Prophecy Update Newsletter
IN TODAY'S NEWSLETTER...
Unscripted - Pete Garcia - https://www.rev310.com/2021/01/unscripted
Although Scripture has foretold of the times we live in, you could say that the time from the Rapture until the start of the 70th-Week is intentionally unscripted. In other words, the outline is there, but the details are still somewhat a mystery to us. Keep in mind they might be a mystery to us, but they are not a mystery to God. Nevertheless, I thought I should ask the question as to why are they a mystery at all. After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.”Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. Revelation 4:1-2 (emphasis mine) After these things is a three-word phrase that is just jam-packed with underlying meaning. Comparatively, it is just as pregnant with context as is the passage in Galatians 4:4 is which states…But when the fullness of the time had come. The passage Paul wrote to the Galatians is referring to all the geopolitical and prophetic events, which had to have taken place for Christ to come the first time as a man to the earth through the virgin Mary. It meant all of what was given to the Prophet Daniel had to have taken place. Included but not limited: the rise and fall of three kingdoms (Babylon, Persia, and Greece), the rise of the fourth (Rome), the regathering of the Jews back in their homeland, and the rebuilding of the second Jewish Temple since the Babylonians destroyed Solomon’s Temple. However, to have a rebuilt Jewish temple meant the Jews would have had to be securely back in their land. Thus we see the first repatriation under the Medo-Persian King Cyrus, and later, under the Persian King Artaxerxes II. From a military, economic, and political standpoint, that was a considerable list of things to occur in just five-short centuries. However, back to the passage at hand. So what is this after these things referring to you might be asking. Revelation chapters 1-3 is all about John’s vision, i.e., the glorified Christ’s revelation to him, and Jesus’ seven letters to the seven churches. Jesus tells John that he was chosen to be the messenger to all he was about to witness and that he would be tasked with ensuring its distribution to all the churches (i.e., the chain of custody). Now we get back to the crux of the issue. The last letter of the seven Jesus spoke to was to the Church at Laodicea. Jesus stated they were lukewarm and offensive to Him, even though they believed they were wealthy and in need of nothing. Jesus offers nothing positive to say to this church; only condemnation. He concludes with His cursory remarks about “he that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Then immediately (remember there weren’t chapter or verse breaks in the original text) we jump to the scene where John sees a door standing open in heaven, and then hears a voice like a trumpet, saying “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.” Since there were hundreds to thousands of churches existing in 95AD as well as larger and more predominant congregations, the seven churches were chosen to convey the totality of churches for all time. The number seven represents the concept of completeness throughout Scripture. Furthermore, the order these seven churches are arranged also speaks to the sequential nature of how the church would progress through time. Paul also wrote to seven churches (Thessalonians, Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians, Ephesians, Colossians, and Romans) and Jesus had the seven kingdom parables in Matthew 13. Interestingly, all three (Seven Letters, Paul’s Letters, and Kingdom Parables) perfectly overlay each other in a complementary fashion. Thus, let us conclude with confidence that the “after these things,” is referring to what John saw (resurrected and glorified Christ) and to the totality of the church age. Assessment Although there is not a perceived gap of time in the text between Jesus’ scathing letter to the Laodiceans and the time John is caught up into Heaven, there are two things to consider. First, when John is raptured into heaven, he went from existing in the temporal, physical realm, which is bound by time, to the eternal realm (not bound by time). Secondly, the next two chapters (4-5) are devoted entirely to the throne room scene in Heaven. However, by referring back to the passage in Galatians (and many other places), a passage of time not explicitly laid out, is not a denial or negation that one has occurred. The passing of time could then be either implied or at least, assumed. Therefore, let us categorize the major highlights for this seemingly unscripted time we live in, into four sections. The things, which must take place between the Rapture, and the start of the 70th Week (i.e. the Tribulation). The Rise of Antichrist The end of Revelation chapter 5 and the beginning of chapter 6 directs John’s attention (and ours) back to earth to see what the ramifications are, for Jesus opening the First Seal, the unleashing of the Antichrist. According to the 70 Weeks Prophecy given to Daniel by the Angel Gabriel, the 70th Week (the Tribulation) would begin with a treaty that is enforced between Israel and the many. The one, who enforces the Treaty, is none other than the Antichrist. Something to consider is that the Apostle John had penned the Gospel of John, as well as three Epistles before being given the book of Revelation. In his first epistle, John already discusses something intriguing. Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. 1 John 2:18 How did John know about the Antichrist (he is the only one who calls him this) before he was given the Revelation? First, because John understood and took literally, the Old Testament prophets speaking to about this man. He had Jesus’ own words in the Olivet Discourse. He also had the writings by Paul. Lastly, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit. This is how he knew there was one final man of sin coming. He also understood that the spirit of antichrist was already at work in the world. This spirit of antichrist would spawn numerous others who would precede the final one coming. What the missing piece was how he would come. The final Antichrist cannot come to the earth until Jesus opens the First Seal Judgment. This is called a pre-condition, which requires something to happen before the Tribulation officially begins. The Man of Sin, the Lawless One, the Son of Perdition, and the Antichrist (all the same man) must first be allowed to come by Jesus. Even though this man wreaks great havoc upon the earth on those saints living on the earth at that time, he cannot come to the earth to do Satan’s bidding, until Jesus allows it. This point, while not directly connected to the issue at hand, soundly refutes Pre-Wrath and other erroneous eschatological positions which somehow try to conflagrate and confuse the concept of wrath and when it begins. (See 1 Thess. 1:10, 5:9) The Restrainer Paul also confirms and provides a different perspective to this ‘coming of the lawless one’ by adding, he cannot come UNTIL the restrainer is removed. So who is the Restrainer? Who is a that restrains evil across the world for the past two thousand years? Well, we know who it cannot be. It cannot be the Archangel Michael, because Michael is a singular being (not omnipresent), thus, could not physically constrain evil all over the world at the same time. The restrainer is also not Satan, because he would not restrain evil, being the very embodiment of it. The restrainer is not the government, although governments were designed to curb man’s lawless intentions, however, there are plenty of examples of evil governments. The only Being it could be, who is both omnipresent and capable of restraining evil, is the Holy Spirit. During the Last Supper, Jesus tells His disciples that it is beneficial that He leave because another would come and be with them. He referred to God the Holy Spirit as both the Helper and the Comforter, thus, descriptive names as to the nature of the role of the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, He states, Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; John 16:7-9 (emphasis mine) Jesus, while in His physical, earthly body, was not omnipresent. He was confined (as a man) to the geographical locations of where He was at any given moment. The Holy Spirit, on the other hand, can be everywhere, at the same time, with the same omnipotence as the other two members of the Triune Godhead. Paul reveals later that the Holy Spirit seals the believer at the very moment of salvation, and that they are sealed until the day of redemption. (2 Cor. 1:21-22; Eph. 1:13-14) And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Ephesians 4:30Foreknowledge But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 1 Cor. 2:7-8 Although this brief is titled “Unscripted,” concerning where we are in time, the truth is (as Amos 3:7 plainly states) God has foretold us what will happen before it happens, so that we can have confidence in God’s sovereignty. We may not know all the details, but at the least, we have the outline. The world writ large refuses to accept the divine outline. The divine outline (at least as far as we here in the 21st-century are concerned) is this, Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this. Revelation 1:19 Because the book of Revelation deals with everything post-Calvary, understanding the basic outline in Revelation will prevent a lot of confusion before it even begins. Still, if Johns’ catching up is a foreshadowing of the Rapture, which dissects the world before (the Church Age), with what comes after (the Tribulation, the Millennial Kingdom, and Eternity Future), what has to happen between the two? My theory is the two chapters (heavenly throne-room scene) are given precious and exclusive real estate in this final book of the Bible to show (without showing) a gap in time between the Rapture and the official start of the 70th Week. Remember, the Rapture does not begin the Tribulation, but it does lay the necessary foundation for it to begin. Likely events that take place: the collapse of the world’s former superpower, the United States; the divinely spectacular defeat of Gog and Magog; the arrival of the Two Witnesses, the rebuilding of the Third Jewish Temple, and the rise of a new, but different last day’s empire. Now, given what we know about the world today (roughly 192 countries), is that they are highly segregated into sovereign nations. Each nation (more or less) always acts on its own behalf. Also true is that if the Rapture occurred today, some nations would be impacted more than others would. For example, the Rapture would have a far greater impact on the United States, than say Uzbekistan or Saudi Arabia. However, for the sake of global reorganization, let us focus on the United States. The collapse of the United States (for any reason) would seriously upend the global pecking order. Aside from the obvious disturbances (vehicular crashes, riots, and general lawlessness), the US economy would collapse, thus bringing the entire world down with it. If that happens, it would take some time to both strip the United States resources from her and reallocate them back to the Old World. While Satan is not omnipotent, he has (presumably) read the book of Revelation. He understands that a third of the earth will be burnt up, as well as a third of the oceans and freshwaters in the Trumpet Judgments alone. The Americas (North, Central, and South) make up a third of the world’s trees, fresh waters, and oceans (those territorial to our coastlines). It does not take a rocket surgeon to see that Satan’s footprint is being reduced and channelized so that he (and his forces) are being increasingly confined to those lands near Israel. This may also speak to why Satan is so intently bent on destroying the United States. It is not simply to corrupt us just for the sake of it, he has a much more pragmatic need to do so (i.e., he needs our military aircraft, weapons, technology, gold, soldiers, etc.) back over to Europe to outfit and finance his final world empire. He also needs to destroy our currency so that the global economy does collapse, and he can introduce (through his human agents) the digital currency necessary for the implementation of the mark of the beast system. Therefore, while things appear to be “unscripted” and “unknowable,” we should take comfort in the reality that God has this all under control. As Jan Markell is fond of saying, things are not falling apart, but are falling into place. What we are witnessing today is not merely random acts of violence and chaos, but an orchestrated maneuvering by Satan to ready his beast-government with an imminent rapture hanging overhead. Satan (like us) knows it is going to happen, he (we) just does not know when. For us, the Rapture will happen and we will forever be with God in eternal glory. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:24-25 The Changing of The Guard In US-Israel Relations – Alex Traiman - https://www.prophecynewswatch.com/article.cfm?recent_news_id=4521 Like many American policies now expected to undergo an about-face following the inauguration of 46th President Joe Biden, U.S.-Israel relations may be gearing up for a great reset. The past four years featured punishing sanctions on an Iranian regime that openly calls for the destruction of Israel, while pursuing nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles, and funding malign terror activity across the region all the way up to Israel's borders. Yet many of the senior members of Biden's incoming diplomatic and security team were the authors, negotiators and supporters of the original Iran nuclear deal in 2015--the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)--that provided Iran with $150 billion. It was a deal that Israel ardently opposed. For Israel, Iran remains the most important national security concern. No other issue even comes close. The Trump administration had an unprecedentedly close relationship with Jerusalem and worked hand-in-glove with the Netanyahu administration to overturn long-held U.S. policies that had not contributed towards peace. Together, Trump and Netanyahu ultimately changed the course of the region. Working together with Jerusalem, the U.S. administration recognized Israeli sovereignty in its capital city of Jerusalem and the strategic Golan Heights, held the Palestinian Authority accountable for the failure to end the intractable Israeli-Palestinian conflict, declared that suburban housing across Jewish settlements in Judea and Samaria was not illegal, and protected Israel from systemic anti-Israel bias at the United Nations. The results were astounding. Terror attacks in Israel sank to all-time lows with Palestinians themselves holding their own corrupt kleptocracy led by Mahmoud Abbas accountable for their lower standards of living. Yet most impressively, American policy culminated with the signing of four separate normalization agreements between Israel and states across the Middle East and North Africa--the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan--and paving the way for future agreements already being negotiated. U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman This week, Netanyahu praised outgoing U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman, a longtime Trump ally and adviser, for his role in advancing Israel's position in the region. A major component of Friedman's success was his direct line to the president. "I must say that over the years, I have met many ambassadors from many countries, including from the U.S., our great ally, but I can say that there was never a better ambassador than David Friedman in establishing the deep ties between Israel and the U.S.; in correcting the diplomatic injustices that were created over the years in global diplomacy regarding Israel, and in establishing the status of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and many other things some of which have yet to be told," stated Netanyahu. Those sentiments are shared by Israel's right- and left-wings, by those who support Benjamin Netanyahu in his upcoming re-election bid, and by those who vehemently oppose Israel's longest-serving prime minister. Across the spectrum, Israelis recognize that regardless of Trump's performance in other areas, his pro-Israel bona fides were beyond dispute and greatly appreciated. Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Ron Dermer Meanwhile, Friedman's counterpart, Israeli Ambassador to the United States Ron Dermer, has not received the same superlative sendoff, despite his sterling diplomatic record during eight often-difficult years in Washington. In a tasteless hit piece on Dermer published by The Times of Israel, head of the progressive lobby J Street Jeremy Ben-Ami claimed that "Ambassador Dermer's tenure sadly set back both the U.S.-Israel relationship and the relationship between Israeli and American Jews. His determination to act as a partisan operative, aligning Prime Minister Netanyahu's government with the Republican Party, seriously angered and alienated many leading Democrats." For Ben-Ami and many Democrats, Dermer's tenure will not be measured on the merits of his vast accomplishments for Israel and the greater U.S.-Israel alliance, but rather, based on his intense loyalty to his mentor, Netanyahu, and his strong working relationship with the now-toxic outgoing Trump administration. Dermer played an outsized role behind the scenes in nearly every major diplomatic accomplishment, including the negotiations of the Abraham Accords. Perhaps surprising to most, one of the key foundation blocks of the Abraham Accords was also an accomplishment of Dermer's: organizing Netanyahu's public opposition to the JCPOA Iran nuclear deal via a controversial address to a joint session of Congress in March 2015. Then-president Obama's support for the deal, which would embolden and enrich Iran, sent Gulf states scrambling for reliable allies in the sudden absence of the United States. Netanyahu's bold opposition demonstrated that Israel would place its vital security interests and those of the entire region well above any other partisan interests in a divided Washington. The results of Dermer's numerous accomplishments are virtually all irreversible and will strengthen the Jewish state for decades to come, including the negotiation of a $38 billion, 10-year MOU in September 2016 to provide for Israeli military needs. That MOU was signed directly with the same Obama administration that claimed to have been so insulted by the speech just a year-and-a-half earlier. For Netanyahu, Dermer has been an irreplaceable asset. In a video celebrating the end of Dermer's tenure as ambassador during a private session of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, obtained exclusively by JNS, Netanyahu praised his close adviser and associate. "I can tell you unequivocally that among some extraordinary people who served in that post, none has been better than Ron Dermer," stated Netanyahu. "I am choosing my words carefully because I think he's been an extraordinary ambassador. What he did for Israel, what he did for the Israel-American alliance, what he did for all of us is something that is not widely known, at least not in Israel." The prime minister, who noted that his own diplomatic career started as deputy chief of mission under then Ambassador to the United States Moshe Arens, said that Dermer "fought for Israel's interests whether it be on questions like Iran that are terrifically important for our future, our survival, whether it is to bring Jonathan Pollard home ... whether it is the peace treaties that have changed history. Ron has been a crucial and central figure in all these efforts, and so many others. I cannot begin to list them. They are truly innumerable ... "Ron has left an indelible imprint on Israeli diplomacy, on these defining years in Israel's history," he said. Intersectionality and race Yet the left in both Israel and the United States see it differently. The TOI hit piece went on to quote an anonymous "Democratic Party operative" in stating that, "You cannot overstate the impact that [Netanyahu's speech to Congress] had. I still hear from members of the Black Caucus to this day who are sure that Netanyahu and Dermer would not have done that to a white president." Like so many other critical issues, Israel's vital security interests are now dangerously conflated with issues of affiliation, intersectionality and race. On Tuesday, Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) ranted on the Democracy Now! Television program that: "I think it's really important to understand Israel is a racist state and that they would deny Palestinians like my grandmother access to a vaccine, that they don't believe that she's an equal human being that deserves to live, deserves to be able to be protected by this global pandemic. And it's really hard to watch as this apartheid state continues to deny their own neighbors, the people that breathe the same air that they breathe, that live in the same communities ... a free life, free from these oppressive policies, these racist policies that deny them access to public health, deny them access to freedom of travel, deny them access to academic opportunities." Just a few years ago, amid the surprising momentum of the Trump administration's Mideast policies, Tlaib and her ideas were considered to align at the fringe of the Democratic Party. They represent just the latest in centuries of anti-Semitic canards and the more recent biased anti-Israel narrative. Tlaib's views certainly are not shared by the Gulf States that have now chosen to forego anti-Israel narratives, in favor of diplomatic and commercial normalization with the Jewish State. Yet today, with the changing of the guard, Israelis and many others in the region are concerned that the Biden administration may align much closer with the inflammatory views of Tlaib, as well as the policies of Obama, who sought to create "daylight" between Washington and Jerusalem, empower Iran, elevate the standing of the Palestinian Authority and isolate Israel in diplomatic forums. Obama's parting shot is Biden's starting point The Obama administration's parting shot to Israel in December 2016 was enabling the passage of U.N. Resolution 2334, which claimed that Israeli settlements represented a "flagrant violation of international law." At the time, Israel accused the United States of authoring the resolution behind the scenes before abstaining during the voting to allow the unprecedented resolution's passage. Just this week, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres called on Israel to "halt and reverse" plans to build nearly 800 new homes in Judea and Samaria. In his statement, Guterres called Israel's suburban housing "a major obstacle to the achievement of the two-state solution, and a just, lasting and comprehensive peace," adding that "the establishment by Israel of settlements in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, has no legal validity and constitutes a flagrant violation under international law." In other words, the parting shot of an Obama administration appears to be the starting point of the Biden administration. Israel and America were privileged to work closely together during four highly productive years, led in large part by the efforts of Friedman and Dermer. Never before have the two countries simultaneously had ambassadors able to loyally carry out the mutually aligned policies of their respective leaders. Yet now, with the changing of the guard, Israelis rightfully worry that the incoming Biden administration will seek to reset the relationship and attempt to undo the progress that has been made and diplomatic achievements Israel recorded, simply because they arose from the wrong administrations. The Coming Market Crash - By Britt Gillette - https://www.raptureready.com/2021/01/22/the-coming-market-crash-by-britt-gillette/ As COVID-19 spread across the world in early 2020, economic activity froze. Entire cities in China were put on lockdown, and the lockdowns soon spread to Europe, the United States, and the whole world. With people confined to their homes, many businesses closed. The global economy came to a grinding halt. Global supply chains broke, airlines canceled flights, and an oil glut drove down petroleum prices as supply outstripped demand. The economic shock of the coronavirus hammered global markets. Bond markets went into freefall, stocks plummeted, and global trade slowed to a near stop. The abrupt impact of COVID-19 on the global economy caused panic around the world, and this panic forced governments and central banks to take unprecedented measures. As a result of trillions of dollars in stimulus, the U.S. stock market and markets around the world reversed course, and they’ve been on an upward trajectory ever since. Second-quarter U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which measures the economic output of the U.S. economy, was the worst on record at negative 31.4%, but third-quarter GDP was the best ever at 33.4%. Throw in the rollout of several vaccines in November/December 2020, and boundless optimism continues to drive markets higher on the idea the economy will reopen and the pandemic will end. But is this really what will happen? The Health of the Global Economy As we begin 2021, global markets signal a rebound in economic activity. The widely held belief is everything will eventually bounce back to pre-pandemic levels once COVID is vanquished. At least, that’s the consensus. Unfortunately, it’s not reality. The global economy is in terrible shape, maybe even in terminal condition. Right now, the global economy is much like someone who just survived a bad car wreck. Immediately afterward, they walk away. They feel and look fine, and they think they’ve escaped unharmed. They don’t yet realize the extent of their injuries and only discover how serious they are hours or days later. This is where we are right now with the global economy. Government programs have covered up the true extent of the damage, but they can’t do so forever. Business bailouts, direct government payments to individuals, and rent and mortgage moratoriums have delayed the pain. Because of them, many people can’t see the true extent of the economic damage. But these government band-aids won’t prevent the inevitable. The economy won’t “spring back” due to pent-up demand. Yes, once the pandemic ends, more people might decide to take cruises or eat out at restaurants. But they won’t book two cruises for the same weekend or order 15 meals in a single night to make up for the cruises they would’ve taken or the meals they would’ve eaten. Those transactions are lost forever. In many cases, the economic damage from COVID-19 is permanent. The National Restaurant Association reports more than 110,000 U.S. restaurants permanently closed their doors in 2020. This is compared to 2019 which saw an increase of more than 10,000 restaurants, and the carnage isn’t over yet. Many of the 2020 survivors will go out of business in 2021. More than 15,000 retail store locations closed their doors in 2020 in the United States alone. The list of companies impacted includes iconic brands like Pier 1 Imports, Lord & Taylor, and Neiman Marcus. Rent and mortgage forbearance has kept many from losing their homes, but what about the landlords and bondholders who haven’t been paid? Eventually, someone has to pay for all those who have lived rent and mortgage free in 2020. And what about the commercial real estate industry? With restaurants and retailers not making their lease payments, commercial real estate firms face ruin. With many employees successfully working from home, many commercial real estate leases won’t be renewed. This leaves vast amounts of office space vacant in big cities throughout the world. And this is just one example of the coming debt defaults and bankruptcies that will soon ripple throughout the entire global economy. Right now, the world is drowning in debt – $277 trillion in debt. Much of that will never be paid back. When the defaults and bankruptcies start to take place, they’ll cascade throughout the global banking system and create another financial crisis. The only way to avoid a massive deflationary spiral like the Great Depression will be for governments to print and hand out currency to keep people and businesses from going under. But this will create its own crisis – a hyperinflationary crisis. In other words, there’s no way out. We’re on the brink of a major financial crisis. Government policy can delay it, but any delay is simply the calm before the storm. The Asset Bubble Collapse Over the long-term, stock markets cannot outperform the economies they operate in. Yet that’s what we’ve seen since the COVID crisis. Global stock markets are up. Economic growth is down. By almost every measure, U.S. stock markets are more overvalued than any time in history. Warren Buffett’s favorite metric for valuation of stocks is to divide the total value of the stock market by the GDP. When the market is fairly valued, this ratio is between 75% and 90%. Right now, the ratio is hovering around 190% – the highest in recorded history. This means the stock market is now in its largest bubble ever. This includes the 1929 bubble which led to a three-year 89% crash and ushered in the Great Depression. It includes the Dot Com Bubble which caused a mania of speculation and irrational exuberance and ultimately ended in a 78% crash of the NASDAQ. And this isn’t confined to U.S. markets either. According to Siblis Research, the price-to-earnings ratio of the global stock market is over 27, considerably higher than the 30-year average. Combine these record valuations with an ailing global economy, and you have a recipe for disaster. A Dangerous Economic Crisis So, what does all this mean? It means a major economic crisis is on the horizon. It may be the worst global economic crisis ever – worse than the Great Depression. This is cause for concern for more than just financial reasons. In times of chaos and economic instability, dangerous political leaders and demagogues capture the public imagination. Past economic crises led to the rise of Napoleon, the launch of the Bolshevik Revolution, and the consolidation of German state power in the hands of Adolph Hitler. All these events had grave consequences for the entire world, not just the individual nations in question. Why should we believe this time will be any different? Why This is Relevant to Bible Prophecy The Bible describes terrible economic conditions in the end times. Revelation 6 tells us an entire day’s wages will barely buy enough food to survive (Revelation 6:5-6). This describes a world ravaged by hyperinflation, and it’s the backdrop against which the Antichrist makes his drive for global conquest (Revelation 6:3-4). Ultimately, the Antichrist will implement a global economic system which requires the people of the world to worship him. The Bible says he will require everyone on earth to receive a mark, and no one will be able to buy or sell without the mark (Revelation 13:17). We see the beginnings of this system today. Central banks openly discuss plans to replace national currencies with new cryptocurrencies, giving their governments unprecedented power. With such power, not only will government be able to track everything you buy or sell, it will be able to kick you out of the economic system – just as the Bible says. What You Should Do Knowing all this, what should you do? A global economic crisis is coming. How can you best prepare for it? The most important thing you can do is to build your life on a firm foundation. Jesus says anyone who listens to Him and follows His teachings is wise, like a man who builds his house on solid rock. When the storm comes, his house won’t collapse because it’s built on solid rock. But anyone who hears His teachings and doesn’t obey is like a man who builds his house on shifting sand. When the storm comes, his house will collapse with a mighty crash (Matthew 7:24-27). Be like the man who builds his house on solid rock. Build your life on the unmovable rock – Jesus Christ. If you do, not only will you survive in a global economic crisis, you’ll thrive. In fact, with Jesus, you can weather any crisis the world brings. Remember, in this world, you will face many trials and sorrows, but take heart, for He has overcome the world (John 16:33). The days ahead will be tough for the whole world, but those who trust in Him will not be disappointed (Romans 10:11). Walking Through the Valley - Nathele Graham - [email protected] We all have favorite verses and passages in Scripture that we’ve memorized. The words of Jesus need to be written on our hearts, and some that come to mind have to do with His love and care for us. When Jesus walked among the people, it was a time when the sight of shepherds herding their sheep was common. Because He knew the needs of sheep and the love of their shepherd, Jesus used them as an example of His love for us. “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” John 10:11. When we choose to follow Him, we can trust Him to care for us and provide for our needs. The Lord being our shepherd isn’t a New Testament idea. Long before he was king, David was a shepherd. He understood the need to care and provide for his flock and likened the Lord’s love and care to a shepherd. “[A Psalm of David]. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” Psalm 23:1-6. Many of us know this Psalm by heart. This beautiful poetry has given comfort in times of trouble and encouragement in times of need. David knew from experience just how important the sheep are to the shepherd and how much care they need. He finds food and water for his precious flock and he protects them from danger. Scripture discloses that when he was very young, David had killed a bear and a lion when they threatened his flock, and this prepared him to fearlessly face a giant. The sheep trust their shepherd and they know his voice and follow only him. David likened the LORD to a shepherd and personalized the statement by saying “my” shepherd. Here’s a question for you: Is the Lord your shepherd? Green pastures and still waters give a picture of peace. As I read those words, I get a picture in my mind of a lovely lake with trees shading the green grass. Some sheep are grazing, while others are peacefully resting. They aren’t afraid of any danger because they trust their shepherd. If the sheep felt any fear, they wouldn’t be lying peacefully. David knew he could trust the LORD to provide for his needs and protect him and fully trusted the LORD as his Shepherd. When David wrote these words, he couldn’t fully understand the peace and comfort of Jesus. David looked forward to the coming Messiah but was not indwelt by the Holy Spirit as Christians are today. When Jesus, who is our Good Shepherd, told His disciples that He was going to be put to death, He explained that this was necessary, but that He wouldn’t leave them, or us, without help. “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.” John 16:7. Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us in Heaven, but Christians have the peace of God living inside of us because we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit. “That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.” Ephesians 1:12-14. David recognized that the LORD does even more than provide peace and supply our needs. “He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” Psalm 23:3. Various Bible translations translate “restoreth my soul” as “He restores my Strength” (NLT), and “He refreshes my soul” (NIV). Perhaps David had led his sheep through a very hot, dry desert to reach this place of peace and safety. How many times have you gone through a very rough time in life, such as disease or financial troubles, but when you were at the end of your strength, God led you to a peaceful place where you rested and regained your strength? David’s words compare God’s care for us to the shepherd’s love for his sheep. Without God we cannot have any true restoration, renewal, or refreshing. We can trust Him to only lead us along paths that will keep us safe…the paths of righteousness. When you face a choice and must decide upon a path to follow, stop and pray. God won’t lead you into sin or into a situation that will cause disgrace upon His name or upon you. We can trust Him and His word to guide us. “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.” Psalm 23:5. Our true enemy is Satan. He uses people, but people aren’t our enemies. Satan’s desire is to destroy us and separate us from our Lord. “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” John 10:10-11. We who follow the Good Shepherd are under His protection. Whether we face a physical battle or a spiritual one, the Good Shepherd still provides for us. In the midst of battle a soldier has little time to eat, but the Good Shepherd sets out a table for His own sheep. Spiritual food for a spiritual battle. The enemy isn’t fed, but the sheep are. The sheep are given the luxury of being anointed with oil and so much to drink that the cup overflows. Even in times of struggle, blessings abound for those who follow Jesus, but the enemy has no comfort or abundance. David had confidence in the LORD and looked forward to the coming Messiah. He was comforted by the knowledge that he would “…dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.” Psalm 23:6b. The Good News for Christians today is that the Messiah has come. If you have placed your faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, then you will live with Him forever. There’s nothing that can take you from Him. “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.” John 10:27-30. That’s as safe and secure as you can possibly get. There’s a lot of turmoil in this life. Governments being overthrown, pestilence running rampant, wars, persecution, hatred, chaos…all of this is driven by Satan. Fear can grip our hearts and cloud our thinking. If you’ve accepted Christ for salvation, remember that He is the Good Shepherd and follow Him every step of your way. Let Him give you peace. “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7. You may have noticed that I skipped verse 4. Verses 1 through 3 tell of green pastures, still waters, and paths of righteousness. All peaceful settings that we long for. Verses 5 and 6 tell of the abundance and comfort that the Lord provides in spite of the enemy’s presence and the strife Satan causes. There’s also the promise of dwelling with Him forever. In the middle of these verses of comfort and promise, we read “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me”. Psalm 23:4. This almost seems out of place…very dark and foreboding compared to the green pastures, still waters, and a feast in the midst of enemy attack. A valley is a low point between mountains, and in this case the valley has a shadow over it…the shadow of death. It isn’t death itself that covers that valley, but the shadow of death. We walk through such a valley every day. Death has always been a certainty in life, and the truth is, even as we lie down in those lovely green pastures, death is all around us. Our very next breath could be our last. Today there’s a virus that has struck fear into the hearts of many. People who don’t know Jesus have no hope and can only know fear. Christians have the promise of eternal life with our Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, and we need not fear any evil. Even David, who lived many centuries before the Messiah gave His life for our salvation, felt confident as he walked through the valley of the shadow of death. Notice that David walked through the valley of the shadow of death instead of racing through it in fear in order to get out of it. He trusted the rod and staff of the Good Shepherd to comfort and lead him. The Apostle Paul yearned to get through the valley and be with Jesus, but knew he needed to continue his ministry on earth. “For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ, which is far better: nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.” Philippians 1:23-24. Christians have the Holy Spirit living inside of us. He is the rod and staff that guides us and comforts us as we walk through this world that’s overshadowed by death. Unbelievers have no hope. They are the walking dead and are all around us. They’ve chosen to reject the Good Shepherd and His rod and staff will bring them no comfort. Unless they repent and accept Christ’s free gift of salvation, they face eternity in the Lake of Fire. Christians have the promise of eternal life in the presence of our Lord and Saviour; our Shepherd will go with us through that valley of the shadow of death. I find much comfort in that promise, but I also feel an urgent need to share God’s promises with the lost before it’s too late. The world is becoming darker every day as Satan takes control of more and more people. Brothers and sisters, stand firm upon God’s word, don’t falter as you walk the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake, and follow His command to share the Gospel with the lost. “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15. Only faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ will bring salvation and break the bond of the valley of the shadow of death. “Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” Hebrews 13:20-21. He is my Shepherd and I shall not want…even when walking through this valley of the shadow of death. God bless you all, Nathele Graham [email protected] [email protected] All original scripture is “theopneustos” God breathed. If you’d like to be on my mailing list to receive the commentaries just drop me an email and let me know. Daily Jot: Alarming signs of persecution – Bill Wilson – www.dailyjot.com On Wednesday, President Joe Biden’s* acting secretary of Homeland Security issued a National Terrorism Advisory System warning that some ideologically-motivated violent extremists could mobilize to incite or commit violence. These domestic terrorists, DHS says, object to government authority, the presidential transition, and have “perceived grievances fueled by false narratives.” This bulletin is reminiscent of the very first report sanctioned by President Obama soon after he took office in April 2009, and is already being used by leftists and Democratic Party leadership to label as domestic terrorists all 74 million people who voted for President Trump. This narrative is growing alarmingly louder each day. Adding to the list of leftists condemning all Republicans and voters for Trump was MSNBC political analyst Jason Johnson, who on Wednesday’s edition of “Deadline” said that Democrats should declare that all Republicans are “terrorists,” adding “you can’t negotiate, you can’t legislate, and you can’t work with terrorists.” This is not new, but it is more pronounced each day. Twelve years ago, the first act of Obama’s DHS was a radical creed against those who disagree with government’s overreaching power. Included on the list contributing to the “phenomenon of violent radicalization in the United States” were those: interested in end times prophecies; concerned about a possible economic collapse; opposed to illegal immigration, abortion, same sex marriage, and restrictions on the right to bear arms. These people, according to the 2009 report, were radical racists upset with the election of the first African American president. Now these are the same people with “perceived” grievances about how the current president was elected who are a threat to America. Painting all those who didn’t vote for Biden as domestic terrorists who need to be deprogramed is a radical form of ideological bigotry. But this is what is coming from the mouths of Biden’s prophets of socialism. This talk was sanctioned by Obama’s Administration in 2009, but it has grown louder and louder over the years. Now leftist influencers, the news media propagandists, and Democratic Party leadership are shouting their bigotry from the rooftops. It is alarming. Egyptians, Babylonians, Nazis and Communists used bigotry and prejudice to persecute Jews throughout the history of the world. Americans must rise up and object to prevent today’s self-righteous political intolerants from taking a similar course against conservatives and Christians. You have a right to disagree, to speak freely, to worship God how you see fit. But unless we exercise those rights, they will atrophy into tyranny. People need to hear from normal, God-fearing citizens about the unfairness of being labeled a terrorist for disagreeing on politics. My advice: Speak up in every venue you have. Stay on point about ideological bigotry. Call on Biden to denounce these narratives. Be calm. Express yourself articulately. As in Psalm 94:16, “Who will rise up for me against the evildoers?” Our Lord will, but He often chooses to work through us. Daily Devotion: As He Forgave Us - by Greg Laurie – www.harvest.org Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. —Colossians 3:13 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/as-he-forgave-us/ - Listen Alexander Pope wrote in the 18th century, “To err is human; to forgive, divine.” If you want to be like Jesus, then forgive. The Bible tells us that we should “make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others” (Colossians 3:13 NLT). Jesus modeled this so beautifully for us when He hung on the cross of Calvary. They had ripped open His back with a Roman whip, pressed a crown of thorns around His head, and pounded spikes through His hands and feet. But the first words He spoke from the cross were these: “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34 NLT). Those words were so powerful in their effect that one of the criminals that was crucified next to Him believed on the very spot. Matthew’s gospel tells us that initially both criminals joined in the chorus of mockery. Some of those at the foot of the cross that day were saying, “Well then, if you are the Son of God, save yourself and come down from the cross!” (Matthew 27:40 NLT) But when Jesus asked the Father to forgive them, one of those thieves came to his senses and said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom” (Luke 23:42 NLT). Jesus told him, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise” (verse 43 NLT). Young Stephen, the first martyr of the early church, emulated his Lord’s example. As the furious Jewish leaders put him to death for his bold proclamation of the gospel, Stephen cried out, “Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!” (Acts 7:60 NLT). And that incredible testimony ultimately helped bring about the conversion of the notorious Saul of Tarsus, later known as the apostle Paul. You are never more like God than when you forgive. 
FROM THE HEART
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