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Why Knowing The Imminency Of The Rapture Is So Critical For Believers – By Jonathan Brentner - https://harbingersdaily.com/why-knowing-the-imminency-of-the-rapture-is-so-critical-for-believers/ Imminency. It tells us we live on the edge of eternity. The Rapture might happen at any moment. However, as the moments become days and then weeks, months, and years, we struggle to maintain our eager anticipation of Jesus’s appearing. Many of us wonder how much closer we will get to the start of the Tribulation before He comes for us. We see so many biblical signs of the end times and yet we wait and wait. I know it’s not easy, not at all. The silence in most churches regarding our “blessed hope” makes our expectation all the more difficult to maintain. On top of that, many of our Christian friends and family members believe it’s irrational to regard the Rapture as something that might happen anytime soon or even in our lifetime. Many in our churches think we are crazy for believing that there is such a thing as the Rapture or a seven-year Tribulation. In spite of the long wait and scoffing that comes my way, I remain convinced that imminency is not only incredibly important for today, but also an essential aspect of our walk with the Savior. I say this for a variety of reasons. Imminency Copies the Expectancy Of The New Testament Saints When we view the Rapture as something that can take place at any time, we imitate the expectations of the New Testament saints. Just a cursory sampling of verses from the epistles confirm that they lived sense of imminency:
Early in his ministry, Paul believed that the Rapture might happen in his lifetime (1 Thessalonians 4:17; 1 Corinthians 15:52). How is that possible apart from believing it could happen at any moment? We also see this any moment expectation of Jesus’ return for His Church reflected in The Didache, a short document from the early church. Scholars believe its words date back to the first century AD, but believe someone around AD 300 first compiled then into its current form. Imminency Results In A Closer Walk With Jesus The awareness that Jesus might come for us at any time results in a closer walk with Him. The Apostle John alludes to how this works in the words below: 1 John 2:28 KJV – “And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.” What’s the encouragement here for continuing to “abide” in Jesus? It’s the awareness that at any second we might find ourselves into the presence of our righteous Savoir. Does this not motivate us to promptly deal with bitterness, unforgiveness, anger, and other sins rather than let them gain a foothold in us (i.e., Ephesians 4:26-27)? Just a couple verse later, John writes that a focus on Jesus appearing produces greater purity in us: 1 John 3:2-3 KJV – “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” We won’t arrive at sinless perfection in this life, but the recognition that Jesus might come for us at any moment keeps us close to the Savior and quickly brings us back to Him when we stray from Him. This incentive is just one of the many benefits of watching for Jesus’ appearing as though it could happen at any minute. Imminency Helps Us Maintain An Eternal Perspective I remember waiting for Metro trains to arrive in Washington, D.C. Once the countdown for the next train’s arrival neared zero, I fixed my eyes on the tunnel at the end of the platform watching for its light to shine through the darkness. Likewise, the awareness that the Rapture might occur at any moment sets our hopes on eternal realities as nothing else can. Paul describes this perspective for us in 2 Corinthians 4:17-18: “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” Imminency provides us with an ongoing reminder that the things of this life are temporary and causes us to place a greater value or importance on eternal realities. The “no Rapture” message of our day harms many saints because it leads to a strictly earthbound perspective. As a result, believers plan years and even decades in advance with no thought that Jesus might intervene, or even that He might have other plans for them (see Proverbs 27:1; James 4:13-17). The setting of one’s future aspirations solely on earthly outcomes intensifies one’s feelings of frustration with the disappointments that surely from living in this vale of tears. Another benefit of living with a sense of imminency is that it puts our service for the Lord in a proper perspective. The thought that I might soon appear before the judgment seat of Christ provides the best remedy for my tendency to emphasize numbers over faithfulness. For me, there’s no better cure from adapting the world’s standards of success than my desire to hear these words in the near future, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.” Imminency Assures Us That God Will Judge the Wicked Because the imminency of the Rapture focuses my attention on Jesus’ appearing, it provides assurance that He will swiftly and justly deal with the wickedness and lawlessness that defines our world. Judgement will fall on the wicked shortly after Jesus takes us out of this world. It does not matter if the Lord calls me home before He comes for His saints; the fact that He will justly deal with the rabid violence, lawlessness, and overwhelming government corruption of our day calms my soul. I could not cope with the news that comes my way apart from knowing that He sees and will soon intervene in our world. One of the greatest illusions of our day is that of thinking the perpetrators of the prevalent anarchy and bloodshed of our day will escape accountability. The Rapture is coming soon and as a result, many of them will live to experience the Lord’s wrath both in this life as well as after they perish. Imminency. It’s become lost amid the popular “no Rapture” teaching the emanates from most pulpits today. As a result, a great many saints lack the needed eternal outlook to cope with the perilous times in which we live. Today’s rejection of the thought that the Rapture can happen at any time also makes believers easy prey for unbiblical motivations for walking closely with the Lord. Social media is full of works-based incentives for the Christian life. The lie that believers can walk away from their faith and thus lose their salvation is one such fashionable way of making the Christian life about the Law rather than grace. Our regeneration is permanent; it can never be undone by us or any other force. It’s God who declares us forever righteous. Who can bring any evidence before Him of which He did not know when He pronounced His verdict of “not guilty” over our entire lives? As eternally secure saints, we have many reasons to maintain a close walk with our Savior of which imminency is not the least of such incentives. We truly live on the edge of eternity. The multitude of signs we see today cannot be mere coincidences. Jesus is coming soon and after He takes us safely to glory, His wrath will fall on today’s perpetrators of the ungodliness that’s running rampant in our world. The 5 Year Countdown to Bring About Global Digital ID & Digital Currency – Patrick Wood - https://www.prophecynewswatch.com/article.cfm?recent_news_id=6807 Dozens of national governments are joining with the United Nations and billionaire population-control fanatic Bill Gates on a global program to impose "digital public infrastructure" (DPI) on their citizens within five years. This "DPI" includes central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), digital identification, comprehensive data systems, and more, all functional across national borders. The new scheme, unveiled late last year and moving ahead rapidly, is known as "50 in 5" because 50 governments expect to have the Orwellian "digital infrastructure" of tyranny in place within five years. Almost a dozen governments, including numerous corrupt kleptocracies and socialist regimes, have volunteered their populations to serve as "First Mover" countries so far. However, the UN's assumption is that every government will eventually impose this on every person on Earth. This is clearly expressed throughout its announcements. "All countries, regardless of income level, geography, or where they are in their digital transformation journey, can benefit from being a part of 50-in-5," the UN agency behind the scheme declared. "Joining the campaign helps ensure countries don't have to tackle DPI implementation alone or start from scratch." Led by the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the new "digital infrastructure" is being framed as a tool to accelerate the imposition of the highly controversial UN's 2030 Agenda "Sustainable Development Goals," referred to in 2015 by key UN leaders as the "Master Plan for Humanity." The SDGs, as they are known, call for global wealth redistribution and drastically more government power over people's lives at all levels. China has boasted of playing a "crucial role" in developing the plan. Gates celebrated the role of these technologies in imposing the UN SDGs on humanity. "The G20 reached a groundbreaking consensus on the role of digital public infrastructure as a critical accelerator of the Sustainable Development Goals," he said on X. "I'm optimistic about the potential of DPI to support a safer, healthier, and more just world." The whole program is being guided by the UN and elitists including Gates and others such as the Rockefellers, longtime financiers of globalism, eugenics, and population-control schemes. Multiple front groups steered by such "controligarchs" were created for the purpose. But U.S. and European taxpayers are being conscripted to foot much of the bill via UN agencies and international "development" banks. If not stopped, critics say the new suite of "digital public goods" and "infrastructure" will create a technological panopticon allowing for total surveillance and control of all people everywhere. Indeed, as the 2030 Agenda makes clear, "no one will be left behind." Once in full swing, literally every transaction would be tracked, monitored, and controlled. UN bureaucrats put a happy face on the program. "For UNDP, a DPI approach that combines people-centric governance is critical to ensure that this new infrastructure can accelerate the [2030 Agenda] SDGs," argued Keyzom Ngodup Massally, head of digital programs at UNDP. "This country-led 50-in-5 campaign is a core part of how UNDP continues to support meaningful global digital cooperation and strengthens local ecosystems to design and implement rights-based DPI." Already, virtually all national governments and central banks around the world are working on central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), according to the Bank for International Settlements in Switzerland that is helping to guide and coordinate the rolling out of such currencies worldwide. As cash is sidelined and then disappears, CBDCs will create a permanent record of all transactions. Perhaps even more troubling, the digital currencies will also be programmable, leading experts and officials say. That will allow governments an unprecedented degree of control over the economy and individual decisions of consumers. In fact, the Biden White House has even called for CBDCs to advance "racial equity" and "environmental priorities." Leading luminaries have called for them to track individual carbon footprints, too. Along with CBDCs, governments around the world are rolling out digital IDs to go with them. The Australian Senate just voted to approve such a system last week. Multiple American state governments, including some controlled entirely by Republicans, are pursuing similar schemes. And various organizations associated with Gates, the Rockefeller dynasty, and the UN have been promoting such IDs for years, including through groups such as ID2020. Ultimately, the digital IDs and CBDCs will become inseparable. The Financial Times discussed the relationship between all the different systems in the digital infrastructure system in a 2021 piece headlined "Why CBDCs Will Likely Be ID-based." It reveals how CBDCs and digital IDs can (and will) be used together to ultimately control people. "What CBDC research and experimentation appears to be showing is that it will be nigh on impossible to issue such currencies outside of a comprehensive national digital ID management system," wrote FT's Izabella Kaminska. "Meaning: CBDCs will likely be tied to personal accounts that include personal data, credit history and other forms of relevant information." Eventually, healthcare will become intertwined with all of it, as CCP-backed World Health Organization boss (and former ethno-Marxist terrorist leader) Tedros Ghebreyesus explained. "The COVID19 pandemic highlighted the value of digital health solutions in facilitating access to health services," he declared before touting COVID "vaccine passports" imposed by the European Union. The WHO is now using the EU's system to design a similar regime for all of humanity. Top globalists have hinted at where this is all going. "The trick is to build public digital infrastructure, that is interoperable, open to all and trusted. Let me give you one example that is reality today," said EU "President" Ursula von der Leyen at the G20 summit in September. "Many of you are familiar with the COVID-19 digital certificate. The EU developed it for itself. The model was so functional and so trusted that 51 countries on 4 continents adopted it for free." A social-credit score whereby each individual receives a rank based on his or her compliance with technocrats' demands is essentially inevitable under this regime as well, critics say. "Advocates are adamant that DPI is essential for participation in markets and society -- just like we saw with vaccine passports -- only on a much broader scope," explained The Sociable editor Tim Hinchliffe, one of the first to sound the alarm. The potential for control, he continued, is almost endless. "If successful, DPI will give governments and corporations the power to implement systems of social credit that can determine where and how you can travel, what you are allowed to consume, and how you will be able to transact with your programmable money," added Hinchliffe. Of course, this sort of system already exists in Communist China, something The New American has been warning about for almost a decade. The CCP serves as a "role model," according to World Economic Forum boss and Great Reset frontman Klaus Schwab and countless other globalists. And so, it is only a matter of time before such a regime is eventually unveiled in the West without massive opposition. Tracking children is a the top of the priority list, according to the WEF, as the data gathered is used to make decisions for people. "Fundamentally, a digital public infrastructure is about enabling data to flow seamlessly across sectors and systems, thereby enabling data-driven decision-making and policies," the globalist organization says in a piece about tracking children with DPI. The "Digital Public Infrastructure" will also fuel increasing restrictions on everyday life, including on movement amid the emergence of 15-minute cities. It will be used to impose all sorts of mandates, including "lockdown" policies under pretexts ranging from alleged "public health" emergencies to supposed man-made "climate change," opponents are warning, citing statements by the peddlers of these systems. But it gets weirder. At the end of what Schwab describes as the "Fourth Industrial Revolution," there will be a "fusion of our digital, our physical, and our biological identities," the German technocrat has said on multiple occasions. The full implications of that vision have not been worked out, but Schwab himself frequently promotes microchips to be implanted inside of human brains, among other transhumanist schemes. The "50 in 5" campaign for DPI officially launched late last year in New York. It aims to "radically shorten" the length of time that it would take to digitize everything from identification to currency. That will happen through collaboration between the UN and governments as they share technology to eventually create an interoperable system in at least 50 countries by 2028. The whole world is expected to follow suit. In addition to the UNDP, the Gates Foundation, and the governments that have already signed up, a wide array of AstroTurf groups and UN agencies is also involved -- many of them funded by governments as well as profiteers such as Gates and his technocratic allies. These include UNICEF, the Inter-American Development Bank, the Centre for Digital Public Infrastructure, and the Digital Public Goods Alliance. The first governments to jump on the bandwagon -- most with promises of "free" money extracted from Western taxpayers -- include Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Moldova, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, and Togo. A handful of wealthier governments, including those in Norway and Singapore, have also signed on. "These countries serve as beacons of progress and inspiration for countries to build their own digital foundations and improve their economies and the well-being of people," claimed the UNDP in a press release announcing the first 11 governments to participate in imposing these digital surveillance and control tools on their populations. By bringing 50 governments into the program, the UN is hoping each one can focus on one area or element of the "DPI" scheme. Then, each government will share what it learned with other governments, so the digital surveillance and control architecture can be imposed faster and in a way that transcends national borders. 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 Abraham’s Plea and Today’s America – Terry James - https://terryjamesprophecyline.com/2024/04/07/abrahams-plea-and-todays-america/ America, it seems to me, has reached a point of depravity not far distant from the level of wickedness reached in the city in which Abraham’s nephew, Lot, chose to live. We’ve looked at the Sodom-likeness of our own nation a number of times in these commentaries. But never before has such a degree of Sodom-likeness materialized, in my view. This observation gives me no pleasure to report. However, the accumulating facts are what they are, and to be true to what we believe the Lord has put us here to do –bring His Truth, found in His Holy Word, to bear—we can do no more or less than report what is happening in our beloved nation. We start with Abraham’s initial question: What if 10 can be found? Genesis chapter 18. When the aged patriarch, Abraham welcomed strangers as they approached his home, he soon recognized these were not ordinary men but Heaven-sent beings in the form of men. As two of the men were ready to depart to go to Sodom where Abraham’s nephew and family lived, the third stayed to talk with the old man. “And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know” (Gen 18:20-21). So Abraham now recognized the third being as being God Himself in human form. Undoubtedly, Abraham knew of the wickedness of the twin cities of Sodom and Gomorrah because he knew what the Lord would find there and feared the punishment to follow. Abraham appealed for God to have mercy on the inhabitants of Sodom. “But Abraham stood yet before the LORD. And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?” (Gen 18:22-24). We know from this account that the Lord agreed that if 50 righteous people could be found, He would spare the city of Sodom His Judgment. Then Abraham kept asking if the Lord would spare Sodom if 40, then 20, then 10 righteous could be found. At this point, Abraham realized Sodom’s fate was sealed, apparently so incorrigibly wicked had the people become. We can only imagine, from this account, the degree of debauched comportment the people of Sodom had reached. But the news of the wickedness in the twin cities was so great, it was known by Abraham and doubtless all who lived in the region round about. Certainly, reports of the wickedness had reached into Heaven to the degree that God Himself, like in the matter of the Tower of Babel, came down to see exactly how great was the evil of the cities. God, of course, knew, as He knows all things, but apparently, He wanted Abraham –and those of us today who are believers, to know that His Judgment, when it comes, is not without His complete Knowledge and Consideration. He Intervenes directly into the affairs of mankind with Judgment and Wrath only when there is no other recourse. That is when such Intervention is the only hope for saving man from his own destructive behavior. And this brings us to the title of this article: Abraham’s Plea and America. Many of those who observe things going on in America at this moment –including yours truly—wonder just how close is the nation to bringing about, because of anti-God activity, God’s catastrophic Judgment of the type suffered at the time of Babel and during Lot’s time in Sodom. Many –even believers– today would scoff at even the thought of linking America to the type of wickedness the Bible reports as having been taking place in Sodom and Gomorrah. And most people don’t believe this really took place, at any rate. There just is no evidence either of the historical fact of Sodom’s destruction or that the United States is as wicked as was the “fabled” city of Sodom, the majority might declare. Recent archeological digs in the region below the Dead Sea, however, have changed the fable of Sodom to almost without question a historical fact. So we look to the situation in America at this moment in time to try to ascertain if there are similarities to the days of Lot to things going on in America. Articles such as the following excerpt report on an hour-by-hour news cycle basis cultural and societal debauchery legislated into U.S. law –and even worse. A sprawling, $1.2 trillion government funding bill includes funding for abortion facilities, as well as LGBTQ activist centers that carry out transgender injections, target minors, hold drag shows, and help illegal immigrants who identify as gay or transgender gain U.S. citizenship — a bill one congressman calls “a total, total abomination.” The “Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024” funds the Departments of Defense, Education, Health and Human Services (HHS), Homeland Security (DHS), Labor, and State until the end of the fiscal year, September 30. Congressional leadership released the text of the 1,012-page bill at 2:30 a.m. Thursday, giving members of Congress just hours to read before an anticipated vote to head off an impending government shutdown at midnight Saturday. As of this writing, the bill contained the following earmarks: $400,000 requested by Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.) for Briarpatch Youth Services in Fitchburg, Wisconsin. The group promises to hide minors’ struggle with gender dysphoria from their parents while indoctrinating teens in extreme gender ideology. Its “Queer 101 Training” promises to teach “an intersectional understanding on queer oppression” and aims “to demonstrate how limiting the ‘male’ and ‘female’ binary is.” The organization offers “individual counseling services” for children “ages 12-17,” in which a “[counselor can work with children on exploring identity, resiliency, and creating a Gender Support Plan for school support and advocacy.” The group’s website says, “Youth do NOT need parent/guardian permission to join Teens Like Us. We understand not all youth are at a point in their lives where they can safely and confidently ‘come out.'” (Emphasis in original.) Source: Total Abomination: $1.2 Trillion Bill Funds Teen Trans Programs, Abortion to 22 Weeks – The Iowa Standard, By Ben Johnson, The Washington Stand The above story is but one small segment of the voluminous reports recording America’s free fall into Sodom-like culture. It seems to me that God is expressing His warning of impending Judgment on this most materially blessed nation in all of human history. The destruction of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, named, of course, after the author of America’s National Anthem, I sense, is not mere coincidence. I fear even more dramatic forewarnings of national Judgment is in the offing. Jesus, again, Foretold as recorded in Luke 17:28-30 that His next catastrophic Intervention will be exactly like it was in the days of Lot in Sodom. Jesus, Who is God in His reincarnate form, said the following to Abraham, who was pleading for His Mercy in the city where his nephew Lot lived. “That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Gen 18:25). This gives me great hope. It makes me know that the Lord of Heaven, Who is the blessed hope of Titus 2:13, will spare the righteous –that is all Who have Trusted in Him for Salvation, which makes them Righteous in God’s Holy Eyes. You want to be part of the Righteous when the Lord Jesus Intervenes next in the wicked affairs of mankind. Here is how to be made Righteous in the Eyes of the Lord. “That if you will confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and will believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:9-10). Harsh Winds of Evil Are Blowing Across Our Nations… Don’t Miss Any Opportunity – By Dean Dwyer - https://harbingersdaily.com/harsh-winds-of-evil-are-blowing-across-our-nations-dont-miss-any-opportunity/ My wife tells wonderful stories of being raised on a steady diet of simple Sunday School songs that were not only doctrinally rich, they also stuck in your mind like glue. I didn’t encounter such songs until I was in my early 20’s but their simple message and catchy tune can bring a smile to a believer of any age. One of my early favourites was called “The Countdown Song”. In one of the verses, it reads: “Soon will the trumpet sound, and we’ll rise off the ground; with Christ forever will we be. Children, where will you be, throughout eternity? The countdown’s getting lower every day!” That song sums up a simple truth: the countdown is indeed getting lower every day. For believers, that is exciting. However, this leads (or should lead) to believers asking themselves a question. If the Lord will indeed catch His bride away soon, how should I be spending my days? Ephesians 5 leaves us in no doubt because verses 15 to 17 say this: “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” A similar admonition is given in Colossians 4:5: “Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.” In both passages, we see reference to a “walk”. In other words, how we live. In the Ephesians passage, the word “circumspect” comes from two Latin words that mean “looking around”. The term carries with it the idea of precision and accuracy. The opposite of that would be to walk carelessly and without proper forethought. In Australia, there is an expression we use that characterizes the laid-back nature of the country – “she’ll be right, mate”. In other words, somehow, somewhere, everything will work out and I won’t need to lift a finger to do anything. Perhaps that attitude may work for some people, but Paul would contend otherwise. If we are to walk earnestly in this Christian life, it must be with our eyes fixed on Jesus and our heart attuned to the will of God. Sadly though, we see many believers who drift through life, never really making the most of opportunities to live for Christ. I mention the word “opportunity” for good reason. Do you notice the word “port” in the middle? That should give you a clue as to its origins. The word “opportunity” comes from an old Middle French term (“opportune”) which hails from a Latin word (“opportunus”) which literally means: “toward the port”. It was a term used by sailors to describe that time when the wind changed its direction and started to blow towards the port. This was the time when it was most favourable to steer the ship into the harbour. The ship’s captain would have needed to develop the skills of navigation, vision, communication and leadership in order to take full advantage of the winds of opportunity. Today, spiritually speaking, we also see winds blowing. However, they are not necessarily refreshing winds, but harsh winds of evil that are blowing across our nations. Perhaps we feel victimized by them, particularly if those winds are blowing believers into the fires of persecution, suffering and evil. But just as the ancient sailor waited for his “opportunity”, what if this is ours? Because of the prevalence of evil in Paul’s day (and ours) the danger is that the sight of evil may cool the love and diminish the zeal of the believer to contend for the faith and proclaim the gospel. Hence the need for a determined eagerness in the face of such winds. You see, the Greek word for “time” is referring to opportunities. In other words, be alert to God’s will and be ready to grab those opportunities when presented. Think of a shrewd merchant who sees opportunity for a profit and grabs hold of it. As C T Studd once said, “Only one life, ‘twill soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last.” But as the days roll on, I am sensitive to the fact that many are growing weary. We lift our eyes to the sky and wonder aloud, “How long, o Lord, how long?” In October 1968, the Olympic Games were staged in Latin America. It was one of the hottest afternoons of Mexico City when the men’s marathon started at 3pm. Out of the 74 participants, 17 could not finish the race. At 7pm that evening, almost an hour since all marathon runners had crossed the finish line of the 26-mile marathon, a lone runner emerged through the stadium gate. This man could no longer run, so he hobbled. Many spectators had since gone home, but some remained to witness Tanzanian runner John Stephen Akhwari cross the finish line in bad shape. Earlier in the race, he had fallen and hurt himself badly. He was bruised, bleeding and in significant pain from a knee injury. Considering the severity of his injuries, Akhwari was repeatedly asked to quit the race, but he rejected those pleas. When asked what on earth compelled him to continue even though he was in no condition to race, he replied: “My country did not send me 5,000 miles just to start the race; they sent me 5,000 miles to finish the race.” Dear believer, you were born for such a time as this. You may feel like that runner – alone, bruised, hurt, defeated, not knowing how on earth you are going to make it across that finish line. But God did not send you to this age so you could simply start the race and then quit. He sent you here so you could run the race He set for you and grab hold of the prize. So, the message is clear: fix your eyes on Jesus, take the opportunities presented and run, dear Christian, run. The finish line is just ahead. Daily Jot: Drastic change in US policy moves prophecy clock - Bill Wilson – www.dailyjot.com President Joe Biden siding with Islamic terrorists by demanding an immediate ceasefire by Israel at the threat of withholding American support is a drastic sea change in US Middle East policy that moves the end time prophecy clock ahead. The Biden threat gives the Hamas terrorist organization and its allies supported by Iran an upper hand in negotiating any hostage release. Moreover, it signals to the terrorist enemies of Israel that terrorism works and propaganda about humanitarianism takes precedence over the stated mission of wiping Israel from the face of the earth. This is nothing short of an apocalyptic event and a very public demonstration of worldwide anti-Israel sentiment. Biden had a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The White House released a statement which, in part read that Biden, “underscored that an immediate ceasefire is essential to stabilize and improve the humanitarian situation and protect innocent civilians, and he urged the Prime Minister to empower his negotiators to conclude a deal without delay to bring the hostages home. The two leaders also discussed public Iranian threats against Israel and the Israeli people. President Biden made clear that the United States strongly supports Israel in the face of those threats.” The win for Hamas here is that Biden is demanding an Israeli ceasefire, without any demands on Hamas. Hamas terrorists use ceasefires to rebuild their ranks and negotiate the release of known terrorists from Israeli prison. While Biden is decrying Israel’s lack of humanitarianism in prosecuting its war against Hamas, he is apparently ignoring how Hamas strategically places its terrorist forces and weapons in schools, hospitals, and populated civilian areas. Hamas intentionally wants to drive up civilian casualties to illicit emotional humanitarian support to end Israeli self defense efforts. Then the world forces Israel to cease hostilities. The terrorists rebuild and replenish their ranks by negotiating release of terrorists from Israeli prison, and the cycle starts all over again. The difference with this situation is that an American president is threatening support for Israel and his National Security Advisor is making statements claiming that it’s difficult to distinguish Israel from Hamas. Let there be clarity—there is no moral equivalence between Hamas and Israel. What Biden is doing is memorializing the Obama Middle East policy of advancing radical Islam. His recent actions embolden Israel’s enemies, which are both traditional and biblical. Biden wants Israel to cease military actions against a terrorist organization that, in line with Iran, wants to eradicate Israel and Jews. This signals to Israeli enemies that America no longer has the will to support Israel. This showing of weakness endangers both Israelis and Americans. It opens the door for advancing end time prophecy such as what is found in Zechariah 12:9 where the LORD says, “I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.” Biden is signaling to end time players like Iran, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Libya that he will bend to the terrorist enemies of Israel rather than do what is right and just. This is not a good sign for America. Sources: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/04/04/readout-of-president-joe-bidens-call-with-prime-minister-netanyahu-of-israel-3/ https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2024/04/04/white-house-difficult-to-say-how-close-israel-is-to-being-like-hamas/ https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2024/04/04/sanders-hamas-using-civilians-as-shields-is-perhaps-a-part-of-the-problem-not-the-real-problem/ Daily Devotion: Prayer and the Supernatural Realm - by Greg Laurie – www.harvest.org But he said, ‘No, don’t worship me. I am a servant of God, just like you and your brothers the prophets, as well as all who obey what is written in this book. Worship only God!’ —Revelation 22:9 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/prayer-and-the-supernatural-realm/ - Listen If an angel were to appear to you right now, no doubt you would be overwhelmed. In fact, you might even be tempted to fall down and worship him. This happened to the apostle John when, in Revelation 22, he saw an angel who gave him a message. John wrote, “I, John, am the one who heard and saw all these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me. But he said, ‘No, don’t worship me. I am a servant of God, just like you and your brothers the prophets, as well as all who obey what is written in this book. Worship only God!’ ” (Revelation 22:8–9 NLT). Notice what this angel said: “Worship only God!” In other words, “Keep your priorities straight, John. Don’t worship me. I am but the messenger. Worship God.” If an awe-inspiring angel were to appear before us, we would be inclined to believe just about anything he said. But let’s keep in mind that the Bible says even “Satan disguises himself as an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14 NLT). Not only do holy angels exist, but fallen angels exist as well. And a fallen angel can appear as an angel of light with a message that contradicts what the Bible teaches. This is why the apostle Paul wrote, “Let God’s curse fall on anyone, including us or even an angel from heaven, who preaches a different kind of Good News than the one we preached to you” (Galatians 1:8 NLT). In the Old Testament, we find a fascinating story that gives us insight into the way angels work. The prophet Daniel was praying, and the Bible tells us that God heard his prayer and dispatched an angel with a special message for him. But this angel was engaged in combat with a demon power for twenty-one days. The angel was unable to get through to Daniel with God’s message. But the angel went on to tell Daniel that one of the archangels, Michael, came to his aid (see Daniel 10:12–14 NLT). This indicates that in the angelic realm, both holy and unholy, there are rankings. Ephesians 6 points out, “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places” (verse 12 NLT). For example, the Bible refers to Michael as an archangel. Then there is Gabriel, who also may be a high-ranking angel because God sent him with a specific message for Joseph and Mary about the arrival of the Messiah. Daniel’s story teaches us that delays are not necessarily denials. So, the next time you ask God to do something for you, and it doesn’t happen as quickly as you would like, don’t assume it means that God is saying no. Who knows what’s going on in the supernatural realm? Who knows what’s taking place behind the scenes on your behalf? PROPHECY UPDATE NEWS HEADLINES Yesterday's Prophecies - Today's Headlines HEADLINES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TRACKING BIBLE PROPHECY 4/9/24 http://trackingbibleprophecy.org/birthpangs.php
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