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Prophecy Update Newsletter
August 18, 2016
IN TODAY'S NEWSLETTER...
Pokemon Go Politicians and Social Bot Elections - By Paul McGuire - http://www.newswithviews.com/McGuire/paul289.htm
The vast majority of the American people, media, and politicians in the 2016 Presidential Elections are living in a past tense reality based on a faulty perception of politics and the nation. The 2016 American Presidential race is a "Pokémon Go" election that is taking place in "augmented reality" where "social bots" motivate people to vote for one candidate or another by manipulating their moods via social media. Pokémon Go is an augmented reality game where a person follows virtual characters or objects that appear on their smart phones through real world environments. In the first two trading days after the game was released on the market the stock of Nintendo, the games manufacturer, rose $7.5 billion. The latest psychological research tells us that voters make choices based on emotions rather than logic and facts. In other words, voters are not making up their minds because of political debates they are watching on the cable news networks where statistics and other hard facts are being discussed. Across all educational levels people are voting on the basis of emotion. For over a century experts in persuasion have understood that it is the manipulation of emotion that influences an election. However, with computers, algorithms, social media, and the internet, the ability to analyze and influence emotions has exploded. For example, the latest data suggests that the manipulation of emotions can also affect voter turnout. If tech companies like Google, Apple, Twitter, or Instagram manipulate emotions to increase positive feelings among people who are Democrats or Republicans, that can produce greater enthusiasm about the election. Depending upon which party the enthusiasm is generated in, that candidate will have far greater turnout. In the same way, if social media is used to generate negative emotions about a candidate, that candidate will get far lower voter turnout. There are many ways tech companies, political parties, social movements, and governments can manipulate emotions through the Internet. The term "emotional contagion" means spreading strong emotions to millions of people through social media, emotions such as anxiety, anger, happiness, enthusiasm, depression, despair, hopelessness, peace, and euphoria. A targeted demographic can consist of any group of people such as those in a specific geographic location, a religious group, political group, ethnic group, or by age, sex, or any number of categories. By manipulating search engines or rankings or linking negative articles or blocking positive information about a particular candidate, negative or positive emotions can be created in a person using the search engine. Another way emotions can be manipulated in potential voters is through the news feeds generated by tech companies which appear in people's social media accounts like Google, Facebook, AOL, Apple, Twitter, Instagram, etc. By bombarding voters with either negative or positive news stories, images, videos, or emails the public can be programmed about how to feel about a particular candidate, religion, political issue, social issue, or the economy. There have been allegations by some that tech companies like Twitter, Apple, Google, Instagram and others are attempting to defeat Donald Trump. "We do not merely destroy our enemies; we change them." George Orwell, 1984. Just like in Pokémon Go, millions of people are not seeing the real world; they have entered a socially engineered "augmented reality" where politicians have been transformed into Pokémon Go virtual characters that can be followed in the real world. There is a growing awareness that the world of the Internet is not real, but a virtual world or "augmented reality" generated by some kind of hidden elite. It is this Technocratic Elite who are using technology like Social Bots that expose private information on any individual and specifically social media users for the purposes of tracking, control, or blackmail. Social Bots can be used to destroy individuals and grassroots organizations that challenge the official politically correct dogma. For example, people who use blogs and social media to expose the dangers of GMOs or Big Pharma or advocate for any other cause can be destroyed by Social Bots pretending to be real people. Social Bots can be used to artificially enlarge the numbers and influence of one group over another. An example of this would be the collusion of the cable news networks and certain tech giants which only show close up photographs or videos of Donald Trump speaking at rallies where the real attendance ranges between 15,000 -30,000 people. In contrast, there are many Hillary Clinton rallies where only 1,000 - 3,000 people show up, but that visual evidence of low turnout is concealed from the audience. This is an attempt to diminish Trump's power and influence and create a false impression in the minds of the public. Social Bots are infiltrating target populations of people who are completely unaware that they are being manipulated by things like social media rankings and analysis of the number of people who listen, watch, click, download, post, or read things. There are numerous mainstream media outlets and social media platforms which are being artificially propped up with false numbers, rankings, and ratings designed to increase the flow of advertising revenue and take away revenues from alternative media. BOTS is short for software robots. CHATBOTS operating on algorithms can pretend to be human and hold conversations, make posts, write comments, and infiltrate blogs, websites, Facebook pages, and internet news sites by the millions and discredit, tear down, defame, attack, and attempt to destroy any group or individual by making comments, or writing reviews or posts or replies in an attempt to destroy individuals and groups who choose to reject groupthink. Anyone who holds any viewpoint, liberal, conservative, or whatever, if they are intellectually honest, should comprehend that the right to think freely, speak freely, and act freely is in grave danger. For the moment, the Technocratic Elite will use a corporate controlled media and internet to promote viewpoints that benefit their interests. But the moment they find that promoting those viewpoints is no longer of benefit to them they will turn and destroy them. They will do it with new technologies that go way beyond Social Bots. They will literally electronically erase memories and replace them with artificial memories that further their long-term agenda. All these activist groups, politicians, activists, celebrities, journalists, bloggers, and others who temporarily are benefiting from social media algorithms will soon find that they are nothing more than what Lenin called "useful idiots." Largely because they do not read history or philosophy and have divorced themselves from the great religious texts from Mankind's origins, they do not understand the nature of Mankind and where we are going. C.S. Lewis, the author of numerous fantasy books like The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, along with science fiction and books on Christian apologetics wrote in That Hideous Strength that "Despair of objective truth had been increasingly insinuated into scientists; indifference to it, and a concentration on mere power, had been the result...Dreams of the far future destiny of man were dragging up from its shallow and unquiet grave the old dream of Man as God." The end game is revealed by the United Nations' lust for ever more data on every individual on planet Earth. The United Nations, which is dedicated to creating an all-powerful world socialist government, wants data on the private sector and is cultivating partnerships with the big social media companies. The purpose of gathering data on every ordinary individual is for control. The Technocratic Elite or what Aldous Huxley called The Scientific Dictatorship wants information because information represents the power to control every person on Earth. The name of the game is to maintain the illusion of democracy and choice while manipulating every human thought, emotion, belief, and memory. This is not just about this political election. This is about the future of Mankind and where we are going. If you think Pokémon Go is just a game and Social Bots are just the latest technology developed to control people's thinking, like an evolutionary jump from the television commercial, you don't get it yet. Pokémon Go is about programming people to accept "augmented reality" or a virtual world to replace the real world. Social Bots are already starting to be driven by artificial intelligence...and none of this is random. The Technocratic Elite want to become "god-kings," as I explain in my book, A Prophecy of the Future of America 2016-2017. If you embrace Social Darwinism, where might makes right and there is no such thing as absolute right or wrong, than you have to take it to its next logical conclusion. Those who have the "might" and the power have the evolutionary right to rule, control, and dominate by brute force. This is what the elite believe, and since there is no such thing as right or wrong, it is inevitable that because you have the power, you can do whatever you choose to do. What most people do not understand is that there exists an elite who are in the process of firmly establishing themselves as the absolute rulers of planet Earth. Whether they choose to attempt that through the smokescreen of illusion and smoke and mirrors, or whether they will attempt it openly with brute military force, death and destruction is their choice. This is about the final consolidation of their power as the rulers of Earth, with the rest of Mankind becoming their slaves for the purpose of producing, building, and maintaining what they want. They are constructing the Hive Mind, using technetronic control to make millions of people serve them. But the time will come when the human slave race is obsolete. Already, the so-called protected occupations like journalism, medicine, and other fields are being replaced by computers, robots, and eventually by cyborgs and androids. In addition, a global economic system where no one can buy or sell without a microchip implant is almost here. The manipulation and control of Humanity through science and technology is being finalized all around us. If you are still capable of thinking outside of your programming, you will notice there exists a door out of this "augmented reality." The door is called Truth, but of course many people cannot see that door because they have decided it does not exist. There is a difference between augmented reality and final reality. Augmented reality has been altered through technology or some other means. In that reality there is no door. Final reality is the reality that really exists, whether or not you and I choose to believe it. Final reality is final because it stands apart from our belief system. So which is the real reality? Is it augmented reality? Is it the reality you choose to create? Or is it final reality? All I know is I saw a door and walked through it and there was something very real on the other side of it. 
Watchman Warning: Return of the Cold War - by Hal Lindsey - http://www.hallindsey.com/ww-8-17-2016/
On Monday, Bill Gertz of the Washington Free Beacon reported some disturbing news. "Russia is building large numbers of underground nuclear command bunkers in the latest sign Moscow is moving ahead with a major strategic forces modernization program." According to the Daily Mail, Putin is building dozens of these bunkers, each one capable of withstanding atomic blasts. One of the headlines read, "Bunkers spark fears that Russia is preparing for a nuclear war." Russia is building nuclear command bunkers, has been increasing missile production, and is modernizing their entire nuclear program. Worst of all, according to NATO's new Supreme Allied Commander, U.S. Army General Curtis Scaparrotti, they now see the use of nuclear weapons as acceptable. He said "Russian doctrine states that tactical nuclear weapons may be used in a conventional response scenario. This is alarming and it underscores why our country's nuclear forces and NATO's continues to be a vital component of our deterrence." Mark Schneider of the National Institute for Public Policy, summed up the bad news. "Russia is getting ready for a big war which they assume will go nuclear, with them launching the first attacks." Secretary of State Ash Carter said recently, "Despite the progress that we've made together since the end of the Cold War, Russia has in recent years appeared intent to erode the principled, international order that has served us, our friends and allies, the international community and Russia itself so well for so long." Carter put it diplomatically, but the meaning is clear. Russian actions are eroding the post-Cold War peace. Carter then became more blunt. "Russia continues to violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova, and actively seeks to intimidate its Baltic neighbors. At sea, in the air and space and cyberspace, Russian actors have engaged in challenging international norms. And most disturbing, Moscow's nuclear saber-rattling raises troubling questions about Russia's leader's commitments to strategic stability, their respect for norms against the use of nuclear weapons, and whether they respect the profound caution that nuclear-age leaders showed with regard to the brandishing of nuclear weapons." This isn't an unnamed source at the Defense Department. Ash Carter is the Secretary of Defense, and he publicly questions "Russia's leader's... respect for norms against the use of nuclear weapons." Admiral John Richardson, Chief of Naval Operations, told the New York Times, "We're back to the great powers competition." Putin's desire to build a new Russia in the image of the old Soviet Union is a disaster for the world - especially the Russian people. Not long ago, the Duma passed what it called "anti-terrorism" legislation. Everyone else called them "Big Brother Laws." This legislation increased surveillance and government intrusion. American communications companies have been leaving Russia in the last few weeks because of these intrusive laws. They also limit Christian expression. They require all evangelistic efforts to take place only within the confines of a church. And even there, Christians must first apply for a government permit. The laws make it illegal to email a friend an invitation to church, or talk to someone about Christ, even in the privacy of their own homes. For students of Bible prophecy, these events are not surprising, but they're still very sad. Putin's war is not with Europe or the United States, it's with God and the laws of God. The Bible tells us that one day Russia and Iran will lead a federation of nations in a massive assault on Israel, and they will lose. God Himself will fight against them. On Tuesday we learned that Russian bombers flying sorties over Syria are launching from air bases in Iran. It's the first time Iran has allowed a foreign power to conduct military operations from its soil since the revolution. Prophecy students have been fascinating by the increasingly cozy relationship between Russia and Iran that has developed in the last few months. The future assault on Israel puts Russia in the role of end-times villain. But we should be careful to remember that the Russian people are not all complicit. In fact, they are Putin's primary victims. Because of the Big Brother laws, Russian Christians have asked their brothers and sisters around the world to remember them in prayer. There's no better time than right now. Meanwhile, the United States must understand that the cold war is on again. There are little indications of this - things like low altitude flybys and increased submarine patrols off the U.S. coast. And there are big indicators - like Russia's new buildup of missiles, their modernized nuclear infrastructure, and what Ash Carter calls "nuclear saber rattling." Putin is playing a high stakes game of Russian Roulette. And, like it or not, we're all playing, too. 
Analysis: Russian jets in Iran change Mideast game - http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Iran-News/Analysis-Russian-jets-in-Iran-change-Mideast-game-464380
The spectacle of Russian planes taking off from bases inside Iran on Tuesday to attack targets in Syria shows, indeed, that the deal was a game changer. Two weeks ago US President Barack Obama infuriated Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman by saying at a Pentagon press conference that Israeli officials are now supportive of the Iran nuclear deal. The Israeli military and security establishment, Obama said, "acknowledges this has been a game changer." And, he pointed out, Israel was the country most opposed to the deal. The spectacle of Russian planes taking off from bases inside Iran on Tuesday to attack targets in Syria shows, indeed, that the deal was a game changer - but not in the way Obama had in mind. As former National Security Council head Yaakov Amidror said on Israel Radio Wednesday, beyond the technical matter of it being easier and more effective for Russia to attack Syria from Iran, there is also huge diplomatic symbolism in their choosing to do so. This was not, as Amidror noted, a nice little deconfliction mechanism like the one Israel and Russia set up in September so that their pilots don't accidentally shoot each other down over Syrian airspace. The deployment of Russian jets to bases in Iran is, as far as cooperation goes between states, the "full monty." And it is a degree of cooperation made possible in large part by the Iranian nuclear deal. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's fierce opposition to last year's Iranian deal was not only based on the deal's nuclear merits and not only motivated by fear that it would eventually give Iran a path to a nuclear bomb. His opposition also had to do with the fear that the deal would bring Iran - which had been completely isolated internationally - back into the world's good graces and embolden it. He feared that the deal would strengthen Tehran both financially and diplomatically so that it could further pursue its destabilizing designs in the region. In fact, one of Netanyahu's main criticism of the negotiations was that Iran's destructive behavior in the region and in the world was not even on the table at the talks. And, indeed, when the world was sanctioning Iran, the Russians kept the regime at arm's length. Moscow only decided to deliver the S-300 air defense missiles to Iran, a deal that had been postponed for years, after the deal was signed. From Moscow's perspective this made perfect sense. Sanctions had been lifted, and if Iran was once again legitimate, why not go ahead and provide it with defensive arms? Using Iranian bases to fly sorties against Syria can be seen as an extension of that same logic. If Iran is no longer a pariah state, if it is legitimate to have normal relations with it, then why not take those relations as far as they can go and use Iran's air bases to pursue what Moscow feels are its own interests? It is hard to believe Russia would have made that calculation had the nuclear deal not been signed, and had Iran remained outside the pale of international legitimacy. Russian-Iranian military cooperation to the extent witnessed this week will have enormous significance for the Middle East. It sends a clear message to the entire region not only whose side the Russians are on, but how far they are willing to go to pursue their objectives. As Obama said, the nuclear deal is a game changer. But this type of change is definitely not in the interests of the US, America's traditional Sunni-Arab allies in the region, nor Israel. 
Is Russia About to Invade Ukraine? - By Michael Snyder - http://endoftheamericandream.com/archives/is-russia-about-to-invade-ukraine
War is coming, but unfortunately most Americans are completely oblivious to what is about to happen. In recent weeks, tens of thousands of Russian soldiers have been massing at eight staging areas along Russia's border with Ukraine, and some Pentagon officials believe that this could represent preparations for a full-scale invasion. But ultimately Russia has much bigger concerns than just Ukraine. At this point, the Russian people view the United States more negatively than they did even during the height of the Cold War, and their leading thinkers openly talk about the inevitability of a future conflict between the two superpowers. The Russians have been feverishly upgrading and modernizing their strategic nuclear forces in anticipation of that conflict, but unfortunately the U.S. military has not made similar strides under the Obama administration. As a result, the balance of power has shifted dramatically in favor of the Russians. Things have been relatively calm in Ukraine for a while, but that may be about to change in a major way. According to Business Insider, Russian forces are "encircling Ukraine from the north, east, and south"... Something big may be about to go down in Ukraine. For the Ukrainian soldiers that are stationed on the eastern border with Russia, however, things have already escalated to a conventional conflict - for example in Shyrokyne, on the Azov Sea coast east of the port city of Mariupol, Ukrainian forces have reported being the target of over 200 rounds of mortars and artillery fire in the middle of the night from separatist forces. And the conflict in Ukraine looks like it could be on the verge of boiling over as Russian and Russian-backed forces are encircling Ukraine from the north, east, and south. Needless to say, these developments are deeply alarming U.S. officials. In fact, Bill Gertz of the Washington Free Beacon says that up to 40,000 Russian soldiers stand poised to launch a full-scale invasion at this moment... The Pentagon has identified eight staging areas in Russia where large numbers of military forces appear to be preparing for incursions into Ukraine, according to U.S. defense officials. As many as 40,000 Russian troops, including tanks, armored vehicles, and air force units, are now arrayed along Ukraine's eastern border with Russia. Additionally, large numbers of Russian military forces will conduct exercises in the coming days that Pentagon officials say could be used as cover for an attack on Ukraine. August 24th is Independence Day in Ukraine, and some analysts are pointing to that date as a time when a potential attack could occur. Hopefully that will not be the case, and we should remember that Russian President Vladimir Putin tends to do the unexpected. Just look at what happened in Crimea. He was able to annex the entire region without a shot hardly being fired. When it comes to geopolitics, way too often the Russians are playing chess while the Obama administration is playing checkers. And as I mentioned in the opening paragraph, the Russians are very much preparing for the day when there will be a military showdown between the United States and Russia. For example, the newly developed Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile (also known as the Satan 2) has the capability of destroying an entire region the size of Texas. Each missile has 12 independently targetable warheads, and essentially what that means is that one missile goes up and 12 nuclear warheads come down. It is a weapon of exceedingly great power, and we have no way of stopping it... Russia is preparing to test-fire a nuclear weapon which is so powerful it could reportedly destroy a whole country in seconds. The Satan 2 missile is rumored to be the most powerful ever designed and is equipped with stealth technology to help it dodge enemy radar systems . This terrifying doomsday weapon is likely to strike fear into the hearts of Western military chiefs, as current missile defense technology is totally incapable of stopping it. But to me, what is even more frightening is the fleet of strategic nuclear submarines that the Russians are putting together. The following comes from a major British news source... Vladimir Putin is assembling a secret fleet of super submarines which could topple NATO and plunge the world into war. A report by naval experts warns that Russia already has a small but sophisticated army of subs which are capable of launching missile strikes across the globe. These submarines can dive extremely deep and they are incredibly quiet. The advanced stealth capabilities that they possess make them an enormously powerful weapon... Andrew Metrick, who co-wrote the report for the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), said: "Russia operates a small number of very small, nuclear powered submarines that are capable of diving in excess of several thousand meters. "You can imagine what a clandestine deployable deep submergence vehicle could be used for." Yes, it doesn't take much imagination to see what these ultra-quiet subs could be used for. Someday, a fleet of Russian nuclear submarines could come right up to our coastlines without us ever knowing that they were there. In the middle of the night they could surface, launch their missiles, and strategic targets would start being destroyed within just a couple of minutes. And if the U.S. was even able to muster much of a response, the Russian anti-ballistic missile systems are able to destroy just about anything that we can throw at them. To say that the balance of power has shifted from the days of the Cold War would be a massive understatement. Meanwhile, the Russians have also been creating a "cloak" which can reportedly make units "invisible" to enemy radar... A Russian defense company has created a "cloak," which it says can make electronic objects invisible to enemy radar. The aim of the fiber technology, which is used in the cloak, is to make weapons invisible to prying eyes and detection systems. The St. Petersburg-based company Roselectronics has come up with the invention and says it can make weapons that use thermal, infrared, and electromagnetic radar in targeting invisible. "The main idea of the development is to create coverage that reduces radar visibility of the object both on the visible and microwave spectrums," Georgy Medovnikov from Roselectronics told Ruptly, RT's video agency. Roselectronics believes the lightweight and flexible material can be used to protect armored vehicles, missile systems and warplanes. According to its creators, the material is unique in its ability to absorb radio-electronic signals and interfere with the distribution of electronic traces. Here in the United States, the Obama administration has had much different priorities, and so our strategic nuclear forces are hopelessly outdated. 60 Minutes has shown that our strategic nuclear forces are still using rotary phones and the kind of eight inch floppy disks that you could literally flop around in your hand that they were using back in the 1970s. If you follow my writing regularly, you already know that I have written extensively about a future conflict with Russia. At one time the doctrine of "mutually assured destruction" applied, but at this point things have changed dramatically. Russian military theorists have spent a lot of time studying how to fight and win a nuclear war, and now they have the technological edge to potentially be able to do it. Sadly, these kinds of articles tend to get less attention than many of my other articles because people simply do not understand the threat we are facing, and by the time they do it will likely be way too late. 
The Pulpits Are Silent - By Jan Markell - www.olivetreeviews.org
What incredible times we live in -- like no previous generation. The world is heading pell-mell for a conclusion though nobody knows the timing on this. But we are privileged to look at signs that are like clouds forming on the horizon. In the 1970s there were only a few events that were prophecy-related happening. There were minor shakings but sometimes connecting the dots was even a stretch! Fast forward to today and there are so many prophecy-related events happening daily and hourly that it presents a major dilemma for those of us watching the signs of the times to know just where to focus. As I post stories daily on my website, I agonize that I must leave off so many as space and time won't allow readers to zero in on all that is happening! It is a privilege and a challenge to be born for such a time as this. Very little that is predicted to happen in the "last days" is good news and who wants a steady dose of bad? But if one can "look up" one can bear the heartache of looking around as the signs of the times explode on our news outlets. The Bible asks us to be "watchmen" (Ezekiel 33). We're to be sounding an alarm. Trouble is ahead. Time is short. And I have never felt such a sense of urgency and the realization that time is, indeed, short. I am watching signs "converge." They are stunning and breathtaking. But most pastors will not talk about them! LifeWay Research is a Nashville-based, evangelical research firm that specializes in surveys about faith in culture and matters that affect the church. They report that a third of America's Protestant pastors expect Christians to be Raptured -- or taken up in the sky to meet Jesus -- as the last of the last days begin. Over 36% believe in a pre-Tribulation Rapture. In spite of this glorious good news, their pulpits remain silent. Over 50% of Protestant pastors, according to the survey, believe in a literal Antichrist -- but their pulpits are silent. Most pastors hold to the basic teachings of Christ's Second Coming -- but their pulpits are silent. This same survey says almost 50% of Protestant pastors believe in a coming Millennium and hold to premillennialism. At this time we finally do away with the curse and fallen human nature -- but their pulpits are silent. Pastor Tom Hughes leads The 412 Church in San Jacinto, California. He has written a thoughtful article titled, "Five Reasons Pastors Don't Teach Bible Prophecy." He writes, "Prophecy fills the Bible. End time prophecy touches every person alive today. Jesus taught on it. So did John, Paul, Peter, James, and Jude. Yet only a small percentage of churches teach this crucial part of God's message to our generation. "Some pastors don't teach it for theological reasons. They don't believe it, don't think it applies to us, consider it symbolic, or whatever. Others believe we're probably living near the end of the age, but still refuse to touch the topic. They see it as an elective part of God's curriculum. Take it or leave it." Hughes continues, "That's not how Jesus saw it. He reprimanded the Pharisees and Sadducees for not discerning the times. 'When it is evening you say, it will be fair weather, for the sky is red; and in the morning, it will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening. Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times.' " (Matthew 16:2-3 NKJV) Hughes concludes, "More than a quarter of the Bible is prophecy -- much of it yet to be fulfilled. How can we give congregations a well-rounded understanding of scripture if we leave out such a vital part of it?" He then goes on to list these five reasons pastors may not be sharing these issues in the pulpit: 1) They don't understand prophecy. 2) They fear offending members of the church. 3) They sense this will scare people. 4) People might not tithe if they think we're close to the end. 5) There is fear in looking like the "loony-tune fringe. The Harold Campings have done great damage. The prophecies of the first coming of Christ were fulfilled. They stand as evidence that the Bible can be trusted. Prophecies of His second coming work the same way, except we get to witness these events in our time, often with our own eyes. The nations of the world seem moved, as though by a hidden hand, into exactly the right positions on a global chess board. What an amazing thing to see it happening before our eyes! It builds faith and draws our attention God-ward. And it is a fantastic evangelism tool. I think the church is headed into the home stretch of her history! I base that not on emotions or wishful thinking. I base that on what I see happening daily. Man can live for a week or two without food. We can live only days without water. But our spirits are crushed within hours without hope. We have the good news of the ultimate hope -- the "blessed hope." (Titus 2:13) His glorious appearing. Pastors, please don't remain silent! Share the only good news out there. 
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 
A Light unto My Path - Nathele Graham - twotug@embarqmail.com
Are you afraid of the dark? You should be. I'm not talking about what happens when the sun goes down or when a light switch is turned off. I'm talking about the darkness of sin and the satanic evil around us. Satan has no love for you and only wants your destruction. "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour" 1 Peter 5:8. Oh yes, the devil looks for every opportunity to stumble you and keep you from living in the joy of the Lord, but he is no match for Jesus. Christians may have to fight daily battles, but Jesus fought the war and won victory for us. We need to make the choice to walk in the light or stumble in darkness. Too often we ignore the power within us and try to fight these battles on our own. Christians are sealed with the Holy Spirit and He lives within each of us. "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world." 1 John 4:4. Study your Bible to understand the power of God, and learn to follow His lead. Let God's word light your path and the darkness will flee. King David knew the truth of God's power and he relied on God's strength many times during his lifetime. "[[A Psalm of David.]] The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" Psalm 27:1. David lived many centuries before Jesus walked the streets of Jerusalem, but he knew where his salvation and strength came from. Because he trusted the LORD he was able to courageously face Goliath and win the victory, he was able to walk through the valley of the shadow of death fearing no evil, and he faithfully reigned as God's chosen king over Israel. Every one of the Psalms, whether written by David or someone else, points us to God. "... Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." Psalms 119:105. God's word is a light for Christians. It will light up the path of righteousness and show us that narrow road that leads to life. Many Christians today neglect to study the Bible and their life is mostly filled with unhappiness, turmoil, and darkness. It's easy to fall into sin when you don't use God's word as the lamp that lights your path. In times past it wasn't as easy to study God's word. David couldn't just pick up a Bible from his coffee table, or even download an app on his phone. He didn't even have the entire Bible available like we have today. When he was a young man sitting in the field watching over the sheep he had no way to flip through the pages of the Torah and learn of God. Yet, David knew God and loved Him. Why is it that so many Christians neglect or ignore God's word? Could it be that if they study the Bible they may be convicted of sin? Do they love sin more than they love God? "He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil." 1 John 3:8. That makes you think, doesn't it? If you love your sin so much, maybe you really haven't truly accepted Christ and are still owned by the devil. While we live on this side of Heaven we will always struggle against sin and the powers of darkness, but if you love God you'll desire to please Him. His word is your guide. "This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." 1 John 1:5-7. Fellowship with other Christians is important, but fellowship with God is essential. If you're walking in darkness then you're not in fellowship with Jesus or with other Christians. It's easy to get out of the habit of reading your Bible, and when your path isn't lit by God's word you walk in darkness and it's easy to embrace sin. Jesus chose to enter His creation and restore fellowship between God and man. That fellowship had been lost when Adam sinned and what a mess that made. Satan thought he had won but God had a perfect plan. First He judged the sin of that day and all but eight people perished in the flood. Then, when the time was right, He chose the Israelites to receive the Law and to be the ones to bring the Messiah into the fallen world. "For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." John 1:17. Today we have the blessing of God's grace through faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ as the only atonement for our sin. By accepting that sacrifice we move from the darkness of the Satan-owned world into the Light of salvation. "In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not." John 1:4-5. Don't ever take the Sacrifice of Jesus on the cross for granted. The free gift of salvation that's available to us came at a great cost to Him. Pride caused Satan to rebel against God, which brought about the fall of man. It was God's pure love for us that caused Him to enter His creation and purchase our redemption on the cross. Study God's word and allow it to light your path and you'll come to be very thankful for God's love for you. The Old Testament is full of prophecy foretelling the suffering that Jesus would face, but His love for you and me compelled Him to go to the cross. Show your gratitude by choosing to live in the light of His love. Christians are a special group of people. "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy." 1 Peter 2:9-10. No matter where we live, when we are in Christ we are a part of that peculiar group of people, which means we are a purchased possession of His...He bought us with His blood. He called us out of the darkness of this world. He sacrificed His life for us. Through Him we have obtained mercy instead of condemnation. If you claim to have accepted His blood sacrifice for redemption, then live unashamed for Him. Walk with Him in the light instead of following Satan along the paths of darkness. "For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:" Ephesians 5:8. Following Christ is a choice and it comes with responsibility. When you choose to follow Him, persecution will quite often come your way. If keeping friends, listening to ungodly music, or watching a rerun of some worldly television show is more important than following Christ, then you're making wrong choices. By choosing worldly ways you're choosing to walk in darkness instead of allowing God's light to guide you. Life on this earth is temporary, but your choices here and now will determine your eternal location. Ask Christ into your life, then allow His word to light your path. "Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:" Colossians 1:13-14. He loves you. He died for you. Be a living sacrifice for Him. When people around you know you're a Christian they'll watch you closely. Some will try to make you stumble and others will just laugh. Don't be ashamed of following Christ and living that faith rather than stumbling around in darkness. When a Christian fails people see the failure and are sure to point it out. You will stumble less if you separate yourself from the darkness around you and live in the light of Christ. "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Matthew 5:14-16. Let everything you do glorify God. If you walk in His light, you just might make a difference in the life of someone close to you. I challenge everyone who reads this commentary to take a few minutes each day to read your Bible. Download a Bible app onto your phone and read Scripture while you're sitting at a bus stop or waiting to see a doctor. Wake up a little earlier in the morning and read a few verses, then apply them to your life. You might be surprised at how your life will be changed for the better. Your actions will be guided by God's word and you'll become that light shining in a dark place. "... Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." Psalms 119:105. Choose to let God's word light your path. God bless you all, Nathele Graham twotug@embarqmail.com www.straitandnarrowministry.com ron@straitandnarrowministry.com Ron 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: Prophetic end times-- 4 years ago and today - Bill Wilson - www.dailyjot.com
Four years ago on August 20, World Net Daily reported that Muslim Brotherhood operatives began crucifying those who oppose the newly elected Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi, also a Muslim Brotherhood leader. The United States, at the behest of the "president", aided the Muslim Brotherhood in taking over Egypt in the name of "democracy." Morsi then dismissed all of the pro-American military leadership and replaced them with Muslim Brotherhood commanders; he moved to improve ties to the terrorist group Hezbollah; and held a summit in Iran --the first official visit to Iran by an Egyptian president since 1979. Since then, American foreign policy has also embraced Iran. Four months earlier in April 2014 White House officials were meeting with Muslim Brotherhood (MB) representatives. By then, it was well known that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's top aide Huma Abedin had close ties to the MB, and that several appointees to Homeland Security and the Pentagon were associated in some way with the terrorist organization. The MB creed is as follows: "Allah is our objective. The Prophet is our leader. The Qur'an is our law. Jihad is our way. Dying in the way of Allah is our highest hope." The White House admitted that it was meeting with representatives of the Muslim Brotherhood, and sponsoring meetings at the National Security Council with the MB. Fast forward to today. MB sympathizers run deep in the Clinton circle of influence. Breitbart reports of Clinton's Vice Presidential running mate, Tim Kaine: "He appointed a Hamas supporter to a state immigration commission; spoke at a dinner honoring a Muslim Brotherhood terror suspect; and received donations from well-known Islamist groups.". Clinton's right hand woman remains Huma Abedin. Abedin's brother, mother, and deceased father are all confirmed to have leadership ties to the MB. This assists in connecting the dots between the current Administration's assistance of the MB in government takeovers in Libya, Egypt, Tunisia, Yeman, and now Syria. There are many verses in the Koran that instruct Muslims to kill Christians and Jews. Islam is not a peaceful religion. It is an antichrist system. 2 John 7 says, "For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist." The Koran specifically says that Allah has no son. Koran Sura 23:91 says, "Never has Allah begotten a son, nor is there any other god besides Him." America's foreign policy is supporting the Muslim Brotherhood. This administration and the one that wishes to replace it are advancing the Islamic agenda and have close ties to the terrorist group with a stated goal of Jihad to do it. Those ties have only deepened over the past four years. 
Daily Devotion: Living on Promises, Not Explanations - Greg Laurie - www.harvest.org
"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," says the Lord. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." -Isaiah 55:8-9 When calamity befell Job, he asked God why many times. There is nothing wrong with asking God why, as long as we don't feel that He somehow owes us an answer. I think if God actually were to give us the answer, we wouldn't be satisfied anyway. What if you said, "Lord, why did this happen?" and God said, "I'm going to tell you right now. Are you ready? Sit down. Here's why. . . ." Do you think that would really satisfy you? I don't think it would. If the Lord told you why things happened the way they did, would it ease your pain or heal your broken heart? I don't think so. I think it would raise more questions. When her brother, Lazarus, died, Martha cried out to Jesus. Unfair. Foul. Not right. Instead of correcting her, Jesus tried to give her an eternal perspective: "Your brother will rise again" (John 11:23). Martha said, in effect, "Yeah, I know-in the resurrection on the last day." But Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?" (verses 25-26). In other words, "No, Martha, you are missing the point. I am the resurrection and the life. . . ." Here is what Martha didn't know. Jesus was about to raise her brother from the dead. She wanted a healing; He wanted a resurrection. God was going to do abundantly above and beyond that which she could ask or think. God says, "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways" (Isaiah 55:8). We live on promises, not on explanations. We shouldn't spend too much time asking why. 
FROM THE HEART
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