Heavenly Signs or Natural Phenomenon – Part II

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Heavenly Signs or Natural Phenomenon – Part II - Randy Nettles - https://www.rev310.net/post/heavenly-signs-or-natural-phenomenon-part-ii
 
Many people thought the purported Revelation 12 “sign” or constellation that aligned on September 23, 2017, was a heavenly sign for the Rapture. Of course, the Rapture didn’t occur on this date and six years later, it still hasn’t. But what is it about Revelation 12 that leads many people to believe the Rapture of the Church is in view here? We know the Woman represents Israel (and of course Mary, the mother of Jesus, is an Israelite), the Dragon represents Satan (and his antichrists), and the “male child” definitely represents Jesus.
 
We know it’s Jesus by verse 4, “The dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.” This child is Jesus, the son of Mary from the tribe of Judah. Verse 5 says, “And she (Mary/Israel) brought forth a man child (Jesus), who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child (still Jesus, the man child) was caught up unto God, and to his throne.” “Her child” is Jesus. The woman (Mary/Israel) never gave birth to the Church. Most scholars who doubt the Church is in view here, believe that the “catching up unto God” refers to Jesus’ ascension into heaven in Acts 1:9. They believe the Church is never referred to as masculine but rather as feminine, i.e. the Bride of Christ.
 
However, many scholars believe the child, singularly, was Christ, but corporately “he” is the Church (i.e., His head and body). Another possible indicator that the “corporate” child is referring to Jesus and the Church is the wording of verse 5b, “and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. The Greek word for “caught up” is “harpazo” which is the same word used for the Rapture in 1 Thessalonians 4:17. I don’t know if this one word quantifies the Rapture in this verse however, as John uses several different Greek words for this supernatural upward action. In the ascension of Jesus unto heaven in Acts 1:9, Luke uses the word “epairo” for “taken up.” In Revelation 4:1, John uses the word “anabaino” for “come up” and also twice in Revelation 11:12 for “come up” and “ascended up.”
 
There have been Bible scholars and teachers on both sides of the aisle regarding this issue. It is a debate that is not going away anytime soon, like the ongoing debate about whether Matthew 24:36- 50 is referring to the Rapture or the Second Coming (or both). Everybody must make up their own minds regarding such matters. We (pre-tribbers) can agree, however, that Jesus ascended into heaven and will one day return for His bride (or body) at the Rapture before the wrath of God comes upon the world.
 
If there is to be a “Revelation 12 sign” in the sky, it will be a sign for the Jews, probably on or before the beginning of the 3.5 years of the Great Tribulation, as that is what verses 6-17 are referring to. Also, if there is to be a great wonder in heaven (a constellation) of Virgo and the Sun and Moon and a crown of 12 stars in Leo, then there must also be a great wonder in heaven (a constellation) for the great red dragon that is mentioned in verses 3 and 4. Here is a good website that casts doubts on the actual constellation in the sky on September 23, 2017 (and also 2023) being the Revelation 12:1-2 sign: Biblical signs in the sky on September 23, 2017? | Astronomy Essentials | EarthSky Robert Breaker of YouTube fame (The Revelation 12 Sign Reborn: Don't Look Up! - YouTube) now believes the September 23, 2017 alignment was not the Rev. 12 sign but was possibly a heavenly sign of a historical event that occurred some 74 days later. On December 6, 2017, Donald Trump and the U.S. recognized Jerusalem as the capital city of Israel and made plans to relocate the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
 
Breaker also believes this same sort of constellation (slightly different) will occur again and could be the real Rev. 12 sign. It will align again or be “reborn” six years later (from September 23, 2017) in September of 2023. He believes this will be the sign that precedes either the Rapture or something of great import to the Jews, such as the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem. It’s strange to me that this “sign” in 2017 was a “once-in-a-lifetime event,” but now it is to realign in 2023, only six years later. Instead of the planet Jupiter in Virgo, now it will be a comet by the name of Child. I guess you could call me a skeptic.
 
LUNAR ECLIPSES SIGNIFYING THE END OF THE AGE?
 
2015 appeared to be a possible prophetic year for Israel and the world. It was the second year of a tetrad (four consecutive total lunar eclipses) with both years aligning with the Feasts of Passover (Nisan 15) and Tabernacles (Tishri 15). There were also many significant and historical events occurring in that year. Several eschatological writers wrote articles concerning these events and astronomical signs. Daymond Duck wrote The Last Generation:: by Daymond Duck - Rapture Ready on September 28, 2015. Jan Markell wrote Blood Moons: Harbingers or Hype? :: by Jan Markell - Rapture Ready on August 7, 2015, and yours truly wrote The Fall of 2015:: by Randy Nettles - Rapture Ready on July 2, 2015.
 
Regarding the tetrads, here is part of what I wrote eight years ago, “The last two lunar eclipse tetrads occurring on these feast days of the Lord were in 1949/1950 and 1967/1968. These two tetrad cycles had three common denominators regarding the Jewish state: 1) War for Israel. 2) Israel acquired more land by defeating her enemies. 3) Mass immigration of Jews to the homeland.”
 
There was a total lunar eclipse that was visible from Israel on September 28, 2015, on Tabernacles, just three days after the U.N.’s fifteen-year plan for the Agenda for Sustainable Development. This lunar eclipse is part of Saros cycle #137. The next lunar eclipse of Saros cycle 137 is on October 8, 2033, which is also on Tabernacles. This one will not be visible from Israel. Both of these eclipses will have occurred during Tabernacles in the second year of tetrads. These are the only two eclipses out of 78 total eclipses of Saros cycle 137 that are part of a tetrad.
 
There is something significant about the number 137 for this lunar Saros cycle. It’s almost like God is trying to tell us something. As I have written about before in 137: Number of God in Scripture and Science:: By Randy Nettles - Rapture Ready, 137 is the number for God. However, I am willing to admit that 137 being the Saros cycle number for the lunar eclipse in 2033 (the fourth one in a tetrad), on Tabernacles, could be a coincidence.
 
SOLAR ECLIPSES SIGNIFYING THE END OF THE AGE?
 
There was a total solar eclipse (only partial in Israel, Europe, North Africa, etc.) that occurred on March 20, 2015 (on Nisan 1). Remember solar eclipses are supposedly signs for the Gentiles. About three months past the solar eclipse of 2015, on June 26, 2015, same-sex marriage was made legal throughout the United States by the U.S. Supreme Court. On September 3, 2015, on Trumpets, there was a partial lunar eclipse. 22 days later, on September 25, 2015, the 193 countries that make up the United Nations agreed to adopt the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. About three months later, in December 2015, almost 200 nations consented to the Paris Climate Change Agreement, including the U.S.
 
Solar eclipses also occur in Saros cycles, which are numbered also (independent of lunar eclipses). The total solar eclipse of March 20, 2015 (Nisan 1) was part of the Saros cycle #120. The next total solar eclipse of Saros cycle 120 will occur on March 30, 2033. 120 is an interesting number for this Saros cycle as it looks portentous for the end of the age. Moses was 120 years old when he passed away. “And he said to them: I am one hundred and twenty years old today. I can no longer go out and come in. Also the Lord has said to me, You shall not cross over this Jordan” (Deuteronomy 31:2).
 
LUNAR AND SOLAR ECLIPSES AND THEIR SAROS CYCLE NUMBERS
 
Saros solar eclipse cycle #137 began in 1389 AD and will end in 2633 for a duration of 1244.08 years. There are 70 solar eclipses in this cycle. Let’s see how they compare to the lunar cycles of #137. As a matter of fact, let’s compare the tetrad lunar cycles of 2014-2015 (Saros cycles 122, 127, 132, and 137) with the solar cycles of 2000- 2002, which have identical cycle numbers. We will also compare the tetrad lunar cycles of 2032-2033 (Same Saros cycles as 2014-2015) with the solar cycles of 2019-2020, which also have identical cycle numbers.
 
TETRAD LUNAR ECLIPSE       LUNAR SAROS       SOLAR ECLIPSE        SOLAR SAROS
 
DATE                                         CYCLE #                 DATE                         CYCLE #
 
April 15, 2014 - Passover            122                   Dec. 25, 2000                122
Oct. 8, 2014 – Tabernacles          127                   June 21, 2001                127
April 4, 2015 – Passover             132                   Dec. 14, 2001                132
Sept. 28, 2015 – Tabernacles       137                  June 10, 2002                 137
April 25, 2032 – Iyyar 15            122                  Jan. 6, 2019                    122
Oct. 18, 2032 – Heshvan 15        127                  July 2, 2019                    127
April 14, 2033 - Passover            132                  Dec. 26, 2019                 132
Oct. 8, 2033 - Tabernacles           137                  June 21, 2020                 137
 
SOLAR ECLIPSES OF THE 21ST CENTURY
 
I would say 2001 and 2020 were two of the worst years in recent American history. One of the worst catastrophes for America was the 9-11-2001 attacks on America’s soil. Many would say the solar eclipse of June 21, 2001, might have been a “sign” that preceded this catastrophic event. It was a precursor of the end of the age, and of Revelation 6:3-4 where the rider of the red horse will take peace from the earth and “that people should kill one another.”
 
Of course, 2019 was when the first human cases of Covid-19 were identified in Wuhan, China. WHO declared the Covid-19 outbreak a pandemic on March 11, 2000. Covid-19 raged throughout the world for several years, killing millions of people. Several vaccines were developed for COVID-19 by December 2020, which have proven ineffectual and probably even deadlier than the pandemic. Once again, there are those who would say the solar eclipse of Dec. 26, 2019, was a sign that preceded the pandemic. It was a precursor of Revelation 6:7-8, where the rider of the pale horse, Death, will kill a fourth of the earth.
 
In my article, The 30330 Man:: By Randy Nettles - Rapture Ready, I talked about how on July 31, 2019, at the end of the Democratic presidential debate, Joe Biden told the viewers to “go to Joe 30330” to support him and I speculated on why he chose those numbers. Well, we found out in 2020. Some astute person calculated that 2020 divided by 666 (the number for the Antichrist) is 3.0330. I believe 30330 is the number or sign for the “spirit of the Antichrist” that is alive and well on planet Earth and is paving the way for the man of sin. Somehow Joe Biden won the November 3, 2020 election for president of the U.S. and has shown us why that number was chosen for him.
 
“Joe Biden's tenure as the 46th president of the United States began with his inauguration on January 20, 2021. On the first day of his presidency, Biden made an effort to revert President Trump's energy policy by restoring U.S. participation in the Paris Agreement and revoking the permit for the Keystone XL pipeline. He also halted funding for Trump's border wall, an expansion of the Mexican border wall. On his second day, he issued a series of executive orders to reduce the impact of COVID-19, including invoking the Defense Production Act of 1950, and set an early goal of achieving one hundred million COVID-19 vaccinations in the United States in his first 100 days.” {1}
 
Joe Biden and his administration, the Deep State, the super-wealthy progressive elites, and the Democratic party are deliberately destroying this country. There is no way to sustain the massive illegal immigration into this country caused by the Biden administration policies, and the subsequent debt it will cause. It will destroy this country, sooner rather than later. Some would say the June 21, 2020, solar eclipse (Saros solar cycle 137) was a sign of impending doom that would destroy America, starting with Joe Biden’s reign as president of the United States. This appears to be the case.
 
SOLAR AND LUNAR ECLIPSES IN THE LIFE OF CHRIST AND THE SECOND COMING
 
Regarding solar and lunar eclipses throughout the 1st century BC and AD and the 21st century AD, I have found something unusual, although it could just be a huge coincidence. I’ll let you be the judge. While I was doing research on my article, A Proposed Chronology of the Life of Jesus Christ (rev310.net), I began looking up eclipses that occurred during the timeframe of Jesus’ life and a possible timeframe for His return.
 
My theory was that there should be four heavenly signs/eclipses (two solar and two lunar), that coincided with the “Moeds” of the Lord, in the year of Jesus’ birth, the year of his death, and the year of His return. These eclipses would appear in the “four corners” of the world as these events were momentous for the Jews and the whole world. The lunar eclipses would be for the Jews and the solar eclipses would be for the Gentiles. 4 is the biblical number for creation, in which the Word spoke the world and its inhabitants into existence.
 
The “Moeds” that these eclipses would appear on would include the new moon Feasts of Nisan 1 (not a Feast of the Lord, but very important nevertheless) and Tishri 1 (Rosh Hashanah or Trumpets). The full moon Feasts would include Nisan 15 (the Jews’ Passover) and Tishri 15 (Sukkot or Tabernacles). At least one of these solar eclipses (Nisan 1 or Tishri 1) or lunar eclipses (Nisan 15 or Tishri 15) should be visible from Jerusalem as these biblical events were occurring in the land of Israel, but had an impact on the whole world.
 
JESUS’ BIRTH AND DEATH
 
I set the limits at 10 BC for Jesus’ birth and 40 AD for his death, adding many years to the possible timeframe of his birth and death according to historical and biblical sources. The only year, within the acceptable timeframe, that contained two solar eclipses and two lunar eclipses (on the Feast Days mentioned) for Jesus’ birth was 5 BC. The next closest years for Jesus’ birth (with the necessary criteria) were 14 BC and 5 AD, which are too early and too late for Jesus’ birth. The dates for the eclipses in the 1st century BC and AD are Julian calendar dates.
 
JESUS’ BIRTH – 5 BC
 
Nisan 1 – March 8, 5 BC – Partial solar eclipse that was not visible from Israel
Nisan 15 – March 23, 5 BC – Total lunar eclipse that was visible from Israel
Tishri 1 – September 1, 5 BC – Partial solar eclipse that was not visible from Israel
Tishri 15 – September 15, 5 BC – Total lunar eclipse that was visible from Israel
 
See AstroPixels - Moon Phases: -0099 to 0000. (Note: 00 is I BC, -01 is 2 BC, etc.) and AstroPixels - Moon Phases: 0001 to 0100 for verification of these dates.
 
JESUS’ DEATH
 
Regarding the death of Jesus, there are three years that fit within the possible timeframe with the necessary criteria. They are 32 AD, 33 AD, and 34 AD. However, I think 32 AD and 34 AD are disqualified as Passover (Nisan 14) was on a Sunday in 32 AD (April 13) and Monday in 34 AD (March 22), Julian calendar dates. The correct day for Jesus’ death (IMO) was Thursday. 33 AD is the only year, of these three years, with a Thursday crucifixion. Also, 34 AD had two lunar eclipses that were only Penumbral, which sometimes are hardly visible (not much of a sign). The next closest years for Jesus’ death, with the qualifying criteria, were 15 AD and 51 AD, which are way too early and way too late.
 
JESUS’ DEATH – 33 AD
 
Nisan 1 – March 19, 33 AD – Total solar eclipse that was not visible from Israel
Nisan 15 – April 3, 33 AD – Partial lunar eclipse that was visible from Israel
Tishri 1 – September 12, 33 AD – Annular solar eclipse that was visible from Israel
Tishri 15 – September 27, 33 AD – Partial lunar eclipse that was visible from Israel
 
See AstroPixels - Moon Phases: 0001 to 0100 for verification of these dates and years.
 
Note: The April 3, 33 AD partial lunar eclipse was one of the Saros cycle # 71 lunar eclipses. Two Saros cycle 71 eclipses before this one, was the March 13, 4 BC partial lunar eclipse that Josephus wrote about. He said there was a lunar eclipse that occurred shortly before King Herod’s death. If the 4 BC eclipse is Herod’s eclipse, then the 5 BC year looks good for the birth of Jesus. Both of these partial lunar eclipses would have been seen from Israel. See A Proposed Chronology of the Life of Jesus Christ (rev310.net)
 
JESUS’ RETURN TO THE EARTH
 
The soonest the Second Coming can occur is 2030 (about 3 months left) if you believe in a seven-year Tribulation that precedes it. However, it doesn’t have the necessary criteria. There are two acceptable years for the Second Coming that do have the qualifying criteria regarding four eclipses on Feast Days. They are 2033 and 2034. I will list both, however, I don’t like 2034 as it has a Penumbral lunar eclipse on Passover.
 
I prefer the year 2033 for Jesus’ Second Coming as it is the second year of a tetrad (2032-2033), and as I have mentioned earlier, it is part of Saros cycle #137. I also like it for various non-astronomical reasons that I have stated in earlier articles. This is not a prediction or date-setting for the Second Coming, just a theoretical scenario based on astronomical data.
 
Note: The nearest year beyond 2034 for the return of Jesus Christ, with the qualifying criteria, is 2062.
 
JESUS’ RETURN – 2033
 
Nisan 1 – March 30, 2033 – Total solar eclipse will not be visible from Israel
Nisan 15 – April 14, 2033 – Total lunar eclipse will be visible from Israel
Tishri 1 – September 23, 2033 – Partial solar eclipse will not be visible from Israel
Tishri 15 – October 8, 2023 – Total lunar eclipse will not be visible from Israel.
 
I believe Jesus will return on the Feast of Trumpets, as King of kings and Lord of lords. If the year is 2033, Trumpets will occur on September 23, which is the same date as the “Revelation 12” constellation in 2017. Coincidence? It could be, although the Feast of Trumpets will not occur on September 23 again until 2071.
 
JESUS’ RETURN – 2034
 
Nisan 1 – March 20, 2034 – Total solar eclipse. Partial seen from Israel
Nisan 15 – April 3, 2034 – Penumbral lunar eclipse seen from Israel
Tishri 1 – September 12, 2034 – Annular solar eclipse not seen from Israel
Tishri 15 – September 28, 2034 – Partial lunar eclipse seen from Israel
 
See AstroPixels - Moon Phases: 2001 to 2100 for verification of these eclipses and dates.
 
THE SUPERNATURAL SIGNS DURING THE FIRST AND SECOND ADVENT OF CHRIST
 
JESUS’ BIRTH
 
We all know the story of Jesus’ birth and how the wise men from the East came to worship him, saying “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him” (Matthew 2:2). Herod summoned them to him and determined from them what time the star appeared. He then sent them to Bethlehem. “When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was.
 
Throughout the ages, scholars have debated what this “star” could have been, and if it was even a natural phenomenon. Some have suggested a comet or a nova, while others believe it was a certain conjunction of planets and stars. I have come to the conclusion that it was a supernatural heavenly sign from God. Many times in the Bible, the word “star” is used for an angel (see Revelation 9:1: 12:4). It’s not beyond the realm of possibility that this is what the “star” was.
 
Luke 2:8-20 records the details of the shepherds who were living in the fields around Bethlehem during the time of the birth of Jesus. ”And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid” (Luke 2: 9). Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” (Luke 2:10-14).
 
Perhaps this angel with the bright glory of the Lord shining around the shepherds was the bright star of Bethlehem. This angel of the Lord could have been the heavenly sign that brought the Gentile wise men to the true king of the Jews, and the baby in the manger was the earthly sign to the Jews. Both Jews and Gentiles were humanity’s witnesses to this spectacular event. The multitude of the heavenly host represented the angels of heaven as witnesses to the Lord’s incarnation.
 
JESUS’ LIFE
 
About the time of the start of Jesus’ ministry, when Jesus was about 30 years old, he was baptized by John the Baptist. “When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened. And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased” (Luke 3:21-22). I would say this definitely qualifies as a supernatural sign from God.
 
Jesus performed many supernatural miracles during his 3.5-year ministry, including walking on water, resurrecting people from the dead, turning water into wine, and of course healing multitudes of people. There is an interesting theory that amongst the multitudes who received a direct blessing from Christ, there are recorded in Scripture exactly 153 special individual cases. {Note:2} The 153 blessings correspond to John 21:11 where Peter and some of the other disciples went fishing after Jesus’ resurrection and caught 153 fish after the resurrected Jesus told them to cast the net on the right side of the boat. Of course, the 153 fish represent 153 miracles that Jesus performed and were recorded in the Bible.
 
Regardless if this is the true meaning of this verse (or if there is one), Jesus performed many miracles throughout his short life. “And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written” (John 21:25).
 
JESUS’ DEATH
 
Jesus was placed on the cross at 9 a.m. (Mark 15:25), then from noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over the whole land (Matt. 27:45). Darkness precedes death. During the 10 plagues of Egypt, darkness came over the land of Egypt for three days. After the plague of darkness in Egypt came the death of the Egyptian’s firstborn sons (Ex. 11:4-5). Likewise, on the cross darkness preceded the death of God’s Son. This was supernatural darkness as there is no astronomical event that could cause a three-hour darkness.
 
After Jesus yielded up His spirit, “the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many. So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, “Truly this was the Son of God!” (Matthew 27:51-54).
 
The earthquake might not have been a supernatural event, although the centurion seemed to think so. The next event might also be considered a natural phenomenon, but I would imagine many Jews would have considered it a “sign.” After Jesus was laid in his tomb and the day was transitioning from Nisan 14 to Nisan 15 at sunset, a blood-red moon caused by a lunar eclipse was rising on the horizon in Jerusalem, Israel on April 3, 33 AD. Was that blood-red moon a natural phenomenon? Yes. Was it a heavenly sign for the Jews? Yes. The following website has a modern photo reconstruction of the Moon rising over the Mount of Olives on April 3, 33 AD (and some good information as well). How Lunar and Solar Eclipses Shed Light on Biblical Events - Associates for Biblical Research (biblearchaeology.org)
 
Of course, the greatest supernatural sign of all was when Jesus rose from the grave early on the first day of the week on Nisan 17. There were many witnesses who saw the resurrected Jesus, which proved He was the Messiah. Paul said, “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that, He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that, He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all, He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time” (1 Corinthians 15:3-8).
 
JESUS’ RETURN TO THE EARTH
 
“And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord come. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord has said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call” (Joel 2:30-32).
 
”Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: 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”(Matthew 24:29-30).
 
There is one more “sign” that needs mentioning. Sometime in the very near future, there will be a great sign to the Jews that their long-awaited Messiah (whom they missed the first time) is coming. It is a sign that will take place in the heavens and is commonly referred to as the Rapture. “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
 
This heavenly sign will precede Jesus’ return to the Earth by at least seven years (the long-awaited 70th seven of Daniel 9:24). So, to all you Jews and those who require a sign, when you see the heavenly sign of the Rapture, you know your Messiah is near, even at the doors, so look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draws near.
 
Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
 
Randy Nettles
 
[email protected]
 
Endnotes:
 
{1} Presidency of Joe Biden - Wikipedia
 
{2} Numbers in Scripture by E.W. Bullinger

 


 


 
Fitting Into the Biblical End-Times Scenario – By Amir Tsarfati - https://harbingersdaily.com/worldview-with-amir-tsarfati-fitting-into-the-biblical-end-times-scenario/
 
A five-man terrorist cell was recently arrested by Shin Bet. The three Palestinians and two Israeli citizens were gathering intelligence for a plot to harm National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, as well as a member of the Knesset. The cell was receiving its orders from Iran.
 
Israel Left Off Russia’s Financial Friends List
 
Last week, Russia published a list of more than 30 countries that are welcome to trade on their foreign exchange. Despite being included in the original draft created in the summer, Israel was left off the final document. This is one more sign of the deteriorating conditions between Moscow and Jerusalem that fit into the biblical end times scenario.
 
Prime Minister Netanyahu Addresses United Nations
 
It is said that one can tell how close they are to the truth by the number of people who attack them. If that is accurate, then Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to the UN General Assembly must have been overflowing with truth.
 
During his presentation, he spoke of a proposed trade route from India to the West that would pass through the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Israel. He emphasized the many new relationships that Israel is forging and showed a map of a new Middle East emphasizing these new friendships. He also said that the US and Saudi Arabia shouldn’t let the Palestinians have the right to veto a peace deal that would normalize relations between Jerusalem and Riyadh.
 
All the usual suspects took offense at what he said, including Iran, much of Europe, the U.S., and others.
 
Israel Joins US Visa Waiver Program
 
In a huge win for Prime Minister Netanyahu, the US has included Israel as the 41st country on its Visa Waiver list. This means that Israeli citizens may now enter the US without a visa and remain for up to 90 days. Netanyahu called the move a “significant and joyous moment for all Israeli citizens.”
 
Saudis Send Delegation Team to West Bank
 
Large strides were made last week in the pursuit of normalizing relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia. Tuesday saw Saudi Arabia’s first ambassador to the Palestinian Authority arrive in the West Bank. The visit of Nayef al-Sudairi marked the first time a Saudi delegation has been in the West Bank since 1967.
 
At the same time, Israel’s Tourism Minister Haim Katz arrived in Saudi Arabia for a conference, marking the first official visit of an Israeli minister to the country. Later this week, Israeli Communications Minister Shlomo Karai will also carry out an official visit, attending a conference in Saudi Arabia. The government of Israel is very optimistic regarding these developments.
 
Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said that he expects six or seven other Muslim nations to join Saudi Arabia in making peace with Israel. This fits right into the prophecies of the Ezekiel 38 war when these Gulf countries, referred to by Ezekiel as Sheba and Dedan, will stand up and criticize the invasion against Israel rather than joining in.
 
Israeli Military Strikes Hamas in Gaza
 
Palestinians gathered Tuesday at the Gaza fence for a twelfth night of violent protests. After they floated incendiary balloons and kites over the border and threw all sorts of projectiles at Israeli forces, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) struck back hitting several Hamas targets. Last night, there was more violence, and once more the IDF struck back destroying a border tunnel.
 
Deluge of Syrian Refugees Killing Lebanon’s Economy
 
Refugees of the Syrian Civil War are destroying Lebanon’s economy. The population of Lebanon is approximately 6 million. The latest estimate of Syrian refugees who have crossed the border is 2.5 million.
 
Lebanon is already in bad enough shape with the Iran-backed Hezbollah terrorist group involved in every level of government. But to have the burden of these refugees is far more than the economy can handle. Other nations are calling on the EU and other parts of the world to help Lebanon before it, too, devolves into civil strife.
 
Ukraine Hits Russia’s Black Sea Headquarters in Crimea
 
Ukraine’s military hit the headquarters of Russia’s Black Sea fleet in Sevastopol, Crimea, on Friday. In response, Russian missiles struck a high-rise building in Odessa used as Ukraine’s navy headquarters. Tuesday saw the Chkalovsky military airport near Moscow on fire following another Ukrainian attack. The back and forth of war continues.
 
Huge Explosion in Iran
 
A deafening noise accompanied a powerful tremor on Monday near the western Iranian city of Khorramabad. The authorities quickly explained it away as a minor 2.0 earthquake. “Not so fast,” said many. Near the epicenter of the event is an underground missile and weapons complex. According to witnesses, this below the surface cache was the source of what they say was a major explosion. The Iranian authorities deny the claim.
 
Canadian Parliament Unwittingly Honors Nazi War Criminal
 
On Friday, members of Canada’s parliament stood and applauded Yaroslav Hunka, a 98-year-old World War II veteran, after he was introduced by Speaker Anthony Rota as a “Canadian hero”. The only problem was that Hunka served in a Nazi Waffen SS unit during the war.
 
There are certain things you just can’t come back from. Certainly for Hunka, who is now the subject of an extradition request by the Polish government. Also for Speaker Rota, who tendered his resignation Tuesday.

 


 


 


 
Prophecy Update Videos
Must Watch Videos!
Videos You Can Trust

 

• Prophecy Update Top News Headlines - 9/29/23
• Prophecy Update: You Can't Make This Up! - Episode #13 – Pablo Frascini
• Prophecy Update: Can You Hear the Hoofbeats? – Jan Markell & Barry Stagner
• Why We’re Kicked When We’re Down, Ezekiel 25-26 – JD Farag
• The Line Up: China's Economic Collapse | US Warning – Barry Stagner
• Frequency and Intensity | Mid-Week Maranatha | Special Guest Don Perkins
• BRICS Is Setting The Stage For The Coming Beast System!!! – James Kaddis & Monkey Werx
• A Few Things I've Learned Since I Knew it All - Frank Peretti
• What Is Happening? End Times – Watchman River Tom

 


 


 
RECOMMENDED READING

 


 

• New World Order: Worlds in Collision and The Rebirth of Liberty - by Terry James & Pete Garcia
• Marking the Masses – Tom Hughes
• The Future War Prophecies – Bill Salus
• Has the Tribulation Begun?: Avoiding Confusion and Redeeming the Time in These Last Days – Amir Tsarfati
• The New Heavens and Earth: Recreation or Renovation? – Lee Brainard
• The Triumph of the Redeemed: An Eternal Perspective that Calms Our Fears in Perilous Times – Jonathan Brentner
• Lost But Not Forgotten: A Story of Redemption During the Great Tribulation - Skye Burgdorf
• Ignite Your Life: Defeat Fear With Effortless Faith - Barry Meguiar

 


 


 
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I genuinely believe that Prophecy Update and many other like-minded ministries, are needed now more than ever! The world is getting darker daily, almost hourly, but never has the light of the Word of God shone so brightly. Never in our history has there been such a thirst for Truth and a need for a Savior! The Prophecy Update website, newsletter, and Video Channels are all dedicated to providing the truth, encouraging and informing believers, and prayerfully opening the eyes and hearts of non-believers with the Gospel, but none of it would be possible without your prayers and support.
 
 
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Where Did People Who Died Before Jesus Go? - By Jenny Pilman - https://www.raptureready.com/2023/08/15/where-did-people-who-died-before-jesus-go-by-jenny-pilman/
 
Prior to Jesus dying on the cross, every soul went to a place called Sheol when they died.
 
Sheol means the abode of the dead.
 
The abode of the dead consists of two parts, hell and paradise (AKA Abraham’s bosom). Hell is where the souls of the unsaved reside. Paradise is where the souls of the saved used to dwell before Jesus died on the cross. When Jesus rose from the dead, he set free the righteous souls that were in Sheol and took them up to heaven. Now when a righteous person dies, he or she goes directly into the presence of God in heaven.
 
How did the people in Old Testament get saved?
 
Salvation in both the New and the Old Testament has always been through faith in God. It does not matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile.
 
We are both saved through faith.
 
Romans 3:30, “since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith.”
 
Romans 4:3, “For what does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” See also Genesis 15:6.
 
Hebrews chapter 11 is filled with examples of faith from the Old Testament saints such as Abel, Enoch, Sarah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and Israel, along with many others.
 
Hebrews 11:7, “By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.”
 
God told Abraham he would be a father of many nations (Genesis 17:14). Abraham did not live long enough to see many nations come from him, but both he and Sarah trusted that God would keep his promise, and they died in faith. Hebrews 11:13, “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them…”
 
The Old Testament believers knew that God promised to send the Messiah for our salvation, and they died in faith believing that promise.
 
Isaiah talked about the coming Messiah in Isaiah 53.
 
Job knew God was going to send a Messiah. Job 19:25, “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth.”
 
King David knew the Messiah would be one of his descendants (Acts 2:29-30). Acts 2:31, “he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption.
 
Hades is the Greek word for Sheol.
 
Romans 3:28, “So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law.”
 
Where is Sheol Located?
 
Scripture indicates that Sheol is in the lower parts of the earth.
 
Ezekiel 26:20, “then I will bring you down with those who go down to the pit, to the people of long ago. I will make you dwell in the earth below…” ESV and NRSV both say “dwell in the world below.”
 
Numbers 16:30, & 33, “…The ground opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that belongs to them, and they go down alive into Sheol, then you shall know that these men have despised the LORD.”
 
Verse 33, “So they and all that belonged to them went down alive into Sheol, and the earth closed over them, and they perished from the midst of the assembly.”
 
Psalm 63:9, “But those that seek my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth.”
 
Amos 9:2, “If they dig into Sheol, from there shall my hand take them; if they climb up to heaven, from there I will bring them down. To dig into Sheol means it’s in the earth.”
 
People reside in three places. Philippians 2:10, “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.”
 
Ezekiel 31:14, “…For they have all been delivered to death, To the depths of the earth, Among the children of men who go down to the Pit. See also Ezekiel 32:18 & 24.
 
Psalm 63:9, “But those that seek my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth.” The word for lower parts is tachtı̂y; it means lowermost, a pit, depths, womb.
 
Other verses provide additional insights into the location of Sheol. Proverbs 15:24 indicates that hell is beneath, and Ezekiel 31:17 and Isaiah 14:15 state that it is down.
 
The core of the earth is very hot. I believe that core is the location of hell. Most likely, the fire in the center is where lava from volcanos comes from. Deuteronomy 32:22, “For a fire is kindled by my anger, and it burns to the depths of Sheol, devours the earth and its increase, and sets on fire the foundations of the mountains.”
 
Sheol has two compartments
 
In Sheol (AKA Hades), there is a place called hell and a place called paradise. Sheol contains chambers. Proverbs 7:27, “Her house is the way to Sheol, going down to the chambers of death.”
 
Both hell and paradise are in the center of the earth but are in two separate compartments. You can see a clear picture of these two places in the story of the rich man and Lazarus.
 
Luke16:19-32. “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. (AKA paradise/Abraham’s bosom).
 
The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.”
 
Romans 4:16 says Abraham is the father of all who believe. Lazarus was with the believers. The rich man in hell could see Abraham and Lazarus (Luke 16:23). They were both in Sheol, but the section that contained the believers was protected from the heat, and Lazarus was comforted there. We can also tell in Luke 16:24 that both Lazarus and Abraham had access to water, unlike the rich man in hell.
 
I would like to speculate that when Adam and Eve sinned, the Garden of Eden may have been moved to the paradise compartment in Sheol. Ezekiel 31:16 (NIV), “I made the nations tremble at the sound of its fall when I brought it down to the realm of the dead (Sheol) to be with those who go down to the pit. Then all the trees of Eden, the choicest and best of Lebanon, the well-watered trees, were consoled in the earth below.” Verse 18 (ESV), “Whom are you thus like in glory and in greatness among the trees of Eden? You shall be brought down with the trees of Eden to the world below.
 
Where Did Jesus Go When He Died?
 
Jesus did not go to heaven the same day he died.
 
Matthew 12:40, “For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”
 
Jesus went to Sheol, which is located in the center of the earth, and he ministered to the souls that were in the paradise section. I am confident he did not go to hell, as some have speculated. Luke 23:43, “And he said to him, ‘Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.'”
 
We also know that paradise was not heaven because after he rose from the dead, he spoke to Mary Magdalene and told her he had not yet gone to his Father. John 20:17, “Jesus said to her, ‘Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'”
 
When Jesus went to paradise, he brought the good news that scripture has been fulfilled to the believers who were waiting for the Messiah. 1 Peter 3:18-19, “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison.”
 
King David long ago knew that this glorious day was coming. Psalm 16:10, “For you will not abandon my (David’s) soul to Sheol, or let your Holy One [Jesus] see corruption. Acts 2:31, “he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul [Jesus] was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption.” See also Acts 2:27.
 
Revelation 1:18, “I am the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.” Now that Jesus had the key, he could set those prisoners free.
 
What happened to the souls that were in Sheol?
 
Hebrews 10:4, “For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” Once the final sacrifice was made by Jesus and not by the blood of animals, those that were waiting in paradise could now enter heaven. Job 33:24, “and he is merciful to him, and says, ‘Deliver him from going down into the pit; I have found a ransom.”
 
Zechariah 9:11, “As for you also, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit.”
 
After Jesus rose from the dead, all the Old Testament saints and the righteous souls waiting in paradise were set free and resurrected from their graves. Matthew 27:51-53, “…The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.”
 
Ephesians 4:8-10, “Therefore it says, ‘When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.'” (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)
 
Paradise was emptied and is no longer a holding place of souls. Psalm 71:20, “You who have made me see many troubles and calamities will revive me again; from the depths of the earth you will bring me up again.” Psalm 86:13, “For great is your steadfast love toward me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.” See also 1 Samuel 2:6.
 
When we die, where do we go now?
 
Now that the final sacrifice for our sins has been made, anyone who believes in Jesus when they die goes directly into God’s presence. Ephesians 3:12, “Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence.”
 
Romans 5:2, “Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:8, “We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.”
 
God is a consuming fire
 
God is a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29), and sin can’t be in the presence of God without being consumed. We can’t change the nature of the fire, but God can remove the sin, which is like gasoline on us. Isaiah 9:18-19, “Through the wrath of the LORD of hosts the land is scorched, and the people are like fuel for the fire…” Isaiah 33:14, “The sinners in Zion are afraid; trembling has seized the godless: ‘Who among us can dwell with the consuming fire? Who among us can dwell with everlasting burnings?'” Those that are unsaved have the fuel of sin on their being for all eternity.
 
Jesus came to remove our sins and wash us clean, so we can stand in the presence of Almighty God. 1 John 1:7, … “the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” Once we are saved, our nature becomes like gold. God’s nature then becomes to us a refiner’s fire. We don’t burn up; we are purified. Malachi 3:3, “He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver…” Job 23:10, “…when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.” See also 1 Peter 1:7 & Zechariah 13:9.
 
Those who died without accepting the free gift of salvation will spend an eternity with their sins attached to them in a fire. Knowing that humans could never live a sinless life, God took on a body of flesh and lived a perfect and sinless life for us. Jesus was the spotless sacrifice that took on the punishment for our sins. Salvation is by grace alone. You are not able to earn it through good deeds. It was paid in full by Jesus and is a gift to you. If you want to accept the free gift of salvation, you need to believe in your heart that Jesus died for our sins and was buried, and that he was raised from the dead on the third day. Then acknowledge you’re a sinner; ask God to forgive you, and confess out loud that Jesus is Lord. Then you will need to reject sin and practice righteousness. No one is perfect, but as you walk with God, he will change your heart and give you a desire for righteousness.
 
You don’t have to get your life straightened out before you come to God. If you do, you could miss out on salvation. You go to God as you are, right now. You may be drenched in the gasoline of sin, but the sacrificial blood of Jesus will fully cleanse you. Luke 12:32, “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.”
 
For a more detailed look into why Jesus dying on the cross saves us from sin, check out my article Salvation Explained.
 
Your sister in Christ,
 
Jenny
 
[email protected]

 


 


 
What is up in Heaven? - By David Jeremiah - https://www.christianpost.com/voices/what-is-up-in-heaven.html
 
What can we expect to encounter in Heaven? What will we find?
 
In a word, everything! Everything that is most precious and dear to you and me, everything that is important to Christ-followers, is currently in Heaven. Everything we need or desire will be found in Heaven once we pass through its magnificent gates, either by death or by being caught up with Christ.
 
The word Heaven is mentioned almost 700 times in the Bible. Thirty-three of the 39 Old Testament books talk about Heaven along with 21 of the 27 books in the New Testament. The word Heaven refers to something that is raised up or lofty. So, the language of the Bible speaks of Heaven as a place that is high, lofty, and lifted up.
 
Jesus does not intend for us to live in a vapory nether land, in a disembodied haze, or in a blissful but intangible state of mind. No, the Bible refers to Heaven as a specific place.
 
Sometimes the Bible refers to Heaven as a country, which implies vastness of territory. Sometimes it’s referred to as the celestial city, which brings to mind buildings, streets, residents, and activity. Sometimes Heaven is referred to as a kingdom, which speaks of organization and government. In the passage I quoted from John 14:1–3, Jesus referred to Heaven as “My Father’s house.”
 
For me, there’s something intimate, sweet, and personal about Heaven when we talk about it as “My Father’s house.” It’s no longer an empty space. In my mind’s eye, I see a home. Jesus promised that if we put our trust in Him, He would prepare a place for us in our Father’s house that will serve as our heavenly home. There is nothing imaginary, hypothetical, or intangible about that.
 
Next, our Redeemer is in Heaven. Hebrews 9:24 says, “Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into Heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.”
 
Just imagine the moment we get to Heaven — and we see Jesus! Right now, we don’t see Him in a visual way. But the Bible says that when Jesus returns for us, “We shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2).
 
Think of the joy that will be ours when we get to Heaven and see the One who gave His life for us so that we could spend forever with Him in paradise!
 
When you become a Christian, God becomes your Father and makes you an heir. That means you have an inheritance in Christ that will never be touched by inflation. It won’t be lost in an economic crash. Its value will never decline or decrease, and it is both reserved and preserved for you. Your name is on it.
 
Those eternal resources include the rewards we will receive from Christ. Jesus told His followers during a time of persecution, “Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in Heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matt. 5:12).
 
Heaven is also precious to us because our residence is there. I’m not just talking about where we will live; I’m talking about our citizenship. When we become Christians, we become residents of Heaven: “Our citizenship is in Heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Phil. 3:20).
 
As believers in Jesus, we are not citizens of earth who are going to Heaven. We are citizens of Heaven who are traveling through earth. Let that reality change the way you live each day.
 
Heaven is also precious to us because it’s where our riches are stored: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt. 6:19–21).
 
The only things going from earth to Heaven are human souls and the Word of God. So, if you’re trying to build equity in Heaven, invest your time, talents, and treasure in the Word of God and the souls of men and women who need the message of Jesus Christ.
 
Finally, Heaven is precious because our reservation is there. The registry in Heaven in which the names of all who belong to Christ are recorded is called the Lamb’s Book of Life. Is your name written in Heaven? Do you have a reservation there?
 
Recently a collection of nearly 400 hotels, regional tourism boards, tour operators, and others in the hospitality industry sent a letter to Chuck Sams, the director of the National Parks Service, and Deb Haaland, who is U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary. The reason for that letter? Frustration with the national parks’ reservation website Recreation.gov.
 
For many years, tourists from all across America have seethed when trying to reserve camping sites or hotel accommodations at Yellowstone, Yosemite, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and more than 4,200 other federally managed properties. The main issue seems to be the reservation system, which only allows would-be visitors to book between thirty and 60 days prior to a visit — a window that manages to thwart people who plan ahead and those who live spontaneously.
 
It’s strange to think that gaining access to a national park is more difficult than gaining access to Heaven, but that is the case. Faith in Jesus is all that’s required to secure your reservation for eternal salvation.
 
If you are reading these words and aren’t sure your reservation is secure, I urge you to pray right now. Confess your sins. Acknowledge Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Do it now. Turn your life over to His control and accept His free offer of the gift of eternal life.

 


 


 
Daily Jot: The Farm Chronicles: Round up - Bill Wilson – www.dailyjot.com
 
It was that time of year again—the early spring. It’s when Dad would go to Oscar McWilliam’s ranch outside Sedalia, Missouri, to buy horses. Since school was still in session, I went through my annual beg-a-thon to go along. I loved these journeys to buy horses. It was fascinating to see how my Dad and Oscar wrangled each other for days about horses and prices, never having a cross word, but negotiating nonetheless. Oscar was this old-time cowboy. He was over six ft tall, and a bit leaned over from age. He wore an old beat up straw cowboy hat and when he talked, he hardly moved his lips. He was a frame right out of a movie, only real life—with real life lessons and old cowboy wisdom.
 
I was probably about 14 for this trip. And Dad said it was OK with him if it was OK with Mom. She couldn’t resist my charm, so the answer was “yes” if I got all my homework done and had my assignments from school. No problem. Oscar and his wife Mary, a handsome woman of Native American descent, greeted us at the ranch. We got caught up on all the family news, and on to the business of selecting horses. Oscar had several penned up in the back part of the barn. There was one he wanted me to ride, a nice bay Quarter Horse mare. She worked out pretty well in the barn, but Oscar wanted me to take her on a trail ride the next morning—to gather up some cattle in one of the back pastures. I was excited, for sure.
 
After a hearty breakfast (Mary was an excellent cook), I saddled up the mare and Oscar said there were four Hereford cows he wanted me to bring back. And he pointed me in the direction. Well, Oscar had over 800 acres, but I went in the general direction he told me. That mare and I walked for hours looking for those cattle. We entered a scenic valley with a spring stream flowing gently through a green meadow. I dismounted and walked along the stream where I found the biggest tadpoles I had ever seen—they were probably as large as silver dollars. Soon, we came to an old abandoned homestead. Inside the old one-story cabin along-side the stream were eight Hereford cows. I didn’t know which ones were the four Oscar wanted and it was getting late in the day—we must have been 10 or more miles from the barn.
 
So I rounded all of them up and started herding them back in the direction I came. Nothing looked the same. I was headed in another direction all together. I found a fence-line which was rare in open range, and followed it. Hours later near dusk, thinking I could be lost, my prayers were answered. I spotted a familiar clearing ahead. 20 minutes later, I proudly guided the cows into the barnyard. Oscar and Dad were waiting for me, trying to appear that they weren’t worried. Oscar, through a wry smile, said, “Well, Billy, you did a good job here, but you brought back four cows that aren’t mine. I think they are the ones my neighbor said he lost.” I was thinking to myself, “I could have been among the lost, too.” As the Lord said in Ezekiel 34:16, “I will seek the lost, bring back the strays.” He does, even when we are supposed to know where we are headed.

 


 


 
Daily Devotion: It’s No Joke - by Greg Laurie – www.harvest.org
 
Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death. —Revelation 20:14
 
https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/its-no-joke/ - Listen
 
People are selective when it comes to the subject of God and the afterlife. They like the idea of a God who is loving, completely accepting, and tolerant. People can go along with a deity like that.
 
But they don’t like the notion of a God who is also just. And they reject the idea that God would send some people to Hell, or at least a lot of people they know. They would like to think that certain people will be in Hell for the horrible crimes they’ve committed. But they don’t expect themselves or family and friends to end up there.
 
Yet Hell is a real place for real people. And according to the Bible, Hell is a miserable place of torment and separation from God that lasts for eternity.
 
As Timothy Keller pointed out in The Reason for God, “In our culture, divine judgment is one of Christianity’s most offensive doctrines.”[1]
 
When you bring up this topic, people get upset. Maybe one reason is widespread misinformation about Hell. It certainly is not a party place. And it is absolutely not a joke. If it were, Jesus would never have talked about it in the way that He did.
 
Most of the biblical teaching on Hell comes from Jesus Himself. He spoke about it more than anyone else in the Bible. And He spoke about it in a very specific way. More than half of the parables Jesus told relate to God’s eternal judgment of sinners.
 
We cannot pick and choose things in the Bible that personally appeal to us and then throw the others aside. We can imagine, as John Lennon famously sang, that Heaven and Hell don’t exist. But that won’t change the fact that they are real.
 
The Bible tells us there are two deaths: one is physical and the other is spiritual. In Revelation 20:14 we read, “Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death” (NLT).
 
The next chapter also mentions the second death: “But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars—their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death” (21:8 NLT). The second death this is speaking of is Hell.
 
If you are born once, you will die twice. You are born physically, and you will die physically. And then you will face the second death and eternal separation from God.
 
But if you are born twice, you will die once. You are born physically, and you are born again spiritually when you put your faith in Christ. You will face only the first death (unless, of course, the Rapture happens in your lifetime).
 
Scripture tells us that the second death is what we should fear.
 
God has given us a free will, so where we spend eternity is really our choice. Not everyone will be saved in the end—only those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ.
 
[1] Timothy Keller, The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism (New York: Penguin Publishing Group, 2008),71.

 


 
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TRACKING BIBLE PROPHECY
9/29/23
 
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• Biden, Bibi agree Saudi mega-deal must include steps to keep two-state solution alive
• Saudi Arabia's Dream of a 'New Middle East' Is Fatally Flawed - Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince wants to lead the region to an era of peace and prosperity. His trillions of dollars and his diplomatic drive face enormous odds.
• US tells Israel settlements serious issue, raised at highest level
• Washington envoy blasts Abbas, Jewish violence in UN meeting
• Report: Biden State Department Gives $90,000 to Group Supporting Palestinian Terror
• Israel arrests 13 terror suspects in overnight West Bank raid
• Gazans abort border riots as Israel reopens crossing in reported Egypt-brokered deal
• IDF bars settler suspect linked to killing of Palestinian from West Bank for 6 months
• Tel Aviv yanks religious group's permits for Sukkot events after Yom Kippur fracas
• Judge orders Shabbat buses in Jerusalem discontinued
• Israel inks largest defense deal in its history
• Germany signs nearly 4 billion Euro deal for Israel's Arrow 3 missile defense system
• US quietly admits that Iranian imaging satellite successfully reached orbit
• Iranian vessels shined laser at US attack helicopter over Persian Gulf in unsafe manner, US Navy says
• GOP Demands Probe into Iranian Influence Operation Linked to Biden Negotiator Robert Malley
• Delivery driver behind gunfire on US embassy in Beirut, Lebanese police say
• The fall of an enclave in Azerbaijan stuns the Armenian diaspora, shattering a dream
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• Russia is using China's yuan to settle 25% of its trade with the rest of the world, report says
• Trade between Russia and China is booming so much that shipping containers are 'piling up'
• RFK Jr. Warns 'Next Step' Is Military Advisers in Ukraine: 'Have They Forgotten' Vietnam?
• US tried to 'trigger panic' in Russia with attack on Crimea base, Kremlin says
• Russia Launches Big Wave of Drone Strikes on Ukraine
• Ukraine Claims About 500 Wagner Mercenaries Have Returned to Its Battlefields
• Zelensky visits Babyn Yar to mark 82nd anniversary of Jewish massacre
• "Day of the Dead": Neo-Nazi Azov Brigade Conducts Torchlight Rallies All Over Ukraine
• Parliament's honoring Waffen-SS vet 'greatest diplomatic embarrassment' in Canadian history: Pierre Poilievre
• NaziGate: Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau Finally Apologizes - To Zelensky! It's Time to Address the Contemporary Ukrainian Nazis From Azov Regiment
• 'Clown' Trudeau Faces Fire In Canada Amid Row With India; Oppn Leader Blasts PM
• Pro-India Hackers Take Down Canadian Army Website After Trudeau's Murder Accusation
• Chinese hackers nab 60,000 emails in State Department breach
• CCP-Linked TikTok's Personnel Can Allegedly Access Politicians' Private Networks: Report
• North Korea Amends Constitution to Enshrine Nuclear Weapons Buildup
• North Korea Uses Constitutional Amendment to Declare Itself a 'Permanent' Nuclear State
• Why the Pentagon's 'killer robots' are spurring major concerns
• Leo Hohmann: Globalists Have Another Shock Event Planned in Pursuit of the 'Four Ds': Digitization, Dehumanization, Destruction and Depopulation
• 'Princess of Uzbekistan' accused of running international crime org, laundering millions of dollars
• Evergrande Chairman Suspected of Committing Crimes, Latest in Saga of China's Real Estate Collapse
• Evergrande: Anxious Chinese home buyers reel from crisis
• Government shutdown odds grow as Senate and House advance separate plans
• White House warns of hits to disaster recovery efforts if government shuts down
• Biden thanks DeSantis for saying Trump is to blame for inflation
• Coming full circle: Subpoena demands FBI return Hunter Biden laptop to Delaware repair shop owner
• Comer to Subpoena Bank Records of Hunter Biden, James Biden
• Joe Biden impeachment inquiry to show evidence of bribery, influence peddling: House Oversight
• Republicans launch impeachment inquiry into Biden, claiming 'mountain of evidence'
• House GOP's impeachment witnesses say there's no evidence yet that Biden committed a crime
• Byron Donalds Shreds Democrats' Assertion of No Evidence Against Biden in Under 5 Minutes
• Nancy Mace Rips Democrats for Claiming No Evidence Exists Against Joe Biden
• Impeachment Hearing: Nancy Mace: We Already Know Biden Took Bribes From Burisma... Betraying Your Country is Treason
• GOP Rep. Scott suggests alleged Biden family dealings with China could be treasonous - "China is no longer a competitor," Rep. Scott said. "They are an adversary."
• DOJ obstructed IRS investigation into Joe Biden, FARA in 2020: House Oversight
• DOJ ordered Hunter Biden investigators to 'remove any reference' to Joe Biden in FARA probe warrant: House GOP
• Hunter Biden believed IRS investigation would 'go away' once Joe took office: House Ways and Means Committee
• Hunter Biden Referred to Selling Access to Joe Biden as 'Keys' to 'My Family's Only Asset'
• James Biden Confirmed to FBI Family Tried to Help CEFC China Energy Co. Buy U.S. Energy Assets
• America First Legal Uncovers New Documents Revealing How the Biden Admin Used $2 Billion in Taxpayer-Funded Contracts to House Illegal Aliens and Enrich Former Biden Admin Staffers
• First Biden Impeachment Inquiry Hearing Interrupted Several Times as Democrats Ask For Giuliani Subpoena
• Amid Impeachment Inquiry Hearing, House Oversight Committee Shoots Down Motions to Have Rudy Giuliani Appear
• 'Trump Lives Rent-Free in the Democrats' Heads': Rep. McClain at Biden Impeachment Hearing
• Egyptian businessman accused of bribing Bob Menendez is arrested flying into JFK airport
• J6 prosecutor arrested after allegedly stabbing motorist who crashed into him on Tampa bridge
• Joe Biden Rambles During Arizona Speech: "June 6th Insurrection" - Then Shuffles Off Stage
• Biden warns US democracy in peril from 'extremist' Trump
• Georgia state Sen. Colton Moore kicked out of GOP caucus over calls to investigate DA Fani Willis
• Trump slams biased NY judge, AG Letitia James for Civil Rights violations, 'false facts' in 'fraud' case
• NY AG James plans to call Trump, three children to testify in fraud trial
• Trump's Legal Defense Effort Comes Under Financial Strain
• Melania Trump 'quietly' renegotiated prenup with Donald ahead of potential second presidential term, legal woes: sources
• Search engine optimization or political bias? Biden challengers nearly nonexistent in Google results
• Google's algorithm has 'likely been determining' election outcomes since 2015: report
• Elon Musk fires X 'election integrity' team for undermining election integrity
• Elon Musk on Russell Brand: 'It can't be guilty until proven innocent... We can't be destroying lives on the basis of potentially false accusations'
• Elon Musk, in live chat with right-leaning Jews, insists antisemitism isn't a problem on X
• Mark Zuckerberg says 'polarizing' Elon Musk will keep X from reaching 'full potential'
• For Hollywood Writers, Humans Have Won the Battle Against AI - For Now
• Netanyahu warns of potential 'eruption of AI-driven wars' that could lead to 'unimaginable' consequences
• NSA chief announces new AI Security Center, 'focal point' for AI use by government, defense industry
• The CIA Is Developing Advanced AI Tools to Compete with China in Snooping
• China investing "unprecedented resources" in disinformation, surveillance tactics, new report says
• Two fault lines near Seattle could rupture in one giant earthquake
• 6.1 magnitude earthquake hits near Luganville, Vanuatu
• 5.8 magnitude earthquake hits near Kuril'sk, Russia
• 5.7 magnitude earthquake hits near Kokopo, Papua New Guinea
• 5.5 magnitude earthquake hits near Kokopo, Papua New Guinea
• 5.2 magnitude earthquake hits near Kandrian, Papua New Guinea
• 5.0 magnitude earthquake hits near New Britain region, Papua New Guinea
• 4.2-magnitude earthquake struck Italy's Campi Flegrei region, the biggest tremor in 40 years
• Sangay volcano in Ecuador erupts to 27,000ft
• Sabancaya volcano in Peru erupts to 26,000ft
• Ruiz volcano in Colombia erupts to 22,000ft
• Popocateptl volcano in Mexico erupts to 20,000ft
• Fuego volcano in Guatemala erupts to 17,000ft
• Reventador volcano in Ecuador erupts to 16,000ft
• Semeru volcano in Indonesia erupts to 15,000ft
• New York City in bull's-eye for intense flood threat as Ophelia's remnants batter eastern US coastline with combined effects of king tides and Supermoon
• NYC may see 4 inches of rain, significant flooding Friday from Ophelia's remnants: 'This is a serious storm'
• Tropical Storm Rina Forms in the Atlantic Ocean, Trailing Tropical Storm Philippe
• Biden declares disaster for La Jolla Band of Luiseno Indians after tropical storm Hilary
• Storm Agnes pummeled Ireland and the UK as a bomb cyclone
• New storms batter central Greece as government prioritizes adapting to effects of climate change
• Greece hit by several months of rain in a day, just weeks after storm killed 17
• Floods Reveal New Structure at Ancient Greek City in Libya
• Autumn heat wave could topple centuries-old records in the Midwest
• New Orleans residents brace for salt water intrusion as Biden declares national emergency
• 18 arrested at House Speaker's office after climate change protest
• US condemns Vietnam's jailing of prominent climate activist on tax charges
• Sen. Hawley Touts Ban on Imports of Critical Minerals Mined by Slave and Child Labor
• Peruvian cops nab man suspected of making bomb threats to US synagogues
• Man charged with murder, out on bail, among 52 arrested after Philly looting, rioting
• Dutch police say 3 people are killed in shootings at a university hospital and home in Rotterdam
• Swedish PM seeks help from military as gang violence rocks country
• Suspect in brutal murder of Baltimore tech CEO was on early parole for violent rape thanks to Soros DA
• Video of 12-year-old rape victim pleading for help sparks outrage in India
• Texas man pleads guilty in the smuggling operation that left 53 migrants dead in a hot semitruck in San Antonio
• Like U.S., immigration inflames Europe as countries deal with crush of refugees
• Abbott Sounds Alarm on 'Unsustainable' Border Crisis in NYC Address
• Democrat El Paso Mayor Starts Bussing Migrants to New York, Chicago, and Denver
• New York Democrats to distribute flyers telling illegal immigrants to go somewhere else
• James Woods Blasts the Joe Biden 'Border Tsunami Nightmare'
• Open Borders Boondoggle: Biden's DHS Sends Millions in Taxpayer Money to NGOs Facilitating Illegal Immigration
• Musk Can't Take It Anymore, Declares He's Going to the Border: We 'Need a Wall'
• Elon Musk livestreams border to give people firsthand account of migrant crisis
• Biden administration releases new recommendations for colleges to promote diversity
• Florida teacher, Disney employees among 219 arrested in human trafficking operation: authorities
• Trans-identified female daycare worker sentenced to 25 years prison after sexually exploiting children in her care
• Library Known for Drag Queen Story Hour Forced to Abruptly Shut Down
• Federal Judge Strikes Down Texas Law Banning Minors From 'Sexualized Performances' Including Drag Shows
• "Non-Binary" Actor Has a Melt Down and Starts Crying About Boys Being Excluded from Girl's Sports During Tense "Trans Rights" Debate with Interview Host
• Trans-identified male violently beats female student in Oregon middle school: video
• Conference cancels panel on biological sex in human skeletons over transphobia fears: Commits a 'cardinal sin'
• Federal appeals court lets ban on transgender treatment for kids take effect in Kentucky, Tennessee
• Zoologist Adam Britton pleads guilty to Supreme Court charges including bestiality
• Bug-borne virus has killed 21 in Colorado this year, impacted 236 with neurologic symptoms
• Fauci Was 'Smuggled' Into CIA Headquarters To "Influence" Covid-19 Origins Investigation: Select Subcommittee
• CDC Report Finds Potentially Millions of Americans Have Long COVID
• B.C. to reinstate mask mandate in all health-care settings
• Just 23 Percent 'Definitely' Plan to Get COVID Shot
• Cambridge Researchers Close to 'Breakthrough' Vaccine to Protect Against ALL Coronaviruses
• Biden FDA Vaccine Adviser Refuses Latest Covid Shot, Raises Concerns over Heart Failure Spike
• Americans are sick of vaccination amid flu season, COVID boosters: data
• Former Major City Police Detective Reveals 50% of SIDS Cases Happened Within 48 Hours Post-Vaccine
• Vocal anti-vax movement spreading to dog owners

 


 


 
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  
 
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"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
 
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"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:
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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