Prophecy Update Newsletter
March 31, 2017
IN TODAY'S NEWSLETTER...
The Battle of Armageddon! - David Pepe - http://www.theignorantfishermen.com/2011/09/battle-of-armageddon-will-commence-near.html
The Battle of Armageddon will commence near the end of the seven year tribulation period in which a sin ravished "EXPONENTALLY CATISTROPHIC" world's remnant (DRIVEN BY SUPER DEMONIC FORCES) will march to war against Almighty God and His ETERNAL sovereignty over His creation (Joel 3:2,12, Zech. 12:2, Rev. 16:13-16). This global remnant of rebellious humanity of the ravished world at this time will make their final delusional destination, clawing and crawling to war against their Creator. So focused, so driven, so blind with such EXPONENTIAL subjective, vindictive hatred that seven years of the EXPONENTIAL horrific consequences of godless man along with the SUPERNATURAL Divine judgments of Almighty God will NOT DETOUR these individual's godless passion, hatred and consuming desire to establish their insane and delusional godless utopia and seek the full eradication Almighty God from His creation (Rev. 9:20-21, 16:9,11). No wonder Almighty God will laugh His head off at the full blown insanity of the nations of this period (Psalm 2). The Battle of Armageddon will commence near the end of the seven-year tribulation period in which a sin ravished "EXPONENTALLY CATISTROPHIC" world's remnant (DRIVEN BY SUPER DEMONIC FORCES) will march to war against Almighty God and His ETERNAL sovereignty over His creation (Joel 3:2,12, Zech. 12:2, Rev. 16:13-16). This global remnant of rebellious humanity of the ravished world at this time will make their final delusional destination, clawing and crawling to war against their Creator. So focused, so driven, so blind with such EXPONENTIAL subjective, vindictive hatred that seven years of the EXPONENTIAL horrific consequences of godless man along with the SUPERNATURAL Divine judgments of Almighty God will NOT DETOUR these individual's godless passion, hatred and consuming desire to establish their insane and delusional godless utopia and seek the full eradication Almighty God from His creation (Rev. 9:20-21, 16:9,11). No wonder Almighty God will laugh His head off at the full blown insanity of the nations of this period (Psalm 2). As this global horde continues their raging ADVANCE to Megiddo in the midst of all Almighty God's Divine obstacles, Almighty God will unleash His FINAL 21st Divine judgment on this raging demonically induced ADVANCING global host (Rev. 16:17-21). In this FINAL "Bowl Judgment", Almighty God will proclaim to ALL His creation, "IT IS DONE!" and will cause every global tectonic fault line to move out of their place and institute a global earthquake that is absolutely incomprehensible (Rev. 16:17). This earthquake will be so EXPONENTIALLY catastrophic, so EXPONENTIALLY horrific, so EXPONENTIALLY ravishing that it will completely transform and ravish the entire world's continents causing super tsunamis, obliterating all islands, coastlines and mountains. It will obliterate ALL of the world's great cities, technologies and millions of human lives will be wiped out (Isa. 24:5-6, Hag 2:6, 7, Rev. 16:18-20). As the aftermath of this EXPONENTIALLY INCOMPREHENSIBLE judgment quiets down, one will begin to hear the stirring of men who have survived in the global desolation and rubble. As the dust clears from this Divine EXPONENTIALLY EXPONENTIAL global earthquake judgment, the remaining surviving masses of the armies of the anti-Christ will amass and CONTINUE their ADVANCE to Israel to the plains of Megiddo (Rev. 16:13-16)! Oh my friend, what a consuming passion of wrath of these hordes! What consuming vindictive rage filled with burning hatred (Psalm 2:1-5)! They are fully UNREPENTANT as they march to their ETERNAL doom (2 Thess. 2:10, Rev. 9:20-21, 16, 19:11-21)! As they regather themselves, crawl and claw their way to Megiddo, Almighty God will send the FINAL part of the Seventh Bowl Judgment on them! This final judgment is the heavenly bombardment of 70-100 lbs hailstones from Heaven (Rev. 16:21)! As these 70-100 lbs hailstones bombard the remnant of the Anti-Christ satanic hosts, these will CONTINUE their ADVANCE to Armageddon DRIVEN WITH ALL CONSUMPTION OF HATRED AND RAGE. Thousands upon thousands will fall to these great hailstones but despite these horrific judgments - like those of the past seven years - these WILL NOT be distracted nor repent! They will CONTINUE to slander and blaspheme Almighty God until their final eradication with the Lord Jesus Christ's return from heaven's glory (Dan. 2:43-45, ,7:13-14, 2 Thess. 2:10, Rev. 19:11-21). It will be after these two-last horrific global cataclysmic events that their personal rage and hatred towards their Creator and RIGHTEOUS SOVEREIGNTY will be at a demonic fever pitch (Psalm 2:1-4). As these surviving dregs of the nations make their final ADVANCE into the valley of Megiddo, these - due to the EXPONENTIAL and CATASTROPHICALLY HORRIFIC events of the last seven years) will most likely have nothing but stones and sticks in their hands to wage war against Almighty God and His people Israel (Zech. 12:1-4, 9, 14:2-4)! Oh my friends, how pathetic a picture. Be it great atomic rockets or be it stones, these will strike out and seek to eradicate Almighty God from out His creation. This final conflict will reveal to all that fallen humanity has an incurable heart problem in (Jer. 17:9, Matt 15:19-20, Gal. 5:19-21). In all reality, only a REMNANT of all of the nations will survive the godless trek to Megiddo. The Anti Christ's armies at "Battle of Armageddon" will be the remaining violent dregs of a godless rebellious world (Isa. 24:5-6, Rev. 19:21). Their rage and hatred has produced a fanatical drive to survive and reach their final destination, only to be destroyed at Christ's second coming and cast into outer darkness and flames (Isa. 24:5-6, Zech. 14:12, 2 Thess. 2:8, Rev. 19:11-21, 20:11-15). Oh, how godless the heart of man when he continually rejects reality and the RIGHTEOUSNESS of Almighty God (Jer. 17:9, Rom. 1:18-32, Rev. 9:20-21)! Man WILL NOT let go of his godless rage and rebellion EVEN when under honorific tribulation. Man - when he fully rejects Almighty God's witness, revelation and proclamation of salvation will ONLY continue FOREVER spiral downward into the subjective darkened abyss of delusional darkness and vanity (Matt. 25:41, John 3:19-21, Rev. 20:11-15, 22:11). So it is no wonder that during this period man's hardness will only exceedingly intensify and manifest its self to the EXPONENTIAL heights of depravity (Jer. 17:9)! As we come to the very hour in which the seven-year tribulation period will commence (Dan. 9:27, Rev.6), May I ask you this very pertinent question? Do you PERSONALLY know the Lord Jesus Christ as your PERSONAL Savior? My friend IF NOT, harden NOT your heart as we approach this day. May it be that you see things from Almighty God's ETERNAL and BIBLICAL perspective. Call on the Lord Jesus Christ and YOU will be saved (Acts 16:29-31)! May it be so! The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand! 
Top U.S. Commander: Iran's Heightened Threat Since Nuclear Deal May Require Military Action - by Edwin Mora - http://www.breitbart.com
The U.S. needs to consider military action to disrupt Iran's malign activities in the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia, which have intensified since the Islamic Republic signed a nuclear deal with world powers in 2015, a top American commander warned American lawmakers. Former President Barack Obama and other supporters of the nuclear deal argued that it would promote peace and avoid military confrontation. Gen. Joseph Votel, the head of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) testified Wednesday before the House Armed Services Committee about the security challenges facing his area of responsibility (AOR). The Central Region, or CENTCOM AOR, spans more than 4 million square miles that cover 20 predominantly Muslim nations that stretch from Northeast Africa across the Middle East to Central and South Asia. In his written testimony, Gen. Votel declared: Iran poses the most significant threat to the Central Region and to our national interests and the interests of our partners and allies. We have not seen any improvement in Iran's behavior since the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), addressing Iran's nuclear program, was finalized in July 2015. Over the past year, after the nuclear deal was signed, the U.S. military has been dealing with Iran and its proxies carrying out "a range of malign activities" in the Central Region, namely in "Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, Egypt, the Sinai, and the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait [located between Yemen and Djibouti and Eritrea] and in other parts of our area of responsibility," declared Gen. Votel. Democrat Congresswoman Jacky Rosen from Nevada asked the top U.S. general during the hearing, "Do you believe Iran has increased destabilizing activity since the JCPOA?" "I do believe they have," responded Gen. Votel, adding in his written remarks: Unfortunately, the [nuclear] agreement has led some to believe that we have largely addressed the Iranian problem set and that is not the case. In addition to its nuclear weapons potential, Iran presents several credible threats. They have a robust theater ballistic missile program, and we remain concerned about their cyber and maritime activities, as well as the activities of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps - Qods Forces (IRGC-QF) and their network of affiliates, [including their narco-terrorist proxy Hezbollah]. Since the nuclear agreement was signed, Iran has been "clearly focused" on expanding its influence and power in the Central Region, noted Votel. "Recognizing that Iran poses the greatest long-term threat to U.S. interests in the Central Region, we must seize opportunities to both reassure our allies and shape Iran's behavior," he pointed out, adding, "Through both messaging and actions, we must also be clear in our communications and ensure the credibility of U.S. intentions." To disrupt Iran's growing threat, the U.S. must consider military action and other ways, proclaimed Gen. Votel. "I've had an opportunity to talk with some of our regional partners about it," he said. "I think we need to look at opportunities where we can disrupt through military means or other means, their activities." "In addition to ready military actions, we must support the broader USG [U.S. Government] strategy with regard to Iran which should include new diplomatic initiatives that provide Iran with viable alternatives to its present course," he conceded. The U.S. general did stress that Iran must be aware that there will be consequences if it continues its malign and provocative activities. "The point that I would emphasize to you is that while there may be other more strategic or consequential threats or regions in our world, today, the central region has come to represent the nexus for many of the security challenges our nation faces," warned the CENTCOM commander. "Most importantly, the threats in this region continue to pose the most direct threat to the U.S. homeland and the global economy. Thus it must remain a priority and be resourced accordingly," added Gen. Votel. The Af-Pak region is home to the largest concentration of U.S. and United Nations-designated terrorist groups - 13 in Afghanistan and seven in Pakistan, according to the U.S. military. Moreover, "the Middle East remains the global epicenter of terrorism and violent Islamist extremism," wrote Gen. Votel. Citing the Institute for Economics and Peace's 2016 Global Terrorism Index, he testified that "the U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) AOR accounted for 78% of all terrorism incidents worldwide." 
Iran's Boasting of Its Military Technological Advances - Ariel Ben Solomon - http://www.charismanews.com/politics/issues/63981-iran-s-boasting-of-its-military-technological-advances
Iranian officials often boast about their military technology advancements and call for the destruction of Israel, yet these claims might ring hollow. Iran's military is in much worse shape than is commonly believed and is overextended in Syria, meaning that an American or Israeli attack against the Islamic Republic's nuclear and military sites would not be very difficult to execute, experts told JNS.org. Since the election of President Donald Trump, there has been evidence the Iranian regime is behaving and speaking more carefully. The Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) published a report in March that noted Iran had pulled back from provocations against U.S. Navy vessels, and even stopped making public threats to sink these ships in the Persian Gulf. "The slogan 'death to America' has disappeared almost entirely from the official discourse of regime spokesmen, including Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei himself, as have public burnings of the American flag," stated the report. Brigadier General Masoud Jazayeri, deputy chief of staff of Iran's armed forces, warned the U.S. to be more careful about its warship movements in the Persian Gulf, Fars News Agency reported March 26. Jazayeri's rhetoric seems softer than past warnings from Iranian leaders. Yigal Carmon, president and founder of MEMRI, told JNS.org Iranian claims of domestic development of military technologies are "complete nonsense." The only serious concern, he said, is the country's acquisition of North Korean missiles. Iran imports North Korean missiles and renames them to give the impression that they were domestically developed, said Carmon. Every few weeks, he explained, Iranian media publish baseless stories about supposed successes of their military programs. In one notable episode in January 2013, Iran's Space Agency announced it had sent a monkey into space, yet pictures of the monkey before and after the "mission" did not match up. "Iran does not create any quality military equipment, they only are able to buy from abroad," said Carmon, adding, "What do they invent to counter U.S. ships? All they are able to come up with is suicide speed boats." Carmon also pointed out the Iranians once "displayed what they claimed to be domestically built submarines, but when we saw the picture that they put out, we saw that the size would be good for the Baltimore aquarium." Further, in January, Iran conducted a failed ballistic missile test. Carmon views Iran as no real challenge to the U.S. "If the U.S. or Israel attack Iran's nuclear sites and military targets, it will be a done deal," he said. Possibly bolstering this argument is a comparison of American and Iranian financial resources. "Look at the figures," Fox News columnist Jonathan Adelman, an international studies professor at the University of Denver, wrote in February. "The American GDP of over $18 trillion is more than 40 times the GDP of Iran ($450 billion). ... Given all this, the fear of Iran getting nuclear weapons still remains real. But, even more real is the notion that the biggest power in the world, plus three significant regional powers (Israel, Egypt and Saudi Arabia), could handle Iran if they would put their minds to it." All the while, Iran has stretched its resources in recent years by spending $6 billion annually in support of President Bashar al-Assad's regime in the Syrian Civil War, according to Bloomberg News. Iran did experience some financial relief, however, through a $1.7 billion payment from the Obama administration that many believed represented "ransom" for the release of several American hostages, the Washington Free Beacon reported in March 2016. Dr. Harold Rhode, a distinguished senior fellow at the Gatestone Institute think tank and a former U.S. Defense Department official, told JNS.org while America is strong both militarily and internally, Iran and North Korea "appear strong, but are weak and rotten inside." Rhode pointed out that while Iran is trying to develop nuclear weapons, its government is systematically destroying the country by ignoring domestic problems such as a water crisis. According to a study published in March 2016 by the London-based NGO Small Media, Iran "faces an unprecedented crisis of water resources that threatens to render vast swathes of the country near-uninhabitable within the coming decades." Another domestic challenge is Iran's rampant opium drug problem. Rhode speculated that Iranian authorities could crack down harder on drugs, but refuse in order "to keep the people preoccupied so they don't concern themselves with overthrowing the government." "Do we need to have a massive invasion [of Iran]? No. We must show that this regime cannot do what is necessary to keep themselves in power," Rhode said, articulating what he believes the American or Israeli approach should be. MEMRI's Carmon said there are alternatives to "actual physical attacks," such as electronic warfare, when it comes to confronting Iran. Rhode, too, said there are many options short of putting troops on the ground-including trying to bring about regime change. "We live in very stable societies, we expect changes to come slowly, but that is not how it works in totalitarian societies like Iran," Rhode said, adding, "The moment the people see the regime has lost its ability and willingness to keep itself in power, the regime will topple very quickly, as happened to the shah in 1979. The shah was not willing to do what was necessary to put down the rioting." Iran, he said, is "potentially a paper tiger" and it is "our job to encourage regime change-and we can." 
Sanhedrin Fighting Police to Allow Passover Sacrifice: Call for Nations to Play Their Role - By Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz - https://www.breakingisraelnews.com
"And this day shall be unto you for a memorial, and ye shall keep it a feast to Hashem; throughout your generations ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever." Exodus 12:14 (The Israel Bible™) The Israeli police, in direct contravention of the law are preventing the Sanhedrin from holding a reenactment of the Passover Temple Service. At stake are basic human rights, with the Israeli police giving in to the threat of Islamic violence. For the last fifteen years, the Sanhedrin has hosted a full-dress reenactment of the Pesach (Passover) sacrifice in Jerusalem. The Temple ceremony on Pesach was perhaps even more important than the one held on Yom Kippur since every Jew was required to actively participate. The Sanhedrin reenactments have included Kohanim (men of the priestly caste) dressed in authentic vestments, accompanied by the proper musical instruments, and utilizing vessels that have been created for use in the Third Temple. A lamb is slaughtered and roasted on a model altar, under the supervision of a veterinary inspector. Last year, the reenactment held on the Mount of Olives overlooking the Temple Mount was attended by approximately 1,000 people. For this year's reenactment scheduled for next Thursday, the Sanhedrin rented an open space at the Davidson Center, an archeological park adjacent to the Western Wall, owned by a corporation that is overseen by the Ministry of Construction and Housing. The organizers of the reenactment received permission from the corporation to hold the ceremony on their grounds on the condition they also received permission from the Israeli police. The police has refused to give permission for the ceremony to take place. Rabbi Hillel Weiss, spokesman for the nascent Sanhedrin, emphasized the importance of this ceremony and what the battle represents. "The Israeli police are expanding the borders of the Islamic authority beyond the Temple Mount," Rabbi Hillel Weiss said to Breaking Israel News. "We request that every man and all the nations express to the Israeli government that it is time for them to take their role in bringing all of humanity to freedom through the Pesach sacrifice, for which this reenactment is a preparation. This sacrifice brought us out of Egypt and we need it again to end this long exile completely." "We believe that this is the only path to world peace: by recognizing the God of Abraham via the Jewish Temple," Rabbi Weiss said. "We are requesting this from the world as Jews, living freely in our land." It is disturbing and poignant that this battle has already been won in the High Court but the Israeli police still do not enact the law as established by the court. The Jerusalem police have already lost court cases brought against them for violating this right. Rabbi Yehudah Glick, a Temple Mount activist for years who is now a Likud Knesset Member, won a case in 2015 which upheld his right to pray on the Temple Mount. He had been banned from the site due to a video showing him praying. Despite the court ruling, Jews are still prevented from exercising this right at the Temple Mount, ad a new case has been brought against the Jerusalem police by The Friends of the Temple organization, headed by Yaakov Hayman. Last year, the Jerusalem police arrested dozens of Jews on their way to Jerusalem to perform private reenactments before Passover. The Jerusalem police cite security concerns for these prohibitions, claiming that the Muslim Palestinians will react violently. But the Sanhedrin's Passover ceremony will be on a site that has no Muslim significance, and in Temple times served as stairs leading up to the Temple entrance. Ze'ev Elkin, the Minister of Jerusalem Affairs, commented on the situation, saying, "It is absurd that in the Jewish State Jews are arrested for trying to perform a Jewish ceremony." "It is clear that if there is to be a change in this matter, it must come from public outcry, and from more Jews going up to the Temple Mount" Elkin said. "Unfortunately, I don't see any solution coming from the High Court. Despite this cause being correct in every manner, this is precisely the type of circumstance that the High Court should step in, but instead, they have relinquished total control to the police. This is an attack on the most basic rights of the citizens." The Sanhedrin has initiated a Headstart crowdfunding campaign for the Passover reenactment and for the court battle to allow it to take place. 
Where Is All of This Headed? - By Gene Lawley - http://www.raptureready.com/2017/03/30/where-is-all-of-this-headed-by-gene-lawley/
The long-awaited goal seemed to be in reach when President Obama remarked rather incidentally in an aside last April 30, 2016. He said, "The end of the Republic has never looked better." The coming election appeared to be locked in the hands of Hillary Clinton whose only apparent offer to the American electorate was "the first woman president." (And also a continuation of the Obama administration's obvious destruction of American national sovereignty.) It was eight years of lies and deception, whether in unemployment statistics, economic and social wellbeing, or "if you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor," and "if you like your insurance plan, you can keep your insurance plan." His overall goal was "hush-hush" in all of the media, a carryover from the clear refusal to search out and expose Obama's true past history. Federal courts strangely would not permit the continuance of any kind of challenge or evidence presentation that would open up that bombshell of reality. It only highlights Henry Kissinger's elated exclamation after the 2008 election: "He has been primed to lead us into a New World Order." A Christian surely must be asking where God is in all of this seemingly full-throttled effort of the "conspiracy realists" to pull off a giant coup of installing a New World Order over the nations. It is a long-standing theological reality that God is not going to give up His glory to any mortal being which He created. In Ephesians 3:10-11 Paul writes of God's purpose in the revealing of Jesus Christ as God in the flesh of man was "that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord." It is worth noting that when the New Testament writers speak of the church accomplishing anything for God, it has nothing to do with any man-made entity or denomination such as Roman Catholic, Baptist, Methodist, or that building where people assemble for worship and fellowship. It is that born-again body of Christ, the one represented in the statement Jesus made in answer to Peter's identification of Jesus as "the Christ, the Son of the living God" in Matthew 16:16. Jesus answered in verse 17, "...On this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it." The angels wonder about the methods of God's purpose, according to 1 Peter 1:12, "things which angels desire to look into." They do not know of mercy and grace in personal experience. However, making the manifold wisdom of God's purpose known to principalities and powers in the heavenly places has another audience-those of evil intent who are opposed to all that is of God, yet will be totally destroyed in the final conclusion of God's plan. It is like the story of Job, whom Satan desired that he might prove what a failure God was in entrusting His glory in a man of the earth such as Job. That issue is described by Paul as how "the foolishness of God is wiser than the wisdom of men (bond-slaves of the prince of this world), (1 Corinthians 1:18, 21, 25). The ultimate warfare is between God and Satan, as revealed in Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28, where back in eternity past that top angel of the host of heaven was allowed to rebel against his Creator and God's glory and sovereignty were challenged. So it is, as Paul wrote in Ephesians 6:12, "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." In the plan of God for mankind there appears to be four major eras or periods of time in which He deals with man with increasingly more enlightenment of Himself and with resulting more responsibility of man. Those broad periods of time are as follows:
As I mentioned above, and actual history shows thus far, as more and more revelation of God and His plans unfold, there is more awareness of man's accountability to God. And, unfortunately, continual failure of man to be accountable and obedient has been the end result in every era, with the climax of God's judgment. That first period started with perfection...and innocence, and shortly, failure, and mankind no longer was alive, spiritually. Embedded in his conscience, however, was the moral law of good and evil, for they had eaten of that tree's fruit. It took the judgments of a flood and confusion of languages to climax that era. Obeying their consciences was too much for the people. Then God called a man named Abram out from his relatives and made of him a nation that He called His holy people and gave them written laws which they promised to keep, a covenant of promise. That is the story of the Old Testament, a story, again, of failure of the chosen people, even, to be accountable and obedient to God their Creator. They were scattered among the nations of the world for their judgment but with a promise of a future restoration to the land promised to Abraham and his descendants forever. A future period of seven years, known as "the time of Jacob's trouble," would take place in which His chosen people would finish their judgment and find restoration to God's favor. That third era with the advent of Jesus Christ, had been promised from the beginning. It was God appearing in the form of man, born of God and of a woman. Paul writes of this in 1 Timothy 3:16: "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory." It was then God walking among men, fully God, fully man, but without the Adam-killing sinfulness that had enslaved mankind since that day in the Garden of Eden. It was God's major revelation of Himself, on whose face it was said that no man could look and live. He was God's personal message to man, as reported in Hebrews 1:1-2: "God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds." John wrote of the fellowship he and the disciples had with Him and recommended that fellowship to all others as well: "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life-the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us-that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full" (1 John 1-4). This period is the age of grace, the times of the Gentiles, when God's plan is to "take out of the Gentiles a people for His name" (Acts 15:14), while setting aside the Israelites, in part, while that is being done (Romans 11:25). This period ends, also, with judgment, seven years of it upon the disobedient Jews and people all over the world who remain in rebellion. Even though believers during this "dispensation of grace" (Ephesians 3:2) are indwelt with the Holy Spirit of promise, they, too, are showing an increasing lack of accountability and obedience. Such a marvelous and majestic revelation of God's reality, presence and relativity to mankind still does not impact them exclusively. Multiple scriptures indicate that those who believe in Christ and are born again during this period will be removed from that judgment before it begins and will return with the Savior when He comes to the earth once again to complete that phase of the judgment and begin that final era before eternity, the millennium. Three of the final actions of the Lord in that third period will be casting the Antichrist and his false prophet into the lake of fire to burn forever, killing the others who were against Him, and binding Satan in chains in the bottomless pit for the duration of the millennium. Many passages of Scripture in Isaiah, Jeremiah and other prophetical books of the Bible, such as Zechariah 14 and Revelation 20 describe that time when Jesus will reign over the earth from the throne of David as one with peace, good health and long lives, no warfare, even among animals. Yet, at the end, when Satan is loosed from his chains, he will readily raise up an army to oppose the Lord who will destroy that opposition, finally and forever! Every period ends in judgment upon the inhabitants of the earth, for they do not measure up to the accountability and obedience God requires. It is the glory of God that he, alone, is capable of man's redemption; flesh and blood have no place in His plan. As more and more of God's reality will have been revealed, man continually refuses His free gift of salvation. But God is merciful and saves those who do realize their sinfulness and turn to Him for forgiveness. This article began with consideration of where we are with current events and God's plan for mankind. In light of the pattern of history and its showing of man's inability to choose good over evil, the question remains of whether or not this current new direction for America, as well as Britain and other nations, will endure into the future for any length of time, given the harsh and desperate resistance being shown. America has been looked upon as "the leader of the free world," and her benevolence shown in the restoration of Europe and Japan after defeating that opposition in World War II stands out before the envy of many people. After many centuries of kings, despots and dictators, God allowed man to form the most ideal political entity than any previously known. With that platform, could man finally govern himself justly and righteously? What we are seeing unfold in current events appears to be a rejection, even, of the best for which man could ever hope...without his submission to the God of the universe. Again, the glory of God reigns supreme over the proponents of evil. These four dispensations of time discussed here show an increasing revelation of God to mankind, yet each period has and will end in judgment on mankind for his decided rejection of that God. It is to His glory in the universe that the created cannot survive without and apart from the mercy, grace and love of the Creator. It seems to highlight, on the spiritual side, the words of John 3:19: "And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil." Contact email: [email protected] 
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 
A God of Love and Wrath - Alf Cengia - http://www.omegaletter.com/articles/articles.asp?ArticleID=8415
Unfortunately, some things are learned the hard way. My wandering around in the New Age taught me several lessons I hope never to forget. I wish I hadn't gone through all that. But I probably needed to in order to drive these lessons into my thick skull. I finally learned the reality of spiritual warfare and the existence of demons. If the devil and demons existed then there had to be a God. Because of my upbringing I'd already suspected that God had communicated His word to us through the Bible. But since the Bible didn't condone my adopted views, I avoided it. Another lesson I learned was just how corrupt and depraved a mind can become when left to its own devices. Most New Agers believed in a form of god. This god was permissive and always loving. He was never wrathful. Their god - if he existed - was a Santa Claus who only sees good children. Acts of brutality, rape, murder and perversity of all kinds were excused using concepts of karma and reincarnation. Humans were said to undergo several lifetimes of learning and making mistakes in order to evolve spiritually. Almost anything was permissible because there were no eternal consequences. These ideas were so pervasive and intoxicating that it eventually became difficult for me to acknowledge the reality of evil. One could excuse just about any behavior. God's grace finally dragged me out of that deadly place. By the time 9-11 occurred, I understood the true nature of the event. Unsurprisingly, several "spiritual leaders" interpreted the event as a "cosmic lesson." One lady even wrote that the souls who died that day had unselfishly sacrificed themselves in order to accelerate humanity's spiritual evolution. Denial of the reality of evil, sin and God's wrath leads to a dangerous mind-set. One which professing Christians aren't exempt from. Its logical progression undermines Christ's work on the cross. As another Easter approaches we can expect the obligatory seasonal proclamations. Atheists will have their say. The media will print the usual skeptical Easter narrative stories. Some Christians will attack Easter as pagan-inspired. But there's also an increasing movement by some Christians to re-interpret Christ's Atonement. The movie version of Paul Young's The Shack was be released prior to Easter 2017. Many Christians stridently defend the book and movie. They say it's heartwarming Christian fiction with no serious theological implications. Yet as a friend noted - why does a "fictional story" come with a study guide? Several critics have highlighted serious theological problems with The Shack. James B. De Young (Burning Down The Shack) observes: Paul Young departs from an evangelical understanding of God in whom holiness and love are equally balanced to a Universalist understanding of God in whom love is paramount and judgment and holiness are considered to be in conflict with his love. In comparison with [John] Bunyan [Pilgrim's Progress], Paul Young denies that there is future punishment, that God punishes sin. (Emphases mine) The Shack is only the tip of the iceberg. This recently from a Baptist pastor: The major problem with substitutionary atonement is the way it imagines God. This interpretation of Jesus' death makes God the source of redemptive violence. God required/demanded a violent death for atonement to be made. God required the death of an innocent victim in order to satisfy God's offended sense of honor or pay off a penalty that God imposed. What kind of justice or God is this? Would a loving parent make forgiveness for the child conditioned upon a violent act? Lutheran minister Daniel Skillman has asked the question: "Is This the God that You Love and Worship?" He then digs out the sorts of verses one expects from people who find bits of the Bible (especially the OT) unpalatable. Skillman advises his readers against reaching for their "big book of Bible difficulties" to resolve the "glaring contradictions" regarding whether God takes pleasure in someone's death or not (Deut 28:63 v Ezek 33:11). He's already read it for you and found it unconvincing. Actually, these verses taken in context aren't irreconcilable. But that would be the subject of another article. It's no surprise Skillman finds biblical inerrancy unconvincing. He's long gone down that slippery slope. Alleged biblical contradictions and difficulties are raised in order to subvert Scripture. The real problem lies with these peoples' rejection of God's word. They portray the biblical understanding of the cross as child abuse because they don't like hell and punishment. They want to believe in universalism and a wrathless God. Hence they need a modified (unorthodox) reason for the cross. Paul dealt with this in his day and warned Timothy of its future coming (2 Tim 3:1-7, 4:1-4). Before he went to be with the Lord, Charles Spurgeon had to contend with "Higher Criticism" challenges to God's word in what is known as the Downgrade Controversy. At the turn of the 16th century, a local lord of the manor teased Puritan Richard Rogers about his "precisian" way. Rogers responded that he served a precise God. James Packer noted that such a God also made a precise disclosure of his nature and will in Scripture. God therefore expects a corresponding preciseness in behavior and belief from His servants. The Puritans took comfort in, and preached, the amazing grace of God. But this gracious trait of God is also inextricably woven into Christ's work on the cross. It is because of Christ that we avoid God's wrath on our sins (Rom 1:18, 2:5-8; 1 Cor 15:3-4; Gal 3:13; 1 Pet 2:24). See also Joseph Scheumann's Five Truths about the Wrath of God. Douglas F. Kelly (The Beauty of Christ: A Trinitarian Vision) points out that the Lord two separate deaths on the cross. Jesus died the Second Death before His physical death (Psalm 22:1; Matt 27:46; Mark 15:34). He literally (if briefly) experienced God-forsakenness for us. The wages of sin is death (Rom 6:23). Christ bore our sins, thus satisfying God's justice. We worship a precise God who hates sin. Christ efficaciously took God's wrath on sin upon Himself for those who trust in Him (John 3:16-18). Interestingly, Kelly suggests that the darkness which fell during the last three hours of the crucifixion is significant to the "outer-blackness of God-forsakenness." Kelly refers to the "infinitude of Christ's sufferings" and writes: It is as though the one who said 'I am the light of the world' is somehow being blotted out in the blackness of the negativity of hell, as he tales on all the darkness of sin that has been committed against the light. ~ (p 381) I've come across several articles which cleverly argue for Universalism, and against the existence of God's wrath. The problem is that they either avoid verses which address it, question Scripture, or reinterpret books such as Revelation. The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Rev 20:10 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. Rev 21:8 I believe God's word means what it says. It's much safer that way. How about you? 
Daily Jot: To hijab or not to hijab, is it a question? - Bill Wilson - www.dailyjot.com
USA Today ran a story on March 15 about how the number of women wearing the Muslim head-covering, the hijab, is increasing. USA Today postulates that it has become "a symbol of resistance and feminism in the age of Trump." The media network says that Muslim women who had quit wearing the hijab, have taken it up again, and that even non-Muslim women are wearing the hijab as a symbol of feminism. The article quoted a Muslim woman who cited a Gallup Poll saying that in 90% of the Muslim population hijab is a choice by Muslim women, especially in the US where there is great societal pressure not to wear it. Her statement is indicative of the irony of feminists wearing hijabs-its not remotely based in fact. The Gallup Poll in question was taken in 2005. First, the poll was not sampling 90% of the Muslim world. "What Women Want: Listening to the Voices of Muslim Women" is part of a Gallup project, which intends to poll 95% of the world's population over the next century. While the New York Times article quoting it tried to twist the results to provide proof that Muslim women do not think they are oppressed, the poll numbers showed the opposite. For example, women in most of the Muslim world are denied a most basic right of democracy-the right to vote. Muslim women overwhelmingly said they believed they should make their own voting decisions-97% in Lebanon, 95% in Egypt and Morocco, 68% in Pakistan. A review of Muslim nations in the State Department's 2016 Report on Human Rights practices indicates Muslim women suffer: discrimination under the law; domestic violence against women "continued to be a significant problem"; honor crimes; female genital mutilation. In most of these countries there is no law against domestic violence. Sharia law window-dresses equal protection for women, but in practice women receive harsher penalties and far less rights than men. In Libya, for example, if a man is convicted of raping a woman, he can avoid a 25 year sentence if he marries the victim-regardless of her wishes. These are just a few of the oppressions of Islamic women documented in the State Department report. And feminists are wearing hijabs in protest of oppression in America? Such ironic ignorance! The Quran instructs and sanctions Muslim men to beat their women if they are considered disobedient. Sura 4:34 says, "Men are in charge of women, because Allah hath made the one of them to excel the other...So good women are the obedient...As for those from whom ye fear rebellion, admonish them and banish them to beds apart, and scourge them. Then if they obey you, seek not a way against them." Compare this with Ephesians 5:25-28: "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it...So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loves his wife loves himself." Strange that feminists in America would embrace Islam and its symbols of oppression while vehemently rejecting Christianity's message of love, empowerment, and freedom. 
Daily Devotion: Easter Is for Second Chances - Greg Laurie - www.harvest.org
But he said to them, "Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. But go, tell His disciples-and Peter-that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you." -Mark 16:6-7 Do you need a second chance today? On the first Easter morning, Peter needed one. There in the Upper Room, he had insisted that he would never deny Christ. But just as Jesus had predicted, Peter not only denied the Lord, but he denied Him three times. The last glimpse Peter had of Jesus before His crucifixion was in the glow of the fire in the high priest's courtyard, where he actually made eye contact with Jesus. And then he went out and wept bitterly. What kind of look do you think Jesus gave Peter when their eyes met? Do you think it was one of those I-told-you-so looks? Do you think it was one of scorn, as if to say, "How could you betray Me?" I don't think it was either one. I think it was a look of love, a look of compassion that said, "I still love you, Peter." And I believe that is why Peter went out and wept bitterly. He had failed the Lord so miserably. He probably thought there was no hope for him. But then a message went out from the empty tomb that Jesus had risen, followed by these instructions, "Go, tell His disciples-and Peter. . . " It was not, "Go tell the disciples, including Peter, James, and John. . ." It was just Peter, because Peter needed a special word of encouragement. Do you need encouragement today? Maybe you have fallen short. You didn't plan on it, but it happened. And like Peter, maybe you ended up with the wrong people in the wrong place at the wrong time, ultimately doing the wrong thing. God gave Peter a second chance. And He will give you one, too-because Easter is for the person who needs a second chance. 
FROM THE HEART
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