TODAY'S NEWSLETTER...
Is it about time for Jesus to come back? - Joseph Farah - https://www.wnd.com/2022/11/time-jesus-come-back/
Joseph Farah explains Matthew 24 and 12th-century rabbinical prophecy Jesus told us that no one knows the day or hour that He will return. That's a given. But he gives us a framework that tells us a lot. Those closest to the Lord during his ministry asked Him what it would be like – and when. "Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?" they asked in Matthew 24:3. Later, after he had risen, he was asked again. He said in Acts 1:7: "And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power." But Jesus answered differently in Matthew, saying in verses 7-14: "For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." Iniquity will abound, and the love of many shall wax cold. Think about it. What does iniquity mean from God's point of view? Lawlessness. God instructed us to follow His laws – His Torah, His Commandments. What happens when we miss the mark? We all miss the mark sometimes. But from the beginning, He gave us sincere repentance to cure it. And He gave us His Son on the cross who took our sins away if we committed our life to Him and really meant it. But if your love waxes cold toward your neighbor, that's not good – that's double trouble. If by now you don't know His rules, you better learn them – from the good Bible. We live in a time when many believe we're close to seeing Jesus coming back. Why? Look at the next clue Jesus gives, in Matthew 24:15. "When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand.)" What? The holy place? Who's Daniel the prophet? Read Daniel's book of the Bible. It's one of the best reads in the world. Pay close attention to chapter 12. In it he's told by the angel Michael about the end times, just before the Messiah comes again to be our King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He's told that He comes at the end of a three and a half year period, which is known as the period of Jacob's trouble – which is another name for Israel's trouble. It comes at a time still in the future when the Holy Temple of God will be rebuilt and the daily sacrifice will be taken away and the abomination of desolation shall take place. Israel is our time clock for the end times. At this point I must tell you about another amazing story, one about Rabbi Judah Ben Samuel who lived during the 12th century and consecrated his life to God. He wrote the following prophecy in A.D. 1217, which has so far proven to be accurate with only the final part of it remaining to be fulfilled: "When the Ottomans conquer Jerusalem they will rule over Jerusalem for eight jubilees. Afterwards Jerusalem will become no-man's land for one jubilee, and then in the ninth jubilee it will once again come back into the possession of the Jewish nation – which would signify the beginning of the Messianic end time." When he was asked where he received this prophecy, he said, "The prophet Elijah, who will precede the Messiah, appeared to me and revealed many things to me and emphasized that the pre-condition for answered prayer is that it is fueled by enthusiasm and joy for the greatness and holiness of God." The first part of his prophecy was fulfilled exactly 300 years later when the Ottomans took control of Jerusalem in 1517. The second part was fulfilled 400 years later in 1917 when the Ottomans lost control of Jerusalem 400 years later, which equals eight jubilees because the year of jubilee occurs every 50th year (Leviticus 25:1-12). The Ottomans lost Jerusalem to the British on Sept. 17, 1917. The third part was fulfilled during the next 50 years, from 1917 to 1967 when Jerusalem was known as a no-man's land. The fourth part was fulfilled on June 7, 1967, when Israel took control of Jerusalem during the Six-Day War, which was exactly 50 years after the Ottomans lost it in 1917. Israel has maintained control ever since then. Since that time, over half the world's Jews have lived in Israel. Many more are destined to come. That's amazing don't you think? There's more. Luke's gospel records the time of Israel's trouble this way, in 21:24: "And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled." [Emphasis added.] That means no more Gentiles calling the shots. Israel will be, once again, for Israelis. In case you haven't heard, Israel is already facing increasing pressure from the international community to divide Jerusalem, giving the eastern half to the Palestinians. Nevertheless, President Donald Trump defied the world on Dec. 6, 2017, and formally recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and stated that the U.S. Embassy would be moved from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. He made good on the broken promises of many past presidents by placing the embassy in Jerusalem on May 14, 2018. Getting back to Judah Ben Samuel's prophecy, you may think he got the fifth part of his prediction wrong because it has been 55 years since 1967. Messiah Jesus said in Matthew 24:34, "Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place." Based on what King David wrote in Psalm 90:10, one generation is 70 or 80 years. "The days of our years are threescore years and ten; (70 years) and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years (80 years), yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away." If the Messianic end times began in 1967, using King David's definition would put the end in 2037 (70 years) or 2047 (80 years). And he's favored by God. "Whoso readeth, let him understand." Jesus is waiting for the Gentiles' time to be fulfilled. A Social, Moral, And Spiritual Revolution: How Do We Overcome The Iron Curtain Of Deception? – By Tim Moore - https://harbingersdaily.com/a-social-moral-and-spiritual-revolution-how-do-we-overcome-the-iron-curtain-of-deception/ I am writing this from Fulton, Missouri. The city of Fulton is named after Robert Fulton, the inventor of the steam engine, who came from this part of Missouri. The town is very proud of this heritage because Robert Fulton and his steam engine helped launch the Industrial Revolution. But, there’s another significant historical event that happened on the campus of Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri. In 1946, at the invitation of President Harry Truman, Winston Churchill came here to deliver a speech that he titled “Sinews of Peace.” It was Churchill’s intention to draw the United States and Great Britain into an ever-increasing relationship, tying them together to offset the growth of the Soviet Union. As Winston Churchill documented, the Soviet Union was gobbling up whole swaths of Eastern Europe. As he described very famously, an “Iron Curtain” was descending over Eastern Europe, separating its peoples from the very same freedoms and liberties that we too often take for granted. Winston Churchill recognized the threat that Stalin and the Soviet Union posed. And so, he wanted the West, namely the United States and Great Britain, to provide a great counterbalance to the expansionist ideology of the Soviet Union with its Socialist and Communist principles. The United States and Great Britain did indeed end up following Churchill’s call to arms. As a matter of fact, his phrase “Iron Curtain” became the descriptive term used to refer to the separation between the East and the West as the world entered into what was known as the Cold War which was waged over the next 40-plus years. When I entered the military, we were still in the midst of the Cold War with the Soviet Union and all of its satellite states still the West’s greatest and primary adversary, at least as we expected. How much has changed! Even with the Cold War supposedly past us, politics between the East and West have just gotten worse throughout the world. The Second Revolution Here at Westminster College, there’s another revolution underway today. It’s not another Industrial Revolution, not at least as I learned as a young military cadet, nor a revolution in military affairs. Rather, it’s a social, moral, and spiritual revolution. Too often it’s being propagated by the ideologies that are vehemently pushed throughout Academia. Though, I’m not singling out Westminster College, I’m just saying that throughout colleges and universities here in America and all over the West, wayward ideologies of Progressivism and anti-Americanism and anti-Christianity are being propagated. As a matter of fact, many colleges and universities don’t even believe in absolute truth anymore, let alone in seeking truth, as Harvard University was once mottoed. Indeed, many colleges now promote Critical Theory, not just Critical Race Theory, but Critical Theory as it relates to the law and to our own Constitution. Critical Theory declares that Scripture is not God-inspired but rather needs to be deconstructed to figure out its personal meaning for each reader. Yes, Critical Theory contains a component in regards to defining race relations and all sorts of other social constructs, but what many in Academia and the Progressive Left wish to do is use Critical Theory to tear down the very foundational structures of our society. Tragically, they’ve been very successful today. What We Are To Do I would urge us all to be intentional about pouring into our children and grandchildren an understanding of the true, biblical ideology that comes from Scripture. Teach them that our nation was founded upon Judeo-Christian values, and that truth is understandable, and has been revealed by God. Respect the dignity mankind has been given because we are created in God’s image. Show respect, not just for one another, but for the true and living God. All of the other structures in our society are built upon these foundations. When we destroy these foundations, the rest of the structure will inevitably topple. The church that was brought from England and reconstructed on the campus of Westminster College was originally remodeled by Christopher Wren in the seventeenth century. It later became damaged by Nazi bombings during World War II. As a tribute to Mr. Churchill coming here, the college resurrected the church by bringing all of the stones over from England and rebuilding the church here on its campus in Fulton, Missouri. It is indeed a beautiful church. Unfortunately, this church sometimes sits void of worshipers today. But, hopefully, the Church will continue to uphold the values that once made America great. What exactly made the West great? Not by our own power, certainly, but because we stood on the truth as revealed in Scripture. We honored the true and living God. Only God is great! Recognize that while we no longer have an Iron Curtain separating East from West anymore, we do now have a curtain of deception descending all around us. Unless we push back, unless we stand on truth, unless we proclaim what truth is, that curtain of deception will envelop our grandchildren, our children, and yes, even ourselves. I would encourage you to study what happened here at Westminster College just a handful of decades ago when Winston Churchill called the West to unite to oppose a godless ideology. Recognize that today, those who believe in the true and living God still need to unite. We need to contain the growing false ideology and make sure that our friends and loved ones understand that truth is Jesus Christ (John 14:6). Prophecy Update Videos
Nearing Midnight: Young Adults’ Plans and Prophecy – Terry James - https://www.raptureready.com/category/nearing-midnight/ This commentary is offered in consideration of Christian young adults—those who are God’s children. That is, they are God’s own through belief in Jesus Christ according to perhaps my favorite scriptural passage on how to be saved from sin’s dread sway: That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:9–10) We will delve a bit into the plans of these young adults in consideration of Bible prophecy. The concerns they have too often go without much notice by those of us in the Bible prophecy ministry, I’m afraid. Their worries, which might have at one time been the very ones of my generation and younger, now can be easily overlooked by us older ones. We have lived our lives, we’ve had and raised our children, and we’ve completed many of our family, social, and business desires and expectations. I can remember when, on the rare times when those of us in our twenties and thirties had discussions about the Rapture and of the Second coming, some—perhaps most—would say something like: “I want the Rapture and Jesus to return, but I hope I get to enjoy life and see my kids grow up.” Otherwise, we didn’t talk about Bible prophecy much in our social gatherings—or even in our church gatherings, as I recall. The subject was almost taboo, because it engendered thoughts of separation. Somewhat like the thought of death, the Rapture threatened to separate us from those we loved –especially in thinking about our babies or our future life with family and children. Of course, this was because even back then, pastors rarely taught about Bible prophecy. Our Sunday schools and other forums almost never dwelt on God’s prophetic Word, either. Those of my era and subsequent eras of young adults, like today’s young adults, never were led to understand the promises our Heavenly Father has made in His prophetic Word. So it is understandable why today there is little interest in the teachings of Rapture and the Second Coming of Christ. I, too, am guilty of pointing only to the gloom and doom of these darkening times. There’s not much hope—or certainly not much fun—in thinking about the evil that permeates our world in ever-increasing virulence. We who are commissioned to analyze and dissect the prophetic implications of these days leading to the Tribulation too often don’t take into account the fact that the young adults of our time don’t see the final outcome of the prophetic stage-setting as wonderful and magnificent as we do. The young people only see the problems of making their way into life’s mainstream and preparing for or working toward building their families and security for those families. Looking up for the any-moment Rapture is, most times, far outside of their worldview. All they know is the here and now and trying to find their way through the maze of growingly difficult social and cultural situations they face daily. And, again, the Rapture seems to be something more to be feared than looked forward to with great anticipation, as we are exhorted in Paul’s words of Titus 2:13. As I write, I’m reminded deeply in my spirit how the Lord wants those who are in His family to gather within their redeemed spirits the astonishingly wondrous things He wants them to anticipate—the things that are coming much sooner than we can realize. My spirit tells me that reaching the ability to have this kind of anticipation comes most often from years of studying Bible prophecy. And every generation has failed to properly bring the young to such a level of study. In other words, I and others who have spent most of our adult lives deeply rooted in the study of and prayer about Bible prophecy now know in the deepest reaches of our being the wonders that await just after the final heartbeat or that glorious moment when Christ shouts for His Bride to come to Him. The young ones, and even older Christians who haven’t studied the prophetic Word on their own or in churches or other venues, don’t have the assurance or even knowledge of that magnificent future on the very cusp of pulling them instantaneously into glory. It is not possible for a writer or a preacher to make these folks understand the joy that awaits the believer in Jesus Christ. But it is possible, if they can just be convinced to take God at His Word, that a fantastic future beyond anything imaginable is approaching at a speed never before experienced by God’s people. The Scripture I would encourage every young person to include in their plans is given by the Apostle Paul—the same prophet who revealed the mystery of the Rapture: But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. (1 Corinthians 2:9) It seems, then, that no one can know with great inner assurance of the glories that await believers. But God’s promise goes beyond this seeming inhibition against knowing Heaven’s wonders. Paul tells us further the following about knowing that blessed eternal life to come: But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. (1 Corinthians 2:10–13) Those words from the very heart of our God tell His family that the desire to know of the never-ending life of glorious exultation can be fulfilled through Holy-Spirit revelation. This is what each believer needs to understand and apply—study, prayer, and a deep belief in God’s promises. The Holy Spirit will give understanding and deep, abiding faith in the promises of God regarding our eternal life with Him. To the younger and older members of God’s family—who are already citizens of that place called Heaven: Make Bible prophecy a big part of your plans for the future. God’s powerful promises will bring your earthly plans into focus with a heavenly perspective. And you will begin to understand that leaving this earth doesn’t mean you will lose the children and family you love so much. You will begin to know beyond any doubt that the life God has prepared for you is billions of times more wonderful and fulfilling than any time you spend with them on earth. Your life with loved ones will be enhanced beyond what you can fathom. Momentary – Pete Garcia - https://www.rev310.net/post/passing-away-1 “Man who is born of woman Is of few days and full of trouble. He comes forth like a flower and fades away; Job 14:1-2 I've been told a number of times over the course of my life that I am an old soul. As such, I find that the older I get, the more reflective I become. Perhaps you are this way too? I will often look at old pictures of family and friends, particularly those I have not kept up with since then, and think back to that day, and try to recreate the scenario in my head surrounding the image that is forever captured in time. A snapshot of life at the moment, if you will. I always find myself asking the same three kinds of questions when I get into this nostalgic state of mind. 1. Where are those people now? 2. Did life turn out for them the way they imagined? 3. Did my life turn out for me as I imagined? I think that if the present-me, went back in time to the younger-me, and told him how life would turn out, I would have laughed at the old-me (I had very little self-confidence back then). Nevertheless, at times, I find myself daydreaming about going back in time to warn other people I knew about how their lives would turn out, only to find out, they would have largely had the same attitude. This is especially true with regard to people who pass before their prime or have some other tragedies prematurely befall them. But when I turn that telescope back upon my own life, I'm surprised that I am not all that surprised at how little I knew of what my life would become back then. I've always held my uncertainty about the future with a degree of sacredness. Even in my prodigal days, I understood that in the physical sense, we are but momentary creatures; either passing through time or watching time pass through us. Even then, I also knew we had an immortal soul, that once created, would live forever somewhere. This is, for the backslidden, the paradoxical dilemma of wanting to just exist in the flesh, yet, knowing deep down, that there would be a divine reckoning one day. Nevertheless, through all the uncertainty of my own mortal limitations, I knew (and still know) God has foreseen all of my circumstances. He saw me before creating the world and decided for His own purposes, to place me here, at the end of all things, to participate in the final moments of human history, just as He has chosen you. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. Ephesians 1:3-6 Why God has chosen us is another question altogether. Even the best of us (for which I am not), falls short. We fall short because, in our flesh, we are infected with the same fallen nature that goes all the way back to Adam and Eve. Furthermore, if we were truly honest brokers, we would stop measuring ourselves against other people, but against God's perfect standard for righteousness. In light of that fact, NONE OF US can measure up. But I still tend to be my harshest critic. As the passage from Job alludes to, even the mightiest of men, are here today and gone tomorrow. None of us, regardless of the size of our bank account, ethnicity, or family name, can extend our days one second beyond what God has already laid out for us. He knows our days, and He knows the end of our days. Even the greatest pleasures and pursuits in life, are empty and meaningless unless God is behind them. Unless God has put those things in your life for you to pursue (passions, career, etc.), they will never bring the sort of spiritual contentment we always hoped things will bring. True, those pursuits might bring about momentary happiness, but happiness is not indicative of meaning. Happiness is a feeling (like sadness, anger, etc.) that is as fleeting as a leaf on the wind. Spiritual contentment can only be found in doing the will of God. Task and Purpose While each of us has many God-ordained jobs (i.e., father, mother, wife, husband, teacher, preacher, missionary, prayer warrior, encourager, etc.), our PRIMARY responsibility as believers, is to bring the Gospel (the Good News of Jesus Christ) to as many people as we can. We are, in effect, to warn others that this ship we are on is sinking and the only lifeboat is Jesus Christ. There isn't any room on the boat for our stuff; all we can take is other people. While we are not responsible for saving anyone (that is the Holy Spirit's responsibility), we are responsible for being the messengers. IOW, we are not responsible for the results, only obedience in the telling. A SECONDARY and no less important undertaking for believers is to recognize the times in which we live. I know on the face of that it sounds rather simplistic and obvious, but when we understand the season in which we live, we become sensitive to the Holy Spirit's calling to the work that must be done. In doing so, we learn to align our priorities with God's. We (temporal and momentary creatures) stop trying to do our own will but become sensitive to our eternal God who is omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent. Thus, understanding when you are (in time) is just as critical to understanding what God has called you to do. Think about how much anger and confusion would be cleared up today if all professing Christendom understood this simple principle, especially given our proximity to the last days. Sleeping churches would be awake. Awake churches would be laser-focused on what matters. Misguided churches would course correct and become effective weapons against the rising antichrist spirit sweeping the world. Moreover, confusion about what we are to do would be cleared up. The Church is not called to build the Kingdom, we are what is being built. Think about it. We can't build the Kingdom any more than a house can build itself. Christ is the Master-builder, and He said He would build it. It is Christ's job to build us, not the other way around. ...and I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Matthew 16:18-19 Understanding when we are gives proper context to what we are to be doing. We are to be sharing the Gospel so that when the Kingdom does come, it will be peopled with humans from every tribe, tongue, and nation. We aren't called to build our 401Ks. We aren't called to create giant mega-churches. We aren't called to politically transform our nation. We are called to be a people obedient to the drawing of the Holy Spirit as He leads. His intent for the Church was to weave us into the geopolitical tapestry as salt and light, which would a) stave off the rottenness of Satan's corrupting influence, as well as b) be a beacon of light for the lost to flock to, until the fullness of time. And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. Matthew 28:18-20 (my emphasis) One of the commandments that a growing majority of churches are purposely forgetting these days is that Jesus told us, "And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!” (Mark 13:37). In not watching, Christian denominations have confused when it is, which has caused them to be confused with regard to what they are supposed to be doing. Breaking Down I’m 48 now and inching my way to 49 with each passing day. I didn’t think it was possible to feel even more tired than the day before, but I do...daily. As we veterans are often prone to say, it’s not the years, it’s the miles. And if that is the case, then yeah, my 22 years in the military have put some serious miles on this old tent of flesh. And yeah, if I'd known I'd still be alive at 48, I would have definitely taken better care of myself as a younger man. But when you are in high school, and even college, 48 seems like a lifetime away. Time is funny like that. Ten years into the future feels like an eternity away, while ten years past seems like only yesterday. I get it, you get busy and life happens. You don't really think about it all that much until you realize that your thirtieth high school reunion is just around the corner. The truth is, we are all momentary creatures passing through time. For some, that momentary is either longer or shorter than others. Either way, we are here today and gone tomorrow. And time, like fire, is either a useful tool or a cruel master. It’s either a measurement of the number of breaths we take or if you are blessed, the number of moments that have taken your breath away. For most people, it is only when their own mortality is threatened, do they realize how precious and short this one life we get is. Aging and longevity, while not indicative of fulfillment or satisfaction of a life well-lived, is still, an accomplishment most hope to achieve. Most want to live to see their own progeny extend beyond their life. They want to see their children have children, and for their legacy to extend to the next generation. But what happens when you are the last generation? My wife's grandmother recently had her 84th birthday. Each of my kids made her a birthday card and daughter number three (who is 9 years old) wrote this on her great-grandmother's birthday card. Congratulations on making it to Level 84 I never thought about it that way, but making it to level 84 (think computer game) is quite an accomplishment. Though I'm sure in asking how quickly her life went by, she would say without hesitation that it flew by like a rocket. Those who have reached or are about to reach this 'level' understand better than most how quickly this life passes. The wise then would ask themselves this follow-up question: Have I built up earthly wealth or heavenly wealth? If we truly understood that the ONLY things we can take with us, are the work we did FOR the Lord, and those people whom we shared the gospel with, our priorities would be vastly different in this age. It would drive our priorities. It would dictate our passions. It would help us discern the useful and wasteful things we do with our time. It would also dictate how loosely or tightly we grip the things of this life. Where should our investments be? In wealth, land, and things? Or in people? Again, this is not taking shots at anyone who has done financially well in this life. God can and does bless people who are good stewards, and to whom material wealth could be used to extend His reach through the Church. Thankfully, God gives to those who have a proper understanding of using wealth as a tool, rather than as an addiction. My line of questioning is not directed at these people. It is directed at people who obsess about building and hoarding wealth in this life as if they can take it with them. A) You can't take it with you B) You can't take it with you Again, a man’s life is like a vapor. If we truly understood that, then we know how precious the time we have left is. Let this understanding prompt you to use the gifts and talents God has given you, to redeem the time while you still can (Eph. 5:16). I know all of us, want to live to see the Rapture. Trust me, I know. Personally, I've been looking up daily since 2007 and many of you have been looking up for a lot longer. While the Rapture could be today or tomorrow, the one thing we can bank on is that none of us are guaranteed tomorrow. None of us are even guaranteed our next breath. You or I could die in a car accident today. Or by a heart attack. Or a giant meteor striking us down as we clean our front yard. Let us be a people who learn to live with the daily expectation that each moment we have is a gift of God and that our temporary, vapor-like existence (in these last moments of human history), was only ever to serve a greater good. Let us, in this season of thanksgiving, thank our Creator and Savior for the times in which we have, in the opportunities He has given us, and in the hope of what lies ahead. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. 1 John 2:17 Daily Jot: Stupidocrisy: The growing apostasy - Bill Wilson – www.dailyjot.com For the first time in history, those who said they were “Christian” in the most recent census of the United Kingdom and Wales has dropped to 46.2% of the population. It means that some 6.2 million people have walked away from Christianity in the past decade, down from 59.3% in the previous census. Hindus increased by 636,000; Sikhs increased by 101,000; Islam increased by 1.2 million; and Judaism increased by 6,000. Christianity was the only religion that decreased, nosediving by the millions. The 6.2 million that left Christianity didn’t necessarily choose another religion. The gains in other religions combined only totaled 1.943 million. The fastest growing religion in the UK and Wales is “no religion.” Those who said they were “no religion” grew by 8.1 million to 37.2% of the UK and Wales population. In other words, Christianity not only lost 6.2 million people in the last decade, but nearly an additional two million have decided they are “no religion.” While Christianity is still the majority religion in the UK and Wales, it is losing ground at an alarming rate. These are not just statistics, they are souls. Once a nation that sought to evangelize the world and the religious leaders were so powerful that they essentially ran the government, now are in rapid decline. Nearly 40% of the population is choosing no religion at all, signaling a great failure of the “church.” What we see in Europe also is happening in America as large numbers of youth and others are leaving the “church.” A February 2018 Barna Research study indicated that 61% of Christian teens say “I find God elsewhere and 64% of non-Christian teens say “church is not relevant to me personally.” Many Christian commentators conclude that churches are distorting the teachings of the Bible, have over-philosophized scripture, and teach an extra-biblical, emotional and self-indulgent version of the gospel—enough so that they have lost an estimated 60% of millennials who were raised in the church. This apathy about church carries over to political and societal beliefs that are fomenting a decline in society, as exit polls indicate youth ages 18-29 are the only age group in which a strong majority support candidates with anti-biblical views. People are rejecting the most precious gift ever bestowed on mankind—the gift of salvation. In John 3:19, Christ says, “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” Rejecting the light of Christ is the gravest of condemnation that mankind can bring upon itself. But what we are experiencing before us is prophetic. 2 Thessalonians 2:3 says, “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come (the return of Christ), except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.” There is a great falling away in progress. The “church” shoulders a lot of the blame, but those who knowingly reject the gift of salvation are responsible for their own fate. They are the growing apostasy, and that is, say it with me…Stupidocrisy. Daily Devotion: Let the Lord Choose for You - by Greg Laurie – www.harvest.org He is the Rock; his deeds are perfect. Everything he does is just and fair. He is a faithful God who does no wrong; how just and upright he is! —Deuteronomy 32:4 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/let-the-lord-choose-for-you/ - Listen Have you ever drunk something so foul that you couldn’t finish it, like milk that you didn’t realize was already spoiled? In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus bowed down and prayed, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will” (Matthew 26:39 NKJV). The cup that Jesus gazed into was something that turned His stomach. But it wasn’t a literal cup; it was a cup of suffering. Our Lord recoiled from the knowledge that He—someone who was sinless, perfect, and pure—would have to take upon Himself everything that was sinful, imperfect, and impure. Jesus had never spent a moment out of fellowship with the Father, but soon He would have to bear all the sins of the world. Jesus knew what was going to happen. He knew that Judas would betray Him, His disciples would abandon Him, and Peter would deny Him. And He knew about the whipping, the crucifixion, and all the rest. Jesus didn’t want to drink this cup, but He knew He had to. There was no question that it was going to be very difficult for Him, to say the least. He was going to face the full wrath of God against all sin. But look at what it accomplished. It brought about our salvation. Because of what Jesus did, because He drank that cup, we can call upon His name. Although it was difficult, it was necessary for the attainment of the ultimate goal. Jesus gave us a model of what to do in times of uncertainty. He prayed, “Not as I will, but as You will.” We are not going to know the will of God in every situation. In those times when we don’t know the will of God, will we let Him choose for us? We must never be afraid to place an unknown future into the hands of a known God. FROM THE HEART Let Us Make the Short Time We have Left, Count for ALL of Eternity! IF YOU HAVE BEEN BLESSED THROUGH THIS MINISTRY, THEN WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD PLEASE REMEMBER PROPHECY UPDATE IN YOUR GIVING - WE ARE TRULY, TRULY, THANKFUL FOR YOUR SUPPORT WORTHY OF YOUR SUPPORT? One of the most reliable ways to determine if a ministry is worthy of your financial support is to examine its fruits. If Prophecy Update is keeping you informed, and if that information inspires you, and causes you to draw closer to the Lord, if Prophecy Update equips you with valuable information and knowledge to share with and encourage other believers, and open the eyes of non-believers, and if Prophecy Update keeps you connected to current events relating to Bible Prophecy, then you are partaking of the fruit produced through this ministry. None of this would be possible without the Lords blessings and your support. I believe where the Lord guides, the Lord provides, and most of the time He provides through the willing and generous hearts of believers just like you and me. Humbly Seek Your Support Prophecy Update has no corporate sponsors. This ministry is paid for and prayed for by readers and supporters. Without your support, there would be no Prophecy Update, Please pray about becoming a monthly supporter - thanks! If ever there was a time to invest in God's Kingdom, it's now! What on earth are you doing for Heaven's Sake? "Share in the Blessings and Rewards that will last Forever!" "Folks, it's all beginning to unravel. America is in more danger of falling than at any time in its history. But I believe Bible prophecy predicts this very decline. From this point on, we believers have to get serious. We are going to face discouragement, disillusionment and, most certainly, persecution in the time between now and the Rapture. But don't be discouraged or disillusioned. The coming turmoil will provide us unrivaled opportunities to share the good news of the Gospel. So be ready to share your faith and your hope with those who need Christ. We still have time to reap a great harvest of souls for God's kingdom!" - Hal Lindsey 1) We need your prayers!- We proclaim the Truth of the Word of God and we are under constant spiritual and sometimes even physical attack. 2) We need your encouragement!- We need to hear from you, let us know how the Lord is blessing you through this ministry so that we can share it with others. 3) We need your input! - If you have a prophetic article or story or if there is a news related item we missed, let us know. 4) We need your financial support!- To put it quite simply, without your support, there would be no Prophecy Update. I ask that you would prayerfully consider partnering with us to get the Word out and keep the world informed. Remember, your gift, no matter how small, does make a difference! You will be helping to touch lives, around the world, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, thanks to the internet your generosity carries a global impact! - Thanks! Our Prayer for You- "Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else." 2 Corinthians 9:10-13 If you have been blessed by Prophecy Update and would like to help support this ministry financially. You can make a secure donation online by going to: DONATE NOW Or write us at: Prophecy Update P.O. Box 40516 Bakersfield, CA 93384-0516 We are very pleased to offer all our readers this FREE download on Bible Prophecy from the Evangelical Bible College of Western Australia - Just download and enjoy and be blessed! Feel free to share it with all your friends and family members. Click below to download! "AS YOU SEE THE DAY APPROACHING" If You Died Today, Would You Go To Heaven? Find out, visit: www.thegoodtest.net www.gotquestions.org www.wayofthemaster.com How to know God DID YOU KNOW? You can submit an article, leave a comment or praise report at email: [email protected] Maranatha! (Lord Come Quickly) "On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand, All other ground is sinking sand." "Let Us make the short time we have left count for all eternity!" YBIC-Randy
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