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Is the Gaza War part of End Times prophecy? What about Psalm 83? What do the Bible's 20 references to Gaza tell us? - Joel C. Rosenberg - https://allisrael.com/is-the-gaza-war-part-of-end-times-prophecy-what-about-psalm-83-what-do-the-bible-s-20-mentions-of-gaza-tell-us
As the situation here in Israel goes from bad to worse, and the death toll and number of wounded continues to climb on both sides of the border, Christians around the world are sending me great questions via email, text message, WhatsApp, and Twitter’s Direct Messaging. Christian leaders, journalists, and broadcasters also asking me during radio, TV, digital, and print interviews, and on podcasts. Above all, they want to know not just what’s happening moment to moment but where is this all going and what it all means from a biblical perspective. I’m so glad they’re interested. It means they care. My colleagues and I created ALL ISRAEL NEWS, ALL ARAB NEWS, and THE ROSENBERG REPORT on TBN to provide Christians with answers to these and similar questions. In fact, on the special edition of THE ROSENBERG REPORT that I hosted on Saturday evening, I addressed three specific variations of these questions. First, what exactly does the Bible say about Gaza’s past, and its future? Second, is this horrific war in Gaza part of End Times Bible prophecy? Third, what about Psalm 83 – does it reveal something important about the current Gaza war? You can watch the full program here on YouTube. Here, too, is a partial transcript of the program so you can study the answers more carefully. Please share this article with family and friends on social media, and with your pastors and Bible study leaders so it can be a helpful resource to them, as well. WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT GAZA? What’s interesting to me is that Gaza is actually mentioned no less than 20 times in the Bible – in both the Old Testament and the New. Sadly, most references to Gaza are about how wicked its people and leaders are, how much they hate Israel and the Jewish people, and how God repeatedly sent His prophets to warn of Gaza’s impending judgment. The first time Gaza is mentioned in the Bible is in Genesis, chapter 10, where God describes Gaza as part of the land occupied by the Canaanites, the mortal enemies of God. “The territory of the Canaanite extended from Sidon as you go toward Gerar, as far as Gaza; as you go toward Sodom and Gomorrah…..” (Genesis 10:19) Later in the scriptures, Gaza is described as the base camp of the Philistines, who were constantly attacking and terrorizing the Jews of Israel. In the Book of Judges, chapter 1, the Lord directed the armies of the Israelites – specifically the armies of the tribe of Judah – to conquer Gaza, and they did. In Judges 1:18-19, we read: “And Judah took Gaza with its territory and Ashkelon with its territory and Ekron with its territory. Now the Lord was with Judah, and they took possession of the hill country.” Later in Judges, of course, we read the famous stories of Samson. Samson, admittedly, was a deeply flawed character. But God used him to go into Gaza and destroy their wicked leaders, even though it cost Samson his own life. In Jeremiah 47, we see that one of the Pharaohs of Egypt conquered Gaza, beginning a very long and complicated relationship between Egypt and Gaza that remains complicated to this day. The Hebrew prophet Amos was told by God to write about the wickedness of Gaza and the divine judgment that was coming upon it. “Thus says the Lord, ‘For three transgressions of Gaza and for four I will not revoke its punishment….So, I will send fire upon the wall of Gaza and it will consume her citadels.’” (Amos 1:6-7) God also told the Hebrew prophets Zephaniah and Zechariah to warn of judgment coming to Gaza and its nearby Philistine cities. “For Gaza will be abandoned and Ashkelon a desolation; Ashdod will be driven out at noon and Ekron uprooted.” (Zephaniah 2:4) “Ashkelon will see it and be afraid. Gaza, too, will writhe in great pain; also Ekron….Moreover, the king will perish from Gaza….” (Zechariah 9:5) That said, the Bible does have at least one positive reference to Gaza, in the New Testament, in the Book of Acts. “So, when they [the apostles] had solemnly testified and spoken the word of the Lord [all over Israel], they started back to Jerusalem, and were preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans [in what is now known as the West Bank]. But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip saying, ‘Get up and go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to Gaza.’ (This is a desert road).” (Acts 8:25-26) And, of course, as he goes to Gaza, Philip comes upon someone who is reading a scroll written by the Hebrew prophet Isaiah. The man is literally reading the Messianic prophecies of Isaiah 53 about the coming death and resurrection of Jesus. But he doesn’t understand what he’s reading, so he asks Philip to explain the passage to him. Being an evangelist filled with the Holy Spirit, Philip is more than happy to explain both the prophecies and how Jesus fulfilled them and how he is, in fact, the long-awaited Messiah. And right there, on the road leading into Gaza, Philip helps the man repent of his sins and receive Jesus Christ as his Savior and Lord. Then the man asks Philip to baptize him, and Philip does. Just as Paul came to Christ on the road leading into the Arab city of Damascus, so this man came to Christ on the road leading into Gaza. I love that story because it reveals an important truth. Yes, many of the leaders and people of Gaza are wicked. Yes, they hate Israel and the Jews. And yes, if they don’t repent and turn to Christ, they will face judgment. But God loves the people of Gaza. Christ commands us to love Israel and her neighbors. He sends His servants to bring the Gospel to Gaza. Perhaps many Palestinians in Gaza will reject the Gospel. But some won’t. Some will receive Christ as their Savior and Lord. Lynn and I personally know people from Gaza who have come to faith in Christ. Through the work of The Joshua Fund, we have ministered to Christ-followers who live in Gaza. We have welcomed some of them into our home. We have given them platforms to share their remarkable stories with others. So, please – as you pray for the Lord to give victory to Israel over the wicked leaders of Hamas – please also pray for the people of Gaza. They need to be liberated from the slavery and oppression of Hamas. And from the slavery and oppression of Satan and sin. Pray, too, for the terrorist leaders and members of Hamas – pray that God would convert them to Christ before it’s too late. I know former Muslim terrorists who have come to Christ and been radically changed. I’ve interviewed them for my books – and prayed with them – and studied the scriptures with them – and ministered to them. I even know a former Hamas leader who used to be a terrorist and Christ miraculously changed the entire direction of his life, turned him against Hamas, and used him to save many Israeli lives from Hamas terrorist attacks, including suicide bombers sent to kill them. So, I know that God can do anything. That’s why I’m telling you that it’s our job to pray without ceasing not just for the rescue, salvation, healing, and blessing of Israelis, but also for God to do miracles in the lives of Palestinians in Gaza, including the leaders and foot soldiers of Hamas. “For,” as the scriptures teach us, “nothing is impossible with God.” (Luke 1:37) WHAT DOES PSALM 83 TELL US ABOUT THE CURRENT WAR IN GAZA? There is a specific Bible passage you need to study carefully. Why? Because it reveals to you what’s driving the demonic hatred in the heart of Hamas. And the judgment coming against every member of Hamas – and every supporter of Hamas – who refuses to repent and give his or her life to Jesus Christ. The passage I’m referring to is Psalm 83. Starting in verse one we read: “O God, do not remain quiet; do not be silent and, O God, do not be still. For behold, Your enemies make an uproar, and those who hate You have exalted themselves. They make shrewd plans against Your people, and conspire together against Your treasured ones. They have said, ‘Come, and let us wipe them out as a nation, that the nation of Israel be remembered no more.” (Psalm 83:1-4) Don’t tell me the Bible is a dusty old book that isn’t relevant. Today’s headlines are ripped right out of the verses in Psalm 83. In verses 6 through 8, we read exactly where these various enemies of Israel and the Jewish people live. “The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites” – that’s southern Jordan and Arabia. “Moab and the Hagrites” – that’s central and north Jordan. “Gebal and Ammon and Amalek” – that’s Lebanon and Syria and the Sinai peninsula. “Philistia” – that’s the Gaza Strip. “With the inhabitants of Tyre” – that’s more of Lebanon. “Assyria also has joined with them” – that’s Syria, Lebanon and Iraq. Right here, in this brief prophetic Psalm 83 – only 18 verses in English – God is warning us that people who live in these countries will hate Israel and the Jewish people. Why? Because they hate the God of Israel – the God of the Bible. Right? That’s what the writer tells us. Led by the Holy Spirit, he is telling God, “For behold, Your enemies make an uproar, and those who hate You have exalted themselves” and “they make shrewd plans against Your people.” Murderous plans. Genocidal plans. These mortal enemies of the God of Israel – including some of the Palestinian leaders and people in Gaza, those who connect themselves to the ancient Philistines – say, “Come, and let us wipe them out as a nation, that the name of Israel be remembered no more.” That’s exactly what Hamas wants. Don’t misunderstand me; I don’t believe that all Palestinians in Gaza agree with Hamas and want Israel to experience a genocide. But clearly some do. And they will lose. They are attacking the apple of God’s eye. They are refusing to understand what God told Abraham in Genesis 12 – “those who bless you I will bless, but those who curse you I will curse.” And what does the writer – led by the Holy Spirit – pray? “O God, pursue them with Your storm.” He asks God to bring fire upon them, and disaster, and humiliation, and shame. Why? Just so they will lose? No – also so that they will repent and turn to the Lord. Look at verse 16 – the writer brings for disaster to come upon all who seek to wipe Israel off the map “that they may seek Your name, Lord.” And again in verse 18 – “that they may know that You alone, whose name is the Lord, are the Most High over all the earth.” Amen. That is a Spirit-led prayer. And it’s going to come true. So, please join me in praying for Israel – absolutely – but also for the Palestinians of Gaza that they might turn away from their hatred and give their lives to Jesus Christ, the King of kings and the Lord of lords. The U.S. Prepares To Use Military Force Against Hezbollah If It Joins The War Against Israel - by Michael Snyder - http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/the-u-s-prepares-to-use-military-force-against-hezbollah-if-it-joins-the-war-against-israel/ We are witnessing an old-fashioned standoff in the Middle East right now. The IDF was supposed to have sent thousands of troops storming into Gaza by now, but threats from Hezbollah and Iran have caused Israeli officials to pause. Do the Israelis really want to fight an extremely bloody two front war? Iran has actually brought up the possibility of “pre-emptive action”, but that would inevitably spark a military response from the United States. Do the Iranians really want to fight the U.S. military? There are some that are hoping that this standoff will ultimately allow cooler heads to prevail, but I see it as the calm before the storm. After everything that has happened, there is no way that Israel can allow Hamas to survive. And on Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu certainly did not sound like a man that is ready to back down… Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while speaking alongside German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at a news conference on Tuesday, described Hamas as “the new Nazis,” and called on the world to unite and eradicate the terrorist organization the same way it defeated the Nazis. During his remarks, Netanyahu also stated that the atrocities that Hamas just committed were “the worst crimes committed against Jews since the Holocaust”… Hamas-led forces crossed the Israel-Gaza border Oct. 7, slaughtering 1,400 Israeli men, women, children and elderly in what has become the deadliest terror attack in Israel’s history. “The savagery we witnessed perpetrated by the Hamas murderers coming out of Gaza were the worst crimes committed against Jews since the Holocaust,” Netanyahu said during the news conference. If the Israeli government were to decide not to invade Gaza, Netanyahu would almost inevitably be forced to resign in disgrace. The Israeli people want Hamas to be destroyed, and that means going into Gaza. But if that happens, it will likely mean a two front war. In fact, Iran’s foreign minister has even suggested that there could be “pre-emptive action” even before the IDF sends troops pouring into Gaza… “The possibility of pre-emptive action by the resistance axis is expected in the coming hours,” Iran’s foreign minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said in a live broadcast to state TV, as he referred to his meeting with Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah on Saturday. Earlier Monday, Iran’s top diplomat and president, Ebrahim Raisi had said time was running out to reach a political solution and warned against the expansion of the Israel-Hamas war to other fronts. Amir-Abdollahian said Monday that “the resistance leaders” will not allow Israel “to do whatever it wants in Gaza”. Iranian leaders like to make dramatic statements, but I have never seen them talk quite like this. For example, just check out some of the statements that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei just made in front of the entire world… – “We MUST Respond to What is Happening in Gaza” – “The usurper Zionist regime must be prosecuted.” – “This should be realized by those who want Iran to stop certain Resistance groups, and they shouldn’t have any expectation from us.” – “All parties should refrain from asking anyone to prevent a group from taking steps in response to the crimes of the Zionists” – “Our numerous intelligence reports show that the US is formulating the Zionist regime’s current policy, and what is being done is governed by US policymaking. The US must be held responsible for this situation.” – “If the crimes of the Zionist entity continue, no one will be able to stand up to Muslims and the resistance forces.” – “Whatever crimes the Zionist regime commits will fail to compensate for its disgraceful defeat during the Al-Aqsa Storm operation.” So when Israeli forces finally go into Gaza, what will the Iranian response look like? The first thing I expect to happen is for Hezbollah to join the war. That would mean a two front war, and the Israelis appear to be rapidly preparing for such a scenario. In fact, it is being reported that 28 towns and communities in northern Israel are going to be evacuated… But there are continuing signs the situation is sliding toward that feared two-front scenario, as the IDF has initiated a plan to evacuate all civilians who live within two kilometers of the Lebanese border. They said the repeat rocket and mortar fire make it necessary, also in preparation for potential greater military action. The country’s National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA) will oversee transferring of Israeli civilians to state-funded guesthouses. In total a whopping 28 towns and communities will be evacuated. NEMA has listed them out as follows: Ghajar, Dishon, Kfar Yuval, Margaliot, Metula, Avivim, Dovev, Ma’ayan Baruch, Bar’am, Manara, Yiftah, Malkia, Misgav Am, Yir’on, Dafna, Arab al-Aramshe, Shlomi, Netu’a, Ya’ara, Shtula, Matat, Zar’it, Shomera, Betzet, Adamit, Rosh Hanikra, Hanita and Kfar Giladi. The good news is that a full-blown war between Israel and Hezbollah has not erupted just yet. But Hezbollah is calling for “a day of unprecedented anger” on Wednesday… Lebanon’s Hezbollah group denounced what they said was Israel’s deadly attack on a Gaza hospital that killed hundreds of Palestinians, announcing Wednesday “a day of unprecedented anger” against Israel and Biden’s visit to the country, according to a statement released by Hezbollah late on Tuesday. “The attack reveals the true criminal face of this entity and its sponsor…the United States, which bears direct and complete responsibility for this massacre,” according to the statement. And as I write this article, there are reports of vast numbers of protesters heading toward the U.S. embassy in Beirut. WATCH: https://twitter.com/i/status/1714396925695320434 Needless to say, events could spiral out of control very rapidly. If Hezbollah does go to war with Israel, the Biden administration has already discussed using military force against Hezbollah… The White House has been discussing the possibility of using military force if Hezbollah joins the war in Gaza and attacks Israel with its huge arsenal of rockets, three U.S. officials and one Israeli official with knowledge of the situation tell Axios. Once the U.S. starts bombing targets in Lebanon, there will be no turning back. All U.S. facilities and bases all over the Middle East would suddenly become targets for Islamic terrorists, and it is likely that we would see terror attacks inside the United States as well. So going to war should not be done lightly. But Hezbollah has at least 130,000 missiles ready to be fired at Israel, and once large numbers of missiles start raining down on Tel Aviv and Jerusalem no U.S. president is just going to sit there and watch it happen. In fact, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has already told Arab leaders that we are “not fooling around”… Two U.S. officials said Secretary of State Antony Blinken told Arab leaders in the region, with whom he’d met in recent days, that the U.S. “is not fooling around” by sending so many military assets to the region in support of Israel. At this hour, two U.S. aircraft carriers and thousands of troops are in the eastern Mediterranean waiting for orders… The United States is sending an amphibious task force of thousands of U.S. sailors and Marines toward Israel, where they will be positioned aboard warships in case the conflict there with Hamas expands. Two defense officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss planned military movements, said Monday that the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group, numbering more than 4,000 sailors and Marines, will join a growing American fleet off the coast of Israel that will include two aircraft carriers and their associated escort ships. The 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, based at Camp Lejeune, N.C., is deployed with the amphibious task force and trained for a wide array of missions, including some special operations. The USS Bataan and the USS Carter Hall, two of the warships carrying personnel from the unit, were in the Gulf of Oman on Monday, having left Kuwait recently after Hamas’s unprecedented cross-border attack on Israel on Oct. 7. We really are on the brink of the hot phase of World War III. Once Israeli troops move into Gaza, we are going to see who was bluffing and who was not. Unfortunately, I think that we will quickly realize that almost all of the threats being made on both sides were actually real. The Great Middle East War is here, and it is going to be extremely bloody. 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 Iran's Direct Help to Hamas's October 7 War on Israel - by Con Coughlin - https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/20064/iran-helped-hamas-attack The West Must Stand United Against Both Hamas and Iran While the total destruction of Hamas is understandably Israel's main priority in the aftermath of the organization’s horrific massacre of Israeli civilians on October 7, ultimately it should be Iran that is held to account for committing these atrocities. Iran's complicity in Hamas's merciless assault against Israeli civilians cannot be underestimated; it has been reflected in the way the Iranian leadership has openly celebrated the indiscriminate slaughter of elderly women and babies as well as multiplying credible reports, including an almost comical one from Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, "Call[ing] On Iranians Not To Speak Out On Iranian Involvement In 'The Hamas-Israel Conflict' -- For Fear Of Harming Iranian Interests And International Status". The Biden administration seems to be doing everything it can to avoid seeing direct involvement by Iran. The precise details of Iran's direct role in authorizing the attack are gradually coming to light, with officials involved in the investigation insisting that both Iran and Lebanese Hezbollah (a terrorist organization Iran controls) were involved in the planning of the Hamas terrorist operation. This is hardly surprising given the estimated $100 million a year Tehran gives Hamas to help develop its terrorist infrastructure, part of the £13.1 billion Iran has spent on developing its terrorist network throughout the Middle East during the past decade, from supporting Houthi rebels in Yemen to Shia militias in Iraq. Iran's ability, moreover, to continue funding terror groups across the Middle East has been aided by the Biden administration's decision to release $6 billion in Iranian assets as part of a recent hostage swap deal, on top of the "closer to $60 billion" Iran was able to acquire while the Biden administration "relaxed" sanctions for years. Iran's support for Hamas has also been especially helpful in enabling the terrorist organisation to develop its own indigenous weapons, such as the thousands of missiles that have been used to attack targets throughout southern and central Israel. The true extent of Iran's military support for Hamas was recently laid bare by the movement's leader, Ismail Haniyeh, when he revealed that funds received from Tehran had helped to fund the development of missile and defence systems designed and built in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. In a recent message addressed to Brigadier General Esmail Qaani, commander of the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), in the summer, Haniyeh praised Iran as "a solid pillar upon which Palestinian resistance groups, and the Axis of Resistance in general, rest as they continue their primary struggle against the Zionist enemy and US hegemony." The significance of Iran's involvement with Hamas's terrorist activity was also evident at the weekend, when Haniyeh met with Iran's foreign minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, in Qatar, a country that also has a long history of funding Hamas. According to Reuters: "During their meeting in Qatar's capital Doha, Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian praised the rampage as a 'historic victory' that had dealt a setback to Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory." A statement later issued by Hamas said the two leaders "greed to continue cooperation" to achieve the terror group's goals. Iran has certainly been quick to celebrate the terrorist atrocities committed by Hamas. Immediately after news of the attack emerged, Iran's foreign ministry declared that the attack was an act of self-defence by the Palestinians. According to Iranian state media, ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said: "This operation ... is the spontaneous movement of resistance groups and Palestine's oppressed people in defence of their inalienable rights and their natural reaction to the Zionists' warmongering and provocative policies." There were also jubilant scenes in Iran's Majlis (parliament), with members of parliament rising from their seats on Saturday to chant "Death to Israel" and "Palestine is victorious, Israel will be destroyed". Iran's open support for the massacres has inevitably raised fears that the regime could be tempted to respond militarily when Israeli forces launch their ground operation to destroy Hamas's terrorist infrastructure in Gaza. Visiting Lebanon after his meeting with Haniyeh, Iran's foreign minister warned that the conflict might expand to other parts of the Middle East if Hezbollah joins the battle, and that would make Israel suffer "a huge earthquake." Concerns that Iran could provoke a major escalation in the conflict by encouraging Hezbollah to open a new front against northern Israel has already seen a rise in tensions, with sporadic clashes reported between Hezbollah and the Israeli military on the Israel-Lebanon border. Israeli warplanes have also been in action bombing airports in Syria, which are used by Iran to transfer weapons and supplies to the network of military bases it has constructed in southern Syria. Washington's decision to deploy two US Navy carrier battle groups, headed by the USS Gerald R Ford, the world's largest aircraft carrier, to the eastern Mediterranean was taken as much to deter any further attempt by Tehran to escalate the crisis as to demonstrate American support for Israel. The extent of Iran's meddling in the current war in the Middle East should certainly serve as a wake-up call to the US and its European allies about the danger Iran poses not just to the region, but the wider world. The timing of the attack, after all, came at a time when the Biden administration was involved in delicate negotiations with Riyadh for Saudi Arabia to normalise relations with Israel in return for US security guarantees, a move that would have added further to Iran's international isolation. With the Saudi negotiations now on hold, the US and its allies should accept the folly of trying to maintain a diplomatic dialogue with Tehran in the hope that the Iranian regime may be persuaded to sign up to a new nuclear deal. As Iran's open support for Hamas has demonstrated, the ayatollahs have no interest in reaching a peaceful accommodation with the West. Rather, they have been working for years to encircle Israel with their proxies -- Hezbollah in the north and Hamas in the south -- with the intent of obliterating it. Iran has not only been advancing its nuclear program; on Wednesday, the ban on Iranian missiles expires. Iran will be able to send missiles into Gulf countries in the Middle East, as well as to Russia to launch into Ukraine. The Iranian regime is only concerned with supporting groups that carry out unimaginable acts of violence against innocent civilians, and should be treated with serious deterrence, if not more, and with the enemy status they fully deserve. The Silence of the Shepherds - By Jan Markell - www.olivetreeviews.org It is true—the headlines, photos, and videos coming out of the current Mideast conflict are not seeker-sensitive. They won’t make church attendees feel good. Talking about the sensitive situation won’t fit into any church-growth strategy. It won’t encourage anyone to become purpose-driven. It could even create divisiveness. So, I should not have been so thrown when I began to get e-mails from across the country stating variations of the following: Jan, I was very dismayed that the church we attended did not even make mention of what was going on in Israel on Sunday, October 8. Nor did the topic arise on Wednesday night—though there were several mentions of the Houston Astros game . . . . . No One Can Say They Didn’t Know Has there not been wall-to-wall coverage on all media outlets, day and night, for days? Can anybody claim they didn’t know? There were demonstrations demanding that we should “gas the Jews.” The scenario could expand to a Mideast war. Some are saying World War III is at hand. We have evil at a new level on display. And yet the silence of some shepherds is deafening! Evangelical Foolishness I checked the website of the largest evangelical organization—the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE). Wouldn’t they have a banner headline calling on us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem? Actually, their banner was all about racial justice. Scrolling down, they have a blurb in an article written that Israel should not act out of revenge and that they should support the dignity of all people affected. Note to the NAE: Terrorists have no dignity. They are evil. They are demonized. Know What You Believe! Are pastors, churches, and denominations silent because of their theology? Perhaps it doesn’t fit with the current scenario? Perhaps they believe the church is the new Israel (Replacement Theology). Perhaps they are Amillennial, and Israel is a bit inconvenient. This belief encompasses many Protestants and all Catholics. Outfits like Bethel Church in Redding, CA, believe in Dominionism—that is, that the church will save the world and then they establish the thousand-year reign of Christ on earth. The literal restoration of Jerusalem is not important. The church supersedes the calling of Israel to be a light to the nations! Silence in the Face of Evil is Evil! But there is still human disaster and suffering at play here! Bonhoeffer said, “silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.” How can you be silent? If every church in North America were to meet for special prayer, could an unspeakable disaster be averted? Can we set aside theology and pray—from the pulpit—for the salvation of the Jews and Muslims? Don’t these esteemed church leaders know that is the only path to true peace? Many Jews and Muslims are secular and, thus, are open to the gospel. You’re Grafted In! May I remind all pastors and evangelical leaders that because of the Jews, we have our Bible, the prophets, the apostles, and our Messiah. In fact, “salvation is of the Jews.” (John 4:22) Gentiles are “grafted in” to the Jewish olive tree. (Romans 11:11-31) This is an appeal to pastors to not keep silent. Help your flock understand that Christians are often the greatest friend Israel has. At the very least, instruct them on how to “pray for the peace of Jerusalem.” (Psalm 122:6). Do you know there is then promised a blessing: They shall prosper who love thee? That sounds like church growth could happen as a blessing from God! How odd of God to choose the Jews, But not so odd as those who choose The Jewish God, but spurn the Jews. Find information below about our new prayer wall. (Here) Daily Jot: The evil among us - Bill Wilson – www.dailyjot.com We have seen the images and heard the reports of Congressional Representatives, organizations, professors, and others rallying in support of Hamas against Israel. People that share this support of Hamas are absolutely wrong. Nothing underscores their error more than what we have witnessed in Israel. My God! How can anyone in their right mind support the bloodlust brutality of Hamas? One would have to be incredibly evil. All these people who are protesting on behalf of a Free Palestine believe their opinion is equal to anybody else’s opinion. They believe they have a right to support Hamas. But having the right doesn’t make it right, nor does it make it remotely acceptable. There is clearly evil among us. There is no moral equivalency between supporting Hamas and supporting Israel. None whatsoever. Hamas and the other Islamic terror organizations and terrorist-sponsoring countries stated purpose is the destruction of Israel. That means the killing, raping, dismembering, torturing of innocent men, women and children. This is the governance of the caliphate, where the laws of Islam require submission or death. Understand that Hamas, the governing body of Gaza, is a caliphate. In 2005, the “Palestinian” people in Gaza began electing Hamas representatives in the newly formed “democracy” instituted with the help of President George W Bush. By January 25, 2006 the “Palestinian” people elected the terrorist group to govern Gaza, by nearly a two to one margin, sending ripples throughout the world at the time. It also put the terrorist group in control of the hundreds of millions of dollars being sent by the US to boost the Gaza economy. At the time, Iran’s foreign ministry congratulated Hamas by saying, “The massive participation of the Palestinians shows their will to continue the struggle and resistance against occupation.” Hamas and Iran were close allies who announced in December 2005 that they were forming a “united front” against Israel, something that was solidified in January 2006 when Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad met with Hamas in Syria and vowed support, both politically and financially, to the terrorist efforts of Hamas against Israel. Missiles have been fired into Israel from Gaza ever since. The mission of Hamas is no secret—the elimination of Israel. And the way they do it is through terror—rape, dismemberment, torture against innocent men, women, and children. Those who are publicly showing their support of Hamas’s actions in Israel—in the US Congress, at public rallies in places like Dearborn, MI, in colleges and universities, etc.—are participating in a genocide initiative dedicated to the eradication of the Jewish people, and for anyone else who does not submit to Islam. This is the theology of Hamas, Iran, Turkey, Hezbollah and the other terror actors. The opinion of those supporting Hamas is evil. It has no moral equivalency with decency or the laws of God. Do not give them ground. As said in I Thessalonians 5:22, “Abstain from every form of evil.” That goes for people supporting it. Daily Devotion: Only One Way - by Greg Laurie – www.harvest.org And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever. —1 John 2:17 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/only-one-way/ - Listen A pastor who was speaking at a funeral service was trying to explain what happens after we die. Then he suddenly thought of an illustration. Motioning toward the casket, he said, “Here in this casket lies just a shell. The nut is gone.” It didn’t go the way he expected it to. When we die, our bodies will go into the ground, but our souls will enter the afterlife. Those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ will immediately go into the presence of God. Years ago, one of my granddaughters looked at me with a sad expression and said, “Papa, why do we have to die? Why can’t we just float up to Heaven?” That’s a great question. The answer is that in the Garden of Eden, it never was God’s intention for people to die. There was no death, no pain, and no tears. But because our first parents, Adam and Eve, sinned, sin then entered the human race. They rebelled against God because they had a will of their own, and that rebellion is called sin. And because of that sin, we now have death. If Adam and Eve had not sinned, we never would die, get sick, or even age. But they did sin. And sin, like a disease, entered the human race. We were all born with it. We are not sinners because we sin; we sin because we are sinners. It comes naturally to us. The Bible says, “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard” (Romans 3:23 NLT). If we want to go to Heaven, then we must be forgiven of our sins. We can’t come up with our own idea of how to get to Heaven. In fact, we wouldn’t know anything about Heaven if we didn’t read about it in the Bible. There is only one way to get to Heaven, and that is through God’s Son, Jesus Christ, who died on the cross for us. For Christians, death is not the end. The Bible says, “And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever” (1 John 2:17 NLT). 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). Awhile back we were walking on the beach, and my wife, Cathe, said, “Be careful, there are bees on the beach.” Just then, I stepped on one. The stinger went into my foot, which swelled a little. Jesus took the sting of death when He died on the cross. That is why Bible tells us, “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” (1 Corinthians 15:54–55 NLT). Death died when Christ rose. And as Christians, we will live forever. That is the hope the Bible gives us. PROPHECY UPDATE NEWS HEADLINES Yesterday's Prophecies - Today's Headlines HEADLINES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TRACKING BIBLE PROPHECY 10/18/23 http://trackingbibleprophecy.org/birthpangs.php
FROM THE HEART Let Us Make the Short Time We have Left, Count for ALL of Eternity! IF YOU HAVE BEEN BLESSED THROUGH THIS MINISTRY, THEN WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD PLEASE REMEMBER PROPHECY UPDATE IN YOUR GIVING - WE ARE TRULY, TRULY, THANKFUL FOR YOUR SUPPORT WORTHY OF YOUR SUPPORT? One of the most reliable ways to determine if a ministry is worthy of your financial support is to examine its fruits. If Prophecy Update is keeping you informed, and if that information inspires you, and causes you to draw closer to the Lord, if Prophecy Update equips you with valuable information and knowledge to share with and encourage other believers, and open the eyes of non-believers, and if Prophecy Update keeps you connected to current events relating to Bible Prophecy, then you are partaking of the fruit produced through this ministry. None of this would be possible without the Lords blessings and your support. I believe where the Lord guides, the Lord provides, and most of the time He provides through the willing and generous hearts of believers just like you and me. Humbly Seek Your Support Prophecy Update has no corporate sponsors. This ministry is paid for and prayed for by readers and supporters. Without your support, there would be no Prophecy Update, Please pray about becoming a monthly supporter - thanks! If ever there was a time to invest in God's Kingdom, it's now! What on earth are you doing for Heaven's Sake? "Share in the Blessings and Rewards that will last Forever!" "Folks, it's all beginning to unravel. America is in more danger of falling than at any time in its history. But I believe Bible prophecy predicts this very decline. From this point on, we believers have to get serious. We are going to face discouragement, disillusionment and, most certainly, persecution in the time between now and the Rapture. But don't be discouraged or disillusioned. The coming turmoil will provide us unrivaled opportunities to share the good news of the Gospel. So be ready to share your faith and your hope with those who need Christ. We still have time to reap a great harvest of souls for God's kingdom!" - Hal Lindsey 1) We need your prayers!- We proclaim the Truth of the Word of God and we are under constant spiritual and sometimes even physical attack. 2) We need your encouragement!- We need to hear from you, let us know how the Lord is blessing you through this ministry so that we can share it with others. 3) We need your input! - If you have a prophetic article or story or if there is a news related item we missed, let us know. 4) We need your financial support!- To put it quite simply, without your support, there would be no Prophecy Update. I ask that you would prayerfully consider partnering with us to get the Word out and keep the world informed. Remember, your gift, no matter how small, does make a difference! You will be helping to touch lives, around the world, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, thanks to the internet your generosity carries a global impact! - Thanks! Our Prayer for You- "Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else." 2 Corinthians 9:10-13 If you have been blessed by Prophecy Update and would like to help support this ministry financially. You can make a secure donation online by going to: DONATE NOW Or write us at: Prophecy Update P.O. Box 40516 Bakersfield, CA 93384-0516 We are very pleased to offer all our readers this FREE download on Bible Prophecy from the Evangelical Bible College of Western Australia - Just download and enjoy and be blessed! Feel free to share it with all your friends and family members. Click below to download! "AS YOU SEE THE DAY APPROACHING" If You Died Today, Would You Go To Heaven? Find out, visit: www.thegoodtest.net www.gotquestions.org www.wayofthemaster.com How to know God DID YOU KNOW? You can submit an article, leave a comment or praise report at email: [email protected] Maranatha! (Lord Come Quickly) "On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand, All other ground is sinking sand." "Let Us make the short time we have left count for all eternity!" YBIC-Randy
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