches, or the accommodation needs to be strengthened in their favor.
     Immigration.  In The United States vs Texas, the Supreme Court has perhaps its most contentious case in this Presidential election year.  The outgoing Administration is pulling out all the stops in its effort to shield immigrants from deportation.  Under the President's latest immigration action,  as many as 5 million immigrants who have lived in the country illegally for at least five years, and have a child who is a citizen or legal resident, could come forward, qualify, and be offered work permits.  But a judge in Texas and the 5th Circuit Court in New Orleans, blocked that action as un-Constitutional because it was done without seeking approval from Congress.
     UPDATE:  Under the President's unilateral directive, the Department of Homeland Security published (on New Year's Eve) a 181-page rule which focused primarily on giving work-permits to foreign college-grads.  This not only puts foreigners in direct competition with American college graduates, who are already struggling to find jobs and pay off college tuition debt, but it calls into question new security concerns as it covers categories of immigration utilized by migrants from the Middle East and nearby regions.
     Undoubtedly, it will be extremely important that the Supreme Court agrees to hear the case of The United States vs Texas.  Until then, it looks as if the President is more than willing to test his power to change immigration policy without seeking approval from Congress.  If the justices turn down the appeal, Obama’s action(s) will likely remain on hold until he leaves office.  I'm sure that is exactly what he has planned.
     So as you can see, the very foundation of who and what this country will become is at stake in this coming year.  There is a lot on the line ... the freedoms for our unborn children, our rights to equal education and job opportunities, the entitlement to fair and honest elections, the right to be allowed to practice our faith as we see fit, and whether the checks and balances of our government will be upheld -- not to mention the very security of our homeland.
     And I do not know how we survive any of it without faith in the protection from our Lord.  Man, himself, is on a collision course with his own pride and self-centeredness.  It is up to those of us who know we have been called to a higher purpose to seek ways to impart the Kingdom of God into each of these circumstances, as well as the unexpected situations we will encounter.  The world is not greater than the power and authority we have in Jesus Christ.  The forecast for the future may look dismal... but we know we can change that, don't we?  Nothing is impossible with our God.  Let's live our lives as if we truly believe that!

Psalm 37:37    "Mark the blameless and behold the upright, for there is a future for the man of peace."

     

2015: A Very Spiritual Year

   

     As I reviewed my posts over the last year and took a look back over the top news stories, it became quite clear that in 2015, spiritual matters were front and center.  Whether it was Winter Storm Juno that began the year with a tidal wave of snow and crippling blizzards, or the way we are ending 2015 with a raging storm named Goliath, one has to wonder if these mega-weather events are part of the geo-engineering phenomena or judgments from God. (I find the choice of names curious -- a goddess of war and fertility; and a nephilim giant, a descendant of the union between fallen angels and human women.  Nothing in this world is done by accident, so I am left wondering the significance of these selected names).
     The major news headlines definitely speak of the ongoing battle between the spiritual realm and the world in which we live.  Just let your soul feel what comes to light as I recall these events:  the rise of ISIS ... Charlie Hebdo ... the Charleston, NC church shooting ... Paris concert hall shooting ... San Bernardino ... the European refugee crisis ... the Iran nuclear deal ... the racial tension and division in Ferguson, Chicago, and Cleveland ... the Planned Parenthood scandal ... gay marriage and transgenderism ...
     Do you see it?  These are a random selection of the top news stories of 2015, yet I assert that each of them is the result of direct influence from what the Apostle Paul refers to as "[the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, [and] the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere."  It is becoming apparent to me, at least, that these forces are causing an increase in man's natural sin state and contributing to a reprobate mind that has led to all the bloodshed, violence, racial hatred, moral decay and unprincipled deception that we see all around us.
     It is apparent as we see a connection forming between Science and Sin in the development of transhumanism; in the expansion of forced vaccinations; and in the evolution of CERN, who appears to be trying to recreate a "Tower of Babel" scenario and unlock the gate to Heaven.
     And I certainly think we are seeing the implications of the Beast System talked about in the Bible. From the overwhelming amount of data collection, to chip implantation, to companies being run out of business because of their faith, to climate and gun control agendas, to Agenda 21 and 2030, to Global Government in the form of Strong Cities and Sanctuary Cities -- they all lead to oppression and the dehumanization of mankind. And it will all be orchestrated through the Deception, Division, Diversion, and Discouragement of Satan and his servants.
     And caught in the cross-hairs will be the followers of Christ.  This year has seen an unprecedented increase in persecutions against Christians; from Niger in Western Africa to the Christian communities in Iraq and Syria, they are being martyred for their faith -- and willingly sacrificing their lives to torture, rape, crucifixions, and beheadings, rather than deny their allegiance to Jesus.  To think that we Christians in the West will be spared (or deserve to be!) is not Biblical.  This is the year that has shown us that we better know where we stand with God.
     Which brings me to the topic of the Church.  We have seen the Body of Christ struggle this year with fulfilling its commission.  And I have to ask if it is remaining true to the commandments of God.  Each Christian must answer for himself if his Church represents the Biblical principals laid down by God and if they have answered His mandate, which is to let the Holy Spirit guide the Church into affecting everything around it -- from their city, to their country, to their continent, to the rest of the world.  Sadly, I have come to the conclusion that most churches in this nation, at least, rarely affect anyone or anything outside their church building, if that.  And that is why I have seen a growing remnant of God's people being called out of the confinement of those four walls to listen to and follow the "dunamis" power of the Holy Spirit, which comes by the authority of Christ and strengthens us and gives us the ability to continue His work in the world.
     Which brings me to my final conclusion regarding this year.  As I perused each of my 359 posts for the year, I noticed a decidedly common thread amongst them.  This past year I felt my faith more intensely than ever before.  The worry and anxiety over world events and comparisons with Biblical prophecies sent me into intense periods of testing.  But with this reflection and introspection, I came out on the other side, with my faith strengthened and with a more dynamic relationship with the Holy Spirit.  I have personally witnessed His power this year and how He works with Jesus to heal us and free us of our bondage to the Enemy.  That has resulted in a bolder and more daring faith; one that has released me from the "comfort zone" of my Western Christian experience.  And I am discerning that this is where I will need to be in order to persevere and grow in 2016.
     I'm pretty sure that many of you have taken this same journey as I during the last year.  And it is exciting to be expanding my boundaries and territory for the Kingdom of God.  Whatever the next year brings, I am grateful for the news, both good and bad, from this past 12 months.  We have learned much about ourselves and the power of God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.  It will keep us steadfast in our faith as we go forward together; strengthening and encouraging each other for whatever this world throws at us.  So long, 2015 -- we are revived and ready for 2016!

 Romans 15:4    "For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."

Prophecy In The Headlines

     As we approach the New Year, I can't help but feel that we are all going to witness a new reality in world history.  As you know, while I have to live "in this world", I try not to be "of this world".  That means that I always have one eye on what world events seem to be showing me in relation to Biblical prophecy.  Those who cannot understand this perspective, will simply blow me off as failing to see the rational and logical reality of their man-centered viewpoint.

     That is why so many people are caught up in politics and social movements as the answers to the world's problems.  They do not understand the spiritual connections to all the chaos and war in the Middle East, the increasing fanaticism and violence caused by terrorists, or the attempts to intensify racial and cultural division within our society.  Even if they were able to identify them as the strategy of our Enemy to extend his power and bondage over the human race, it is difficult for them to see specific illustrations in the Bible that correspond to current events.  That is part of the devil's attempts to cast doubt upon God's Truth.
     But there were two specific headlines that jumped out at me over the last day or two.  Both articles appeared on Walid Shoebat's website.  He is a Palestinian American who converted to Christianity from Islam. Shoebat stated he used to be a Palestinian Liberation Organization terrorist in a CNN television interview.  While he is a controversial subject to those who want to discount his message, his Middle Eastern background provides a perspective that we in the West do not have.  So when he runs what are, essentially, two back-to-back articles this week with headlines that say, Erdogan Has Just Been Declared The Leader Of The Entire Muslim World, Muslims Are Already Calling Him God; and the equally interesting By Peace They Will Deceive Many: Agreement With Turkey ‘Close’, Says Israeli Foreign Ministry Head, then I sit up and pay attention.
     Are these forecasting the possible fulfillment of Biblical prophecy?  I am not qualified to make that declaration.  But as a Christian, I am aware of what my Bible tells me will occur as the world approaches the End of Days.  The Old Testament prophet Daniel tells us that there will be a king who rises out of a confederation to "depose kings and raise up others", and "The king will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will say unheard-of things against the God of gods. He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed, for what has been determined must take place."  
     Then the New Testament apostle Paul tells us that there will be a Man of Lawlessness, "Who opposes and exalts himself so proudly and insolently against and over all that is called God or that is worshiped, [even to his actually] taking his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming that he himself is God."   So, we have two divinely-inspired men, born over 600 years apart who verify each other's visions and prophecies.  Add to that the recent developments in Turkey and the growing power of President Erdogan, who is setting up his own system of government, and it should certainly give us pause.
     Consider the recent statement by Erdogan's "fatwah-giver" Hayrettin Karaman (remember a fatwah is "a ruling on a point of Islamic law given by a recognized authority", which in this case is Erdogan, himself):

“During the debate on the presidential system, here is what everyone must do so while taking into account the direction of the world’s national interest and the future of the country and not focus on the party or a particular person. What this [presidential system] looks like is the Islamic caliphate system in terms of its mechanism. In this system the people choose the leader,  the Prince, and then all will pledge the Bay’ah [allegiance] and then the chosen  president appoints the high government bureaucracy...".

     We must take into account, President Erdogan's recent declaration, in which he proclaimed, "I am a leader of a political movement."  That may sound rather vague and benign to the Western ear, but it has profound implications in the Muslim world.  As the Turkish website Today's Zaman reports, "In calling himself “leader of a political movement,” Erdoğan is reaching out to a wide spectrum of people, one that stretches from moderate conservatism to radical Islam. He is using rhetoric that taps into the rich history and political traditions linked to Islam. The controversial theories of political Islam show us what we need to grasp from the phrase “leader of a political movement... According to the general theory of political Islam, the relationship between those who lead and those who are led is based upon a “contract of allegiance.” Those who are led declare, via their representatives, that they will obey their leader, thus surrendering all of their political rights -- unconditionally -- to said leader. And so the contract draws up the parameters for both sides: The leader will lead justly, while those who are led will be obedient. In the meantime, within the traditions of political Islam, those who use their power in this way are called “caliphs.” And a caliphate is, for leaders who rely upon religious references in the Islamic world, the name of the system that they will inevitably turn towards."
     Granted, there have been many leaders throughout history who have appeared to resemble this man of lawlessness.  But when Erdogan and his party suffered a major setback earlier this year when they lost their majority hold on the parliament, many predicted his disappearance from the pages of history.  But Daniel 11 prophecies that the Man of Lawlessness will "come up and become strong with a small number of people."  And Erdogan has done just that, managing to defeat three other major parties within his government to exert the power he now professes.
     Furthermore, Erdogan matches the Biblical prophet Habakkuk's description of the Man of Lawlessness (or dare I say, Antichrist) as “the Proud Man” who “enlarged his desires as hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all peoples” (2:5). Erdogan is definately a “proud man” who desires to “gather unto him all nations” in his neo-Ottoman Caliphate dream to unite the Muslim world. He denies Father and Son (1 John 2:22) and “does not honor the God of his fathers” as Turkey at one point in time was Christian.  The December 27th article on Shoebat.com provides many more Biblical similarities that are due your examination and deliberation.  They are hard to dismiss.
     Add to this Shoebat's report that Dore Gold, Director-General of Israel’s Foreign Ministry, gave a rare interview to a Saudi website, in which he stated that an agreement with Turkey on normalization of ties was close.  “Some points have already been finalized and others are still being discussed, but things are on track.”  Gold added that “the interests of Turkey and Israel at this time are finding a lot of common ground due to regional events. Things are headed in a positive direction towards a solution to satisfy the desires of both parties, but there is still no date for a final agreement to be reached.”  Is this the seven-year "covenant", about which Daniel prophesied?  In full disclosure, the Erdogan government's official comment is, "while progress was made in talks, no agreement has been reached."
     And to be completely honest, I want to be very careful about reading too much into these news stories.  I do not want to get caught up in "predicting" the future or claiming to know God's timeline.  But I also discern that I am to be "awake" and prepared to minister to both unbelievers and lukewarm Christians, should God determine that our generation will be blessed to see the appearance of the Antichrist and the return of our Savior.  I am to know the signs and the seasons and be prepared to preach the gospel message at all times.
     So, whether 2016 will see these two stories accelerate these Last Days, or not, remains to be seen.  I have long felt a "tension" in my spirit regarding Turkey, and see clear reason to keep my spiritual antennae up when it comes to their activities.  They always seem to be in the background of front page headlines, and I believe there is more going on there than we are allowed to see.
     But, I want to encourage you not to become anxious or worried about potential prophetic fulfillments.  God will make it clear to our spirits when the Day of the Lord is at hand.  Let us remain steadfast in Him, declaring our allegiance to the One True God, and employing our full armor against the deception and strategies of the Enemy.  Then the headlines won't matter; we will be one step ahead of the dark forces, and one step closer to our reward.  And that's what truly counts.
   
2 Thessalonians 2:11     "Therefore God sends upon them a misleading influence, a working of error and a strong delusion to make them believe what is false..."

It's Time To Revisit This Subject ...

     It has been awhile since I have entered into the conversation on the Second Amendment, or as those who wish to distract from our Constitutional rights like to call to call it… gun control.  No matter what you hear from the talking heads, the American public is not ready to relinquish their rights or privilege to defend themselves with firearms.
     In fact The Daily Beast posted an article citing a New York Times/CBS poll in which it was found that the number of Americans supporting stricter gun control in general has slipped 7 points in just two months.  It doesn’t take a genius to figure that the terrorist attacks in Paris and San Bernardino have people scared.  They clearly see that those who wish to kill us are armed and trained to take as many innocent lives as possible.
     Waiting helplessly and defenseless for first responders to show up leads to certain loss of life.  The question becomes, What are your odds? Will you be one of the lucky ones who survives?  There is no way to answer that, because without the means to defend yourself, your chances are going to be random.  The only way to raise those odds is to be as prepared and trained as the enemy.  And it is becoming clearer to more Americans that limiting firearms from potential victims will not save more lives.

     But what you may not know, is that the number of women who identify as “first time gun owners” has steadily risen over the last few years.  I was one, myself, just a few short years ago, and my personal experience is that many of my female friends (and friends of friends) are overcoming their reticence and yes … fear of firearms … to take responsibility for their own protection and that of their families.
     Once they are introduced to professional training, they realize that we are not all “gun nuts”; that we take our training seriously, and our goal is to be both proficient and safe with a firearm; and it is for one primary reason – to defend ourselves when we fear for our lives.  They are often surprised to hear us say that we hope we never have to use our firearm.  But if we feel that our life is in danger, we want to be able to stop the threat before it is carried out.
     And they are equally surprised to find out that we spend as much time training how to be safe with our firearm as we do being accurate with it.  Training in both these areas keeps unnecessary injuries and deaths at a minimum.  In other words, responsible gun owners are not a threat to the general populace; do not present an increased danger to society; and just might be able to prevent the tragic loss of lives we have recently witnessed.  If just one person at the office Christmas party had been carrying for self-defense, and been adequately trained for an active shooter scenario, the terrorists might have been stopped from killing 14 people.  If just one of those lives had been saved, wouldn’t it have been worth it?
     And I’m sure you have noticed my repetitive use of the word “trained” in this post.  I, personally, would like to see legislation requiring mandatory training before the issuance of Concealed Carry permits.  In my mind, that would not only influence the attitude of those who are skittish about the general population carrying firearms, but would go a long way towards forming the proper mindset of a responsible gun-owner.
     The bottom line for me is this… it is apparent that the terrorist threat to this nation, and the world, is only going to increase.  As trite as it sounds … the Bible tells me so.  And that’s good enough for me.  God wants me to trust in Him, and I do for my salvation and my eternal life.  But I know there is a god of this world who is intent on killing and destroying as much of mankind as he can; and especially Christians.  So I will use the brain He gave me, and the rights upon which this country was founded, to defend myself and do it as an informed, trained, and reliable firearms owner.  I will take my stand against Evil because I know that self-preservation and the need to persevere are both a gift, and a duty, from my God.  None of us can deny that evil exists; and while God wishes us to love our fellow man and hold fast to that which is good, He has also made us responsible for those in our care.  That means husbands and fathers are to protect their wives and families; mothers, their children; and all of us, the innocent and defenseless.
     Unfortunately, the ungodly and the wicked are running rampant under the influence of the enemy of God.  While I pray for protection, I also know that I must be prepared to defend myself.  Sadly, that’s just the reality of the world in which we live.

Psalm 94:16     "Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? Who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?"

Turn Your Attention To Israel

     We've had a couple of days in which we could legitimately turn our focus away from the world and its events in order to concentrate on our faith and families.  But it is a testament to the times in which we live that less than 24 hours after Christmas Day, the leader of ISIS declares that the Holy Land of Israel will become a graveyard to the Jews.

      In a video released on Saturday, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi 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."
     His message is in response to increased opposition from the US-backed alliance of Syrian Kurds and Arab rebel groups, and other coalition forces.  Russia has also stepped up its bombing of ISIS infrastructure and positions from its Khmeimim airbase in Latakia since late Fall, at the request of the Syrian authorities.  Yet it is difficult for us here in the US and the West to understand the complexities of this battle in the Middle East against Evil.
     An article on The Guardian website puts it all in perspective:  "The fundamental issue is that ISIS is an enemy of the enemies of many Arabs – Iran and Assad, whom Tehran has backed to the hilt since the Syrian crisis began in 2011.  So far the Saudis still fear Iran in the long term more than they fear Daesh (the Arab term for ISIS)... Everyone says they are against ISIS, but it is no one’s top priority. It is not yet the organizing principle of politics in this region."
     And so, al-Baghdadi, the leader of ISIS, feels safe in boasting "that God will grant victory to those who worship him, and hear the good news that our state is doing well. The more intense the war against it, the purer it becomes and the tougher it gets."  He also feels confident in calling on Saudi citizens - the second biggest contributor to ISIS ranks - to "rise up" against their government as he dimissed the kingdom's newly formed Muslim coalition against the caliphate.  "If the Islamic coalition against ISIS were truly Islamic, it would declare that it was cutting ties with its Jewish and crusader masters and that its goal was to kill the Jews and liberate Palestine," he said on the released tape.
     To be honest with you, it is difficult for me to understand -- or even to believe -- what we are told through various sources.  Who is on which side?  Are the coalition forces really working together, or are they each trying to benefit their own political agendas?  How do the various factions of the Islamic faith play out in relationship to ISIS and their goals?  Is any nation in the Middle East really concerned about stopping ISIS's aggression against the West?  I think we all have these questions, and more, and nothing seems to be getting solved; ISIS seems to be getting more aggressive and the involvement of nations like Russia, Syria, Iran, and Turkey have clear Biblical implications -- for those of us to whom that matters.
     Therefore, this latest diatribe against Israel and recent warnings from a branch of ISIS in Damascus, Syria that "We will enter Al-Aqsa mosque as conquerors and our car bombs will strike the ramparts of the Jews." has me seriously considering the Bible's prophecy in Zechariah 14, that "I (God) will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city shall be taken and the houses plundered and the women raped."  (This certainly fits the mode of operation employed by ISIS). You see, it is not just ISIS, or Iran, or Hezbollah, or Hamas, who think that Israel unjustly occupies the Land.  Throughout the Bible, nations have sought to remove Israel and the tribe of Judah from the land appointed to them by YHWH.
     And the final book of the Bible, Revelation, tells us that Jesus (Yeshua), the Messiah, is returning to save Israel from the final nations and armies of this world who will, once again, accuse her of stealing the Land.  But, according to the Bible, the "right side" to be on is "Israel's side" in this coming battle.   Because Yeshua is returning to not only judge the world, but to judge Israel, as well -- just as God has judged and disciplined them throughout their history.  But we must never forget that the remnant of Israel is much beloved by God and it is Jesus who will save the children of Israel and destroy her enemies.
     From my limited perspective, it certainly looks 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 fulfilling of the Bible's prophecies, we can almost see it unfolding before our eyes.  There are the rumors that Israel is seeking new relations with Turkey and to restore diplomatic ties.  I have even read articles from the UK that purport some kind of secret "peace deal" between Israel and Hamas, brokered by former Prime Minister Tony Blair.  All of it hints at Daniel's prophecy of a seven-year peace treaty during which time the Anti-Christ will be revealed.
     None of us, and least of all me, can predict when and if we are on the precipice of fulfillment of these prophecies.  But our discernment is telling us 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.

 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."

Revelation 12:17

Then the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went and made war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

     "Remnant" ... this word has become a vital part of my spiritual experience over the last few weeks and months.  It is an idea that I have "head knowledge" about from my study of the Bible.  But lately, my heart and spirit have become increasingly conscious of its viability in these days.  

     One of the  "official" definitions of the Remnant Church is that it is "a visible, historical, organized body characterized by obedience to the commandments of God and the possession of a unique end-time gospel proclamation."  And of course, there is the added element that it is "that which remains of an original body or substance."  So, to me, the Remnant Church is represented by those Christians today who remain steadfastly obedient to God's commands in the face of a growing apostasy within the Church; those Faithful who have not fallen for the lies of Satan, and who are unwilling to compromise with the culture or a "new paradigm" of Church doctrine, even when opposed by those professing the same faith.

     The Scripture in Revelation 12:17 tells us that Satan is angry with God's Last Day remnant and wages war against them.  The woman in the verse represents Israel, God's chosen people, and the remnant of her seed in the Last Days will be the Gentile Church (not the Jews) who remains obedient to God and can testify to the Truth of Jesus Christ.  We have personal knowledge of God's forgiveness and mercy; of His grace in offering us salvation through Yeshua.  And we are not afraid to tell the world about it -- with no compromise, no concessions, and no modifications.  And we are a threat to Satan and his war against mankind.  In fact, we are also a threat against the rest of the Church.

     I heard a podcast this last week from Dr. Michael Lake, Chancellor and Senior Professor of Theology/Ministry and Senior Professor at Biblical Life College and Seminary.  He said that it is his understanding that for every 10 Christians who remain in the Church, two to three are leaving because God is preparing them to be the Remnant.  They have been shaken at the very foundations of their faith, and have been moved by the Spirit to earnestly study the prophetic Word of God and to be guided by it.  They examine the authenticity and veracity of what the Church is teaching, and have a unique discernment that comes from answering the call to stand for God's Truth in these days when it is so easily abandoned.  

     It has been amazing to me how many people, within the last year, who have revealed to me that they no longer feel fulfilled by religion and are sensing a call to a greater understanding of God and His plan for His Church; an understanding that seems to be beyond the ability or willingness of the established Church to seek out.  And the common word that each of these people use to describe themselves is "remnant".  This perception does not come from belonging to common denominations, or even from common religious backgrounds.  It is as if each has been singled out from among the masses of faithful; and each experience is individual and unique, testifying of the Holy Spirit's power to call those God has chosen.

     Not everyone is receiving the same mission or calling; we just have a sense that we were born for this time, and God has a particular purpose for each of us whom He has called to His service.  But we all share, in our spirits, the knowledge that it is our time to reveal the testimony of Jesus, our Lord; of the authority He has given us through the power of the Holy Spirit to bear witness in these days of questioning and dishonor towards the One True God.  And it has been the blessing of each person to respond in obedience and faith and utter amazement -- that's how I feel; that God could use one such as I to speak of His Glory and Majesty in these Last Days.  I pray that each of you will respond to His Truth and prepare yourself for the coming war against the saints; against God's remnant.  I promise you that there is no greater calling.