Prophecy Update Newsletter
March 21, 2017
IN TODAY'S NEWSLETTER...
The Time of Antichrist's Debut Advances - By Matt Ward - http://www.raptureready.com/2017/03/19/the-time-of-antichrists-debut-advances-2/
"The EU must strengthen its representation and defend its interests better. For this purpose France proposes the creation of a high level representative appointed by the Council for three to five years, who would provide Europe with a face and a voice." -Former French President Jacques Chirac, Liberation, 1996 The French view was and is that "all means" should be used to "strengthen that high representative." (Instituto Affari Internazional, 1996; page 46) Events today are moving at quite some pace. Almost twenty years ago I wrote a university thesis titled, "What are the prospects of the European Union developing a coherent Common Foreign and Security Policy into the new millennia?" It was indeed an eye-opener. In that thesis I discussed the prospects of the European Union reaching such a point of political integration that it would develop a single, functional Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). I was examining the possibility that the EU might in the future develop a unified European army. That was in 1999, and my conclusions could have been summed up succinctly in just four words: it will never happen. At the time the reasons for this were complicated. First, it was inconceivable that Britain or France would allow their own soldiers to fight and die in a war fought entirely over an obscure piece of land that was totally unrelated to their own national interests. Yet that is what a unified European army may have meant. As an example of this, consider Greece in 1999. Owing to its border problems with Turkey, Greece had asked the EU at that time to specifically guarantee its external national borders against Turkish aggression. As a part of this, Greece asked the EU for future mutual assistance (should Turkey at any point infringe its sovereign territory). In 1999, the chances of the British government allowing its men and women to go to war with another sovereign nation like Turkey, essentially because of a dispute arising out of the ownership rights to a far flung, irrelevant and strategically unimportant Greek Island-were nil. Equally unlikely in 1999, was the very real prospect under a unified European army, that Britain or especially France, would allow their forces to be led by a commanding officer from Germany; senior German officers commanding entire French army units and men. Although membership of NATO at that time did inevitably mean devolved military leadership to other nations, with German officers commanding French troops. For example, the command and control structures of an EU army would have be fundamentally different in one key regard; within NATO, the UK and the USA were always in guaranteed overall leadership positions, which would not automatically be the case in a combined EU army. Although at this time both countries are on very friendly terms, the memory of past wars between the two meant that German officers commanding French troops was unthinkable to France-or Britain in 1999. But that was in 1999, and that was before Brexit and Donald Trump. The shock waves caused by Brexit on the European continent continue to be huge. Equally, the election of Donald Trump has had immense global ramifications, especially in Europe. The global dynamic has clearly shifted, leaving a whole new paradigm forming before our eyes; something that European leaders are keenly aware of. Brexit and Donald Trump's election success is provoking enormous and rapid prophetic development. I think it no over exaggeration to say that the changes sparked by Brexit and then by Trump's assumption to high office are currently setting the stage for the emergence of the Antichrist himself. I believe the two events are that significant. In 1996, at a European Intergovernmental Conference held specifically to address the subject of integrating European foreign policy, all member states present agreed to the creation of a new role within the upper leadership apparatus of the EU- a Mr. or Ms. CFSP. A man or woman who alone would be responsible for the foreign and security policies of the European Union. This individual would hold in his or her hands the combined might of Europe's unified future defense structures. [1] This man or woman would wield immense power. France, at the time along with other core EU nations, clearly and publically urged the creation of such a post. Britain, however, vehemently opposed it, jealous to guard its own foreign policy and military sovereignty. So although the post of a leader of the CFSP, that singular individual in whom all foreign policy and, upon the creation of an EU army, military power would also rest was passed, it was also quietly shelved. Until now. When Britain voted to leave the European Union in Brexit and Donald Trump assumed the presidency of the United States of America, everything started to change. Now, in 2017, alliances are being tested within Europe and core perceptions about U.S. and British security commitments to the EU are being challenged in a way we have never seen before. The Europeans are rattled. Brexit has served only to exacerbate this and played on the whispered fears most European leaders have that they are going to be left all alone to fend for themselves militarily. Many leaders in Europe, though they would scarcely admit it publically, fear for the future viability of NATO, especially under Donald Trump. [2] Although there has traditionally been a reluctance on the part of EU member states to engage in the types of deep integration required by a common foreign and security policy, and especially that required by a European army-that is now changing. Brexit and Donald Trump, as well as the mass migration into Europe which is breaking down and destroying the fabric which holds European society together, is forcing many EU member states to recognize the great benefits increased integration will bring them. The perceived diminishment of NATO as a security guarantor for Europe against the ever-present Russian threat has only exacerbated this. The calls for developing a European army are not whispered anymore, they are being shouted from the rooftops. Jean-Claude Junker, president of the European Commission tweeted from his official Twitter account on May 20th, 2014 the following: "In the very long run, we will need a European army. Because we have to be credible when it comes to foreign policy #wahlarena #withJunker." In the wake of Brexit and Donald Trump it would seem that "in the very long run," actually means "now." Speaking to a German newspaper just a few days ago on March 8, 2017, Junker said this to a reporter: "...the European Union needs its own army to face up to Russia and other threats, as well as to restore the Bloc's standing around the world." [3] Again, on March 8th, Junker went further this time as published in the German newspaper Welt am Sonntag: "A joint EU army would show the world that there would never again be a war between European countries. Such an army would also help us to form common foreign and security policies and allow Europe to take on responsibility in the world." Junker believes that a common EU army would also serve as a deterrent to Russia. He stated: With its own army, Europe could react more credibly to the threat to peace in a member state or neighboring state. One wouldn't have a European army to deploy it immediately. But a common European army would convey a clear message to Russia that we are serious about defending our European values." [4] Critically, Junkers views are echoed by senior ministers in the German government. German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen, told German radio last week that, "Our future as Europeans will at some point be with a European army." This is a view backed up by increasing numbers within Germany, too. In an opinion poll conducted by Forsa for German news magazine Stern published, 49 percent of the more than 1,000 people surveyed said they were in favor of creating a European army while 46 percent were against it. [5] This is according to German newspaper, Süddeutsche Zeitung: In the wake of the British referendum to leave the European Union, Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President François Hollande have decided to demonstrate the EU's strength and to push the remaining member states to show more unity. Especially in defence policy, many projects were put on hold because Britain vetoed them. Without London, the two EU founding states, France and Germany, hope for swift decisions. The EU already has battle groups, manned on a rotational basis, which are meant to be available as a rapid reaction force, it would seem that these are no longer enough. The main players in the EU want an army, and they want that army to be equipped with more than conventional weapons too. They want nuclear weapons. For decades, the final line of defense for Europe against possible Russian aggression has been provided by the American nuclear arsenal. But since Donald Trump's election as the 45th president of the United States, officials in Berlin and Brussels are no longer certain that Washington will continue to hold a protective hand over Europe. An essay in the November issue of Foreign Affairs argues that if Trump seriously questions the American guarantees, Berlin will have to consider establishing a European nuclear deterrent on the basis of the French and British capabilities. Their final strategic aim seems to be nothing short of the full weaponization of the European Union. To this end, Roderich Kiesewetter, a foreign-policy expert in the Christian Democratic Union-the party of Chancellor Angela Merkel and a high-ranking member of the Bundestag, has now openly expressed what many leaders in Germany and Europe are privately thinking: "...if the United States no longer wants to provide this [nuclear] guarantee, Europe still needs nuclear protection for deterrent purposes. Europe must start planning for its own security in case the Americans sharply raise the cost of defending the continent, or if they decide to leave completely." [6] All this has dramatic implications for end time Bible prophecy. Many Bible prophecy experts believe that the Antichrist will one day soon emerge from within Europe. I agree with them. Europe will be the Antichrist's initial seat of power and his primary power base. The great paradox though is that the EU's economic might is in no way matched by its military capabilities. The EU is militarily impotent. This presents us with an eschatological problem. If the Antichrist, this final world dictator, rises from within Europe, and uses this European base to project himself upon the world stage, in the process subduing other nations as the Bible predicts, this cannot happen as Europe exists today. That military powerbase does not yet exist. But Brexit, Donald Trump and mass European migration is provoking huge change in Europe, resulting in the rapid formation of completely new power structures within the EU, ones which will come sharply into focus during the Tribulation period itself. The European military powerbase which it seems the Bible predicts the Antichrist will rise from, is forming before our eyes right now. The will now exists for the creation of a European army, and the momentum is growing. The individual leadership position of a Mr. or Ms. CFSP is being brought down off the shelf and prepared for one very special individual, in whom will rest vast political, foreign policy and military power. As Jacques Chirac said in 1996, one unique individual "...who would provide Europe with a face and a voice?" European People's Party (EPP) president Joseph Daul sums up the situation best in his comments reported by London's Express newspaper, "We are going to move towards an EU army much faster than people believe." [7] With this power, this man will embark on extraordinary conquest, so brutal that Daniel speaks plainly of its aftermath, "He shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practice, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people" (Daniel 8:24). Everything before him will be swept away, so that ultimately-all the world will proclaim, "Who is like unto the beast? Who is able to make war with him?" (Rev. 13:4). He will literally "shake kingdoms" and "make the earth to tremble" (Isaiah 14:16). Daniel says in Dan.12:8-13 that the prophetic "...words are sealed until the end of time." Many people, including myself, now believe these "words" are being progressively and rapidly unsealed, meaning that with each passing day and month the revealing of the Antichrist, and the mechanics of how this will occur, are becoming increasingly clear to all who are waiting and watching. "And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed" (Romans 13:11). Endnotes [1] Foreign and Security Policy in the European Union, edited by Kjell A Eliassen [2] https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/feb/18/trump-pence-eu-nato-munich-conference-germany-britain [3] http://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/meps-call-eu-countries-to-boost-defence-cooperation-in-times-of-external-crises/ [4] https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/8935/european-army [5] http://uk.reuters.com/article/eu-defence-germany-poll-idUKKBN0ME0SS20150318 [6] http://carnegieendowment.org/2016/12/06/sudden-german-nuke-flirtation-pub-66366 [7] http://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/612710/European-leaders-EU-ARMY-close-to-reality-Juncker [email protected] 
Song of Solomon Contains An Amazing Reference To The Pretribulation Rapture As Being In Springtime - by Geoffrey Grider - http://www.nowtheendbegins.com/song-solomon-contains-amazing-reference-pretribulation-rapture-springtime/
Today is the first official day of Spring, and signs of new life are popping up all over the place today it would seem. The Bible has a lot to say about times and seasons, and in the Old Testament is hidden an amazing nugget related to the soon-coming Pretribulation Rapture of the Church. My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land; The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away." Song Of Solomon 2:10-13 (KJV) Today is the first official day of Spring, and signs of new life are popping up all over the place today it would seem. The Bible has a lot to say about times and seasons, and in the Old Testament is hidden an amazing nugget related to the soon-coming Pretribulation Rapture of the Church. NOTE: Because this is an article on Bible prophecy, it assumes a Spring in Israel and not anywhere else like America. That said, Spring in both places is just about the same time, thanks! When the Jewish disciples of Jesus asked Him, in the first chapter of the book of Acts, as to when His return to set up the promised earthly kingdom would be, Jesus can a somewhat cryptic answer that contains a key to unlock this end times prophecy. The exchange went like this: "When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power." Acts 1:6,7 (KJV) The word "seasons" appears in the King James Bible exactly 12 times in 12 verses. In the Bible, the word "seasons" can stand for a period of time as short as a few hours, as seen in Psalm 16:7 (KJV), but in the vast majority of cases it is referring to the 4 seasons we know as Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall. (It is interesting to note that there are 4 seasons, roughly 3 months apiece, and that 3 times 4 is twelve. God is revealed as a Trinity in 3 parts, nearly everything in His creation is in 3 parts, and there were 12 sons of Jacob who became the 12 Tribes of Israel, as well as 12 apostles.) So when Jesus told the apostles that it was not for them to know the "times and seasons" related to the end times, could it be God had already put an end times clue to unlock the seasons in relation to prophecy? Yes, that is exactly what He did in the Song of Solomon. Song of Solomon chapter 2, verses 8-14, is an amazing picture, in type, of Jesus Christ coming to snatch His Bride up and away from off the Earth in the Rapture. For starters, you will note that the bride's beloved is pictured as being above her, as if He was coming down to get her: "The voice of my beloved! behold, he cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills." Song of Solomon 2:8 (KJV) Secondly, He is looking at her "through the lattice" located "behind our wall", which is exactly where Jesus is when He comes to get us. He is veiled to the rest of the world, mocking referred to as "the secret Rapture", but He is clearly visible to us. Next, you will note that He does not come down to get the Bride, rather He causes her to "rise up" and "come away" with Him. Hmm, now where have we heard language like that before? How about right here in these two New Testament places? "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words." 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 (KJV) "After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter." Revelation 4:1 (KJV) Lastly, we now come to the seasons and some very important time clues. "For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land; The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away." Song of Solomon 2:11-13 (KJV) Solomon clearly puts the timing of when the Beloved comes for the Bride as being at a time of year, right after winter, when everything is blooming and the birds are singing. Birds sing in springtime, I noticed their song this morning for the first time all year. Also, please note that it is not just any Spring to which he refers, but to one that also has the "fig tree" in leaf. That would mean that Israel would be back in the land. Next year is the 70th anniversary of the regathering of the nation of Israel, kinda interesting don't you think? On May 14, 2018, Israel will have been officially regathered, in fulfillment of Bible prophecy, for exactly 70 years. In 70 AD, Israel was destroyed by the Romans and the Temple stones toppled to the ground exactly as Jesus said it would happen. When you subtract 70 AD from 2018 AD, where does that leave you? It leaves you square in 1948 AD. Please pause here and allow that thought to sink in for a moment. WHAT IS THE POINT OF PUTTING THE BODY OF CHRIST INTO THE TIME OF JACOB'S TROUBLE? The Church of Jesus Christ is taken off the Earth before the time of Jacob's trouble for a whole variety of reasons, but mostly because it's JACOB'S TROUBLE, which has nothing to do with the Church. Replacement theologists, who are always stealing Israel's blessings, also try stealing their curses by putting the Church in the Tribulation but that will not work. Many prophecy "experts" mistakenly try and put the Rapture of the Church in the Fall at the Feast of Trumpets, but that will not work. The Church is connected to the Feast of Firstfruits which takes place at the time of year when Spring is melding into Summer. Remember, the Rapture of the Church kicks off with a VOICE "as of a trumpet", not an actual trumpet itself. "After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter." Revelation 4:1 (KJV) And it is the Voice of the Beloved calling up His Bride. Actual trumpets are reserved for the time of Jacob's trouble where God will once again be dealing with His chosen people, the Jews. We are not datesetters here at NTEB, but if you had to look for a springtime that will be packed with significance, we would put our money on the Spring of 2018 when Israel will officially 70 years old. And why? Because God likes to do things in 70's, that's why! "For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place." Jeremiah 29:10 (KJV) 
Ezekiel 36:8 Prophecy Is Coming True in The Galilee! - By Tsivya Fox - http://www.prophecynewswatch.com/article.cfm?recent_news_id=1103
One of the benefits of living in modern Israel is physically experiencing Biblical prophecy coming to life. Two families who moved to Israel's Upper Galilee town of Yavne'el from Canada daily witness Jacob's blessing to his son Naftali, one of the twelve Israelite tribes, coming to fruition right in their own backyards. "Yavne'el is in the portion of the Land of Israel which Jacob blessed to be fertile and for the fruit to ripen quickly," explained Rabbi Shmuel Veffer, owner of Galilee Green, a leading producer and exporter of high quality extra virgin olive oil from Israel. "When we and our business partners Nili and Arnie Abrahams experienced the blossoming of the region around us, we realized that we were watching the prophecy of Ezekiel 36:8 comes to life, 'But you, O mountains of Israel, you will put forth your branches and bear your fruit for My people Israel; for they will soon come.'" The Veffer and Abrahams families recognized the unique blessing of the region when, several years ago, they joined the local community's olive harvest. They picked the lush olives and immediately pressed them into an amazingly high quality oil which far surpassed anything they had ever tasted. This lead to their realization that people all over the world would benefit from God's blessing of the land and thus, Galilee Green was born. A quick tour of the greater Yavne'el region reveals many archaeological digs with ancient olive presses. In Biblical times, olives were grown for oil, not for eating whole. The oil was used both for food and in lamps for illumination. Today, olive oil is commonly known to be a healthful addition to everyone's diet. Additionally, Jewish people often use olive oil with floating wicks as lights to welcome in the Sabbath. "Galilee Green fulfills many purposes. Besides sharing the blessing of the land and delicious extra virgin olive oil from Israel with the world, we also help support immigrants living locally who are struggling to make a living," said Rabbi Veffer. "Purchasing Galilee Green extra virgin olive oil is also a way for people all over the world to fight the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which unfairly targets Israeli products." The Bible teaches that there is a unique relationship between the Jewish people and the Land of Israel. According to prophecy, the Holy Land will remain barren until the Jews return to it. Then, the land will flourish and give forth abundant fruit. Indeed, this is what is happening today. "We are blessed to live in the Land of Israel, produce a Biblical product and share these blessings with the world," smiled Rabbi Veffer. "We feel that we are fulfilling Biblical prophecy and Genesis 12:3, 'I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.'" 
What threatens Israel the most - Hezbollah rockets or Iranian nukes? - Yonah Jeremy Bob - http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Mossad-IDF-chiefs-differ-on-main-threat-to-Israel-Hezbollah-or-Iran-484768
Comments come after recent military exchanges between the IDF, the Syrian Assad regime and Hezbollah. Mossad Director Yossi Cohen and IDF Chief-of-Staff Lt.-Gen. Gadi Eisenkot took different takes on Tuesday in defining Israel's number one threat, with Cohen focusing on Iran and Eisenkot opting for Hezbollah. Cohen told a conference at Netanya University in honor of former Mossad chief Meir Dagan that, "as long as the current regime is in control, whether with a nuclear deal or without one, Iran will continue to be the central threat to Israel." He added that Iran has not give up on its drive for a nuclear bomb and that after Iran, Hezbollah, Hamas and terrorism generally were the next biggest threat. The Mossad chief continued, "Iran wants to have influence and be a key mover in the Middle East. Its tactics have changed due to pressures, but the intent and the trend remain. He added that Israel needs "to be ready and embrace opportunities" for cooperation with allies regarding such threats. Cohen's comments were striking as they come with most of the region currently focused on recent days' military exchanges between the IDF, the Syrian Assad regime and Hezbollah. They were also notable given Eisenkot's focus on the threat from Hezbollah and issues with Syria. While Eisenkot did eventually mention Iran at the end of a long list of threats - consistent with some past statements from top IDF officials that Hezbollah currently poses a greater threat than Iran - most of his discussion was about the Hezbollah-Assad threat. Eisenkot said at the conference Tuesday that the army would continue to work to prevent advanced weaponry from getting into the hands of the wrong people. The IDF chief made the comments days after Syrian government forces fired an anti-aircraft missile at Israel Air Force jets during an airstrike last Friday to halt the flow of advanced weapons to Hezbollah near Palmyra. He stated that one of the army's missions was to "prevent the strengthening of those who should not be strengthened by [the acquisition of] advanced weaponry." He said that the IDF's policy regarding the Syrian civil war was one of "non-intervention alongside preserving our interests." Eisenkot asserted that it was in Israel's interest to keep the northern border quiet, as it had managed to do over the past six years despite the civil war raging in Syria. The IDF chief's comments came after a rare acknowledgment of the rising tensions on the Israel-Syrian border from Syrian President Bashar Assad on Monday. "Defending our borders is our right, and it's our duty, not only our right," he told Russian reporters in Damascus according Russian news site Sputnik. Assad also told Russian parliament members, who paid an official visit to the capital on Monday, that he was counting on Moscow to prevent Israel from attacking his country in the future. "We are counting on Russia to prevent a conflict with Israel," Assad was quoted as saying by several Russian media outlets. On Friday, Israel's Ambassador to Russia Gary Koren was summoned to the Foreign Ministry in Moscow to defend the airstrike. According to media reports, the strike occurred very close to Russian troops. In other remarks at Tuesday's conference, Cohen said that, these days, "the new buzz word is 'hybrid strategy.' The idea is to act simultaneously with a diversity of means in addressing an ever-changing mix" of threats. The Mossad chief meanwhile stated that, "our security establishment must focus on our enemies in the region, to learn about them, to understand them in-depth and to use force against them when required." "The Middle East is our home field and therefore we need to be involved in all matters in the region. We need to form alliances, to identify mutual interests with allies, and also with enemies on certain issues," said Cohen. Referring to Dagan, the namesake of the conference, he said, "Meir Dagan bequeathed us a tradition and a determination to fight for Israel and to take any actions necessary to accomplish this." 
Nearing Midnight: North Korea Is a Ticking Time Bomb - Todd Strandberg - http://www.raptureready.com/category/nearing-midnight/
North Korea has been a problem nation since day one. It is a product of the Cold War. After Japan was defeated in World War II, the Soviet Union and the U.S. split up Korea on the 38th parallel. The willingness of the Communist Bloc to support any nation that would hold high the Marxist banner resulted in one of the worst dictatorship's on the planet. The government is based on an elaborate cult of personality-around Kim Il-sung and his family. All households are required to have a photo of the "Great Leader" on their wall. Anyone who makes even the most casual negative remark about the government can result in being sent to a death camp. Kim Jong Un is the third descendant of this dynasty; he is a joke of a leader. He was made commander of the army despite the fact he doesn't have any military experience. Kim Jong Un looks like a clown, with his Dr. Evil suits, his high cut hair and lumbering weight. The Chinese press has focused on how odd it is to have a fat guy running a nation where millions constantly face starvation. All this nuttiness would be entertaining for us in the West if North Korea was not one of the most heavily armed nations on earth. It is the country with the highest number of military and paramilitary personnel (a total of 9,495,000 active, reserve, and paramilitary personnel). Its active duty army of 1.21 million is the fourth largest in the world. North Korea has become even more dangerous by its nuclear program. The nation's first atomic bomb was too heavy to fit onto a missile and on a jet. After years of development, they appear to now have a nuke that could fit for a short range mission. With North Korea's ingenuity, they will soon have an atomic missile that can reach Hawaii or the West Coast of North America. Kim Jong Un has boasted that North Korea has enough plutonium to make 10 nuclear warheads and the ability to launch ballistic missiles at least 600 miles. North Korea is working on building hydrogen bombs. They have made two underground tests that show how they are making continuous progress in achieving this goal. If there is any doubt we are dealing with evil people, the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's half brother, Kim Jong Nam, should show the ruthlessness of the Pyongyang leadership. Kim Jong Nam was walking through a Malaysian airport when two women walked up to him and touched him on the face with two clothes. Both of them produced the banned VX nerve agent; which killed the brother within two minutes. The North Korea media constantly put out saber-rattling statements that warn of how ready they are for war. The propaganda press agency KCNA issued this statement attributed to Kim: "If they [The U.S.] infringe on the DPRK's sovereignty and dignity even a bit, its army will launch merciless ultra-precision strikes from ground, air, sea and underwater." The average North Korean is constantly being told to prepare for warfare. This past week Kim Jong Un gave orders that every soldier-even if away on business, on leave, off-base for training, or even those with a recent death in the family must return to their units. The authorities have ordered the military police in each region to summon all soldiers back to their bases. This constant high level of tension will eventually produce a miscalculation on someone's part. Once a mistake is made, the consequences will be very high. The North Koreans have thousands of missiles aimed at the south. Seoul, the capital of South Korea, is only about 20 miles from the border. The day will eventually come where North Korea will be able to strike downtown Los Angeles with an H-bomb. Our leaders may come to regret not acting when Pyongyang only had conventional weapons. China should be the one with the greatest remorse. It foolishly supported North Korea for decades. Now that South Korea has decided to install a THAD missile defense system, the Chinese are starting to realize the mess they've allowed to fester right on their doorstep. By now, a war between the West and North Korea should have started a dozen times. I think God is holding things back because now is the time of "peace and safety" (1 Thessalonians 5:3). As we reach the Tribulation hour, situations like North Korea will likely continue to get worse and worse. "But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived" (2 Timothy 3:13). 
My Review of "Rapture Ready...Or Not?" Over the last 35 years, I have literally read hundreds of books on Bible Prophecy and End Time signs. I especially enjoy books on the Rapture, and I have read almost every Rapture-related book published. In all those years, devouring thousands of pages, and millions of words, I have not read a better book on the Rapture than, Rapture Ready...Or Not? Terry James might be physically blind, but he is spiritually sharp and well discerning beyond most authors. In "Rapture Ready...Or Not?" Terry has nailed the pre-trib Rapture, and removed any doubt what so ever about the Church going through the Tribulation. With great insight and Godly discernment, Terry explains with simple, yet profound words, why and how that he has come to believe the ways he does about the Rapture, the Tribulation, and the End Times scenario. I think after reading "Rapture Ready...Or Not?" you too will believe as Terry does, and be Ready for the Rapture like never before! - Randy Thomas - Publisher / Editor - Prophecy Update For more information and or to get your copy of "Rapture Ready...Or Not?" use this link: http://www.raptureready.com/terry/book35.html 
Dangerous Alliances: Iran-North Korea Nuclear Cooperation - By Barney Breen-Portnoy - http://www.prophecynewswatch.com/article.cfm?recent_news_id=1105
Paying attention to any potential nuclear cooperation between Iran and North Korea should be a priority for the Trump administration, a proliferation expert told The Algemeiner on Thursday. "I think the main thing is to try to discover it," David Albright -- head of the Institute for Science and International Security think tank -- said. "We know it [cooperation] happens in the missile and conventional weapons areas. As for the nuclear area, we look at it as an open question. We haven't seen enough evidence yet to make an actual accusation, we just don't know. But I think there is a real risk that Iran and North Korea could cooperate on nuclear matters. It requires a lot of attention from our intelligence services." "If it turns out such cooperation does exist, an argument could be made that it's a violation of the JCPOA [Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action]," Albright went on to say. "Whether it in fact is or not, lawyers would have to decide. It would depend on the exact type of cooperation. But the bottom line is you have to develop more resources to try to figure if it's going on. And a revelation that it is going on would be quite damaging to Iran." There are two types of know-how Iran and North Korea could share, Albright said. The first, he noted is "more traditional information about building nuclear weapons and testing nuclear weapons, which North Korea certainly has plenty of to give to Iran." And the second is "reentry vehicle technology for a nuclear warhead." "Iran is freer to conduct reentry vehicle tests than North Korea," Albright explained. "So both could benefit. It would look like missile cooperation, which is more tolerated, but in fact it could end up being a way to help both countries be able to mount a nuclear warhead on a ballistic missile." In a recently published paper, Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies analysts Refael Ofek and Dany Shoham claimed that Iran was "steadily making progress towards a nuclear weapon" with help from North Korea. The Pyongyang regime, they wrote, was "ready and able" to give the Islamic Republic a "clandestine means of circumventing" the July 2015 nuclear deal it agreed to with six world powers. "At the same time," they added, "Iran is likely assisting in the upgrading of certain North Korean strategic capacities." Anthony Ruggiero -- a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies think tank -- noted in a policy brief on Wednesday, "What happens in North Korea rarely stays there, and Pyongyang has likely proliferated nuclear technology in secret to at least two countries: Syria and Libya. Likewise, a North Korea-Iran nuclear relationship would be difficult to detect. And while North Korea will not sell complete nuclear weapons or fissile material for nuclear weapons -- as these are critical to the regime's survival -- it will sell other parts of its program, as well as its expertise." "Perhaps most disconcerting, there are no international mechanisms to detect scientific activity inside North Korea," he continued. "The hermit kingdom controls information flow, especially on its strategic programs, and IAEA inspectors are not permitted access to its nuclear program." "For over 20 years, the US has failed to counter North Korea's growing nuclear and ballistic missile threat. Pyongyang-Tehran nuclear cooperation would be cause for even greater alarm," Ruggiero concluded. 
Daily Jot: Gorsuch and the Supreme Court hearings - Bill Wilson - www.dailyjot.com
The circus begins as the Senate vets Supreme Court Justice nominee Neil Gorsuch. Certainly, the standards for Gorsuch will be much higher than it was for the two communist sympathizers Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan, who also are arguably the two most public supporters of the gay agenda in Supreme Court history. If you claim to be conservative, the criteria changes. I don't know much about Gorsuch, but I do know that what we will hear as a nation in the next few days will be mostly grandstanding by Senators, including off-the-wall accusations that grab headlines and fire up the already inflamed sensory of both liberals and conservatives alike. A little truth makes a better lie. Already, Christians and their organizations have conducted email campaigns raising doubts about Gorsuch because of the churches he has attended. He reportedly was raised Roman Catholic and attends a very liberal Episcopalian congregation whose female pastor supports gay marriage. What can we really draw from that? Roman Catholic roots would tell us that on most issues he is conservative-religious freedom, right to life, privacy. Episcopalians are more liberal, perhaps splitting on right to life. Both churches are pretty liberal on issues of homosexuality. This is probably a picture of what we have with Gorsuch-conservative on protecting life and religious freedom; Liberal on homosexuality. It would be nice, irrespective of Gorsuch's personal opinions, if he would interpret the Constitution the way that the Bible should be interpreted-from the meaning of the words and the context in which they are written. Gorsuch is supposed to replace Antonin Scalia, one of the most conservative members of the high court. Gorsuch is not Scalia. He is also not who would have been appointed if Donald Trump was not president. If the election had gone the other way, we may have the likes of a judge like Derrick Watson, the Hawaii District Court Judge who twists the meaning of words and appears to interpret the dictionary as a living document-just like he would the Constitution. Trump may get an opportunity to appoint another two justices. His appointments could change the way law is interpreted for generations to come. It is important that whomever he chooses is able to read words for what they are and interpret the law in the context it was written, especially the Constitution. For far too long, both Republican and Democratic justices have strayed from the original context, making America more and more a social democracy than a Constitutional Republic. We need guardians of the Constitution on the Supreme Court, not esoteric-minded political hacks. Let's pray for Gorsuch to be such a guardian. May he be an Amos 5:24 judge who lets "judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream." 
Daily Devotion: God Goes With You - Greg Laurie - www.harvest.org
The chief of staff renamed them with these Babylonian names: Daniel was called Belteshazzar. Hananiah was called Shadrach. Mishael was called Meshach. Azariah was called Abednego. -Daniel 1:7 Nebuchadnezzar could change their names, but he couldn't change their hearts. Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had a God to serve and a stand to make. The powerful king had made the call for some of Israel's finest young men. He wanted the brightest and the best. He wanted to indoctrinate and brainwash them in the ways of Babylon. And he wanted them to abandon the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and worship the gods of Babylon instead. Ancient Babylon was a wonder to behold, filled with jaw-dropping opulence. Yet there was no reverence for the Lord in that place. Everyone cowered in fear in the presence of King Nebuchadnezzar. It is believed by many commentators that Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were somewhere between the ages of 14 and 19. They were good Jewish boys who had been raised by their parents in the way of the Lord. But their world, as they knew it, changed overnight. Torn away from their families, they were placed in an alien culture of paganism and unparalleled luxury. Up to that point, they would have lived in simple conditions. But they suddenly found themselves in the palace of the most powerful man on earth. Maybe your world has changed recently. Maybe you were going a certain direction and have unexpectedly found yourself on a different path. Maybe you recently headed to college, and it is an entirely new world for you-and not exactly a world that is supportive of your Christian values. Maybe your business has sent you to a different city, or maybe you are stationed overseas. Here is what you need to know: Wherever you go, God goes with you. He doesn't live in one place; He is present with all His children. And He hasn't forgotten about you. 
FROM THE HEART
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