Prophecy Update Newsletter
January 27, 2017
IN TODAY'S NEWSLETTER...
To Him Who Sits on the Throne - A.V. Rauf -
http://bibleprophecyfortoday.com/2017/01/22/to-him-who-sits-on-the-throne/ Daniel 2:20-21--20 Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are His: 21 And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding... It is now official: There has been a change in the administration of the the most powerful nation in the world and we have a new president. My purpose for writing the following is not to debase or debunk previous leaders and/or favor/disfavor political parties. However, I will clearly look at this through the lenses of Scripture and the times we are living in. If there is any ought against what you read, I invite to go to the source of this: The Word of God. Prior to the return of Jesus Christ, there has always been a war between the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of darkness. Truth has always been combatted with deception. It goes without saying that this battle has been ever escalating and will increase even more. 1 Timothy 2:1-4- I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. This mandate given by God according to the above Scripture has always been to intercede for ALL leaders in authority, regardless of whatever opinions we may have regarding them. Irrespective of people's opinions of the new president, this much is a surety: God, in His foreknowledge knows that the new president will fulfil His purposes, and even more so he will fulfill His purposes primarily with the nation of Israel moving forward. We must continue to pray even more so. Again, if you are a student of the Bible and understand Bible prophecy Israel has a major role to play in the end-times. Heck, if you have some knowledge of the Bible, it should have provided you some hope to see that both leaders were sworn and made their oaths with their hands firmly placed on the Bibles of former presidents Ronald Reagan and Abraham Lincoln that were opened to 2 Chronicles 7:14: 2 Chronicles 7:14-If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. That being said, it was interesting to note that at the inauguration, five of the six members of the clergy ushering in the new president have strong ties to Israel. It can be said that the USA will begin giving Israel the respect and attention it has not received over the past 8 years. Actually, I believe almot SEVENTY years of mistreatment of Israel are going to be reversed. SEVENTY years takes us back to 1947! Interesting to note that it was SEVENTY nations that were represented at the recent internationl gathering of nations that met in France. SEVENTY is also the number of nations and languages that were the origin of all nations of the world today. So, SEVENTY can be interpreted as a reference to the nations of the whole world. The SEVENTY nations met to sign an anti-Israel agreement, which I believe will now ultimately lead to a final showdown that pits the nations of the world against Israel. Speaking of SEVENTY, the number SEVENTY is the number of the restoration of Israel, and is also seen many times in relation to punishment. The meanings of SEVENTY are "completeness" and "judgement". Again, it is related to the punishment and restoration of Israel. 2017 is the SEVENTIETH anniversary of UN resolution 181 in 1947, again paving the way for Israel's statehood in 1948. All this ironically, is ultimately leading up to the SEVEN year Tribulation period otherwise known as the SEVENTIETH Week of Daniel: Daniel 9:24-27-Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. 25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. 26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. 27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. The meeting in Paris comes after the United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 2334, making it unlawful for Jews to live in Judea, Samaria, the Golan Heights area, and Hebron. The resolution also grants a religious monopoly on the Temple Mount and the Western Wall to Islam. Notice this verse in the Bible: Revelation 11:1-2--And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months. This resolution has already declared sovereignty of the Temple Mount towards Islam. The next verse introduces the ministry of the Two witnesses, Elijah and many believe Moses, or even Enoch. In addition, it states that the Holy City (Jerusalem ) will be trampled under the foot of the gentiles for 42 months (3 1/2 years). This is referred to as "Tribulation Period" talk. But before that comes to pass, the Church will be caught up in the Rapture. I am not going to debate the issue of whether this event is "pre," or "mid-,", but for a surety it is not "Post-." The Bible informs us of how this all ends. Somewhere, possibly in the middle, possibly not, that which restrains the bride of Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit, will be taken out of the way, and it will all get usurped by an impostor, otherwise known as the Anti-Christ. As Jack Palance would say, "Believe it,...........or not." I suggest you believe it. However, for some reason and for a season if you will, it appears as if God has intervened to raise a very strategic ally for Israel, especially at a time when this ally appeared to be on a fast track to become Israel's enemy as well. This will ultimately come to pass as the Bible states tht ALL nations will come to battle against Jerusalem. Romans 9:17--For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. You see, God's purpose is to "declare His name in all the earth". In the tribulation period, this too will be done through the Jews. In the Scripture above, it was ironically done through Pharaoh. God even used Cyrus the King to ultimately help rebuild the temple in Jerusalem when the Jews came out of Babylonian captivity: Ezra 5:9 -15-Then asked we those elders, and said unto them thus, Who commanded you to build this house, and to make up these walls? 10 We asked their names also, to certify thee, that we might write the names of the men that were the chief of them. 11 And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and build the house that was builded these many years ago, which a great king of Israel builded and set up. 12 But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon. 13 But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon the same king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God. 14 And the vessels also of gold and silver of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem, and brought them into the temple of Babylon, those did Cyrus the king take out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered unto one, whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor; 15 And said unto him, Take these vessels, go, carry them into the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be builded in his place. Isaiah 44:24-28-Thus saith the Lord, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the Lord that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself; 25 That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish; 26 That confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his messengers; that saith to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, Ye shall be built, and I will raise up the decayed places thereof: 27 That saith to the deep, Be dry, and I will dry up thy rivers: 28 That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid. In these verses above, and there are many more examples, we see that God does not only always use the righteous to do His will. God's purposes will be done. In light of what has happened with the change of administration there is a strong implication for an end time presence of the United states as she stands with Israel. How long this will last only remains to be seen. The moving of the American Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem very well could be the Hot Button. Israel is of course being the main Time Clock, yet it sure seems that all the surrounding nations are ready to attack Israel - except Jordan. The moving of the Embassy has been declared to be a Red Line by Jordan. King Abdullah may have zero alternative options once that happens. The Vatican has recently opened an Embassy in East Jerusalem, which we already know has been the subject of disputed Palestinian territory. The Vatican has most certainly cast their lot in with the Palestinians and confirmed their enmity to God and His plans as they too have been preparing for their role to divide Jerusalem! In a reciprocal move, last week the Palestinians opened an Embassy right inside the Vatican. At that inauguration, the PA leader told Pope Francis that Jerusalem is the capital of the Palestinians. Because the United States now appears to have a leader and co-leader who seem determined to exercise various measures in line with God's word, this does not in any ways mean that the nations of the world let alone the inhabitants of this country and the nations of the world will celebrate and come to a mutual agreement. It means conflict is coming, Sadly, God's word being fulfilled on Israel will be hated and rejected by much of the church. The liberal media, Islam and the unsaved will always stand against God in these things. As I have said before, I also believe and am grieved at the notion that there is a great divide coming not only over the issue of Jerusalem, not only within this nation, but ultimately within the Body of Christ. I believe the sifting of the wheat and the tares has begun: Matthew 13:24-20-Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: 25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. 26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. 27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? 28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? 29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn. We have entered a time when Satan will soon create war so that he can make "peace" and deceive the world! It means we are about to see Jerusalem in conflict, the Temple rebuilt and the nations of the world becoming supernaturally enraged against in relation to Israel like never before. This also means that the Church Age ("HE THAT HATH AN EAR LET HIM HEAR...") is rapidly coming to a close and the fullness of the Gentiles is fast approaching which also means we are close to the veil of spiritual blindness being lifted from the eyes of the Jews much faster as Romans 12:25-32-For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in. 26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: 27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. 28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the father's sakes. 29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. 30 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: 31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. 32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. Sad to say this also means that a great proportion of the church will fall for the multitude of deceptions that are being unfurled at a breakneck speed. Satan indeed knows that his time is short. The ultimate authority is not Left or Right, or what I perceive or what you perceive. Ultimately it comes down to what is written in the Bible. Period. And regardless of what is forthcoming, God STILL is sitting on the throne of the Universe and when it is all said and done, not yours, not mine but HIS will will be done. MARANATHA! 
Erekat: We'll counter Jerusalem embassy move - ByMichael Wilner - http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Erekat-Well-counter-Jerusalem-embassy-move-479744
The PA has been working with Jordanian officials to dissuade US President Donald Trump from proceeding with the dramatic embassy move. The Palestine Liberation Organization has settled on a plan to forcefully counter the Trump administration should it choose to move the US Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a senior Palestinian official said on Thursday. Saeb Erekat, chief negotiator for the Palestinian Authority, said the PLO would first revoke its 1993 decision to recognize the State of Israel, "because under no circumstances shall we recognize Israel and the United States saying east Jerusalem is annexed," he told CNN's Christiane Amanpour. "No. 2, the agreements signed with Israel will be dead, because Netanyahu decided to kill it," he said. "So he will be responsible for paying the salaries of teachers, doctors, garbage collection in the West Bank, the entirety of the Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem. The authority cannot be sustained - it will be destroyed, because he is destroying it." Thirdly, the PLO would ask the UN General Assembly to suspend Israeli membership in the chamber "until it abides by international law." The Palestinians are a non-member observer state at the UN. "The Palestinians at that moment, with no two-state solution - no possibility for a Palestinian state - they will demand equal rights, equal citizenship with Israel," he said, characterizing a unitary Israeli state with control over the West Bank as an "apartheid" enterprise. "We will be trying to accommodate ourselves in the one-state reality that was created by... settlements." The PA has been working with Jordanian officials to dissuade US President Donald Trump from proceeding with the dramatic embassy move. Jordan's King Abdullah II is to arrive in Washington on Monday for meetings with Trump administration officials and members of Congress. The status of America's embassy in Israel is expected to be a significant part of his conversations. 
Israel's Moment of Decision - Caroline B. Glick - http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Our-World-Israels-moment-of-decision-479737
Netanyahu's mantra this week has been that he doesn't wish to surprise Trump with a big Israeli initiative. Over the past week we were given new evidence of what many assumed for years. Former president Barack Obama and his administration weren't interested in bringing peace to the Middle East. They were interested in harming Israel. Last Friday, Makor Rishon published an interview with former Foreign Ministry director general Dore Gold. Gold told the paper that Obama's national security adviser Susan Rice once said, "Even if Israel and the Palestinians reach an accord, it's possible that the US will oppose it." Rice said the US would oppose any deal that it felt didn't do justice to the Palestinians. Rice's statement is significant not merely because it shows the depth of Obama's hostility. It is important because it tells us the truth about the so-called "twostate solution." Rice's statement showed that Western pressure for Israeli concessions to the PLO isn't geared toward making peace between the parties at all. It is about retribution. Obama's anti-Israel vision of justice for the Palestine was revealed in another story Gold told the paper. Gold related that after Obama and his entourage left Israel following former president Shimon Peres's funeral last September, Obama phoned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from Air Force One. He told Netanyahu that if he wants to have a funeral like Peres's, he needs to get moving with the Palestinians. Netanyahu responded that he has no interest in having a funeral like Peres's, "because I have no intention of participating in my country's funeral." In other words, Netanyahu told Obama that the US leader's understanding of what Israel needs to do to bring justice to the Palestinians involves Israel ceasing to exist. Today, as excitement abounds in Israel about the new, friendly administration of President Donald Trump, we must understand what we just went through with Obama. Obama's vision did not die with him. Thanks to his leadership, the Democratic Party is now anti-Israel. The millions of protesters who took to the streets throughout the US last Saturday voiced their opposition to Israel with the same enthusiasm and passion as they voiced their support for open borders. Moreover, the American establishment supported Obama's positions. Obama's hostile policies were roundly supported by the State Department's permanent bureaucracy. The diplomats who worked with Obama are still in place. So, too, the Washington establishment, including US Jewish leaders, still support Obama's policy of backing the PLO against Israel. Immediately after Netanyahu and Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman announced that they approved plans to build 2,500 apartments for Jews in the so-called settlement blocs, David Harris, the CEO of the American Jewish Committee, condemned the move as "not helpful." Harris gave a public relations victory to those who reject the very notion of Jewish civil and national rights, by proclaiming that the announcement of building permits, "alas, could hand anti-Israel forces a PR victory." Harris was joined in his campaign against Jewish property rights by former US negotiator Dennis Ross. Ross published an article in the New York Daily News where he argued that Trump should limit his support for Jewish property rights to the so-called "settlement blocs." In so arguing, Ross invited Trump to reject the property rights of 100,000 Israelis who don't live in the so-called blocs. Ross effectively called for the new president to support a plan that would require their mass expulsion from their homes and the destruction of their communities. Ross's fellow mediators used the past week or so to lobby against Trump's plan to keep his promise to move the US Embassy to Israel's capital city. Speaking to The New York Times, David Makovsky, who was a member of former secretary of state John Kerry's negotiating team, and Aaron David Miller, who served as Ross's deputy in the Clinton years, both said that Trump should not move the embassy to Jerusalem. Their comrade Martin Indyk wrote an op-ed in the New York Times earlier this month where he argued snidely that Trump should move the embassy to Jerusalem and simultaneously announce his plan to open a second US embassy in Jerusalem for the state of "Palestine." Last Wednesday, Trump he told Israel Hayom that he intended to keep his campaign promise to move the embassy. The next day Trump's spokesman Sean Spicer told reporters to "stay tuned" on the embassy move, intimating that an announcement could come as early as Trump's first day in office. On his first full day in office, Trump moved boldly to overturn Obama's policies. He signed executive orders that effectively ended Obama's environmental and health policies. But he ignored Jerusalem. And Spicer made clear that the early plan to move quickly on the embassy has been abandoned. At his press briefing Spicer wouldn't even commit to moving the embassy before the end of Trump's term of office. In other words, the Washington establishment won and Israel lost. To be sure, the peace processors and the leftists weren't alone in their opposition to the embassy move. The Arabs also voiced their disapproval. PLO CHAIRMAN Mahmoud Abbas and his deputies threatened to open a new terrorist offensive against Israel and destabilize the Middle East if Trump kept his promise. Jordan's King Abdullah reportedly threatened to withdraw his ambassador from Israel and suspend his security ties with Israel. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi reportedly voiced opposition to the planned move as well. But as former CIA director Gen. David Petreaus said during his visit to Israel this week, in recent years, the Palestinian issue, which was once the top concern Arab leaders voiced in their meetings with US officials, became a minor issue for them. In an interview with Breitbart this week, former US ambassador to the UN John Bolton said that while moving the embassy "would... necessitate a lot of active diplomacy to calm down people who might be concerned about it," reneging on Trump's promise would be tantamount to "allowing other people, in other countries, to tell us... where we put our embassy." Trump's abrupt about-face on the embassy move makes clear that now is no time for Israel to tread lightly. To the contrary. As the government takes the first steps toward forging its relationship with the new administration, two basic truths need to inform its decisions. First, in light of the hostility of the US Left and establishment alike to the notion that Israel is America's ally, and given the speed with which Trump backed away from his promise to move the embassy to Jerusalem, the only way Israel can expect to be treated with respect is to command respect. And you can't command respect when you beat around the bush about your vital interests and rights. Second, Israel cannot expect Trump to abandon Obama's hostile policies in relation to the Palestinians if it doesn't abandon them first. This means Netanyahu must heed his government ministers' calls to abandon the two-state paradigm. So long as Netanyahu continues to support PLO statehood even to a limited degree, he gives legitimacy to the wholly anti-Israel PLO narrative. Right after Trump was elected, government ministers from Bayit Yehudi and the Likud implored Netanyahu to abandon the two-state formula and apply Israeli law to Area C in Judea and Samaria. Under pressure from Netanyahu, who himself was under pressure from Obama, the ministers quickly ended their calls. Obama's decision to enable the UN Security Council to pass Resolution 2234 brought the two-state paradigm to its inevitable conclusion. The resolution criminalized Israel and legitimized Palestinian terrorists. After the UN resolution passed, and as Trump's inauguration approached, the ministers renewed their calls to end support for Palestinian statehood and replace the two-state paradigm with the paradigm of Israeli sovereignty. But pressured by Netanyahu, they scaled back their calls for Israeli administration of Judea and Samaria to a minimalist call to apply Israeli law to the city of Ma'aleh Adumim. Over the weekend, calls for action grew louder. But on Sunday, just as Trump was backtracking on the embassy move, Netanyahu prevailed on his ministers to postpone consideration of their bill on Ma'aleh Adumim. Netanyahu exhorted them to allow him to run Israel's policy toward the Palestinian and toward the Trump administration. Netanyahu's mantra this week has been that he doesn't wish to surprise Trump with a big Israeli initiative. He insists that a new policy toward the Palestinians needs to be coordinated with the US administration. Netanyahu also says that he continues to support a Palestinian state. But his vision involves establishing a state too weak to threaten Israel. Trump's sudden about-face on Jerusalem shows the weakness of Netanyahu's gradual and careful approach. As Netanyahu preached caution, Israel's opponents in the US worked hand in glove with the Palestinians to draw Trump into the anti-Israel logic of the "two-state" policy. The situation isn't lost. Even as he backtracked on Jerusalem, Trump has taken other steps that make clear that he really is a friend of Israel. Due in large part to the UN's hostility toward Israel, Trump moved resolutely to scale back US support for the UN. Trump also overturned Obama's last minute decision to give the Palestinian Authority $221 million. But so long as Trump continues to make establishing a Palestinian state the goal of US policy, including indirectly by failing to move the embassy to Israel's capital city, Democrats and the Washington establishment will be able to keep on undermining Israel. They will point to Trump's continued if indirect support for Palestinian statehood as an excuse to continue to require Israel to prefer the positions of terrorists sworn to its destruction over its national interests, in order to "preserve the two-state policy," or "enhance prospects for peace." Moreover, so long as he supports the "two-state policy," every supportive move Trump makes will be easily reversed by a successor administration. And it would be irresponsible, indeed reckless, for Israel to assume that Trump and the Republicans will maintain the upper hand in US politics indefinitely. Eight years ago when Obama took office, the Democrats controlled both houses of Congress. Pundits were near unanimous in the view that the Democrats would remain in power for a generation as the Republicans, smarting from their losses were fractured and leaderless. Two years later, the Republicans won control of the House of Representatives and for the final six years of his presidency, Obama was unable to get his policies through Congress. Netanyahu is right. Israel shouldn't surprise Trump. But Israel must move immediately to take advantage of the time it has with Trump in power, and with the Republicans in control of Congress to ensure our interests in Judea and Samaria and to rally Trump to support our policies. Time is of the essence. The one Obama legacy that is most likely to be lasting is his transformation of the Democratic Party into an anti-Israel party. His deep hostility toward Israel will likely be shared by his partisan successors. And again, as Israel treads lightly, its opponents scored a victory. If Netanyahu doesn't seize the moment, the opportunity we have today will quickly slip away. 
Netanyahu: World's silence on Iran's threats to destroy Israel will end with Trump - http://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-worlds-silence-on-irans-threats-to-destroy-israel-will-end-with-trump/
At Yad Vashem, PM vows that Israel will never let Tehran get nukes, says Iran should learn that 'the regime that spawned the Holocaust ended up in the dustbin of history' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu repeated his long-held belief on Thursday that Iran poses the "greatest danger" to Israel and predicted that the world's silence in the face of the Islamic Republic's threats to annihilate the Jewish state will end now that US President Donald Trump is in office. Speaking at the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial Museum in Jerusalem in an address for International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Netanyahu said "the greatest danger that we face, of hatred for the Jewish people and the Jewish state ... comes from Iran. It comes from the ayatollah regime that is fanning [the] flames [of anti-Semitism] and calling outright for the destruction of the Jewish state." Netanyahu lashed out bitterly at the world's "deafening silence" when the Iranian regime "merely calls to wipe out every Israeli," and expressed confidence that this approach would change with Trump as president. "I believe it will change," he said. Netanyahu referenced the phone call earlier this week between the two leaders in which they discussed the Iranian nuclear deal, a source of tension between Netanyahu and former president Barack Obama, among a host of other issues. "I spoke a few days ago to President Trump and he spoke about the Iranian aggression. He spoke about Iran's commitment to destroy Israel. He spoke about the nature of this nuclear agreement and the danger it poses. We spoke about it together," Netanyahu said. The prime minister said the resurgence of anti-Semitism and of calls to destroy the Jewish state must "encounter forceful consistent powerful resistance, in words and also in deeds." His comments seemed to be aimed at least in part at Obama, who signed off on a nuclear deal two years ago that saw international sanctions lifted on Iran in exchange for Tehran curbing its nuclear ambitions. The agreement was inked over Netanyahu's vociferous objections. In his speech Thursday, Netanyahu reiterated his pledge to stop Iran attaining nuclear weapons. "As prime minister of Israel, I will not be silent ... and we don't intend to be inactive either," Netanyahu said. "We will take all the measures we need to defend ourselves, and we will take all the measures necessary to prevent Iran from getting the means of mass murder to carry out their horrible plans." Netanyahu also denounced the rise in anti-Semitism and anti-Semitic incidents around the world, warning that "the hatred and intolerance that drove [the Holocaust]" has not been eradicated, even as he seemed to praise European leaders who have spoken out against the phenomenon. "Anti-Semitism... is experiencing a revival in the enlightened West; you can see this in European capitals, just unbelievable. The rise of anti-Semitism, the resurgence of anti-Semitism. That is happening. And few would have imagined that this would be possible a few years ago," he said. "It's true that governments have shown responsibility, and on the whole have taken this up, in Eastern Europe and in Western Europe alike. But it is also true that this hatred is bubbling, coming out of these cracks, coming out in the open again." Netanyahu warned that "the regime that spawned the Holocaust ended up in the dustbin of history" and said that this should be "a lesson for Iran" and for "every enemy of the Jewish people and the Jewish state." 
Conforming to the World - by Grant Phillips - http://www.raptureready.com/2017/01/23/conforming-world-grant-phillips/
When Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt the golden calf resulted because of them allowing Egyptian influences to seep back into their lives. On the route from Egypt to the Promised Land many died because of this stain on their hearts. Israel was corrupted by Israeli men indulging in sexual immorality with the women of Moab (Numbers 25). They could thank Balaam for this atrocity against God (Numbers 31:16). Many people had to die because of Balaam's greed. God expects those who are His to conform "to the image of His Son," and not conform "to the pattern of this world." "For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters." (Romans 8:29 NIV) "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will." (Romans 12:2 NIV) The word "conform" basically means "follow the crowd" or "imitate." Many of the Israelites got in trouble because they followed the crowd instead of God. Our minds are far too often set on the things of this world, but the Scripture says to those who belong to God, "For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come." (Hebrews 13:14 NLT) Let's face it. Our society is neck deep in following the crowd. We want to wear what everyone else is wearing. We want to look like others look. We want to listen to what others listen to, even if it is trash (Rap music, for example). However, we who are Christ's are not of the world. We should not allow society's whims to influence us away from our God. As a society we are also a very gullible people. We'll believe a lie and oppose the truth as easily as we would turn down healthy food over junk food. We no longer think independently, but allow those who seek to influence our lifestyle to lead us around by the nose. Nearly everything coming from the television is a prime example. We are like zombies. Millions of people recently voted for a Presidential candidate, believing every lie that drooled forth from those lying criminal lips. The candidate's character, legal issues and political threat were of no consequence. A smile won them over with the right words smoothly buttered to taste. Thank God, they lost. God, our Creator and Judge, calls for repentance. He says we have sinned and need to be redeemed, but we push Him away and listen instead to the father of lies. Only a few acknowledged that need and came to the Redeemer, but alas, even many of them are not allowing themselves to be conformed to their Savior and Lord. Instead, most are allowing themselves to be conformed to the world and its deceit. Christians, who are conforming to the world, will not lose their soul, but they will lose rewards that could have been theirs to place at the feet of the Savior. Others conforming to the world will lose everything, even their soul. Many of our church gatherings today are nothing more than stage productions put on by amateur and/or professional performers. It is no wonder so many Christians are conforming to the world than "to the image of His Son." When there is nothing more than mildewed bread and stale smelly water, the sheep starve. When there is nothing left but locoweed to feed on, the flock gets a little crazy. You would think that in a land where Bibles are so plentiful that we send thousands to other countries; we would be strong disciples (students) of the Word in this country. Unfortunately, we are probably more ignorant than we have ever been concerning this holy book, we call our Bible. Why is that? We have allowed the influences of the world, and there are many, to draw us away from what is really important; i.e. to know what God is saying to us. What has it gotten us? Corruption, immorality, perversion, infant murder is a very short list of satanic accomplishments because of the Church conforming to the world. That isn't to say there are none who resist conforming to the world. It is to say they are few in comparison. None of us who know Christ as our Savior and Lord are perfect, but we need to draw a line in the sand between the world's influences on our lives. What did the Scripture above say? "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will." (Romans 12:2 NIV) We'll never start making wise decisions, even about the 'little' things, until we are transformed by the renewing of our mind, and that can only come by listening to God and not the world. Think about this. We cannot share the Word until we know the Word. Notice that I did not say "force feed" the Word, because that is what some Christians try to do. You will not find anywhere in the Bible where anyone tried to force the Gospel upon another. It was always shared. Even Jesus, who is God, shared it, but He never forced it upon anyone. Now the big question, are we even sharing it? If we conform to the world view we will be either afraid or embarrassed to do so, maybe both. If we conform to the world, we will act like the world. That isn't what God expects of His children. If we are truly in Christ and have been conforming to the world's lifestyle, we will be pricked in our heart because we know it is just not right. Now that we know, we can all do something about it. Obama talked about change, and brother did we ever get it. Clinton talked about no change, just status quo. Thank God we didn't go down that rabbit hole. Now let us consider real change. Let us leave the status quo of worldly influences in our lives and go for a positive change orchestrated by God, living for Him and not allowing ourselves to be conformed to this world. 
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 
Why America needs a spiritual awakening - Greg Laurie - www.harvest.org
Pastor Greg Laurie on U.S. culture: 'We are rotting from within' The other day I read a resolution that was passed by the United States Senate: Resolved, That devoutly recognizing the supreme authority and just government of Almighty God in all the affairs of men and of nations, and sincerely believing that no people, however great in numbers and resources, or however strong in the justice of their cause, can prosper without His favor, and at the same time deploring the national offenses which have provoked His Righteous judgment, yet encouraged in this day of trouble by the assurance of His Word, to seek Him for succor according to His appointed way, through Jesus Christ, the Senate of the United States do hereby request the President of the United States, by his proclamation, to designate and set apart a day for national prayer and humiliation. There's one thing I should point out, however: This resolution was passed on March 3, 1863. Can you imagine if such a resolution were passed today? We don't hear phrases like "according to His appointed way, through Jesus Christ" anymore. But the faith of our Founding Fathers is clear. Abraham Lincoln made this statement when he saw the social ills of the country: "We have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace, and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become to self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us!" How true Honest Abe was. How right he was. And if this was true in his lifetime, how much more true it is of our culture today. We have forgotten God. We have thrown him out of the classroom. We have thrown him out of the courtroom. And we have done our best to throw him out of modern culture. God does not exist in the world of television sitcoms and movies for the most part. And when Christians are portrayed, they are usually portrayed as buffoons or fanatics or even crazed people. For years we have seen the chipping away of the American family. And in its present state, we have seen the disabling effect it has had on our society as a whole. Most of the social ills today, including drug abuse, gang activity and violent crime, can be directly traced to the breakdown of the family. This has been shown time and time again by exhaustive research and studies. Yet we live in a time when our culture doesn't even think of marriage as a permanent thing. We just trade in our marital problems like used cars and think nothing of it. While my generation, the baby boomers, were out trying to get in touch with their inner child and build up their self-esteem, they neglected their own children. And in many cases as they sought their own happiness, trying to find themselves, their children got lost in the shuffle. Experts have concluded that the dramatic outbreak of things such as gang problems and violent crime are directly linked to the breakdown of the American family. It has been said the family can survive with a nation, but the nation cannot survive without the family. Sociologist Robert Nisbet wrote, "The ideologies which gained entry into the academy in the '60s claimed that fundamental, intellectual principles of Western culture were illegitimate and must be overthrown. With that destroyed, terms like truth, good, evil and soul could be discarded." And they were. Moral relativism is the rule of the day. There is no truth, there is no evil, there is no right, there is no wrong. And America is reaping what it has sown. What are we going to do? How will we change this? How will we turn things back? These are all symptoms of a deeper problem. Practically put, it is sin. It is sin's effect that we are seeing all around us because we don't have a set of absolutes concerning morality, honesty, and right and wrong. We live in a time of amazing contradictions. We have been so careful to arm ourselves to the teeth and arm against the enemy on the outside that we have forgotten the enemy on the inside. And we have missed one of the most important blessings of history. Historian Will Durant, in his book "Caesar and Christ," spoke of the fall of Rome. He wrote, "A great civilization is not conquered from without until it has destroyed itself within. The essential causes of Rome's decline lay in her people, her morals." We are rotting from within. How will we solve this dilemma? Let me say this. Politicians won't do it for us. They can bring some help and assistance, but it won't get to the root of the problem. Nor will government programs. There is no short-term solution. The only answer for the ills of this country is a heaven-sent spiritual awakening, a revival. I am not talking about a turn to spirituality or a turn to a god, whatever you conceive him or her or it to be. I am talking about a return to the Living God, the God cited in the March 3, 1863, resolution passed by the Senate. I am talking about the God we have always believed in from the beginning but have forgotten, as Abraham Lincoln said. There never will be a spiritual awakening in this country until we believe in the one and only true God and His Son, Jesus Christ. Without this, there never will be moral change or a cure to our nation's countless social ills. 
Daily Jot: The changing prophetic destiny of America - Bill Wilson - www.dailyjot.com
Under the presidencies of Jimmy Carter, George HW Bush, Bill Clinton, George W Bush and the immediate past "president," America was led in a direction of global governance. Throughout those years, and especially in the past decade, America's treatment of Israel has declined. The past eight years in particular has seen America become almost an enemy to Israel and no doubt this would have accelerated even more under a Hillary Clinton White House. Since 911, America has settled into a world order that is diametrically opposed to the interests of Israel and aligned itself with the traditional enemies of Israel. This, without check, has tremendous eternal implications for America and its citizens. In Matthew 25:31-34 Jesus speaks a parable, "When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit on the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say to them on his right hand, Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." In exegetic context, the theme of God judging sheep and goats is also found in Ezekiel 34-35, with the goats being the unrighteous leaders and nations that hated the children of Israel. There are many other examples of judging the nations who came against Israel and treated God's children with contempt. We know from scripture that God will judge both nations and individuals. In Genesis 12:3 the Lord says to Abram, whose decedents became Israel, "And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and you shall be a blessing; And I will bless them that bless thee and curse him that curses thee." We find several prophecies where the nations that come against Israel are judged. Zechariah 12:9 says, "And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem." The phrase "in that day" is a reference to the Day of the Lord, the same time frame Jesus spoke of when he said "When the Son of man shall come in his glory." The leaders (shepherds) AND the nations (either sheep or goats) will be judged in the day of the Lord for how they treated Israel. Likewise, all the people will be judged by the way they treated God's people. Jesus continued in Matthew 25 to tell of how those who gave him clothing, food, visitation in prison, drink, and took him in as a stranger will receive their inheritance in the kingdom. Jesus says that what has been done to "the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me." He is speaking not only of how we are to treat one another, but also how we treat the children of God, Israel, who have been strangers, imprisoned, hungry, naked and thirsty. This is consistent with the entirety of scripture. In the Day of the Lord, the United States does not want to be one of those nations that have come against Jerusalem, either militarily or politically. The nation would be judged and it will not bode well for those in it. Under every White House since Carter, with the exception of Ronald Reagan, America has been moving toward siding with the enemies of God against the children of Israel, especially under the immediate past "president." President Donald Trump is taking immediate steps to reverse this pattern. As we have seen from our brief study here, leaders are important for as Proverbs 29:2 says, "When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked bear rule, the people mourn." Let us rejoice in and pray that America's prophetic destiny is being altered in the right direction by our new leader. 
Daily Devotion: Thank God for Guilt - Greg Laurie - www.harvest.org
My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; for whom the LORD loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives. -Hebrews 12:5-6 Some people say that guilt is a horrible thing. In reality, guilt is a design God has put in our souls. It is similar to the pain we feel in our bodies when something is wrong. If I'm walking down the street barefoot and step on a piece of broken glass, a signal goes through my body, saying, "Red alert! Don't step any further!" The pain effectively warns me that more pain is coming unless I stop. In the same way, when we experience guilt, our conscience says, "Warning! Don't do that." That is the conviction of the Holy Spirit. When someone who claims to be a Christian can live in sin without sensing it, then something is seriously wrong. I know we aren't perfect. I know we all fall short of the glory of God. But there is a difference between stumbling unintentionally and being sorry for it and living in habitual, continual sin without any pangs of conscience, guilt, or remorse. If this is happening in your life, then it means your conscience is being "seared with a hot iron" (1 Timothy 4:2). As the Bible says in Hebrews 12, "If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?" (verse 7). In other words, if you are a child of God, when you begin to cross the line, the Holy Spirit will be there to say, "No, don't do that." That very conviction is a reminder that you are a child of God. So rejoice when you feel guilt. Thank God for guilt. If you can live in sin without any guilt or remorse, then one must question whether you are a child of God. Throw on the brakes if this is happening to you. 
FROM THE HEART
IF YOU HAVE BEEN BLESSED THROUGH THIS MINISTRY, THEN WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD PLEASE REMEMBER PROPHECY UPDATE IN YOUR GIVING - WE ARE TRULY, TRULY, THANKFUL FOR YOUR SUPPORT Prophecy Update has no corporate sponsors. This ministry is paid for and prayed for by readers and supporters. Without your support, there would be no Prophecy Update, Please pray about becoming a monthly supporter - thanks! If ever there was a time to invest in God's Kingdom, it's now! What on earth are you doing for Heaven's Sake? "Share in the Blessings and Rewards that will last Forever!" "Folks, it's all beginning to unravel. America is in more danger of falling than at any time in its history. But I believe Bible prophecy predicts this very decline. From this point on, we believers have to get serious. We are going to face discouragement, disillusionment and, most certainly, persecution in the time between now and the Rapture. But don't be discouraged or disillusioned. The coming turmoil will provide us unrivaled opportunities to share the good news of the Gospel. So be ready to share your faith and your hope with those who need Christ. We still have time to reap a great harvest of souls for God's kingdom!" - Hal Lindsey 1) We need your prayers!- We proclaim the Truth of the Word of God and we are under constant spiritual and sometimes even physical attack. 2) We need your encouragement!- We need to hear from you, let us know how the Lord is blessing you through this ministry so that we can share it with others. 3) We need your input! - If you have a prophetic article or story or if there is a news related item we missed, let us know. 4) We need your financial support!- To put it quite simply, without your support, there would be no Prophecy Update. I ask that you would prayerfully consider partnering with us to get the Word out and keep the world informed. Remember, your gift, no matter how small, does make a difference! You will be helping to touch lives, around the world, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, thanks to the internet your generosity carries a global impact! - Thanks! Our Prayer for You- "Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else." 2 Corinthians 9:10-13 Prophecy Update is a 501 (c) (3) tax exempt - non-profit organization, and all your donations are tax deductible. If you have been blessed by Prophecy Update and would like to help support this ministry financially. You can make a secure donation online by going to: DONATE NOW Or Visit our website: http://prophecyupdate.com/donations/ Or write us at: Prophecy Update P.O. Box 40516 Bakersfield, CA 93384-0516 
|
|