Prophecy Update Newsletter
IN TODAY'S NEWSLETTER...
Marriage a Symbol of Jesus Christ and His Church - by Pastor Mike Taylor - https://pastormiketaylor.blogspot.com/2020/08/marriage-symbol-of-jesus-christ-and-his.html
"For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church." (Ephesians 5:31-32) In keeping with the line of the "mysteries" that Paul revealed to us within his epistles, Paul showed us many revelations that were not revealed previously in any other passage of your bible. They were "hidden" from view and were not explained, until Paul was taught by the King of kings, Jesus Christ our Lord. Remember in past messages, Paul was taken into the Arabian desert for about 3 years and was given instructions and teaching of the meaning of passages found in your bible that no man had understood up until it was revealed to the Apostle Paul. This chapter is but another clarification of what a man united to a woman in Holy Matrimony means to Almighty God and why that this union is most sacred. And for that reason, this nation and the world is in grave danger. In chapter 5 of the book of Ephesians, Paul makes an astounding comparison that in reading this chapter, I had not previously understood myself what Paul was trying to explain: 6" Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. 7, Be not ye therefore partakers with them. 8, For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 9, (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) (Ephesians 5:6-9) Thus Paul began to reveal the "mystery" that is found in the uniting of two people, one man to one woman in marriage. Paul begins to explain in detail further into this chapter found in Ephesians: 10"Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. 11, And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. 12, For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret." (Ephesians 5:10-12) Paul begins to go into detail of things that are done in darkness and to stay away from, but come into the light 14, "Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light."(Ephesians 5:14) The point of the chapter is to explain sacred meaning of the institution of marriage and what God expects of those who belong to Him... 22, "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23, For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 24, Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. 25, Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26, That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,"(Ephesians 5:22-26) In a casual reading of this passage, you would think that Paul is speaking of the relationship between a man and a woman solely, but is that all Paul is trying to convey? Paul speaks of a "mystery" that is hidden from view and has not been understood previously. While pondering this and hearing a message by a dear brother in our church, I came to fully understand what Paul was driving at. Let us turn now to the Old Testament when God brought the institution of marriage into being. 21, "So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh; 22, and the rib which the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. 23, Then the man said, "This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man." 24, Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and cleaves to his wife, and they become one flesh."( Genesis 2:21-24) One thing is curious here if you think about it. Is not God able to make woman as He made man? Of course He can. Can God not take the dirt of the ground and make another human and breath the breath of life into her? Also, why did God have Adam fall into a "deep sleep" to take one of his ribs to make Eve? Isn't God able to do this without needing Adam to fall into a deep sleep? But think of what a "deep sleep" symbolizes in scripture. Death is often referred to as "sleep"...or sleeping in the dust as explained elsewhere in scripture. Notice that God took a rib out of his side. Not from his foot or from his hand, or any other bone in his body...they were made to be one flesh..."flesh of my flesh, and bone of my bone". God brought Eve unto the "first Adam" and they became ONE. What, if anything is God trying to reveal to us here?, What is Paul revealing that is explained in Ephesians? Let us fast forward in time when Jesus was on the cross, some four thousand years into the future from the 1st Adam being given a "bride" to be by his side. 33, "But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: 34, But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. 35, And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe."( John 19: 33-35) The Second Adam, Jesus Christ our Lord hung on a cross and died a horrible death, but to prove that He was actually dead, a Roman soldier took a spear and pierced His side. In His death, "His sleep" God took out of His side below His ribs, a coming bride. By the death of our Lord and the piercing of His side, the redemption of His bride that had been lost at the Garden of Eden, was sealed. Fifty days later from the time of His resurrection, the Church would be born at Pentecost and Jesus was to be betrothed to His bride. 2, "And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3, And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4, And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance."( Acts 2:2-4) Thus the bride of Christ was born...the Church of the Living God. Almighty God has been adding to His body for now nigh, 2000 years and has not taken her, as of yet, to be His bride, unlike when Eve was given to Adam and proclaimed her "flesh of my flesh, and bone of my bone". Paul proclaimed in this fifth chapter of Ephesians what God has been doing the whole time in forming His bride, from the flesh of His flesh and from the bone of His bone, 27, "That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 28, So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29, For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 30, For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 31, For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 32, This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church."(Ephesians 5:27-32) Do you see the parallel comparison of the Bride of Adam the First, and the Bride of the last Adam the Son of God, the second Adam that gave His life for a bride holy and unblemished by the sins of this world? It is why the institution of marriage is so sacred and holy in the eyes of God, as it symbolizes Christ, the head of the Church, or husband of the Church, and His body, the bride of Christ of one man, one woman, as created by God found in the 2nd chapter of Genesis. Any other variation conceived by mortal man, God calls an ABOMINATION before Him, as it mocks His creative plan for the spotless bride that is betrothed to His Son, Jesus Christ. And God has prepared a bride for His Son, and when we see Him, we will be like He is.. 2 "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3, And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure."( 1st John 3:2-3) LGBTQ MOVEMENT, AN ABOMINATION BEFORE GOD Satan relishes the ability to deceive mortal man, as he knows that man without God is prone to sins of the flesh and the pride of life. His sole purpose is to distort and twist God's Word to make man an unclean thing in God's sight. 15, "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16, For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world, 17, And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever."(1st John 2:15-17) Jeremiah wrote under Holy Spirit direction what Satan is counting on: 17:9, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? 10, I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. 11, As the partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not; so he that getteth riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall be a fool."(Jeremiah 17:9-11) AS IT WERE IN THE DAYS OF NOAH There was another time, that what is happening in our generation, happened even then, and what did God do to them? Jesus proclaimed in Matthew chapter 24 what our generation would look like: 24:37, But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38, For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be."(Matthew 24:37-39) This was a time of unmentionable evil that God regretted even making mankind, as their hearts were given to evil continuously. God destroyed the earth with water and wiped the earth clean of mankind that He had made, all except for 8 souls that found favor in God's eyes. God destroyed all mankind save for those who found refuge in the ark God commanded Noah and his sons to build...Next time, it wont be by water that God destroys mankind who rebel against Him, but by Holy Fire that will again, wipe this planet clean. God condemns sins of the flesh, and for that matter any sin that goes against His written Laws of human conduct toward God and mankind. God hates sin, as it cannot be in God's heaven. But the one sin that He calls an abomination must stink in His nostrils like no other. 22 "Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination."( Leviticus 18:22) Why? Because it is a mockery, a perversion, and a sin so great, that God will not allow those who commit such evil into the Kingdom of God coming. But abomination is just a word, until you look at the deep meaning of what God is saying here...From Wikipedia, this definition and explanation is given:Abomination (from Latin abominare, "to deprecate as an ill omen") is an English term used to translate the Biblical Hebrew terms shiqquwts ("shiqqûts") and sheqets. An abomination in English is that which is exceptionally loathsome, hateful, sinful, wicked, or vile. ROMANS CHAPTER ONE CONDEMNS LBGTQ PRACTICES Paul addresses the subject in Romans and cannot be more clear that God hates such sin with a everlasting hate and will not allow those who partake of this vice into His presence. 20, "For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 26For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;"(Romans 1:20-28) Here God condemns homosexuality, being gay, Lesbian, bisexual, or transgender as an abomination unto His Holy Name. God tells those who partake of this evil what their end will be: 9, " Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, (which includes all LGBTQ transgressors of God's natural order) brackets my emphasis.) 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God."(1st Corinthians 6: 9-10) SINS OF THE FLESH HAVE BEEN WITH MAN SINCE CREATION This is not a new occurrence, as man in his ability to do wicked deeds, sins against his own flesh by being joined to the same gender as himself/herself and defiles themselves with what God has defined as gross sin. It has occurred all through the history of evil men, as even the Old Testament, not just the New Testament gives cases that God brought judgment and swift retribution for their crime against a Holy God and His laws. In each of the three instances in the Old Testament where homosexuality is shown in society, destruction immediately follows. The city of Sodom gave its name to this vile practice and has served as the preeminent example of God's displeasure: see (Genesis 18:20-21; 19:1-29). Two lesser-known cases also show that a rise in homosexuality signals a quick decline and fall. Such was the case of the tribe of Benjamin that was nearly destroyed because of homosexuality found in Judges chapters 19-21. And in 1st Kings in the reign of Rehoboam of Judah, the Bible records, "And there were also perverted persons in the land. They did according to all the abominations of the nations which the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel" (I Kings 14:24). "Perverted persons" is a translation of the Hebrew qedeshim, meaning "those practicing sodomy and prostitution in religious rituals". The next verses reveal the result of their sin: Pharaoh Shishak of Egypt marched against Judah and conquered Jerusalem, carrying away all the treasures of the Temple and the royal house (verses 25-26). History also records the debauchery of the Roman Empire and it's citizens using roman baths to commit heinous acts of homosexuality and the moral conduct of the empire contributed to their eventual downfall. Those who commit such acts, God says He will not allow them into His presence and they will be separated from Him for all eternity, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. Some call it HELL, or the Lake of Fire. DO WE TURN A BLIND EYE? Some will say that we must be tolerant. We must love others as ourselves, just as the past "idiot in chief" tried to use the "Golden Rule" as his support for allowing all things gay into this culture. In the last 50 years, the LGBTQ community has made steady inroads into this nation, and with the election of the past POTUS, (I won't use his name, as it is loathsome to me) he promoted all things gay and even made a executive order that June of the year is LGBTQ pride month. This for a minority community that has had the same rights that every American has always had, but they want special treatment. Not only is homosexuality out of the closet in America, it is entirely out in the open and militantly demanding its recognition and acceptance. With political power far exceeding their numbers, homosexuals now feel greatly empowered when they had an openly supportive President in the White House. Whoever thinks this nation is still many years from collapse needs to think again. The DOMA act (Defense of Marriage Act) was abandoned because the "idiot in chief" would not support it. Then the Supreme Court in all their arrogance went against God and gave legitimacy to the "union" (sic) of same sex individuals that must be recognized in every state. That "Idiot in chief"...let me rephrase that, YOUR IDIOT IN CHIEF, as he is not mine, had promoted all things gay and been at the front of blurring the lines between the sexes by letting transgender men or women use whatever public bathroom that fits their emotional stance at the present time. Of course, one cannot prevent perverts and pedophiles from taking advantage of this and preying on your daughter, young son or wife while behind closed doors. The LGBTQ adherents have taken the sacred institution of marriage and common decency and thrown it to the ground and stomped all over it...and the present government allows it, endorses it, and promotes it and for that, God will surely judge, if it has not already begun against this nation for the evil that we have done in the name of "political correctness". Not only is this nation condemning itself to eventual destruction, but every man, woman, and yes, even children that partake in this sin, or any sin of the flesh and does not turn away from their evil conduct by seeking forgiveness from Almighty God, dooms themselves to an everlasting judgment from God, into outer darkness, where "Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched". (Mark 9:44) You who practice such evil, do you see yourselves in this message? I pray it puts a burr under your saddle and God's Holy Spirit convicts you, until you can't be still but must confess your sins before a Holy God and beg forgiveness and cleansing from One Person who can take away the sins of the flesh you have committed, Jesus Christ, the Son of God. You that have turned a blind eye, and taken the stance of live and let live and ignore what is happening all around you, or until you face it squarely when your wife or daughter is defiled, what will you do? You can't do it alone my friend. No one can do it alone. The forces of evil are building exponentially as we approach the end of days....we were warned in God's Word: 12 "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."(Ephesians 6:12,) This world is quickly coming to an end. The climax of the rule of mankind is closing in on the last 7 years of his governance in which he has done a thoroughly terrible job, according to what is righteous and good in the sight of God. Soon the coming time known as Jacob's troubles will be upon the earth. It may come sooner than anyone of us, Christian or otherwise, even thinks or imagines. My spirit bears witness with the Spirit of God, that this will not go on much longer. WHAT MUST YOU DO? We who are alive and fighting this battle against the rulers of the darkness of this world, must take on the whole armor of God, if we are even able to stand against the onslaught that has come and only will get exponentially worse. 13 "Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;"(Ephesians 6:13-18) Think you can stand by yourself? Think again. You don't have the power or the strength to stand against the wiles of the devil. Satan will have you for lunch and you will likely succumb to the darkness that will overtake this world. I have preached till I'm nearly blue in the face as Tribulation is coming and the time grows short where a woman/man can be found in Jesus Christ and be removed from the coming wrath of God. Make no mistake, friend, wrath is coming and if you think it's bad now, you haven't seen anything yet, and frankly, you don't want to...as calculating the death toll of this planet during this awful time, will be upwards of 80% of all humankind to the order of almost 6 billion people in 7 short years....there will not be enough people to bury the dead, and bodies will be lying around, decaying or being eaten by wild animals who are looking for food....and the SMELL!!....it will be a time of the most horrific and ghastly in all of the generations of mankind. This ABOMINATION that is the LGBT "movement" is only the tip of the iceberg that will bring the wrath of God, much like it did in Noah's day when men were constantly doing evil. God has designed the coming tribulation for two things and I've said this time and time again. First is the complete annihilation of ALL rebellion on this earth by fire and Divine judgment and wrath. Second is the coming acceptance of Israel of their Messiah that they rejected 2000 years ago. God has warned through Jesus Christ while on earth: 19 "For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be. 20 And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days." (Mark 13:19-20) Do you get the gravity of that statement by our Lord? No flesh will be saved, if the events were allowed to play to it's conclusion. Only those who accepted their Messiah, will be supernaturally protected and go into the Millennium as mortal men and women. Everyone else, "those that dwell upon the earth" will die horrible deaths by whatever means known to man either natural or supernatural. GOD WILL COME OUT OF HIS PLACE TO END REBELLION God has said in His Word in Isaiah 66: "For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. 16 For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many."(Isaiah 66:15-16) To further give you the gravity of the coming wrath of God, Zephaniah wrote in 1:17- 18: 17 "And I will bring distress on men, so that they shall walk as the blind because they have sinned against the LORD. And their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as dung. 18, Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD'S wrath; but the whole earth shall be devoured by the fire of His jealousy, for He shall make even a full end, yea, a terrible end of all who dwell upon the earth."(Zephaniah 1:17-18) Again in Isaiah 26: 17" Like as a woman with child, that draweth near the time of her delivery, is in pain, and crieth out in her pangs; so have we been in thy sight, O Lord. 18 We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth wind; we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth; neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen. 19 Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead. 20 Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. 21 For, behold, the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain." (Isaiah 26:17-21) But to those who call upon the name of the Lord, God has promised: "8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. 9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. 11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.," (1st Thessalonians 5:8-11) 8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."(Romans 10:8-13)." "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 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 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. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.". ( John 3:16-20) How do you believe? Believe that Jesus died for your sins and mine, that God the Father raised Him on the 3rd day according to the scriptures, and stands at the right hand of God, as His only Son...the Son of God....repent of your sins that He has already paid for by faith believing, and thou shalt be saved! Leave your sins of LBGTQ practices and repent before Almighty God and He will receive you. ...Because the End of the Age is at Hand and your chance at entering into the Kingdom of God grows shorter by the day. This is Pastor Mike Taylor, praying you find my Lord Jesus before the coming Tribulation begins as sin in this world is growing exponentially and it can't be much longer..so come Lord Jesus. . If you need prayer, counseling, or just a listening ear, email me at [email protected] , . God bless you all till we hopefully , MEET AT JESUS FEET Lebanon, Hezbollah & Israel All Prepare For Post Explosion Ramifications - Yaakov Lappin/JNS.ORG - https://www.prophecynewswatch.com/article.cfm?recent_news_id=4211 A day after an enormous blast ripped through Beirut, causing untold destruction, it's still not possible to grasp the true scope of the calamity, a former Israeli Military Intelligence chief has said. Speaking by video conference to journalists, Maj. Gen. (res.) Amos Yadlin, who served as former deputy commander of the Israeli Air Force and is now executive director of the Institute for National Security Studies, noted that Israel has offered medical assistance to Lebanon. "This is a terrible, terrible disaster. The big question is how many people are missing. The numbers are between 1,000 to 4,000." Analyzing the incidents that led to the explosion, Yadlin said it "started from a small explosion at what looks like a fireworks storage facility. And then the big explosion came," he said, citing the 2,700 tons of reported ammonium nitrate stored at a warehouse at the port's dock. Ammonium nitrate "is material used to develop explosives," he said. "It is also good for agriculture, but the fact that it was there since 2014 is saying that it was not taken for agriculture. The purpose of this storage was for explosives." Regarding the question of who owned the warehouse and why the material was there, Yadlin said "this is something I guess that the Lebanese authorities are investigating." He added that it cannot be proven at this stage that it was a Hezbollah warehouse. If, however, signs emerge that this is indeed the case, it would form a "very serious allegation against Hezbollah," which could turn into significant political pressure on it to end its role as a military power in Lebanon and delegate that role to the official Lebanese military, he assessed. Ammonium nitrate has been used before by Hezbollah operatives abroad in planning out a terror attack. In 2015, a Lebanese-Canadian man tied to Hezbollah was convicted in Cyprus after he was found in possession of 8.5 tons of ammonium nitrate in his basement. That same year, the Mossad told authorities in the U.K. of four properties in North West London that contained three tons of ammonium nitrate belonging to Hezbollah. Earlier this year, the Mossad again tipped off Germany on Hezbollah's activities on its soil, including warehouses in the south of the country where Hezbollah stashed hundreds of kilograms of ammonium nitrate. "This is another blow to the Lebanese state that was already [suffering] a huge crisis," said Yadlin. The factors that created this crisis included severe economic, financial, political and social problems. Even prior to the blast, tensions were rising in the country. In that context, he explained, "what is important is that Hezbollah is using civilian neighborhoods to store weapons. They use civilian neighborhoods as shields for their activity. There are elements in Lebanon and the international community calling on Hezbollah to stop hiding behind the excuse that it needs these weapons against Israel." Nuclear capability and hegemony in the Middle East Yadlin pointed out that Israel hasn't attacked Lebanon in 14 years, and that the two countries have "no real dispute" over borders. Even a disagreement over offshore gas-drilling rights in the Mediterranean Sea "was already brokered by the Americans." Hezbollah, he said, is looking for excuses to keep the conflict going with Israel. "This is a very good time for Lebanese to tell Hezbollah: 'We have so many other problems, give us a break from your excuses for Iranian interests that running behind you.' The issue starts with Iran sending advanced weapons to Hezbollah via Syria." More broadly, the Iranian terror axis of which Hezbollah is part of is under great pressure, said Yadlin. Factors like America's "maximum pressure" campaign on Tehran--added to economic dysfunction, collapsing oil prices, Israel's campaign to roll back Iranian military entrenchment in Syria, the coronavirus pandemic, the recent assassination of Quds Force Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani--have all contributed to growing discontent among the general populace. "The Iranians are continuing, despite all of the difficulties, with two strategic efforts: come as close as possible to nuclear capability and to have hegemony in the Middle East," stated Yadlin. So far, Iran has failed operationally to deter Israel, and Syria is focused on what remains of its civil war in Idlib, so Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah decided to step up and attempt to "revenge any Israeli activities in Syria if Hezbollah terrorists will be killed as well. This is what happened last week, and Nasrallah decided to act," he summed up. Nasrallah attempted to calibrate his actions so that they would on the one hand kill a few Israeli soldiers, but on the other avoid all-out war. "Very much like his Iranian masters, he failed operationally," said Yadlin. Now, in the aftermath of the Beirut explosion, Nasrallah has found his excuse to "remove this issue from the agenda, especially if this warehouse was a Hezbollah warehouse," he said. "And there are already a lot of voices in Lebanon that blame Hezbollah for the financial difficulties. There are new sanctions on Lebanon because of Hezbollah. The banking system is collapsing because of Hezbollah. Every Lebanese knows that Hezbollah is the strongest military power in Lebanon with a lot of political influence." With all of these multiple crises in Lebanon, joined by the latest disaster in Beirut, some Lebanese civilians will likely be thinking "why do they need another dimension of destruction that will come from Nasrallah attacking Israel? So I think he will find a ladder to come down from the tree," said Yadlin. Asked whether the Beirut disaster will set the stage for the International Monetary Fund to provide major assistance to Lebanon, Yadlin said that remains unclear. "It could on the one hand say, 'Let's put aside everything and help Lebanon.' On the other hand ... the blast may help those who say Hezbollah is the problem, and that this was a Hezbollah warehouse. The IMF could say 'until you move Hezbollah away from its positions that they took in Lebanon, we are not helping you despite the disaster.' " Food Prices Rise To Dangerous Levels As "A Second Wave Of Layoffs" Hits The U.S. Economy - by Michael Snyder - http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/archives/food-prices-rise-to-dangerous-levels-as-a-second-wave-of-layoffs-hits-the-u-s-economy You may have noticed that food prices have started to go up very aggressively. I repeatedly warned my readers that this is precisely what would happen, and more price increases are on the way. Fear of COVID-19 has sparked a tremendous amount of extra demand as Americans have feverishly stocked up their pantries, and at the same time the virus has made it very difficult for the major food companies to keep up. Over the past several months we have seen a large number of food production facilities close down temporarily, food supply chains have been thrown into a state of chaos, and grocery stores have found it increasingly difficult to keep their shelves full. Many years ago I remember sitting in an Econ 101 class as a very young college student, and one of the things that I learned was that prices are going to rise when supply goes down and demand goes up. So it was inevitable that grocery store prices would become more painful, and the latest numbers that have been released by the BEA are definitely quite alarming... According to data released last week by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, almost all kinds of food have seen an increase in its price since February. Beef and veal prices are up a staggering 20.2% since before the pandemic, while other staples like eggs (10.4%), poultry (8.6%) and pork (8.5%) have also seen significant increases. If prices keep going up like this, a lot of American families are going to have to start cutting beef out of their diets simply because they cannot afford it anymore. And of course these price increases are coming at a really bad time, because we are in the midst of a historic economic downturn. When an Oregon woman named Bella Flores recently took her monthly trip to the grocery store, she was shocked by how much prices have gone up... Medford resident Bella Flores says she felt the shock when she recently went to the store to pick up her monthly items. "It kept going up, $50 and then $69, I'm like oh crap man it's a lot," she said. Actually, if I could get out of the grocery store with a bill of only 69 dollars I would be jumping for joy. These days, it seems like you can't even get a full cart of groceries for under 200 dollars where I live. Sadly, more price increases are on the way. Demand is going to remain high, and many food companies will continue to operate at reduced levels. For example, just consider what the CEO of Tyson Foods recently had to say... During a recent call with analysts discussing third-quarter financial results, Tyson (TSN) CEO Noel White said that some of the company's facilities "continue to operate at decreased production levels." With food prices already at such elevated levels, the Federal Reserve has decided that now is a perfect time to jack up inflation even more. The following comes from a CNBC article entitled "The Fed is expected to make a major commitment to ramping up inflation soon"... In the next few months, the Federal Reserve will be solidifying a policy outline that would commit it to low rates for years as it pursues an agenda of higher inflation and a return to the full employment picture that vanished as the coronavirus pandemic hit. Recent statements from Fed officials and analysis from market veterans and economists point to a move to "average inflation" targeting in which inflation above the central bank's usual 2% target would be tolerated and even desired. Isn't that wonderful? You can almost always count on the Federal Reserve to do the wrong thing. Meanwhile, Fox Business is reporting that a "second wave of layoffs" has now hit the economy... A second wave of layoffs is hitting American workers during a surge in coronavirus cases nationwide, and a Congressional stalemate over stimulus relief, according to a new survey by Cornell University and RIWI. The researchers conducted the survey between July 23 and Aug. 1, and found that 31% of workers who had been placed back on payrolls after initially being laid off have now been laid off for a second time. Additionally, 26% of rehired workers say they've been told that they may be laid off again. Those numbers are absolutely staggering. We already knew that millions upon millions of the jobs that were originally lost are never coming back, and now we are learning that millions of the jobs that were actually regained are being lost again. So what this means is that at the exact same time that food prices are skyrocketing, countless Americans find themselves out of work and no longer have paychecks coming in. What a nightmare. And this may help to explain why the U.S. Census Bureau is finding that so many Americans are missing meals right now... This week the US Census Bureau published results of a survey in which nearly 30 million out of 249 million respondents said they did not have enough to eat at some point in the week before July 21. It was the highest number of people reporting insufficient food since the Census started tracking that information in early May. During the first half of this year we witnessed lines at food banks that were up to two miles long, and we are likely to see similar scenes throughout the rest of 2020. But the good news is that the U.S. is still in better shape than much of the rest of the world. As I have detailed previously, giant armies of locusts have been devastating crops in Africa, the Middle East and Asia, and now it is being reported that they have decided to invade Russia... Locust swarms have invaded Russia's southern regions causing colossal damage to the local agriculture. According to regional authorities, the damage is estimated at over 13 million US dollars. A state of emergency has been declared in seven parts of the republic of Kalmykia, according to the Emergency Ministry. Meanwhile, "nearly one-third of China has been impacted by severe flooding", and that is having a dramatic affect on crop production over there. Even during the best of times, we struggle to feed everyone on the entire planet, and here in 2020 global food production has been hit by a whole host of major problems. I fully expect that global food supplies will increasingly become tighter, and that has very serious implications for the years ahead of us. Yes, food prices are already very high, but now is the time to stock up because they are only going to go higher. Unfortunately, there are millions upon millions of Americans that can't afford to stock up because they have already lost their jobs and no longer have any income coming in. Choose Whom You Serve - Nathele Graham - [email protected] Joshua was a warrior for God. He was a man who trusted the Lord he served and that trust gave him courage. His name means "Jehovah is salvation" and his life reflects the truth of his name. He had been one of the many who had been a slave in Egypt, and when Moses led the Israelites out of captivity, Joshua became a military leader. He had seen God's power when the Red Sea parted and the Israelites crossed safely. Joshua also saw the Egyptian army drown as they attempted to recapture the Israelites. Joshua witnessed many more miracles, such as God providing manna every morning and he saw the rock spew water when Moses struck it. Joshua witnessed God's power and that gave him confidence to trust God. If others in that nation had the faith that Joshua showed they wouldn't have wandered for forty years. Joshua and Caleb were two who had scouted out the Promised Land and saw those giant hybrids, the Nephilim. They knew that God would be with Israel in fighting for their land, but others were afraid. "But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we. And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight." Numbers 13:31-33. Joshua and Caleb were overruled because Moses listened to the men who were ruled by fear. They walked away from God's promise. Forty years later, they returned to claim their land. Moses died and God chose Joshua to lead the battle. "There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee." Joshua 1:5. When you are walking with God, nothing can stand against you. Not even giants. Because of Joshua's courage, the promise God made to Abraham was finally a reality. Christians need to pay attention to God's words. Too many Christians forget that God is with us and we need to stand against all enemies, including those who are attempting to stop us from assembling together to worship our Lord and Saviour. Eventually, Joshua's time on earth was at an end. He spoke to the nation, but he spoke words given by God. Starting with Abraham, he reminded the nation of all God had done for them. God brought victory to Israel through many battles and temptations and they needed to remember all God had done. "Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD." Joshua 24:14. That's good advice. Maybe Christians should pay attention to Joshua's words. We need to put aside our fear and start serving Christ. "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." Joshua 24:15. Be it Egyptian gods, Amorite gods, or the political deep state of our own time, these are all demon-inspired. What about you and your house? Every day you make a choice as to whether you serve the God you claim to follow or to serve the god of this world. Christ must be first in a Christians life. The people listening to Joshua were gung-ho. Of course they were going to serve God Almighty. "And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods; for the LORD our God, he it is that brought us up and our fathers out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and which did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way wherein we went, and among all the people through whom we passed: and the LORD drave out from before us all the people, even the Amorites which dwelt in the land: therefore will we also serve the LORD; for he is our God." Joshua 24:16-19. It's easy to say the words but tough to follow through. Did they forget to teach their children about God? Probably. The rest of the Old Testament tells us of the ups and downs of God's chosen people in their service to God Almighty. Instead of remembering all that God promised them and all He did for them, they were sidetracked and forgot to serve the LORD. Christians have the same problem. We forget what God has done for us and believe worldly people instead of trusting God to know best. The world is at a crisis point. There's never been a time in history when every nation is as firmly under the control of Satan as all nations today. Yes, my fellow Americans, I even mean the United States of America. The giants today are government control of every aspect of our life, forced isolation, censorship of free worship, wearing masks which remind me of the Muslim repression, and much more. It amazes me that Christians are so easily silenced while criminals are allowed to riot and destroy at will. Christians are growing weaker. Understand this, God isn't weakening, but Christians are more willing to bow before government censorship than they are willing to stand firm upon God's word. It's pretty hard to follow Christ as you cower in isolation in your house. Of course, sin establishments, such as abortion clinics, are still open. Things have steadily gone downhill since Christians first allowed evolution to be taught in schools. That lie even got Christians to question the truth of Scripture. Then prayer was taken out of schools. That's OK because we can teach the kids about God at home. Can we? Do we? When Mom went to work the important job of raising children was turned over to other people. On many occasions, there isn't even a God-fearing father in the house to lead the children on the right path. Schools began dictating morality and what a mess we're in now. God made our bodies to work in a certain way. There's a purpose for male and female, but according to the deep state liberal mindset you can choose your gender. What happened to "...: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." Joshua 24:15b? Christians, if you aren't standing on Biblical truth then you are betraying God. Satan is roaring around like a lion ready to steal the souls of anyone who rejects God. Don't let your guard down. Remember, don't trust in sinful man but keep your heart, mind, and soul on Jesus. "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world." 1 Peter 5:8-9. Remember what He has done in the past and know that He holds the future. COVID-19 is an excuse for control. First, there was a panic: wear masks, close businesses, isolate, etc. This panic was fanned by the liberal media. They have a way of making evil seem good, and this is exemplified by making it seem as if criminal rioters who destroy and kill are good, while law-abiding citizens and police officers are bad. These riots came on the heels of the virus panic, but those criminals don't seem to be required to isolate or wear masks. Strange. "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" Isaiah 5:20. How can any thinking person condone defunding police but condone the violence and destruction by mobs of criminals? There's no sense to it at all. The only explanation is Satan is running wild. Christians have stopped standing against evil and don't stand for God. It's a sign of the very soon Rapture and the start of Daniel's 70th week. "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away." 2 Timothy 3:1-5. We can see these things vividly in news reports. Wait a minute, what about "having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof"? That sounds very much like most Christian congregations today. The name on the outside claims to be Christian, but instead of serving God, it's government regulations that reign supreme. Preachers willingly don't preach the full word of God, especially the parts that call sin, sin. The people "social distance" even though Scripture dictates that we greet each other with a holy kiss, which today means to hug and shake hands. It's too bad that we aren't more like Joshua and serve God instead of running in fear from the giants...or a microscopic germ. Did you know that various states have different levels of censorship on Christian gatherings? Some still aren't allowed to congregate, some are forbidden to sing, and none are allowed to greet each other as a loving family with a hug or shake hands. Brothers and sisters, why do we submit to this? Do we follow Christ? Scripture says to lay hands on those who are ill. We are to gather together and sing praises to our Lord. That's a Christian directive. When Peter and the other Apostles where threatened with jail, and worse, if they didn't stop preaching about Jesus Christ, Peter wouldn't be silenced. "Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men." Acts 5:29. Christians, it's time for you to decide whom you serve. Did Peter have more power than we do today? No, but Peter followed Jesus as a way of life. He believed with all his heart that the Gospel is God's truth, and didn't allow fear to compromise his witness. Peter had made mistakes in his life, but now he was ready to stand up for Jesus. What about us? Are we ready to turn our back on Jesus and appease the non-believing government? Or, are we willing to take up our cross and follow Jesus? "But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen." 1 Peter 5:10-11. Each of us has a name, but if we claim to be Christians, we bear the name of Jesus Christ. He is our salvation. Do you serve Him? The satanic world is trying to stop us. Choose whom you serve. As for me and my house, we will follow Jesus Christ. 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 rush to communism in America - Bill Wilson - www.dailyjot.com New York Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo and his New York City Mayor are leading the way in demonstrating what a communist state looks like in America. Cuomo has issued a 14-day quarantine for visitors to New York from some 34 states and Puerto Rico. People flying into New York are required to fill out paperwork confirming where they are coming from and where they are going. If they refuse, they are subject to a $2,000 fine. Cuomo says it is illegal to leave the airport if the papers are not in order. New York City's Democratic Mayor Bill de Blasio has added to the COVID fascism by announcing a $10,000 fine if people choose to ignore the 14-day quarantine order. But, wait, there's more. At a time when murder rates are increasing and de Blasio has announced plans to defund the police to the tune of a billion dollars, the mayor is also diverting law enforcement efforts to set up quarantine checkpoints around the city. The city also has a "Test and Trace Corps" using agents at places like Penn Station to enforce compliance. The Test and Trace Corps will also call visitors on the phone to check on them. Breitbart reports that the head of the corps, Ted Long, announced, "If we can't get through to you on the phone, we've now deployed teams to knock on your door and check in on you to make sure you're safe." de Blasio said that the checkpoints are just the beginning of wider and harsher measures. In California, the Democratic leaders are following suit. California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom formed "strike teams" within ten state agencies in June. Associated Press reported on July 6 that "Ten agencies that make up the strike teams Newsom formed last week together contacted 483,000 businesses. Officials previously said that they sent letters Thursday to every employer, or about 350,000 businesses, warning that they could face fines or potential criminal prosecution if they failed to implement a new statewide requirement to wear face coverings." Newsom's raids netted 52 citations over the Independence Day weekend. Seems ironic that on the day America celebrates independence, California was cracking down on its citizens. Two states that could determine the election have governors, mayors and other elected officials that want to defund law enforcement and at the same time use law enforcement and government agencies to oppress the citizenry. Meanwhile, calling the Trump "regime" "fascist," the head of the Revolutionary Communist Party USA, Bob Avakian, endorsed Democratic Party presidential candidate Joe Biden. Avakian said in his statement, "Our fundamental goal, and guiding star, remains: REVOLUTION-NOTHING LESS." Do you see where this is headed? The true face of communism is being revealed among the Democratic Party's leaders. Communism requires abolishing all religion. The government becomes god. As Psalm 33:12 says, "Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD." Beware of the rush to communism in America. Daily Devotion: When the Church Is Unstoppable - by Greg Laurie - www.harvest.org You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. -Matthew 5:14 I don't know when things have been any darker in our culture spiritually. Our culture is awash with depictions of violence. People flaunt immoral lifestyles. They wink at things the Bible says are clearly wrong. Lying has become so commonplace that we accept it now, even among our leaders. As believers living in an ungodly world, it's so tempting for us to simply say, "Forget it. There isn't anything we can do. Obviously, we'll never impact this world." We wonder if we can ever make a difference. We wonder if we can effectively penetrate this culture with the Good News that God gave us to proclaim. We could just throw up our hands and say, "We might as well just retreat into our Christian subculture and hope that our problems eventually go away or that the Lord returns soon and gets us out of here." But we need to remember that Jesus Christ gave us a mandate, which is to affect this world as both salt and light, as His representatives. The answer lies in the source of our power. If we rely on our own strength and methods, we cannot make much of a difference. If we rely on our own abilities, we surely will fail. We need a power beyond ourselves. And with God's power behind us, launching us into this culture, we can make a difference in this world-the only real difference. Yet this only will happen through the church that the Spirit of God empowers, the church that obeys the Word of God. There is no way we can impact our culture in our own strength. We can't do it through programs. We can't do it through gimmicks. We can't do it through any of our own devices. But if we choose to be driven by God's limitless power, then nothing can stop us. ![]() FROM THE HEART
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