Prophecy Update Newsletter
IN TODAY'S NEWSLETTER...
The EXPONENTIAL Events Which Will Lead Up To The Anti-Christ's 666 Global State - David Pepe -
https://www.theignorantfishermen.com/2015/08/what-events-will-lead-up-to-anti.html When the Rapture of the Church finally takes place - in which Almighty God the Son calls out His body (saints and ambassadors) - it (The Rapture) will be a wondrous sign unto the apostate western world more so than a sign unto the whole world. For all had better be prepared, for Almighty God's "Day of Wrath" is now at hand (2 Thess. 2:3-12)! The official commencement of this horrific seven-year period will be the breaking of the 1st seal (i.e., the "Confirming of the Covenant" - Dan. 9:27) by Almighty God's Lamb (i.e., The Lord Jesus Christ) in Heaven (Rev. 6:1). It is at this precise moment that the man of lawlessness (i.e., the anti-Christ) will be revealed unto the entire world (Dan. 9:27, 2 Thess. 2: 3-12). This revealing of the Anti-Christ and the commencement of this seven-year tribulation period will begin when this man (i.e., the Prince which is to come) adds his human position of great power and authority to a covenant against Israel with an abundance of peoples and nations (Ezek. 38:8,11-12, Dan. 9: 27). Israel at this time of the confirming of this covenant will receive the supernatural protection of Almighty God's Two Witnesses (Moses and Elijah) who will also begin their ministry at this time for 1260 days and possess Almighty God's Divine authority. These Two Witnesses of Almighty God will be extremely more powerful than the anti - Christ and his global confederacy against Israel and will be used throughout the first half of this tribulation period by Almighty God to make His RIGHTEOUS ETERNAL Person known to a full-blown godless world and unbelieving Israel (Rev. 11:3-6). Israel at the Divine hands of these Two Witnesses will then have rest and dwell in their land in safety from their global enemies and global tribulation for a season because of the Two Witnesses ministry unto them (Ezek. 38:8,11-12, Rev. 11:3-7). This position of safety at the hand of Almighty God via His Two Witnesses does not mean that Israel's heart will be right with Almighty God, for it will not be (Ezek, 39:26, Rev. 11:8). Though they dwell in safety and unwalled villages they will be at war with these Two Witnesses and their Divine assignment and message that; Jesus is the Messiah and to repent for the Kingdom of Heaven now is at hand (Deut. 4:30, Jer. 30:4-7, Ezek. 39:26, Dan. 9:27, 12:1, Rom. 1:18-32, Rev. 11:2, 8)!. These Two Lamp Stands of Almighty God (Moses and Elijah) will preach salvation in Jesus Messiah, reinstitute the temple, its sacrifices and its priesthood. They will preach repentance and testify to ALL that the establishment of the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand (Dan. 9:27, Matt. 24:15, 2 Thess. 2:4, Rev. 11:3-6). These two will then prepare the remnant of believing Jews and a chosen 144,000 Jewish men - from the 12 tribes of Israel - (Matt. 24:14, Rev. 7:4-8, 11:13) for their global ministry unto ALL of the nations of the earth and their Messiah's glorious and imminent return and Kingdom (Matt. 24:14, Mark 13:10, Rev. 7). It will be at this time - the first 3 1/2 years of the tribulation period - that the WORLD will seek every and any opportunity to root out and destroy these two Divinely appointed vessels of Almighty God... all to no avail (Mal. 4:4-6, Rev. 7,14:1-4,11:3-8). While Israel dwells in safety under the Divine ministry of Moses and Elijah, the world will be experiencing the EXPONENTIAL Seal and Trumpet Judgments of Almighty God (Rev. 6-9). It will be also at this time - at the beginning of this seven-year period, while Israel dwells in their land in absolute safety (Ezek. 38:8,11,12,14) - that the WHOLE GENTILE WORLD will begin to be trodden down by the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (Rev. 6:1-8). It will be after their catastrophic ride throughout the entire globe that the world will lose ¼ of its total population (1.75 billion) to war, famine and pestilence. This ride will cause global markets to be wiped out and the global economy to implode and will affect every individual throughout the world. Billions will feel the effects of death and war and mankind will become extremely hard-hearted and cold (Matt. 24:12). Confusion will EXPONENTIALLY abound as man's technological advances and communication is wiped out and as technological dependency detox sets in. Deception will now EXPONENTIALLY abound and be received as men seek to preserve their temporal lives at all costs and as the pressures to survive increase the works of the flesh will be revealed globally as never seen before (Matt. 15:16-20, Matt. 24:1-8, Gal. 5:19-21, 2 Tim. 3:1-5), for lawlessness, violence, rage, immorality etc.. will EXPONENTIALLY abound! It will be following the Four Horsemen's HORRIFIC ride of doom and the opening of the fifth seal, that the sixth seal is now opened in which a GREAT GLOBAL EARTHQUAKE and signs in the heavens will gain the world's full attention! As the heavens depart as a scroll and EVERY mountain and island are moved out of their places it will send absolute terror into the hearts of every human being alive (Jew and Gentile) on planet earth (Rev. 6:12-17). For it is now - at this time - that the inhabitants of the world will FULLY comprehend that indeed they are now in the "Day of the Lord" and the"Day of Almighty God's Wrath" which has been spoken of since the days of Enoch! (Jude 1:14, Rev. 6:15-17). The Trumpet Judgments Following the Seal Judgments of the Lamb of God follow Almighty God's "Trumpet Judgments" upon the earth's inhabitants, its vegetation, its water (fresh and salt) and the celestial lights in the first and second heavens (Rev. 8:1-13). As we shall see, the first four of the seven Trumpet Judgments shall strike the earth and its inhabitants with EXPONENTIAL unparalleled global cataclysmic destruction. Let us take a look! The First Four Trumpet Judgments The First Trumpet Judgment destroys 1/3 of all trees and grass upon the face of the earth with fire! (Rev.8:7). That comes to roughly 133 billion trees. 7% of all land mass is covered with grass. This area covers 9.93 million sq/km or 3.8 million sq/miles. This total area - which is given over to fire - is roughly a little bit bigger than the total land mass of the United States which would include Alaska. Can you even imagine the smoke which is generated from this global inferno? The Second Trumpet Judgment will cause 1/3rd of all the seas of planet earth to turn to blood (Rev. 8:8-9). The fall out of this catastrophic global devastation will also cause 1/3 of all the sea creatures to perish and 1/3 of all the world's ships and their crews to perish also! Some facts: 1. 70.8 % of the earth's surface is covered by water. 68% of that 70.8% is salt water. 1/3 of the seas or 22.6% of the world's surface area or 122 million sq/km or 47.1 sq/miles will be decimated and turned into blood! That is roughly the size of the Pacific Ocean! (How horrific!!) 2. The number of sea creatures destroyed by this trumpet judgment will be too innumerable to number. From the smallest creatures to the giant whales it must be in the trillions. 3. The total number of merchant ships that populate the world is about 55,000. This figure includes bulk carriers, dry cargo vessels, MPP's, container vessels, tankers, LPG's, LNG's, and most cruise ships; this number, however, does not include private vessels. The world's total number of ships of war is estimated at 4500. 1/3 of this total number (59,500) comes to roughly 19,833 ships that will be destroyed in this great Second Trumpet judgment not counting countless thousands of sailors lives that will also perish. Can you even envision such wondrous cataclysmic devastation that will ravish a sea mass the almost the size of the Pacific Ocean? The Third Trumpet Judgment will cause 1/3rd of all fresh water to be poisoned with wormwood and become bitter. The effects of this judgment will cripple society and multitudes will perish because of their ingestion of these bitter waters (Rev. 8:11). In this period - due to the horrific consequences of the Seal and Trumpet Judgments - drinking water will be very scarce to come by. 3% of the entire world's water is fresh water. 1/3 of this water supply (33% of the 3%) will be poisoned killing multitudes of the world's inhabitants during this period. The Fourth Trumpet Judgment will cause the celestial lights (sun, moon and stars) to dim their light 1/3rd of their normal strength (Rev. 8:12)! Up to this point, try to comprehend - if at all possible - the unimaginable and exponential ravishing effects upon the face of the earth by these Seven Seal Judgments and the first four Trumpet Judgments. Remember, that these judgments were ordered upon the inhabitants of the earth and their planet because of their exponential godless rebellion and violence against the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God (Gen. 1:31, Isa. 24:5-6, Rom. 1:18-32). These horrific global catastrophes - including the unimaginable devastation incurred by the Four Horsemen and the wrath of man - in which 1/4th of the world's population was slain - will bring to the forefront the unbridled passions and uncontrollable violence of humanity's godless and evil fallen heart (Ps. 7:9, Jer. 17:9-10, Matt. 15:17-20, Jude 1:10). Nothing manifests the human heart as tribulation does and reveals to all, our utter godless depravity without the RIGHTEOUSNESS of Almighty God (Jer. 17:10, Matt 15:18-19, Gal. 5:19-21, Rev. 9:20-21). These cataclysmic events will reveal and bring to the forefront humanities utter hatred and disdain for their Creator and His ETERNAL sovereignty (Rev. 9:20-21). As these events intensify, the world will outwardly manifest their ever hardening position towards Almighty God by their godless deeds and war against His redeemed. These will become absolutely callous, cold, hateful, unfeeling and violent towards one another (Matt. 24:12, 2 Tim. 3:1-7). Self-preservation and individual survival during this time will make men violate and transgress Almighty God's absolutes and moral laws to places which they though never imaginable. Instead of repenting and crying out for Almighty God's mercy and pardon, these will continually harden their hearts as Pharaoh of old and instead of looking into God's perfect mirror of righteousness (Psalm 19:7, Rom. 10:2-4), they will seek a scapegoat and a villain for their entire calamity (Matt. 24:8-13). Since Israel - at this time - is unaffected by these horrific Seal and Trumpet judgments that take place during the first half of this tribulation period, the world's inhabitants will seek to lash out after Almighty God's people (i.e., Israel). Israel has always been the world's most favorite scapegoat and during this time, this hatred will reach an all new exponential level. The WORLD - at this time - will greatly unite as one man and seek to destroy Almighty God's two witnesses (Rev. 11: 4-6) and the apple of His eye (i.e., the nation Israel) (Deut. 32:10, Psalm 17:8), but again, all to none avail (Ezek. 38:8, 11-12, Rev. 11:3-7). Just when the inhabitants of the earth thought that it could never get any more horrifically worse, they are about to be visited by a host of ferocious conquers and tyrannical oppressors that know absolutely no mercy and transcend the limited boundaries of time and space. It will be at this time that Almighty God will not just be passing judgment upon the sons of Adam for their EXPONENTIAL transgressions, but also on the fallen hosts of Heaven's realm - the demonic legions of fallen angels. These demonic hosts have greatly feared and dreaded this present hour which is now at hand for in this time they indeed know their time is exceedingly short (Matt. 8:29, Mark 5:7, Rev. 18:2). The Three Horrific Demonic Woes unto the Earth! The word "Woe!", when used by Almighty God in this alarming and dreadful way should send ice cold shivers of fright up the spine of any individual, sane or insane. So dreadful, so unimaginable, so fearfully horrifying are these last series of Trumpet Judgments that an angel is sent by Almighty God to sternly warn the remaining godless and rebellious inhabitants of planet earth of what is yet to be! Almighty God's Divine angelic air raid siren pierces through the world's darkness warning all of the pending doom which is now at hand. "And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabitors of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!" (Rev 8:13) The Demonic First Woe! This First Woe has to do with the demonic legions which are held prisoner in the bottomless pit called "the Abyss". These demonic hosts were placed there by Almighty God for their gross transgressions and heavenly rebellion against Almighty God and His ETERNAL sovereignty. They were most likely placed there after the Noaic flood for their excessive part in leading men to global rebellion against their Creator and his natural laws (Gen. 6, Isa. 14:12-17, Ezek. 28:12-19, Jude 1:6). These godless beings in their psychotic rage and violence will seek to - once again - tyrannically dominate and plague man, preparing all of humanity for the Third Woe which is to come. These insane supernatural beings - which transcend the realms of time and space - are EXPONENTIALLY more powerful and intelligent than man. These godless beings in their psychotic rage and violence will seek to - once again - tyrannically dominate and plague man, preparing all of humanity for the Third Woe which is to come (Rev. 12:12). These demonic legions fully comprehend the hour in which they now occupy and know that their time is dreadfully short. These released demonic hordes from the abyss prison hold - as insane and delusional as they are - know quite well of the impending judgment and doom that awaits them in the Lake of Fire for FOREVER and EVER (Matt.25:41, Rev. 20:10)! It is their sole hateful and vindictive intention to discredit Almighty God's Word and promises to Israel and the world and to torment and take as many humans with them to their ETERNAL abode as possible (Matt. 8:29, 25: 41, Mark 1:24, 5:7, Luke 4:34). These demonic legions are described to us as locust. Locusts are a consuming and devouring terror to all plant life that stands before them. So devastating are locust that they can wipe out vast plush green areas of vegetation in a matter of hours. These demonic hordes are told not to devour grass, but to torment men who have NOT the seal of Almighty God (Rev. 9:4). As these demonic hosts are released from their darkened prison in the abyss they will ravish and torment the unsaved defiant inhabitants of the earth for a period of five months (Rev. 9:5). These demonic hordes are lead by a demonic general named Abaddon, whose name means destroyer! What more do you need to know about this army and very hour! These tortured inhabitants of planet earth - who are also part of Lucifer's satanic rebellion against Almighty God - are now being violently oppressed by Satan's legions of fallen angels and are now driven as cattle by Satan to serve his destructive diabolical plan in his final war of this age against Almighty God (Rev. 16:13-16). Since these individuals outright reject the Divine revelation revealed to them by Almighty God (2 Thess. 2:8-12), His two witnesses and His ministering angels, they have now opened themselves to the demonic influences and possession of their minds (2 Cor. 4:3-4, 2 Thess. 2:9-12). Remember, by this time - the seven Seal Judgments and the first four Trumpet Judgments have passed (Rev. 6-8). Multitudes of millions (i.e.,1.5 billion) of the earth's inhabitants have been slain by global war, pestilence and famine, not to mention the global environmental devastation that has ravished 1/3rd of the earth's natural resources, elements, sea creatures, shipping commerce, celestial lights etc... It is now - after all of this global devastation - that millions of enraged demonic hordes are released from their prison hold of the abyss and will now commence terrorizing and torturing countless millions of the surviving masses of unsaved mankind for five months. At this time, one might ask himself, "Could things get any more horrific than this?" For in this brief time period since the Covenant of Peace was confirmed - which was suppose to usher in world peace and a new global age for all mankind (Dan. 9:27, 1 Thess. 5:3, Rev. 6:2) - the whole world has been ravished beyond imagination and humanity is laid waste on a scale unparalleled. Vexed and tormented beyond belief by man's transgressions and demonic oppression, could things get any more worse than this? Oh... Yes! EXPONENTIALLY WORSE!! The Demonic Second Woe! The background (Rev. 6, 8; 9:1-12:1) - has now been set for the introduction of the sixth Trumpet "the Second Woe!" As the multitudes of earth's inhabitants feel the horrific judgments and plagues of Almighty God, the destructive outworking of evil men and the oppressive tyrannical torture of the demonic devouring locust of First Woe (Rev. 9:1-12), the remaining world's inhabitants will have to brace themselves for the Second Woe which is at hand! A demonically induced and preconceived second Global War that will set the stage for Lucifer's (Satan's) Anti Christ and 666 global state (Rev 9:15; 13). As the completion of the five months of the First Woe comes to a horrific conclusion, the sixth trumpet sounds (Rev. 8:13)! The heavenly command is given from the golden altar which is before Almighty God in Heaven above to release the four angels that are bound in the great Euphrates River after the Genesis flood (2 Peter 2:4, Jude 1:6). God's Word states that these four immensely powerful angels are "prepared" for this exact hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men! (Rev. 9:15). It would seem that Lucifer at this time - the commander and chief of the hosts of Hell - is seeking to drastically reduce and consolidate the world's population to be more easily managed and controlled. This "prepared" plan of mass annihilation upon the remaining inhabitants of planet earth, is to allow Lucifer to control the masses and to eliminate any opposition to his upcoming lawless one and demonic agenda (Rev. 13). As these four "extremely powerful" fallen angels begin their ministry of woe and destruction upon the remaining inhabitants of planet earth, they will be preparing the human soil to make the way for Lucifer's last offensive plan and push, the Abomination of Desolation and his 666 global state (Matt. 24:15, Rev. 13). Dear friends, just look at what it will take to establish and get Lucifer's anti-Christ upon the world's throne! How many biblical scholars see this REALITY and position as we have revealed to you? Many today hold a very surface view of what is to be and provide little to no depth and substance for God's people about this time period. My dear friends, may we all be slaves and students to the Word of God in these days to know and understand what is to be with spiritual depth and perception! Now back to our study... These four mighty demonic angels of the Euphrates river prison hold are commanded to stir up a stupendous and mighty army of 200 million demonic riders to destroy the remaining world's population by 1/3. So STUPENDOUS and FRIGHTENING are their description and vision that it takes the breath away from the reader of this text (Rev. 9:16-19). During their monstrous campaign, another BILLION plus or 1/3rd of the world's remaining inhabitants will be destroyed (Rev. 9:15)! As we rattle off these horrific statistics of this first three and a half year period, one has to shudder and try to grasp the vast carnage and devastation of human life of this time period. How do any of the haters of reality even make it to Armageddon at all? How do any survive to the end? Note that after all of this vast devastation and global carnage that the heart of the world has not grown softer towards Almighty God, but ONLY adamantly and violently harder (Rev. 9:20). "And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries (drugs), nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts" (Rev. 9:20-21). How awesomely amazingly, wondrously sobering and EXPONENTIALLY tragic beyond all imagination, that the inhabitants of this ravished world would still rather follow their demonic masters and their base practices after all that has come to pass. SUPRA-insanity, SUPRA-hysteria, SUPRA-lunacy, does not even begin to explain, nor describe these wretched souls and their mental state (2 Thess. 2: 5-12). As Almighty God cries out in His GRACE and MERCY and in His wondrous ETERNAL love to His creation; Turn, repent and be saved and yield your hearts to the perfect spiritual and natural absolutes of peace and righteousness (Isa. 32:17, James 3:18)! Receive My pardon found in My Beloved Son and have and enjoy ETERNAL life (John 3:16-17) and enjoy ME, your Creator in spirit and in truth for EVER (John 4:24) as was My design! But astonishingly, these unrepentant transgressors reply in a violent and raging harmony - to the LOVE and GRACE of Almighty God and shriek - NEVER!!! And as it were, these give Almighty God the "branch to the nose" as they hold on to their delusion and demonic insanity with an iron clasped fist. Almighty God's Word states of this time: And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness (2 Thess. 2:10-12). As the Second Woe comes to a horrific and devastating conclusion, one may ask himself, "What can ever top that?" It has been now exactly forty-two months and three and one half days since the Anti Christ's confirming of the covenant with the world against Israel (Dan. 9:27, Rev. 6:2; 11:7-14) and since then, it has been absolute hell on earth for them (totally beyond one's comprehension today) and a non stop EXPONENTIAL global blood bath. Jacob's Trouble! As we are now about to see, Israel and its hosts of unbelieving Jews (Rev. 11:8) will now begin to feel the chastening hand of Almighty God, the global ravishing of Satan's hatred and the world's wrath. It will be Israel's unrepentant heart and hostility against Almighty God's SUPER ABOUNDING mercy and grace (Ezek. 39:26, Matt. 22:1-13, 24:51, Luke 14:15-27, Rev. 11:8) that will then allow and open the HORRIFIC door of GREAT tribulation and Jacob's trouble (Jer. 30:18, Ezek 39:26, Dan. 9:27, 11: 45, 12:1, 11, Zech. 13:8-9, 14:1-2, Matt. 24:15-19, Mark 13:14-19, Luke 21:20-24, Rev. 12, Rev. 13). It will be after the death, resuscitation and ascension of the Two Witnesses of Almighty God that Almighty God's Divine hedge protecting Israel will be removed and GREAT HORRIFIC persecution (Demonic and human) will now take place against her (Jer. 30:1-8, Dan. 12:1, Zech. 13:8-9, 14:-2, Matt. 24:15-22, Mark 13:14-20, Luke 21:20-24, Rev. 12:12-17). The Second Woe has now come to a horrific conclusion following the Two Witnesses' resuscitation and ascension into Heaven in front of the newly reigning Anti Christ (Matt. 24:15, Rev. 13:1-5) and ALL of their global God hating enemies (Rev. 11:7-14). The Two Witnesses' POWERFUL ascension has now only confirmed and validated ALL of their Divine message to unbelieving Israel and to a godless world. The godless confederacy of lawless men and fallen angels can NEVER stop Almighty God's ETERNAL plan for the ages! Thus the proclamation from Heaven, "And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign forever and ever. And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshiped God, Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned." Rev. 11:15-17 Exceeding terror and reality now permeates ALL of the world's godless inhabitants because of their dreaded enemies ascension (Rev.11: 7-12)! However this will not turn their hearts unto repentance for they will now ONLY double down with great rage, hatred and vindictiveness and enter into an ETERNAL covenant of perdition with Satan's beast and receive his mark and worship his image in FULL defiance against Almighty God (Matt. 24:15, Thess. 2:10-12, Rev. 13, 14:9-11)! The accumulated EXPONENTIAL catastrophic events of these first 3 1/2 years HAVE NOW set the stage and have tilled the ground for Lucifer's global "666" ultra fascist state. The "Great Tribulation" also called "Jacob's Trouble", HAS NOW BEGUN! With the institution of the Abomination of Desolation (Jer. 30, Dan. 12, Zech.11. Matt. 24:15, Rev. 11:1-2, 12:9-17, 13). Events for Israel and the godless world's inhabitants will only now get even more EXPONENTIALLY worse, to the point of unimaginable proportions (Dan. 12:1, Matt. 24:21)! It will be now (with the final Third Woe and Trumpet judgment) that Lucifer and His angels will be cast out of Heaven and confined to this puny planet until Messiah's return. He will now seek all of his focus on the destruction of Israel and her remnant and make war with any who profess Jesus is Lord. For at this time great WOE unto is upon ALL the inhabitants of the earth, for Lucifer knows his time is short and is filled with GREAT wrath (Rev. 12:12). My dear friend, please try to comprehend that ALL current global events in our nation and in our world are heading to this destination and EXPONENTIALLY beyond (Rev. 19:11-21)! There is absolutely NO hope for mankind apart from their Creator and Savior (John 3:16-17, Gal.1:4). My dear friend, do you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ? All your ETERNAL future depends on this very union. May it be so! The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand! News from Hal Lindsey Media Ministries - Hal Lindsey - www.hallindsey.com If a Bible scholar considers a prophecy to be symbolic it is usually because he or she can't imagine how the prophecy could be fulfilled literally. For instance, many Bible scholars and teachers in the past couldn't conceive of Israel ever becoming an actual nation again. So they allegorized hundreds of Bible prophecies that require a revived Israel. Some still hold to old misinterpretations even after God has literally done what He promised to do. Some teachers have scoffed at the idea that the coming Antichrist and False Prophet could be literal figures who literally rule the world. One of the reasons they found the Bible's prediction of such characters to be fantastical is because they couldn't imagine how any government could monitor the retail activities of the world. The prophets predicted that no one will be able to buy or sell without pledging allegiance to the Antichrist. Also, how could the False Prophet make certain that everyone in the world always remains reverential toward the Antichrist. The prophets said that he will cause anyone who refuses to worship the Antichrist to be executed. A lot of people dismissed these prophecies as impossible to fulfill because they couldn't imagine how they could be accomplished. Some of us suspected it would be done it with technology, but until recently, we didn't know how powerful technology could be or how completely it could control our lives. Now we are beginning to see it implemented and it is stunning. To see what's coming and what's possible, just look at China. China is a hybrid. It has a market-driven economy, but it is run by a communist oligarchy. By itself, capitalism cannot guarantee human rights. Since I reported last year on China's new "social credit score" system, we've learned more about it. What we're learning is jaw-dropping. Chinese officials say the system is necessary to stop terrorism, tax fraud, identity theft, voter fraud, child addiction to video games, and hundreds of other problems. And who wouldn't want to stop those things? But power grabs rarely begin with brute force. Political or economic problems usually pave the way. That makes the need for a solution seem reasonable and logical. The problems are real, but China's solution is a pretext. It is an excuse to consolidate the regime's control over Chinese citizens. It is two evils rolled into one. First, it is a vast surveillance system that receives and coordinates data from all government agencies and many businesses. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation says China already has more than 200 million high-definition surveillance cameras in use with many more to come. They are connected to facial recognition software. The system also uses satellites and drones. The government monitors supermarket checkouts to know who buys what. The system knows who pays their bills on time and who doesn't. It monitors how well they sort their garbage for recycling. It monitors all online chats, no matter how innocuous. In the future, the government will monitor what kinds of books the Chinese buy and which internet articles they read. Medical and dental records will be part of the system. Obviously, any kind of information about everyone will be fair game for use in the system. Second, it is a system of coercion and control. Using all of the information the government has gathered through its surveillance, every person is assigned a "social credit score." Those with high scores (more favorable to the government) receive various perks. They get cheaper public transportation and shorter wait times. Since the government controls access to health care, a citizen's social credit score may mean the difference between life and death. Bureaucrats may seek to reduce healthcare costs by eliminating less cooperative or desirable citizens. The social credit score decides what kind of job is available to each person. A score can get one hired or fired, promoted or demoted. Last year, 17.5 million Chinese citizens with low social credit scores were denied the ability to purchase airline tickets. The system blocked 5.5 million citizens from buying train tickets. And the complete system hasn't even been fully implemented yet! China's Communist Party (which rules the country) says the social credit system will "allow the trustworthy to roam freely under heaven while making it harder for the discredited to take a single step." The problem is, the Chinese government trusts no one. Fortunately, most western nations have publicly condemned China's social credit system. But that's only a public posture since most of those nations are also struggling to solve problems like terrorism, tax evasion, voter fraud, and crime. And many of them are quietly considering systems similar to China's. Canada's law enforcement agencies have instituted something called the "Risk-driven Tracking Database." They are busily collecting all kinds of information, ostensibly to locate "at-risk" young people. But, they are also using Artificial Intelligence to predict who is "likely" to commit a crime. If you're a Christian in Canada, you should take note of this system. The Bible says many things that the Canadian government considers hate-speech. Will we reach a point where Christians will be arrested as a preemptive measure? It certainly seems we're headed in that direction, and we're headed there fast. Finally, with everything hurtling toward the apocalyptic climax of the end of the Age of Grace, this could be a time of terrible despair. But it doesn't have to be. Our despair turns to joy when we come to know God's greatest promise of all -- Jesus Christ. More than two thousand years ago, Jesus stepped out of the Judean hills claiming to be God's long-promised Messiah. Thousands believed Him. Others rejected Him as a fraud. For twenty centuries, Jesus has been the most controversial figure in the pages of literature and history. Great good and colossal evil have been done in His name. Wars have been fought over this gentle, Jewish prophet. On this week's program, I am going to examine some of the reasons why I am firmly convinced that Jesus Christ is precisely who He claimed to be -- the Messiah. Don't miss this week's Report on TBN, Daystar, CPM Network, various local stations, www.hallindsey.com or www.hischannel.com . Check your local listings. What Is This "Born-Again" Thing, Exactly? - By Gene Lawley - https://www.raptureready.com/2019/03/13/born-thing-exactly-gene-lawley/ It was Jesus who abruptly confronted Nicodemus that night, saying, "You must be born again!" (John 3:3-6). It was a total shock to Nicodemus who was steeped in the tradition of the Pharisees, scribes and religious leaders of Israel. Jesus later warned the disciples, "Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees" (Matthew 16:6). Their "leaven" or life-giving doctrine, so to speak, was the law which did not produce life but, actually, death. So, what is this born-again thing and why a must? Some have attempted to use that term to explain their change of mind or purpose, but it was not the transformation Jesus had in mind. The Bible speaks often of man's need to repent of his sins, such as in Acts 17:30: "Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent," and 2 Peter 3:9: "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise [of Christ's return], as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." New Year's Resolutions are a familiar type of repentance, and you know how long that exercise lasts for most of us. So we can repent of our practices and habits to some extent, sometimes. Once I was a smoker and was concerned about getting cancer, so I chewed gum for a month instead of smoking. A month of that and I began smoking again as if I had never stopped. Later on, having a bad cold and sore throat, I was smoking menthol-flavored cigarettes and wishing I could quit the habit. Abruptly, that moment one night, I prayed (probably the second time I had ever done that), saying, "God, if You will help me quit smoking, I'll try to do my part." The next morning I awoke with no desire for a cigarette, as was commonly the case, and felt clean and refreshed. I was amazed, and for two weeks I even told others how it had happened. Then, curiosity took hold, and I tested the "repentance" and found out that I could not do my part after all. Something else had to happen, but what was it? It comes down to this-all people, all of us, are born of Adam. Through the generations, we arrive at our birth from our mom and dad with that spiritual and physical death written in our genes and DNA. How can we quit being a child of Adam, because no child of Adam will ever enter the kingdom of heaven? We must be born-again, a spiritual transaction. However, I was so spiritually dead that I did not grasp what God had done in me that I could not do. It is a God thing. There is no act of repentance that mankind can undertake that will accomplish the transformation needed to change a person from one of Adam's offspring to a child of God. Then why preach repentance to people? Man is not aware, really, of the depth of his separation from God. We are taught a concept of God that speaks of the love of God but leaves out the necessary justice of God, that He must confront the sinfulness of mankind. Romans 3:23 speaks to that, saying, "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Jesus came first to the Jews, for salvation is of the Jews, and the gospel was first to the Jews according to John 4:22 and Romans 1:16. However, He was not received by them, and John 1:12-13 tells us this: "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." It says, "...Who are born, not of blood," that is, not of family inheritance, like a Christian family or as an American citizen. Then, "...Nor of the will of the flesh," that is, trying to keep the law as best you can, or doing good works like baptism or joining a church or taking communion. Then, "...Nor of the will of man," that is, by confirmation by a priest or some other third-party action. It is a God thing. In Matthew 16:13-17, Jesus is inquiring of the disciples who people are saying He is, and they list several of the prophets. Then, Jesus asked them who they think He is, and Peter bursts out with, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God," and Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven." So, what is so crucial about that, you may ask? Could "flesh and blood" have done that? No, never! That is our problem as sons of Adam; we are born spiritually dead-unable to comprehend or understand spiritual truths. Faith is a gift from God to those willing to accept it, and if you have noticed, the most often repeated word relative to salvation in the Bible is "believe." The meaning of that word is not like a casual nod of agreement but is a belief that is defined more distinctly as "trust." The object of that trust and its trustworthiness is so much greater than finite man that it can only become real and effective by the revelation of God. It is unreachable by man in his own ability as a son of Adam. Two passages reveal this to us. First, in Matthew 16:15-17 above, Peter gives an answer that could only come from God, and Jesus commended him for it by saying, "Flesh and blood did not reveal this to you," but it came from God. That is, neither Peter nor anyone can know that truth except that it is revealed by God to him. Now, look at 1 John 5:1a, which ties this to the "born-again" requirement we are addressing: "Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God...." When Jesus is identified as "the Christ," He is the Messiah-the promised One from heaven, the One who is God in the flesh. Believing that takes special revelation of God. That belief takes one out of the heritage and lineage of Adam and into the family of God as an adopted child of God. A person dies with Christ and rises with Him in his resurrection, just as Galatians 2:20 describes in the words of the Apostle Paul: "I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me; and the life that I live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loves me and gave Himself for me." It is also spelled out in 2 Corinthians 5:17: "Therefore, if anyone be in Christ, he is a new creation; old things are passed away. Behold, all things have become new." With the belief as in 1 John 5:1a above, so crucial to the saving relationship with the Lord, it is no wonder that the fact of God's appearing in the flesh of mankind is denied in the foundational arguments of the false prophets. John also speaks to this in 1 John 4:1-3: "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world." It is not surprising that the enemy would target the most important "bullseye" for his deceptive false doctrine. It is evident in Scripture that the devil continually challenged the claim that Jesus made of His deity, that He is the great "I AM before Abraham was" (John 8:58). And also, that belief of that fact is the doorway to eternal life, the "born-again" requirement for becoming a child of God. It is also evident that the necessity is that it be by a revelation of God and not of man's effort. Paul sums it up in Titus 3:4-5 like this: "But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit." You must be born-again! Contact email: [email protected] Daily Jot: Double-minded Congress raises Constitutional crisis - Bill Wilson - www.dailyjot.com The Senate voted 59-41 Thursday to block President Donald Trump's national emergency declaration to build a wall at the US-Mexico border. The House passed the bill last month. Trump tweeted "veto" after the Senate vote. Those Republicans voting against the emergency resolution were: Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Susan Collins (R-ME), Mike Lee (R-UT), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Roy Blunt (R-MO), Rand Paul (R-KY), Pat Toomey (R-PA), Rob Portman (R-OH), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Mit Romney (R-UT). Some Republican senators voted against the Emergency Resolution because they believe it should not be used to circumvent the Constitution. The Constitution requires the House of Representatives to originate spending bills. The border wall will cost several billion dollars and the House refuses to authorize money for it. It is all part of the obstructionist game the House Democrats are playing to undermine the Trump presidency-anything he wants, they oppose. The Democrats in Congress, assisted by a handful of like-minded Republicans have brought government to a standstill, mainly over the hate of Trump. Some could argue that this is not true, but just turn on a news program and it is self-evident. These establishment politicians didn't get the president they wanted so they are shutting things down until he is removed from office. This is the real Constitutional crisis. Those standing on Constitutional principle, or who are making the Constitutional argument, should at least be consistent. Article 6 Clause 3 of the Constitution requires members of the House and Senate to support the Constitution. The Senate oath of office says, "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic." The House oath is similar. Defending the Constitution implies upholding the laws of the nation and protecting national security. The inconsistency for Congress is that it is allowing an invasion of illegal immigrants into this country at great risk to national security. Herein, they are not upholding or defending the Constitution. To say that they oppose an Emergency Resolution that would protect national security on Constitutional grounds is therefore hypocritical. Congress thus far has opted to oppose any plan that would protect our nation's borders. Whether it is a wall or some other effective measure, arguments that this illegal invasion is not a matter of national security do not meet the straight face test. They say they are upholding the Constitution by their vote against Trump's national security resolution, yet they are ignoring their duty to require enforcement of border security. What does the Bible say about these things...James 1:8, "A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways." Daily Devotion: Our Spiritual Gold Mine - by Greg Laurie - www.harvest.org For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. - Philippians 2:13 During the California Gold Rush of the mid-1800s, people came from around the nation, even the world, to find their fortune. I think people thought the gold was just lying around on the streets. But they had to go and mine it and work at it in hopes of discovering the mother lode. When the apostle Paul wrote, "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12 NKJV), he was saying it's like a mine. Go and discover all that God has done for you. Extract it. Live it out. Understand it. Appreciate it. Find out what it actually means for you. This means working out our own salvation with self-distrust. We come with a reverence for God and a distrust of ourselves. We can't do this in our own strength. Paul continues, "For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure" (verse 13 NKJV). Some people say, "God does it all. I do nothing." Others say, "I do it all and God does nothing." Both of those views are wrong. God does it through you as you mine it and discover it for yourself. Work out your own salvation with self-distrust, for it is God who is working in you. The phrase "fear and trembling" doesn't mean that Paul is suggesting we can lose our salvation. You can make a recommitment to Christ if you need to, but once you have eternal life, it is a gift to you from God. You are born again once. The devil loves to challenge what God has said. We must stand on the promises of God and not our emotions, because our emotions can mislead us. Don't work for your salvation; work out your salvation. What an incredible gift it is. FROM THE HEART
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