Prophecy Update Newsletter
IN TODAY'S NEWSLETTER...
Tying it All Together Part 3 - In the Midst - Pete Garcia -
http://www.omegaletter.com/articles/articles.asp?ArticleID=8599 Without a doubt, deciphering the overlapping and sequential end-time timelines can be difficult to parse at times. However, these difficulties do not arise from the Scriptures themselves, but in how men interpret those Scriptures. As the late J. Vernon McGee once said, the book of Revelation is one of the most reasonable, organized, and easy to understand books there is. Nevertheless, it is book number 66, which means one must have a working knowledge of the previous 65 books. To which I agree. Therefore, before we progress any further, we must go back and add some foundational groundwork. For the purposes of this discussion, we will begin at the Abomination of Desolation event and work backwards toward the Rapture and the events immediately after Ezekiel 38-39. "Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand), "then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Matthew 24:15-16 When Jesus spoke these words, I imagine Him (as God in the Flesh) looking into the future and describing this time to His disciples in the simplest form of understanding He could convey to them. These disciples do not yet have the Holy Spirit given to them for understanding. The Olivet Discourse was given to them pre-crucifixion, pre-ascension, and pre-Pentecost. Therefore, the Olivet Discourse was really just rough outline that bridges the gaps between the Old Testament prophecies they knew, and the New Testament prophecies that would later be given to them. The overarching themes was the last days and very much in context with what His disciples asked Him (Matt. 24:3). The book of Revelation (as given to the Apostle John) would later fill in the details of this overview. Matthew 24:15 then marks the mid-point, with the event we commonly refer to as the Abomination of Desolation. Jesus told His disciples (and whoever reads this) to refer back to the book of Daniel for context. Now there are three issues I want to take up regarding Daniel 9:27: The first is the "he" in Daniel 9:27, the second, is the term "in the midst," and the last is what desolations mean. 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. 1. Who is He? Two eschatological views (primarily Pre-Wrath and Post Trib) try to confuse the "he" in Daniel 9:27. They attempt (grammatically) to attribute the "he" in 9:27 as referring to Messiah Jesus by pointing back to Daniel 9:25. However, in order to do this, they have to jump over one other person who is mentioned by title, the "prince who is to come." "Know therefore and understand, That from the going forth of the command To restore and build Jerusalem Until Messiah the Prince, There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; The street shall be built again, and the wall, Even in troublesome times. 26 "And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; And the people [subject] (of the prince [object] who is to come) Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, And till the end of the war desolations are determined. (All emphasis is mine) The nuanced argument then goes, that the "he" in verse 27, cannot be the nearest antecedent of the "prince who is to come," because the prince (vs 26) is an object noun, rather than the subject noun. According to them, this prevents the "he" in vs 27 from being the nearest antecedent relationally to "the prince who is to come." Nevertheless, it only makes sense that "the prince who is to come" is not a subject-noun of verse 26, since he is not the one doing the destroying. He simply comes from (or out of) the people who did the destroying. This makes him come from somewhere within the boundaries of the old Roman Empire, since they destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple in 70AD. The Roman Empire was huge, so this does not necessarily narrow down the list of potential candidates. However, it does limit where this future leader will come from. We know he is not coming from China, Russia, the United States, etc. The Angel Gabriel gave this prophecy to Daniel in order that we (the applicable generation) would understand where this He (the prince to come) would come from. He is the one who confirms this covenant. PreceptAustin.org has exhaustive analysis on this particular topic and the different perspectives for it. For brevity's sake, this is a paraphrase of the main points as to why the "he" in Daniel 9:27 is NOT referring to Christ, but rather, Antichrist. The last person mentioned (by title) is not Messiah the Prince, but the Prince who is to come. The Last Antecedent Rule should apply here so as not to damage the context of the connected passages. This cannot be referring to Christ's finished work on the cross, since the New Covenant in Christ's blood is an everlasting one, not confined to seven-years. Christ did not come from out of the Roman Empire, but from out of Israel. When did Christ make a seven-year covenant with the many? How did Christ cause the sacrifices to cease? They continued for another 40 years after His crucifixion in 32/33 AD. So this should remove any confusion by you that the he in Daniel 9:27, is not Jesus, but this unknown, shadowy figure commonly referred to as The Antichrist. We note that he by strength confirms a covenant with the many. He then breaks this covenant at the mid-point, and from there, we know that this begins "the time of Jacob's troubles." (Jeremiah 30:7-11) 2. In the Midst Does the term "in the middle" mean the exact middle or could it mean 'near the middle'? I only include this because we should explore all the potentialities regarding this phrase. There are 269 times in the Old Testament that uses that terminology...very few of them refer to the exact middle...most of them mean 'near the middle' or 'close to the center'. What if verse 27 is for 1230 days instead of 1260 days? Isn't that "in the midst" of 2520 days? Have you ever wondered why Daniel 12:11 states And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that makes desolate set up, there shall be a thousand and ninety days is for 1290 days instead of 1260 days? It cannot be both 1260 and 1290 days, so, which is it? The answer could be located in the term "in the midst". It could be that the first part of the Tribulation is for 1230 days and the last part is for 1290 days. Let us look at these as theory A and theory B. Rapture Battle of Gog and Magog Covenant Confirmed: Theory A (1260 days commences until Abomination of Desolation). This still leaves AC rule at 1260 days Or Covenant Confirmed: Theory B (1230 days commences until A of D). This still leaves AC rule for 1260 days. Adds 30 days after Armageddon. Theory A (1260-1260 day) is similar to the theory B (1230-1290 day) in that they both believe that the Anti-Christ's absolute rule will last for exactly 1260 days (forty two months, time, times, and half a time, and a thousand two-hundred and threescore days). Both theories believe that after 1260 days, the last judgements (seal, trumpets, vials) will have occurred and Jesus Christ returns at Trumpets to the battle of Armageddon. Daniel's 70th seven ends there with theory A and does not really address the sixth and seventh Feasts of the Lord. They happen after Jacob's trouble is over. With theory B, the end of Jacobs's trouble does not end here, but rather 30 days later. This takes into account the Day of Atonement, and Tabernacles. Tabernacles lasts for eight days until Tishri 23rd. Seven days later a new creation will have begun and the Millennium Kingdom will commence. According to Daniel 9:24, the end of "Jacob's trouble" will not occur until six things happen: 1) to finish the transgression, 2) to make an end of sin, 3) to make reconciliation for iniquity, 4) to bring in everlasting righteousness, 5) to seal up the vision and prophecy, 6) to anoint the most Holy. With theory A, there is no time for all of this to happen if the Tribulation is over when Jesus returns at Armageddon. With theory B, there is sufficient time for the before mentioned six results to occur. There is still time for Jesus to fulfill the remaining feasts of Atonement, and Tabernacles. Matthew 24:30-31 as well as 25:31-46 (judging the nations) will occur during the last 30 days after Trumpets. 3. Desolations ...and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. We understand that at the mid-point, this man (Antichrist), who comes from out of the boundaries of the old Roman Empire, desolates the newly rebuilt Temple and causes the newly reinstituted sacrifices to cease. We know this was not the case in the siege of Jerusalem in AD 70 by General Titus and his legions, because the temple was destroyed before they could defile it. Historically, we know the Jews were familiar with the type of desecration Daniel is referencing here because Antiochus Epiphanes had committed a similar event around 167BC, which subsequently triggered the Maccabean Revolt and why we have the feast of Hanukkah. Antiochus did not try to destroy the temple, he slaughtered a pig (considered unclean) on the altar in the Holy of Holies. We also know this prophecy (Dan. 9:27) has not yet been fulfilled yet, because a Jewish temple has not existed since it was destroyed in AD70. This only leaves us the option of a future temple that will at the mid-point, be ceremonially desecrated. Jesus warned those Jews who saw this to flee when this happened. In Luke's Gospel, his accounting of the Olivet Discourse also records an additional warning by Jesus for the Jews to flee Jerusalem when it was surrounded the first time (Luke 21:20-24). We know this part of the passage was referring to the 70AD event because Jesus caps it off with a "prophetic bookmark" if you will, that separates it from the context of the last days. And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled Luke 21:24. Of course, we should all be familiar with the Six-Day War and the recapturing of Jerusalem by the Jews in 1967. While the Gentiles still "trample" the Temple Mount via Dome of the Rock and the Al Aqsa Mosque, the city has become unified under Jewish rule for the first time since 70AD. Conclusion Last week, we looked at the divine delivery God gives Israel at conclusion of the battle of Gog and Magog, and how that drives them to want to build the third temple. It also removes the obstacles for doing so. I also mentioned specifically that there might be a gap in time of "seven months or more." Likely, there is more and it is anywhere from seven months to three and a half years. This gap theory also allows the burning of weapons for seven years that as mentioned in Ezekiel 39:9. If we have three and a half years before the covenant is confirmed (Dan. 9:27) and three and a half years until the mid-point where the covenant is broken, then we have seven-years. This seven-year window overlaps with the start of the seven-year 70th Week and by extension theory A or B (whichever actually plays out). It is during the gap, and up until the mid-point, that we see the arrival of the Two Witnesses (Rev. 11), who for 1,260 days, position themselves in Jerusalem presumably in or around the new third Temple, visibly demonstrating the power of God. "Remember the Law of Moses, My servant, Which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel, With the statutes and judgments. Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And he will turn The hearts of the fathers to the children, And the hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest (or else) I come and strike the earth with a curse." Malachi 4:4-6 Satan 2: Russia Deploys Hypersonic Missile That Can Destroy Area Size of Texas - By Shane Croucher - http://www.prophecynewswatch.com/article.cfm?recent_news_id=2056 Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia is developing a new generation of advanced nuclear weapons including a hypersonic intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that can reach almost anywhere in the world and cannot be shot down by anti-missile systems. Putin made the claim during his annual presidential address to the Federal Assembly in Moscow. He officially unveiled a new hypersonic nuclear-capable ICBM called the RS-28 Sarmat and said it would be able to strike anywhere in the U.S.-adding that testing of the weapon is now complete. NATO calls the nuke "Satan 2". A video was played during the speech showing off the weapon's alleged capabilities, reported RT, Russian state media. Putin said other countries only listen to Russia when it creates new weapons systems, reported Sputnik, another of Russia's state organs. "You will listen to us now," he added. There have been media reports about the RS-28's development since 2014. But Putin's speech claims testing of the weapon is finished-and he said it is already deployed in the south of Russia, Sputnik reported. Claims made in the Russian media about the RS-28's capability state that it carries a payload powerful enough to destroy an area the size of Texas and has a propulsion system so advanced that it can defy existing missile defense systems. Putin's nuclear grandstanding comes at a time when he is pushing to expand Russia's sphere of influence, especially in the Middle East. After the U.S. and its allies including Britain decided not to fully enter the conflict in Syria back in 2013, after the Assad regime was accused of using chemical weapons on his own people, Russia stepped in to support the Syrian government militarily and financially as it attempted to regain control of the country. Now it is using its foothold in Syria to cement its influence in the region and push the U.S. back. In a statement to the House Armed Services Committee, General Joseph L. Votel, commander of the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), warned that Russia's presence in Syria threatened America's ability to "dominate the airspace". Votel accused Russia of acting as "arsonist and firefighter" in Syria by "fueling the conflict in Syria between the Syrian Regime, YPG, and Turkey, then claiming to serve as an arbiter to resolve the dispute". He said Russia's role in Syria established Moscow "as a long-term player in the region, and the Kremlin is using the conflict in Syria to test and exercise new weapons and tactics, often with little regard for collateral damage or civilian casualties." Votel warned: "An increase in Russian surface-to-air missile systems in the region threatens our access and ability to dominate the airspace." Russia and the U.S. are the two most heavily armed nuclear powers in the world. The U.S. State Department said America has 652 deployed ICBMs, submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) and heavy bombers, while Russia has 527. It said the U.S. possesses 1,350 nuclear warheads on deployed ICBMs, SLBMs and heavy bombers, while Russia has 1,444. And the U.S. claims 800 deployed and nondeployed nuclear launchers, while Russia is estimated to have 779. Both powers are obliged by nonproliferation treaties to reduce their nuclear stockpiles. Putin is also facing a presidential election at home in March 2018 though he and his allies are accused by his opponents of rigging it in his favor, something he denies, and he is expected to win by a landslide. Watchman Report: Russian Superweapons - By Hal Lindsey - https://www.hallindsey.com/ww-3-5-2018/ President Trump's critics seem to have their wish. The Cold War is on again! Over the last few days, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a series of new superweapons. Among those weapons is what he called an "invincible," nuclear-capable, intercontinental cruise missile that travels at 20 times the speed of sound. He said, "No defense systems will be able to withstand it." According to Russian media, the so-called "Satan 2" can wipe out an area the size of Texas or France. Putin also showed off next-generation ICBMs, underwater drones, and nuclear depth charges. Russia recently announced development of a nuclear-armed torpedo that can take out aircraft carriers as well as coastal cities. "Efforts to contain Russia have failed, face it," Putin said. There is good evidence that Russia is at least close to putting these new devices into production. The US must assume that the weapons are as capable as advertised. That means a new arms race, and a far more dangerous world. Donald J. Trump is not a traditional conservative. In the past, conservatives tended to take a hard line with the Russians and, before that, with the Soviet Union. Liberals, on the other hand, emphasized the need for communication and cooperation. Clearly, there are appropriate situations for each of those approaches. Before the Trump presidential campaign, you could usually guess where someone stood on Russia by looking at their other political positions. That's still true in 2018, but the roles have been reversed. Trump and a new generation of conservatives want friendship and cooperation with Russia - the liberals seem itching for a fight. The Trump Administration, and before that, the Trump campaign, were roundly criticized for not being tough enough on Russia. During 2016, Trump told Bill O'Reilly, "If we can make a great deal for our country and get along with Russia that would be a tremendous thing. I would love to try it." In July of that year, he said, "I would treat Vladimir Putin firmly, but there's nothing I can think of that I'd rather do than have Russia friendly." Later, he said, "Wouldn't it be a great thing if we could get along with Russia?" In an October debate, Hillary Clinton called Trump, Putin's "puppet." In that same debate, Trump accused Clinton of playing a game of nuclear "chicken" with the Russians. So, Donald Trump, champion of conservatives, has tried to take a relatively liberal position concerning Putin and the Russians. At the same time, liberals have suddenly decided it's time to get tough with Russia. They accuse Trump of going easy on Putin. They claim his softer approach comes from making a deal with Putin to help him get elected - the so-called Russian collusion. The problem is that their best evidence so far does not hold up. Much of the media agrees with the liberals that the President's peaceful overtures to Russia raise a red flag. CNN ran a long article that included 80 quotes of Trump talking positively about Putin. The quotes started in 2013 when Trump, the owner of the Miss Universe pageant, held that pageant in Moscow. Most of the 2016 quotes come from the campaign trail. All politicians use a standard stump speech, and Trump's standard speech called for America to try to work cooperatively with Russia. But CNN said, "His glowing statements on Putin have become central in stoking the suspicion that he and his campaign were somehow connected to Russian interference in the election." So far in his dealings with Moscow, President Trump has shown no evidence of wanting to give away the store - as have some of his predecessors. If he or she does not diminish America's strategic position, a President should be allowed to work toward a peaceful relationship with a former enemy without being called a traitor. Calling for peaceful negotiation should not be seen as evidence of illegal collusion. These Russian next-generation weapons have been in the works for years, if not decades. That means we can't blame them on President Trump, or his critics. But it clearly hurts the US position when any overture of peace the President may extend toward Russia is presented to the US public as a sign of collusion. Russia's new superweapons, along with those of China, are quickly changing the world's balance of power. The Russians' cyber campaign to disrupt US elections, along with this massive new upgrade to their weapons of mass destruction, mean that Trump will have to deal with them as enemies before he can work with them as friends. And make no mistake, they are a formidable enemy. Bible prophecy presents Russia as one of the major players on the world stage during the last days - capable of quickly unleashing awesome destructive force. Like the United States, Israel has a whole arsenal of missile defense systems - all of them apparently made obsolete by Russia's new missiles. In fact, the Bible says that Russia's future attack on Israel will not be stopped by human military might. They will be defeated by God Himself. The countdown to the end of the age continues. More Recent Events - By Daymond Duck - http://www.raptureready.com/2018/03/04/recent-events-daymond-duck/ As expected, reports of events related to Bible prophecy are coming in on a daily basis. Here are several examples: One, the Bible teaches that Jesus will establish His throne, and His Word will go forth from Jerusalem during the Millennium (Psa. 132:13; Isa. 2:3; Jer. 3:17). On May 14, 1948, U.S. Pres. Harry Truman recognized the nation of Israel. On May 14, 2018, exactly 70 years later (a Biblically significant number; approximately one generation; 10-7's), the U.S. embassy will be moved to Jerusalem by order of U.S. Pres. Donald Trump. Know that God is in control and the U.S. embassy could be moved this fall, next year, or any other time. But the embassy is being moved exactly 70 years after May 14, 1948. Each person should decide if it is an amazing coincidence or if God is speaking. Also, don't forget that this has implications for a rebuilt Temple. Those that want to rebuild it can only do so if they have access to the Temple Mount. Two, on Feb. 22, 2018, it was reported that, other than the U.S., Israel is holding talks with ten more nations about moving their embassy to Jerusalem. Three, the Bible teaches that the whole world will see the bodies of the Two Witnesses lying in the streets of Jerusalem; the gospel will go all over the world, etc. during the Tribulation Period. On Feb. 22, 2018, it was announced that Space-X will blanket every rural area of the U.S. with high-speed gigabit Internet service within 24 months. Space-X intends to put 12,000 satellites in earth orbit by the mid-2020's. These satellites will make high-speed Internet service available all over the earth and everyone will be able to see the Two Witnesses, hear the gospel, etc. Four, the Bible teaches that Israel will be back in the Promised Land and prospering when the Battle of Gog and Magog takes place (Ezek. 38:12). On Feb. 19, 2018, it was reported that two companies in Israel have signed an agreement to sell $15 billion of Israeli natural gas to Egypt. This follows a 2016 agreement to sell more than $10 billion of natural gas to Jordan and a 2017 agreement with Greece and Cyprus to speed up the construction of a pipeline to Europe. There is little doubt that Russia, Iran and others are paying attention to this. Five, on Feb. 17, 2018, U.S. National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster spoke at a very important security conference in Germany. He said, "The time is now, we think, to act against Iran." Six, two days later, an Israeli general warned that the civil war in Syria is winding down and freeing up Iranian and Hezbollah troops for use against Israel. The general said the chances of a war in 2018 are "higher than ever." Seven, the Bible teaches that Russia's military will cover the land like a cloud during the Battle of Gog and Magog. This could be planes, helicopters, drones, etc. On Feb. 19, 2018, 10 Russian Jets landed in Syria (2 fifth-generation Su-57 stealth fighters, 4 Su-35 fighters and 4 Su-25 strike aircraft). A new radar command-and-control platform was also delivered. The 2 Su-57 Stealth Fighters can carry nuclear missiles. It is believed that Russia sent these jets to Syria to counter U.S. and Israeli aircraft. On Feb.24, two more Su-57's landed in Syria. If Israel has to deal with planes that can carry nuclear missiles, Israel will need to strike fast and hard. Eight, On Feb. 23, 2018, it was reported that Pres. Trump has nominated Marvin Goodfriend to fill a vacancy on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, and his nomination has now been approved by the U.S. Sen. Banking Committee. In the past, Mr. Goodfriend has supported the idea of putting a magnetic strip in U.S. paper money to track its use. When a bill is spent, he wants to tax it based upon how long the owner has had it. If a person spends the bill immediately, the tax might be zero. But if a person has kept the bill for a while, it would be taxed based upon how long the person has had it. Supposedly, the tax would cause a person to spend their money and not hoard it. Senators Rand Paul and Elizabeth Warren may try to stop Mr. Goodfriend's approval. Prophecy Plus Ministries, Inc. Daymond & Rachel Duck [email protected] Is Billy Graham's Death Prophetically Significant? - By Dr. Mark Creech - https://www.christianpost.com/voice/is-billy-grahams-death-prophetically-significant.html During the memorial service for her father, Anne Graham Lotz, Dr. Billy Graham's daughter, said she believed her father's passing could have prophetic significance. As part of a set of eulogies given by her and her siblings, Lotz contended that when her father passed she believed "there was something very strategic from heaven's point of view." "I know that before the foundations of the world were laid, Feb. 21, 2018, was the date that God chose to take my father home," she said. She then noted the date of Graham's passing is also the same day the Jews focus on Scripture readings about the death of Moses. Graham said she believes there might be a parallel. "Moses was the great liberator," Lotz argued, "He brought millions out of bondage - slavery - got them to the edge of the Promised Land, and then God took him to heaven. My father was also a great liberator," she said. By his preaching of the Gospel of Christ, Billy Graham, lead many out of the bondage of sin and got them to the edge of heaven, she reasoned. "God is going to bring Joshua into the Promised Land, and lead us into heaven," she added. In the Old Testament book of Joshua, Joshua leads the Israelites into the Promised Land after the death of Moses. In the New Testament, the name "Joshua" is translated as "Jesus." Lotz concluded, "I believe this [her father's passing at the present time] is a shot across the bow of heaven. And I believe God is saying, 'Wake up, church! Wake up, world! Wake up, Anne! Jesus is coming. Jesus is coming...Jesus said that when the gospel is preached to the whole world as it is today in this service, as it is through churches, missionaries, ministries, Jesus said in Matthew 24:14, 'When the Gospel is preached, then the end will come.'" Could Lotz be correct? Could Christ be at the door to deliver his people from the bonds of this earth and take them to their final home? I must confess that I've had similar thoughts about the passing of Billy Graham. The Old Testament book of Genesis tells us about a man named, Methuselah, who was the grandfather of Noah. Methuselah is reported to have lived the longest, 969 years. Interestingly, Methuselah's name means, "His death shall bring judgment." According to the Genesis account, it was not very long after Methuselah's passing, when repentance and salvation had sufficiently been preached by Noah to a wicked world; God's judgment came in a universal flood. It certainly seems that Methuselah's incredibly long life was symbolic of God's long-suffering and patience with the world's rebellion. I have also wondered if Graham's faithful preaching of the Gospel around the globe, his own exceptionally long life, is in some way emblematic of God's patience, calling sinners everywhere to repentance and faith, because Christ's church is about to be lifted away from this planet and judgment is soon to fall on it a second time - just as the Scriptures have predicted. Our world is certainly ripe for God's wrath, especially the West, especially the United States. Billy Graham expressed concern about the coming judgement when he wrote his book, World Aflame. In that book, Graham warned: "That moral and spiritual decadence is upon us today becomes evident at the turn of every page of our daily newspaper. We live in a day when old values are rejected and the sense of significance and purpose has disappeared from people's lives. The Western world's sole objective seems to be success, status, security, self-indulgence, pleasure, and comfort...Yes, we need to cry out to be saved - saved from ourselves, for it is the soul of a nation and a culture that is dying! Hosea the prophet urged the people of his day: 'Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you' (Hos. 10:12)...The crack in the moral dam is widening, but like the people of Noah's day before the flood, life goes on as usual with only a few concerned and scarcely anyone alarmed. However, apathy will not deter catastrophe. The people of Noah's day were not expecting judgment - but it came!...When the headlines get black and foreboding, the sale of alcohol and barbiturates rises in the country, as millions try to escape from the grim reality of our dangers...[O]ur decaying morals do not surprise God. They add to the pile of flammable tinder that shall someday be ignited by the fires of God's judgment...If ever a generation was bequeathed the knowledge of God, we were. Yet we are throwing away this glorious heritage on our lusts and passions." Graham wrote those words back in the 1960s, and they are even more relevant - even more poignant today! Christ's return could indeed be just around the corner. None of us knows the day of His return, but the signs of the times seem to indicate it's near. For those who know the Lord, this means that there is an urgency to always be alert and busy about the Lord's work, lest when our Master returns he catches his servants unaware. For those outside of the faith, nothing could be more important than to immediately cast oneself upon the mercies of God in Jesus Christ, before it's eternally too late. Wake up, church! Wake up, world! Wake up, Mark Creech! Wake up, reader! Jesus is coming! Jesus is coming! Daily Jot: Turkey continues to advance its prophetic destiny - Bill Wilson - www.dailyjot.com While Americans are wrapped around the axel of daily political drama, the prophecy clock is moving forward in the Middle East. Many Christian Americans tend to examine prophecy from a Western-centric, non-Jewish worldview, when in reality, prophecy's timepiece is Israel and how it is impacted by those neighboring nations found and emanating from the table of nations in Genesis 10. For example, Noah's grandsons from Japheth-Gomer, Magog, Meshech, Tubal are specifically mentioned in the end time prophecy of Ezekiel 38 as part of a coalition led by Gog of Magog against Israel. All these nations are located in what is now modern Turkey. And Turkey is making some prophetic news today. Turkey's leadership appears to be moving prophecy forward. First, Turkey's "president" Recep Tayyip Erdogan, on July 23 2017 visited Saudi Arabia and Kuwait to defuse tensions in the region over Qator's fostering ties with Shiite Iran. Erdogan seeks to position himself as the region's powerbroker, patron and peacemaker, counterbalancing Iran. Then on July 25, he proclaimed that all Muslims should visit and protect Jerusalem. Then on July 30, Erdogan organized thousands in Istanbul to protest Israel's Temple Mount actions and to show solidarity with the "Palestinian" people. In December, he said he was moving Turkey's embassy to Jerusalem to counter the announced US move. Erdogan has now moved to control religious speech and the news media by controlling internet content. All this could be a type and shadow of Daniel 8. In Daniel 8:19, Gabriel says, "Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation: for at the time appointed the end shall be. The ram which you saw having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia. And the rough goat is the king of Grecia." Strong's Concordance interprets the word "Grecia" in Hebrew as "Yavan, a son of Japheth (the third son of Noah)," his descendants and their land." The Genesis 10 table of nations indicates this area was not only Greece (as Bible interpretations imply), but also the Eastern Mediterranean, including key parts of today's Turkey. Gabriel's interpretation of Daniel's vision of "what shall be in the last end" and "for at the time appointed the end shall be" is clearly an end-time prophecy, which, therefore, could not have been completely fulfilled by Alexander the Great and his generals as is widely taught. These events are yet to occur for the little horn (antichrist) to rise to power. Currently, Iran has control over much of Iraq and Syria. Turkey is challenging that control through ISIS and pressure from its allies, including the US and European Union. For Ezekiel 38 and Daniel 8 to be fulfilled, Iran must come into alignment with Iran submitting to Turkey's leadership against Israel. Erdogan is continuously positioning Turkey for such a role, as recent events demonstrate. Despite all the political turmoil in the US, these prophetic types and shadows are advancing. Daily Devotion: Family Ties - By Greg Laurie - www.harvest.org James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings. -James 1:1 I find it interesting that as James was writing his epistle, he never reminded us that he was the Lord's half-brother. Instead he began by introducing himself as "James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ" (James 1:1). That is an interesting description for a man who was the half-brother of Jesus. If I were writing a letter and happened to be related in any capacity to Jesus, I certainly would bring that up, wouldn't you? Talk about name dropping. We live in a time when everyone is talking about famous people and celebrities. Anyone who is even remotely connected to someone famous has a story or two to tell. Needless to say, the father of Jesus was not Joseph. God is the father of Jesus, who was supernaturally conceived in the womb of Mary. Yet Jesus was physically born, and He lived in the home of Mary and Joseph for His formative years. The Bible clearly teaches that He did have other brothers and sisters. In fact, it's interesting to note that neither James nor any of Jesus' other siblings believed in Him prior to His resurrection. At one point in His ministry they came to take Him home, thinking He had taken leave of His senses. John tells us, "For even His brothers did not believe in Him" (John 7:5). His own brothers had not really accepted that Jesus was the Messiah. This shows us that even living a perfect and flawless life is not necessarily enough to convince someone of the truth of the gospel. After all, who lived a more perfect life than Jesus? He never once sinned in any capacity. It reminds us that sometimes the hardest people to reach are those who are the closest to us, especially our family. 
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 
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