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Vladimir Putin May Be a Bloodthirsty Tyrant, But Is He an End-Times Figure? – By Mark Hitchcock - https://harbingersdaily.com/vladimir-putin-may-be-a-bloodthirsty-tyrant-but-is-he-an-end-times-figure/ Vladimir Putin today is considered by many to be the world’s enemy number one. He’s a bloodthirsty tyrant, and his country holds the world’s largest nuclear stockpile. Bible prophecy speaks of an evil despot who is going to rise from Russia in the end times to lead a great coalition of nations that invades Israel. What we see happening today is a frightening preview of that. The Bible in Ezekiel 38 and 39 talks about an individual called Gog. These two chapters were written over 2500 years ago, but they read like they were ripped from today’s headlines. Gog is the leader of the coalition of nations and is addressed directly by God. Ezekiel 38:1-3 says, “And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him, And say, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal.” It is not exactly clear the meaning of the word “Gog.” Some believe that it means mountain, high, or exalted—which paints a picture of this leader, Gog, being very inflated with pride. I don’t believe Gog is this individual’s name. It appears to be used as a title like Pharaoh or President. Others believe the word “Gog” means darkness. Either way, Gog will be a prideful, very dark figure in the end times. Vladimir Putin, to use the words of Joel Rosenberg, is “Gog-esque.” Now, I’m not saying that Vladimir Putin is Gog—that would be reckless speculation—but at the very least, we could say that Vladimir Putin is a frightening foreshadow and an awful anticipation of this Gog figure. Gog is not the same as the Antichrist. But according to Ezekiel 38 and 39, when Gog leads an invasion of Israel in the end times, he and his forces are going to be supernaturally wiped out by God, which would create a huge power vacuum in the world that will allow the Antichrist, as a leader of the west, to ascend to great power. Vladimir Putin dreams of a new imperial Russia—a restoration of the Russian Empire. He has compared himself to the Russian Tsar Peter the Great and uses brutal, heavy-handed tactics. He invaded Georgia back in 2008, Crimea in 2014, Ukraine in 2022, and has been deeply involved in the civil war in Syria since 2015. He has expansionist desires—wanting to expand and restore the great Russian Empire. At the end of last year, Putin ordered the military to increase its number of soldiers by 170,000, which would bring the Russian troops to a total of 1.3 million. Vladimir Putin has now ruled as president for 25 years, and there’s no sign that that’s going to end for this new Russian “tzar.” There’s a long list of Russians who’ve died after running afoul of Vladimir Putin. Putin will do anything to maintain his stranglehold on power—all kinds of brutality and savagery. Let me just mention a few examples:
In Ezekiel 38, it says that Gog is of “the land of Magog,” which is part of Russia and maybe Ukraine. However, it goes on to say that he is the “prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal.” Rosh is a reference to Russia, but “Meshech and Tubal” are in modern-day Turkey. I’ve always wondered about that. Could this final Russian leader rule over Russia… and Turkey? The Atlantic Council publication wrote this week: Russian president and indicted war criminal Vladimir Putin should be closely watched in Turkey. Though Putin took the opportunity to contradict historical facts and pure common sense, the interview offers valuable insights into how the Russian leadership views its relations with neighboring countries. During more than two hours of what a European Commission spokesperson called “old lies, distortions, and manipulations, and . . . hostility towards the West,” Putin demonstrated a morbid obsession with Russian imperial grandeur, justified the invasion of neighboring states, and showed zero respect for international law and peace treaties. As a country that has spent more years in wars with Russia than with any other rival and that has competed for dominance in the Black Sea and Mediterranean Sea over centuries, Turkey should not take the Russian threat lightly. Turkey and Russia have been involved in more wars over the years than with any other country. The publication continues: In February 2023, while Turkey was still recovering from a devastating earthquake, Russian State Duma Member Semyon Bagdasarov issued a call to attack Turkey and annex Istanbul: “Turkey is the historical lands of Russia. Turkey is now in a dire situation. Let’s take advantage of this and return our lands. Let’s squeeze it out of the Central Asia, undermine its influence in Ukraine, drive it out of the South Caucasus, raise certain forces in Turkey and return what historically belonged to us—Constantinople.” He went as far as to suggest that “the crisis in Turkey must end up in its collapse” and in Russia’s return to Istanbul. “Some Russian opinion leaders,” according to this article, “have not abandoned the idea of conquering Istanbul when the opportunity arises.” Ankara is the capital of Turkey, but Istanbul is the main city. The Russians obviously have expansionist ideas. Now, whether Vladimir Putin is Gog or not—only time will tell. But make no mistake, this evil ruler will rise and do exactly what Ezekiel predicted over 2500 years ago. This is another apologetic or proof for the truth of the Bible, that the Bible is the very Word of God Himself. It’s also another clear indication to us that what we see today is a preview. It’s the warm-up for what’s coming and signals that the return of our Lord could be very near. Red Heifers Ready for The Temple by Passover? - Enoch Lavendar - https://www.prophecynewswatch.com/article.cfm?recent_news_id=6739 Game changing developments are happening right now in Israel concerning the Third Temple. Probably the most critical missing link preventing the rebuilding of the Temple, is set to fall into place within months with crucial help from Christians. Meanwhile Hamas is watching the developments closely and have even claimed it to be a major part of their motivation for the heinous Oct. 7 terror attack. With tensions already at boiling point across the Middle East, will we shortly see Israel take bold steps towards rebuilding the Temple? Christian Rancher Provides the Missing Link The final missing piece of the Third Temple project - the infamous ashes of a red heifer - is now only months away from falling into place. Theses ashes are Biblically mandated for purification in a range of situations including contact with dead bodies (see Num. 19). Without the red heifer ashes, priests and Levites currently in training with the Temple Institute are disqualified from serving in a future rebuilt Temple. Furthermore, with all the bloodshed on the Temple Mount down through the centuries, the Mount itself must be cleansed before the Temple can be built. The problem is that finding an unblemished red heifer is extremely rare. In recent years, Temple activists have had their efforts end in frustration time and again. Potential red heifer candidates have been located with great excitement, only to end up later developing white hairs or getting otherwise disqualified before they reach the required age to be sacrificed. It was in this context that Byron Stinson, a Christian rancher from Texas, baffled Rabbis in 2022 as he invited them to his ranch to inspect what turned out to be five unblemished red heifers. What happened next sounds almost like it was taken from a Hollywood movie script as the heifers were airlifted to Israel at around 1 year old (how do you even go about flying cows to the Holy Land?). Being greeted at the airport with a special ceremony officiated by Rabbis, the heifers were then taken out of the public eye to continue being quietly and meticulously groomed for the sacrifice. Although one of the five was disqualified last year due to the emergence of a few white hairs, the remaining four remain on track to be eligible to be sacrificed this year. According to All Israel News, Temple Institute Rabbis hope to perform this ceremony prior to Passover this year while other sources claim it will happen sometime between Passover and Pentecost. Linking Cows and Terror While the story of the flight of the five heifers to Israel and their subsequent journey has certainly stirred great excitement among Temple activists as well as Christian students of Bible Prophecy, it curiously hardly got a mention in mainstream Israeli news. It will surprise many Christians to discover that by and large, secular Israelis are uninterested and unaware of these developments. In addition, many Orthodox Jews are opposed to the any current moves to rebuild the Temple as most hold that it can only be rebuilt by the Messiah in the Messianic era. However, the radical Islamic world understands the significance of the arrival of the red heifers and are incensed by their presence. It was no co-incidence that Hamas called its infamous and deadly October 7 terror attack "Operation Al Aqsa Flood". Speaking at the 100 day mark of the current war with Israel, Abu Obeida, a military spokesman for Hamas, said that the aggression against "our path and Al-Aqsa" reached its peak with the "bringing of red cows." Hamas' passionate calls for the 'liberation' of the Al Aqsa mosque from the Israeli threat, hits receptive ears in the Islamic world. Highlighting the broad level of Islamic concern for this site, the Organization of Islamic Co-Operation was founded in 1969 with the specific goal of protecting the Al-Aqsa mosque. Today this influential organization boasts 56 member states and is the second largest intergovernmental organization in the world after the UN. Will there be a Third Temple? Israeli government officials of all persuasions are highly aware of Islamic sensitivities concerning the Temple Mount and have through the years repeatedly committed themselves to maintaining the 'status quo' on the Temple Mount for this very reason. While the ashes of a red heifer may become available in the next few months, the Temple rebuilding project still seems unrealistic in the current environment. The fears of the Israeli government leaders of sparking all out war, combined with the lack of interest and even outright opposition from many Israelis to the project, makes it seem completely impossible. However, the events of October 7 show how quickly long-held views can change. Prior to this heinous terror attack, the majority of Israelis were seeking to get on with their lives in some kind of peaceful co-existence with Hamas being contained by Israel's state of the art border fence. The dismal failure of this high-tech fence to stop the October 7 attack has smashed this long-held Israeli view, changing the perspective of the nation overnight into a determined decision to eradicate Hamas from its borders. Similarly, I believe that long held Israeli reservations towards the Third Temple will one day change. What does the Bible say? '...not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit says the Lord' (Zec 4:6) Rebuilding the Temple seemed completely impossible for the impoverished Jews returning from Babylonian captivity in the days of Nehemiah. Into this context of mounting opposition from surrounding nations and countless delays, Zechariah the prophet spoke the above words of encouragement proclaiming that God Himself would make a way by His Spirit. Through the prophecies of Zechariah and Haggai, God's Spirit indeed strengthened the hands of the builders, paved the way politically and enabled the miraculous construction of the Second Temple which stood when Jesus came to earth. Couldn't God do the same again in our day? I believe that both Old and New Testament Bible prophecy is clear that the Temple will be rebuilt in the End times. In his famous Olivet discourse, Jesus predicted "when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place .... then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains...For then there will be great tribulation" (Matt 24:15-21). While some Bible prophecy teachers interpret these words of Jesus in symbolic sense, Jesus' Jewish listeners would have understood His words quite literally. They would have seen His words as referring back to an almost identical event that occurred around 170 B.C. where a literal idol was erected in the Temple leading to widespread persecution. Jesus' prophecy was therefore seen as predicting a literal repeat of these events to occur in a real physical Temple in Jerusalem at the End of Days. Being Ready The Temple Institute speak of the shame they would feel if they were given the go-ahead to build the Temple tomorrow and were caught completely unprepared. They have therefore spent many years in meticulous preparation and training for that day to come, and the ashes of the red heifer will mark the crowning achievement of this preparation. While many Israelis are unaware of these developments, so too is much of the Church. Just as He promised, Jesus is soon returning to this earth to rule and these developments point us to the nearness of His coming. Following the example of the Temple Institute, we too should be preparing ourselves for the soon fulfilment of prophecy, doing everything in our power to be ready for that great day. Let us also remember to pray not only for the fulfilment of Bible prophecy and the coming of the Messianic kingdom, but also for the eternal destinies of Jews and Arabs caught up in the current and future waves of conflict. Days of great tension lie ahead, but God's purpose in the midst of these shakings is to bring many people into His Kingdom. May we all play our part at this significant time in history. 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Your Support is Important to this Ministry - We Could Not Do This Without Your Support! Let Us Make the Short Time We have Left, Count for ALL of Eternity! Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift! II Corinthians 9:15 Worthy of Your Support? It has been said, one of the most reliable ways to determine if a ministry is worthy of your financial support is to examine its fruits. If Prophecy Update is keeping you informed and if that information inspires you and causes you to draw closer to the Lord, if Prophecy Update equips you with valuable information and knowledge to share with and encourage other believers and open the eyes of non-believers and if Prophecy Update keeps you connected to current events relating to Bible Prophecy then you are partaking of the fruit produced through this ministry. None of this would be possible without the Lords blessings and your support. I believe where the Lord guides, the Lord provides and most of the time He provides through the willing and generous hearts of believers just like you and me. I genuinely believe that Prophecy Update and many other like-minded ministries, are needed now more than ever! The world is getting darker daily, almost hourly, but never has the light of the Word of God shone so brightly. Never in our history has there been such a thirst for Truth and a need for a Savior! The Prophecy Update website, newsletter, and Video Channels are all dedicated to providing the truth, encouraging and informing believers, and prayerfully opening the eyes and hearts of non-believers with the Gospel, but none of it would be possible without your prayers and support. DONATE HERE Your can also mail your support to: Prophecy Update PO Box 40516 Bakersfield, CA 93384 Artificial Intelligence: Are We ‘Summoning Up Demons’? – By Jan Markell - https://harbingersdaily.com/artificial-intelligence-are-we-summoning-up-demons/ About seven years ago, I started to become aware of a phenomenon known as “artificial intelligence” or “AI.” The first troubling headline I saw stated, “Ex-Google Executive Anthony Levandowski is Founding a Church Where People Worship an Artificial Intelligence God.” The second headline read, “Why Humans Will Happily Follow a Robot Messiah.” I started watching videos online of robots who look human and who “think.” They answer questions and seem to process real thoughts. Developers of these robots say someday they will solve society’s problems. Such men also believe that it is possible for artificial intelligence to be a billion times smarter than humans. Try to process that! Various leaders in the field of “AI” have made some of the following statements:
Maybe this new religion isn’t the promise of paradise after all. Some promoting AI are evangelists and some of them offer a new Promised Land. But some of the very movers and shakers of the artificial intelligence industry are sounding serious warnings. This is really not the wave of the future as it is all being employed now! Outfits like Google have every bit of information on us they need: Address, e-mail, occupation, history, photos, our family, our interests, our searches. Simply stated, they have all our vitals. So how will this play into Antichrist’s agenda? Will this manage all buying and selling? We want tech companies to work for us but we end up fitting into their plans and purposes! Dare I say, we are almost their useful idiots. We’re all aware of the biblical prophecy found in Daniel 12:4 that knowledge will increase in the last days. But machines smarter than people? Surely God would never allow that to happen. He created mankind in His image and He didn’t create them to be superseded by computer chips. That is not stopping man from trying! In 1948 there was a milestone event as it concerns “signs of the times.” That was the re-birth of Israel 70 years ago. Are we in the generation of a more current sign that could involve end-time technology, the “image of the beast,” “mark of the beast”, etc? Could this wave of technology be as relevant as the stirring of the dry bones? We look at that 1948 happening in a rear-view mirror. Technology is a 21st century fulfillment. Viewing one now-famous robot, Sophia, was a bit unnerving. YouTube loved to feature her and introduce her to millions. She was attractive, clothed, looked you in the eye, and answered your questions. She could be your friend, companion, problem solver, and perhaps someday, your spouse. At the very least, she could run your errands and put away your groceries. In the wrong hands, she could be dangerous. Young people are particularly drawn to artificial intelligence. Some will tell you that they can get an answer more quickly from Google or Alexa than they can from God. Who needs God in an age of artificial intelligence? Who needs an invisible God? And Google or Alexa may tell you what you want to hear in Technicolor, 3-D, and instantaneously! Don’t brush this off as silliness. It’s our world today. Welcome to the brave new world. Google admits that they want to be like the mind of God and suggests we will be “godlike.” They are grabbing bundles of data from us. There is a “home invasion” going on by the world of technology. If you think you have privacy, think again! We are being monitored and this is not crazy talk. It is not sensationalism. It is not kooky conspiracy language. The world of “Big Brother” exists and will be in full bloom during the Tribulation from which the Church is absent. And as I quoted above, an inventor admits, “This is one of the dumbest things we can do.” It has a very dark side. You may not be skilled in technology and you may think this doesn’t affect your life but it does. And it’s a guarantee that younger people in your world are captivated by all of this. Things are falling into place. AI cannot speak anything into existence or give anyone eternal life. It cannot give anyone comfort, guidance, or offer anyone peace or hope. It cannot still the wind or calm the sea. It is more like Frankenstein than like God. It is trying to be like God but will fall far short! We are fearfully and wonderfully made. AI is fearfully fraudulent. Stay ahead of the game and become informed. Events of the Tribulation are casting a shadow today. The shout and the trumpet are close. He is coming soon! God sits in the Heavens and laughs at these people (Psalm 2). He will allow them a short season of notoriety and then will crush the evil doers at His Second Coming. Genesis and the Pre-Tribulation Rapture - By Angel Torres - https://www.raptureready.com/2024/03/06/genesis-and-the-pre-tribulation-rapture-by-angel-torres/ If you read through the New Testament, you’ll quickly notice how its various authors point their readers back to the first Book of the Bible: Genesis. Peter, Paul, and the Lord Jesus Christ all interpreted Genesis 1-11 as real, literal history. In fact, the Lord Jesus draws a fascinating parallel between the calling up of the Church from this world (the pre-tribulation Rapture) and the dramatic events that occurred during Noah’s life. Consider how Jesus used the historical backdrop of Genesis 6-9 to illustrate an important truth about the pre-tribulation Rapture: “But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be” (Matt. 24:37-39 KJV). There are a number of details that we can unpack from Jesus’ statement(s) here, but I’d like to begin by pointing out the context of what was going on during Noah’s day. According to Genesis 6:5, “the wickedness of man was great in the earth.” This was a time of immense wickedness and moral depravity. Demonic activity was interfering with the created order (Gen. 6:1-2), and the hearts of men were dead set on doing evil continually in the sight of God, demonstrating a full-scale rejection of the Creator and His laws. In the words of Martyn Iles, “We crave the status of Creator. We want to redefine what he has already defined. We have forgotten that we are dust.” Certainly, the men and women of Noah’s day were content with living as they saw fit, choosing to forge their own way in this world and forgetting that it was God who set the standard for how human beings are to live. Interestingly, Jesus shares some details of what people were occupying themselves with in the days that led up to the Deluge: they were eating, drinking, and partaking in marriage. We know that God’s perfect design for marriage had already been corrupted and compromised by man (refer to Gen. 4:23) by the time Noah had been born, so it’s likely that many people were participating in polygamy and other perversions of God’s pattern for the one-man and one-woman union that He instituted in the Garden of Eden. I think Jesus’ point, however, is that people were doing their usual routine when the waters of judgment suddenly fell upon them. They were so caught up in their normal, day-to-day affairs that they were unaware of the times in which they were living. It’s likely that their hearts had been so hardened from years of unrepentant, rampant sin that they were completely ignorant of eternity and the things of God. This kind of ignorance was not an excusable ignorance, either, because we know from Scripture that all people are aware of God’s existence (Rom. 1:20) and possess a conscience that is capable of differentiating right from wrong. This kind of ignorance was a willing, intentional one brought about by constant rebellion against God and His Word. As a result, Noah’s generation was blindsided by the onset of the Flood and the ensuing cataclysm. Sadly, it seems as though many in our world today have also neglected the things of eternity in favor of what’s temporary and material. The Scriptures plainly teach that Christians should be on high alert for the coming of our Lord Jesus in the air (Lk. 21:34-36), especially since we do not know when this wonderful event might occur. It very well could be tonight, or it could be a few months from now. The reality is that we don’t know! Nevertheless, we can (and should) learn from Noah’s example so that we will be ready when our Lord comes back. While the majority of people were busy in their routines, Noah was busy working on the Ark that God had commanded him to build. He was resolute in carrying out the task that God had given him to do, understanding the gravity of the situation (even though there hadn’t ever been a global Flood before). At the same time, Noah was also busy preaching the truth! Peter referred to Noah as “a preacher of righteousness.” What an amazing testimony to have! There’s even an ancient Jewish tradition that purportedly reveals the contents of Noah’s preaching: “Be ye turned from your evil ways and works, lest the waters of the flood come upon you, and cut off all the seed of the children of men.” If there’s any truth to this statement, we can see that our forefather in the faith was preaching a message of repentance to his brothers and sisters in Adam. Noah was pleading with them to turn from their wickedness and kneel before God while there was still time. I want us to ask ourselves this question now: are we encouraging people today to do just that? To turn from wickedness and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation while there is still time? This should be the very heart of our evangelism efforts and outreach. Jesus is our ark of salvation, and He has invited all people to lean upon Him in true faith and repentance! If perchance you are reading this article and the Rapture has already occurred, there is still hope for you yet. Flee to Christ for salvation as the very name of God is a strong tower and a place of refuge from danger (Prov. 18:10). Though the coming days will be difficult, you can rejoice and take comfort in knowing that your eternal destiny is secure with Christ, just as Noah and his family were secured by God aboard the ark. As we wait for the coming of our Lord in the air, may we learn from His teaching and take His Word as He has written it. Genesis 1-11 is the historical foundation for the rest of the Bible, and it was Jesus who has given us a valuable lesson about our way out from the coming destruction by referring to the life of Noah and the events of the Flood. Jesus was not bringing up a fictional fable to articulate a real, eschatological event. He was pointing back to real history so as to warn those with ears to hear about the danger of missing the real Blessed Hope. As soon as we start to spiritualize or allegorize elements of the Bible that are clearly literal events, this unlocks the door of compromise. Instead, a good understanding of God’s Word from beginning to end will allow us to better comprehend “all the counsel of God” (Acts 20:27) and point others to the Creator. Sources: https://answersingenesis.org/worldview/the-creator-conflict/ https://answersingenesis.org/bible-characters/noah/the-evangelist Daily Jot: A ruse by any other name - Bill Wilson – www.harvest.org Donald Trump is a controversial figure. He stirs emotions, both pro and con. But when one examines what the Democratic Party and the administrative state/deep state are doing to him, there is a question that should come to mind to all: If they can do this to him, will they also do it to us? The answer is “yes.” What we are seeing in this country is an attack, not just on Trump, but on all of us. Anyone who dare question the Leviathan of government is suspect. Trump is representative of the populist mind-think. The court cases the Democrat-controlled judiciary are scoring against Trump are precedent-setting in the sense that they single out a person with the intent of destroying his viability as a citizen. You could be next. Recall that it was Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, the Democratic National Committee and actors in the FBI who paid Fusion GPS to fabricate a story that Trump was colluding with Russia to sway the election. Obama even used the report to get a FISA secret court warrant to spy on Trump’s campaign. After the election, a special prosecutor was appointed, who spent millions of taxpayer dollars to try to prove Trump’s guilt. They came up with nothing. Since then, it has been a marathon of court cases against Trump—one so ridiculous in New York over a loan that Trump paid off, but the New York prosecutor fined him nearly half a billion dollars and is shutting down his businesses for overvaluing his business worth on a bank application. The bank was satisfied, but the prosecutor brought independent charges—they singled out Trump. What about the administrative state censorship on COVID, Hunter Biden, the border, January 6, China, and other issues? Herein, the government has used taxpayer money to create artificial intelligence programs to guide the information we receive. The administrative state has utilized its political and purchase power to coerce big busines, corporate media, social media giants and others to carry the government’s propaganda. How else can the words “Safe and Effective” remain on the government website regarding a COVID vaccine that neither prevents the spread of COVID or COVID infection, and has so many side effects that are harmful to American citizens? We are under an increasing totalitarian regime—not only supported by a political party, but by the full mechanism of administrative government. The concept of freedom in America is fast becoming a ruse. Call it what you will—Marxism, Fascism, Communism, Socialism or Progressivism—the bottom line is the godless tyranny of humanism. Anybody who believes that God endows us with inalienable rights will soon be a target of these tyrants. Let us be a Psalm 119:42-46 people: “So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproaches me: for I trust in your word. And do not take the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in your judgments. So shall I keep your law continually for ever and ever. And I will walk at liberty: for I seek your precepts. I will speak of your testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.” We must boldly proclaim the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free. And having done all, stand. Daily Devotion: Growing Up Spiritually - by Greg Laurie – www.harvest.org Dear brothers and sisters, don’t be childish in your understanding of these things. Be innocent as babies when it comes to evil, but be mature in understanding matters of this kind. —1 Corinthians 14:20 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/growing-up-spiritually/ - Listen You can’t be a kid again. But in one sense, you can because the Bible teaches that, as Christians, we should be childlike in our faith. Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven” (Matthew 18:3 NLT). When I became a Christian, it was like a new world to me. I realized that I had so much to learn. I also realized that I really didn’t even know what I thought about so many issues in life, what really mattered, and what my priorities were. The apostle Paul urged the believers in Corinth, “Dear brothers and sisters, don’t be childish in your understanding of these things. Be innocent as babies when it comes to evil, but be mature in understanding matters of this kind” (1 Corinthians 14:20 NLT). There are some areas of the Christian life in which we should be childlike, in which we should be simple. We don’t need to know all the intricacies of evil and the way this world works. We need to maintain our dependence on God and be childlike in that way. On the other hand, there are areas in which we need to mature and grow. Of course, there is nothing wrong with being spiritual babies when we’re new in the faith. But as the years pass, we need to become spiritually mature. When we begin as Christians, when we put our faith in Jesus Christ, when we are born again, we start out as spiritual infants. This is true of every person, regardless of age. Everyone starts out this way in the faith. Some people were raised in the church and have always been familiar with the Bible, with worship, and with prayer. But at some point, they realized their walk with God needed to be their own, so they made their own personal commitment to the Lord. Others came in cold from the world. I was one of those people. I had no background in the church. I had no understanding of the Bible. And I had never worshipped God before. I knew nothing about prayer. I knew relatively nothing about Jesus. When we’re new in the faith, it’s all so different. It’s a bit of a mystery. That’s why we need people to help us acclimate. We need to learn how to start growing up spiritually. I like the questions that new believers ask. I like the statements they make. But best of all, I like their zeal. They’re excited about what Christ has done for them. A church that does not have a constant flow of new believers coming in will be a church that is stagnating spiritually. New believers need more mature believers to help them get grounded. And mature believers need new believers to help remind them of what really matters in life. We need to remain childlike with our excitement about our faith, but we also need to mature and grow spiritually. PROPHECY UPDATE NEWS HEADLINES Yesterday's Prophecies - Today's Headlines HEADLINES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TRACKING BIBLE PROPHECY 3/7/24 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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