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TODAY'S NEWSLETTER...
Watch – Warn – and Win Souls - By Charles Gray Adams Jr - https://www.raptureready.com/2022/04/29/watch-warn-and-win-souls-by-charles-gray-adams-jr/
God’s Word came to Ezekiel and informed him that he was appointed a watchman unto the house of Israel (Ezek 33). A watchman’s duty is to warn of imminent danger or else be guilty of the blood of those he failed to warn. Ezekiel was then given the task of warning the children of Israel by saying whatever he received from God in hopes that they would hear, repent, and thereby live. Once the people were warned, failure to turn from sin meant death to the wicked, which God takes no pleasure in (Ezek 33:11). Though this message was to Ezekiel and Israel, this same principle could be applied to all who see the sword coming upon the land. Perhaps this is why, everywhere you look, watchmen are warning of the coming Day of the Lord. In which, once the rapture takes place, those left on earth will enter into the darkest period ever to come upon mankind. Those who watch are warning because this period will be extremely difficult to live through. Obviously, the best way to live through this time, referred to as the Tribulation, is to repent right now and be absent from the earth during this awful time. Fortunately, God has already indicated a lack of pleasure in judging the wicked, as demonstrated by the fact that He provided a way for the Israelites to escape death by heeding His Word through the prophet Ezekiel. Likewise, He has made a way for those who now inhabit the earth to repent after hearing His Word from the body of Christ, which has been commissioned to preach the gospel to people of all nations until the end of the age (Matt 28). Therefore, as the warnings of the watchmen increase, the gospel message should also increase as the bad news of coming judgment is best followed by the good news of salvation. The Bad News Those who watch are keenly aware that the signs of the Tribulation are in view. Each day another piece of the end-time puzzle is assembled, and soon, like a thief in the night (1 Thess 5:2; 2 Pet 3:10), Jesus will retrieve His bride, and the Day of the Lord, otherwise known as the Tribulation, will commence. Many great works have demonstrated that the Day of the Lord is a period of time rather than a single day. With this in mind, this article will assume the position that the Day of the Lord is synonymous with the seven-year Tribulation period. In regard to the nearness of this very consequential time, my wife, who is also keenly aware of the imminency of the Tribulation, has often said, “The Tribulation is so near that the rapture is pressing up against it and bending it backward.” [1] Her evaluation is based upon the fulfillment of many prophetic signs including the spiritual condition of mankind. Indeed, this generation is perhaps the most selfish to ever live. Paul spoke of this selfishness as a sign of the perilous times of the last days (2 Tim 3). Once the Day of the Lord arrives, knowing what to do will become very difficult. Think about this for a second: because of the rapture, all righteous people (those made righteous by faith in Christ) will be gone, leaving only those who reject God. This means the people often turned to in difficult times — because they are the only ones who seem to always have their life in order, a side effect of loving Jesus — are nowhere to be found. Oh my, the sheer panic of it all. This is perhaps akin to what happened when Enoch was taken. He walked with God, which means he would have been wise beyond belief, and one day, no one could find him (Gen 5:24; Heb 11:5). Ironically, Enoch was taken before the flood, which came as a result of God’s seeing that “the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually (Gen 6:5).” [2] Enoch’s departure from earth, when men were becoming very wicked, is surely a typification of the rapture. Therefore, the destruction that followed, by way of the flood, is also meant to foreshadow the coming judgment, which is also global in scale. The devastation of this time period will be so complete that it should be avoided at all costs. Indeed, seven short years will be so full of havoc that men’s hearts will fail simply for what is coming upon the earth (Luke 21:26). Matthew chapter 24 and Luke chapter 21 are filled with information about the enormity of the coming, cataclysmic Day of the Lord. However, the book of Revelation tops the proverbial cake by relaying specific details of the coming judgments that God will impose on the unrepentant. Keep in mind, God is still holding out hope that some will repent as the seal, trumpet, and bowl judgments ravish the earth and all its inhabitants. This is made clear by the following passage: Revelation 9:20-21 “And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.” (emphasis mine) If things weren’t bad enough, in the midst of the Tribulation, Satan will lose the war in heaven and be cast down to the earth where, in great wrath, he will empower the antichrist to do his evil bidding. During this time, the slaughter of the dark ages will blush at the severity of the persecution on earth. [3] The false prophet will make sure of that as he directs those who reject Christ to mishandle those who come to know Jesus as the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). [4] Oh, by the way, this is all followed by eternal separation from God while suffering in the lake of fire (2 Thess 1:8-9; Rev 20:15). With all of this in mind, it is crucial to understand that this period is meant to end the reign of man on earth and usher in the reign of Christ. Therefore, trusting in anything other than Jesus is futile. Said another way, during this time, every known system, including the religious, will be vanquished and started anew under the leadership of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Jesus Christ. He will come to the earth at the very end of the Tribulation period to begin His millennial reign. This is where the good news comes in. The Good News Since this article is written before the rapture, the good news represents the gospel of Jesus Christ, which proclaims that Jesus paid the price for the salvation of any who believe in Him (Eph 1:7; Rom 8:1). The resultant loss of condemnation is the ice cream on top of the cake of salvation since the new believer instantly becomes part of the bride of Christ who awaits the bridegroom. [5] Sharing this good news is the job of the watchmen. You might be saying, at this very moment, that sharing the gospel is the job of every Christian. You are correct. The idea being presented here is that every Christian is called to the task of the watchman. Since every Christian is indwelt by the Holy Spirit, every Christian is part of the same body of Christ here on earth. Therefore, God has developed the greatest early warning system to ever exist. He has placed members of the body, as salt and light, throughout the entire world and in every facet of society. Over the last two millennia, God has utilized the body of Christ as the heralds of the spiritual kingdom of God, which is entered into by belief in the Son, Jesus Christ. As stated before, this great commission will not end for the church until the rapture. Now consider this. Because the church/bride is in tune with God through the Holy Spirit, she has a keen sense of where she is in terms of the end of her time on earth, for Scripture says: 1 Thessalonians 5:4 “But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.” Therefore, the entire bride is awakening to the fact that Jesus is coming very soon to take her to the Father’s house. Accordingly, in addition to sharing the gospel, she is now warning of the coming sword like never before. You see, for the bride, the coming sword means departure from the earth in the rapture. At the same time, it means the beginning of the Day of the Lord/Tribulation for those who refuse the gospel. The purpose of the Great Commission has always been the same as indicated by Jesus when He said He was sending the Apostle Paul in order to: Acts 26:18 “Open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.” The mission assigned to the church/watchmen has never been more crucial, as it is no longer just the approaching death of an individual that prohibits future hearing of the Word of God; it is now also the rapture that is increasingly imminent. Once this takes place, the watchman’s task of sharing the gospel while warning of the impending judgment of the coming Tribulation will cease, and those who rejected the truth will, over time, realize just what they missed. If you happen upon this article after the rapture, read the article “Open Letter to Those Who Miss the Rapture.” [6] If you have missed the rapture, you have now become the watchman and witness of your day, and the good news shifts to the fact that Jesus is coming again, to the earth, at the end of the Tribulation: Revelation 19:11-16 “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. “And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” As previously stated, the time until Crist’s return will be most difficult to navigate. You will not be alone, as the two witnesses will be present in the first half of the Tribulation, and many will come to know Jesus during this time. The Bible will be your greatest physical resource. Finding one will be much easier in the very beginning stages of this time; just go to the home of the raptured; they will have left behind Bibles and study materials. While these physical resources are invaluable, there is one thing that is even more crucial, and that is listening to the Holy Spirit. He will lead you into all truth and tell you what is to come (John 16:13). Some would argue this last point because they equate the removal of the restrainer with the removal of the Holy Spirit at the very beginning of the Tribulation. However, the simplest way to understand this is to realize that while the Holy Spirit will stop restraining evil, He will not leave the earth, else none would be saved during the Tribulation, and Scripture clearly indicates that many will be saved during this period: Revelation 7:9 “After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands.” Revelation 7:13-14 “And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” Revelation 15:2 “And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.” Watch and Warn Until Departure Long ago, the Army used the following proclamation during bayonet training: “Stay Alert – Stay Alive.” This ensured the soldier remained on high alert when the battle was close. This same attitude is most appropriate for this moment in history. Soon the Son of Man will come for His bride, and we want to be very sure we are ready. In fact, the Lord said when we see the things we are seeing begin to happen, we are to look up, for our redemption is drawing nigh (Luke 21:28). Meanwhile, we also want to make sure we are sharing the gospel with as many as possible and warning those within our spheres of influence about the coming sword of the Day of the Lord. Their only hope stems from our doing what the Lord has commissioned us to do, and that is to share Him. After all, faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of the Lord (Rom 10:17). Conclusion Watchmen are watching and warning like never before. This is good because it means the church is awakening to the fact that Jesus is about to snatch her away. This is causing the church to assume an alert posture, which means greater attentiveness, which invariably means more warning. The best part about this is the most faithful are also, like God, the most concerned about those who have not accepted Him as of yet. Therefore, the watchmen are not only warning; they are sharing Christ in hopes that some will repent. As you live out the remainder of your days on earth, assume the role of a watchman, and warn while sharing the gospel for the purpose of winning souls. You never know; the next person you encounter may be the last one God is waiting for before sending the Son for His bride. With this in mind, follow the admonition of the Apostle Paul to the Colossians: Col 4:5-6 “Walk in wisdom toward those outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech be always in grace, having been seasoned with salt, to know how it behooves you to answer each one.” Website: In His Commission [1] For greater understanding, see the blog written by Rapsodie Adams, “Our Time is Short.” [2] “Unless otherwise noted, all biblical passages referenced are in the King James Version.” [3] Free online, Foxe’s book of Martyrs, “https://www.biblestudytools.com/history/foxs-book-of-martyrs/.” [4] For greater understanding, see the article, “Only the Ready are Raptured.” [5] For greater understanding, see the articles, “While we Wait” and “The Five W’s of the Rapture.” [6] For greater understanding, see the article, “Open Letter to Those Who Miss the Rapture.“ Putin Is ‘More Dangerous’ Than Hitler Or Stalin, ‘De-Putin-isation’ Is Only Hope For Civilized World, Polish PM Insists – HD Staff - https://harbingersdaily.com/putin-is-more-dangerous-than-hitler-or-stalin-de-putin-isation-is-only-hope-for-civilised-world-polish-pm-insists/ Poland’s Prime Minister insisted on Wednesday that he believes Vladimir Putin to be more dangerous than Hitler or Stalin due to “deadlier weapons” being at the Russian President’s disposal and his ability to spread propaganda en masse through the internet. “Putin is neither Hitler nor Stalin. Unfortunately, he is more dangerous,” Polish PM Mateusz Morawiecki asserted in an article published to the Telegraph. “Not only does he have deadlier weapons at his disposal, but he also has the new media at his fingertips to spread his propaganda.” Vladimir Putin’s “accursed” ideology attempts to “resurrect the demons of history,” warned Moraiecki, adding that his aggression is not “insanity” but a “deliberate strategy that has already opened the gates to genocide.” This ideology is “equivalent of 20th-century communism and Nazism” in-which “human dignity was sacrificed on the altar of insane fantasies” of “world revolution” and race supremacy, he wrote. “In the name of this ideology, Mariupol and dozens of Ukrainian cities were razed as it sent Russian soldiers to war, convinced them of their superiority, and encouraged them to commit inhuman war crimes – the murder, rape and torture of innocent civilians,” he charged. “We cannot be under any illusions,” he continued. Putin’s doctrine “is a cancer which is consuming not only the majority of Russian society, but also poses a deadly threat to the whole of Europe. Therefore it is not enough to support Ukraine in its military struggle with Russia. We must root out this monstrous new ideology entirely.” The Polish leader further urged that the “only chance for Russia and the civilised world is “deputinisation.” “If we do not engage in this task immediately, we will not only lose Ukraine, we will lose our soul and our freedom and sovereignty, as well. Because Russia will not stop at Kyiv. She has set out on a long march towards the West and it’s up to us to decide where we stop her.” Poland, which has accepted into its country millions of Ukrainian refugees, late last month, was cut off from all gas deliveries by Russia’s Gazpromto for declining to pay by rubel. In response, Morawiecki called the move a “direct attack” on Poland and again insisted that “Europe cannot afford to live in constant danger from Russian aggression.” Russia, on several occasions, has issued thinly veiled threats about using its nuclear arsenal. This prompted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to insist that the threat was not merely against his country but the entire world. “Russia is deliberating bragging they can destroy with nuclear weapons, not only a certain country but the entire planet,” he told the Doha Forum via Livestream. Jack Hibbs, Pastor of Calvary Chapel Chino Hills, in a recent article, discussed what the Bible says about increasing “wars and rumors of wars.” “Wars and rumors of wars can be a frightening prospect to those who have no idea what’s coming,” he asserted. “But for the Christian who has studied the Bible, the escalation of aggression we are seeing is just one more indicator that we draw closer to the end. Jesus detailed many signs of the times to be looking for in the last days. In addition to the escalation of war, Jesus foretold the escalation of deception, betrayal, hatred, lawlessness, earthquakes, famines, and yes, even pandemics.” “Why did Jesus tell us that we should expect all of these horrible things? Was He trying to scare us? Doesn’t He know we are already prone to anxiety and worry?” he asked. “Yes, He does know. He knows us better than we know ourselves. It is precisely for that reason He foretold all of these things. His prophecies are reminders to us that He knows the future, and that He has every single detail under control. In the midst of all His warning about the last days, He made it a point to assure us: ‘See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass’ (Matthew 24:6).” Is “Meltdown” The Correct Term to Describe the Current State Of The U.S. Economy? - by Michael Snyder - http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/is-meltdown-the-correct-term-to-describe-the-current-state-of-the-u-s-economy/ I have really been struggling to come up with an accurate way of describing the current state of the U.S. economy, because none of the traditional labels seem to apply. Inflation is out of control, and that normally happens when an economy is overheating. But of course the U.S. economy is not overheating. In fact, if U.S. GDP falls once again during the second quarter, that will officially confirm that we are actually in a recession right now. There are some that have suggested that “stagflation” is a good description of current economic conditions, but the truth is that what we are facing is so much worse than anything that we dealt with during the 1970s. Let me give you an example. The Bureau of Labor Statistics just informed us that the consumer price index is 8.3 percent higher than it was a year ago… Inflation rose again in April, continuing a climb that has pushed consumers to the brink and is threatening the economic expansion, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Wednesday. The consumer price index, a broad-based measure of prices for goods and services, increased 8.3% from a year ago, higher than the Dow Jones estimate for an 8.1% gain. That is a really bad number, but it doesn’t accurately reflect reality. If inflation was still calculated the way that it was back in 1980, the official rate of inflation would be well over 15 percent right now, and that is far worse than at any point during the Jimmy Carter era. And if you can believe it, the real rate of inflation is now the highest that it has ever been in the entire modern history of the United States. The term “meltdown” comes to mind, but I don’t think that completely captures what we are facing either. Of course Joe Biden says he has a plan, and he insists that reducing inflation is his “top economic priority”… President Biden, reacting to April’s consumer price index Wednesday, acknowledged that inflation is “unacceptably high,” and maintained that lowering prices for American families is his “top economic priority,” while again blaming the surging numbers on COVID-19 and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Meanwhile, tens of millions of ordinary Americans continue to deeply suffer as prices spiral out of control. Earlier today, I was stunned to see that even CNN is admitting that some Americans are “skipping meals” these days in order to make ends meet… The price of groceries, gas, rent and utilities has marched higher over the past year; but wages have not kept up — and more than half of single parents make less than $15 an hour, according to recent research from Oxfam. That has left many single parents skipping meals so their children have plenty of food, providing less healthy meals for their families, and culling expenses to the point where any unforeseen cost could mean more debt — or worse. If people are skipping meals already, what will things be like a year from now when economic conditions are even worse? Most people don’t realize this, but we are extremely vulnerable. When the next major downturn strikes, millions upon millions of Americans will be instantly wiped out. According to a report that was just released, almost two-thirds of all Americans are currently living paycheck to paycheck… As of March, close to two-thirds, or 64%, of the U.S. population was living paycheck to paycheck, just shy of the high of 65% in 2020, according to a LendingClub report. “The number of people living paycheck to paycheck today is reminiscent of the early days of the pandemic and it has become the dominant lifestyle across income brackets,” said Anuj Nayar, LendingClub’s financial health officer. Living on the edge is fine as long as a paycheck keeps coming in like clockwork. But if things suddenly shift, millions upon millions of Americans could suddenly find themselves plunged into poverty. Before I end this article, I would be remiss if I did not mention the fact that financial markets were way down yet again today. In fact, the Nasdaq dropped another 3 percent. But the big news is what is happening to the cryptocurrency industry. Cryptos are crashing harder than Hunter Biden after a drug-fueled night with a Chinese hooker, and Coinbase is coming apart like a 20 dollar suit… The cryptocurrency brokerage reported a first-quarter loss late Tuesday and revenue that fell 27% from a year ago, missing Wall Street’s forecasts. Coinbase shares plummeted nearly 25% in early trading Wednesday morning and hit their lowest level ever. Coinbase stock is now down more than 75% this year and is trading nearly 85% below its all-time high price from November. Shares have lost more than half their value in just the past week alone. If you have money with Coinbase, you may want to consider your options, because it is being reported that “users might lose all the cryptocurrency stored in their accounts” if Coinbase actually goes bankrupt… Hidden away in Coinbase Global’s disappointing first-quarter earnings report—in which the U.S.’s largest cryptocurrency exchange reported a quarterly loss of $430 million and a 19% drop in monthly users—is an update on the risks of using Coinbase’s service that may come as a surprise to its millions of users. In the event the crypto exchange goes bankrupt, Coinbase says, its users might lose all the cryptocurrency stored in their accounts too. I was absolutely floored when I first read that. Right now, Coinbase is holding more than 250 billion dollars worth of assets for its customers, and there is a danger that all of it could become “inaccessible”… Coinbase said in its earnings report Tuesday that it holds $256 billion in both fiat currencies and cryptocurrencies on behalf of its customers. Yet the exchange noted that in the event it ever declared bankruptcy, “the crypto assets we hold in custody on behalf of our customers could be subject to bankruptcy proceedings.” Coinbase users would become “general unsecured creditors,” meaning they have no right to claim any specific property from the exchange in proceedings. Their funds would become inaccessible. So there are some people out there that currently believe that they are crypto millionaires that could literally end up with nothing. At this point, the crypto industry is in the process of melting down. But so are the financial markets. And so is the overall economy. The great unraveling that we have been warned about is here, and we are still only in the early chapters. I would greatly encourage you to protect your assets while you still can. A rush for the exits has now begun, and you don’t want to be caught holding the bag. Wading With Alligators Without Prophecy - By Dave Hubley - https://www.raptureready.com/2022/05/10/wading-with-alligators-without-prophecy-by-dave-hubley/ (There is a special message at the end of this article for those who do not have Jesus in their life and are looking for peace and a way to better understand the present-day insanity and confusion.) A few weeks ago, I was at a prayer meeting at church. One of the ladies sitting nearby commented on the speech that the president of Ukraine gave to the American congress. She was fairly gushing over what a wonderful speech it was. I was quite taken aback by it, and it brought to mind that even “the elect” can quickly be drawn in by carefully crafted words and facial expressions. Since she directed her comments at me, I was prompted to remind her that the man is essentially an actor. Perhaps he is a very good one; perhaps he was sincere. Time will tell, but the acceptance of his words without proof of their validity was a little unnerving. I think that entire situation warrants a great deal of caution. As time goes on, related to this event, it is becoming clearer that, indeed, the world is being played. If only this were the only example of the world being played. It is only one of myriads. I am not the least bit doubtful about this lady’s salvation. But it gave me another reason to believe even more strongly in the value to all Christian believers of studying God’s word of prophecy. “News” outlets abound with every contradiction one can imagine (and some we can’t imagine). Many seem diametrically opposed to each other. Confusion reigns. Truth is buried in there somewhere. Or not. In other words, it is not just a description of general behavior; it is a warning klaxon. It is now institutionalized, standard operation for deceiving and misleading, and awareness of it should govern every single perception we have of ANY reports we see, hear, read, etc. Romans 1:29-32 describes the potential of humans: “being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.” And 2 Timothy 3:1-5 describes the characteristics of men near the end of the age: “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” Paul further cautions Timothy (and us, of course): “But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2 Tim 3:13). The world (meaning the unsaved) willingly wades with alligators every day. They go to work (if they still have a job), they come home, and they wonder why gasoline is so high. They stop at the supermarket and wonder why the shelves are so bare. They sit in front of the tube and watch the “evening news” and continue to exist in a 180-degree from reality paradigm, a deadly pantomime of reality. They listen to the brainwashed (and brainwashers). Talking heads tell them about the inevitability of “climate change” washing out the shorelands and inundating the coastal plains of the world’s nations, but they never consider why the leading, rich and privileged promoters of this travesty have no compulsion against buying multi-million-dollar shorefront homes! They never consult history books (older ones that were published before the agenda minions took over) to confirm that climate does change from time to time in a normal cyclical way as it has since long before records were kept and tracked. There are rational voices out there, but they don’t hear them either because they have been silenced or they simply don’t want to deviate from their routine. It’s easier to get home, turn on the tube and drink up the panacea of false narratives. Turn up the heat, and wait for supper; soon, there may be none of either. I have a neighbor who is very likable and extremely intelligent, yet he swallows this bile and “worries” about what will happen because of all he hears on the “news”; yet, the thing he should be concerned about, he is oblivious to. Any attempt to witness draws the “blank look” or the shrug that so many of us who do try to witness (and that is a frightfully small number) are so familiar with. “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Cor 1:18). Tragically, this conduct, this wading with alligators, is hardly limited to the unsaved. Many Christians have become inured to the real climate change that surrounds them—the climate of truth. While the Truth of God’s Word cannot be changed, the understanding of it is under constant assault. Many of the current (so-called) Christian churches lead this horrifying parade. Many Christians walk a line between cognitive reasoning regulated by Biblical wisdom and the siren call of convenience. Hearing their “facts” from secular sources is easier than opening the Word of God and allowing the Spirit to guide them into all Truth and hone their intellect so they can distinguish between Truth and indoctrination. By contrast, there are very many Christians who can, through the council of the Spirit, see the forest for the trees. They know the lie when they hear it. They spend time in the Word, and it permeates their heart and mind just as God intended. There are just far too few of them. Never before has it been more imperative to take the time/ make the time to study God’s Word. Approximately 1/3 of the Bible is prophecy, so the popular opinion goes. I personally believe it is more than that; but be that as it may, I know so many Christian brothers and sisters that are afraid of prophecy, and so they avoid it; God’s very signature on His purpose for all creation. No one can foretell the future but El Shaddai! His track record to date = 100%. His track record for the future will also be 100% “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts” (2 Peter 1:19). Now to the crux of this article. It is this author’s opinion that the Christian who has not put sufficient effort into understanding the prophecies related to the nature of human conduct at the end of the age, as stated above, likely does not possess the situational awareness that should cause them to diligently put on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:11-17). As a result, I believe they are going to be very unprepared for the realities that are manifesting with extraordinary rapidity every single day as the end of the age rushes into view. When I was a little guy, our house had a very large picture window facing a large open field across the street. I would watch the sky turning very dark and ominous as very violent thunderstorms approached. They would gather and grow and darken until, suddenly, the first bolt of lightning would flash across the sky, and the storm would unleash all its violence and unrestrained fury. At one time, it was popular to say among prophecy-conscious believers that “the (prophetic) clouds are gathering on the horizon.” I don’t think it is an overstatement to say that the storm is over our heads right now. There is a wonderful children’s song called “Oh Be Careful Little Eyes What You See” by Buford Abner. It carries a warning about what you allow your eyes to see, ears to hear, tongue to say, hands to do, and where you allow your feet to take you. It has never been more appropriate to the stabilization of our everyday lives than it is right now. Yes, it is a children’s song just like Jesus Loves Me,” and it is no less important to Christians of all ages. The prophecies of God are unfolding in real-time right in front of us. You can easily imagine the inevitable outcome when wading with alligators. It’s time to get out of the pond. For anyone who may read this article and has not trusted in Jesus Christ and therefore has no hope or peace in your life: You can have hope. You can have the peace that Jesus has promised to all who have made Him their Lord and Savior. It requires that you come before God on His terms. And, what are His terms according to His Word?
God has made it absolutely clear that there is no one who comes before Him, under His terms, that will be refused.
If you put all your trust for salvation in Jesus and Him only, you can follow that prayer up by simply saying, “Thank you, Father God, for hearing my prayer and saving me,” because we can trust Him to keep His Word. He always has. He always will. John 5:24: “Truly, Truly, I say to you that he who hears My words and believes the One who sent Me has eternal life and will not be condemned. He has crossed from death to life.” There are no answers, and there is no hope in the world by governments, organizations, politics, or politicians. There are only lies and deception. But you can have the Truth and the peace you seek. The answers are in the Word of God—the Bible. If you ask God with all your heart, He will hear you. “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13). Pro Salvator Vigilans To contact me: [email protected] Daily Jot: The Farm Chronicles: Edna and Clayt Jones - Bill Wilson – www.dailyjot.com The farm across the road from us belonged to Edna and Clayton Jones, born around 1885. Their farm was a corner lot with fields facing our farm and their house facing another road, old route 627. “Clayt”, as he was known, was a tall, thin man who, as legend had it, survived a broken neck from a fall when he was young. This accounted for his inability to move his neck so he had to turn his entire upper body to face you. Edna, his wife, was a matronly woman of sturdy Ohio stock who had many talents as Clayt’s partner on the farm. She could garden, tend to the cows, keep house, and OH BOY, could she ever cook and bake. She was cheerful and kind. So was Clayt. A wonderful couple to have as neighbors. I often rode my pony Tricker down a wagon path in Clayt’s field to the back barnyard gate, tie Tricker to a fencepost and have a visit. I loved to visit with Edna, who I called Mrs. Jones. She always seemed to know when I was going to pay a visit because she would have the best sugar cookies fresh out of the oven waiting for me. Her kitchen was vintage 1890s. She had an old wood cook stove, which was very fancy, and she preferred it to the modern electric or gas stoves. Their house was a magnificent 19th Century Victorian, replacing an older frame home that was still standing a few hundred feet in the backyard. Edna would always sit with me and talk like I was an adult when I was only about seven years old. There was a cow barn and a horse barn, both very 19th Century. The horse barn was also a carriage house. Clayt no longer had horses. They were replaced with an old Allis Chalmers tractor. But sneaking a peek inside that horse barn was a treat. An old McClellan saddle and a plantation saddle with a brass horsehead saddle horn rested on a rack amid the dust and cobwebs. A buggy and a buckboard awaited their horses. Upstairs there was a two-horse sleigh and the barn was quite advanced because there were trap doors above the horse stalls to drop down the hay and grain at feeding time. It was like exploring a museum. I would have loved to stay there and played. It was a ready-made western town! Clayt was in his late 70s and still farming. Dad helped Clayt with combining, baling and many other things around the farm. At 8-12 years old, I would help sack the wheat or oats as they poured out of the combine’s auger. Clayt taught me how to tie the bags. I would drag them to the end of the wagon. In haying season, I stacked the bales on the wagon. Clayt would slowly drive down the path, through the gate, and beneath a cherry tree. If I sat just at the right place on top of the hay, I could grab some ripe cherries. He had an old hay elevator that I would toss the bales onto. When we finished unloading the hay, Clayt would plug in his well pump and we would get a drink from the tin cup hanging on a nail beside the pump. Such sweet water, and cherries and cookies. What more could you want? 1 Corinthians 10:24 says, “Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.” That’s how it was in our little farming community. A time seeming so long ago. Daily Devotion: A Misunderstood Commandment - by Greg Laurie – www.harvest.org You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain. —Exodus 20:7 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/a-misunderstood-commandment/ - Listen I think one of the most misunderstood of the Ten Commandments is this one: “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain” (Exodus 20:7 NKJV). It’s probably one of the most easily broken commandments because it’s so misunderstood. The term “in vain” means to use in a frivolous or insincere manner. One of the obvious ways to do this is by using profanity. And by the way, “damn” is not God’s last name. The Bible tells us, “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name” (Philippians 2:9 NKJV). When a person uses the name of Jesus in vain, I think in a way they’re acknowledging there’s power in His name. For instance, some people who claim to be atheists will use God’s name frivolously and even use the name of Jesus Christ. Curiously, if you’re an atheist and don’t believe in God, then why would you use the name of Jesus Christ to make a statement? If I hear someone use the name of Jesus to punctuate a point, I’ll react to it. More than any other profanity, this offends me, and I know it offends God. So, I’ll say something along the lines of, “Careful, He might answer you sometime” or “You know Him too? He’s my best friend.” We also take His name in vain when we text “OMG” or say the equivalent of it with no thought of the Lord whatsoever. But perhaps the easiest way to take His name in vain is by being a hypocrite. Jesus said, “So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say?” (Luke 6:46 NLT). The hypocrisy of the church is far worse than the profanity on the street. Let’s not take His name in vain. 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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