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Revelation 7 Tribulation Believers: Part 2 of 3 - By John Chandler - https://www.raptureready.com/2021/03/14/revelation-7-tribulation-believers-part-2-of-3-by-john-chandler/
It Goes from Badness to Worse! The Seven Trumpet Judgments (Revelation Chapter 8):
Why do I stop detailing the horrors? Well, back during the Sixth Trumpet blast in Revelation 9:21, we see that the earth-dwellers who survive the fire, smoke, and brimstone of that 200,000,000 demonic army did not repent of their sins, murders, sorceries, sexual immoralities, or thefts. These people have become so hardened, so seared in their minds and hearts, they have lost the ability to repent or have given up the ability to repent and to call upon the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation. They are in no position to trust our Lord Jesus or to receive the beautiful life-transforming power of His grace. The individuals of the Innumerable Host, as seen in Rev 7:9-10, are seen before the throne of God and before the Lamb, praising Him for His salvation. Something good and positive has happened to them. Somewhere “early on” in the midst of the Tribulation, they have heard the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ and turned to Him. They have repented of sin, unbelief, and rejection of our Lord Jesus Christ. They have experienced a change of heart and called upon the life-changing, soul-transforming power of our Lord Jesus Christ. They have decided to choose our Lord Jesus and to abandon and forsake the gods of this world, including denying the god of human self. They came to know and trust and have faith in Jesus Christ as Savior before humans, in general, lost the ability or surrendered the ability to repent and to turn away from evil, and to turn to and to call upon the Lord Jesus. Since our Innumerable Host repented, that indicates to me, the individuals of our group likely never made it as deep into the Tribulation as trumpet #6 when we see people have lost or have given up the ability to repent. In my opinion, Trumpet Blast #6 occurs around the middle point of the seven-year Tribulation period (some refer to the middle of the Tribulation as the beginning of the “Great” Tribulation). This is about the same timeframe the Mark of the Beast and many other events will begin to find fulfillment. Another argument from silence. In Rev 7:9-17, there is no mention of the Mark of the Beast. This Mark is a significant turning point of the Tribulation, the Great Tribulation period. In fact, scripture is clear that if one accepts and receives the Mark of the Beast (Rev 14), one may never turn back in repentance to trust our Lord Jesus Christ. There is no mention in Rev 7 of the individuals of the Innumerable Host threatened with the Mark. The passage in Rev 7:9-17 is silent. In my opinion, since this key Mark of the Beast event is not mentioned, then likely these individuals passed into the heavenly realm before the Mark became an issue for them. Perhaps the Mark was looming, perhaps the stage was set, but based upon the text of Rev 7, it doesn’t yet come across as a primary issue. Another indicator that the individuals of the Innumerable Host likely did not encounter the Mark of the Beast or make it as far as halfway through the Tribulation is the manner in which they died. In Revelation chapter 20:4, we read about another group of “late” Tribulation Believers who will encounter the Mark of the Beast. This group refused the Mark, and they were beheaded for their witness to our Lord Jesus Christ and the Word of God, and because they did not receive the Mark of the Beast, or worship the beast’s image. Rev 7:9-17 describes the individuals of the Innumerable Host suffering and dying from other extreme conditions, but it makes no mention of them having been beheaded. The Mark of the Beast is too key, too significant of an event. The Mark cements a place in human history when each person decides forever one’s own eternal destiny. Those who choose the Mark of the Beast choose a place of endless torment in the Lake of Fire. The Mark’s absence in relation to the Innumerable Host signals that they died earlier in the Tribulation period. Still another reason why the individuals of the Innumerable Host are not the same group as those who rejected the Mark of the Beast is the timing when the two different groups are judged. The individuals of the Innumerable Host (Rev 7:9-10) are judged at some “early” point in the midst of the Tribulation Period, as they are already before the throne of God and of the Lamb. These individuals find their disposition and place of future service by the Lamb at His throne (Rev 7). Per Rev 20: 1-4, those Tribulation Believers who are beheaded because they rejected the Mark of the Beast are judged when the Tribulation period ends and just after the dragon, the serpent of old who is the Devil and Satan, is imprisoned for 1,000-years. These faithful Mark-rejecting believers are judged just before Christ’s millennial kingdom begins as they are granted resurrection and to reign with Christ for 1,000-years. One more difference between the individuals of the Innumerable Host and those who rejected the Mark of the Beast is who sits in judgment. In Rev 7, the individuals of the Innumerable Host are already before the throne of God and of the Lamb, ostensibly having already been judged by the Lamb. In Rev 20:1-4, those souls beheaded for rejecting the Mark of the Beast and rejecting his worship, stand before multiple thrones and are judged by multiples judges who sit on the multiple thrones. Based upon the text of Rev 20, it’s hard to know for certain who the multiples judges are who sit on those thrones, but I take the position it’s likely the 24-elders who represent glorified Church-Age Believers, Age-of-Grace Believers, who in their capacity as kings and priests are ruling and reigning with our Lord Jesus. The task of judging this remarkable segment of late-stage Mark rejecting Tribulation Believers is delegated to us. What Happened? Why Did the Innumerable Host Repent, and When Did It Happen? Our Most High God, our Lord Jesus Christ, is at work during the Tribulation period. He has already ordained that preachers of His righteous life-transforming message will appear on the scene at the very beginning of the seven-year Tribulation period. These preachers of righteousness will loudly and boldly herald His message far and wide for people on the earth to hear. These preachers will proclaim the Way of salvation, that there is still a Hope for them, that it’s not yet too late. Time is quickly growing short. The door of opportunity to lay hold of salvation is quickly closing, but one may still slip through the door into eternal safety. At this very initial stage of the Tribulation period, one may still call upon the Lord Jesus Christ and trust Him for salvation, but the opportunity for that hope is rapidly slipping away. The 144,000 Male Virgin Jews (Rev 7). I believe this group is converted to follow our Lord Jesus Christ in the very early stages of the Tribulation period, the Great Tribulation period, literally at the onset of this time period. I think the 144,000 will travel the earth speaking a unique message of the gospel of Jesus Christ to Jewish people, a message that also calls Jewish people home to the geographical territory of Israel. I think the peoples of the world will also hear this message of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and many millions of people will also respond, choosing to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and trusting Him for salvation. Many will call upon the name of our Lord Jesus to save them from eternal damnation. It’s no coincidence to me that those of the Innumerable Host in Rev 7:9-10 show up in heaven after we first see 144,000 male Jewish virgin servants of the Lamb in Revelation chapter seven. The Innumerable Host appears in heaven when it does because the 144,000 did such a good job of evangelizing the world. BTW: I think those four angels we also saw in Rev 7, who were granted power and authority to harm the earth, the sea, and the trees also played a role, or they helped to facilitate a positive outcome. Since they appear in chapter seven just before the 144,000 Jewish male virgins and just before our Innumerable Host appears before the throne of God and before the Lamb, I think whatever those four angels did played a role to incentivize each of them to trust God and His Word, and to believe in the Lord Jesus and to call upon Him for salvation. I don’t know what they specifically did or its impact on the Innumerable Host of Rev 7:9-17. But the fact that this cluster of angels and Jewish male virgins and the Innumerable Host appear together in the same chapter is no coincidence. I believe all three are connected and the Lord Jesus, our Most High God orchestrates the outcomes for His glory and for the benefit of all the humans involved. The Two Witnesses Speak from The Rebuilt Jewish Temple (Rev 11). These two unique, supernaturally ordained heralds will also appear on the scene at the initial onset of the Tribulation period. They will seize the world’s attention with their message of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, their actions, and the supernatural nature of their presence. The whole world will see them and hear their message. And they will bring torment upon Christ-rejecting individuals and Christ-rejecting nations of the world. These Witnesses will offer many convincing signs and wonders to back their message of the gospel. Resultantly, many people, Jewish and Gentile, will call upon the Lord Jesus to save them. Many will place their trust in our Lord Jesus Christ. Three Angels Who Circumnavigate the Globe with Incredible Warnings and Messages (Rev 14). Once again, it’s hard to know the timing of the events of this chapter. I believe some events happen early in the Tribulation period. Some may begin early and continue for an unknown duration. Other events seem to happen around the mid-point of the Tribulation period, the Great Tribulation. And other events seemingly happen toward the end of the Tribulation period. Angel #1: this one comes early in the Tribulation period preaching the everlasting gospel to all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues. Very likely, this message coincides and overlaps with the voices of all the other messengers and is echoed for some duration to all earth-dwellers. I believe this angel’s message also plays an important role in convincing the individuals of the Innumerable Host to repent and call upon our Lord Jesus and to trust in Him alone. Angel #2: this one likely appears about the mid-point of the Tribulation period, the Great Tribulation, and heralds the destruction of the false religious system of Babylon. Up to this point, earth-dwellers were allowed to worship whatever false god they wished, but the Anti-christ, the beast, destroys the false religious system and makes himself the sole focus of worldwide worship. Angel #3: I think this one appears about the mid-point of the Tribulation period in close proximity to the Mark of the Beast event but before the Mark is made mandatory by the False Prophet, and is potentially echoed for some unknown duration. For this angel’s warning to have true value and meaning, it must occur before the Mark event, and people must possess full understanding of the warning and its eternal consequence. Let’s Revisit Seal #5, Martyrdom (Rev 6). We’re told of a mass of people who are slaughtered because they trusted the Word of God and because of their testimony. We see this mass of people in heaven, under the altar of God. I think the slaughter of these people begins early in the Tribulation period. And we also note in the passage that it’s apparently a process. Some are purged and slain early, and some are purged and slain later. Those who are slain and purged early are given white robes and told to rest and wait until the full number of those who will be purged and slain is completed. Our Most High God knows the full duration of this period of martyrdom and slaughter represented by the Fifth Seal. He knows how it parallels and runs through the Tribulation. Our Most High God knows who dies first among this group, and He knows which one dies last. I think this seal judgment of martyrdom includes those individuals of the Innumerable Host that we see standing before the throne of God and before the Lamb in Rev 7:9-10. When their full number is complete, then they will stand as a group before the throne of God and before the Lamb. They will rejoice and give the Lamb praise for their salvation. The Lamb’s mercy and grace pursued them even in their intractable hardness toward Him until they were convinced to let go of their rejection of the Lord Jesus Christ and to finally call upon Him for salvation. The Innumerable Host Hears the Message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Responds The individuals who comprise the Innumerable Host of Rev 7:9-10 will hear the message of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ that is delivered and preached at the onset of the Tribulation period. These individuals will choose to place their trust in God and His Word. They will put the pieces together and will know there is something better for them. These individuals will likely recall the events leading up to and including the Rapture when millions were supernaturally evacuated from this world. The evacuated just disappeared. They will know the unique feature of the evacuated millions was the fact that each one was a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, that each one had previously called upon the Lord Jesus Christ in faith and trusted the Lord Jesus to save them. And He literally saved them via the Rapture. These individuals will see and understand the troubles, hardships, and injustices being forced upon them by wicked, demonically energized, and motivated leaders who will govern the nations in those days. They will know and understand the huge nature of the deceit, lies, and supernatural deceptions that assault them at every turn. They will choose and trust the Word of God. They will resist what the wicked leaders are trying to foist upon them. And the systematic, wholesale slaughter of the individuals who will comprise the Innumerable Host will begin. This slaughter will take on many forms. It will likely include detention camps or camps to reprogram their minds and purge Bible-focused beliefs. These individuals will find themselves bereft of most life- sustaining amenities. They will hunger and thirst and suffer the heat of the sun. They will suffer from extremes and despair of life. They will be prevented by people and businesses from participating in the normal ebb and flow of community: buying and selling, food and drink, caring for one’s family, denial of medical care, employment, etc. They will be targeted in their communities and will fall under attack. It will include the outright murderous slaughter of many. Wherever individuals of the future Innumerable Host live, they will flee in an effort to escape the never-ending assault and violent purge that targets them. Where possible, they will escape the cities and flee into the countryside. Here they will likely find some brief respite from the relentless assault, but now they are without necessary resources and are more exposed to the extremes of weather and the increasing calamities. And while they wait for their full number of slain to come to completion … they will remember those who dwell on the earth (Rev 6, Seal #5). They will remember how the earth-dwellers treated them with injustice and extreme cruelty, how the earth-dwellers cut them off from the resources of everyday life and directly or indirectly caused the slaughter of untold hundreds of millions. Before the individuals of this Innumerable Host are called to their final place of rest before the throne of God and before the Lamb, as a group they will cry out to our Most High God. They demand vengeance on the earth-dwellers who killed them and inhumanly caused their deaths and slaughter (Rev 6, Seal #5). But in their despair, they will call upon God and trust His Word. By God’s grace, they will secure a place to stand before the throne of God and before the Lamb and to praise Him for their ultimate eternal salvation. They have finally come out of the Great Tribulation. End of Part 2 in this 3-part series. If you would like to see a chart comparing second-best outcomes to optimal outcomes, you can email me at: [email protected] New Dead Sea Scroll Fragments Have Been Found For The First Time In 60 Years, And This Is What They Say… - by Michael Snyder - http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/new-dead-sea-scroll-fragments-have-been-found-for-the-first-time-in-60-years-and-this-is-what-they-say/ We just witnessed one of the most exciting archaeological discoveries in decades. For the first time in 60 years, new Dead Sea Scroll fragments have been discovered, and Israeli authorities are telling us that archaeologists will continue to carefully search the area to see if they can find more. Due to the extremely dry conditions in the region, the fragments that have been recovered are extremely well preserved even though they appear to have been written before the time of Christ. But to me, the biggest part of this story is what the fragments actually say. We’ll get to that in a moment, but first I want to talk about where we are at on the calendar. When the sun went down on Saturday, March 13th that marked the beginning of a new year on the calendar that God gave us in the Bible. Of course hardly anyone in the world actually acknowledges it as “the new year”, but sunset on Saturday was when the first day of the first month of the year began according to the Biblical calendar. And since this also happened as the seventh day of the week was ending, sunset on Saturday also marked the beginning of a brand new week. So it was one of those rare instances when a Biblical day, a Biblical week, a Biblical month and a Biblical year all started at the exact same moment. Personally, I believe that this is very significant. And just a couple of days later, it has been announced that portions of the Dead Sea Scrolls have been discovered for the first time in 60 years… Dozens of fragments of a Dead Sea Scroll bearing biblical text have been found by archaeologists working in the Judean Desert, the Israeli government said Tuesday. The fragments are the first pieces of the Dead Sea Scrolls found in around 60 years and were recovered from a cave where Jewish rebels against the Roman Empire hid around 1,900 years ago, according to a government press release. It was certainly not easy to get to the location where these fragments were found. In fact, we are being told that archaeologists “had to rappel down a sheer cliff” in order to get to them… The discovery was part of an Israeli government project launched in 2017 to survey the caves of the Judean Desert and recover artifacts before looters could steal them. Per an IAA statement, researchers had to rappel down a sheer cliff to reach the Cave of Horror, which is surrounded by gorges and located some 260 feet below a cliff top. “The desert team showed exceptional courage, dedication and devotion to purpose, rappelling down to caves located between heaven and earth, digging and sifting through them, enduring thick and suffocating dust, and returning with gifts of immeasurable worth for mankind,” says IAA Director Israel Hasson in the statement. That cave is known as “the Cave of Horror” because 40 skeletons were found there during excavations in the 1960s. And based on coins that were just discovered in the cave, authorities believe that they are able to identify the year when the scrolls were originally hidden there… Based on the style of the Greek script, the scroll fragments appear to have been written in the first century B.C. Based on coins found in the cave, the scroll was probably brought to the cave in A.D. 135 at the end of a Jewish revolt against the Romans named for its leader, Bar Kokhba. Researchers say it indicates that Greek was widely spoken in the Jewish community at the time, in addition to Hebrew and Aramaic. The texts are entirely in Greek except for the Tetragrammaton, the revered four-letter name of God, which appears in the fragments in Ancient Hebrew characters. But as I mentioned above, to me the most important part of the story is what is actually said on the scroll fragments. Some of the fragments are a Greek translation of Zechariah 8:16-17… One fragment, written in Greek with God’s name appearing in paleo-Hebrew, quotes Zechariah 8:16-17: “These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to one another, render true and perfect justice in your gates. And do not contrive evil against one another, and do not love perjury, because all those are things that I hate – declares the LORD.” Interestingly, instead of using the Greek word for “gates”, the Greek word for “streets” is used in this instance. Just as we sometimes use different English words when translating the Old Testament from Hebrew into English in our time, so also would different word choices sometimes be made when translating the Old Testament from Hebrew to Greek in ancient times. And I find it fascinating that these verses have suddenly captured the attention of the entire globe at this moment in history. We definitely do not “render true and perfect justice” and we love to “contrive evil”, and so we are doing the exact opposite of what we are instructed to do in this passage. The other scroll fragments that were found come from Nahum 1:5-6… Another features Nahum 1:5–6, which indicates: “The mountains quake because of Him, And the hills melt. The earth heaves before Him, The world and all that dwell therein. Who can stand before His wrath? Who can resist His fury? His anger pours out like fire, and rocks are shattered because of Him.” As you can see, these verses describe God’s judgment. Throughout the Scriptures, we are told that if we follow God’s ways and keep His commandments we will be blessed, but if we reject His ways and His commandments we will be cursed. Obviously, America has chosen the latter, and if we stay on this path our story is not going to end well. Could it be possible that these Dead Sea Scroll fragments were hidden away for all these centuries just to be revealed at such a time as this? Stranger things have happened. And I would continue to keep your eyes on the land of Israel, because I believe that a lot more really strange things will be happening in the months and years ahead. Nearing Midnight: The Vaporization of Our Moral Foundations – Todd Strandberg - https://www.raptureready.com/category/nearing-midnight/ I’ve been reporting on the moral decline of America all throughout the 34-year history of this site. In the past, I wrote articles that noted moral decline that took decades to manifest. Detroit took 40-50 years to go from America’s richest city to the empty shell we see today. It could be said the Motor city rusted or rotted into the current sad state. The current state of decline is much faster. Our key urban areas are not just melting. They are vaporizing like dry ice. There is no way I can give a positive estimate that in 10-20 years, this depravity is going to bring about moral and financial bankruptcy. We have processes at work that will destroy our nation within a few short years. The city of Seattle has a massive homeless/drug problem. KTTH Radio Host Jason Rantz was recently on Fox News’s “Tucker Carlson Tonight” show to discuss how Democrats are destroying the city of Seattle. Rantz told Tucker that taxpayer funds are used to purchase heroin pipes, syringes, and “booty bumping kits.” “The city is now funding a homeless shelter that is passing out heroin pipes and distributing so-called ‘booty bumping kits’ so that junkies can inject drugs rectally,” Rantz told Tucker. “Well, when you teach addicts, who are already the hardest to get off the street, a more efficient way to get high in a way that lasts longer, when you’re doing it with the so-called ‘booty bumping kit,’ all you’re doing is making it that much easier for them to stay addicted,” he continued. These liberal policies don’t do anything to end the drug problem. San Francisco’s needle exchange program resulted in hazardous waste increases across the city. More addicts got high and violent crime surged and drug-fueled vagrants terrorized people on the street. If someone is a heroin addict, they run the risk of dying in a short period of time. It comes as no surprise that overdose deaths in the Democratic stronghold have killed almost four times more people than COVID-19 in the past year. These progressive ideas seem great on paper, but in actuality, they tend to disappoint. The city of San Francisco is losing all of its pharmacies because of its unwillingness to combat shoplifting. Pharmacy giant Walgreens is fleeing the metro area amid a rash of shoplifting. Since 2019, Walgreens has closed ten stores in the city, with the latest store set to close later this month. The closure has been the third since October 2020. Last October, a news reporter with Inside Edition captured the moment when a man jumped over a Walgreens counter and stole an air bed. The video shows the man taking off on an electric scooter as he escaped without any intervention from employees or customers. At one Walgreens, the San Francisco Chronicle said it lost about $1,000 per day in inventory because of shoplifting. “I feel sorry for the clerks; they are regularly verbally assaulted,” Luke said. “The clerks say there is nothing they can do. They say Walgreens’ policy is to not get involved. They don’t want anyone getting injured or getting sued, so the guys just keep coming in and taking whatever they want.” Theft of less than $950 in goods is treated as a nonviolent misdemeanor under California law. But in most cases, for shoplifting, the criminal is released without any charges. When you have the choice of paying for your merchandise or getting it free, many people are going to choose the second option. My third example of moral decay involves the school system of the city of Baltimore. “Project Baltimore, an investigative news initiative, recently reported on Tiffany France’s son. In his four years at Augusta Fells Savage Institute of Visual Design, he’s earned 2.5 credits and earned a grade point average of 0.13. Yet, his transcripts show his class rank is 62 of 120, meaning 58 students, just in his grade, have a 0.13 GPA or lower. France says the school never told her that her son was failing until last month when the 17-year-old was put back in ninth grade. “I’m just trying to fight. He like, ‘Mom, what was all this for? What did I do this for?’ Don’t he get a chance? Do he get a chance?” said France. “He didn’t fail, the school failed him. The school failed at their job.” It’s obvious that the agenda of the school system is money. They get $17,000 per kid each year and don’t care if the students are not advancing in their academic skills. The school keeps them moving to keep the money coming in. The ultimate responsibility for these grades rests with France’s son. He passed just three classes in four years. He failed 22 classes, and he was late or absent from class a total of 359 days. He failed because he thought he could just coast through life. He did get a chance – a chance to show his laziness. We can’t pull out of this moral nosedive because we’ve lost the ability to tell right from wrong. Most people think that America is doing fine, and better days are just down the road. Because the Bible predicts end-time events that are recurrently taking shape, it is very unlikely that humanity will be able to make a moral U-turn before it drives over the tribulation cliff. “They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand” (Isaiah 44:18, KJV). LGBT Activists Want to Silence Your Pastor: Pastor Being Sued For 'Hate Speech' – Jonathon Van Maren - https://www.prophecynewswatch.com/article.cfm?recent_news_id=4617 Back in 2019, I noted that the LGBT movement would methodically begin going after clergy for sermons. Most sermons and homilies are posted online; with laws that increasingly expand the definition of hate speech and sustained campaigns to portray Christian organizations at hate groups, it was only a matter of time before activists set to work trawling the hours of content hunting for any expression of heresy against LGBT orthodoxy. Any expression of the biblical view of sexuality and gender makes clergy a target. The media is happy to help. In 2019, when a Catholic priest from Calgary was targeted for a homily in which he condemned the rainbow flag, the Toronto Star's headline unabashedly sided with the activists: "Calgary priest under fire for homophobic remarks." Now, Pastor Terry Murphy of Victory Church in Regina, Saskatchewan, is under fire by LGBT activists for a March 6 online sermon defending biblical sexuality, in which he noted that today's trans movement and the promotion of gender fluidity can be a form of child abuse. LGBT activist Terry van Mackelberg, who discovered the sermon and was apparently shocked and offended to discover that a Christian church had not yet changed its teachings to align with his lifestyle and identity, has now organized both a Sunday protest in front of the church (drawing on comrades from Regina and Saskatoon), as well as an "application under the Saskatchewan Human Rights Code, which protects a person's right to equality without discrimination based on age, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity," according to CBC News. The LGBT movement -- which is capable of blitzkrieg-level mobilization in cases like this -- managed to drum up over 840 co-plaintiffs for the application in only two days. At their behest, local politicians have obediently labeled the sermon transphobic and homophobic, and Regina businesses, eager for cheap virtue-signaling (and to avoid the ire of the "Love Wins" folks), began posting Pride flag profile pictures on social media. Van Mackelberg, who fundraises for LGBT causes as a drag queen under the moniker Flo Mingo, was happy to tell the CBC why he'd decided to organize against a Christian pastor for saying Christian things. "Unfortunately, we're not in a place yet where we are fully accepted and we can live our true lives," he said, without explaining why Murphy's views prevent him from doing anything. "We're getting there. We're getting close. But definitely, there are some people out there that are not happy with the steps I'm taking." In short: Van Mackelberg believes that LGBT people cannot live their "true lives" until pastors who preach the Bible are silenced. "I want to show that this type of behaviour is not acceptable in society, and it never has been acceptable," he stated. "We can't be silenced and we can't be forced to live a life where we can't be who we truly are. Being gay is normal. I was born like this and there's nothing that anybody can do to change that." "I don't believe we've done anything to break human rights, but the LGBTQ community has rights as well. And like everyone else, they have the right to complain when they want to," Pastor Murphy told the CBC in response. "What I said was not hate speech. I've been misquoted. I've been misinterpreted. Some have even tried to interpret what I meant instead of what I said. There's been a large misrepresentation of my message. I spent my life working with people, loving people and trying to help families in distress and help young people." Murphy noted that he and his church are now being targeted, and people have "spewed hatred" at him, something anyone who has criticized LGBT activists can relate to. "Our services are our services. You don't go into a bake shop and ask them to fix your car. Then you can't come into a Christian church and expect us to convey messages that we don't agree with. We have our philosophy and ideology just like they do." For folks like Van Mackelberg, that isn't good enough. If they aren't confronted by messages that disturb them, they now go hunting for them. Murphy is the canary in the coal mine -- if the case against him is successful, we will see a scaled-up effort to uncover any sermon critical of the LGBT movement followed by a move to deny churches charitable status -- and, if they can get away with it, prosecution. With tens of thousands of sermons posted online, they'll have a lot to work through. Daily Jot: Stupidocrisy: The Big Cheat – Bill Wilson – www.dailyjot.com Federal agencies investigating foreign influence in the 2020 presidential election have concluded that they “have no evidence that any foreign government-affiliated actor prevented voting, changed votes, or disrupted the ability to tally votes or to transmit election results in a timely manner, altered any technical aspect of the voting process, or otherwise compromised the integrity of voter registration information of any ballots cast during 2020 federal elections.” These foreign governments didn’t have to directly interfere, the Democratic Party was doing it on their own. Already there are reports in both Georgia and Michigan confirming what the Daily Jot had reported prior to the election, leading to a big cheat. Stupidocrisy in action. The Department of Justice, Homeland Security, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence all came to the similar conclusions that claims of US election infrastructure manipulation by Communist China, Russia, Iran, Cuba or Venezuela were not credible. DOJ and Homeland Security stated: “We have no evidence—not through intelligence collection on the foreign actors themselves, not through physical security and cybersecurity monitoring of voting systems across the country, not through post-election audits, and not through any other means—that a foreign government or other actors compromised election infrastructure to manipulate election results.” While this will not satisfy the conspiracy theorists, it does point to a more reasonable unlawful election manipulation that likely occurred in Michigan, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Michigan Court of Claims Chief Judge Christopher Murray ruled last week that Democratic Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson broke state law by unilaterally issuing rules and “guidance” regarding absentee balloting. A month before the election a complaint was filed that Benson unilaterally eliminated effective signature validation of mail-in ballots, which allowed “invalid votes to be counted.” The court is just now getting around to ruling that Benson’s actions were illegal. Stupidocrisy, right? In addition, the “audit” Benson conducted to verify the election results did not evaluate the signatures on the absentee, or mail in, ballots. Another shell-game by Benson. She argued to the court that there was no “actual controversy.” Right, nothing to see here. The judge disagreed. Benson broke the law. What’s next is anybody’s guess. In response to a December lawsuit filed in Fulton County, GA (Atlanta), Superior Court Judge Brian Amero signaled he could unseal Fulton County’s absentee ballots for an investigation by an independent third party. If so, the ballots could call into question the 2020 presidential and senatorial election results in that state. Remember that the states involved already certified their electoral votes, and constitutionally, the election is decided. Notwithstanding, if laws were broken (which they were) there must be accountability and changes. Proverbs 11:1 says “Dishonest scales are an abomination to the Lord.” Indeed, there was a big cheat and we will see if the scales of justice are any more honest than the weighted votes of deceivers. If only the courts had heeded those crying out before the election. Say it with me…Stupidocrisy. Daily Devotion: If You Want to Be Transformed . . . - by Greg Laurie – www.harvest.org The instructions of the LORD are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. —Psalm 19:7 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/if-you-want-to-be-transformed/ - Listen If you don’t want God to transform your life, then don’t read the Bible. David wrote, “The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple” (Psalm 19:7 NLT). When you read God’s Word, it revives you. It restores you. And it transforms you. Now, if you have it all worked out, then I guess you don’t need the Bible. But of course, you’re also delusional, because all of us need the Word of God. The Bible is the user’s manual that we’ve been looking for. Someone has pointed out that the word Bible is an acronym for “basic instructions before leaving Earth.” The Bible is for people who have a sense of desperation about where they are in life. It’s for people who don’t know the purpose of life and want to know what that purpose should be. The Bible is for people who aren’t really sure where they came from, and they’re not really sure where they’re going. In addition, the Bible is for people who want to change. It’s is for people who wish they could control their passions, who don’t want to be mere victims of their circumstances, and who wish there wasn’t so much pain in life. The Bible is for people who want better relationships with others. Yet some people say things like this: “Well, I tried the whole Christianity thing, and it didn’t work for me.” If it didn’t work for them, then that isn’t on Jesus; that’s on them. Jesus Christ will change any person who comes to Him. If you want to be a growing Christian, then you need to spend time in God’s Word because it will transforms you. So read, love, study, and memorize the Word of God. FROM THE HEART Let Us Make the Short Time We have Left, Count for ALL of Eternity! IF YOU HAVE BEEN BLESSED THROUGH THIS MINISTRY, THEN WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD PLEASE REMEMBER PROPHECY UPDATE IN YOUR GIVING - WE ARE TRULY, TRULY, THANKFUL FOR YOUR SUPPORT WORTHY OF YOUR SUPPORT? One of the most reliable ways to determine if a ministry is worthy of your financial support is to examine its fruits. If Prophecy Update is keeping you informed, and if that information inspires you, and causes you to draw closer to the Lord, if Prophecy Update equips you with valuable information and knowledge to share with and encourage other believers, and open the eyes of non-believers, and if Prophecy Update keeps you connected to current events relating to Bible Prophecy, then you are partaking of the fruit produced through this ministry. None of this would be possible without the Lords blessings and your support. I believe where the Lord guides, the Lord provides, and most of the time He provides through the willing and generous hearts of believers just like you and me. Humbly Seek Your Support Prophecy Update has no corporate sponsors. This ministry is paid for and prayed for by readers and supporters. Without your support, there would be no Prophecy Update, Please pray about becoming a monthly supporter - thanks! If ever there was a time to invest in God's Kingdom, it's now! What on earth are you doing for Heaven's Sake? "Share in the Blessings and Rewards that will last Forever!" "Folks, it's all beginning to unravel. America is in more danger of falling than at any time in its history. But I believe Bible prophecy predicts this very decline. From this point on, we believers have to get serious. We are going to face discouragement, disillusionment and, most certainly, persecution in the time between now and the Rapture. But don't be discouraged or disillusioned. The coming turmoil will provide us unrivaled opportunities to share the good news of the Gospel. So be ready to share your faith and your hope with those who need Christ. We still have time to reap a great harvest of souls for God's kingdom!" - Hal Lindsey 1) We need your prayers!- We proclaim the Truth of the Word of God and we are under constant spiritual and sometimes even physical attack. 2) We need your encouragement!- We need to hear from you, let us know how the Lord is blessing you through this ministry so that we can share it with others. 3) We need your input! - If you have a prophetic article or story or if there is a news related item we missed, let us know. 4) We need your financial support!- To put it quite simply, without your support, there would be no Prophecy Update. I ask that you would prayerfully consider partnering with us to get the Word out and keep the world informed. Remember, your gift, no matter how small, does make a difference! You will be helping to touch lives, around the world, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, thanks to the internet your generosity carries a global impact! - Thanks! Our Prayer for You- "Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else." 2 Corinthians 9:10-13 If you have been blessed by Prophecy Update and would like to help support this ministry financially. You can make a secure donation online by going to: DONATE NOW Or write us at: Prophecy Update P.O. Box 40516 Bakersfield, CA 93384-0516 We are very pleased to offer all our readers this FREE download on Bible Prophecy from the Evangelical Bible College of Western Australia - Just download and enjoy and be blessed! Feel free to share it with all your friends and family members. Click below to download! "AS YOU SEE THE DAY APPROACHING" If You Died Today, Would You Go To Heaven? Find out, visit: www.thegoodtest.net www.gotquestions.org www.wayofthemaster.com How to know God DID YOU KNOW? You can submit an article, leave a comment or praise report at email: [email protected] Maranatha! (Lord Come Quickly) "On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand, All other ground is sinking sand." "Let Us make the short time we have left count for all eternity!" YBIC-Randy
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