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IN TODAY'S NEWSLETTER...
Easter, Firstfruits, and the Roman Catholic Church - By Randy Nettles - https://www.raptureready.com/2021/03/26/easter-firstfruits-and-the-roman-catholic-church-by-randy-nettles/
In the book of Leviticus, the Lord spoke to Moses regarding the 7 annual Feasts of the Lord that the children of Israel were to observe when they entered the Promised Land. The 3rd Feast is known as the Feast of Firstfruits. The Lord told Moses, “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: When you come into the land which I give to you, and reap its harvest, then you shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest to the priest. He shall wave the sheaf before the Lord, to be accepted on your behalf; on the day after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it” (Leviticus 23:10-11). Although it’s not obvious from this passage in Leviticus, the Lord was referring to the Sabbath (Saturday) that comes after the Passover, which is the 1st Feast of the Lord. Passover always occurs on the 14th day of the first month of Nisan (Leviticus 23:5) and can fall on different days of the week. The Feast of Firstfruits is always on the first Sunday following Passover. The 2nd Feast of the Lord, Unleavened Bread, starts the day after Passover on the 15th of Nisan (Leviticus 23:6) and lasts for 7 days. Firstfruits occurs within the 7 days (Nisan 15-21) of Unleavened Bread. Manna from Heaven and the Historical Fulfillment of the Feast of Firstfruits Throughout the 40 years that Israel wandered in the desert, God provided supernatural food, manna (a wafer-like bread substance) to feed the growing nation. The Bible records that after these 40 years, Joshua and the Hebrew people crossed over the Jordan River on the 10th day of the first month (Abib or Nisan) and kept the Passover on the 14th day of Nisan. The next day, on the 15th of Nisan, the Jews ate of the old corn of the land. The next day, the 16th day of Nisan, was the last day in which God provided the supernatural manna as food. The day following was the 17th day of Nisan, the Feast of Firstfruits, and with no more manna available, the people began to eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year – the firstfruits of the Promised Land (Joshua 5:10-12). This historical event for the nation and people of Israel was the prototype for the ultimate fulfillment of Firstfruits by Jesus Himself. The True Manna from Heaven and the Spiritual Fulfillment of the Feast of Firstfruits Jesus spoke of this manna in the 6th chapter of John, where he described it as “bread from heaven.” The subject was brought up after the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000 men (not including women and children) when Jesus graciously translated 5 loaves of bread and 2 small fish (total of 7 food items) into enough food to feed the huge crowd that had gathered to hear him teach. The next day, the people sought him out again, and Jesus told them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him” (John 6: 26-27). The people then asked Jesus, “What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?” They believed their salvation depended on works. Jesus responded with some of the greatest words of truth ever spoken, “This is the work of God, that you believe on him whom He has sent” (John 6:29). The people didn’t understand this truth and asked him to perform a sign (as Jews do) so they could see it and then believe in him. “Therefore they said to Him, What sign will You perform then, that we may see it and believe You? What work will You do? Our fathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat” (John 6:30-31). Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world” (John 6:32-33). The people then asked Jesus to give them this bread. Jesus then explained to them the mystery of how to acquire this bread for themselves. And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. He then explained to them the difference between the two mannas from heaven. “This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world” (John 6:50-51). The Jews could not understand this symbolism and wondered how could this man give his flesh for them to eat. Jesus then taught about salvation and the resurrection for those who would believe in Him. “Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:54). This resurrection of the dead ‘in Christ” began on the Feast of the Lord, known as Firstfruits, when Jesus and many Old Testament saints were raised from the dead. This supernatural event/sign is known as Resurrection Sunday (now called Easter). “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that died” (1 Corinthians 15:20). The second stage of the resurrection of the dead in Christ will occur at the Rapture. Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of the Feast of Firstfruits. Calendars of the Past and Present Before we review dates and years for historical events of the Bible, we need to briefly look at a few calendars that have been used throughout history. The Jewish calendar was mostly a lunar/solar calendar. The calendar year always started on the first day of the first month when the crescent moon was first sighted in early spring. Periodically (every 2 or 3 years), a leap month of 30 days would be added so it would align with the solar calendar and the Feast days would occur in their appropriate seasons. In ancient times, this intercalary month was added by direct observation of the conditions of the weather, crops, and livestock. If these were not advanced enough to be considered “spring,” then the religious leaders would add an extra month into the calendar at the end of the year. This would accomplish the Torah’s rule that the Passover should always occur in the spring. The ancient Hebrews could look up into the sky at the moon and confirm when certain Feasts of the Lord were to occur in alignment with the seasons. For example, Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread occurred during the first full moon of spring, unless an intercalary month was added, and then it would occur on the second full moon of spring. The Feast of Trumpets was celebrated during the new moon of fall, and the Feast of Tabernacles occurred during the full moon of fall. In the 12th century, the calculation of the beginning of a new calendar month by actual sightings of the crescent moon had been fully replaced by the mathematical approximation of the moment the crescent moon begins to appear (Molad) rather than actual sightings. This calendar, with its leap years, is still in use today for religious convocations. During the time of Jesus, the three spring Feasts of the Lord were basically merged into one Feast. Nisan 14 was called Preparation Day (as mentioned in the Gospels), and Nisan 15-21 was referred to as the Feast of Passover. Of course, according to the Bible, Nissan 15-21 is the 7 days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The Feast of Firstfruits was merely incorporated into Passover. Even today, the Jews start their Passover on Nisan 15. This year they say Passover begins on March 27, 2021, and ends on Sunday, April 4, 2021. The Roman calendar was one of the first calendars used throughout the Roman Empire and Middle East. It was derived from many older calendar systems, which were lunar calendars that followed the phases of the moon. This calendar was not very accurate and had to be revised constantly. The Julian calendar was introduced by Julius Caesar in 45 BC (or BCE) and replaced the Roman calendar in 46 BC. This was a solar calendar based entirely on Earth’s revolutions around the sun. The Julian calendar has 365 days and 12 months. The Julian calendar used a leap year every 4 years. The yearly calendar averaged 365.25 days per year. Eventually, the calendar and religious holidays like Easter were slowly getting out of sync with the equinoxes and solstices. In Ad 525, a monk named Dionysius Exiguus of Scythia Minor introduced the A.D./Anno Domini (Latin for in the year of our Lord) system for reckoning of years, counting the years since the birth of Christ. He set the date at A.D. 1, but was off by about 5 years, as Jesus’ birth was in either 4 BC or 5 BC. The addition of the B.C./Before Christ component came two centuries after Dionysius, by the Venerable Bede of Northumbria in AD 731. Bede was not aware of the number 0, so he used 1 BC as the year before A.D. 1. The B.C/A.D. system gained in popularity in the 9th century during the Holy Roman Empire. The Emperor Charlemagne adopted the system for dating activities and events throughout Europe. By the 15th century, all of Western Europe had adopted the system. This dating method was an integral part of the Gregorian calendar when it was introduced in the 16th century. The Gregorian calendar replaced the Julian calendar, for it was more efficient and kept the religious holidays in sync with the equinoxes and solstices. This calendar also has a leap day added every fourth year but skips some pre-determined years and averages 365.2425 days per year. The Gregorian calendar is the internationally accepted civil calendar in use today. It is also known as the Western or Christian calendar. Pope Gregory XIII introduced this calendar in 1582, and it was accepted by Spain, Portugal, and Italy. It took almost 200 years before England and the colonies (later America) accepted it as their official calendar in 1752. Orthodox countries still have not adopted our modern-day Gregorian calendar and still use the Julian calendar. The Dates for the Two Fulfillments of the Feast of Firstfruits Passover always occurs on a specific date and season. The date for this Feast is Nisan 14 on the Jewish calendar. The first full moon of spring is called the Paschal moon. Nisan 14 -16 is always the time of the full moon of spring, be it the Paschal moon or the second full moon of spring (during a leap year). According to NASA records that track the phases of the moon, the Paschal moon occurred on April 3, AD 33 on the Julian calendar, which was Nisan 15th on the Jewish calendar. Likewise, the Paschal moon occurred on April 4, 1406 BC on the Julian calendar, which was Nisan 15 on the Jewish calendar. This is significant in the fact that these two great events in history occurred during the Paschal full moon and not during the second full moon of spring. Jesus was resurrected from the dead on Sunday, Nisan 17, AD 33 on the Jewish calendar (April 5th on the Julian Calendar) during the Feast of Firstfruits. If the Gregorian calendar had been in effect at this time, the date would have been April 3, AD 33. Joshua and the Israelites celebrated the Feast of Firstfruits on Nisan 17, 1406 BC on the Jewish calendar when they finally entered the Promised Land. If the Julian Calendar had been in use at that time, the date would have been April 4, 1406 BC. Likewise, the date would have been March 22, 1406 BC on the Gregorian calendar. The History of the Anniversary of Resurrection Sunday and/or Easter After the death of Jesus, early Christian followers celebrated the Resurrection on the same date as the Jewish Passover, which fell around Nisan 14 in March or April. Some others instead preferred to hold the festival on a Sunday since that was the day of the week Jesus’ tomb was found empty. “The date of the Resurrection became a major controversy in the early church. The first discussion of when to observe the anniversary of Jesus’ resurrection occurred in AD 150 when Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna and a disciple of the apostle John, visited the bishop of Rome. Christians of Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey} wanted the Lord’s Supper on the same day as the Jewish Passover, with Easter being celebrated two days later, regardless of the day of the week. On the other hand, the Roman church believed that Easter should always fall on Sunday. Twenty years later, the same argument broke out in Laodicea. The controversy came to a head throughout the Christian world between AD 190 and 194 and was the subject of discussion at many synods. In AD 325, the Roman emperor Constantine, who was a new convert to Christianity (supposedly), organized a meeting of Christian leaders called the Council of Nicea to resolve important disputes regarding Christ. One important decision (and a rare correct one) was about the status of Christ. The council recognized Jesus as “fully human and fully divine.” The other important issue to be resolved at the council was to set the date for the anniversary of Jesus’ resurrection. The Eastern bishops of Asia Minor favored the date should be as Leviticus described the Passover and F.O.F. since many of them were of Jewish origin, and since the Gospels had placed Resurrection Morning a few days after Passover” {1} “The Western bishops of Rome, being mostly Gentile, favored a date closer to the beginning of spring because there were already a number of pagan festivals held during that time, and a religious holiday would fit right in. Perhaps this is when the Western church began referring to Resurrection Morning as Easter Sunday, after the Babylonian fertility goddess Ishtar. The Feast of Ishtar was always celebrated at the beginning of spring and involved eggs and rabbits and other signs of fertility. Even today, you can see how elements of the two have been merged together. Eventually (due in part to their view that since the Jews had rejected Christ, Jewish traditions shouldn’t be used in selecting the date for Easter), the Western Church (Roman Catholic Church) settled on the first Sunday following the full moon that occurs on or just after the vernal (spring) equinox. If the Paschal full moon occurs on a Sunday, Easter is celebrated on the following Sunday. Soon Easter Sunday became disconnected from Passover by as much as several weeks. The adoption of the Gregorian calendar in 1752 (by England and the American colonies) did nothing to correct this disconnect, and since the Easter or Orthodox Church stuck with the earlier Julian calendar, we now have two dates for Easter in most years” {2} The Apostasy of the Roman Catholic Church There have been many articles and books regarding the apostasy and sacrilegious beliefs of the Roman Catholic Church, including Terry James and other writers for Rapture Ready, so I will not spend too much time on this subject. Dave Hunt wrote an excellent book on this topic called The Woman Rides the Beast, in which he recounts the false teachings of the Catholic Church including Purgatory, worship of Mary, the Pope being the head of the church and has the authority of Christ, priests being called Father, the belief that the Catholic Church is necessary for salvation, forgiveness of sins and salvation is by faith plus works, and others. Although these are very serious errors of doctrine and are not taught in the Bible, I believe some of the worst errors are in the dates that the Church leaders assigned for the life and death of Jesus Christ. Here are some of the most egregious ones, in my opinion:
The Catholic Church believed Jesus was crucified in AD 30. Some believe it was AD 32. Either way, both years are wrong. The correct year for Jesus’ death was AD 33. For evidence, see In the Midst, Part IV: Return of the King :: By Randy Nettles – Rapture Ready
To show you how messed up the dating method has become for Holy week, take a look at the schedule for 2021. The Jewish Passover (now celebrated by the Jews on Nisan 15 instead of Nisan 14) begins on Saturday, March 27th at sunset. Palm Sunday is observed by the Church the next day on Sunday, March 28th. March 28th is also the date for the 100% Paschal moon. Good Friday (should be called Good Thursday) comes on April 2nd. Easter comes on Sunday, April 4th, and is also the date for the end of the Jews’ seven days of Passover. The moon will be at third quarter (half-moon) stage on this date. This year Passover occurs after Palm Sunday. How weird is that? Some years Passover and Easter actually occur a month apart. Of course, in the year of Jesus’ crucifixion, there were only 3 days between the two events. There should never be more than 7 days between them. According to the Bible, the Passover should take place on Nisan 14. This year Nisan 14 will be on Friday, March 26, 2021. The first day after the Sabbath/Saturday is Sunday, March 28, 2021. This should be the actual date for Easter, in my opinion. Instead, we will be celebrating Easter a week later than we should. This means Biblical Pentecost (7 weeks or 49 days after the Feast of Firstfruits) will come a week later than it should as well. Of course, the Jews have done away with this dating method and celebrate Pentecost/Shavuot (Feast of Weeks) on Sivan 6th. Why we, as Christians, don’t celebrate and observe Pentecost, the birth of the true church, I’ll never understand; but that is an article for another time. Regardless, have a happy “Easter” and remember to celebrate the ultimate victory the Lord Jesus Christ had over death, the devil, and the grave on Resurrection Sunday. As Christians, you might even want to celebrate both dates, as Jesus’ resurrection is of double importance to us. Jesus’ victory over death is our victory as well if we simply do the work of God and believe on Him whom He has sent. Jesus brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory. O Death, where is your sting?” (1 Corinthians 15:54-55). “That through death He [Jesus] might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil” (Hebrews 2:14). Amen, even so, Come (again) Lord Jesus. Randy Nettles [email protected] Endnotes: {1} How the Easter Date Is Determined? (timeanddate.com) {2} The Feast of First Fruits – Grace thru faith 24 World Leaders Call For More Globalism In Wake Of Pandemic – Tyler Durden - https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/24-world-leaders-call-more-globalism-wake-pandemic Twenty four world leaders have signed a letter calling for more globalism to combat future pandemics, citing the coronavirus outbreak as an opportunity to consign nationalism to the dustbin of history. UK prime minister Boris Johnson, German chancellor Angela Merkel, and French president Emmanuel Macron are the leading figures behind the pledge, with 21 other heads of state signing the letter. It states that “nobody is safe until everyone is safe,” and that a “global community” must be further implemented in order to combat ‘inevitable’ future pandemics. “At a time when Covid-19 has exploited our weaknesses and divisions, we must seize this opportunity and come together as a global community for peaceful cooperation that extends beyond this crisis,” the letter states. “Building our capacities and systems to do this will take time and require a sustained political, financial and societal commitment over many years,” it adds. The letter compares the situation to the aftermath of the Second World War, and urges an end to “isolationism and nationalism”. The pledge calls for a strengthening of the World Health Organization’s infrastructure, despite the global health body’s documented failures in regards to the pandemic, and continued charges that it has facilitated the communist Chinese government’s lies and deceptions. WHO director general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also signed the letter, having repeatedly slammed nations including Britain and the US for putting their own populations first when it comes to recovery. The letter specifically calls for a global treaty on pandemics to be signed to establish international ‘rules and norms’ for vaccine production and distribution, as well as coordination on ‘alert systems, data-sharing and research’. Presumably any global treaty would also address restrictions to be put in place under future pandemics, although that is not made clear in the letter. Below is the full Letter signed by 24 world leaders (emphasis ours): The Covid-19 pandemic is the biggest challenge to the global community since the 1940s. At that time, following the devastation of two world wars, political leaders came together to forge the multilateral system. The aims were clear: to bring countries together, to dispel the temptations of isolationism and nationalism, and to address the challenges that could only be achieved together in the spirit of solidarity and cooperation: namely, peace, prosperity, health and security. Today, we hold the same hope that as we fight to overcome the Covid-19 pandemic together, we can build a more robust international health architecture that will protect future generations. There will be other pandemics and other major health emergencies. No single government or multilateral agency can address this threat alone. The question is not if, but when. Together, we must be better prepared to predict, prevent, detect, assess and effectively respond to pandemics in a highly coordinated fashion. The Covid-19 pandemic has been a stark and painful reminder that nobody is safe until everyone is safe. We are, therefore, committed to ensuring universal and equitable access to safe, efficacious and affordable vaccines, medicines and diagnostics for this and future pandemics. Immunization is a global public good and we will need to be able to develop, manufacture and deploy vaccines as quickly as possible. This is why the Access to Covid-19 Tools Accelerator (ACT-A) was set up in order to promote equal access to tests, treatments and vaccines and support health systems across the globe. ACT-A has delivered on many aspects but equitable access is yet to be achieved. There is more we can do to promote global access. To that end, we believe that nations should work together towards a new international treaty for pandemic preparedness and response. Such a renewed collective commitment would be a milestone in stepping up pandemic preparedness at the highest political level. It would be rooted in the constitution of the World Health Organization, drawing in other relevant organizations key to this endeavor, in support of the principle of health for all. Existing global health instruments, especially the International Health Regulations, would underpin such a treaty, ensuring a firm and tested foundation on which we can build and improve. The main goal of this treaty would be to foster an all-of-government and all-of-society approach, strengthening national, regional and global capacities and resilience to future pandemics. This includes greatly enhancing international cooperation to improve, for example, alert systems, data-sharing, research, and local, regional and global production and distribution of medical and public health countermeasures, such as vaccines, medicines, diagnostics and personal protective equipment. It would also include recognition of a ‘One Health’ approach that connects the health of humans, animals and our planet. And such a treaty should lead to more mutual accountability and shared responsibility, transparency and cooperation within the international system and with its rules and norms. To achieve this, we will work with heads of state and governments globally and all stakeholders, including civil society and the private sector. We are convinced that it is our responsibility, as leaders of nations and international institutions, to ensure that the world learns the lessons of the Covid-19 pandemic. At a time when Covid-19 has exploited our weaknesses and divisions, we must seize this opportunity and come together as a global community for peaceful cooperation that extends beyond this crisis. Building our capacities and systems to do this will take time and require a sustained political, financial and societal commitment over many years. Our solidarity in ensuring that the world is better prepared will be our legacy that protects our children and grandchildren and minimizes the impact of future pandemics on our economies and our societies. Pandemic preparedness needs global leadership for a global health system fit for this millennium. To make this commitment a reality, we must be guided by solidarity, fairness, transparency, inclusiveness and equity.’ Boris Johnson, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom; Emmanuel Macron, president of France; Angela Merkel, chancellor of Germany; Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization and 21 other world leaders. Health ministers of nations are set to meet in May at the World Health Assembly, and could discuss a global treaty there. Nearing Midnight: Why Won’t Most Americans Defend Themselves Against the Left’s Agenda? – Todd Strandberg - https://www.raptureready.com/category/nearing-midnight/ As the ‘Social Justice’ Warriors and Cancel culture activists run roughshod over our nation, the average American does nothing to defend their personal liberty. Every time a book, movie, or TV show is added to the banned list, there is no blowback from the public. The reason why most people sit idly by while things we treasure are taken to the slaughter is because helplessness has been ingrained into society. Once it became perceived that nothing could be done to combat the left’s agenda, people quit trying to resist. When the Black Lives Matter movement became dominant in the culture, some people tried to counteract it by saying “all lives matter.” Many of these people lost their jobs for making what was a perfectly reasonable remark. Black Lives Matter is not about race; it’s about being relevant to a leftist ideology. You have to be very guarded about allowing people to have authority over you. Once they gain power, they are unwilling to surrender it. The COVID-19 mask mandate is a good example. Dr. Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has recently said that people fully vaccinated should continue to wear a mask in public. In fact, he said that people should wear two masks. Senator Rand Paul rightly called him out for not having any scientific evidence to back up his recommendations: “There’s virtually 0% chance you’re going to get it, and you’re telling people that have had the vaccine who have immunity — you’re defying everything we know about immunity by telling people to wear masks who have been vaccinated,” said Paul. Fauci justifies the need to continue wearing a mask based solely on the possibility of contracting a variant of the COVID-19 virus. There is no indication that any variant can infect a person who has been fully vaccinated. Fauci Keeps moving goalposts because he wants to maintain his position of authority. Many people on the right wasted a lot of valuable time by mocking the action of the left. Ridicule is a useful tool in combating your enemy, but it should be accompanied by stronger action. Many people have mocked the banning of Pepe Le Pew with T-shirts that proclaimed Pepe’s innocence. I have not found anyone who went after Warner Brothers for making this dumb decision. If Pepe had been given the ax in the 90s, people would threaten to boycott Warner Brothers’ movies. What makes it so difficult to turn the tide is the reality that the left has almost completely taken over this nation. The LGBTQ is one good example. Many years ago, one of the first companies to have a positive policy toward homosexuality was AT&T. Today, the vast majority of companies fly the rainbow flag of this aggregation of sexual perversions. A key reason why the left has been able to take over our nation is the failure to realize Satan’s win by being persistent. We won many battles against various vices, but in the end, we lost the war. Pro gambling groups tried for decades to allow for Casinos to be legal here in Arkansas. About three years ago, voters finally gave in and passed a measure that let five cities build their own gambling dens. Now that the left controls nearly every school, business, and government, no amount of resistance will be tolerated. One of the last uncensored corners of the internet is a site called Substack. The liberal media is trying to get the platform shut down. The press has invented the idea that Substack promotes violence and harassment by simply disagreeing with the general view of the leftist media. They think they have a monopoly on the dissemination of news, and anyone who tries to compete with them is violating their patent. The people who fight back are often doing so because they have no other option. The left is taking away their business or their freedom. By allowing the left to get so powerful before acting, there is little chance of defeating them. Because of my belief that we are in the last days, I see it as very unlikely that America could ever return to Godly values. Revival is not possible because most Christians think it means getting a blessing from the good Lord. What they fail to understand is that humble repentance must come first. “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14). We Have Never Seen A Home Buying Frenzy Quite Like This - by Michael Snyder - http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/we-have-never-seen-a-home-buying-frenzy-quite-like-this/ Could you imagine listing your home for sale and having nearly 100 offers in just three days? This sort of thing is actually happening in hot real estate markets all over America right now. Even though we are in the midst of the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression of the 1930s, we are witnessing a frenzy of home buying that is unlike anything that we have ever seen before. Of course one of the biggest reasons why this is happening is because of the utterly insane economic policies of our leaders. They have been creating, borrowing and spending money like there is no tomorrow, and that pushed M1 from 4 trillion dollars to 18 trillion dollars in just 12 months. All of that money had to go somewhere, and one place where it is showing up is in home prices in desirable rural and suburban locations around the country. For example, a “fixer-upper” in a desirable suburban community outside of Washington D.C. was listed for sale on a recent Thursday for $275,000. On Sunday evening, 88 different offers had already been made on that property… Ellen Coleman had never received so many offers on a house in her 15 years of selling real estate. She listed a fixer-upper in suburban Washington, DC for $275,000 on a Thursday. By Sunday evening, she had 88 offers. It eventually sold for $460,000, which was $185,000 above the listing price. Isn’t that nuts? The same thing is happening in lots of other parts of the nation too. Down in the Austin, Texas area, one real estate agent says that “most homes are going for more than 20% over asking price”… “Nearly every offer my clients make faces competition, and most homes are going for more than 20% over asking price,” said Austin-area Redfin agent April Miller. She said she recently helped a client with an offer for a three-bedroom, two-bathroom home listed at $515,000 and pulled out all the stops. The offer was for $100,000 over the asking price, and they waived appraisal and financing contingencies, yet still came in third out of 38 offers. In my entire lifetime, I have never seen anything like this. Overall, the median price of a home in the United States is up a whopping 16 percent compared to this time last year… The median price of a home has risen 16% from last year, according to the National Association of Realtors, and they have increased even more in some regions of the country like the Northeast and West, which are both up 21% from last year. Meanwhile, inventory has continued to linger at record lows. In February, the number of available homes for sale was down nearly 30% from a year ago. Of course prices are not going up everywhere. In fact, home prices are actually going down in certain core urban communities. It isn’t just that people are looking to buy homes right now. Rather, millions of Americans have been choosing to relocate due to fear of the things that have been happening in our world. For example, the COVID pandemic has been one of the biggest reasons for the mass exodus that we have been witnessing, and our public officials continue to drum up more fear on a daily basis. On Monday, the head of the CDC actually used the term “impending doom” to describe what she believes is ahead… The U.S. is facing “impending doom” as daily Covid-19 cases begin to rebound once again, threatening to send more people to the hospital even as vaccinations accelerate nationwide, the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Monday. “When I first started at CDC about two months ago I made a promise to you: I would tell you the truth even if it was not the news we wanted to hear. Now is one of those times when I have to share the truth, and I have to hope and trust you will listen,” CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said during a press briefing. And Joe Biden is begging for mask mandates to be reinstated all over the nation… Joe Biden pleaded on Monday with Republican governors who ended mask mandates to reinstate the requirements in their states and pause reopenings as the administration goes ahead with expanding vaccine eligibility and inoculation sites. ‘I’m reiterating my call for every governor, mayor and local leader to reinstate the mask mandate,’ Biden said during remarks on the White House coronavirus response Monday afternoon. ‘Please, this is not politics.’ As long as Americans are afraid of the COVID pandemic, we will continue to see people relocate from urban areas with a high population density to rural and suburban areas that are more spread out. At the same time, multitudes of Americans are also relocating from core urban areas due to all of the civil unrest that we have witnessed over the past year. Many believed that the civil unrest would end once Joe Biden entered the White House, but that has not happened. Instead, we continue to see violence on an almost daily basis. Here is just one recent example… Footage captured the demonstrators spraying paint across the windshield of the man’s truck and smashing the tail lights in Salem on Sunday. The driver, who was wearing an American flag sweatshirt, stepped out of his vehicle as he engaged with the protesters, who then appeared to mace him. The video then shows him pulling out his gun and pointing it at the anti-fascist protesters. He could be heard shouting: ‘Get away from me’. Sadly, the civil unrest in our land is only going to get worse. So that means that even more people will be fleeing our core urban areas in search of greener pastures. But now that hyperinflation is hitting housing prices, a lot of middle class and poor people will be priced out of the market. The wealthy and the ultra-wealthy will have no problem making offers on homes that are way over market price because they have lots of money. But the vast majority of Americans that are living paycheck to paycheck will find that their options are now greatly limited. This is why I have always encouraged my readers to do long-term planning well in advance. When I was growing up, I often heard the phrase “you snooze, you lose”, and today that is more true than ever. Daily Jot: Gateway to the beast - Bill Wilson – www.dailyjot.com There is no greater modern gateway to the apocalyptic “Beast,” or antichrist, than the entirety of the worldwide COVID 19 response. Nations were locked down. Food supplies were disrupted. Businesses, schools, and churches were forced to close. Healthy people were quarantined. Travel was confined. These restrictions came within months of the spread of the virus. And they were just the beginning. With reopening there remains a certain amount of freedoms being curtailed, suppressed. Today, the world is being asked to bow to a god called a vaccine, even though you have less than a percent chance of dying if you are infected with the virus. See how quick it can happen? Speaking of the end time beast, Revelation 13:16-17 prophesies: “And he causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in the right hand or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” COVID 19 is not the end time beast. Nor is the vaccine. Notwithstanding, it is an example of how a worldwide event, such as an end time plague, can cause such fear that people will do most anything to buy, sell, or live. In essence, this COVID vaccine has taken over the world. If you don’t have it, your family, friends, and neighbors shame you; your governments limit you; your merchants restrict you. In America, New York s the first state to implement a vaccine passport. The Biden Administration is working on “guidelines” for the nation, but White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki says, “A determination or development of vaccine passport or whatever you want to call it will be driven by the private sector.” In other words, Biden is going to give big corporations and media the authority to shut you down, just like they have green-lighted censoring your freedom of thought and speech. Europe is developing its COVID passport. And Israel, where the end time beast will set up shop, was among the first to require a “Green Pass.” Israel’s Ministry of Health will issue the passport to the vaccinated, giving them exclusive access to hotels, gyms, theaters, music venues and other places like restaurants and bars. I repeat: The COVID vaccine is not the end time beast. But every person who loves the Lord should at least be aware of how quickly an antichrist figure, the beast, could deceive and control the world. COVID, if not a blueprint, is an example. People were in a panic about food, finances, and services. IF we are privileged to be the generation of Christ’s return, take care that you are not so fearful, deceived or shamed into taking the mark of the beast. As Revelation 20:4 discloses, “And I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, reigned with Christ a thousand years.” It is better to lose your life for Christ and gain eternity than to preserve your life but lose your salvation. Daily Devotion: Discouraged and Disappointed - by Greg Laurie – www.harvest.org They said to each other, ‘Didn’t our hearts burn within us as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?’ —Luke 24:32 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/discouraged-and-disappointed/ - Listen Have you ever been disappointed with God? Have you ever felt as though God let you down, that He failed you? That’s how two first-century disciples felt as they were leaving Jerusalem. They were devastated because Jesus had been crucified. In their minds, that was the end of the story. And then, none other than the resurrected Jesus joined them. However, they didn’t know it was the Lord. He did something to conceal His identity, although we don’t know what it was. As the three walked along together, Jesus turned to them and said, in effect, “Hey, guys, why the long faces? What’s going on?” One of them replied, “You must be the only person in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard about all the things that have happened there the last few days” (Luke 24:18 NLT). Jesus said, “What things?” (verse 19 NLT). So they proceeded to tell Jesus about Jesus. But then the Bible says that Jesus stopped and rebuked them, saying, “You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?” (verses 25–26 NLT). Jesus went on to explain all the Old Testament passages that pointed to His death. I would love to have been a fly on the wall for that conversation. As they came to the end of their journey, Jesus acted as though He would keep going, so they invited Him to join them for a meal. And when He took the bread, blessed it, and broke it, they suddenly recognized Him. Then He disappeared. This story reminds us that God can use His Word to bring us back to spiritual life again. Disappointment is His appointment. God wants to restore your faith today. 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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