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Prophecy Update Newsletter
August 8, 2016
IN TODAY'S NEWSLETTER...
It's the End of the World, Now What? - Pete Garcia - http://www.omegaletter.com/articles/articles.asp?ArticleID=8286
For the better part of 50 years now, Hal Lindsey has said that Christ's return is imminent, but I fear that for many, apocalypse-fatigue is setting in. The series sparked a huge renewed interest into the idea of the Rapture, and for what follows, but even that excitement seems to have faded. With all the geo-political, economic and technological changes happening every day, the modern man has developed an increasingly short attention span. Increasingly, we express concern over the swelling anti-Christian sentiment that is growing in the west and express outright shock over the brutality of that same anti-Christian sentiment in the east. Half of Christianity wants to reclaim the world for Christ and build His kingdom for Him. The rest are divided on how the end does happen. In fact, MOST of what we would call Christendom today, does not advocate the only, logical, Biblical, theologically doctrinal position of a Pre-Tribulational Rapture, otherwise known as our "Blessed Hope". All that aside, the truth is, that believers for millennia- have long pondered, wondered, and longed to see what the days we live in would be like. While our days may be increasingly onerous and dangerous it is also exciting to see the pages of the prophetic scripture come to life right before our very eyes. It is both bitter and sweet that we live to see these days come to pass, just as Christ, the Prophets and Apostles said they would. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober...For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. 1 Thess 5:4-6, 9-10 So it is that we, the final generation, are called to stand firm in the growing tide of darkness which all the more enshrouds this fallen planet. But in our standing, we are to do four things which will not only bring glory to God, become a witness and a testimony to the lost, but will also embolden our brothers and sisters in these trying times. We are to worship, wait, work, and watch. Worship I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:1-2 For the born-again Christian, our worship is not solely limited to what we do in a church building on Sunday mornings but how we live our lives. Our lives, ALL of it, should be an act of worship. The Apostle Paul, via the Holy Spirit, instructs us to present our bodies, our hearts, and our minds to God as a living sacrifice. Once you become a believer in Jesus Christ, you are no longer your own, because you were bought with a price. (1 Cor 6:19-20) We are to become living sacrifices, crucifying the flesh daily, so that we may live in the Spirit. This is not easy, because the flesh becomes a powerful obstruction to our walk with God. Our primary goals as believers is to worship God, mature in the faith, and be a witness to those who do not know the Lord. We demonstrate our worship by how we live our lives, by being a living sacrifice. We mature in the faith when we learn how we live by our worship, which by glorifying God puts our trust in Him, and not ourselves. And our worship becomes a living testimony to those who do not know Christ and Christ said that if we would glorify Him, HE would draw all men to Himself. (John 12:31-33) Wait For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. Phil. 3:20-21 Anyone who has ever had to wait for anything realizes that waiting is not fun. But waiting adds to faith, what immediate gratification cannot. It develops and matures you in your walk (sanctification) with the Lord. Abraham, who exhibited an amazing amount of faith, waited many decades for the promise of a son that the Lord would provide to both he and Sarah. Once that heir (Isaac) came and grew, God then instructed Abraham to take him to Mt. Moriah (modern day Golgotha/Calvary), making Isaac carry his own wood which Abraham would use to sacrifice him. This all seemed contrary to all that God had promised him, but Abraham was prepared to do this, up until the point that the Angel of the Lord stayed his hand. Abraham demonstrated his faith that even if God had him kill his own son, that God would raise him again, or else God would be breaking His own promise. (Gen. 15:1-5; 22:3-5) While the waiting was something that Abraham and Sarah struggled with, it developed and matured them. And our waiting is not in vain, but because... The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9) Anytime we lose sight of this, just remember the day you came to Christ, and what if God had chosen the day prior to be the day of the Rapture. While we wait, let God develop you into the man or woman He wants you to become. In our waiting, let us attain the goal of running for the prize. (1 Cor. 9:25; Phil. 3:14) While our goal is the 'upward call' and may be the end state, our goal here on earth should be, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head-Christ-(Eph. 4:13-15) Work ...But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more; that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing. 1 Thess 4:10-12 Unlike the prosperity propaganda that many successful self-help televangelists love to promote, God has not called us to a life of luxury and riches. I am not saying that a Christian can't be wealthy, or that God can't even bless us in those arenas, because He does and He can. What I am saying is that should not be our modus operandi. While our fiat currency system may be a necessity to survive in these last days, it should not be what motivates us. That should not be what we strive for, or yearn for. Wherever you are, and whatever you do, do it for the Lord. Don't do it so that other men can notice you, or that you do it for the accolades and praise of people, but serve God with a willing heart. Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matt. 6:19-21 Watch "Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately. Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them. And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect." Luke 12:35-40 What is increasingly perplexing to me, considering all that is transpiring around the world, is the outright rejection and denial by those who claim to be Christian. Now, I expect this from mainstream media, government, and pop culture, but how a denomination (take your pick), rejects 30% of their Bible, only to focus on everything BUT Christ's soon return, baffles my mind. Consider these events that are rapidly advancing in our day: -the coming together of global governance -the rapid technological advancements that are enabling and merging together a tracking, monitoring, and digital financial system that ultimately will become the 'mark of the beast' -growing lukewarmness and apostate nature of "Christianity" -Geo-political alignments of nations, all seemingly hostile to Israel -increasingly devastating natural disasters and pestilence -false/pseudo messiah's -wars and rumors of wars -rise of occultism and paganism -rise of all sorts of violence around the earth -global economy on the verge of collapse Literally, I could go on and on with what is going wrong in the world, but I think you get the drift. Many in Christendom would say pompously- "ahh that stuff has been going on since the beginning. Everything is cyclical, and we are just in another cycle, of an endless cycles when things get bad, then they get better, and then bad, and so on and so forth." I have spoken personally to many people and clergy who hold to this opinion. For them, Christ's return is about as important a focus for them and their ministries, as the color of icicles are on Saturn's rings. Their far "too busy building up His Kingdom here" to worry about if or when Christ will return. For these people, Christ Himself said this... Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. Revelation 3:3 Ah, but the skeptic say's; "Hey that doesn't apply to me, Jesus (if He even wrote that), was speaking to some church in ancient, Asia Minor. That has no relevance to me, today." Notice what Christ says in the very next verse... "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."' Rev. 3:4 Conclusion We are called, in these last days, to stand firm and to be bulwarks in a growing storm that is increasingly and violently, shifting and moving everything about. The only way we can stand firm, is if we stand in Christ, because in and of ourselves, we do not possess the ability, or even the desire to go against the dark tide. It is not pleasant, especially considering what is coming upon the earth and in particular, what we have to look forward to so long as the Lord tarries. But we stand nonetheless, and we proclaim the saving power of the blood of Christ through worship, waiting, working, and watching. Some worship and work, and do not watch or wait for the Lord's return...and they quickly burn out. Some watch and wait, but do not work or worship, and they drift off into the fringe. We need all four to balance out our faith, because work is tiresome, and without the hope of our "Blessed Hope", we lose heart. All watching and no worship, causes us to watch for anything, and soon our short-attention spanned hearts, will drift into areas that appear more exciting or conspiratorial. We need all four, because God built us to do all four, and when any of the four lack, we drift from where God intended us to be. God built us with eternity in our hearts, and only the eternal, can fully satisfy what we know is lacking in the here and now. Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2 Cor. 4:16-18 U.S. Anger at Israel Could Result in A UN Security Council Resolution Establishing a Palestinian State - By Michael Snyder - http://endoftheamericandream.com/archives/u-s-anger-at-israel-could-result-in-a-un-security-council-resolution-establishing-a-palestinian-state
The Obama administration is absolutely furious with Israel. At the end of July, the U.S. State Department issued a scathing press statement in which it publicly rebuked the government for Israel for "settlement activity" in East Jerusalem which the Obama administration considers to be "corrosive to the cause of peace". There has always been tension between the Netanyahu government and the Obama administration, but I don't know if we have ever seen the State Department use such strong language to condemn Israeli activity. Unfortunately, the rapid deterioration of the relationship between the United States and Israel could have some very serious implications for the entire region in the months ahead. As you will see below, Newsweek is reporting that France is ready to make a renewed push for a UN Security Council resolution that would formally establish a Palestinian state, and this time around the Obama administration may be ready to go along with such a resolution. The core issue that is causing so much contention between the United States and Israel right now is the expansion of housing in areas of East Jerusalem where Jewish people already live. The Netanyahu government doesn't see anything wrong with this, but the Obama administration wants those areas of East Jerusalem to be handed over to the Palestinians as part of any peace deal. So the fact that more Jewish homes could be built on land that the Obama administration believes will soon belong to the Palestinians is making them very angry. The following is the entire press statement on this matter that was published on the official State Department website. I have bolded certain areas for emphasis... We are deeply concerned by reports today that the Government of Israel has published tenders for 323 units in East Jerusalem settlements. This follows Monday's announcement of plans for 770 units in the settlement of Gilo. We strongly oppose settlement activity, which is corrosive to the cause of peace. These steps by Israeli authorities are the latest examples of what appears to be a steady acceleration of settlement activity that is systematically undermining the prospects for a two- state solution. In just the past few weeks, we have seen reports of the advancement of plans for 531 units in Ma'ale Adumim, 19 in Har Homa, 120 in Ramot, and 30 in Pisgat Ze'ev; the advancement of a plan to retroactively legalize an outpost near Ramallah; and the issuance of tenders for 42 units in Kiryat Arba. We are also concerned about recent increased demolitions of Palestinian structures in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, which reportedly have left dozens of Palestinians homeless, including children. More than 650 Palestinian structures have been demolished this year, with more Palestinian structures demolished in the West Bank and East Jerusalem thus far than in all of 2015. As the recent Quartet Report highlighted, this is part of an ongoing process of land seizures, settlement expansion, legalizations of outposts, and denial of Palestinian development that risk entrenching a one-state reality of perpetual occupation and conflict. We remain troubled that Israel continues this pattern of provocative and counterproductive action, which raises serious questions about Israel's ultimate commitment to a peaceful, negotiated settlement with the Palestinians. But in Israel, they see things very differently. Thousands of Jewish people already lives in these areas, and the Netanyahu government has already stated that it has absolutely no intention of dividing the city of Jerusalem as part of any peace deal. Israeli authorities were quite alarmed by this recent State Department press statement, and the Jerusalem Post went so far as to accuse the State Department of essentially siding with Palestinian terrorists... But above all, in fixating on settlements, the State Department is deliberately turning a blind eye to the mortal danger of Islamic terrorism and the hatred of Jews that permeates Palestinian society. In so doing, the department is in fact giving a green light to the Palestinian leadership, media and administrative bodies that openly incite, encourage and support terrorism, violence and boycotts against Israel. By the same token, the State Department is giving sanction to the EU and its constituent member states, as well as to the UN and its specialized agencies to exacerbate their hostile policies against Israel. By their logic, if the US State Department takes such a slanted and hostile position, they can now exacerbate their own hostility toward Israel. Something appears to be very, very wrong within the State Department. Neither side is going to back down, and in the weeks ahead this may be the impetus that causes the Obama administration to finally do something that it has long considered doing. About this time last year, the French were ready to go ahead with a UN Security Council resolution that would have divided the land of Israel and set the parameters for a Palestinian state, but the Obama administration wouldn't go along with it so the French backed down. But now the French are ready to move forward again, and Newsweek is reporting that we may see something happen before the next U.S. president is sworn in... The recent U.S. condemnation is anything but overstated; it is an indication of mounting global concern over the imminent extinction of the two state solution. In the next six months, until January 20, 2017, the window for saving it remains open, albeit narrowly. In a courageous attempt to sustain the fumes of hope for the two state paradigm, the French government is driving an initiative to convene an international conference in 2016-a tent for organizing consensus toward a draft U.N. Security Council resolution to revive peace talks. If the conference can achieve the support of nine out of 15 Security Council members for its suggested draft-resolution, with the U.S. agreeing not to exercise its veto, the two state solution will be able to cling to its ninth life. Barack Obama knows that he only has a few months left to make his mark in the Middle East, and a few months ago the Wall Street Journal reported that for the very first time the Obama administration was publicly admitting that a UN Security Council resolution that would divide the land of Israel was on the table... The White House is working on plans for reviving long-stalled Middle East negotiations before President Barack Obama leaves office, including a possible United Nations Security Council resolution that would outline steps toward a deal between the Israelis and Palestinians, according to senior U.S. officials. At this point, we don't know if this will or will not happen by the time Obama leaves office. But we do know that the French want this resolution to happen, and the only member of the Security Council that would be in a position to block it would be the United States. So what will Obama do? Only time will tell, but we will find out soon one way or the other, because Obama's time in the White House is rapidly drawing to a close. Hezbollah - By Daymond Duck - http://raptureready.com/featured/duck/dd239.html
Hezbollah means "army of Allah." It refers to a group of Shiite Muslim terrorists with close ties to Syria and Iran. This group has cells in many nations, but its main operation is in Lebanon. It dominates the Lebanese government with Syria's help and permission. It even controls Lebanon's border with Israel. This "army of Allah" has trafficked in drugs, hijacked a plane (TWA flight 847), blown up American troops (241 marines in Beirut, Lebanon), assassinated multitudes and fought with Russia, Syria and Iran in Syria's civil war. It has an extreme Satanic hatred for Israel and some of those who believe in a Psa. 83 "war" think it will suffer an overwhelming defeat all over Lebanon (Gebal in the northern parts of Lebanon; Tyre in the southern parts of Lebanon; Psa. 83:7). In 2006, Hezbollah placed thousands of rockets and missiles near houses, apartments, schools, hospitals, UN buildings and more. They chose these places and aimed their rockets and missiles at Israel because they knew that innocent civilians would be killed when Israel fired back. Hezbollah troops didn't wear uniforms so they couldn't be distinguished from ordinary citizens. They dug tunnels and bunkers under houses to hide existence. They hung clothes on clotheslines and put animals in the yard to make their fortresses look like civilian houses. They used these tactics because almost nothing stirs the pretend anger of world leaders more than an Israeli bomb killing an Islamic child and they wanted to use the death of civilians against Israel. In 2006, Israel was getting the upper hand in its war with Hezbollah and, as was expected, world leaders wanted to stop the war. The UN Security Council met and passed a resolution (Resolution 1701) to end the war and to stop the transfer of weapons to Hezbollah. One would think that if the UN Security Council met and passed a resolution to stop the transfer of weapons to Hezbollah they would stop those transfers. But Iran and Syria have continued to arm and finance Hezbollah without one peep from the UN Security Council. In 2015, the U.S., a member of the UN Security Council that adopted Resolution 1701, agreed to a nuclear deal with Iran that freed up 100-150 billion dollars in Iranian cash knowing that part of that money would be spent to help finance and arm Hezbollah. Sec. of State John Kerry even admitted that some of that money would probably go to Hezbollah. It has also been reported that Israel believes that Russia, another member of the UN Security Council that adopted Resolution 1701, is sending more weapons to Syria than Mr. Assad needs to fight his civil war. Israel believes the extra Russian weapons (including anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles) are being transferred to Hezbollah. Perhaps this is why the UN Security Council has done nothing to enforce Resolution 1701. At least two of the five permanent members are violating it. Hezbollah is boasting that it has 120,000 rockets and missiles that it can fire at Israel. It is boasting that its rockets and missiles can hit Israel's ammonia plants at Haifa and kill as many as 800,000 people. Israel knows full well that Hezbollah has these rockets and missiles scattered all over Lebanon, they are cleverly disguised in civilian areas and they can do a lot of damage to Israel. Israel can't afford to destroy 120,000 rockets and missiles one at a time. And Israel can't afford to let Hezbollah fire hundreds of rockets and missiles into Israel each day. So Israel has warned Hezbollah and Lebanon not to fire on Israel or the IDF will launch an overwhelming response all over Lebanon. It will be a deadly, ferocious and terrible response for Hezbollah and the civilians of Lebanon. This could be the kind of attack that would take out Gebal in the north and Tyre in the south . And considering the close ties between Hezbollah and Syria it could spill over into Damascus (Isa. 17:1-2) and lead to great destruction in northern Israel (Isa. 17:3-4). Keep watching because this war may be shaping up now. Prophecy Plus Ministries Daymond & Rachel Duck [email protected] Healing 2,000-Year Rift, Christians Work to Return Jews to Israel for Ingathering of Exiles - By Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz - http://www.breakingisraelnews.com/73426/healing-2000-year-rift-christians-work-return-jews-israel-ingathering-exiles/#2FCsD7upmV7t8ZBt.97
"And I will sanctify My great name which hath been profaned among the nations which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the nations shall know that I am Hashem saith the Lord GOD when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes." Ezekiel 36:23 (The Israel Bible™) After millennia of difficult relations, Jews and Christians are coming together in a display of love unprecedented in the history of the two religions to fulfill one of today's most relevant prophecies. Operation Exodus, an organization of Christians dedicated to bringing Jews to Israel, expresses this bountiful love for the Jewish people by helping the Jews return to the land God promised them. The Jews who have returned due to their efforts, fueled by their prayers for Israel, account for an astounding 2.5 percent of Israel's present population. Operation Exodus was established in the United Kingdom in 1991 by Swiss businessman Gustav Scheller. With representatives in over 50 countries around the world, the organization has partnered with the Jewish Agency for Israel and other agencies in assisting over 150,000 Jewish people make aliyah (immigrate) to Israel. Scheller was driven by a powerful belief in prophecy and a feeling of gratitude towards the Jews. In an interview given before he passed away in 2000, Scheller said, "Christians have no choice but to love the Jews. You have given us the Bible." The ministry had its beginnings in prayer. Operation Exodus began during the Gulf war in 1991, when Scud missiles began to fall on Israel. Over a hundred Christians gathered at the HolyLand Hotel in Jerusalem to pray for the protection of Israel, occasionally being forced into sealed rooms, their words of prayer muffled by gas masks. The conference gathered $30,000 for bringing the Jews of Russia back to Israel in boats, based on the prophecy in Isaiah. Surely the isles shall wait for Me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far. Isaiah 60:9 Prayer and prophecy continue to be essential aspects of Operation Exodus. In addition to practical efforts bringing Jews to Israel, they also organize prayer groups, what they call intercessors, bringing together thousands of Christians around the world to pray for the Jewish people and the peace of Jerusalem. "Really, everything we have accomplished is through prayer. We need support to accomplish our goals, but we also need prayer to open hearts, in order to allow our efforts to have a positive effect," Adrianne Prosser, the Outreach Manager for Operation Exodus, explained to Breaking Israel News. "Prayer comes from the deepest places of the heart," Prosser explained. "It is our expression of the unmitigated, unconditional love we have for the Jewish people. "Loving Israel and fulfilling God's promises are really what are at the heart of our work. Helping Jews come to Israel is the best expression of this love." Operation Exodus' belief that helping Jewish aliyah is a powerful expression of Christian love for God is firmly based in Scripture. "We believe this, and it is precisely this that drives us to help bring Jews to Israel," Prosser told Breaking Israel News. "We want to be the bridge for the Christian love into the Jewish community." She cited Isaiah as the source for this Christian obligation, saying, "In the Scriptures, God clearly invites Gentiles to participate with Him in this process." Thus saith the Lord GOD: Behold, I will lift up My hand to the nations, and set up Mine ensign to the peoples, and they shall bring thy sons in their bosom, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders. Isaiah 49:22 "Aliyah is a gift from God. Israel belongs to God and he gave it to the Jewish people," she continued. "That is something unique in the world. Every individual Jew that returns is a miracle, proof of God's eternal word." The ministry acknowledges the difficult history of relations between Jews and Christians and is working to reverse the wrongs of the past 2,000 years. But its members also want to write a new chapter in this relationship, and their efforts seem to making a difference. Adrianne described the remarkable changes she has witnessed in the relationship between Jews and Christians. "It is inspiring to see how well we are received in the Jewish communities these days," Prosser said. "It encourages us to continue our efforts." Though Operation Exodus began as an effort to save Jews in danger from the former Soviet Union, it is rapidly expanding as aliyah increases. Since 2014, Operation Exodus has had a 79 percent increase in requests for aliyah assistance. The organization now has an office in Paris, France being the largest country of origin for Jewish immigration to Israel. Their offices in America are also very busy, especially their new office in Brooklyn. 500,000 Russian Jews live in Brooklyn, and many are considering moving to Israel. The organization provides ongoing assistance to new olim (immigrants) in Israel through their office in Jerusalem. In addition, Operation Exodus provides humanitarian aid to Holocaust survivors and many others in need in the former Soviet Union. President of Operation Exodus USA Debra Minotti, described her vision of the future for the organization. "Now that the Jewish community looks to us as a resource, we want to be there," Minotti said. "When God calls the Jews back to Israel, we want to be there to help. We want to help every single Jew who comes to us, wanting to go home to Israel. That is our core, and the basis of our prayer." Brexit was nothing compared to what's coming - Jim Rogers - http://www.businessinsider.com/brexit-was-nothing-compared-to-whats-coming-2016-8
The last two months alone have seen Britain leaving the European Union, terror attacks, cop killings, Deutsche Bank nearly collapsing, the German long term interest rates set at negative, to name a few. But over the next couple of years, it's going to get a whole lot worse. As economies worsen, there will be more social unrest, more angry people, and crazier politicians. Somebody will try to come along on a white horse to save us all, but she usually makes it worse. Are we at a point right now where it feels like it's accelerating. People all over are very unhappy about what's going on. If you read history, there are a lot of similarities between now and the 1920s and '30s. That's when fascism and communism broke out in much of the world. And a lot of the same issues are popping up again. Brexit could be a triggering moment. This is another step in an ongoing deterioration of events. It's also an important turning point because it now means the central banks are going to print even more money. That may prop the markets up in the short term. We have a strange economy. Markets look like they're fine. But underneath the surface, most stocks are not doing well. Most stocks around the world are down. Most stocks in the United States are down. In 2015, when the market averages were flat, twice as many stocks were down on the New York stock exchange as were up. And in the last nine months, earnings are down in the United States. A recession is starting, it is already in place. But if you look at the averages and the bond market, they still go up. That's because all the central banks are running their printing presses as fast as they can, and Brexit means they'll run them even faster. Except for the central banks printing a lot of money, the entire market would have tanked by now. We had a problem in 2008 because of too much debt, domestically and worldwide. Now the debt levels are staggering compared to 2008. Some countries have up to five times as much debt as they had eight years ago. And the dangers now are even larger than 2008. If you look at the last few bubbles, the Federal Reserve at least had the ability to drop rates from 6% or 5% down to zero. Now it has virtually no room left to maneuver. The Fed doesn't know what it's doing. This is all an experiment with them. They just decided to print more money, drive interest rates to zero, and see what happens. There are going to be profound consequences of this giant delusional experiment. Ironically, with negative interest rates in so many places around the world, investors are putting their money in the U.S. because they think the dollar's a safe haven and at least there's still yield in the U.S. But history shows it's not sustainable. In the 1920s, America had to raise interest rates because of the debt situation in Europe after WWI. The U.S. stock market went through the roof because all the money going from Europe to the U.S. Stocks became so overpriced because all that money kept flowing in one direction. Then all of a sudden... the bubble burst. The Great Depression, fascism and communism came next. Every situation is different, and you can't draw exact parallels between different eras. But history rhymes if it doesn't necessarily repeat, as Mark Twain said. I'm very worried because what we're facing now can get worse than anything most of us have seen in our lifetimes. The world may be overdue for a crisis of that magnitude. Throughout history, we've had periods of severe crisis. I don't mean 1968 or 2008, for instance. I mean a serious crisis with widespread bankruptcies, massive unemployment, the emergence of dictators, and war. America's the largest debtor nation in the history of the world. And the debts are getting higher and higher. The U.K. has huge government debts, huge balance trade imbalances, and now they've voted for Brexit. That's going to cause many problems within the U.K. because of all the tensions that are building up. Spain has problems. Italy has major problems now with its banks. Germany has problems. China has a massive debt problem. Japan looks like it could resort to helicopter money as a way out. There are few bright spots. Societies around the world are already falling apart, or nearly so. Look at all the recent terrorist attacks and mass shooting incidents in America and Europe. And look at what's happening in Venezuela right now. People are literally starving. Even the most basic necessities of life are impossible to find in stores. Hundreds of thousands of people are trying to get into Colombia to buy food. The government just makes it worse because it doesn't know what it's doing. What we're seeing in Venezuela has happened in many countries throughout history. It's happened to many countries in the last century - this isn't something that happened 500 years ago. It hasn't happened in the U.S. yet, of course. But don't think it can't if the circumstances are right. The European Union as we know it is not going to survive. Not as we know it. Britain voted to leave, and France could very well be next. Why France? One of the main reasons is because the French economy is softer than the German economy. At least in Germany people are still earning money and making a living, despite all the recent turmoil. In France, the same malaise that's settling over the U.S. and other places is settling in. And it's going to spread. There is no place to hide with what's coming. I'm not saying it's coming this year, or even the next. I can't give a specific date. But imbalances are building up to such a degree, they just can't continue much longer. We've had two 50% market drops in the last 15 years. Why can't we have a third? And if it can drop 50%, why can't it drop 75%? It can and it will ultimately. But in the meantime, all that money printing could still drive stocks higher. And central banks might take even more desperate measures to keep the game going. The Japanese central bank is already buying stocks. It's already bought all the government bonds. The European Central Bank is running out of bonds and government bonds to buy. Now it's starting to buy corporate bonds. Why can't that happen in America? Why can't the Federal Reserve buy these assets? When Bernanke was head of the Fed he said, "If we have to, we'll buy anything. We'll buy shares of gold mines." If the Central Banks all over the world buy stocks, there's really no top. It's hard to say when the music will end. But it will end, and that's when we can see a 75-80% drop in stocks. The biggest lesson of history is people don't learn from history. And history shows us that even the people that know history, don't learn from history. At the beginning of 2008, the head economist at the Federal Reserve in Washington, DC published a paper that mocked all the people out there who warned about a housing crisis. He said they have 1,000 of the smartest and best educated economists in the world working at the central bank of the United States. Those fools don't know what they're talking about. We do. Except they didn't. And that's the problem. Too many people believe 1,000 of the smartest economists in the world who don't know what they're talking about. That's why they get blindsided. I urge everybody I meet to learn history. Once you become knowledgeable, you're going to be worried. Once you're worried, you might be prepared. If you're prepared, you will be one of those who survives whatever happens. Because what's coming is going to be a mess. ![]()
My Review of "Rapture Ready...Or Not?" Over the last 35 years, I have literally read hundreds of books on Bible Prophecy and End Time signs. I especially enjoy books on the Rapture, and I have read almost every Rapture-related book published. In all those years, devouring thousands of pages, and millions of words, I have not read a better book on the Rapture than, Rapture Ready...Or Not? Terry James might be physically blind, but he is spiritually sharp and well discerning beyond most authors. In "Rapture Ready...Or Not?" Terry has nailed the pre-trib Rapture, and removed any doubt what so ever about the Church going through the Tribulation. With great insight and Godly discernment, Terry explains with simple, yet profound words, why and how that he has come to believe the ways he does about the Rapture, the Tribulation, and the End Times scenario. I think after reading "Rapture Ready...Or Not?" you too will believe as Terry does, and be Ready for the Rapture like never before! - Randy Thomas - Publisher / Editor - Prophecy Update For more information and or to get your copy of "Rapture Ready...Or Not?" use this link: http://www.raptureready.com/terry/book35.html They believe in heaven -- but not God? - Greg Laurie - http://www.wnd.com/2016/08/they-believe-in-heaven-but-not-god/?cat_orig=faith
Pastor Greg Laurie shares realities of afterlife as described in Bible When you are a child, life seems to go so slowly. When I was in the third grade, it felt as though it lasted 20 years. Now decades go by. Today there are satellite radio channels for '50s music, '60s music, '70s music and so on. It occurred to me the other day as I was looking for a good song to listen to on the radio that I have lived through all those decades. It is a sad day when the '90s are considered oldies. It doesn't seem that long ago to me. The older we get, the reality of the afterlife gets stronger. It is something we think about quite often. We know it is coming. We start losing friends and maybe even some family members. We know our day will come. Some people claim to have died and gone into the afterlife and, specifically, to heaven. I find it interesting that all these people who have had these so-called near-death experiences never went to hell. Have you noticed that? Instead, they say they experienced a beautiful bright light, and they felt great peace. Those who aren't Christians may find a certain measure of comfort from descriptions like these because they're hopeful it will be OK for them on the other side. But my question is, Are you willing to bet all eternity on that? I read an article recently about a new study, which revealed that "fewer Americans pray or believe in God than ever before." However, the article went on to say, "Americans have become slightly more likely to believe in an afterlife, even as they are abandoning prayer, belief in God and rituals." People aren't sure whether they believe in God or the Bible, but they believe in heaven. Yet we wouldn't even have the word heaven without the Bible. We wouldn't have the concept of heaven without the Bible. I believe in heaven because God said there is a heaven. The only reliable source on the afterlife is the Bible, which tells us a lot about what is coming on the other side. Heaven is the dwelling place of God, and it will be home for Christians one day as well. Sometimes we ask what heaven is like. I think a better question to ask is what earth is like at its best. Think of the most amazing sunset or the most incredible waterfall you have ever seen. Think about the most amazing architecture you have ever laid your eyes on or the greatest city you have ever visited. Or, go back in your life for a moment and remember some of the greatest moments you've had with family and friends. Those are glimpses of heaven. Heaven is not an imitation of earth; earth is an imitation of heaven. The best that you have ever experienced on this earth will be far better in heaven. When I want to know about a place, I try to talk to someone who has been there. I will ask about a good place to stay, what the weather is like and, most importantly, what are the best places to eat. I want to talk to a person who actually has been there. The only one who is a reliable source on the afterlife, one who has been there and returned, is Jesus Christ. In fact, Jesus said, "For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me" (John 6:38 NIV). Heaven is a real place for real people to do real things. And because of the resurrection of Jesus, if you are a Christian you will have life after death in heaven. Heaven is not the default destination of every person; it is only the destination of the person who has put his or her faith in Jesus Christ. That brings us to the question of what happens when we die. That all depends. If you are a Christian, you will go straight to heaven. The apostle Paul wrote that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (see 2 Corinthians 5:8). Jesus overcame death at the cross. So when a Christian dies, his or her body goes into the ground, but his or her spirit goes right into the presence of God. Here is one way to think about it. A Christian does not have to fear death any more than he or she should fear taking nap. The Bible often describes death for a Christian as falling asleep. After Lazarus died, Jesus said, "Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up" (John 11:11 NIV). When Stephen was dying a violent death at the hands of wicked men, we read that "he fell asleep" (Acts 7:60 NIV). That is how the Bible often describes death for a Christian. But the Bible also teaches there is a generation (and we could be that generation) that will not see death. They will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air. Christians call it the Rapture. By the way, I've put in for that. I want to be in that. But it isn't up to me. Whether I get to heaven by the Rapture or by death, I don't really care. I know that I'm getting there, and that is all that matters. All Christians have this hope as followers of Jesus. The Bible promises that one day, heaven will come to earth. God will make all things new. The Bible, speaking of this, says that God "will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain" (Revelation 21:4 NIV). This passage goes on to say that God will make "all things new" (verse 5). In the new world that is coming, it will be out with the old and in with the new. No more terminal diseases. No more hospitals. No more wheelchairs or funerals. No more suffering, separations, or accidents. No more courts. No more prisons. No more divorces. No more breakups or breakdowns. No more suicide. No more rape. No more missing children. No more drug problems. No more heart attacks, strokes, Alzheimer's disease, or cancer. No more famines. No more disasters. God will make all things new. And it is because of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Daily Jot: Communist Party USA endorses Clinton - Bill Wilson - www.harvest.org
The Communist Party's communications oracle, Peoplesworld.org, has come out swinging for Democratic Party Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. In its latest online edition on July 26, Peoplesworld.org posted: "With Senator Bernie Sanders endorsing Secretary of State Hillary Clinton the message was loud and clear, "We're stronger together." That is what it will take to win in November... Clinton has to provide a vision for a new America, tying together the Democratic platform planks -- called the most progressive ever -- among them, $15 an hour minimum wage, debt-free and tuition-free college and universal health care, with a compelling narrative that inspires people to think big and do big-hearted things." Here, "progressive", means "communist/socialist/Marxist." It is the anti-God, anti-marriage, anti-moral platform as defined by the Communist Manifesto. Peoplesworld.org writes: "The union movement, communities of color, students, women, progressives and the newborn "political revolution" can help generate voter enthusiasm by talking and tweeting about Clinton and the issues. Challenging sexism is a must as well as racism, which has been a coded (and overt) staple of presidential elections for decades." The commies have their eyes set on the over 78 crowd on the US Supreme Court as the golden egg-think about Clinton's opportunity to cement a communist majority on the Supreme Court for a generation. The end game with the "progressive" leadership is totalitarianism. It means taking away your rights to free speech, religion, self-defense, and legal equity. It means brainwashing people to believe they have "rights" when, in reality, there are no rights except those permitted by the government. In his controversial book "The New Persecuted, Inquiries into Anti-Christian Intolerance in the New Century of Martyrs" written in 2001, Antonio Socci wrote that 45 million Christians were martyred in the last century--mostly at the hands of communist and Islamic regimes. From 1900 to 1999, over 100 million deaths occurred because of communism. For me, as a Christian, my faith will not allow me to vote for someone who aligns with communist ideals. The Communist Manifesto states: "...Communism abolishes eternal truths, it abolishes all religion, and all morality, instead of constituting them on a new basis." This is the basis for all socialism and progressivism as well. It is godless and evil. The Bible tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:21, 22, "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil." 2 Timothy 3:13 says, "Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived." There is great deception in the vain words of socialists and communists. They ply the nature of humans with powerful words like "rights" when, in reality, they wish to kill, steal and destroy. Let us remember communism and those who run to it. Daily Devotion: Coming Back to Life - Greg Laurie - www.harvest.org
Then we will not turn back from You; revive us, and we will call upon Your name. -Psalm 80:18 America needs an awakening, but the church needs a revival. We often use the words revival and awakening interchangeably, but there is a distinction. An awakening is when a nation comes alive spiritually, sees its need for God, and turns to Him. A revival is when God's people come back to life again. Revival simply means to bring back to life, to restore. To be revived is to wake up from a state of sleep. As C. S. Lewis pointed out, "A moderately bad man knows he is not very good: a thoroughly bad man thinks he is all right. . . . You understand sleep when you are awake, not while you are sleeping." In other words, if you think you are a great person with no problems, then you are really more asleep than you realize. Revival is coming back. It is waking up. Revival is getting back to the Christian life as it was meant to be lived. Revival is being in the bloom of first love for a lifetime, walking closely with the Lord. You can't always have those initial emotions you had as a new believer any more than you can have the same butterflies in your stomach you had when you first met your husband or wife to be. That is unrealistic. But your love can grow deeper. Your love can grow stronger. That is how we ought to be as followers of Jesus. We need the faith of the Christians of the first century, the faith that turned the world upside down. Revival is nothing more or less than a new obedience to God. Then it is, to quote Nietzsche, a "long obedience in the same direction." Only God can send an awakening to America. But revival can happen right here, right now. FROM THE HEART
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