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Prophecy Update Newsletter
July 18, 2016
IN TODAY'S NEWSLETTER...
From Here to Eternity - Pete Garcia - http://www.omegaletter.com/articles/articles.asp?ArticleID=8275
"We are five days away from fundamentally transforming the United States of America." Barack H. Obama, 30 October 2008 I believe the then presidential candidate Obama, was and is a man of his word. He has spearheaded the transformation of this nation from that of a constitutional republic under the rule of law into something else. What exactly, I'm not sure anymore. Perhaps a socialist oligarchy, or maybe some kind of capitalist-socialist hybrid of the Chinese sorts, no longer under the rule of law, but under the rule of 'political correctness'. Benghazi, IRS targeting, "Fast and Furious", Solyndra, Black Panthers, Beergate, VA Scandal, Monsanto, Timothy Geithner, Syria's 'vanishing' red lines, Ferguson, Keystone Pipeline, Email servers, Snowden, drone strikes, etc., ad nausea. Scandals, schemes, power plays, political machinations of every sort plague our every waking moment. Men and women trying to get ahead or get even, thinking all the while that what they're doing in the here and now will somehow gain them the world while the rich get richer, and the poor get poorer. Now, to be fair, America had been in the process of transformation since the days just after the Civil War, when we went from being referred to as 'these' United States, to 'the' United States. Once the Federal government exerted its will over the states she began to grow and in that growth, a hunger for power and control stirred. Truth be told, aside from the Federal Reserve and Federal Income Tax Acts of 1913, it's hard to pin down a specific point in time when the Constitution wasn't under massive assault by politicians, bureaucrats, special interest groups, and other subversives because it's been a constant and steady stream of erosion. It's been 'death by a thousand cuts' and the Constitution has always ever been increasingly marginalized in taking power away from both the state and the individual and giving it over to some federal agency or department. Although not known for its efficiency, a federal bureaucracy is only ever at the top of its game when it comes to bestowing power and authority on itself. If anything, a bureaucracy can only ever be counted on being efficient when it comes to giving itself more authority and in this endeavor, it has been thorough and persistent in its incrementalism over the decades. So consistent is its persistence and addicted to the power that comes with potential authority it wishes to give itself, that a federal agency(s) must constantly find reasons (think crisis) to insert its own relevance into every facet of an individual's life. Thus, the only constant we have is change, and under the current regime, that change has been on steroids. I liken this time we live in, to the lead up of the coming global order. For those in power today, are simply laying the groundwork for the final ruler who will come, the man known as Antichrist. There is nothing being done today, no matter how disheartening and frustrating that hasn't already been tried many times before. We simply are watching the culmination of corruption being expedited on a global scale due to the advancements in technology and rapid decline in moral foundations. Assessment Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, "Let us break Their bonds in pieces And cast away Their cords from us." I realize we are in an election year, and we are all hoping for some real change to come in terms of the type of governance we are currently experiencing. But regardless of who wins in November, real change is coming...and the world under Satan's control, does not like that one bit. He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The Lord shall hold them in derision. Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, And distress them in His deep displeasure: "Yet I have set My King On My holy hill of Zion." Christ is returning as promised. First, He will come for His bride the Church. (John 14:1-3, 1 Thess. 4:13-18, 1 Cor. 15:51-55) Then, He will allow the earth to purge itself, and its inhabitants of all their violence, bloodshed, wickedness, and corruption through a series of 21 judgments. (Revelation 6-18) This will have two major outcomes, to utterly destroy the gentile nations, and to punish, yet not destroy the nation of Israel. (Jeremiah 30:7-11) "I will declare the decree: The Lord has said to Me, 'You are My Son, Today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel.'" At the end of those 21 divine judgments, the Judge Himself will return in power and glory and all the nations of the earth and all the inhabitants on the earth at that time will mourn at His coming. For the sky will part, and He, along with the armies of heaven, will fill the heavens, watching, as He instantaneously subdues the armies of the earth through the destruction of His spoken word. (Matthew 24:29-30; 2 Thessalonians 2:8; Rev. 1:7) Now therefore, be wise, O kings; Be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, And rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, And you perish in the way, When His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him. (Psalm 2) After a brief but absolutely devastating battle for those who actually try to fight Christ, He will separate those nations as a shepherd does with the sheep and goats between those who can enter His Kingdom, and those who are cast into everlasting punishment. (Matt. 25:29-44) At the conclusion of this judgment, the glorious Messianic Kingdom will begin. And while, we don't know everything that will happen in this Kingdom age and while this short list doesn't cover everything we will do, this here is a partial list on the information we do have about it: 1.The natural order to the earth will be rightfully restored (Romans 8:18-22) 2.The Animal Kingdom will no longer fear man, nor will the act defensively (or offensively) against him or each other. (Isaiah 11:6, 65:25) 3.Israel will be the head of all nations, and Christ the head of Israel. (Isaiah 2:1-4) 4.The Church will reside in the New Jerusalem, which will float over the earth similar to how the moon does now...only closer. (Rev. 21) 5.This Kingdom stage, will last for 1,000 years (Rev. 20:1-6) 6.At the end of the 1,000 years, Satan is loosed again for a short season in which a brief but tragic rebellion will be quelled and Satan and those he deceives are tossed into the Lake of Fire for the rest of eternity. (Rev. 20:7-10) 7.The Great White Throne Judgment begins, and the unsaved of all ages (and possibly those who died during the Millennial reign [good and bad]), will stand before Christ the Judge to account for the deeds. (Rev. 20:11-13) 8.At this conclusion, death, hell, and all those who were not found written in the Lamb's Book of Life are thrown into the Lake of Fire for all eternity, thus, ushering in the age eternal. (Rev. 20:14-15) Conclusion 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. 2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 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. 4 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." Revelation 21 Even less is known about what transpires after the Millennial Reign of Christ as we transition into eternity future, but given what we do know about God, we should expect to see more of His creative efforts. (1 Cor. 2:9) Full disclosure here, I am in full-speculation mode now, so I'm in no way dogmatic about the following, but perhaps, we, in eternity future, serve as a foot note for some future story. Here is what I mean. Consider the angels. We know they were created outside of our own timeline because they were there to witness ours. (Job 38:4-7) We know that they themselves had a certain degree of free will because Lucifer and a third of the angels fell from glory. The difference between them and us though, is that they lacked a means of redemption. (Hebrews 1:5, 13-14) While we know they were created and are given glimpses of their existence prior to ours, the Scriptures doesn't go into much detail about how they were created, or how long they existed before our own creation. Likewise, it could be that our own entire human history, all 6,000 years or so, with its plan of redemption, and all of our trials and struggles is only summed up in certain passages for some future beings, in whom God creates for His own design and purposes. Perhaps, all that we've been through, ties into some future plans He has for then. The Bible never says that He won't create any other living beings on into eternity future and use us in some capacity to rule and reign. We just know that those of us who are redeemed are certain that we will live on with God into eternity. It could also be that Satan, who is growing to understand more and more of the vastness of God's future plans, is becoming increasingly furious at the prospect of his own certain judgment and confinement because he realizes how futile and shortsighted his own original efforts were considering the vast panorama of all God has in store for His us. It is difficult for us to reconcile that even though evil will be forever vanquished, that God could create other civilizations in the future. This seems antithetical to the nature of our own understanding of our existence, because trials and struggles produce growth and also because it's the only kind of existence we've ever known. But that is only because we are fallen creatures, living in a fallen world. At that future point, we will be in our immortalized, eternal bodies, and we won't desire to sin, nor will we desire anything that separates us from God's fellowship. We won't need an antagonist in our future story because our natures won't require one. I imagine that God has such wonderful and amazing things in store for us we really can't (at the present), wrap our minds around it, thus, why the Bible is silent on the subject. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:4-7 Now that is change you can believe in. Even so, MARANATHA! 
The Worst (Fake?) Coup Ever Has Enthroned Erdogan as A Dictator and Has Sealed Turkey's Fate - By Michael Snyder - http://endoftheamericandream.com/archives/the-worst-fake-coup-ever-has-enthroned-erdogan-as-a-dictator-and-has-sealed-turkeys-fate
What just happened in Turkey? I have been thinking about this for a number of hours now, and I have narrowed it down to two options. Either this was the worst military coup in my entire lifetime, or it was staged. I will explain how I came to this conclusion below, but in any event the end result of this "coup" is that President Erdogan is even more popular and has consolidated power to an extent that is absolutely breathtaking. He already was essentially a dictator, but now this "coup" has sealed Turkey's fate and has pushed them even farther down the path toward becoming a radical Islamic state. If you are going to conduct a military coup, the very first thing that should be on your list is to decapitate the current leadership structure. But even though hundreds were killed and approximately 1,400 people were injured during the short-lived conflict, not a single high ranking official was killed or captured. I don't know if I have ever heard of a coup where that didn't happen. How do you not get a single high ranking official? Either the planners of this coup were completely incompetent, or it was fake. And yes, it is entirely possible that only a small portion of the military was involved and this effort represented the best that they could do to try to rescue Turkey from the grip of a ruthless dictator. Maybe they were hoping that once they lit a spark the public would rally to their cause. But I don't know if I am buying that explanation. There are just way too many inconsistencies. For instance, according to Reuters F-16s that were controlled by the opposition could have fired on Erdogan's plane and taken him out, but they didn't... "At least two F-16s harassed Erdogan's plane while it was in the air and en route to Istanbul. They locked their radars on his plane and on two other F-16s protecting him," a former military officer with knowledge of the events told Reuters. "Why they didn't fire is a mystery," he said. To me, that simply defies a normal explanation. In addition, soldiers that took part in the "coup" said "that they thought that they were taking part in military exercises"... Soldiers arrested during a failed coup attempt in Turkey told interrogators that they thought that they were taking part in military exercises. A group of 678 troops and 10 officers, headed by a colonel, was detained by authorities at Ataturk International Airport overnight. During the interrogations, some of the soldiers claimed that, initially, they had no idea that they were taking part in an attempt to topple the government, thinking that it was just a military drill. "Only when people began to climb on the tanks, we understood everything," the soldiers said, according to Hurriyet newspaper. If this is true, then the soldiers were just as surprised as everyone else. To me, this whole thing stinks. Either it was the worst military coup that I have ever seen in my lifetime, or it was a giant theater production. In any event, President Erdogan is taking full advantage of it. His popularity in Turkey is now off the charts, and he is going to have power to do virtually anything he wants at this point... Still, the coup appears to have boosted Erdogan's popularity. Clapping, singing and dancing, thousands of government backers celebrated the defeat of the coup in public squares in Ankara and Istanbul into the wee hours Sunday, bolstering support for the man who's led Turkey for over 13 years. Erdogan's survival has turned him into a "sort of a mythical figure" and could further erode democracy in Turkey, said Soner Cagaptay, director of the Turkish research program at The Washington Institute. In public remarks, Erdogan described the coup as "a gift from God", and he has spoken of the need to "cleanse" the government and the military. So far since the end of the "coup", approximately 6,000 officials have already been rounded up... Turkey widened a crackdown on suspected supporters of a failed military coup on Sunday, taking the number of people rounded up in the armed forces and judiciary to 6,000, and the government said it was in control of the country and economy. Supporters of President Tayyip Erdogan gathered in front of his Istanbul home to call for the plotters to face the death penalty, which Turkey outlawed in 2004 as part of its efforts to join the European Union. "We cannot ignore this demand," Erdogan told the chanting crowd. "In democracies, whatever the people say has to happen." This number includes at least 2,745 judges. I don't even know that it is possible to put together a list of specific judges that you want to target that is that long in just a couple of days. Obviously this was a list that someone had developed before the "coup" ever took place, and now this "coup" has handed Erdogan the perfect opportunity to round them all up. And you may have heard tales of what goes on in Turkish prisons. The Turks are known for being absolutely brutal, and many of those that have been rounded up are already paying a tremendous price... Pictures on social media showed detained soldiers stripped from the waist up, some wearing only their underpants, handcuffed and lying packed together on the floor of a sports hall where they were being held in Ankara. One video on Twitter showed detained generals with bruises and bandages. As for Erdogan, this is just par for the course. Those that follow Turkey closely know that he has already been acting like a modern day version of Adolf Hitler for years. The following comes from Ralph Peters... Key opposition figures have been driven into exile or banned. Opposition parties have been suppressed. Recent elections have not been held so much as staged. And Erdogan has torn the fresh scab from the Kurdish wound, fostering civil war in Turkey's southeast for his own political advantage. Erdogan has packed Turkey's courts with Islamists. He appointed pliant, pro-Islamist generals and admirals, while staging show trials of those of whom he wished to rid the country. He has de facto, if not yet de jure, curtailed women's freedoms. He dissolved the wall between mosque and state (Friday night, he used mosques' loudspeakers to call his supporters into the streets). Not least, he had long allowed foreign fighters to transit Turkey to join ISIS and has aggressively backed other extremists whom he believed he could manage. At this point, there is essentially nothing standing in the way of Turkey becoming a radical Islamic dictatorship. Anyone that dares to be critical of Erdogan is dealt with ruthlessly. In fact, 1,845 "journalists, writers and critics" have been arrested for "insulting the president" since 2014 alone. Yes, that is actually a crime in Turkey. Erdogan envisions himself as the one that will recapture the glory of the old Ottoman Empire, and to show how great he is, he had the largest presidential palace in the entire world built for himself. If you can believe it, it is actually 30 times larger than the White House... The £400 million palace of Turkey's President Erdogan is the biggest in the world. It is also a monstrosity. Thirty times the size of the White House, all the seats of government of Turkey's Nato allies could be contained inside its vast marble halls and endless corridors. Just who in the world does this guy think that he is, and what does he have planned next? Unfortunately for the people of Turkey, they are not going to get rid of this dictator any time soon, and he is going to take them much farther down the road toward becoming a truly radical Islamic state. 
Turkey's Role in Bible Prophecy and Why It Matters - By Ricky Scaparo - http://endtimeheadlines.org/2016/07/turkeys-role-in-bible-prophecy-and-why-it-matters/
Over the past 24 hours, the world has been on edge watching the events transpiring in Turkey with an attempted "Coup" that apparently ended in failure. However, some are reporting that the coup was actually staged by Turkey's own leader. The sudden conflict resulted in more than 2800 detained and 250 dead. So here is the big question many believers have. Why do we need to pay attention to Turkey? Well for one, 2,600 years ago, the prophet Ezekiel foretold of a time when a coalition of predominately Muslim Nations would gather together to invade the nation of Israel. This well-known war is Known as "The War of Gog and Magog" According to the book Ezekiel Chapters 38 and 39 This confederacy of Nations will attack Israel during a relatively peaceful state that appears to be generated by a recent conflict resulting in a "state of peace" for the Jewish Nation. According to the prophet, "After many days you will be visited. In the latter years, you will come into the land of those brought back from the sword and gathered from many people on the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate; they were brought out of the nations, and now all of them dwell safely." - Ezekiel 38:8. 11 You will say, 'I will go up against a land of unwalled villages; I will go to a peaceful people, who dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates'-Ezekiel 38:11 Notice in this last passage the prophet tells us that in the "latter days" of Israel they would actually dwell in a time when they would be "without walls". having no bar nor gates. This is definitely not the case in 2016. Israel has many walls that prevent terrorists and her enemies from breaching the city of Jerusalem and the surrounding cities of Israel. However, the Word of God tells us that the day is coming that they will come into a false sense of "Peace" in which they will lower their guards making them vulnerable for these Nations to invade! Personally, I believe this will fulfill the bible passage that says: 1 Thessalonians 5:3 - For when they say, "Peace and safety!" then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. The nations cited by Ezekiel are each referenced in the Old Testament, yet they all represent nations which exist today. Long before Russia became a major world power most biblical scholars identified Magog as the nation of Russia and Gog as the ruler of Russia. These other nations mentioned in Ezekiel 38 are Magog = Russia Persia = Iran Cush = Ethiopia Put = Libya Gomer = Turkey / Some have Identified as Eastern Europe Beth-Togarmah = Turkey The Bible indicates that in the "latter days" the lord will put a "hook in the jaw" of these Nations listed including the Nation of Turkey and will according to the prophet, will ascend, coming like a storm, covering the land like a cloud, you and all your troops and many peoples with you." - Ezekiel 38:9. So Turkey will be significant in the near future regarding biblical prophecy. They will unite with several other Nations and attempt to destroy the Nation of Israel but will ultimately fail according to what has been foretold in the bible. So just what will befall these Nations? Well Israel will not need to rely on America, Britain or any of her allies to defend her because God himself will step in the scene and the following will take place: Ezekiel 38: 18-23 - "And it will come to pass at the same time, when Gog comes against the land of Israel," says the Lord God, "that My fury will show in My face. For in My jealousy and in the fire of My wrath I have spoken: 'Surely in that day there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel, so that the fish of the sea, the birds of the heavens, the beasts of the field, all creeping things that creep on the earth, and all men who are on the face of the earth shall shake at My presence. The mountains shall be thrown down, the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground.' I will call for a sword against Gog throughout all My mountains," says the Lord God. "Every man's sword will be against his brother. And I will bring him to judgment with pestilence and bloodshed; I will rain down on him, on his troops, and on the many peoples who are with him, flooding rain, great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. Thus I will magnify Myself and sanctify Myself, and I will be known in the eyes of many nations. Then they shall know that I am the Lord."' 
More Islamic Terror in France - By Matt Ward - http://raptureready.com/soap2/ward63.html
Another day, another devastating terrorist attack in France. Even now, before the dust has settled on yet another scene of mass slaughter, many on the left or clamoring to claim these incidents as isolated, sporadic and unpredictable attacks. French history reveals an entirely different reality. The ugly truth is that France is sinking into a quagmire of radical Islamism and has a history of mass terrorist attacks because of it. This latest attack, though horrific, is not a new thing to the French people. In the last eighteen months alone France has been rocked to the core by three major terrorist attacks. Each attack has killed many innocent French people. The ugly truth is that France as a nation is blighted by Islamic terror, and this latest attack will by no means be its last. In July 2003, again in Nice, there was a twin bombing of regional directorates of customs and treasury offices. No one was killed. On 8th October, 2004, the Indonesian Embassy in Paris was hit by a bomb blast. Responsibility was claimed by the French Armed Islamic Front. From 11th to 22nd March, 2012, four people including three children were killed at the Ozar Hatorah Jewish School by Mohammed Merah. Merah converted to radical Islam while inside prison. A few days before this attack, Merah had killed two uniformed soldiers and shot a paratrooper dead. Three days after this Jewish school attack, a copycat stabbed a French soldier to death. This was three days after British soldier Lee Rigby was run over, stabbed multiple times and then beheaded on a busy London street in broad daylight. This was in front of a crowd of hundreds. On 20th December, 2014 three police officers were injured by a man claiming association with Islamist terror groups in the Middle East. On 21st December, 2014, the next day, a man drove his car into eleven pedestrians shouting "Allahu Akbar" as he drove. The next day again, on 22nd December, 2014 another man, again yelling "Allahu Akbar" ran over ten pedestrians with his van before attempting suicide. Between 7th to 9th January 2015 French newspaper Charlie Hebdo was attacked. By the time this incident drew to a close 12 people were dead. The subsequent attacks on a Jewish Hypercacher Kosher Market also resulted in another four innocent people being killed. On 3rd February, 2015, Nice was once again attacked, this time with no fatalities. On 19th April, 2015 one woman was killed on the outskirts of Paris. On 26th June, 2015 at a gas factory, the owner was decapitated by a man with documented Islamist sympathy's. On 21st August, 2015 three Americans and a Briton thwarted a potentially deadly attack by armed gunmen on the Thalys train line. The Americans and the Briton were decorated by the French President for their outstanding bravery and courage. On 13th November, 2015, Islamic State fighters launched a series of highly coordinated attacks inside the French capital that left 130 people dead. Two suicide bombers blew themselves up outside the Stade de France whilst others attacked two restaurants in the city. Dozens were killed. The majority of the victims were killed at the Bataclan concert hall over the next few hours. By the end of the evening hundreds were dead and many more were seriously injured. And now, previously suppressed reports are coming out that many of the hostages at the concert hall were brutally and unthinkably tortured. Which then brings us to the most recent attack, the evening of July 14th, 2016 on the French Mediterranean. It brings us to Bastille Day, a public holiday in France, when many families were out watching the celebration fireworks. It brings us to a promenade in Nice, packed with throngs of happy people celebrating and commemorating a day that embodies the best of French revolutionary freedom. How sickly ironic that it would be on this day, when freedom is celebrated, that France is yet again attacked by those who wish to take freedom from them. It was on this promenade, celebrating this freedom, a promenade full of men, women and children that a terrorist decided to drive an articulated truck, at speed, one mile down the side walk and mow down men, women and children by the hundreds. Zigzagging to and fro to make sure he hit as many dazed and confused families as he could, he has brought sheer carnage to the French Mediterranean. At this early point at least 84 people are dead, with many others injured. A significant number of these victims are critically injured and will yet lose their lives. The terrorist was eventually shot dead by police, and they found he had guns, ammunition and lots of grenades. He was planning a whole scale massacre of unsuspecting innocent people. Today the injured and the bereaved from this monstrous attack will begin the long process of taking stock of their lives in light of their new found reality. Lives devastated, survivors are now left without husbands, wives or precious children. After the shock has subsided, the long and painful grieving process will begin. The scars of this heinous act will long outlast the public interest or remembrance of it. It will be a lifelong burden the victims will have to carry. And tomorrow, for us in the West, nothing will have changed. The same terror that caused this atrocity and all others like it in France, Britain, Belgium, Spain, the United States of America, and everywhere else on the face of this earth blighted by Islamic terror-will still be there, waiting for its next opportunity to reap destruction, fear and senseless suffering. It's not a question of if this will happen anymore, but when, where and how bad will it be next time? It's also a question of how long and how many innocent people will have to die before our governments acknowledge that we are at war with this kind of Islamic terror? The same evil that drives men and women to attack and kill innocent people remains thoroughly entrenched within all our Western societies. While people with no understanding speak loudly of the need for moderation in language and tone and of the need for patience in the face of such horror, those who would perpetrate future atrocities wait quietly and prepare. Contrary to the opinion of U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch, I don't think that love is going to win these people over. Not a chance. They see our patience and reserved responses in only one black and white way-weakness. While these politicians and leaders, those entrusted with our care, dither and bluster in the face of this threat, our nation's enemies wait for their next opportunity to strike and kill the innocent amongst us. Tomorrow nothing will have changed. This terrorist blighted present reality is a future that we should all get used to. This terrorist evil will be one that blights all of our collective futures indefinitely. We will live with it and our children will grow up with it. The threat of Islamic terrorism is not going to dissipate or diminish, it's only going to become more pronounced and more frequently occurring. Like a shadow hanging over us, this threat will not go away. The atrocities of Nice last night and before that Paris, Orlando, St. Bernardino, Madrid, Brussels and London are already becoming normal and everyday occurrences. These things are becoming so regular and frequent now that they don't even shock us anymore. In a human sense there is no hope. This world is irrevocably broken and there will be no human solution to these issues, no permanent peace plan that will work. As this world degenerates and people become more frantic, the desire for leadership amidst the chaos will increase. We all should know where that will end. But there will be no real and lasting peace until Jesus comes again. There will be no end to the senseless killings and the slaughter of innocents until the Prince of Peace himself comes to take control. These days, our days, are the days of sorrows, with the distress of nations and all the perplexity that goes with it. There is one hope and that hope is found only in Jesus Christ. For those of us who cling to the name of Jesus we look forward to and long for that future Blessed Hope, even amidst such chaos and horror. For the rest of humanity who do not have this salvation, there is only hopelessness and despair. That is why our role as servants of the King in taking his message of redemption, forgiveness and salvation to all who do not yet believe is so crucial. It is so very important. Jesus alone will bring this chaos to an end. He alone will bring an end to the killing and the carnage. He alone will mend those with shattered hearts and heal those broken by grief. There is no other hope outside of Jesus, for salvation or for this world. Our broken creation groans and longs for Jesus to return. As do I. May that day come quickly, and may the Lord strengthen and comfort those this day whose lives have been ripped apart by this and other senseless acts of evil in this world. wardmatt1977@gmail.com 
Black Lives Matter Exposed - By Daymond Duck -
http://raptureready.com/featured/duck/dd235.html Many of the comments that I have heard about the shooting of 12 police officers (5 were killed) at the Black Lives Matter protest in Dallas on July 7, 2016 contained expressions of concern about the future of the U.S. Considering the fact that the police are investigating the possible motives of the murderer, Micah Johnson, and searching for connections to activist and terrorist groups such as Black Lives Matter, I have decided to note some of the important facts that I have read and heard about the group. Pres. Obama is one of the most powerful supporters of Black Lives Matter. He has held meetings with them at the White House. Logs show that one of their leaders, DeRay McKesson (Google him), is a frequent visitor to the White House and he has even attended one of the White House Christmas parties. Pres. Obama has praised him and his associates as people who "are going to take America to new heights." George Soros, a radical globalist who occasionally visits the White House and wants to destroy the sovereignty of America, has given more than 30 million dollars to Black Lives Matter and groups that pay people to protest and demonstrate. Hillary Clinton has had problems with Black Lives Matter, but she has catered to them by repeating the words Black Lives Matter in her speeches and by blaming the death of young black men on whites and the police. The Democratic National Committee has officially endorsed Black Lives Matter. Wealthy donors to the Democratic Party and some large corporations such as Google have given large donations to Black Lives Matter. Black Lives Matter often calls for violence against the police with chants of: 1) "What do we want? Dead Cops! When do we want it? Now!" 2) "Pigs in a blanket, fry 'em like bacon!" and 3) "Hands up, don't shoot!" Following the death of five Dallas police officers, supporters of Black Lives Matter celebrated and Tweeted expressions of joy and satisfaction. Videos show that many of the demonstrators at Ferguson, MO., Baltimore, MD. and other places are the same people. At Ferguson, MO. there was rioting, looting and property destruction. Assata Shakur is a convicted cop-killer (Google her). She has been accused of bank robbery, armed robbery and kidnapping; she has escaped prison and fled to Cuba; she is on the FBI's most wanted terrorist list; and more. She is often quoted and praised by DeRay McKesson, Pres. Obama's frequent White House visitor. Following the August 2014 rioting in Ferguson, MO., the Congressional Black Caucus, the ACLU, several labor unions (the AFL-CIO and SEIU) and several members of Hollywood called upon Pres Obama to nationalize the local police forces and to put them under the Dept. of Justice. Pres. Obama responded by creating a task force on "21st Century Policing." He appointed at least two Black Lives Matters leaders (Brittany Packnett and DeRay Mckesson follower of Assata Shakur) to be on that task force. At a celebration of Black History Month, Pres. Obama praised Brittany for leading many of the demonstrations in Ferguson, MO. and DeRay Mekesson for his outstanding mobilizing work in Baltimore, MD. On Mar. 18, 2016, it was reported that many of those that helped with the demonstrations in Ferguson, MO. and Baltimore, MD. were planning more demonstrations in 2016 and in some cases they would target Donald Trump and some of his events. Another report said protesters were being paid 10-15 dollars an hour with money that was originating with George Soros. In addition to nationalizing the local police, it is being reported that Black Lives Matters wants U.S. citizens to be disarmed. And Pres. Obama has used most of the violence and killing to talk about Gun control. On July 8, 2016, according to a report by Stefhan Standford, a writer for All News Pipeline, the Baltimore Sun reported that DeRay McKesson's Twitter account has been hacked. It is Mr. Standford's opinion that McKesson messages that were made public show that Black Lives Matter and the Obama Administration are working together to stop the November elections and to keep Donald Trump out of office. Mr. Standford even thinks the Obama Administration may be planning to declare Martial Law. On that same day, Alex Jones, a nationally syndicated radio host, called Black Lives Matter a "domestic terrorist organization" that is part of a "plan to destabilize America and bring in the UN to take over." On the next day, Dave Hodges, host of The Common Sense Show, expressed a similar opinion, "George Soros' organizations are organizing protests, which will soon escalate into violence all across this country. This will provide this administration with the justification to enact marital law." On July 9, 2016, DeRay McKesson was one of 30 people arrested at demonstrations in Baton Rouge, LA. The demonstrations were described as tense, two firearms were confiscated, but a reason was not given for why Mckesson was arrested. There is much more and readers should be able to Google most or all of these things. Sadly, there appears to be a connection between the Pres. of the U.S., racial violence, gun control, the Democrat Party and perhaps even Martial Law. Finally, many of those in Congress that should be working to protect the U.S. from anarchy and things like this are tied up with ways to protect the U.S. from Donald Trump. Pres. Obama's co-conspirator on many issues, Paul Ryan, is even threatening to sue Donald Trump. I ask your forgiveness Lord. There should be repentance and prayer in every church in the U.S., but it is hard to find a handful that believes and cares. Please Lord! Help America. If you don't, she will soon be gone. Prophecy Plus Ministries Daymond & Rachel Duck duck_daymond@yahoo.com 
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 
14 Reasons Why America Is on the Brink - Joseph Mattera - http://www.charismanews.com/opinion/the-pulse/58641-14-reasons-why-america-is-on-the-brink
It is obvious that the USA is on the brink of a serious decline or even deconstruction. If things don't change, the America we know and love today will be much different in the next ten years. In regards to this article, the first few points serve as the primary cause for the other points. The following are fourteen reasons why America is on the brink. 1-Deteriorating National Core Values With the vast increase of immigration, both legal and illegal, since the early 1960's, America has not had enough breathing room to help our new neighbors assimilate into the American Western culture that made us prosperous. For the past six decades, there has been virtually no let up and less care regarding who and how many people from other nations can live here. That being said, the common core values of our nation that arose out of the framework of the Protestant Reformation have greatly dissipated. If one determines to make their home in this nation they should be more loyal to America than to their nation of origin. A nation can no longer be a nation if it has no real borders, no common history and no shared core values. While it is true that the USA is a nation of immigrants (my grandparents were also immigrants), its founders established America with a particular purpose and ethos, when these are compromised, so are the principles that made the USA great. 2-Deteriorating Judeo/Christian Values From the biblically-based covenant made on the Mayflower in the early 17th century, to the revivals of the First Great Awakening that brought cohesion to the individual colonies, the founding documents of this nation were informed by a Judeo /Christian worldview. Furthermore, many of the laws of the original colonies and states were based on the moral and civic law of the Old Testament. America is primarily on the brink because as a nation we have moved away from this biblical ethos and have embraced a multi-cultural, polytheistic, humanistic ethos that lacks a firm footing for a sustainable prosperity. One of the most salient examples of this is when public schools moved away from teaching the biblical account of creationism in the early 1960's and started indoctrinating students with a naturalistic explanation of origins, robbing millions of young people of their sense of a transcendent purpose. Furthermore, prayer was also taken out of public schools. From that point on, we can see how crime and decadence drastically began to increase in the schools . 3-Many churches are wimpy and inwardly focused Sometime during the end of the 19th century, the church went from engaging the world to escaping the world and we lost our cultural influence. (Read my book, Ruling in the Gates, for more on this point) This occurred in spite of the fact that Jesus called His followers "the salt of the earth and the light of the world" (Matt. 5:13-16). Many pastors are now afraid of taking a cultural stand on moral issues for fear of losing members. Now, the non-controversial, cool social issues to preach about include sex trafficking, social justice issues, safeguarding the environment, racism and world hunger, all important topics worthy of our time and effort. However, when it comes to speaking on the evils of abortion, Islamic terrorism, the case for traditional marriage, the negative consequences of transgender bathroom laws, religious freedom for Christian business owners and the like, many preachers refuse to go against the cultural flow. When the church hides its light under a bushel, the world is left in vast darkness. 4-The destruction of the nuclear family With the advent of legal no fault divorce, increased welfare benefits for single moms, the vast acceleration of out-of-wedlock births, and the redefinition of marriage and family, the nuclear family is no longer viewed as the societal norm. This erosion of the traditional family has resulted in children having much less spiritual, economic, emotional and psychological stability than previous generations. The result is more poverty, less self-respect and a greater sense of hopelessness that can also fuel more suicides and self-destructive behavior. 5-The legalization of abortion Legalized abortion (in 1973) eradicated the foundation for all basic human rights. When a nation legalizes child killing (the fact that the pre-birth baby is already a human is a scientific fact), it greatly diminishes the value of humanity and paves the way for more racism, euthanasia, barbaric violence and perpetuates a gratuitous culture that values pleasure and self-expression more than human dignity and responsibility. 6-Generational poverty and hopelessness With the advent of the deterioration of the nuclear family came the increase of cycles of generational poverty and hopelessness among the youth. Before the welfare programs of the 1960's African Americans had a much lower divorce rate, and the fact that black on black crime is an epidemic goes hand in hand with the fact that out of wedlock black births number rates are approximately 75 percent. 7-Drug Epidemic Since the so-called Cultural Revolution in the 1960s, the use of illegal drugs has greatly increased in this nation. What has been under the radar is the growing epidemic of heroin in more affluent white neighborhoods. Now, it is not only the so-called "hood" that is challenged with substance abuse. Affluent neighborhoods have some of the most serious substance abuse challenges in America. 8-The "selfie generation" versus the "greatest generation" The millennial generation has a great many young people who are high achieving entrepreneurs; but they also have a great many known for their narcissism, aversion to authority, snubbing their nose at history, a consumerist mentality who desire instant gratification, an addiction to social media, and having things handed to them without merit. All of these are encapsulated by the term, "the selfie" generation. Unfortunately, millennials have been sucked into the consumerist pleasure seeking culture, advanced by the boomers, that permeates the nation. This may be the first time in our nation's history that the future generation will not have a better quality of life than the present generation. 9-Lack of ethnic empathy I deal with this point a lot in my article titled Five Things Absolutely Needed For Racial Reconciliation. Newt Gingrich had a lot of guts (for a right-wing conservative) the other day when he said that white people don't understand what it's like to be black in America. Through the years, living in urban N.Y.C, many, if not most, of my closest friends and colleagues are people of color. This has aided me greatly in understanding and empathizing with the plight of black America, even if I don't always agree with some radical fringe groups purporting to represent all African-Americans. Unless the majority white culture makes greater strides regarding empathy (not sympathy) towards their black neighbors, things will continue to get worse in America. 10-Liberal politicians pushing class warfare and entitlement When far left liberal politicians like President Obama and others push class warfare along with their tainted view of social justice and law enforcement, it exacerbates black/white relations. Under the present administration, black/white relations are worse then in recent memory. Black participation in the work force is slipping and black-on-black crime in cities such as Chicago is getting worse-so much for hope and change. Presently, politicians increase the national debt to expand mass entitlements that create an underclass who continually vote a certain way because of their dependence on the government. I hope the next administration truly brings more hope and changes some of the present policies as well as diving into prison reform that enables ex-cons to reenter society. 11-The mainstream media sound bites Both liberals and conservative adherents are guilty of plugging into media that adheres to their political views. Consequently, many have a superficial understanding regarding public policy. We have masses of people led by group-think, which further erodes the stability and unity of our nation. 12-The red state/blue state divide Since the legalization of abortion in 1973, we have seen the advent of "culture wars." The resulting political divide has progressed to the point that our union is now categorized by red and blue states. Unfortunately, we are now the "divided states of America" which, if unchecked, may go beyond mere ideology and result in mass rioting, the proliferation of civilian militias and much more bloodshed. 13-Placating politicians While many initially dive into politics to better serve their country, the system is so corrupt it often turns good people into power-hungry leaders whose only goal is to get re-elected. The result is political correctness that panders to the special interest groups who deliver the most votes and money. Politicians who spout platitudes are a dime a dozen; we need statesmen who will serve as prophets in the gates of power who will speak the truth irrespective of the political fallout or what the mainstream media thinks. 14-The Supreme Oligarchy In the 20th century the Supreme Court (made up of nine unelected judges) became arguably the most influential branch of government. Instead of the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government counterbalancing each other as decreed by the U.S. Constitution, the Supreme Court has been making up their own laws based on the ideology of their individual members instead of framing U.S. law based on the U.S. Constitution. What we have essentially in this nation is an oligarchy, in which a nation is ruled by a small group of leaders who are not subject to anyone else. When the Supreme Court undercut the Constitution through the legalization of abortion and the redefinition of marriage, and upheld many of the unconstitutional tenets of Obamacare, it further eroded our nation's fabric and accelerated our demise. In closing, as you can see, the renewal of America is a complicated process but must begin with a return to biblical foundations which alone can anchor America and restore the "United States." For understanding more of what we can do to restore our nation, purchase Joseph Mattera's soon-to-be-released book, Understanding the Wineskin of the Kingdom. 
Daily Jot: The dark side - Bill Wilson - www.dailyjot.com
America is under a great attack from the dark side. Police killings, terrorist attacks, racial unrest, corruption, finger-pointing, demagoguery are all part of the obvious problems. It seems like the floodgates of evil have been opened and the demons are having a field day. Some will call it judgment; others will say it's consequences. Irrespective of your perspective, it is obvious that there are deep-rooted issues that need to be addressed. They are issues that have come to a head after years of bad leadership-both spiritual and political. Until there are changes in leadership, these types of issues will continue. We cannot keep doing the same thing and expect different results. This is how the dark side arises. The question is, "What can we do?" Many want me to tell them what to do. That is not my charge, nor my calling. But I can encourage you. In the deepest darkest night, the ships in the ocean look upon the horizon for signs of danger. If they see a lighthouse, they know they are approaching land and must exercise caution. That little bit of light shines through the darkness and gives direction, hope and safety. Those of us who proclaim Christianity have a particular calling in times like these. Jesus said in Matthew 5:14, "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid." Ephesians 5:8 says, "For you were once darkness, but now are you light in the Lord: walk as children of light." Those who do not know the Lord cannot be held to the same standard as those of us who do. Yes, they need to obey the laws and understand that taking a life, or lives, is wrong. But in the absence of the light of the world, which is Jesus Christ, are their hearts changed beyond the law? Romans 10:13-15 says, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!" You can make a difference. In fact, you are called by Christ to make a difference. Jesus said in Matthew 5:16, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." America is experiencing a great darkness. Within you is the light of Christ. As Paul exhorts in Romans 13:10-12, "Love works no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. And this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light." While many seek a political solution to the darkness, the best remedy for the dark side is the Light of Christ. You have it. Share it as the Holy Spirit leads you. 
Daily Devotion: What We Can Learn from the Jesus Movement - Greg Laurie - www.harvest.org
I have heard all about you, LORD. I am filled with awe by your amazing works. In this time of our deep need, help us again as you did in years gone by. And in your anger, remember your mercy. -Habakkuk 3:2 I came to Christ in 1970 during the Jesus Movement, which gave me a front-row seat to the Fourth Great Awakening in the United States-the most recent in our nation. Looking back, I remember five things that were part of a typical church service during that time. First, there was a sense of expectancy in the service. No one was ever late for church because you couldn't find a seat if you were. You came expecting God to work. You came with a sense of openness, anticipating what the Lord was going to do. Second, the Word of God was always taught. That gave stability to us. In fact, I still have my Bible from those days. I marked it up-so much so that some of the pages are coming out of it. Third, people participated in the worship. We effectively saw what we simply know as worship now. In the late 1960s, there were no electric guitars, for the most part, on church stages. There were no drum kits. It was completely different culturally. Things we take for granted now didn't exist back then. But people engaged in worship. They participated in it. Fourth, believers brought nonbelievers to church, evangelistic invitations were extended, and people were coming to Christ. Every week there was the sense that God wants people to be saved. Fifth, there was a belief in and a constant teaching of the imminent return of Christ. We believed that Jesus was coming back again. The kids of the Jesus Movement are now grandparents. But just as in the 1960s, and specifically 1968, we have riots in the streets. We have racial unrest. We have a drug epidemic. There's a sense of hopelessness in the air. We need another Jesus Movement. We need another spiritual awakening. 
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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