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Appeasement vs Power: What Israel And The World Can Expect In The Near Future – By Amir Tsarfati - https://harbingersdaily.com/appeasement-vs-power-what-israel-and-the-world-can-expect-in-the-near-future/
(Galilee, Israel) — Shalom from the Jezreel Valley in Israel! Tuesday marked one month since the horrific events of October 7. The people of my country are still recovering, like trying to get your breath back after being punched in the stomach. We are wounded, we are mourning, we are reeling. What we are not is helpless. Hamas thought they could hit us hard enough to take away our spirit, our hope, our unity. They miscalculated, and now they are paying an extremely high price. Because one month has passed, I want to take this article to reset ourselves. I think it is necessary to not let time soften the sting of what took place. However, it is also important to look at where we are now, and to see what Israel and the world can expect in the near future. The Past On October 7 at 6:30 in the morning, more than 3000 Hamas terrorists and Gazan civilians crossed the border into Israel. They didn’t just have murder on their minds. They were also intent on committing torture, rape, and kidnapping. All four of their goals were accomplished in the most evil and horrific ways. We cannot forget the indiscriminate rape and slaughter at the music festival. We cannot let the stories of children tortured and killed in front of their parents, of a pregnant woman being torn open and a knife being plunged into her unborn child, of two stacks of ten children each who were set fire and burned alive, of husbands being forced to watch their wives being raped before they were executed with a bullet to their heads. Time can morph those actions into just a number – more than 1400 killed. That number is tragic, but it is clinical. We must never forget what that number represents – 1400 acts of the most barbaric evil this world has seen. We must also remember that there are at least 240 hostages still being held by Hamas and Gazan civilians. Many are children of all ages, even down to infants. Many are women, from teens on up. They are being brutalized beyond comprehension. I recently posted on my Telegram a Palestinian woman explaining how the Koran taught that female prisoners of war should be “humiliated” in the worst possible ways. When the hostages are finally freed, they will spend a lifetime processing through the trauma they have experienced. Once again I ask, if this had been done to your country, how would you expect your government to react? The Israeli leadership has responded by saying that those responsible will pay, and the military will ensure that our enemy is not around to do this again. That is what has been taking place in Gaza and on our northern border with Lebanon. The Present Of the billions of dollars that has been sent to Gaza for humanitarian relief, most of it has found its way into the pockets of Hamas’s leadership and into the vast tunnel system they built underground. What they created in their “city below the city” is really quite amazing, and I just wonder what sort of thriving society they could have right now if they had invested that money into their people and their culture rather than into their futile life’s mission to eradicate Israel. Currently, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has clamped tight their pincer strategy, effectively cutting Gaza in two. Having warned civilians to flee to the south out of harm’s way, they are now closing the circle they created around the Hamas headquarters. I can’t say it’s around the Hamas leaders, because they have been living in luxury hotels in Qatar and Turkey for years. The primary tunnels for Hamas’s headquarters are located in and around the al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. While the safest route for the IDF would be to drop bunker buster bombs on the site, that is not how they operate. As heinous as Hamas’s strategy is of using their own civilians as human shields, it is effective. So, the IDF is forced into a ground war that will do its best to target only terrorist combatants. This process is progressing well. When Hassan Nasrallah, leader of the terrorist group Hezbollah, announced that he was giving a speech last Friday, the Hamas leaders were hoping he would say they were joining the war. They were let down. While Hezbollah, guided by their Iranian masters, originally had every intention of being part of this invasion of Israel, Hamas jumped the gun and went out on their own. That brought in a complication that Hezbollah and its Lebanese terrorists hadn’t expected – the United States. A US carrier group off Lebanon’s shore has given Nasrallah great pause, which is evidenced by the fact that two-thirds of his speech focused on America. But Hezbollah has not given up on their plans. They are just waiting for the right time when they once again have the element of surprise. When Hamas first attacked, the world seemed to be with Israel. Of course, there were the usual hold outs, but a vast majority of nations condemned the attacks and sent condolences to the Jewish state. Two factors are changing that. First, there is time. The painful edge of the attack is dulling, and those who have always been anti-Israel are becoming emboldened to express their feelings once again. We see this in the United Nations. We see this in countries that are calling on Israel to pause the action in Gaza and to reconsider the proportionality of their military response. I would like to know what the proportional response is to two piles of small children who were burned alive. The proportional response to evil of that sort is to remove the evil once and for all. That is the commitment that Israel’s leadership has made to their people. And it is a commitment that they will likely pay for in condemnation from much of the world. Already Israel has been falsely accused of bombing a hospital in Gaza. Nations across the globe rushed to condemn this heinous action of the IDF. But then the source of the explosion was proven to be one of Hamas’s own rockets. Then, on Tuesday, the United Nations Relief and Workers Agency (UNRWA) accused Israel of killing 66 innocent civilians and injuring 540 more who they say were sheltering in UNRWA schools. But in the pictures accompanying their accusation, there were sinkholes that clearly showed collapsed Hamas tunnels underneath the United Nations sanctioned school. Hey UN, didn’t you know that locating military infrastructure under schools is an internationally acknowledged war crime? I guess we shouldn’t expect anything more from an organization that has named the Iranian ambassador to chair its Human Rights Council Social Forum. Lies and fabrications will continue to rain down from the global news media. Some will stick to Israel, and, when the layer of fake news has grown enough, the world will once again turn against the maligned nation. Other nations, particularly the United States, must recognize that a two-state solution is no longer on the table. If it had just been a rebel terrorist group from within Gaza, that would be one thing. But the attacking force was made up of members of Hamas, along with civilians who just happened to be nearby. When they were invited to come across the border and join in the atrocities, they did so with glee. That is because the Palestinians raise their children to be monsters. Those civilians joined in because they had been taught from the time they were young that one of the greatest things they could do for Allah is to violently kill a Jew. That is ingrained in the Palestinian population, and it will undoubtedly be passed on to the next generation. Having hundreds of thousands of people with that mindset living just beyond our border is untenable, as was evidenced on October 7. So, no, there will be no two-state solution. That ship has sailed. A recent development that is especially concerning is to see the way that Satan has gotten his foothold of antisemitism into the church. Click-bait conspiracies and unscriptural speculation is rampant from some pulpits and throughout social media. I can’t tell you how many people have asked me whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu conspired with the United States to carry out the October 7 attacks. This is not only ludicrous, it is appalling. And, no, I am not going to spell out exactly why this is so asinine for the same reason I do not waste time proving that 9/11 was not an inside job and that people actually walked on the moon. Anyone spreading these antisemitic lies should be ashamed of themselves and should repent immediately. Antisemitism is already strong enough in western cultures without the help of the church. Jews are being attacked and beaten in the streets. Some businesses have started to ban Jews, and Stars of David are beginning to appear spray-painted on Jewish-owned houses and stores. Pro-Palestinian marches and rallies are really more anti-Jew than anything else. So much of the ignorance that is leading to these mass protests originates in western academia and mosques. It is only going to get worse, and eventually governments are going to have to deal with it – particularly in Europe where the Muslim population is greater and more militant. The other major factor in the growth of antisemitism is the press. They have already shown their bias to a shocking degree. We are so used to seeing pictures and video of events as they happen, that sometimes we forget to ask who is behind the camera. Much of the photographic evidence taken of the atrocities on October 7 was done by Hamas members. However, we have now learned of four photojournalists who were embedded with Hamas on that day. These men who worked for AP, Reuters, CNN, and the New York Times were well-positioned to document the terrorists as they broke through the border fence, raided the Israeli villages, tortured and murdered innocent civilians, and carried away hostages and dead bodies. The fact that these morally bankrupt voyeurs kept their cameras to their eyes but their phones in their pockets is nothing short of complicity. The silence of the news media giants who excitedly published the pictures coming in from these men, knowing full well their situational provenance, makes them equally as guilty of collaboration. This is the media that the world turns to for truth about Israel. The Future Israel will fully deal with Hamas. In the same way Operation Wrath of God ensured that everyone involved in the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre was permanently dealt with, each member of the Hamas leadership has a date coming with either the IDF or the Mossad. Hamas, as a terrorist organization, will cease to exist. Hezbollah will also be forced to back down. I hope that it can be done the easy way with them pulling back from the border and dismantling their armaments. But if Hezbollah insists on doing it the hard way, the IDF will do whatever it takes to ensure Israel’s safety. Finally, there will come a time when Israel exacts its punishment against Iran. They were the masterminds behind all that has taken place, and they must learn that planning, ordering, and funding that kind of terror comes with a very high price. It is likely that the U.S. will get drawn deeper into Syria and Iraq. I am amazed at how little uproar is being caused within America over the constant attacks on their bases in the Middle East. U.S. soldiers are experiencing grievous wounds, and I’m wondering where the response is. It is as if this current administration is so desperate for a new deal with Iran that they are willing to ignore the fact that the ayatollahs are ordering their proxy militias to send rockets and suicide drones into American military bases. In the Middle East, we do not speak a language of appeasement but of power. The U.S. needs to show their strength in Syria and Iraq or the attacks will only intensify. As time goes on, the Russia/Iran/Turkey alliance will only grow stronger. We know this because of what we see in the geopolitical world and what we read in Ezekiel 38. I think it is also very likely that the timeline is growing shorter for China attacking Taiwan. Overall, we can expect to see evil increasing around the world. For instance, just in the last few days the Muslim extremist Janjaweed militia massacred nearly 800 tribal people, mostly teenagers, in the Geneina area of Darfur, Sudan. Where are the BBC and the New York Times? Where are the marches for these victims? This article has been necessarily gloomy because it is a dark time in our world. But we know that it can never grow so dark that God’s light ceases to shine. As believers, it is our role to pray for Israel. We are to love that which God loves, and God still loves the Jewish people, as rebellious as they may be at times. He holds in His heart the ultimate example of what a Father’s love should be for a wayward child – passionate, unwavering, disciplinary when necessary, and never-ceasing. When will the Biden Administration and The Mainstream Media Admit That the U.S. Is Already at War with Iran? - by Michael Snyder - http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/when-will-the-biden-administration-and-the-mainstream-media-admit-that-the-u-s-is-already-at-war-with-iran/ If someone attacks your troops 46 times in less than a month, you are at war with them. But the Biden administration certainly does not want to admit that we are at war with Iran. We are heading into an election year, and many Americans don’t want to hear that we are involved in yet another war in the Middle East. The mainstream media isn’t telling us the truth either. Even though U.S. troops in Syria and Iraq have now come under fire 46 times since October 7th, the mainstream media continues to insist that we aren’t actually “at war” with Iran. But how can they say that? Following the terror attacks of October 7th, Iranian-backed groups attacked U.S. troops more than two dozen times in Syria and Iraq. So the Biden administration conducted a couple of airstrikes, and they were hoping that this would be enough to get the terrorists to back off. But that didn’t work. Instead, Iranian-backed groups just kept on attacking U.S. bases. So now the U.S. military has conducted another “self-defense strike”. The following comes directly from a statement that was just released by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin… Today, at President Biden’s direction, U.S. military forces conducted a self-defense strike on a facility in eastern Syria used by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and affiliated groups. This strike was conducted by two U.S. F-15s against a weapons storage facility. This precision self-defense strike is a response to a series of attacks against U.S. personnel in Iraq and Syria by IRGC-Quds Force affiliates. The President has no higher priority than the safety of U.S. personnel, and he directed today’s action to make clear that the United States will defend itself, its personnel, and its interests. Please go back and read the highlighted portion of that paragraph again. We hit a base that is “used by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps”. In other words, this is a facility that is used by Iranian troops. Of course this strike didn’t work either. In fact, U.S. troops have already been attacked “multiple times” since then… U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria were attacked multiple times by Iranian-backed proxies in the 24 hour period after U.S. forces conducted airstrikes against an Iranian-linked facility in Syria. Three U.S. troops were injured in the four attacks, one against U.S. troops in Iraq and three in Syria, that occurred following the U.S. strike on Wednesday, deputy spokeswoman Sabrina Singh told reporters. Overall, U.S. troops in the region have now been attacked a total of 46 times by Iranian-backed groups… U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria that are there to counter ISIS have been attacked 46 times by Iranian proxies in the region since Oct. 17. U.S. and coalition forces have been attacked 24 separate times in Iraq and 22 separate times in Syria by a mix of one-way attack drones and rockets, Singh told reporters. And we are being told if these attacks continue that the U.S. “won’t hesitate to take further necessary measures to protect our people”… “If these attacks continue against our personnel,” Singh added, “we won’t hesitate to take further necessary measures to protect our people and to do so at a time and place of our choosing.” Needless to say, the attacks are going to continue. And so the U.S. will be forced to hit back again and again. This is what war looks like. Meanwhile, the battle inside Gaza City has been heating up… Israeli troops are locked in brutal close quarter warfare with Hamas on the streets of Gaza, with military officials claiming their troops toppled one of the Palestinian militants’ ‘strongholds’ this morning after a gruelling 10-hour-long battle. Hamas fighters armed with rocket-propelled grenade launchers and assault rifles fired on Israeli soldiers backed by armoured vehicles in the ruins of the besieged territory’s north. Broken palm trees, mangled road signs and twisted lampposts marked the remains of what was once north Gaza’s main road, as Israeli tanks and APCs trundled south to enter Gaza City. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appears to be very pleased with the progress that the IDF is making. During a nationally televised speech on Tuesday, he declared that “thousands of terrorists above and beneath the ground” have already been wiped out… The Israel Defense Forces has already killed “thousands of terrorists above and beneath the ground” in the Gaza Strip, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a prime-time televised speech on Tuesday. “In the south, the war in the [Gaza] Strip is progressing with a force that Hamas has never known,” said Netanyahu, speaking exactly 30 days after Hamas’s Oct. 7 massacre in southern Israel. “Since the beginning of the ground maneuver, we have destroyed countless Hamas headquarters, tunnels, bases and facilities. We are reaching places that Hamas never thought we would reach,” he continued as he praised the “unparalleled fighting spirit” of the IDF. Hamas is clearly in very big trouble. So how long will Hezbollah wait before making a big move against Israel? That is a question that a lot of people are asking right now. There have been reports of troop mobilizations, and Hezbollah officials have pledged not to let Hamas get completely wiped out. But launching an all-out attack on Israel would definitely spark an absolutely overwhelming response. And those that are running Hezbollah understand this very well. The war in the Middle East has caused global events to go into overdrive. I literally had my brand new book entitled “Chaos” almost completely ready for publication, but then the war in the Middle East erupted and I had to edit a bunch of chapters and add a significant amount of new material. So that is the primary reason why the release of the book was delayed. This is the great war in the Middle East that we have been expecting. Right now, it is still in the early chapters, and it will get a lot more intense. The U.S. is already deeply involved in this war, but most Americans have no idea what is really happening on the other side of the globe. 2023 End of the Year Support Donation Drawing Like most ministries, a large amount of our support comes from people giving during the last couple of months of the year. This year has been challenging for all of, but I believe that Prophecy Update and other like minded ministries are needed now more than ever! Please consider entering our drawing, not only might you win this brand new iMac, but more importantly, you will be helping to support Prophecy Update - thank you so very much!!! A Chance to Win a Brand New 24-inch iMac with Retina 5K display -- most importantly, you will be helping to Support Prophecy Update! With the following configuration: · 3.8GHz 8-core 10th-generation Intel Core i7 processor, Turbo Boost up to 5.0GHz · 8GB 2666MHz DDR4 memory · Radeon Pro 5500 XT with 8GB of GDDR6 memory · 1TB SSD storage · Gigabit Ethernet · Magic Mouse 2 · Magic Keyboard - US English This system is valued at $2,499, and you might win, for a little as $25!!! It's already that time of the of the year when we have to start budgeting and planning for the coming new year! We pray that the proceeds from this Donation Drawing will greatly offset our End of the Year needs so that we can end the year in the black! Donation Drawing Fund We have set up a special fund for this donation-drawing on our donations page. For each donation of just $25, your name will be entered into our drawing for the iMac one-time. For each additional $25 increment, you will receive additional entries into the drawing. If you donate $100 dollars for example, your name will be entered four times into the drawing, you can enter as many times as you like! The offer starts today and the drawing will be held and announced on 12/31/23. This would make an excellent Christmas gift for a student, for your family, or for those who work from home. For a little as $25, you might win this awesome iMac, but most importantly, you will be helping to support this ministry! (CLICK HERE TO ENTER DRAWING) You can also mail in your entry to: PROPHECY UPDATE PO BOX 40516 BAKERSFIELD, CA 93384 (Please mark entry "End of the Year Drawing") 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 10 signs of the lack of a biblical worldview - By Joseph Mattera - https://www.christianpost.com/voices/10-signs-of-the-lack-of-a-biblical-worldview.html Throughout the years, I have discovered that the average Christian and a large number of church ministers lack a biblical worldview (BWV). “BWV” refers to interpreting every aspect of life through the lens of Scripture, i.e., your view of politics, the sanctity of life, marriage, economics, education, science, and law derived from biblical principles. Here are 10 signs you might lack a biblical worldview: 1. Thinking that 'government' refers only to politics In asking Christ followers, “What is the first thing you think about when I say the word government?” Invariably, the typical answer is “the president, their governor or their mayor.” Basically, they think of a political leader. This is due to cultural brainwashing by humanism over the past hundred and 50 years. This humanistic belief is that civic government is solely responsible for caring for our every need. This contrasts the 19th-century definition in Webster’s dictionary for “government,” which relates to “individual responsibility,” not political leadership. When our view of government is only political, it reflects the dominance of secularism in our worldview. 2. Limited biblical knowledge The average believer has little to no biblical reference for anything other than individual promises of God. They may know passages on healing, prayer, financial blessing, and the like — but most have no biblical understanding of principles related to civic government, history, business, and economics. 3. The belief in big government as the solution for financial prosperity President Ronald Reagan stated: “Government is not the solution but the problem!” (Although, we need a civic government to ensure fair business practices.) The preponderance of Scripture outlines the primary responsibility of political leadership as being the protection of citizens and the provision of just laws ensuring equal opportunity (Deut. 16:16-20; Proverbs 8:15,16; Romans 13:1-7; 1 Timothy 2:1-4). In the Old Testament, healthcare, care for the poor, and business ventures were primarily facilitated by priests, families, and individual believers (Exodus 22:20-24; Deut.27:19; Isaiah 1:17; Zech.7: 9-10). (The onus of responsibility was on all the people, not just the kings and political leaders.) In the New Testament, the onus was on the church and families, not the civil government (Acts 2; Acts 42-46; 1 Timothy 5:3-11). 4. The lack of biblical application to your marketplace assignment Many Christ followers think the call to ministry is just for full-time or Sunday church leadership. The Scriptures instruct us that all believers were called and should be equipped for the work of the ministry in every walk of life, to fill the earth with the reign of God (Ephesians 4:10-12). 5. Thinking that civil government is responsible for the education of our children One of the greatest tragedies occurs when believers allow secular humanists in the public school system to train their children with a secular worldview. As Christ followers, we must critique and impact our public schools and instill biblical values in our children there and at home. Scripture puts the onus of education in the hands of parents (Deuteronomy 6:6-9; the whole book of Proverbs). 6. Thinking that the progressive tax structure is good Most Christians think it is okay for half of the population of the USA to get away with paying no income tax and for people to pay more taxes percentage-wise when they make more money. However, Scripture teaches a flat tax structure in which all people pay an equal share (the tithe and the poll tax for the sanctuary (Lev. 27:30-34; Numbers 18:21-26; Deut. 14: 28-29, Amos 4:-5; Matt. 23:23; Hebrews 7:1-2)). The prophet Samuel warned the Jews against any political structure that requires taxation equal to, or more than, the ten percent that God requires (1 Samuel 8). 7. Thinking that ministry should remain silent on social issues Upon examination, biblical leadership consistently addressed civic issues and public policy (Moses and all the major and minor prophets in the Old Testament; Jesus, John the Baptist, and the apostles Peter and Paul dealt with moral and political issues in their contemporary culture). It was only in 1954 that the “Johnson Amendment” was passed, mandating that churches refrain from engaging in politics from the pulpit. The overthrow of slavery, the enactment of protective child labor laws, women’s suffrage in the 19th century, and the civil rights movement in the 20th century are indebted to prophetic voices utilizing their pulpits. Consequently, the belief that ministry leaders and pastors should remain silent on social issues (elections, the sanctity of life, economics, health care, immigration, and public policy) demonstrates the lack of a biblical worldview. 8. The belief that Christians should separate their faith from public policy Many believe that in a pluralistic society, Christianity should be separate from policy as a privatized individual faith. However, all laws impose some moral compass or religious view on society. The fact that Jesus is the “King of Kings,” means that He is the Lawgiver for all nations and heads of state (Revelation 19:16). This obligates the Church to speak truth to power in every societal realm. 9. The celebration of 'worldly' or secular values Suppose a Christian’s views on marriage, life, sexuality, money, science, and ethics are essentially the same as contemporary culture. In that case, secularism has trumped a biblical worldview in their life. 10. Thinking that science and religion are opposed to each other Although the Bible is not a science book, it does not mean it is scientifically inaccurate. The primary purpose of Scripture is to give theological messaging related to identifying the true God, His Kingdom, and His plan for redemption. Thus, the creation story of Genesis was never intended to give a detailed scientific explanation to believers thousands of years into the future. That said, Scripture teaches us that God uses nature to declare His glory (Psalm 19; Isaiah 40:12-26; Romans 1:19-23). His supernatural act of creation is an event that cannot be explained by mere natural means or through empirical methods. When science becomes naturalistic, it forces an unnecessary bifurcation between faith and reason. Science can only discover a limited portion of the works of an omniscient, omnipotent, and eternal God whose glory transcends all humanity. We Need Each Other - Nathele Graham - twotug@embarqmail.com Times are rough and getting rougher. The entire world is facing horrendous turmoil, but Christians have answers. Or, should I say, we have access to the answers. Scripture is filled with prophecy, but too many Christians don’t bother to study. We seem more concerned with denominational teachings than what Scripture teaches, and we forget that we have a bond that is far beyond human understanding. We are bound together with our love for Christ. More importantly than that, we are bound by His love for us. At first there were just a few believers, but the numbers grew quickly. It was Peter who stood up on the day of Pentecost and gave a sermon that brought 3,000 men to faith in Jesus. Peter didn’t tickle any ears, but spoke truth and the results were amazing. “Now when they heard this they were pricked in their heart and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren what shall we do?” Acts 2:37. What would you tell them? This was all new ground for the Apostles. None of them had attended a denominational seminary, so they hadn’t been taught how to twist Scripture to make everybody happy. Peter and the others had been taught by Jesus, and now that people wanted to join the group, Peter needed guidance from the Holy Spirit. Peter’s words would set a precedent for generations to come. “Then Peter said unto them, Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” Acts 2:38-39. These were the first of many who have come to faith in Christ over nearly 2,000 years. Those years were filled with much persecution and turmoil, as well as joy and hope. The early Christians coped with difficulties because they pulled together more than modern Christians. “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship and in breaking of bread and in prayers..., And all that believed were together and had all things common. And sold their possessions and goods and parted them to all men as every man had need.” Acts 2:42 & 44-45. They needed each other, and modern Christians could learn from them. Many Christians in this world are facing tremendous persecution. Their lives are in danger and they have great need of our prayers. Even if we live in relative safety, there are still needs. There are brothers and sisters in your congregation who have lost loved ones and need someone to show compassion. I can tell you that from my own experience, when my husband died. He knew how to repair the roof and fix the plumbing, but I’m unable to make those repairs, and it would be helpful to have a Christian step in and help. There are many others with similar problems. To many, just a friendly smile would mean a lot. The first Christians truly cared for each other, but we seem to have lost the agape love that they had for one another. What has happened to make us stop caring? Life is very busy for most of us and we don’t have time to think of other people. If we look at the above verses, we see that they didn’t stray from the truth. There were no best-selling books with new ideas that contradicted what the Apostles taught; no purpose driven or new age teachings infiltrated the congregation. Those early Christians lost a lot by embracing Christ. Many were shunned by family and friends, and their businesses failed because their customers wouldn’t use their services. Their fellow Christians made sure everybody had what they needed to survive. We need each other today, just as our forefathers in the faith needed each other. Most of those early believers came from the Jewish community and had heard Jesus speak and saw His miracles. and had also seen Him crucified; they couldn’t un-hear or un-see what He had done. Some had seen the risen Christ. “And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: after that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.” 1 Corinthians 15:5-6. Paul wrote those words many years after the day Peter spoke on Pentecost, so those listening to Peter may have witnessed the risen Christ. The testimony the first believers had was tremendous, and their faith was unshakable. Those first believers learned directly from the Apostles. Peter had risen to leadership of the believers, and life was challenging for all who chose to follow the new Christian faith. The Temple had been the hub of life for the Jewish people. Friends were there, business deals were made, widows and orphans were cared for. Once Christ was embraced, they were no longer as welcome in the Temple, and many were rejected by family and friends. What could they do? Persecution was making life unbearable for anyone who professed Christ for salvation. Many were driven out of Jerusalem, but whether they fled or stayed, they needed each other. How did they survive? They depended on each other. They took care of each other, and if there was a need they made sure it was taken care of. Do we see that kind of brotherly love today? How many people in your congregation are hurting from the loss of a loved one? Do you take care of widows and orphans? If you sit in a Baptist church, do you care about the needs of people who sit in a Lutheran church? We are all one in the love of Jesus. “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling. One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” Ephesians 4:4-6. As Christians, we all belong to the family of God. Most people will help their own family members because they love them. That’s not a bad thing, but Christians are family and we need each other. I’m not promoting that we continually help someone who doesn’t even try to help themselves, but a smile will cost you nothing financially, and just might help a lonely Christian feel as if someone cares. Looking back to Acts 2:42, we see that the Christians didn’t deviate at all from the Apostles teachings. This is a huge problem today. How many times do you hear someone say “My Jesus wouldn’t….” or “My Jesus understands why I….”. There is only one Jesus, and His words and actions are found in Scripture. There isn’t a Jesus for me and a different Jesus for you. Those early Christians didn’t “go to” church. There was no church to go to! They met together daily and at homes and prayed together. Since they were steadfast in following the Apostles teachings, there was no denominational issues. There were no liberal congregations and not even the Apostles were lifted up above laity. Only Christ was worshipped. No, Peter wasn’t a pope and nobody was venerated more than anyone else. Early on, there was concern that some people weren’t cared for equally. “And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.” Acts 6:1. Believers were multiplying, and it seems there was some neglect. It was decided that seven men would be chosen, men who were full of the Holy Ghost and were wise, to be sure all were treated equally and received the help they needed. There had to be organization, but it was all done only after praying for guidance. I’m not sure how often today a pastor will pray about a need in the congregation, and seek God’s guidance. Do they first seek their denomination’s blessing, or do they seek God’s will first? I’ve also seen that many congregations spend much time and money caring for non-believers, while fellow Christians are left in need. In this day and age, much of the needs of people are turned over to the government. Welfare, food stamps, and other government programs fill the physical needs of people, but the spiritual needs are sorely neglected. Christians shouldn’t have to depend upon the Government for care, but Christians should also be the example of working for what we have, and helping our brothers and sisters who are in need. Christians need to exhort one another to be steadfast in following Scripture. In order to do that, we must fellowship with believers. Too many Christians think church on Sunday morning is enough fellowship with fellow Christians, and the really pious believers even attend Sunday evening and Wednesday services. That’s only man’s traditions. If you re-examine the verses in Acts 2 you’ll see a better picture of their fellowship. “And they continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart.” Acts 2:46. They did go to the temple, but they stayed together and weren’t drawn back into old ways. They needed each other. The writer of Hebrews addresses this issue. “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering (for he is faithful that promised:) and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is: but exhorting one another and so much the more as ye see the day approaching.” Hebrews 10:23-25. Assemble together with fellow Christians. Instead of spending your time with secular friends, share a meal with brothers and sisters. Instead of fellowshipping with CNN or ESPN, fellowship with your brothers and sisters in Christ. This verse says…”as ye see the day approaching.” What day? The day we will all be called Home. That day is approaching quickly. Things will continue to become more wicked and it will become more difficult to remain steadfast in our Christian walk. Public schools are the devil’s playground and it’s becoming illegal to voice a Christian point of view. That day is approaching and we need each other more and more. God bless you all, Nathele Graham twotug@embarqmail.com Recommended prophecy sites: www.raptureready.com www.prophecyupdate.com www.raptureforums.com All original scripture is “theopneustos” God breathed. If you would like to be on my mailing list to receive the commentaries just drop me an email and let me know. “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.” Psalm 122:6. Daily Jot: Special Report: The value of an egg to a hungry child - Bill Wilson – www.dailyjot.com Note from Bill: In this time of economic, political and medical disruption in our country, donations to this ministry have declined a bit. I was able to witness some of the food distribution by our ministry via WhatsApp to those where were affected by a devastating flood in Ghana’s Volta region. You cannot imagine not only the need, but the joy when even some of the need was met in a very small way. We were prepared for 300 meals, but 500 showed up, then another 200 and this heart-wrenching story illustrates the impact of even a dollar donation. Here’s Pastor William Agbeti’s report” Has it ever occurred to you that a single raw egg, neither cooked nor fried, would mean the world to someone? This was the stark-naked truth that hit us hard the weekend of November 4. It happened during one of our free meal distribution programs, as over 400 children literally scrambled over each other to each get one raw egg to take home! It was heartbreaking! The children have been affected by the recent Akosombo Dam spillage in the underserved community of Sokpoe, in the Volta Region of Ghana and our team had gone there to help. Liaising with a Reverend Minister in a local church, we got to know the needs of the community and set out on a long humanitarian journey to help provide their needs. We sent along 300 packs of hot meals, 300 bottles of locally prepared nutritious drinks, 20 bags of sachet water, 20 packs of bottled water and 20 crates of eggs. On an earlier visit in the previous week we donated a maxi bag of used jackets, some raw rice, pepper, Gari, mackerel, cooking oil and tomato paste, but that was woefully inadequate! The first journey was eye opening! It exposed us to the depths of the needs of the community. As we started distributing the hot meals, we realized we were going to have a situation on our hands, as more and children kept coming! Soon the 300 packs of meals and nutritious drinks were all gone! Many additional children kept coming and adults too! Then our local host suggested we should give out raw eggs to the children! I promptly objected, saying the children would break the eggs and that the eggs would not help them in any way! His response humbled me and opened my eyes to some deep realities in life! He said, “They will never break the eggs because it means so much to them!” He was right! Very right! The children held and protected the eggs so carefully. This made the proverbial advice to hold precious things like an egg, to instantly become so meaningful to me! Out of the 20 crates of eggs we sent, 15 crates representing over 500 eggs were handed to those who didn’t have any meals! The rest of the crates had to be kept for needy adults in the village. The reception given us by the community folks was awesome! They embraced us with gladness of heart and sang deeply touching songs of praises for the help they had received! Upon leaving the community, we could not help but faithfully promise that we would be back, not knowing what we were going to bring back or when! We are just trusting God and the support of faithful men and women to make a way in the “wilderness” we traveled to, as promised in His Word: “Behold, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs forth; do you not perceive and know it and will you not give heed to it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. (Isaiah 43:19). To the children, youth and elders in the community, God indeed has started a new thing, judging from our two visits and our promise to return! Daily Devotion: Things That Please God - by Greg Laurie – www.harvest.org Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name. And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God. —Hebrews 13:15–16 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/things-that-please-god/ - Listen Sometimes we’re not in the mood to praise God. We might not be feeling well. We might be dealing with a problem. Or we might have just had an argument with a family member. And then when we go to church, the singing starts and we just don’t want to sing. However, our worship is pleasing to God. Hebrews 13:15 says, “Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name” (NLT). That is why it’s called a sacrifice of praise. Yes, God can see our hearts. But God wants to hear it from our lips. It doesn’t matter whether we have any singing ability. Our worship pleases God. Another thing that pleases God is giving to the work of His kingdom. The apostle Paul wrote to the believers in Philippi, “I don’t say this because I want a gift from you. Rather, I want you to receive a reward for your kindness. At the moment I have all I need—and more! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God” (Philippians 4:17–18 NLT). Some people get uptight in church when an offering is received. Yet the Bible promises God’s blessing if we will give to the Lord. Jesus said, “Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back” (Luke 6:38 NLT). We cannot outgive God. It is a privilege. It is a joy. And it pleases God when we invest in His kingdom. It also pleases God when we are witnesses for Him. Every Christian is a witness. But before we can effectively witness for God, we must first walk with God. It is the overflow of our lives. For some Christians, it’s a big deal to talk about their faith. But if we’re walking with God and our lives are pleasing to Him, we will find that Jesus overflows into our lives. One of the greatest compliments a nonbeliever can pay a believer is when they say, “I don’t know what you believe. I don’t know what it is about you that makes you the way that you are. And I don’t know where you get this special something. But whatever it is, I want it.” That is when we can say, “Let me tell you about my faith in Jesus Christ.” I came to Christ because of the powerful testimony of a group of kids on my high school campus who truly knew what it was to walk with God. Before I heard a sermon, before anyone talked to me about my need for God, it was their lifestyle that got my attention. Would your lifestyle reach anyone? People are watching you. Are you being a positive witness for Jesus Christ? PROPHECY UPDATE NEWS HEADLINES Yesterday's Prophecies - Today's Headlines HEADLINES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TRACKING BIBLE PROPHECY 11/10/23 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: prophecyupdate@bak.rr.com 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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