Prophecy Update Newsletter
IN TODAY'S NEWSLETTER...
How Much Longer, Lord? - Pete Garcia -
http://www.omegaletter.com/articles/articles.asp?ArticleID=8608 I bet everyone reading this has asked God that very same question at least once or twice. How much longer will this current world-gone-mad continue? It feels like we are at the end, but then days turn into weeks, weeks turn into months, and months into years. But why then does last week, feel like last year? Why does last year, feel like last century? Everything seems to be speeding up, but at the same time, it never seems to culminate into anything tangible? What if 2018 comes and goes and we are still here? All the while, the world continues in its never-ending crush to grind down everything good and decent. It feels like the insane were given the keys to the bus and are hell-bent on driving us off a cliff. Assessment If you have ever had any of the above thoughts, you are not alone. The answer to all of these questions are summed up in two key thoughts:
If the answer is yes to both, then we must understand that God does not do anything unintentionally. Although we may not know the future, it is not hidden from God (Isaiah 46:9-10). However, I know how you are feeling. Acknowledging God's sovereignty and omniscience is not the same thing as understanding when He is going to exercise that authority and take us home. It certainly does not make anyone feel any better about being here longer than we expected. That is why God, in His infinite wisdom, gave us hope. Hope in the form of His Son and His prophetic word. At the cross, Christ conquered both death and hell and holds the keys, since neither could stop Him (Revelation 1:18). For believers, this translates into us not fearing what comes after death. As for the living, we also have hope in the Scriptures. And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. 1 Peter 1:19-21 Assurances With the Son conquering death and hell, which covers our life after this one, our existence here still requires hope. Which is why God gave us hope in the form of His word. For our hope is not a "blind hope." Our hope is rooted in truth. It is grounded in the historical, geological, geographical, theological, and ethical reality. Furthermore, our hope is outlined by God's prophetic word. The same word He places even above His own name (Psalm 138:2). However, the reality of God's word does not appear to ring true in the world today. Why is God's word under assault from every direction? Why can every belief, faith, and religious system in the world get a free pass no matter how egregious, but if you dare mention the biblical Jesus in a public forum, everyone becomes unhinged? For all these questions, we have the signs as mentioned by both Jesus and Scripture. These are the signs that serve as assurances that we were told to look for concerning the time surrounding His coming. Sign #1: The world would be given-over to deception The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 The Bible is clear that once Adam and Eve fell, man surrendered the title deed of the earth over to the fallen angel Lucifer (albeit temporarily). This is how Lucifer (titled Satan the Accuser) could legitimately offer Christ all the kingdoms of the world, because (according to Satan) this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish (Luke 4:5-7). Jesus did not dispute this point when being offered the world. Instead, He rebuked Satan using Scripture...Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.' (vs. 8) Jesus acknowledges at present, the ruler of this world is coming. Paul calls him the 'god of this age,' who deceives and blinds the whole world. Peter calls him the "roaring lion" who walks about seeking whom he can destroy. John calls him the Antichrist but also acknowledges that 'many' antichrists have and will come as well. This is acknowledging not only confirms the physical manifestation of the coming Antichrist but also the power behind him (Satan), who leads the fallen armies of angelic principalities and powers in this world. [John 14:30; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 2:2, 6:12; 1 Peter 5:8; 1 John 2:18, 22,; 2 Jn 1:7] What we are witnessing now in these final moments, is the hardening and quickening of this deception. It is being cemented into the minds of the unbelievers that anything and everything but the truth, is believable (Romans 1:18-32). While it is increasingly uncomfortable living in a world that is becoming more and more hostile to the truth of the Gospel, Jesus forewarned His disciples (and by extension us) that the world would come to view killing us as doing God's work (John 16:2). Jesus later explains that the final three churches addressed in the Seven Letters to the Seven Churches (Revelation 3), come to three different situations based on this demonic deception. Sardis Church: called the 'dead' church for their dead faith. They are rebuked for this and exhorted to "watch," or they will be caught unaware of His coming. Revelation 3:1-6 Philadelphian Church: refuses to give into the world, and as a result, has little strength. They have not denied His name and remain true to God's word. For this, they receive no condemnation and will be delivered before the global hour of testing. Revelation 3:7-13 Laodicean Church: given over to the world, acquires abundant luxuries, and claim they need nothing. In reality, they are poor, blind, and naked. They neither confirm nor deny anything that would cause them discomfort. Their lukewarmness makes Jesus nauseous. Revelation 3:14-22 Because the Laodicean church seemingly becomes the final, dominant face of Christendom on the earth, their refusal to stand up for the truth (i.e., lukewarmness) results in an explosion of apostasy. Countless false teachers, false prophets, and false messiahs arise due to the churches inability or unwillingness to stand for the truth, and millions are led astray. [Matthew 7:13, 24:4-5, 11, 24; 2 Peter 2:1, Jude 1:4] Sign #2: The days of Noah and Lot And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed. Luke 17:26-30 Because the world is given over to this grand deception and currently lies under a veil of blindness, it (the world) is unable to accept the reality that our day is almost identical to the conditions of Noah and Lot's day. Think about it this way: if God and the Bible are true, (they are), then why else is it so hard for people to accept Creationism as our point of origin? Instead they believe in preposterous and completely unprovable theories like Darwinian Evolution or "the Big Bang." The truth is that if the world acknowledged biblical creation, then they would also have to acknowledge Noah and Lot's day. Imagine for a moment, that we lived in a world where there was no spiritual blindness, and all the government and academic institutions actively sought to understand what the world was like before the Noahic flood. How much could we know? A lot more than we do now! Then we would come to understand that the conditions today (population, technology, intelligence, spirituality, etc.) are almost identical to what it was then. Yet, the world we currently live in mocks and scoffs at the idea of biblical creation. They mock and scoff at the idea of a global flood. They mock and scoff at the idea of a place like Sodom and Gomorrah being destroyed for sexual perversity. The world is given over to an intentional, demonic spiritual blindness that refuses to accept the truth. Because of this, like righteous Lot, we too are oppressed and tormented by the unrighteousness that currently surrounds us. ...and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)- then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment 2 Peter 2: 7-9 Sign #3: Faith fading Then the Lord said, "Hear what the unjust judge said. And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?" Luke 18:6-8 Christ asked this rhetorical question at the end of the parable of the unjust judge while He was physically on the earth. So He was not addressing the day He was in then, nor of the time surrounding His Second Coming. We already know that Christ will not return at the Second Coming until the Jewish people cry out "blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord" (Matt. 23:39). The Jewish people will not do this until this veil of blindness is lifted from their eyes and they realize that Jesus of Nazareth, was, in fact, their Messiah whom they pierced (Zechariah 12:10; Romans 11:25). As for the rest of the majority of the world, they are already committed to destruction who are not written in the Lamb's Book of Life (Rev. 13:8). He was speaking about the conditions of the world when He returns for His Church. Will He find faith on the earth when He returns for His bride the Church? Yes. However, the conditions in the world at that time marries up with the last three churches from those out of the Seven Letters.
Conclusion I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. 2 Timothy 4:7-8 The fact that we can also see the clear distinctions in the church today (dead, faithful, apostate) should motivate the believing remnant because these are the stages Jesus told us we would go through. The United States is following Europe's lead in becoming post-Christian very rapidly. As we see more frequently, supposed priests, priestesses, pastors, and other "clergy" are now openly endorsing homosexuality, transgenderism, abortion, pedophilia, open-borders, anti-Semitism, etc. and other anti-Biblical positions with no reprisal. They can only do so because they think they are now in the majority. Meanwhile, their ecumenical lukewarmness has opened the floodgates of other apostate teachings and doctrines of demons. In reality, the only weapon the devil has at his disposal is deception. The world, the universe, are all constructs that God created. For Satan to convince people to reject their Creator, he has to construct false narratives about who we are, where we came from, and where we are going after we die. If you think about it, the devil has to work far harder to keep the truth from bleeding through; then we do exposing it. However, this does not seem very easy at present. Thus, we groan under the oppressive and antagonistic system we are under currently. The fact that we see deception (spiritual, intellectual, technological, etc.) so ramped us as much as we see today, leads to one inescapable conclusion; we are in the final moments of this current age. So while we cannot say conclusively that we have X number of months or years left, we can easily see the light at the end of the tunnel. However, the question will not go away. How much longer? It nags at us. It hounds us. For those who are watching and waiting for His return, it consumes us. As it should. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. Romans 8:20-23 Even So, Maranatha! Watchman Warning: Wake Up! - By Hal Lindsey - https://www.hallindsey.com/ww-3-16-2018/ People often complain that Bible prophecy is too complicated. Why can't it be simple? They want a single chapter or verse that explains it all. Why isn't there a John 3:16 of prophecy? John 14:3 comes close. It says, "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also." (NASB) Jesus is the primary message of the Bible. He is also the primary message of prophecy. If you know Jesus personally, you have received the main message of God's word. But to skip or dismiss anything further would be insulting to Him. Can you imagine a bride never reading letters from her groom? "No need," she says glibly, "we're already engaged." No. She wants to know everything about him - especially his thoughts toward her. So, don't just say, "I'm saved and that's enough for me," or "I know Jesus will come again, and that's all I need to know." There's more! All of God's word, including prophecy, holds treasures, insights, empowerment, and joy. And it's all there - waiting for you right now. So, dig in! C. S. Lewis wrote in Mere Christianity, "It is no good asking for a simple religion. After all, real things are not simple. They look simple, but they are not. The table I am sitting at looks simple: but ask a scientist to tell you what it is really made of - all about the atoms and how the light waves rebound from them and hit my eye and what they do to the optic nerve and what it does to my brain - and, of course, you find that what we call 'seeing a table' lands you in mysteries and complications which you can hardly get to the end of." Don't be angry with God because His word is not simple. Realize that, like looking at a table, it is both simple and complex. A surface understanding is possible, but endless wonders wait just beyond that surface. One of the Bible's amazing features is that it can simultaneously communicate to people of vastly different IQs and levels of education. It communicates with people from different cultures, different centuries, different races, and different levels of interest. The Bible scholar spends a lifetime "rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15 NKJV) A small child might hear a verse and know in a moment what the professional theologian spends months confirming. But that does not diminish the work of the scholar. Nor does it mean that the child has gained it all and should stop studying. When you receive redemption in Jesus, you have received the most important message in God's word. But don't stop. Keep learning. Work to increase your understanding. The Author Himself has promised to help you, but anything more than a child's understanding of God and His word, will often require real effort. Proverbs 25:2 says, "It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, But the glory of kings is to search out a matter." He wants us to dig deep into His word - to study it, and to learn. And a major feature of His word is prophecy - something we especially need right now. Jesus said to stay on the lookout for His coming. He said, "But of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. Take heed, keep on the alert; for you do not know when the appointed time is." (Mark 13:32-33 NASB) The words "be alert" are a translation of the Greek word, "agrupneo." It literally means "be constantly awake." Jesus is not talking about skipping your eight hours of sleep every night. He means we are to be ever watchful for His return. To be alert includes having the ability to know and recognize the signs of the times. So, study prophecy. It is a fantastic tool for evangelism - today more than ever. Everyone you talk to these days is uneasy. People sense that something huge and terrible waits just beyond the horizon. In many areas of modern life, we seem to be reaching limits beyond which there is nothing but chaos. The proliferation of nuclear weapons and ICBMs is just one example of a world drenched in gasoline and playing with matches. North Korea and Pakistan are nuclear powers. Iran either is, or soon will be. North Korea and Iran are led by the kind of people who would be all too willing to spark a global nuclear holocaust. Pakistan could be led by such people in the near future. And now nuclear ambitions have spread across the Middle East. Saudi Arabia recently made it clear that it is in the market for nukes. Turkey obviously wants them, as well as several Asian and African nations. As these weapons spread, the probability of their use is slowly turning into an inevitability. People don't want to think about these things, but they know them. The fear lingers like a dark cloud over all their thinking. They read about brilliant men like Elon Musk and the recently deceased Stephen Hawking, warning of an "A.I. apocalypse." They worry about their children. They fear the future. As a result, alcohol and drug use have reached epidemic proportions. People are looking for escape. Through the millennia, many have pretended to know the future. But only one prophetic book can be fully trusted, and that's the Bible. Previously-fulfilled prophecy proves its authenticity. Right now, the world is taking the shape that the Bible predicts for the end of this age. And, while the world is headed for some difficult days, these things also mean that Jesus is coming soon! That's good news! We need to spread that word far and near. To do that effectively, we need to know what the Bible teaches about Bible prophecy. We need to make it a major part of our study and understanding of God's word. We also need it for our own comfort in troubled times. 1 Thessalonians 4 ends by talking about the Rapture. Finally, it says, "Thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words." (1 Thessalonians 4:17-18 NASB) Maranatha! Not Surprised - By Daymond Duck - http://www.raptureready.com/2018/03/18/not-surprised-daymond-duck/ Several things appeared on websites and in the news this week that may have surprised some people that don't know anything about Bible prophecy, but they didn't surprise most of those that study the subject. Prophecy students were not surprised because we have been told to watch for certain things; we can see them beginning to come to pass, etc. For example, one article said Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman recently met with a group of Israelis in Cairo, Egypt. This meeting may have surprised some people because Saudi Arabia and Israel don't have diplomatic relations, but it didn't surprise some students of Bible prophecy because the two nations will settle their differences and sign a peace treaty at the end of the age. Also, be aware that representatives from five Arab nations recently met with Israelis at the White House to discuss peace between Israel and the PA. A second article said, "The PA leadership is terrified that many of the Arab countries will support the Trump plan, thus abandoning their Palestinian brothers." This probably surprised some people because several Arab countries have supported the PA with millions of dollars every year for several years, but the PA position is deceitful. The Arabs haven't abandoned the PA. The PA has slowly moved away from the Arabs and toward the Iranians (the Iranians are Asians not Arabs). The millions of dollars in Arab support have bought very little PA loyalty. Iranian proxies are killing Arabs in Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Yemen, etc., but the PA has been increasing its ties with Iran. A third article said, "A number of Arab countries have advised Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to accept whatever US President Donald Trump proposes in the context of his long-awaited Middle East peace plan." This probably surprised some people because the Arabs are upset with Pres. Trump for declaring that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. But the Arabs need U.S. help to stop the development of Iran's nuclear weapons program. They are more concerned about the survival of their Sunni religion and nations than they are about the PA demand for Jerusalem. A fourth article said Turkey, Russia and Iran will hold a summit in Istanbul in April. Why? To discuss what to do about Syria and other regional matters (Israel). This might surprise some people because Turkey is a member of NATO, but it doesn't surprise students of Bible prophecy because they know that these three nations will be allies during the Battle of Gog and Magog. A fifth article quoted Prime Min. Netanyahu as saying, "At the moment, there is no concrete American peace plan on the table." This may have surprised some people because we keep reading that Pres. Trump's Peace Proposal will come out soon, he is ready to present it, etc. But it is not really surprising, because it has been reported that when Pres. Trump's Peace Proposal does come out it will have been pre-approved (by Arab nations, but not PA). Getting pre-approval in the Arab nations on some issues has been thorny. This also explains why some PA officials are accusing some Arab nations of colluding with Pres. Trump to impose a peace treaty on the PA. A sixth article concerns Iran's claim that it has become too powerful for the U.S. and Israel to attack her. This may surprise some people, but not students of Bible prophecy. Gog and his allies (Iran and others) will think that they are powerful enough to destroy Israel and get away with it. A seventh article is like the last one: Vladimir Putin and Russia are beginning to look invincible. This may surprise some people because they thought Russia was done with when the Soviet Union broke up. But it doesn't surprise students of prophecy because they know that even if Gog and his allies are more powerful than Israel, they are not more powerful than Israel's God; and they are headed for an overwhelming defeat. In fact, the more powerful they become, the greater the glory that God will receive. This is the point: Things are changing fast in the Middle East. The changes are taking the nations closer to the prophesied events; but instead of coming in at a snail's pace, they are coming in like a flood (or birth pangs). Prophecy Plus Ministries, Inc. Daymond & Rachel Duck [email protected] Islamic 'Sultan' Rising: Why Turkey's Plan to Destroy Israel Could Line Up with End Times Prophecy - Dale Hurd, Benjamin Gill - http://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/israel/2018/march/islamic-sultan-rising-why-turkeys-plan-to-destroy-israel-could-line-up-with-end-times-prophecy The man who fashions himself as the new sultan of a revived Ottoman Empire has big dreams, and one of them could well be to build an Islamic army against the state of Israel. The Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) reports it's the brainchild of one of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's closest advisors, and it looks like a blueprint for an Islamic military action against Israel. CBN News has covered that MEMRI report which comes from a Turkish newspaper closely allied to Erdoğan and his ruling party. The plan calls on the 57 Muslim nations to unite in a joint military operation against Israel. Such an army would be mammoth. The strategy envisions staging areas near Israel's border from which an initial force of 250,000 soldiers would attack Israel. Some biblical scholars believe Turkey will be part of an End Times alliance against Israel, foretold in prophecy in the book of Ezekiel. CBN's Gordon Robertson cautions that Turkey's Erdoğan has been signaling to the world that he wants to restore an Islamic caliphate to wipe out Israel. "Well, you look at the Bible, and you look at Ezekiel chapter 38, it talks about things like this. When Israel is at peace, well that's exactly the time when its neighbors will rise up to strike," Robertson said on the 700 Club. "Lots of biblical scholars say that Gog and Magog list in that chapter (Ezekiel 38) is not Russia, it's Turkey," he said. While Erdoğan has been increasingly open about his plan to reshape Turkey into an Islamic state, former Turkish Parliament member Aykan Erdemir told CBN News he's skeptical Erdogan could pull off a united Islamic attack at this point. "Erdoğan is a very complex individual and when it comes to Israel he compartmentalizes. On the one hand Israel is often at the top of his targets, rhetorically. But at the same time Erdogan manages to continue bilateral relations and trade," said Erdemir, who is now with the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. Erdemir says Erdoğan is riding a populist wave based in part on scapegoating Israel and the United States for political points in his own country. "Erdogan knows these kinds of stunts work really well at home," he said. "When we take a look at Turkish dailies and Turkish outlets that's where we see this egregious targeting of not only Israel but of Jews and Christians and other religious minorities." After the Trump administration's official recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, Erdoğan turned up the anti-Israel rhetoric, calling Israel "a state of occupation and terrorism." He has also turned on a fellow member of NATO - the United States - especially over US support for the Kurds, warning the Americans could get the "Ottoman slap." "Erdogan continues to make threats against the US, accusing the US of being kind of the mastermind of a global conspiracy alongside Jews to undermine Turkey," Erdemir said. Meanwhile, Erdoğan's regime has held American missionary pastor Andrew Brunson for more than 500 days on charges he was one of the masterminds in the 2016 attempt to overthrow the government. The American Center for Law and Justice, which is assisting Brunson, calls that claim "ridiculous." Erdemir agrees. "We argue that Pastor Brunson is basically a hostage, and Erdoğan uses him as a pawn. And so we are seeing the emergence of hostage diplomacy between Turkey and the US," he said. Erdoğan's anti-US campaign has worked. Most Turkish citizens now believe the US is the number one threat to Turkey, just as an overwhelming majority are anti-Semitic and anti-Israel. Whether or not the plan for an Islamic Army to move against Israel is a serious threat at this point in history, the fact there are voices calling for such action is alarming. And the fact that it comes from persons close to Erdoğan is even more alarming. Those voices in the Islamic world are not likely to go away. Daily Jot: Corruption, strife and contention - Bill Wilson - www.dailyjot.com The book of Habakkuk opens with the prophet saying, "O Lord, how long shall I cry and you will not hear! Even cry out unto thee of violence, and you will not save! Why do you show me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? For spoiling and violence are before me: and there are strife and contention that rise up. Therefore the law is ignored, and judgment does never go forth: for the wicked surround the righteous; therefore perverted judgment proceeds." This plea to the Lord is on the lips of many countrymen as they view the corruption around the nation. It is deep and wide among those who seek to destroy our freedom, our rights, our ability to speak and worship freely. Everywhere we turn, we hear, see and experience the negativity and lies. The corruption surrounds us and strife and contention have arisen because of it. The law has been ignored. There are many who are above the law. There are those who are twisting the law. There are those who are institutionalizing organized crime within our federal and state governments to enrich themselves with money and power. These were the very things that the Founding Fathers sought to avoid by establishing a nation governed by the rule of law. Here we are 242 years later and we have become a nation of contention and strife. The people have forgotten their common interests and have been divided by lies. Many have defeatist attitudes and discourage others by saying that we have no country, that it is doomed. They take a cynical glee in degrading what we have become rather than encouraging others to stand for what is right. There are those who say that Christians should not be concerned with the country or the government because ours is a higher calling to the kingdom of God. To that I say, God is consistent in his word that it is not an either/or situation. He chooses to work through his people and we are instructed to overcome evil with good, to let our light so shine before men, that they may see our good works, and glorify our Father which is in heaven. We are called to be the light of Christ to those around us. 2 Peter 2:9 says, "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should show forth the praises of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." Verse 12 exhorts: "Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas, they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation." With some 75% of the people in this nation claiming to be Christian, our nation would not be so corrupt, strife-filled, and contentious if we were doing what we are called to do. The nation is a reflection of our faith because we are still the vast majority. Notwithstanding, 12 men turned the world upside-down. If they could do it, so can we by walking in faith, trusting in the Lord, and being doers of the word. Daily Devotion: Bad Company - By Greg Laurie - www.harvest.org Peter swore, "A curse on me if I'm lying--I don't know the man!" And immediately the rooster crowed. -Matthew 26:74 Peter's denial of Jesus did not happen over a period of seconds or minutes, but over a period of hours. An hour had passed from the time the first person said, "You were one of those with Jesus the Galilean," to the time Peter made his second denial. He had ample opportunity to hightail it out of there, but he remained in this situation. It just reminds us of the fact that no person is safe from temptation except the one who flees from it. Peter, having been warned by Jesus Himself, of all people, should have avoided any place where he could be weakened. He definitely should have steered clear of all roosters. I would have said, "Are there any roosters here? Because I'm leaving if there are. The Lord mentioned a rooster." Great men and women of God have been compromised by lowering their standards and allowing themselves to be drawn into sin. People like Solomon. Samson. David. They all found out the hard way. Are we better than they were? Are we more spiritual than they were? I don't think so. If someone like Simon Peter was capable of falling, then surely we are. First Corinthians 15:33 tells us, "Bad company corrupts good character." Peter was around people who were dragging him down spiritually. Are you in a similar situation today? Have you entered into relationships where people are dragging you down? Maybe it's a romance. Maybe it's a close friendship. Are you finding yourself compromising your principles to fit in and not offend anyone? Perhaps you need to reconsider who your friends are. Perhaps you need to make some immediate changes. Is bad company corrupting you? 
FROM THE HEART
IF YOU HAVE BEEN BLESSED THROUGH THIS MINISTRY, THEN WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD PLEASE REMEMBER PROPHECY UPDATE IN YOUR GIVING - WE ARE TRULY, TRULY, THANKFUL FOR YOUR SUPPORT Prophecy Update has no corporate sponsors. This ministry is paid for and prayed for by readers and supporters. Without your support, there would be no Prophecy Update, Please pray about becoming a monthly supporter - thanks! If ever there was a time to invest in God's Kingdom, it's now! What on earth are you doing for Heaven's Sake? "Share in the Blessings and Rewards that will last Forever!" "Folks, it's all beginning to unravel. America is in more danger of falling than at any time in its history. But I believe Bible prophecy predicts this very decline. From this point on, we believers have to get serious. We are going to face discouragement, disillusionment and, most certainly, persecution in the time between now and the Rapture. But don't be discouraged or disillusioned. The coming turmoil will provide us unrivaled opportunities to share the good news of the Gospel. So be ready to share your faith and your hope with those who need Christ. We still have time to reap a great harvest of souls for God's kingdom!" - Hal Lindsey 1) We need your prayers!- We proclaim the Truth of the Word of God and we are under constant spiritual and sometimes even physical attack. 2) We need your encouragement!- We need to hear from you, let us know how the Lord is blessing you through this ministry so that we can share it with others. 3) We need your input! - If you have a prophetic article or story or if there is a news related item we missed, let us know. 4) We need your financial support!- To put it quite simply, without your support, there would be no Prophecy Update. I ask that you would prayerfully consider partnering with us to get the Word out and keep the world informed. Remember, your gift, no matter how small, does make a difference! You will be helping to touch lives, around the world, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, thanks to the internet your generosity carries a global impact! - Thanks! Our Prayer for You- "Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else." 2 Corinthians 9:10-13 Prophecy Update is a 501 (c) (3) tax exempt - non-profit organization, and all your donations are tax deductible. If you have been blessed by Prophecy Update and would like to help support this ministry financially. You can make a secure donation online by going to: DONATE NOW Or Visit our website: http://prophecyupdate.com/donations/ Or write us at: Prophecy Update P.O. Box 40516 Bakersfield, CA 93384-0516 
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