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Going Forth of the Word to Return and Build Jerusalem - By Randy Nettles - https://www.raptureready.com/2023/06/03/going-forth-of-the-word-to-return-and-build-jerusalem-by-randy-nettles/
They say words matter. It’s true, especially deciphering the Bible in regard to translating Hebrew and Greek words into English. I usually agree with the King James Version translation, as I believe it is more consistently accurate compared to the others, but every once in a while, I prefer other translations. This is the case with Daniel 9:25. Here is how the KJV reads, “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.” This is a good translation, except for one word, in my opinion – “commandment.” Other translations substitute the word “decree” for commandment. I still don’t think this is the most accurate word. I like the DARBY (and others) translation best. “Know therefore and understand: From the going forth of the word to return and to build Jerusalem unto Messiah, the Prince, are seven weeks, and sixty-two weeks. The street and the moat shall be built again, even in troublous times.” I prefer the word “word” in this Scripture over decree or commandment. The original Hebrew word for this Scripture is “dabar,” which means “word, words, speech, thing, or a matter.” Dabar is a common word (Strong’s Hebrew 1697) used at least 1,441 times in the Old Testament. Sometimes it can refer to “the word of the Lord” as used in Daniel 9:2, “I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years specified by the word of the Lord through Jeremiah the prophet, that He would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.” But usually, it is referring to words spoken by human beings. It is a direct, clear, and forceful speech or words. The KJV translates Strong’s H1697 (dabar) in the following manner: word (807x), thing, (231x), matter (63x), acts (51x), chronicles (38x), saying (25x), commandment (20x), and miscellaneous (204x). On the other hand, the Hebrew word “teem” is translated as “a decree or command.” It is Strong’s Concordance H2942 (teem). It only occurs 49 times in 48 verses in the KJV. It is used 9 times in the Book of Ezra regarding decrees made by Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes. It is used 11 times in the Book of Esther regarding a decree made by King Ahasuerus (Xerxes) of Persia. It is used 15 times in the Book of Daniel regarding decrees made by Nebuchadnezzar and Darius. Teem is also used for decrees made by God in different books of the Bible. With all these passages of Scripture regarding different Babylonian and Persian kings making decrees (teem), you would think our keyword (teem) would be found in Daniel 9:25, especially since he used it in Daniel 3:10, 29; 4:6; and 6:26. Instead, the more common word, dabar, is used. As a matter of fact, the word dabar is used seven more times in Daniel 9, once as the “word of the Lord,” five times for “spoke, speaking, and talking” and once again for “word.” The word teem is not used at all in Daniel 9. The word decree means an official order issued by a legal authority. These decrees become the written law of the land, and they go out to the entire kingdom. Everyone must obey them under the penalty of death. Let’s briefly review a few royal decrees, with the Hebrew word teem used, issued by the kings of Persia in the sixth and fifth centuries BC. DECREES (TEEM) ISSUED BY PERSIAN KINGS 1. King Cyrus issued a decree around 538 BC, allowing the Israelites to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple. More than 40,000 Jews returned to Jerusalem in 537 BC and began work on the Temple in 536 BC under the leadership of Sheshbazzar, the newly appointed governor of Judah. “But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon, the same king Cyrus made a decree (teem) to build this house of God” (Ezra 5:13). After defeating the Babylonians in 539 BC, Cyrus made Babylon his capital city. All the vessels of gold and silver taken from the first Temple by Nebuchadnezzar were returned to the Jews at this time. This rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem fulfilled the prophecy by Isaiah given approximately 150 years earlier, which actually named Cyrus as God’s shepherd. “That says of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, You shall be built; and to the temple, Your foundation shall be laid” (Isaiah 44:28). 2. The construction of the 2nd Temple stopped in about 530 BC and remained dormant for about a decade until God used the prophets Haggai and Zechariah to convince the Israelites to resume construction in 520 BC. As they began rebuilding, they were confronted by Tattenai, the Persian provincial governor of Judah, who asked them where they received the authority to reconstruct the Temple. They told him of Cyrus’ decree, which evidently Tattenai had never heard of. The governor then made an inquiry to King Darius regarding the matter, so Darius searched the kingdom archives and found Cyrus’ decree. Then Darius issued his own decree to speed up the building of the Temple, agreeing to cover all the Jews’ expenses they incurred from the royal treasury (Ezra 5-6; Haggai 1:1). “Moreover I make a decree [teem] what you shall do to the elders of these Jews for the building of this house of God: that of the king’s goods, even of the tribute beyond the river, forthwith expenses be given unto these men, that they are not hindered” (Ezra 6:8). 3. In Ahasuerus’ (Xerxes) third year as king of Persia, he made a decree concerning his queen. “If it pleases the king, let there go a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, That Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she. And when the king’s decree [teem] which he shall make shall be published throughout all his empire, (for it is great,) all the wives shall give to their husband’s honor, both to great and small.” Once a decree was written in the laws, it could not be altered. A new decree would have to be issued to counter the original decree. Of course, we all know the story of Esther becoming queen of Persia and her part in saving her people from annihilation. The first Purim was celebrated in 473 BC. 4. In 458/457 BC, Ezra was commissioned by the Persian government to return to Jerusalem and oversee the Jews to ensure the observance of the Mosaic Law. The official decree was given in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes for some of the exiled Jews in Babylon (priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and the Nethinim) to return to Jerusalem under the leadership of Ezra the priest (Ezra 7:7). The total number was probably between 5000 – 8000 people, including women and children. This decree encouraged the return of more exiles with Ezra, the further enhancement of the Temple and its accompanying worship, and the appointment of civil leaders (Ezra 7:11-26). No mention of the rebuilding of Jerusalem is found in this decree, only issues regarding the newly built Temple and the teaching of the law of Moses. Ezra was a Levite priest and a scribe of the Law, who was a descendant of the High Priest Aaron, Moses’ brother. King Artaxerxes of Persia gave Ezra a copy of the letter that included the decree described in Ezra 7:12-26. “I make a decree [teem], that all they of the people of Israel, and of his priests and Levites, in my realm, which are minded of their own freewill to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee. For as much as you are sent of the king, and of his seven counselors, to enquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy God which is in your hand” (Ezra 7:13-14). Much silver and gold was given to Ezra from the king and his counselors, and the silver and gold that was given to them by the citizens of Babylon and the priests. THE WORD (DABAR) TO NEHEMIAH The word teem (decree) is not found in the Book of Nehemiah (or in Daniel 9). There were, however, “words” spoken by King Artaxerxes, which gave Nehemiah permission to return to Jerusalem for the purpose of rebuilding the city of Jerusalem and its gates and defensive walls. This occurred in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes in 445/444 BC in the month of Nisan (Nehemiah 2:1). The reason Nehemiah wanted to return to Jerusalem is found in Nehemiah 2:3-5. Nehemiah tells the king that “the city of Jerusalem lies waste and its gates are burned with fire.” He asks the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, I ask that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ tombs [Jerusalem], that I may build it.” After Nehemiah asked the king for permission to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the city and walls, the king replied, “How long will your journey be? And when will you return? So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time” (Nehemiah 2:6). These were the words of the king indicating his approval of Nehemiah’s request. Nehemiah also asked the king to “let letters be given to me for the governors of the region beyond the River, that they must permit me to pass through till I come to Judah, and a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king’s forest, that he must give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel which pertains to the temple, for the city wall, and for the house that I will occupy.” “And the king granted them to me according to the good hand of my God upon me. Then I went to the governors in the region beyond the River, and gave them the king’s letters. Now the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me” (Nehemiah 2:7-9). Ezra’s decree was for a large contingency of Jews living in Babylon (Iraq) to return to Jerusalem for Temple and religious purposes, carrying gold and silver with them. Such a major operation would require an official decree by the King of Persia, which would be written into the records of the kings of Persia, making it a law allowing the Jews to return and relocate to Jerusalem with the stated purpose as already outlined. Nehemiah’s return to Jerusalem was only for a small group of Jews living in Susa (Iran) to accompany him on his trip for the purpose of rebuilding the city and the walls. Nehemiah would use the manpower that was already living in the area of Judah and Jerusalem for the construction work. This was not a major return/relocation by a large amount of Jewish people to Judah and Jerusalem (and they were not carrying gold and silver with them), so an official “decree” was probably not necessary to be written into law. If it was, it is not mentioned in the Book of Nehemiah. Evidently, only the king’s “word” and letters (with the seal of the King of Persia) were required for authorization for Nehemiah’s mission. Once Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem, he scouted out the conditions of the gates and walls at night in secret. He then told the officials and workers there in Jerusalem, “You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire. Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach.’ And I told them of the hand of my God which had been good upon me, and also of the king’s words that he had spoken to me. So they said, ‘Let us rise up and build.’ Then they set their hands to this good work” (Nehemiah 2:17-18). In these verses, the translated English word, words, is “dabar” in Hebrew. This is the same Hebrew word (dabar) used in Daniel 9:25. Is this a coincidence? I think not. It would have been more reasonable, grammatically, for Daniel to have used the word teem if the terminus a quo (start) of Daniel’s 70th seven began in Artaxerxes’ seventh year (458/457) with Ezra’s decree. However, he didn’t; he used the word dabar, which is one reason I believe the terminus a quo for Daniel’s 70th seven was in 445/444 BC when King Artaxerxes gave the go-ahead word to Nehemiah to “return and build.” Nehemiah and his workers completed the gates and walls construction in 52 days (Nehemiah 6:15). However, there was still much work to be done. “Now the city was large and great: but the people were few therein, and the houses were not built. And the rulers of the people dwelt at Jerusalem: the rest of the people also cast lots, to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem the holy city, and nine parts to dwell in other cities” (Nehemiah 7:4; 11:1). Houses had to be built in Jerusalem for one-tenth of the population that lived in the surrounding area of Judah. THE 69 WEEKS/SEVENS – FROM EZRA’S DECREE TO CHRIST Those who hold to Ezra’s decree in 458/457 as the terminus a quo (start) of Daniel’s prophecy believe the 69 weeks of Daniel 9:25 (“Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the decree to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and sixty-two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times”) were fulfilled in 26/27 AD when Jesus began his ministry (late summer or early fall ) and was baptized by John the Baptist and the Holy Spirit. One problem with this view is there is no terminus ad quem (endpoint) date for the 69 weeks that can be determined for the start of Jesus’ ministry. Most scholars believe the ministry of Jesus lasted for 3.5 years, but it can’t be proven by Scripture. There are only three definite Passovers recorded in the Book of John, which accounts for 2.5 years. So, what was the end date for the 69 sevens of Daniel 9:25? The answer would have to be a guess or an approximation. The dispensationalist premillennialists of this dating method believe the first part of Daniel 9:26, the death of Jesus Christ, occurs after the 69 weeks are over (by approximately 2.5- 3.5 years) and is part of a gap period (along with the destruction of Jerusalem and the 2nd Temple in 70 AD, and beyond) before the 70th week begins in the future. The timeline mentioned in 9:26, “And after threescore and two weeks, Messiah shall be cut off,” would have occurred when Jesus was crucified in 30/31 AD. The preterists of this dating method believe the 70th seven finished in 33 or 34 AD during the time of Stephen and Paul (for some reason). So, regarding this preterist view, to what does Daniel refer in vs. 9:27 when he states he is confirming a covenant for seven years? If it refers to Christ, then what covenant was it, and how did He break it? THE 69 SEVENS – FROM NEHEMIAH’S WORD TO CHRIST I don’t adhere to the 458/457 terminus a quo for Daniel’s 70th seven prophecy. I believe it started in 444 BC when the word/dabar was given to Nehemiah to go and build the city and walls of Jerusalem. In regard to the terminus ad quem of the 69 sevens, I don’t think “until Messiah the Prince” is referring to the start of Jesus’ ministry as a prophet, teacher/preacher, healer, and miracle worker, but is referring to the King, when Jesus rode into Jerusalem as king of the Jews (but wasn’t accepted by the people and religious rulers) on Nisan 10, 33 AD. This fulfilled the prophecy of Zechariah approximately five and a half centuries earlier. “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, your King comes unto you: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass” (Zechariah 9:9). Daniel calls Him the Prince of princes in Daniel 8:25. The first part of Daniel 9:26 comes a few days later when Jesus was crucified or “cut off” on Nisan 14, 33 AD. With this timeline, there isn’t a 3.5-year gap between Daniel 9:25 and the first part of Daniel 9:26 (Jesus’ death). There is only a matter of a few days. Most of those who hold to this dating method believe the 69 weeks were for 483 years, but this is only possible by using the “prophetic” 360-day calendar made famous by Robert Anderson. Two such proponents of these dates and Anderson’s prophetic calendar are the Bible scholars Harold Hoehner and Thomas Ice. Hoehner spells it out nicely in Chronological Aspects of the Life of Christ Part VI: Daniel’s Seventy Weeks and New Testament Chronology. Of course, many of you who have read some of my previous articles know I no longer believe the dating method of Daniel’s prophecy is based on the “prophetic calendar.” I believe it is based on the Jewish calendar with the Shemitah/Sabbath years being used as the 69/70 sevens that Daniel mentions. See In The Midst of Daniel’s Seventy Weeks Prophecy (rev310.net) and Sevens :: By Randy Nettles – Rapture Ready for more information. Remember, the word “years” (as in 49, 434, 7, or 483, 490) is never used in Daniel 9:24-27, only the word “sevens” (as in 7, 62, 1, or 69, 70) is used for gauging time. In Harold Hoehner’s work, he does say something I find very interesting, “If sabbatical years were used, one would expect the decree to have been given in a sabbatical year and Christ’s death to have occurred in a sabbatical year.” This is exactly what I demonstrated in my last article, “Sevens.” The prophets and men of God who wrote the Bible were divinely inspired by God, the Holy Spirit. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16 – KJV). The NIV translation says it a little differently, but the meaning is the same. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness.” When it comes to the word of God, dabar matters. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! Randy Nettles [email protected] Revelation 13: The rise of the false prophet - By Mark Creech - https://www.christianpost.com/voices/revelation-13-the-rise-of-the-false-prophet.html Ethel Merman and Ray Middleton first performed the song “Anything You Can Do” in the Broadway production of “Annie Get Your Gun” in May of 1946. The lyrics say: “Anything you can do, I can do better. I can do anything better than you. Anything you can be, I can be greater. Sooner or later, I’m greater than you.” When we read the story of Lucifer’s fall in the Bible, the words of “Anything You Can Do” seem to summarize his entire attitude toward God. We might say the devil drank his own Kool-Aid. He became so full of himself he was grievously self-deceived. Christian author and founder of Proverbs 31 Ministries, Lysa TerKeurst, has written: “Ignoring the reality of our situation or deceiving ourselves about our own character, motives, and actions is a slippery slope that can lead to destruction.” Indeed, it can. Self-deception may be the most potent ruse, the most blinding, and the one that hardens us the most. The Dragon, the Great Deceiver, first deceived himself. Therefore, it is of utmost importance that we are careful to avoid this deadly sin. One effective way to avoid self-deception is to be completely truthful and honest about our thoughts, feelings, and actions. It’s also critical to check oneself by seeking feedback from those who can provide a different perspective. We should try to keep an open mind and not be afraid to challenge our own assumptions and biases. Whatever one does, we must be willing to take responsibility for our actions, even if it means admitting we were wrong. Most importantly, we must always measure our beliefs and practices by the Word of God. The apostle James admonished: “But don’t just listen to God’s Word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the Word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like” (James 1:23-24) In Revelation 13:1-10, the Dragon (the devil) empowers the Beast (the Antichrist) to deceive the world. The text says the Antichrist comes from the sea. In the Bible, the sea often represents chaos and instability. That is to say; the Antichrist comes on the scene when there is global bedlam and insecurity — everywhere all of life is being tossed to and fro. He is the mastermind behind a powerful, dominant, destructive political and military system meant to facilitate order and peace. Then Revelation 13:11-15 says another Beast rises, and this one emerges from the earth. When I visited the Holy Land, a guide took me to the many places where Jesus had walked. One day we boarded a boat and went out on the Sea of Galilee. When we were far out on the water, my guide said, “Today, you will not walk where Jesus walked.” Only Jesus could walk upon the water. The rest of us must walk on the land, where our footing is fixed and steady. The earth symbolizes stability and permanence. In other words, this second Beast ascends to prominence as the one who applies the will of the Antichrist. He steadies this earth’s ship of fools, docks it, and lowers the gangway for the masses to walk off the vessel and onto dry land. By way of explanation, he represents a religiously and spiritually deceptive system that soundly deceives the multitudes into venerating and obeying the Antichrist. Together these Beasts represent the mightiest forces of evil in human history, deceiving and controlling humanity. A broader picture shows these two as part of a counterfeit Trinity. The Dragon (the devil) is the Father, the Beast (the Antichrist) is the Son, and the second Beast (the False Prophet) is the Holy Spirit. Just as God, the Father, has vested all authority in His Son, Jesus, the Dragon has vested all his power with the Antichrist. And just as the Holy Spirit exalts Christ and points people to Him, the False Prophet exalts the Antichrist and directs people to pay homage to Him. Here is what the Scriptures say: “Then I saw another beast come up out of the earth. He had two horns like those of a lamb, but he spoke with the voice of a dragon. He exercised all the authority of the first Beast. And he required all the earth and its people to worship the first Beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. He did astounding miracles, even making fire flash down to earth from the sky while everyone was watching. And with all the miracles he was allowed to perform on behalf of the first Beast, he deceived all the people who belong to this world. He ordered the people to make a great statue of the first Beast, who was fatally wounded and then came back to life. He was then permitted to give life to this statue so that it could speak. Then the statue of the Beast commanded that anyone refusing to worship it must die” (Revelation 13:11-15). This second Beast, also known as the False Prophet, is described as having two horns like a lamb but speaking like a dragon. The “two horns like those of a lamb” indicate that he will have two significant places of authority. Since the horns are without crowns, his administration isn’t political but more likely spiritual. In Revelation Visualized, Dr. Gary G. Cohen and Salem Kirban speculate that “his two horns may signify rulership over two great religions — the Christian and non-Christian religions such as Islam.” With each passing day, much of Christianity today in the West is becoming more and more compromised, even apostate. Author W. Phillip Keller in his book, Predators in Our Pulpits, made an ominous statement that somewhat explains the way a religious leader of this kind is ushered onto the world stage. He writes: “Peace has enormous appeal to most people. So, in the name of peace and under the guise of goodwill tempered by tolerance, Christians are everywhere urged and encouraged to accept all sorts of destructive ideas and false influences that may be their undoing. “These take a hundred forms, far too numerous to list here in detail. But most of them come under universalism in religion, the belief that all spiritual concepts lead to God; the omniscience of the occult and mysticism; plausible political philosophies that provide for the welfare of all; academic and scientific humanism that exalts man’s intellect; gross materialism; scientific evolutionary hypothesis; the subtle appeal of hedonism as man’s chief end in life.” The apostle Paul warned, “Don’t be fooled by what they say. For that day will not come until there is a great rebellion against God and the man of lawlessness is revealed — the one who brings destruction” (2 Thessalonians 2:3). This means that during the end times, a rebellion and hostility to conventional Christianity will begin to grow until it climaxes into the coming of the Antichrist and his False Prophet. As Cohen and Kirban suggested, could Islam be a part of the final days' equation? According to a report by the Pew Research Center, Islam is projected to be the fastest-growing major religion in the world in the coming decades. The report predicts the Muslim population will grow by 70% between 2015 and 2060, while the Christian population will grow by only 34%. It’s an egregious error when people say Christians and Muslims worship the same God. There are stark differences in what the two monotheistic faiths believe and teach. Here are just a few:
Whatever the case, this False prophet, who seemingly has the character of a lamb but speaks persuasive words of evil like a Dragon, will mold all religions together into one — the worship of the Antichrist. He will perform great signs and wonders to deceive people into worshipping the first Beast. A.W. Tozer once said, “The devil does not possess originality; he always has to mimic what God does.” Chuck Swindoll echoed the same, saying, “The devil is an imitator, not a creator; he perverts and twists what God has made for good.” This is true in the miracles department, too. Pharaoh’s magicians in Exodus 7:10-13 replicated Moses’ miracle of turning his staff into a snake. But it’s unclear whether what they did was actually a miracle or simply an illusion. In Acts 8:9-24, Simon the sorcerer performed shocking feats of magic, even claiming to be someone great. Nevertheless, Peter exposed him as a fraud. A modern-day example is the Indian godman Sathya Sai Baba, who claimed to perform miracles such as materializing objects out of thin air and curing diseases. Later, he was exposed as a fake by skeptical investigators who found evidence of his trickery and sleight of hand. This is not to say real miracles don’t occur. They most definitely do. Unfortunately, many today are like Thomas Jefferson. He believed the laws of nature were constant, and any apparent deviations were likely the result of a misunderstanding. Jefferson was inclined to only place his faith in reason and science. But if God exists, and He most definitely does, then miracles are possible. The first verse of the Bible says that in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1). If we believe this verse, then we should have no difficulty believing in the power of God to heal the sick, feed the multitudes, give sight to the blind, and heal the disabled. If God can make this vast universe with so many intricate details, worlds within worlds, then he can do anything and use people to perform unexplainable acts. However, it is critical to understand that miracles are not common occurrences and should be scrutinized before being considered genuine. The rule of thumb is to remember that no miracle which leads people away from God or fails to recognize Christ as the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6), comes from God and, therefore, must be deemed duplicitous and dangerous. The False Prophet is seemingly able to miraculously bring fire down from the sky like the prophet Elijah did. This ability is also similar to the Two Witnesses who defend themselves from their enemies with fire that comes from their mouths (Revelation 11:3-6). He sets up an image, a statue of the Antichrist, but unlike other idolatrous images, he seems able to give it life, so it speaks. How can this later phenomenon be explained? An idol that all of humanity must worship at the threat of death verbally converses with people and articulates the will of the Antichrist. There is no sure answer to the question. Some theoretical possibilities might be the development of artificial intelligence and robotics. It is conceivable a lifelike statue could be made to move and speak through pre-programmed responses or voice recognition technology. With holographic technology, it would be possible to create the projection of a lifelike image that could talk and interact with an audience. Perhaps the statue comes to life through the deceptive powers of hypnosis or even some form of universal drug use (Revelation 9:21). Still, these staggering marvels by the False Prophet may not be fake, after all. Instead, Satan retains his supernatural powers as an angel — powers he now illegitimately uses for duping and destroying the human race. Some might think these things are too fantastic to accept — the thought of the whole world running after one man — the idea that another man whose primary role is religious or spiritual would convince the world to embrace his monstrous pretensions and bow down in veneration to the Antichrist. Up until the present, it may have seemed too much. Nevertheless, with the rapid advances and popularity of totalitarianism, consumerism, social media and technology, wokeism, cancel culture, critical race theory, post-modernism, and progressivism, it appears we are being prepared for a grand delusion. For at the moment, the entire world seems to have lost their ever-loving minds. Believers should hold fast to the faith, seek the truth, and remain vigilant against deceit and false teachings and practices. They should continue to pray, earnestly study the Bible, and faithfully attend a Christ-exalting church, in order to gain wisdom and guidance. Unbelievers should swiftly run to Christ for forgiveness and salvation; mercy’s day for most will soon be gone. Prophecy Update Videos Must Watch Videos! Videos You Can Trust
“There Is A Sophisticated Disinformation Campaign Targeting The U.S. Populace Which Is Extremely Unethical And Immoral” - by Michael Snyder - http://endoftheamericandream.com/there-is-a-sophisticated-disinformation-campaign-targeting-the-u-s-populace-which-is-extremely-unethical-and-immoral/ Highly advanced aircraft of unknown origin have been flying around in our skies for a long time, and now a whistleblower has come forward with claims that the U.S. government has actually been able to retrieve “intact and partially intact vehicles”. If what is he is alleging turns out to be accurate, it has the potential to change everything. But this whistleblower is also warning that there has been a concerted effort by elements inside the intelligence community to keep this information away from Congress and away from the U.S. population as a whole. They don’t want us to know the truth, and that should greatly alarm all of us. This week, 36-year-old David Charles Grusch made headlines all over the world when he started telling news outlets what he learned as a member of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and National Reconnaissance Office… David Charles Grusch, a veteran and former member of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and National Reconnaissance Office, has blown the whistle on this information, speaking with several news outlets about the crafts. “These are retrieving non-human origin technical vehicles, call it a spacecraft if you will, non-human exotic origin vehicles that have either landed or crashed,” Mr Grusch told NewsNationNow. If the U.S. government really has retrieved “non-human exotic origin vehicles that have either landed or crashed”, why can’t we see them? What are they trying to hide? According to Grusch, the recoveries that the U.S. government has made over the years include “intact and partially intact vehicles”… “We are not talking about prosaic origins or identities,” Grusch said. “The material includes intact and partially intact vehicles.” Grusch told the Debrief that analysis determined that this material is “of exotic origin” – meaning “non-human intelligence, whether extraterrestrial or unknown origin”. “[This assessment is] based on the vehicle morphologies and material science testing and the possession of unique atomic arrangements and radiological signatures,” Grusch said. If we have such vehicles, I would like to see them. I am sure that you would too. But these days just about everything is “classified”, and Grusch claims that even Congress is being kept in the dark… An unclassified version of the complaint provided to us states that Grusch has direct knowledge that UAP-related classified information has been withheld and/or concealed from Congress by “elements” of the intelligence community “to purposely and intentionally thwart legitimate Congressional oversight of the UAP Program.” All testimony Grusch provided for the classified complaint was provided under oath. If I was a member of Congress, hearing this would make me steaming mad. Grusch also says that a “sophisticated disinformation campaign” has been targeting the general population for years, because they don’t want us to know the truth either… Grusch told NewsNation the American public has been lied to for decades. “There is a sophisticated disinformation campaign targeting the U.S. populace which is extremely unethical and immoral,” Grusch said. This confirms what many of us have suspected for a long time. At times they will give us a little bit of the truth, but the intelligence community is purposely keeping most of what they have discovered away from us. Grusch has submitted an official whistleblower complaint, and the Intelligence Community Inspector General has already determined that his whistleblower complaint is “credible”… The Intelligence Community Inspector General found Mr Grusch’s complaint to be “credible” and “urgent” in July 2022 and a summary was given to the Director of National Intelligence, Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, according to Mr Grusch. And a colleague that worked very closely with Grusch says that his character is “beyond reproach”… Karl E. Nell, a recently retired Army Colonel and current aerospace executive who was the Army’s liaison for the UAP Task Force from 2021 to 2022 and worked with Grusch there, characterizes Grusch as “beyond reproach.” But that doesn’t mean that anything is actually going to happen. Grusch could be the most credible witness in the history of the world, but that simply is not going to be enough to break the wall of secrecy. Our officials will deny, deny and deny some more until they are blue in the face. In fact, the Pentagon has already released a statement that is intended to get us to stop asking any more inconvenient questions… In response to the recent claims, DOD spokesperson Sue Gough released a statement saying, “To date, AARO (All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office) has not discovered any verifiable information to substantiate claims that any programs regarding the possession or reverse-engineering of any extraterrestrial materials have existed in the past or exist currently. AARO is committed to following the data and it’s investigation wherever it leads.” Of course most of the large corporate news outlets here in the United States are either completely ignoring this story or are treating it as an oddity. Fortunately, there are a few real journalists that are taking this story very seriously. One of them is Tucker Carlson… He continued: ‘In a normal country, this news would qualify as a bombshell: the news of the millennium. But in this country, it doesn’t count.’ Carlson accused The Washington Post and New York Times of ignoring the story. ‘There was nothing at all about how an alien species is flying hypersonic aircraft above our cities. Not one word.’ He said: ‘So if you are wondering why our country seems so dysfunctional, this is a big part of the reason. Nobody knows what’s happening. He is right. This story is a massive bombshell, and it should be front page news for both the Washington Post and the New York Times. But there are certain things that they simply do not want to talk about, and that is because they are directed not to talk about them. So it is left to independent journalists such as myself to write about these things, and that is one of the reasons why I devoted an entire chapter in my latest book to this topic. Personally, I am entirely convinced that the stage is being set for a deception of epic proportions. This really is one of the biggest stories of this century so far, and I believe that this story is going to get a whole lot weirder in the months and years ahead. 'Mark of the Beast?' 1st step toward Global Digital Health Certification - By Bob Unruh - https://www.wnd.com/2023/06/mark-beast-1st-step-toward-global-digital-health-certification/ World Health Organization launches digital monitors for ... everyone! The World Health Organization has announced it has taken a step toward a Global Digital Health Certification Network that has as its goal to monitor, digitally, everyone! The announcement comes from the WHO and the European Commission, after WHO chief Tedros Ghebreyesus said his organization copied a scheme that had been developed during the COVID-19 pandemic by the European Union. The plans immediately were labeled "Mark of the Beast?" by those watching development of a worldwide agenda to use on citizens. The Manila Times said Ghebreyesus described the new agenda as a "global public good" and the first step in a scheme for a worldwide health "certification." Privacy experts long have been alarmed by the idea of a system that would set out to monitor literally everyone. Constitutionalists also are concerned about the related idea that the WHO would force all nations to submit to a global plan that would give it control over health decision-making entirely, meaning a bureaucrat from WHO could shut down a nation's economy, order residents to submit to experimental drugs, or more. Further, worldwide standards and data monitoring imply some sort of enforcement mechanism that would be needed to require compliance. The WHO and European Commission claimed the idea would ensure "people have access to their health records and credentials as they move across borders due to conflict, the climate crisis and other emergencies." But if people have access to those records, so would governments. Ghebreyesus claimed, "WHO aims to offer all WHO Member States access to an open-source digital health tool, which is based on the principles of equity, innovation, transparency and data protection and privacy." "This partnership is an important step for the digital action plan of the EU Global Health Strategy. By using European best practices we contribute to digital health standards and interoperability globally—to the benefit of those most in need. It is also a powerful example of how alignment between the EU and the WHO can deliver better health for all, in the EU and across the world. As the directing and coordinating authority on international health work, there is no better partner than the WHO to advance the work we started at the EU and further develop global digital health solutions,” said Stella Kyriakides, commissioner for health and food safety. Eighty countries already are part of the EU system. The announcement said the new partnership "will work to technically develop the WHO system with a staged approach to cover additional use cases, which may include, for example, the digitization of the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis." Advanced Technology Paving The Way: US Airforce AI-Enabled Drone Turns On Its Operator – By JB Hixson - https://harbingersdaily.com/advanced-technology-paving-the-way-us-airforce-ai-enabled-drone-turns-on-its-operator/ Recently the U. S. Air Force conducted a simulation in which an AI-enabled drone tasked with destroying surface-to-air missile sites attacked the very officer who was controlling it. The story sent shockwaves around the world with headlines such as, “AI Could Go Rogue and Kill Its Human Operators.” The Airforce later walked back the incident, but one official with firsthand knowledge of the test said in a blogpost, “[The AI] killed the operator. It killed the operator because that person was keeping it from accomplishing its objective.” He added, “We trained the system: ‘Hey, don’t kill the operator – that’s bad. You’re gonna lose points if you do that.’ So, what does it start doing? It starts destroying the communication tower that the operator uses to communicate with the drone to stop it from killing the target.” Stories of AI systems going rogue are becoming more and more common as our world hurtles rapidly toward a nightmare dystopian scenario right out of Hollywood. Skynet is no longer a fictional enemy confined to the Terminator movie franchise; it is a reality. Such advancements in technology are paving the way for the Beast system, a full spectrum planetary control grid led by the Antichrist and False Prophet during the future seven-year tribulation. The Luciferian elite are hard at work trying to create “godlike” beings, as Yuval Noah Harari put it. They are constructing a bio-digital convergence they believe will transcend humanity and constitute the perfect weapon against anyone who resists the great Satanic reset. Yet, any attempt to thwart God’s sovereign control and contravene his plan of the ages is sure to fail. No amount of computing power, semi-sentient artificial intelligence, or array of microchips will change that. Scripture reminds us the very weapons used by Satan and his earthly accomplices will one day blow back on them the same way the AI-enabled drone turned on its operator. Perhaps that is why God laughs at the oligarchs who dream of controlling the world (Psalm 2:4-6). He knows the stone they are fashioning is going to eventually roll back on them (Proverbs 26:27). Sometimes justice is poetic, as the enemy is hoisted by his own petard. AI weaponry is no match for God. The technocrats are ignoring the promise in Scripture that no weapon formed against God and His people will prosper (Isaiah 54:17). In an ironic twist, one day the one who claims to be god will be crushed by God Himself. Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, will destroy the Beast’s system with the “breath of His mouth and the brightness of His coming” (2 Thessalonians 2:8). All the intellectual enlightenment and scientific virtuosity of the transhumanists is useless against Almighty God. Those who conspire against the Lord and His Anointed are plotting a vain, hopeless thing (Psalm 2:1-3). Proverbs 5:21-23 KJV – “For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, And he pondereth all his goings. His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, And he shall be holden with the cords of his sins. He shall die without instruction; And in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.” Daily Jot: Stupidocrisy: Celebrating Pride Month - Bill Wilson – www.dailyjot.com The government, media and corporations are going out of their way to “celebrate” a group of people who want to be identified by their sexual preferences. In reality, this is about bullying Americans into allowing these people access to confuse, indoctrinate, evangelize, sexually molest and sexually mutilate America’s children. That’s what this is about. Equality under the law doesn’t mean forced acceptance and a license to be sexual predators of children. Yet the government has allowed this, even promoted it in the public school system and beyond. This attack on children and the jamming of this queer agenda down the throats of the majority is offensive and obscene in so many ways. What is at the bottom of Pride? It is the reason Lucifer fell. Isaiah 14:12-14 reveals the sin of pride: “How you are fallen from heaven, OLucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’” We can see that pride was the sin that preceded Adam and Eve. It was followed by rebellion against the precepts of God. Those promoting “Pride Month” are following suit, even to the point of hijacking the symbol of God Almighty—the rainbow. Ezekiel 1:28 says, “Like the appearance of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the brightness all around it. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. So when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard a voice of One speaking.” Revelation 4:2-3 says, “Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald.” Revelation 10:1 says, “And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire.” These are references to God the Father and his son Jesus the Christ. Satan hijacked the symbol of God and now the LGBTQ+++ have appropriated it for their use. Yet, corporations, business and the media insist on displaying the rainbow as a badge of honor in celebrating LGBTQ+++ Pride. God says in Leviticus and Deuteronomy that men laying with men and women with women is abomination. It’s not just Old Testament. Romans 1 goes into detail about how the homosexuals and lesbians “changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever.” The LGBTQ+++ agenda is an attempt at replacing God and His righteousness with the most debased sin. Allowing these fanatics access to our children and celebrating Pride Month is not only blasphemy, but also…say it with me…Stupidocrisy. Daily Devotion: We Belong to the Day - by Greg Laurie – www.harvest.org Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. —Romans 13:13 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/we-belong-to-the-day/ - Listen Shortly before he died, Freddie Mercury, the lead singer of Queen, recorded a song called “Party.” Here are some of the lyrics: “We were up all night, singing and giving a chase… the next morning everybody was hung over.” In the refrain he repeatedly implores his party mates to “come back and play.” Don’t be pulled into the illusion that drinking and partying will make you a happy person. Christians should live apart from that. Romans 13 tells us, “This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living” (verses 11–12 NLT). Here’s how the J. B. Phillips New Testament puts it: “The present time is of the highest importance—it is time to wake up to reality. Every day brings God’s salvation nearer. The night is nearly over, the day has almost dawned. Let us therefore fling away the things that men do in the dark, let us arm ourselves for the fight of the day!” That is good advice. Don’t chase after those things. Proverbs 20:1 says, “Wine produces mockers; alcohol leads to brawls. Those led astray by drink cannot be wise” (NLT). Eventually the party will be over. Then where will you be? I’m reminded of the great hymn of the church that says, “On Christ, the solid Rock I stand—all other ground is sinking sand.” This world offers you cheap thrills that never will meet your deepest needs. In the Book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon arrived at the same conclusion: life is empty without God. PROPHECY UPDATE NEWS HEADLINES Yesterday's Prophecies - Today's Headlines HEADLINES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TRACKING BIBLE PROPHECY 6/7/23 http://trackingbibleprophecy.org/birthpangs.php
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