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IN TODAY'S NEWSLETTER...
Understanding the Day of the Lord - By Chuck Steele -
http://www.raptureready.com/2017/06/16/understanding-the-day-of-the-lord/ 1 Thessalonians 5:1-9 1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. The key in being able to better understand how God's final judgement is going to unfold in these last days, and when it begins, can easily be found by first looking at what the Bible refers to as, 'the day of the Lord.' It is absolutely necessary that we know the meaning of it, what it's consequences on the world are going to be, and what we need to be doing right now in order to prepare ourselves for it so that we don't have to go through it. Before I began my own research on this subject only a couple of weeks ago, I had no idea what it was all about other than knowing that it's going to be a horrible time for anyone unfortunate enough to be here when it comes I knew it was God's judgement on an unbelieving and wicked world but there is so much more to know about it than that. It is my hope and prayer that people take this message seriously and begin making their own preparations so they can avoid it. Jesus Himself described it this way in Matthew 24:21: "For then shall there be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be." In order for me to get a better grasp of what the 'day of the Lord' is, I decided to look up other verses that talk about it and it didn't take long for my eyes to be opened. As soon as I began reading them the scales fell away from my eyes and God showed me exactly what I was looking for. Things just began falling into place for me as far as being able to better understand God's timing regarding certain events which are about to take place. There is no 'secret knowledge' involved in any of what God showed me because it is all found in His written Word. The following are verses that helped me the most in my study and I want to share them with you. There are many others that also talk about it but I wanted to limit how many I included for the sake of time and space. Here they are: Isaiah 13:6 - Howl ye; for the day of the Lord is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty. Isaiah 13:9 - Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it. Ezekiel 30:3 - For the day is near, even the day of the Lord is near, a cloudy day; it shall be the time of the heathen. Joel 1:15 - Alas for the day! for the day of the Lord is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come. Amos 5:18 - Woe unto you that desire the day of the Lord! to what end is it for you? the day of the Lord is darkness, and not light. Obadiah 1:15 - For the day of the Lord is near upon all the heathen: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee: thy reward shall return upon thine own head. What stands out for me more than anything else is the unmistakable clarity as to who the 'day of the Lord' is intended. It's purpose is to 'destroy the sinners' and it is 'the time of the heathen.' The day of the Lord will be accompanied by 'wrath and fierce' anger. That leaves all of us out who have made our preparations ahead of time for not having to be included in this time of judgement by repenting of our sins and asking Jesus to be our Lord and Savior. We have asked for His forgiveness for all of our many sins and have received the gift of eternal life. There is no longer the danger of having to experience God's wrath: 1 Thessalonians 5:9 - For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ," Romans 5:1 - "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Peace with God means that He no longer has anything to be angry with us about or to judge us for because Jesus took our punishment upon Himself on the cross.) 2 Corinthians 5:21 - "For he hath made Him to be sin for us: who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." Ellicott's Commentary defines the 'day of the Lord' as being "a fixed time for vengeance to be taken upon the heathen." It also defines it as a "general day of judgement for mankind." Meyer's New Testament Commentary (which also includes some of the Hebrew words) defines it as the "near impending period, when the present order of the world will come to an end, and Christ in His glory will return to earth for the resurrection of the dead, the general judgement, and the completion of the kingdom of God;" And finally, gotquestions.org, which I have always found to be a good and reliable source of information, defines it this way: "The phrase "day of the Lord" usually identifies events that take place at the end of history and is often closely associated with the phrase "that day." One key to understanding these phrases is to note that they always identify a span of time during which God personally intervenes in history, directly or indirectly, to accomplish some specific aspect of His plan." To recap: The day of the Lord will cover a span of time, it is intended for all those who never gave their lives to Christ, and will be all inclusive in that it will include all of the various elements (more on these shortly) of God's judgement for the purpose of the destruction of sinners. That sounds pretty horrible, and it is, which is why we need to keep sharing the gospel of love to the people we come into contact with and pray for them! Now that we have all of this information before us, the question to be asked is, when does it start? That can be found in the following verse: 1 Thessalonians 5:2,3 - 2 "For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape." There you have it. The Rapture of the Church is what ushers in the 'day of the Lord' and is the first judgement to take place in it and is accompanied by 'sudden destruction' which is actually triggered by the Rapture itself. Think about it, the world will be turned on it's head after the Rapture occurs. Since we know the Rapture (or the "catching away of the believers") is what ushers in the 'day of the Lord', then that means the Rapture will be the first element of God's judgement that all of those who were left behind will have to deal with, as well as the sudden destruction which goes hand in hand with it. Further, it also means that all of the other elements that make up this time of judgement which are to follow the Rapture, such as the arrival of the Antichrist, the signing of a peace agreement and rebuilding of the third temple, the Seal, Trumpet, and Bowl judgements included in the 7 year Tribulation period, and anything else I failed to mention here, have absolutely nothing to do with those of us who are saved because we will be in heaven when they take place. That means the whole debate about whether the Rapture of the Church is a pre/mid/post tribulation event has now become a moot point for us. The 7 year Tribulation period is what makes up the heart of the day of the Lord and as we've learned we will have no part in it. We won't even be around it. The Tribulation, as most people refer to it as, is also called 'the time of Jacob's trouble' and it is during this 7 year period that God is going to restore His relationship with the Jewish people. It is during this period that they will finally come to believe that Jesus Christ really is their long awaited Messiah. It is not going to be an easy time for either the Jews or the world while all this is going on. God's wrath and anger are going to be poured out like no one has ever seen before and will never be seen again. Let's take a quick look at Revelation 4:1,2 so that we can bring this to a close: 1 "After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. 2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne." What many scholars and teachers have believed all along, is true, that John was allowed to witness and record the actual Rapture event itself. The similarities between these verses in Revelation 4 and 1 Thessalonians 4:16,17 are undeniable. I believe that our Rapture experience is going to be the same as what John experienced in his vision and that we are going to see the same things that he saw which is why God had him record it. What John recorded in Revelation 4:1 is what takes place in 1 Thessalonians 5:2. The statement God made to John, "...and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter" is to further establish what we've already learned and that is that first comes our departure and then comes judgement. To sum it all up, I think that the confusion and controversy regarding our blessed hope (Titus 2:13) may be caused by the fact that there is no mention of 'the day of the Lord' in our Rapture discussions. You can't have one without the other. Just focusing on the Rapture event itself has caused so much confusion through the years that it's created major divisions in the Church. God, as we know, isn't the author of confusion so He made clear in His Word exactly how and when it's going to happen. I think that Isaiah 28:9-13 (google it) applies quite well here but you will need a commentary to really understand it. From Forerunner Commentary; "This is very similar to Jesus' explanation of parables. God says He scatters understanding on any given subject throughout the Bible, and our job is to put it all together and see the amazing truth that results. Therefore, parables cannot be interpreted alone; they rely on the revelation of the rest of Scripture." - Richard T. Ritenbaugh, Parables and Prophecy It's time to make our preparations for the coming of the 'day of the Lord' and the only way we can do that is to be absolutely certain that our relationship with God is where it needs to be. Simply believing that God exists isn't enough (James 2:19). "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." - John 3:3 Naming Bin Salman Saudi heir impacts US, Israel - http://www.debka.com/article/26108/Naming-Bin-Salman-Saudi-heir-impacts-US-Israel The Saudi king's decision to elevate his son Prince Mohammed bin Salman, 31, to crown prince and heir to the throne, in place of his cousin Mohammed bin Nayef - as part of a broad reshuffle, is not merely the internal affair of the royal hierarchy, but a game-changing international event. debkafile's analysts see it as the outcome of a global and regional process initiated by Donald Trump soon after he settled in the White House in January. With his appointment as de facto ruler of the oil kingdom, the Saudi king's son is ready to step into his allotted place in a new US-Arab-Israeli alliance that will seek to dominate Middle East affairs. Israel will be accepted in a regional lineup for the first time alongside the strongest Sunni Arab nations who all share similar objectives, especially the aim to stop Iran. Trump's trip to Riyadh and Jerusalem in early May laid the cornerstone for the new US-Sunni Arab bloc versus Iran's Shiite grouping and also cemented Israel's co-option. This bloc is in its infancy and has yet to display staying power and prove the wisdom of its policies. But its contours have taken shape. US President Trump is taking the lead role along with Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates, another crown prince, Egypt's President Abdul-Fatteh El-Sisi, and Israel's Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. Three of those leaders already maintain strong direct - albeit discreet - ties with Israel's prime minister, its security establishment, military and various intelligence agencies. In a lecture on Tuesday, June 20, Israel's chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Gady Eisenkott, spoke of the covert relations between the IDF and certain Arab nations, which he did not name. There is clearly a lot going on under the surface in various political, economic, financial, intelligence and military fields. Recent events in the region already point to President Trump acting on important matters, such as the confrontation with Iran, the war on terror, the Syrian conflict and US intervention in the Yemen conflict, on the advice of the two Arab crown princes rather than Defense Secretary James Mattis and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. This was strikingly demonstrated when Trump overrode Tillerson's recommendation to apply diplomacy for resolving the dispute that led to four Arab nations boycotting Qatar, with the Saudis in the lead, whereas the president then demanded strong action to stop Qatar's funding of terrorists. He therefore opted for the aggressive Saudi and UAE stance against Qatar's ruler, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. These developments bear strongly on US-Russian relations. The two crown princes maintain active ties with President Vladimir Putin. They could, of course, act as go-betweens for smoothing relations between the White House and the Kremlin. But, on the other hand, their influence could be counter-productive and goad Trump into engaging the Russians in a limited confrontation in Syria. It is hard to see Washington and Moscow coming to terms in Syria at this point when the former is closely allied to Saudi Arabia and the UAE and Moscow maintains its loyalty to Tehran. The evolving bonds between the US, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and Israel are the source of President Trump's optimism about the prospects of pulling off an Israeli-Palestinian peace accord, a vision which eluded all his predecessors in the White House, while knocking over the decades-old barriers between the moderate Arab nations and the Jewish State. The first steps towards this goal are in the making. They will include exposing parts of their hidden interaction to the light of day, as well as such important symbolic actions, as opening Arab skies to the passage of Israeli commercial flights, or direct telephone links. None of this is expected to transpire overnight but rather over years, especially since there is opposition to the process still to overcome in the Arab world, including Saudi Arabia, and also in the United States. Critics lay into Mohammed bin Salman, who has made his mark as a visionary social and economic reformer at home, as too young, brash and impatient to rule the kingdom. His decision to entangle Saudi Arabia in the Yemen war, which many believe it cannot win, is held up as evidence of his reckless nature. But the process switched on by Trump in Riyadh took a large stride forward on June 21, with the formalization by King Salman of his young son's role as the top mover and shaker in the Saudi kingdom. King Salman obtained the support of 31 out of 34 members of Saudi Arabia's Allegiance Council for confirming Prince Muhammad Bin Salman as crown prince as well as deputy prime minister and minister of defense. How The 6 Day War Birthed The Temple Mount Movement - By Enoch Lavender - http://www.prophecynewswatch.com/article.cfm?recent_news_id=1319 Looking back at the 6 day war of 1967, many remember the emotional pictures of Israeli troops in awe as they arrived at the Western Wall. On top of the wall, and mostly out of sight of the cameras, dramatic scenes were also taking place on the Temple Mount itself - scenes which would lay the foundation for the modern day movement to rebuild the Temple. Looking Back at '67 On June 6th 1967, the now famous words of Paratroop Brigade Commander Motti Gur resounded across the nation of Israel: 'The Temple Mount is in our hands'. Rugged and war-weary Israeli soldiers who had been engaged in a battle for the very survival of the Jewish state, found themselves unexpectedly conquering the Old City of Jerusalem. The soldiers streamed to the Western Wall towards which the Jewish people had prayed ever since the destruction of the Temple in 70 A.D. Even secular Israeli soldiers who had never prayed a prayer were seen openly weeping and asking their fellow soldiers how to pray. Meanwhile, other Israeli soldiers roamed freely on the Temple Mount itself. With permission from his commander, Paratrooper Ezra Orni dramatically hoisted the Israeli flag over the famed Dome of the Rock. Ezra's commander Motti Gur meanwhile held a brigade roll call for his paratroopers on the Temple Mount Plaza itself. Addressing his men on the Temple Mount with the backdrop of the Israeli flag adorning the Islamic Shrine, Motti spoke of the heroes of Israel's past including the Maccabees who liberated Jerusalem and rededicated the Temple in 164BC. Motti's men had a lot in common with the Maccabees and had overcome similar overwhelming odds to return to Israel's holiest sites. The paratroopers must have felt a sense of destiny about returning to Judaism's most sacred ground, and Motti's words about the ancient battles for the Temple would have resonated deeply. Was Motti's brigade destined to be part of a new generation of heroic Maccabees - returning the Jewish people to the Temple Mount? Separately a group of Israeli soldiers entered the Dome of the Rock itself, quickly forming a 'minyan' (group of ten men required for Jewish worship) and spent time in prayer on this uniquely holy site. IDF chief chaplain, Rabbi Shlomo Goren did not exactly attempt to restrain the troops' religious excitement. Having sounded the shofar and prayed at the Western Wall, Goren excitedly ascended the Temple Mount and entered into the Dome of the Rock. There Rabbi Goren - armed with a Torah Scroll - proceeded to encircle the Foundation Stone. This is the very stone upon which the Ark of the Covenant is believed to have rested in the Holy of Holies. Upon exiting, Rabbi Goren excitedly approached IDF commander Uzi Narkiss. "In preparation for the imminent Messianic era", he suggested, "the IDF should utilize its explosives on hand to demolish the mosques on the Temple Mount". A Stunning Disappointment Rabbi Goren was in for a stunning disappointment - IDF commander Narkiss not only ignored Goren's request - but according to some reports even threatened Goren with prison if he kept on with this idea. Meanwhile, Israel Defence Minister Moshe Dayan spotted the Israeli flag adorning the Dome of the Rock and immediately ordered its removal. The Israeli government had long been concerned that capturing Jerusalem might spark an international backlash from the powerful Christian, Catholic and Islamic communities. The deeply secular Moshe Dayan therefore acted quickly to return control of all religious sites in Jerusalem to their respective religious leaders - and proceeded to also hand control of the Temple Mount back to the Islamic world represented by the Islamic Waqf. It all happened so quickly - and the golden moment of opportunity to begin rebuilding the Temple was gone as suddenly as it had appeared. The Birthing of the Temple Movement Although Rabbi Goren's dreams were dashed, the seeds of Israel's Temple Mount Movement were sown deeply into the lives of two young men that very day. Born into a family with a heritage of longing for the rebuilding of the Temple, Gershon Salomon was grievously wounded in battle against the Syrians in the lead up to the six day war. He experienced a miraculous deliverance from his would-be Syrian executors and felt God calling him to dedicate his life to the rebuilding of the Temple. As Israel conquered the Temple Mount in 67, Gershon - still on crutches - joined his fellow Israeli soldiers on the sacred grounds. What he witnessed that day would change his life forever. As Gerson and his fellow soldiers toured the Temple Mount, they encountered a neatly dressed Jordanian guide. Addressing them in English, the guide proceeded to give the Israelis a tour of the site, explaining where the Temple, the menorah and the altar originally stood. When asked by the group of soldiers why he was showing them all this, the Jordanian guide reportedly answered "we have a tradition from our fathers [and] they from their fathers that one day the Jews would wage a war and conquer this mountain and rebuild the Holy Temple". Addressing the incredulous Israelis, the guide went even further saying, "I assume that you're starting tomorrow". Gershon further relates that the tour guide seemed to suddenly disappear, and the whole experience appeared so miraculous that he and other soldiers assumed the guide must have been an Angel. Facing towards the Holy of Holies, Gershon solemnly pledged that day to work ceaselessly for the re-building of the Temple. While Gershon was bitterly disappointed with Dayan's decision to hand back the Temple Mount to Islamic control, Gershon remained faithful to his word and established the 'Temple Mount Faithful' organisation. Gershon has since that time advocated tirelessly for the rebuilding of the Temple - admonishing the Israeli nation with words from Haggai the prophet "Is it time for you, yourselves, to dwell in your well-timbered houses, while this house lies in ruins?" (Hag. 1:2) Another young man whose life was changed that day was Yisrael Ariel. Yisrael also witnessed the episode with the Jordanian tour guide and was that night given the duty of watching over the Dome of the Rock. At the time Yisrael wondered to himself, "We have arrived at the threshold of the Holy Temple: we are standing at the Western Wall - where is the Messiah?" Yisrael Ariel later became a rabbi and became convinced that Israel was not called to simply wait passively for the Messiah - but should have proceeded to do everything they could to rebuild the Temple. His answer to the question of why the Messiah did not come in '67 was simply that Israel had not taken the steps to prepare for the Messiah's arrival. It was this conviction that led Rabbi Yisrael to form what is today the most prominent movement to rebuild the Temple - the Temple Institute. Now 50 years later, the Temple Institute has made extensive preparations for the rebuilding of the Temple and its centre in Jerusalem is filled with vessels prepared for use in the Holy Temple. Today, Rabbi Yisrael Ariel's Temple Institute, and Gershon Salomon's Temple Mount Faithful are both part of the nascent Israeli Sanhedrin working for the rebuilding of the Temple. Their shared experience on the Temple Mount and their shared disappointments led to the birth of the Modern Temple Movement. Getting Closer While the idea of rebuilding the Temple was a fringe idea in 1967, prominent temple activist Yehudah Glick explains that it is now becoming mainstream. "Ten years ago, there was not a single member of Knesset who ascended the Temple Mount," Glick told CBN News. "Today we have 20 Knesset members who are interested in ascending Temple Mount... and bringing the Temple Mount back into the center of the next step in the redemption process." Although Rabbi Goren's dream of rebuilding the temple was ultimately dashed in 1967, the seeds sown in those momentous moments on the Temple Mount are today bringing Israel closer than ever to the rebuilding of her temple. Orthodox Jews pray daily for the Third Temple saying 'May it be thy will Lord God, God of our fathers, that the temple be rebuilt speedily in our days'. It would seem that we may well be part of the generation that sees this prayer fulfilled as we edge ever closer on the prophetic clock to the Lord's Return. Christian "Awakening" to Holiness of Temple Mount Draws Islamic Fury - By Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz - https://www.breakingisraelnews.com/89959/christian-awakening-temple-mounts-holiness-brings-prophesied-house-prayer-nations-closer/#WUeO3h2iHfbyP4C6.99 "Even them will I bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer; their burnt-offerings and their sacrifices shall be acceptable upon Mine altar; for My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples." Isaiah 56:7 (The Israel Bible™) Until now, the bloody battle for the Temple Mount has been fought between Muslims and Jews, but a new awakening among some Christians to its significance is creating a shifting pre-Messianic reality at the already volatile site. The developing status of Christians on the Temple Mount played out a few weeks ago in a Muslim-Christian confrontation that nearly ended in violence. The Temple Mount showdown involved Nate Waller, Director of Operations at Hayovel, an organization which brings Christian volunteers to Israel to fulfill Biblical prophecy by working on vineyards in Samaria. As a frequent visitor to the Temple Mount, Waller's connection to the site is an increasingly important part of his belief - and he thinks other Christians should see it that way, too. "When I first started visiting the Temple Mount, I didn't understand the holiness of the place," Waller told Breaking Israel News. "I used to walk all around the site, like all the other Christian tourists. I would go to the site of the actual Temple, something that is forbidden for Jews to do." Through his close work with religious Jews, Waller began to understand the significance of the site. "Christians generally believe that God's presence has left the Temple Mount since the destruction of the Temple," Waller explained. "From the Jews, I am just now beginning to understand that this is still the place of God's name, and His name has not been removed." This theological development had practical implications for Waller. During his visit earlier in the month, Waller purposefully avoided the site of the actual Temple, which is forbidden to Jews because of its holiness. Christian tourists are generally permitted to tour the Temple Mount compound unattended and need not follow a set path, unlike Jews, who are closely monitored by Jordanian Islamic Waqf guards and restricted to a specific route which detours around holy areas prohibited by Jewish law. "I wanted to follow the Jews so that I wouldn't stray into the holy areas, but the Waqf guards got angry at this," Waller explained. "It didn't bother them when I just went up like every other Christian tourist and disregarded the place as anything special. But when I recognized the holiness of the site, they began to treat me like a Jew and an enemy." A confrontation developed between the Waqf guards and Waller's group. The Islamic Authority alerted the Israeli police, who forced Waller and his group to take the route through the area Jews consider holy and off-limits. Waller understands that his spiritual connection to the Temple Mount is exceptional and not shared by most Christians. "One of the things Christianity rejected from Judaism was the Temple. When we lost that, we lost a powerful connecting point with God. Christianity teaches that the Temple is in us, and that is true. But that inner Temple is what draws us to the Temple in Jerusalem. "Christianity needs to reconnect to that. The Temple is necessary for God to dwell among us." The Christian Zionist believes that this developing relationship with the Temple Mount is an essential aspect of Christianity. "From a Biblical perspective, the Temple Mount is the center of everything," Waller expressed. "As a Christian, a house of prayer for all nations is an important teaching, especially among the first Christians." My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples. Isaiah 56:7 Though referred to in the New Testament, the Temple Mount does not play an integral role in Christianity, as it does in Judaism. Nonetheless, the number of Christians visiting the site has risen to over 200,000 annually. "I believe this is a reawakening of the House of Prayer for all nations," Waller speculated. "I think one of the reasons the Temple is not being built is because the nations are not ready. The House of Prayer for all nations can't come if the nations aren't there to receive it." A parallel process is happening among Jews. Despite police restrictions, the number of Jews visiting the site has more than doubled in the last five years. On Jerusalem Day last month, more than 1,000 Jews ascended to Judaism's holiest site. Yaakov Hayman, Chairman of the United Temple Movements, encourages this awakening and sees it as having a significant place in the Third Temple. "All prayer that is not idolatrous is welcome on the Temple Mount," Hayman said, adding one common-sense stipulation: "Anyone who is not against someone else going up to the Temple Mount should go up to the Temple Mount." Currently, Muslims are the only people permitted to pray at the site that is holy to all three Abrahamic religions. Jews and Christians are forbidden from bringing any religious items to the Mount, and are watched by security forces lest they make signs indicating a word or moment of prayer. Hayman's organization has brought a suit in the Israeli High Court to bring this vision of a House of Prayer for all nations to reality. "It is frightening that in this day and age that people are prevented from praying anywhere, especially on the Temple Mount," Hayman lamented. Nearing Midnight: Cancel Your Reservations to Europe - Todd Strandberg - http://www.raptureready.com/category/nearing-midnight/ The people of Europe have all but surrendered to the Islamic terrorists. They have basically decided that the monthly mass murder events are just part of life. The reaction can be likened to when lions take down a member of a herd of cattle. The remaining cattle momentarily lift their heads to watch the carnage, but then quickly go back to grazing. The politicians will continue to voice outrage, but the condemnations have become nothing more than hollow platitudes. After the London Bridge attacks, British Prime Minister Theresa May said, "Enough is enough and things have got to change." May was Home Secretary under Prime Minster Cameron, and responsible for national security under a slew of escalating terror attacks. The key problem with the surge of Islamic terrorism is the unwillingness of authorities to recognize that Islam is a religion that inspires people to carry out acts of murder. The solution is to either kick Muslims out of the country or separate them from the general population. As the attacks become more gruesome, there is a growing effort to cover them up. After the Manchester bombing the politically correct talking points against "Islomophbia" dominated the media-warning against religious hatred. There is a desperate need for policy change when you have a guy blowing up teenage girls at a concert hall. The British Media outdid themselves with the reporting on the London Bridge attacks. They said the attackers were a crude "team of lone wolves." Previously, a lone wolf represented a single Muslim terrorist. It is now plural because the media needs to continue their word games to avoid using the "M" (Muslim) or "I" (Islam) word in relation to terrorism. We have made it so easy for Islamic terrorists to operate; their fellow Muslims no longer need to hide their support. When Saudi Arabia played Australia for a World Cup qualifier at the Adelaide Oval stadium in South Australia, an announcement was made for a minute of silence to honor the victims the London concert hall attack. The Saudi team ignored the call. The game should have been cancelled for that reason alone, but it was not. A day after that London attack, a small group of Muslims were shown on the news holding up signs condemning terrorism. It turns out the protest was staged by CNN. A bystander posted a video of reporters instructing the group in how to express outrage (which they obviously lacked). Islamic terror has turned Europe into a continent of quivering cowards. Last week a loud boom occurred at an outdoor event in the Italian city of Turin. The false alarm caused the crowd to stampede, and over 1,500 people were injured. Most people traveling to Europe are oblivious to how much Islam has corrupted Europe. Japanese tourists have been very misinformed about the threats they face. They come to France with wildly high expectations of romance and fine dining. When they get there they are shocked by areas of the country that look like the worst of the third world. Around six million Japanese people visit France each year. The Japanese embassy in Paris repatriates several tourists a year, sending them home with a doctor or nurse to ensure they recover from the shock. The embassy also runs a 24-hour helpline for expatriates experiencing culture shock. I think it is unwise for people go to Europe as long as there is a chance to get caught up in a terrorist event. Most tourists probably assume that it's all right to visit Europe because the risk of be killed is low. With attacks becoming a regular occurrence, there is a high risk of having a vacation spoiled by a lock-down or an even worse scenario. The only way to convince Europeans to take Islamic terrorism head on is for tourists to stop visiting those key Islamic targets. A boycott is badly needed when you have London's mayor saying that terrorist attacks are just the price of living in a big city. About 110 million tourists visit Britain and France each year. If a sizable number of them could be convinced to visit a safer location, the economic pressure could force a change. I'm doubtful it is possible to fix the terror problem. A spiritual blindness is preventing people from using simple logic to recognize basic evil. The level of cluelessness we see in Europe is a strong indication of how close we are to the "Days of Noe" prediction. Violence is all around us, yet people eat and drink without a care. "But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be" (Matthew 24:37-39). Satanism Making Comeback Through Witchcraft and Atheism: Rabbi - By Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz - https://www.breakingisraelnews.com/90039/witches-trump-bad-joke-sign-global-plague-satanism/#BbKXjSq0SwXtQ630.99 "For these nations, that thou art to dispossess, hearken unto soothsayers, and unto diviners; but as for thee, Hashem thy God hath not suffered thee so to do." Deuteronomy 18:14 (The Israel Bible™) At the stroke of midnight on Wednesday, some 13,000 people will connect via internet in yet another attempt to cast a curse on President Donald Trump, this time on the summer solstice. Though spell-casting may seem too absurd to be taken seriously, a rabbinic authority maintains that the 'witches' are tapping into Satanism, a disturbing theology making a strong comeback today in the guise of atheism. The witches are a motley collection with a mixed bag of rituals and beliefs, incorporating the arcane and the religious. The solstice curse calls for colored candles, Tarot cards, and chanting, but also allows for using Cheetos and religious amulets. As irreverent as this may seem, Rabbi Daniel Asore, who investigates the threat Satanism poses today as a member of the nascent Sanhedrin, believes the connection between witchcraft and politics is more relevant - and dangerous - than ever. "Witchcraft, or its real name, Satanism, is explicitly a power struggle, which is why it is so readily dragged into politics. Satanism, in its essence, pits the adversary against God," Rabbi Asore explained to Breaking Israel News. "Though this power struggle has been brewing all through history, today, when we are so close to Moshiach (Messiah), the role it is playing in politics could not be more clear. "The politicians who believe that man can control all aspects of the world are coming from a belief system based in Satanism, whether knowingly or not." Rabbi Asore explained how arcane Satanism and modern materialist atheism are surprisingly similar. In both belief systems, nature, not a deity, is the supreme power. There is no God who created or stands above nature, and with no divine spark, man is simply another animal. "Atheists, like all Satanists, see themselves as the ultimate authority, independent of any higher rule, so morality becomes entirely subjective," he told Breaking Israel News. "Since the 'self' is the center of the universe, they are anarchists, believe in limiting the world population through war, abortion, and non-productive relationships. Nature has usurped God's eternal aspect, so the individual is the 'all'." The conflict between Satanism and religion over the eternal has an end-of-days implication. Satanists reject the possibility of Messiah and do not believe in a future redemption. Rather, they believe nature itself is infinite, and as such, there was no creation and there will be no Messiah. A quick glance at the website of the Satanic Temple confirms the rabbi's claim. The stated mission of the Satanic Temple is to "reject tyrannical authority, advocate practical common sense and justice, and be directed by the human conscience to undertake noble pursuits guided by the individual will". Rabbi Asore noted that the rejection of the Bible is common to both atheists and Satanists as a basic tenet, though atheistic Satanism does not believe that Satan actually exists, and they do not worship him. Atheistic Satanism believes each person is his or her own God, and that people should worship themselves. To them, Satan is a symbol of rebellion rather than a literal figure. "Satanists believe that the Jews created the Bible as a conspiracy to control the consciousness of society," the rabbi concluded. "Any religion that accepts the Bible as divine, as God teaching man the way the world should be according to the divine will, as a way to transcend nature, is pitted against Satanists and atheists." Daily Jot: Americans 4 Communists 0 - Bill Wilson - www.dailyjot.com In the four special elections to replace congressmen appointed to positions in President Donald Trump's administration, the communist-progressive-inspired Democratic Party has lost all four races. The last race in Georgia's 6th District was the most hotly contested and nationally renown. Democrats spent some $24 million dollars to elect a 30-year-old "progressive" who didn't live in the district, had a live-in girlfriend, and had absolutely no experience at much of anything, in what became the most expensive congressional race in America's history. The rhetoric spewing from his campaign reflected that of the national "resistance" movement of the Democratic Party. He lost by a 51.9-48.1% margin. The communist-progressive-inspired Democratic Party has, in fact, lost every special election this season-Georgia by 3 points; South Carolina by four points; Kansas by seven points; and Montana by six points. In Georgia, the Democrat candidate raised some 95% of his $24 million dollars (roughly $192 per vote) from outside of his district with well over $8 million coming from the San Francisco Bay area. The Democratic Party, in its desperation to show America that the "resist" movement is viable, is willing to allow the optics of California and New York to buy influence in states that voted Republican in the last election. It's all about power, control, and choking down self-determination-very non-democratic. The news media is in a quandary. It, too, invested a lot of public capital in promoting vehemently anti-Trump and pro-"resistance" Democratic Party candidates. Even before the Georgia election was officially called, the fake news spin doctors at CNN were trying to claim some small victory: "The losses aren't all doom and gloom for Democrats. The party got closer than it has in decades to winning some of the four seats-a sign they've closed their gaps with Republicans in both suburban and rural areas and in 2018 will have a broad playing field with dozens of more competitive districts." Democratic strategists, however, are questioning that their messaging reached too narrow of a voting demographic. The narrow demographic they are alluding to are those vulgar, visceral, violent-prone radical leftists who are seeking to obstruct and overthrow the government. There are, frankly, not enough of them to win elections-even as motivated as they are. This is a signal to the rest of America. Not all Democrats are violent, hate-filled radicals. Most are law-abiding citizens, especially in the south and Midwest, whose families traditionally have been Democrats and just don't know any other way. Many are repulsed by the hate-filled rhetoric of the "resistance." Christian Americans have an opportunity to help change the rhetoric of hate by acting as Ephesians 6:6 says, "Not with eye-service, as men-pleasers; but as the servants of Christ; doing the will of God from the heart." Let's speak about decency and civility to all who will hear. Daily Devotion: Why Christians Need Each Other - By Greg Laurie - www.harvest.org 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. -1 John 1:3 Have you ever been having a conversation with someone when you overheard your name being mentioned across the room? Did you notice how suddenly you started listening? When we speak of God's name, He listens. Malachi 3:16 says, "Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord listened and heard them; so a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and who meditate on His name." The phrase "the Lord listened and heard" could be translated "to prick the ear, to bend down, so as not to miss a single word." The Lord loves it when we talk about Him together. That is what it means to fellowship. Acts 2:42 tells us that the early church "continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship." That word fellowship comes from the Greek word koinonia, which could be translated "fellowship," "partnership," or "communion." And it even could be translated "to be generous." So this word koinonia encompasses all those ideas. It is far more than socializing. It is where people get together to talk about the things of God. Sometimes I will hear people use Jesus' name as profanity. I'll say, "Careful. He listens when you say His name." Jesus listens when we say His name. He is paying attention. He also listens when His people speak of Him and fellowship around His name. He loves it when we talk about Him. He listens when we speak His name. Fellowship is praying together. It is serving together. It is giving together. It is aging together. These are the fibers of fellowship. Fellowship with God and with His people go together. And if you find yourself out of fellowship with God, you will soon find yourself out of fellowship with other believers as well. 
FROM THE HEART
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