Prophecy Update Newsletter
April 19, 2017
IN TODAY'S NEWSLETTER...
Syria And the End Times - By Britt Gillette - http://www.prophecynewswatch.com/article.cfm?recent_news_id=1171
With all the events taking place in Syria right now, many people are asking, "What does the Bible have to say about Syria and the end times? Is this the beginning of World War III and Armageddon?" Those are legitimate questions, but let me assure you, this is not the end. How can I be so sure? Because the Bible says Armageddon takes place at the end of the seven-year Tribulation (Revelation 16:16), and the Tribulation has yet to begin. That said, I believe recent events in Syria have great significance when it comes to the study of bible prophecy. This doesn't mean you're guaranteed to see the immediate fulfillment of any specific bible prophecy. However, it does mean you should pay close attention. Why? Because, at the very least, these events are setting the table for the fulfillment of multiple bible prophecies. Just look around you. The signs of the Second Coming are everywhere. The restoration of Israel (Isaiah 11:12)... The Jews back in Jerusalem (Luke 21:24-28)... The Gospel preached to the world (Matthew 24:14)... An increase in travel and knowledge (Daniel 12:4)... The rise of the European Union (Daniel 2:43)... And many more. Jesus says once you see all these signs come together, His return is near (Luke 21:28). This means the Tribulation is close, and you should expect to see the fulfillment of many end times prophecies in the near future. Below are two prophetic events especially relevant to the ongoing events in Syria. The first could take place at any moment. I believe a careful study of the Bible reveals the second event will take place sometime after the war foretold in Psalm 83. Either way, both events could be very close to fulfillment. While both could still be several years away, breaking events could lead to their fulfillment in this very hour. 1) The Destruction of Damascus (Isaiah 17) Chapter 17 in the Book of Isaiah paints a sobering picture. In it, the city of Damascus is a pile of rubble. The Bible says it will disappear from the face of the earth and become a heap of ruins (Isaiah 17:1). At the same time, large parts of northern Israel will also lie in ruin (Isaiah 17:3). Now, before you say this prophecy was fulfilled during Old Testament times, keep this in mind... This passage says Damascus will cease to be a city (Isaiah 17:1). It will be utterly and completely destroyed. Yet, Damascus is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities on record. Its history goes back more than 5,000 years. At 2,600 years old, the Book of Isaiah itself is new compared to Damascus! This prophecy is yet to be fulfilled. So how do current events in Syria relate to Isaiah 17? Following the U.S. strike on the Syrian airfield Shayrat, Syria's allies issued a joint statement saying, "What America waged in an aggression on Syria is a crossing of red lines. From now on we will respond with force to any aggressor or any breach of red lines from whoever it is and America knows our ability to respond well". While this statement was clearly in response to a U.S. bombing, these nations made it clear they will respond to any nation they view as an aggressor. This includes Israel. While it hasn't been a major news story, Israel has also been bombing Syria. They're bombing Iranian-backed Hezbollah terrorists operating on the northern border of Israel. If Syria and its allies view their situation as desperate, they may decide to use these bombing raids as an excuse to launch a chemical attack on Israel. This is because drawing Israel into the war could rally the Muslim world to Syria's side. Saddam Hussein tried this same tactic during the first Gulf War. In 1991, he fired Scud missiles at Israel in an effort to draw them into the war and break up the coalition aligned against him. If Syria, Hezbollah, or any of their allies managed to strike Israel with a weapon of mass destruction, the response would be swift. Israel would most likely respond in kind. If their intelligence revealed the Assad regime was behind such an attack, nuclear retaliation on Damascus would not be out of the question. While this is all speculation, and not necessary how Isaiah 17 will be fulfilled, it shows how realistic a near-term fulfillment of this prophecy could be. With current instability in the region, and so many warring factions in Syria, events could spiral out of control very quickly. At this point in time, it's not difficult to imagine a scenario in which Damascus is completely destroyed. 2) The Gog of Magog War (Ezekiel 38-39) Current events in Syria are also setting the stage for the Gog of Magog War. More than 2,600 years ago, the prophet Ezekiel warned of a future time when a vast coalition of nations will attack Israel. Ezekiel identifies these nations as "Magog, Rosh, Meschech, Tubal, Persia, Cush, Put, Gomer, and Beth-togarmah" (Ezekiel 38:1-6). These nations have since come to be known as the Gog of Magog alliance. Now, with the exception of Persia and Cush, I realize most people have never heard of these nations. But keep in mind Ezekiel used the names of these nations as they were known in his day. Each one is a clearly identifiable nation today. So who are these nations in our day and time? Below is a list. The Old Testament name is listed first, followed by its modern day equivalent: Rosh = Russia Magog = Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Afghanistan Persia = Iran Cush = Sudan Put = Libya Meshech, Tubal, Gomer, and Beth-togarmah = Turkey Collectively, these nations have never attacked Israel. In fact, in the history of the world, such an alliance of nations has never existed. But today we see it coming together right in front of us. Since 1989, Russia and Iran have gradually strengthened their diplomatic, military, and economic ties. Yet, in the first 2,600 years after Ezekiel recorded his prophecies, the nations of Russia and Persia (Iran) had never been part of any alliance of any sort. Never. Cooperation between Russia and Iran, especially military cooperation, didn't take place. This led many people to claim Ezekiel's prophecy was symbolic. Why? Because the idea of the Gog of Magog war seemed absurd. After all, at the dawn of the 20th Century, Russia was an orthodox Christian nation and Israel didn't exist! But those who believed in a literal interpretation of the Bible knew otherwise. They knew all prophecy would come to pass. Because bible prophecy doesn't come from mere humans. It's God's Word (2 Peter 1:19-21). In the years since, the stage has been set for the literal fulfillment of Ezekiel 38-39. A 1917 communist revolution transformed Russia from a Christian nation to an atheist nation. In 1948, Israel once again became a nation. And earlier this week, Russia and Iran issued a joint statement vowing to respond with force to any aggressor. And Turkey? For decades, people have wondered how Turkey could be a part of this alliance. After all, Turkey is a member of NATO. And in late 2015, Turkey shot down a Russian jet when it strayed into Turkish airspace. Russia and Turkey seem to be at odds. So how could Turkey be a part of this alliance? At first glance, it seems unlikely. But in the summer of 2016, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan jailed thousands of political opponents. And just today (Easter Sunday 2017), Turkey voted to eliminate its parliamentary form of government and give expanded powers to Erdogan. Ultimately, this could be what pushes Turkey into the Russian sphere of influence. Erdogan is an anti-Western, pro-Islamist leader, and he's worked hard to strengthen Turkey's ties with Russia. In light of these developments, we can see the Gog of Magog alliance coming together for the first time in history. For the first time since Israel re-emerged on the world scene in May 1948, the main players of the Ezekiel 38-39 alliance are all working together. Even more important, they all have military personnel on Israel's northern border. The stage is set for the fulfillment of Ezekiel 38-39. What Will Ultimately Happen? While terrible destruction awaits Damascus (Isaiah 17:1), northern Israel (Isaiah 17:3), and the entire Gog of Magog Alliance (Ezekiel 38:19-22), we have reason to be hopeful. Because of these events, the Bible says people will soon look to and acknowledge their Creator - the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Isaiah 17:7). When He strikes down Israel's enemies, the whole world will know He is the God Israel (Ezekiel 38:23). In the days and weeks ahead, we can't be certain what will happen in Syria. But in the long run, we can be absolutely certain the events of Isaiah 17 and Ezekiel 38-39 will be fulfilled. Damascus will lie in ruin, and the Gog of Magog Alliance will be destroyed. These events are certain. Because whatever He has declared, God will bring to pass (Isaiah 14:24). And when these things happen, the world will no longer be able to deny Him. He will destroy the enemies of Israel in plain view of the entire world. "In this way," says the Lord. "I will show my greatness and holiness, and I will make myself known to all the nations of the world. Then they will know that I am the Lord." Ezekiel 38:23 (NLT) Britt Gillette is author of the ebook Coming to Jesus: One Man's Search for Truth and Life Purpose as well as Signs of the Second Coming: 11 Reasons Jesus Will Return in Our Lifetime. 
Israel's Foreign Ministry to Meet with Russian Envoy Over Moscow's Recognition of Western Jerusalem as Israeli Capital - by Deborah Danan - http://www.breitbart.com/jerusalem/2017/04/19/russian-envoy-israel-moscow-recognition-western-jerusalem-israeli-capital/
Russia's envoy to Israel is expected to announce the immediate recognition of Western Jerusalem as Israel's capital in a meeting with senior Foreign Ministry officials in the coming days, making it the first country in the world to formally legitimize any part of the city as the capital of the Jewish state. Recognizing Israeli sovereignty only over Jerusalem's western part may nullify the Jewish state's claim over the eastern parts of the city, which include Judaism's holiest sites such as the Temple Mount and the Western Wall. The meeting between the Foreign Ministry and Ambassador Alexander Shein comes after Moscow's surprise announcement earlier in the month that it views "West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel." "We reaffirm our commitment to the UN-approved principles for a Palestinian-Israeli settlement, which include the status of East Jerusalem as the capital of the future Palestinian state. At the same time, we must state that in this context we view West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel," Moscow's Foreign Ministry said in an April 6 statement. Such a move is not likely to be accompanied by a transfer of Russia's embassy from Tel Aviv to the capital. Moscow still remains committed to 1980's UN Security Council Resolution 478 that censured Israel over its declaration that a united Jerusalem was its capital and called on all nations to transfer their embassies out of the city. Russia's commitment to "UN-approved principles for a Palestinian-Israeli settlement" also indicates accord with the recently passed Security Council Resolution 2334, which Israel's government slammed as denying Jewish historical ties to Jerusalem. For those reasons, Israel's reaction to the April 6 announcement was subdued, with Foreign Ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon remarking in the immediate aftermath that the ministry was "studying the matter." For their part, the Arab world's reaction was also muted. This is especially surprising considering that President Donald Trump's announcement that he would move the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem outraged Palestinian officials and other Arab leaders across the Muslim world. One senior aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas hailed such a move as a "declaration of war" on all Muslims. According to The Jerusalem Post, which first reported on the upcoming meeting with Shein, one reason for the lack of outcry at Russia's announcement was its caveat that eastern Jerusalem would be a future Palestinian capital, something that Trump conspicuously omitted in his promise to move the embassy. The Post also reported that Moscow's dissatisfaction at the stagnant peace process was also behind the surprise announcement, and it aimed to send a clear message that the status quo - which includes Jerusalem's status from 1947's UN Partition Plan as an international city - was unsustainable. The report said that going forward, Russian schools are expected to teach that Western Jerusalem is Israel's capital and will include it as such in textbook maps. 
What is the IDF trying to hide about the interception of the Syrian missile? - Yossi Melman - http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/What-is-the-IDF-trying-to-hide-about-the-interception-of-the-Syrian-missile-488264
On March 17 IAF jets were targeted by Syrian missiles in a rare incident that Israel responded to immediately. But what is the real story behind this incident? In the wee morning hours of March 17, a Friday, a strange incident marred the skies over the area of the Jordan Valley in Israel. According to an official statement released by IDF Spokesman, the country's Air Defense Command intercepted a Syrian, Russia-manufactured anti-aircraft missile at 2:40 a.m. It had later been clarified that an Arrow 2 missile was aimed at a Syrian missile that was fired in the direction of the West Bank and Israel north of Jerusalem, in the area of the Jordan Valley. But it seems that the short and laconic announcement by the IDF doesn't really tell the full story. Or in other words- the IDF isn't revealing the whole truth about the incident. So what really happened that Friday morning? On that night, several Israel Air Force jets had returned from a mission in Syria, where they operated like they have in the past (according to foreign reports) to stop weapons convoys -mostly advanced missiles - on their way to Shi'ite terror organization Hezbollah. When the jets were already en route back to Israel, they came under fire of Russian-manufactured surface to air missiles SAM-5 (Vega) that were launched from Syria. One of the Syrian missiles' trajectory pointed south-south west. Theoretically, it could have landed in Israeli territory. But when such a missile misses its target (in this case, the IAF jets), it's supposed to activate a self-destructing mechanism that sends its parts flying to the ground. Since it was not clear at the time where the missile was coming from and there was serious concern that it would land within the West Bank or in Israel, it appears that the Arrow missile defense system had fired one or two intercepting missiles in its direction (as is the common procedure during interceptions). Prior to the launch, a red alert siren was heard in several villages in the Jordan Valley where the interception of the missile was expected to happen. Several days following the incident, the commander of the Air Defense Command, Brigadier General Tzi Haimovitch, provided more details. According to him "the threat was ballistic, and in such a situation there is no room for question marks or dilemmas." Haimovitch explained that the decision to intercept the missile was made by the relevant commanders "within a split second." Due to the rapid reaction that was required facing this threat, the commander of the IAF and the chief of staff were not made privy to this decision- but they later backed up and justified it. Arrow 2 missiles are equipped with a warhead with shrapnel shells. The shrapnel is usually supposed to hit the front part of the ballistic missile the Arrow intercepts. This is aimed mainly against the major threat facing Israel - Shahab-3 and Scud-D missiles, which Iran, Syria and Hezbollah all have in their arsenal. The shrapnel fired at the missile is meant to eliminate the explosives and neutralize the threat. However, the "warhead" of SAM-5, a 40-year-old, outdated missile, does not contain explosives. It contains "metals"- avionics equipment and a radar antenna. Its warhead is actually located in its back part, some 3.5-4 meters from the tip. Next to it is the self-destructing mechanism, and between the two and the front separates a steel divider. In short, it is most likely that the Arrow's shrapnel hit the Syrian missile's warhead but not its explosives in the back. In other words- it is doubtful that an interception took place in the full sense of the word. What may have happened is that a shock wave, which spreads when shrapnel shards hit the front part of the missile (with the same effect of a hand-grenade), could have possibly neutralized the self-destructing mechanism of the Syrian missile. Another possibility is that the self-destructing mechanism didn't work for a technical reason. If that is indeed the case, it can be assumed that a part or parts of the SAM-5, which weighs seven tons in total, continued in its flight and landed in some spot in Israeli territory. Just to make things even clearer: the warhead of the Syrian missile weighs 200 kg. There are both seeing and hearing witnesses from communities in the area who noted large explosions that were followed by a resounding booming noise and a visible flash. The Arrow 2 is a two-stage missile with two engines. The first one is manufactured by the Israel Military Industries and the second by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. When the first engine finishes its activity, it is ejected. After the incident photos were published in Jordan showing a part of a missile's motor with inductors that came out of the engine. It fell to the ground in the area of Jordan's Irbid and was probably the first-stage engine of the Arrow. Therefore, there is a probability that an Arrow shard hit the Syrian missile, neutralized its self-destructing mechanism, but did not entirely destroy it. There's also a chance that the two Arrow missiles missed their target and that following a technical failure in the Syrian missile's self-destructing mechanism, the missile got to Israel. The claim that some made in Israel that the parts that fell in Jordan were shards of the Syrian SAM has been ruled out by experts. For the past two weeks the Jerusalem Post has been attempting to receive detailed answers from the IDF Spokesperson's Unit about the aforementioned information. Among some of the questions that were referred to the IDF it was asked whether parts or even small shards from the Syrian missile actually landed in Israeli territory, and whether published images that showed the metal part that landed in Jordan were actually part of the Arrow missile. The spokesperson's unit declined to comment on the questions and was only willing to comment that the incident was still being investigated and that conclusions will be drawn accordingly. This evasive reply raises even more questions. It implies perhaps that the IDF has something to hide and that the army is not interested in disclosing to the public the full details about this incident. It is also reminiscent of the security establishment's conduct seven years ago regarding the Iron Dome missile defense system. It was claimed in the past that the Iron Dome would be capable of intercepting mortars or rockets within a short range, even a range of 5km, and still defend the communities along the border with Gaza. However, as the previous two military campaigns in Gaza have taught us, despite Iron Dome's impressive capabilities and the upgrades it has seen since, its ability to protect is challenged on an almost daily basis. 
General Mattis and the Fatah tautology - Caroline B. Glick - http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Our-world-Gen-Mattis-and-the-Fatah-tautology-488262
As far as Israel's relations with the US generally and the Pentagon specifically are concerned, moving the US embassy to Jerusalem is of secondary importance. On Friday, US Secretary of Defense James Mattis will visit Israel as part of a tour of the region that will bring him to Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Djibouti. The declared purpose of Mattis's trip is to "reaffirm key US military alliances, engage with strategic partners in the Middle East and Africa, and discuss cooperative efforts to counter destabilizing activities and defeat extremist terror organizations." Ahead of his visit, Mattis should spend some time considering the hunger strike being carried out by the Palestinian terrorists imprisoned by Israel. A serious consideration of the strike will tell him more about the nature of the Palestinian conflict with Israel than a hundred "expert" briefings. There are several important things for Mattis to consider in relation to the strike. The first thing he needs to note is that all of the terrorists on strike are members of the Fatah terrorist group. This fact should signal to General Mattis that Fatah is not a normal political party. In fact, it is a terrorist organization that has a political party. The second thing Mattis needs to consider about the strike is that it is supported by the international Left. To understand why, Mattis needs to recognize the Fatah tautology. But first, a bit of background. The terrorists' strike is the brainchild of convicted mass murderer, Fatah leader and darling of the international Left, Marwan Barghouti. Barghouti is serving five life sentences in prison for murdering five Israelis. Israeli authorities believe Barghouti was directly responsible for 37 murders, but were only able to convict him on five counts. Barghouti's role in the killings goes far beyond the terrorist attacks he directly ordered. From 2000 until his arrest in 2002, Barghouti was the commander and mastermind of the Palestinian terror war that began in September 2000 after Fatah leader Yasser Arafat rejected Palestinian statehood at Camp David. In other words, hundreds of Israelis are dead today because of Barghouti. But for the Left, none of this matters. For the Left, Barghouti is a hero. The Left insists Barghouti is a moderate and a peacemaker and that Israel should release him and let him take over Fatah and the PLO from octogenarian Mahmoud Abbas. They insist this because of the Fatah tautology. According to the tautology, Fatah is "moderate" and "pro-peace." Barghouti is a leader of Fatah. Therefore Barghouti is moderate and pro-peace. Since Fatah is "moderate" and "pro-peace," it isn't a terrorist organization. And since it isn't a terrorist organization, its terrorists are moderate peace-activists. So despite the protests of irritating Israeli terrorism victims, and the verdict of the court, Barghouti isn't a terrorist and none of the terrorists he commanded are terrorists. None of them are terrorists because they are members of Fatah. And Fatah is a moderate, pro-peace party. So they are moderate peace activists. Under this tautological reasoning, it makes sense for the US to give nearly a billion dollars a year in aid to the Fatah-controlled Palestinian Authority. It makes sense for the Pentagon to train Palestinian "security forces" who double as Fatah terrorists. It makes sense for the US to turn a blind eye to the fact that the PA spends more than $300 million, or more than 7% of its donor-financed budget, to pay salaries to terrorists in Israeli prisons and their families. After all, the Palestinians can't be incentivizing terrorism. They're from Fatah and Fatah is a moderate peace party. The Fatah tautology is what informed The New York Times' decision to publish an op-ed by Barghouti in its Sunday edition in support of the prisoners' strike. Not surprisingly, Barghouti slandered Israel repeatedly in his essay. Also not surprisingly, in its tagline the Times described Barghouti as a "Palestinian leader and parliamentarian." It would be bad enough if this circular reasoning was relegated to the fever swamps of the Left. But it isn't. Numbered among Fatah's most fervent supporters are Mattis and his fellow generals at the US Military's Central Command. Mattis arrives in Israel with a public record replete with anti-Israel statements that indicate he swallowed the Fatah tautology hook, line and sinker. In 2013, shortly after retiring from his post as Centcom commander, General Mattis resonated Barghouti and his leftist supporters when he blamed Israel for the absence of peace. Speaking at the Aspen Institute Mattis said that the US must make the establishment of a state run by Fatah terrorists - on land Israel controls, that it requires for its national security and that it has sovereign rights to - a key US goal. In his words, "We've got to find a way to make the twostate solution that Democrat and Republican administrations have supported. We've got to get there, and the chances for its starting are starting to ebb because of the settlements and where they're at, they're going to make it impossible to maintain the two-state option." Also echoing Barghouti's libels, Mattis said that if Israel continues to allow Jews to live where they have rights to live and property rights to build then it will become an "apartheid" state. Mattis is reputedly a very smart, well-read man. And yet, his claims show that despite his intelligence, he has a stunning lack of intellectual curiosity about Israel and the Palestinians and their positions in the wider Middle East. Lest we give in to the temptation to believe that Mattis's ignorant, tautological thinking was simply a function of his service in the Obama administration, during his Senate confirmation hearings as President Donald Trump's nominee to serve as Defense Secretary, Mattis doubled down. When asked point blank to name Israel's capital, Mattis refused to acknowledge that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. Instead, he stunned lawmakers when he proclaimed that Tel Aviv is the capital of the Jewish state. Mattis's hostile view of Israel and the Palestinians isn't surprising. And the reason it isn't surprising isn't because Mattis is a member in good standing of the lunatic Left. He's not. Mattis's ignorance is understandable because he hails from the US Military's Central Command. The Pentagon's area command responsible for the Middle East has one debilitating problem. It is a problem that guarantees that Centcom officers will fail to understand the Middle East and fail to win America's wars in the region. Centcom's problem is that it deliberately does not include Israel. As far as Centcom is concerned, Israel is not part of the Middle East. Israel is in Europe. Centcom officers speak only to Arabs. And their Arab counterparts insist that Israel is the problem. Rather than critically analyze this claim, Centcom officers internalize it. Rather than notice and get irritated by the fact that due to their Arab colleagues' antisemitism the US is forced to pretend that Israel is located on a completely different continent, Mattis and his underlings adopted their reason-bereft prejudice. Rather than rebel against their inability to communicate directly with their Israeli counterparts and insist that they be permitted to bring the US's closest ally in the Middle East into their regional plans and analyses, Centcom officers have embraced the irrational and strategically catastrophic view that the main source of instability in the Middle East are the Israeli communities located beyond the 1949 armistice lines. Mattis's visit will take him to Jerusalem, rather than Tel Aviv. No doubt Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will mention that Jerusalem is Israel's capital and express his enthusiastic support for moving the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. But as far as Israel's relations with the US generally and the Pentagon specifically are concerned, moving the US embassy to Jerusalem is of secondary importance. The most important contribution Israel can make to the US war against "extremist terrorism" and to the Trump administration's efforts to "reaffirm key military alliances," is for Netanyahu to insist that the Trump administration stop accepting the bigoted dictates of the Arabs. He must insist that Israel be integrated into Centcom. Only when the American officers responsible for determining US policies in the Middle East recognize that Israel is part of the Middle East will they have the cognitive capacity to understand the realities of the region. And the first reality that will become clear to them is that despite the Fatah tautology, Fatah is a terrorist organization, and an extremist one at that. 
Nearing Midnight: Europe Is Committing Suicide - Todd Strandberg - http://www.raptureready.com/category/nearing-midnight/
Many scary organisms exist in nature. Those at the top of my list are parasites that take off the nervous system of insects and compel them to perform suicidal acts. An undiscovered bug must be infecting the minds of the citizens of Europe. In the United Kingdom, Belgium, France, Germany and Sweden, Islamic terrorism is spreading like the plague; and few people are willing to acknowledge the source of the problem. Last week four people in Stockholm were mowed down with a truck by 39-year-old, Rakhmat Akilov-a known Muslim radical extremist from Uzbekistan. Akilov roamed around freely (as are 12,000 other high-risk people) because the Swedish government is too timid to deal with a religion that sanctions mass murder. Every time there is a Islamic terrorist attack we see images of flowers, candles, and crowds of people pledging to fight against all forms of hate. Yet according to the liberal press, the biggest hatred to worry about is Islamaphobia. The actual victims of Islamic terrorism usually receive very little attention from the media. The first person killed by Rakhmat Akilov was an 11-year-old Swedish girl, Ebba Akerlund. The media avoided showing her name and image because they are actively protecting Islam. However, they have no problem repeatedly showing the images of children suffering from the Syrian civil war. If someone dies from an Islamic terror attack, it becomes old news in a matter of days. A year ago, London's Muslim Mayor Sadiq Khan, stated, "Living with terror attacks is part and parcel of living in a big city." After last month's attack near the U.K. Parliament, Khan expressed annoyance that people would try to "politicize" the event. President Donald Trump has spoken many times about the problem of Islamic terrorism as it relates to immigration: "You look at what's happening, We've got to keep our country safe. You look at what's happening in Germany, you look at what's happening last night in Sweden. Sweden, who would believe this?" Back in February, Trump criticized Sweden's immigration record, tweeting: "Give the public a break - The FAKE NEWS media is trying to say that large scale immigration in Sweden is working out just beautifully. NOT!" The press tried to argue that Trump's comment about Sweden was a lie. The president clarified his claims writing on Twitter, "My statement as to what's happening in Sweden was in reference to a story that was broadcast on @FoxNews concerning immigrants & Sweden." In that story, the Fox News host, Tucker Carlson, interviewed Ami Horowitz, a filmmaker who asserts that migrants in Sweden have been associated with a crime wave. "They oftentimes try to cover up some of these crimes," Mr. Horowitz said. Anyone who tries to tell the truth about the situation is shouted down as a racist and a xenophobe. The number of rapes and arson attacks committed by Muslims have exploded in recent years. To hide the truth, Swedish authorities have stopped reporting any crime data that show a link to Islamists. Large parts of Sweden have been turned into No-Go Zones where Muslims will attack any infidel who dares to enter their turf. Government-owned postal service PostNord has stopped mail delivery to some addresses near the Muslim immigrant-dominated Stockholm suburb of Rinkebya-a No-Go-Zone. Known for frequent riots, car burnings and an attack on police pursuing a terrorist suspect, the area has become too dangerous to send in employees delivering mail. (Swedish police have essentially surrendered No-Go-Zones to Muslim criminal gangs.) In March, it was revealed to the public that police officers commuting individually to work in that area is too hazardous-because of the high-risk of being attacked by Muslims. Officers are now bused into the Stockholm suburb together in groups. There have been so many attacks against the police that a new fortified police station is being built. The new station will feature bullet proof windows, walls reinforced with sheet metal, and fencing around it, possibly with electrified barbed wire. It is hard to come up with a logical explanation for why the people of Europe offer little resistance to this destructive Islamic invasion. I think what we are witnessing is end-time madness. The world has become so evil, demonic forces are able to control the minds of the lost. The level of insanity that we've reached should make it clear to all believers that the end of the Church Age is very near. "The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God" (2 Corinthians 4:4). 
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 How to Live for Christ in the End Times - By Megan Bailey - http://www.beliefnet.com/faiths/christianity/galleries/how-to-live-for-christ-in-the-end-times.aspx
Are you ready for His return? The Bible states that society will completely disintegrate in the end times, becoming as terrible and evil as it was in the days of Noah. The Apostle Paul taught that society will descend into a black hole of violence, paganism and immorality. He heavily warned that "lovers of self, lovers of money, and lovers of pleasure" will be abundant and people will become "boastful, arrogant, and unholy" (2 Timothy 3:1-5). Does this all sound familiar? It might remind you of the evening news. That's because the end times could be here at any moment, and we should be deeply concerned about the continuing developments. We are beginning to watch many of Jesus' and Paul's prophecies unfold right in front of us, both here in America and around the world. Our culture is becoming more secularized as Christians have come under increasing attack. For those facing the wave of ridicule and persecution, what do we do? As the end times are near, how do we live for Christ when the world is harassing us? Here are the ways you can glorify and celebrate Christ during the onslaught of persecution. Persist in Prayer One of the best tools we have is direct communication with God through prayer. God loves each of us personally and desires a relationship with us. It is a tragedy when Christians turn to prayer as a last resort and only when a situation fails do some feel desperate enough to pray. Instead as Christians we should be communicating with God constantly. With the evil that is flourishing in the world, we need to feel comfortable and humble turning to God in prayer. Don't turn away because you think He is no longer active in your life or He doesn't care. If you are truly born again, then you are considered righteous in God's eyes and He will continue to bless you. Open yourself up to prayer, and offer to pray with others. Believe in the Power of God There is no way that we can cope with the evil of the end times with our won strength. We have to remember that we are not alone and that God is with us each step of the way. If we try to do so on our own, we will be defeated. However if we try with God, He will perform the impossible. Never underestimate the amazing power of our Lord! We have to, wholeheartedly, believe in the power He has to conquer the enemy. When the end times come, we cannot doubt God. This is the time for us to prove we have full belief in Him, His teachings, and His plan. The Bible teaches us that we can limit God by our unbelief in Him, so we must work towards creating an unwavering faith. He can, and will, do all! Stay in the Word of God The world continues to tell Christians that the Bible is outdated, unhelpful, and worthless. The Bible tells us, though, that the end times will be an age of deception. We are being lied to by the world, and being bombarded with false idols and religions. Do you know exactly what you believe as a Christian? It is easy for us to be manipulated and deceived when we aren't 100 percent sure of what we believe. Are you able to defend your belief? Are you able to express why you believe it? Dive into the Bible and build a strong foundation of faith that no one can trick you out of. Guard yourself from deception by staying in the Word on a daily basis. Keep Your Priorities in Order It is time to be honest with yourself: is God the center of your life? Don't kid yourself. If He isn't, that's okay. You know what you need to work on. Many Christians have their priorities mixed up. A career, family, and friends can become top priorities while God falls down the chain. We cannot expect to survive the end times if we are not putting God at the forefront of our lives. He is the reason we have the opportunity to enter Heaven, and without His sacrifice of His one and only Son, we would live in an evil and sad world. With the turmoil that is happening all around us, we can be forgetful of what is actually important. Talk with God and learn to appreciate Him during these dark times. He will be the one who carries you through when the world begins to burn. Think Eternally God tells us that "We are to be in the world, but not of the world" (John 17:11). It can be a very difficult principle to follow when the world is working so hard to distract us and turn us against God. The smallest of demands, from conforming to the world's dress, values, entertainment, all can be pressing. We are told in scripture to consider ourselves as aliens or outsiders just passing through this world. We are warned to never fall in love with this world or get too comfortable with it. Why should we? We have a beautiful and amazing Heaven waiting for us! Jesus assured us that with faith, we can get there. While we are being prosecuted by society, we have to keep our focus on our eternal life. Look for Jesus The Bible tells us to live our lives looking for Jesus (Titus 2:13). During the end times, this could not be more true. Christians are becoming caught up in the world they live in and are forgetting to even think about the return of Christ. His return is imminent and is beacon of hope in this dark world. Do you think about Jesus' return often? Do you know the prophecies in the Bible that foreshadow His return? If not, it's time to read up. We should be getting excited for the return of our Savior. We should know the signs that He is coming. We need to live for Jesus now so that when the end times come, we are already ready and in compliance with His wishes. Get Serious Jesus is coming. The end times will happen. They are not something to forget or be ignorant about, but instead be something we want to understand and be excited for. Live your life for Christ now so that you are ready to live from Him upon His return. 
Daily Jot: The IS and MS13 sandwich - Bill Wilson - www.dailyjot.com
Edmund Burke is credited with saying "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." This could be applied to the situation developing in the United States that threatens every family. The ex "president" and his cronies, while their "goodness" is certainly questionable, refused to secure our borders, encouraged the harboring of criminals in sanctuary cities, and fomented massive illegal and refugee migration from terrorist-sponsoring nations. In addition, they did nothing, or next to nothing, to enforce laws concerning these individuals. This willful inaction has resulted in American citizens being sandwiched between the outright evil of Islamic State and the lethal MS-13 gang infiltration. MS-13, also known as Mara Salvatrucha, is an international criminal gang comprised of mostly ethnic Salvadorians that was founded in Los Angeles in the 1980s. Its calling card includes arms smuggling, human and drug trafficking, illegal immigration, murder, prostitution, contract killing, terrorism and various other crimes. The Islamic State (IS) calls itself a worldwide Islamic caliphate. It is comprised of Muslims and is an offshoot of al Qaeda. Its calling card is the same as MS-13. Both recruit online and in areas of high concentrations of immigrant youths, preying on youngsters who illegally come to the US across our porous borders. Reports are that the two often work together and trade the same black markets. Attorney General Jeff Sessions and the Trump Administration are trying to protect Americans from these evil entities, but have inherited a lethal mess from the previous administration's policies. Sessions recently said, "Because of an open border and years of lax immigration enforcement, MS-13 has been sending both recruiters and members to regenerate gangs that previously had been decimated, and smuggling members across the border as unaccompanied minors." Sessions added that MS-13 is recruiting in America's public schools from as early as the elementary grades and that sanctuary cities undermine efforts to fight the gang. The IS is also well known for claiming credit for attacks against American citizens. On April 12, four young Hispanic men were brutally tortured and murdered by MS-13 gang members. IS/al Qaeda claimed credit for, or was connected to, terrorist attacks in Little Rock, Ft Hood, Boston, Oklahoma, Queens, Brooklyn, Garland, Chattanooga, San Bernardino, Orlando, St Cloud, New York, Columbus, and quite possibly Fresno. Since 2014, there have been at least 21 attacks on American citizens by radicalized Islamists, many connected to IS. The ex "president" and his policies planted deadly seeds that, like weeds, will choke at the pursuit of life, liberty and happiness from God-fearing Americans. Galatians 6:8 says, "For he that sows to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that sows to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting." Let us not grow weary in sowing to the Spirit that we reap a better harvest. 
Daily Devotion: A Second Chance - Greg Laurie - www.harvest.org
And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, "Rejoice!" -Matthew 28:9 The Resurrection of Jesus reminds us that God provides second chances. When Jesus was crucified it came as a shock to His followers. They just did not seem to understand that He would be crucified and rise again on the third day. When the Crucifixion actually took place, it shattered their faith. But after His Resurrection we see the risen Lord seeking out these discouraged, disheartened disciples to revive them, to reignite them. How easily Jesus could have written them all off and said, "You didn't stand by Me in My greatest hour of need; now I am not going to stand by you in yours." But no-the Lord sought to restore them. When Mary Magdalene went to the tomb of Jesus early in the morning, the angel told her that the Lord had risen. As she and the other Mary "went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, 'Rejoice!' " (Matthew 28:9). She found the living Lord to restore her hope and purpose in life. Thomas missed the meeting when Jesus had appeared to the other disciples, but He reappeared when Thomas was back with the group. How gracious of Jesus to condescend to the skepticism of one single man. It almost appears that He came to that meeting simply to restore Thomas. Remember the two discouraged disciples on the Emmaus Road? As He spoke to them, their deadened hearts began to reignite. "And they said to one another, 'Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?' " (Luke 24:32). Jesus went out of His way to restore their hope. Maybe you have doubts or fears today. The same Jesus who restored Mary, the disciples on the Emmaus Road, and the skeptical Thomas, will restore your faith. You too can find that Jesus gives second chances. 
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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