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IN TODAY'S NEWSLETTER...
What’s Next? – Randy Nettles - https://www.rev310.net/post/what-s-next
What’s next on God’s prophetic timeline? With Russia on the move in Ukraine, many see The Gog-Magog war of Ezekiel 38-39 as the next piece of the biblical puzzle to be revealed. Others see the Rapture of the Church (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17) to be the next prophecy to be fulfilled. Still, others, who don’t believe in the pre-Tribulation Rapture, believe the appearing of the anti-Christ is imminent (Daniel 9:27 & Revelation 13). While all these prophecies are in sight, I believe the next major biblical event to be fulfilled is the prophecy found in Isaiah 17, the destruction of Damascus, Syria. “Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap. The cities of Aroer are forsaken; they shall be for flocks, which shall lie down, and none shall make them afraid” (Isaiah 17:1-2). Isaiah 17 is titled “A Proclamation against Syria and Israel” in the Bible. Both Syria and the northern kingdom of Israel were defeated by Assyria in the 8th century BC. However, Damascus was never destroyed to the extent where it was no longer a city and became a “ruinous heap.” In fact, Damascus makes the claim of being the world’s oldest continuously inhabited city in the world. Therefore, Isaiah 17:1-2 awaits a future fulfillment. It’s interesting to note that the Hebrew gematria for Damascus Syria equals 999. The number 9 represents judgment or finality and appears to be especially harsh for the Jews. Here are a few examples: “In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away into Assyria, and placed them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes” (2 Kings 17:6). “In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and all his army against Jerusalem, and they besieged it” (Jeremiah 39:1). “In the fourth month, in the ninth day of the month, the famine was sore in the city, so that there was no bread for the people of the land” (Jeremiah 52:6). “About the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46). There have been eight tragic events for the Jewish people that have occurred throughout history on the 9th day of Av, (5th month on the Jewish calendar) known as Tisha B’Av. It has become known as a day of fast or mourning. See: https://www.raptureready.com/2019/07/14/dog-days-of-summer-randy-nettles/ . Most scholars believe Israel will be the cause of Damascus’ demise in retaliation for a chemical weapons attack by Bashar Al-Assad, tyrant of Syria; or Putin could do it and blame it on Assad or Hezbollah. It would be ironic (but not for God) if the chemical attack against Israel and the destruction of Damascus, Syria (by the military might of the modern nation of Israel) happened on the 9th day of Av. That would make the 9th tragic event that occurred on the 9th day of Av in the history of Israel. The theory is that Saddam Hussein, tyrant of Baghdad Iraq, did in fact have huge stockpiles of chemical weapons all along, but they were never found because he secretly smuggled them into Syria days before the 2003 invasion of Iraq. If Syria were to use weapons of mass destruction, such as chemical weapons, against the Jewish people, Israel would respond with their own W.O.M.D such as a tactical or neutron bomb. A weapon of this magnitude could certainly cause Damascus to cease being a city, thus fulfilling Isaiah 17:1. There have been increasing military activities in and around Damascus as of late. Hezbollah and Iranian forces are turning an old military base south of Damascus into a drone training and operations center to protect from Israeli airstrikes, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Could these drones be used for offensive weapons to deliver their payload of chemical weapons against the Jewish people? If Israel were to destroy Damascus it would certainly infuriate Russia and Iran and greatly obstruct their military and strategic goals. It is also possible Israel will attack Iran’s nuclear facilities before they can produce a nuclear bomb which will be used against the Jews. “With JCPOA restrictions in place the United States estimated in 2015 that it would take Iran 12 months to produce enough nuclear fuel for a bomb should it decide to abandon the deal and seek a workable weapon. Today that estimate has shrunk to about one month as Tehran has installed more centrifuges in its nuclear centers, enriched uranium of a far higher quality than allowed under the original nuclear pact and restrained international inspectors’ access to Iranian nuclear facilities.” {2} These military actions by Israel against Syria and Iran could be the fuse that ignites the Gog-Magog war. It will be the excuse that Russia and its coalition will use to invade Israel “to take plunder and to take booty” (oil and gas reserves, minerals, etc.) as Ezekiel describes in Ezekiel 38:12-13. According to Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum, in his book The Footsteps of the Messiah, the nations that comprise this coalition are:
*Note: Not a single Arab nation participates in this invasion for some reason. While some of the nations listed are Moslem, they are not Arab. Gog could be the title of the ruler of the coalition, such as Kaiser or czar, and not his name. Some have even suggested Gog is the name of a demonic prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal; like the demon prince of the kingdom of Persia that withstood the angel (for 21 days) sent to Daniel before Michael the prince of the kingdom of Israel helped him (Daniel 10:13,20). “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). Regarding where this invasion originates from, God tells Ezekiel to prophesy and say to Gog, “Then you will come from your place out of the far north, you and many peoples with you” (Ezekiel 38:15). However, the American Bible Revised Edition Version says, “leaving your base in the recesses of Zaphon, you and many nations with you.” Also in chapter 39, the word/name Zaphon is also substituted for the far north. “I will turn you around, even though I urged you on and brought you up from the recesses of Zaphon and let you attack the mountains of Israel. 10 times the word Zaphon is used in the Old Testament by the American Bible Revised Edition Version. Zaphon is basically a mountain on the Syrian-Turkish border near what used to be the port city of Ugarit. It is now called Mount Aqraa or Jabal al-Aqraa, and Mount Casius to the Greeks. The Canaanites in the region believed it was where the storm god Baal-Hadad lived. Zaphon became a metonym and then the word for the direction ‘north’ in the Hebrew language. The port city of Ugarit was originally located near what is now Latakia, Syria. Latakia has recently been the target of two Israeli air raids in the month of December 2021. Recently Russia has been deploying large troops to this important port city on the Mediterranean Sea. It would certainly enrage Russia if Israel was to kill Russian troops by means of an airstrike in Latakia, Syria. “Currently, Damascus and Homs are being protected by Hezbollah and other Shiite militias. Holding this territory is essential for the regime, Hezbollah, and their Iranian backers. Meanwhile, Latakia represents less of strategic interest for Iran, as contrasted with Russia, which wants to maintain a presence along the coast more than in Damascus or the Golan Heights. As for the influx of Russian troops, they are needed to protect the city given the present weakness of Syrian forces. Russia is also fortifying its position along the southern Turkish border, with the ultimate goal of preventing Sunni Syrian forces from gaining access to the sea.” {1} Latakia, Syria could be the location from where Russia will amass its coalition and “hook-up” with Iranian, Turkish, and other military forces. Gog will then lead them to their ill-fated journey towards Israel to start the Gog-Magog war. This invasion to take ‘booty’ will not work out exactly the way Gog envisions, as it will go horribly awry. On that day of destiny, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob will fight for the children of Israel when no other nation will. Of course, when God fights for you, no one else is needed. “And it will come to pass at the same time, when Gog comes against the land of Israel, says the Lord God, that My fury will show in My face. For in My jealousy and in the fire of My wrath I have spoken: Surely in that day there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel, so that the fish of the sea, the birds of the heavens, the beasts of the field, all creeping things that creep on the earth, and all men who are on the face of the earth shall shake at My presence. The mountains shall be thrown down, the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground. I will call for a sword against Gog throughout all My mountains, says the Lord God. Every man’s sword will be against his brother. And I will bring him to judgment with pestilence and bloodshed; I will rain down on him, on his troops, and on the many peoples who are with him, flooding rain, great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. Thus I will magnify Myself and sanctify Myself, and I will be known in the eyes of many nations. Then they shall know that I am the Lord” (Ezekiel 38:18-23). For seven months the house of Israel will be burying the invaders, in order to cleanse the land. Indeed all the people of the land will be burying, and they will gain renown for it on the day that the Lord God is glorified. I believe the Gog/Magog war of Ezekiel 38-39 takes place shortly after the Rapture of the Church, but before the seven-year Tribulation (aka Daniel’s 70th Week). However, if true, then it will occur at least three and a half years before the start of the Tribulation and seven years before the “in the midst’ moment of the abomination of desolation as described in Matthew 24:15-22. This is because, according to Ezekiel, the Jews would burn the weapons of the armies of the nations that attacked them for a period of seven years (Ezekiel 39:9-10). Simultaneous to and juxtaposed with this same period of time is the warning Jesus gives in His Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24:15-17). Here, He warned that when they (that generation) see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, they should flee to the mountains. He said that the Jews living in Israel should not waste time getting items out of their house, not even their clothes, but to flee for their lives. Now, if this is the case, then the Jews that are fleeing will not be bothering to burn weapons or continue doing any type of cleanup operations in a post-Magog War world. The weapons should have already been burned up by this time. I suppose it’s possible some of these weapons might be smuggled out of Israel before the abomination of desolation occurs and the Jews are hunted down by the anti-Christ. At this mid-point of the seven-year Tribulation, the remnant Jews will flee to the ancient rock fortress of Petra located in Bozrah, a region in southwest Jordan, where they will be supernaturally protected by God for 1260 days. If some of these weapons were taken to Petra ahead of the A.O.D., they would probably be used as fuel instead of weapons of defense. In Grant R. Jeffrey’s book, Appointment with Destiny – Armageddon, he notes that many Russian weapons are manufactured using a material known as Lignostone. Prepared from compressed wood-product, this material was developed in Holland to be used as fuel. The Russians discovered that this uniquid substance was as hard as steel, and light and pliable, almost invisible to radar. These unique characteristics encouraged the Russian military to utilize this material in many military vehicles and weapons. Lignostone burns at very high temperatures and can be readily used as an alternative fuel. Many scholars believe the Gog/Magog war will start on Kislev 24 of the Jewish calendar. Haggai describes this war in a very similar way that Ezekiel does with the Gog/Magog war, with a massive earthquake and with the various peoples/nations fighting amongst themselves. Haggai even gives the date… the 24th day of the 9th month. Compare Haggai 2:18-22 with Ezekiel 38:18-22 (they even have the same numbered verses – 18-22). “Consider now from this day forward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, from the day that the foundation of the Lord’s temple was laid – consider it: Is the seed still in the barn? As yet the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have not yielded fruit. But from this day I will bless you. And again the word of the Lord came to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month (9th), saying, Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying: I will shake heaven and earth. I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms; I will destroy the strength of the Gentile kingdoms. I will overthrow the chariots and those who ride in them; the horses and their riders shall come down, every one by the sword of his brother” (Haggai 2:18-22). This invasion by Russia and the coalition of various nations, and the end result, is described not only in Ezekiel and Haggai but in the end verses of Isaiah 17 as well. Three Old Testament prophets/witnesses have prophesied about this war. Surely it will come to pass. The reason it is located at the end of the 17th chapter of Isaiah is because it takes place after the destruction of Damascus, Syria in the first part of the chapter. It is the excuse Russia and company will use to come against Israel and take plunder and booty. “Woe to the multitude of many people Who make a noise like the roar of the seas, And to the rushing of nations That make a rushing like the rushing of mighty waters! The nations will rush like the rushing of many waters; But God will rebuke them and they will flee far away, And be chased like the chaff of the mountains before the wind, Like a rolling thing before the whirlwind. Then behold, at eventide, trouble! And before the morning, he is no more. This is the portion of those who plunder us, And the lot of those who rob us” ((Isaiah17:12-14). I am not dogmatic about the order of end-time prophecies, but I think the Isaiah 17 prophecy could be fulfilled shortly before the Rapture of the Church. Of course, the Rapture is an imminent event that could occur anytime and doesn’t need anything to occur before it happens. I also believe the bombing of Iran’s nuclear facilities will happen at about the same time as the destruction of Damascus. Israel has vowed to never allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon by whatever means is necessary. At this stage, the ‘means’ mean military strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. The Gog/Magog war will occur soon after these earth-shattering events. After the Rapture (and maybe even before), the United States of America will no longer be a dominant world power. Russia will exert its military might (as it is doing now) even more in reclaiming lost territory that was part of the old Soviet Union until God puts hooks in the jaws of Gog and turns him (and his host) around towards Israel (Ezekiel 38:4). After the Gog/Magog war, Israel will once again enter into a covenant relationship with God, although they will still not accept Jesus Christ as their Messiah (for the most part). “I will set My glory among the nations; all the nations shall see My judgment which I have executed, and My hand which I have laid on them. So the house of Israel shall know that I am the Lord their God from that day forward” (Ezekiel 39:21-22). The Jews will earnestly seek to build a third temple in Jerusalem at this point. The defeat of Russia, Iran, Turkey, Germany, and the other nations of Ezekiel 38-39 will leave a power vacuum amongst the nations of the world. The 10 kings/kingdoms/regions will immediately fill this power vacuum and fill the void, becoming the dominant world power. Even China will become a part of this one world order. The anti-Christ will emerge soon after this and will eventually kill three of the ten rulers. The remaining seven kings will then give him their authority and he will become the king of the world. His evil reign will be short-lived, however, as it will only last for 3.5 years before the true King of the world, Jesus Christ, returns and “fires him.” “Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered to fight against the one riding the horse and against his army. The beast was caught and with it the false prophet who had performed in its sight the signs by which he led astray those who had accepted the mark of the beast and those who had worshiped its image. The two were thrown alive into the fiery pool burning with sulfur. The rest were killed by the sword that came out of the mouth of the one riding the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh” (Revelation 19:19-21). “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31). Amen, even so, come Lord Jesus! Randy Nettles [email protected] Endnotes: {1} www.washingtoninstitute.org – Latakia is Assad’s Achilles Heel by Fabrice Balanche {2} foreignpolicy.com – How Close is Iran to Getting a Nuclear Weapon by Colum Lynch The West Declared Economic War On Russia, And Now Russia Is Striking Back In A Major Way - by Michael Snyder - http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/the-west-declared-economic-war-on-russia-and-now-russia-is-striking-back-in-a-major-way/ Did you think that the Russians were just going to sit back and take whatever economic sanctions that western powers decided to dish out? Of course the Russians were going to strike back, and they definitely have the ability to cause quite a bit of pain. Unfortunately, economic wars have a way of becoming shooting wars, and if leaders on both sides continue to escalate matters we could soon cross a point of no return. As it is, relations between western governments and the Russians have totally broken down. The Russians are never going to forgive us, and western governments are never going to forgive them. So that means that many of the economic “punishments” that are now being implemented are likely to be permanent. Without a doubt, the sanctions that have been imposed on the Russians have done a lot of harm. The Russian ruble has collapsed, there have been extremely long lines at ATM machines and banks, and economic activity inside the country has been greatly disrupted. But anyone that thought that we would get out of this unscathed was just being delusional. In recent days, a whole host of western corporations have announced that they are pulling out of Russia, and the Russians are now saying that they could simply seize all of their assets… Russia said it could seize the assets of Western companies that have suspended operations in the country. Dozens of American, European and Japanese companies from almost every sector of the economy have abandoned joint ventures, factories, stores and offices in the last two weeks in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the ensuring sanctions. Over the past few decades, western corporations have built up an enormous presence in Russia, and now much of that could be taken away without any compensation at all. Ouch. The balance sheets of some companies are about to get “adjusted” in a major way. Do you think that their shareholders will feel good about achieving a “moral victory” even though it means losing so much shareholder value? Many major financial institutions in the western world are about to get hammered as well. According to CNN, very little of the $121,000,000,000 that Russian entities owe to western banks is likely to ever be repaid now that war has started… International banks are owed more than $121 billion by Russian entities, according to the Bank for International Settlements, which suspended Russia’s membership on Thursday. European banks have over $84 billion total claims, with France, Italy and Austria the most exposed, and US banks owed $14.7 billion. Goldman Sachs (GS) earlier disclosed that it had credit exposure to Russia of $650 million in December 2021. U.S. banks only stand to lose 14.7 billion dollars, and that will definitely hurt. But the amount of exposure that European banks have could potentially be absolutely devastating. The Russians are also hitting back by restricting exports. On Thursday, the Russian government released a list of over 200 different items which will not be allowed to be exported… “The list includes technical, telecommunication and medical equipment, vehicles, agricultural machinery, electrical equipment – more than 200 items in total, including railway cars and locomotives, containers, turbines, metal and stone processing machines, monitors, projectors, consoles and panels,” the Kremlin statement says. “This measure is necessary to ensure stability in the Russian market.” A lot of the items on that list don’t really matter, but the fact that Russia has now decided to suspend fertilizer exports is a really, really big deal… On Thursday, Russian Minister of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov said Russia decided to suspend fertilizer exports. This comes when global food prices are at record highs, and European fertilizer makers are struggling to produce nutrients ahead of the spring growing season, increasing global food inflation risks. President Vladimir Putin said the fertilizer export ban was a move to ensure stable domestic food prices. This is another sign of growing protectionism worldwide as countries grapple with soaring food prices. Putin said fertilizer markets are deteriorating, making food a lot more expensive. In previous articles, I have explained that even before the war started some types of fertilizer had doubled in price, some had tripled in price and some had actually quadrupled in price. Now fertilizer prices are likely to soar even higher, because the Russians are a major player in the fertilizer industry… .. on the eve of the sowing season, European (& American) farmers are left w/t Russian fertilizers. RUS share in the world market is a little less than a 1/3 of the world production of potash fertilizers, about 10% of nitrogen fertilizers & about 20% of complex fertilizers. This move is especially going to be painful for farmers in Europe. Without fertilizer from Ukraine or Russia, they are going to be facing a “supply shock” of epic proportions. We will also want to watch how Russian export restrictions affect the tech industry… Today, #Russia accounts for 80 % of the market for sapphire substrates – thin plates made of artificial stone, which are used in opto- & microelectronics to build up layers of various materials, such as silicon. They are used in every processor in the world – AMD & Intel are no exception. #Russia’s position is even stronger in special chip etching chemistry using ultra-clean components. RUS accounts for almost 100% of the world’s supply of some rare earth elements used for these purposes When I ran for Congress, developing U.S. sources of rare earth elements was a hot button issue for me. Sadly, not much progress has been made since that time. Today, the U.S. remains exceedingly dependent on foreign sources. China actually dominates the global market far more than anyone else does, and so if we ever go to war with China we are going to be really, really hurting in this area. Before I end this article, I want to give an update on the price of gasoline. The average price of a gallon of gasoline in the United States has now shot up to $4.31, and in Los Angeles some consumers are now paying nearly 8 dollars a gallon… Gas prices are now nudging $8-a-gallon in Los Angeles, with drivers forming lines at Costco pumps across the US to fill up ahead of potential further increases. Snaps taken at a Mobil gas station beside on the border of Beverly Hills and West Hollywood on Wednesday afternoon displayed eye-watering prices of $7.95 for premium gas. In this case, this is something that we have largely done to ourselves. Ever since he entered the White House, Joe Biden has pursued policies that have driven up the price of gasoline, and now the war has caused worldwide panic. Biden is trying to beg the Saudis to pump more oil, and he may be successful. But as I have repeatedly warned, the long-term outlook is exceedingly bleak. Gasoline prices will eventually go much higher than they are now. Food prices will eventually go much higher than they are now. And the shaking of our financial system has only just begun. The Biden administration wanted a showdown with the Russians, and now they have it. Unfortunately, their foolishness is going to cost all of us dearly. The Czar Overplayed His Hand: Possibly Prophetic - By Dr. Donald Whitchard - https://www.raptureready.com/2022/03/09/the-czar-overplayed-his-hand-possibly-prophetic-by-dr-donald-whitchard/ A Possible Prophetic Series of Events This past February, I had the pleasure of being the guest preacher at Twin Oaks Baptist Church in Wagoner, Oklahoma. The first Sunday, I presented a message on the four types of soil Jesus taught about in Mark 4:1-20. After that, I was at a loss as to what to preach for the remaining three weeks. I sought the LORD in prayer as to what to present, and I was impressed to speak on the events that are to occur in the future, such as the Rapture of the Church, the Judgment Seat of Christ, the Tribulation, the Second Coming of Christ with the saints, and the millennial reign and eternal state (John 14:1-3; 1 Corinthians 15:51-58; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation, Chapters 4:1-19:11-21; 20:11-15, Chapters 21 and 22). However, my plans changed when the news of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia occurred. I felt another impression from the LORD to preach on the Gog- Magog War of Ezekiel, Chapters 38-39 on Sunday, February 27th, and how Putin’s action may have started a possible prophetic chain reaction that could signal the final days and the fulfillment of Bible prophecy. I posted the possible series of events on my Facebook page and wrote them out as part of my sermon, which was supposed to be posted on Twin Oaks’ Facebook page but somehow was “blocked” afterward. I am convinced that sinister forces are trying to keep this and other Bible-based teachings, including the Gospel itself, away from the public. I want to share with you the possible list of upcoming events that might have been triggered by the irrational actions of “Czar” Vladimir Putin.
Ezekiel 38 and 39 tell of the invasion of Israel by nations to the north (Rus) – Russia and the nations of Put (Libya), Persia (Iran), Togarmah (Turkey and the Islamic nations that made up southern Russia), along with Egypt, Cush (possibly Arabia or Sudan), Gomer, (possibly Germany with its rising antisemitism), and Ethiopia (the African Islamic nations). It could very well be that, in the coming months or sooner, these events might fall into place that start with Putin’s war on Ukraine. Also, note that in Ezekiel 38 and 39, God Himself will destroy these nations with all His wrath. If this is the case, know that our redemption is indeed drawing near (Luke 21:28)! In all things, be ready. Be sure that you truly know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior (Romans 10:9-10) today. [email protected] www.realitycityreverend.com Play It Again Sam - by Bill Perkins - https://compass.org/play-it-again-sam/ All you see on the major news is how terrible Russia is. The major TV and newspapers are in unison crying foul while spreading fear into the hearts of Americans about Russia starting a nuclear war. They're scaring the beejeebees out of so many people it wouldn't surprise me if we started seeing ads for backyard fallout shelters. But it it doesn't pass the sniff-test when all the networks and major newspapers are using the same phrases to condemn Russia. It makes you wonder if they're up to something. Haven't we heard this before?’ I'm pretty sure if you take all the headlines from two years ago and insert "Russia" in place of "Covid," you have the latest fear-flaming tactics by the Globalists/Satanists. Yes, innocent people are suffering and dying in the Ukraine, which is always a heartbreak. Many are evangelical Christians and Jews trapped with no place to go.(5) As Believers we can never ignore or condone the tragic suffering of innocent people. But that makes it even more incumbent on us to seek to investigate and understand all the factors that contribute to this war. Russia is trying to take back over the country they've dominated for decades. But just like in the United States, many of the Ukrainian leaders are politically and Satanically corrupt. Ask Hunter Biden who's been paid no telling how much for his influence as the son of Joe Biden. Ukraine is home to huge sex trafficking operations. And it's being reported that there are numerous Big Pharma involved bio-labs scattered around the country.(4) The United States, James Baker, under Bush 1, promised Russia that NATO would not advance one inch past the western boundary of Ukraine. So much for State Department promises (ask the American Indians about government promises). But the main reason the Globalists/Satanists are mad at Russia is not because they're invading Ukraine. Like everything else going on, this is about control, world control in the last days. Here's the dirty little secret you won't hear on the news— Russia refuses to be controlled by the New World Order. They created their monetary system to function outside the prying eyes of the world financial system controlled by Rothschild, Rockefeller, et al. The Globalists/Satanists can't have that! This fact was confirmed when Kira Rudik, a Ukrainian member of the Parliament, flatly stated on Fox News that the Ukrainian citizens are not only fighting Russia to save their country but also to "Save the New World Order."(1) It will be hard to put that cat back in the bag. The non-mainstream news is screaming about the silliness of making Russia the bad guy.(2) Another reason the news is cheering for Ukraine over Russia is because Ukraine is home to a lot of dirt on the Bidens, Clintons, Obamas, et al. These scumbags have used Ukraine as their personal piggy bank for a long time. I'm sure they felt it was time to pull the plug and drain the evidence. Finally, what could be better to get people's minds off Biden's failures than war with Russia! Being worried about a nuclear attack could get our minds off lots of things. Things like skyrocketing inflation; millions of illegals streaming across our borders; a trillion dollars in military equipment abandoned in Afghanistan; back to energy dependence on the Middle East and Russia; the unchecked crime surge across America; va((ines that aren't working and instead are killing people; and the woking of our kids in public schools. Yes, Biden, Obama, Soros, Schwab, Gates, et al, need a war to cover their evil deeds. Mike Adams of Brighteon has been saying for months they want a war with Russia so they can blame a U.S. cyber attack on Russia.(3) A cyber attack would conveniently take down all the alt-right communicators so they can 100% control the news. Don't think for a moment this isn't being considered. The ultimate goal of the Globalists/Satanists is to institute a new digital currency. That would give them ALL control. They'll eventually get there, but probably not before the Rapture. So between now and then, if nothing else, they want to keep the "fear" coming that the sky's falling. Hey, they used fear to lock down the entire planet so now they'll use it whenever they need to. Yep, this is indeed a rerun of the same ole song. The Globalists/Satanists are relentlessly moving forward with their quest for total world control, just as prophesied in the Bible. It won't end well for them. But it will end very well for us. CQLJ! BP (1) https://leohohmann.com/2022/02/28/ukrainian-mp-we-are-not-only-fighting-for-ukraine-we-are-fighting-for-the-new-world-order/ (2) https://vladtepesblog.com/2022/03/01/a-different-view-of-the-ukraine-situation-from-the-point-of-view-of-a-russian-ukranian/ (The above has an F-bomb about half-way through) (3) https://www.brighteon.com/9bbe4b05-e399-4c8b-851c-5b4355500a14 (4) https://www.huffpost.com/entry/ukraine-orphanages-feeder_b_7344882 (5) https://www.jpost.com/christianworld/article-698210 The Rapture: Needed Encouragement for Perilous Times – Jonathan Brentner - https://www.jonathanbrentner.com/https/jonathan-brentner-g8fgsquarespacecom/config/2022/3/3/the-rapture-needed-encouragement-for-perilous-times Perhaps one of the most overlooked aspects of the Rapture is how it encourages believers during difficult and dangerous times. And we need its comforting salve now, perhaps more than ever before. Where I live, gas prices are double what they were fifteen months ago, and the cost of natural gas has increased eighty percent. As the war rages on in Europe, we can expect these prices to continue their upward climb and accelerate the pace of rising food prices. A Prophecy News Watch article, The Ukraine Conflict Could Further Breakdown Our Food & Energy Supply Chain, explains this emerging crisis much better than I can. Food shortages will likely impact most people by the end of 2022. We live in perilous times that grow darker by the day. The threat of the Ukraine war spreading beyond Ukraine looms as a distinct possibility. Could another world war erupt later this year? Many believe this will happen. China recently issued a dire warning for the US to stay away from Taiwan and implied that its warships would become “scrap metal” should America attempt to interfere with their upcoming invasion of the island nation. Please know that I am not trying to scare anyone, but simply pointing out why we need the comfort and encouragement that comes from focusing on our “blessed hope” (Titus 2:13). All believers need to hear and grab ahold of the joyous hope we have in Christ regarding His imminent appearing. NEW TESTAMENT ENCOURAGEMENT THAT FLOWS FROM OUR JOYOUS HOPE Many times, after mentioning the Rapture, the writers of the New Testament either instruct us to use its truth to encourage others or use Jesus’ imminent appearing as a reason for steadfastness in our walk with the Lord. In 1 Thessalonians 4:18 and 5:11, Paul instructs the Thessalonians to “encourage one another” and “build one another up” with their hope in the Rapture. The apostle tells them, and us, that the expectation of Jesus’ appearing is to be a key source of comfort during difficult times. In the verse that follows the wonderful promise of a glorified body in Philippians 3:20-21, we see these words, “Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved” (Philippians 4:1). We possess a heavenly citizenship and look forward to receiving imperishable bodies at Jesus’ appearing. These things help us persevere in our faith during turbulent times. It’s not a doctrine we can afford to toss aside in today’s world. It’s meant to comfort us as well as strengthen our resolve to remain faithful to our Lord Jesus. After writing about our glorious hope in 1 Corinthians 15:50-57, Paul writes these words in verse 58: “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” Our focus on Jesus’ imminent appearing reminds us that a reward awaits us for faithful service. Along with the Rapture comes our appearance before the Bema seat of Jesus; it’s the time when He rewards us for faithful service, but that’s not all. Revelation 3:10-11 is a passage that also refers to Rapture. Notice that Jesus mentions “patient endurance” ahead of the promise that His church will miss “the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world.” (Note: This “hour of trial: not a persecution of the church, but something that will impact the whole world and all those that “dwell on the earth.”) I think of Jesus’ words about “patient endurance” when I become impatient with waiting for the Rapture. After promising to come for us before this worldwide trial, the Lord says, “Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.” Just as Paul writes about in 2 Timothy 4:8, there’s a reward for those who love “his appearing.” So not only do the truths of the Rapture encourage us and motivate us to remain steadfast in our walk with the Lord, but there’s also a special “crown” or reward for believers who long and watch for Jesus’ appearing. OUR BLESSED HOPE IS A MUCH-NEEDED SOURCE OF COMFORT As our world becomes increasingly dangerous and many perils loom in our future, how does our glorious expectation of Jesus’ imminent appearing help comfort and encourage us? 1. OUR BLESSED HOPE COMFORTS US I find much relief in knowing that the storm clouds we see gathering on the horizon tell us that we will soon be with Jesus. When we look realistically at what’s coming our way, it’s certainly not good news. But oh, the Gospel contains the best news imaginable for just such a time as this. Paul refers to our joyous expectation of meeting Jesus in the air as our “blessed hope” (Titus 2:11-13). The Gospel is meant to train our hearts to look up in anticipation of Jesus’ appearing. As such, it comforts us when the world turns upside-down, such as now. How did Jesus respond to the troubled hearts of His disciples who became deeply troubled at the thought of the Lord’s departure from them? He made this comforting promise to them that applies to us as well: In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. I find great comfort in knowing that Jesus has not only saved me, but loves me so much that He’s preparing a special place for me in His Father’s house. We have a glorious forever home beyond the violence and lawlessness of our current world. 2. OUR BLESSED HOPE CALMS OUR FEARS Our “blessed hope,” along with the other details we find in Scripture regarding our future, calms our fears as nothing else can. When we compare these prophetic texts with world events, we see that God remains sovereignly in control of everything in our world. He said the world would look like this as we near the end of human history as we know it, and it does. Vladimir Putin can huff and puff all he wants and perhaps resort to nuclear weapons in the future, but he cannot thwart God’s plans for us or the world. Everything will happen just as God’s Word says that it will. The Lord will keep all His promises to us! Isaiah 46:8-13 tells us that it’s God character to tell us what is going to happen far, far in advance. Does it not calm our fears to know that God can predict what will happen thousands of years in advance? He is absolutely sovereign and as such He will keep His promise to keep us out of the wrath of the day of the Lord (1 Thessalonians 5:9-10) that we find detailed in Revelation 6-18. OUR BLESSED HOPE VERSUS THE WAR IN UKRAINE I do not know the long-term (or even the near term) impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Apart from truths related to our “blessed hope,” I cannot imagine remaining calm amid Putin’s implied threat to use nuclear weapons. I do not know how much suffering might come my way before Jesus appears, but I know future shortages of food and wars cannot take away my joyous expectation of seeing Jesus some day soon with an immortal and incorruptible body! Although the reference to “Gog” in Ezekiel 38 might possibly refer to a future leader of Russia, I personally believe it refers to Putin. In verse 4, the Lord says to Gog that He “will turn you around, put hooks into your jaws” I do not know what will happen next in Europe, but at some point, Russia will join with Iran in their invasion of Israel. In this short video, Jimmy Evans explains the possible connection between the current war in Ukraine and China’s invasion of Taiwan as well as the coming Gog/Magog war. I believe he presents a credible scenario. If his analysis is correct, the world may be much closer to the events of Ezekiel 38 than most people can even imagine. WATCH VIDEO Also consider that in just the past week from the time of my writing this article, Putin openly condemned Israel’s possession of the Golan Heights and sent combat aircraft and additional military equipment to Syria. Unless a great many world events that foreshadow the coming Tribulation take a most unexpected and dramatic one-eighty turn, the world will continue its rapid advance to the time when the judgments of Revelation 6-18 commence. Our world may grow darker before then, but we know that Jesus is coming for us before the start of the Tribulation. The good news for us does not stem from things getting better in this world, but in our blessed hope of Jesus’ appearing to take us to the place He’s preparing for us. Amid the chaos and uncertainty of our world, we can find much comfort and strength from the Words of Scripture that tell us about Jesus’ soon return for us and promise us a future where we will reign with Jesus and dwell forever in the eternal state. I believe that Paul’s instructions to “seek the things that are above” and set our minds on them (Colossians 3:1-2) applies focusing on the hope before us. Maintaining such a focus requires a fierce battle at times, to be sure, but one worth fighting. I find considerable encouragement and peace in my expectation of Jesus’ appearing; I hope you do as well. Maranatha! Come quickly Lord Jesus! My new book, The Triumph of the Redeemed-An eternal Perspective that Calms Our Fears in Perilous Times, is now available on Amazon. My book offers additional encouragement for these perilous times and provides a solid biblical foundation for why we believe what we do! Jonathan C. Brentner — Website: Our Journey Home Daily Devotion: Your Father’s Good Pleasure - by Greg Laurie – www.harvest.org Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. —Luke 12:32 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/your-fathers-good-pleasure/ - Listen How does God look at you and me? Does He look upon us with approval or disapproval? In the Old Testament book of Numbers, we find a blessing that the Lord commanded the priests to pronounce over the children of Israel. This familiar passage shows us who God is and His feelings toward us. The Israelites were making their way through the wilderness to the Promised Land when God gave these words to Moses: “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace” (Number 6:11 NKJV). In fact, God wanted the priests to pronounce this blessing over the people again and again. He wanted it ingrained in their brains and etched on their hearts as they journeyed through the wilderness. We, too, are in a wilderness of sorts. Like the children of Israel, we are passing through to another place. We all face trials. We all make mistakes. And we all face threats every day. Of course, there’s the threat of COVID and its variants. But then there are the normal concerns of our lives like our livelihoods, our health, our families, and our future. We are fallen people living in a fallen world, and we’re in need of a lot of help. Jesus said, “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32 NKJV). The word blessing is a spiritual word, and it’s something that only a child of God can experience. Another way to translate the word blessed is “happy.” So if you have Christ in your heart, you can be a happy person. God wants to bless us and loves to bless us. Isn’t that great to know? 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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