IN TODAY'S NEWSLETTER...
World War 3 in Bible Prophecy - Joel - https://www.christianevidence.net/2021/09/world-war-3-in-bible-prophecy.html
Since the end of World War 2, the stockpiling of nuclear weapons has proliferated worldwide; many countries now have the capacity to destroy all life on Earth many times over; and while World War 3 fears ignite across the globe after Taliban fighters take over the capital of Afghanistan, many Christians are wondering what the Bible says about World War 3. So, what does the Bible say? Will there be another world war? “And this shall be the plague wherewith the Lord will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.” (Zechariah 14:12) The Tribulation Period In the days of Noah, God poured out His judgment on an unbelieving world in a great flood (Gen. 6:17). The Bible makes it clear that God is going to judge the world again in the end times; only this time the world will be judged by fire, not by water (2 Peter 3:3-7). The final judgments of God are represented in the book of Revelation by the seven seals (Rev. 6:1-17; 8:1-5), seven trumpets (8:6-9:21; 11:15-19), and seven bowls/vials (16:1-21). These judgments, which are spread out over a seven-year period of time known as the “Tribulation”, are all connected to one another and get increasingly worse and more devastating as the end times progress. Until the nuclear age, the predominant view was that God, Himself, will bring about these judgments supernaturally. However, many Bible prophecy experts are beginning to think that John’s visions of the trumpet and bowl judgments may in fact be describing, in perfect chronological order, precisely what is understood to occur during and after a large-scale nuclear war. In his book “There’s A New World Coming” (1973), Hal Lindsey writes: “Although it is possible for God to supernaturally pull off every miracle in the Book of Revelation and use totally unheard of means to do it, I personally believe that all the enormous ecological catastrophes described in this chapter (Revelation 8) are the direct result of nuclear weapons. In actuality, man inflicts these judgments on himself. God simply steps back and removes His restraining influence from man, allowing him to do what comes naturally out of his sinful nature. In fact, if the Book of Revelation had never been written, we might well predict these very catastrophes within fifty years or less!”[7] It’s worth noting that many Bible passages actually suggest that the events of the end times involve man’s own doing. For example, “…every man’s sword shall be against his brother” (Ezek. 38:21) and “…unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved” (Matt. 24:22). Having said that, there’s no reason to believe that God won’t directly inflict most or all of the disasters of the Tribulation just like He did with the plagues of Egypt (Exodus 7-11). So, keep in mind that what follows is speculation not facts... Seal Judgments The first six seals are really a summary of the judgments encompassing the entire period of the Tribulation, culminating with the return of Christ, and they parallel Jesus’ chronology of the Tribulation events given in Matthew 24.[9] The first four seals take place during the first half of the Tribulation, with the rise of the Antichrist in the first seal (Rev. 6:2) leading to a world war in the second seal (Rev. 6:4), which in turn causes famine and economic crisis in the third seal (Rev. 6:6) and calamity in the fourth seal (Rev. 6:8). The sixth and seventh seals take place during the “Great Tribulation” (the last half of the Tribulation), which is pictorially described in Revelation chapters 8, 9 and 16 as a series of trumpet and bowl judgments, and appear to announce World War 3’s escalation from a conventional war into a nuclear holocaust... Trumpet Judgments The breaking of the seventh seal in Revelation 8 introduces the seven trumpet judgments, which cause even greater catastrophes to come to the earth, along with thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake: 5 And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake. The “fire of the altar” is a symbol of God’s judgment, that is now coming upon the earth, and which appears to be farther opened in the sounding of the trumpets. The “thunderings” could very well be the start of nuclear bombs exploding, and the “lightnings,” missiles lighting up the skies. Keep in mind that the writer John, being a First Century man, was describing things he had no knowledge of in the only terms he knew to use! The “voices” signify the resulting confusion, commotions, distresses, and miseries among the earth’s inhabitants, as people from every segment of society “hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains” (Rev. 6:15). Perhaps the population of Earth entering underground bomb and fallout shelters. Interestingly, in verse 1 John says... 1 And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. According to experts, intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) take about 30 minutes to reach their target, no matter where they are launched from.[1] That’s also the same amount of time it takes for nuclear fallout (radioactive dust and ash) to fall from the sky after a nuclear blast, in a phenomenon known as “Black Rain.”[6] After this, the angels prepare to sound their trumpets... 7 The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth... 8 And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea... 10 And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters... The use of simile suggests that John was trying to describe literal things that he had never seen before by comparing them with things he was familiar with. His descriptions of “hail and fire,” “a great mountain burning with fire,” and “a great star… burning as it were a lamp,” sound a lot like nuclear weapons. A hydrogen bomb exploded in the ocean would look like a huge, flaming mountain smashing into the sea, and ICMBs re-entering the atmosphere would indeed look like stars. John’s description of “hail and fire mingled with blood” (v. 7) is especially interesting. In a nuclear explosion, humidity in the air is instantly compressed into water and driven straight up into the freezing temperatures of the upper stratosphere—along with the blood of millions of people, who have been vaporized by the heat. It is then instantly frozen and falls back to Earth as giant chunks of ice mingled with blood! Revelation 16:21 tells us there’ll be gigantic hailstones weighing up to 100 pounds (or 45.35 kilograms). Did you know that hailstones weighing fifty kilograms were found during the nuclear tests in the 1950s?[7] The effects of these three trumpets... 7 ...and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up. Nuclear driven firestorms could easily burn one third of the trees and all the grass on planet Earth. In describing the consequences of a nuclear war, secular author Jonathan Schell predicts “… a significant decrease in photosynthesis in plants around the world; the scalding and killing of many crops…”[11] in his book “The Fate of the Earth.” 8 ...and the third part of the sea became blood; 9 And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed. The blood John describes may not be blood at all, but rather black rain. This could easily wipe out one third of all sea life. Schell also predicts, “… the extinction of many ocean species, among them some at the base of the food chain…”[11] At the same time, a third of the world’s warships may be destroyed, which is exactly what happened in World War 2![8] 11 And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter. “Star of Wormwood” memorial in Chernobyl The reference to “wormwood” hints at poison, and may refer to radiation poisoning. It’s also interesting that the star is called “Wormwood.” Did you know that the most infamous incident of radioactive contamination in human history-to-date occurred in 1986 at Chernobyl, which literally means wormwood in English? 12 ...and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise. This sounds very much like what is commonly called “nuclear winter,” where the smoke and material ejected into the atmosphere by even a limited nuclear exchange obscures the light coming in from luminous objects in space. This could also be why John describes the moon as looking like blood (Rev. 6:12). In their book “A Path Where No Man Thought,” two nuclear winter theorists actually suggest that, in a nominal nuclear winter, noon sunlight will be only one-third what it was before the war.[10] John describes another effect in Revelation 6... 14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. During a nuclear blast the wind is rapidly pushed out [displaced] for several miles, creating a vacuum at the center of the blast site. Suddenly, this wind, like a giant tidal wave, rushes violently back into the vacuum. The atmosphere literally rolls back on itself like a scroll![12] At the same time, the explosions of these weapons can shake, displace and disrupt the earth’s surface for miles away, triggering earthquakes and moving mountains and islands. The first four trumpets are blown in sequence about the same time, and the remaining three trumpets occur sometime later, at various times during the Great Tribulation (Rev. 8:13). They introduce the locust swarm (Rev. 9:1-12), 200-million-man army (Rev. 9:13-21), and declaration of the Kingdom of God (Rev. 11:15-19). Bowl Judgments The seven bowl or vial judgments, which are the final judgments of the Tribulation period, appear to parallel the above but show an intensifying of the judgments—likely the lingering effects of nuclear war. So incredibly dangerous is the potential of radioactive fallout that in fact the long-term cumulative effects of lethal radiation would far exceed the immediate blast effects of the exploding bombs. In Revelation chapter 16, we read: 2 And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast... According to Schell, “In the weeks after the [Hiroshima] bombing, many survivors began to notice the appearance of petechiae—small spots caused by hemorrhages—on their skin. These usually signaled the onset of the critical stage of radiation sickness.”[11] Contact with beta-emitting fallout dust caused horrible, festering sores that would not heal.[5] It is possible that this “noisome and grievous sore” is the result of radiation sickness. In fact, the RFID chip (which may be involved with the Mark of the Beast) is powered by a tiny lithium battery; and if this was to leak inside the body due to atomic radiation, a sore would form at the implantation site.[2] Interestingly, everyone who receives the Mark of the Beast will have this sore (v. 2). 3 And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea. 4 And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood. This could refer to the lingering effects of the third part of the oceans, and fresh water supply of the earth, being contaminated by radiation. By this point in time, ALL sea life will be dead, and ALL of “the rivers and fountains” will be contaminated. Also, notice that there are no lingering effects of the third part of the trees being burned up (Rev. 8:7). This is probably because trees convert carbon dioxide into oxygen. 8 And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. 9 And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory. Gamma radiation from a nearby burst would quickly deplete much of Earth’s protective ozone layer, allowing increased ultraviolet radiation from the sun to reach the surface. At first, this would not be a problem, as the smoke and ash layer would protect us from ultraviolet radiation. But after it clears, one to two years later, we will be left with almost no protection from ultraviolet radiation and suffer the full extent of its harmful effects. Schell says, “‘incapacitating’ sunburn would occur in several minutes.”[11] 10 And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain, 11 And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, The expression “full of darkness,” which is literally translated “to blind or to obscure,” may be referencing the painful effects of photophthalmia (UV-induced eye damage). Paul Ehrlich and other biologists wrote that, “Protracted exposure to increased UV-B may induce corneal damage and cataracts, leading to blindness in human beings and terrestrial mammals.”[4] At the same time, cancerous melanomas could compound the festering sores from radiation burns.[3] Is it merely coincidence that John described the effects of nuclear warfare in sequence?
Conclusion Bible prophecy actually speaks of several wars that will occur in the end times, including the Psalm 83 and Ezekiel 38 wars. It is likely—in fact almost certain—that the conventional war of the Tribulation, which may escalate into a nuclear holocaust, will come to be known as World War 3. Whatever method it may be that God uses to bring judgment, whether man inflicts it on himself or God does, it’s clear that a catastrophic time of upheaval and suffering—unlike anything the world has ever seen before—is coming (Matt. 24:21). I actually think the fact that we have not yet seen a nuclear war since 1945 can be attributed only to the restraining hand of Almighty God, which is going to be lifted very soon! If you haven’t already repented of your sins and put your faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, now is the time to do so—so that you can escape all these things which are about to come to pass (Luke 21:36). “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” (2 Peter 3:10) References: 1 Anissimov, M. (2008). How does a Ballistic Missile Work?. Wisegeek. https://www.wise-geek.com/how-does-a-ballistic-missile-work.htm↩ 2 Anonymous. (2013). Dr. Carl Sanders, Microchip Inventor. TelepathHero. http://telepathhero.blogspot.com/2013/05/dr-carl-sanders-microchip-inventor.html↩ 3 Ciappetta, W. (2005). Final Reckoning. Xulon Press.↩ 4 Ehrlich, P., Harte, J., Harwell, M., Raven, P., Sagan, C., Woodwell, G., Berry, J., Ayensu, E., Ehrlich, A., Eisner, T., et al. (1983). Long-term biological consequences of nuclear war. Science, 222(4630), 1293-300. 10.1126/science.6658451↩ 5 Jeys, M. S. (2010). Revelation for the Common Man: Book 1. AuthorHouse.↩ 6 Kelley, J. (2000). New Atomic Radiation Factors in RMA SOPS Interim Advice. Consolidated Library of Information and Knowledge (CLIK). https://clik.dva.gov.au/node/64585↩ 7 Lindsey, H. (1973). There's a New World Coming: "a Prophetic Odyssey.". Vision House Publishers.↩ 8 Lujack, G. B. (2017). Mysteries of the Scriptures Revealed - Shattering the Deceptions Within Mainstream Christianity Deciphering and Revealing End Times Prophecies Making a Straight Path for the End Times Saints. Scripture Truth Ministries.↩ 9 MacArthur, J. F. (2006). Revelation: The Christian's Ultimate Victory. HarperChristian Resources.↩ 10 Sagan, C., & Turco, R. P. (1990). A Path where No Man Thought: Nuclear Winter and the End of the Arms Race. Random House.↩ 11 Schell, J. (2000). The Fate of the Earth: And, The Abolition. Stanford University Press.↩ 12 Tate, N. M. (2002). Revelation. Xulon Press.↩ Prophetic Dominoes - EU Army Back On Table After Afghanistan Fiasco – PNW Staff - https://www.prophecynewswatch.com/article.cfm?recent_news_id=4947 Many Bible prophecy scholars have commented on the significance of the Afghanistan pullout in relationship to passages in Ezekiel 38 as well as the potential ramifications of America's status on the world stage, but few had imagined a renewed call in Europe for the formation of an EU Army. Twenty-six centuries ago, Ezekiel described a last days alliance that will invade Israel from the north. The Bible says a man named Gog will lead this massive invasion force (Ezekiel 38:2-6). Here are the nations who will join Gog, followed by their modern day names: Rosh = Russia Magog = Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Afghanistan Persia = Iran Cush = Sudan Put = Libya Meshech, Tubal, Gomer, and Beth-togarmah = Turkey Until a few weeks ago all of these nations could feasibly have become involved in such a coalition against Israel except one - Afghanistan. With a pro-US government in place and US troops based in the country there it was extremely unlikely to be involved in such a coalition of nations. That has now all changed and with Islamic extremists back in power - they would be happy to join in a holy war against Israel and use US equipment left behind to do it. What role the US plays in the End Times is up for debate. Some point out the similarities between Mystery Babylon and the United States in the book of Revelation which does not bode well for America if that is the case. Scripture is silent on it's direct role and thus we can only look for clues to it's future. We do know that the United States has been a strong supporter of Israel since before it's modern inception and that God promises to bless those who bless Israel. However the US, Israel alliance has been slowly weakening as the Democratic party allows more and more anti-Israel policies to take hold - least of all is the support of clearly anti-Semitic members of Congress. Biden is now pushing for a Palestinian state and dividing the land of Israel - which several Bible prophecy experts have linked to natural disasters hitting the US. Even evangelical support for Israel among the younger generations continues to drop as Biblical literacy continues to decline. Some believe the US will fade from being a world power and unable or unwilling to help Israel in it's future battles. Such a demise would seem to be yet far reality but add an economic crisis to the already fragile social fabric of our nation or another future health crisis and look what can happen to nations in just a few months. Natural disasters, cosmic events, conflict with China or even a sneak attack involving an electromagnetic pulse from Iran or North Korea could make America so focused on internal issues she is no longer able to play the role of global policeman. Which brings us to the potential rise of a new world superpower. The European Union is already an economic superpower however it still doesn't wield the full potential of it's military powers, partly due to continued fragmentation among the members militaries. Attempts to integrate Europe have seemed to have rolled backwards over the past few years with both political and popular opinion against further integration. The departure of Britain from the EU also dealt it a major blow. However, covid compliance issues have forced many EU member countries to work together to find common policies and now with seeing what happened with Afghanistan - many are re-examining the benefits of a united military under one command. One where they are not reliant on US policies to dictate foreign policy. "What happened in Afghanistan was a defining moment," said Nathalie Loiseau, who chairs the European Parliament's subcommittee on security and defense. When President Biden failed to keep U.S. troops in Afghanistan past the Aug. 31 deadline, European leaders felt this forced them to end their evacuation efforts early, despite thousands of citizens and allies still trying to escape the country. Some of Europe's most prominent politicians have argued for years that to become a true global power, the E.U. needs its own defense force, one that is independent of the U.S.-European NATO alliance and does not rely on the United States. Former President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, has suggested Europe transform itself into what he called a "superpower" that could act as a "global security power". He went on to say, "the Americans, to whom we owe much... will not ensure the security of the Europeans in the long term. We have to do this ourselves...." E.U. foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, asserted that his proposed joint rapid-deployment force of 5,000 troops could have helped to secure the airport, and that a coordinated European security strategy would have allowed the bloc more influence over the "timing and nature of the withdrawal." "The only way forward is to combine our forces and strengthen not only our capacity, but also our will to act," Borrell said following a meeting of E.U. defense ministers in Slovenia. French President Emmanuel Macron is one of the biggest supporters of more integration and has been calling for a "true European army" since he took power. Armin Laschet, who is vying to succeed German Chancellor Angela Merkel, said recently that Europe must be strengthened "such that we never have to leave it up to Americans." E.U. defense ministers are currently debating a "strategic compass" document that will outline the bloc's security risks and policy goals. The document, to be published next year, will be the first test of how serious E.U. leaders are about strengthening their defense strategy, said Georgina Wright, head of the Europe program at Institute Montaigne. The idea of an EU army idea has been around since the days of Churchill and seems to be revived every decade. While most attempts have failed there are some followers of Bible Prophecy who see the potential for a future 10 nation alliance out of Europe to fulfill the prophecies of the Book of Daniel & Revelation in which a 10 nation alliance from Europe (the Beast of Revelation) becomes the seat of power for the Antichrist on his way to global domination. Some have speculated about whether these prophecies in Revelation refer to 10 nations, 10 world regions, or simply 10 leaders. When the European Union first emerged and eventually grew to 10 member nations, prophecy students were sitting up and taking notice, until the EU grew past 10 nations (current EU members total 27 nations). Then the excitement died down considerably as Europe failed to demonstrate any united military capability. Now with talk of a fresh desire to merge military co-operation, people are starting to pay attention again. Especially as it coincides with so many other important prophetic events happening such as the shadow war between Iran & Israel, the players for Ezekiel 38 all in alignment (including Afghanistan), the advancement of technology that could fulfill the mark of the beast, natural disasters, the global impact of disease and the list goes on and on. There are more questions and speculation than anything else at this point regarding the future of the European Union but with so many prophetic events converging at this time it is time to be paying attention more now than ever before. Major U.S. Cities Are Becoming Fentanyl-Infested Cesspools As Millions Plunge Into Hopelessness And Despair - by Michael Snyder - http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/major-u-s-cities-are-becoming-fentanyl-infested-cesspools-as-millions-plunge-into-hopelessness-and-despair/ If you live near a major U.S. city, you don’t have to go to a movie theater to see a horror show. Instead, just find out where fentanyl-laced heroin is being sold and go hang out with the drug addicts for a few hours. If you survive the encounter, it will be an experience that you will never forget. In city after city, hopelessly addicted men and women wander the streets of our core urban areas like zombies. Unfortunately, many of them won’t last very long because it is exceptionally easy to die from a fentanyl overdose. As you will see below, drug overdose deaths in the U.S. were up 30 percent last year, and fentanyl was the main reason. Earlier today I came across a video of the streets of Philadelphia that really struck a chord with me emotionally. Philadelphia played such a critical role in the American Revolution, and it was once such a beautiful city. But as this video clearly shows, it has now become a complete and utter hellhole. WATCH THIS VIDEO How can city officials just stand aside and do nothing as this goes on day after day? Down on Kensington Avenue, you can buy a bag of fentanyl-laced heroin for as little as five dollars… The Kensington section of Philadelphia, where anyone can buy a lethal dose of fentanyl-laced heroin for $5 a bag, has been known locally as the ‘ground zero’ of America’s opioid epidemic, Philadelphia Magazine reported. It is not uncommon for locals who pass by the area to notice men lying motionless on the sidewalk. Syringes and needles are also frequently seen out and used in plain sight. Authorities know that this is going on right out in the open, and they do nothing to stop it. Needless to say, what is happening in Philadelphia is just a very small fraction of the overall crisis that we are facing in this country. From coast to coast, thousands upon thousands of addicts are dying. In fact, the number of drug overdose deaths in the United States was up 30 percent last year… The provisional drug overdose death statistics for 2020 confirmed the addiction field’s worst fears. More people died of overdoses in the United States last year than in any other one-year period in our history. More than 93,000 people died. The increase from the previous year was also more than we’ve ever seen—up 30 percent. These data are telling us that something is wrong. In fact, they are shouting for change. Fentanyl and engineered substances that mimic fentanyl are being shipped into this country in vast quantities. These substances can be “100 times stronger than meth or heroin”, and they are super addictive. But they are also super deadly. It has been reported that an amount of fentanyl equivalent to “two grains of salt” can kill you. It is so easy to make a mistake when dealing with fentanyl, but addicts just keep coming back for more. Sadly, a 39-year-old female comedian learned this the hard way when she almost died the other night after taking some fentanyl-laced cocaine… A comedian who is said to have taken fentanyl-laced cocaine that killed three people at an LA house party has told a friend that she is recovering from the incident. Kate Quigley, 39, texted friend Brian Redban Sunday to say: ‘I’m alive. Not great. But im OK,’ with Redban sharing a screenshot of the message on his Instagram Sunday. Of course wherever there are people that are extremely addicted to illegal street drugs there is also going to be lots of crime. So far this weekend, dozens of people have been shot in the city of Chicago, and criminals have become so brazen that they are now literally trying to haul away entire ATM machines… Someone has been trying to steal entire ATMs from businesses in Chicago, and has succeeded at least once. Chicago Police said that burglars tried to use a blow torch and pry tools to open an ATM outside a business. In two other robberies, they smashed a window or door and tried to steal the ATM. In one instance, they did walk away with an ATM. I don’t know why anyone would still want to live in the city of Chicago at this point. Of course the exact same thing could be said for dozens of other major U.S. cities. As the economic suffering in this nation intensifies, it is inevitable that even more people will turn to drugs to try to deal with the pain. I am seeing so much hopelessness and despair out there right now, and turning to something that will instantly make you feel good can seem like a really easy answer. But in the end it can send you to the grave. Right now, Democrats in Washington are debating whether they should extend the enhanced unemployment benefits that are expiring… President Joe Biden and congressional Democrats are facing pressure to extend federal pandemic-related unemployment benefits set to expire this weekend for millions of American workers, as the Delta variant continues to surge and job growth slows. Three federal jobless aid programs, first put in place by former President Donald Trump’s administration last March, will lapse Monday, with an estimated 7.5 million unemployed workers set to lose all their benefits. An additional 3 million will no longer receive a $300 weekly boost to the unemployment benefits provided by their state, according to estimates from the Century Foundation. In order to extend those benefits, we would have to borrow more money, and we can’t afford to do that. But if we don’t extend those benefits, even more Americans will fall into poverty, and that will lead to more hopelessness and despair. We live at a time when more Americans than ever are dependent on the government, and that is very alarming because socialism always ends up collapsing. As Margaret Thatcher once said, socialist governments “always run out of other people’s money” eventually. Unfortunately, the United States has been marching down a socialist path for a long time, and if we stay on this course it won’t lead anywhere good. There are consequences for the decisions that we make, and the drug addicts that endlessly wander our city streets are just one example. So many of those addicts could have been doctors or lawyers or business executives, but instead they have willingly chosen to destroy themselves. Of course our society as a whole is willingly destroying itself, and little time remains to do anything about it. Finding Peace in the Midst of Lawlessness and Deceit – Jonathan Brentner – https://www.jonathanbrentner.com/https/jonathan-brentner-g8fgsquarespacecom/config/2021/9/3/calm-in-the-midst-of-lawlessness-and-deceit Have you ever experienced a feeling deep inside your soul that something was terribly wrong? That’s what I feel at the moment. Perhaps it’s a case of deep sadness as I look at the state of my country and the world. My president abandoned hundreds, if not many more, of American citizens in Afghanistan. He gave the Taliban a list of the Afghans who helped the U.S. forces while stationed there, a kill list if you will. The Taliban have already begun brutally and sadistically murdering these former allies of America. I shudder to think of the fate of Americans left behind in that nation. It gets worse. The Biden administration has gifted the Taliban, ISIS, and Al Qaeda with a treasure trove of weapons beyond their wildest dreams. Don’t let anyone deceive you; these three groups are interchangeable and fully support each other. These demonic killers will most certainly use these weapons to murder many more innocent civilians and Bible-believing Christians in Afghanistan. How long before they export such terror? Lara Logan from Sixty Minutes recently stated that everything Biden and his cohorts have told us and continue to tell us about the situation in Afghanistan is a total lie. Back in July, Biden told the President of Afghanistan to deceive the world about the insurgent strength of the Taliban. Biden knew well in advance that his plan would lead to the disaster we saw take place and the horrors that remain for those still there. How do we as redeemed saints avoid anger when we look at the deceit and great lawlessness afoot in our world? I believe the Lord inspired Psalm 37 to calm His followers during times such as this. DO NOT FRET Psalm 37 tells us not to “fret” (vv. 1, 7-8) at the evil we see all around us. The word in the Hebrew signifies a deeper passion than what one might expect; it depicts a person burning with anger, furious at evil that he or she sees. It accurately depicts how we often react to the out of control lawlessness in our world, does it not? The Lord knew the sight of evil people succeeding in their “wicked devices” would kindle anger inside us (v. 7). At the end of verse 8 He tells us why we must not continue in in such a state; “it tends only to evil.” He also provides us with a reason to remain calm in times such in these; it comes through contemplating the end of those promoting violence and immoral behavior in our world. In verse 9 of Psalm 37, the Lords tells us that “evildoers will be cut off.” Verses 12-17 assure us that the Lord will judge the wicked and the violent. Those who murder innocent children in the womb, engage in sex trafficking, and promote the myriad of evil and violence we see all around us will surely pay a terrible price both in the coming Tribulation period and in eternity. Psalm 94:21-23 adds this about the end of those who “condemn the innocent to death.” In verse 23 the Psalmist writes, “He will bring back on them their iniquity / and wipe them out for their wickedness; / The Lord our God will wipe them out.” Although God does not immediately punish evil, we know that He will certainly do so. That time is ever so close at hand. TRUST, TRUST, TRUST! Though the instruction to “trust” the Lord (vv. 3, 5) only occurs twice in Psalm 37, it’s really the theme of the entire Psalm. God remains sovereignly in control of all things; the events of 2021 are working out exactly as God anticipated thousands of years ago. We can have confidence in His plan even though at the moment we do not see Him intervening to stop the bloodshed in our world. The Bible also tells us that those working to create a tyrannical world order will succeed for a while in enslaving all nations under their Marxist state. Although this kingdom will prosper for a short while, Jesus will utterly destroy the Antichrist and his realm at His Second Coming (Daniel 2:44-45; Revelation 18-19). It’s difficult to wait, which just so happens to be another key theme of Psalm 37. WAIT PATIENTLY In verse 7 David writes, “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him. . . .” We know that God will judge the wickedness of this world, but we do not know when. In the meantime, we wait and seek to put aside our desire that the Lord act now to destroy the wicked. The realization of the Lord’s patience with me during my life helps me put this into perspective. If He had judged me immediately for my sins, I would no longer be alive and deserving of a fate worse than death. How can I gripe about His longsuffering with the world in light of the steadfast love and mercy he continues to show me every morning of my life (Lamentations 3:22-24)? Furthermore, as New Testament saints, we are not waiting for God’s wrath to fall upon the world such as will happen during the seven-year Tribulation. We are waiting for the Lord’s appearing when He will take us to the place that He’s now preparing for us (John 14:1-3). In Philippians 3:20-21, Paul wrote, “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.” In the Greek, the word for “wait” denotes an eager anticipation of something. So many believers today think it’s fashionable to ignore the Rapture or even ridicule our hope. However, this confident expectation helps us remain calm as we watch lawlessness and deceit grow exponentially in our world. I’m not sure how I’d cope without this joyous anticipation. FOCUS ON OUR ETERNAL INHERITANCE We have a huge advantage over King David in that we have the New Testament and with it many more details of our future in eternity. For the Jews in about 1000 BC, their heritage was the Land, which the Bible says they will fully enjoy during the millennium. I believe this explains the emphasis on the Land as the “heritage” of believers in Psalm 37. For us, Ephesians 1:11-14 speaks to our inheritance as New Testament saints, which includes our immortal bodies that we receive at the time of the Rapture, our reign with Jesus for a thousand years, and our eternal home in the New Jerusalem with a new earth to forever enjoy. These things make up our inheritance, the paradise Jesus promises to us as New Testament Saints. If we live with the perspective this life is all we have (and most believers today have such an earthbound outlook), the violence, wickedness, and grief inherent in his world will either kindle burning rage inside us or cause doubt and despair to grow inside us as we fear what might lie ahead. The only other alternative is to believe the mainstream media lie that “we can do this,” that life can and will return to normal someday. At the moment, lawlessness proceeds unchecked across the world. The most ruthless and demonic killers of our time now have an incredible stash of high-tech weapons. The perilous times in which we live will grow darker in the weeks and months to come (although the Rapture might happen at any moment). 1 Corinthians 15:19 says, “If in Christ we have hope in this life only; we are of all people most to be pitied.” While all those in Christ will agree with the Apostle Paul, most do not live as though his words in this verse are true. They believe in eternal life, but place all their hopes in earthly outcomes. Those with such a perspective often state their faith in spiritual-sounding words that impress many, but they fail to express any hope beyond the grave. Though genuine saints, they walk as though eternity does not exist, which makes them prime candidates for doubt or despair when they watch tragedy unfold in the world or even in their lives. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 sums up the perspective we must have for such a time as this, “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” It’s when one takes paradise out of eternity that his or her fondest hopes become those with earthly outcomes. Why focus on life ever-after if it’s not that much different from today? On the other hand, when we set our fondest hopes on the realization that this vale of tears might end at any moment with the Rapture, we find that an unexplainable hope and calmness invades our hearts. We know the Lord will deal justly with this world after He takes us to the place He’s preparing for us in His Father’s house. So yes, I feel sad at the great deception and lawlessness overtaking my country. However, there remains a crazy, unexplained peace deep in my soul that soon returns even when I briefly give in to fretting over what I see. Note: Please consider signing up for my newsletter on the home page of my website at https://www.jonathanbrentner.com/ . It will greatly help me in reaching more people. Thanks! Nearing Midnight: Donation Drive Sept to Nov – Todd Strandberg - https://www.raptureready.com/category/nearing-midnight/ When the June to August quarter began, I did not think it would end on a positive note. I’m pleased to report that it went very well. Our daily traffic was up over the previous quarter. When the year 2021 is finished, it will outpace the last five years for traffic. The reason why I was pessimistic was because we were and still are getting a constant flood of warning notices from various companies. One firm sent me an email about every other day that says Rapture Ready is in violation of their rules. We’re on the naughty list, but we’re apparently not naughty enough for them to take action against us. Because we don’t have any connection with Apple Corporation, I’ll use them as an example of the growing threat. Several years back, Apple was all about maintaining people’s privacy. The FBI had come to the corporation and wanted them to unlock a criminal’s smartphone, and Apple told them no. Today Apple has turned into Big Brother. It plans to search through everyone’s data to see if anyone has any illegal files. In the announcement, Apple cited child porn as the excuse for poking into people’s data. Those who value privacy realize the danger of having a company snooping around in their accounts. If Apple decides that the Bible is a bad thing, they can lock up the accounts of all Christians. One guy is suing Apple because it terminated an account that he had $24K in that he can no longer access. Chase Bank canceled General Flynn’s personal credit card, saying he was a “reputation risk.” This is the same bank that agreed to pay $920 Million in connection with schemes to defraud precious metals and U.S. Treasuries markets. I keep hoping that people will push back against these companies, but nothing ever happens. By the time the public decides that these firms have gone too far, they will be too powerful to stop. Anyone who speaks out will be sent to a concentration camp. It’s been several years since I recall seeing a new prophecy site come to the web. There are probably fewer prophecy sites on the net than there were five years ago. I know the search engines have most key words locked down, but if you can get the message out, it’s the best way to reach people. I recently talked to a man who is one of the top-selling authors in the field of prophecy. He told me that his books are lucky to sell 25,000 copies. With Christian book stores fading into history, the market for prophetic books is very small. In an average month, we are able to reach ten times more people than what that author would take a few years to reach. If you are a regular visitor to R.R., you know that all our content is for free. Most ministries operate on a ‘pay me first before you can access my content’ basis. In 2014, I watched a show that had four preachers who believed the rapture would take place during an upcoming blood moon event. I visited all four of these preacher’s sites, and not a single one had information for free. It made me wonder how much they actually believe their own teachings. We have, yet again, increased our ad budget during the last quarter. By spending more for ads that draw people to the site, it generates more ad traffic that Google pays R.R. for. Our donations have also increased by running these ads. If you found the site by clicking on an ad, please consider donating to the site to help someone else find their way to this resource of end-time information. There are three ways you can contribute to Rapture Ready: You can send a financial gift via our P.O. Box address, you can make a one-time donation, or there is a frequent option that allows you to make monthly donations. If you’re interested in signing up, find the input links on the Donation page. Donations can be sent to our P.O. Box at: Rapture Ready P.O. Box 969 Benton, AR 72018 Daily Jot: The Heartbeat of Texas - Bill Wilson – www.dailyjot.com On September 1, the US Supreme Court denied a bid to stop Texas from banning abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected. Democrat politicians from the President on down condemned the act, prompting Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) to announce an investigation of the Supreme Court for abuse of power. The meltdown among celebrities was demonstrated by Cher tweeting, “Democracy will wither & die, & dictators will thrive” because of the new law. Newsweek contributor Richard Hanania said that if the law spread to “red” states, “we could see a world where they have five times as many children with Down syndrome, and similar numbers for other disabilities.” This is indicative of the hypocrisy of the left and a forerunner of the evil to come. The Texas Heartbeat law mandates that “a physician may not knowingly perform or induce an abortion on a pregnant woman unless the physician has determined, in accordance with this section, whether the woman’s unborn child has a detectable fetal heartbeat.” There is strict accountability on doctors performing abortions for “health of the pregnant woman.” There are exceptions for rape, incest, and sexual assault. Any person may bring civil action against those violating the law, including those who “engage in conduct that aids or abets the performance or inducement of an abortion, including paying for or reimbursing the costs of an abortion through insurance or otherwise, if the abortion is performed or induced in violation of this subchapter, regardless of whether the person knew or should have known that the abortion would be performed or induced.” The Texas Heartbeat law addresses all the arguments that the pro-abortionists throw out—rape, incest, sexual assault, health of the woman—for their justification of killing the unborn. Now we are seeing the real argument surface—the killing of those who the left considers are undesirable to society. But, let us remember the true history of industrialized and weaponized abortion. Founder of Planned Parenthood Margaret Sanger was a supporter of “The Negro Project,” the goal of which she told a KKK group, was “the gradual suppression, elimination and eventual extinction, of defective stocks—those human weeds which threaten the blooming of the finest flowers of American civilization.” She wanted to exterminate Black people. Now Sanger’s disciples publicly admit they are targeting Downs Syndrome babies for extermination. Where does it end? These evil people targeting Republicans, the unvaccinated, Jews, Christians? Thank God for Texas standing in the breach to, at the very least, expose this dastardly intent. It is shameful that a society as great as America should remotely have to legislate anything about abortion. No one should ever have a thought to needlessly end a life. The moral principle of life should be written on the heart of every human being, as underscored in Deuteronomy 30:19 and many other places in the Bible: “Choose life, that both you and your seed may live.” May the heartbeat of Texas become written on the hearts of all Americans. Daily Devotion: Would You Be Ready? - by Greg Laurie – www.harvest.org No one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows —Matthew 24:36 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/would-you-be-ready/ Listen Periodically, people come along who say they’ve cracked the code and know when Jesus is returning. They claim to know when the Rapture will take place. However, Jesus said, “No one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows” (Matthew 24:36 NLT). So what this actually means is that no one knows the day or the hour. But there’s a difference between the Rapture and the Second Coming. The Rapture, which could happen at any moment, is when Jesus returns for His people. The Second Coming, on the other hand, is when He returns with His people. The Rapture will take place before the appearance of the Antichrist and the Tribulation. The Second Coming will take place at the end of the Tribulation, after the seven-year reign of the Antichrist and after the Battle of Armageddon. So we know in sequence when the Second Coming will occur, but the Rapture could happen at any moment. Only God knows when that will be, and it will take place at the right moment. But it will happen, and it will be one of the greatest events in history. I want to ask you: Will you be ready for that day? Jesus said, “Two men will be working together in the field; one will be taken, the other left. Two women will be grinding flour at the mill; one will be taken, the other left” (Matthew 24:40–41 NLT). This tells us it’s a global event in which people are caught up to meet the Lord. The Rapture could happen in our lifetime. It could happen today. If Christ were to come back now, would you be ready? Don’t miss the opportunity to get right with God. 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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