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We Really Are Living in The End Times! - by Michael Snyder - https://endoftheamericandream.com/we-really-are-living-in-the-end-times/
Is it possible that Jesus specifically warned us about the times that we are living in nearly 2,000 years ago? You may have noticed that global events have started to spiral out of control lately. Normally, the summer is a period when things are relatively quiet. As far as the news industry is concerned, August is supposed to be the quietest month of all because so much of the world is on vacation. But that definitely has not been the case in 2024. According to journalist Simon Tisdall, in recent weeks we have been experiencing a “peaking of volatility, instability and insecurity, unprecedented in recent times”… August is the quietest month – to mangle TS Eliot’s verse – or so news editors used to think. Politicians go on holiday, governments shut down, people head for the hills or the beach. Not much happens. Not so this August. The world this month is experiencing an extraordinary peaking of volatility, instability and insecurity, unprecedented in recent times. It’s scary, it’s shocking, it’s a wild ride. Sudden revolutions, wars current and imminent, terrible crimes, high-stakes feuding, famines, cost of living crunches, violent riots and unfathomable market panics come not as single spies but in battalions. In a world where mutual destruction, steeped in cruelty and despair, is a favored human pastime, grim vistas of Eliot’s The Waste Land beckon anew. He is right. But just because things have been crazy lately does not mean that we are living in the end times. If we really are living in the end times, there are certain very specific signs that we should be seeing. In Matthew chapter 24, Jesus discussed some of those signs… 6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows. Of course there have been wars, famines, pestilences and natural disasters all throughout human history. If we really are living in the end times, all of these elements should be occurring simultaneously, and the intensity of each element should be at a very high level. Let’s talk about war first. According to the Institute for Economics & Peace, there were 56 active military conflicts in the world last year. That was the highest number that we have witnessed since World War II… Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, Ethiopia, Afghanistan, Syria, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Colombia… and so on. There are up to 56 active conflicts in the world, the highest number since World War II. Moreover, these carry an increasingly international component, with 92 countries involved in wars outside their borders. These are data from the latest Global Peace Index produced annually by the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP), a think tank that analyzes everything from military investment and the cost of violence to military laws and deaths in combat in 163 states and territories. As I write this, there is a tremendous amount of speculation all over the globe about “World War III”. The conflict in the Middle East is on the verge of being transformed into an “all-out war”, it is probably only a matter of time before the U.S. is dragged into the war in Ukraine and we find ourselves directly fighting with Russia, and the moment that China invades Taiwan we will be at war with the Chinese. We are most certainly living during a time of wars and rumors of wars, and the hot phase of “World War III” will truly be unlike anything we have ever seen before. All throughout history, famine has accompanied war. Right now, we are facing a global food crisis of unprecedented magnitude. In Sudan, endless war has created a famine that is truly horrifying. At this moment, it is being projected that millions of Sudanese citizens will die in the months ahead… After 15 months of fighting in that country between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), experts in food insecurity estimate that almost 26 million people (no, that is not a misprint!), or more than half of Sudan’s population, could suffer from malnutrition by September. Eight and a half million of those human beings could face acute malnutrition. Worse yet, if the war continues on its present path, millions will die of hunger and disease in just the coming months (and few people in our world may even notice). How would you feel if you had to watch your family slowly die of starvation? According to Timmo Gaasbeek of the Netherlands Institute of International Relations, 2.5 million people in Sudan could perish “by the time crops are harvested in September”… Gaasbeek warned, however, that soup kitchens can fill only so many gaping holes in a system shattered by wartime destruction, displacement, and crop failure. His institute estimates that at current rates of food sharing, 2.5 million people could die of hunger and disease by the time crops are harvested in September. In other words, a shocking 10–20 percent of the Sudanese in the hardest-hit areas could die—mortality rates similar to ones suffered during horrendous famines in parts of Nigeria in 1969, Ethiopia in 1984, and Somalia in 1992. September is next month! But most Americans don’t even realize that this is happening because our big news networks only want to talk about Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. Reuters has reported that hunger is so bad in some parts of Sudan that people are literally making meals out of balls of dirt just so that they will have something to fill their stomachs… Garang Achien Akok is one of the thousands of new arrivals in the area. Akok, his wife and their five children abandoned their home in the southern region of Kordofan after Arab militiamen on camels stormed their village and torched their hut, he said. Akok, 41, reached Al Lait in December, but has no work and can’t feed the family. At times, they go two or three days without eating. When that happens, Akok said, he watches helplessly as his wife and children dig holes in the ground with a stick, slide their hands in and grab some soil. Then they roll the soil into a ball, put it in their mouths and swallow it with water. Meanwhile, supplies of food all over the world just keep getting tighter and tighter. CNN has admitted that we are facing “the worst food crisis in modern history”, but the truth is that this is just the beginning. Once nuclear weapons are used, everything will change. One study that was conducted a few years ago determined that three to four years after an all-out nuclear war global food production would have dropped by about 90 percent… Using climate, crop and fishery models, researchers found that the climatic impacts of soot from nuclear war would peak in the first few years but last for about a decade. In the worst-case scenario, when 150 Tg of soot is unleashed, the global average calorie production from crops would decline by about 90% just three to four years after the nuclear war, the study found. That same study concluded that approximately 360 million people would be directly killed during an all-out nuclear war between the U.S. and Russia, and over 5 billion people would die from starvation in the aftermath… The largest scenario examined, a week-long war involving 4,400 weapons and 150 Tg, or 330.6 billion pounds, of soot – such as one that would occur between the U.S., its allies and Russia – would kill 360 million people directly – and more than 5 billion from starvation, the study said. The density of the soot would reduce global temperatures by more than 58ºF. What would our world look like if 5 billion people were simultaneously dying from starvation? That is something to think about. If we really are living in the end times, we should also be experiencing major pestilences. Needless to say, the COVID crisis killed millions of people and it is still with us. Over the past few years, the bird flu has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of millions of chickens and turkeys all over the globe, and now the bird flu has jumped into mammals. Are we next? We better hope not, because the World Health Organization says that over 50 percent of the humans that have caught H5N1 since 2003 have ended up dead. In 2022, a Monkeypox plague rapidly spread all over the planet, and it created a lot of fear. Now a far deadlier version that reportedly spreads more easily among humans is spreading in central Africa, and the World Health Organization is extremely concerned about this. And I certainly don’t want to leave out dengue fever. So far this year, there have been more than 10 million cases in North America and South America combined… In the Americas alone, almost 10.4 million suspected cases of dengue, a mosquito-borne viral disease, were reported to the World Health Organization in 2024 as of the first week of July, an increase of 232% compared with the same period the year before. Peru is a case in point. When torrential rains started to fall there in 2023, a record-breaking dengue epidemic exploded shortly afterward. The case count is estimated at well over 100,000 so far this year. If you have ever had a severe case of dengue fever, you will never forget it. It is known as “breakbone fever”, because many of those that develop severe cases literally feel like their bones are breaking… Because some patients feel as if their bones are breaking, the virus has an ominous nickname: “breakbone fever.” What about natural disasters? Are we seeing a lot of those? It is being reported that last year the number of “billion dollar disasters” established a brand new all-time record high… The planet was besieged by a record 63 billion-dollar weather disasters in 2023, surpassing the previous record of 57 set in 2020, said insurance broker Gallagher Re in its annual report issued January 17. The total damage wrought by weather disasters in 2023 was $301 billion, with an unusually high 57% of that total being insured damages. Meanwhile, the ground under our feet is shaking with alarming regularity. Last week, I wrote an article about the strange seismic activity that we have been witnessing on the west coast, on the east coast, under the Great Lakes and down in Texas. On the other side of the world, all of the recent shaking in Japan has created a tremendous amount of panic. People are feverishly hoarding food because they are so concerned about the possibility of a “megaquake”… Authorities in Japan urged people to avoid hoarding as anxiety over a possible megaquake triggered a spike Saturday in demand for disaster kits and daily necessities. In its first such advisory, the weather agency said a huge earthquake was more likely in the aftermath of a magnitude 7.1 jolt in the south on Thursday which left 14 people injured. At a Tokyo supermarket on Saturday, a sign was put up apologising to customers for shortages of certain products it attributed to “quake-related media reports”. I am entirely convinced that everything that we have been through so far is just the beginning. We are still only in the very early chapters of this “perfect storm”, and if I am right there is a tremendous amount of death and destruction ahead of us. Most people don’t want to hear that. Most people just want to hear that everything is going to be wonderful. But if we really are living in the end times, global events will play out just as the Bible says that they will. Prophecy Update: Hopping Mad! - By Daymond Duck - https://www.raptureready.com/2024/08/10/hopping-mad-by-daymond-duck/ On July 30, 2024, Michael Snyder (author; speaker; publisher of The Economic Collapse Blog) wrote: We live at a time when the entire world is going crazy, and I am entirely convinced that it won’t be too long before the war in the Middle East takes an apocalyptic turn. Even CNN is admitting that we are dangerously close to witnessing an all-out war between Israel and Hezbollah, and in such a war, both sides would not hold anything back (Daymond-bolded words for emphasis). On Aug. 3, 2024, Breitbart reported that: “Holy wrath” is coming against Israel, the furious head of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Major General Hossein Salami. Why are they saying this? My article last week said: · On July 28, 2024, Turkish Pres. Erdoğan appeared to threaten to invade Israel in support of the Palestinians and to put an end to the nearly 10-month-old war Israel is fighting against Hamas in Gaza. · On July 30, 2024, Israeli jets conducted a retaliation strike in Beirut, Lebanon, and killed the Hezbollah leader (Fuad Shukr) responsible for firing a missile at the Golan Heights that killed 12 children on a soccer field. · On July 31, 2024, Israel assassinated Ismail Haniyeh in the capital of Iran. Haniyeh was a former prime minister of the PA, and he was chairman of the Hamas politburo. Iran and Hamas promised to avenge his death. Since writing the above, I have seen the following articles: · On July 31, 2024, there were unconfirmed reports that Israel assassinated a top figure in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Damascus. · On July 31, 2024, a Pentagon official said we have urgently mobilized 12 warships in the Middle East following the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh and the bombing of Beirut. The alert level is at its maximum, and we are ready. (Note: These warships are carrying many planes, bombs, missiles, and 4,000 U.S. marines and sailors.) During a 2-day period, Israel assassinated 3 high-powered terrorist leaders in Lebanon, Iran, and Syria, and Iran is hopping mad (an expression that means jumping up and down with rage; on the warpath; fit to be tied). Some of my friends might say Iran’s leaders are having a hissy fit (an angry outburst; a temper tantrum). Following the death of Ismail Haniyeh (the political leader of the Hamas terrorists that raped Jewish women, killed Jewish children, kidnapped Jewish hostages, etc.), Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (Iran’s Supreme Commander) ordered his forces to launch a direct attack against Israel. Khamenei told the Iranians: · The criminal, terrorist Zionist regime (Israel) martyred our dear guest in our territory and has caused our grief, but it has also prepared the ground for a severe punishment, and we consider it our duty to seek revenge for his blood as he was martyred in the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran. What happens next? I do not know, but Israel is on high alert, and it has sent more tanks, troops, and weapons to its border with Lebanon. One misstep by anyone could cause this conflict to explode, and several major end-of-the-age prophecies could be fulfilled in a matter of days. Time will tell. Here is a daily update on the possibility of war: · On Aug. 1, 2024, Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah said Israel must expect rage and revenge on all the fronts supporting Gaza … Israelis will weep terribly in the days ahead. · On Aug. 1, 2024, according to Ynet News, Israel transferred a message to Iran’s main proxy, Hezbollah, through Western and regional officials, stressing that the IDF was only targeting military targets and advising Hezbollah to do the same. A massive attack on civilians would mean all-out war, the Israeli officials emphasized. · On Aug. 2, 2024, the Jerusalem Post reported that Western Intelligence has evidence that Iran plans to attack on Tisha B’Av – a Jewish holiday of fasting and mourning over the first and second destruction of the Temple – Aug. 12-13, 2024, this year. · On Aug. 2, 2024, it was reported that Hezbollah is in the process of moving its command center out of Beirut. · On Aug. 2, 2024, following warnings from Greek intelligence officials, Greece went on high alert, fearing an attack on Israeli targets in Greece. · On Aug. 3, 2024, Iran said it expects Hezbollah in Lebanon to hit deeper inside Israel and to no longer be confined to military targets after Israel killed the Hezbollah commander. · On Aug. 4, 2024, Iran warned Arab-Muslim countries that if they attempt to intervene in their upcoming attack against Israel, they will also be attacked. · On Aug. 4, 2024, Israel’s military was authorized to launch a pre-emptive strike on Iran if Israeli intelligence has airtight evidence that Iran is about to attack Israel. · On Aug. 4, 2024, an Iranian ayatollah called for a bloody attack on the United States. · On Aug. 5, 2024, Iran rejected the call of world leaders to use restraint and said they still intend to attack Israel, even if it means all-out war. · On Aug. 5, 2024, Saudi Arabia and Jordan notified Iran that they will act against any missiles or drones passing through their air space. · On Aug. 6, 2024, Pakistan said it is planning to supply Iran with sophisticated missiles. Here are some recent events that seem to indicate that the end of the age is near: One, concerning wars and rumors of wars: on July 31, 2024, Netanyahu told the nation of Israel: · In recent days and hours, Israeli military forces have successfully attacked and killed three of the evilest, most deadly, most dangerous terrorists in the world. · Israel will not bow to those around the world demanding the Jewish state surrender to the forces of evil and agree to premature ceasefires. · Israel will continue to fight and win until victory is achieved and all of Israel’s hostages are returned home. · Whoever butchers our children will pay the price. Two, concerning all nations turning against Israel at the end of the age and the decline of America: on Aug. 2, 2024, Daily Wire reported that President Joe Biden threatened to cut U.S. support for Israel in a private call (that included Kamala Harris) with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this week after Israel killed multiple top terrorists in the region (terrorists who have been killing Jews). According to the report, the news website Axios said Biden and his aides were furious that Israel killed Shukr and Haniyeh, and Biden (with Harris on the phone) threatened to cut support for Israel if they keep killing terrorist leaders. (My opinion: It is incredible that Biden and Harris threatened to cut off support for Israel because the U.S. had a $5 million bounty on Shukr’s head for the 1983 bombing that killed 241 U.S. Marines, and Haniyeh was a recognized terrorist. Why would they be furious with Israel for killing someone that killed 241 U.S. Marines?) (More: On Aug. 2, 2024, the Daily Mail reported that the UK has implemented a secret arms embargo on Israel while they determine if Israel committed war crimes when it invaded Gaza.) Three, concerning antisemitism and corruption in the UN: on Aug. 3, 2024, it was reported that Israel refused to extend visas for a substantial number of UN staff for applying a double standard to Israel (siding with Hamas, doing little to get Hamas to release the hostages, and more). Four, concerning antisemitism and efforts to destroy Israel at the end of the age: on Aug. 4, 2024, a high-ranking Iranian official said: Israel will not see its 80th anniversary as a modern-day country (Israel’s 80th anniversary will be May 14, 2028). (My speculation: Israel can’t be destroyed, but how much longer will the terminal generation be around?) Five, concerning the Battle of Gog and Magog (Russia, Iran, and others attacking Israel in the latter days and latter years; Ezek. 38-39): on Aug. 5, 2024, the Secretary of Russia’s Security Council visited Iran and said, “We are ready for full cooperation with Iran on regional issues.” It was also reported that Russia has begun delivering fighter jets, advanced air defense systems, and radar equipment to Iran. Six, concerning a borderless world, the New World Order (world government), etc.: almost 3 years ago, Texas and Missouri sued the Biden administration, the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security Sec. Mayorkas and others in a U.S. District Court in Texas to finish building a section of wall on the U.S. border with Mexico. They argued that Biden and Mayorkas were violating federal law by stopping construction on a project that had been approved and funded by Congress. On May 29, 2024, the judge ruled in favor of Texas and Missouri and gave Biden and Mayorkas 60 days to appeal his decision. The 60 days to appeal ended on July 29, 2024, without an appeal, and now they are under a court order to finish the project. Biden and Mayorkas have let purchased supplies rust on the ground, sold some of the materials, spent part of the money on other projects, Biden will be out of office soon, Biden’s vice-president and border czar (Kamala Harris) wants to replace him, and who knows how all this will wind up. (More: According to a recent Harvard-Harris poll, 56% of Democrats, 82% of Republicans, and 69% of independents believe Harris supports an open border.) Seven, concerning the destruction of Damascus, Syria, in one night (Isa. 17): · On Aug. 2, 2024, Israel struck an airport in Syria that was used to store and transport weapons for Hezbollah in Lebanon. · On Aug. 3, 2024, a dependable reader e-mailed the following to me: Israel warns Hezbollah: IDF will destroy Damascus, target Syrian President Assad if Hezbollah joins war; US warships will support Israel in war. Message relayed via France (source: Ynet) Eight, concerning the waves and seas roaring at the end of the age (some see this as violent storms in the ocean, and some see it as the sea of humanity rioting, and some think it can be interpreted either way): demonstrations and violence are spreading in many EU nations. The reason is not always clear, but many say they are demonstrating because of unchecked Islamic immigration, crime, and violence. (Note: In the days of Noah, God saw that the wickedness of man was great.) (More: On Aug. 8, 2024, in anticipation of hundreds of anti-immigration protests, the UK deployed about 6,000 officers around the country and put 1,300 specialists on call in London in case there are serious problems.) Nine, concerning a global economic collapse early in the Tribulation Period (Rev. 6:5-6), · On Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped more than 600 points. · On Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, it dropped about 1,034 points. · On Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, it regained about 294 points. · On Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024, at the time of this writing, it was down about 134 points. Concern about an economic slowdown or a recession in the U.S. is growing, and the U.S. economy is so great, it would have a global impact. I don’t know anything about the stock market, but from what I am reading, it may settle down for a little while, but there is more turbulence on the horizon. Here is my daily update on the Israel-Hamas war: Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024 (Day 300): The two-hundred forty-fifth day of the resumed war. Day 87 of the attack on Rafah. · Several major airlines temporarily canceled flights to Israel for fear that the war is about to spread. · Hezbollah fired at least 60 rockets at Israel. · Following 300 days of captivity, Israel’s Pres. Herzog urged world leaders who want peace in Gaza to take action to get the hostages released. Friday, Aug. 2, 2024 (Day 301): The two-hundred forty-sixth day of the resumed war. Day 88 of the attack on Rafah. · Israel said it has killed the deputy head of weapons manufacturing for the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). · The UN confirmed that Hezbollah is responsible for the death of 12 children on a soccer field in the Golan Heights recently. · Israel killed more than 30 Hamas terrorists in close-quarter fighting in Rafah. Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024 (Day 302): The two-hundred forty-seventh day of the resumed war. Day 89 of the attack on Rafah. · An Israeli jet destroyed a vehicle on the West Bank, killing a Hamas commander and 4 terrorists with him. · There are unverified rumors that Israel has killed the spokesman for Hamas’s Al-Qassam Brigades (a military group) in Gaza. Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024 (Day 303): The two-hundred forty-eighth day of the resumed war. Day 90 of the attack on Rafah. · Israel found dozens of additional tunnels on Gaza’s border with Egypt. One tunnel was under an Egyptian army post, and it was big enough for vehicles to drive through. It even had railroad tracks that vehicles could drag loaded wagons on. Israel now has more reasons to not return control of the border to Gaza and Egypt. · Netanyahu said Iran is seeking to surround us and attack us with proxies. We will attack them wherever they are. Monday, Aug. 5, 2024 (Day 304): The two-hundred forty-ninth day of the resumed war. Day 91 of the attack on Rafah. · Israel killed Hamas’s economic minister (the man responsible for stealing and controlling Palestinian humanitarian aid, distributing Hamas’s money, etc.). · Israel assassinated another Hezbollah commander in Lebanon. · The UNRWA has been investigating 19 employees suspected of being involved in the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel. 2 have been killed, 9 have been fired, and the other 8 are still under investigation. Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024 (Day 305): The two-hundred-fiftieth day of the resumed war. Day 92 of the attack on Rafah. · Israel’s finance minister seized $26 million in tax money that the PA would normally give to the families of jailed terrorists and will give the money to the families of Oct. 7, 2023 hostages. · Hamas named Yahya Sinwar to replace Ismail Haniyeh. · Hezbollah attacked Israel with a swarm of drones but said their retaliation for Haniyeh’s death is yet to come. FYI: God does not send anyone to Hell (all of us are born with a sin nature and destined to go to Hell because we sin), but God has provided a way (Jesus) for everyone to go to Heaven (and He is the only way to get there; John 14:6). Finally, are you Rapture Ready? If you want to be rapture ready and go to Heaven, you must be born again (John 3:3). God loves you, and if you have not done so, sincerely admit that you are a sinner; believe that Jesus is the virgin-born, sinless Son of God who died for the sins of the world, was buried, and raised from the dead; ask Him to forgive your sins, cleanse you, come into your heart and be your Saviour; then tell someone that you have done this. [email protected] PROPHECY UPDATE VIDEOS
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DONATE HERE Your can also mail your support to: Prophecy Update PO Box 40516 Bakersfield, CA 93384 The ‘Big Lie’ Of Hamas Propaganda and The Biblical Mandate To Advocate For Israel – Simon Lawry – https://harbingersdaily.com/the-big-lie-of-hamas-propaganda-and-the-biblical-mandate-to-advocate-for-israel/ One of the first young Israeli backpackers that stayed in our home shared his aspirations to be a foreign diplomat one day. During his stay, he spoke passionately about his beloved homeland, enough to make any Israeli ambassador greatly pleased. The Hebrew word for public relations is hasbara, meaning “explanation.” Historically, public relations (PR) have not been one of Israel’s strengths [due to the vast levels of antisemitic and demonic false information coming out against them]. On October 7, 2002, the State Comptroller’s report criticized Israel’s PR efforts, declaring, “Since its establishment in 1948, Israel’s intelligence organs have not succeeded to respond to the broad-based propaganda and incitement by the Arab world.” Exactly 21 years since the report was released, Israel faced (and continues to face) arguably its greatest PR battle since becoming a nation—a battle many Israelis believe they are losing. Local commentators lament that hasbara remains “inadequate” if not “futile” against the tsunami of lies Hamas propagates and its social media sympathizers regurgitate. Social Media A researcher from social media giant TikTok collected data showing the disparity in online posts concerning Israel and Palestinians. Between October 7, 2023 and January 29, 2024, users made 170,430 pro-Palestinian posts and 8,843 pro-Israel posts. Pro-Palestinian posts received 236 million views compared to just 14 million pro-Israel views. Of course, this data reflects TikTok’s younger demographic. It also correlates with the anti-Israel fever displayed on university campuses and reflects research showing young people are much less supportive of Israel. The battle for hearts and minds in some ways already feels like a lost cause, at least among the world’s youth. It also feels lost among many older folks who habitually hang on to their traditional mainstream media broadcasts. These 60–90-second news grabs almost always portray Israel negatively, and over time, viewers are conditioned to this narrative. Whether these lies are that Israel is “an occupier,” “an apartheid state,” or “committing genocide,” they usually stick like mud. Israel’s Right To The Land One Israeli writer, Tova Herzl, is resigned to the idea that only religion can do what hasbara has not. She says only those (Jews and Christians) who share a belief in Israel’s “holy books” will be persuaded that Israel has a divine right to the land. Those with a Judeo-Christian worldview are more likely to support the Jewish people’s right to the land, but the perception that this support is more effective than or can replace hasbara is misplaced. A better view is that we need both Christians and Jewish people advocating for Israel and the Jews’ right to exist. Both should uphold Israel’s right to dwell peacefully in the land God has given them. We should also strongly defend Israel’s right to the land based on international law. Throughout Israel’s modern history, Arab nations have initiated and lost wars, including the Six-Day War of 1967. At that time, Israel won control of East Jerusalem and its historical holy places but was pressured to return them to their enemies. On October 7, 2023, Hamas initiated a war by invading Israel and committing war crimes, yet the world consistently pressures Israel to retreat from Gaza. Concerning international law, Israel fights within the rules. Hamas does not. Its ideology and laws say their members must kill all Jews. Rational Jewish people are confused about why the world doesn’t share this view. As two commentators wrote, “The PR techniques used by Hamas and its supporters are deliberately designed to subvert the truth. They use incitement and imagery that trigger a purely emotional response from their targets. This emotional reaction is virtually immune to reason. The Big Lie often works.” Christians And Hasbara The Bible recognizes this desperate and frustrating dilemma for which Israel seemingly has no answer. There is a desperate call for God’s intervention in the face of Israel’s hostile enemies: Psalm 83:1-4 KJV – “Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God. For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head. They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones. They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.” These words remind God’s Chosen People that the answer to their plight lies with the God of Israel. In time, this truth will become increasingly evident to them. Until that time, hasbara remains mandatory for Bible-believing Christians. It demonstrates our love for what God loves and is a powerful witness to the Jewish people. Our solidarity shows Israel we care, initiates deeper dialogue, and brings blessings in the process. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if every Christian would see this? ‘Lest Anyone Deceive You’ - By Hal Lindsey - https://www.hallindsey.com/ww-8-11-2024/ When His disciples asked Jesus to tell them about signs of His return, He started with the words of Mark 13:5. “Take heed lest any man deceive you.” In Matthew 24, we see Jesus giving worlds of information in relatively few words. That doesn’t leave room for a lot of repetition. But in that one chapter, the Lord warned about last days deception four times. That means it’s important. Revelation 12:9 speaks of Satan deceiving the world during the end times. In chapter 13 and again in chapter 19, we see the False Prophet and Antichrist deceiving the masses, and doing so by Satan’s power. Revelation 20, verses 3, 8, and 10, show Satan deceiving the nations. It makes sense. In John 8:44, Jesus called Satan the father of lies. Deception follows him, confusion follows deception, and despair follows confusion. You’ve seen dream sequences in films where walls and other solid objects distort and change shape. That’s the world Satan wants people to live in. Today, we have more opportunity to get the truth out than ever before. The phone in your purse or pocket can potentially reach the world. If your social media post goes viral, millions might see it before the next sunset. But if truth is easily disseminated, so are lies. Mainstream news outlets no longer tell both sides of a story. Fairness was once standard practice for journalists, but that was before they became activists and propagandists. Now they choose sides, then withhold things from the public that might be seen as favorable to the other side. They spin the rest in favor of their chosen causes and candidates. So, millions now turn to alternative media to find out what’s really going on. But alternative media is also a land of gossip and propaganda. Without truth’s certainty, people have no solid ground on which to build their lives. They are left to choose what they want to believe. It becomes “my truth” and “your truth.” But in the world God made, things are either true or false, whether the facts favor your cause or not. The truth is the truth for everyone. We’ve seen the politicization of science and even of courts and juries. At some point, most people join Pontius Pilate in asking, “What is truth?” We face the frustrating and sometimes difficult task of finding truth in a sea of deception. But with God’s help, it can be done. In Matthew 7:7, Jesus said, “Seek, and ye shall find.” So, try it. Seek truth… and you will find Him. Jesus not only has the answer, He is the Answer. In John 14:6, He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” If you have trusted Him with your life, you have the light. If not, search it out. Should you need a respite from the flood of disparate voices, open the Bible. Here’s a taste: In the beginning, God… Sin entered into the world… I will make of thee a great nation… Whither thou goest, I will go… David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone… The Lord is my shepherd… They have committed villainy in Israel… He that scattered Israel will gather him… For unto us a Child is born… Thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a Son, and shalt call His name JESUS… In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us… I am the resurrection, and the life… Now is Christ risen from the dead… Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound… I will come again, and receive you unto Myself… So shall we ever be with the Lord… Even so, come, Lord Jesus. And that’s the truth. Daily Jot: Of words and covenants - Bill Wilson – www.dailyjot.com What is in a word? As followers of Christ, we know that Christ is the Word. The Bible is also the Word. The Hebrew word for “words” is Devarim. We call it Deuteronomy, which begins with “these are the words.” The book of Deuteronomy is structured in the model of a covenant represented by Moses’ renewal of the Sinai Covenant with the next generation that would be entering the Promised Land. There have been discoveries of engraved records of ancient treaties from the time before Abraham and they are structured similarly—beginning with a preamble, a historical prologue, stipulations, deposition and regular reading, sanctions and blessings, and witnesses. The words and covenant in Deuteronomy are deeply unique. The covenant made at Sinai was renewed on the banks of the Jordan and recorded in Deuteronomy or Devarim (words). It is a type of Ketubba, a written record of an agreement of obligations to be met by a husband concerning his wife. Deuteronomy is the book of covenant, defining a unique relationship between God and His people aiming to construct a moral society as a role model for humanity—in the partnership and worship of the one true God. This became the inspiration for the Founding Fathers of the United States. There are several “word” themes connected with Devarim. For example, Moses began by telling God that he was slow of speech. By the time he reached the Jordan, Moses became the most powerful spokesman of God in the Old testament– the man of devarim, speaking God’s words. Another word theme is that the Sinai Covenant is the foremost covenantal document in all of history, and is a mutually binding pledge between the people of Israel and God, agreeing to be bound by His word. Indeed, the very existence of some countries, such as America, are based on words, such as the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. The evolution of the printing press invented in 1450 unlocked the Bible, held captive by the Roman Catholic Church. The Word of God was freed from the bondage of those who thought it should never be read by the common man. By the seventeenth century, Europeans could read the Hebrew Scriptures for themselves, and the idea of freedom—biblical freedom, the Liberty of Christ–came directly from the devarim in scripture, foundational to establishing new forms of government. Finally, and most importantly, our relationship with God is based on words—the power of the word of God and its connection to people is an unbreakable bond that is sustained by love and mutual loyalty. When we read His word, we want to live it out. According to Jonathan Sacks, “Israel survived because it never lost the words that bound it to God and God to it…The word lives and gives life to the people who dedicate their life to the word.” As believers in Christ, we know the “Who” behind the “Word”— “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…In Him was life, and the life was the light of mankind (John 1:1, 4).” Thank the LORD for His Word, life giving, sustaining, and eternal! Daily Devotion: Powered by the Holy Spirit - by Greg Laurie – www.harvest.org Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. —Ephesians 5:18–19 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/powered-by-the-holy-spirit/ - Listen As Christians, we often imagine the filling of the Holy Spirit as an emotional experience. It may be emotional. And it may not be. But we should ask God to fill us with His Holy Spirit on a regular basis. The apostle Paul wrote to the Christians in Ephesus, “Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18 NLT). The term filled is interesting because in the original language, it speaks of wind filling the sail of a ship and carrying it along. So, to be filled with the Spirit means that God’s Spirit fills our sails, so to speak. And that makes following His commands a delight, not a drudgery. But the word filled also carries the idea of permeation. The idea is that God wants His Spirit to permeate every area of our lives. He wants to fill our thought lives, our work time, and our free time. He wants to be a part of everything that we say and do. A few verses later, Paul wrote to husbands and wives, “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. . . . For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her” (verses 21–22, 25 NLT). We need the power of God’s Spirit to do this. We need His constant help and work in our lives. David, a shepherd, wrote in Psalm 23, “You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings” (verse 5 NLT). Shepherds often used oil to ease the pain experienced by their sheep when flies attacked during the summer months. They took a special oil, poured it over the animals’ heads, and applied it to their ears. This not only helped their wounds to heal but also repelled insects. In the Bible, oil often symbolizes the Holy Spirit. Thus, not only is it important for us to feast on the Word of God as we spend time in green pastures and beside still waters, but we also need the Holy Spirit to fill us. The phrase “be filled with the Holy Spirit” in Ephesians 5:18 is a command. God is not asking us to do this. Rather, He commands us to be filled with the Holy Spirit. From the original Greek, we could translate it to say, “Be constantly filled with the Holy Spirit.” This isn’t something we do once in life. We want the Holy Spirit to fill us again and again. If your car runs out of gas, what do you do? You go to the gas station and get a refill. It’s the same in our lives as believers. We need the Spirit to refill us. Be constantly filled with the Spirit. Let His wind fill your sails and permeate every area of your life. PROPHECY UPDATE NEWS HEADLINES Yesterday's Prophecies - Today's Headlines HEADLINES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TRACKING BIBLE PROPHECY 8/9/24 http://trackingbibleprophecy.org/birthpangs.php
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