Prophecy Update Newsletter
January 17, 2017
IN TODAY'S NEWSLETTER...
Did the Apostles preach a Fraud? - by Pastor Mike Taylor - http://pastormiketaylor.blogspot.com/2017/01/did-apostles-preach-fraud.html
16For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: 17And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins 18Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. 19If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. 20But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept." (1st Corinthians 15:16-20) During the Passover season in the time of the crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ, is the most horrific event in all of human history....It is the day when mankind turned on and murdered his Creator. But that murder is not the event that brought our redemption. Instead it sealed our guilt. His blood would have meant nothing, if Jesus had died and that was it. If Jesus had remained in the grave, we would still be in our sins, and mankind would have no hope for eternal life. 1 "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:" 1st Corinthians 15:1-4) The crucifixion of Jesus and His burial was supposed to be the end of the story, at least that is what Satan thought and what he intended. 6 "Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: 7But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 8Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory." (1st Corinthians 2:6-8) The death of our Lord Jesus was the greatest temporary victory for the prince and power of the air, Satan the devil, but became his greatest defeat because Jesus came out of the grave. NO PROOF OF A RESURRECTION? A few years back, then-Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey published a book entitled, "Jesus 2000" in which the Archbishop argued it wouldn't matter if that was where the story ends or not. "Unlike the birth of Christ and the crucifixion," he says, "Christians cannot know with the same certainty that He was resurrected. . I can tell you frankly that while we can be absolutely sure that Jesus lived and that He was crucified on the Cross, we cannot know that He was raised by God from the dead." Are you shocked that a Catholic priest would say such a thing, that he could not know for sure, if Jesus was actually resurrected? Was he right? Is the Resurrection unknowable, apart from blind faith? Was Jesus a man Who, in the words of secular historian Josephus, 'did many amazing works' before being judged a political criminal and executed by Crucifixion, but wasn't literally resurrected? We have no problem believing that Socrates, or Plato, or even George Washington and Abraham Lincoln who lived and died were real historical figures, but when it comes to Jesus, there is a huge amount of historical evidence that there was actually a historical Jesus raised from the dead. . But then again, is it possible that Jesus was just a wise man, a good teacher, or as the Koran claims, even a prophet? Was the Resurrection just a legend tacked on by His followers to deceive the world? Sometime in everybody life, they have a twinge of doubt, at least before they were saved, if you be honest with yourself, at some point. You might have wondered is it even possible that guys like this Archbishop Carey might be right? Let's examine that for a little bit here and see if the Resurrection , if not an outright hoax was an attempt by His disciples to shine a spotlight on the teachings of Jesus after His shocking and early death? To observant Jews is to revere the works of past sages and the great Rabbis of history, but is it possible to be a Christian and question whether Jesus was actually raised form the dead? If Jesus lived, died and was not resurrected, would His death be enough to secure our redemption? The answer is a resounding, NO....it is not. By His resurrection His blood and His flesh were the supreme sacrifice that saved us...and His resurrection was our guarantee of future glory and the same as He received. Archbishop Carey is wrong when he says that there is no way to know with certainty that He was resurrected. And it makes a BIG difference. "And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain." (1st Corinthians 15:14) By Pauls own admission, if Christ is not raise, our faith is worthless and in vain. Jesus paid a terrible price for the purchase of our sins by His own shed blood, because without blood there is no remission of sins. 19 "For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, 20Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. 21Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. 22And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission." (Hebrews 9:19-22) But every man who has ever lived will die, but if Jesus Christ has not been raised from death, according to Paul, our faith is in vain. Our faith is not only in power of His shed blood, but that He lived and died and was raised to life: "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:" (Hebrews 9:27) There is nothing special about a man dying...we all die. There is nothing special about death. The fact that Jesus died on the Cross means, first and foremost, that Jesus was fully man. He lived an extraordinary life. But He died, which is the epitome of ordinary. But that is where it stops....Jesus was more than just a man...He was God in the Flesh....the perfect mirror image of God the Father in a fleshly tabernacle. When Jesus died, Satan and the hounds of hell rejoiced because they felt they had won. They had defeated the Son of God, reduced Jesus Christ, the Lord of Glory, to the status of an ordinary human being. So if this Archbishop of Canterbury, George Carey is right, then the greatest story every told on this earth, should have ended at the grave. And since the two greatest earthly authorities in Judea in the Roman occuption and the Jewish Sanhedrin and the Pharisees wanted it that way, it should have ended there, but it didn't!! The Sanhedrin controlled every aspect of Jewish religious life, while the Romans controlled every aspect of secular life. It was in both of their interest to rid this "Jesus Movement" that the Jewish authorities hated so much, and the Roman Governor found at that time, Pontias Pilate had to prevent a rebellion. They both had to insist that Jesus die on Calvary and bury their problems once and for all. The death of this Jewish Rabbi called Jesus the Christ, was the biggest political event in their lives at the time. Everyone knew about it. People talked about it, reasoned about, and mourned about it for a long while. As a consequence, precautions were taken with the trial, crucifixion, burial, entombment, sealing, and guarding of Christ's tomb that the circumstances would be well publicized throughout the Jewish community. Pilate and the Sanhedrin made sure that the tomb was secured with a Roman seal that could not be broken on pain of death by crucifixion. The Apostles had proven themselves no heroes as they had all scattered when Jesus was arrested and went into hiding...Peter had denied his Lord three times, so he sure was not going to lead a guerrilla band to capture and move the body of Jesus. It is totally unthinkable that any of them would dare break that seal and perpetuate a hoax by removing the body of Jesus secretly by night... When Jesus arose from the dead and the women came to the tomb, the tomb had been covered with a 2.5 ton boulder that they knew they could not move. So how was the Apostles to steal a body away without making so much noise, that even if the Roman soldiers would have to had been asleep (which is unlikely, as it brought them certain death if they failed in their duty) it would have not have been possible. But here was the open tomb the women discovered. Jesus had long left a closed up tomb, right through the walls. And an angel sitting on the top of the rolled back stone asking the women: 2 "And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. 3His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: 4And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as deadmen. 5And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. 6He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay." (Matthew 28:2-6) When the Apostle hurried to the tomb after the women reported it to them, they found the empty tomb, the disciples didn't fan out to the far reaches of the Empire with their story. They went straight back to Jerusalem. If their claim was false, it would be the last place to try and preach it. If the report had not been true, then the story would not have lasted but maybe a day or two, but the empty tomb was an established fact and the whole city was in astonishment. In addition to the claims of the Apostles, both Romans and Jewish records of antiquity admit that an empty tomb was indeed found and that Jesus was no where to be found. They had to make up a story fast that survives to this day. They paid the soldiers off to say that the disciples of Jesus had stolen Him away. With what we just discussed, logically, how was that possible? Would you mess with a Roman soldier holding a sword who had no problem killing you for trying to retrieve the Body of Jesus from a tomb? Let alone the size of this boulder that covered the opening? Not hardly. People could come and see it was empty for themselves. They could see the stone that had been rolled back. I"m sure many of those who mourned the death of their Messiah, came and saw the tomb, and the stone rolled back. I'm sure many came who were highly skeptical, as were the Jewish authorities. But according to the historical record that were so hostile to the events, it gives even a greater weight to the evidence. Inside the tomb, all who came and looked inside, saw the grave clothes that beared the resemblance of where a body had laid. If Jesus had been entombed alive and somehow escaped, why were the grave clothes still lying as they were around a man, but no form was inside? It eliminated that conspiracy theory to those who came to look. It also eliminated the theory that the body had been stolen, because the grave clothes would have had to be unwrapped. But here they lay as if the contents had suddenly disappeared and vanished. What was more obvious to the those who came was the burial napkin that wrapped our Lord's head. It was lying neatly folded at the head of the platform, where His head would have been. The burial napkin sent a message all on its own. In local custom, when the master of the house finished a meal, he would wad up his napkin and throw it on the plate, signaling to his household staff that the meal was over. If instead, he was excusing himself for some other reason before finishing, he would fold his napkin neatly and lay it beside the plate, signaling to his household staff that "I am coming back." OH, Yes, He is... THE APOSTLES BEGIN TO PREACH JESUS FEARLESSLY After the events that transpired of the many people who saw our Lord alive, into the thousands during the 40 days before His ascension back to the right hand of the Majesty on High, the apostles preached Jesus fearlessly, and without worrying about what the Jewish authorities, the Romans, or the people thought. For preaching a resurrected Jesus was social suicide. They were disowned by their families, their friends and all who were disbelieving, because of their faith. They were arrested, imprisoned, and ultimately given the choice to recant their beliefs, or face a slow painful death by whatever means the authorities could dream up for an execution. All they had to do was admit they had made the whole story up. The Apostle Peter, this uneducated, brusk of words fisherman became a spiritual powerhouse. He who denied our Lord three times, became the leader of the 12 apostles, preaching Jesus Christ, Him crucified and raised from the dead without thought of their own safety: 16 "For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 18And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. 19We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:" (2nd Peter 1:16-19) Think with me here for a minute. If they knew that their preaching was a lie, and in vain, why did they throw their lives away for a lie? If you had been with them and saw what they saw and been in their shoes, saw the Master heal the sick, give sight to the blind, make the lame walk, raise the dead, and walk on water, what would you have done if you had witnessed what they witnessed? And then you saw Him ascend into heaven and He promised you no matter what happens, heaven awaits and He would be with you till the end of this Age. 18 "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. " (Matthew 28:18-20) Then along comes some despot and says, "if you don't deny what you heard, saw, and experienced, we will send you to Heaven right now!" So, you KNOW that Jesus did all those things and that He is God. OR -- and this is the big one -- you KNOW that He did not and is not. But you were there. You KNOW. So there were the Apostles, who saw what they saw, heard what they heard and they are given a choice...what would they do? What would you do? Before you answer, since you were a witness, remember there are TWO possibilities. In the one possibility, you KNOW He is a fraud. In the other, He MUST be God. Looking from that perspective, figuring out which possibility was the right one is easy. Nobody dies to knowingly perpetuate a lie. One guy? Well, maybe he is nuts. But ALL of them? Not a chance...you don't die for a fraud. Again, Jesus Christ was executed at Golgotha in full view of thousands of witnesses. Three days later, He was resurrected bodily and over the course of the next forty days seen alive by thousands more witnesses. The story of His resurrection was unchallenged by living eyewitnesses, and so profoundly changed them that Saul of Tarsus, a Pharisee who despised Christ and persecuted His followers, became the Apostle Paul, the greatest witness to the truth of the Resurrected Jesus. 8"Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; 9Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, 10But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: 11Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. 12For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day." (1st Timothy 1:8-12) THE COMING AGE OF LAWLESSNESS I know I speak of this time a lot, but it is that important. For it is a time I would not wish on my worst enemy. There is coming a time, when millions of people will suddenly vanish from the face of this earth, and you'll remember my words. If you are so unfortunate to be reading these words and that event has taken place and you are frightened, confused, but remember when you sat in a pew in your local church and this "Jesus stuff" just didn't interest you at the time.... You will remember and your head will fall into your hands or falling to your knees. Yes, my friend, you just missed the most important event ever to happen in all of human history next to the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Looking back, and you wonder why almost 2000 years ago, brave men of faith, of courage, and conviction all went to their death, save one found in the Apostle John, not for a lie, not for a fraud, but for the risen Son of God. Some scoff at what the Bible professes and the Holy Spirit had men who were moved to write what they heard and saw, but for a witness of the Lord of Glory standing before them, in His glorious changed body of flesh and bone. Seeing His nailed scarred hands, and His pierced side and though at first doubting, the realization crashed in on their minds, that Jesus IS GOD....He had risen. When you are thinking on these things, I pray you will make the choice that you could have had before the missing millions hit your news channels. Jesus is the only choice if you are wise and believe by faith. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him, might be saved" (John 3:16-17) "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, no man cometh to the Father, but by Me." (John 14:6) "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23) "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." (Romans 10:9) I pray you are a believer at this time, RIGHT NOW and have put your faith in Jesus. My mission in this the rest of my life, is to preach the soon coming of my Lord Jesus Christ. If I can save even one, from going through that terrible period known as the Tribulation, then my focus on prophecy and the Lord Jesus Christ soon return will not have been in vain. Have you met my Jesus? Have you believed by faith on what He did by dying, shedding His blood for you and me, and the completing what made it possible for each of us to live with Him in glory forever...He was raised to life. 14 "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. 18For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." (Romans 8:14-18) Don't wait...the Tribulation could come crashing down on this world very soon...It could happen tomorrow....the only chance to win Victory over this world and avoid the soon coming wrath of God, and the persecution that will envelop this whole world is to believe on what I have just told you....Make that commitment today...it's simple...Just ask Jesus to come into your heart right now...He will honor your cry of repentance and save you to the uttermost.. FOR JESUS IS THE REAL SAVIOR...NOT A FRAUD. History proves it and eye witness testimony confirms it. This is Pastor Mike Taylor, praying your receive the Truth found in my Lord Jesus Christ...He will save you right now....If you need prayer, or more explanation of what we have discussed, or counseling, or just a listening ear. Email me at [email protected] , or visit me online for more biblical messages from the Word of God...God bless you all.. TILL WE MEET AT JESUS FEET 
Welcome to One of The Most Pivotal Weeks in Modern American History - http://www.prophecynewswatch.com/article.cfm?recent_news_id=938
Many are anticipating that a wonderful new era of peace and prosperity is just a few days away, but others are using terms such as "civil unrest" and "civil war" for what they believe is about to happen in America. Without a doubt, Donald Trump is one of the most electrifying politicians in modern American history, but he is also one of the most polarizing. So will the next four years bring us together as a nation, or will anger, frustration, strife and discord tear us much farther apart? It is being projected that extremely large crowds of supporters will attend Donald Trump's inauguration on January 20th, but the mainstream media is also reporting that "hundreds of thousands of protesters" are on their way to Washington. Many on the far left are hoping to turn Trump's inauguration into one of the biggest riots in U.S. history, but thousands of law enforcement personnel are going to do their very best to prevent that from happening. There are sites on the Internet that are literally counting down the hours until Barack Obama leaves office. Knowing that his time is short, Obama seems determined to squeeze as much "change" out of his final hours as he possibly can. Just check out what the Washington Post says that he was able to accomplish on just one day last week... On Thursday alone, the administration designated three new national monuments and expanded another two in sites including a forest in the Pacific Northwest and a school for freed slaves in South Carolina; took away one of the special immigration privileges Cubans arriving in the United States without visas have enjoyed for 50 years; announced sanctions designations against 18 senior Syrian officials for their role in the use of chlorine as a chemical weapon in 2014 and 2015; awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Vice President Biden; and accused Fiat Chrysler of cheating on national emission standards for some of its diesel trucks. And in the last few days of his presidency, there is a great deal of concern about how much more damage he may be able to do on his way out the door. Late last week he enraged the Russians by moving U.S. troops into Poland, and Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova is warning that Obama still has a few more days left to "destroy the world"... Zakharova charged that "Obama and his illiterate foreign policy team have dealt a crushing blow to America's prestige and leadership" and described his administration as "a bunch of geopolitical losers, enraged and shortsighted." Obama's administration still has a few days left to "destroy the world," Zakharova wrote. However, there is one piece of good news. According to the Jerusalem Post, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Obama will not support any additional action against Israel at the UN Security Council before Trump is inaugurated. Of course politicians lie all the time, and John Kerry may not have been entirely honest with Netanyahu, and so we will keep a close eye on the UN Security Council when they meet on Tuesday. On Friday, the eyes of the entire world will be on Washington. What once seemed so impossible is on the verge of actually becoming a reality, and security officials will be working overtime to make sure that nobody tries to stop Trump from being inaugurated at the last minute. Needless to say, the festivities on Friday would be a big, fat juicy target for anyone that hates Trump, hates America or that just wanted to make an unforgettable political statement. In fact, Republican Senator Roy Blunt has admitted that the inauguration of Donald Trump will be "the most appealing target in the world"... "Security is my greatest concern," Republican Senator Roy Blunt, chairman of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, has said. "No question that on inaugural day, this would be the most appealing target in the world." Even if there isn't any violence on Friday, there will definitely be plenty of angry protesters. And instead of attempting to calm things down, many in the mainstream media are actually promoting the protests. For example, the Washington Post has even published a "guide to inauguration demonstrations, marches and protests". It appears that most of those on the left plan to protest peacefully, but there are definitely groups that are planning to be as disruptive as they possibly can. I have previously reported about an organization known as DisruptJ20, and now audio has been released of one of their leaders saying that they want to "do everything we can to try and stop people from being able to access the inauguration"... A conservative group also shared with FoxNews.com what it said was audio from a Jan. 8 #DisruptJ20 meeting at a Washington church, giving even greater insight into the group's planned D.C. "shutdown." The audio, recorded by Trevor Loudon with Capital Research Center, purports to show a female member detailing plans to "do everything we can to try and stop people from being able to access the inauguration." It doesn't take much imagination to figure out how they are going to do that. According to the shocking new audio recording obtained by Fox News, DisruptJ20 plans to physically block "roads and other modes of transit into the city"... "We're going to be doing blockades," the woman says in the audio. "We're going to [be] blockading checkpoints into the security zones. We're also going to be blockading roads and other modes of transit into the city." Traffic in the Washington D.C. area is a major headache even at the best of times, and so even if everything went perfectly transportation would be a major issue at Trump's inauguration. So it isn't going to take much for these anarchists to create a very real crisis. And some leftists have been encouraging those that cannot physically come to Washington D.C. to go online and help take down the official White House website on January 20th... PR Newswire, a global news-release distribution service, circulated a release on Thursday highlighting a campaign launched by Protester.io, a digital protest organizing platform, to "take down" the White House website next Friday in protest of Trump's inauguration. "On January 20th, hundreds of thousands of Americans are going to Washington, DC to march in protest of the inauguration of Donald Trump. Millions more around the country will be joining the cause from home. If you can't make it to Washington DC on inauguration day, you can still participate by occupying whitehouse.gov online," the release read. Many on the left truly believe that Trump is the modern equivalent of Adolf Hitler, and therefore he must be resisted at all costs. And one of the reasons why they want to be as disruptive as possible is so that they can provoke an extremely harsh response. If law enforcement officials can be filmed treating protesters very harshly, that can be used as fuel to inspire thousands of others to join the movement against the "fascist" Donald Trump. Following the "blockades" and other "actions" on the 20th, there will be a "million woman march" on the 21st. Michael Moore and a whole host of liberal celebrities will be there, and it is being reported that there will be close to 300 "sister marches" in other cities around the nation... Protesters are using the hashtag #WhyIMarch to explain why they are heading to Washington -- from calls for equality to initiatives to curb gun violence to pleas for health care reform. Nearly 300 "sister marches" have been organized in other US cities -- including New York, Boston, Los Angeles and Seattle -- and around the world. Meanwhile, 5,000 Bikers For Trump are planning to act as a barrier to the protesters in what is being called by organizers as a "Wall Of Meat". This is going to be a week that none of us will ever forget. Many are hoping (myself included) that the protests will soon fade and that Trump's presidency will represent a true turning point for America. But there are many others that are literally gearing up for a "war", and they intend to fight for as long as it takes to achieve their goals. We are a nation that is deeply, deeply divided, and it isn't going to take much to push us over the edge. So this week is definitely a beginning, but is it the beginning of a wonderful new chapter in American history, or is it the beginning of the end for our once great nation? This story will unfold over the next four years, and let us hope that it is a good one. 
When the 'Enlightened' Left Doesn't Get Its Way, Expect Riots and Death Threats - Michael Brown - http://www.charismanews.com/opinion/in-the-line-of-fire/62409-when-the-enlightened-left-doesn-t-get-its-way-expect-riots-and-death-threats
After many hours of hard work, I've put together an exhaustive list of the prominent celebrities who chose not to perform at President Obama's inaugural ceremonies in 2009 and 2013 because they were threatened with death, boycotts or ostracism. The grand total, to my knowledge, is zero, despite the right's deep antipathy of Barack Obama. But when it comes to the inauguration of Donald Trump, Andrea Bocelli, the wonderfully gifted, blind operatic tenor, has decided not to perform, despite being a friend of the president-elect. And reports indicate that it was not just because he was threatened with a boycott; rather, it was because of death threats that his security team deemed too serious to ignore. Broadway star Jennifer Holliday has also dropped out of the inaugural festivities after being branded an "Uncle Tom." (I thought Uncle Toms were, by definition, male.) Claiming she didn't realize that performing at the inauguration would be interpreted as supporting the president (really?), she wrote, "My only choice must now be to stand with the LGBT community and to state unequivocally that I will not perform for the welcome concert or for any of the inauguration festivities." Ironically, Trump offended some of his most conservative supporters by having his openly gay friend Peter Thiel, co-founder of PayPal, speak at the Republican National Convention, while Thiel remains a key member of Trump's transition team. Trump also proudly held up a gay flag at one of his rallies, celebrating LGBT's for Trump, and he recently picked Anthony Scaramucci, a self-described "gay rights activist," for a senior advisory role. In fact, it was Scaramucci, as a member of the president-elect's transition team, who started the rumor that Trump would be "the first American president in U.S. history that enters the White House with a pro-gay-rights stance. Elton John is going to be doing our concert on the mall for the inauguration." (Fran Curtis, John's spokesman, immediately denied this report to The New York Times, stating, "Incorrect. He will not be performing.") It appears that the vast majority of LGBT leaders are not impressed. Standing with Trump means standing against them, and those who stand against them must be punished. Other celebrities also declined invitations, apparently without any outside pressure being put on them, with John Legend explaining to the BBC: "Creative people tend to reject bigotry and hate. "We tend to be more liberal-minded. When we see somebody that's preaching division and hate and bigotry, it's unlikely that he'll get a lot of creative people that want to be associated with him." Ah yes, the tolerance and enlightenment of the creative left! I fully understand that President-elect Trump continues to be a highly divisive figure, most recently attacking Congressman John Lewis, a Civil Rights icon, for saying that he did not believe Trump was a "legitimate" president because of Russian hacking of the election. Even some Republican leaders spoke up on Lewis' behalf, while his constituents, who also felt slighted, lashed out at Trump as well. And I fully understand that many on the left think the absolute worst about Trump, as if he was another Hitler about to rise to power, genuinely believing their own, nearly-hysterical rhetoric. Leading the way in the hysteria are the Hollywood elites, among whom Bruce "Caitlyn" Jenner said he has a harder time being a political conservative than being transgender. But having hysterical reactions to an incoming (or current) president is just as characteristic of the right as it is the left. For the last 8 years, I have heard every kind of crazy conspiracy theory about Barack Obama, including the claim that he is a secretly-gay, Muslim member of the Illuminati who is being groomed for his ultimate role as the antichrist. (Some of you reading this are saying in reply, "But he is!") My issue is with the reaction of the so-called "tolerant and enlightened" left, the same left that, we are told, tends "to reject bigotry and hate," yet goes on violent looting riots when it doesn't get its way and launches death threats against celebrities who stand publicly with Trump. I'm aware that people burned effigies of Obama after his election, while a liberal scholar writing on the Hill argues that demonstrators "aren't protesting [Trump] because he is a white male. These protests are because of the bigotry his campaign has emboldened and the fear of discrimination his presidency has the capacity to perpetuate." But that underscores the very point I'm making. Those allegedly protesting bigotry, hatred and discrimination are themselves engaging in those very things, with some Hollywood elites leading the way with their over-the-top, anti-Trump rhetoric. It is the hypocrisy of the left, not its rejection of Trump, that is galling. 
Intercede for President-Elect Trump With These Biblical Prayer Points - Anne Graham Lotz - http://www.charismamag.com/life/women/28064-intercede-for-president-elect-trump-with-these-biblical-prayer-points
"So David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel because his kingdom was highly exalted for the sake of His people Israel" (1 Chr. 14:2). God has established Mr. Trump as the 45th president of the United States for the sake of the American people. God has kept the first part of His promise in 2 Chronicles 7:14: "If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin and will heal their land." The only possible answer for Mr. Trump's dramatic victory is that God has indeed heard from heaven. Just as certainly as He has answered our prayers for the national election, He will forgive the sin that we have confessed to Him, because He said He would. Now it's time to claim His promise for the healing of our land. Please join me in thanking God for hearing and answering our prayers. Join me in giving God the glory for this remarkable, dramatic turn of events. But don't slack off in prayer. Double-down. Pray for the healing and rebuilding of America. Pray for Mr. Trump, that he would turn to God. Pray that God would give the president-elect wisdom for decisions, courage to do the right thing, protection from danger, strength to govern after a grueling race, grace under the continued fire of opposition, and blessing upon blessing as he seeks to lead our nation forward and up. Pray that God would surround Mr. Trump with godly men and women who will offer encouragement, support and wise counsel. Pray that as God's blessings flow, healing would begin. Now is the time to recommit ourselves to focusing, not on a particular man or political party, but on the living God of our fathers who is our hope and who alone can bring the healing America desperately needs. Now is the time to pray! And keep praying. 
Nearing Midnight: Barack Obama - Worst President Ever - Todd Strandberg - http://raptureready.com/rap16.html
I am forever thankful to the people who passed the twenty-second Amendment. Without a limit on a third term, it just seems we would be stuck with Barack Obama as the commander-in-chief until the day he died in office. My greatest joy is that the carnage this man has been inflicting on the U.S. will finally come to an end. The liberal media certainly do not see this as a joyous occasion. They are crying like they are about to lose a political leader in equal stature to our Founding Fathers. From the moment Obama showed up on the national stage to address the Democratic convention in 2004, the news media fell wildly in love with him. "Obama is a rock star," NBC's Andrea Mitchell exclaimed during MSNBC's live convention coverage back on July 27, 2004. The next morning, ABC's George Stephanopoulos echoed Mitchell's enthusiasm: "He's the Tiger Woods of the Democratic Party right now." MSNBC's Chris Matthews had the most famous response to an Obama speech: "I have to tell you, you know, it's part of reporting this case, this election, the feeling most people get when they hear Barack Obama's speech. My - I felt this thrill going up my leg. I mean, I don't have that too often." That weird moment occurred during MSNBC's coverage of the Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. primaries, February 12, 2008. Most of the praise that has been poured on Obama is cultish drivel: Presidential campaigns have destroyed many bright and capable politicians. But there's ample evidence that Obama is something special-a man who makes difficult tasks look easy, who seems to touch millions of diverse people with a message of hope that somehow doesn't sound Pollyannaish. - AP writer Charles Babington in a May 10, 2008 dispatch. My recollection of Obama's two terms is one disaster after another. There can be no doubt that he has been the worst president ever. Conservatives have been compiling his record of dubious achievements for several years. To get a grasp of the evil this man has inflicted upon America, I've compiled a condensed list of firsts that sets him apart from other U.S. presidents: The first president to apply for college aid as a foreign student, then deny he is a foreigner. The first president to have a social security number from a state in which he has never lived. The first president to preside over a cut to the credit-rating of the United States. The first president to violate the War Powers Act. The first president to be held in contempt of court for illegally obstructing oil drilling in the Gulf. The first president to require all Americans to purchase a product from a third party. The first president to abrogate bankruptcy laws to turn over control of companies to his union supporters. The first President to by-pass Congress and implement the Dream Act through executive fiat. The first president to order a secret amnesty program for illegal immigrants. The first president to demand a company hand-over $20 billion to one of his political appointees. The first president to tell a CEO of a major corporation (Chrysler) to resign. The first and only president to cancel the National Day of Prayer. The first and only president to say that America is no longer a Christian nation. The first president to have a law signed by an auto-pen without being present. The first president to arbitrarily declare an existing law unconstitutional and refuse to enforce it. The first president to tell a company in which state it is allowed to locate a factory. The first president to file lawsuits against the states he swore an oath to protect (AZ, WI, OH, IN). The first president to withdraw an existing coal permit that had been properly issued years ago. The first president to actively try to bankrupt an American industry (coal). The first president to surround himself with radical left wing anarchists. The first president to golf more than 300 separate times during his term in office. The first president to hide his birth, medical, educational and travel records and not be held accountable. The first president to win a Nobel Peace Prize for doing NOTHING to earn it. The first president to be in a continuous state of war throughout his entire presidency. The first president to go on multiple "global apology tours." The first president to have personal servants (taxpayer funded) for his wife. The first president to keep a dog trainer on retainer for $102,000 a year at taxpayer expense. The first president to repeat words in the Quran. The first president to say the Islamic call to worship is "the most beautiful sound on earth." The first president to increase the food stamp spending by more than 100% in a single term. The first president to conceal food stamp data from public scrutiny. The first president to side with a foreign nation over one of the American 50 states (Mexico vs. Arizona). The first president to (inconceivably) allow Iran to inspect their own facilities. The first to president to trade 5 terrorist for a traitor. The first president to use the IRS to unfairly target political enemies. The first president to terminate America's ability to put a man in space. The first president to facilitate the Iranians to acquire nuclear weapons. The first president to light up the White House in rainbow colors to honor homosexuality. The first president to allow men in women's restrooms and showers. The first president to conduct the marriage of two men. The first president to actively medal in an Israeli election. The first president to be named by the AP as the least transparent administration in history. The first president to develop an openly hostile relationship with the nation of Israel. At the end of this week, Obama will leave the White House and start working on a series of books that will be pure fluff and will sell poorly, but none the less, he will receive a multi-million dollar advances for each book. I'm sure he will follow the Clinton's playbook; collecting huge speaking fees for implied lobbying efforts back in Washington. There have been nearly a dozen other presidents who left office in disgrace because of far more minor misdeeds. I think what has allowed Obama to escape justice is our nearness to the Tribulation. Since God is about to judge the whole world, there is no need to discredit Obama with some minor scandal. "But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed" (Romans 2:5 NIV). --Todd 
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 
Does Pope and Abbas Meeting Fulfill End of Days Prophecy of Ishmael and Esau's Alliance? - By Dr. Rivkah Lambert Adler - https://www.breakingisraelnews.com
"For, lo, Thine enemies are in an uproar; and they that hate Thee have lifted up the head." Psalms 83:3 (The Israel Bible™) This past Saturday, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas met with Pope Francis in Rome, indicating that one of the surest signs of the End of Days - an alliance between Ishmael and Esau - is nearer than ever. According to a medieval Jewish Bible commentary known as the Yalkut Shimoni, an alliance between Ishmael (Arabs) and Esau (often identified with the descendents of Romans) precedes the final redemption. One of the items on Abbas' agenda during the meeting was to open an embassy of the so-called "State of Palestine" in Rome, further linking this generation's representatives of the Biblical Ishmael with the Biblical Esau - a move which could have serious consequences for Israel. "During the End of Days, Ishmael and Esau will join forces to seek the destruction of the Jewish people," Rabbi Yechiel Weitzman explains in his book The Ishmaelite Exile, which contains a commentary on the Yalkut Shimoni. At the conclusion of their meeting, Abbas made a statement indicating that the Pope supports the international community applying pressure on Israel to withdraw to the pre-1967 borders, saying, "We are very grateful about the role that the Holy See has played for a just and lasting peace in the Holy Land, and for having opened an embassy of Palestine in the Vatican for the first time." Prolific author and End of Days scholar Rabbi Pinchas Winston spoke to Breaking Israel News about whether Biblical prophecy is being fulfilled with the close political relationship between the PA and the Vatican. "The problem with prophecy is that we have a difficult time recognizing it for what it is until after it has passed. For example, the Vilna Gaon predicted back in the 1700s that, at the End-of-Days, the Mixed Multitude among the Jewish people would work tirelessly, and secretly, to join the forces of Esau and Ishmael together against the Jewish people. He predicted this before a modern Jewish state was close to existing! "Yet, here we are, watching the descendants of Esau and Ishmael join forces against the State of Israel, pushing for a two-state solution that can only be bad for Israelis, and with the blessing of many liberal Jews in Israel and in the Diaspora. Many believe, and hope, that this is just history running its 'natural' course. They do not want to see themselves living in 'Biblical' times. Those who know the sources and can recognize the signs know otherwise." The destinies of Ishmael and Esau have been linked as far back as the Book of Genesis when Esau married the daughter of Ishmael. So Esau went unto Ishmael, and took unto the wives that he had Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael Avraham's son, the sister of Nebaioth, to be his wife. Genesis 28:9 Rabbi Weitzman concluded his introduction to the End of Days alliance with good news. "At the very outset of their history, Ishmael and Esau forged a bond through marriage. And so it shall be at the End of Days. This alliance between them will bring history to its culmination in the redemption." 
Daily Jot: Let us not forget these days - Bill Wilson - www.dailyjot.com
As we approach inauguration day, the stories against President-Elect Donald Trump continue to increase. The liberal media establishes straw man after straw man to present their if/then scenarios about issues and how Trump doesn't measure up. They don't know the difference between news and opinion because what they are writing is opinion-and it hardly makes sense. With all the public outcry about whether Trump would accept the results of the election if he didn't win, the progressives (communists) in the Democratic Party accused Trump of exactly what they are doing. While dissidence has always been a part of American politics, so too, has unification after the vote is settled. Until now. Shame on the outgoing "president." Shame on Hillary Clinton. Shame on the Marxist globalists in the news media. Shame on those who are planning to disrupt the inauguration of the President. They should be ashamed. They have had the opportunity to unite the nation in the wake of a bitterly contested election, but they continue to throw their temper tantrum by whipping up the useful tools of their revolution-those who think they are informed, but are not; those who think they are enlightened, but have dark souls; those who would rather be victims than victors; those who in their heart of hearts are racists, bigots, xenophobes, homophobes, but prefer to hide their beliefs behind the shield of accusing others of these terrible traits. Shame on them for stirring the pot on all things detrimental to their nation and its citizens. Clinton called supporters of Donald Trump irredeemable and deplorable. She called others in her own party who didn't support her basement dwellers living with their parents. The "president" said that Trump was a danger to democracy. They both said that any attempt to not accept the results of the election would undermine the next president and present a danger to our system of government. Yet they fan the flames of violence and disruption against the results of the election with their subtle signals, their winks at protesters, and their curious words of implication. They say nothing to call off the anarchists who are responding to their and the media's encouragement to disrupt and undermine. This is un-American and dangerous. About half the country didn't like the results of the past two elections. They especially didn't like the immoral policies fomented by the "president" and his henchmen. But we saw a willingness to oppose from within the legal framework of our country. Those who are undermining the incoming President are calling for violence and overthrow. There is a difference, and it is a difference that deserves much prayer and action. Romans 2:1 says, "Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whosoever you are that judge: for in what you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you that judge do the same things." They are inexcusable, but they are also part of a global Marxist cabal that intends to enslave all people to godlessness. Let us not forget these days. Let us pray for righteousness to be restored to our nation. Let us act righteously to restore it. 
Daily Devotion: When a Christian Dies - Greg Laurie - www.harvest.org
Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord. -2 Corinthians 5:8 A number of books have reached the bestseller list that deal with alleged out-of-body experiences people claim to have had. And a Gallup survey revealed that some 8 million people claim to have had near-death journeys into the beyond. But what happens when a Christian dies? Some teach that we go into a suspended state of animation and then later on are called into the presence of God. But in my understanding of Scripture, when a believer dies, he or she goes directly to Heaven. We go right into God's presence. Remember the thief on the cross who hung next to Jesus? He said, "Remember me when you come into your Kingdom" (Luke 23:42). Jesus told him, "I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise." Today. Jesus was saying, "It's going to happen for you right away." Paul said, "I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me" (Philippians 1:23). He didn't say, "I long to go and hang around in a soul sleep for a few thousand years." Paul again said, "So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord. For we live by believing and not by seeing. Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord" (2 Corinthians 5:6-8). Once you leave your body when death occurs, your spirit goes into the presence of God. The moment you take your last breath on earth, you will take your first breath in Heaven. That means we don't have to be afraid. It doesn't mean we want to die. But we don't have to be afraid. 
FROM THE HEART
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