Globalists Will Be Forgotten Relics Of The Past When We Inherit Our Everlasting Kingdom With Christ6/8/2023 TODAY'S NEWSLETTER...
Globalists Will Be Forgotten Relics Of The Past When We Inherit Our Everlasting Kingdom With Christ – By Jonathan Brentner - https://harbingersdaily.com/globalists-will-be-forgotten-relics-of-the-past-when-we-inherit-our-everlasting-kingdom-with-christ/
The New Testament says that as New Testament saints, we are heirs. We read about this truth in a variety of texts (Romans 8:17; 1 Corinthians 15:50; Ephesians 1:14; Titus 3:7; James 2:5; 1 Peter 1:4, 3:7). But what is our inheritance as New Testament saints? What does the New Testament tell us about it? Ephesians 1:14 states that our gift of the Holy Spirit “is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” The word for “guarantee” refers to money which paid as a pledge or downpayment that the full amount will subsequently come. For example, today it would denote the earnest money one pays during the process of purchasing a home. As New Testament Saints, we are heirs to something we don’t yet possess, but the Holy Spirit living inside us guarantees our receipt of it. Let’s investigate what this means. WE ARE HEIRS TO THE KINGDOM The Bible specifies “the kingdom” as our inheritance. “Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?” (James 2:5). James reveals that we are “heirs of the kingdom.” Not just any realm, but “the kingdom.” The powerbrokers of our day work feverishly to bring about a global Marxist government over which they will rule and enslave the people of the world. The Bible says they will succeed for a short while, but the Lord will destroy whatever they build at His return to earth. These globalists are powerful, famous, and exceedingly wealthy, but they will be forgotten relics of the past when we inherit our everlasting kingdom. In Romans 8:16-18, Paul describes our inheritance in a way that puts it infinitely above the one that the elite of our day seek to impose upon our world. Romans 8:16-18 KJV – “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” These verses reveal two wonderful aspects of our future inheritance. 1. WE ARE COHEIRS WITH CHRIST The apostle states that we are “fellow heirs with Christ;” as New Testament saints we share in His inheritance, which is beyond amazing. How can even begin to comprehend so far-reaching a promise? Jesus first inherits the kingdom from the Father. In Psalm 2:8, the Father says this to the Son, “Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.” In Daniel 7:13-14, the prophet’s vision foretells Jesus’ receipt of this future earthly realm: Daniel 7:13-14 KJV – “I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.” Notice the words of Daniel 7:27, which provide the full context of what it means to be coheirs with Jesus: Daniel 7:27 KJV – “And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.” How do we know that these words await a future fulfillment? It’s because Jesus tells us the fulfillment of the Daniel 7 verses will happen at His Second Coming. In Matthew 26:64, Jesus says He will fulfill the words of Daniel 7:13-14 at His return to earth, when He comes “on the clouds of Heaven.” Just days earlier, Jesus referred to his return at the end of the age with the same words He used in Matthew 26:64: Matthew 24:30 KJV – “and then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” Do you see it? Jesus intrinsically connects the verses in Daniel 7 to His reference to coming “on clouds of heaven.” It’s the same expression in the Greek in both Matthew 34:30 and 26:64. We are coheirs to a kingdom that’s future and consists of Jesus physically ruling over the nations of the earth. The globalists of our day seek to kill and enslave those who would be a part of their kingdom. Jesus will share His rule with us. Is this not amazing beyond words? It gets even better for us. . . . 2. OUR INHERITANCE SIGNIFIES OUR FUTURE GLORIFICATION Romans 8:16-18 promises that as coheirs, we will someday “be glorified with him.” What does that mean? 1 Corinthians 15:50-53 clarifies how we will “be glorified with him:” 1 Corinthians 15:50-53 KJV – “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.” Hmmm, something has to happen to us before we can receive our inheritance of a kingdom, namely the Rapture. It’s then that the Lord will make us fit for His kingdom by giving us imperishable and immortal bodies. Philippians 3:20-21 also refers to Jesus’ appearing, the Rapture, as the time we receive our glorified bodies: Philippians 3:20-21 KJV – “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.” We must be glorified with Jesus before we can rule with Him. This will happen when Jesus takes us to glory (John 14:2-3; Colossians 3:4). THE CHURCH CAN’T BE THE KINGDOM Wait, wait, wait! Doesn’t Colossians 1:13 tells us that God has already transferred us “to the kingdom of his beloved Son?” Yes, but we must consider an important principle here, namely that “Scripture interprets Scripture.” When Jesus stood trial before Pilate, He stated that His “kingdom is not of this world.” The fact that it’s first a spiritual realm doesn’t negate its future physical expression. In order to equate the church with the promised kingdom of God on the earth, one must spiritualize a voluminous number of Scriptures that predict a tangible physical kingdom for Israel and tell us that Jesus will rule over the nations of the earth from Jerusalem at a time when sin and death are possible. At the time of our regeneration, we move from Satan’s domain to God’s; it’s a spiritual transfer that Paul describes in Ephesians 2:1-9. And, as we saw in the previous section, Jesus Himself placed His receipt of the kingdom at His Second Coming (Daniel 7:13-14, 24; Matthew 24:30, 26:64). According to God’s Word, the kingdom to which we are heirs won’t appear on the earth until after the Second Coming and we can’t inherit it until we receive imperishable bodies. Jesus is the head of the church, which the Bible refers to as the “body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:15-16). In Ephesians 5:30-32, Paul compares the relationship of Jesus to the church as that of a husband and wife. This is not the language of a king and his kingdom, but rather that of Jesus and His bride. In Revelation 1:12-3:22, Jesus appears “like a son of man” rather than as a king and addresses the churches as their Head and the rewards He promises to the church find their definition later in the book. Jesus appears as King until He’s ready to return to earth at the end of the Tribulation (Revelation 19:16). The New Testament never identifies the church as God’s kingdom. THE PROBLEMS WITH IDENTIFYING THE CHURCH AS THE KINGDOM Why is it so vital that we not identify the church as the promised kingdom? Does it really make a difference? Absolutely, this error goes far beyond a stuffy theological discussion; it impacts how church leaders see themselves as well as how they treat those in the chairs. During the past several years, I have observed the following troubling tendencies in amillennial churches, those that deny a future kingdom to Israel while insisting that they are the recipients of such promises, albeit in a spiritual sense. 1. THE ELDERS RULE RATHER THAN SHEPHERD THE FLOCK It’s been my experience that when a church sees itself as God’s kingdom, the elders and the pastoral staff often behave as rulers rather than shepherds. Whenever I have questioned the amillennial beliefs of a pastor or someone on staff, they have responded with an attitude of “How dare you, a nobody, question my interpretation of Scripture?” While they didn’t use those exact words, that typifies the attitude. Based on the emails that have come my way, I know this is the experience of many who have dared to question the amillennial beliefs of church staff. In some large churches, the elders rule while the small group leaders visit group members in the hospital, care for the needs of the people in their groups, and spend time in their homes. They are the true shepherds, or elders, of the people in the sense of 1 Peter 5:1-5. This is what I did as the pastor of small churches (many years ago) and as a house church leader several years ago back in Iowa. The elder form of church leadership, though biblical in form, has become unbalanced and unbiblical in function. In far too many instances, the elders “lord it over” the members who have little say, if any at all, in the affairs of the church. This is precisely the opposite of Jesus’ instructions to those who would serve and care for His future bride (see Mark 10:42-45) and contrary to Peter’s advice to elders (1 Peter 5:1-5). 2. A DIMINISHING OF JESUS’ GLORY During the worship services, one hears an abundance of songs magnifying the name of Jesus. However, the preaching never mentions Jesus’ imminent appearing, our receipt of imperishable bodies, or the glory that the book of Revelation says will be His when He wrests the earthly realms out of the hands of the “prince of the power of the air” (Revelation 5-18) and establishes His Millennial rule and later His eternal kingdom (Revelation 19-22). The song “Amen (Simple Gospel)” by Kari Jobe exemplifies such shifting of glory from Jesus to the church. It begins with a presentation of the Gospel centered on the Savior, but ends by exalting the church claiming that it will rise up to triumph over the dark forces of this world rather than Jesus. In doing so, it not only magnifies the church above Jesus, but directs our hope of deliverance from this evil and lawless world to an institution led by flawed and weak people just like us. Such diminishing of Jesus’ glory places one on dangerous ground. 3. IT INVARIABLY LEADS TO FALSE VIEWS OF THE END TIMES Because I have touched on this matter in so many previous posts, I will just briefly mention how viewing the church as God’s physical kingdom on earth invariably leads to further error. Dominion Theology represents a revival of postmillennialism. It goes beyond seeing the church as the kingdom, but asserts that the church will change the entire world and bring in the Millennium by itself with Jesus returning afterward. This is the theology espoused by Kari Jobe in her song and it directly contradicts God’s Word. The teachings of the Preterists also spring from views that regard the church as the kingdom. They assert that Jesus returned to earth to AD 70 and fulfilled most, if not all, of future biblical prophecy at that time. In my conversations with Preterists, they almost always praise the church. PROPHECY IS ALL ABOUT JESUS The over-the-top joyous, exciting, and wonderful news is that when Jesus’ appears to take us home to glory, wonderful things will begin to happen to us. For starters, He will give us imperishable bodies like His own making us fit to inherit His kingdom along His side (1 Corinthians 15:47-54; Philippians 3:20-21). We are heirs to the kingdom! As believers, we have an amazing future all because of our Savior! Jesus is our deliverer from this lawless and violent world; He’s the One who will make us fit for our glorious inheritance. Jesus is the One who will judge the wickedness, violence, and deception of our world. Please don’t assign that task to the church, many in many locations embraces the woke culture of our day. Jesus will return to the Mount of Olives after the Tribulation period, establish His kingdom on the earth, and sit upon the throne of David just as Gabriel promised Mary that her Son would do (Luke 1:32-33, cf. Isaiah 9:6-7). Prophecy is all about Jesus! Revelation 19:10 says, “For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy,” Fittingly, He sent His angel to testify to the truth of the events and words that John recorded for us in the book of Revelation (22:16). We dare not exalt the church at the expense of His future glory. Kakhovka, Fattah, UAP and What else??? – A.V. Rauf - https://bibleprophecyfortoday.com/2023/06/07/kakhovka-fattah-uap-and-what-else/ Revelation 22:10-13-And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand. 11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. We are approaching the midpoint of the Year 2023 A.D. and not a day goes by where something of prophetic significance unravels before our very eyes. As I mentioned in the previous article, the signs that are now emerging are absolutely ominous. They are growing exponentially more obvious and closer together to “catching away” of the Body of Christ. Here’s the bottom line: Bible prophecies are being fulfilled in our lifetime. It seems like we’re seeing more things happen in real time, closer together, as the Scripture said they would be. What should we do? We should look up, and we should remember that God is in control. And we’ve read the last page of the Bible, the last page of Revelation, and we win in the end. Just yesterday, it is being reported that a significant portion of the Nova Kakhovka dam and hydroelectric power station along the Dnieper River in Ukraine was destroyed. The reservoir it previously restrained held close to 18 million cubic meters of water, most of which has now spilled over the remaining walls and flooded much of the area between what’s left of the dam and hundreds of additional towns and villages downstream from the dam which since have either already flooded or are in danger of that fate. Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky referred to it as the largest man-made environmental disaster in Europe in decades. Of graver concern is that the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, which is just upriver from the dam could experience a meltdown since it relied heavily upon the now-depleted reservoir to cool its reactors. Furthermore, this reservoir was also the primary source of water for Crimea, the region that has been under Russian occupation since 2014. Speaking of Crimea, according to a recent report in the Haredi Press in Israel, the Gaon Rabbi Moshe Shternbuch told his disciples that the times of the Messiah are upon us. And who is the source for his amazing analysis? None other than one of the top Jewish sages of all time, the Vilna Gaon himself, the Gra, “the genius of Vilnius”, the famously harsh critic of Hasidic Judaism. According to said Shternbuch, he is privy to a closely guarded secret handed down from the 18th Century Vilna Gaon through generations of revered rabbis: “When you hear that the Russians have captured the city of Crimea, you should know that the times of the Messiah have started, that his steps are being heard. Now just last month, Syria, Russia and Iran met on in Moscow, marking the highest-level talks so far on rebuilding ties between Ankara and Damascus after years of animosity during Syria’s civil war. And speaking of Iran, just last week, Iran unveiled its first hypersonic missile known as The “Fattah.” The “Fattah” is reportedly capable of traveling at Mach 15! Much of the rest of Iran’s external military power as controlled by the IRGC Qods Force (QF) is itemized in the graphic at top of article. Israel is now prepared for war on multiple fronts, exactly as described within the several prophecies in the Bible: (Ezekiel 38-39, Psalm 83, Jeremiah 49:34-39, Zechariah 12:1-2, Isaiah 17, etc.) Israel taking on multiple enemies – from Iran, to Hezbollah, to Syria as well as terrorists in Gaza, Judea and Samaria. There’s a also a possibility of Russian forces in Syria supporting the Iranian objectives in direct contact with U.S. armored patrols in northeastern Syria. We are not far removed from the day when Israel’s leadership decides to strike and neutralize the Iranian nuclear threat, as was done in Iraq back in 1981 at Osirak south of Baghdad. Currently, Iran’s nuclear reactors are located at Bushehr, and several other of Iran’s covert nuclear sites are also located nearby This region in total encompasses the provinces of Bushehr, Fars, Isfahan, Khuzestan, Lorestan and Ilam. And while all this is currently happening, just this past week, A veteran from the U.S. Air Force has come forth as a whistleblower and has made the claim that the U.S, Government has recovered materials that could be proof of UAP’s, Unidentified Aerial Phenomena, formerly known as UFO’s including an intact craft of “non-human origin,” although the claim has been denied by the Pentagon: https://www.foxnews.com/us/pentagon-denies-secret-ufo-retrieval-program-after-whistleblower-bombshell I explain the UFO/UAP phenomena in my book Bible Prophecy for Today: Examining Current Events from through the lease of Scriptures–see link (HERE) I am convinced that when the Rapture of the Church occurs, this phenomenon will be the secular explanation for the mass “disappearance” of many. Keep in mind that countries in which Christians are persecuted, won’t be severely affected by the Rapture at all, because in these countries many Christians don’t have important political, societal, military and business positions. The Western nations in which Christians face no or a little persecution, will be significantly weakened by the Rapture. Buckle up because the rest of 2023 promises to be a year of accelerated prophetic fulfillment. The Church Age is quickly coming to a close and God’s attention is moving toward Israel. Now is the time to teach the gospel of Jesus Christ and the message of the Kingdom to all that need to hear it before the door to the ark of safety closes and the Church Age comes to an end. And Pray for the peace of Jerusalem….. Psalm 122:6–Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. MARANATHA!!!! Prophecy Update Videos Must Watch Videos! Videos You Can Trust
Looking For a Sign - Nathele Graham - [email protected] We all want signs that we are following the right path, or a sign of what God has planned. During a very troubled time in Israel’s history, they were being harassed by the Midianites. Israel had been in rebellion to God and were paying for their sins. This was a constant theme with Israel and God. “And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years.” Judges 6:1. Even though Israel has periodically rebelled against God, He will never desert them. In times of rebellion, God allows them to be overrun by foreign nations, but He will never completely turn away from them. During one of those rebellious times, God called Gideon to stand for Israel. Gideon wasn’t sure he had heard God right and wanted a sign. “And Gideon said unto God, if thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said, behold I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then shall I know that thou will save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said.” Judges 6:36-37. Morning came and the fleece was soaked, but Gideon still wasn’t convinced. He asked for another sign. He wanted the fleece to be dry while the ground all around was wet. Once again, God patiently gave Gideon the sign he wanted. Gideon went to war; the battle was won and God was glorified. God calls Christians to battle evil every day and we need to be prepared. The signs are all around us. God knows the beginning from the end and uses prophecy as a sign. Too often we neglect to study the Old Testament because we think it doesn’t relate to Christians. That’s very wrong. There’s much to learn from Abraham, Job, David, the Judges, and from all the prophets of God. Prophecy helps us to prepare for the battles we face. The prophets of old most likely didn’t fully understand what they recorded from God, but they knew that it was important. When Daniel was young, he was taken captive and relocated to Babylon, a very pagan place to live. Although he was young, he never stopped worshipping and serving God Almighty. He knew the Temple had been destroyed, but he still openly worshipped God. When he was given a prophecy about the distant future, he didn’t question God, but recorded the words. Today we have more understanding of their truth. Because we live in the times that were written about, we can see prophecy coming into focus. Daniel didn’t question prophecy so he knew from Jeremiah that the Babylonian captivity was about to end. Daniel was also given many prophecies, including one that told when Messiah would come and signs of the end of time. “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.” Daniel 9:24. That verse alone holds a lot of information. God hasn’t replaced Israel, nor has He turned away from them. Also be aware that a “week” equals seven years, not seven days. The prophecy is about Daniel’s holy city, Jerusalem. Jerusalem would be rebuilt and one day there would be no more sin. How could that happen? Daniel didn’t know how, but he knew God said it so it would happen. “Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again and the wall, even in troublous times.” Daniel 9:25. This is also a prophecy about Jesus. It has been calculated that from the day that Artaxerxes issued the decree to rebuild Jerusalem (history records that date) until Jesus entered into Jerusalem to the praises of the people, Daniel’s prophecy was fulfilled to the day. The Scribes and Pharisees should have known, but they chose to ignore prophesy. God knew they would. Their ignorance allowed other prophecies to be fulfilled. The prophecy given to Daniel reveals that the Messiah would be killed and Jerusalem would be destroyed again. History confirms this happened. Why do so many people question the truth of God’s word? Like the religious leaders of old, many religious leaders today choose ignorance. Jesus had publicly given many signs that He was the Messiah. He healed many people and cast out demons but the Scribes and Pharisees still wanted a sign, “Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: for as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” Matthew 12:38-40. Scripture was their sign. The religious leaders knew the Law and the Prophets, but they refused to believe that prophecy was being fulfilled in their lifetime. Biblical prophecy will be fulfilled whether we choose ignorance or not. The Apostle Peter was a witness to all the miracles that Jesus did and heard His teachings. Peter didn’t attend a seminary, so he wasn’t confused by man’s interpretations. He was a fisherman. Jesus saw his character and knew what Peter could accomplish if given the chance. Peter stumbled a few times in his walk, but when he finally realized his calling, there was no turning back. I guess he might have been somewhat like Gideon and was surprised that he had been chosen for important work for the Lord. Even though Peter was an eyewitness to the healing of deaf and blind people, and he heard the voice of God the Father booming out of Heaven, he knew prophecy was better proof than those signs. “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. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” 2 Peter 1:19-21. If you’re living in fear of all the wars and diseases that trouble the earth, then you need to open your Bible and study prophecy. There are hundreds of prophecies in Scripture which Jesus fulfilled. Since those were fulfilled, why would you doubt that the other ones will come to pass? Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Amos, Zechariah, and others all give insight to today’s world and what will soon come to pass. We live in the end of days. Daniel was shown prophecy about our world today. He saw that Jesus would be crucified and that Jerusalem would be destroyed. “And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.” Daniel 9:26-27. The Messiah would be “cut off” (killed) and reveals that the temple will be rebuilt. It was rebuilt, but destroyed again in 70 AD. Many Jewish people are actively working toward rebuilding the temple. Three pure red heifers have been found, and that is an important part of rebuilding the temple, which has to be rebuilt before the man we call the Anti-Christ is in power. It will happen just as God foretold in prophecy. The temple will be rebuilt, but the Anti-Christ will defile it. It’s a sign, but a sign that evil is still in the world. There are many more signs of prophecy being fulfilled. Again, look to Scripture for answers. Prior to Jesus’ crucifixion, He had a quiet talk with four of His disciples. These men were curious. Before embarking on a study of these verses, keep in mind that the ekklesia (Christians) had not been born yet. Jesus had not been crucified, nor had He risen from the dead. Pentecost was still in the future. Jesus’ Jewish disciples asked questions about Israel. “And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of thy coming; and of the end of the world?” Matthew 24:3. No matter which Bible translation you read, it’s only a translation of the original text. The word translated “world” is “aion” which should be translated “age”. The disciples had finally understood that Jesus was going away, but they wanted to know when He would return. They knew that when He returned, the oppression would end. They didn’t understand that He had to die, and when He returned, the oppression He would end wasn’t Roman rule, but Satan’s evil. The first point Jesus made was not to be deceived by false Messiahs. “And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.” Matthew 24:4-5. If you don’t study Scripture, you’ll easily be deceived. Then He gave general “signs” to watch. “And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.” Matthew24:26. If you listen to the news media, you’ll hear of many wars. Russia is at war with Ukraine, but that’s just a stepping stone to their ultimate goal of controlling the Middle East, specifically Israel. Iran hates Israel and attacks on a regular basis. Go back and study the book of Judges. We know Israel has been in rebellion and mostly doesn’t honor God. It’s time for them to return to the God of their fathers and fight. Unfortunately, they’ll only call out to God after seven years of tribulation (read Revelation). Today, Israel is tired of rocket and terrorists attacking them and war is looming. “For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom….” Matthew 24:7a. As we read this, it seems redundant. “…nation against nation and kingdom against kingdom”, but once again, going back to the original language will help to make it clearer. “Ethnos” is translated “nation” which is a people group…ethnic groups. We see it daily that there is fighting within a nation because ethnic groups can’t get along. There are also many wars between nations. Do you see any of these signs happening? I do and it’s all very troubling, The signs continue and can cause great concern. “…and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.” Matthew 24:7b. If you follow the earthquake events, you’ll understand that there are thousands happening each month, and they are getting stronger. Pestilence is also a sign. Most of us remember the craziness of the last few years over a man-made disease. People willingly allowed the government to control every part of their lives. There will be more of the same coming as the world is being conditioned to accept a one world leader…the Anti-Christ and his mark. But that’s another story for another commentary. Jesus also told of famine. We see problems beginning now. Food shelves aren’t stocked like they once were. Animals have been dying, fires break out in chicken houses and thousands of chickens die. Our food supply is being tampered with so the food we buy is not the food that God created for our nutritional health. Scripture also tells of another type of famine. “Behold the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, or a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: and they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.” Amos 8:11-12. Oh my, this is happening. Preachers are politically correct instead of Biblically correct. Drag queens are invited to preach in some congregations, and it gets worse by the day. People are starving for God’s truth. Remember, Jesus wasn’t talking with His disciples about today’s world, but the way the world would be just before His second coming. “All these are the beginning of sorrows.” Matthew 24:8. The word “sorrows” is from the Greek word “odin”, which means “birth pains”. I’m sure many who are reading this can relate to that feeling. I remember walking the floor all night because of pain as my baby was beginning to get in the position for birth. It hurt, but the pain would intensify. The pains grew stronger and finally it was very painful. As my husband held my hand, all he could do was encourage me. Then, it was time and the baby was born and the pain was worth it. As we watch the signs coming to pass in our own time, we know we are very close to the final seven years of history. As it gets closer, we need to encourage each other. “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.” 1 Thessalonians 5:9-11. Don’t forget that Jesus wasn’t telling the disciples about the Rapture, but about Daniel’s 70th week…the tribulation. That’s an event that will happen after the Rapture. Jesus took our punishment at the cross, and Christians will be taken to Heaven prior to God’s judgment being poured out upon the entire earth. In His words to the disciples, Jesus gave many, many more signs to look for, and we see the shadows of all of them falling upon our world today. The days of Noah and the Days of Lot are especially prominent as genetic manipulation and sexual perversion are all around us. Brothers and sisters, don’t be a part of the sin in this world, but set your sights upon Jesus and His promise. Even though we see the signs happening, Christians have the promise that we will be taken Home before the Anti-Christ begins his reign of terror. “And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.” 1 Thessalonians 1:10. When Jesus returns to establish His Kingdom on earth, we will come with Him. That final battle will be over quickly. No evil can withstand the King of kings. Looking for signs? Look to Scripture for signs of the times and act accordingly. Conform your life to Christ’s example. Share the Gospel. The signs say that time is getting short. 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. The Beginning and the End - Enjoying the God-Centeredness of the Bible - Stephen Witmer - https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/the-beginning-and-the-end Do you want to know an inside secret about sermons? You may have noticed it already. If you haven’t, you probably will from now on. Here’s the secret: Preachers often like to begin with an image, story, word, phrase, or Bible passage, and then return to it at the end of the sermon. Those bookends emphasize the preacher’s point, pushing it deeper into the hearts and minds of a congregation. The biblical authors understood this. King David begins Psalm 103 with an exhortation to himself: “Bless the Lord, O my soul” (Psalm 103:1). He ends the psalm in exactly the same way: “Bless the Lord, O my soul!” (Psalm 103:22). This bracketing (the technical term is inclusion) underscores the point of the whole psalm. David urges his own soul to praise the Lord. Everything in between provides reasons for praising the Lord, as well as exhortations for all of heaven and earth to join in praise. If the borders of a psalm may point toward its main emphasis, what about the beginning and end of the Bible as a whole? When we examine the bookends of Scripture, what do we find? The End from the Beginning Genesis 1:1 says, “In the beginning, God . . .” Before anything else existed — sunsets, seaweed, giraffes, algebra, lightning, tomatoes, laughter, supernovas, bubblegum, coffee — there was only the triune God, eternally happy within his triune self. Everything and everyone else came later. At the other end of the canon, the close of Revelation describes an eternal future in which “the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God” (Revelation 21:3). Notice three truths about these bookends. First, God bestrides the Bible, vibrantly present at both the beginning and end. He’s the Alpha and Omega of the Scriptures, the first and the last. He never began to exist, nor will he ever cease to do so. He is absolute, unchanging reality. Of no one and nothing else is this true. Only God is present at both the beginning and end of the Bible. Second, something important has changed from Genesis 1 to Revelation 21. At the very beginning of the Bible, God exists within the happy community of himself. At the very end of the Bible, he dwells with his people in a new creation. Where did those people and that place come from? God himself created and redeemed both the people and the place. Third, it turns out that the story doesn’t end when the Bible does. It goes on and on and on, for eternity. The Bible’s penultimate verse is a cry from the heart: “Come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20), which means that the Scriptures conclude on tiptoe, yearning toward a deeper, fuller, richer experience of the presence of Christ. God’s story is an eternal one. The cry of God’s people is always for more of God. Story Beneath Every Story The implication of all this is that the Bible is not ultimately our story but God’s. God himself is the main character — and also the author who dictates the action. The Bible tells primarily of God’s works, ways, and words. Yes, there are lots of secondary characters and interesting subplots. We learn about the material creation, including the abundance and variety of plant and animal life that fills the world. We read fascinating accounts of Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Nehemiah, Peter, Paul, and hundreds of others, who make big mistakes and accomplish great things. The Bible bursts with stories of human frailty, rebellion, intrigue, love, courage, and tragedy. But none of those stories is the main one. None of those characters is the hero. The overarching story line of the Bible is the story of God — the only one present at both the beginning and the end. Everyone (and everything) else is there in the story as an invited guest, beyond their deserving. All the complexities of human existence, and the vast lifespans of galaxies, exist within the eternal story of God. Overlooking the Lead Role It may seem blindingly obvious to claim that the Bible is mainly the story of God, but how easy it is to miss. Years ago, a famous Bible scholar wrote an article called “The Neglected Factor in New Testament Theology.” In it, he argued that God himself was the neglected factor! God’s presence was so often assumed by those committed to studying the Scriptures with care and rigor that it was largely overlooked. Yes, this actually happens. On a more everyday level, many of us could honestly admit that we commonly place ourselves at the center of the stories we inhabit. When we grant God a place (all too often we forget him entirely), it’s to notice how he fits in around our own story. We may be mystified or angry or sad that he hasn’t intervened more frequently. Or we may be genuinely grateful for what he’s done. But at the deepest level, we’ve flipped the script: God inhabits our stories, rather than the other way around. Maybe God-centeredness isn’t so obvious as we thought. Our tendency to minimize and marginalize God is sometimes evident in our approach to the great Bible bookends of Genesis and Revelation. Both are battlegrounds for fights about how and when exactly God created, as well as the timetable of events for his return. These questions are not unimportant. But sadly, they’ve sometimes overshadowed God himself. Our fascination with how God has acted (or will act) has too often led to gross neglect of the central truth that he has acted at all — and what that says about him. Even a brief look at Genesis and Revelation (which is all we have space for here) shows that these two great books tell the story of God. At the Center of the Beginning In Genesis, all things are from and for God. He’s the originator of all, and he’s the first enjoyer of all. He creates by speaking everything into existence. That means all else is derivative and has its source in him. Even as he creates, he observes and appreciates what he makes. Over and over, he sees that his creation is good (Genesis 1:4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25), even “very good” (1:31). We get the sense that he’s really enjoying this. All things are from him and for him. Moreover, humankind, the pinnacle of this “very good” creation, exists to display his worth. God’s creation of men and women in his image, after his likeness (Genesis 1:26), suggests that their vocation is to image him forth to the rest of the world, serving as agents of his rule. His command to be “fruitful and multiply” (Genesis 1:28) demonstrates that their display of his worth isn’t meant to be merely local but rather global. And God is doggedly persistent in his project of blessing all mankind and displaying his worth everywhere. He doesn’t allow the rebellion of Adam and Eve to derail his project but persists in working with humanity. After the catastrophic judgment of the flood, he starts over with Noah’s family. Following the proud self-assertion of the nations (Genesis 11), he calls Abram to serve as a conduit of divine blessing for “all the families of the earth” (Genesis 12:3). Throughout Genesis, God is the sovereign planner, the persistent initiator, and the main actor. He’s the one who sends the flood, calls Abram, blesses Abram, renews his covenant promises to Isaac and Jacob, and sends Joseph ahead into Egypt to preserve his people (Genesis 45:7; 50:20). He writes the story and moves it forward at every step. God is also the sweetest blessing, the ultimate treasure, of his people. After Adam and Eve’s rebellion, their greatest punishment is exile from God’s presence (Genesis 3:22–24). More precious even than the blessing of land and offspring is God’s promise to Abram “to be God to you and to your offspring after you” and his promise regarding Abram’s descendants that “I will be their God” (Genesis 17:7–8). Genesis is a profoundly God-centered book. In it, all things are from, through, and to God. At the Center of the End The seven blessings scattered throughout Revelation (the first in 1:3 and the last in 22:14) show that the main purpose of this book is not to satisfy end-time curiosity or to solve apocalyptic puzzles, but to bring divine blessing to God’s suffering people. God means to give grace, as is evident in 1:4 (“Grace to you”) and 22:21 (“The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you all”). Importantly, God’s blessing is not a gift that is separable from himself. Rather, the blessing of God is God. In the new creation, he will “dwell” with his people (Revelation 21:3), a promise that recalls his presence among Israel in the tabernacle. In fact, the description of the new Jerusalem as a perfect golden cube (Revelation 21:15–21) nods to the Most Holy Place in the temple, suggesting that in the new creation God’s people will enjoy his immediate presence, as only the high priest was permitted to do (and that only once a year). In the new world, his people will see his face (Revelation 22:4), a staggering privilege not even Moses was permitted. The long and painful story of exile from God’s presence that began after Adam and Eve’s sin and banishment from the garden, and continued through Israel’s exile from the promised land, will finally end. God’s people will enjoy his perfect presence in the new creation and will never again be sent away. Meanwhile, as God’s people await this promised future, Revelation steadies them by insisting that nothing happens by chance, but rather all things occur by God’s sovereign plan. The book is “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place” (Revelation 1:1). That key word must expresses divine necessity. The book ends with the reminder that “the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place” (Revelation 22:6). It must take place because God has willed it. His sovereign control brings steady comfort and strength in the present. Revelation is radically God-centered. The sovereign God ordains the ways of the world. The glorious, triune God is the aim and treasure of his people. His throne is set in the midst of worshiping angels and humans (Revelation 4–5). Joys of a God-Centered World The God-centeredness of the Bible’s bookends suggests that the whole Bible is, in fact, focused on God and meant to tell his story. And this is very good news for us. When we live for ourselves, life doesn’t go well. But when we live for him, we’re living along the grain of the universe, as he designed things to function. We therefore experience true, deep, lasting joy. When John the Baptist heard that Jesus was growing in prominence, he said, “This joy of mine is now complete” (John 3:29). John was happiest serving as the spotlight operator, shining his light on the one true star of the show. The biographer Arnold Dallimore records a story about Charles Spurgeon, in whose day streetlights were gas-lit. Each had to be lit individually. One night, Spurgeon observed a line of streetlights being lit that went right up a hill, from its foot to the summit. He later described that moment: I did not see the lamplighter. I do not know his name, nor his age, nor his residence; but I saw the lights which he had kindled, and these remained when he himself had gone his way. As I rode along I thought to myself, “How earnestly do I wish that my life may be spent in lighting one soul after another with the sacred flame of eternal life! I would myself be as much as possible unseen while at my work, and would vanish into eternal brilliance above when my work is done.” (Spurgeon, 162) Let’s allow our joy to swell as we live within the one great story of the one true God. Daily Jot: Promoting suicidal behavior in children - Bill Wilson – www.dailyjot.com Corporations, the government, school systems and nonprofits have been poisoned by some sort of sex lust for children that they are aiding and abetting sexual predation of children, which promotes suicide and suicidal thoughts. Drag queens reading children books, the Southern Poverty Law Center providing explicitly transgender best practices guide for school kids, school districts lying to parents about the gender-grooming in public schools. Transgender kits being sent to school kids. This horror show is a ticket to a totally abhorrent society in the years to come, and this government-sanctioned sex abuse of our children must end. These people must be prosecuted and removed from any contact with children. Allowing the LGBTQ+++ community access to elementary and high schools may be a primary cause of suicide among LGBTQ+++ preteen and teen recruits. This “grooming” of minor children by LGBTQ+ activists welcomed by school systems appears to be leading children down such a path of guilt and confusion that studies indicate they are committing suicide at alarming rates compared with their heterosexual peers. A 2019 study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health analyzed 10,311 suicides ages 12-29 using information from the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) found that adolescents aged 12 to 14 who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and/or transgender are more likely to die by suicide than heterosexual teens of the same age. The researchers concluded that one out of four pre- and early teen suicides were among LGBTQ+ youth. Moreover, suicide rates among older LGBTQ+ youth are also higher than rates among heterosexual teens. A 2018 study also found that LGBTQ+ teenagers are three times as likely—that’s 75% more likely–to attempt suicide as their heterosexual peers. This is so bad that the LGBTQ+ community felt compelled to initiate the Trevor Project as a national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ+ young people under 25. The Trevor Project website says that “LGBTQ young people are more than four times more likely to attempt suicide than their peers, and suicide remains the second leading cause of death among all young people in the United States.” The Trevor Project donor list is a “Who’s Who” of Corporations ($12.1 million), the government ($85,071) and various others totaling in 2020 some $34.6 million. The sexual grooming and recruitment of children in schools, ad campaigns, and entertainment (say Disney for me) to accept the LGBTQ+ lifestyle obviously leads children to severe enough mental conflict that they not only consider suicide, they do it. THEY KILL THEMSELVES. If heterosexuals organized and went into schools to groom kids for sex, they would be arrested for a host of sex crimes. If LGBTQ+ people want to pursue that lifestyle as adults, it is between them and their God. But LEAVE OUR KIDS ALONE. Romans 12:21 exhorts, “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” This sexual predation of children is evil. Don’t fear the bully. Stand for the children. Daily Devotion: He Holds the Missing Piece - by Greg Laurie – www.harvest.org So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image. —2 Corinthians 3:18 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/he-holds-the-missing-piece/ - Listen I wasn’t raised in the church. I grew up in an alcohol-dazed world, and I saw what it did to the adult generation. So, I detoured myself into the drug culture and tried a lot of things. And I tried enough to know that it all was empty. When I heard about Jesus Christ, I thought, “I would like to know God. That idea sounds really good.” The idea of having a relationship with God held great appeal for me. But I also noticed that the Christians on my high school campus were sweet and nice and loving. I thought, “I’m not that way. I’m cynical and sarcastic. In fact, I can be kind of mean. I don’t know if I can become one of those people.” However, after I became a Christian, God started working in my life. Now, I’m not saying that I don’t have a little bit of cynicism still. I’m not saying that I haven’t been sarcastic since my conversion. But I am saying that God changed my heart. In fact, when I told people that I was a Christian, they didn’t believe it. They thought I was joking. And later when I became a preacher, they laughed even harder. It was the last thing anyone envisioned for me. But God had a different plan for my life. And who knows what kind of plan He has for you? Maybe you have tried to get your life together. Maybe you’re still searching for answers. You’ve been trying to fill the void in your life with anything and everything, but nothing satisfies. God holds the missing piece. You won’t find it in your pursuits or in anything this world has to offer. But you will find it in a relationship with God. The missing piece is a relationship with Him through Jesus Christ. And He will change you from the inside out. PROPHECY UPDATE NEWS HEADLINES Yesterday's Prophecies - Today's Headlines HEADLINES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TRACKING BIBLE PROPHECY 6/8/23 http://trackingbibleprophecy.org/birthpangs.php
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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