 TODAY'S NEWSLETTER...
Now What's Next? – Randy Nettles - https://www.rev310.net/post/now-what-s-next
In March of last year, I wrote an article entitled “What’s Next?” (What’s Next? (rev310.net)), in which I said I believed the next major biblical prophecy to be fulfilled is the one found in Isaiah 17, the total destruction of Damascus, Syria. “Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap. The cities of Aroer are forsaken; they shall be for flocks, which shall lie down, and none shall make them afraid” (Isaiah 17:1-2). Because of Isaiah 17:9, it is believed that Israel will be the cause of this destruction. “In that day shall his strong cities be as a forsaken bough, and an uppermost branch, which they left because of the children of Israel: and there shall be desolation.” Of course, Israel will only commit this extreme act of war if it perceives there is an existential threat coming from inside Syria, or in retaliation for a W.O.M.D. (weapons of mass destruction) attack by Syria or Iran’s proxies inside of Syria. However, before any of this takes place, I think the next end-time event to occur will be Israel attacking Iran’s nuclear enrichment facilities and military complex which could cause a nuclear disaster like Chernobyl, Ukraine. Israel has vowed never to allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon by whatever means is necessary. Iran is getting extremely close to having enough enriched uranium to produce a nuclear weapon. Here is a recent update from the Security Council Report for the month of July 2023, as taken from this website: https://www.securitycouncilreport.org/monthly-forecast/2023-07/iran-11.php . “With negotiations stalled, Iran has increased its production of highly enriched uranium. In its February quarterly report, the IAEA said that Iran’s stockpile of 60-percent enriched uranium had grown by 25.2 kilograms to 87.5 kilograms over the previous three months. Notably, the report also said that the agency had detected traces of uranium enriched to 83.7 percent—just below the roughly 90-percent level considered weapons-grade—at Iran’s Fordow facility. At a US congressional hearing on 28 February, a senior defense official in the Biden administration said the US government estimated that Iran’s “breakout capacity”—the amount of time it would take to produce enough fissile material for one nuclear weapon—was about 12 days.” The Bushehr nuclear power plant is located in the southwest section of Iran where the ancient kingdom of Elam was located. Just as Israel struck Iraq’s nuclear reactor in 1981 and Syria’s nuclear reactor in 2007, Iran’s Bushehr nuclear site could be next on the list. If Israel were to strike this site, it might cause a disaster of biblical proportions, as it could cause massive radiation fallout or a major earthquake. Iran is one of the most seismically active countries in the world, being crossed by several major faults that cover at least 90% of the country, including Bushehr. As a result, earthquakes in Iran occur often and are destructive. Jeremiah 49:35-37 speaks of a great disaster that will cause the Elamites (modern-day Iranians) to flee their homeland and cause them to be immigrants throughout the world. “Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Behold, I will break the bow of Elam, the chief of their might. And upon Elam will I bring the four winds from the four quarters of heaven, and will scatter them toward all those winds; and there shall be no nation whither the outcasts of Elam shall not come. For I will cause Elam to be dismayed before their enemies, and before them that seek their life: and I will bring evil upon them, even my fierce anger, saith the Lord; and I will send the sword after them, till I have consumed them.” Once this catastrophic event occurs, Iran’s proxies located in Syria, Lebanon, and the surrounding area will attack Israel, possibly with weapons of mass destruction. Israel will fight back and this is when Damascus will be utterly destroyed, fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah 17:1. I believe Syria will be judged by God for its part in trying to destroy His chosen people, the Jews. Most scholars believe Israel will be the cause of Damascus’ demise in retaliation for a chemical weapons attack by Bashar Al-Assad, the tyrant of Syria; or Putin could do it and blame it on Assad or Hezbollah. It is believed that Saddam Hussein, tyrant of Baghdad Iraq, did, in fact, have huge stockpiles of chemical weapons all along, but they were never found because he secretly smuggled them into Syria days before the 2003 invasion of Iraq. If Syria were to use weapons of mass destruction, such as chemical weapons, against the Jewish people, Israel would respond with their own W.O.M.D., such as a tactical or neutron bomb. A weapon of this magnitude could certainly cause Damascus to cease being a city, thus fulfilling Isaiah 17:1-2. Evidently, many nations will join in the battle at this time. “Woe to the multitude of many people, which make a noise like the noise of the seas; and to the rushing of nations, that make a rushing like the rushing of mighty waters! The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters: but God shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, and shall be chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like a rolling thing before the whirlwind. And behold at evening tide trouble; and before the morning he is not. This is the portion of them that spoil us, and the lot of them that rob us” (Isaiah 17:12-14). This could be the confederacy of Psalm 83 consisting of Arab nations and Iran’s proxy forces. According to Bill Salus, “Psalm 83 deals with a climatic, concluding Arab-Israeli war. The Middle East wars between the Arabs and Jews in 1948, 1967, and 1973 have served as a precursor to this final war. The growing consensus among many Bible prophecy experts that believe Psalm 83 is an impending prophecy, is that Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, the Palestinians, Hamas, Hezbollah, and possibly Al Qaeda, confederate one final time to wipe Israel off of the map.” {1} Israel will win the war, but the victory will come at a great cost in terms of life, property, and munitions. Isaiah 17:4-7 describes the end result for Israel in a metaphorical sense: “And in that day it shall come to pass, that the glory of Jacob shall be made thin, and the fatness of his flesh shall wax lean. And it shall be as when the harvestman gathers the corn, and reaps the ears with his arm; and it shall be as he that gathers ears in the valley of Rephaim. Yet gleaning grapes shall be left in it, as the shaking of an olive tree, two or three berries in the top of the uppermost bough, four or five in the outmost fruitful branches thereof, saith the Lord God of Israel. At that day shall a man look to his Maker, and his eyes shall have respect to the Holy One of Israel.” Even though these wars still haven’t happened yet, I believe they are likely to occur in the very near future. On Tishri 10 (Yom Kippur - the Day of Atonement), 2023, the Jewish people will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War. The date on the Gregorian calendar will be September 25, 2023. Of course, nine days earlier, on September 16, 2023, the Feast of Trumpets occurs. Many Bible scholars and students believe the Rapture could occur on this Feast of the Lord day and many think/speculate it could be this year. Only time will tell, and the time is nearly upon us. The Yom Kippur War, also known as the Ramadan War (the war started on the 10th day of the ninth month of Ramadan), was an armed conflict fought from October 6 to 25, 1973, between Israel and a coalition of Arab states led by Egypt and Syria. The war started when the Arab coalition jointly launched a surprise attack against Israel on the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement). Egypt attacked from the Sinai Peninsula while Syria attacked the Golan Heights territory. Israel defeated the coalition in about 19 days and gained more territory from the Arab countries. Israel wound up eventually returning the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt after a peace treaty was signed with them but kept the Golan Heights territory from Syria. Today, Israel is in conflict with Syrian forces trying to smuggle weapons from Iran into the country. Iran is also fighting a proxy war with Israel, which is using Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip. I believe it is only a matter of time (very soon I.M.H.O.) before the conflict goes into a full-fledged war. Isaiah 17 is a duel reference prophecy that jumps back and forth between the two fulfillments of the eighth century BC and the upcoming 21st century AD. Part of it concerns the defeat of Damascus, Syria, and the Northern Kingdom of Israel by the Assyrians in 730-720 BC. The rest of it concerns the still future End Times because Damascus has not ceased from being a city and has never become a heap of ruins, as Isaiah 17:2 declares. In fact, Damascus makes the claim of being the world’s oldest continuously inhabited city in the world. Also, the defeat of the northern kingdom of Israel and Aram (Syria) by the Assyrians didn’t result in a return to God by either of them as foretold in Isaiah 17:7-8. Isn’t it interesting that all three kingdoms involved were descended from Shem’s sons? Noah’s son, Shem is the father of the Semitic peoples. He fathered five sons: Elam (Persia and/or Elam, Media), Asshur (Assyria), Arphaxad (Chaldeans, including Ur, the birthplace of Abraham who is the father of the Israelites), Lud (the Lydians of Asia Minor), and Aram (Arameans, who lived in the area of Syria. Aram’s son was Uz. Job lived in the land of Uz). Isaiah 17:9 says the inhabitants of Syria will leave their strong cities to become desolate because of the Israelites. This didn’t happen in the past as Israel wasn’t involved in this desolation and is what leads scholars to conclude that Israel will cause the future destruction of Damascus. The strong cities could include the largest cities of Aleppo, Damascus, and Horns. Jeremiah 49:23-27 is another End Times prophecy concerning Damascus. “ Concerning Damascus. Hamath is confounded, and Arpad: for they have heard evil tidings: they are fainthearted; there is sorrow on the sea; it cannot be quiet. Damascus is waxed feeble and turns herself to flee, and fear has seized on her: anguish and sorrows have taken her, as a woman in travail. How is the city of praise not left, the city of my joy! Therefore her young men shall fall in her streets, and all the men of war shall be cut off in that day, says the LORD of hosts. And I will kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus, and it shall consume the palaces of Ben Hadad.” Hamath could be Horns and Arpad could be Aleppo. These military actions by Israel against Iran and Syria could be the fuse that ignites the Gog-Magog war of Ezekiel 38-39. It will be the excuse that Russia, Turkey, Iran (their remaining armed forces), and the rest of the coalition will use to invade Israel “to take plunder and to take booty” (oil and gas reserves, minerals, etc.) as Ezekiel describes in Ezekiel 38:12-13. Israel will be powerless to defend itself as the country will have depleted its stockpile of weapons and will be low on manpower after fighting against the neighboring Arab nations and Iran’s proxies. No country, including America, will come to the aid of Israel. After the Rapture (and maybe even before), the United States of America will no longer be a dominant world power. Russia will continue exerting its military might (as it is doing now) in reclaiming lost territory that was part of the old Soviet Union until God puts hooks in the jaws of Gog and turns him and his host around towards Israel. “I will turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and lead you out, with all your army” (Ezekiel 38:4). Regarding where this invasion originates from, God tells Ezekiel to prophesy and say to Gog, “Then you will come from your place out of the far north, you and many peoples with you” (Ezekiel 38:15). However, the American Bible Revised Edition Version says, “leaving your base in the recesses of Zaphon, you and many nations with you.” Also, in chapter 39, the word/name Zaphon is also substituted for the far north. “I will turn you around, even though I urged you on and brought you up from the recesses of Zaphon and let you attack the mountains of Israel. 10 times the word Zaphon is used in the Old Testament by the American Bible Revised Edition Version. Zaphon is basically a mountain on the Syrian-Turkish border near what used to be the port city of Ugarit. It is now called Mount Aqraa or Jabal al-Aqraa, and Mount Cassius to the Greeks. The Canaanites in the region believed it was where the storm god Baal-Hadad lived. Zaphon became a metonym and then the word for the direction of ‘north’ in the Hebrew language. The port city of Ugarit was originally located near what is now Latakia, Syria. Latakia has been the target of many Israeli air raids in recent years. Russia deploys large troops to this important port city on the Mediterranean Sea. It would certainly enrage Russia if Israel were to kill Russian troops by means of an airstrike in Latakia, Syria. “Currently, Damascus and Homs are being protected by Hezbollah and other Shiite militias. Holding this territory is essential for the regime, Hezbollah, and their Iranian backers. Meanwhile, Latakia represents less of a strategic interest for Iran, as contrasted with Russia, which wants to maintain a presence along the coast more than in Damascus or the Golan Heights. As for the influx of Russian troops, they are needed to protect the city, given the present weakness of Syrian forces. Russia is also fortifying its position along the southern Turkish border, with the ultimate goal of preventing Sunni Syrian forces from gaining access to the sea.” {2} Latakia, Syria, could be the location from where Russia will amass its coalition and “hook up” with Turkish, Iranian, and other nations’ military forces. Gog will then lead them to their ill-fated journey south towards Israel to start the Gog-Magog war. They will have to skirt around the destroyed city of Damascus, probably to the west, possibly entering Lebanon, and then entering Israel by way of the Judean mountains. Due to the rugged terrain, cavalry forces will be deployed in large numbers. In the mountains of Israel, they will meet their fate. “You shall fall upon the mountains of Israel, you and all your troops and the peoples who are with you; I will give you to birds of prey of every sort and to the beasts of the field to be devoured” (Ezekiel 39:4). This invasion to take booty or spoil will not work out exactly the way Gog envisions, as it will go horribly awry. On that day of destiny, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob will fight for the children of Israel when no other nation will. Of course, when God fights for you, no one else is needed. “And it will come to pass at the same time when Gog comes against the land of Israel, says the Lord God, that My fury will show in My face. For in My jealousy and in the fire of My wrath I have spoken: Surely in that day, there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel, so that the fish of the sea, the birds of the heavens, the beasts of the field, all creeping things that creep on the earth, and all men who are on the face of the earth shall shake at My presence. The mountains shall be thrown down, the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground. “I will call for a sword against Gog throughout all My mountains, says the Lord God. Every man’s sword will be against his brother. And I will bring him to judgment with pestilence and bloodshed; I will rain down on him, on his troops, and on the many peoples who are with him, flooding rain, great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. Thus I will magnify Myself and sanctify Myself, and I will be known in the eyes of many nations. Then they shall know that I am the Lord” (Ezekiel 38:18-23). The defeat of the military might of Russia, Turkey, Iran, Ethiopia, Libya, and the other nations of Ezekiel 38-39 (notice there are no Arab nations named) will leave a power vacuum amongst the nations of the world. The 10 kings kingdom of Daniel 7:24 and Revelation 17:12 will immediately fill this power vacuum and fill the void, becoming the dominant world power. Even China will become a part of this one-world order. The anti-Christ will emerge soon after this and will confirm a covenant with Israel and others, which will begin the seven-year Tribulation, aka Daniel’s 70th Week. The Antichrist will kill three of the ten kings around the mid-point of the Tribulation. The remaining seven kings will then give him their power and authority, and he will become the king of the world. His evil reign will be short-lived, however, as it will only last for 3.5 years before the true King of the world, Jesus Christ, returns and “fires him.” “Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered to fight against the one riding the horse and against his army. The beast was caught and with it the false prophet who had performed in its sight the signs by which he led astray those who had accepted the mark of the beast and those who had worshiped its image. The two were thrown alive into the fiery pool burning with sulfur. The rest were killed by the sword that came out of the mouth of the one riding the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh” (Revelation 19:19-21). God’s prophecies will always come true. It’s only a matter of “when” and not “if.” “For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end, it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith” (Habakkuk 2:3-4). Randy Nettles [email protected] Endnotes: {1} Nuclear Showdown In Iran – Revealing the Ancient Prophecy of Elam – pg. 121 {2} www.washingtoninstitute.org – Latakia is Assad’s Achilles Heel by F. Balanche Is There a Secret Plan to Merge Jordan, Gaza and The West Bank As Part Of A Normalization Agreement Between Israel and Saudi Arabia? - by Michael Snyder - http://endoftheamericandream.com/is-there-a-secret-plan-to-merge-jordan-gaza-and-the-west-bank-as-part-of-a-normalization-agreement-between-israel-and-saudi-arabia/ Negotiations that are intended to lead to the normalization of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia have begun, but they aren’t the only parties that must agree to a potential deal. These negotiations are being conducted very quietly, because they are touching on issues that are extremely sensitive. As you will see below, we are not likely to learn much about the exact details of the deal that is being formulated until it is finalized. The Biden administration is brokering these peace negotiations, and one thing we do know is that there will be no normalization of relations unless Israel is willing to make major concessions regarding the Palestinians. Benjamin Netanyahu is unlikely to agree to recognize a full-blown independent Palestinian state, but another plan is being floated that could potentially be acceptable to all of the parties. This plan was initially conceived by a close confidant of Mohammed Bin Salman named Ali Shihabi. According to the plan, Jordan, Gaza and the West Bank would be merged into a single unit known as “The Hashemite Kingdom of Palestine”… One topic for discussion will assuredly involve the implementation of the Saudi-based Hashemite Kingdom of Palestine solution published in Al Arabiya News on 8 June 2022. Its author – Ali Shihabi – is a confidant of Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister – Mohammed Bin Salman (MBS) and also a member of MBS’s advisory board on Neom – a US$500 billion megacity being built in north-western Saudi Arabia covering an area equal to the size of Israel. Shihabi’s plan calls for the merger of Jordan, Gaza and part of Judea and Samaria (West Bank) into one territorial entity to be called “The Hashemite Kingdom of Palestine” The Netanyahu government has always been deeply concerned about the security risks that an independent Palestinian state would pose, but putting the Palestinians under the umbrella of Jordan would potentially mitigate those security risks. And it is important to note that this plan has not been publicly rejected by Jordan, the PLO or Hamas since it was first published… Shihabi’s plan has not been rejected by King Abdullah (Jordan), Mahmoud Abbas (PLO) Ismail Haniyeh (Hamas) or MBS in the seven months since its publication. Needless to say, I am 100 percent against this insidious plan. But it doesn’t matter what I think. What matters is what the parties think, and right now they appear to be optimistic that a deal can be achieved. Just last month, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu boldly declared that we are “about to witness a pivot of history”… Saudi Arabia is a leader of the Arab and Islamic world. It has never formally recognised Israel since the creation of the state in 1948. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu talked up the possibility last month, claiming: “We’re about to witness a pivot of history.” That doesn’t sound like a man that is about to make a relatively minor deal. Rather, that sounds like a man that is thinking about his legacy. And we are not likely to know all of the details of any potential agreement in advance. In recent years, Netanyahu has become a big proponent of secret negotiations. He made this quite clear during an interview with Al Arabiya TV last December… Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu made that perfectly clear in his 50 minute interview on Saudi Government-controlled Al Arabiya TV on 15 December: “You know, I’m sort of a champion of a slight twist in what Woodrow Wilson said in the Versailles Peace Conference. He said he believed in open covenants, openly arrived at. I believe in open covenants, secretly arrived at or discreetly arrived at. There we will have to have discussions about all the questions that you asked today and see how we can advance this. If you try to sort it out in advance you get stuck. That’s what happens. I am entirely convinced that a deal is coming, and when it is finally unveiled it will shock the world. For now, the Palestinians are taking a cautious approach to any potential deal, and they have made a list of some of the things that they would like to see included…
And the Palestinians are also promising “to avoid embarrassing Saudi Arabia” during these negotiations… US diplomats have obtained assurances from Palestinian officials that they will neither publicly reject nor undermine the White House-promoted normalization talks between Saudi Arabia and Israel. A diplomat from the US State Department told The Media Line that the Palestinian Authority has pledged not to publicly criticize any potential normalization deal with Israel, to avoid embarrassing Saudi Arabia. An American official, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the subject, indicated that the Biden Administration was working closely with Saudi Arabia. They aim to develop a financial and political package intended to placate the Palestinians and prevent a response similar to that generated by the 2020 Abraham Accords, which established diplomatic ties between Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain. The Saudis are very eager to reach a deal within the next year, because they know a deal may not be possible if Joe Biden does not win the 2024 presidential election in the United States. And obviously the Biden administration is motivated to move things along quickly too, because their days may be limited. But if the land of Israel is formally divided in 2024, that is going to have enormous implications for all of us. I have been warning that this was coming, but for a long time it appeared that any sort of an agreement between the Israelis and the Palestinians would be impossible. Unfortunately, this new plan to merge Jordan, Gaza and the West Bank into a single entity called “The Hashemite Kingdom of Palestine” may provide the basis for a major breakthrough. It won’t be easy, but if a way can be found to satisfy the Israelis, the Palestinians, the Saudis and the Biden administration, 2024 could potentially be a year when the unthinkable becomes reality. Prophecy Update Videos Must Watch Videos! Videos You Can Trust
Without Your Support! Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift! II Corinthians 9:15 Worthy of Your Support? It has been said, 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. I genuinely believe that Prophecy Update and many other like-minded ministries, are needed now more than ever! The world is getting darker daily, almost hourly, but never has the light of the Word of God shone so brightly. Never in our history has there been such a thirst for Truth and a need for a Savior! The Prophecy Update website, newsletter, and Video Channels are all dedicated to providing the truth, encouraging and informing believers, and prayerfully opening the eyes and hearts of non-believers with the Gospel, but none of it would be possible without your prayers and support. DONATE HERE Your can also mail your support to: Prophecy Update PO Box 40516 Bakersfield, CA 93384 While Others See Disaster And Chaos, We See Birth Pangs – By Amir Tsarfati - https://harbingersdaily.com/worldview-with-amir-tsarfati-while-others-see-disaster-and-chaos-we-see-birth-pangs/ Last Wednesday, a 14-year-old Palestinian boy carried out a stabbing attack at a Jerusalem light rail station. Yesterday, just one week later, the Palestinians sacrificed another of their children when a 17-year-old youth stabbed two more Israelis, wounding them outside the Jaffa Gate of Old Jerusalem. As former Prime Minister Golda Meir was famous for saying, “We will only have peace with the Arabs when they love their children more than they hate us.” Apparently, they have not reached that point yet. Earlier in the week on Monday, the Israeli military raided the refugee camp in Jenin, arresting three members of Hamas in an attempt to curb the growing terrorist violence in the country. Eritrean Asylum Seekers Riot in Tel Aviv A huge number of the 18,000 Eritrean asylum seekers took to the streets of Tel Aviv on Saturday, destroying cars and smashing store windows. The protests soon turned violent after the African refugees broke through a police barricade and began clashing with security forces. At least 170 were injured, including several dozen Israeli police. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that his administration was considering deporting 1000 of those who took part in the violent riots. This immediately set the UN’s hair on fire, as well as that of the media who are looking for any reason to criticize the prime minister. Maybe the UN would prefer that Netanyahu sat down these asylum seekers who attacked and beat dozens of Israel’s security forces, explained to them why this is bad manners when you are guests in a foreign country, and asked them to please not do it again. I mean, why not? It’s worked everywhere else the UN has gone, right? Israel to Expand Stealth Fighter Fleet The Defense Ministry of Israel has officially requested that the US sell them 25 F-35I fighter jets. The $3 billion deal will add to the Israeli Air Force’s existing fleet of the stealth fighters, which will reach 50 by 2024. Delivery of the new planes will begin in 2027 and will eventually bring the number of IAF F-35I jets to 75. Diplomatic Arm of Israel Continues to Reach Out In a first of its kind event, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen traveled to the Kingdom of Bahrain on Monday to officially open Israel’s embassy in Manama. This is the first time that a foreign minister has made the journey to an Abraham Accords country. The next day, Papua New Guinea became the fifth nation to open its embassy in Jerusalem, following the leads of the US, Kosovo, Guatemala, and Honduras. Earlier, during the weekend, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was in Cyprus to meet with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. The three nations looked to deepen their friendship, discussing topics such as energy, security, and hi-tech. Demonstrations Grow Against Bashar al-Assad Tensions continue to rise in Syria as anger grows from within the nation as well as from outside. Protestors in Southern Syria gathered to call for the removal of Bashar al-Assad. The spiraling economy is a major contributing factor. However, the rebel movement is also contributing to the intensifying heat. In Druze districts, the government is pulling out, leaving the people of the area to destroy all the symbols of the retreating forces. Syrian War Heats Back Up In the Deir ez-Zor area of eastern Syria, the battle is engaged. US jets blew up two military vehicles on Saturday. The trucks were carrying explosives bound for rebel militias. Russian warplanes, meanwhile, attacked dozens of military operatives of the Turkish-backed Syrian rebels who have been fighting against the Assad-allied Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The sparks between the Arabs and the Kurds of the area have also fanned into flames. Why is this area so important? Deir ez-Zor is the corridor through which most of Iran’s weapons are smuggled into Syria. Beginning in Iran, then traveling through Iraq and into Syria, convoys of trucks are sent with weapons and drone parts. Most of the weapons are then funneled to Iran’s proxy militias in Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq. The drone parts are assembled, then sent up north for the Russians to use in Ukraine. This corridor is so important to Iran that they have tasked Hezbollah’s clandestine Unit 127 with the care and control of the route, and the oversight of the drone assembly and shipping. Zelenskyy Replaces Ukraine’s Defense Minister On Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that he intended to remove his Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov. He then named the man’s replacement. Before Zelenskyy could carry out his intent, Reznikov resigned. During his tenure, the Ministry of Defense gained a reputation for graft, chaos, and disorder. Rustem Umerov was chosen to take Reznikov’s place. Kim Jong Un to Visit Russia for Arms Talks There is talk of a meeting in Vladivostok next month during which Vladimir Putin would discuss a weapons-for-technology deal with Kim Jong Un. Russia would receive from North Korea artillery shells and anti-tank missiles. In return, the hermit kingdom would gain advanced technology for satellites and nuclear-powered submarines. The US and other western countries immediately expressed their displeasure at the possibility of this exchange. Russia and Saudi Arabia Extend Cuts in Oil Production Moscow and Riyadh issued a joint decision to extend their voluntary oil production cuts through the end of the year. The realization that $1.3 million barrels of oil per day would remain out of the market sent crude prices skyrocketing. White House national security advisor Jake Sullivan promised that President Biden would employ “everything within his toolkit” to ease the pain to the American consumer. Unfortunately, the last time anyone looked in Biden’s toolkit, it only held a small flathead screwdriver, three orphan sockets, and a roll of Pep-O-Mint Life Savers. Wild Weather around the World It has been a wild weather week. The last seven days have seen severe floods in Guadalajara, Mexico; Samsun, Turkey; Las Vegas, Nevada; Colombo, Sri Lanka; Madrid, Spain; Taitung County, Taiwan; Tsarevo, Bulgaria; Volos, Greece; Fujian, China; Ezine and Istanbul, Turkey, and many other smaller places. Severe hailstorms have pelted many cities, including Valpaços, Portugal, and Kakheti, Georgia. We’ve seen tornados in Colombia, typhoons in Hong Kong, and hurricanes in the Caribbean. As we pan out to look at man-made disasters, there are wars in Africa, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East. New warnings are beginning about a virus resurgence. Poor, developing countries have been denied access to loans for not promoting the LGBTQ agenda, while others have been sanctioned for not pushing ridiculous measures to try to reduce the earth’s temperatures. But while others see disaster and chaos, those of us who understand Bible prophecy recognize what’s going on. These are birth pangs. Lord Jesus, come quickly! Running and Winning - Nathele Graham - [email protected] “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.” 1 Timothy 6:12. I’ve never been a big fan of running or jogging, and as far as walking is concerned, well my grandmother always said “Let your head save your heels”, meaning if you have to go to the kitchen, think of more than one thing to do on that trip! I do get exercise, but I just don’t have the motivation to run a race. That is, there’s no motivation to run a physical race that gets my heart pumping and my lungs gasping for breath. There is a greater race that I’m far more interested in, and it’s much more important. The rewards are more valuable than worldly treasure. The race I’m talking about is the one that is set before me by God. No matter what the race, there has to be plenty of hard training and sacrifices made in order to build endurance and skill. Also, one needs a proper diet. Let’s start with diet. As Christians, we need to feed upon the word of God. In our secular life, we make room for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, plus many snacks in between. We might fill up on junk food, and that will spoil our appetite for nourishing food. God gave us Scripture to feed our souls and give us strength and knowledge to contend for the faith. Begin with Genesis, and truly understand that God created everything in six literal days, then He rested on the seventh. Study it and believe it. Satan has dished out lots of junk food, and the secular world gobbles it up. Christians need to study Scripture with trusting and believing hearts and minds. Then we need to reject the junk food. If you don’t feed upon good, healthy food from the word of God, how can you share the Gospel with others? How can you defend your faith? “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.” Hebrews 5:12-13. You can only run a race for God if you’re healthy in your faith and knowledge. The Apostle Paul had taught the congregation in Corinth the Gospel. He gave them meat, but their leadership chose to continue to drink milk. Therefore, sin was creeping into their midst and the people weren’t growing strong. Because of that, the congregation couldn’t be addressed as mature Christians. “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?” 1 Corinthians 3:1-3. You must study Scripture to understand the difference between milk-fed carnal attitudes and a meat-fed mature Christian life. Jesus gave Peter an assignment. Peter was to feed the flock, both lambs who need milk to grow, and mature sheep, who need the meat or Scripture (John 21:15-17). Peter did a fine job. On the day of Pentecost, he preached one of the greatest sermons ever preached, and over 3,000 men gave their lives to Christ. He didn’t tickle ears, but spoke truth. Peter was a natural leader, and he became the leader of those first baby Christians in Jerusalem. He wrote letters which, if we study them, feed us with meat. When was the last time your pastor led a deep study of prophecy? That’s meat. Peter had seen some amazing things as he walked with, and learned from, Jesus. He heard God’s voice from Heaven as he watched the transfiguration of Jesus when He talked with Moses and Elijah. “And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.” 2 Peter 1:18. Had Peter stopped growing in his faith right there, he wouldn’t have been able to obey Jesus and feed the flock. Peter knew the signs and wonders were amazing and grabbed a person’s attention, but the awe and wonder would fade. Only the solid food of God’s truth would make the flock strong. “We have also a more sure word of prophecy, whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: knowing this first that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” 2 Peter 1:19-21. Prophecy is healthy food for the sheep; it makes us strong and fearless as we see the end of time approaching. Things will get bad, and then get worse, but the well-fed sheep knows that God can be trusted and the Rapture is drawing near. What can we do as we see all the end-time events falling into place? This is the time for Christians to train to win the race. If your pastor isn’t a Bible based preacher, you need to start eating meat on your own. There are some wonderful prophecy teachers who will feed you so you are fit to run the race before you. “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2. Sin will hamper your race. If you claim to have repented from sin and turned to Jesus for salvation, then you need to let go of the sin. A runner cannot win a race if they are trying to hold tightly to a heavy weight. Sin is the weight that hinders your race. Salvation is free and cannot be bought or worked for. “For by grace are ye saved through faith: and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.” Ephesians 2:8. Salvation is free and we cannot do enough good works to merit salvation. Only faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus can take away sin. The sacrifices required by the Law could only cover sin. Prophecy spoke of the coming Messiah, and it was all fulfilled by the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Jesus was fully God, so His blood was untainted by sin, and He was fully man, so that He was one of us. There is no other sacrifice to be done. Jesus did it all for us. What then? Are we to take His sacrifice for granted? Can we say we believe in Him but continue in sin? The only way we can thank Him for what He did, is to live for Him. We need to start running the race. You might ask “Isn’t that works?” No, works are what you do thinking that you can earn salvation. Running the race is what you do in gratitude for what Jesus did. Start by truly turning from sin. Study Scripture and understand about the rewards of a race well run. “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.” 1 Corinthians 9:24. When you see runners at a track meet, their training is evident. Their body is under control and they run with confidence. If they have trained well and win, they are given a prize. Christians have already been given eternal life, so what is our reward? “And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: but I keep under my body and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” 1 Corinthians 9:25-27. What is the “incorruptible crown? There are many. The crown spoken of by Paul isn’t a crown that is worn by a king, but rather “stephanos”, which is a crown given to the winner of a race. We’ve seen pictures of a wreath of leaves placed on the head of ancient Olympians who won their race. It was a nice award, but would fade away in time. Christians are given rewards for what we have done for Christ. Those won’t fade. In Scripture we’re told of various crowns we can win if we run our race well. There’s the crown of victory also called the everlasting crown (1 Corinthians 9:25), the crown of the soul winner (Philippians 4:1 & 1 Thessalonians 2:18), the crown of righteousness (2 Timothy 4:8) the crown of life (James 1:12 & Revelation 2:10), and the crown of glory (1 Peter 5:4). When will we receive these crowns, and what will we do with them? This life is our race and what we do while living on this side of Heaven matters for eternity. The most important thing is to accept Jesus, then start getting into spiritual shape, and running for the Lord. Witness to others and you just might be awarded the soul winner crown, or if you get mastery over your sinful nature, there’s a crown for you. Christians will be judged at the Bema Seat of Christ. That judgment is not about whether we can live eternally or be damned to Hell; salvation was determined when you truly accepted Christ. The Bema seat will determine if you’ve won a crown. Not everybody will receive a crown. Paul told the Corinthians about building upon the foundation of Christ. What is built upon that foundation is important. If you do all sorts of good things and get all kinds of praise and glory in this life, you’ve built with wood, hay, and stubble. If you do good works for the glory of God, then you build with gold, silver, and precious jewels. On the day of judgment, if you’ve done everything for your own glory that’s wood, hay and stubble; you’ll suffer loss of rewards. “If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved: yet so as by fire.” 1 Corinthians 3:15. The crowns and rewards may not seem valuable today, but what about when you stand before Jesus and see the Lamb as He had been slain? You will see the nail scarred hands and the marks of the whipping He endured for your salvation. You’ll understand the pain He went through in order to purchase your redemption, and you will want to have run your race on earth to honor Him. You will want crowns. Whether you die first or are Raptured, you will see Him. We read of 24 elders seated around the throne. They are representative of Christians. “The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” Revelation 4:10-11. Oh, how I desire to have a crown to give to Jesus. As Paul was coming to the end of his life, he could look back and see the race he ran for Christ. He didn’t live for his own glory, but gave his all to serve Christ. “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:7-8. As I look back upon my life, I see so many times when I have failed in my race. I’m sure you can see times in your own life that you didn’t honor Christ. It isn’t too late to start getting fit to run a good race. Start today by eating the nourishing food of Scripture. Get rid of the “self-help” and “purpose driven” books== not meditation or yoga. Look to Scripture. Admit that you are a sinner, and ask Christ to help you turn from sin. Don’t try to justify your sin by saying “I was born that way”. We are all born sinners, but to win the race you need to turn from sin. You also need to move away from fear. Fear will keep you at the starting block instead of running a race to win. Are you afraid to mention Jesus and salvation to your family and friends? Feed on Scripture and you will be able to defend God’s truth. You can’t win if you don’t run. It isn’t too late, start today. God bless you all, Nathele Graham [email protected] Recommended prophecy sites: www.raptureready.com www.prophecyupdate.com www.raptureforums.com All original scripture is “theopneustos” God breathed. If you would like to be on my mailing list to receive the commentaries just drop me an email and let me know. Daily Jot: The American Chronicles: Valley Forge and The Good Samaritan - Bill Wilson – www.dailyjot.com We are taking a work-cation up the coast of New England. Kind of a history tour. We had finished church on time Sunday and I rushed everybody out the door so Chris, Service Dog Charlie, and I could get on the road. Though they all wanted to visit after church as they usually do, they complied with filing out. We put the last of our stuff in the van and were on the road just on schedule to our first stop—Valley Forge. Two hours into the trip through some of the most beautiful farmland in Pennsylvania, I received a work text where a particular file was needed. Then, at that very moment, I had that shot of adrenalin like when you see the blue lights in the mirror. I remembered I had forgotten my laptop. We had to turn back. Arriving at our campsite later that evening, we had to postpone our Valley Forge visit to the next morning. Flexibility is key when you forget things. The Valley Forge camp was where General George Washington brought his Continental Army to face one of its most important battles of the Revolutionary War. Historians would say that Washington’s army of over 8,000 men fought no battles during their winter encampment. I beg to differ. From December 19, 1777 to June 19, 1778, the fledgling army fought its most important battle—some 2,000 soldiers lost their lives. Washington was leading his men in a battle against attrition, disease, cold weather, exposure, and starvation within a few miles of the much stronger British forces. This winter encampment tested the will of the Americans and inspired the tenacity it took to defeat the British. I’m reminded of the first winter endured by the Pilgrims in Plymouth some 150 years earlier. They, too, suffered disease, starvation, exposure and cold weather. Over half of them died. But their will to survive combined with their faith in the Lord, brought them through. Not common knowledge about Valley Forge are the books given to the men to read in their free time. Those books encouraged the men to endure through faith. They were: “The Duty of Standing Fast in Our Spiritual and Temporal Liberties,” a sermon preached in Christ Church, 1775; “The Rights of British Colonies Asserted and Proved,” 1776; and “A Sermon on the Present Situation of American Affairs,” preached in Christ Church 1775. There is often a test of the will and Spirit to achieve something important. It’s what inspires one another to work together to live. This is a lesson I’ve learned in life and it is confirmed by many instances of history. We can also see through our travels examples of the faith and will that it took to build this great nation and shape the people in it. Leaving Valley Forge for our next stop in Connecticut, we experienced one of the great people in our nation. We were headed toward an overpass that would have clipped the top off of our camper and a man pulled along-side us motioning for us to pull over. He told us what was going to happen, then offered to take us around the overpass and put us on the path to our next stop. We didn’t get his name, but from the goodness of his heart, he saved us from ruin. Hebrews 13:2 says, “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” Strangers or angels, our faith is our bond and inspiration. Daily Devotion: No Turning Back - by Greg Laurie – www.harvest.org So I tell you, every sin and blasphemy can be forgiven—except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which will never be forgiven. —Matthew 12:31 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/no-turning-back/ - Listen As Christians, we know and serve a God who is forgiving. The Old Testament abounds with teachings about His forgiveness. David declared in Psalm 86, “O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help” (verse 5 NLT). In another psalm, David reminds us, “He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases” (Psalm 103:3 NLT). Daniel 9:9 tells us, “But the Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him” (NLT). And God described Himself this way to Moses: “The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations. I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin” (Exodus 34:6–7 NLT). The prophet Micah, reflecting on God’s forgiveness, said, “Where is another God like you, who pardons the guilt of the remnant, overlooking the sins of his special people? You will not stay angry with your people forever, because you delight in showing unfailing love” (Micah 7:18 NLT). Even when Jesus hung on the cross, He said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34 NLT). Again and again, we read in the Bible of the forgiveness of God. He will forgive all sin if it is confessed, no matter what it is. As Pastor John MacArthur pointed out, “There is no forgiveness of even the smallest sin unless it is confessed and repented of; but there is forgiveness of even the greatest sin if those divine conditions are met.”[1] But according to Jesus, there is one sin that even God will not forgive. And what is this unforgivable sin? It is the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. It’s the point when there is no turning back. When people deliberately choose not to believe in Jesus Christ because they don’t want to change the way they live, ultimately it can lead them to the one sin that even God will not forgive. People don’t reject Jesus Christ for any other reason except that it’s a threat to their lifestyle. They hate the light and know their deeds will be exposed. The work of the Holy Spirit in the life of nonbelievers is to speak to them and lead them to Jesus Christ. Jesus said of the Holy Spirit, “And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment” (John 16:8 NLT). In other words, the Holy Spirit works to bring nonbelievers to their senses, to show them their need for Jesus Christ. The work of the Holy Spirit is to bring us to a saving knowledge of Jesus. The Holy Spirit is incredibly patient and persistent. But there comes a point when the Spirit will no longer be patient, because we continue to resist Him. This leads to the ultimate, unforgivable sin: the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. PROPHECY UPDATE NEWS HEADLINES Yesterday's Prophecies - Today's Headlines HEADLINES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TRACKING BIBLE PROPHECY 9/8/23 http://trackingbibleprophecy.org/birthpangs.php
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
January 2025
Categories |
RSS Feed