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Gog-Magog at Israel's Front Door - By Pastor Mike Taylor -
http://pastormiketaylor.blogspot.com/2016/09/gog-magog-at-israels-front-door.html Ezekiel 32:24 "There is Elam and all her multitude round about her grave, all of them slain, fallen by the sword, which are gone down uncircumcised into the nether parts of the earth, which caused their terror in the land of the living; yet have they borne their shame with them that go down to the pit. 32:25 They have set her a bed in the midst of the slain with all her multitude: her graves are round about him: all of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword: though their terror was caused in the land of the living, yet have they borne their shame with them that go down to the pit: he is put in the midst of them that be slain." If you start reading Ezekiel and understand that all the people around Israel are being prophesied to being slain with the sword. In the above verses, God speaks through Ezekiel about a country called "Elam".. Where is the land called Elam? This was the name of the land east of Mesopotamia and southwest, which is modern day Iran. Continue reading and as you come to chapter 31 and beyond, it appears to be a chronological order of disaster for all the people who surround Israel. These chapters lead up to the well-known prophecy of Ezekiel 38-39 Many bible scholars believe that a lot of these prophecies were fulfilled in time that Ezekiel actually wrote these chapters through Holy Spirit directives. Since we know that Ezekiel 38-39 has not been fulfilled as of yet, then logically, we can assume that the passages are a duality of prophecy that will be fulfilled in the last days. As Ezekiel names each country that will receive judgment from God, we see that they are the same countries that are modern day enemies of Israel since her foundation as a sovereign country in 1948. God names Egypt in chapters 30-31 along with the nations that comprise northern Africa such as Ethiopia, Libya and others in confederation with Egypt called Chub. As you progress though chapters leading to chapter 38, judgment is pronounced on modern day Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, and those countries that are touching the land of Israel then and today. Each will fall by the sword "which are gone down uncircumcised into the nether parts of the earth, which caused their terror in the land of the living." Maybe a clear reference to Muslim terrorism we deal with today? You'll notice that in chapter 34, God pronounces judgment on ancient Israel for their lack of being a shepherd to the flock of their people, which historically we know that Israel was taken to Babylonia for 70 years for not following the laws of God and His judgments. But notice that these chapters cover roughly 2500 years up to and including our modern era. God is telling Ezekiel what will happen in the very days that we live in and the judgment of those who come against His people Israel. Israel is back in her promised land, given to them by covenant by Almighty God for a perpetual and eternal inheritance that no one can annul. Israel is still surrounded by her ancient enemies, many of them came from their same ancestor, the patriarch Abraham. It has been a feud between a family of nations for nigh 4000 years, and is about to come to a climax. I believe sooner than later. ARE WE IN WORLD WAR III? Considering the news from the Middle East about ISIS, the Iranians which are Shiite, and Saudi Arabia, which is Sunni, we are in what I believe is a regional war between two sects of Islam and both are jockeying for political power based on their interpretation of what the Quran says, and who they follow as their perceived leader of their so called "religion". Personally, it's not a religion, but a theocracy of political, moral, and spiritual governance based on Sharia Law. But let us focus on what may be coming to the people who surround the one country that is in the center of all this political conflict, Israel. We have been watching the developments in the Middle East for years now, as the play book changes from one day to the next. No one thought that we would be dealing with a Russian involvement in Syria, or their working with Iran directly in the area, but here we are with Iran on the border of Israel at the Golan Heights. In the past the USA's "usurper" in chief pushed for a nuclear deal with one portion of the Islamic religion Iran, that is attempting to become the dominant power in the region by developing nuclear weapons, thus threatening all who live in this area of our planet and extending to the entire world. My question has always been "How long will Israel allow this threat to continue from Iran?" I have pondered this question now for nigh 15 years. Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu gave an impassioned plea to our US Congress in March 2016 warning of the "Iran Deal" as a bad deal. We could spend several commentaries focusing on the conflict between Israel's PM and this past POTUS to include shenanigans to influence the Israeli elections, but thank God, Netanyahu was re-elected, as he is the only leader in Israel who will stand up to this looming threat of Iran. But my focus in this message, is what could be next in the unrest of the so-called "Arab Spring" and the regional war that is brewing in a cauldron that is about to explode all over the news. As mentioned previously, we have Russia who has taken up residence in Syria and obviously has no intention of leaving, as more military hardware, airstrips and missiles capable of striking Israel or anyone in the region. It is reported that Iranians troops are a few miles off the border with Israel at the Golan Heights, and Israel is eyeing them for any possible excursion into their territory. WHEN or WILL ISRAEL ACT? It has been reported that Israel looked for a green light from Washington DC in 2014 to take out Iran's nuclear ambitions, but was threatened by Obama, as reported in Israeli News outlets: "The Bethlehem-based news agency Ma'an has cited a Kuwaiti newspaper report Saturday, that US President Barack Obama thwarted an Israeli military attack against Iran's nuclear facilities in 2014 by threatening to shoot down Israeli jets before they could reach their targets in Iran. Following Obama's threat, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu was reportedly forced to abort the planned Iran attack. According to Al-Jarida, the Netanyahu government took the decision to strike Iran some time in 2014 soon after Israel had discovered the United States and Iran had been involved in secret talks over Iran's nuclear program and were about to sign an agreement in that regard behind Israel's back." Is it any wonder that Netanyahu came to the US Congress to present his case to the American people and to warn of the danger, to them, and to the world? This is speaking of our only ally in the Middle East, as Israel has been our friend since its birth in 1948 and has been a partner in providing intelligence to the USA about the dangers that abound in the area. Let's not forget the technological advances that have benefited this country, because of our inherit friendship. But that friendship that was imperiled by the outgoing "idiot in chief" has redeveloped with the present administration of POTUS Trump and VP Pence. And I forget, now we have Iran that is considered a partner in insuring peace in the region . . YEAH, RIGHT!! When I heard that stupid remark, my mouth had to be picked up off the floor. Thankfully, President Trump sees who the Iranians really are and is not a closet Muslim as was Obama, but puts our interest and our ally's interest ahead of political correctness. Israel was pretty much on her own in the recent past, but I pray that position has changed. Israel looks for regional players who will stop the spread of Iranian power with Russian backing, in the region and has found an unlikely partnership in Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Yes, you heard right. Two of the past enemies of the state of Israel, and still are, helping each other to defeat Iranian power spreading to Yemen and the Houthi rebels that are were financed by Iran. For now, they put aside their differences to attack what the region fears more than their mutual hatred of Israel, the conquering of the Middle East by Iran. IN the past, these countries could no longer rely on the USA to be their protector anymore, but we pray that Israel and their collusion with other Middle East countries has changed to have faith in the present administration. These countries have taken on mounting an attack on Iranian power. Not only is that contradiction in terms of Israel, Egypt and Saudi Arabia in a regional alliance, but something was reported that tells me that the countdown to an Israeli strike on Iran's nuclear facilities is imminent. HAS ISRAEL DEVELOPED THEIR OWN BUNKER BUSTER BOMBS? I read a report of a military depot that was bombed and the blast was so large, that only a bunker buster bomb could have penetrated the storage facilities that were buried. Arutz Sheva in Israel reports the following quote: "Israel has developed and tested its own bunker buster bomb, that has been described as "a very credible military option," to use against Iran. The 500-pound "MP-500" bomb is laser-guided, and has been shown penetrating four reinforced concrete walls. Iran has buried several of its nuclear facilities, including a uranium enrichment plant, under concrete bunkers in mountainous areas. The government-owned Israel Military Industries (IMI) developed the bomb, an upgrade of the U.S. Mk82 bunker buster. 'The lethality, precision ... and relatively low weight enables its use against multiple targets in a single pass; an element that increases the operational effectiveness of attack,' according to IMI." "Israel is preparing to improve its capabilities to attack Iran's nuclear facilities by enlarging its aerial refueling aircraft to carry enough fuel for F-15 and F-16 warplanes that would be used in an attack on Iran. Israel used 707 airplanes as flying bombing platforms to attack Yemen and a signal to Iran that they are capable of bombing their nuclear facilities. Knowing the advanced military planning that is a hallmark of the IDF, I see them using both platforms of F-35 jets to deliver these bombs (planned for delivery this year 2017), along with laser guided bombs from high altitude 707's, plus Saudi Arabia has given them the green light to fly over their airspace to provide the pathway to destroying Iran's nuclear facilities that Saudi Arabia fears and has cleared the way for an Israeli approach. This could be a long campaign and could be a virtual suicide mission by the Israeli pilots, as the S-300 anti-aircraft missiles would have to be considered. But Israel also has the ability to apply Stealth technology to their aircraft that cannot be seen by radar, or they can fly low till they reach their targets. Iranian nuclear facilities are wide-spread and in hardened underground facilities. I have read that Israel knows that they cannot destroy everything in their nuclear program, but can set the program back many years by hitting bottle neck attack points (a kind of choke point) that would virtually cripple the program using precision laser guided strikes. I've often wondered if this strike would be anything but conventional weapons. Israel could resort to low yield nuclear weapons to make the devastation widespread and total in its destruction if they felt conventional bombs would not complete their objective of destroying Iran's nuclear ambitions. Of course, this would raise the loud protest of the international community no matter what weapon is used, but the howling would be even louder if it were nuclear. So, I believe this will begin the assault on Israel from her neighbors of Psalm 83 and their eventual defeat and conquest. I believe the entire world will be against Israel no matter the outcome and no one coming to help her, when the Iranian/Russian coalition decides to attack. (Gog-Magog). I believe in my own spirit, that we will not see the coming Gog-Magog coalition that has Russian, Iran and even Turkey and other European countries, such as Germany come to take Israel down for her resources and to finally rid what they consider, the sole ingredient in the Middle East for unrest and sending the whole world into a nuclear conflict. It is ordained in prophecy that the true God of Israel will be their protector by destroying this invading army on the mountains of Israel and revealing Himself as alive and well to His people of Israel. So ushers in a relative peaceful existence for Israel as they clamor to rebuild their planned third temple and animal sacrifices are again initiated. RUSSIAN PRESENCE HAS COMPLICATED ISRAEL'S PLANS As has been reported, our good friend in Russia, Vladimir Putin (of course, I jest) has delivered the S-300 missiles to Iran after years of holding them up. Wall Street Journal- "The Kremlin lifted its self-imposed ban on the delivery of a powerful missile air-defense system to Iran on Monday, stoking sharp criticism from the White House and Israel and casting fresh doubt on the international effort to curb Tehran's nuclear program. Any delivery of an air-defense system would complicate airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities by Israel or the U.S. should the diplomatic track fail. Russian presence has made the plans of Israel to take out the nuclear facilities in Iran even more difficult, and at this writing, it is becoming more of a technological feat to disguise their intentions and to hide their plans of attack. All who have been watching the signs of the times, have wondered what could be the meaning of the Blood Moons that have already had four pass in the last few years and the coming eclipse scheduled for this next month on the 21st of the present year? If Israel does attack even with Russia in the region what will be the result of such an attack? I believe you will see condemnation from the world against Israel and further withdrawing support from the tiny Jewish state. I see UN sanctions coming upon Israel and Israel's enemies smelling blood and vulnerability and mounting an ill-conceived attack to fulfill the Psalm 83 prophecy. Can you see how quickly we are moving in Bible prophecy that leads up to Ezekiel 38-39? One will lead directly to the next. How long between the two? I don't believe it will be very long, but I believe long enough for Israel to finally feel safe. Ezekiel chapter 38:38:10 "Thus saith the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought: 38:11 And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates, 38:12 To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land." WHAT COULD BE COMING? Please, this is only my wondering about what could be coming, based on scripture. I am no prophet, but God is moving this along rather quickly from the perspective of any bible believing Christian, that is awake and watching. The events are coming fast and furious as we move along in these last few years and I fully expect will move at "warp speed" as the coming of our Lord draws even closer. All could be done within this year and 2018. Peace, but a false peace based on guarantees of "one man" who makes a deal that Israel will embrace and sign a contract with the devil and death. I believe this coming war will unmask the coming "Lawless one" who will attempt to prevent another Gog-Magog attack and give Israel a false sense of peace for a short period of time. Israel will accept this man as their "political" Messiah, as Jesus spoke of in the Gospel of John : " I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive." (John 5:43) Israel has never in the past believed they needed a "spiritual Messiah" as they had the law of Moses and their temple, so they rejected Jesus because He did not come to deliver them from Roman domination. Now the same has come to pass, they have a "political Messiah" coming to sign a treaty with them to give them what they desire, "Peace and Safety" and it will be finally revealed when the man stands in the temple claiming to be a god, that they will know they have made a pact with the devil. Next year could very well be a dramatic year for Bible Prophecy. Let's makes some possible scenarios and assumptions that very well could develop. 1. Israel attacks Iranian nuclear facilities and putting the country years back in their quest for the bomb by destroying essential "choke points" of their program. 2. Iran, if not decimated, will quickly instruct their proxies of Hezbollah, Syria, and Gaza to mount an attack against Israel from the west, north and east. 3. If this is the fulfillment of Psalm 83, then I see Jordan, Egypt and possibly Saudi Arabia, even though they have partnered with Israel in the Yemen war, they still hate Israel. 4. Israel, with Almighty God's help will destroy all attackers who come against her, thus neutering the threat from its neighbors and blunting the effect from their most feared nemesis, Iran. This perceived calm will last for a very short time. 5. Israel will effectively own all gas and oil of the Middle East. They will be the direct competitor of the Russian Bear, who with their dictator found in Vladimir Putin, could be the leader spoken of in the Gog-Magog coalition that comes against Israel found in Ezekiel 38-39 as he desires what is not his...gas and oil. 6. How long after this devastating defeat of this coalition by Almighty God Himself, destroying 80% of this invading army, will a man arise and propose a 7 year peace plan to allow Israel to live in "peace and security"? Thus the rise of the Anti-Christ could be within the next few years or sooner. All the above scenarios (and it is anybody's guess how it will play out) has been believed to be right around the corner for years, but one ingredient was needed to propel this into a imminent possibility, and that is the attack on Iran. We have been watching this for all of the 21st century, which we are in year 17. I believe WW3 has formed right now, and unless Islam is defeated in near total, then this war will continue as ISIS, Iran, and Saudi Arabia jockey for complete control of the region and will only spread further into neighboring countries. The only thing that stands in their way is Israel and the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. There is one last element that should make you long for the coming of our Lord, being very close at hand. If this above scenario play out along, or near what I have hypothesized, then when this ruler who proclaims peace and safety for Israel arises out of obscurity, then another prophecy will be fulfilled beforehand. 2nd Thessalonians: 2:7 "For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 2:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved." As scripture has spoken, iniquity has been at work since the time of Jesus and has been held back by One Person. There are many interpretations of who this restrainer is and what he is restraining. Many deny that it has to do with a removal of the church, before the man of sin can be revealed. But is that true? I don't believe it is that there is anybody but God who is holding back the full sway of lawlessness driven by Satan in his attempt to destroy mankind. So who is this restrainer that 2 Thessalonians 2:6-7 mentions that is holding back sin and lawlessness? What or who that restraining force is, Paul does not say specifically in this letter. I have preached that it is the Holy Spirit for years, but I went to the internet to see what the consensus was. Many have speculated as to the identity of the restrainer, naming the restraining force as 1) human government; 2) gospel preaching; 3) the binding of Satan; 4) the providence of God; 5) the Jewish state; 6) the church; 7) the Holy Spirit; and 8) the ark angel, Michael. Whatever now restrains the Antichrist of vv. 3, 4, 8-10 from being revealed in the fullness of his apostasy and evil must be more than human or even angelic power. The power that holds back Satan from bringing the final apostasy and unveiling of his Satan-possessed false Christ (the Antichrist) must be supernatural. It must be God's power in operation that holds back Satan, so that the "man of sin," "the son of destruction" (v. 3) won't be able to come until God permits it by removing the restraining power. The reason for the restraint was so that the Antichrist would be revealed at God's appointed time and no sooner, just as was Christ (Gal. 4:4), because God controls Satan. The Holy Spirit of God is the only Person with sufficient (supernatural) power to do this restraining. How does He do it? Through Christians, He works in society to hold back the swelling tide of lawless living. At some point, though, He will be removed from the earth, allowing sin to have dominion over mankind. This can only happen when the Church-all true believers in Jesus Christ-are removed. This is because the Holy Spirit lives within each believer. When the church leaves the earth, the Holy Spirit will be taken out of the way in the sense that His unique lawlessness-restraining ministry-through God's people- will be removed . The removal of the Restrainer at the time of the removal of the church from planet earth must obviously precede the "day of the Lord." But as soon as individuals again start placing their faith in Christ during the tribulation, the Holy Spirit will again be "present" in the world. His ministry of restraining, though, seems limited to the time before the tribulation. Those who read this message know that the time of the end of days is upon us. Even if they are not a Christian now, they know that the world cannot continue in its downward slide. Something has got to give, and what will give is the removal of the Bride of Christ and the beginning of a period that last 7 years with a one world ruler, known as the Anti-Christ. The signs of this imminent event are screaming at the world. Do you feel it? Have you fear in your heart what is coming upon the earth? If you don't now, you most certainly will. Jesus spoke of such unbridled fear coming upon all who live into what is called the Tribulation. Luke chapter 21: 21:25 "And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; 21:26 men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 21:27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 21:28 Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near." What I have spoken of here in this message gives you fair warning of what is coming upon the earth and sooner than what you may even think or imagine. I do not consider myself a "watchman on the wall" of the caliber that Ezekiel was, but God has impressed me to warn you in the words of Ezekiel chapter 33: 33:2 "Son of man, speak to the children of your people, and say to them: "When I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from their territory and make him their watchman, 33:3 when he sees the sword coming upon the land, if he blows the trumpet and warns the people, 33:4 then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, if the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be on his own head. 33:5 He heard the sound of the trumpet, but did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But he who takes warning will save his life. 33:6 But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, and the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at the watchman"s hand." I have blown the trumpet of alarm more times than I can imagine. Now some may continue to scoff and mock as the Apostle Peter spoke of in 2nd Peter chapter 3: 3:3 " Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 3:4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. 3:5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: 3:6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 3:7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men." So my question to you is, where will you be found? Will you be those who scoff and mock and say it's not as bad as it seems. "Things will get better", you say. With all the evidence around you, are you so secure in those statements? If Jesus would come tonight, and He could, will you be found in Him, or found blind and naked in your unrighteous condition? Or will you fall on your knees, or say in your heart. "Lord, save me." John 3:15-18: 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." This is Pastor Mike Taylor, praying God reveals Himself to you in His only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ for the salvation of your soul. If you have need for prayer, counseling, or just a listening ear, email me at [email protected] , . God bless you all in the Name of Jesus Christ. TILL WE MEET AT JESUS FEET. Jordan's Foreign Minister Slams 'Extremist' Jews Who 'Stormed' Temple Mount On Fast of Av - by Deborah Danan - http://www.breitbart.com Jordan's foreign minister on Tuesday slammed Israel for the record-breaking 1,300 Jewish "extremists" who "stormed" the Temple Mount for the Tisha B'Av fast commemorating the destruction of both Jewish temples that once stood there. Ayman Safadi told an emergency gathering of foreign ministers from 57 countries that even though the recent crisis regarding metal detectors installed at the holy site may be over, more turmoil is on the horizon. "The number of extremists who stormed Al-Aqsa [the Temple Mount plaza] today stands at a record number, greater than any other since the beginning of the Israeli occupation in 1967," Safadi said at an emergency Executive Committee meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Istanbul. However, "many more dangerous crises will erupt as a result of continued Israeli violations if Israel does not uproot the sources of the tension, if the occupation doesn't end, if east Jerusalem is not independent and not the capital of the sovereign Palestinian State along the 1967 lines," Safadi warned. The Waqf Islamic Trust, which administers the holy site, is funded by Jordan. Azzam al-Khatib, director of the Waqf, also criticized the large number of visitors, saying, "This is unprecedented, unacceptable and should stop." Jordan's King Abdullah II on Saturday said Amman worked to prevent the "Judaization" of Muslim and Christian holy sites and reverse Israel's recently imposed security measures at the Temple Mount, Judaism's holiest site. Metal detectors and security cameras first installed after Israeli-Arab terrorists smuggled guns onto the Temple Mount and opened fire on July 14, killing two Druze-Israeli policemen, sparked outrage throughout the Arab world, which accused Israel of trying to control the holy site. On Tuesday's fast day, over 1,300 Jewish visitors passed through metal detectors at the Mughrabi Gate - the only gate through which non-Muslims can enter - and were asked to leave their identity cards with police. As per standard policy at the holy site, they were escorted by police during the entire visit to ensure that they did not break the regulations on the site, such as those forbidding prayer to non-Muslims. Police said nine people were forcibly removed from the site for not adhering to the regulations, in all likelihood for attempting to pray or bow. The number was a dramatic increase from the 100 or so people that usually ascend the holy site. Yeraeh, a group advocating for Jewish visitation and prayer rights at the Temple Mount, attributed the rise to the recent unrest, saying more mainstream Jews are interested in asserting Jewish sovereignty over the site. MK Yehudah Glick (Likud), an activist for Jewish prayer on the Temple Mount, praised the large numbers that went to visit, saying it showed Jews "were not afraid." "The people of Israel are returning to the Mount," he said. China says India building up troops amid border stand off - http://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-india-border-idUSKBN1AJ1TP China's Foreign Ministry on Thursday said India has been building up troops and repairing roads along its side of the border amid an increasingly tense stand-off in a remote frontier region beside the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan. The stand-off on a plateau next to the mountainous Indian state of Sikkim, which borders China, has ratcheted up tension between the neighbors, who share a 3,500-km (2,175-mile) frontier, large parts of which are disputed. "It has already been more than a month since the incident, and India is still not only illegally remaining on Chinese territory, it is also repairing roads in the rear, stocking up supplies, massing a large number of armed personnel," the foreign ministry said in a statement. "This is certainly not for peace." Early in June, according to the Chinese interpretation of events, Indian guards crossed into China's Donglang region and obstructed work on a road on the plateau. The two sides' troops then confronted each other close to a valley controlled by China that separates India from its close ally, Bhutan, and gives China access to the so-called Chicken's Neck, a thin strip of land connecting India and its remote northeastern regions. India has said it warned China that construction of the road near their common border would have serious security implications. Despite China's numerous diplomatic representations, its foreign ministry said, India has not only not withdrawn its troops but has also been making "unreasonable demands" and is not sincere about a resolution. "If India really cherishes peace, it ought to immediately withdraw its personnel who have illegally crossed the border into the Indian side." China's defense ministry last month warned India not to harbor any illusions about the Chinese military's ability to defend its territory. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is to visit China early in September for a summit of BRICS leaders. Indian officials say about 300 soldiers from either side are facing each other about 150 meters (yards) apart on the plateau. They have told Reuters that both sides' diplomats have quietly engaged to try to keep the stand-off from escalating, and that India's ambassador to Beijing is leading the effort to find a way for both sides to back down without loss of face. Chinese state media have warned India of a fate worse than the defeat it suffered in a brief border war in 1962. China's military has held live fire drills close to the disputed area, they said last month. Kings of The East Prepare for World Power Status - http://www.prophecynewswatch.com/article.cfm?recent_news_id=1435 Just hours after bomber jets from the U.S., South Korea and Japan swarmed the skies over the Korean Peninsula in a "show of strength" message to North Korea, China's President Xi Jinping demonstrated his own show of strength with an elaborate military parade at it's largest military training center that features life-size mockup targets, including Taiwan's presidential palace. The parade was to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the People's Liberation Army and was overseen by President Xi Jinping who called on the Chinese military to transform itself into an elite fighting force to bolster the country's rise into a world power. He said the Chinese military had the capabilities to 'preserve national sovereignty, security and interests' and demanded the troops' show 'absolute loyalty' to the party. "Always listen to and follow the party's orders," Xi told his assembled troops. "And march to wherever the party points to." More than 100 planes flew overhead and almost 600 types of weaponry were on display for the occasion -- nearly half of which were making their debut in public, according to the Defense Ministry. Attracting the most attention Sunday was the J-20, China's newest-generation stealth fighter that could potentially rival the F-22 or F-35 in the US military. "It's evidence that it's operational -- it's a statement," Zhang said. "It will give China's air force an advantage over neighboring countries' air power." Perhaps coincidentally, the last weapons rolled out at Sunday's parade were China's own nuclear warhead-capable ICBMs, which state TV announcers proudly called "symbols of a major power." Zhang said China showed off the DF-31AG mobile intercontinental ballistic missile, an upgrade to the DF-31A that was introduced in 2009. "The AG version has better off-road ability and is believed to carry multiple warheads," he said. "The DF-31A is fitted with one warhead. Deploying multiple warheads on China's strategic missiles gives them better abilities to penetrate US missile defense." The PLA has undergone an extensive modernization program investing heavily in aircraft carriers, nuclear submarines and stealth fighters with the strategic aim of competing with the US for regional dominance. It comes a day after North Korea tested a ballistic missile that it claims can reach all of the United States, US President Donald Trump criticized China for not reining in Kim Jong Un and his missile program. 'I am very disappointed in China,' Trump wrote in a pair of Twitter posts. '...they do NOTHING for us with North Korea, just talk. We will no longer allow this to continue. China could easily solve this problem!' North Korea's test Friday of an intercontinental ballistic missile was its second of the long-range weapon in a month. The first on July 4 showed the missile had the range to reach Alaska. Friday's test was designed to show the Hwasong-14 missile's maximum range with a 'large-sized heavy nuclear warhead,' a statement from Pyongyang's Korean Central News Agency said. It said Washington should regard the launch as a 'grave warning" and that it could now hit other parts of the US mainland. China appears to believe that such warnings should be taken seriously as it continues to make preparations along it's 880-mile border with North Korea and is realigning forces in surrounding regions to prepare for a potential crisis, including the possibility of a U.S. military strike. Recent measures include establishing a new border defense brigade, 24-hour video surveillance of the mountainous frontier backed by aerial drones, and bunkers to protect against nuclear and chemical blasts, and drills with special forces, airborne troops and other units that experts say could be sent into North Korea in a crisis. Mark Cozad, a former senior U.S. defense intelligence official for East Asia, now at the Rand Corp, comments that China's contingency preparations "go well beyond just seizing a buffer zone in the North and border security." "Once you start talking about efforts from outside powers, in particular the United States and South Korea, to stabilize the North, to seize nuclear weapons or WMD, in those cases then I think you're starting to look at a much more robust Chinese response." "If you're going to make me place bets on where I think the U.S. and China would first get into a conflict, it's not Taiwan, the South China Sea or the East China Sea: I think it's the Korean Peninsula." 'Will There Come a Day Where People Who Prefer Not to Be Microchipped Won't Get Certain Jobs?' - http://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2017/august/will-there-come-a-day-where-people-who-prefer-not-to-be-microchipped-wont-get-certain-jobs A Wisconsin company has carried through on its promise to chip its employees, hosting a "chip party" Tuesday to implant the microchips in its workers' hands. The microchip allows them to open doors, log onto computers or even buy snacks in the break room by a simple wave of their hand. The company, "Three Square Market," says it does not include G.P.S. to track employees and the chips cannot be used to get private information. So far, 41 out of 85 employees decided to get the chip. They hope it will advance to be used for more broadly for activities like air travel, public transportation, and storing medical information. And some experts believe it's just a matter of time before these microchip implants become widespread. "I do think it's the wave of the future," said Noelle Chesley, associate professor of sociology at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. "Opinion research that's looked at what people who are on the cutting edge of developing these technologies think, is that many of them believe we are going to be combining technology in our bodies," she said. But there are concerns about people being coerced into getting chipped. "Employers and individual employees don't come to the table with equal power and equal access to one another and so the question for me around the issue of microchipping employees really, in part, comes down to that," Chesley said. "Is it really voluntary when your employer is asking you if you would like to be microchipped? Will there come a day where people who prefer not to be microchipped won't get certain jobs?" Three Square Market is the first in the U.S. to test this kind of technology on its workers. Crowns, Judgment, and Running the Race - Nathele Graham - [email protected] We've all heard the phrase "It's a rat race out there", and so it is. Everybody seems to be in a hurry to get ahead of the other guy and it doesn't matter who they step on when moving up. Was life simpler a century ago? Was it simpler in Biblical times? They had different problems, but they still had problems. Today it seems life is centered around getting that raise, getting that promotion, and getting more stuff. As Christians, we need to turn our eyes to what truly matters: Jesus. When we run in the rat race it's easy to lose our focus. We are surrounded by rats who are all running after the corruptible cheese. When the race we run is for Christ the rewards are eternal. "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown: but we an incorruptible. " 1 Corinthians 9:24-25. The prize for the Christian who runs for Christ is an incorruptible crown. Let the world chase after the cheese. Athletes train to run a race and so should Christians. We don't need to do jumping jacks or deep knee bends to train to win eternal crowns, but we do need to strengthen our walk with the Lord. An example of people who weren't walking close to the Lord are the Christians in Corinth. They were very worldly and tolerated sin in their congregation. Instead of honoring God they blended in with the pagan world around them and they were not running to win but were hobbling along to the finish line. The first thing they should have done was to feed on the word of God. Every athlete training to win a race needs a healthy diet. Because these people embraced the ways of the world they couldn't be fed the meat of God's word. They were content with standing at the starting line. "And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able." 1 Corinthians 3:1-2. That's a sad comment on the leadership in Corinth. Sin must be addressed in each congregation, but sin can't be addressed if the leaders haven't grown past drinking milk. How do you get a healthy portion of God's word? Well, you read it. Don't wait for someone to force feed you on God's word but start reading and digesting it for yourself. Read both the Old Testament and the New. When you read it, study it. When you study it, apply it. This will help you to gain more understanding and enable you to dig even deeper into the meat of Scripture. Everyone who desires to run a race knows they can't just read a "how to" article or watch a video on running and then go out and win. Get up out of your easy chair and apply what you study. Recognize the sin in your life and turn away from it. Sin will weigh you down and hamper your endurance. At first you may have to make a strong effort to turn away from the sin in your life, but it will get easier. In Corinth there was a man who was committing fornication. "It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife. And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you." 1 Corinthians 5:1-2. Not only was this sin happening, but they were "puffed up" about it...took pride in it. Tolerance of sin within a congregation isn't anything to be proud of. Today there's a feeling that Christians aren't to judge another person's actions or lifestyles. This passage says differently. It isn't judging when you apply God's word, and this man was clearly living in sin. Paul told the leaders in Corinth not to tolerate it and they were to put this man out from the congregation. Later we learn that he turned from his sin and was restored to fellowship. Had they continued to accept this lifestyle they would all continue a downward spiral into destruction. In fact, Jesus Himself said "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment." John 7:24. Righteous judgment is directed by God in His word, and we need to exercise judgment with prayer and discretion. What exactly is this goal we are racing to? When a person first sincerely gives his or her life to Christ, salvation is guaranteed. I'm not talking about a casual stroll down the aisle to answer an altar call in order to please family and friends. I'm talking about a sincere belief that you cannot save yourself from Hell and only the blood of Jesus will save you. At that moment you are forever sealed with the Holy Spirit. "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory." Ephesians 1:13-14. So, since you're salvation is secure, this race must be to win something other than salvation. The prize to be won is a crown. Or maybe even more than one crown. Works cannot bring salvation, but they can win a stephanos, or a victor's crown. There are five crowns named in Scripture that can be won. A crown of victory is named in 1 Corinthians 9:25, the soul winner's crown named in 1 Thessalonians 2:19, a crown of righteousness in 2 Timothy 4:8, the crown of life in James 1:12, and the crown of glory in 1 Peter 5:4. These crowns will be awarded after the Rapture when we stand before the judgment seat of Christ. That's when we will wish we had lived more God-honoring lives here on earth. "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 3:11. We have a solid foundation to build upon, and that's Jesus Christ. What we build on that foundation is up to us. Christians will be judged by what they've built. This judgment isn't about salvation, but about the crowns. "Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is." 1 Corinthians 3:12-13. There are no secrets here. Everything you've done in your life will be laid bare before our Lord. Do you attend worship meetings but despise every moment you're there? Fire will burn that one. Do you resent it when the elderly man next door asks you to change a light bulb for him? Yep, that work is up in smoke. Maybe a widow down the street needs her fence repaired and you fix it because you know she will bake a cake for you. If you don't do a kindness for the glory of Christ then it will also be burned. Instead of grumbling as you change the light bulb, maybe you could marvel that Jesus is the Light of the world and that the first spoken words of creation were "Let there be light". "If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire." 1 Corinthians 3:14-15. Salvation won't be lost, but the rewards depend upon works done for Christ. Will we take these crowns and hang them in the mansion that awaits us? No, there is a better use for them. As we mature in out Christian walk we should become aware that every good thing is from Christ. "That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus." Philemon 1:6. If Jesus hadn't given His life, we would have no everlasting forgiveness of our sin. Animal sacrifice could never take sin away, only cover it. I don't know if anybody can truly understand what it cost Jesus to leave His place in Glory to purchase our salvation on the cross of Calvary. Do we truly understand that without His sacrifice we would face eternal death? Can we truly understand what it means to spend eternity in the Lake of Fire because we have rejected Christ's blood sacrifice? When we see Him at the Bema Seat judgment it will all be made clear. We will know and feel the pure love He has for us and all we will be able to give Him are the crowns we have earned. In the Book of Revelation, John describes the scene around God's throne after the Rapture. He saw 24 elders, who represent Christians. "The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things and for thy pleasure they are and were created." Revelation 4:10-11. Truly, our Lord is worthy. Oh, Jesus my Lord! Thank You for salvation, thank You for Your sacrifice for me. I want a crown to give back to You! How disappointed I will be if all I've accomplished in this race I'm running will be burned up like wood, hay, and stubble. How about you? It isn't too late to start running to win. "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him." Colossians 3:17. Run a winning race by doing everything for the glory of Jesus. One day you will want the privilege of casting the crowns you've won at His feet. God bless you all, Nathele Graham [email protected] www.straitandnarrowministry.com [email protected] Ron and Nathele Graham's previous commentaries archived at http://www.raptureready.com/featured/graham/graham.html All original scripture is "theopneustos" God breathed. If you'd like to be on my mailing list to receive the commentaries just drop me an email and let me know. Daily Jot: The shame of slavery - Bill Wilson - www.dailyjot.com Recently, there has been new coverage of HBO and other entertainment outlets addressing the sin of slavery in America-a sin that we never have been able to overcome. There were news reports, albeit briefly during the last presidential campaign about certain politicians participating in a human trafficking ring in and around the nation's Capitol. Slavery, human trafficking, forced labor--whatever you want to call it--is a crime against mankind. No one should do such things to another. There is a common thread in the history of slavery--Over the thousands of years of history regarding the slave trade, Islam has always participated. The very worst nations in human trafficking are Islamic nations. From my count, some 60 of 71 countries on the State Department human trafficking watch list are Islamic dominated or have high Islamic populations. Communist or former communist nations make up the bulk of the rest. These nations turn a blind eye to women being kidnapped and put to work on farms, in labor camps, in brothels-yes brothels in Islam. The worst part is what they do to children. In some nations in the Islamic crescent, children, both boys and girls, are taken into sex slavery, used and abused, then tossed away left to die. Or are sent off to labor camps or forced to do other horrible things. That anyone would have to endure being taken into slavery these days is an abomination that should never be tolerated. But part of the problem, which is not mentioned in the State Department report in any great detail are what they call "demand nations." Developed countries like the United States that create a demand for child prostitution. And at the root of it is pornography. Europe and the United States have the largest pornography industries in the world. Los Angeles, alone, is home to the lion's share of pornography generated and distributed worldwide. And in nearly every case of child prostitution or child molestation, pornography is found in the possession of the perpetrators. Islamic nations proclaim their moral high ground point to the immorality in the US as an excuse to attack us. Notwithstanding, America has its hand in creating modern demand through its own brand of immorality as pornography enslaves people, sometimes willingly, often not. And the next time you buy something that says "Made in China" on it, think twice because it was likely made with slave labor, although China is often understated in the annual State Department reports. Proverbs 5:22 says, "His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be held with the cords of his sin." These atrocities seem overwhelming, but with Jesus there is hope and light for us all. We just need to hold accountability. Daily Devotion: Right Where You Are - By Greg Laurie - www.harvest.org Then He said to them, "The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest." -Luke 10:2 It seems, unfortunately, that the church could be compared to a giant football game where 60,000 people in the stands watch 22 people do all the work. We stand on the sidelines and shout, "Go, team, go!" while God is saying, "I want you down on the field. I want you to carry the ball. I want you to be a part of what I'm doing." Jesus said, "Pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest" (Luke 10:2). Notice that Jesus did not say that we should pray the Lord would send out more observers-or more spectators or more complainers. Rather, He said we should pray the Lord would send out more laborers. No one can honestly pray for this work to be done if they are not willing to do it themselves. Let's not sit around and say, "Yes, God, send more laborers into the harvest!" Instead, let's say, "Lord, let it start with me. I will be a laborer. I don't know what I can do. I don't know what I can offer. I don't have a lot. But it's Yours, Lord. I give it to You." Just watch what God can do. He can do a lot with a little. He can take what you have and multiply it. Maybe you're thinking, "That's the job of the professionals. Let the preachers do this preaching stuff. I'm just an ordinary person." There are many people you can reach far more effectively. You can reach them because they know you. They work with you. They live next to you. You are able to speak to them like perhaps no other person could. God has given you a group of people whom you can influence. God wants to use you right where you are. 
FROM THE HEART
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