Prophecy Update Newsletter
IN TODAY'S NEWSLETTER...
The Cry of the Watchman - By Pastor Mike Taylor -
http://pastormiketaylor.blogspot.com/2018/03/the-cry-of-watchman.html Many people see the signs of the times and wonder when will the Tribulation be beginning in earnest. Many see the economic problems of this age, and the lawlessness unfolding at greater depths of sinfulness than in any previous years. Many of them are old timers like me, who remembers a more peaceful time, but note that that peace is slowly being taken away. Young people who have not been taught by their parents who were, in return, not taught by their parents, have come to see what is happening with blindfolds on their eyes. They haven't got their eyes open to what is actually happening and will be prime candidates for the coming One World religion and the "mark of the beast". Folks see the cashless society that is being pushed in foreign countries like Sweden, and worry about having to take an implant or a tattoo on their bodies, especially with RFID chip that some businesses are offering their employees. With this going on even in the USA, some wonder can the mark be taken without repercussions to their spiritual lives. They ask, "so what do we do?" We know that this world we live in, is one step away from this NWO and the Anti-Christ is standing just off stage right waiting for the right crisis to reveal himself. Many people email me with questions that only show that they are frightened with what is coming at them at near "warp speed" and their anxiety grows even more prevalent in their everyday lives. CAN I TAKE THE MARK UNWITTINGLY? I had a person ask me, as I have explored the possibility that we are in the Tribulation already (which we are not) but she asked me, which I expand this to all who may have the same question "Can a person take the Mark of the Beast without meaning to?" The short answer is "NO" you cannot. Reason being that the coming Mark of the Beast is not only designed as an economic mode of exchange like we see with chips on credit and debit cards used on the world market that will soon be under control of one central authority, but it is also a "worship system" that you have agreed to be a member of the Church of the Anti-Christ/Satan. If it were just an economic mode of being a part of the buy/sell of this coming end time world, then it wouldn't be as dangerous to one's spiritual health, but you have embraced the Anti-Christ as a god on earth. The penalty of refusing the coming Mark of the Beast is a refusal to worship the abomination of a beast called the Anti-Christ, and no one will escape the attention of the false prophet who will be able to monitor every person on the planet for compliance or their refusal which will lead to the ultimate penalty of death by whatever means available, but the the bible speaks of being "beheaded" as the most severe form of this punishment. 14 "And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. 15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. 16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name" (Revelation 13:14-17) WHO WILL YOU FOLLOW? But the bible makes it perfectly clear that you cannot serve two masters: 24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon." (Matthew 6:24) You can't serve in the Church of the Anti-Christ and claim to love God or serve Him. Being a symbol of membership in the "beast" end time one world religion, it gives the person a few short years of privileges under its rule to life, liberty and the right to pursue some form of economic happiness, but it is a lie of Satan and the ruling authorities. It will end in eternal doom. But in order to accept this Mark, there must be a false prophet that demands worship of the Beast. The demand to worship rewards the person with this Mark that they have agreed to worship at the altar of a false god on earth who elevates himself, proclaiming himself to be God. Those who refuse to accept this mark will be rounded up like so much cattle and marked for extermination. This was unheard of 50 years ago, but with the advancement in computer technology, everyone in this planet is being monitored even now, even if you don't know it. So no one can take the mark "by accident". It will be a conscious decision that will be imposed on everyone, and even if they take the mark under duress or fear for their family, the Mark will be their doom to destruction in the Lake of Fire. WHAT HOLDS THIS EVIL BACK? But to Christians in this Age of Grace, the revealing of the Anti-Christ cannot be revealed as long as the Holy Spirit is upon the earth as a restraining force against evil. 6 "And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved." (2nd Thessalonians 2:6-10) The He is a personal pronoun in verse 7. It is not a thing, or something on earth in the physical realm, but can only be God's Holy Spirit that is withholding evil at bay, until He allows Satan to have full sway over all the inhabitants that are still living on this planet, or as the bible calls, the nations, or "earth dwellers". It is designed by God to bring judgment by using Satan to do his dead level best to pervert mankind and bring them to destruction. And Satan will be very successful in deceiving those who only want to continue in the evil lifestyle and continue to enjoy their unrighteous acts of lawlessness. But concerning the coming Mark of the Beast, the bible is very specific of what the penalty will be for taking this mark, for whatever reason: 9 "And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, 10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: 11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name." (Revelation 14:9-11) Some Christians find it difficult to reconcile the grace of God with such a harsh penalty - something I've always found baffling, since those same Christians have no problem with the concept of eternal damnation. But what about salvation by grace through faith? Who are the Tribulation Saints? And if the Holy Spirit has been withdrawn, how did they get saved? People will still be getting saved, but the Age of Grace with the sealing of those who accept Jesus Christ as personal Savior will be withdrawn, and it will be much as it was in Old Testament times. This Age of Grace end with the rapture of the Church to proceed with Daniel's 70th week, or the final week of the Age of the Law which was cut off when Jesus was crucified. Many come to repentance, but are not sealed save the 144,000 Jewish Evangelist from the 12 tribes of Israel. It is so important that Jesus devotes an entire chapter that John writes down to make clear this special sealing of the "servants of God in their foreheads" 2 "And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, 3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. 4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel." (Revelation 7:2-4) BEING SEALED IN THE TRIBULATION The Greek word translated in Revelation 7:3 as "sealed" is sphragizo meaning, "to stamp for security or preservation." This is the same seal that is given those of us who believe in the Church Age and are sealed, but this seal is given to them only (the 144,ooo Jewish Evangelist), and no one else received this "deposit" of God's Holy Spirit, so each man and woman must guard their repentance and accepting Jesus as Savior to the very end. It is why it is written: 21 "And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. 22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. 23 But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come." (Matthew 10:21-23) That enduring to the end, are those who guard their salvation and DO NOT give into the deception of the Anti-Christ, his false prophets, or end time goons that work for them, even under duress and fear for their lives, or loved ones lives. Note that the message of Matthew 24 is directed to the nation of Israel, or the Jews at the time of Jesus? The Church had not been formed yet, and the focus of the ministry of Jesus was the Lost Sheep of Israel. Not until the day of Pentecost, did the ministry of the apostles, especially Paul focus on the Gentiles. THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL NEVER LEAVE US. God told us that He would send us a Comforter that would abide with us forever, and would NEVER leave us alone. 16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. (John 14:16-18) So the obvious interpretation in the verses I have quoted in 1 Thessalonians 2:7 and the one just above, if the Holy Spirit is withdrawn, so will those who He indwells, as He will never leave us. A clear sign of the rapture of the Church. TWO PURPOSES OF THE TRIBULATION There is a prevailing conceit without warrant, that God loves the Gentiles more than He loves Israel and therefore His attention will be focused on the Gentiles after the Church is gone from this earth which concludes at the rapture of the Bride of Christ. But the Bible paints an entirely different portrait. The purpose for the Tribulation is two-fold. As I have spoken of many times in the past, the coming Tribulation is designed for two objectives in God's plan. First, God will try Israel proper as silver is refined in the fire through much persecution that will remove the "dross" from their hearts. 2 "But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: 3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. 4 Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord, as in the days of old, and as in former years." (Malachi 3:2-4) Second, the tribulation and the Great Tribulation is designed to destroy all rebellion upon this earth, as God sets out to nearly wipe this planet clean of all human life. Jesus told us that unless those days were shortened: 21 "For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened." (Matthew 24:21-22) Again, this is from Matthew 24, the chapter that speaks directly to the nation of Israel and God will shorten the days of total destruction of all mankind, save for their survival of the Jewish people into the coming Millennial Reign of Jesus Christ. The time of the Tribulation is for JUDGMENT on all mankind. I had a lady that was emailing a brother in Christ of mine on the internet, that proclaims a Post-Tribulation rapture of the church and is adamant that the Church will endure the same persecution as everyone else. But I had to point out to her, these two reasons. I will call her name "Mary". She could not see that the Church is being judged now. We have been washed in the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ and clothed with His righteousness and that not of our own. The bible clearly tells us: 17" For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator." (1st Peter 4:17-19) If the two reasons I have given are for the refinement of Israel and destroy all rebellion, then what purpose does the church have in this horrific time? To purge those who have already been forgiven, and subject the Bride of Christ to the same persecution of the rest of the Gentiles on earth, to me, smacks of Catholic purgatory, which I categorically deny. We have been washed and made white by the blood of Jesus from the time of Calvary. There is no purpose for the Church to endure the two reasons I have given. Especially, my reader, when there is amble proof that God's wrath is reserved for the unrighteous, not those who have been forgiven. Paul makes it pretty plain in his epistles that we are not the focus of the wrath of God during this seven years of Age of the Law, but it is reserved for the two groups mentioned "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 fulness of the Gentiles be come in." (Romans 11:25) Is not that pretty clear to you who just read that verse. That speaks of the Gentile Church who have come into a relationship with Jesus Christ...which also covers believing Messianic Jews and anyone else that believes, Jew or Gentile. The musterion that Paul spoke of in his epistles (mystery; previously unrevealed truth) is that God allowed the Jews to reject the Messiah in order to provide a limited opportunity for the Gentiles to be saved. It is limited to that period UNTIL the fullness of the Gentiles be come in. So after the fullness of the Gentiles has come in..(that would be me, and maybe that would be you), then God turns His full attention back to Israel....it is clear in black and white when Paul wrote in Romans "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. (Romans 11:26-28) REPLACEMENT THEOLOGY A LIE The Church does not replace Israel, even as Israel has been set aside for the last 2000 years until the Lord takes " a people who were not His people"... 9 "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light; 10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy." (1st Peter 2:9-10) A person can be blinded by the Satanic doctrine of Replacement Theology, either one believes it or not. The New Covenant is with the Church of the Living God during the Age of Grace, or called also, the Church Age. But this is not directed at all Gentiles of all ages, but for a specific group since Calvary who believe by faith in the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ, and come to repentance and follow Him, much as a docile lamb follows a Shepherd out of love and obedience and knowing that Shepherd has his best interest at heart. The New Covenant will be completed at the Rapture of God's Church and we join Jesus our Lord at the Marriage supper of the Lamb, after we are adopted into the family of God by being betrothed to our Husband, Jesus the Christ. ONE WEEK OF DANIEL'S PROPHECY LEFT God has yet to fulfill the prophecy of Daniel's 70 weeks of restoring Israel in righteousness. God fulfills His promises, and the last week that was set aside, and the prophetic clocked being stopped when the Messiah was cut off, but not for Himself, but to save the whole world, that clock will begin again at the rapture. To those who trust in Him by faith and accept the mercy and grace afforded by a selfless love that can only be deemed amazing. Amazing that God would love us so much that He would even die for us, though we deserved none of it. The coming Tribulation is God's plan to do just that. To save Israel as a remnant people unto Himself. As was said, the Tribulation and especially the Great Tribulation is designed to refine Israel and remove the scales from their eyes and they realize that Jesus was their long sought for Messiah, not some dictator of the end time world who promised them peace and safety. They will cry from their persecutions when they seek Jesus with their whole hearts...Zechariah prophesied they will call out to their Messiah, much as Jesus said they would... 8 "And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. 9 And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God." (Zechariah 13:8-9) Jesus proclaimed. 34 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not! 35 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord." (Luke 13:34-35) The persecution will bring all of Israel to their senses and they cry out to God for deliverance. Jesus comes to save the remnant of His people and they are the ones who will enter the Millennial Kingdom alive and mortal. The rest of mankind who have been in rebellion will either be destroyed, or judged at the sheep and goat judgment and cast into the lake of fire. This is not dual-Covenant theology. There is only one Covenant by which men are saved. They are saved by faith that the shed Blood of Christ is sufficient to cleanse them of all sin. That does not change during the Tribulation Period. But the focus of God's attention after the conclusion of the Age of Grace turns back to the Jews. During the final Week of the Age of the Law, the universal ministry of the Holy Spirit is withdrawn. (2nd Thessalonians 2:7) Going back to how I opened this message, there will be believers in the Tribulation who will succumb to the Antichrist's coercion and accept his mark to save their families. And Scripture is clear that those who do are forever lost. Tribulation believers will be saved by faith in Christ and enduring until the end, as in the Church Age, but without the guarantee of eternal security or the automatic indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Jesus described the tribulation as, "such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be." It is the job of a watchman who sees the sword coming to provide a warning. I cry the warning to all who will see the light of Truth found in God's Word. 3 "If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people; 4 Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. 5 He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul. 6 But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand." (Ezekiel 33:3-6) Our blessed hope is found in the Scripture's promise that Jesus comes for His Church first. But after that, there is no guarantee of a second chance. Better a blessed hope than a false one. THE DECISION IS YOURS. So what about you? Do you have hope in the Savior of this world? Does the Lord Jesus live in your heart, or are you playing Russian Roulette with your immortal soul? Will you be found ready for the coming of our Lord Jesus, as what Paul called the HARPAZO in 1st Thessalonians and 1st Corinthians, or the removal of His Church by force, without warning? If you are not ready for His soon appearing, now is the time to make that decision for the salvation of your immortal soul, that will spend eternity in blessed peace and glory, or spend in eternal torment and separation from God and all that is good, joyful, or Holy. Let me assure those that scoff at such a destination, thinking Hell is one big party. I even had some deceived individual say that "hell is where all the cool people go"...and one big party. Let me set you straight, the Lake of fire will be no party. It will take all your time for all eternity to just endure the suffering that Jesus said, the flame is not extinguished, or the worm dieth not, and there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. Seek the Lord Jesus in belief and embrace these two passages that are the microcosm of what the whole of the Love Letter to the world from our Savior.... 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." (John 3:15-18) Seek His face and He will be right there for you when you fall on your knees and proclaim that you repent of your sins and ask Jesus to be Lord of your life. 8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed." (Romans 10:8-11) Know that you may only get one chance this side of the coming Rapture of the Church, as you may or may not get another chance, especially this side of your own death, which in the Tribulation is almost a guaranteed of either subjected to martyrdom, or doomed in the lake of Fire for taking the dreaded Mark of the Beast. Don't take that chance that you will survive either. Make that confession of faith and cry out to Jesus. He is as close as a prayer... This is pastor Mike Taylor, praying your salvation through the only Way back to God found in my Lord Jesus Christ...If you need prayer, counseling, or just a friendly listening ear, email me at [email protected] , or visit me online at www.pastormiketaylor.blogspot.com , God bless you all with His love and salvation. TILL WE MEET AT JESUS FEET The Palestinian Peace Plan - by Bassam Tawil - https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/12032/palestinian-peace-plan Opposing a peace initiative because you do not like its content is one thing. Opposing a peace initiative designed to improve the lives of your people is another thing entirely. Palestinian leaders do not care about their own people, so why should they care about peace with Jews? They will never accept another plan, even if it comes from Prophet Muhammad. It is easy to see why Palestinians would be opposed to the US administration's upcoming plan for peace in the Middle East. The Palestinians do not like what they are hearing about the plan, which has not yet been made public. Opposing a peace initiative because you do not like its content is one thing. Opposing a peace initiative designed to improve the lives of your people is another thing entirely. The latter defies logic and reveals the disappointing aspects of human nature. Palestinian hatred of the US administration and President Donald Trump is so intense that the Palestinians are prepared to prolong the misery of their people. Palestinian leaders care nothing for their people's ongoing suffering. Give those leaders jobs, money and power, and their people be damned. Once again, the two million Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip have fallen victim to their leaders' greed, carelessness and idiocy. Last week, we witnessed another example of how Palestinian leaders are prepared to fight for their own interests, at the expense of their people, all in order to remain in power and keep the funds flowing to their secret (and sometimes public) bank accounts. US Middle East envoy Jason Greenblatt, in an op-ed in The Washington Post, announced that the White House would soon host a meeting of "key countries and stakeholders to find real solutions to the problems has caused" in the Gaza Strip. In other words, the US administration is telling us that it cares about the situation in the Gaza Strip and wants to work with other parties to improve the living conditions of the Palestinians, who for the past 10 years have been suffering under the corrupt and ruthless regime of Hamas. The US initiative to help the two million Palestinians of the Gaza Strip should have been welcomed by Palestinians leaders. The administration of President Donald Trump is doing something that no Palestinian or Arab leader has done in recent memory: to convene a special meeting on the Gaza Strip in an effort to solve what many Palestinians are calling the "humanitarian and economic crisis" there. When was the last time the Palestinian Authority and its president, Mahmoud Abbas, convened such a meeting to discuss the plight and suffering of their people in the Gaza Strip? Not only does Abbas not care about his people in the Gaza Strip, he also bears responsibility for the crisis. In the last year, Abbas and his PA government have been imposing a series of sanctions on the Gaza Strip, further aggravating the crisis and suffering of the people. These sanctions, which are aimed at undermining Abbas's Hamas rivals, include halting payment to electricity supplied by Israel to the Gaza Strip, cutting salaries of thousands of PA civil servants, suspending social assistance to hundreds of families and forcing thousands of public employees into early retirement. Abbas is hoping that the crisis in the Gaza Strip will drive Palestinians to revolt against Hamas. Abbas still can't overcome the humiliation he experienced when Hamas expelled his PA and violently seized control of the Gaza Strip in 2007. Abbas wants revenge for being humiliated at the hands of Hamas. He also wants revenge because he believes that Hamas had plotted to assassinate him while he was still living in the Gaza Strip. A former Hamas official who defected is said to have warned Abbas about the alleged assassination attempt. So Abbas wants to fight Hamas to the last Palestinian in the Gaza Strip. Unsurprisingly, Hamas also appears to be prepared to fight Abbas to the last Palestinian in the Gaza Strip. Hamas, which for the past 10 years has been holding hostage the two million Palestinians of the Gaza Strip (although many of them voted for the Islamic terror movement in the January 2006 Palestinian parliamentary election), is not prepared to make any concessions to Abbas and his PA government to ease the crisis. Hamas is not prepared to dismantle its military wing or relinquish security control over the Gaza Strip. Hamas is not prepared to distance itself from Iran and its Lebanese proxy, Hezbollah. Hamas is not prepared to renounce terrorism and violence nor is it prepared to recognize Israel's right to exist. Hamas has one course of action, which it follows with full force and energy: to destroy Israel and kill as many Jews as possible. Let's return to the American initiative to seek ways to alleviate the anguish of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Who were the first to repudiate this humanitarian initiative?" Could it be Israel? Nope. Israel was and remains the only country that has been seeking solutions to the crisis in the Gaza Strip. Hint: it was Abbas's PA and Hamas, each of whom rejected it for its own purposes and interests. While Israel's top Ministry of Defense official, Major-General Yoav Mordechai, has been holding meetings with United Nations Special Coordinator for Peace in the Middle East, Nikolay Mladenov, to discuss ways of reducing the suffering of the Palestinians in Gaza Strip, Abbas and his Hamas rivals continue to launch accusations about each side's responsibility for the suffering. Abbas blames Hamas for the "humanitarian crisis," while Hamas says it's Abbas and his government that are inflicting the suffering because of the sanctions they imposed on the Gaza Strip. Not only are Hamas and Abbas wholly shirking their responsibility to their people, they also are prepared to foil any attempt by outsiders, in this case the US, to work towards ending the crisis in the Gaza Strip. Why would any Palestinian or Arab reject an offer by anyone, even if it were the devil himself, to extend an arm of help to Palestinians in dire need? The answer, again, is twofold: First, Hamas and Abbas are too busy ripping each other to shreds over money and power to take notice of their people's misery. Second, the two Palestinian parties actively desire a continuation of the crisis: it enables them to rake Israel over the coals at various international forums. The relationship between Abbas and Hamas is bad on an epic scale, but when it comes to incitement against Israel, they are best buddies. The Hamas and PA officials are even spelling this argument out in their rejection of the US initiative to improve the lives of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Dismissing the initiative, Ahmed Majdalani, a top Abbas aide in Ramallah, said: "The US knows very well that Israel is the main reason behind the Gaza tragedy." Majdalani deserves an award for being a professional liar. This is the man representing the president and government that continue to impose severe sanctions on the Gaza Strip and its residents. Yet, it's more comfortable for Abbas and his cronies to continue blaming Israel and lying to the international community. Unfortunately, we are facing an international community that is often quick to swallow any lie or fabrication coming from the Palestinians. So the PA does not want to resolve the crisis, nor does it want anyone else -- like the Americans -- to help. The PA doesn't like Trump or his ideas for peace in the Middle East. But what does that have to do with the "economic and humanitarian crisis? Why should this hatred or dislike prompt the PA to reject any attempt by Westerners to help its own people? Consider, for a moment, what Hamas and Islamic Jihad are also saying about the US initiative on the Gaza Strip. The position of the two terror groups is strikingly similar to that of Abbas and his PA; they too want to continue using the crisis to rally the world against Israel. In separate statements, the groups said that Washington's effort to help the Palestinians was designed to "exempt" Israel from its responsibilities. These are the same terror groups that have turned the lives of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip into hell. These are the groups that have brought war and death and destruction upon the people of the Gaza Strip by attacking Israel again and again and again. These are the groups that prefer to import weapons rather than food and medicine into the Gaza Strip. These are the groups that are suppressing and killing Palestinians in the Gaza Strip whose only crime is to demand reform and democracy and a better life. Hamas and Islamic Jihad are no different from Abbas when it comes to their hatred of the US. Their hatred runs so deep that they would rather die than accept a remedy from the US. Not to mention the massively useful pawn that suffering Palestinians are in the popular and longstanding game of tarring and feathering Israel for the Palestinian leadership's own crimes against its people. All these Palestinian parties share a common goal: to see Israel removed from the face of earth. In their eyes, the incitement against Israel falls into the general framework of delegitimizing Israel. They believe that this process serves their goal of eliminating Israel. Meanwhile, babies and other patients in the Gaza Strip continue to die because of lack of medicine. More than half of the Gaza population lives under the poverty line. But, for the Machiavellian Palestinian leadership, the end justifies the means: tens of thousands of Palestinians can and will be sacrificed on the way to killing Jews and destroying Israel. Palestinian leaders don't care about their own people so why should they care about peace with Jews? The only peace plan the Palestinians would ever accept is one that facilitates their mission of destroying Israel and killing all the Jews living in the region. They will never accept another plan, even if it comes from Prophet Muhammad. Hamas Taking Steps to Plot Israeli Independence Day Border Chaos - by Ali Waked - http://www.breitbart.com/jerusalem/2018/03/13/hamas-taking-steps-plot-israeli-independence-day-border-chaos/ Hamas has demanded that other jihadist Palestinian organizations prevent any attempts to carry out attacks in the border area with Israel in order to avoid harming the chances of leading thousands of Palestinians to the border fence in a protest planned as part of events marking the 70th anniversary of Israel's founding, a senior official in one of the jihadist Palestinian organizations told Breitbart Jerusalem. According to the source, in a meeting between Hamas leaders, including Ismail Haniyeh, and representatives of the Palestinian factions, Hamas insisted that Israel must not be given an "excuse" to take steps that would make people afraid to approach the Israel-Gaza fence, which would harm the planned protest in which thousands are expected to march to the fence. Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth reported last week that the IDF is preparing for attempts by Hamas to send thousands of protesters to the border on Israeli Independence Day on April 19, taking advantage of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Breitbart Jerusalem also reported last month that Hamas and the Palestinian factions are considering the idea of sending thousands of protesters to the border with Israel to put pressure on Israel, the Palestinian Authority and the international community to find a solution to the hardships in the Gaza Strip. According to the Palestinian source, Hamas plans to attempt to begin processions in the coming weeks and bring them to a climax on Israeli Independence Day. The source noted that in a meeting attended by Haniyeh, Hamas demanded that attack attempts be prevented like the one from two months ago when four IDF soldiers were wounded by an explosive device wrapped in a Palestinian flag and hung on the border fence. Erdogan's Vision: Uniting an 'Army of Islam' to Destroy Israel in 10 Days - Tzippe Barrow - http://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/israel/2018/march/erdogans-vision-army-of-islam-to-destroy-israel An article in a Turkish paper with close ties to Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan exposes the regime's desire to form an "Army of Islam" to attack and destroy the State of Israel. The article calls on the 57 member nations of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) throughout the Muslim world to join forces against the Israeli "occupiers" who would then be vastly outnumbered and unable to defend their country. Translated and posted by MEMRI (Middle East Media Research Institute), the article details how combined ground, air and naval forces could defeat Israel militarily in 10 days and diplomatically in 20 days, thereby liberating "Palestine." According to MEMRI's well-documented post, the article's key points came from the website of Turkey's SADAT International Defense and Consulting Company, which promotes pan-Islamic military cooperation. SADAT was founded by President Erdogan's senior military advisor, Adnan Tanriverdi. The group provides information on "conventional and unconventional defense and warfare." Its mission statement envisions helping "the Islamic world take its rightful place among the superpowers." Citing Israeli security sources, MEMRI notes that SADAT provides funding and military equipment to Hamas in the Gaza Strip with the goal of creating a Palestinian army to fight Israel. "If the OIC member states unite and form a joint military force, it will be the largest army in the world," the article states. "These countries' total population is 1,674,526,931. The number of soldiers in active service in these countries is at least 5,206,100." The article in that Turkish daily, which is called Yeni Safak, describes Israel's population (just over 8 million) and military forces "as significantly inferior," noting that the population of Istanbul, Turkey's capital, is more than 14 million. "The military capability of the OIC member states is considerable," the paper says. "These armies have the necessary equipment to carry out a military operation on land, sea and air." It continues. "Turkey alone is superior (to Israel)" and "will serve as an important headquarters during the operation due to its land, air and naval infrastructures." And he says, Turkey is actively pursuing and renewing alliances with Muslim countries in the Middle East and Africa. "Those who believe that they are the owners of Jerusalem today will not find a single tree to hide behind tomorrow," he concludes. Rage Is The Order Of The Day - By Grant Phillips - http://www.raptureready.com/2018/03/14/rage-is-the-order-of-the-day/ Rage is consuming our society. It is fed by hearts that are desperately wicked and in turn nourishes the ego of those consumed by its lust. More and more each day, individuals in our society make it very clear that it is "self" that matters, nothing else. The welfare and feelings of another human being mean nothing. All that is good and clean from God's perspective is ridiculed, cursed and laughed off. The attitude of folks in general has certainly made a 180 degree turn from what I recall of my earlier years about society. When I was a youngster, we were taught to respect our parents, our elders and others. We were taught that the world does not revolve around us and the world does not owe us a living. Maybe this is why there is so much rage coming from so many people. We are no longer being taught from childhood to respect others. Yes, that is certainly one reason, but it is not the reason. Here in Laurel County, Kentucky the local magistrates are kept busy just trying to keep all the trash picked up from those who travel the roads. As in other places, they use prisoners for this task, but they seem to be falling behind. Could this be a product of rage? Is it possible that some people are so jealous of others they pollute everything around them because of their hatred? Those who wait at the stop lights and the grocery store check-outs are sometimes quick to voice their displeasure for being inconvenienced. Mean spirited attitudes are usually the norm for talk shows and social media. Comments from others about a written commentary are most always followed up by those with a self-righteous attitude and a profane mouth. Billy Graham died yesterday at the age of 99. I have read several kind and gracious remarks about this fine Christian man. However, there have also been some comments made by those consumed with hate for anything good. One comment from a well-known woman concerning Billy Graham (although I've never heard of her) was, "Have fun in hell." She ended this comment with another word that I will not include. Evil still walks the hallways of our schools and murders our children and those who are there to teach them. We are enraged, and should be. However, we also, legally, murder over 3,500 children per day via abortion in this country. Where is the outrage? I haven't even touched the tip of the iceberg in giving just a few examples of the rage that consumes our society. Why is there so much hatred? Why is it so predominate today? Why does it seem to be escalating out of control, because it is? It is dangerous these days to send our children to school. It is dangerous to drive the highways. It is dangerous to be conceived in the womb of your mother. It is dangerous to contradict the cancerous sins of our society. It is becoming dangerous to simply live for Jesus Christ and Him alone. Our society, more and more every day, hates anything that is good. Virginity is mocked. Marriage is mocked. Respect is mocked. The Bible is mocked. Living for Jesus is mocked. Politeness is mocked. Opinions are mocked. Churches are mocked. Christians are mocked. Last but not least, Jesus is mocked. We could provide many reasons for the rage that is consuming our society, but Jesus nailed it when He said; "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you." (John 15:18-19) Remember the comment the woman made about Billy Graham? What did Billy Graham do to her to instill so much hate? Nothing. He was simply a child of God who loved Jesus and followed his Master. He simply and faithfully relayed the Good News about Jesus. That is all. Satan hates Billy Graham and anyone else who tells the Good News about Jesus. This is where the rage is coming from within the hearts of people today. Satan hates anything and everything that is good. He wants to corrupt society, from trash on the side of the roads to the hearts of those who will follow him. Jesus also said; "This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God." (John 3:19-21) The spiritual light that once lit our way in the United States of America has been dimmed considerably. We are now sitting in almost total darkness. Those who remain among us that love the Light will soon see the Light, not just in our hearts but with our eyes. Those who love the darkness, and they are growing exponentially by the day, will soon experience real darkness of a world under God's judgment. All that is of God is sacred. The rage in this darkened world will continue, but be careful. "If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other." (Galatians 5:15) There is a spiritual battle going on right now. The rage we are seeing today is being induced by the evil among us. Be careful. "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." (1 Peter 5:8) Grant Phillips Email: [email protected] Pre-Rapture Commentary: http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com Rapture Ready: http://www.raptureready.com/featured/phillips/phillips.html Daily Jot: A testimony of our government schools - Bill Wilson - www.dailyjot.com Wednesday, March 14 was a testimony to the nation's government school system in so many ways. We had kids across the nation participating in some sort of protest about guns. In New York City, the mayor, a gun control advocate, encouraged kids to leave school for the protest. Teachers and administrators also encouraged the kids to protest. They want to ban guns. So they are using their First Amendment rights of free speech and assembly to call for the government to take away their 2nd Amendment rights that were put in place to guarantee that the government wouldn't take away their First Amendment rights. Sounds pretty stupid, right? Well, that's a testimony to our government schools. New York Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo participated with students in a "Die In" protest against guns. But testifying even further than his political statement were the presence of his armed security guards not far in the background. In fact, there are many pointing fingers at the leftist Democrat Party apparatus for organizing the protests and manipulating students. When you have celebrities, teachers, school administrators and even governors of states who are all part of the Democratic Party encouraging students to walk out of school to protest gun ownership, it begs the question who is behind this and what the real reason is. Is it to protect students in schools, or deconstruct the Constitution? Moreover, the House of Representatives passed window-dressing legislation 407-10. FOX News reports, "The STOP School Violence Act will offer $50 million annually to states to help train students, teachers and law enforcement to prevent violence and suicides in schools. The program would train students, school personnel and local police on how to identify warning signs and intervene to stop violence and suicide. It would also help develop and implement anonymous reporting systems for threats of school violence." President Donald Trump's White House announced plans to train teachers for carrying handguns, add more armed officers to the schools, and seizing guns from "potentially dangerous individuals." Here is what you have: Socialists, anarchists and communists manipulating students into using their First Amendment rights to demand their Second Amendment rights be taken away; Politicians, thinking they need to do something to appease voters ahead of mid-term elections, passing bills that only expand federal authority over government schools, spend more tax money, but do little to fix the problem; and a true testimony to the lack of historic context in our schools. Did anyone ever think about practical solutions? No, it's all about manipulation and political gamesmanship. These are matters of the heart and Proverb 22:6 stands: "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." If America had not departed from the ways of training up moral, just, and honest citizens, we may not be having this debate. Daily Devotion: The Serious Business of Heaven - By Greg Laurie - www.harvest.org I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance. -Luke 15:7 Sometimes people wonder whether those in Heaven know what is taking place on earth. Some would say no. But I beg to differ. I think Heaven is aware of what happens on earth. However, I don't think our loved ones are sitting in Heaven, watching everything we do. But I do think there is an awareness of what is going on, and there are a lot of verses that I could cite to prove that point. But this much I know clearly: When someone comes to faith in Christ and they repent of their sins, there is rejoicing in Heaven. Whenever there is a conversion on earth, there is a party in Heaven. God gets excited when lost people come to repentance, and so should we. As C. S. Lewis said, joy is the serious business of Heaven. So if they are having a party in Heaven over the conversion of one person, should we, too, not be excited when we see someone come to Christ? Jesus cares, and so should we. Luke 15 tells us that when the shepherd finds the sheep he has lost, "he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!' "(verses 5-6). I believe that is what kept Jesus going, even to the cross. Hebrews 12:2 tells us that Jesus, "for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." What was that joy? It was us. We were the joy. We were the prize. We were the treasure. We were the goal He went after and laid it all down for. 
FROM THE HEART
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