|
IN TODAY'S NEWSLETTER...
How Much Worse Will It Get? – Pete Garcia - https://www.rev310.net/post/how-much-worse-will-it-get
As the world guardedly enters into a new year, many, from all corners of society, are wondering just what kind of future lies ahead for everyone in 2022 and beyond. Moreover, prophetically awake Christians, are wondering how much worse things will become as we draw closer to the end. If the general sentiment is anything like the meme that is making its rounds these days, the forecast does not look promising. Although done somewhat tongue-in-cheek, it makes sense that as the signs of global decomposition are becoming more obvious, even the non-prophecy-watching population is starting to notice that something is terribly amiss. Even the secular news pundits are reporting on the storm clouds building on the horizon and are starting to panic. They, like many in the prophecy-watching community, are beginning to say that the coming tough times are all but unavoidable. For the record, yes, things will get worse before they get better, but worse in ways that most people can't understand...and that confusion is by design. Nevertheless, as things move from bad to worse, two major themes are beginning to emerge amongst the Christian-Eschatological community. The first narrative says that we (i.e. Western Christendom) are about to enter into a time of great persecution. A time which will include the intensification of persecution against the body of Christ writ large, which will mirror both what Christians outside of Western Civilization are presently going through, as well as what Christians have historically endured over the last two thousand years. The second narrative being expressed by a growing number is that we are on the verge of a Third Great Awakening. This view is gaining momentum because historically, it has been true. When times of great persecution and tribulation occurred, the Church exploded like a wind-driven wildfire. The proponents of this view believe that out of the tribulation will arise this ‘church victorious’ where hundreds of millions come to a saving knowledge of Christ. Let me just say up front that both of these narratives are in fact, wrong. Tough times and targeted persecution are two different things. Furthermore, the hope in a third great revival sounds good in theory, but it does not line up with God's prophetic word. Here is why. Modus Operandi (the WHY) First let me say, while I’m no fan of Satan, I don’t want anyone to make the mistake of underestimating him. He is the most powerful and intelligent being ever created. He’s had thousands of years to study humanity and most likely has a perfect working knowledge of all aspects of our physical universe. As such, Satan knows and uses three things very well to kill and destroy his enemy: Asymmetric Warfare-He is clever enough not to go after Christians directly. He learned his lesson after the first two centuries of the early Church that the more he attacked Christianity, the faster it spread. Therefore, he will never allow an obvious frontal assault on the body of Christ to happen again unless he has no other recourse. Thus, he will devote the majority of his time attacking the issues Christians care about most while avoiding attacking Christians directly. The last thing he wants to do is create anything Christians can rally around this close to the end (i.e., the Chick-Fil-A effect). War of compromise- He will influence the global leaders he controls to increasingly put barriers in between one’s faith, and one’s ability to live or earn a living. He is heavily invested in the war of compromise, because he knows if he can get churches and believers divided over smaller issues, then it will be much easier to get them to compromise on the big things. In so doing, he can divide up the Christian population, undercut the ethical foundations for Christianity stands for, and then promote this Luciferian agenda all the while avoiding triggering tens of millions of fired-up, Holy Spirit-filled believers. Whispering campaign- Satan has mastered the art of subtle persuasion and has favored this approach going back to the Garden of Eden. When Jesus said ‘he was a liar from the beginning,’ He was speaking to Satan’s inability to speak the truth because of his blind hatred for it (John 8:44). But let’s not mistake his shortcomings as weaknesses that we mere humans can exploit. Satan's goal now is not to outright ban Christianity, but stigmatize it so much that no one wants to talk about it in "good company." Again, Satan is far too clever to go and paint a bulls-eye on just Christians this close to the end, because he knows what will happen. Let's review Satan's greatest backfires:
Despite his flaws, Satan is still smarter and far more powerful than we are in our own strength. He loves to lie and plant seeds of doubt and confusion anywhere he can. He has been very successful in using these subtle tactics to destroy billions over the history of mankind. Interestingly, the fact we are seeing much more aggressive posturing by him here in recent years is telling. It tells us that he realizes he is running out of time, and he (and his forces) are stepping up their campaign of chaos and destruction. Why you might ask? Because Jesus is not the only one building His Church. Satan is building up his church as well. He needs this division between the "wheat and tares" completed as much as possible before the Rapture happens, so when it does, his "Mystery Babylon" will already be in place. Satan knows the Rapture will happen, and he knows it will happen before the seven-year Tribulation. He also knows that he will only have a few years and he's not going to waste a second of it allowing any of those left behind to wonder about the Rapture they just missed out on. He wants a system in place, ready to go, to be able to perpetuate the great delusion that will come upon all those who dwell upon the earth. (2 Thess. 2:8, Rev. 17) Gray War Strategy (the HOW) Here is where the spiritual spills over into the geopolitical and cultural realms. Like the color revolutions of the recent past, Satan loves to sow confusion. This is where he thrives. Where do you think people like George Soros and Saul Alinsky learned this from? What we are witnessing now is three wars (in both the physical and spiritual realms) being conducted upon us simultaneously. And while these are all forms of war, they manifest themselves in distinctly unique ways. Taken together, they form the strategy of a Gray War which is waged just below the threshold of open active warfare. Cold Civil War a. Where an entity is divided either organically or artificially and pits two ideologically opposed sides against each other b. Regardless of who wins, the unit as a whole is now much weaker Cold War Tactics a. Where two ideologies oppose each other over economic, cultural, religious, and geopolitical differences (ex. free-market capitalism vs. communism) b. Neither side fights each other directly, but battles through proxies (media, pop culture, legislations, etc.) c. This conflict relies heavily upon the use of espionage, spycraft, and subterfuge to destabilize the other side (Deep State double-agents embedded in traditional government positions) d. Relies upon a Fifth Column media acolytes to conduct information and misinformation campaigns Spiritual Color Revolutions a. Cold War tactics utilized in the spiritual realm, not against God, but against Christians. Just take the chart below and apply it against the Church b. Relies heavily upon spiritual subterfuge and deception campaigns to demoralize, sow confusion, divide and conquer churches c. Use of proxy entities (nations, businesses, leaders, media, etc.) to conduct "hard power" operations (i.e., persecutions and provocations) against the body of Christ d. Use of proxy entities (nations, businesses, leaders, media, etc.) to conduct "soft power" operations to force or coerce compromise on positions of doctrinal essentials IMG Source: https://barryclark.info/color-revolutions-explained/ Regarding the upcoming American mid-term elections, Satan (and his human puppets) will be more concerned about controlling the narrative rather than attacking Christians outright. In other words, it is a far more effective tactic for him to continue to discourage and confuse the Church than it is to have them thrown into FEMA camps. He wants the body of Christ confused, divided and demoralized as we move into the final stretch, not rallying around some perceived targeted persecution (i.e., martyr complex). There are numerous places in Scripture that point to Satan's current authority on this earth. The first is in Luke 4:5-7, where Satan tells Christ (without rebuttal) that the kingdoms of the earth are his to give to whom he chooses. The second is in 1 John 5:19, where John states that the whole world lies under the sway of the devil. Jesus refers to Satan as the "ruler of this world" (John 12:31). Paul refers to him as the "prince of the power of the air" (Eph. 2:2) and the "god of this age" (2 Cor. 4:4). Jude makes a brief comment that even Michael the Archangel dared not bring a "reviling accusation" against Satan, but simply rebuked him in Jesus' name (Jude 1:9). Still, Satan knows there are still enough institutions and organizations in the West that will fight back against authoritarianism if pressed too hard too fast. He knows westerners still have too many avenues to push back against the rising tyranny in places like the US, Europe, Australia/New Zealand, and even Canada. The bottom line here is, as bad as things are in places like Australia and California, they are still not as bad, as say, North Korea or Afghanistan. Neither will it get that bad in the few weeks, months, and years we have left before the Rapture. We have the genius of our Founders building in the separation of powers. The Church of Last Days Satan's greatest enemy on the earth is the blood-bought, born-again Church. This is why he is using these gray war strategies against us. And if I am correct, then Scripture should confirm my theory regarding the state of Christendom in the last days. Jesus Christ addressed seven letters to seven churches in Revelation chapters 2-3. Yes, they were real historical churches in John's day, and yes, the condemnations/commendations are applicable to all churches of all ages (he who hath an ear, let him hear). However, the order in which they were given to us, prophetically outlines the predominant churches of those particular ages. This is why the first letter given is Ephesus and not Laodicea. In particular, is the distinction between the first three churches, and the last four, which have the endings of each flipped which I believe means they will exist concurrent with each other. Tell me if this doesn't sound exactly like where we are today:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So ultimately (and this is a big picture view here) Christendom will be divided into three major camps (consisting of the last four churches) going into the last days. Think about it like a spectrum. On the far left, you have the apostate church. In the middle, you have a mix of mainline protestants, Roman Catholics, and evangelicals who (in varying degrees) will be leaning to the left or right of center. Lastly, on the far right, you have the Biblical fundamentalists who adhere to a faithful rendering of God's word. Western Christendom is no longer pegged to the right or even right of center. The needle is increasingly being pulled to the left, meaning the authority and importance of the Church is increasingly leaving those right of center out in the cold. Just look at our nation today which is largely post-modern, post-American, and post-Christian. So while persecution is coming, and along with it, a great, global revival, it will not be coming this side of the Rapture. Thus, and to reiterate what I mentioned earlier, whenever Satan attempts to do some major move against God's people, it backfires and further progresses God's divine agenda. No, I think Satan is going to "stay in his lane" this time and continue corrupting and weakening the church as best he can until God divides us permanently at the Rapture. But some will say, wait a minute. What about all the real persecution going on right now in places all over the world? Places like North Korea, Pakistan, Iran, Nigeria, and so forth? Well, all I can say is selective persecution against believers (even against the Old Testament saints) is nothing new. Hebrews 11 reviews for us the long history of atrocities conducted against God's chosen. Persecution has been a mainstay in the human condition since Cain killed Abel. As such, persecution itself cannot really be used as a metric to determine how close we are to the end or else Christ would have come back in the 2nd century. I'm not making light of persecution, nor am I minimizing its horrors, I'm simply saying that persecution in and of itself has been one of the most consistent realities Christians have had to endure for all of history. Bottom line is that the church of the last days will be more Laodicean, than Philadelphian, which is why Christ describes them as having "little strength." What makes the days in which we live unique is the fact the West has spent the last four centuries, and at great cost, fostering liberty and the rule of law to prohibit things like religious persecution. In order for those Church and Israel to suddenly be put under the knife again in the West something seriously wrong is going to have to happen. Granted, something seriously went wrong in World War II, but the world rallied and defeated the evil Nazi Regime. Satan doesn't need that again. He has been far more effective in corrupting the Church. In the meantime, Satan is going to ratchet up the coercion and deception campaigns in the form of a 'blanket punishment' against all of Western Civilization. The reason for that is because Western Civ has its moral-ethical foundations largely built upon Judeo-Christian principles. This is why we are seeing the Satanic strategy of targeting norms, values, and truth on things like the family, the schools, sports, historical sites, history itself, free speech, abortion, marriage, medical mandates, peace, safety, gender, and corporate wokeness. While these are all things Christians care about, these are not "exclusively" Christian issues. Conclusion In closing, let's just keep a few things in perspective. Yes, the Bible says the world is going to continue to wax worse and worse, and will not get any better until Christ returns at the Second Coming (2 Tim. 3, 2 Peter 3, Matt. 24, etc.). However, in order for Christians in the West to undergo the kind of persecution many are now predicting, would require our entire system to collapse...and it will...at the Rapture. Nevertheless, things will continue to get tougher economically, politically, and socially before our deliverance. Right now, we are in the time of the birth pangs, where there is an intentional intensifying period of lawlessness and wickedness. These two will have repercussions in the economic world, which may cause financial hard times and increased periods of deprivation. If you look at the intentional destruction of our current economic structure, they are doing it to pave the way for the coming mark of the beast system. Granted, the powers that be are not calling it that, but we Christians ultimately know that is where it is headed. The same goes for medical mandates. These are not the mark of the beast but serve as a form of conditioning to prepare this generation to accept it when it does come. I'm not trying to make the devil out to be more powerful than he is, but neither am I attempting to minimize his cunning. Furthermore, we can see the purposeful ramping up of wickedness and lawlessness around the world. Where it used to be isolated in this place or that, now this lawlessness has become global in reach and depth. We can see the geopolitical winds shifting and the nations of the world are aligning themselves just as the bible says they would be. The economic problems in the world are both purposeful and are driving everyone to the same destination- a single, digital, global currency. Just as Satan is trying to pre-stage his "Mystery Babylon" religion, he is also pre-staging his economic "Babylon the Great" so that when the right time comes (i.e., the Rapture), he will have it ready to go. So how much worse will it get? This depends on how close we get to the Tribulation. How close will the Church come to that watery judgment that is coming upon the whole earth? Even now we can see the storm clouds building on the horizon. How close will the Church come to that fiery hour of testing that is coming upon the earth? Even now, we can see the soldiers loading the furnace and the smoke rising. Well, if the OT foreshadowing still holds true, and I believe it does, then we will be like Daniel in Daniel chapter three or Enoch in Genesis six. We aren't going to be anywhere near there. This means the fact we are seeing the signs of this coming Tribulation already here, the deliverance of Christ's bride, the Church, will be all the sooner. Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. Rev. 3:10 Post-Scriptum: Lord willing, I will be on live with Pastor Tom Hughes on his Youtube channel Monday 4:00PM CST. Hope to see you there! Israel Begins Campaign Against Iran; ‘The Weaker Tehran Is, So Will Its Proxies Be’ – TV7 - https://harbingersdaily.com/israel-begins-campaign-against-iran-the-weaker-tehran-is-so-will-its-proxies-be/ The announcement came from Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett during an address at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) in Tel Aviv. “The campaign to weaken Iran has begun,” said the Israeli leader, explaining that the operation is being “conducted in all dimensions: nuclear, economy, cyber, over and covert actions, alone and also in cooperation with others.” The actions will also focus on Iranian proxy groups, such as the Lebanon-based Hezbollah and the Hamas rulers of Gaza. While rockets fired at Israel “may be launched from Beirut or Gaza – the origin is Tehran,” said Bennett, continuing that, “the weaker Tehran is, so will its proxies be weaker; the hungrier the head of the octopus becomes, its tentacles will shrink – consequently, we will meet at our borders something much weaker.” As an expected consequence of reviving the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) at ongoing talks in Vienna, Bennett warned that “removing sanctions and flooding billions of dollars into the coffers of this (Ayatollah) regime means, my friends, more rockets, more UAVs, more terror cells, more cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns, more of everything. By the way, not only against us – it will also be directed at our American allies in the region and our other partners.” Prime Minister Bennett reiterated that likely concessions by the international community to Iran render a salvaged-JCPOA against Israel’s best interests. “We believe that the Iranians will continue being Iranians. We see it already now, during these negotiations, at a time when the Iranian Foreign Ministry officials sit in Vienna with the global powers– at the same moment the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) behaves as a regional bully and attacks the United Arab Emirates and other locations. “This is the exact definition of ‘negotiating under fire’ – this is extortion,” underscored Bennett, stressing that, “If an agreement is signed and the stream of dollars resumes, we all understand that the Iranian aggression will only intensify in the region.” His government’s strategy of countering Tehran “in every way” while undertaking any necessary action to provide security for Israeli citizens is the most effective, asserted Bennett, whether the JCPOA is revived or ultimately short-lived “until the sunset takes effect.” So-called “sunset clauses” refer to the expiration – as early as 2024 – of the “snapback” mechanism to restore international sanctions if Iran violates restrictions on advanced centrifuges imposed by previous United Nations Security Council Resolutions. While acknowledging that “The United States was and will always remain our best friend,” the Israeli leader went on to underscore that Washington’s best interests are not always compatible with Jerusalem’s. “We speak about it very genuinely and understand one another,” he said, noting that, “The US position in the region is diminishing. Her eyes are naturally focused on the border of Russia and Ukraine currently, and deeply embroiled in a multi-year strategic conflict with China in the long run. This is the reality, there is no point in complaining about it. We must act within those existing circumstances – not in a world of wishes.” Any vacuum in the geo-political arena will immediately filled by another force, said Bennett, adding that this new reality creates challenges but also opportunities for Israel. “The place of the United States in the region, God forbid, can be filled by forces of terror and hate; however, with the right steps, it can be filled by Israel. The infrastructure of friendship that emerged with our neighbors can constitute a beginning of a multidimensional regional alliance. Together, we will contend better with the challenges that are introduced by radical forces and disrupters of stability in the region,” he said. The Prime Minister went on to unveil a new ground-breaking Israeli military development that will radically shift cost-effectiveness of the country’s multi-layered aerial defense array. “Within a year, the IDF will deploy a laser-based interception system on an experimental and then operational basis, initially in the south followed by additional locations,” enabling Israel to be “surrounded by a protective wall of lasers against missiles, rockets, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and other threats; thus repelling the strongest enemy risks.” The initiative will reverse the “economic equation,” he said, ultimately minimizing Israel’s defense budget while compelling adversaries to invest greater sums. “If you are able to intercept a missile or rocket with an electric pulse that costs several dollars, we will in fact thwart the ‘ring of fire’ erected by Iran on our borders” following an initial investment that over the course of several decades demonstrating there is no “pay off” to attack Israel. “This new generation of Israeli aerial defenses could also serve our friends in the region,” Bennett pointed out, who also contend difficult threats posed by Iran and its proxies. Coming soon: Climate lockdowns? – Kristin Tate - https://thehill.com/opinion/finance/592011-coming-soon-climate-lockdowns The past two years have been a checklist for the worst impulses of government and public sentiment. COVID allowed for supposedly temporary measures to morph into two years of “emergency” restrictions. But what if COVID was only the opening act, and another proclaimed crisis is the main event? Implementing significant but partial restrictions, one by one, in the name of the common good can allow for encompassing government control that results in relatively little backlash. Fear over climate change could lead to long-term soft lockdowns, given the precedent of immense growth of government power and significant support for sweeping state actions. This isn’t a right-wing fever dream. Calls for harsh government measures in the name of saving the environment are already in the parlance of influential organizations and figures. In November 2020, the Red Cross proclaimed that climate change is a bigger threat than COVID and should be confronted with “the same urgency.” Bill Gates recently demanded dramatic measures to prevent climate change, claiming it will be worse than the pandemic. Despite millions of people having died from COVID, former governor of the Bank of England Mark Carney last year predicted that climate deaths will dwarf those of the pandemic. Lockdowns, which significantly reduced carbon emissions during 2020, could be the solution. After all, the EU’s climate service gloated, the first COVID lockdown may have saved 800 lives. What would climate lockdowns look like? Most likely, cities and states would begin a gradual and discrete ramp-up of restrictions. During the early days of the pandemic, millions of Americans worked from home; this could become the permanent norm if special carbon taxes are put in place. Such taxes could be imposed on companies, limiting driving or air miles, and extend to individual employees. Drive to work in a car? You get hit with the tax. Children could be impacted by climate lockdowns, too. Schools, especially those heavily influenced by teachers’ unions, could impose permanent online-only days. Delhi, India is already using a version of this concept to crack down on smog pollution. At the same time, either through direct government fiat or due to ineffective green energy policies, some areas of the country could regularly experience California-style rolling blackouts. And as fossil fuels (and nuclear power) go by the wayside, consumers may be prevented from buying new gasoline cars, lawnmowers, or chainsaws. Significant measures are already being planned to combat climate change. California will ban the sale of gasoline cars in 13 years, as will Germany. Britain plans to do the same in just eight. Prohibiting internal combustion engines could save the planet, the argument goes. As each negative weather event is blamed on climate change, government will increasingly use its restrictive tools. While deaths from natural disasters have fallen by two-thirds over the past five decades, mostly thanks to technological innovations, elites insist that climate change is the “biggest threat modern humans have ever faced.” Climate lockdowns and other restrictions will be framed as saving the people of the United States, and the world, from themselves. What goal could be more noble? Anyone against such measures could be labeled a “climate denier” who stands against progress — or simply a “domestic terrorist.” Defectors likely won’t have much choice, anyhow. Facial recognition and plate-reading software, coupled with the impressive scope of drones, could lead to severe enforcement. Don’t like the restrictions on your gas guzzler? The government could easily track its location and send automatic tickets — or worse. The ability for officials to depend on a significant minority of zealous supporters to enforce measures is invaluable, as well. How many COVID “Karens” justify their fanaticism by contrasting themselves with uneducated, rural Donald Trump supporters? But don’t expect the new rules to apply to everyone equally. During the pandemic, elites don’t wear masks in private — only their servers, drivers and cleaners do. You will be held responsible for your personal carbon footprint, enforced by either law or social convention. But climate evangelists such as Jeff Bezos or “climate czar” John Kerry will receive special dispensations for their carbon use. The pandemic proved to be the precedent of 21st century governance. The initial lockdowns were a desperate attempt to understand more about the virus and shut it down. In hindsight, the overreaction will simply provide a backdrop for the next major government overreach. If COVID could kill millions, imagine the powers the government will assume against a threat that could kill billions. Political leaders have learned that fear prompts the public to accept dramatic curtailing of freedoms for vague promises of safety — they must realize the incredible power at their fingertips. COVID gave the government mouse a cookie, and power-hungry officials and bureaucrats can utilize the precedents of the past two years to institute a much longer, much more comprehensive lockdown. Do We Really Want “Normal” Back? - By Dave Hubley - https://www.raptureready.com/2022/02/02/do-we-really-want-normal-back-by-dave-hubley/ I hear many of my brothers and sisters, and other people as well, increasingly lamenting the times and wishing we could return to “normal.” I think it is safe to assume most are referring to the time before Covid-19. However we may, as individuals, define this life-altering period, it has indeed changed our lives, and – it has changed how we must view the future, in an unprecedented way. Let’s examine that condition, “normal,” and see what was ongoing prior to this period. 1) Unborn humans were/are still being slaughtered by the millions. 2) Every depravity against God’s firmly established order is being practiced, condoned by the “authorities,” celebrated by a growing segment of the population, and forced upon the rest of the world. 3) Lawlessness is now institutionalized, and the system is completely broken even to the highest (Supreme) court of the land. 4) Family structure is under severe and maniacal attack from every direction (Satan is well aware of where his attack must be focused). 5) Little children are being sacrificed as political pawns in order to further the desires or perversions of unstable adults. 6) Drug use is off the charts and is likely the largest money-generating commodity in history. 7) Church attendance is steadily eroding as many “churches” have compromised the Gospel and watered the truth down. 8) Truth has now been twisted, distorted, nullified, and abandoned by the world. 9) Many people are now convinced that they can “identify” as a different gender and/or even a different species (both of which are a biological impossibility) than what they were born as and demand that people support them in it. 10) Many people take no responsibility for their own poor decisions but lay blame elsewhere. 11) The country is being ruled by a party (Democrats) that believes they can remove God as a political declaration and succeed. This is not to say that all Republicans are innocent either, but they have not made it the official party line – yet. 12) Schools are teaching godless, evil depravity to little malleable minds. 13) Man-caused climate change is pounded into the minds of people who just accept it as true because they don’t do their own due diligence to discover that they are being deceived. 14) People are starving to death all over the world. 15) Satan worship is openly practiced and encouraged even in schools. 16) Libraries have become bastions of depravity. I could go on and on as the above list is far from complete. I can remind everyone of the repeated warnings by the Holy Spirit of God in His Word that these things would become normal in these last days. I could point out chapter and verse as well, but anyone who reads the Bible should be familiar with all these admonitions and warnings provided to all people by the Holy Spirit of God out of His love for His creation. Now to the crux of this article. For those who wish or pray for “normal” to return, I would remind them that it would mean that the list above would continue unabated. Babies would continue to be murdered, and the list would go on and on. Meanwhile, we would be “free” to enjoy football, hiking etc, etc. You get the picture. I enjoy things as well, but I can no longer comfortably do that as God has made me very aware of the cost to others. I would urge everyone to examine your heart and spirit and ask yourselves, “Is my comfort at the expense of all the victims of this evil really what I want?” You know where you are going, my brothers and sisters, and you know this time and these events had to arrive; so please, place your priorities in the right place and pray for God’s will to be done just as Jesus did on the night of His crucifixion. While I don’t know any (true) Christians who wish harm to anyone, we are not the ones who control the future. That is the sovereign Lord’s decision, and it has already been made. He is righteous, and He will execute judgment on a rebellious and unbelieving world. I believe that time is very close at hand. Finally, God has made it absolutely clear that there is no one who comes before Him under His terms that will be refused. No one: no race, no color, no country of origin, regardless of your previous belief system: no one. Salvation is available to everyone. What are His terms according to His Word?
John 5:24 “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.” To contact me: [email protected] Daily Jot: The Farm Chronicles: The warden and the justice meter - Bill Wilson – www.dailyjot.com One of the things my dad instilled in me was to stand up for what I think is right. All of us Wilson’s have a certain “Justice Meter” within us, set to go off like a Geiger Counter at first detection of an injustice. In Dad’s day, this sensitivity would often be settled with fisticuffs. My older brothers, 9 and 14 years older than me, an occasional fight. By the time I came along, we had become more civilized in how we conducted our differences, or perhaps more subtle about them. Nevertheless, an unjust rule was no rule and an unjust act must not be left unchallenged. This conflicted with another rule of our household: That if you got in trouble at school, you got the same at home first, then the truth would be sorted out. Along about my freshman year, there was a new vice principal hired at our high school. His name was Mr. Ward. He was tall and slender, his head seemed disproportionately large for his neck and shoulders. He wore those dark horn-rimmed glasses, kind of a ‘50s look, and he never smiled. He was always lurking in the halls during class changes with his arms crossed like a Nazi prison camp officer. Never friendly. Always on the look-out for a violation of some sort to hit some unsuspecting student with a detention or, worse yet, a trip to the “office” for a paddling. Now the principal, Mr. Peterson, was a good man, cheerful, disciplined, but fair. How he got stuck with the “Warden” as we called him, who knows? One particular day, a cheerful sunny day, we were changing classes. I was walking toward my class and a friend, Greg, was walking in the opposite direction toward his class. We hadn’t seen each other for a while and I said, “How you doing, Greg?” “Great, Bill, good to see you.” And we high-fived as we passed. Well, Mr. Ward went into action. He grabbed me and took me down to the office. He claimed that I had thrown Greg against a locker and began punching him. And against my ardent protest, he paddled me for it. I knew what was going to happen when I got home, so I told Dad about it right away. I was so angry that I insisted Dad call Mr. Peterson to set up a meeting. Dad held off on paddling me, pending the outcome. Here we are the next day in Mr. Peterson’s office—Dad, me, Peterson, Ward and Greg. I went into full lawyer mode. Mr. Ward recounted his false version of the story. Greg confirmed my version. Mr. Peterson judged that Ward was wrong and apologized for what happened. I wouldn’t let it sit. Despite Dad wanting me to leave well enough alone, I would not. I said that a man who would lie just for the sake of lying (and I pointed at Ward) lacked the character to deal with kids, and I demanded he be fired. Mr. Ward was not fired that day, but he was gone not long after. The incident lends itself to Proverbs 19:9, “A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaks lies shall perish.” Word is that Mr. Ward was later convicted of selling drugs to kids at another school. Mr. Ward, the warden wannabe, became subject to a real warden. Lesson: Don’t mess with the justice meter. It never lies. Daily Devotion: Willing to Serve - by Greg Laurie – www.harvest.org If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities —Luke 16:10 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/willing-to-serve/ - Listen When I was a brand-new Christian, I went to Pastor Chuck Smith at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa and said, “I want to serve the Lord. I’ll do whatever you guys want me to do.” I was 17 years old at the time, and they gave me different tasks like sweeping leaves and cleaning toilets. I did it all. Then one day they gave me a special mission. They said, “We need a new doorknob for the church office door.” Now, I’ve never been a mechanical guy. But I went to the local hardware store, looked at all kinds of doorknobs in different sizes, and literally prayed, “God, help me find the right doorknob.” I chose one, and it turned out to be the wrong size. Later I thought, “Well, maybe God wants me to be on a worship team.” So I joined a worship group and did percussion. I played the conga drum and couldn’t really keep rhythm very well. As a result, I discovered that wasn’t what I was called to do. In fact, one way to find out what God is calling you to do is by discovering what He has not called you to do. So when someone tells me they want God to use them, I suggest that they volunteer at their church. They might even say to their pastor, “I want to be used by God, and I’ll do whatever you need me to do.” They might end up doing some janitorial work or setting up chairs or doing some type of menial task. But that’s probably because the pastor wants to see if they’ll be faithful in the little things. “Work willingly at whatever you do,” the Bible says, “as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people” (Colossians 3:23 NLT). Be faithful in the little things. FROM THE HEART Let Us Make the Short Time We have Left, Count for ALL of Eternity! IF YOU HAVE BEEN BLESSED THROUGH THIS MINISTRY, THEN WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD PLEASE REMEMBER PROPHECY UPDATE IN YOUR GIVING - WE ARE TRULY, TRULY, THANKFUL FOR YOUR SUPPORT WORTHY OF YOUR SUPPORT? One of the most reliable ways to determine if a ministry is worthy of your financial support is to examine its fruits. If Prophecy Update is keeping you informed, and if that information inspires you, and causes you to draw closer to the Lord, if Prophecy Update equips you with valuable information and knowledge to share with and encourage other believers, and open the eyes of non-believers, and if Prophecy Update keeps you connected to current events relating to Bible Prophecy, then you are partaking of the fruit produced through this ministry. None of this would be possible without the Lords blessings and your support. I believe where the Lord guides, the Lord provides, and most of the time He provides through the willing and generous hearts of believers just like you and me. Humbly Seek Your Support Prophecy Update has no corporate sponsors. This ministry is paid for and prayed for by readers and supporters. Without your support, there would be no Prophecy Update, Please pray about becoming a monthly supporter - thanks! If ever there was a time to invest in God's Kingdom, it's now! What on earth are you doing for Heaven's Sake? "Share in the Blessings and Rewards that will last Forever!" "Folks, it's all beginning to unravel. America is in more danger of falling than at any time in its history. But I believe Bible prophecy predicts this very decline. From this point on, we believers have to get serious. We are going to face discouragement, disillusionment and, most certainly, persecution in the time between now and the Rapture. But don't be discouraged or disillusioned. The coming turmoil will provide us unrivaled opportunities to share the good news of the Gospel. So be ready to share your faith and your hope with those who need Christ. We still have time to reap a great harvest of souls for God's kingdom!" - Hal Lindsey 1) We need your prayers!- We proclaim the Truth of the Word of God and we are under constant spiritual and sometimes even physical attack. 2) We need your encouragement!- We need to hear from you, let us know how the Lord is blessing you through this ministry so that we can share it with others. 3) We need your input! - If you have a prophetic article or story or if there is a news related item we missed, let us know. 4) We need your financial support!- To put it quite simply, without your support, there would be no Prophecy Update. I ask that you would prayerfully consider partnering with us to get the Word out and keep the world informed. Remember, your gift, no matter how small, does make a difference! You will be helping to touch lives, around the world, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, thanks to the internet your generosity carries a global impact! - Thanks! Our Prayer for You- "Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else." 2 Corinthians 9:10-13 If you have been blessed by Prophecy Update and would like to help support this ministry financially. You can make a secure donation online by going to: DONATE NOW Or write us at: Prophecy Update P.O. Box 40516 Bakersfield, CA 93384-0516 We are very pleased to offer all our readers this FREE download on Bible Prophecy from the Evangelical Bible College of Western Australia - Just download and enjoy and be blessed! Feel free to share it with all your friends and family members. Click below to download! "AS YOU SEE THE DAY APPROACHING" If You Died Today, Would You Go To Heaven? Find out, visit: www.thegoodtest.net www.gotquestions.org www.wayofthemaster.com How to know God DID YOU KNOW? You can submit an article, leave a comment or praise report at email: [email protected] Maranatha! (Lord Come Quickly) "On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand, All other ground is sinking sand." "Let Us make the short time we have left count for all eternity!" YBIC-Randy
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Archives
October 2024
Categories |
RSS Feed