Prophecy Update Newsletter
January 2, 2017
IN TODAY'S NEWSLETTER...
2017: The Year in Review - Pete Garcia - http://www.omegaletter.com/articles/articles.asp?ArticleID=8364
After a volatile and 'seemingly unpredictable' election year, the newly forming Trump administration likewise promises to be one that is largely driven around the personality of Donald Trump. His campaign of Make America Great Again (MAGA) has pumped new vigor into a sagging economy, and has spurred both trepidation and curiosity of almost every nation around the world. President Elect Trump is unlike anything, anyone has ever seen in that office, and has been closely scrutinized for operating largely off script and predictably-unpredictable. With that said, Fortune Magazine (Fortune.com) has teamed up with IBM's artificial intelligence "powerhouse" Watson this year for the first time, to give their own version of a 2017 forecast by mining the internet for trends to analyze. While my analysis here is a far cry from having a powerful Artificial Intelligence resource sifting through millions of terabytes of information, I do have one advantage. I'm simply a guy who looks at the world from a Biblical perspective, and bases my understanding through a scriptural prism. Seeing that God is the only Being in existence who can see both the end from the beginning, and the beginning from the end...I'd say the odds are in my favor. (Isaiah 46:9-10) Last year, I began sort of a light-hearted (as in I don't take myself that seriously) prediction journal of the year to come, (2016: The Year in Review) on January 4th, 2016, which was based on previous years "Snapshot of a Moving Picture" review of geo-political events. As promised, I wanted to follow-up on just the major 'hits and misses' from that brief before going into 2017. So let's recap those 2016 predictions. Election Hit-In January of 2016, my prediction was that Trump would win the Republican Primaries. In September 26th 2016 in the "The Last Trump" article, my prediction was that the General Election would be a "Trump blowout in November". My hunch then of a Trump victory was based on something rather simple-it was who had the momentum. It didn't matter what the press, or Hillary, or even fellow Republicans threw at Trump...nothing stuck to him. Things that would have crippled other candidates simply rolled off Trump like water off a duck's back. This is where his business mind comes in-and that is the art of taking the good and the bad, and making it all work for you. Again, most of the "experts" got it wrong. Miss-Trump brings in Cruz/Rubio as running mate. I got this wrong because I thought he would use one or the other to solidify the Hispanic vote. Also, I didn't know much about Mike Pence, but it turned out to be a solid choice and definitely one of the reasons why Evangelicals lined up to support the ticket. Afghanistan Hit: US keeps troops beyond pull out date. This isn't really a win per se, but the general consensus was that Pres. Obama would pull an "Iraq" in Afghanistan, and yank everyone out on a certain date regardless of what was happening tactically on the ground. Miss: US sticks to drawdown numbers. I didn't think he'd do it, but despite the Pentagon's advice against doing this, Pres. Obama continued the draw down to around 9,800 troops. Now that has the potential to be reversed under a Trump Administration, but I don't think he sees Afghanistan as a 'wise' investment. At the same time, we can't leave a vacuum there like we did in Iraq, or another "ISIS" type organization will just pop up. Syria Miss: Russia bombs Damascus. Although Russia has done a generous amount of bombings all over Syria, I thought they would level Damascus (thus fulfilling Isaiah 17) as a means to clear the rubble for Assad...but alas, this did not happen...yet. Hit: Intensification of the fight over the Golan Heights as Israel begins limited bombings on the Syrian side along with Iran's escalation into the fray. Energy Hit: Israel, Cyprus, and Greece increased cooperation on a transnational natural gas pipeline. Below is some interesting excerpts from a recent article based on a meeting that took place this past December 2016: Israel, Greece, Cyprus to hold second trilateral summit Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades will hold a one-day summit on Thursday. The three first met together in January in Nicosia in what was hailed as the formation of a new "strategic alliance" in the eastern Mediterranean...Israel is currently weighing three options for exporting its recently discovered natural gas. The first is to export to Egypt for its needs. The second is to export to Turkey, a country keen on diversifying its energy supplies, and the third is to lay a pipeline to Cyprus and then to Greece. This option is by far the most expensive. My hunch is you can bank on option three. Oil Hit: Saudis (OPEC) to cut production. Having experienced several years of back to back low gas prices, the house of Saud, and by extension OPEC, has finally decided to cut back on oil production. The Saudi's had been trying to drown the market with excess oil causing lowered prices to knock out US Shale companies while simultaneously putting the economic squeeze on Russia and Iran. The problem though is that the Saudi's have been blowing through cash like no tomorrow. Well, tomorrow came. OPEC Confounds Skeptics, Agrees to First Oil Cuts in 8 Years EU Army Hit: Serious dialogue predicted, serious dialogue and traction continuing, especially in light of a threatening Russia, and a departing Great Britain. More than ever, a real "need" for an EU Army is emerging. 2017 Predictions Middle East Israel: US finally moves embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. This will be a highly controversial move and would expect nothing less than a Psalm 83-type reaction from the Arab world to occur. It's also likely, that there could be a strong push from within the United Nations to move their headquarters out of New York as a means to protest Trump's embassy move. It's hard to say exactly when this would occur, but I would expect it to be within the first year of Trump's presidency. (Genesis 12:3) Syria: Like Libya and Iraq, Syria has truly become a borderless, non-nation, international-battleground with many different actors (nations, rebel groups, foreign fighters, and terrorist organizations) all vying for real estate. It is unlikely that the Syria we knew in the 20th century will ever come back into existence. Now, here is where I want to deviate from my previous prediction on her future. The prophet Isaiah states that Damascus would be utterly and completely destroyed. But that destruction occurs overnight, not dragged out over five years. So that tells me that as we enter into the sixth year of war there, either Damascus is secured by the Syrian "government" (via Russia and Iran), and is rebuilt to some degree, or what's left of it is bombed triggering the underground chemical bunkers...making it permanently and quickly destroyed as stated in Isaiah 17. Iran has also recently created the "Fifth Attack Corps", which is a new formation of between 50-70,000 fighters-much akin to a Shiite Foreign Legion, made up of mixed fighters from Lebanon's Hezbollah, Iraqi Shia, Iranians, and Syrian loyalists, all backed militarily by Russia. The name "Fifth Corps" may be an attempt to mock Iran's main antagonist in the region, the US Navy's Fifth Fleet, which is based opposite Iran in the Sunni-Arab state of Bahrain. Iraq: ISIS will finally be driving underground from Iraq through renewed US and allied forces efforts to dislodge, dismantle, and destroy ISIS. Meanwhile, I fully expect that the Iraqi Kurds will finally secure statehood this year in northern Iraq as the central government in Baghdad continues to struggle to find its own sovereignty. EU/Russia BREXIT: Fizzles and stalls...not completely off the table, but no clear way forward on making it a reality in 2017. In other words...easy to vote, hard to enact. Germany: Angela Merkel loses her reelection as chancellor France: Marine Le Pen wins. I am not completely sold on this choice, but given all the issues the French have had this past year with Islamic terrorism...it's not a stretch either. EU Army: Continues to be solidified...especially in light of Trump's stance on the EU (and other allies) bearing more of the cost to provide for their own defense. This could also be the year we start to see the crossover of NATO commands and personnel to the newly forming EU Defense force. NATO: NATO must decrease so that the EU Defense force can increase. While an EU centric army has not truly existed since the Austro-Hungarian Empire, it is not hard to imagine from what pool this new EU Army will recruit from. If you are a Colonel in some role within NATO, and the EU Army offers to make you a general or admiral...trust me, it will not be hard to get the leadership. They also have largely failed economies in Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Greece...so you have a large number of unemployed youth to recruit from. CERN: Finally opens the inter-dimensional star-gate. [Sarcasm intended-but who knows?] Russia: Trump has been accused of cronyism with Vladimir Putin and his ilk. If my memory serves me right, it was President Bush who saw his soul-mate in the eyes of Putin, and it was President Obama who assured his intentions openly (via live microphone) to then President Dimitri Medvedev that he (Obama) would have more flexibility to act after the 2012 elections. While Trump has at least two Russia-friendly cabinet picks thus far, it is not guaranteed that he will be any more accommodating towards Russia than his predecessors were. At the end of the day, there is still plenty of daylight (Ukraine, Iran, and Syria) between Russia and the United States. And considering his wife Melania is Slovenian (former Yugoslavian province), she is more than adequately adept at helping him navigate the little nuances from that region of the world. United States Democrats: Look for a renewed and increasingly hostile reaction to the Trump Administration, similar to the last few years of the Bush Presidency. Expect CALEXIT and other state secessionist movements to pick up steam. A Pacific Pivot at last? Pres. Obama had signaled a Pacific shift back in 2011 as new strategy away from the Middle East, but I believe he was a bit too premature on this. Actually, his Pacific Pivot was more economic (think Trans Pacific Partnership) than it ever was militarily. But as the nontraditional candidate, business magnate, and now president-elect, I believe we will finally see that major shift to the Pacific (militarily) under Trump as he consciously picks at the scab we know as the Taiwan Conundrum, to which China is extremely sensitive towards. This has already played out with some aggressive (even by China's standard) chest thumping, and could play out by loosening the leash of even more unhinged North Korea. Pizza-gate: This has been and continues to be an extremely disturbing story. According to Megyn Kelly from Fox News, the whole thing is a 'conspiracy theory' generated by "fake news". She then ran a cover piece with practically zero digging into the actual story, but centered solely on one lone crazy gunman. I don't expect this story to go away. The potential fallout from this for those of the predominantly Democrat flavor, but could be a real game changer to American politics. Yes...it is that big. Now, considering the mainstream media has and continues to largely be in the tank for the Democrat party, means that this story has to fight its way through the bias, the slant, and the political cover-up...which is a significant hill to climb...but I believe there will eventually be a full blown "Benghazi" investigation. See also Sky Watch News report on it. Afghanistan: As mentioned earlier, I believe we will start to look at serious options for a pull-out. Since Trump was not an elected official when either the Iraq and Afghanistan military operations began, and we have dragged this on now for 16 years, I expect him to get a no-frill (am I getting what I'm paying for??) brief from both the new SECDEF and the Joint Chiefs of Staff on continued operations in the proverbial 'graveyard of nations'. He may use the threat of a complete military pull-out as a means to renegotiate Pakistan's role in harboring the seasonal and migratory Taliban and Haqqani Network, who largely move back and forth from Afghanistan to Pakistan's Waziristan region at will, making this war nearly impossible to ever end. Conclusion As always, I'm looking at future events from a 2016 perspective, and there are is always the potential for the 'black swan' events to come out of nowhere and throw our world into turmoil. North Korea could launch a preemptive assault on South Korea. The South China Seas could flare up in hostilities. Major earthquakes and tsunamis could happen in various places. And as always, the Rapture of the Church could still happen at any moment. The Bible predicts that the world will wax worse and worse. It predicts that the world will come under one system. It predicts that Damascus as a city will be destroyed overnight, and never lived in again. The Bible predicts that the Antichrist and the 'Beast' system will arise again out of the ashes of the old Roman Empire. But in order for them to rise, the current world super power, has to be set aside as the leader so Europe can step into the void. We balance that with the knowledge that Jesus said (Luke 17:26-30) that the world will be normal (or have a sense of normalcy to it) when He returns for the Church. What we are seeing now, is the continued fine-tuning of the geo-political and social formations arranging themselves so that when the time for fulfillment comes, it will happen exactly as the Bible says it will. So, take comfort in the reality that while I may be wrong in my understanding in the timing of how Scripture plays out, and many of my predictions may fall flat, the God we serve knows and His word never falters. Remember the former things of old, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, 'My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure,' Isaiah 46:9-10 
Endgame: Jerusalem - A.V. Rauf - http://bibleprophecyfortoday.com/
Joel 3:1-2-1 For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, 2 I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land. On Friday December 23, 2016, one day removed from the Jewish holiday of Hannakah and just two days removed from Christmas, A UN Resolution was passed.Our current Administration did not use the Veto Right of the United States to protect Israel as it has in years past. The United States did not vote on Bill 181 on Friday and the United Nations officially signed this Bill into affect. What this Bill specifically calls for us for Israel to ultimately vacate the West Bank, which is the historical heartland of the Jewish people known to Israelis as Judea and Samaria, parts of Jerusalem as well as the Golan Heights. Historically speaking, in 1967, which will soon be fifty years ago, five different Arab nations (including Syria, Jordan and Egypt) surrounding Israel massed their forces along the edges of Israel's borders and declared their intention to invade, conquer and overtake Israel. They also blocked Israel's access to the Straits of Tiran (see black circle at the bottom of the map below) , which is a narrow passageway at the lower tip of the Gulf of Aqaba through which 90% of Israel's oil wold be shipped. According to International Law, this move was considered to be an act of war by International Law. Thus, Israel made a decision to attack first in self-defense. The war was over in 6 days, hence known as the Six-Day War. Considered to be a miraculous feat in itself considering the odds, as a result of this victory, Israel obtaind several large pieces of land including the Sinai Peninsula, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. In an effort to make peace with their enemies, over the last 40 years, the nation of Israel used the land which they had conquered to obtain promises of peace from their enemies. In 1980, Israel returned the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt. In another effort to make peace in 2005, Israel They returned Gaza to the Palestinians in 2005. Genesis 15:18-21-In the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates: 19 The Kenites, and the Kenizzites, and the Kadmonites, 20 And the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Rephaims, 21 And the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the Jebusites. Genesis 15:18 records the words of Almighty God when he made a blood covenant with Abraham. God continues in verses 19-21 to name the inhabitants of the land that were to be given into the hands of Abraham. Nowhere does God mention a separate state for any people within the boundaries of the land which He gave to Abraham and his descendants. So as a result of the USA not voting vote on Bill 181 and the UN signing the Bill into affect, this means that the West bank, Jerusalem and the Golan Heights , are now unlawfully occupied by Israel. This means the birth city of Jesus in Bethlehem , the grave of Jesus and Golgotha Hill is being handed over to Palestine which is now most likely a precursor to the establishment of a recognized state of Palestine by the international community and ultimately the dividing of Jerusalem. This vote just may have ensured the failure of all potential future negotiations. This vote may also enable the Palestinians to now demand all settlements as their legal land, and this very well may be the starting point for all their negotiations. All future negotiations for peace will now begin with the understanding that the 1967 lines are the starting point, not the end point. Israel will now be expected, by the international community, to retreat back to the 1948 lines, not the 1967 borders. It is also important to note that Prime Minister Netanyahu said, "We do not accept, nor can we accept, this resolution." This implies more problems in the future, possibly war. (Psalm 83??....Ezekiel 38-39??) Furthermore, I strongly perceive that Israel will be ordered to hand the West Bank to Palestine for the approval of building the third Jewish Temple on the Temple Mount next to the Dome of the Rock . Currently, there has been an ever increasing movement to build a Temple. This is the great desire of many Jewish people in Israel and around the world. Perhaps this may be used as bait to dangle before them in return for something else. Could that something else be the control of Jerusalem and of the Holy places there? The question for Bible prophecy students is this: Could this be part of the signing of an agreement, or better yet a 7 year Peace agreement??? Stay tuned.......2017 promises to be an exciting year as Jerusalem may indeed become centerstage in the Middle East with global and prophetic ramifications. The Bible is true and all events are pointing towards the ultimate fulfillment of Bible prophecy. I have always believed that one barometer of faith in the life of a believer is their understanding of current events in light of the Scriptures. (MORE ON THIS IN MY NEXT POST) Zechariah 2:1-13: I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand. 2 Then said I, Whither goest thou? And he said unto me, To measure Jerusalem, to see what is the breadth thereof, and what is the length thereof. 3 And, behold, the angel that talked with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him, 4 And said unto him, Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein: 5 For I, saith the Lord, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her. 6 Ho, ho, come forth, and flee from the land of the north, saith the Lord: for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heaven, saith the Lord. 7 Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon. 8 For thus saith the Lord of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye. 9 For, behold, I will shake mine hand upon them, and they shall be a spoil to their servants: and ye shall know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me. 10 Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the Lord. 11 And many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me unto thee. 12 And the Lord shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again. 13 Be silent, O all flesh, before the Lord: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation. One very important consideration is the statement made by God of the consequences of dividing "HIS land", and especially the city of Jerusalem: Zechariah 3:1-2-For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, 2 I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land. It is now becoming VERY CLEAR that Jerusalem will be a burdensome stone for the world a major sign that the seven year Tribulation period is getting closer, and might I say inconclusive evidence that the Rapture is not far off. 
INSS report: Hezbollah remains most serious conventional threat to Israel - Itamar Eichner - http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4901942,00.html
Hezbollah remains the most serious conventional threat Israel is facing, more than Hamas or Iran, a report released Monday by the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) determined. According to the report, submitted to President Rivlin by INSS head Maj. Gen. (res.) Amos Yadlin, Hezbollah has rockets that can reach any range, precision-guided missiles, attack and suicide drones, the best Russian-made air defense systems and ground units that are training to conquer Israeli towns and cities. The INSS recommended to improve Israeli intelligence gathering in an effort to continue reducing the transfer of advanced arms to the terror organization and consequently reduce the chances of an escalation. However, the potential for the eruption of a conflict with Hamas is higher than with Hezbollah or Iran. Hamas, the INSS determined, may have been deterred after the 2014 Operation Protective Edge in Gaza, but it is continuing to build up its strength. Furthermore, even if both sides are not interested in escalation, a conflict can break out over violent incidents or due to the deep social and economic frustration in the strip that will manifest itself in violence against Israel. Regarding Iran, the INSS noted that while the nuclear agreement signed with world powers does give Israel a window of opportunity in the short term, Tehran is strengthening its conventional capabilities. In the medium and long term, Iran will become much more dangerous and enjoy international legitimization for a broad and unrestrained nuclear program. The INSS report details three significant challenges Israel will face on the long term: an enemy state having nuclear capabilities; the creation of a "one-state for two people" reality in Israel; and the erosion of Israel's international status. Maj. Gen. (res.) Yadlin noted that a window of opportunity has opened that would allow Israel to handle these challenges: The incoming pro-Israel Trump administration in the US; Israel's shared interests with the pragmatic Arab nations; and adopting a bottom-up approach to dealing with the Palestinians, in cooperation with world and regional powers. The INSS stressed that the direct conventional threat to Israel remained significantly low, but that paramilitary militias funded by Iran are growing stronger. The institute determined that the United States remains committed to Israel's security, and said that negotiations over the military aid package showed the extent of this commitment, despite the tensions between the two leaders. On the other hand, the INSS also pointed to negative trends: The Israeli government sticks to a policy of passivity and sanctifies the status-quo as the country's international status continues eroding due to the freeze in peace talks with the Palestinians. The diplomatic freeze, economic woes, the Palestinian leadership crisis and the mounting despair continue feeding "lone wolf" terrorism and increasing the potential of a full-blown conflict erupting. The report determines that continuing with the current trend, "which is erroneously referred to as the 'status quo,' will reduce Israel's options and endanger its future as a Jewish and democratic state." "Despite the relatively convenient strategic situation, the Israeli leadership must not avoid discussions and hard decisions that are vital to the formation of a pro-active national security policy that promotes Israeli interests as a Jewish, democratic, safe and legitimate country within the known borders," the report states. "Even if it appears there isn't a partner on the other side-neither to reach an agreement nor to implement it-it is an important Israeli interest to stop the gradual descent toward the negative and irreversible reality of one-state to two peoples." The report's conclusion, President Rivlins said, was "that Israel must preserve its independence in order to safeguard its essential interests. Yet in the same breath, you make clear that specifically for the sake of this security and independence, Israel must have cooperation with as many countries as possible in our region and around the world. You highlight that sovereignty and security will never be assured only with high walls and military might. Today more than ever, this is a message of unparalleled importance." 
Turkey pays dear for Erdogan overreach into Syria - http://www.debka.com/article/25866/Turkey-pays-dear-for-Erdogan-overreach-into-Syria
The "Santa Claus" shooting rampage one hour after midnight, killing 39 New Year revelers and injuring 69 at the Istanbul Reina nightclub, was the first terrorist event of 2017. It came on the heels of the assassination of the Russian ambassador Andrew Karlov in Ankara on Monday, Dec. 19, by a Turkish special forces officer, 22-year old Mevlit Mert Atlintas, shouting "This is for Syria!" on behalf of Al Qaeda's Syrian arm, the Nusra Front. That murder had the historic distinction of marking the opening of the floodgates for the Syrian war and its terrorist adjuncts to start surging across the border into Turkey. The Turkish army's August invasion of northern Syria triggered a sharp escalation of devastating terrorist attacks in the country by Syrian-based organizations, the Islamic State, then Nusra, and TAK-the Kurdistan Freedom Falcons, on top of the local Kurdish separatist PKK's regular outrages. However the impact of even those crippling events pales against the earthquake rumbling through the country and threatening to blow its society, armed forces and ruling institutions apart, under the weight of the three wars which President Tayyip Erdogan has ignited: His troops are fighting three concurrent wars - two outside its borders in Syria and Iraq and a campaign at home against Kurdish insurgency. While Turkey's involvement in all three has been low key, it is being dragged into wider and more complicated areas of conflict. Turkish intelligence is over-stretched for contending with the three wars while at the same time thwarting the terrorist networks planted in Turkey by the Islamic State, Al Qaeda's Nusra Front and Syrian Kurdish insurgents. In 2016, Ankara and Istanbul suffered several attacks by Daesh terrorists and the PKK that killed more than 180 people. The Russian-Syrian-Iranian-Hizballah victory in Aleppo has pushed large numbers of defeated Syrian rebels into the Idlib region on the Turkish border, presenting Ankara with a dilemma: To leave the border open as it is at present, or to seal it as Moscow is demanding. Shutting it would compress the fugitive rebels inside a Russian-Syrian-Turkish box - much like the blockade Israel and Egypt impose on the Palestinian Gaza Strip. It would leave the Syrian rebels with not much option for surviving but to take their war into southern Turkey. Turkish armed forces are, like the MIT intelligence service, heavily over-extended by the war on ISIS in Syria at the same time as battling al Qaeda's Nusra Front (aka the Fatah al-Sham Front) which orchestrated the assassination of the Russian ambassador), Syrian rebel fundamentalist Muslim groups and Kurdish terrorists. The situation could tip over into calamity if the Kurdish minority chose this moment to rise up against the Erdogan government, with the backing of the PKK and the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia. There are 10 million Kurds living in southern Turkey out of a total of 22 million in the country. Ankara is in the process of exiting NATO, turning its back on the United States and Europe and forging a detente with Russia, China and Iran. The Obama administration has not managed to halt this process. Its errors may have even sped Turkey on its flight from the West. The Trump administration will have to decide whether it is willing or able to haul Turkey back into line or take advantage of the process for America's benefit. Since the July coup against his government, Erdogan has been pursuing an uninterrupted crackdown and purge in every walk of Turkish life, in pursuit of his struggle against his main rival, Fethullah Gulen, whom he accuses of orchestrating the putsch from his place of exile in America. The Turkish ruler blames Gulen each time any opposition raises its head. He then crushes such opponents with a heavy hand. This regime of repression has had the opposite effect to the one Erdogan intended. Gulen, formerly a marginal figure in Turkish politics, is now a giant and a hero to increasing segments of Turkish society. People are also being driven into the arms of radical elements. If Erdogan fails to curb the spillover of the Syrian war into Turkey, he may find himself fighting not on one but three home fronts: Kurds, radical Islamists and the Gulen movement. 
Rage on Earth and Laughter in Heaven - By Daymond Duck - http://raptureready.com/featured/duck/dd261.html
Psalm 2 is like an outline of the future, but it seems like the future is coming true today. Notice what each verse says. Verse 1: God asked, "Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?" Daymond's interpretation" "Why do the heathen (non-Jews, could be Muslims) get all worked up, protest, riot, injure and kill others, and harbor thoughts (such as the destruction of Israel) that will never come to fruition?" Verses 2-3: God said, "The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us." Daymond's interpretation: "What would cause non-Jewish political and religious leaders to call a meeting of the UN Security Council and adopt an Antichrist spirit to plot against Jehovah and His Messiah? What would cause them to say, 'Let us break the restraints (Scriptures, prophecies, etc.) of Jehovah and Jesus with a UN resolution and decide who we want to give the Promised Land to?'" Verse 4: "He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord shall have them in derision." Daymond's interpretation: "The God that dwells in heaven will laugh at your pious resolution. Because you have mocked Him He will have you mocked." Verse 5: "Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure" (sounds like the Tribulation Period; Zeph. 1:15; Rev. 16:1-21). Daymond's interpretation: "In a short time (God's time), you will experience the Tribulation period. He will speak to you with wrath in His voice. You have exposed Israel to terror so you will be terrorized" (see Obad. 1:15). Verse 6: "Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion." Daymond's interpretation: "God has already determined that the King of His choice (Jesus) will sit on His (not the throne of your choice) Holy Mountain (the Temple Mount) in His (not your) city of Jerusalem." Verse 7: "I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee." Daymond's interpretation: "Jesus wants everyone to know what one of Jehovah's decrees says: He (Jesus) is God's Son and He was raised from the dead" (explained by Paul at Acts 13:29-37). Verse 8: "Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession." Daymond's interpretation: "God told Jesus to ask and He will give the non-Jews and all the world to Him." They are trying to destroy the Jews and possess the land God gave to Israel so Jesus needs only to ask and God will give them and the whole earth to Jesus. Verse 9: "Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel." Daymond's interpretation: "When Jesus gets through with these people they will be less valuable than pieces of a broken vase." Verses 10-12: "Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Bless are all they that put their trust in him." Daymond's interpretation: "God advised the non-Jewish political and religious leaders to wise up, serve Jesus and respect Him because just a little of His wrath is enough to destroy them and because those who trust Him will be blessed." Having said this, my friend August Rosado made a comment in his latest newsletter that blessed my heart (www.todayinbibleprophecy.org). He said, "It reminds me of the biblical story of Balaam ,who Balak the king of Moab hired to curse Israel. God warns Balaam not to curse Israel because they are a blessed people, (Numbers 22:12). Instead of Balaam cursing Israel, he blessed Israel. God turned the whole situation around. The point is Obama has cursed Israel, but God can turn the curse into a blessing. I believe this will happen with incoming Trump Administration, who promised to stand by Israel, and reverse all Obama has done." All Christians know that our trust must be in God not Donald Trump. But God can use Donald Trump to fulfill His Word. For example, I am not predicting it, but it would not surprise me one bit to finally see a U.S. backlash against the UN (bills are already being drafted in congress by members of both parties), ISIS quickly defeated, the UN moving to Babylon, war and the Jews finally worshipping on the Temple Mount. And because the UN political and religious leaders keep trying to destroy Israel they will be taken over by a political leader called the Antichrist and a religious leader called the False Prophet. For the time being, it is being reported that U.S. Sec. of State John Kerry is drafting a Resolution to recognize a Palestinian State before Donald Trump is inaugurated. If this happens and God doesn't lay it upon the heart of another nation to veto it, the dividing of the land of Israel and the scattering of Jews from some West Bank settlements will most likely be set in stone for activation at a future date. Also, the servants of the Great Red Dragon at the UN may pass more resolutions, but no matter what they do the God of Israel is still God, Israel is still the apple of His eye, He still listens to the prayers of Christians and Jews, His Word is still true, and everyone would be wise to kiss the Son. Maranatha. Prophecy Plus Ministries Daymond & Rachel Duck [email protected] 
My Review of "Rapture Ready...Or Not?" Over the last 35 years, I have literally read hundreds of books on Bible Prophecy and End Time signs. I especially enjoy books on the Rapture, and I have read almost every Rapture-related book published. In all those years, devouring thousands of pages, and millions of words, I have not read a better book on the Rapture than, Rapture Ready...Or Not? Terry James might be physically blind, but he is spiritually sharp and well discerning beyond most authors. In "Rapture Ready...Or Not?" Terry has nailed the pre-trib Rapture, and removed any doubt what so ever about the Church going through the Tribulation. With great insight and Godly discernment, Terry explains with simple, yet profound words, why and how that he has come to believe the ways he does about the Rapture, the Tribulation, and the End Times scenario. I think after reading "Rapture Ready...Or Not?" you too will believe as Terry does, and be Ready for the Rapture like never before! - Randy Thomas - Publisher / Editor - Prophecy Update For more information and or to get your copy of "Rapture Ready...Or Not?" use this link: http://www.raptureready.com/terry/book35.html 
Can I Change? - By Grant Phillips - http://raptureready.com/featured/phillips/phillips354.html
How many times have those who really want to change their attitude and mental lifestyle asked themselves that question? How many times have we tried over and over to be a better person? Even many who do not know Jesus as their own personal Savior would like to be better than what they are. Unless we are a narcissist with an ego problem we want to be kinder, more loving, more patient ... just a better person than what we see in the mirror. We cannot change ourselves, at least for the long-term. Why is that? Could it be because the change needs to take place in an area of our being that only God can 'fix?' Legitimate change must be from the heart of man, and only God can change a heart. Those without Jesus as Savior must come to Him first, in order for any change to be made that is worthwhile. Millions try to accomplish this on their own, or they serve the many gods of this world hoping for a change, but it never comes. All need to come to Jesus in child-like faith to be born again, trusting Him and Him only. Those who do that are on the road to an exciting new life. Peace fills the vacuum of fear, and fear is no more. Hate and indifference is replaced with Godly love. Does this happen overnight? No, not while in these earthly bodies, but the transformation begins immediately. Jesus takes up residence in the new born-again believer by His Spirit and strengthens our spirit. He nourishes it and guides it along the right path, and we grow a little each day. The change, the permanent change, is taking shape. One day when we're with Him in Heaven, the change will be complete. What about Christians, true Christians that have become stale? Why aren't they feeling the warmth of God's presence? Maybe they have stepped away from the heat source. I was raised in an era that heat for our home in the winter months came from something called a fireplace. Generally speaking, fireplaces today are a luxury item. Back then they were a necessity of keeping warm or freezing to death. I remember many times I had to go out in the cold and refill the coal bucket with coal for the fireplace and the pot-bellied stove. One lesson I learned early on was this; when I was near the fire, I stayed warm, but when I moved away from the fire, I got cold. Hmmmm. Profound, isn't it? Maybe to change our life for the better we just need to draw closer to the heat source, the fire. Many Christians today are wandering away from the heat source that their spirits need for warmth. Growth is stagnated because cold, especially extreme cold freezes everything into place. Read of the seven churches in Revelation chapters 2-3 and notice how many had grown cold in heart because they were away from the fire and embracing the cold flagpole of rebellion against God. How can we, as children of God who need a new direction in life, return to the warmth of our Savior's embrace? I've said this a thousand times (figuratively), but I must repeat again that the Lord has given us very important tools for growth. They are (1) the Holy Spirit the moment we are saved, (2) His Word, the Bible, (3) prayer, and (4) the fellowship of other Christians. If we do not make use of these, we get cold, but when they are a serious part of our everyday life, we stay warm and cozy in His presence. Jesus made it clear in many Scripture passages that He would not leave us alone to flounder on our own. Following is just one example. "If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever-the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them." (John 14:15-21 NIV) So, can we change? Not on our own, but we can be changed by the working of Almighty God in our lives. We just need to do what He says and trust Him. Are you afraid of failing? Don't be. I fail all the time, but our God never fails, and that, is what we must depend on. Call on Him, and He will make a change you'll cherish forever. Grant Phillips Email: [email protected] Pre-Rapture Commentary: http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com Rapture Ready http://www.raptureready.com/featured/phillips/phillips.html 
Daily Jot: The Russian Ruse - Bill Wilson - www.dailyjot.com
The FBI and the Department of Homeland Security have released a joint report saying that the Russians hacked Hillary Clinton's and the Democratic National Committee's email servers in an attempt to influence the US elections. This has resulted in the US "president" expelling some Russian diplomats. Many countries, including Russia and China, are trying to hack into US computers for intel. It is the reason why we have security measures, such as encryption and firewalls, for our sensitive information. The US is hacking other countries' computers, too. It's the normal spy business. What is important here is the information that showed the depth of corruption with Clinton and the Democratic Party. The information contained in the hacked emails is damning evidence of the unethical, immoral, illegal chicanery practiced as an organized governmental and political crime syndicate by Clinton and the Democratic Party. The "president" and Clinton are saying that the Russians hacked the computers and released the information on them to influence the election. Whoever hacked the computers (as it is still unproven), did America a great favor. First, they showed that Clinton and the Democratic Party were poor stewards of sensitive information and, therefore, too incompetent to hold the office of the Presidency. Second, they revealed the extent of the institutional graft and corruption of Clinton and the DNC. So here is the twist: The lame duck "president" is angry at the Russians for allegedly hacking email servers and trying to influence the US elections. The unethical and possible illegal acts of Clinton and the DNC which actually did influence the election, so the "president" is blaming the Russians for the political loss. You see, it is a great Russian Ruse-blame the Russians for influencing the elections, when in reality it was the content of the emails that demonstrated Clinton and the Democratic Party did not deserve, or were not qualified, to hold the office. Neither Clinton, the "president," or the DNC, have disputed the veracity of the content of the emails. They are just angry they got exposed, and that the content of the emails influenced the elections. The Clintons and the Democratic Party leadership have so little faith that the American people can make up their own minds about an election. That's why they worked with the media to propagandize everyone to think that Clinton could not be beat; that those supporting Donald Trump were deplorable and unredeemable and so on. If the Russians influenced the election by exposing the truth about Clinton and the DNC, thank you. It's not, however, the Russians' fault that Clinton lost. It's her own incompetency, arrogance and corruption that caught up with her. Jeremiah 49:16 says, "Your arrogance has deceived you, and the pride of your heart, O you that dwell in the clefts of the rock, that hold the height of the hill." 
Daily Devotion: Worship and Work - Greg Laurie - www.harvest.org
Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. -Luke 10:38 Imagine if you were to suddenly hear a bunch of cars outside. When you look out your window, you see a motorcade pulling up. Out steps a person of great importance, who walks up your sidewalk and rings your doorbell. When you answer the door, the dignitary says, "We were just driving through the neighborhood and were wondering if we could come in and have a bite?" One day, the Creator of the universe showed up at the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. Of course, Martha wanted to make something for Him, but Mary wisely recognized it as a unique opportunity. Instead of going and helping her sister prepare a meal for the Lord, Mary sat at His feet to drink in every word. Meanwhile, Martha was growing increasingly frustrated because there was so much work to do. Finally, she walked in and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me" (Luke 10:40). Jesus told her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her" (verses 41-42). In other words, "Martha, you are too busy. You're cumbered about with too much serving. Your sister has chosen the better part." True worship will produce work, but work should never take the place of worship. If you are really in fellowship and communion with God, you will want to do things that please Him. Mary seized the moment and sat at His feet. There is a time to work, and there is a time to worship. There is a time to be active for the Lord, and there is a time to sit at His feet. 
FROM THE HEART
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