TODAY'S NEWSLETTER...
Black Swan Song – Pete Garcia - https://www.rev310.net/post/black-swan-song
Although this won't be published until the first week of January or so, today's date is Saturday, December 31st, 2022. The last day in what turned out to be a prophetically supercharged year. In paraphrasing my friend Lee Brainard, we have moved out of the times of simply living through prophetic doctrine, to the times of living through prophetic reality. As I shared with him and some others, I have this weird feeling going on in my brain at the present. This feeling isn't so much prophetic, as it is a mixture between nostalgia, dread, and excitement as we cross over into the new year. Nostalgia because the only world and life I've ever known, is coming to its predetermined end. There is a bit of sadness associated with this nostalgia, because, even though this world is fallen and the days have grown evil, there are still memorable and happy events that have happened here. Much of my childhood. My marriage. The birth of my children. High points in my career and ministry. I know these memories won't hold a candle to what is coming next, but it would be disingenuous and even somewhat condescending towards God (IMHO) to say that none of those things matter. I suppose it's just disheartening to see the only world I've ever known, come apart at the seams. There is a certain degree of dread because the world the godless elite are attempting to create, with all their competing nefarious agendas wreaking havoc in our present day. As if marching to the Luciferian drumbeat of Satan himself, they are determined to play gods and act without abandon in ruining every aspect of God's creation. This satanically inspired hubris is storing up the judgment of the most severe kind that God will not delay much longer. Thus, my sense of dread isn't for me, but for them, and for those who follow along blindly into a future day that is equal parts dark and foreboding. It's getting to the point where each new day I half expect to see a sign in the sky that says, “Abandon all hope ye who enter here”! There is also, oddly enough, a growing sense of excitement because of this very dread, because I know each new day, moves us one day closer to the return of our Lord Christ Jesus. The Church (i.e., the corporate, multi-membered, singular, body of Christ that He has been building for the past two thousand years), is not promised wrath, but rather, deliverance from the very time before the wrath even begins (Luke 21:36, 1 Thess. 1:10, 5:9, Col. 3:6-7, Rev. 3:10. etc.). These passages are not speaking to the wrath of eternal hell-fire (for which we are already delivered from in the moment we believe), but the wrath of God upon a Christ-rejecting world through a series of 21+ judgments. Even this promise (the Blessed Hope) has been perverted by those who say the Church must endure certain portions of Daniel's 70th Week to atone for our sins (or some such silliness). They say at a minimum, the Church must be here through the seven Seal Judgments (Revelation 6) because they are not God's wrath, but Satan's. Funny, I don't remember Satan being the one in Revelation 5 who is found worthy to take the sealed scroll and open it. As I said, all of these conflicting positions put my frame of mind in a weird state. Now, going into this I had two thoughts running through my head this morning as I made breakfast. The first, having just watched Britt Gillette's excellently deduced forecast for 2023 the day prior, and now, Barry Scarborough's excellent summation on the end of materialism (see here), I have a deep sense of dread for the days ahead. Again, this is not dread for myself or my family, or even for other believers, but a deep unrelenting sense of dread for the unsuspecting Christ-rejecting world at large. But Pete, remember 2020? Remember Covid? If we are still here, won't we also be impacted by what's coming upon the earth? Perhaps. We are not exempt from trials and tribulations just because we are American Christians. However, the things these godless elite are planning will quickly spell the collapse of America, and subsequently, the rest of the global order. And because America has its fiscal, economic, political, and technological tentacles into almost every nation on the planet, as America goes, so goes the world. America's collapse would drag the entire global economy down. To do so would run the risk of 'running out of normal,' as the world is cast headfirst into a global depression and chaos the likes of which would make the Great Depression and World War II seem like a picnic. Remember what Jesus said regarding the time just before His return: And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed. Luke 17:26-30 Notice Jesus doesn't focus on global wickedness, although that certainly marked the days of Noah. Notice also He doesn't hone in on the gross immorality of Sodom and Gomorrah of Lot's day, although they were destroyed for being exceedingly wicked cities. Jesus focuses on the seeming normalcy of those times and how before the wrath, life was one way, and it seemed to be the way it would always be...until that final moment when the door is closed, and Lot (and family) are taken out of the way. Then, sudden and calamitous judgment fell upon them. Given the speed and severity at which things are progressing, if we remain too much longer, we will be inside of the territorial waters of the 70th Week itself. My thoughts are, God is going to allow the Church (the true remnant Church) to go right up to the edge, not to punish us, but because He is long-suffering and is giving mankind every last opportunity to get saved before this dispensation comes to its ruinous conclusion. But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:8-9 Nevertheless, if we are still here, we might have to live through some of this, however, let us never forget that Christ still has us firmly in the palm of His hands, and not a hair on our heads can be harmed unless He allows it (John 10:28-29). If He allows us to endure trials, it will ultimately work for both His glory and blessings toward us. So whether we go up this year, or we remain, we need not fear what comes our way. That is not to diminish any of the sufferings some of you may be enduring presently, which I know is not pleasant. But whatever lies in our path, the good and the bad, let us count it all joy. My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. James 1:2-4 I suppose the real question we need to sincerely ask ourselves is, are we living in the last days or not? To a lesser extent, are we living in the last days of America? Does the former presume the latter? If the answer is yes to the first question, what do we do with this information? If we truly believed it, are we living like it? The second question seems like we are actually living through it. At the rate that we are going, we may be collapsing in months rather than decades. We know that there is no superpower nation like the United States (as we are now) mentioned anywhere in Bible prophecy. Our absence has led many to believe that something disastrous happens to the US before the end to mark our noticeable absence. If you believe the answer is no, then what do we do with abundant evidence piling up around us that a 'Great Reset' is upon us? How do you explain the herculean efforts by democrats, globalists, and technocrats to rid the West of its Judeo-Christian roots? How do you explain the intentional suicide of western civilization through the destruction of the family, the church, and the civil government? Let me put that another way. If replacing our Judeo-Christian model isn't the intent, then why are all three of the aforementioned under relentless and savage attacks? Furthermore, if you don’t think we are in the last days, at the rate and direction this world is currently heading, what kind of world will your children inherit? A freer world, or a more dystopic one? I recently watched a Glenn Beck program (H/T Jim P) where he interviewed Whitney Webb, who is an incredibly intelligent and amazing researcher non-Christian researcher. I mention her belief status not to slight her findings, but to point out the sad state of affairs that even as our pulpits are increasingly choosing to remain silent, even non-Christians are speaking out on the proposed end state these godless elite are planning for us. Notwithstanding, both Glenn and Whitney are operating from a flawed understanding of how events will actually unfold because they don't have a proper understanding of biblical eschatology. Mormonism (for which Glenn is) has a much more Post-Tribulation view of the last days, while Whitney doesn't actually state what she thinks will happen, but as a non-believer, her understanding will undoubtedly come from a human perspective. Either way, both of their understandings are filled with a great deal of uncertainty and vagueness because they can't understand what God's word actually teaches. The Bible teaches that the world will continue to deteriorate morally, politically, religiously, and economically, ultimately arriving at a point of global regionalism after a great crisis. This regionalism will then be co-opted into a singular one-world government run by one man, the Antichrist. He will then gain iron-fisted control over the entire planet until he is ultimately destroyed by Christ Himself at the Second Coming. Unsinkable The RMS Titanic was, based on the historical commentary of the day, a marvel of human ingenuity and progress heralding a new dawn of human achievement. The Titanic (and its two sister ships- the Olympic and Britannic) were the new British line of White Star luxury liners which were launched between 1910 to 1914. While Titanic received the bulk of the attention (for obvious reasons), the other two also lived (relatively speaking) short life spans given the money and effort that went into building them. The Britannic served as a hospital ship during World War 1 but struck a mine in 1916 and sank in the Aegean Sea. The Olympic, the first of the three White Star liners launched in 1910, was sold for scrap metal by 1935. As it turned out, both tragedy and modernization befell these behemoths of man's supposed greatness. Somewhere in this musing, I was reminded of the two-hour sinking of the RMS Titanic. in that, as the evacuation of women and children ensued, the band began playing "Nearer God to Thee" before the ship capsized. I don't know how true that is, but I guarantee you people were, in their final moments before being plunged into the dark, icy waters of the North Atlantic, getting reacquainted with God. It is, after all, our naturally intended state of being. We were created to worship God, and that includes prayer, fellowship (walking with), and singing praises to our Creator. It would seem, given the opportunity, the most natural thing to do in anyone's final moments would be to make amends with the Almighty. It also reminded me very much of how the passengers must have felt before they set sail. Most were sailing under the presumed confidence in the media-spun hype of the day that Titanic was unsinkable due to the fifteen water-tight bulkhead compartments built into its hull. However, the historical review of its maiden voyage highlighted a series of easily preventable issues that could have averted disaster. From the largely inexperienced crew who had not trained properly on passenger evacuation drills to the ship's leadership who had both ignored and downplayed earlier warnings about the icy conditions on their route of travel. As it were, error after error compounded in a cascading series of bad decisions. The over-preoccupation of various crewmen with mundane tasks also added to the general lack of awareness of the dangers ahead. Lastly, the ship was traveling too fast at night (at 24 mph) through 'iceberg alley' to safely navigate the dangerous waters. Meanwhile, the passengers onboard were going about their lives without a care in the world. And then disaster struck. For most, the moment it happened, didn't even realize the magnitude of the situation. The mere glancing off the iceberg failed to expose the 300-foot gash under the waterline of the dark waters. When reality finally sank in, the passengers' priorities radically changed. Before the iceberg, they may have been sleeping comfortably in their cabins or deciding what book to read, or what meal to have. They may have been drinking and dancing. However, after it struck, it went straight into confusion, chaos, and then survival mode. For all the things that did go wrong that night, at least when the Titanic sank back in 1912, there was still a sense of moral civility amongst the population. Women and children were loaded first into the lifeboats first ahead of the men. I don't think there will be much civility if any, once the USS America hits the iceberg of the Rapture of the Church in the very near future. It will be every man for himself. Conclusion The further we move into the 21st century, the closer we draw towards the two thousandth anniversary of our Lord's death, burial, and resurrection. While debate still ensues amongst our great theologians regarding the exact year of the event (i.e., 29-33AD) it seems our enemy has honed in on the year 2030 as 'the year' to introduce the Great Reset. Whether that year pans out to be the 'great year' or not, remains to be seen. Setting the reality of Bible prophecy aside for the moment, it seems we have so many compounding and existential threats coming at us, there is absolutely no way to avoid hitting them. In other words, it is not just one iceberg, but a wall of them, with each capable of sinking our unsinkable ship. However, what I find interesting, is that while even our best and brightest theologians are struggling over the finer points of the calendars, they (the godless elite) are moving heaven and earth to aggressively push this agenda to meet this year. They are breaking every law, breaking every cultural norm, destroying nations left and right, and killing tens of thousands to meet this deadline as if the hounds of hell themselves were biting at their heels. In the process of racing toward this globalist utopia, they are not heeding the warnings God is giving them. They are racing too fast into the icy waters of the dark unknown, all the while, those onboard the unsinkable new world order are busy going about their daily lives without a thought or care as to what might happen. Thus, where America is in the near future brings something else to mind. A "black swan" event and the "swan song" both serve as metaphors for either a cataclysm or the finality of the end. Black swans are generally understood to be an unseen or unpredictable event of cataclysmic importance. The rapture of the church will be the ultimate black swan event in the world. It won't be a black swan moment (thief in the night) to the watching remnant church, but to everyone else, it will catch them completely off guard (1 Thess. 5:1-9). Conversely, the "swan song" speaks to a final act or pronouncement before one's death. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the swan song historically traces its roots as far back as the Roman poet Juvenal but is believed that a swan only sings one beautiful song in its life, and that is right before death. I don't think America has one beautiful song left in her lungs. The remnant church reaching out to the world either through missions or the internet might be that, but most of American Christendom seems completely oblivious to what is happening in the world. They are either been blindly led by the misguided kingdom now dominionism of a triumphal church or is buried neck deep in dead orthodoxy put to sleep by decades of Protestantism and now woke evangelicalism. Either way, the bulk of what is called Christian, is in name only and not in true, biblical Christianity. From Britt Gillette's article "How Close is the Rapture of the Church?" In his blog post, “Barna: Most Americans Create a Customized Worldview,” Ken Ham states, “Seven out of 10 U.S. adults call themselves ‘Christians’ and yet only 6 in 100 (6%) actually have a biblical worldview.” He then went on to cite statistics from a recent Ligonier Ministries survey. Among its findings:
Regardless of the earth dwellers' mental and emotional status, judgment is coming. The iceberg of the Tribulation (Daniel's 70th Week) is out there in the darkness, awaiting contact with a world largely oblivious to the dangers. True, there are still a few brave watchmen and pastors speaking out, but the voices are largely being drowned out by the music, commotion, and distractions of this life. But as troubling as that may all be, one of the final indicators of the nearness of the Rapture of the Church, is this very thing- the normalcy of a fallen world oblivious to what is coming. This is what marks the days of Noah and Lot. As to the sad state of affairs for Christendom at the end of this dispensation, remember Jesus' question. And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” Luke 18:8 Airstrikes, Political Chaos, And The Iron Curtain Coming Down – By Amir Tsarfati - https://harbingersdaily.com/worldview-with-amir-tsarfati-airstrikes-political-chaos-and-the-iron-curtain-coming-down/ Israeli Airstrike on Damascus When I was awakened at 1:30 AM on Monday morning to the sound of five F-16s taking off from nearby Ramat David Airbase, I was pretty sure I knew where they were going. Sure enough, I later saw that the Israeli Air Force (IAF) had struck the Damascus International Airport where they put two runways temporarily out of commission and hit a weapons cache that had arrived from Iran. The attack also hit a holy site in the suburbs of the capital city where more weapons were being stored. Two Syrian soldiers were killed and two more were wounded. For more information about this attack, watch my Breaking News Update from Monday. UN General Assembly Passes Another Resolution Against Israel The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) passed another of its meaningless resolutions requesting the International Court of Justice to weigh in on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Israeli “annexation”, and the “legal status of the occupation.” Promoted by the Palestinians, this is the 141st resolution against Israel that has come out of the UNGA just since 2015. Sadly for the rest of the globe, they has fallen way behind when it comes to UNGA condemnation, only managing to muster 68 negative resolutions worldwide in the same timespan. The nation of Israel promised to give the resolution the attention that it deserves, then everyone went out for falafel. Main Obstacle for Peace Between Israel and Saudi Arabia is the Biden Administration The surprising relationship between Israel and Saudi Arabia keeps growing. But there is an unlikely impediment to a peace deal being signed between the two nations. It’s the Biden administration. The Saudis recognize the closeness between Israel and the US, and they simply don’t trust an administration that was so eager to cut a deal with Iran. However, they also recognize that Israel is the one nation that is as concerned about a nuclear Iran as they are. It will be interesting to see if newly installed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is able to forge a peace agreement with this former enemy. Remember, prophetically speaking, Sheba and Dedan (Saudi Arabia) will not fight against Israel, but will instead protest the attacks on the nation. Chief Rabbi of Moscow Who Fled Russia Suggests Other Jews Do the Same Exiled Chief Rabbi of Moscow, Pinchas Goldschmidt, is encouraging Russia’s 165,000 Jews to flee the country while they still can. Russian Jews in the Tsarist and Stalinist eras were often made the scapegoats during difficult times, and the rabbi sees the real potential of this happening again. “We’re seeing rising antisemitism while Russia is going back to a new kind of Soviet Union, and step by step the iron curtain is coming down again,” Goldschmidt said. “This is why I believe the best option for Russian Jews is to leave.” Deadly Ukrainian Strike on Russian Troops Blamed on Cell Phone Usage A vocational college building that had been converted to a temporary barracks for Russian soldiers in Makiivka in the Donetsk region was hit by four rockets on New Years Day. The resulting detonation of the ammunition stored in the basement caused the building to be demolished. Russia puts their death toll at 89, while Ukraine says it is closer to 600. The truth is likely somewhere in the middle. Russian officials blamed the unauthorized usage of cell phones by its troops which allowed the Ukrainian military to target the building. Russia’s War on Ukrainian Civilians Ukrainian officials report that Russia launched a cruise missile attack on civilian areas of Kyiv on New Year’s Eve. At least one person was killed in the barrage. Earlier that same day, Russian President Vladimir Putin awarded the Order of St. George medal to General Sergei Surovikin, which is the nation’s highest purely military decoration. Obviously, Putin is happy with the general’s civilian-oriented tactics aimed at destroying Ukraine’s infrastructure, especially its electrical grid. UK to put IRGC on Terrorist List The United Kingdom is poised to place Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on its list of terrorist organizations within weeks. The move comes as the result of credible evidence that the IRGC intended to kidnap or assassinate British citizens or UK-based civilians who they claim were stirring up the protests in Iran. “We have seen at least 10 such potential threats since January [2022] alone,” said MI5 Director Ken McCallum. Iran Condemns Another Protestor Mehdi Bahman, a well-known author and illustrator, was sentenced to death by the Iranian regime on Monday. He was arrested in October, after the Iranian protests had begun, ostensibly for espionage after he gave an interview critical of the government to an Israeli news station back in April. He is reportedly being taken to Tehran’s notoriously violent Evin Prison to await his execution. Political Chaos in Washington, D.C. It’s been more than a century since the US has seen this kind of political chaos in Washington, D.C., as the House of Representatives failed six times to elect a Speaker. In an internal party battle, there are 20 Republican congressmen refusing to cast their votes for the mainstream GOP candidate House Republican Conference leader Kevin McCarthy. Tempers are flaring and words are flying. Nebraska GOP congressman Don Bacon dubbed the holdouts the “Taliban 20”, while Republican congressman from Arizona, Andy Biggs, responded in a tweet his desire to “break up the DC cartel.” Meanwhile, Democrats in the House chamber cheered and chanted with every failed vote. Major Storm Hitting California California has declared a state of emergency as a deadly storm has begun lashing the state. Called a “bomb cyclone” by meteorologists, its winds are expected to gust at 50 to 60 mph, likely knocking down trees and powerlines. Rainfall is expected to reach 3 to 8 inches in lower areas, while snowfall in the Sierra Nevadas will be measured in feet. Between D.C. and California, one has to wonder whether God is trying to get someone’s attention in America? COVID Testing Requirements Expand for Travelers from China As the number of COVID cases in China continues to grow exponentially, more countries are imposing testing and restrictions upon travelers from the country. The nations that now have some sort of requirement for travel from China include Italy, US, UK, France, Spain, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, India, Malaysia, Israel, Qatar, and Morocco. The final country on the list, Morocco, is the first to take the extreme step of banning all travelers originating in China from entering its borders. Prophecy Update Videos Must Watch Videos!
11 Signs That The Economic “Tipping Point” That Everyone Has Been Waiting For Has Now Arrived - by Michael Snyder - http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/11-signs-that-the-economic-tipping-point-that-everyone-has-been-waiting-for-has-now-arrived/ How bad do things have to get before people start realizing that we are in the midst of a full-blown economic crisis? The “experts” on television are endlessly debating about whether or not we are going to have a “recession” this year, and meanwhile economic activity is imploding all around us. The number of homes being sold in this country each month has already fallen by a third. The number of job cuts in November was 417 percent higher than it was during the same month a year earlier, and at this point even Amazon is laying off thousands of workers. The Federal Reserve has declared war on inflation, but prices continue to spiral out of control. In fact, vegetables are 80 percent more expensive now than they were 12 months ago. Meanwhile, the financial markets continue to plunge. A third of the value of the Nasdaq has already been wiped out, and more than two-thirds of the value of all cryptocurrencies is already gone. After everything that has already transpired, everyone should be able to clearly understand what is happening. So many people have been waiting for an economic nightmare to come, but the truth is that it is already here. The following are 11 signs that the economic “tipping point” that everyone has been waiting for has now arrived… #1 U.S. manufacturing is declining at the fastest pace that we have seen since the early days of the COVID pandemic… The S&P Global U.S. Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) fell at the fastest rate since May 2020 in December, a continuing sign that the manufacturing sector is on the decline, S&P Global reported Tuesday. The U.S. Manufacturing PMI posted a 46.2 in December, down from 47.7 in November and solidly below 50, which signals that the sector is contracting, according to S&P Global. Production levels contracted in back-to-back months, with new sales plummeting at the end of December at the fastest pace since 2007, as companies cited weakening demand amid “economic uncertainty” and inflation weighing on customers. #2 U.S. services PMI has now fallen for sixth months in a row. #3 We just witnessed the largest one day drop in the Baltic Dry Index since 1984… The Baltic Exchange’s dry bulk sea freight index crashed on Tuesday in the worst decline on record, sinking on prospects of a global recession. Baltic Dry Good Index is a measure of global shipping and economic health. The overall index, which tracks rates for capesize, panamax, and supramax shipping vessels carrying dry bulk commodities, plunged 17.5% to $1,250, the most significant daily decline since 1984. #4 Thanks to rapidly falling imports, we just witnessed the largest monthly decline in the trade deficit since the last financial crisis… According to the BEA, the November trade deficit narrowed to $61.5b from $77.8b in prior month, coming in below the median estimate of $63.0BN (and just barely missing the top end of the range of $61.3BN to $80.5BN from 42 economists). Remarkably, the 20% one-month decline in the deficit was the single biggest drop in the US trade deficit on a percentage basis going back to the global financial crisis! #5 In 2022, U.S. auto sales were the lowest that we have seen for a full year in more than a decade… Industrywide, U.S. auto sales totaled 13.7 million vehicles in 2022, the lowest figure since 2011 and an 8% decrease from the prior year, according to the research firm Wards Intelligence. Sales had topped 17 million vehicles for five straight years before the Covid-19 pandemic struck in 2020, unleashing supply-chain problems that have bogged down deliveries ever since. #6 The average rate on a 30 year fixed-rate mortgage is more than twice as high as it was this time last year… Mortgage rates inched up again last week, after a slight increase the week before interrupted six straight weeks of falling rates. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.48% in the week ending January 5, up from 6.42% the week before, according to Freddie Mac. A year ago, the 30-year fixed rate was 3.22%. #7 According to CNN, sales of apartments in Manhattan were 28.5 percent lower in the fourth quarter of 2022 than they were in the fourth quarter of 2021… Higher rates and still-high housing prices cooled demand at the end of last year, causing sales to tumble. Sales dropped 28.5% in the fourth quarter compared to the fourth quarter of 2021. #8 Overall, existing home sales in the United States have fallen for 10 months in a row and are now down by more than a third since January 2022. #9 Bed Bath & Beyond is warning that the company is literally on the verge of declaring bankruptcy… Bed Bath & Beyond warned Thursday it’s running out of cash and is considering bankruptcy. The retailer, citing worse-than-expected sales, issued a “going concern” warning that in the upcoming months it likely will not have the cash to cover expenses, such as lease agreements or payments to suppliers. Bed Bath said it is exploring financial options, such as restructuring, seeking additional capital or selling assets, in addition to a potential bankruptcy. #10 It is being reported that Amazon has decided to lay off approximately 18,000 employees… Amazon.com Inc. is laying off more than 18,000 employees — the biggest reduction in its history — in the latest sign that a tech-industry slump is deepening. #11 Overall, the tech industry has already laid off more than 150,000 workers over the last year. Many more American workers will lose their jobs as economic activity slows down even more throughout 2023. So if you currently have a good job that you value, try to cling to it as hard as you can. The times that we are moving into are going to look completely different from the times that we have enjoyed over the past decade. Our leaders were able to keep the party going for a long time by absolutely flooding the system with money, but now they have lost control. We are literally careening toward disaster, but most Americans still don’t understand what is taking place. Most Americans just assume that those in authority know exactly what they are doing and that a “return to normal” is inevitable. I wish that was true, because the ride into the economic abyss that we are facing is not going to be fun. Strongholds Used Against Us - Nathele Graham - [email protected] Bad choices can easily grow into bad habits. Bad habits then become a stronghold. In a war, a stronghold is a fortress where weapons are stored. They can be a good thing if the stronghold is your arsenal against the enemy, but when the enemy finds a stronghold in you, that’s another story. When you allow a bad habit to take over your life, the enemy will use that to defeat you. You will beat yourself up and feel as if you’ve let yourself and God down. This can lead you to live a defeated life, rather than a joyful life in the Lord. Strongholds are used by the enemy to make a Christian turn from God. As we begin a new year, you might want to start it out right by examining your life to see if the enemy has a hold on any part of your it, and resolve to draw nearer to God. Talk to God and ask Him to guide you through each day. Then, listen for His guidance, making sure you hear His voice guiding you. God wants you to put the world behind and walk the strait path that leads to life that glorifies God. Satan will only lead you on the path of destruction. “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Matthew 7:13-14. We can choose which path to follow, but you can never go wrong if you follow the path that leads to God and away from the path of destruction. The path of destruction begins with a thought. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus makes it clear that God looks at sin very differently than humans do. God wrote the Law of Moses, and there were many things set out as sin, but they fall short of how God truly sees sin. “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:” Matthew 5:27. This is one of the Ten Commandment “Neither shalt thou commit adultery.” Deuteronomy 5:18. Adultery is a sin. God wants us to respect marriage, and not let lust of the flesh become a stronghold for the enemy to use to destroy a marriage. Jesus then told the crowd what God’s standards are. “But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” Matthew 5:28. You see, the sin of adultery goes beyond the physical act. It begins with a thought. In order to keep from allowing the enemy to build a stronghold in your life, take your thoughts captive. Make a special effort to turn your thoughts away from worldly thoughts and keep them centered on Godly things. “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds:) Casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-6. Satan and his minions use strongholds to keep you under the bondage of sin. Lust is carnal in nature, and begins with a thought. Your neighbor gets a new car, and you lust after it. Your neighbor has a beautiful wife, and you lust after her. Anything someone else has that you want is lust. Be content with what you have, and be happy the neighbor can afford that new car, and its payments, insurance, upkeep, etc. “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren.” James 1:114-16. Take your thoughts captive, and let God rule your heart. The way to fight against the enemy is to walk close to God. Study Scripture, and apply it to your life. Strongholds are things that hinder our walk with the Lord. Fear is also a stronghold. When we’re afraid, it’s a normal reaction to do the wrong thing. Think of a deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming car. They usually freeze. There’s no doubt that there are many things happening in the world that put fear in our hearts. It’s easy to be afraid when all you hear is bad news, talk of war, murders, sexual depravity, children thinking they are animals, dark spiritual forces breaking through the barrier, plagues, and so much more. Remember, nothing happens that God hasn’t warned us about in prophecy. Instead of living in fear, go to Scripture and take comfort in knowing that God is always with us. If all we hear is the bad news, we miss out on the good news. There is good news. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8. Now that is good news. God has foreseen everything and nothing surprises Him. He has given us Scripture to comfort and guide us. “Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.” Isaiah 46:10. Most people have plenty of time to listen to mainstream media then feel fear and anger at what they hear. Instead of spending time with God, in prayer or Bible study, strongholds of fear and anger are built by listening to the world. You might spend an hour on Sunday sitting in a pew, but how many hours a week do you spend listening to the problems of the world as told by the evening news? Jesus gave His disciples some pretty tough news, and they felt fear at what was going to happen. He encouraged them, and we need to take His words to heart. “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33. When things get tough, remind yourself of that truth. Prophecy is a very neglected part of Bible study, and sadly, most pastors don’t talk about it at all. A huge part of Scripture is prophecy, so if God didn’t want us to know what’s coming, He wouldn’t have put it into Scripture. I can tell you that whenever I begin to feel fearful, I turn to prophecy and see that no matter how bad the world seems, God is still sovereign. There is nothing that surprises Him and, in the end, He wins. I want to stick with the winning side. As I watch the world spiraling down the road to destruction, I can look to prophecy and see that God had foretold of these times of trouble. The fact is we are edging very close to the Rapture and the end of time. Many centuries before Christ was born, a man named Daniel was given a prophecy summarizing what to look for as signs of the times. The Pharisees suffered from the stronghold of pride and were blinded by that pride; they failed to recognized their Messiah. Daniel’s prophecy goes on to talk of the end of days. Jesus expanded upon what Daniel had said, and The Revelation tells even more. An understanding of prophecy will help to ease your fear of the future. “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: knowing this first that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.” 2 Peter 1:19-20. Peter knew that prophecy is a sure way of God telling us what’s to come, and by seeing past prophecy fulfilled, we can be sure remaining prophecy will also be fulfilled. Another way that strongholds can be built in us, is to deny the truth of Scripture. If you don’t believe the truth of what exactly happened prior to the judgment of Noah’s Flood, you won’t understand what Jesus meant when He likened the end of days to the time of Noah. Fallen angels were messing with the genetic makeup of all of God’s creation, and today there is genetic tampering happening with our food, and our own genetic structure. In Sodom and Gomorrah, sexual perversion was rampant…and so it is today. We cannot change the outcome, but we can stand up for God’s truth today. Christians seem to be easily silenced. We send our children to public schools where they should be learning reading, writing, and arithmetic. Instead, they’re learning that boys can be girls and if they think they are a dog, then they are a dog. They are also being taught how to hide their choices from parents. This isn’t something parents should be silent about. If every Christian parent would homeschool their children, the public schools would pay attention. “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6. The lie of evolution is a secular idea that only brings evil. Read the first chapter of Romans in order to understand why homosexuality is on the rise. Break strongholds by studying Scripture and believing God. Most Christians are mixed up about the supernatural. We say we believe in a supernatural God, and the truth of Scripture. We say we believe the Holy Spirit inspired the men who held the pen to write God’s truth. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17. Many people give lip service to that truth, then turn around and choose which part of Scripture to believe and which part of Scripture to decide isn’t exactly what God meant, then change it to make life easier. That’s where much trouble comes from. In Genesis chapter 6 God told us that fallen angels mated with human women, creating the Nephilim and leading to the judgment of the flood. Many Christians think God sent the flood because Cain’s daughters married Seth’s sons. They just want to believe the good side of the supernatural while denying the evil. This denial is also a stronghold that Satan (the most-evil creature) uses to work his evil. If we only believe the good part of the supernatural, we don’t recognize that demons are real and do possess people. Christians need to keep their faith strong and stand firm on God’s truth in order to keep ourselves away from the ways of the world. The Apostle Paul was well aware of the spiritual battle and how to fight the enemy. Strongholds have to be destroyed in us individually and blinders have to be taken off so we understand all of God’s truth. Feeling overwhelmed by the evil we see in the world is another stronghold Satan uses against us. If we forget to study Scripture, we will miss the part about the spiritual battle and how to fight. “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.” Ephesians 6:10. If we aren’t strong in the Lord, we have given the power to Satan to destroy our faith. What do we do? “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in in high places.” Ephesians 6:11-12. Don’t deny supernatural evil by ignoring it. It’s real, but has no power that is superior to God. Be strong in the Lord and fight the spiritual battle with spiritual weapons. “Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” Ephesians 6:13. Study the rest of Ephesians chapter 6 to understand the armor of God. We are in a battle, and only God will win. Examine your life and your attitude to discover the strongholds you need to get rid of. When the enemy uses a stronghold against you, remember to turn to God. “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” 1 John 4:4. God bless you all, Nathele Graham [email protected] [email protected] Recommended prophecy sites: www.raptureready.com www.prophecyupdate.com www.raptureforums.com 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: Bringing the outhouse in-house - Bill Wilson – www.dailyjot.com The Farm in Northeastern Ohio was handed down from generation to generation of Wilsons beginning around 1818. It took a rugged bunch to carve out a working farm in what was then the western part of this new nation. Cold and snow filled winters, low land, Indians, the lack of infrastructure were all elements of adversity and part of the natural selection process that allowed only the strong and wise to survive. In fact, these were the very challenges that fostered overcomers and that action alone prospered skill, work ethic, invention, community, and strengthened faith in God resulting in building the greatest nation in modern history. It is a small wonder why indoor plumbing took us over 135 years to achieve. We had several shallow wells on the farm that were fed by something of an underground water source. If one went dry, we carried water from another until it filled up again. They were all alike except for the one in the milk house, which was drilled probably in the 1950s. The wells consisted of a well-rounded hole in the ground of about four feet in diameter, dug down about 15 feet and lined with stone from the fields—probably gathered when earlier Wilsons were clearing them for farming. We used the one closest to the house for our water, unless of course, it went dry, then we would carry water. It was on this well that the indoor plumbing was hooked sometime before I was born, or was very little. Dad was a proud Welshman. He would buy a new Buick or a truckload of horses with cash, but didn’t want to spend the money on permits, inspectors, or, quite frankly on a septic tank or bathroom fixtures. He waited for years to gather up hand me downs from others who replaced theirs with new and usable fixtures. And when all the parts were assembled, he arranged a party to install them in the dark of night so the county inspectors couldn’t detect it. They dug the hole for the septic tank and hit rock, so the septic tank didn’t go as far into the ground as it should have. The sewer line was made of clay sewer pipes emptying into the ditch about 40 yards away, which often backed up because the septic tank wasn’t low enough. Pipes connected on the Northwest side of the house—where the winter wind coming off Lake Erie hit the hardest. Inevitably, the pipes would freeze up in the winter time and Dad would crawl under the sink and light newspapers to thaw out the water lines. Sometimes we washed dishes in the bathtub. Every winter a box of matches was left under the sink. This went on for decades until my wife Chris and I insulated the pipes. The bathroom was built in the pantry off the kitchen. It, too, had matches. My best advice is to never put a bathroom opening into a kitchen. But it was indoor plumbing and the outhouse needed only to be used as an emergency. The Wilsons had finally arrived in the 20th Century! Proverbs 5:18 says, “Let your fountain be blessed; and rejoice with the wife of your youth.” While it wasn’t much, Mom and Dad rejoiced over that indoor fountain for it was an answer to prayer and longsuffering. Daily Devotion: The Blessing of Serving - by Jasel Mena – www.harvest.org And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ —Acts 20:35 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/the-blessing-of-serving/ - Listen When you were a kid and your birthday or Christmas was approaching, you mostly thought about the gifts you would get. But as you got older, you started thinking less about what you would get and more about what you would give. Your outlook changes because you mature. And you discover there is joy in giving. In the same way, when we first become Christians, we want all that God had for us, and so we should. We go to church to learn, to take in, and that is great. But as the years pass, we realize that God wants to work through us as well. As a result, we want to give more than receive. Of course, we must always take in before we can give out. But at the same time, we discover the joy of giving, the joy of serving. The beautiful fringe benefit is that when we give, the Lord gives back to us. Jesus said, “Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back” (Luke 6:38 NLT). Why not commit yourself afresh to this blessed responsibility and privilege? Have you lived your life well so far? Or are you squandering it in an elusive search for happiness and forgetting God in the process? Instead of finding happiness, maybe you’re finding misery. That’s because we find true happiness in knowing God through Jesus Christ. We don’t find it in anything on this earth. We will find the true happiness that we seek in a relationship with God. The happy life is the life with God. So don’t settle for some cheap imitation this world offers. Pursue the real thing. 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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