Prophecy Update Newsletter
IN TODAY'S NEWSLETTER...
The Angel of the Lord: Part 5 - By Randy Nettles -
https://www.raptureready.com/2020/03/15/the-angel-of-the-lord-part-5-by-randy-nettles/ The Egyptians buried their dead on the same day as the Hebrews left Egypt. Israel's descendants were a free people at last. "Then the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides children. A mixed multitude went up with them also, and flocks and herds-a great deal of livestock" (Exodus 12:37-38). The total number of people that left Egypt is estimated to have been about three million people (men, women, and children). Some of them were probably Egyptians and others who had seen the Hebrew God, Jehovah, in action and decided to follow the children of Israel and their God. There are two theories on the length of captivity of the children of Israel in Egypt. Many Bible students believe they lived in Egypt for 430 years because of the following verses: "Now the sojourn of the children of Israel who lived in Egypt was four hundred and thirty years. And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years-on that very same day-it came to pass that all the armies of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt. It is a night of solemn observance to the Lord for bringing them out of the land of Egypt. This is that night of the Lord, a solemn observance for all the children of Israel throughout their generations" (Exodus 12:40-42). The other theory for the length of the Hebrews captivity is 215 years. So which is it? Is the duration of the children of Israel living in Egypt 215 years or 430 years? I believe the answer is 215 years for the following reasons. One of the meanings of the word "sojourn" is "strangers." Abraham and his descendants were strangers in the land of Canaan and Egypt for a total of 430 years. After the end of the 430 years, they left Egypt. The Hebrews made their exodus on the night (midnight) and early morning after the "Passover" event occurred. As several million people were involved, it probably took the next day as well before they completely left the land of Egypt. It was exactly 430 years to the day (Nisan 14) after the Lord made His covenant with Abraham. "And it came to pass, when the sun went down and it was dark, that behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a burning torch that passed between those pieces. On the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying: To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates" (Genesis 15:17-18). This was a theophany of Elohim which pre-figured the Passover of Moses' generation. According to Genesis 15:9, Abraham's pre-Passover event featured the following animals being sacrificed: a heifer of 3 years old, a she goat of 3 years old, a ram of 3 years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon. Regarding sacrifices unto the Lord, a male lamb of the first year was required for the original Passover of Moses' time. The 3rd great event that transpired on Nisan 14 (day of Passover) was Jesus' crucifixion in the year AD 33. Jesus himself was the sacrifice that was required by God (Elohim/Father) for the Passover to be finally complete. "For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. We are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once and for all" (Hebrews 10:4,10). Significant events sometimes occur in "threes." The number 3 is one of God's perfect numbers and represents divine perfection. {1} Both of these "Pass-over/Pass-between" events for Abraham and his descendants occurred on the first full moon of spring. Spring is the season when the Hebrews' annual calendar begins. Nisan is the name for the first month (originally it was called Abib), and Passover occurs on the 14th day of this month. Passover always occurs on the first full moon of spring. Some people say extraordinary things happen on a full moon... maybe it's true! The Jewish historian, Josephus, comments on the time line of the Jewish exodus events: "They left Egypt on the 15th day of the lunar month (Nisan 15) 430 years after our forefather Abraham came into Canaan" (Antiquities of the Jews 2:15:2). Both the Samaritan Pentateuch and Septuagint add "and in Canaan" in verse 40 of Exodus 12. The Septuagint, quoted by Paul in Galatians 3:17 says: "the sojourning of the sons of Israel who dwelt in the land of Egypt and Canaan was 430 years. Because they lived in Canaan before they dwelt in Egypt. The Lord brought His people out of Egypt in 1446 BC, exactly 215 years after Joseph brought his brethren to Egypt in 1661 BC; and 430 years after He made a covenant with Abraham in 1876 BC. {2} Why did God allow the children of Israel (Jacob) to live in the land of Egypt for so long? Much of that time was spent under bondage to their Egyptian taskmasters? Why didn't God lead them back to the land of their forefathers in Canaan sooner? There is only one reason I can think of. God wanted them kept together so they wouldn't separate from each other and live in different lands. Jacob's sons were shepherds, and they kept all kinds of livestock. They had to go where the grass was greener, you might say. It was the same reason why Abraham and Lot had to separate from one another. There just wasn't enough land in one area for all of their flocks. If the descendants of Jacob hadn't been kept together (even as slaves), they might not have ever developed into a nation. Of course, God had it all planned out, as usual. His ways are not our ways, and His timing is not the same as ours. "Then it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt. So God led the people around by way of the wilderness of the Red Sea. And the children of Israel went up in orderly ranks out of the land of Egypt. And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for he had placed the children of Israel under solemn oath, saying, God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here with you. "So they took their journey from Succoth and camped in Etham at the edge of the wilderness. And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night. He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from before the people" (Exodus 13:17-22). This theophany of Jehovah and the Holy Spirit resembled the earlier one of Abraham's day (during the covenant) where supernatural objects of nature (fire and light) were involved. These objects never departed from the presence of the children of Israel the whole time they were traveling in the wilderness. The pillar of cloud kept them cool by day, and the pillar of fire kept them warm at night. They also guided the people in the direction the Lord wanted them to go. Exodus 14 describes the Egyptian army pursuing the children of Israel after their exit from Egypt. Pharaoh told his servants, "And it was told the king of Egypt that the people fled: and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people, and they said, Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us? And he made ready his chariot, and took his people with him: And he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over every one of them. And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of Israel: and the children of Israel went out with an high hand. But the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pihahiroth, before Baalzephon" (Exodus 14:5-9). The Hebrews saw the Egyptians pursuing after them on chariots and became terrified. They had already forgotten how the Lord protected them from the plagues He sent upon the land of Egypt. "The sons of Israel said unto Moses, 'Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Leave us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness. And Moses said unto the people, 'Fear you not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will show to you to day: for the Egyptians whom you have seen to day, you shall see them again no more for ever" (Exodus 14:11-13). During the night, the Israelites were confronted by the Red Sea in front of them and the Egyptian army behind them. To keep the Egyptians from overtaking God's people, Jehovah acted on their behalf. "And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them: And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night" (Exodus 14:19-20). The Holy Spirit, in the form of a pillar of clouds, covered the Egyptians with darkness, while He supplied light for the camp of Israel. Jehovah, in the form of a mighty angel (Angel of the Lord) stood by as the rear guard for the camp. He was probably not visible as He was shielded by the pillar of cloud. What happens next is one of the greatest miracles recorded in the Bible. "And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided" (Exodus 14:21). In the morning the Israelites went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right side, and on their left. "And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, even all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the Lord looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians, And took off their chariot wheels, that they drove them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the Lord fights for them against the Egyptians" (Exodus 14:23-25). Verse 24 of Exodus says the Lord looked through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, whereas verse 19 mentions the Angel of God. This is proof that the Angel of the Lord and Jehovah are the same Person, albeit in different forms. The Lord then tells Moses to stretch out his hand and rod over the sea, and the walls of water came crashing down on the Egyptian army. "And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them. But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left. Thus the Lord saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore. And Israel saw that great work which the Lord did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the Lord, and believed the Lord, and his servant Moses" (Exodus 12:28-31). The Lord Jehovah, as the Angel of the Lord, did a supernatural work for the children of Israel and divided the Red Sea by his mighty power. He killed the host of the Egyptians and saved the newly formed nation of Israel from destruction. This was a theophany where the form of the Angel of the Lord was an actual angel and not a man. Of all God's creation, only an angel has that kind of power. Many centuries after this historic event for Israel, the great Jewish prophet Isaiah reflected on this supernatural act of the Lord. "Then he remembered the days of old, Moses and his people, saying: Where is He who brought them up out of the sea, with the shepherd of His flock? Where is He who put His Holy Spirit within them, who led them by the right hand of Moses, With His glorious arm, dividing the water before them to make for Himself an everlasting name, who led them through the deep, as a horse in the wilderness, so they might not stumble? As a beast goes down into the valley, and the Spirit of the Lord causes him to rest, so You lead Your people, to make Yourself a glorious name" (Isaiah 63:11-14). Immediately after the Angel of the Lord destroyed Pharaoh's army, Moses and the children of Israel sang a song of victory unto God. You can read all of it in Exodus 15. It is a very descriptive account of how the Angel of the Lord parted the Red Sea for the children of Israel and destroyed Pharaoh's army. Here are a few lines of that great old Hebrew song that describes this supernatural event: "The Lord is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation; He is my God, and I will praise Him; My father's God, and I will exalt Him. The Lord is a man of war; The Lord is His name. Pharaoh's chariots and his army He has cast into the sea; His chosen captains also are drowned in the Red Sea. The depths have covered them; They sank to the bottom like a stone. Your right hand, O Lord, has become glorious in power; Your right hand, O Lord, has dashed the enemy to pieces. And in the greatness of Your excellence You have overthrown those who rose against You; You sent forth Your wrath; It consumed them like stubble. "And with the blast of Your nostrils The waters were gathered together; The floods stood upright like a heap; The depths congealed in the heart of the sea. The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; My desire shall be satisfied on them. I will draw my sword, My hand shall destroy them. You blew with Your wind, The sea covered them; They sank like lead in the mighty waters. Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, Fearful in praises, doing wonders? You stretched out Your right hand; The earth swallowed them. You in Your mercy have led forth The people whom You have redeemed; You have guided them in Your strength To Your holy habitation" (Exodus 15:2-13). After the celebration at the Red Sea, the Angel of the Lord and the pillars of clouds/fire continued to lead the children of Israel through the wilderness on their long journey to the Promised Land. Moses and Aaron, both descendants of Jacob's 3rd son Levi, were God's appointed ruler and priest for the new nation of Israel. Moses, the servant of God, made sure the last words and prophecy of Joseph (11th son of Jacob) were fulfilled: "I die and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.' And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, 'God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.'" (Genesis 50:24-25). Randy Nettles [email protected] Endnotes: {1} https://www.raptureready.com/2018/10/19/gods-perfect-number-part-1-randy-nettles/ {2} https://www.raptureready.com/2015/12/15/epochs-time-bible-chronology-6000-years-mankind-randy-nettles/ Foreshocks Of Revelation: One Day Everything Will Be Shaken - By Michael Brown/AskDrBrown.org - https://www.prophecynewswatch.com/article.cfm?recent_news_id=3913 It's true that the coronavirus is causing upheaval around the world. Whole countries are being quarantined. Massive sports events are being cancelled. Schools are being closed. The stock markets are collapsing. But this is a mere tremor compared to what is coming. One day the whole earth will be shaken. As the author of Hebrews tells us, the Lord "has promised, 'Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.' The words 'once more' indicate the removing of what can be shaken -- that is, created things -- so that what cannot be shaken may remain" (Hebrews 12:26-27). Everything will be shaken on that day. This is how Jesus described it: "There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken" (Luke 21:25-26). Or, in the vivid language of the Book of Revelation, "Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free, hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They called to the mountains and the rocks, 'Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?'" (Revelation 6:15-17) Can you even imagine a scene like this? Very few want to talk about God's judgment today, even within the church. Preachers choose to avoid it, and the congregants cheer them on. "Give us sweet stuff! Give us happy stuff! Tell us nice stories. Make us smile! We don't want to hear about judgment. That makes God sound mean." To the contrary, that makes God sound just. He will judge unrighteousness. He will punish the wicked. He will bring retribution. That is good news for the righteous and the godly. As the psalmist said, "Let all creation rejoice before the LORD, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his faithfulness" (Psalm 96:13). Judgment on the wicked also means salvation for the righteous. The Book of Revelation also speaks of the pouring out of 7 bowls of divine wrath on the earth, resulting in horrific judgments on those who refuse to repent (see Revelation 16). There will be no vaccines or cures on that day. There will be no intervention by the federal government. There will be no way of escape - other than running to the Lord for mercy and taking refuge under His wings. Judgment is certainly coming! Isaiah put it like this (please read this slowly and prayerfully): See, the LORD is going to lay waste the earth and devastate it; he will ruin its face and scatter its inhabitants-- it will be the same for priest as for people, for the master as for his servant, for the mistress as for her servant, for seller as for buyer, for borrower as for lender, for debtor as for creditor. The earth will be completely laid waste and totally plundered. The LORD has spoken this word. The earth dries up and withers, the world languishes and withers, the heavens languish with the earth. The earth is defiled by its people; they have disobeyed the laws, violated the statutes and broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore a curse consumes the earth; its people must bear their guilt. Therefore earth's inhabitants are burned up, and very few are left (Isaiah 24:1-6). Even if we understand that the prophets sometimes spoke in hyperbolic language, the overall meaning of these words is undeniable: one day severe judgment will fall on a guilty planet. Yet even in the midst of this terrifying description, there are words of hope for God's people. In fact, there is a divine invitation to take refuge in Him: Go, my people, enter your rooms and shut the doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until his wrath has passed by. See, the LORD is coming out of his dwelling to punish the people of the earth for their sins. The earth will disclose the blood shed on it; the earth will conceal its slain no longer (Isaiah 26:20-21). As Proverbs states, "The name of the LORD is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe" (Proverbs 18:10). And as Psalm 91 declares, there is a place of protection, a hiding place, in God Most High. (See here for an exposition of the psalm in Hebrew.) That's why Jesus said this to His followers, immediately after warning of the judgment that would be coming to the earth: "When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near" (Luke 21:28). The coming of the Lord is at hand. And that's why the very passage from Hebrews that we quoted at the beginning of this article ends with this: "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.'" (Hebrews 12:28-29) The whole world will be shaken, but God's kingdom -- and God's people -- will not be shaken. As the psalmist declared, "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day" (Psalm 46:1-5). And this: "Surely the righteous will never be shaken; they will be remembered forever. They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the LORD. Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear; in the end they will look in triumph on their foes" (Psalm 112:6-8). It is true that the coronavirus has taken many lives so far, and every life is precious. And it is true that many more lives could be lost, along with real suffering for hundreds of millions due to economic crises. But this is only a small blip on the radar compared to what is coming. Now would be a good time for us, as God's holy people, to learn to trust Him in the midst of crisis, putting our spiritual roots down deep. Now would be a good time to realize that all life is transitory and that, at best, we are only passing through this world. Now would be a good time to take hold afresh of the beauty of the cross and the gift of eternal life. And now would be a good time to be used as agents of mercy and hope to a hurting world. In Jesus, we have all that we will ever need. And in Him, we will never be shaken. Nearing Midnight: Abraham's Assurance and the Ayatollahs - Terry James - https://www.raptureready.com/category/nearing-midnight/ Some years ago I wrote the following: Israel is the one nation in human history that the Creator of all things chose to be "a people unto himself": "For thou [art] an holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that [are] upon the face of the earth" (Deuteronomy 7:6). Jehovah made promises to the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that are staggering in their implications. He promised to bless those who bless the nation that would spring from the loins of these men, and warned about His curse for those who cursed those people. God said to Abraham, "Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed" (Genesis 12:1-3). Certainly, this promise can easily be verified as coming true throughout recorded history. The modern record, as a matter of fact, is contemporary proof of the veracity of the Almighty and His prophetic promises. Historians-except those blinded by the great deceiver, Lucifer-concede, sometime reluctantly, that Israel's history in ancient times was a record of greatness. David and Solomon's exploits and accomplishments are legendary, but built upon archaeological facts. Israel has achieved greatness among the nations of this earthly sphere. My words of those earlier times have continued to prove true, because the facts involved come directly from God's Word. Israel remains an amazing fulfillment of the stage being set for the ultimate accomplishment of prophecy yet future. We've looked many times at recent examples of such stage-setting. The nations of Russia, Iran, Turkey, and others are preparing for their fateful plunge southward over "the mountains of Israel." It will be the attack Ezekiel the prophet said would come from the military coalition he called Gog and Magog. Those nations are in constant, interactive ferment north of Jerusalem. Every day there are reports of this intermingling. Sometimes they are against each other, as when Turkey threatens Russia's client state, Syria. Sometimes Russia and Turkey can be seen hugging, like when Russia's Vladimir Putin recently met with Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as they continue to plan how best to divide their aggression in some sort of semi-orderly fashion. Persia (Iran) is right in the middle of the fermentation taking place. One day-post Rapture, I'm convinced-these three (Russia, Iran, and Turkey) will determine to take Israel's riches-the riches that God promised His chosen nation long ago. It is with this as prologue that I want to think a moment on a recent news item, with regard to God's promises to Abraham all those millennia ago. To me, the current headlines could not be clearer. The veracity of God's blessings to the old patriarch is being proven right before our twenty-first-century eyes. While in Israel the coronavirus outbreak is stil, somehow under control, Iran is rapidly becoming a devastated country as a result of the COVID-19 virus and the Islamist regime is hiding the unprecedented disaster while doing not enough to contain the crisis. Officially the regime says that 3.500 people were infected with the COVID-19 virus while the official death toll is now 107. "This disease is a widespread disease. It has reached almost all our provinces and in one sense it's a global disease," Iran's President Hassan Rouhani admitted during a cabinet meeting in Tehran while reaffirming the official data about the corona outbreak. If we take a look at information coming from non-government sources inside and outside Iran, we will understand Rouhani's words were an understatement. First of all, Iranian lawmakers such as Abdul Karim Hosseinzadeh revealed that in the holy Shiite city of Qom and Rasht another Iranian city the situation is so bad that streets are full of dead bodies. "Corpses in Qom are piling up," Hosseinzadeh wrote on his Twitter account. The Iranian MP warned that if the regime doesn't take appropriate action such as quarantining cities Iran will have the highest death toll in the world. (Yochanan Visser, "Iran Attempting to Hide the Disaster It Faces as the COVID-19 Virus Spreads Out of Control within the Islamic Republic," Israel National News, May 3, 2020) I'm aware that we must be cautious of appending to current issues and events God's holy, prophetic Word through "newspaper exegesis." However, it is proper and even expected to examine whether certain issues and events taking place harbor prophetic truth. The Ayatollahs of Iran have for years cursed Israel in the vilest terms. They lead in chants, "Death to Israel!" They call Jews the worst names of degradation they can conjure. We must consider whether the Lord's promises recorded in Genesis 12 are being proven true in today's headlines with regard to the coronavirus. Coronavirus: The Good News - By Tré Goins-Phillips - https://www.faithwire.com/2020/03/16/coronavirus-the-good-news/ Have I washed my hands enough today? Am I carrying the coronavirus right now and I just don't know it? Have I crossed paths with someone who's infected? What about my job? How bad will the economy get? Life in the middle of a pandemic can be a little jarring - especially with all the negative news and uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus. While there is now - and always will be - plenty to be concerned about, I've quickly found out it's really important, perhaps now more than ever, to find and savor the things worth celebrating. As it turns out, not all of the news is bad news. So here's a list of 13 good news stories relating to the novel coronavirus: 1. Wuhan, which was the epicenter of the COVID-19 epidemic, has closed the last of its 16 temporary coronavirus hospitals because there aren't enough patients to keep them open. 2. Dutch researchers have discovered a human antibody they believe "offers potential for prevention and treatment of COVID-19." The lead researcher, Berend-Jan Bosch, made clear, though, it is "still too soon" to know when it might be workable on people. 3. A 103-year-old woman in Wuhan has become the oldest person to beat the novel coronavirus. She recovered only six days after being admitted to the hospital. American in Spain Talks About National Lockdown During Coronavirus Pandemic: 'Everything Is Just Deserted' 4. All the Apple stores in China have reopened after being closed for one month amid the height of the coronavirus outbreak in the country. 5. The Cleveland Clinic has developed a drive-through coronavirus test that can give patients results in one day. 6. South Korea is finally seeing a decline in the number of new cases of the novel coronavirus, though it should be noted they have seen an emerging cluster in Seoul. 7. Experts observing the heartbreaking situation in Italy are surmising that the catastrophic number of critical cases is due, at least in part, to the country's aging population. 8. Israeli researchers are close to announcing the development of a coronavirus vaccine. However, a lengthy process of pre-clinical and clinical trials will have to come before it's available to the public. 9. Over the weekend, the governor of Maryland announced the first three people in the state to have confirmed cases of coronavirus have recovered. 10. A group of scientists in Canada have successfully isolated and grown copies of the coronavirus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic. Isolating the virus, researchers said, will help in developing vaccines and treatment regimens. Amazon Sees Spike in Shopping, Warns Customers of Delays and Shortages 11. A biotech company in San Diego says it has identified a vaccine for the novel coronavirus. Arcturus Therapeutics is working with Duke University and the National University of Singapore to develop the vaccination. 12. The health department in Oklahoma has said the first identified patient in Tulsa, a man who had traveled to Italy, has recovered from the coronavirus. The patient has had two negative tests, indicating a total recovery. 13. Scientists are finding it may be possible to use the plasma from recently recovered coronavirus patients to treat those who have become severely ill as a result of COVID-19 infections. I hope these stories have been as encouraging to you as they have been to me. We will get through this pandemic. That's not to discount the suffering that will - and already has - come. But in the midst of such a scary and uncertain time, it's important to cling to the good stuff. In the meantime, please continue to pray for our leaders, our medical personnel, those who are suffering from COVID-19 around the world, and remember to extend grace to one another, because we're all learning about this at the same time. Daily Jot: Prophetic implications of Coronavirus-Part II - Bill Wilson - www.dailyjot.com There are several aspects of the China coronavirus pandemic that have prophetic underpinnings. It certainly is a type and shadow of an end time pestilence, which could result in a great famine, as prophesied by Christ in Matthew 24:7, "...and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes in diverse places." Since this coronavirus has been on the radar, there have been some 33 earthquakes in California, Oklahoma, Tennessee, the Carolinas, New York and Maine. But when we are talking about the specifics of prophecy, it is not about America. It is about Israel. We need to remember that. Yes, prophecy affects America and vice versa, and you and I, but it is centered on Israel and the return of Christ. Unpacking coronavirus prophetically takes a discerning heart. Let's look at when coronavirus began accelerating from its origin in China, and the events that were impacting Israel at the time. My friend, White House Correspondent Bill Koenig has kept track of events facilitated by the US that impact Israel for decades. In his book "Eye to Eye-Facing the Consequences of Dividing Israel," Bill has mapped out every recent president's attempts at divvying up Israel to foster peace in the Middle East. He has found a pattern. Within 48 hours of a president initiating a peace plan that divides Israel, a natural, economic or political disaster hits the US. President Trump's "Deal of the Century" is no different. When it was announced, Bill and I wondered what event would be triggered. Remember when George W Bush and Ariel Sharon forced Israelis from their homes in Gaza? Katrina formed up in the ocean. Bill Koenig has now documented: Coronavirus begins to spread in China-December 31; Trump-China trade deal signed at White House--January 15; Trump-Deal of the Century presented with map at White House--January 28; Forty minutes after President Trump posts his "deal of the century" map on Twitter for his 71.8 million followers, the Miami Fl., financial district was rocked with a 7.7 earthquake--January 28; The coronavirus expansion begins worldwide--January 28; CDC confirms first human-to-human transmission of coronavirus in US--CNBC- January 31. This is not intended to criticize the President. He is doing a good job. These are just the facts-examples of how prophecy and humans interact. There are a lot of conspiracy theories, fake news, and just plain lies being circulated in cyberspace that foment fear, paranoia, and anxiety. Isn't it enough to look at this global issue from the facts? Yes, this is a prophetic event. It is showing us just how fast your freedom can be shackled. It demonstrates how quickly the world can be locked down in response to a crisis. This China coronavirus is no less than a type and shadow of things to come, and only time and events will tell if it is more than that. My advice: Watch carefully for leaders arising out of the Middle East, especially from Turkey and Iran. Study Daniel 8, Ezekiel 38-39, and Matthew 24. Don't get caught up in the wild-eyed claims and conspiracy theories-they are only there to deceive. Be wise. Take care. Show the love of Christ as your testimony. Remember, you are still here and you will be until the Lord decides to remove you. As Christ said in Matthew 24:13, "But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." You are washed in the blood of the Lamb. Do not fear! Daily Devotion: Love and Discernment - by Greg Laurie - www.harvest.org And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment. -Philippians 1:9 Have you ever wondered what to pray when you pray for other Christians? Paul actually gives us the answer in Philippians 1:9-11: And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. (NKJV) Interestingly, Paul is praying they would grow in both love and discernment. Sometimes it seems as though love and discernment are mutually exclusive. In other words, some people seem to be very discerning but not very loving. And some can be very loving but not very discerning. People who say they have a discernment ministry are essentially saying they like to argue and be obnoxious. They challenge everything. And I've found that some of these people are downright mean. On the other hand, some Christians are loving but not discerning. They simply accept everything and everyone, regardless of what they believe. But what they believe actually does matter. There's a place for discernment. Paul prayed for the believers in Philippi to grow in love. Love is a mark of a true Christian. You can't love Jesus and not love the church. You can't love God if you're not willing to love your brother or sister in Christ. In fact, Jesus said, "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:35 NKJV). Don't wait for the emotion. Just take a little step. Make that benevolent gesture. Offer that kind word. Start doing loving things, and your love will grow. A mark of real faith is that you love your Christian brothers and sisters. 
FROM THE HEART
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