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A Time Of Wars And Rumors Of Wars, Famines, Pestilences And Major Natural Disasters - by Michael Snyder - https://endoftheamericandream.com/a-time-of-wars-and-rumors-of-wars-famines-pestilences-and-major-natural-disasters/
On some level, most people can feel what is coming. That is why sales of emergency food are at record levels, shows about survival are among the most popular on television, and Mark Zuckerberg is building a “self-sustaining doomsday bunker” in Hawaii. Millions of us realize that we are on the brink of an extremely chaotic chapter in human history. Of course the past several years have already been pretty wild, but I believe that the years immediately in front of us will take things to an entirely new level. A few years ago, “World War III” wasn’t even on the horizon, but now conflicts are erupting all over the planet and the mainstream media is using apocalyptic language to describe what we are facing. For example, the following comes from an article posted on Yahoo News entitled “As war creeps closer to Armageddon, the end of days doesn’t seem so far away”… From Megiddo’s hilltop, there is a great view of the West Bank, no more than two miles away. To the north, the rockets of Hezbollah – in total about 160,000 of them – are pointed in this direction while in the south, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are fighting raging gun battles with Hamas in a war that’s almost four months long. Israel is on edge. Standing in Megiddo, right in the middle of the country and now home to a vast archaeological site, there is a sense of foreboding that pervades the region. To see an article on Yahoo News using the word “Armageddon” really got my attention. When Israel moves into southern Lebanon to push Hezbollah north of the Litani River, things will get really crazy in the Middle East. And it is being reported that IDF units in the north have been engaging in “rigorous training” in preparation for the approaching confrontation… The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) engaged in rigorous training in the northern reserve paratrooper brigade to boost readiness along the northern border. The exercises, part of ongoing efforts to enhance operational preparedness, involved the Northern Parachute Brigade (226), a crucial unit within the ‘Hempetz’ (146) formation. Soldiers faced challenging winter conditions, including rain and fog, as they practiced tactics for in densely populated areas. The training covered various units, from smaller squads to larger battalion teams, integrating different forces like tanks, infantry, engineering, and artillery. On the other side of the globe, the Chinese have stepped up their “campaign of intimidation” against Taiwan… The People’s Republic has increased its campaign of intimidation in the weeks after this month’s presidential elections, which saw the election of pro-US Lai Ching-te. Beijing has sent spy balloons into Taiwanese airspace almost daily both before and right after the vote in a move geopolitical analysts suggest is an attempt to weaken calls for the island’s independence. War is going to cause so much death and destruction over the next few years. And it will make our rapidly growing global food crisis even worse. According to the UN, we are now facing a “perfect storm” which has created “a hunger crisis of unprecedented proportions”… Conflict, economic shocks, climate change and soaring prices for food and fertilizer are all combining in a perfect storm to create a hunger crisis of unprecedented proportions. Right now, in some of the hungriest places around the world, there just isn’t enough food to feed the population. Most Americans don’t realize this, but we are in the midst of the worst global food crisis in modern history right now. And according to the EU, the number of people around the world dealing with acute food insecurity in 2023 jumped 10 percent higher than 2022’s record level… The global food crisis is affecting millions of people around the world. In 2023, record levels of acute food insecurity persist due to protracted food crises and new shocks. In 48 countries, 238 million people are facing high levels of acute food insecurity – 10% more than in 2022. Of course this is just the beginning. As global food supplies get even tighter, we will eventually see severe famines all over the planet. During the past few years, the pestilences that have spread like wildfire around the world have also been a major theme. A few days ago, I wrote about the crazy explosion of measles cases that we are seeing in Europe and elsewhere. In this article, I wanted to mention the rapid spread of the bird flu in the state of California. In just the past two months, bird flu outbreaks have resulted in the destruction of more than 1 million chickens and turkeys in that state alone… A year after the bird flu led to record egg prices and widespread shortages, the disease known as highly pathogenic avian influenza is wreaking havoc in California, which escaped the earlier wave of outbreaks that devastated poultry farms in the Midwest. The highly contagious virus has ravaged Sonoma County, where officials have declared a state of emergency. During the past two months, nearly a dozen commercial farms have had to destroy more than 1 million birds to control the outbreak, dealing an economic blow to farmers, workers and their customers. Overall, more than 82 million chickens and turkeys have been wiped out in the United States since the beginning of the bird flu pandemic. So if you have been wondering why poultry costs a lot more than it once did, now you know. The past few years have also been a time of great natural disasters. In fact, it is being reported that the number of billion dollar natural disasters in 2023 was the highest ever recorded… Environmental catastrophes and natural disasters should be a concern for workers, especially after these incidents cost the global economy US$380 billion in 2023, according to a report from Aon. That figure is 22% above the 21st century average. Overall, there were 398 notable disaster events in 2023. And the 66-billion-dollar economic loss events last year is the highest on record, surpassing the annual average of 42. Needless to say, what we have experienced so far is just a preview of coming attractions. Much bigger and much more destructive natural disasters are on the way. If you live on the west coast, the east coast, or in the New Madrid fault zone, you will want to be on high alert for any unusual shaking from this point forward. We are about to enter one of the most pivotal times in all of human history. And so many of us can feel that disaster is almost upon us. I would encourage you to get prepared while you still can, because this is not a game. War Rumors Raging – Terry James - https://terryjamesprophecyline.com/2024/01/29/war-rumors-raging/ War begins in each individual, the Apostle James reveals: From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. (James 4:1–2) The fallen nature, which came when sin was introduced to humanity, started a war that rages to this day and is intensifying by the minute, according to the hourly news reports that constantly bombard us. Threats of war ebb and flow and reach, at times, the very brink of exploding into full-blown nuclear devastation. But that hasn’t happened to this point. Those of my age remember the Cuban missile crisis of 1962 in which the US and Soviet Union faced off. I certainly remember that, as a 20-year-old, there was genuine fear, even by those of us so young at the time. Sounder thinking prevailed, and Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev and US President John F. Kennedy pulled back from that fatal moment when the Doomsday Clock must have been one second from midnight. Or did they? Did these leaders of the enslaved and of the free world save the planet to fight instead in a thousand conventional conflicts into the future? Or did physical salvation of everyone on the planet come from another source? To answer His disciples’ question—“What will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the world (age)?”—Jesus said: And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. (Matthew 24:6) I can’t remember when fear of world war has been more prevalent than in this present hour. The fear is being expressed not so much by average people of the world, but within the highest echelons of world diplomacy. The following somewhat puts this all into perspective. According to media reporting on documents leaked from the German Ministry of Defense, European leaders are preparing for a “hybrid” Russian attack in Eastern Europe. The first stage, dubbed “Alliance Defense 2025,” would start this February with Russia mobilizing an additional 200,000 soldiers. Fox News reported on Tuesday that classified German documents outlined how the militaries of several European countries are planning to prepare for an offensive by Russian President Vladimir Putin. The story was first reported in the BILD newspaper based on information obtained from the German Ministry of Defense. The “Alliance Defense 2024” could start in February as Russia deploys about 200,000 soldiers in response to Western financial support for Ukraine drying up, according to the report… Newsweek reported on Tuesday that Margarita Simony an, editor-in-chief of the Russian-state-owned broadcaster RT, predicted that World War III will “definitely” break out in the Middle East. “And now the third world war,” Simonyan posted to Twitter on Monday evening. “Whether a world war will break out now or a little later depends on whether Washington believes that it will be useful to it now, before the elections, or vice versa. Judging by the choral silence of the American media, they are still thinking.” (Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz, “Media Warns of WWIII Starting in Mid-East after Presidential Elections,” World News, 1/19/24, https://www.israel365news.com ) Certainly it cannot be denied that armies are positioned around the world—particularly in the Middle East—for whatever reasons. They are there, and war-like tempers are in a rage. Iran continues to develop its nuclear weapons program while threatening both Israel and America. It uses proxies to attack ships in the Red Sea and other places. Hezbollah makes noises of joining in the assaults on Israel. Lebanon threatens to join the fray for what is perceived as Israeli intrusions, even though attacks emanate from Lebanese territories. Turkey’s dictator talks in terms of war rhetoric as he observably moves Turkey into the coalition formed against the increasingly hated Jewish state. In Asia, China is positioned to assault Taiwan, using provocative tactics to intimidate that state, which China considers its own. Vladimir Putin is stepping up military action against Ukraine, while angered over Western—particularly US—funding of the Ukrainian military. There is no weapon ever invented—including nuclear weapons—that hasn’t ultimately been used in war. The thermonuclear weapons developed since the atomic bombs used to end World War II are exponentially greater in power than those two bombs that killed more than one hundred thousand people. So is World War III—a thermonuclear holocaust—about to destroy us all? Again we look at Jesus’ words: And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. (Matthew 24:6) Further, we are assured by Jesus Himself that the world will not end in thermonuclear cataclysm. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened. (Matthew 24:22) So, as Jesus Himself said, “Let not your heart be troubled”—that is, if you are a child of God. Despite the rumors of war raging from every quarter, there will be no all-out nuclear World War III this side of the Rapture. And even following the Rapture, God will prevent Satan’s attempts to destroy humankind. You don’t want to be here when Satan’s efforts to do just that will be at their horrendous worst during the Tribulation. Here is how to become a child of God and go instead to be within the safe harbor the Lord Jesus Christ provides for all who accept God’s salvation offer. That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:9–10) DOWNLOAD THE PROPHECY UPDATE APP Prophecy Update Videos Must Watch Videos! Videos You Can Trust
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DONATE HERE Your can also mail your support to: Prophecy Update PO Box 40516 Bakersfield, CA 93384 The Backward Belief Of A Two-State Solution – By Mike Pompeo - https://harbingersdaily.com/pompeo-the-backward-belief-of-a-two-state-solution/ The year is 2024, yet the Biden Administration’s top foreign policy and national security officials are still approaching the world as if it were 2014. Despite Hamas’ horrific October 7 attacks on Israel, the Biden Administration remains convinced that any broader peace between Israel and its neighbors hinges on Israel’s borders. This view is not only demonstrably false – as seen in the historic and hugely successful Abraham Accords – but it also contributes to the conflict we are seeing expand across the region today. Last week at the Davos Forum – an annual gathering of self-identified “elites” who grow more disconnected with each passing year – National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan discussed his outlook on Israel and the escalating crisis in the Middle East. Even though Israel is actively engaged in a war on several fronts, Sullivan – one of the primary architects of the failed 2016 Iran Nuclear Deal – spent most of his time focusing on the importance of a potential peace process with the Palestinians, stating, “The strategy post-October 7 is that we want to see normalization [between Israel and Saudi Arabia] tied to a political horizon for the Palestinians.” Israel is fighting for its very survival – why on earth would the Biden Administration be publicly pressuring it to surrender in the face of terror? The Palestinians have refused to acknowledge Israel’s right to exist or renounce terrorism against Israel. Establishing a terrorist “state” on Israel’s border would only further increase the chances for attacks on Israel in the future. These statements echo the same fundamental misunderstandings about the Middle East that have pervaded U.S. Administrations for years. John Kerry – poster boy for the disconnected elite – stated back in 2016, “There will be no advance and separate peace with the Arab world without the Palestinian process and Palestinian peace.” In 2011, Barack Obama stated, “A just and lasting peace can no longer be forged with one or two Arab leaders. Going forward, millions of Arab citizens have to see that peace is possible for that peace to be sustained.” As far back as 2000, Bill Clinton said, “The resolution of the issues between Palestinians and Israelis is at the core of the comprehensive effort that we all want to make for peace throughout the Middle East.” For decades, the Left’s foreign policy establishment has been convinced that all the problems of the Middle East begin with Israel and the Palestinians. This is demonstrably false: The obstacle to peace in the Middle East is Iran. Iran, not Israel, funds Hamas and is responsible for the Hamas attacks on October 7. Iran, not Israel, funds the Houthis and is responsible for the Red Sea shipping crisis. Iran, not Israel, funds Hezbollah and is responsible for the simmering conflict to Israel’s north which threatens to expand every day. Iran, not Israel, funds proxy forces across Iraq and Syria that have made over 130 attacks on U.S. military bases since late last year. The widespread conflict we are seeing today in the Middle East is entirely a crisis of the Biden Administration’s making. Its lax sanctions’ enforcement enabled Iran to earn tens of billions of dollars off its oil shipments (nearly all of which ended up in China, another adversary the Biden Administration has failed to deter). It paid $6 billion to the Iranian regime just to get back five hostages. Now, far more American hostages are in the hands of Iran’s proxies, and that money is being used by the very forces who wish Israel and America’s destruction. Treating some “two-state solution” as the only way to achieve peace in the region has encouraged Iran’s terror and rendered the Biden Administration incapable of formulating a coherent, effective response. The Administration continues to demean America by trying to negotiate with the Ayatollah’s wicked regime, even as it chastises Israel for taking necessary measures to defend itself. In the Trump Administration, we did not achieve historic peace agreements in the Middle East by forcing Israel to compromise on its security needs, nor by empowering the terrorist group Hamas or the broken and corrupt Palestinian Authority. We did so by applying maximum pressure to the regime in Iran and backing up our words with action – like the elimination of Qasem Soleimani. This convinced other Arab nations the United States was a trustworthy partner that would have their backs rather than actively empower Iran’s tyranny, and it led to the Abraham Accords – which saw historic peace treaties between Israel and its neighbors – and promised a brighter, more peaceful and prosperous future for the region. The Biden Administration has set those efforts back due to its inability to admit that its cherished, ivory-tower view of Middle East affairs is plainly wrong. I hope the war we are now seeing across the region will convince it to change course. Given NSA Sullivan’s recent comments, though, it seems this Administration will cling to its dangerous delusions until the American people choose new leaders for our country. Mike Pompeo is the former Secretary of State and former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). He is currently Senior Counsel for Global Affairs at the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ). Editor’s Note: Why Is This News Biblically Relevant? The current status of Gaza showcases that creating a Palestinian State, providing a deal could even be reached, would not breed a peaceful outcome. When Israel left Gaza in 2005, the land went from a thriving region to a bastion of terrorism against the Jewish State. In addition, the Palestinian Authority (PA) has continued to demonstrate its genocidal views against the Jewish People, with a report highlighting that nearly $3 million could be paid out to terrorists’ families by the PA for the October 7th massacre. Iran, the largest state sponsor of terrorism in the world, would continue to funnel money, just as they do with Hezbollah in Lebanon, to accomplish their goals of eradicating Israel. As Olivier Melnick recently underscored, “As much as the Palestinian narrative has wanted us to believe it was, this was never about the land. This has always been about the complete annihilation of the Jewish people and the complete eradication of the State of Israel from the world map.” Hal Lindsey likewise wrote: “Even if [Netanyahu] can depose Hamas, the nature of this conflict means that a similar group will arise. Hatred against Israel is not about land, rights, or money. It is a tenet of [Islamic] faith.” Rewarding terrorists with land and autonomy couldn’t possibly bring peace to the region. So why are the Biden administration and numerous world leaders championing this “solution”? The answer is found in Scripture. A two-state solution advocates for the dividing of Jerusalem, with the east portion of the city being given to the Palestinians for their state capital. God told the prophet Zechariah that a time would come when Israel is re-established, and the world would be fixated on the idea of dividing the Jewish State, specifically Jerusalem. In Zechariah 12:3, God warned the nations: “And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.” Revelation 20: The golden era and a final test - By Mark Creech - https://www.christianpost.com/voices/revelation-20-the-golden-era-and-a-final-test.html Imagine a homeless person living on the streets, struggling daily to survive with no shelter, food, or support. One day, an incredibly generous and compassionate stranger notices his plight and decides to help him. This benefactor provides the homeless man with a marvelous house, groceries, new clothes, and financial security. The homeless individual is given a fresh start, enabling him to pursue any dream or aspiration he desires. Initially, the homeless man is overwhelmed with gratitude. He is living a life of comfort and happiness, enjoying the privileges that previously he was only able to dream about. However, as time passes, he becomes increasingly thoughtless and unappreciative — forgetting the spring from which his many gifts flow. He starts to ignore his benefactor’s acts of kindness and instead, unduly feels slighted and demands more. Eventually, the homeless man’s ego starts to swell, and he begins to believe that what he has in life was achieved by his own merit. Blinded by arrogance, he severs ties with his charitable backer, convinced he no longer needs him. Ignoring the warning signs of his poor judgment and foolish behavior, he believes he can live independently. Inevitably, his good life gradually crumbles piece by piece, and he discovers the hard truth: he is only able to succeed because of the immense support and opportunities provided by his sustainer’s unmerited grace. Without the provisions and safety net he once had, he finds himself back on the streets again, back to where he was before with all of its misery, but this time with a heavy heart and tears for what he’s lost. This same scenario is seen several places throughout the Bible. In the very beginning, Adam and Eve were placed in the Garden of Eden. They lived in a world that was in a state of perfection. There was no suffering or death. There were no diseases, no terrible storms or natural disasters. The land was lush and fertile and nature cooperated with and was subject to humanity. There were numerous fruit-bearing trees and vegetation, providing an abundance of food and resources. No conflict or discord ever interrupted or strained Adam and Eve’s relationship, there was always peace and harmony. The animals weren’t aggressive, nor did they attack one another or mankind. God gave Adam and Eve meaningful and satisfying work to do in tending the Garden. According to the book of Genesis, the first couple lived in a pristine, harmonious, and bountiful environment. They were fully secure and safe, with no anxiety or fear. Whether it took a long time or a relatively short time is not stated, but the Bible makes it clear Adam and Eve doubted God and began to feel that he was holding out on them. Although their lives were full and rich, they coveted more. In one fateful instance of pride, they rebelled against their Creator, their Great Benefactor. Their love, devotion, and appreciation of the Lord were tested when Satan, the Serpent, tempted them to eat the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Consequently, they lost everything. They lost their state of innocence, their harmonious relationship with God and each other, their privileged dwelling in the perfect environment of the Garden of Eden, and their exemption from sickness, suffering, sorrow, and death (Genesis 1-3). The planet was cursed by their actions and would no longer oblige their efforts. Life would not be the same (Genesis 1-3). The Bible teaches that thousands of years ago God made a covenant with Abraham, promising to make him the father of a great nation and to bless all the nations of the world through his descendants. God kept his promise and the covenant he made with Abraham laid the foundation for his unique relationship with the Israelites. Through miraculous signs, God delivered Israel from their enslavement to the mighty and oppressive Egyptian Empire. In his love, God led them to Mount Sinai and there gave them a timeless morality code, The Ten Commandments, which transcends every culture and generation. These divine guidelines provided an incomparable underpinning for harmonious living, a universal source of wisdom, and flawless directions for a just and compassionate world. God declared the nation of Israel to be his chosen people, a treasured possession above any other nation (Exodus 19:5-6). God’s choice was not based on their greatness, but wholly on His sovereign will and affection for them. No nation in human history was ever so favored. God promised the Israelites the land of Canaan, a land that was plush, plentiful, and prosperous — a land “flowing with milk and honey” (Exodus 3:7-8), where they would dwell as a unique and holy nation. By God’s power, they overcame superior armies and civilizations and ultimately every obstacle in the way of their claim to the promised land. However, despite God’s miraculous acts on their behalf, their abundant provisions, and the accumulation of extraordinary wealth, power, and influence in the known world, they started to grumble, complain bitterly, and covet being like the sinful nations whom the Lord rejected. In their arrogance, the Israelites repeatedly turned away from God, engaged in gross idolatry, and disregarded God’s commandments. They engaged in full-blown, willful immorality and injustice, and followed the wicked practices of neighbor nations. Israel’s thanklessness and persistent disobedience tried God’s patience too far. Thus, God allowed foreign nations to conquer and drive them from their homeland. Their sin and unfaithfulness toward their Great Benefactor, was the primary cause for the loss of their sovereignty, and dispersion throughout the world. Many individuals in life and even great civilizations throughout history have experienced a similar pattern of rise and fall. Whether it was persons like Israel’s Kings Solomon, and Saul, Babylon’s King Nebuchadnezzar, or Roman Emperors Nero, Caligula, and Commodus. Whether it was the Roman, Byzantine, Mayan, Ottoman, or Inca Empires, Ancient Greece, or the Ming Dynasty of China, each followed a similar scenario. They were abundantly blessed with remarkable possessions and status but ultimately fell from their first estate because internally they became morally bankrupt and denied God. Therefore, the Lord, in His justice cast them down. This state of affairs stands as the cornerstone of history. What was seen in the beginning with Adam and Eve, the first civilization of Sumer, (the “land of Shinar” Genesis 10:10), where the city of Babel (Babylon) was built, the situation has been repeated over and again from age to age. In the very end, Revelation chapter 20 prophesies that notwithstanding the profusion of God’s boundless favors and grace during the Millennial Age, the greatest of which is the presence of Christ himself to rule and reign on earth, humanity will once again, defy God, their Great Benefactor. Here is what the Scripture says: “When the thousand years come to an end, Satan will be let out of his prison. 8 He will go out to deceive the nations — called Gog and Magog—in every corner of the earth. He will gather them together for battle — a mighty army, as numberless as sand along the seashore. And I saw them as they went up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded God’s people and the beloved city. But fire from heaven came down on the attacking armies and consumed them. Then the devil, who had deceived them, was thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulfur, joining the beast and the false prophet. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever” (Revelation 20:7-10). How blessed is the Millennial Age? What are the characteristics of this time in human history? First, it should be clarified that the Millennium will not be the same as the eternal state of heaven. It is a unique period when Christ literally and personally rules over the nations. During this time, the righteous who have survived the Tribulation will go into the Kingdom, and the elements of human existence, much as we know them will continue: marriage, familial relationships, reproduction, education and learning, work and productivity, worship and spiritual development, cultural identity, etc. The saved who go into the Kingdom and the children born to them will still have their sinful natures. Those born of the redeemed will need to also accept Christ and be saved, but the Kingdom will be ruled by Christ and the saints who came back from Heaven with him. They will jointly lead, manage, and govern the world with “a rod of iron,” (Revelation 2:26-27; 19:15). The Millennium will be characterized by a knowledge of the Lord that is pervasive. There will be perpetual peace and harmony. One of the most beautiful verses describing this time in the Bible is from chapter 2 of Isaiah’s prophecy, which reads: People from many nations will come and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of Jacob’s God. There he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths.’ For the Lord’s teaching will go out from Zion; his word will go out from Jerusalem. The Lord will mediate between nations and will settle international disputes. They will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer fight against nation, nor train for war anymore” (Isaiah 2:3-4). Today there is a bronze sculpture located within the United Nations Garden, known as “Let Us Beat Swords into Plowshares.” It was crafted by sculptor Evgeniy Vuchetich and it portrays a human figure engaged in the act of hammering a sword into a plowshare. The Millennium will also be a time of incredible prosperity. Again, Isaiah wrote of this one thousand years, quoting the Lord, who declares: “I will exchange your bronze for gold, your iron for silver, your wood for bronze, and your stones for iron” (Isaiah 60:17). There will be no more poverty, famine, drought, floods, thorns or thistles. These things will be in the past because the earth is restored, and the curse on nature is removed. Everything environmentally will work as it should. The prophet Amos described the Millennium this way: “‘The time will come,’ says the Lord, ‘when the grain and grapes will grow faster than they can be harvested’” (Amos 9:13). Amos’ depiction is one of agricultural abundance, with crops being harvested so rapidly that the reaper is still at work when the plowman begins, and the planter is already treading the grapes. English philosopher Thomas Hobbes, in his famous work, Leviathan, reflects his view of the current state of nature as inherently hostile and characterized by a lack of order. Hobbes wrote: “In such condition, there is no place for industry; because the fruit thereof is uncertain: and consequently no culture of the earth; no navigation, nor use of the commodities that may be imported by sea; no commodious building; no instruments of moving and removing such things as require much force; no knowledge of the face of the earth; no account of time; no arts; no letters; no society; and which is worst of all, continual fear, and danger of violent death; and the life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.” But during the Golden Age of Christ’s reign, the Bible promises something completely different: “The wolf and the lamb will feed together. The lion will eat hay like a cow”…(Isaiah 65:25). “The baby will play safely near the hole of a cobra. Yes, a little child will put its hand in a nest of deadly snakes without harm” (Isaiah 11:8). Although a postmillennialist, the late Presbyterian scholar and writer, Lorraine Boettner, eloquently asserted of the Millennium: “No longer shall the bee sting, the dog bite, or the serpent smite; no longer shall man be afraid of any creature. Indeed, the blessings of creation shall extend to the utmost bounds. Both wind and waves shall be under control. Nevermore shall volcanoes belch forth their burning lava. Hurricanes and tornadoes, tidal waves and stormy seas, earthquakes, and earth tremors shall be unknown. The weather shall be perfect, with the seasons regulated for production of crops and the physical good of man.” There’s still something else about the Millennium that can make the heart rejoice, longevity will be increased. The Scripture describes people as living for extended periods, similar to the longevity of individuals recorded in the book of Genesis. The Bible says: “No longer will babies die when only a few days old. No longer will adults die before they have lived a full life. No longer will people be considered old at one hundred! Only the cursed will die that young!” (Isaiah 65:20). Before moving on, there is one other matter that ought to be noted about the coming 1,000 year reign of the Savior. Israel, the wife of our Lord (Isaiah 54:5), will be restored and reconciled to Him. She will have repented of her apostasy and during the Millennium God will fulfill every promise he made to Abraham and his descendants. The Messiah will rule from Jerusalem, and Israel will play a central role in Christ’s worldwide government. The marvels of this time are nearly inconceivable! Everything that every nation ever longed for in this earthly existence is to be provided during Christ’s Golden Age. But the Bible says at the end of the 1,000 years, Satan will be released from his prison (the abyss) and will go out to deceive the nations at every end of the globe. Unbelievably, a tragic rebellion will ensue as people will turn against the Lord and come against his faithful followers. It is truly astonishing that after experiencing the unparalleled wonders and unprecedented boons ushered in by Christ's terrestrial dominion, a recurring pattern unfolds as a portion of humanity, akin to their predecessors in ages past, grows ungrateful, is consumed by hubris, and is madly driven to assert their own rule, forgetting the Lord and all his benefits, defying his benevolent sovereignty. Of course, innumerable are those today who are puzzled as to why Satan would be unbound at the end of Christ’s thousand-year Kingdom. In Stan Campbell and James S. Bell Jr’s writing, The Complete Idiot’s Guide to the Book of Revelation, there is one suggested answer which is shared by many reputable Bible scholars: “With the Antichrist and false prophet gone, and Satan bound [during the thousand years], life should be sweet. But as it was in the Garden of Eden, God will not manipulate people into obedience by removing all other options. If we consider that the forbidden fruit was in Eden not to tempt Adam and Eve, but to give them a choice of whether or not to follow God, we see a similar situation here in Revelation. Generations raised here under the leadership of Jesus would certainly have a religious slant in one direction. So, theoretically, perhaps Satan is unbound to allow them a choice of whether or not to go along with what they had been told.” Authors Campbell and Bell correctly add that this “is a frequent explanation for this section.” Although speculation abounds, this reason does seem most consistent with other passages of Scripture and rises above any other. This final rebellion, as predicted in Revelation 20, the apostle John associates with “Gog and Magog,” which seems to be a reference back to Ezekial chapter 38, where an unjust and ungodly attack is planned on God’s people. In this instance, the Lord promises to intervene by promising to pour out “fire, and burning sulfur” (vs. 22) on the enemies of his people. Cambell and Bell note that in Revelation chapter 20 verses 7 through 10, something similar is being cited. And “in the great heavenly hourglass, he [the Devil] can kiss his last grain of sand goodbye.” The authors argue, “His time has run out. No war is fought. No struggle is experienced. Instead, fire falls from Heaven on all those who support him.” Then the Devil is thrown “in the fiery lake of burning sulfur, joining the beast and the false prophet. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever” (Revelation 20:10). O what sinful and broken creatures we are if we have never been forgiven of our sins and transformed by the power of Christ’s sacrificial love. God provides us with every good and perfect gift (James 1:17). Everyone of us is spiritually impoverished, bankrupt, and homeless. Yet God is most willing to fill our cups to overflowing if we will acknowledge him and give him his rightful place in our lives. He will make us safe and secure forevermore. But if we dismiss his goodness, doubt him, become full of pride, make our own way, rule our own lives, and love what he rejects and hate what he approves, we will be lost and there will be no remedy. Daily Jot: The new slave class - Bill Wilson – www.dailyjot.com Democrats and moderate Republicans don’t seem too concerned about the invasion from the South of illegal immigrants coming across the US borders. Corporate leaders, as represented by organizations such as the US Chamber of Commerce, are welcoming of the refreshed low-earning, non-skilled labor market. The World Economic Forum (WEF) is all in on global migration. A recent New York Times article says the Democratic Party stance on illegal immigration is “a humanitarian case for allowing poor people to improve their lives by moving to the U.S. To put it another way, many Democratic politicians favor higher levels of immigration than federal law allows.” The wording here is revealing. In January 2021, US Chamber of Commerce CEO Thomas J. Donohue welcomed Joe Biden’s border policies, saying, “The changes proposed in President Biden’s legislative plan would help many businesses meet their critical workforce needs. Having the world’s most talented and industrious people contribute to our economy drives growth, and in turn, creates jobs for hardworking Americans.” The WEF cites that the aging population in developed countries leaves a workforce deficit of 30 million jobs in the world’s 30 largest economies. WEF says these jobs only can be filled by the largest youth generation in the world’s history, of which 90% live in developing countries. WEF says migration is a must for economic sustainability. The liberals favoring mass migration from developing countries to the top economic powerhouses use issues like climate change, political instability and economic disparities (translate: equity) as the reasons justifying these illegal border security violations. They wrap the lack of border security in left-leaning emotionalism to gin up fervent support for mass migration based on heart-string humanitarian issues. They ignore the big issue and divert attention away from it when it’s suggested that open borders is an invitation to creating a new slave class. It’s not only low-wage, untrained, uneducated people that are illegally crossing borders for “a better life,” it’s also about the human trafficking industry. Human trafficking is the exploitation of persons for forced labor, sex, crime, domestic servitude, child labor and worse. Combining the effects of mass illegal migration—human trafficking and the corporate/political desire for a cheap workforce—those promoting illegal immigration from political parties to corporations to global policymakers are trying to create a new slave class. Aside from the security, health, and poverty issues this creates, it is morally wrong. We are fast to condemn China for its “slave” labor, yet American politicians and corporate captains are condoning the same. Galatians 5:13 says, “For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” Enticing people to illegally come to a country, like America, so they can be exploited as a slave class is akin to using one’s freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. See where all this is headed? Daily Devotion: Ageless Faith - by Greg Laurie – www.harvest.org So that day Moses solemnly promised me, ‘The land of Canaan on which you were just walking will be your grant of land and that of your descendants forever, because you wholeheartedly followed the LORD my God.’ —Joshua 14:9 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/ageless-faith/ - Listen The pages of the Bible are filled with stories of those who did not cross the finish line in the race of life. They had great potential. They started well. But they ended miserably. Yet how important it is that we make it over the finish line. The writer of Hebrews warned, “Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God. . . . For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ” (3:12, 14 NLT) Caleb was someone who was faithful to the end. Of the two to three million people who left Egypt in the Exodus, he made it across the finish line. An unsung hero of the Bible, Caleb stands as a shining example of someone who never lost his edge spiritually. At the age of eighty-five Caleb said, “I am as strong now as I was when Moses sent me on that journey, and I can still travel and fight as well as I could then” (Joshua 14:11 NLT). So where did Caleb find the resources, the true spiritual grit, to do so well when others failed so miserably? Joshua 14 gives us some insight. Speaking to Joshua, Caleb said, “I was forty years old when Moses, the servant of the Lord, sent me from Kadesh-barnea to explore the land of Canaan. I returned and gave an honest report, but my brothers who went with me frightened the people from entering the Promised Land. For my part, I wholeheartedly followed the Lord my God” (verses 7–8 NLT). Forty-five years earlier, Moses, along with Joshua, Caleb, and the children of Israel, arrived at Kadesh-barnea on the edge of the Promised Land. Their trek across the wilderness had been quick. But instead of entering the land that God had promised them, they first sent in spies. Moses sent in twelve men, and among them were Joshua and Caleb. And when the spies brought back their report, ten of them were terrified by what they saw. They looked at the land through eyes of unbelief, and fear had paralyzed them. Meanwhile, Joshua and Caleb saw the land through eyes of faith. Caleb said, “Let’s go at once to take the land. . . . We can certainly conquer it!” (Numbers 13:30 NLT). But it was the majority and not the minority that influenced the people. The fear and paranoia of the ten convinced them more than the faith and belief of the two. In fact, the people were so angry with Joshua and Caleb for even suggesting they enter the land that they wanted to kill them both. Yet Joshua and Caleb refused to give in. Caleb followed God fully and completely. And if we can learn to follow the Lord wholeheartedly like Caleb did, then the results can be the same for us. Because Caleb’s God is our God. PROPHECY UPDATE NEWS HEADLINES Yesterday's Prophecies - Today's Headlines HEADLINES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TRACKING BIBLE PROPHECY 1/30/24 http://trackingbibleprophecy.org/birthpangs.php
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