Prophecy Update Newsletter
IN TODAY'S NEWSLETTER...
Who and What are the Beasts in the Bible? (Part 2 of 2) - By Michael Hile - https://www.raptureready.com/2020/05/19/who-and-what-are-the-beasts-in-the-bible-part-2-of-2-by-michael-hile/
Modern-Day Beast Nations An example of a modern-day "beast" nation using its power to expand territorial control was exhibited when Russia, in early 2014, under the direction of President Putin, used its military might to capture the Crimean Peninsula, which is located south of Ukraine on the Black Sea. Russia's "beast" leader, President Vladimir V. Putin, has also been active in the Syrian civil war and has built and/or upgraded two of their naval and air bases in Syria (Tartus and Khmeimim). Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu in late 2017 stated, concerning Syria, "We have started to form a permanent presence there." Iran, Turkey and Russia are all actively competing for Syria's oil fields and to establish hegemony in Syria, which just happens to be next door (adjacent) to the Golan Heights. The United States, under the direction of President Donald J. Trump, became the first country to recognize the Golan Heights as part of Israel by issuing a Presidential Proclamation on March 25, 2019. The Golan Heights was captured by Israel from Syria in the Six-Day War of 1967, and has been considered part of Israel since 1981. In December of 2014, Afek Oil and Gas began round-the-clock drilling in the Golan Heights and found large reserves of oil at three drilling sites in the southern part of the region. "We are talking about a layer which is 350 meters thick," Dr. Yuval Bartov, the chief geologist of Afek Oil and Gas told Channel 2 News. "On average in the world, strata are 20-30 meters thick, so this is 10 times as large as that, so we are talking about significant quantities." 'Afek, a subsidiary of American company, Genie Energy, estimates that oil production at the site could potentially reach billions of barrels. Currently Israel consumes 270,000 barrels of oil a day.'" Russian President Putin's close association with Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan, Iran's Spiritual Leader Khamenei, and Iran's President Rouhani portend troublesome times ahead in the Middle East, especially concerning Israel, which all three nations strongly disdain. In recent years, the Russian "bear" has been meeting frequently with Turkey (Grey Wolf) and Iran (formerly Persia-Ram), which most assuredly will generate nefarious plans concerning the land of Israel. The frequent meetings of this trio of nations in recent years is a harbinger of the Gog/Magog battle (Ezek. 38:1-23 - 39:1-29), where God intervenes on Israel's behalf and decimates most of Russia, Iran and Turkey's armies on the mountains of Israel. The Rise and Fall of a Future Beast Nation President Vladimir Putin's current prime minister and former president, Dmitry Medvedev, along with the Russian Parliament leaders, recently resigned (January 22, 2020) in order to allow Putin to revise and consolidate his constitutional powers. Restructuring the Russian government will help Putin maintain control and stay in power after his term of office expires in 2024. Russia's aggressive posture is like the bear described in Daniel 7:5 that is told to "Arise, devour much flesh." Having the demeanor (outward behavior, conduct) of a bear which "devours much flesh" implies invading and conquering other "beast" nations, overthrowing their leaders and subjugating their citizens. Russia's offensive and hostile action in taking over the Crimean Peninsula, projecting its naval and air force military might into Syria and developing long-term strategic partnerships with many nations in northern Africa and the Middle East, most assuredly, qualifies Russia as a "beast kingdom/nation," like those described by Daniel (7:1-7, 8:1-27). Russia's provocative behavior throughout the Middle East is what would be expected from a "beast nation" that behaved like a hungry bear on the prowl, similar to the one described by Daniel (7:5). Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39 lay out in great detail, a future prophecy about a nation "Gog, of the land of Magog" (38:1-3) which is north of Israel (38:15, 39:2) that God puts "hooks in its jaws" (38:4) and brings down into the land of Israel (38:16-17) to show God's power and might to the nations and the "house of Israel" (38:23, 39:25-29). For God to "put hooks into the jaws" of a nation and drag it down into the Middle East to the mountains of Israel, implies that it must represent a large beast that exhibits "beast-like" behavior. Many Bible scholars believe Russia "the bear" is the best candidate for the "beast" God is talking about in Ezekiel's prophecy (38:2). Although we do not know when the Gog/Magog war will occur or who "Gog" will be, the leader from "the land of Magog" who currently represents "Gog" is Russian President Vladimir Putin. The rapid development of the Russian, Iranian and Turkish alliance in recent years, coupled with the more recent unveiling of "The Deal of the Century" peace initiative by the Trump administration, should be a "wake up" call to those "watching" for Christ's return in the air for his saints (Heb. 10:25; Luke 21:28). The prophetic "code words" given by the Apostle Paul, that were to be recognized by a future generation (Matt. 24:32-34; Mark 13:28-30; Luke 21:28-36), when the "day of the Lord" (God's judgment) was near, are the words "peace and security" (also peace and safety). Frequent use of the words "peace" and "security" in recent speeches, concerning the on-going Israel/Palestinian peace process, is unmistakable evidence of Bible prophecy that is currently in the process (happening now) of being fulfilled (1 Thess. 4:13-5:11). The code words "peace and security" (5:3) are closely linked with "the times and seasons" (5:1) of the resurrection (4:14-16), rapture (4:17) and beginning of "the day of the Lord" (5:2). The Apostle Paul did not want his brothers in Christ (and future disciples) to be "ignorant" (4:13) of the order in which the "resurrection," "catching up" of the saints and "day of the Lord" would occur. Believers would not be "comforted" (4:18, 5:11) or excited to see "the day of the Lord" approaching (Heb. 10:25), unless they were confident "the day of redemption" (Eph. 4:30; Luke 21:28) would occur before "the day of the Lord," and they would not be left here on the earth when "the day of the Lord" was taking place. That is exactly the apocalyptic portrayal put forth by Paul (1 Thess. 4:13-5:11) with the "resurrection" and "catching up" of the saints preceding "the day of the Lord," and both events surprising those left behind as "a thief in the night" (Matt. 24:43-44, 25:1-13; Luke 21:34-36; 1 Thess. 5:2-4; 2 Peter 3:10; Rev. 3:3, 10-11, 16:15). The prophecy of the rapture, resurrection and "day of the Lord," given by the Apostle Paul (5:3), is also the scenario we see unfolding in the world today, along with many other converging, prophetic harbingers. Two Future Beasts that Control the World The most famous "beast" combination in the Bible is the coming Antichrist and False Prophet (first and second beast), that will reign over the earth for a brief season (time, times, half a time-Rev. 12:14) at the end of the age. This final "beast" kingdom, which is described cryptically in Daniel and Revelation, will be the most ruthless dictatorship to ever exist on earth (Dan. 7:7-12, 15-27; Rev.13:1-18). "Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name. Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, 'Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?' "And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" (Rev. 13:1-8). Revelation chapter 13 describes the kingdom the Antichrist and his partner, the False Prophet, will rule over during the last half of Daniel's 70th week, which will be three and one-half years (also 1,260 days; 42 months; time, times and a half time). In Daniel, this kingdom is called the "fourth beast" (7:7), but in Revelation (13:1-2), it is described as a leopard with the mouth of a lion and the feet of a bear. In Daniel chapter two, this same, final Gentile kingdom is represented by the ten toes of the great metallic image (statue) that was part of Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar's dream (Dan. 2:42). The first beast (man of sin, wicked one, Antichrist) will "be revealed" after "the departure" of the saints 5 on the "day of redemption" when the Holy Spirit (He who now restrains) and the saints (who are sealed) will be removed from the earth (2 Thess. 2:3, 7-8; Eph.1:13-14, 4:30; Luke 21:28). After "the departure" of the saints, the Antichrist rises to power, confirms "the covenant with many for one week" and begins his sinister plan to take over and control the whole world (2 Thess. 2:4; Dan. 9:27). He is assisted by the second beast (False Prophet) who becomes the first beast's chief enforcer, miracle worker, worship leader and propaganda publicist. He requires all to "receive a mark on their right hand or on their forehead" in order to buy or sell and forces everyone to worship "the image of the beast" or be killed (Rev. 13:11-18). "Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. "He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666" (Rev. 13:11-18). The scriptures tell us that the last half of the seven-year tribulation, when Antichrist and the False Prophet are active, will be a time of "great tribulation," and it will also be a time "such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be" (Matt. 24:21-22). At the end of the seven-year period (Daniel's 70th Week), the Lord Jesus Christ will return from Heaven with all His saints to the earth and establish His millennial reign (1000 years-Rev. 19:11-21; Zech. 14:5). It will also be at this time that the Antichrist (first beast) and False Prophet (second beast) will be cast into the lake of fire. "And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone" (Rev. 19:19-20). Satan: The Beast Master, His Master Plan and His Demise We know that Satan, who is "the prince of the power of the air" (Eph. 2:2), has the ability to take control of an animal's cognitive functions and behavior when he desires. He can also possess the minds and bodies of people and greatly influence their behavior in certain circumstances. A couple of examples in the New Testament are when Satan entered Judas before betraying Christ (Luke 22:3; John 13:27), and when Jesus cast out demons from two men, who were possessed, into a herd of swine (Matt. 8:28-34; Mark 5:1-20; Luke 8:26-39). According to the scriptures, the beast of choice Satan indwelt after Adam and Eve were created was the serpent, which tempted Eve to sin against God. "Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, 'Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden'" (Gen. 3:1)? The serpent was considered to be the most subtle and deceitful (sly, crafty) of the creatures God had created. Due to the serpent's cunning and manipulative nature, which the scribes, Pharisees and Sadducees also exhibited (beastly nature), Jesus and His predecessor, John the Baptist, called the scribes, Pharisees and Sadducees a "brood of vipers," and "serpents." After openly rebuking them in public about their "beastly" behavior, Jesus asked them: "How can you escape the condemnation of hell" (Matt. 3:5-8, 23:29, 33)? Although Satan's demons take advantage of people given over to alcohol, drugs, sex, pornography and other sins of the flesh (Gal. 5:16-21; Eph. 2:1-3; 1 Jn. 2:15-17), they especially operate in the corporate, political and religious world to influence wealthy business owners, people in positions of authority and other unsuspecting victims. When Satan and his demons influence or possess these high-level leaders, they many times take on the characteristics of domineering and oppressive "beasts" (Rev. 17:1-18) rather than thoughtful, compassionate human beings. God not only views many high- level leaders in positions of authority as "beasts," He views Satan as the supreme "beast," who manipulates and controls all of the other beast-like personalities on earth (owners, bosses, presidents, prime ministers, kings, etc.). Satan's ultimate goal is to establish his own kingdom on the earth (the beast master) in order to rule and reign in place of Jesus during the millennium (1000-years, Rev. 20:6). The description of Satan in the book of Revelation (12:1-17) is as a dragon who seeks to destroy Jesus after He is born, and then persecutes the Jewish people (the woman) who were responsible for bringing the "Savior" into the world. When Jesus Christ returns back to earth, Satan will be cast into the bottomless pit for a thousand years (20:1-3). For the first time in history, people living on the earth will not be tempted or influenced by Satan and his demonic horde. "Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while" (Rev. 20:1-3). The king over the human "beasts" on earth, Satan, will be defeated by the King of Kings and Lord of Lords when He (Jesus Christ) returns with all of His holy angels and saints, and sets up His kingdom on earth. At that time, all of the "beast" nations on earth will be subordinated to Christ (Rev. 19:15-21), and they will be judged, according to their behavior, at the judgment of nations where Christ sits on "the throne of His glory" (Matt. 25:31-46; Dan. 7:9-12). The Antichrist (first beast) and False Prophet (second beast) will be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone before the millennial reign of Christ begins (Rev. 19:20), and Satan (the dragon, that old serpent, the devil) will be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone at the end of the millennial reign (Rev. 20:10). "Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. 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. 20:7-10). Just as those who dwell in the heavens were told to "rejoice" after Satan and his angels were cast out of heaven (Rev. 12:10-12) at the middle of Daniel's 70th week (7-year period), the people living on earth during the millennial reign, and all those in heaven will also "rejoice" when Satan (accuser of the brethren) is permanently expelled from the earth and cast into the lake of fire and brimstone. The inhabitants of heaven and the earth will "rejoice" together when Satan (the beast master) is banished forever and will never again tempt, trick, torment, torture, vilify, slander or falsely accuse those on the earth and in heaven. After the millennial reign, the first heaven and first earth will be replaced, and "the holy city, New Jerusalem" will come down to earth. "Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, 'Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away'" (Rev. 21:1-4). COVID-19: Transition to the New World Order - Jonathan Brentner - https://www.jonathanbrentner.com/https/jonathan-brentner-g8fgsquarespacecom/config/2020/5/15/covid-19-transition-to-the-new-world-order Something clicked inside me the other evening as Ruth, my wife, and I read from the book Get Your Life Back by John Eldredge. As we took turns reading from his chapter, "Allowing for Transitions," a thought occurred to me on a completely different wavelength than that of the author. What if our current COVID-19 experience is itself a time of transition for believers, the United States, and even the world? Jesus is Preparing Us for Our Departure For those of us who know the Savior, the past couple months have been a time of loosening our grip on the things in this world. I was so looking forward to watching the NCAA Basketball Tournament, but my hope vanished in a day. I didn't realize how much I liked going out to eat or going to the movies with Ruth until I could no longer do them. And my favorite sporting event of May, the Indianapolis 500, has been postponed until August. But who knows if it will happen even then? For those of us watching for Jesus' imminent appearing, the Lord has made us aware of just how close His appearing to take us home might be. In doing so, He's allowing us time to contemplate and perhaps prepare for our transition from this temporary world to our eternal existence in glorified and immortal bodies. A Psyche of Fear Has Infected the United States For the United States, I believe it's a time of transition from a time of great abundance to the deadly pestilences and famines that will come during the seven-year tribulation when severe shortages of everything will be the rule rather than the exception. The psyche of America has forever changed. Perhaps years in the making, but gone is the courage of the past that led our brave young men to storm the beaches of Normandy knowing they would likely perish. Instead, I see fear everywhere I look. I see it in the eyes of those who crowd our grocery stores. I see it in the willingness of so many to quickly surrender their rights in order for civil authorities to keep them "safe." It's this widespread psyche of fear that's opening the door to the New World Order in America! I might be wrong, but I believe this psyche of fear will greatly impede the future economic recovery in America. The enormous debt of the United States and the world will at some future time create a massive global crisis that will open the door wide for the globalists. I believe this is closer than many can imagine. The United States cannot sustain for long the burden of thirty-six million unemployed along with a multitude of failing businesses. It's incredibly difficult for me to see what is happening in the United States. I grew up loving my country and thankful for the freedoms we have enjoyed here for so long. But now I see our liberties vanishing into thin air for sake of safety, I watch as a psyche of fear overtakes our nation, and I long for things to return to the way they were. But I do not think that will happen; we are on the threshold of the tribulation. Satan's kingdom is taking shape before our eyes. The New World Order is Here For the world, this is a time of transition from nationalism to a worldwide government. Just this week, the mayor of Chicago said she needed "deputies who are pledging allegiance to the New World Order." These are her exact words; I listened to her comments three times to confirm. The Bible tells us that a worldwide government will exist during tribulation. At some point, the antichrist will seize control of it and cause everyone to take his mark in order to buy or sell. Do we see the globalists conditioning people for such control? Absolutely! They are already telling us that someday we will need their vaccine for COVID-19 and an accompanying mark or tattoo in order to attend public gatherings. On March 26, 2020, the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Gordon Brown, called for the establishment of a "temporary world government" to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. Pope Francis has repeatedly joined the chorus of those calling for a New World Order. The elite have learned through the response of the world to COVID-19 just how easily they can control people with fear. Just think what might happen after the rapture as wars break out and pandemics, far more deadly than the Coronavirus, afflict the people left behind. The nations of the world will readily give up their rights to join the New World Order, which will promise peace and stability. God's wrath is indeed coming to America and the world during the time we know as the day of the Lord or the seven-year tribulation. How much longer will He put up with the slaughter of our innocents or the horrific imprisoning of our children in sex trafficking before He says enough is enough? For now, the Lord has first granted us a reprieve of sorts, a time of transition for us as believers to continue loosening our grip on the things of the world in preparation for the glory that awaits us in eternity. As for the world; the cries for the luciferin New World Order grow louder by moment. Contract tracers, mandatory vaccines, and economic chaos point to the great changes ahead for world as the global government emerges before our eyes. This morning, I felt the fear of what might lie ahead and knew I needed reassurance from the promises of Scripture. I turned to Psalms 46 and 47, as I do at least a couple times a week, and meditated on Jesus' return to establish His righteous kingdom on the earth. He will rule over the nations of this world. For us who know Jesus, His defeat of the Satan's kingdom and the establishment of His righteous rule will be a time of ecstatic rejoicing and jubilant, wild celebration (see Rev. 19:1-8). This is our future! Satan may think he has the upper hand at the moment, but the doom of his kingdom (i.e. the New World Order) is sure! Nearing Midnight: China's Sudden Emergence - Terry James - https://www.raptureready.com/category/nearing-midnight/ My title here might make one ask: "What do you mean, 'sudden emergence?'" By this question-to carry the supposition further-the questioner might follow up with: "The Chinese have been front and center and a growing item in the news for decades." China has indeed been moving from its Far East shadows behind that long wall that can be seen from satellites in space. Their emergence continues on an hour-by-hour basis. All we have to do is to listen to any news report at the moment these days. China is at the center of controversy in the matter of the COVID-19 crisis. Top administration officials who are charged with national security are looking with accusatory thoughts toward the communist government of China. Almost certainly, many are saying, China is guilty of releasing the virus once it escaped from one of their laboratories somewhere near Wuhan. The city-larger in population than New York City-was shut down for some time right at the beginning of the virus' release, experts are saying. Somehow, I can't remember exactly how, according to the report, the intelligence from the area showed that many roads for heavy traffic were completely closed for more than a week at one point. It was something that had never been done. There was no explanation for the shutdown, the report I heard said. The inference the experts in national security made, according to the news report I heard, was that the streets and roads were completely shut down, disallowing the city's millions of people to traverse them. This means, they believe, that something of a highly dangerous nature caused the dictator, Xii Ping, to disrupt life totally in the area. Shortly after the shutdown, U S intelligence agencies reported, according to what I heard that Chinese military removed hundreds, if not thousands, from their apartments. These same people haven't been heard from since. The thinking, among the people who gather intelligence, is that these were taken and killed in some manner, and attempts were made to erase that they ever existed. Why? Apparently those removed were sick with the virus. They were removed, the thinking goes, so that the Chinese government could hide that the virus broke out in Wuhan and vicinity. This "theory" is based in fact, in that US intelligence authorities have made no effort to discount this report. Apparently, electronic devices that monitor the area of Wuhan and the military weapons laboratory picked up on all these doings in and around the area. The reports discount the "theory" that the virus spread from the so called wet markets of the area. These are the places where meats are bought by grocery shoppers. They apparently choose live animals-and exotic animals, at that, in some cases. Bats were thought to be the "meat" from which the virus came in this regard. Now the question is whether the virus escaped the labs accidentally or was deliberately released. The former thinking seems to be what most of the intelligence people I've heard talk about the matters involved have concluded. Now the accusations are that Xii Ping and his cadre of underlings decided that the accidental release was not going to bring only China's economic circumstance to a standstill. They wanted and continue to want all economies to suffer so China can maintain its relatively close number-one economic position as it comes out of the crisis. The virus, the thinking goes, was put on planes by the Chinese government, with people carrying it to major cities around the world. This certainly seems to be the plausible explanation for what has happened. It is much more than just doubtful that this could have been contrived totally as part of a plan to do the damage it has done. The Chinese have simply-and maybe not so simply-taken advantage of the virus' accidental release. Their strategy, if so, is brilliantly evil. As stated in previous commentaries, I believe it was planned by the greatest schemer there is-Lucifer, the fallen one. He, I conjecture, started it from the beginning and continues to carry out the devilish plan. So the American administration is casting a suspicious glare at the Chinese communist regime and pointing an accusatory finger, based on electronic and on-the-ground intelligence. What does this all mean, prophetically speaking? My own thought is that while Satan has planned it all from its inception, it is, of course, under the complete control of God, whose omniscience nothing and no one escapes. I believe it is yet another signal of stage-setting for the Tribulation era and the ultimate return of His Son, the Lord Jesus, to clean up the planet of all sin and rebellion. It is almost a certainty that China will be a primary player in the Tribulation era. The virus and China's part in the release of its deadly and destructive effects could well be the Lord grabbing the old Chinese dragon by its neck and pulling it to the surface of earth's bubbling cauldron of rebellion against God to make known its evil intentions. China, as we've looked at many times, is showing itself to be the hegemonic force that consistently proves it wants to dominate not only the South China Sea and its sphere of influence, but wants to become the world's number-one economic and military superpower. The coronavirus might be a pandemic-a much-overblown one in terms of its potential deadly effects, in my estimation. It is likely Satan, however, who has brought it about to the degree that it has inflicted its havoc upon the world. But the God of Heaven controls it, like He controls everything in the ultimate sense. Could China now have been "outed" in alerting all observers to its genocidal evil? Could the Lord be seeing to it that the Chinese dragon is shown to be in cahoots with the old red dragon, Satan so that there can be no excuse that the world hasn't been warned? That Chinese dragon will be the king of the kings of the east, I really have little doubt. They and their Near-East and Far-East Asian cohorts will be responsible for killing fully one-third of earth's inhabitants at the later stages of the movement of nations toward the killing fields of Armageddon. And the sixth angel poured out his bowl upon the great river, the Euphrates; and its water was dried up, that the way might be prepared for the kings from the east. (Revelation 16:12) Barely A Hundred Feet Away From The Western Wall In Jerusalem, Biblical Archaeologists Discover Vast Preserved Complex From Time Of Jesus - Geoffrey Grider - https://www.nowtheendbegins.com/biblical-archaeologists-discover-2000-year-old-complex-under-western-wall-jerusalem-israel/ Two thousand years ago, Jerusalem residents in Israel were storing food and water, cooking, maybe even living in a unique subterranean multiple-room structure barely 100 feet away from the holy Temple found by biblical archaeologists. As Israel prepares to celebrate Jerusalem Day, a commemoration of the day in which Jerusalem was reunified under Israeli sovereignty in 1967, biblical archaeologists are unveiling an utterly amazing historical find. A subterranean complex, preserved in near pristine condition and dating back to the time of Jesus of Nazareth, is being put on display. The purpose of this structure, however, remains shrouded in mystery as ongoing excavations continue to dig for more clues and answers. "And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire." Nehemiah 1:3 (KJB) 2019 was an amazing year for biblical archaeology, and that trend seems to be continuing here in 2020. Pray for the nation of Israel, and pray for the Jewish people who are preparing to enter into the time of Jacob's trouble. Don't worry about the disparaging comments your Jewish contacts on Facebook make when you post about the salvation of Jesus, their eyes are closed and they don't know any better. Witness to them anyway, and pray for their souls in spite of how they might treat you. Time is short, make a difference for the Lord. Biblical Archaeologists discover 2000-year-old unique complex by the Western Wall FROM THE JERUSALEM POST: The new discovery was unveiled by the Israel Antiquities Authority and the Western Wall Heritage Foundation on Tuesday ahead of Jerusalem Day. Descending into the underground chambers from the Western Wall Plaza, glaring with light and unusually still under the coronavirus regulations and the unprecedented heatwave, is nothing less than a journey back in time before Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans, when the city was still bustling with Jewish life and rituals. "At the time of the Second Temple, 2,000 years ago, this was a public area, the civic center of ancient Jerusalem" Dr. Barak Monnickendam-Givon co-director of the excavation on behalf of the IAA together with Tehila Sadiel told The Jerusalem Post. "We think that the public street passed just a few meters from here and we are standing next to what we archaeologists call the 'big bridge' which connected the upper city to the Temple itself." The complex features two rooms connected by a staircase and an open courtyard. The entrance presents clear signs of the presence of door hinges and bots, while the walls offered several niches for oil lamps as well as carved in shelves. The structure was discovered under the white mosaic floor of a monumental Byzantine building dating back to about 1,400 years ago. The large hollow space where both the building and the more ancient chambers stand presents walls erected in the typical Jerusalem stones of different sizes blackened by centuries, pieces of Roman columns, floors built in a variety of materials and at different levels. The excavations are ongoing. In a corner, an IAA conservator was working on preserving the Byzantine mosaic, while a few meters away two archaeologists were sifting through some dirt to make sure it did not contain other artifacts or sherds. Clay cooking vessels, oil lamps and stone containers, useful to store water minimizing the risk of giving it ritual impurity according to Jewish laws were among the objects retrieved by the researchers so far, allowing them to assess that the carved structure was in use in the first century CE. How much time earlier it was actually built for now remains a mystery, one of the many that will be addressed as the studies proceed. Several features make the discovery unique, Monnickendam-Givon pointed out. Very few structures from that period survive in the city. "After the Roman siege and destruction of the year 70 CE, Jerusalem was burned and devastated, and all the Jewish people were exiled. A few decades later, the Romans started rebuilding it from scratch," he said. Moreover, usually structures in that period were built in stone, while those who hewed the rooms underground chose to carve them out of the hard bedrock, which required a considerable effort. "Besides from burials, we have rarely found any complete rock-cut rooms from that era. Most people in ancient Jerusalem lived in stone-built houses. What was the function of this hewn system just under the street level? Was it a house, a storage unit? Something else?" the archaeologist added. According to Monnickendam-Givon, penetrating the secrets of the site will require another twenty or thirty years of excavations. Among others, a goal is to connect it with the area where the main street passed. Even the purpose of the Byzantine building whose floor protected the ancient rooms for so many centuries is still shrouded in mystery. "We do not know whether it was a religious or a civil building," IAA archaeologist Michael Chernin told the Post. "We do know it collapsed during an earthquake at the beginning of the 11th century." Chernin pointed out that in the Crusader period the area was abandoned and it was settled again in the Mameluke period (13th-16th century). Artifacts from these different times were also uncovered by the researchers including worked bone tools, clay vessels, a strainer and a candle holder. "We want to understand the function of these structures, as well as their connection with the topography of the Roman and Byzantine Jerusalem," he concluded. "It is possible that more subterranean rooms will also emerge." "I am excited, on the eve of Jerusalem Day, to reveal to the Jewish nation a new treasure trove of impressive and fascinating findings that shed light on life in Jerusalem throughout the generations in general, and on the eve of the destruction in particular," commented Mordechai Suli Eliav, Director of the Western Wall Heritage Foundation, according to a release. "This finding epitomizes the deep connection of Jews with Jerusalem, their capital. Even when there were physical limitations, prayer at the foot of the remnant of our Temple never ceased, and this is tangible evidence of this." Daily Jot: The greater devastating strategy - Bill Wilson - www.dailyjot.com A high-level Administration source recently told me that there is no doubt that the Democratic Leadership strategy is to keep the country shut down as much as possible leading into the elections. The Democrats believe that people out of work and on the less than optimum government stimulus checks will be disgruntled enough to vote against the current Administration. Political instinct and poll data are driving this strategy. In other words, they want to strangle the nation and try to revive it after it is unconscious. Take heed, the way they will revive it is through passing guaranteed minimum income and other socialist measures combined with fixing the vote with vote by mail. We are on a destructive course. This is it in a nutshell: Government, overreaching and all powerful, will continue its natural expansion using the fear of the flu as the fulcrum of burying your both God-given and Constitutional Rights. The nose of the socialist camel is under the tent and is about to lift up, and with it will be a host of issues with violating church's, businesses', and individuals' rights. Once this ground is taken, government with its non-legislated administrative law will tighten down on people. Imagine a society where you must be tested for COVID-19 or vaccinated against it. If you refuse, you are not allowed in public places, or to fly, or to buy food in person. THIS IS NOT THE MARK OF THE BEAST, but it is a socialist/communist control factor that normalizes control and tyranny. James Madison said during a February 1792 debate, "If Congress can apply money indefinitely to the general welfare, and are the sole and supreme judges of the general welfare, they may take the care of religion into their own hands.. In short, everything, from the highest object of State legislation, down to the most minute object of police, would be thrown under the power of Congress...and might be called, if Congress pleased, provisions for the general welfare." The current situation is the realization of Madison's concern, but on steroids, because a crisis of fear is employed to snare a willfully soft citizenry. Similar to Ezekiel 22:30 where the Lord "sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one." Once the government controls your health and tracks it with your movement, and even pays you a little bit with a guaranteed minimum income, you are enslaved. Your rights are then derived from the government and whoever is in charge. Vote by mail, without strict controls and a purging of the voter list of those who are deceased, ensures this tyrannical system remains in place for decades to come. These so-called "stimulus" laws, which have no sunset attached to them, are a clear and present danger to your very freedom. Mark this: there is no end to the power of a government that derives its authority, not from the people, but from its own devices. These people in power are about to destroy our country if we don't stand in the gap. Daily Devotion: Sometimes Saying Less Is More - by Greg Laurie - www.harvest.org Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. -Romans 12:15 This may surprise you coming from a preacher, but people don't always need a sermon. Sometimes, they just need a friend. They need someone to show a little compassion. The Bible tells us to "rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep" (Romans 12:15 NKJV). For instance, remember the calamities that befell godly Job? He didn't know the Lord had been bragging on in him in front of the angels and Lucifer, but he woke up one morning and one disaster after another struck his life. He lost his children. He lost his livelihood and his possessions. He even lost his health. When his body was covered head-to-toe in massive boils, his wife came along and said, "Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!" (Job 2:9 NKJV). When someone you know is in pain sometimes saying less is more because sometimes when we're trying to encourage someone, we actually say the wrong thing. We always feel like we have to have the answer or a Bible verse for each situation. But, there's a time and a place for everything. When our son Christopher went to be with the Lord I had a lot of people try to say things that would help me. Some things helped, and some things didn't help as much. But, I learned a lot about what it was like to be on the receiving end of those words. I was always the person saying things to try and bring some comfort. Then suddenly I was the one listening to those things, and I understand that people don't always need to hear a sermon. They just need a little compassion. The reality is that sometimes we say things to help, and they can actually end up hurting. That's why we have to choose our words carefully. FROM THE HEART
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