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IN TODAY'S NEWSLETTER...
On Prophecy: Volume III – Pete Garcia - https://www.rev310.net/post/on-prophecy-volume-ii What do we mean by the defeat of the enemy? Simply the destruction of his forces, whether by death, injury, or any other means—either completely or enough to make him stop fighting. . . . The complete or partial destruction of the enemy must be regarded as the sole object of all engagements. . . . Direct annihilation of the enemy's forces must always be the dominant consideration. Carl von Clausewitz Total War Bible prophecy is more than some titillating story meant to tickle our imaginations. Bible Prophecy foretells the unfolding of God's war against sin, wickedness, and the father of lies- Satan. Prophecy is history told in advance. The opening act began in heaven when Satan attempted an ill-planned coup d'état against his Creator. After being cast out of heaven, Satan began to stalk God's creation, sneaking in and luring them to commit rebellion against their Creator, thus, introducing sin and death into God's perfect world. It was here that God, in issuing His judgments against Adam, Eve, and the Serpent, tells them ahead of time His plan to redeem fallen man, and destroy Satan in the process. The Protoevangelicum (Genesis 3:15) foretold the coming of a Redeemer out of the race of men. Not knowing who this "seed of the woman" would be, Satan turns to a "scorched earth" policy in his attempts to corrupt all of mankind. However, God always has His remnant and keeps the race of men alive through Noah and his family. And so it was, every time God moved, Satan countered, and failed, badly. The arrival of Jesus Christ caught Satan and the world off guard. Not only was His arrival, birth, and life predicted in the Old Testament, it was done so in a manner that even the greatest, and most intelligent being in God's created order, Satan, couldn't figure it out. And before it was all said and done, Satan had the Jews and Romans convinced that killing Jesus was absolutely the right thing to do. Not realizing his blunder until it was too late, Satan was actually fulfilling God's plans for his own destruction. The death of Christ on the cross was actually Satan's coup de grâce (deathblow). The one event that sealed and doomed Satan and his fellow fallen brethrens' destiny forever. But we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory (1st Corinthians 2:7-8) Thus, we need to look at the following prophecies, not just religious events. These are acts of war, being waged first in the spiritual realm, but finding their fulfillment in the physical. This is God, cleaning up the loose ends so that He can renew, then restore the relationship He had back at the beginning with His redeemed children. The following are listed in their chronological and sequenced order. 1. The Rapture of the Church (John 14:1-3, 1 Thess 4-5, 2 Thess 2, 1 Cor. 15) Defensive Operation: Recall Ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20) Offensive Operation: Create the world's greatest crisis so that a fallen world unites into a singular government (Gen 11:1-9, Revelation 13). What: The Rapture (Greek-harpazo, Latin- rapiemur, and English-catching up) of the Church was first taught by Jesus to His disciples in the Upper Room Discourse (John 14:1-3) the night before His crucifixion. The Holy Spirit, writing through the Apostle Paul, would later clarify this mystery in three of his epistles (1st and 2nd Thessalonians, and 1st Corinthians 15). The Rapture, as distinct and separate from the Second Coming, is the only truly signless prophetic event in Scripture. Its timing is the most highly classified secret in God's prophetic arsenal. Although it is signless, the actual event will be neither secret nor silent. It is, for all intents and purposes, a rescue operation for all born-again believers to be taken out of this world before it enters into the final seven years of God’s wrath and judgment. Although the Rapture sets the conditions for the Tribulation, it does not initiate the official start of the Tribulation (Dan. 9:27). Who: The Church (Greek- ekklesia, English- called out assembly). The universal body of born-again believers in Jesus Christ, irrespective of when they lived, denomination, ethnicity, age, etc. It is also believed (although not universally) that children under the age of accountability (age varies according to maturity), as well as the mentally invalid and those unable to make a conscious decision for or against Christ will be taken up as well. The believer who is alive when it happens will be translated (changed instantly) from mortal, to immortal. The believer who has already died will come in their spirit bodies with Christ, and be resurrected into their glorified, immortal bodies. When: This happens before the 70th Week of Daniel (aka...The Tribulation). It is an imminent event, and since the 70th Week is the most highly chronicled week mentioned in Scripture, it can only be imminent, if it happens prior to the event, not after. When it occurs, however, is known only to God the Father [it could be argued that Jesus now knows (Revelation 1:1]). Although the imminence is purely from the perspective of mortal humans, it is likely tied to a specific event, such as one of the seven Jewish Feasts like Pentecost (Shavuot), or the Feast of Trumpets. In His Death, Jesus fulfilled the following spring feasts in order: The Feast of Passover- His crucifixion The Feast of Unleavened Bread- His burial The Feast of First Fruits- His resurrection If keeping to the same pattern, the next Feast (Hebrew-moadim, appointed time), to be fulfilled is the Feast of Shavuot (Pentecost). This was the feast (back in 32AD) when the Church was conceived by the giving of the Holy Spirit in Jerusalem (Acts 1-2). Where: Global and simultaneous Why: The final seven years (from Daniel’s 70 Weeks prophecy- Daniel 9:24-27) is appointed to discipline Israel (for rejecting her Messiah Jesus), bring her back into a relationship with God, and destroy all the nations (Jeremiah 30:7-11). The Church does not fit into any of those categories. Furthermore, since the Church was not in the previous 69 Weeks, logic follows we will also not be in the 70th. Takeaway: The reason the Rapture of the Church has remained such a mysterious, imminent event, is because God chooses not to reveal His game-changing hand to the enemy (the Devil). Sun Tzu once stated in his epic “The Art of War,” Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt. If Sun Tzu could figure out the value in keeping your movements a guessing game for the enemy, surely, God can. If the Rapture happens just after midnight Jerusalem time (my personal theory), it would hit the western hemisphere right around 5:00 PM (or 1700 military time). The sudden removal of millions of people at rush hour would be devastating to a nation like the United States. While some nations would be impacted more severely than others by the loss of millions of citizens, the collapse of the United States would be an impact felt on a global scale (economically speaking). Aside from the immediate devastation caused by millions of driverless vehicles and pilotless planes, emergency services, as well as law enforcement, will be overwhelmed immediately. Furthermore, the Rapture also serves to remove the Holy Spirit’s restraint over evil in the world thus triggering a general and exacerbated period of lawlessness and societal unrest the world has never seen. 2. The War of Gog-Magog (Ezekiel 38-39) Defensive Operation: God supernaturally protects Israel against overwhelming coalition What: Capitalizing on the collapse of the United States and the subsequent global chaos triggered by the Rapture of the Church, a multinational coalition led by Russia attempts a massive military invasion of Israel. Although Israel is unprepared, the coalition is supernaturally destroyed by God (Psalm 121:4). Who: Ezekiel 38-39 lists the aggressor nations by their ancient names. The modern equivalents are as follows: Russia, Iran, Turkey, Libya, Ethiopia/Sudan, plus the former Soviet-satellite nations (aka…the Stans). By-standers who oppose the attack, but are helpless to stop it- Saudi Arabia, the US, and Western Europe. When: This particular coalition of nations has never attacked Israel before, so this war is yet future, presumably between the Rapture and the official start of the 70th Week of Daniel. Where: Geographically speaking, the invaders will come from the furthest parts north of Israel, as well as from the south. The furthest north of Israel is Russia. Interestingly, Russia, Turkey, and Iran are all militarily involved in Syria today and have built up forces there significantly in recent years. Turkey and Russia are also tied up in the reestablishment of Libya (Put). At present, Iran (Persia) is attempting to create a landbridge across Iraq so that it has direct access to attack Israel. The actual war takes place in the mountains north of Israel, potentially being in the vicinity of the Golan Heights and Mt. Hermon. This is where God destroys the enemy forces. Why: The Iranian leadership want to destroy Israel and their hatred for the Jews is their motivation, pure and simple. However, the other nation's motivations seem to vary. Both Russia and Turkey have been cut out of the energy markets since Israel's recent discoveries of massive natural gas fields off their coast (Leviathan and Tamar). More recently, Israel has worked an economic deal with both Cyprus and Greece, to ship natural gas directly to Europe. Consequently, this cut both Turkey and Russia out of the energy game. As for the Libyans, Sudanese, and other nations, they are likely used as mercenaries meant to bolster this coalition's overall numbers to overwhelm Israel. Takeaway: Gog and Magog. The fact that we are seeing this coalition form before our very eyes in Syria is a sure sign that the Rapture of the church is extremely near. The reason why this is during this particular war is that God’s “full attention" turns back towards the nation of Israel (Ez. 38:16). Actions by the former Trump administration (halting the European Gazprom pipeline, Abraham Accords, Iranian sanctions, etc.) have financially put Russia, Iran, and Turkey into dire economic straits. Russia, Iran, and Turkey (all former rival empires) have never, historically, collaborated economically, militarily, and politically together with a common goal in mind. Listed by their ancient names, modern-day Russia, Turkey, and Iran have formed an anti-Israel/US alliance that are currently building their forces literally tens of miles from the Israeli border (to her north). They are not there because they care about Basher Assad, or his regime. They are there because of their proximity to Israel and wealth (spoils). Two things about this stand out to me: a. Israel’s allies are either unable or unwilling to help (Ezekiel 38:13) b. God defeats this coalition so spectacularly, that spiritual Israel finally awakens, and the people finally demand to rebuild their third temple (Ez. 39:22, 28-29) 3. The Four Horsemen (Rev. 6:1-8) Offensive Operation: God unleashes His wrath against a Christ-rejecting world; 1/4 of the world's population dies in 1-3 years What: In the opening salvo against a Christ-rejecting world, Jesus takes the sealed scroll from the right hand of the Father, and opens the First four Seal Judgments against the earth and her nations. The two reasons why we know this is the wrath of God and not man is that Jesus is the only one, in all of creation, found worthy enough to open the Seal Judgments, thus triggering the subsequent 21 divine judgments. Who: Jesus initiates all of the judgments that unfold in a sequential, telescopic manner ~Rider on the White Horse- this rider is identified as the Antichrist (the Beast, lawless one, son of perdition, etc.). He initially takes control of the final world government, at a time of great crisis (after the Rapture) promising peace and security (what the world is clamoring for). However, his motives are that of hiding his iron hand in a velvet glove; death and destruction follow in his wake with the subsequent riders. The Antichrist heads up the Beast, which is the final, global government ruling over the entire earth. (Revelation 6:1-2, 13:1-4) ~Rider on the Red Horse- Presumably, the world entire is not in love with the idea of being brought into global governance. The resistance against him triggers worldwide revolts, and he quickly uses his piecemealed, but highly armed (thanks to a collapsed US) army, air force, and navy to quell dissent. His greatest weapon though is he has the full-backing of Satan and the satanic forces to help destroy any resistance. Thus, peace is taken from the earth. (Rev. 6:3-4, 13:7) ~Rider on the Black Horse- In the wake of war and the collapse of the global economic stabilizer (the United States Dollar), economic calamity strikes the earth with a vengeance, causing severe shortages and catastrophic economic inflationary conditions everywhere. The Antichrist, aided by technology, uses this crisis to introduce a "mark" to be worn by those loyal to himself. This biometric mark bears the number of his name, and will likely gain the bearer with full rights and privileges to buy and sell. It will also likely make the bearer a "hotspot" for internet connectivity and neuro links the bearer to the world wide web. (Rev. 6:5-6, 13:16-18) ~Rider on the Pale Horse- The final rider finds his fulfillment by providing gratuitous death; power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth. The beasts of the earth, as the late Chuck Missler once noted, include microscopic beasts in the form of pandemics. (Rev. 6:7-8) When: After the Rapture, and after the gap in time (potentially months to three years) between the Rapture and the official start of the 70th Week Where: Global Why: The judgments found in Revelation are amplified echoes of previous judgments we see elsewhere in the Old Testament (Sodom, Exodus, etc.) A fourth of mankind is killed in these first four judgments. By today’s standards, this would mean nearly 2 billion persons are killed in just the first two to three years. Takeaway- After the Rapture, the United States will utterly collapse due to the loss of millions of its citizens. This will trigger a cascading series of events that have global ramifications- economic collapse, militaristic opportunism (taking advantage of the chaotic destabilization), geopolitical posturing, lawlessness, and general breakdown of the old world order. This sets the stage perfectly for the proponents of a singular global government to take over. 4. The Kings of the East (Revelation 16:12) Offensive: The kings of the east initially march against Jerusalem and the Antichrist Offensive: Antichrist is able to get them to declare war against Christ What: 200M man army mobilizes and uses the Iron-Silk road to move eastward against the Antichrist. After the 2nd Trumpet and Bowl Judgments, the world's waterways will be rendered unusable, thus limiting (or canalizing) these forces to strictly move by land as the rivers, seas, and oceans are turned to blood. (Rev. 8:9-11, 16:3-4) Who: Presumably China, India, Japan, a united Korea, Malaysia, and Mongolia When: Toward the end of the seven-year Tribulation Where: East Asia moves toward Israel. Why: Presumably, the Antichrist‘s iron-fisted control over the nations starts to break down toward the end of the seven years. The Kings of the East sense weakness, and rally their forces to move against him while he is preoccupied with destroying the remaining Jews. Takeaway: Historically speaking, China has never attempted to expand its massive empire westward beyond Nepal. One could argue that against all logic, there has been a supernatural restraint of sorts, holding her mighty nation back. Even though other great powers have crossed the Euphrates in the past (i.e., Alexander the Great, Persians, Genghis Khan), that will change. China's move westward greatly troubles the Antichrist, even though the froglike demons summon all the world's forces towards the Valley of Megiddo (Dan. 11:44, Rev. 16:12-14). 5. The Armageddon Campaign (Zechariah 12, 14, Matthew 24:15-31, Revelation 19) Offensive Operation: Christ and His heavenly armies open the sky and destroy all the armies of the world who are gathered at the Valley of Megiddo What: Last great battle during the age of man Who: All the world‘s military forces When: 1,260 days from the midpoint of the 70th Week (where Antichrist desecrates the newly rebuilt Jewish temple). Where: Israel. Valley of Megiddo. Bozrah. Jezreel Valley. Jerusalem Why: The Antichrist, who, from the midpoint of the 70th Week onward, is personally indwelt by Satan himself, realizes that he is running out of time. He tries one last “Hail Mary” (pardon the pun) attempt at wiping out Israel. The reason he is so determined to destroy Israel is if he can then he can break prophecy, and prove God a liar. It will not work. (Rev. 12:13-17) Takeaway: While Armageddon is the ultimate assemblage of military forces in human history, with some estimating more than one billion soldiers gathered, there is no actual fighting in the Valley of Megiddo itself. It is simply the place where the Antichrist’s forces assemble, to go and attempt to wipe out the nation of Israel for the last time. The actual fighting will take place along a nearly 200-mile stretch, beginning in Bozrah down to the Red Sea. (Source: Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum, The Footsteps of Messiah, rev ed. (Tustin, CA: Ariel Ministries, 2003), 317-318). Another common misconception associated with the word Armageddon is that it is the greatest battle in human history. Not true. It is the greatest defeat in all of history. The moment that Christ tears open the sky and rides into view with the host of the heavenly armies behind Him, the battle is already over. He simply speaks a word and all before Him melt from the inside out. The fleeing forces of the Antichrist spread out over 1,600 furlongs (a furlong is about an eighth of a mile). Thus, the carnage is so extensive that the blood from the bodies of a billion soldiers form a river nearly 200 miles long (Rev. 14:20). That, along with the previous judgment of one hundred pound hailstones (which are melting by this point into a watery mess), and the rivers (freshwater) turned to blood, creates a river of blood up to the horses' bridle (around four feet high). This will most likely flow from the Kidron Valley (Jehosophat) down to the Jordan River Valley, down south through the Dead Sea to the Red Sea. Conclusion The war that began in the heavens, with Satan's ill-fated revolt, will end with his utter defeat at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. His human and demonic forces are decimated, his two henchmen (the Antichrist and the False Prophet) are cast alive into the Lake of Fire, and he himself is bound in chains and tossed into the abyss for a thousand years. After liberating Jerusalem and saving the Jewish people (this after they cry out for Him to save them- Zech. 12:10-14, Luke 13:35), Jesus will step foot on the Mount of Olives, splitting the mountain into two. This causes the mountain to split north-south and forms a large valley opening up east and west. After the Judgment of the nations, and the subsequent cleansing of the Temple in Jerusalem, and presumably, a large-scale global restoration from the previous 21 judgments, the earth will be renewed back to its paradisiacal state (similar to that as found in Genesis 1-2). Those survivors will enter into what is known as the Millennial Reign of Christ (Rev. 20), and will finally enjoy true peace on earth with Christ physically ruling the nations. Man's lifespans will go back to centuries, instead of years. The animal kingdom will be restored back to its peaceful state (Isaiah 65:25). The earth will yield its full strength again. Every inch of the earth will be fertile and thriving, there will no longer be wastelands or other unusable areas (Romans 8:20-22). The New Jerusalem will come down and remain in a low-earth orbit, from which, the Church will live and rule and reign with Christ. The Church (the immortal and glorified believers) will finally "inherit the earth" and will be able to move back and forth between the New Jerusalem and the earth via teleportation (1 John 3:1-3). Thus will be life for 1,000 years. Doorstep to Eternity At the end of the thousand years, Satan is loosed once again for "a season" (we are not sure how long this means). He is able to gather an army "whose number is as the sands of the seas." Presumably, these are the offspring of those who survived Armageddon and were born into the Millennium and have no idea what the world was like with Satan loosed in it. These are deceived and march with Satan to their eternal doom. Revelation 20:7-10 says: Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. After this, all the world's population who have ever lived (save the Church and redeemed Old Testament Saints) will stand before the Great White Throne for judgment. This means everyone from Cain (of Genesis 4) through the last Millennial rebel, will stand before God and give account for their relationship with their Redeemer. For those who are not found written in the Lamb's Book of Life, these are cast into the Lake of Fire which burns day and night forever and ever. For those who are found in the Lamb's Book of Life, these are granted entrance into the Eternal State- a future filled with the wonders and glory of God for all eternity, forever and ever. Just as there will be no end to the eternal torment for those who reject Christ, likewise, there will be no end to wonder and enjoyment and happiness in this final stage of our existence. In closing, John's final words from our Lord Jesus Christ say this in the last book of the New Testament (Revelation 22:20-21): He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. Biden Administration Rewards Terrorists: Abbas and Hamas - by Bassam Tawil - https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/17413/biden-administration-rewards-terrorists-abbas US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's May 25 announcement that the Biden administration will ask Congress to allocate $75 million in aid to the Palestinians and that Washington will reopen the US Consulate in Jerusalem -- which previously had served as a de facto embassy handling US relations with the Palestinians -- is sending the wrong message to the leaders of the Palestinians. First, these overtures signal to Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas that the US will support and lavish funding on any Arab leader who seriously abuses not only his own people but also his neighbors. This policy would also include leaders such as Vladimir Putin in Russia, Xi Jinping in China and "Supreme Guide" Ali Khamenei in Iran, as well as other despots. One pretext for the war that Hamas initiated was that Abbas had cancelled parliamentary elections to have been held in May and July. The real reason the elections were canceled was that they would have resulted in another victory for Hamas. Hamas won the last parliamentary election in 2006 due to the Palestinians' frustration over the rampant political, administrative and economic corruption in Fatah, the dominant faction of Abbas's PA. The Biden administration -- by offering Abbas more money and reopening the US diplomatic mission that deals directly with the Palestinians -- is actually rewarding Abbas for those attributes. By engaging Abbas and sending the top US diplomat to meet with him in Ramallah, the Biden administration is telling the Palestinians that it does not care either about human rights or responsible governance. It is telling the Palestinians – as well as leaders worldwide -- that the United States and the Biden administration have no problem dealing with a leader who misgoverns his own people, who incites them to violence and who does not have the slightest intention of educating his people for peace with their neighbor. The Biden administration, in addition, is telling Abbas that it has no problem with him continuing to run the PA as a one-man show while cracking down on his political rivals and social media users for daring to speak out against corruption and human rights violations in the PA-ruled areas of the West Bank. On the eve of Blinken's visit to Ramallah, Abbas's security forces arrested a number of Palestinian political activists on suspicion of "insulting" senior Palestinian officials on various social media platforms or during rallies in the West Bank. When Abbas announced his decision to postpone the elections, he made extremely serious -- and extremely false -- charges against Israel. Abbas said he was holding Israel responsible for hindering the vote, which Israel had not done, and for carrying out "assaults" against the al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, which Israel also had not done. It was, in fact, Abbas's harsh rhetoric against Israel that contributed to the eruption of violence on the streets of Jerusalem, where Palestinians physically attacked police officers and Jewish civilians. On May 18, Abbas announced in front of the Arab Parliament, the legislative body of the Arab League, that he was planning to prosecute Israelis for committing "war crimes" for responding to the rockets and missiles that Iran's proxies, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, had fired into Israeli territory. The $75 million aid package for the Palestinians that Blinken intends to ask Congress to approve will most likely just end up helping Abbas in his effort to file "war crimes" lawsuits against Israelis in various international forums, including the International Criminal Court (ICC), which is also trying to indict Americans. Ironically, the same Abbas who told Blinken that he (Abbas) is committed to a peace process with Israel is the same Abbas who also wants to see his Israeli "peace partners" put on trial at the ICC. Abbas, in other words, wants to make peace with the Israelis, but only after he gets them handcuffed and imprisoned for alleged "war crimes." Needless to say, this is the same Abbas who does not dare to call out Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad for their war crimes of firing 4,000 rockets and missiles indiscriminately into Israel. While Blinken has rewarded Abbas financially, he has also given Hamas a political gift in the form of reopening east Jerusalem's US diplomatic mission. The consulate used to serve as a liaison to the Palestinians until the Trump administration merged the consulate into the new US Embassy in Jerusalem. Hamas launched its recent war on Israel professedly because of Jerusalem. Hamas told the Palestinians that it was firing rockets and missiles at Israel as part of its campaign to "liberate Jerusalem and the al-Aqsa Mosque from the Zionist enemy." Hamas even named its war on Israel "Sword of Jerusalem." The real reason Hamas launched its war, though, was apparently to gain more power throughout all the Palestinian territories, as it had been hoping to do in the elections, before they were suddenly cancelled. Hamas then seems to have decided, possibly with the urging of Iran, to try "Plan B": a show of strength to show the Palestinians who was the real "strong horse" -- and to further weaken Abbas, whose political power exists only because Israel provides full-time security for him. Hamas's goal was to send a message to the Palestinians and the world that the Jews have no rights in Jerusalem; that it is exclusively an Arab and Muslim city, and that only Hamas can deliver it. Hamas also possibly wanted to show the world that contrary to Israel's claim, Jerusalem is not a united city where Arabs and Jews live together. The reality, like it or not, is that Hamas and the PA both want the same result: the destruction of Israel and its replacement with an Islamic state. They just differ about how to get there. Abbas would prefer to do it diplomatically, by having international groups declare a State of Palestine, which could then, if necessary, be used as a launching pad from which to conquer the rest of the territory; Hamas, as in its charter, prefers to seize all the land militarily, through jihad. Neither the PA nor Hamas has the slightest interest in any kind of peace with Israel. Now comes Blinken and announces the reopening of the consulate in the city. Here is how the Palestinians understand his gestures: If you fire 4,000 rockets and missiles at Israel, you get a US consulate in Jerusalem and millions of dollars of US taxpayer money. It works! The solution, then, is to keep on doing it! By reopening the consulate, Blinken is also telling both Hamas and Abbas that the US does not recognize Jerusalem as the united and undivided capital of Israel. Blinken has also sent a message to Abbas and Hamas that former US President Trump's formula of "peace for peace" in the Middle East is off the table; they no longer need to worry. Abbas and Hamas had denounced Trump's plan as a "conspiracy to eliminate the Palestinian issue and rights." Now, Abbas and Hamas are rubbing their hands because, the way they see it, the Biden administration has actually just achieved their goal of scrapping Trump's peace plan, "Peace to Prosperity: A vision to Improve the Lives of the Palestinian and Israeli People." It was supported by the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Morocco, as well as by Serbia and Kosovo. Blinken's visit then, even with the best of intentions, has been a big win for Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah and all those Arabs and Muslims who are fiercely opposed to Israel's right to exist and totally reject peace with it. The Biden administration's decision to resume unconditional financial aid to the PA -- and to Iran -- only means strengthening dictatorships and corruption for those living in the Middle East. It means that Abbas can go on with his autocratic rule and oppressive measures, including depriving his people of a parliamentary government, freedom of expression and equal justice under the law. America's decisions will embolden Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad and prove to them that their most recent war against Israel was not in vain. By rewarding Abbas, Hamas and the anti-normalization camp in the Arab world, the Biden administration has bludgeoned its declared objective of reviving a peace process in the Middle East. It has demonstrated decisively that corruption and dictatorship pay. It has shown that terrorism pays -- to the tune of millions of dollars. Palestinian incitement and violence against Israel are unlikely to recede in the context of such an encouraging outcome. 3 Giant Financial Companies That The Global Elite Use To Control 88% Of The Corporations Listed On The S&P 500 - by Michael Snyder - http://endoftheamericandream.com/3-giant-financial-companies-that-the-global-elite-use-to-control-88-of-the-corporations-listed-on-the-sp-500/ There is no question that large corporations absolutely dominate our society today. They control what we eat, they control what we watch on television, they own most of the stores that we shop at, they provide the energy that our nation depends upon, and they make almost all of the products that we use. Tens of millions of Americans make a living by serving these colossal firms, and at this point some of the biggest corporations are larger than many small countries. But of course the corporations aren’t the top of the food chain. They have owners, and there are 3 giant financial companies that the global elite use to control 88 percent of the corporations that are currently listed on the S&P 500. The three financial companies that I am talking about are BlackRock, Vanguard and State Street. According to CNN, those companies have a combined 15 trillion dollars in combined assets under management… BlackRock, Vanguard and State Street manage a stunning $15 trillion in combined assets, equivalent to more than three-quarters the size of the US economy. But that is actually an old number. I wanted to come up with a newer number, and so I started digging. According to Wikipedia, BlackRock had $8.67 trillion in assets under management as of January 2021… BlackRock, Inc. is an American multinational investment management corporation based in New York City. Founded in 1988, initially as a risk management and fixed income institutional asset manager, BlackRock is the world’s largest asset manager, with $8.67 trillion in assets under management as of January 2021. BlackRock operates globally with 70 offices in 30 countries and clients in 100 countries. Vanguard is nearly as big. According to Wikipedia, Vanguard had $6.2 trillion in assets under management as of January 2021… The Vanguard Group, Inc. is an American registered investment advisor based in Malvern, Pennsylvania with about $6.2 trillion in global assets under management, as of January 31, 2020.[5] It is the largest provider of mutual funds and the second-largest provider of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in the world after BlackRock’s iShares.[6] In addition to mutual funds and ETFs, Vanguard offers brokerage services, variable and fixed annuities, educational account services, financial planning, asset management, and trust services. Several mutual funds managed by Vanguard are ranked at the top of the list of US mutual funds by assets under management. While not as large as the other two, State Street had $3.1 trillion in assets under management as of the first month of this year. So adding those numbers up, the “big three” had almost 18 trillion dollars in assets under management in January 2021, and that number is almost certainly quite a bit higher by now. That is a giant pile of money that is almost impossible to imagine. Sometimes people forget just how much money a trillion dollars is. If you were alive when Jesus was born and you spent a million dollars every single day since then, you still would not have spent a trillion dollars yet. Collectively, the “big three” represent the largest ownership blocks in 88 percent of the companies that are currently listed on the S&P 500… Combined, BlackRock, State Street and Vanguard are the largest owner in 88% of the S&P 500 companies, according to a paper published Tuesday by the American Economic Liberties Project, a group that launched in February taking aim at what it sees as excessive corporate power. For instance, the Big Three hold leading stakes in companies including Apple (AAPL), JPMorgan Chase (JPM) and Pfizer (PFE). Being the largest owner of a publicly traded company doesn’t mean that you can do whatever you want, but it does give you enormous power. For example, last month BlackRock and Vanguard were instrumental in installing two new members on ExxonMobil’s board of directors… BlackRock and Vanguard were among the major shareholders whose votes helped to install two new members on ExxonMobil’s board of directors, dealing the oil giant a major defeat in the election of board members at this year’s annual (virtual) shareholders meeting. The two fund giants, which together own approximately 14% of ExxonMobil shares, according to reports, supported portions of a dissident slate of board nominees brought by a Engine No. 1, an activist, purpose-driven investment firm that sees ExxonMobil’s response to the global climate crisis as far too weak to help achieve net zero emissions by 2050, putting shareholder value at risk. Engine No. 1 put forth a slate of four nominees, all with experience in the oil and gas or renewable energy industry. ExxonMobil did not want these new board members, but now they have been forced to take them. And these new board members will help to ensure that ExxonMobil becomes more fully aligned with the climate agenda of the global elite. For those in the global elite, it is much easier to use money and power to enact change through corporate structures than it is through various governmental bodies around the globe. In fact, many would argue that in 2021 corporations have far more of an impact on our day to day lives than any governmental entities do. Unfortunately, we can’t do much to alter how those corporations behave because they answer to their owners. At this point, one of the reasons why it seems like so many corporations have a similar culture is because so many of them are controlled by the exact same people at the very top. If you do not conform, you are a lot less likely to be hired by one of these corporations, and if you do get hired you are not likely to rise very far through the ranks. We need to start talking a lot more about “corporate tyranny”. Because even though governmental entities may still claim to protect “liberties” and “freedoms”, the truth is that those that reject the culture that is being pushed on them by the global elite will be increasingly marginalized on the fringes of society. America’s founders were very suspicious of all large concentrations of power. Today, wealth and power are more concentrated in our society than ever before, and that is not a good thing. In fact, this is an existential threat to our way of life, but not that many people are focusing on this. And don’t expect our politicians in Washington to do anything. They want to keep the campaign donations flowing, and so very few of them are ever interested in confronting the big money interests on Wall Street. 'Evangelical' Lutheran Church Descends into Complete Apostasy -https://www.prophecynewswatch.com/article.cfm?recent_news_id=4761 The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has taken more steps in it's rapid decline into apostasy as it appointed the denominations first transgender bishop. Megan Rohrer was elected on 8 May to lead the Sierra Pacific Synod of what is the largest Lutheran institution in the United States with 3.3 million baptized members and over 8,900 local congregations. The newly elected bishop will oversee around 200 local congregations in Northern California and Northern Nevada in the next six years, starting in July. It was also announced that the bishop-elect should be addressed with the pronouns "they/their". Rohr was the first transgender person to be ordained by the ELCA in 2006 and now makes "history", the pro-LGBT group Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries said. "We anticipate the day when all queer ministry leaders will be called to ministry settings without hindrance or barrier and will be affirmed in their God-given calls". According to this group, there are over 390 queer ministers in the ELCA at this point. The ELCA is known for its strong theological shift in the last 15 years towards an "inclusive" theology, except when it comes to Israel. Last year the Danish Bible Society, which is run by the Evangelical Lutheran Church, came under heavy fire for the Danish "translation" of the Bible that virtually wipes out "Israel" from the New Testament. In the Greek New Testament, the word "Israel" occurs more than 60 times, however it is found only once in the new Danish version called Bibelen 2020. That's right, just once. And that one occurrence is a direct quote from an Old Testament verse. Otherwise, "Israel" is gone. The reason for this the society argues is that Christian readers must not connect "Israel" in the New Testament with the nation of Israel today. The ELCA has long promoted the idea of "replacement theology", also called supersessionism, which essentially teaches that the church has replaced Israel in God's plan. Adherents of replacement theology believe the Jews are no longer God's chosen people, and God does not have specific future plans for the nation of Israel. The presiding "bishop" of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, The Rev. Elizabeth Eaton, has also expressed her belief that although Hell may exist, it is entirely empty because "God doesn't give up on those who reject Him." Two years ago, over 30,000 ELCA teenagers attended the ELCA's national youth gathering. Popular ELCA pastor Nadia Bolz-Webber ((who loves to swear during her sermons and tells her congregants that their is nothing wrong with porn) led the students to say after her "I renounce the lie that queerness is anything other than beauty". At the youth gathering an 11-year-old boy who thinks he is a girl was put on stage to promote transgenderism. This past summer the ELCA in convention passed an interfaith resolution stating that we do not know what God thinks of non-Christian religions. A delegate got to the microphone to offer an amendment, saying that we do know because John 14:6 says that Jesus is the only way of salvation. His amendment was voted down by 97 percent. Now the church is raising red flags with it's promotion of praying by addressing God as "Mother" instead of Father on it's official Facebook page as well as via Twitter: "Mother God, you have fed us with the nourishment of your spiritual food. Raise us up into salvation and rid us of our bitterness, so that we may share the sweetness of your holy word with all the world," the ELCA tweeted as part of their #Bread4theday series of Twitter posts. The tweet has gotten a fair amount of negative attention. Hans Fiene, a conservative pastor who oversees the popular Lutheran Satire YouTube channel, responded with a simple message to people who still value Biblical literacy: "Leave the ELCA," he succinctly replied when retweeting the ELCA post. Thankfully many have headed his call. The ELCA had over five million members when it was first launched in 1988. It has only declined since, and the decline has been accelerating as it continues to adopt many unbiblical practices. If current trends continue the denomination will have fewer than 67,000 members in 2050, and fewer than 16,000 in worship on an average Sunday by 2041. That's right - this church will basically cease to exist within the next generation and to that we say "Amen" as the scriptures warn against such people; "having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away....ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth" 2 Timothy 3:5-7 Daily Jot: Stupidocrisy: Defunding Police is Marxism in action – Bill Wilson – www.dailyjot.com Defunding the police is a Marxist revolution linchpin aimed at destroying the United States with the help of the Democratic Party and various anarchist and communist groups. To most law-abiding Americans who love their country, the freedom and opportunity it provides, defunding the police is just a dangerously stupid idea. Many of those who want to defund the police are emotionally driven by class division, racial, and equality arguments and are duped into what is detrimental to their existence. Among them are the most hypocritical people in America—politicians. A story by Breitbart News about the failings of Democrat-run cities that defunded the police is just the tip of the iceberg on this revolutionary concept. Breitbart reports, “New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio is planning to reinstate $92 million to build a new precinct cut from the budget last year. From January 1 through May 23, 2021 there were 531 shootings in the city, up from 295 during the same period last year. In Baltimore, Mayor Brandon Scott, who as a city councilman led efforts to cut the police budget by $22 million, is now proposing a $27 million increase. In Oakland, California–where by mid-April the city had recorded 41 homicides, up from 13 over the same period last year–city lawmakers voted in April to put $3.3 million of the $29 million it had slashed back into the police budget. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti wants an increase in police spending of about $50 million after the city cut $150 million last year.” All part of the Marxist plan as revealed by Nathaniel Flakin. Flakin of the Left Voice, a “revolutionary socialist news site,” revealed to Kshama Sawant, a socialist on the Seattle City Council, in an open letter on August 23, 2018 that a goal of the socialist revolution is to “disarm and abolish the racist police.” In chastising Sawant for voting to confirm the Seattle police chief, Flakin wrote: “Socialists, going back to Karl Marx, have always been irreconcilably hostile to the police because the police are the “chief instruments of state power” …Marx explained that workers, in order to liberate themselves, will need to destroy the capitalist state apparatus. This is impossible without smashing the institution of the police. Every successful revolution in history has involved working people standing up to the police and winning…,” adding that, “the police are forced to surrender and drop their weapons.” We see that a primary goal of the Marxist-influenced groups such as Antifa and the Black Lives Matter Organization are arms of this radical revolutionary concept and Democratic Party politicians in many cities are willing accomplices or willing dupes. While the revolutionaries are hoping to deconstruct law and order and abolish property ownership, the majority of Americans want law and order. They also want their freedom and their property secure. Now, after harming the people who elected them by defunding law enforcement, these stupid and hypocritical politicians are quietly refunding the police. Psalm 82:2 says, “How long will you judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked?” Apparently, as long as We the People let them. These people who buy into defunding the police are self-destructive. Say it with me…Stupidocrisy. Daily Devotion: What Makes God Mad - by Greg Laurie – www.harvest.org For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. —Luke 18:14 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/what-makes-god-mad/ - Listen This might surprise some people: God isn’t mad at sinners. God isn’t mad at you; He’s mad about you. He loves you. But I would also add that God does get angry when people who think they’re spiritual or call themselves religious stand in the way of others coming to believe in Him. We find a story in the New Testament about a man who went to the Temple to pray. He was a tax collector, and tax collectors weren’t loved a lot in those days. Another man also went to pray, and he was a Pharisee. The Pharisee said, “I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income” (Luke 18:11–12 NLT). In reality, I think his prayers didn’t go any higher than the ceiling, because that wasn’t a prayer to God. That was a boast. Meanwhile, the tax collector who knew he was a sinner simply said, “O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner” (verse 13 NLT). Jesus said of these two men, “I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted” (verse 14 NLT). Like the tax collector, I’m just a sinner who said, “Lord, forgive me.” And He did. He will do that for you, no matter what sin you’ve committed. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die” (John 11:25–26 NLT). Jesus will give you the meaning of life on earth, and He will give you the hope of life beyond the grave. 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