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IN TODAY'S NEWSLETTER...
It's Later Than You Think – Pete Garcia - https://www.rev310.net/post/it-s-later-than-you-think
To the Dispensationalist, the entirety of humanity's short span on this earth can be broken down into clearly definable seasons…or ages in which God (who never changes) dealt differently with mankind in regard to his relational standing before Him. "To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:" Ecclesiastes 3:1 (my emphasis) In the Garden of Eden, man was commanded not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Aside from being told to be fruitful and multiply, and to take dominion of the earth…this was the only ‘thou shalt not’ commandment given from God. They lived in innocence and tended to the Garden until the day they broke the one commandment they were instructed not to do. Adam and Eve ate from the tree allowing sin to enter the human race and they were cast out of that perfect Garden. Thus, mankind entered a new season in which they would live their lives, ruled by their newfound conscience of knowing good and evil. From then until the Flood, there were roughly 1,560 years that man did what was right in his own eyes. There was no Law, no Bible, no governing authority by which man could live in peace with his fellow man and His maker. It quickly became a time of lawlessness, in which, even the fallen angels had crossed over into forbidden territory by mating with human women. By the time Noah was to build the Ark, mankind had sunk to unimaginable depths of depravity. In fact, it was so bad, that God had to destroy mankind (save eight persons) with the Flood in order for mankind to survive. This global cataclysm brought the age in which man would rule by his conscious to an abrupt and violent end. At the end of it, God covenanted with Noah (Noahic Covenant) that innocent blood would no longer be shed without consequence. And with the creation of capital punishment instituted, the framework for man to rule over other men began the age of human government. The age of promise was in the calling of Abraham from the land Ur of the Chaldees to the Promised Land which his descendants would inherit forever. Abraham was the first person to be called a Hebrew in the Scriptures, thus we can conclude that prior to that, there were only Gentiles. Now, there were two races of people; Jews and Gentiles. God foretold Abraham as he slept, that the Hebrews would be enslaved for 400 years before they could inherit the land. This time was necessary to give the current inhabitants (the Amorites) time to repent (which they didn’t). God would then use the Israelites to become their judgment, cleansing the land of their impurity. During this time, Abraham’s faithfulness to sacrifice his only begotten son would foreshadow the way in which God would provide a path to redemption some 2,000 years later. Moses led the Israelites out of bondage and into the wilderness, in which he received the Law from God…thus beginning the age of the Law. This age went on for roughly 1,500 years before finding fulfillment in the first coming of their Messiah, Jesus Christ. As was prophesied, He was betrayed for 30 pieces of silver and crucified on a Cross on behalf of the sins of the world. Before He died, Jesus stated that He would create a body of people known as the Church (Matthew 16:17-19), who would continue on until He personally came and took them back to be where He was (John 14:1-3). Just as sin entered the world through the first Adam, redemption would enter the world through the last Adam, who is Christ our Lord. Eve was taken and created from Adam's side, so too would the Bride of Christ be taken from the side of Christ. When a woman is about to give birth, her water will break in which blood and water pour forth. On the cross, when His side was pierced, blood and water poured out symbolizing the coming birth of the Church all made possible through His death. Our giving of the Holy Spirit was at Pentecost as mentioned in Acts 2. From there, almost 2,000 years have transpired, to which, we have seen the Church go through the seven stages (Revelation 2-3). To recap: The rough numbers according to genealogies and history
The Purpose And like the wise King Solomon noted…EVERYTHING…has a season. Seasons have two things in common….they have a beginning, and they have an end. As shown, each of the previous ages had beginning and endings, so why would it be any different for the age that we currently live in? Looking back, what was unique about the dispensation of the Law was that it was cut short by approximately seven years. “Seventy weeks are determined for your people and for your holy city," Daniel 9:24 (my emphasis) The Prophet Daniel was given the 70 weeks of years prophecy by the angel Gabriel, in which, from its starting until its end, there would be a total of 490 years (70 x 7) that would be set aside for the nation of Israel. It began in Nehemiah 2 (445BC) with the commandment to go forth and rebuild not the Temple, but the city of Jerusalem, and would end approximately 173,880 days (483 [360-day] years) later as Christ made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. We know historically, that the remaining seven years were not fulfilled after the resurrection, nor do they fit any seven-year period between then and now. But according to the angel Gabriel…those seven final years are still set aside for Israel and will absolutely occur: "Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come.” Daniel 10:14 (my emphasis) Holding Back Those who subscribe to the reference in 2 Thessalonians 2:7 of the Restrainer being the Holy Spirit often believe that the Holy Spirit restrains evil from the world at large. Rather, seeing that there has been an ever-increasing amount of evil since Pentecost, I believe that the Restrainer has restrained evil not from the world, but from destroying the Church. In Matthew 16:18, Jesus said that “He would build His church, and the gates of hell would not prevail against it.” This implies that the Church (body of Christ) would ever be on an offensive against the strongholds of the devil since hell's gates are meant for defensive purposes until the age of the Church has come to its end. Christians have seen bloody periods of persecution in the past, where the world unsuccessfully attempted to stop the spread of Christianity. We have seen and are seeing various forms of corruption that enter the Church in an attempt to pollute it with false and apostate doctrine…yet, there still remains a remnant that is faithful to the word. We’ve seen the oppression of the believers in these last days grow like cancer in an attempt to shame and silence believers…yet there still goes the Gospel out of the mouths and minds of those who are not afraid to speak the truth. The door which God opens cannot be shut by anyone, except God. It will not be until the Rapture of the Church when the Body of Christ is removed allowing the Antichrist and his beastly system to overcome the Tribulation saints. This purging effectively leaves the Antichrist’s worldly kingdom pitted against one nation in particular…Israel. This is the purpose and the season in which the fulfillment of the 7 final years finds its culmination. Arguing the Negatives So what remains? We don’t have to wait for Israel to become a nation again. (Ezekiel 37) We don’t have to wait for the Jews to recapture Jerusalem. (Luke 21:24) We don’t have to wait for there to be a movement within Judaism that has the material, money, and ability to rebuild the third temple. (TMF) We don’t have to wait for Israel’s enemies to align themselves as Scripture say they will in the last days. (Ezekiel 38) We don’t have to wait for there to be a worldwide call for a unified political system. We don’t have to wait for there to be the technology to implement a global economic system. We don’t have to wait for the skeptics and the scoffers to come along and mock those who believe that Christ will return for His Church? We don’t have to wait for widespread apostasy to cause the church to become lukewarm and ineffective. The world has conditioned the masses to think that life will just continue on as it always has. They base this idea on their corrupted theories that life slowly came about by evolution over millions of years even though their theories are illogical and scientifically impossible. Furthermore, they largely reject the Bible’s account of man's true history on this planet. We don’t know how much longer the Holy Spirit will hold back His restraint. However, if the past is any key to understanding the future when our time (the Church Age) has reached its fullness, it will come to its inevitable end (just as the rest of the dispensations have-save the Law). At nearly 6,000 years since Creation, and nearly 2,000 since Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, the end of our age is about to end suddenly and without warning. "But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape." 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3 World Economic Forum Calls for Digital One World Currency – Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz - https://www.prophecynewswatch.com/article.cfm?recent_news_id=5304 Dr. Phillipa "Pippa" Malmgren, a technology entrepreneur and economist, spoke at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum being held in Davos, Switzerland, this week, dropping a bombshell prediction that the world is well on its way to implementing an electronic banking system that would open every transaction of every person to government scrutiny. "I was very privileged. My father was the adviser to Nixon when we came off the gold standard in '71, so I was brought up with a kind of inside view of how very important the financial structure is to absolutely everything else," Malmgren said. "And what we're seeing in the world today is I think we are on the brink of a dramatic change where we are about to - and I'll say this boldly - we're about to abandon the traditional system of money and accounting and introduce a new one, and the new one - the new accounting - is what we call blockchain." "It means digital," she continued. "It means having an almost perfect record of every single transaction that happens in the economy, which will give us far greater clarity over what's going on." Unlike current cryptocurrencies, the system Malmgren describes will give the central banks complete control over people's money. The banks will be able to track every transaction and even control how it is spent, blocking it from being transferred to people or organizations it deems undesirable. This may sound like a dystopian sci-fi scenario of the distant future, but this was already seen in Canada when, without a court order, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau used emergency powers to order banks to freeze accounts of individuals who donated to the Freedom Convoy. Crowdfunding sites were also forced to return millions of dollars that had been collected for the truckers. The Biden administration also accessed bank records to track bank account debit card or credit card purchases made in Washington, D.C, during the Jan. 6 riot investigation. In October, even greater government overreach was avoided when the Biden administration backed down on a proposal to direct the IRS to collect additional data on every bank account that sees more than $600 in annual transactions. Implementing such a global digital currency system would require the establishment of a global digital currency and a global digital identity for every person on the planet. Rafi Farber, an Israeli economist and financial journalist who blogs and videos under the pen The End Game Investor, combines Torah knowledge with financial wisdom. He compared the New World Order and a global digital currency system to the Tower of Babel. "Blockchain technology is just an excel spreadsheet that is spread around so everyone can see it," Farber explained. "They are extremely trackable. This is the same as what banks are already doing. Banks and governments are always looking for a way to monitor transactions, and blockchain technology is not a new thing. The governments are already doing this. But they are forced to look at the transactions from multiple sources." "If this becomes centralized, it will just make it easier for the government." "The practical difference in switching from what we are using now, which is mostly digital anyway, to central bank digital banking is that cash will be outlawed. When you outlaw cash, every single thing becomes trackable. Nothing is too small." Members Of Congress Are Now Using Words Like “Famine” And “Starvation” To Describe What Is Coming - by Michael Snyder - http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/members-of-congress-are-now-using-words-like-famine-and-starvation-to-describe-what-is-coming/ I have so much information to share with you today, and I will do my best to be brief. But be warned that this article is going to be longer than usual. Global events are moving so quickly now, and I believe that they are going to move even more rapidly in the months ahead. Sadly, the changes that we are witnessing will have a very real impact on the daily lives of every man, woman and child on the entire planet. As I discussed yesterday, a global food shortage has arrived. In fact, members of Congress are now using words like “famine” and “starvation” to describe what conditions will soon be like all over the world. For example, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst just told Fox Business that our planet is facing “impending famine”… About 40 to 45 percent of the production in Ukraine will be decreased this year because of the war and the scarcity of supplies that go into the planting season. And we know that Ukraine also supports about 400 million people around the world with its food products. So we do see that we have an impending famine. And I’ve heard from David Beasley at the World Food Bank that he’s now going to have to take from the hungry to feed the starving. And U.S. Senator Cory Booker has previously warned that we could soon see tens of millions of people “dying of starvation”… “Democrats and Republicans in Congress need to quickly come together and approve emergency global food aid in order to prevent tens of millions of people, including millions of children, from dying of starvation,” Senator Cory Booker, a Democrat from New Jersey, told Reuters. They aren’t exaggerating. Even Joe Biden recently admitted that food shortages are “going to be real”. The one thing that could provide a ray of hope would be an end to the war in Ukraine. But it appears that isn’t going to happen any time soon. In an interview with Fox News on Friday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that his nation will not accept anything less than “victory” in the war… Special Report’s Bret Baier interviewed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday evening, touching on a wide variety of topics, including what a victory looks like for Ukraine and what Putin is hoping to achieve. Baier asked the Ukrainian leader at the start of the interview how he believes the “war will end” prompting an explanation from Zelenskyy that only “victory” will be acceptable to his country. Good luck with all that. Now that the Russians have pulled their forces away from Kiev to focus on the eastern front, there is a lot less pressure on Zelenskyy to compromise on a peace deal. And the fact that this conflict has made him one of the biggest celebrities on the entire planet actually gives him an incentive to keep it going. Meanwhile, millions upon millions of people are already deeply suffering. In Somalia, we are being warned that an “impending famine” is at the door… What we are now seeing is impending famine similar to that which occurred in 2010/2011 in which more than a quarter of a million people died – including 133,000 children under the age of five. Although some donors have committed to fund Somalia’s Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) which seeks US$1.5 billion, not even 4% of funding required to meet Somalia’s humanitarian needs have been allocated. Like the novel coronavirus, which had impacted many of Somali households, the Ukraine crisis has driven inflation and rising costs in Somalia, particularly for food and energy, at a time when families are already incredibly desperate. The reason why the situation in Somalia has become so desperate is because that nation normally gets more than 90 percent of its wheat from either Russia or Ukraine… Finally, in the Horn of Africa 13 million people are already suffering from hunger. Ethiopia imports around 40 percent of its wheat from Russia and Ukraine, Kenya 30 percent, and Somalia over 90 percent. Meanwhile, the food crisis in Yemen just continues to escalate. One man that was recently interviewed admitted that he and his family “live like ants”… Experts are warning that the world faces a historic famine. The war in Ukraine is only one of many problems plaguing the global distribution of food. In Yemen, Ghalib al-Najjar skips meals so that his children have enough food. He says he and his family “live like ants or fish…we eat what we can find.” In Peru, rapidly rising prices for fuel and food have sparked massive nationwide protests… An ongoing wave of violent protests in Peru shows how the Russian invasion of Ukraine is affecting markets around the world, sparking unrest and deepening political divides. Rising fuel costs originally triggered the protests, which started last week, but quickly intensified into large anti-government demonstrations with marches and road blockades. So far at least six people have died in the chaos, and protesters continue to block at least nine major roads. In Afghanistan, it is being estimated that 95 percent of the entire population does not have enough food to eat right now… Afghanistan has faced grave hunger crises before. Two decades ago, people in the country were so hungry they resorted to eating wild grass. But the situation in the country now is unprecedented. Exacerbated by an unusually cold winter and the worst drought in decades, the economic upheaval that came with the Taliban takeover has left 95% of Afghans without enough food. We haven’t seen anything like this in a really long time. Overall, the World Food Program is warning us that “285 million people face starvation”… The World Food Program estimates that 285 million people face starvation. The head of the World Food Program, former South Carolina Governor David Beasley, says the world food supply already faced a catastrophe before the war in Ukraine. “We’re so short of funds already, and now with Ukraine, we’ve got 50-percent rations for people, for example, in Yemen, I’ve just cut 50 percent rations for eight million people. Niger, 50 percent rations, Chad 50 percent rations. And 50 percent don’t have anything, those who are in extreme need,” Beasley said. Of course this is just the beginning. As I specifically warned in Lost Prophecies and 7 Year Apocalypse, conditions will eventually become far more severe than they are at this moment. Here in the United States, nobody is starving just yet, but the cost of living is escalating at a frightening pace. According to a Bloomberg report, the average U.S. household will need to spend 5,200 dollars more just to have the same standard of living as last year… “Inflation will mean the average U.S. household has to spend an extra $5,200 this year ($433 per month) compared to last year for the same consumption basket,” Bloomberg Economics reports. Having to spend an extra $433 per month to get the same is a hefty, even gargantuan ask for anyone — especially parents who are already struggling to keep a roof over their kid’s heads and food on the table. And our historic supply chain crisis just continues to get even worse. In fact, the wait times for computer chips just hit another all-time record high… The wait times for semiconductor deliveries rose slightly in March, reaching a new high, after lockdowns in China and an earthquake in Japan further hampered supply. Lead times — the lag between when a chip is ordered and delivered — increased by two days to 26.6 weeks last month, according to research by Susquehanna Financial Group. The system is crumbling all around us, and we really are in the early stages of a full-blown economic implosion. Initially, it will be the poorest nations that suffer the most. Millions upon millions of innocent people don’t have enough to eat right now, and that number will rise with each passing day. Normally, most Americans don’t pay too much attention to what is happening on the other side of the world, but food scarcity is growing in the United States too. So if you and your family have enough food to eat tonight, you should be very grateful, because at least for now you are one of the lucky ones. Day of the Lord - by Terry James - https://terryjamesprophecyline.com/2022/04/04/day-of-the-lord/ How near are we at this very moment to seeing our Lord and Savior face to Face? This is a matter that, I believe, each and every Christian should be asking, based on very good Evidence that this great Event can happen literally at any moment. It will be that twinkling of an eye Moment we should long for. We are promised a crown of Righteousness for loving His appearing. This great Promise from our God includes the first phase of His Second coming –the Rapture, and the second phase, the Second Advent. Exactly how should the Christian conduct his or her life in view of coming face to face with Jesus –whether through death, or through rapture? The Apostle Peter had something profound to say about the matter: “Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless” (2 Pet. 3:11-14). The Day of the Lord Peter, the great apostle, and earliest disciple of Jesus, tells Christians that they should first look for the coming of the “day of the Lord.” The “day of the Lord” will begin with that terrible time –that seven-year era of tribulation also known as “Daniel’s seventieth week” and “the time of Jacob’s trouble.” It will be the worst time in human history, according to Jesus and Jeremiah the prophet. Why should Christians be looking for such a horrendous time? That time will see a series of three terrible manifestations of God’s righteous wrath, each of the three including seven judgments, for a total of 21 specific judgments. Each judgment that falls upon incorrigibly wicked, rebellious Earth-dwellers of that time will grow progressively more punishing. Things will get so bad that people will try to hide themselves in the caves and crevices of mountains to get away from God’s Wrath. They will come to the point they will beg the mountains to fall on them. Why Look for Trouble? Why would Peter tell Christians to look for these things to hurry and come? Actually, the apostle Peter is telling us to consider these things in the most serious terms and to heed God’s prophetic words on that coming era of horror. The key part of this prophetic passage God wants us to understand is: “Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness…?” Christians are to think upon these coming judgments, and in thinking upon them with all prayerful seriousness, our lives will be changed into lives of godliness. Concern for the Doomed We, as God’s children, you see, can understand –if we apply ourselves to knowing prophecy—the things people of the tribulation will have to endure because of their rebellion, or their sin. We are expected, as Christians, to know, through Bible prophecy, these things to come. We aren’t expected to know about those coming judgments because God wants us to fear going through them ourselves. We are to understand them out of love for those who will have to go through that time of horrors, if they do not repent and come to a saving knowledge of Christ, this side of the rapture. Not Destined for God’s Wrath Knowledge of Bible prophecy –of future events—will make us more holy and godly in our conduct of our own lives. It will make us more dedicated witnesses for the cause of Christ. Christians are not appointed to God’s wrath, according to 1 Thessalonians 5:9. We are to comfort each other with that knowledge according to 1 Thessalonians 5:11. Our future is secure in Jesus. Our concern should be for others who don’t know Him in an intimate, saving way. We are also to be looking for that “day of the Lord” because before it starts, Jesus will come for us and say, “Come up hither” (John 4:1). Jesus is No Thief Jesus himself compared His coming to the coming of a “thief in the night.” Why would the sinless Creator-God of all the universes compare himself to a thief in the night? Jesus’ return to Earth will be in two phases. First will come the Rapture, then, at least seven years later, His glorious appearance. This description of the first phase of Christ’s Second Coming is found in Peter’s prophecy: “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up” (2 Pet. 3:10). A thief comes unannounced. He breaks into a tranquil setting, such as one’s home, and takes something. Jesus was forewarning that He will intervene in the affairs of mankind with a sudden, silent taking away of something. That “something” is His saints –all who were saved throughout the Age of Grace. From Rapture to Re-Creation of Earth The entire “day of the Lord” then will run its course until the end of Christ’s Millennial Reign, the Great White Throne Judgment, and the remaking of the heavens and the earth. His coming “as a thief in the night” can’t be the Second Coming or Second Advent of Christ to set up His rule and reign in Jerusalem at the end of the great war called Armageddon. Every eye will see Him returning at that time. The King Cometh! The prophetic Word foretells the second phase of Christ’s Second Coming – His return to Planet Earth in power and glory, as follows: “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS” (Rev. 19:11-16). Be assured: Absolutely no one will miss that glorious appearance! Jesus Keeps His Promises At least seven years before that return in the clouds of glory, the Rapture will occur. Jesus, in His “thief in the night” coming, will fulfill his own words: “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:1-3). We Christians are to be looking toward the “day of the Lord” and desiring its soon coming, because Jesus, before that day begins, will come to take us home to Heaven with Him, to live eternally in magnificent dwelling places He has prepared for us. Christians Must Watch About looking for His coming for His saints in the Rapture, the Lord instructed all whom would be saved during the Church Age:” And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch” (Mark 13:37). Until that exhilarating moment of Rapture, Christians are to be power-filled sentries! What, exactly, does this duty entail? The Power-Filled Sentry No other generation in history has been privileged to see end-time things developing as has the present generation. Notice the word “developing.” These last-days signals are not prophecy being fulfilled. The signals consist of issues and events that are setting the stage for fulfillment of Bible prophecy. It is proper to liken these stage-setting issues and events to a dark, ominous storm that is boiling on the distant horizon. We can see the apocalyptic tempest coming, with jagged flashes of lightning fracturing the black, rolling clouds. But we aren’t yet in the storm. We know it’s approaching with great swiftness, and it is our job to warn others before it’s too late! Watch God’s Radar Screen Just as a person couldn’t issue an accurate tornado warning if he couldn’t read the radar signals on the monitors of his weather computers, the Christian can’t warn of prophetic things to come without knowledge of the signals provided in God’s Word. We must become good students by studying prophecy, as well as the other parts of the Bible. We are instructed: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Tim. 2:15). Note that the Apostle Paul didn’t tell us –under inspiration of the Holy Spirit—to study “part” of God’s Word. He said to “study…rightly dividing the word of truth.” That’s a direct order to study the whole Bible, not just parts. This is where God’s people are failing today. Let us resolve to take this command seriously while watching all the tremendous stage-setting for fulfillment of prophecy we are witnessing in every direction we look. Our book soon to be released, TRAJECTORY: Tracking the Approaching Tribulation Storm, is devoted to acting as Sentries in forewarning that Apocalyptic devastation to come. The Day of the Lord is rapidly approaching. Be aware and warn others to beware. Here is what to tell the lost to do in order to be kept from that time. 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) Daily Jot: The Farm Chronicles: Birthing babies – Bill Wilson – www.dailyjot.com Growing up on a farm, one learns a lot about life and death at an early age. I knew that I loved animals, especially horses and dogs. This love propelled me to set the goal at an early age of being a veterinarian. While some of my high school coaches didn't know it, I even turned down several athletic scholarships to attend The Ohio State University with the idea of one day being accepted to the OSU vet school. I worked for several years during high school and college summers under the tutelage of Doctors Jay Richardson and Don Van Vlerah. They taught me well about all various situations and diagnostics one would face in a large animal practice. So, I thought I was prepared when the time came. I decided to follow my gifting for investigative reporting and writing rather than attend vet school—another story for another day. But the time of preparation I’m talking about is when my wife Chris was pregnant with our son Christian. We had decided to have a home birth with a midwife in assistance. And people would ask things, like “What if something goes wrong?” I would say that because of my vet school training, I could handle the birth. In fact, I declined to go to birthing classes and would often tease Chris with, “Don’t you worry about a thing. I have birthed horses, cows, sheep, pigs and even dogs. I’ve got this. In fact, I will deliver our baby. You can count on me.” Many people heard me boast this and the looks on their faces and in their eyes was, “Yeah, right. We’ll see.” Mainly, I was just trying to get a rise out of folks. It was about 2:00 AM on April 6, 1992 when Chris woke me and said, “You had better call Juliana (the midwife), I’m having this baby.” I immediately made the call. Her husband answered and told me she was out on another birth. “You are going to have to deliver this baby. He asked, “Can you handle that?” In shock, I replied, “I’ll talk to you later.” Chris describes the situation well in Christian’s baby book: “Christian wasn’t waiting, no matter how hard I tried not to push. It was no use. He came out even though I had taken a knee-chest position to relieve pressure on his prolapsed cord. Bill did an excellent job of delivering his son, even though it had gotten rather hectic, and the cord was wrapped several times around Christian’s neck. “At first Bill wasn’t sure Christian was alive, as he was rather white and pasty looking. But all at once Christian opened his eyes and took his first breath, looking into those loving green eyes (my eyes).” This all happened within ten minutes of when Chris woke me. And I have to tell you, I learned a lesson: no matter how many animals you birthed, there is nothing like delivering your own son. It’s the Super Bowl of life, really. I held Christian up to the stars that morning and blessed him and dedicated him to Father, Son and Holy Spirit, for as Psalm 127:3 declares, “Children are a heritage from the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward.” I also learned that you should be careful what you say you can do for you just might have to do it. God’s sense of humor. Daily Devotion: Labor Pains - by Greg Laurie – www.harvest.org Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near. —Luke 21:28 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/labor-pains/ - Listen One question people have been asking me rather frequently is whether COVID-19 is a sign of the last days. I would say the answer is yes. Now, the word pandemic is not in the Bible. That’s a modern word. We do, however, find the words pestilence and plague mentioned many times in the pages of Scripture. In the Bible, pestilences and plagues always were a form of judgment. And Scripture does tell us that in the end times, there will be horrible diseases that will come upon the planet. There also will be earthquakes and wars and rumors of wars. We are not in the Great Tribulation period yet, but Jesus said that as we get closer to His return, it will be like a woman in labor. As she gets closer to the time of delivery, her labor pains will become closer together. So as we see more of these big events, we can recognize them as signs of the times. He said, “Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near” (Luke 21:28 NKJV). Maybe today you’re afraid of the afterlife. You’re not sure that your life is right with God. If you want God to forgive your sin, if you want to know that you’ll go to Heaven when you die, and if you want to be certain that when Christ returns, you will be ready to meet Him, then you need Jesus in your life. Simply say, “Lord Jesus, I know that I’m a sinner. I believe that You’re the Savior, and I ask You to forgive me my sin. I want to be ready for Your return. Come into my life, Jesus. I ask it in Your name, amen.” Jesus will give you the meaning of life on Earth, and He will give you the hope of life beyond the grave. 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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