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7 Reasons to Regard the Rapture as a Unique... - By Jonathan Brentner -
https://www.raptureready.com/2019/03/17/7-reasons-regard-rapture-unique-jonathan-brentner/ 7 Reasons to Regard the Rapture as a Unique Event, Part 1 We live in a time when believers are "tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes" (Eph. 4:14). This is especially true in regard to the return of Jesus. Today, we face a myriad of differing "schemes" regarding the rapture and other end-time events. How do we find our way in the midst of such confusion? It's the words of the Bible that keep us grounded in truth. This is especially true regarding the rapture, the return of Jesus to take us to the place He is preparing for us in His Father's house (John 14:2-3). Many expositors today combine the rapture with the Second Coming. I believe the Bible teaches that they are separate events. In making my distinctions between them, I assume a premillennial belief. Without beliefs in a literal seven-year tribulation, Jesus' return to earth after this time, and the setting of a millennial rule that includes Israel, these distinctions would not make much sense or even matter. If premillennialism is true, and it is, then the following differences between the rapture and second coming passages argue strongly for regarding them as separate events. And not only that, these distinctions point to a considerable length of time between the two. 1. The Place of the Resurrection in the Order of Events In 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Paul emphasizes that the "dead in Christ will rise first." After raising the dead saints, Jesus catches up living saints to meet him in the clouds. We see this same sequence in 1 Corinthians 15:52: Jesus first raises the dead in Christ before He does anything else. In Revelation 20, however, the resurrection of the dead tribulation saints occurs after Jesus' triumphal return to earth, his defeat of the armies gathered against him, his destruction of the false prophet and antichrist, and the imprisonment of Satan. After all of these events, the Lord sets up thrones on the earth and then raises the dead tribulation saints from the grave (Rev. 19:11-20:6). The place of the resurrection in the order of events is totally different between passages dealing with the rapture versus those of the second coming. When Jesus comes for his church, He immediately raises the dead in Christ. With the second coming, Jesus raises the saints martyred in the tribulation after several other time-consuming events, and does so while firmly situated on earth rather than in the air as He does with the rapture. 2. The Participants of the Resurrection Not only is the place of the resurrection different in the order of events, but so is the identification of its participants. John identifies those Jesus raises from the dead at his second coming as those killed during the tribulation (Rev. 20:4). When Paul writes about the rapture, he says Jesus will raise up all the "dead in Christ," not a subset of believers as John specifies in Revelation (1 Thess. 4:16; 1 Cor. 15:52). John Walvoord made this point about the difference in participants in the two resurrections of the saints: "It is most impressive that when the resurrection is mentioned in Revelation 20:4, it is specifically limited to the tribulation saints as contrasted to the church. If the tribulation saints were a part of the church, why was not the expression "the dead in Christ" used as in I Thessalonians 4? The fact that this group is singled out for resurrection, as if they were a special body of saints, points to the conclusion that the church had been previously raptured." 3. The Place Jesus Gathers the Saints In 1 Thessalonians 4:17, Paul states that believers who are alive will be "caught up" with the resurrected saints to meet the Lord in the air. This fits well with Jesus' description of his return for us in John 14:2-3 where He take us back to his "Father's house." He does not come to the earth, but gathers us to himself in the air and then takes us to his Father's home in heaven. This differs significantly with passages related to the second coming. Rather than catch us up to meet him in the air, Jesus returns to the earth, defeats his enemies, and sends out his angels to gather both living believers and unbelievers before him for judgment (Matt. 25:31-46). He gathers both believers and unbelievers on the earth. Do you see how this differs significantly from the rapture passages? Rather than meet believers in the air as He does during the rapture, with the second coming Jesus sends out his angels to gather his elect on earth to another place on earth (Matt. 24:31). Furthermore, it's likely that the reference to the "loud trumpet" in this verse limits the "elect" to the Jewish people who are called to Jerusalem (Isa. 27:13). 4. The Transformation of Living Believers In Paul's 1 Corinthian 15 description of the rapture, Jesus transforms the bodies of believers; He gives them imperishable ones (vv. 53-54). We also see this emphasis in Philippians 3:20-21, where the apostle again states that, when the Lord comes for us, He "will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body." In all the passages that speak of Jesus' second coming, we do not find any reference to such a transformation of living believers. Yes, after his return to earth, Jesus sends his angels to gather the elect, but the text does not say He gives them imperishable bodies. To the saints who survive the tribulation, Jesus invites them to "inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world" (Mat. 25:34). The text assumes that the living believers go into the kingdom with natural bodies. There is no mention of a transformation of believers here that would surely be the case if it were to happen at this time. There are three other reasons why we should not confuse the Second Coming with the rapture. We will cover these in part 2. Stay tuned! Jonathan Brentner Website: Our Journey Home Note: Please consider signing up for my newsletter on my website. Thanks! E-mail: [email protected] Hamas War Crimes against Israel, Palestinians - by Bassam Tawil - https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/13910/hamas-war-crimes-against-israel-palestinians Hamas has again proved that it really is a terrorist group that oppresses its people and prevents them from expressing their opinions. It has also shown that when it is in trouble, it will do its utmost to divert attention from the problems it is facing at home. As far as Hamas is concerned, one of the best ways to divert attention from the growing frustration with its rule is by attacking Israel and Jews. Then, Israel is forced to respond to defend itself. That will allow Hamas to tell its people that there is no room for internal fighting and disputes "because we are under attack by the Jews." No Palestinian would dare to criticize Hamas while Israel is supposedly "attacking" Hamas. Anyone who did so would be accused of being a "traitor" and "collaborator" with the "Zionist enemy." That is exactly what happened this week, when two rockets were fired at the Israeli city of Tel Aviv. The rocket attack came shortly after thousands of Palestinians had taken to the streets of the Gaza Strip to protest the horrific economic situation there -- that funds intended for them had apparently been diverted to finance terrorism -- and demand an end to Hamas's repressive measures against its people. The leaders of Hamas were apparently disturbed by the large protests that took place in the Gaza Strip. Hamas leaders also seemed disturbed by the photos and videos showing Hamas members beating, shooting at and arresting hundreds of peaceful Palestinian protesters whose only "crime" was to demand a dignified life, jobs and a better future for their children. Hamas leaders would probably love to see Israel retaliate in the Gaza Strip for rockets launched at Tel Aviv: such a move by Israel would silence the growing anger among Palestinians towards the Hamas terrorist organization that has been ruling them since the summer of 2007. The rockets that were fired at Tel Aviv, and the ensuing Israeli military strikes against Hamas and Islamic Jihad targets in the Gaza Strip, have indeed eclipsed the news about the clashes between Hamas and Palestinian protesters. Suddenly, everyone was talking only about the rocket attacks on Tel Aviv, and Hamas seemed to have gotten away with its beating and shooting at peaceful protesters. In the past few days, thousands of Palestinians had taken to the streets of the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip to protest the wretched economic situation, exacerbated by a Hamas decision to impose new taxes on them. The unprecedented protests, which were carried out under the banner "We Want to Live!," apparently caught the Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip by surprise. The leaders of Hamas apparently had not foreseen the mass protests. Hamas leaders seem to have reckoned that their repressive measures against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip were so harsh that no one would dare publicly protest against the deteriorating economic and humanitarian situation there. That may explain Hamas's response to the mass protests, which by all accounts, was hysterical and extremely violent. Within 24 hours, Hamas militiamen and security officers opened fire on hundreds of Palestinian protesters, who chanted: "We are hungry!" and "Save Gaza from starvation!" Palestinian eyewitnesses said that Hamas used hundreds of militiamen from its military wing, Ezaddin Al-Qassam, as well as security officers to crush the demonstrations. "Al-Qassam fighters assault, arrest, threaten, suppress, besiege and impose resections on freedoms," reported Mohammed Bassouni, a resident of the Gaza Strip. Photos of wounded Palestinians (broken arms, bruises all over the body) have surfaced on some social media sites, showing the brutality of the violence that Hamas used to disperse the protesters. It is also worth noting that many of the Palestinians who were brutally beaten by Hamas were children. The violence on the streets of the Gaza Strip is probably the worst since Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip 12 years ago. Since then, Hamas has been holding nearly two million Palestinians living there hostage to its oppressive regime. Hamas has turned the Gaza Strip into a dictatorship where public freedoms are assaulted on a daily basis. Hamas has dragged the Palestinians there into a number of wars with Israel that have destroyed the lives of countless residents of Gaza. In the view of many Palestinians, what Hamas is doing in the Gaza Strip is tantamount to war crimes and crimes against humanity. Meanwhile, the international community, specifically the United Nations, continues to allow itself to be deceived. Instead of calling out Hamas for its war crimes against its own people, the hypocrites at the UN, the international media and other international forums are continuing to point an accusatory finger towards Israel for simply defending itself against rockets and missiles that are fired towards Israeli civilian centers on an almost daily basis. Recently, in a grotesque allegation, UN human rights "experts" claimed that Israel may have committed war crimes by shooting at Palestinian demonstrators who tried to breach the Gaza-Israel border fence and infiltrate into Israel. The demonstrators who were shot were mostly Hamas and Islamic Jihad members, as both organizations have openly admitted. In other words, Israel is being accused of war crimes for defending its border against terrorists attempting to infiltrate it in order to murder or kidnap Israelis. Perhaps a small step, such as viewing easily available material, would set the record straight. These UN human rights "experts" might, for a change, glance at the videos and photos coming out of the Gaza Strip to see who is really responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity: Hamas. Its members are opening fire at peaceful protesters, who are taking their lives in their hands to end the harsh economic conditions created by their rulers' catastrophic policies in the Gaza Strip. It is the leaders of Hamas, and only Hamas, who are committing war crimes in and around Gaza. They are committing war crimes against Jews, and they are committing war crimes against their own people. It is time for the human rights "experts" and foreign media to wake up to facts. Hamas is now trying to cover up its crimes against its people by firing rockets at Israel. Instead of denouncing Israel for defending itself, the UN should immediately send a commission of inquiry to investigate Hamas for its war crimes. If the UN chooses not to do so, it, too, might benefit from taking a small step and viewing easily available material, such as the definition of "aiding and abetting" the commission of a crime. Nearing Midnight: Third Temple and Trump - Terry James - https://www.raptureready.com/category/nearing-midnight/ For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, And do not return there without watering the earth And making it bear and sprout, And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it. (Isaiah 50:10-11) God has spoken the precise consummation of history. His Word about these matters will come to pass. The world's global elite might not like it; the diplomats of the world might resent it. God's word about the wind-up of history, however, cannot-will not-be changed. In filming documentaries on prophecy, whether it's about Bible prophecy, or prophecy by the Nostradamuses of their times throughout history, the documentarians make sure a certain statement is made in summation: "These prophecies are given as a warning. They are given so we can alter things we as human beings do in order that these terrible things not come to pass. Man can change the outcome if he only strives to do so." The Lord of all Creation says: "So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it." His Word says further: "yea, let God be true, but every man a liar" (Romans 3:4). God's prophetic Word will come to pass-100 percent, even if it comes to pass in ways and through people, places, and things we don't necessarily foresee or understand. Developments of a profound nature seem in the making. some who observe things going on behind the scenes in Israel believe those developments are farther along than might be suspected by those of us who are most diligent in observing and reporting on the prophetic weather. I must admit that I don't particularly like the way things are shaping-that is, I don't like to have dissolved my neat, little order of how I perceive prophecy unfolding. The Lord doesn't always proceed in neat, little ways in order to get things done. Looks like I would have figured that out in 76-plus years of living. He, as often as not, uses the good, bad, and the ugly to work in fulfilling His ultimate will. While not a sure thing, it looks to some as if He might be allowing the unfolding of a couple of prophecies, using all three ingredients to bring about stage-setting for the Tribulation and Armageddon. Movement toward the building of the Third Temple in Jerusalem is almost certainly and swiftly racing forward. My friend, Tom Horn, CEO of SkyWatch TV is, in my estimation, among those leading in the examination of developments in Jerusalem concerning building of the Third Temple. Recent developments indicate just how near the Tribulation era might be, based upon apparent Temple planning. Horn states on his ministry website that developments in the plans for the Third Temple "are, in fact, earth-shattering, and will accomplish nothing less than altering the course of history. What is about to unfold could set in motion arrival of Antichrist and Armageddon, followed by the Second Coming of Jesus Christ." Regarding intrigues in Temple planning, he writes further, "It's happening right now behind the scenes in clandestine negotiations between global powers and religious leaders." Horn and others observe that some of the Jewish clerical hierarchy are convinced that American President Donald Trump equates to the reincarnation of a Cyrus-like figure. Cyrus was a king whom some rabbis believe the God of Israel raised up to initiate the Messianic era and construction of the Third Temple. On a more cautious note, I'll report that Tom Horn offers that Saudi Arabia, Jewish religious leaders, and Donald Trump are negotiating behind the scenes to transfer control of Israel's holy sites-including the Temple Mount-to the Saudis, to complete a "peace covenant" that could result in, among other things, the building of the Third Temple. This unverifiable conjecture-as I view it at this point-has yet to be seen, but it is worthy of consideration because of other developments of significance. A Jerusalem Post article reports the following: A senior reporter for the Al Riyadh, one of Saudi Arabia's most prominent newspapers, claimed that the US President Donald Trump's "Deal of the Century" will divide Jerusalem. The reporter Hadeel Oueis wrote on her twitter account that "The Old City of Jerusalem will be divided in half: the Arab and Christian quarters will go to the PA [Palestinian Authority], while the Jewish and Armenian quarters will fall under Israeli control."... Oueis further tweeted that "Arab areas adjacent to Palestinian Area A and B will go to a future Palestinian capital in East Jerusalem." Saudi Arabia has been in touch with the US administration regarding the peace initiative, as it was rumored that the deal will include recognition of Israel by surrounding Arab countries. ("The U.S. Peace Plan Will Divide Jerusalem," Hadeel Oueis ${"["}@hadeelOueiss] March 5, 2019]) It is quite disconcerting to yours truly that this president could be complicit in developing plans that God's Word says will leave to His bringing all nations into the Valley of Jehosephat and the killing fields of Armageddon. However, the Lord's prophetic Word will be accomplished, regardless of the people, places, and things involved in its fulfillment. You and I need not be a part of that history-ending conflict and all the carnage leading up to that bloodiest of all wars. Simply and genuinely believe that Jesus Christ died to redeem you from the dread sway of sin. Then confess with your mouth that God has raised Him from death, and you will be saved. You will go to be with Christ instantaneously when your heart beats its last beat, or at that glorious moment of Rapture when the living and dead are called into His presence forever. As Purim Approaches, A Stash of Ancient Temple Incense Becomes Increasingly Relevant - By Dr. Rivkah Lambert Adler - www.breakingisraelnews.com "He prepared the sacred anointing oil and the pure aromatic incense, expertly blended." Exodus 37:29 (The Israel Bible™) A cache of nearly 600 kilos of what is believed to be ketoret (incense used in the Temple service) was discovered by a team of Bnei Noach (Noahides) in 1992. Could its discovery be connected to the reestablishment of the Third Temple and the Messianic era? To learn more, Breaking Israel News spoke to one of the members of the original archaeology team about the find. Born just a year before the founding of the modern State of Israel, God called Indiana resident Larry Borntrager's attention to Israel in October 1973, during the Yom Kippur War. A decade later, with his intention firmly set on doing "whatever possible for Israel," he and his wife came to Israel. Astoundingly, on that first trip, Borntrager was invited to join an archaeological dig for the ashes of the red heifer. The birth of a prospective red heifer, essential for the Temple Service, is a significant event today. This is the ritual law that Hashem has commanded: Instruct B'nei Yisrael to bring you a red cow without blemish, in which there is no defect and on which no yoke has been laid. Numbers 19:2 On that dig, he met the well-known Noahide Vendyl Jones, a Texas preacher turned Biblical archaeologist. Borntrager told Breaking Israel News that his Indiana farming background proved helpful to Jones' work. Zahava Cohen, Jones' wife at the time of the Temple incense find, had an understanding of ancient Hebrew and had done her own translation of the Copper Scroll, which is believed to point to Temple artifacts buried in Qumran, close to the Dead Sea. According to Borntrager, in 1992, Zahava, "suspected there was another cave and [so] we were looking for an opening based on [certain passages in] the Copper Scroll." A team-member fell into a hole, so others, "went up and started cleaning out the hole, which led to the front of a cave. As we started excavating the cave from the outside, there were repeating layers of various types of stones. Every cubit, there was a row of stones and then rubble. It kept happening." An anonymous expert source explained, "This type of phenomena occurs when buckets of dirt and debris are intentionally thrown over a particular area. The dirt stops immediately, small pebbles roll a few feet and large stones considerably further, creating repeating layers of the different types of material. It's an indication that the mound of earth in front of the cave was an intentional covering designed to hide the cave." "My son Tony and I were filling buckets. Tony noticed something of a different color behind the stone," Borntrager related. "We found something looking like coffee grounds, but didn't have any smell." As the material sat in the hot sun, it released a smell that Borntager said was like cinnamon. Ultimately, the team recovered 600 kilograms (over 1300 pounds) of the mysterious substance. "When we found it, Vendyl had no idea what it was," Borntrager noted. The team took a sample of the cache to scientists at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rechovot where, after mass spectrometry testing, Professor Marvin Antleman asserted that the material was very likely Temple incense. Later, paleobotanist Dr. Terry Hutter conducted further tests on the reddish powder, identifying 11 ingredients known from rabbinic tradition to be part of the Temple incense formula. His results were published in 1994. According to one anonymous source, "His analysis was so complete, we literally know from that analysis how to reverse engineer it." Although Jewish law prohibits personal or ritual use of the Temple incense, a small amount was burned under rabbinic guidance for the purpose of testing whether it was still viable after 2,000 years. Borntrager further confirmed that, in the cave where the 600 kilo stash was located, the team also found, "Sodom salt from the Dead Sea, off to the side on a ledge, and other ingredients that were not mixed in until the ketoret was burned." Jones took a sample of the powder to authorities in Israel, who summarily dismissed his claim that it was Temple incense. At that time, the authorities believed it to be ordinary red dirt found in all the caves. Borntrager reported that, in response, Jones, who was known to have a sharp tongue, said, "If that's the case, I'll just take it home and put it in my garden." Eventually, he weighed and packed the entire stash. "We had cardboard boxes that they harvest grapes in. That was all we had to pack it in." It's important to note that, while there is ample evidence to support the theory that this find is, indeed, Temple incense that was precisely blended according to the formula preserved in Jewish sources, the sample is not universally accepted as ketoret. Efforts to turn the material over to the Temple Institute, who are not on record as accepting it as authentic Temple incense, have failed. Analysis of the purported ketoret has been commercially useful for Jewish farmers interested in replanting ancient spices in Israel. Speaking of one such venture in Kibbutz Almog near Jericho, Borntrager said, "Some of the Jewish farmers don't look at it as a Torah-based thing they're doing. It fits in to what I think is Hashem's (God's) plan for the future." In other words, God is using these Jewish farmers who are working to reestablish the ancient spice plants in ways they aren't fully aware of. Borntrager quoted Rabbi Avraham Sutton who taught that it's "not surprising that the first thing that was found [from the Temple period] was something related to smell, because the first thing [people noticed when] coming to the Temple was the aroma." Borntrager also spoke about the possible significance of the fact that it was people from the Nations, and not Jews, who located this Temple artifact. "Amos talks about how the non-Jews will be involved in finding these things," he explained. In that day, I will set up again the fallen booth of David: I will mend its breaches and set up its ruins anew. I will build it firm as in the days of old, So that they shall possess the rest of Edom And all the nations once attached to My name -declares Hashem who will bring this to pass. Amos 9:11-12 "Jews have to depend on non-Jews interested in doing something for Israel. Our part is to elevate Israel and for Bnei Israel (the Jewish people) to be the Light to the Nations. That's the whole reason for understanding who we are," Borntrager explained. End Times expert Rabbi Pinchas Winston spoke to Breaking Israel News at length about the spiritual significance of the Temple incense and its connection to the upcoming holiday of Purim. "Purim is all about the ketoret. Eleven spices correspond to the sefirah (Godly attribute) of da'at (knowledge), the eleventh sefirah. It is no coincidence that the ketoret has 11 spices. Thus, the ketoret is connected to da'at. "Furthermore, one must surrender his da'at to God, acknowledging that Divine logic overrides human logic. When Adam HaRishon (the primordial human) ate from the Aitz HaDa'at Tov v'Ra (Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil), he did exactly the opposite. "Therefore, just as we must 'offer up' our da'at to God, the ketoret was offered up to God on the golden altar inside the Sanctuary. The ketoret is therefore an important symbol of man's ability to unify with his Creator. "In Aramaic, the language of the Zohar (foundational text of Jewish mysticism), 'ketoret,' like the Hebrew root 'kesher,' means connection, referring to the connection to God that the ketoret facilitates. It has the power to elevate and bind a person to his or her spiritual root. "In fact, the incredible aroma of the ketoret was especially conducive to teshuvah (repentance)," Rabbi Winston taught. Might the existence of a stash of Temple incense have special significance for the Messianic era? "Geula (redemption) is a function of da'at. Perhaps the finding of it signifies that we're about to restore it," Rabbi Winston conjectured. Borntrager shared his personal reflections about why it's important for people to know that a stash of what might be original Temple incense has been found and is waiting patiently for its moment of restoration. "The prayer for the recipe of the incense is repeated every day. When I hand it to some of my Jewish friends, it's amazing to watch their responses. When I see a Jewish person's face light up, I see something very strong. "People should know that it's there," he asserted. Daily Jot: Character, morals and the Cowboy Code - Bill Wilson - www.dailyjot.com My friend Robert Knight, columnist for the Washington Times, has written an interesting article about how the "Cowboy Way" is under fire. In his March 18 column, Knight writes: "In 1949, as part of its "Riders in the Sky" promotion, a film studio released Gene Autry's 10-sentence Cowboy Code. The code resurfaced in 2007 in a biography of the movie star by Holly George-Warren, a prolific chronicler of America's popular culture. The reason it's included below is because cowboys are being thrown under the horse, along with "farting cows." They're the latest targets of the political correctness that seeks to replace American grit with a nihilistic creed of wimpery." I grew up a cowboy and try to live by The Cowboy Code. Knight's column describes how activists in Orange County, CA want to rename John Wayne Airport and remove his statue over what they deem as "insensitive" remarks he made in 1971. In addition, Knight notes, "Meanwhile, the University of Wyoming is facing a leftist uprising over its new slogan, "The World Needs More Cowboys." The sports teams have long been called the Cowboys. Wyoming's license plates feature a cowboy on a bucking bronc, and the town of Cody boasts perhaps the world's most famous rodeo. Nonetheless, the slogan should be "shelved" according to the UW Committee on Women and People of Color, and replaced with one that "represents the diversity of the people and cultures" at the college." Isaiah 5:20 says, "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" Isn't that just what these crusaders of the politically correct do? Here is the Cowboy Code:1. The Cowboy must never shoot first, hit a smaller man, or take unfair advantage. 2. He must never go back on his word, or a trust confided in him. 3. He must always tell the truth. 4. He must be gentle with children, the elderly, and animals. 5. He must not advocate or possess racially or religiously intolerant ideas. 6. He must help people in distress. 7. He must be a good worker. 8. He must keep himself clean in thought, speech, action, and personal habits. 9. He must respect women, parents, and his nation's laws. 10. The Cowboy is a patriot. How can anyone in their right mind disagree with this? Knight concludes: "If they could just get enough power, the cultural vandals would wipe out all mention of white males in U.S. history - except for the self-hating ones in today's Democratic Party, including the Virginia governor and attorney general who appeared in blackface but, well, they're Democrats, so all is forgiven." How true. But what they fail to recognize that white males have, and continue to, contribute wonderful things to the global society. Cowboys represent part of that contribution, and they were and are not all white men. To men around the world: It's all right to be a man irrespective of what color you happen to be born. Follow the Cowboy Code, which is also God's code, and you will lead a blessed life, even though the politically correct will curse you. Daily Devotion: The Importance of Giving Thanks - by Greg Laurie - www.harvest.org Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days. - Daniel 6:10 As an older man, Daniel the prophet had become an adviser to Darius, the king of Babylon. Darius valued Daniel's counsel, but Daniel had some competition. There were other advisers to the king. They didn't believe in Daniel's God, and they didn't like the fact that the king favored Daniel. They wanted to get rid of him. The problem, for them at least, was there were no skeletons in Daniel's closet, no sin for them to uncover. They knew the only way they could trip up Daniel was to catch him doing something in regard to his God. So they got the king to unwittingly sign a degree that no one could pray to anyone except the king himself. When Daniel heard about it, he went to his house, opened up the windows as he always did, and got down on his knees and prayed. Even more, he gave thanks to God. It's important to give thanks to God. I think it's great when people pray over their food at home and even in public places. When you're in a restaurant, bow your head and thank the Lord for your meal. It is a great witness to other people. Even before we have the answer we may be hoping for, we are to give thanks to God. And then what happens? Philippians 4:7 tells us: "Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus" (NLT). If you put everything in God's hands, trust Him, and rejoice, even before you know the outcome, peace will guard your heart. It is the peace that passes all human understanding. And it is a peace that God can give you, no matter what you're facing right now. 
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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