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IN TODAY'S NEWSLETTER...
A Geopolitical and Economic Crisis is on the Horizon -
Britt Gillette - http://www.end-times-bible-prophecy.com/a-geopolitical-and-economic-crisis-is-on-the-horizon.html If you listen to the mainstream media, you'll hear a repeating narrative. You'll hear we're nearing the end of the pandemic. Just a few more "COVID jabs," and restrictions will ease. Pent up demand will explode throughout the world, and the global economy will be off and running. Record high stock markets, a hot housing market, and positive government economic data prove the economy is now roaring. That's the belief. The pandemic is ending. The economy is growing. Everything is wonderful, and soon we'll return to "normal." That's what's happening, right? I wish it were so, but a sober look at the global economy reveals a rough road ahead. Furthermore, the odds of global war haven't been as high as they are now in decades. To see this is the case, you only need to look past the agenda-driven news headlines and focus on what's really happening in the world. The Broken Global Supply Chain A year ago, many people warned the COVID shutdowns would have serious and lasting repercussions. Our modern economy runs on a complex just-in-time inventory and delivery system you can't simply turn on and off. Global trade is geared toward efficiency, not resiliency. And when you shut down one node in a supply chain, the entire supply chain breaks. What the global economy experienced last year was a lot like a high-speed car crash. Sometimes, you can wreck your car, get out, and walk away without a single scratch. Every outward sign indicates you survived the crash unscathed. But your outward appearance masks terrible life-threatening injuries. This is what happened in 2020. The media narrative says the economy is in full recovery. But most of the damage is hidden by trillions of dollars in government spending. If you take a closer look, you'll see the truth. The global economy is on life support, and nothing indicates this more than the broken global supply chain. When governments around the world shut down their economies and ordered citizens to stay home, it sparked a tectonic shift in demand. This shift in demand took place at the same time many businesses were shut down, restricting supplies of the very goods and services many people demanded. For example, demand for consumer toilet paper exploded when everyone was forced to stay home. Demand for commercial toilet paper (at offices airports, restaurants, hotels, etc.) disappeared. Each type of toilet paper has a separate supply chain. Those chains weren't created to be flexible. They couldn't handle the unbalanced demand, and the result was easy to predict - widespread toilet paper shortages. For similar reasons, we now see shortages of other products. For example, there's now a global shortage of the semiconductor chips used in visual displays. This shortage is expected to last for the rest of the year, and the impact is widespread. Entire auto plants have grinded to a halt because they lack this one component. Soon the shortage will spill over into other consumer products, such as laptops, tablets, phones, televisions, and video game consoles. As shortages in those products take hold, what ripple effects will they produce in the global economy? Compounding the problem, the ongoing chip shortage is now impacting the production of chip-making equipment itself, making the chip shortage even worse. It's not only semiconductors facing these supply chain woes. Other items are in short supply, such as:
The global supply chain is broken, and new disruptions could occur at any moment and make it worse. For example, when the cargo ship Ever Given became lodged in the Suez Canal last month, it blocked all traffic for six days. It's estimated around 10% of global trade, including 7% of the world's oil, travels through the Suez Canal. This only made the current situation worse. The impact on global shipping and supply chains will be felt for months. It's the perfect illustration of the fragility of global supply chains. But a broken global supply chain isn't the only problem. Central Banks Have Blown Another Financial Bubble The central bank response to the COVID crisis was swift and aggressive. All around the world, central banks lowered interest rates and purchased billions in bonds, all to prop up troubled businesses and prevent a financial collapse. While these measures prevented an immediate financial collapse, they further distorted the free market, giving rise to two simultaneous financial bubbles that make the global financial system even more fragile: 1) A Second Housing Bubble – According to Zillow, the past year has been the hottest year in real estate since 2007, with median sale prices in dozens of areas experiencing double-digit price increases. The reason? A combination of low rates, a moratorium on evictions and foreclosures, and in some cases, urban flight to suburban and rural areas. All these factors combined to create both a surge in demand for new and existing homes as well as a dwindling supply of listings. The result is a housing market euphoria reminiscent of the 2002-2007 housing bubble. For instance, in January of this year, a 2,834 SF home in Toronto sold for $2,610,000 after two days on the market and 17 offers. This was $612,000 over the asking price. In Los Angeles, more than half the homes sold last month sold for more than their listing price. According to Redfin, March 2021 was the hottest month in housing history with a record high 42% of homes selling above their list price. Does this sound like a healthy, well-adjusted housing market? Or another giant housing bubble? 2) Another Stock Market Bubble – Since the March 2020 lows, the Dow is up 78%, the S&P 500 is up 81%, and the NASDAQ is up 104%. The rise in stocks since the March low is the third largest in 100 years. The only two times where the market performed better were July 1933 and March 1936 – both in the midst of the Great Depression. Just how overvalued is the stock market? The Buffet Indicator says very overvalued. Named for famed investor Warren Buffet, it measures the total market value of stocks relative to the nation's economic output. At over 200%, the Buffet Indicator is at an all-time high right now - far higher than in 1929 and far higher than before the dot-com bubble burst. Does this sound like the ideal time to invest in stocks? Or the peak of a market mania? Global Markets are Fragile All bubbles eventually pop. The only question is when they'll pop and what event will pop them. Because of the government policy response to COVID, the stock market is particularly vulnerable to collapse. And its collapse threatens the entire global financial system. Just how fragile is the system? In January, trading in a single stock almost caused a financial panic. While all the headlines at the time focused on the little guy vs. Wall Street, the big headline should have been that GameStop's explosive stock price almost caused a meltdown of the global financial system. Not only did it destroy the hedge fund Melvin Capital, which had a heavy short position in GameStop, but it exposed brokerages like Robinhood, TD Ameritrade, and Charles Schwab to billions in potential losses if their customers couldn't cover their margin debt. For those who aren't familiar, trading on margin means buying stocks with borrowed money. This enhances investor returns when the market is going up, but it can wipe investors out if the market goes down. Margin debt was a major factor in the 1929 stock market collapse, and now margin debt is making a comeback. As a percentage of real disposable income, margin debt is now higher than it's been in more than 60 years. It's higher than the dot-com bubble, and it's higher than it was before the 1929 crash. In March, Bill Hwang of Archegos Capital Management lost $20 billion in two days when he defaulted on borrowed funds he used to speculate in the stock market. Like the GameStop episode, this too could have caused a systemic collapse of the global financial system. It's estimated Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Credit Suisse, Nomura, and other Wall Street players lost at least $30 billion. Their losses could have triggered a crisis in the more than $2 quadrillion derivatives market, bankrupting banks all over the world, and destroying the global financial system. What's most worrying is events like these are taking place when global markets are doing nothing but going straight up. What will happen when the market finally goes down? Rumors of War Abound Unfortunately, we've seen all this before. Shrinking global trade and collapsing markets were hallmarks of the 1930's. And so were regional conflicts and the rise of imperial powers. Germany, Italy, and Japan invaded neighboring nations in the 1930's. Totalitarianism swept across the globe. Like the 1930's, we see similar developments today. Today's headlines tell of wars and rumors of war. For example, China recently flew more than 20 war planes over Taiwan's airspace. They also threatened the Philippines, anchoring several hundred ships near a Philippine reef in the South China Sea. Meanwhile, the United States and Russia threaten to go to war over Ukraine, and Israel and Iran threaten to go to war over Iran's nuclear program. Wars and violent conflict are nothing new. But frequent high stakes confrontations between nuclear powers are new to the post-Cold War era. Like the Cuban Missile Crisis and other Cold War moments of brinksmanship, any one of these situations could suddenly escalate into World War III. These are Dangerous Times Despite media attempts to assure us all is well, these are dangerous times. A single bankruptcy, and global markets could collapse like a house of cards. One wrong decision, and superpowers could unleash a global war. Like 1914 and 1939, the world is on the eve of a new world order. The stage is set for a global economic crisis. International land disputes could trigger all-out war at a moment's notice. It's not a matter of if these events will happen, it's only a matter of when. When they happen and the dust of war settles, the world will look different. The global power structure will be nothing like what we see today. None of this should surprise you. The Bible says these same conditions will be present just before the Antichrist comes to power. The Bible says World War III (Revelation 6:4) and economic collapse (Revelation 6:5-6) will precede the rise of the Antichrist's global empire (Revelation 13:7). Reading today's headlines, it's clear we're drawing closer and closer to the events of the Tribulation. We're in the midst of a global pandemic (Luke 21:11). Israel is back in the land (Jeremiah 23:7-8). The Jewish people are back in Jerusalem (Luke 21:24-28). And the Gospel is being preached throughout the world (Matthew 24:14). The end times approach. This means the rapture also draws near. So don't despair, Jesus is coming soon! What really happened in the skies near Israel’s nuclear reactor? – Yaakov Lappin - https://www.jns.org/what-really-happened-in-the-skies-near-israels-nuclear-reactor/ Former intelligence officer Tal Beeri tells JNS “an alternative and unfounded narrative of a warning strike” on Dimona’s nuclear research center is playing out in media channels affiliated with Iran. Two days before a Syrian surface-to-air missile flew into southern Israel in response to reported Israeli airstrikes on targets in the Damascus area, two suspicious Iranian cargo planes landed at Damascus International Airport, likely carrying advanced weapons, a former IDF intelligence officer has told JNS. Early on Thursday morning, international media reports said that the Israeli Air Force hit a number of unknown targets in Syria, which triggered a Syrian SA-5 surface-to-air missile battery to fire on the Israeli aircraft. Maj. (res.) Tal Beeri, director of the research department at the Alma research center, which uses open-source material to shed light on security threats to Israel emanating from Syria and Lebanon, spent 20 years in IDF intelligence specializing in Lebanon and Syria. He said that according to online public flight-tracking programs, the Iranian cargo planes landed at the Damascus airport on April 20. “Those who follow Iranian cargo planes movements from Iran to Damascus are not surprised by airstrikes that follow them,” he said. “We don’t know what the specific target of the Israeli strike was, but I am certainly linking it to the arrival of the cargo planes,” added Beeri. During the reported attack, as in many previous Israeli strikes, Syrian air-defense missile batteries launched interceptor missiles. “The SA-5 is an old, Russian-built surface-to-air missile,” explained Beeri. “It can reach a range of some 400 kilometers and an altitude of some 40,000 feet. It has a 200-kilogram warhead.” The missile is originally designed to shoot down larger air targets, like transport planes. “If it doesn’t strike a target in the air, it continues to fly until it falls because its flight trajectory ends,” said Beeri. “We saw in recent years quite a few incidents during airstrikes in which these missile launches from Syria had unexpected results. Airstrikes can lead to Syrian missiles reaching all sorts of surprising places.” Examples include the SA-5 missile that was successfully intercepted by an Israeli Arrow 2 missile over the Jordan Valley in March 2017, and the SA-5 missile that knocked an Israeli F-16 out of the sky in February 2018. During that same incident, a second SA-5 missile fell in the Greek-populated region of Cyprus. In September 2018, recalled Beeri, an SA-5 missile hit a Russian intelligence-gathering aircraft while trying to hit an Israeli jet with tragic and deadly consequences. In July 2019, an SA-5 fired from Syria fell on the Turkish-populated side of Cyprus. “From our understanding of the incident, the SA-5 fired [on April 22] was launched south of Damascus. The missile did not hit any aircraft, and its trajectory took it over Jordan. When it was over the Dead Sea, it crossed over into Israeli territory and traveled in a straight line until reaching the Beersheva region,” said Beeri. At that stage, warning sirens went off in the region of the Bedouin village of Abu Qrenat, in the northwest Negev, stated the Israel Defense Forces. An Israeli air-defense system fired a missile at the Syrian missile but failed to strike it, according to Defense Minister Benny Gantz. “The IDF acted against necessary assets [in Syria], preventing potential harm against Israel,” he said during a press conference. “An SA-5 crossed border. There was an attempt to intercept that didn’t succeed. The air force is investigating the incident. In most such cases, we see other results.” Shortly afterwards, the IAF “struck the battery from which the missile was launched and additional Syrian surface-to-air batteries in the area,” the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit said in a statement. ‘Revenge’ a totally baseless claim A Syrian military source told the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) that the IAF hit targets in the Damascus and Golan regions. SANA said in its reports that four Syrian soldiers sustained injuries in an Israeli strike south of Damascus and that the attack also caused some damage. Beeri added that there were also indications that a Syrian officer at the rank of captain was killed in the attack. Nevertheless, he said, when taken into the context of four incidents in the past three years, even such “‘unusual” incidents become somewhat routine. “The fact is that the Syrian missile flew until it could not fly any further. This time, it reached the Beersheva region,” he stated. This has not stopped social-media accounts and media channels affiliated with the radical Shi’ite-Iranian axis from holding what Beeri described as a “celebration” over the incident. The narrative of “revenge”—in which a surface-to-surface ballistic missile was deliberately fired at the Dimona-based Negev Nuclear Research Center as a “warning strike” to prove what the Iranian axis can do—has taken hold there. “Here is the ‘revenge,’ but this is totally baseless claim,” said Beeri. “They are linking the incident to recent incidents at the Natanz nuclear site in Iran,” he added, referring to the April 11 blast that tore through the facility, taking thousands of Iranian centrifuges offline and for which Iran has blamed Israel. Asked if this alternative narrative could still provide a face-saving outlet for Iran, Beeri said that public sentiments in narratives can, in principle, calm desires for revenge, but only if formal decision-makers and military chiefs in Iran agree to use such an outlet. He added that it remains unclear whether the Iranian leadership, which is aware of what really happened, would do so. Why Have UFO Sightings More Than Doubled Over the Last Two Years? - by Michael Snyder - http://endoftheamericandream.com/why-have-ufo-sightings-more-than-doubled-over-the-last-two-years/ Did you know that the number of reported UFO sightings has increased dramatically over the past two years? I didn’t realize this either until I looked up the numbers. Of course the skeptics will always find a way to explain away any facts that they do not like, but to me it appears that something very unusual is happening. According to the New York Times, more than 7,200 sightings were reported to the National UFO Reporting Center in 2020, and that represented an increase of “about 1,000” from the year before… Sightings of unidentified objects in 2020 nearly doubled in New York from the previous year, to about 300, according to data compiled by the National U.F.O. Reporting Center. They also rose by about 1,000 nationwide, to more than 7,200 sightings. Of course that same New York Times article blames COVID for the rise in sightings. We are being told that people had more free time on their hands in 2020 because of COVID. And we are also being told that people spent more time looking up into the sky in 2020 because of COVID. These days, COVID is being blamed for just about everything, and so it seems kind of natural to blame COVID for the increase in UFO sightings too. And I almost started to believe the New York Times until I came across the numbers for the previous year. It turns out that the increase in UFO sightings during 2019 was even greater than the increase that we witnessed during 2020… There was a rise in the number of North Americans who looked up into the sky in 2019 and found something that didn’t look like a bird or a plane. The National UFO Reporting Center, which tracks calls and messages from people around the U.S. and Canada about strange sightings in the sky, reported that it received 5,971 sightings in 2019 — a jump from 3,395 in 2018. There was no COVID pandemic in the U.S. in 2019. So why did the number of sightings rise by more than 2,500 during that year? Overall, the number of UFO sightings has more than doubled over the past two years. That seems rather noteworthy, doesn’t it? It is starting to become exceedingly clear that something is going on in our skies that defies “rational” explanation. On Wednesday morning the Drudge Report ran a headline that breathlessly declared “Commercial Airline Pilots Keep Reporting UFOs”, and this is the story that the headline was linked to… By combing through thousands of reports in a government flight incident database, VICE World News has uncovered dozens of recent UFO sightings from Canadian and international airlines. They include a pair of WestJet flights near B.C.’s Okanagan Valley that allegedly saw “a bright, white strobe-type light” above them on the night of March 16, 2017, and a pre-dawn Jan. 10, 2015 encounter outside Regina, Saskatchewan, when “multiple aircraft reported a very large object with a small white light in the middle, surrounded by a halo” that “appeared to descend from above” 41,000 feet. We rely on level-headed commercial airline pilots to fly us from one place to another. They are highly competent and they are highly respected. So the fact that so many of them have filed official reports in which they describe witnessing UFOs is definitely something that we should take very seriously. And according to one Canadian UFO researcher, the reports from these pilots are consistent with other UFO sightings in Canada going all the way back to the 1940s… According to researcher and filmmaker Matthew Hayes, there is a “very high degree of consistency” between the reports found in CADORS and the ones he uncovered for his 2019 doctoral dissertation on Canada’s Cold War UFO records. “Canadians have been reporting the same types of things, unabated, since the 1940s,” Hayes said. “Historically, it’s also been incredibly challenging to get the Canadian government to talk about this. Compare that with the U.S., where officials seem much more eager and ready to discuss the topic.” Meanwhile, UFO sightings have been making waves in the U.S. lately too. In fact, the Pentagon created quite a stir recently when it confirmed that leaked UFO photos taken in 2019 were indeed legitimate. The following comes from CNN… The Defense Department has confirmed that leaked photos and video of “unidentified aerial phenomena” taken in 2019 are indeed legitimate images of unexplained objects. Photos and videos of triangle-shaped objects blinking and moving through the clouds were taken by Navy personnel, Pentagon spokeswoman Sue Gough said in a statement to CNN. She also confirmed that photos of three unidentified flying objects — one “sphere” shaped, another “acorn” shaped and one characterized as a “metallic blimp” — were also taken by Navy personnel. In the old days, the Pentagon would have never made such a shocking admission. And we have also learned that in one stretch during 2014 and 2015 U.S. Navy pilots were seeing UFOs on an “almost daily” basis… Every once in a while, a news item surfaces that prompts you to throw up your hands, sink back into your chair and begrudgingly welcome the impending apocalypse. The most recent item on this docket: A New York Times report confirming that between 2014 and 2015, Navy pilots reported “almost daily” sightings of unidentified flying objects lurking in the air, including one that resembled a “spinning top moving against the wind.” These UFOs that Navy pilots were encountering were not just stationary objects. In fact, some of them “reached seemingly hypersonic speeds”… According to the Times report, the sightings began in the summer of 2014, with Navy pilots reporting that they spotted the vessels nearly 30,000 feet in the sky while they were conducting training maneuvers between Virginia and Florida. Sometimes, they reported, the vessels reached seemingly hypersonic speeds. One of the Navy pilots even almost collided with one of the objects, which apparently (and justifiably) freaked him out so much that he issued an official incident report about it to the Navy. The sightings apparently grew so frequent that earlier this year, the Navy issued official guidelines for how to report “unexplained aerial phenomena.” Do the skeptics want to try to claim that all of those Navy pilots were crazy? At this point, it is becoming increasingly difficult for UFO skeptics to retain their credibility. Something is clearly happening, and I believe that all of the leaks that have been occurring are meant to mentally condition us for further disclosures in the future. The stage is being set for a deception of absolutely epic proportions, and most people will swallow whatever they are told hook, line and sinker. We live in such crazy times, and they are only going to get crazier. In such an environment, it is imperative to learn how to think for yourself, because lies are everywhere. The truth is out there, but it is not always easy to find, and our world is becoming more filled with deception with each passing day. We Need God-Fearing Shepherds - Nathele Graham - [email protected] David knew his Shepherd, and wrote psalms of praise to Him. “ The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.” Psalm 23:1. David loved and trusted the Lord in good times, and in bad times, and so should we. Before David was king of Israel, he had been a shepherd and understood how dependent the sheep are upon their shepherd. It’s the duty of the shepherd to be sure the sheep are safe, protected, and well fed. Storms may rage and wolves may lurk nearby, but the shepherd is always vigilant. If the sheep don’t listen to their shepherd, they’ll fall into trouble. Christians also have a Shepherd, and if we don’t listen to His voice, we will also find much trouble. Of course, our Shepherd isn’t a mortal man. Our Shepherd is Jesus Christ. We need to hear His voice and follow Him. Jesus has enlisted men to be shepherds over the flock, and those men need to fear God and honor Him as they lead the congregation. We need men today who fear God and lead the flock in the ways of the Lord. When Jesus walked and talked with His disciples, He taught them many things. He taught them the love of God and He showed them how to share the Good News. Jesus led by example. He was a carpenter by trade, but He didn’t use that as a gimmick, hoping that by repairing a roof or building something for a lost soul they would come to salvation. He shared the Good News that the Messiah had come. After the resurrection, and before He ascended to Heaven, Jesus met with the disciples on the shores of Galilee. It was important that the disciples understand what they needed to do. Peter was very troubled. He had denied knowing Jesus and was ashamed. In spite of this, Jesus had a special calling for Peter. He was to care for the flock. Jesus said “…Feed my lambs.” John 21:15b. Lambs are the little ones. They are believers who aren’t ready for solid food, but need milk to help them grow. Then Jesus told Peter twice to “…Feed my sheep.” John 21:16b & John 21:17b. If the sheep aren’t fed properly, the flock will die. If they aren’t given proper food there’ll be no lambs to feed. We see this tragedy happening in congregations today. Instead of teaching the pure word of God, pastors tickle ears and preach agendas rather than the Gospel. Books are taught which are written by humans instead of Scripture which is God breathed. Today we live in the very end of days, and this period of time is described in a letter which Jesus dictated to John. “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Revelation 3:20. When Scripture is a secondary teaching, Jesus is excluded. Brothers and sisters, today Jesus is on the outside of many congregations. The shepherds are neglecting the sheep. In speaking of the end times, Paul gave this warning “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.” 2 Timothy 3:1. Paul listed some things that would be accepted in the end, not only accepted by the world but within congregations. Some of these end-of-days evils are blasphemers, people with no natural affection, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God, and people who have a form of godliness but deny His power. “…from such turn away.” 2 Timothy 3:5b. Does your pastor encourage you to turn away from such things, or does he teach from human books instead of teaching verse by verse through Scripture? You cannot know all of God’s truth if you pick and choose what verses you study and take them out of context or twist their meaning. Don’t wait for your pastor to teach you. Scripture is there for you to study. If you say you have no time to study Scripture but make time to watch television, shame on you. Television doesn’t lead to a God-honoring life. Do you watch preachers on TV and think you’ve found a good shepherd? Name it and claim it, prosperity gospel, “send me money and I’ll pray for you” preaching are all false teachings. What about reading? Do you read self-help books, purpose driven books, new age books, or “yoga and you” books? If so, you’re following the wrong shepherd. They may sound good, but Paul warns “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” 2 Timothy 3:5. Instead of wasting time with such things, study Scripture. It’s God’s word. Peter took the instructions from Jesus to heart. He allowed himself to be led by the Holy Spirit, and because of that he was a wonderful shepherd to his flock, and we can learn from him. Peter wrote two letters filled with nourishing food for the sheep. He tells us that in the last days there will be people who don’t take God’s word seriously. “This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: that ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour.” 2 Peter 3:1-2. Peter wanted his flock to avoid false teaching, so he encouraged them to study Scripture. That’s where truth is found. Many pastors avoid prophecy and Sunday school materiel is very shallow, so the flock is starving. The Old Testament is as important to study as the New Testament, and both need to be taught rather than books written by humans. In the verse above, Peter said to pay attention to “…words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour.” That isn’t hard to understand. Peter did indeed feed the lambs and the sheep on Scripture, but false shepherds have infiltrated the flock. We live in the last days, and as Paul said we live in perilous times. The sheep need alert because the shepherds are failing. Paul commended the people of Berea because they didn’t just believe what someone told them, but “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” Acts 17:11. Christians today would be wise to be like the Bereans in order to avoid false teachings. Paul warned of perilous times and so did Peter. “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.” 2 Peter 3:3-4. Is that the way you see it? Is everything today the same as it was five years ago? Ten years ago? If you think all’s well, then you haven’t been paying attention. You’re one of the scoffers…a malnourished sheep. The prophets of old spoke many prophecies that are being fulfilled today. Israel is back in their God-given land, the stage is being set for the wars to come about as described by the prophets of old, technology has advanced to the point where the whole world can look at their cell phone and see what’s happening across the globe, and genetic manipulation is ushering in the “days of Noe” (Noah) as foretold by Jesus. If you don’t understand what was happening during the days of Noah, then you need to do an honest study of Genesis chapter 6 and be sure that you don’t allow your genes to be altered in any way. The Rapture is on the very near horizon. Shepherds don’t teach truth and the flock doesn’t care. “For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: but the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.” 2 Peter 3:5-7. Willingly ignorant? How? Instead of the shepherds teaching God’s word as fact, Darwin becomes the authority. When God’s truth is compromised, many false teachings ease their way in and New Age lies are taught, Yoga is practiced, contemplative prayer, and many false teachings are followed rather than Scripture. Many shepherds don’t respect God and Scripture. We need God-fearing shepherds who don’t lead the flock astray. Jesus warned of false teachers who will try to steal the flock from the Shepherd. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber, but he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.” John 10:1-2. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, so if you aren’t being fed on His word, then you’re being fed by a thief and a robber. Too often the false doctrines are very close to Scripture, but close isn’t good enough. If you don’t know Scripture then you will be easily duped. Jesus is the Good Shepherd and it’s His voice we need to follow. “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.” John 10:11-13. Be careful of the hirelings who preach and teach things not found in Scripture. Jesus gave His life for us, so honor Him by following Him. There is only one Gospel that will bring salvation. The Gospel of Jesus Christ…His death, burial, and resurrection. “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” Ephesians 4:4-6. That’s a blessing. Christians are one in the Lord…one in our Good Shepherd. We need to feed on His word. He directed His sheep to spread the Gospel to the lost. “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15. It’s a shame that what passes for evangelism and missionary work today, are gimmicks and the Gospel is a secondary thought. That’s not what Jesus taught. That’s not following the Great Commission. We need God-fearing shepherds who aren’t ashamed to speak God’s truth. We need God-fearing shepherds who use the pulpit to teach God’s word even if it makes the flock uncomfortable or jeopardizes the tax-exempt status. If the man in the pulpit where you worship is a God-fearing shepherd who feeds the flock healthy and nourishing food of Scripture, thank God for him. These men are few and far between. God bless you all, Nathele Graham [email protected] [email protected] All original scripture is “theopneustos” God breathed. If you’d like to be on my mailing list to receive the commentaries just drop me an email and let me know. Daily Jot: The Farm Chronicles: Land Grab - Bill Wilson – www.dailyjot.com Our Ohio farm has been in the family since around 1818. It was handed down from father to son all those years. They carved out a farm from the Western Ohio wilderness, fought the elements, defended it against hostile Indians, and somehow made a living without putting a mortgage on the property. Those fathers and sons are buried in Hawley Cemetery just a half a mile away. So you can imagine the anger from my dad when a local real estate broker decided to pull down the Eastern fence along the property line to give his newly created lots the dimensions required by zoning laws. He had already torn the fence down twice, our cattle spread across the township, and Dad had had enough of it. I was at college between classes when the phone rang. Dad said, “Son, I’ve got a problem up here with that crook Harris, the realtor. He’s been tearing down the fence, saying it’s on his property. That property line hasn’t changed in over 150 years. He’s trying to steal our land.” It just so happened at the time I was taking a journalism law class and we were studying Ohio property law. I told Dad that any fence line established for 25 years was considered the property line and no matter what, Harris couldn’t change that without Dad’s consent. Dad said I better come home and help him. So I hopped in my ’67 Chevy Impala SS, which we never knew if it would make the 150 mile trip, and came home. The next day, Saturday morning, Harris shows up in the driveway to “discuss” the issue with my Dad. He got out of his car and I was standing on the back sidewalk when Dad came out of the house. Dad didn’t hesitate. He came after Harris with fists in the air, shouting something to the order of “I’m going to beat the **** out of you, you crooked thief!” With Dad chasing him, Harris, by this time, is running in big circles around the yard trying to get back into his car. I remember him looking at me and yelling, “Are you going to just stand there and let him do this?” And I just smiled and said, “You’ll get what’s coming to you.” Well, Harris made it back to his car and they agreed to meet at the fence line because Harris had “surveyors” coming to settle the dispute. At the fence, Harris on one side, Dad and I on the other, and Harris starts taunting Dad, saying, “You’re a real big man, now, when a fence is between us, right?” Oooooh boy! It was all I could do to keep Dad from jumping that fence, which by then wasn’t in too good of shape anyway. Then these long-haired, hippy looking “surveyors” fell out of an old beat up van and walked to us. I asked to see their license. They didn’t have it with them. I asked if they had found the property pin in the road, and they acted like they didn’t know what I was talking about. So I cited the law to Harris, told him that he and his surveyors were frauds. And I told him that if I ever saw him near our property again his life would end as he knew it. “It starts now.” Harris ran to his car. A few weeks later, Dad spotted Harris on the sidewalk in Ravenna, and Harris nearly got hit by a car running to the other side of the street. Not long afterwards, Harris passed away. Deuteronomy 27:17 says, “Cursed is he that removes his neighbor’s boundary mark.” It’s something I often ponder. We Buckeyes take our land seriously. And I think God does, too. Daily Devotion: Spiritual Amnesia - by Greg Laurie – www.harvest.org Those who are wise will take all this to heart; they will see in our history the faithful love of the Lord. —Psalm 107:43 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/spiritual-amnesia/ - Listen My wife, Cathe, keeps a prayer journal, and sometimes she says, “Greg, look what I wrote in my prayer journal two years ago. Look at what we were facing, and look at how the Lord got us through it.” It’s good to reflect on the faithfulness of God because when you’re going through something in the moment, you wonder whether you’re going to get through it. That’s what happened to the Israelites as they stood on the brink of the Promised Land. They had a case of spiritual amnesia. They seemed to forget all that God had done for them over the many years. In Psalm 107, in fact, we have a record of all that God did for the nation Israel. They had forgotten how God provided food called manna for them every day, right outside the door of their tents. They had forgotten how God had parted the Red Sea for them and directed them with fire by night and a cloud by day. The Israelites simply forgot how God watched over them. Sometimes we get discouraged when we forget the faithfulness of God in the past. But has God not been faithful to you in the past? Yes, He has. Therefore, will He not be faithful to you in the present in whatever conflict you’re facing right now? Again, the answer is yes. And He will be faithful to you in the future. Verse 31 of Psalm 107 says, “Let them praise the Lord for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done for them” (Psalm 107:31 NLT). Remember that. Give God glory for what He’s done because Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He’s been with you in the past. He’s here for you in the present. And He will be with you in the future. FROM THE HEART Let Us Make the Short Time We have Left, Count for ALL of Eternity! IF YOU HAVE BEEN BLESSED THROUGH THIS MINISTRY, THEN WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD PLEASE REMEMBER PROPHECY UPDATE IN YOUR GIVING - WE ARE TRULY, TRULY, THANKFUL FOR YOUR SUPPORT WORTHY OF YOUR SUPPORT? One of the most reliable ways to determine if a ministry is worthy of your financial support is to examine its fruits. If Prophecy Update is keeping you informed, and if that information inspires you, and causes you to draw closer to the Lord, if Prophecy Update equips you with valuable information and knowledge to share with and encourage other believers, and open the eyes of non-believers, and if Prophecy Update keeps you connected to current events relating to Bible Prophecy, then you are partaking of the fruit produced through this ministry. None of this would be possible without the Lords blessings and your support. I believe where the Lord guides, the Lord provides, and most of the time He provides through the willing and generous hearts of believers just like you and me. Humbly Seek Your Support Prophecy Update has no corporate sponsors. This ministry is paid for and prayed for by readers and supporters. Without your support, there would be no Prophecy Update, Please pray about becoming a monthly supporter - thanks! If ever there was a time to invest in God's Kingdom, it's now! What on earth are you doing for Heaven's Sake? "Share in the Blessings and Rewards that will last Forever!" "Folks, it's all beginning to unravel. America is in more danger of falling than at any time in its history. But I believe Bible prophecy predicts this very decline. From this point on, we believers have to get serious. We are going to face discouragement, disillusionment and, most certainly, persecution in the time between now and the Rapture. But don't be discouraged or disillusioned. The coming turmoil will provide us unrivaled opportunities to share the good news of the Gospel. So be ready to share your faith and your hope with those who need Christ. We still have time to reap a great harvest of souls for God's kingdom!" - Hal Lindsey 1) We need your prayers!- We proclaim the Truth of the Word of God and we are under constant spiritual and sometimes even physical attack. 2) We need your encouragement!- We need to hear from you, let us know how the Lord is blessing you through this ministry so that we can share it with others. 3) We need your input! - If you have a prophetic article or story or if there is a news related item we missed, let us know. 4) We need your financial support!- To put it quite simply, without your support, there would be no Prophecy Update. I ask that you would prayerfully consider partnering with us to get the Word out and keep the world informed. Remember, your gift, no matter how small, does make a difference! You will be helping to touch lives, around the world, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, thanks to the internet your generosity carries a global impact! - Thanks! Our Prayer for You- "Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else." 2 Corinthians 9:10-13 If you have been blessed by Prophecy Update and would like to help support this ministry financially. You can make a secure donation online by going to: DONATE NOW Or write us at: Prophecy Update P.O. Box 40516 Bakersfield, CA 93384-0516 We are very pleased to offer all our readers this FREE download on Bible Prophecy from the Evangelical Bible College of Western Australia - Just download and enjoy and be blessed! Feel free to share it with all your friends and family members. Click below to download! "AS YOU SEE THE DAY APPROACHING" If You Died Today, Would You Go To Heaven? Find out, visit: www.thegoodtest.net www.gotquestions.org www.wayofthemaster.com How to know God DID YOU KNOW? You can submit an article, leave a comment or praise report at email: [email protected] Maranatha! (Lord Come Quickly) "On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand, All other ground is sinking sand." "Let Us make the short time we have left count for all eternity!" YBIC-Randy
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