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Prophecy Update Newsletter
August 3, 2016
IN TODAY'S NEWSLETTER...
The End from the Beginning - Jack Kinsella - www.omegaletter.com
The Book of Daniel is among the most controversial books in the Bible, dividing scholars over whether it was actually written by the Prophet Daniel or if it was a late forgery. In the third-century a heretic named Porphyry declared Daniel was written by Judas Macabeus around the time of Antiochus Epiphanes, around 170-163 BC -- about four hundred years after Daniel. The main reason for rejecting Daniel is his incredibly accurate prophecy regarding the four world empires that were to come. It takes a dedicated critic to deny Daniel's authorship. Daniel predicted the rise of Alexander the Great and his Greek empire, which defeated and replaced the Persian Empire in 334 BC. Under Alexander, all subjects of his empire had to use Greek as their working language. In obedience to that law, a group of rabbis and Jewish sages undertook to translate the Jewish Scriptures into Greek. Their final work, the Septuagint, translated in the 3rd century BC, and well before Macabeus, included the Book of Daniel. There are lots of other examples that shatter the contention that Daniel is a forgery, but the most compelling evidence favoring Daniel's authenticity is Christianity. Sir Isaac Newton argued that Christianity itself rests on Daniel's authenticity. Why? Because of the testimony of Matthew 24:15 and Mark 13:14. The Lord Jesus Christ referred to the Book of Daniel and He called Daniel a Prophet. If Daniel was a forgery or a mythical character, then Jesus didn't know that. If Jesus didn't know that, then He could not have been the Son of God. If Jesus was not the Son of God, then He was not qualified to pay your sin debt, your faith is in vain and you remain yet dead in your sins. It is therefore not possible to reject the historicity and authenticity of Daniel without necessarily rejecting the entire Bible, including the New Testament. Which is, of course, the position taken by Daniel's critics. But apart from the obvious problems already articulated, there is one more logic problem associated with dating Daniel to the Maccabean Period. Even if that could explain Daniel's incredible accuracy in predicting the fall of Babylon and the rise and fall of the Persian and Greek Empires, the Roman Empire was yet future. Daniel had more to say about the rise and fall and rise again of the Roman Empire than he did of any other world empire -- and even late-dating Daniel doesn't explain the prophetic accuracy of the book that bears his name. In 170-163 BC, Judea was under Greek, not Roman rule. The Roman Republic had not yet become the Roman Empire when Daniel's critics claim the Book of Daniel was written. So even if it was written by Judas Maccabeus, (it wasn't) the critics are still left scratching their heads, since even with the later date, most of Daniel's prophecy was yet future. It is a ridiculous, desperate effort by those who just can't accept the supernatural explanation to find one that they can -- even if their preferred explanation is even less defensible. To accept Daniel at face value is to admit that God exists, since if Daniel is the actual author of the Book, then no other possible explanation makes sense. Assessment: ". . . For I am God and there is none like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure:" (Isaiah 46:9-10) In Daniel's day, Rome was not yet even a republic, let alone an empire. The city of Rome was founded by Romulus at just about the same time that Daniel was interpreting King Nebuchadnezzar's dream. The king had dreamed a dream that he couldn't remember, but it greatly troubled him. Eventually, Daniel was summoned to both reveal what the dream was and interpret it. The king dreamed of a statue, or image of a man with a head of gold, chest and arms of silver, belly and thighs of brass, two legs of iron and ten toes of iron mixed with clay. THIS is the dream that confounds Daniel's critics. By the time of the Maccabean Period, the empire of Babylon had already been defeated by Persia, which had been already defeated by Greece, which was already beginning to show signs of crumbling. The two legs of iron, signifying Rome, were still future. By the fourth century, the Roman Empire grew too large to be administered from Rome and so the Empire was divided into the Western, Roman Empire and the Eastern Byzantine Empire, with its capital at Constantinople. Rome was conquered by the barbarians in 476 AD. Rome's political destruction was complete - a deadly wound directly to one of the heads of the empire, fulfilling the Apostle John's prediction of a deadly head wound: "And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast." (Revelation 13:3) The Prophet Daniel predicts that the final form of the revived Roman Empire will be a confederation of ten kingdoms that were part of the two legs of iron. With the revival of the Roman Empire, that deadly wound is healed. "And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed." (Revelation 13:12) It is at this point that interpreters and Bible critics and Bible teachers and students of Bible prophecy branch out into all kinds of areas. Some are convinced the deadly wound signifies a failed assassination attempt against the antichrist. Others focus their attention on the identity of the first beast, or the system overseen by the second beast, or are mesmerized by the concept of the Mark of the Beast and how it will be administered. All these things are unknown and, I believe, unknowable, until the time appointed. And all the speculation, (since it is all different and things that are different cannot be the same), throws out the baby with the bath water, can't see the forest for the trees, is missing a piece of the puzzle, is out wandering in the desert, not to mention all the other metaphors I can't think of. If you back up to the point before the speculation begins, THAT is where the real meat is to be found. At the time the Prophet Daniel was telling Nebuchadnezzar that the as-yet future Roman Empire would remain a force until it is abolished by Jesus Christ in the final hours of human government, an unwashed peasant named Romulus was founding a settlement along the Tiber River, declaring himself king. Twenty-six hundred years after Daniel and sixteen hundred years after the barbarians entered the gates of Rome, the European Union declared itself the revival of the Roman Empire. Whether it currently consists of ten nations or twenty-seven at this particular point in history is largely irrelevant. History is still unfolding. In the end, it will be fulfilled precisely as prophesied. Isaiah 46:10 teaches us that prophecy starts at the end and works back to the beginning. In 1948, for the first time since Nebuchadnezzar captured Jerusalem (and Daniel) the nation of Israel was revived and restored to the same piece of real estate from which they had been ejected by the Romans in AD 70. For a nation of antiquity to be conquered, scattered and then restored in such a manner had no equal in history. But this event was more than an historical first -- it was the direct and unambiguous fulfillment of Bible prophecy for the last days. At the exact same point in history, the six nations of the Benelux formed a cooperative economic union that marked the beginning of the revival of the Roman Empire. The revival of an historical empire such as we've witnessed in our generation is also an event without equal in the annals of history. To assume both events happened at exactly the same point in history -- by coincidence -- takes a faith greater than I can muster up. The world is in a state of chaos and confusion unlike anything in living memory -- for the first time in the history of mankind, mankind faces an existential threat of extinction at his own hand. Uncertainty and fear color every waking moment as we wonder if our world will look the same in the morning as it did when we went to bed the night before. Our systems and infrastructure are in shambles, people are rioting in the streets, the economy is in the tank and everywhere one turns, they are talking about a New World Order. There is no need to speculate. Just look at what is out there in the open. If you know Jesus Christ (and He knows you) than what is unfolding in our world is proof positive that the world is wrong, God is not dead, Jesus Christ remains on the throne and remains intimately involved in the affairs of men. "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." (John 14:1-3) Everything is unfolding according to Plan and what remains unfulfilled will be fulfilled in this generation just as literally as those that have already been fulfilled. So we have nothing to fear. "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. . . And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe." (John 14:27,29) It IS coming to pass. And I believe. Marantha! 
ISIS in Sinai threatens Jews, Israel and Rome in new video - http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/ISIS-Threat/ISIS-in-Sinai-threatens-Jews-Israel-and-Rome-in-new-video-463110
The video released Monday shows jihadis from the group known as Islamic State in Sinai, or Wilayat Sayna, vowing to target Israel in the near future and conquer Rome. Islamic State-linked terrorists in the Sinai Peninsula apparently released a new video this week that includes threats against Israel and Jews among its belligerent messages. The video released Monday shows jihadis from the group known as Islamic State in Sinai, or Wilayat Sayna, vowing to target Israel in the near future and conquer Rome. While the video entitled "Desert Flame" mainly portrays footage of purported violence targeting Egyptian military targets, the narrator in the video invoked the memory of past attacks in the Sinai region as examples of attacks that will continue to target Westerners. "This is only the beginning, and our meeting [will be] in Rome and Beit Al-Maqdis [Jerusalem]," the video's narrator was quoted as saying, according to a translation by the Middle East Research Institute (MEMRI). "Oh Jews, wait for us. The punishment [we have prepared for you] is severe and soon you will pay a high price," threatens the narrator. The narrator was also heard claiming that Egypt's military, which has for over two years been combating Islamic insurgents in the unruly Sinai region, has failed to protect Israel. Jews started defending themselves by "strictly protecting [the border], recruiting agents, and [launching] airstrikes," he added. The video ends with footage of terrorists from the group executing two Egyptian military personnel, whom ISIS claimed to have abducted in a raid on a checkpoint in the Northern Sinai city of Arish. 
Brexit and the Turkish 'Coup' - Setting the Stage for the End Times? - By Enoch Lavender - http://www.prophecynewswatch.com/article.cfm?recent_news_id=541
The Brexit and the failed Turkish coup were two momentous events that have set into motion dramatic changes in both Europe and the Middle East. Could these significant events also be setting the stage for a greater fulfillment of End Time Bible prophecy? Students of Bible prophecy have long been expecting the rise of the final empire of the anti-Christ. The traditional and widely held view as portrayed vividly in the popular Left Behind series is that this empire will arise in Europe as a revived Roman Empire. A less widespread view which has gained attention in recent years is that this final empire will arise out of the Middle East and that the empire of the anti-Christ could even turn out to be an Islamic empire. This article will not look at the scriptural case for/against either view. It will instead look at recent events, including the Brexit and the failed Turkish coup, to see whether these are bringing us closer to or further away from either of these End Time scenarios. The Impact of Brexit on the EU Since its formation with a treaty in Rome in 1957, the European nations have been methodically working towards becoming a super-state with their own unified military, currency and parliament. The EU has since that time been viewed with keen interest by many Bible prophecy students, who see it as a possible revived Roman empire that will one day set the stage for the anti-Christ. Several interesting developments have strengthened the anti-Christ credentials of the EU in recent years. Many have noted how the EU Strasbourg Parliament building was constructed in the image of a famed painting of the Tower of Babel the ultimate symbol of man's rebellion against God. In addition, Euro coins are decorated with a mythological woman named Europa riding a beast and this motif is repeated in a large statue outside the EU government headquarters in Brussels. Could this be exposing the identity of the EU as the woman on the beast who features in Revelation 17? While the EU has some intriguing anti-Christ characteristics, recent events have exposed serious weaknesses and malfunctions in the Union. Britain's decision to leave the EU, will undoubtedly weaken the EU financially, militarily and diplomatically at least in the short term. In addition, the Brexit has encouraged leave campaigns in many other European nations including Netherlands and France and if the EU leaders are not cautious, they could soon face a stampede of countries leaving! The recent migrant influx has exposed the EU as a slow, dysfunctional and disunited entity unable to quickly and effectively handle crises. Further slowing down its decision making, the EU is hampered by a massive bureaucratic system that is tasked with translating all its documents into the 24 official languages of the EU! If the EU was to become a revived Roman Empire fulfilling Biblical prophecy, it would need to unite in a much more centralized way and be far more efficient at handling crises. While there appear to be plans in place to move in this direction it could take a long time to bring to fruition especially in these times of disunity and dissatisfaction with the European experiment as the EU has been called. In addition, to match the Biblical description, the EU would have to strongly embrace a false system of worship. While many have suggested that the EU might embrace some form of Catholicism, EU leaders appear determined to ignore Christianity in the future Union. An example of this is seen in the draft EU constitution of 2003. Despite high level lobbying by the Pope and conservative leaders, the draft failed to include even a passing reference to the role of Christianity or a belief in God in the forming of Europe. This goes to show that the EU has a long way to go before it would willingly embrace a false system of worship at the core of its identity. In addition, the EU which loathes capital punishment and has a rule that no member state can have the death penalty on its books - would need to bring back capital punishment and specifically beheadings (as foretold by Rev. 6:9). While the EU certainly could morph into an evil empire of this nature, it looks unlikely for this to happen anytime soon. I believe the Brexit has weakened the case for a rapid rise of the EU as the empire of the anti-Christ. The Turkish Coup and the Islamic End Times Empire A less widely held view of prophetic scripture foresees a revived Islamic caliphate in the Arab world arising as the final kingdom before the return of the Messiah. This view holds that the Bible is a Middle East centered book and that most of its prophesied future events concern Israel and her surrounding nations. Joel Richardson, a missionary and Middle East expert - points out some uncanny similarities between Islam's expected future Mahdi (or Messiah) and the Biblical description of the anti-Christ. According to Joel's book, The Islamic AntiChrist, Islamic scholars believe that their Mahdi will enter a 7 year peace treaty, will conquer and rule from Jerusalem, will viciously persecute Christians and Jews and will be accompanied by a prophet (namely the Islamic version of Jesus) who will validate his rule and enforce sharia law worldwide. It is interesting to note that while End Times beliefs are not widely held in the Western World, a large percentage of the Islamic world hold strong End Time views. For example, a Pew Forum survey in 2012 found that 68% of Turks, 72% of Iraqis and 83% of Afghanis expect the imminent return of the Mahdi. Could these widely held views and the intriguing parallels between the Mahdi and the Biblical anti-Christ be setting the stage for an Islamic End Times Empire that embraces a ruler who becomes the anti-Christ? Turkey's leaders certainly dream of heading up a restored Islamic Empire. For 400 years, Turkey was the head of the Islamic Ottoman Empire, and some of her leaders have spoken openly of their desire of restoring Turkey to her former glory. For example, former Prime-Minister Ahmet Davutolu once spoke of his dream to reintegrate the Balkan region, Middle East and Caucasus... together with Turkey as the center of world politics in the future. Since he came to power, Erdogan has been accused of weakening Turkey's democracy and leading the nation on a slow path of Islamization. Concerningly, President Erdogan once stated that Democracy is like a train, you get off once you have reached your destination. In the wake of the failed coup attempt, President Erdogan appears to have jumped off the democracy train all together. Having already weakened Turkey's democracy, Erdogan has launched a fresh purge of 60,000 people from the ranks of the military, education, government offices, education and journalism. What many observers of the coup attempt failed to notice was the cries of Allahu akhbar from Erdogan supporters as they attacked the coup plotters. According to Joel Richardson, Islamist cries like this would have been unheard of in the streets of Turkey 10 years ago and shows the rising force of Islamism in the country. Imagine for a moment what would happen if Turkey's leaders were to actively pursue the cause of heading up a revived Islamic empire? Turkey already holds the second largest army in NATO, over 2/3 of Turkish Muslims believe they are in the last days, her leaders dream of a restored Islamic caliphate, and executive power is being consolidated in an unprecedented way in the hands of Islamist President Erdogan. This explosive mix of ingredients could pave the way for even more radical changes in Turkey and even the restoration of an Islamic caliphate. World trends teacher Ps. Kameel Majdali frequently tells his listeners to watch Turkey! and in these tumultuous times we would be advised to watch and pray concerning developments in this key nation. Time will tell the ultimate impact of the Turkish coup and whether Turkey or another group /nation rises to lead a possible revived Islamic empire. Since the Arab Spring in 2011, the Middle East has been a hotbed of infighting between various Islamist groups all aiming for the restoration of the Islamic empire under their own leadership. If one of these groups were to succeed in bringing about a restored Islamic empire, then the world would feel the tremors. It would signal a dramatic increase in persecution of Christians and also the gathering of unprecedented hostile forces against the nation of Israel. Ultimately, such an empire could bear many anti-Christ like characteristics and its rise is a real possibility that should be considered by students of Bible Prophecy. While the Turkish coup is not immediately ushering in an Islamic End Times Empire, it may be a significant step paving towards such a development in the future. A Word for Christians Ultimately, only time will tell whether the kingdom of the anti-Christ will be a Revived Roman Empire or a Revived Islamic Empire. As we see empires rise and fall, as we hear of wars and rumours of war let us not be troubled but rather look with expectancy to the imminent return of our King and the establishment of His Kingdom on earth. Let us continue to pray: Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done on earth as it is in heaven! 
Temple Institute announces school to train Levitical priests - http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/215910
The Temple Institute, dedicated to reestablishing the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, announces school for training Kohanim. WATCH: https://youtu.be/EICu2C02sKk The Temple Institute, dedicated to reestablishing the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and in keeping its memory alive, announced it is opening a school for training Levitical priests for their eventual service in a new temple. The institute ran several pilot programs in recent years and now "is embarking on a mission to teach Kohanim all the practical skills required to serve in the Third Holy Temple," it said in a statement. The institute has opened an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign to raise at least $75,000 for the project. The Temple Institute hopes one day to replace the Dome of the Rock with the Third Holy Temple, but not by violent means. Observant Jews pray for that to happen in every daily prayer service, with some awaiting the appearance of the Messiah and others believing that they must act to bring the Messiah closer. Muslim religious and political leaders, however, use this to fan fears that Israel will change the status quo that has kept the site in control of a Jordanian authority, known as the Waqf. Speeches meant to inflame believers have led to repeated clashes over the years and were used to inspire a recent wave of murderous terrorist attacks aimed at Israelis. The Wakf stayed in power at the end of the 1967 Six Day War when the Temple Mount returned to Jewish hands, because the government allowed then CoS Moshe Dayan, who was not at all observant and felt that the Western Wall was enough for Israel, to "give the keys" - that is, control of the site - to the Wakf in vain hope of forging peaceful relations. Since then, rights for Jews have deteriorated to the point that Jewish visitors to the Mount, Judaism's holiest site, may not even utter prayers without being arrested. The Institute has reconstructed nearly all of the sacred vessels needed to perform the services in a rebuilt Temple in their original size, including the High Priest's breastplate featuring the 12 precious stones of the tribes of Israel, the half-ton golden menorah and the musical instruments of the Levitical choir. Visitors to the Old City can see the beautiful display of these vessels and see creative, animated films on how they were used at the Institute's center in the Jewish Quarter. The curriculum at the Nezer HaKodesh Institute for Kohanic Studies will include courses on the Temple service, theory and practice and the role and application of modern technology in the Third Temple, according to the Institute. "We are extremely excited to announce this new step towards the restoration of the Holy Temple service. We call first and foremost upon Kohanim worldwide to support this special project, which signifies a return to their birth right. We have chosen to use Indiegogo as a tool to enable as many people as possible to be a part of this historic initiative," Rabbi Chaim Richman, international director of the Temple Institute, said in a statement. The second Temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 CE. 
Nearing Midnight: Devil Seeks to Warm Mankind - Terry James - http://raptureready.com/rap16.html
Satan is often portrayed, or at least thought of, as ruling over a Dante's Inferno-like domain. He is in his red union suit, his barbed tail wagging as his tight grin of evil is framed between his goatee and horns that protrude angrily above devilish eyebrows and red, glowing eyes. Hades smolders around him as he relishes the next human victims he can entice into his hot, sulfurous kingdom. His intention is to see all of God's creation called man forever suffer in this eternally hot abode. Truth is that only the last part of that portrayal has Biblical validity. The devil does want every human being to suffer eternity apart from their Creator. The abyss (Tartarus) and eventually the lake of fire will be the final destination for lost humanity. Lucifer the fallen one -the devil- however, will not rule over the place called hell. He will be the one being there who suffers most, according to God's truth about the matters involved. The old serpent, however, is at present dealing with issues of heating things up and trying to lure people on board. Tragically, many are falling for his siren call to jump aboard the global warming (now changed to climate change) bandwagon. I have written about it in Rapture Ready...Or Not: 15 Reasons This Is the Generation That Will Be Left Behind, and in many articles. The lie that global warming (climate change) will make earth uninhabitable, is the rallying cry for the push for one-world order. It indeed is at the heart of the blueprint the globalist elitists are using to construct Antichrist's hell on earth. America's secretary of state and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency forces are raging ahead full-blast to bring this nation into the blueprint knowing that the Obama Administration has less than one half-year to do so. America, as I have also written many times, must be brought down from its super power status. The U.S. must be made to conform with the misery the globalists have helped much of the world achieve in order to make all on the planet look to them for solutions. John Kerry, unknowingly, is doing his dead-level best to do the devil's work, in my humble view. He wants to warm us up considerably in order to somehow attain the utopian dreams he and the new world order builders want to construct. Science proves almost on an hourly basis the lie that is global warming-climate change, about which Kerry and the others are wringing their hands as they fear-monger. They, with the help of national and international media, none-the-less, move forward at foolhardy, breakneck speed. Like all of the other reprobate (upside-down) unreasonableness they foist, they believe that making us warmer by taking away the comfort of our air-conditioners is part of the answer. Despite the great heat they say is about to make planet earth like Venus or some other hellish planetary orb, they want to do away with the very thing that can make us comfortably cool. -Thus although, again, the science continues to prove in every instance that the earth isn't heating up, but, actually, is cooling. All one must do to understand the truth of the matter is to remember the global warmists that got caught in a growing field of solid ice a few years ago. They had to be rescued by ice-breaker ships as they moved toward the Arctic Circle in an attempt to gather evidence that the earth is warming. Yet John Kerry, on behalf of this lame-duck administration, is doing all possible to bring America's sovereignty down so the global order can proceed uninhibited. He, like Mr. Obama, gives this insanely wrong matter -global warming- greater priority than the true threat we face -Islamist terrorism. The following news item excerpts frames the madness: "Secretary of State John Kerry said in Vienna on Friday that air conditioners and refrigerators are as big of a threat to life as the threat of terrorism posed by groups like the Islamic State. "The Washington Examiner reported that Kerry was in Vienna to amend the 1987 Montreal Protocol that would phase out hydrofluorocarbons, or HFCs, from basic household and commercial appliances like air conditioners, refrigerators, and inhalers. ""As we were working together on the challenge of [ISIS] and terrorism," Kerry said. "It's hard for some people to grasp it, but what we-you-are doing here right now is of equal importance because it has the ability to literally save life on the planet itself."... "Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy was also present at the negotiations and is serving as lead negotiator for the United States. McCarthy has said that her goal is to enact the HFC agreement by the end of the year. "The EPA rules along with the global deal would ban HFC in the United States and would push for alternative chemicals for use in appliances. "The negotiations are part of President Obama's climate agenda to combat global climate change." (Source: Kerry: Air conditioners as big a threat as ISIS by Alyssa Canobbio, Published July 23, 2016, Washington Free Beacon). That old serpent, Satan, wants to warm us all, apparently, even before the lost, wretched souls among humanity reach that final, ultimately, fiery-hot destination. The globalist would-be masters, wittingly or unwittingly, are carrying out Lucifer's blueprint for constructing his Antichrist's world disorder. God's Word -the Bible- has forewarned of this present state of last days danger. The Lord is in control, but he has given us the good sensibility, and the marvelous privilege in this still free nation to vote for liberty rather than for tyranny. Prayer and exercising the vote our forefathers built into the Constitution is still our right. Doing so, in sufficient numbers, will perhaps assure that we as believers continue to have the right to also carry out our Lord's Great Commission beyond this political season. Meantime let us also do-and with increased faith and vigor- as Jesus instructed as recorded in Luke 21: 28, and as Paul wrote as given in Titus 2: 13. 
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 
Pocket Demons - By Bill Perkins -
www.compass.org The Pokémon Go phenomenon is more proof the world is being readied for Satan's rule. The world is going crazy playing a game called Pokémon Go. The public saturation is so large the app downloads will soon surpass Twitter. There are some 20 million DAILY users of the game and large companies like Kellogg's, Kraft Foods and Burger King are heavily promoting it. Few believers realize what the game actually is and apparently see no problem letting their children play it hours on end. In a nutshell, Pokémon Go is an occult-rooted and demon-oriented game of witchcraft originally created in god-less Japan. Believers' children should have nothing to do with it! If I were to suggest you should get out a Ouija Board and ask it a few questions, most grounded Believers would immediately point out the occult properties of Ouija that are obviously off-limits to Bible-believing Christians. And if you think using a Ouija Board is bad, Pokémon is 1000 times worse. It's like a three dimensional Ouija Board that is not played in one spot, but outside, all over the world as players chase and empower virtual demons. Yes, you read that correctly. Let's start with the word "Pokémon." It's a Japanese word that means "pocket monster." And this comes from the same company (Wizards of the Coast) that originally developed the highly occultic and anti-Christian 'Dungeons and Dragons" and "Magic" games. Nintendo negotiated a license to distribute the game and its stock has since soared. The game is played by downloading an app to your smart phone which is used to find and capture Pokeballs. The Pokeballs are found all over town-appearing as images on the players' phones in parks, schools, hospitals, businesses, freeways, landmarks, etc. They're then used to throw at and capture virtual pocket monsters appearing all around in the mapped streetscape. Called "immersive play" or "augmented reality," players use their smart phone's GPS and camera functions to blur reality with fantasy that, in essence, gives spirit and soul to digital objects. Pokémon gives power to whomever catches them. When you capture your pocket monsters, you train them to have more and more "power" to use against other people's Pokémon. The characters even mimic evolution as the Pokémon "evolve" from 1 to 100 as the game progresses. are some 150 named Pokémon and they have special powers as they share the world with humans. For instance the Pokémon named "Haunter" can hypnotize, eat your dreams and drain your energy. "Abra" reads minds and "Kadabra" spews negative energy. Do note the names they use! So the bottom line is that playing Pokémon Go is dealing with the devil's demonic world. "Pocket monster" is just a ruse for "pocket demon." The world has gone crazy searching out virtual demons! Most have no clue. Christian kids are being unsuspectingly sucked into the world of the occult by the millions. "No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds." (2 Cor.11:14). Realize, especially regarding children, that this is a gateway to the occult and is strictly forbidden in the Bible. We certainly don't want our children dealing with demons. But most see no harm in letting their kids play the game. As for the person who turns to mediums and to spiritists, to play the harlot after them, I will also set My face against that person and will cut him off from among his people (Lev. 20:6). Nintendo's stock has soared since acquiring the rights to distribute Pokemon Go Believe it or not, hundreds of churches, both liberal and conservative, are EMBRACING Pokémon Go by making their church a PokeStop or gym for the game. Really? REALLY? These churches actually think that by advertising "come catch 'em all" that they can reach more un-churched people. Unbelievable! They might as well advertise, "Come let your demons play with our demons." The Bible is quite clear, even tying deceiving spirits into the latter days: "But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons" (1 Tim. 4:1). In the Old Testament the Lord was quite clear about steering clear of witchcraft as the penalty for practicing sorcery was death! "You shall not allow a sorceress to live" (Ex. 22:18). In multiple passages, we are warned. Yet somehow we missed the obvious. This game is quite evil! Two months into playing Pokémon an eight-year-old boy asked his mother "What is channeling?" The boy explained that there were channelers, bad spirits and ghosts in his Pokemon game, calling out dead Pokémons' spirits. "There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who casts a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For whoever does these things is detestable to the LORD; and because of these detestable things the LORD your God will drive them out before you" (Deuteronomy.18:10-12). Paul the apostle pointedly warned us about the invisible war going on around us in verses we all can quote from memory but never really seem to find a reason to apply: "Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:11-12). We need to heed Paul's warning. If you have kids or grand-kids involved with this game, it's time to get out the Bible and teach the inerrant truth in God's Word about the incredible dangers of the occult. Otherwise you risk losing them to the dark side. 
Daily Jot: Discernment, confusion and Exodus 18 - Bill Wilson - www.dailyjot.com
In the coming months there is going to be a lot of information fired at you. You will see many emails, news reports, commentaries, blogs, radio and television ads and other forms of media. In fact, it will be information overload. There may even be an ebb and flow of your thoughts from one decision or another and back again. Everyone on the political scene will be trying to make their point. Some will say that because of their moral principles they can't vote for this candidate or that. Some will say that Christians shouldn't participate in the political process. Some will say that there is only one choice. So how do you discern what to do? What is the course that you should take? How would God want you to proceed? First and foremost, during this and any other national election, we must keep in mind that we are not electing a religious or spiritual leader-not electing a pastor. There is no real political solution to the problems the world or our nation faces. If we are relying on a political savior, we will be highly disappointed. The Lord gives us guidelines in Exodus 18:21 on the type of leader that we should be seeking: "able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness." That is the standard. Most candidates will not measure up, so we need to choose the one that comes closest. That is not necessarily accepting the lesser of two evils, but rather the one that comes the closest to the standard. When a candidate is known to lie; supports issues or causes that God specifically abhors; sets out to compel redistribution to others of what you work hard to attain (covetousness); this is one that should not be supported or voted into office. If both candidates do these things equally, you still have an obligation to discern which one will come closest to the standard. Remember that throughout the Bible there were leaders who didn't measure up, but some still did the will of God. Nebuchadnezzar and Cyrus come to mind. While many Christians would argue that they were God's men, they also did not meet the Exodus 18 standard for leadership. Notwithstanding, God gave Americans the right to choose our leaders rather than have kings or dictators. It is part of our civic responsibility to vote, and to vote responsibly. This has always provided clarity to me. God is not the author of confusion. People are asking how to vote responsibly when candidates do not measure up. Choose the one that you believe will best match the standard who has the best chance to win, and pray that the Lord blesses the choice and honors the intent of your heart. But to refuse to vote, or to vote irresponsibly, is akin to hiding the talent due to fear that the Lord would not be pleased. Don't be confused or fearful. Discern, pray, act. 
Daily Devotion: In Search of the Spiritually Hungry - Greg Laurie - www.harvest.org
The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. -Lamentations 3:25 Have you ever lost something and searched endlessly for it? I lost my iPhone the other day. I looked everywhere for it but couldn't find it. So I used a feature called Find My iPhone. As it turned out, the phone was eight feet from where I was sitting. I had dropped it in the cushion of a chair. When I mentioned this to my son Jonathan, he said, "I've done even worse. I used it, and my phone was in my shirt pocket." When you lose something, you search for it until you find it. God searches, too, although He doesn't lose things like we do. He knows where everything is and where everyone is. Yet He is searching for people who want to grow spiritually. He is looking for fertile, receptive soil where He can plant the seed of His Word, soil in which His Word can take root in our hearts. God won't force His truth into our lives; He wants us to desire it. He doesn't force-feed us. As 1 Peter 2:2 tells us, "As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby." Healthy people are hungry people. If you are in good spiritual health, you will be hungry for the Word of God. A spiritual appetite is a good sign of a mature Christian. God is looking for soil like that. He is looking for people who want to hear His Word. We are the ones who decide what kind of soil our hearts will be. We decide whether we will move forward spiritually or whether we will go backward spiritually. It is really up to us. God wants us to grow, but we must want to grow as well. There is God's part, and there is our part. 
FROM THE HEART
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