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Prophecy Update Newsletter
September 8, 2016
IN TODAY'S NEWSLETTER...
Jesus Said "Watch" - By Gene Lawley - http://raptureready.com/featured/lawley/lawley122.html
He concluded that alert with this timing factor, "For you do not know when your Lord may return." So what are we to watch for, or how are we to be watching? He used those cautions in various parables that illustrate that stewardship of responsibilities is to be accountable to Him at His return. Yet, there was no guideline as to how long He would be gone, and for centuries we have had resounding in our hearing, "no man knows the day or the hour" of His coming. Match this situation with the fact that God has made promises that would have to be fulfilled before He could come and wind up human history as we know it, and as prophecy brings to light. For example, the promise He would return the Jews to their promised land and make of them a new nation: "'And I will sanctify My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know that I am the Lord,' says the Lord God, 'when I am hallowed in you before their eyes. For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land. Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols" (Ezekiel 36:23-25). The beginning of that fulfillment was on May 14, 1948, despite the belief of many today who try to tell us that God reje3cted the Jews when they rejected Christ, and those promises now are for the church. It's called Replacement Theology and is an outright slap in the face of God and makes Him out to be a liar! It looks like He has hallowed His holy name before that crowd also. A god who lies is no god at all, and if Numbers 23:19 is not true, then "We are, of all people, most miserable!" Remember this-memorize it and start every Bible question search with this truth in the front of your quest: "God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?" In regard to the watching issue, it seems that the first time we are told what to watch for is in Luke 21:28: "Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near." What are "these things?" In the context before that alert, He described the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple that occurred in 70 AD and told of the inhabitants of Jerusalem and Israel being "led away captive into all nations, and [that] Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled" (verse 24). His prophecy leaps ahead, then, to the time when the age of the Gentiles begins to be fulfilled: "And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory" (Luke 21:25-27). This picture of Jesus coming in great power and glory seems to be pointing to His Second Coming when He comes to the earth where "earth dwellers" will see Him arrive. He says "they" will see Him, not those looking for Him as it will be for the Rapture that comes seven years earlier. In verse 24 two events are referenced-the return of the Jews to Israel and the fulfilling of the times of the Gentiles. Earlier I quoted Luke 21:28 and asked, "What are those things that are to begin happening?" The very next thing told is the parable of the fig tree. You may recall the time Jesus was passing by a fig tree on His way to the temple with the disciples and discovered the tree was all leaves and no fruit, and He cursed it (Mark 11:12-14). Immediately after, He entered the temple and drove out the money-changers and traders. A religion that bears no fruit, no positive eternal results, that was the picture that the disciples saw. The fig tree and the olive tree are used to illustrate Israel in scriptural comparisons. This parable of the fig tree in Luke 21:29-33 relates to the blossoming of Israel again, just as Ezekiel 37 with the valley of dry bones taking on flesh and reviving again to become one people in one place instead of being scattered throughout all nations as their judgment has been: "Then He spoke to them a parable: 'Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near. So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away'" (Luke 21:29-33). It is clearly this current generation now in the 21st century to which He is pointing toward, for that generation has passed away long ago. The "things" that are happening now, today, should also tell us that this generation, not the next one, will be the one to experience them. When He says, "...you see and know for yourselves," it becomes a very personal and individual issue, not just "those other guys." Very appropriately, the next portion of that context, Luke 21:34-36, bears out the subject of this article-watch and be faithful and ready to stand without shame before the Son of Man: "But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly, for it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man." "How to be worthy" apparently is a fearful thing for some folks, and I have wrestled much with that issue over these past sixty years as a believer in Christ. The truth is, as I have found out as I began to believe the Word of God that was right before my eyes, I never could have saved myself, so how in the world could I have kept myself saved? My own "works of righteousness" are identified by Scripture as "filthy rags," and not good for anything. It is just as Paul told Titus: "...Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life" (Titus 3:5-7). Earlier Paul had told Titus the proper attitude for us to have in these uncertain last days, an attitude of hope and expectation of blessing and joy unspeakable: "...We should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works" (Titus 2:12-14). There are more events to watch for that will be physically evident, not to discount or ignore those geophysical tragedies that the globalists want to call "Man-made climate change events." There will be a confirmation of a covenant that will promise Israel a seven-year period of peace and allow her to rebuild the temple and restore its religious practices (Daniel 9:27). That verse also tells us that halfway through the seven years he will void the agreement, enter the temple and declare himself God. The New Testament Scriptures indicate that its signing, or an announcement for it to be signed, will trigger the Day of the Lord when "sudden de3struction" will envelope the whole earth. Paul wrote of this in 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3: "For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night, for when they say, 'Peace and safety!' then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape." This Scripture says the triggering event will be when "they" shall exclaim, "Peace and safety!" Thus, it could be an announcement of an agreement having been made and a date set, sooner than later, when the signing ceremony is to take place. The Day of the Lord is that period when the "time of Jacob's trouble" begins and God deals again with Israel's restoration and their eventual recognition of Jesus as their true Messiah (Zechariah 12:10). The Body of Christ, the born-again church made up largely of those "taken out of the Gentiles for His name" will have been taken to heaven, as Paul revealed in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17. Quietly and without fanfare to the world, like a thief in the night, He will take away those whom He has purchased with His own blood-His purchased possessions-to be with Him forever! In the secular, physical world we should be watching for and seeing the subtle but steady developments of that beast of Revelation 13 as its seventh head begins to form. It will be the seventh kingdom to rule the whole world, and some signs of its development are the efforts for a New World Order to emerge as the sovereignty of individual nations are destroyed. The capstone of that goal is the United States of America, and it is not hard to see how well the globalists in favor of this movement think they are doing when we consider President Obama's statement on April 30 at the Annual Correspondents' Dinner in Washington, D.C.-"The end of the Republic has never looked better!" [1] Jesus said in Luke 17:26 and following that when the coming of the Son of Man is upon us, people will be buying and selling, marrying and giving in marriage, building and planting. They will be unaware of what is hovering over the world, and those statements of Jesus indicates that the "sudden destruction" that the Rapture will bring will be the expected economic and financial collapse that is projected in news reports today. [2] At this point in the chronology, our "watching" will have been finished, for that Rapture event changes everything! However, Peter writes that some are not so sure and apparently will make themselves heard, fervently: "...Scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, 'Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation'" (2 Peter 3:3-4). Really, we must ask, in defiance? Without a doubt, it is a time for Christians to reject that old scoffing rebuttal, "Where is the promise of His coming," and be prepared with daily close accounts with the Lord. For are we not "looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ?" End Notes: [1] President Obama: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpbEg-zVcpU [2] Crashing Economy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaqnsmCpbZI Contact email: [email protected] 
Watchman Warning: Jesus Is Coming Soon! - by Hal Lindsey - http://www.hallindsey.com/ww-9-7-2016/
For more than fifty years, I have lived in the urgent expectation of Jesus' return. Fifty years is a long time. Do I regret it? Was I wrong? No and no! In Luke 12:37, Jesus said, "Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching." (NKJV) As followers of Christ, we are to live in a state of watchfulness. A thousand years ago, there were Christians living in expectation of His coming. They were not foolish to do so. They were obedient. Titus 2:13 directs us to be "looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ." (NKJV) Those Christians from previous generations who lived in expectancy of Christ's return tended also to be those who lived closest to Him. They were the ones most interested in His word, in sharing the Gospel, helping the poor, and caring for the sick. If you're always on the lookout for Christ's return, someone will inevitably remind you that no one knows the day nor the hour. But they're missing the point. It's precisely because we do not know the day nor hour of His return that we are to be watchful. In Matthew 24:42, Jesus said, "Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming." (NKJV) For two thousand years, people have been watching. That sounds like a long time, but remember this. God gave the first promise of His first coming to Adam and Eve. It took thousands of years, but God kept His word and Jesus came. By human standards, the Lord may sometimes seem slow. But He has a reason for that. 2 Peter 3:9-10 says, "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. But the day of the Lord will come." (NKJV) When skeptics complain about God allowing evil and pain in the world, remember that "the Lord is not slack." He will one day stop all the child molesters, terrorists, and other criminals. And He will hold them to account. But He won't just stop the evil you don't like. He will stop all evil. He will hold everyone to account. Why does he wait? Because He "is longsuffering toward us." He's "not willing that any should perish." He wants everyone to "come to repentance" - turn to Him and be saved. For now, love and concern compel Him to wait. But He will not wait forever. Earlier in the same chapter, Peter wrote, "Knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, 'Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.'" (2 Peter 3:3-4 NKJV) I'm convinced that these are the last days, and can assure you that scoffers have come. "I've been hearing this all my life!" ... "You've been saying this for fifty years!" Yes, and I will keep on saying it because it's still true. There are no signs yet to be fulfilled before the rapture. But signs of the Second Coming are everywhere. Since the rapture comes before the Second Coming, the rapture has to be exceedingly close! The big thing that makes our time different from any other is the existence of Israel as a nation, and the Jews having control of Jerusalem. But there are other things unique to our time, as well. For instance, before now the world did not have the technology needed for the Antichrist to control commerce as completely as the Bible foretells. There's another sign unique to today. Jesus is coming soon . . . because He must! In dozens of areas, human civilization is hurtling headlong toward destruction. Look at just one - machines with artificial intelligence. Scientists like Stephen Hawking warn of such machines taking over the world, destroying the human race in the process. Far out? Even longtime proponents of artificial intelligence have now joined in the warnings. Air Force General Paul Selva, the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the U.S. Defense Department, recently warned about "autonomous weapons systems" similar to the title character in the movie, "The Terminator" - and just as dangerous. General Selva sees weapons that are not under direct human control as a menace to mankind. And, like self-driving cars, they're just around the corner. Then there's nuclear proliferation. Some people take comfort from the fact that no nuclear weapons have been used in combat since 1945. But that's like taking comfort from the fact that you've been playing Russian roulette for an hour and no shots have been fired. Just keep playing, and the odds will catch up to you. During the Cold War, Carl Sagan, wrote, "The nuclear arms race is like two sworn enemies standing waist deep in gasoline, one with three matches, the other with five." Except now, a madman in Korea also holds a match. The nation of Iran, run by religious fanatics who see it as their job to create an apocalypse, also have, or will soon have, a match in their hands. Next door neighbor enemies, India and Pakistan, both have nukes. Russia has more than anybody, and no one knows if their leader is crazy or not. But don't be afraid. Things are shaping up as God said they would. Just be sure you have invited Jesus to save you. Receive the pardon purchased for you when He died on the cross. He will instantly give you a new heart with new desires. Ask Him to empower you with His Holy Spirit. Then remember to thank Him for all these things. In His power, you will begin to live a life that will draw others to Him as well. 
9th of Av: Think twice before messing with Israel - Bill Federer - http://www.wnd.com/2016/09/9th-of-av-think-twice-before-messing-with-israel/?cat_orig=education
Bill Federer recounts fascinating history, coincidences of the Holy Land Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed by the Babylonians in 587 B.C. on the date in the Jewish calendar 9th of Av, or Tisha B'Av. The Second Temple was destroyed by the Romans on the same date, Tisha B'Av, in 70 A.D. Rome's destruction of the Temple began in 66 A.D., when Roman Emperor Nero appointed General Vespasian to put down a revolt in Judea. Almost immediately, Rome experienced chaos. Nero committed suicide in 68 A.D. His successor, Galba, was assassinated within eight months. His successor, Otho, committed suicide within two months. His successor, Vitellius, was executed within eight months. Vespasian was the next Emperor and his son, Titus, continued the conquest of Judea. Titus surrounded Jerusalem and starved inhabitants for months. Titus ordered Jewish deserters from Jerusalem to be crucified around the walls. By the end of July, 70 A.D., the Roman Army broke through the walls. Jerusalem was completely conquered by Sept 8, 70 A.D. Historian Josephus recorded that over a million Jews were killed in the siege. According to historian Eusebius, Romans hunted down and killed all descendants of the royal line of David. The Jewish Temple was so completely destroyed that only the foundation stones were left, which are the bottom rows of the Wailing Wall. Jewish Temple treasures were carried off to Rome, as shown on the Arch of Titus, and were used to finance the building of Rome's Colosseum. The Colosseum was so named as it was next to Nero's 100-foot-high bronze Colossus Statue depicting the Roman sun god Apollo, modeled after the 100 foot high bronze Colossus Statue of Rhodes depicting the Greek son god Helios. France's gift of the Statue of Liberty - the New Colossus was modeled after it. Emperor Vespasian caught a slight illness in 79 A.D. that led to severe diarrhea and death. His last words were: "Oh dear! I think I'm becoming a god!" Titus became the next emperor and two months later Mount Vesuvius erupted, destroying the Bay of Naples, including the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Thousands of Romans were buried alive under feet volcanic ash. Then, in the spring of 80 A.D., Rome caught fire. Flames burned out of control for three days and nights destroying much of Capitoline Hill, the Temple of Jupiter, Pantheon and Pompey's Theater. Then followed the worst outbreak of plague that Rome had yet endured. Titus decided to dedicate the Colosseum to commemorate his victories in the Jewish wars. For 100 days, thousands were killed in executions and gladiatorial fights, in addition to 5,000 animals. Following the games, Titus died after just two years in office. He is rumored to have been poisoned on orders of his brother, Domitian, who became the next emperor. In 135 A.D., on the date Tisha B'Av, Roman Emperor Hadrian had another 500,000 Jews massacred at Betar during Bar Kokhba's revolt. Emperor Hadrian believed the source of Jewish rebellion was their faith, so he executed Jewish scholars, prohibited the Torah and the Hebrew calendar, and burned the sacred scroll on the Temple Mount. In an attempt to completely erase Jewish history from the land, Emperor Hadrian renamed the province of Judea "Syria Palaestina" and renamed the city Jerusalem "Aelia Capitolina." Jews were banned from entering Jerusalem on pain of death. Eusebius wrote in his "History of the Church" (ser. II, vol. I, book IV, chapter VI): "The Last Siege of the Jews Under Hadrian - The whole nation was prohibited from this time on by a decree, and by the commands of Hadrian, from ever going up to the country about Jerusalem. For the emperor gave orders that they should not even see from a distance the land of their fathers. Such is the account of Aristo of Pella. And thus, when the city had been emptied of the Jewish nation and had suffered the total destruction of its ancient inhabitants, it was colonized by a different race, and the Roman city which subsequently arose changed its name and was called Aelia, in honor of the emperor Aelius Hadrian." Cassius Dio wrote in "Roman History" (69.12): "At Jerusalem Hadrian founded a city in place of the one which had been razed to the ground, naming it Aelia Capitolina, and on the site of the temple of the god he raised a new temple to Jupiter. This brought on a war of no slight importance nor of brief duration, for the Jews deemed it intolerable that foreign races should be settled in their city and foreign religious rites planted there." Eusebius wrote in "Demonstratio Evangelica" (8.3; 405, circa 314 - 318 A.D.): "Jerusalem ... is even now like a quarry, all the inhabitants of the city choosing stones from its ruins as they will for private as well as public buildings. And it is sad for the eyes to see stones from the Temple itself, and from its ancient sanctuary and holy place, used for the building of idol temples, and of theatres for the populace." Emperor Hadrian's reign was the beginning of the contraction of the Roman Empire, with Hadrian's Wall across the whole of Britain marking the Empire's furthest extent. Jews were later allowed to enter Jerusalem once a year to pray at the Western Wall on Tisha B'Av. The Land of Israel was invaded or occupied by: 135 A.D. Roman Empire 390 A.D. Byzantine Empire 614 A.D. Sassanid Persians 635 A.D. Umayyad Caliphate 750 A.D. Abbasid Caliphate 909 A.D. Fatimid Caliphate 1071 A.D. Seljuk Turks 1099 A.D. Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem 1187 A.D. Ayyubid Sultanate 1260 A.D. Mongolian Empire 1291 A.D. Mamluk Sultanate of Egypt 1517 A.D. Ottoman Sultanate 1660 A.D. Druze Dynasty 1799 A.D. French Napoleon 1844 A.D. Tanzimat Ottoman Empire 1864 A.D. Ottoman Vilayet of Syria 1917 A.D. Britain Mandate For centuries, people across the world desired to pilgrimage to Jerusalem, including Abraham Lincoln. The Library of Congress has a scrapbook with an account by Rev. N.W. Miner of Springfield, who officiated Lincoln's burial, in which are recalled President Lincoln's last words while at Ford's Theater with his wife: "Mrs. Lincoln informed me that ... the very last moments of his conscious life were spent in conversation with her about his future plans. ... He said he wanted to visit the Holy Land and see those places hallowed by the footprints of the Saviour. He was saying there was no city he so much desired to see as Jerusalem." In 1917, Britain issued the Balfour Declaration establishing the Jewish homeland. On May 14, 1948, the state of Israel came into being again. In 1967, exactly 50 years after the Balfour Declaration, the city Jerusalem was once again under Jewish control. Jerusalem was reaffirmed as Israel's capital with "The Basic Law: Jerusalem, the Capital of Israel," passed in 1980. The United Nations was created in part to protect the Jews after they had suffered though the Nazi holocaust, and one of the first acts of the United Nations was to recognize the state of Israel. Sept. 15, 2015, begins the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly. The U.N. Security Council has threatened to vote to divide Jerusalem and take a third of Israel away to create a Palestinian state. Many are concerned what may happen if the United States supports this turn against Israel. The timing of this is unique, as the vote would take place near the time of the fourth consecutive "blood moon" - a series of four lunar eclipse occurring on Jewish feast days. This rare occurrence has historically been at times of major events in Jewish history. Just as the Roman Empire experienced a series of disasters after it forced Jews from the land, some consider more than coincidental the timing of various events relating to the United States and Israel: On Oct. 30, 1991, President George H.W. Bush signed the Oslo Accord pressuring Israel to give "land for peace." The next day, "the perfect storm" hit New England causing damages over $100 million, including 30 foot waves demolishing the home of President George H.W. Bush at Kennebunkport, Maine. On Aug. 23, 1992, President George H.W. Bush pressured Israel with the Madrid "land for peace" agreement. The same day, Hurricane Andrew smashed into Florida causing $30 billion in damages, destroying over 180,000 homes. On Jan. 16, 1994, President Bill Clinton met in Geneva with Syria's President Hafez el-Assad to discuss Israel giving up the Golan Heights in exchange for peace. Within 24 hours a 6.9 earthquake devastated Southern California. On Jan. 21, 1998, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was snubbed at the White House when President Clinton and Secretary of State Madeleine Albright refused to have lunch with him. The same day, the Monica Lewinsky scandal erupted. On Sept. 28, 1998, Secretary of State Albright detailed another "land for peace" agreement requiring Israel to surrender 13 percent of the West Bank and Gaza. President Clinton met with Yasser Arafat and Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, followed by Arafat telling the United Nations there would soon be a Palestinian state. The same day, Hurricane Georges hit the Gulf Coast causing $1 billion in damages. On Oct. 15, 1998, Yassar Arafat and Benjamin Netanyahu met in Maryland to discuss Israel giving up 13 percent of the West Bank and Gaza in exchange for "peace." Two days later, tornadoes hit Texas leaving $1 billion in damages. On Dec. 12, 1998, President Clinton arrived in the Palestinian area to discuss Israel giving up "land for peace." The same day, President Clinton was impeached. On May 3, 1999, Yasser Arafat had scheduled a press conference to announce a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as the capital. The same day, the most powerful tornado storms to hit the United States whipped through Oklahoma and Kansas. On June 8, 2001, President George W. Bush sent Secretary Tenet to Jerusalem with a proposal to exchange land for a "roadmap to peace." The same day, tropical Storm Allison hit Texas causing $7 billion in damage and closing George Bush Airport for two days. As part of a U.S. brokered deal, Jews were forcibly evacuated from Gaza, with the last Jewish residents being dragged out on Aug. 22, 2005. The very next day, a tropical depression in the Atlantic turned into Hurricane Katrina and headed straight for New Orleans, forcing tens of thousands to evacuate. Property damage in New Orleans exceeded $81 billion. Nearly 2,000 people died. It was one of the deadliest hurricanes in U.S. history. Instead of "peace," Hamas took over Gaza and began digging tunnels and firing thousands of rockets into Israel. In a day of prayer and remembrance, Sept. 8, 2005, President Bush stated: "Hurricane Katrina was one of the worst natural disasters in our Nation's history and has caused unimaginable devastation and heartbreak throughout the Gulf Coast Region. ... Communities ... decimated. ... Lives ... lost. ... Hundreds of thousands of our fellow Americans are suffering great hardship." Though not a call to repentance as past presidents had proclaimed, President Bush did end his day of prayer and remembrance with: "To honor the memory of those who lost their lives, to provide comfort and strength to families of the victims. ... I call upon all Americans to pray to Almighty God and to perform acts of service. ... Across our nation, many selfless deeds reflect the promise of the Scripture: 'For I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in.'" 
UNESCO Responds to Sanhedrin Demand for End to Muslim Occupation of Temple Mount - By Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz - http://www.breakingisraelnews.com
"Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves; every one loveth bribes, and followeth after rewards; they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them." Isaiah 1:23 (The Israel Bible™) In a powerful letter, exclusively obtained by Breaking Israel News, the nascent Sanhedrin recently blasted the ongoing efforts of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to give Muslims complete sovereignty of the Temple Mount, prompting a response from the UN body which claims it recognizes the Jewish connection to the Mount but, unsurprisingly, offers very little proof. The Sanhedrin's letter, sent to UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova on August 12, came as a response to a string of recent attempts by the organization to erase any Jewish claim to its holiest site. In June, UNESCO adopted a resolution that required the Temple Mount be referred to in all official documents as Al Aqsa, the silver-domed mosque on the site. One month later, UNESCO's World Heritage Committee met in Istanbul to vote on another resolution, based on a joint Palestinian-Jordanian initiative, calling for a return to the "historic status quo" which existed before the 1967 war. This would effectively ban Jews and other non-Muslims from setting foot in the Temple Mount complex. If the intention was not clear enough, the initiative referred to Israel as the "occupying power". In what seemed a divinely decreed coincidence, UNESCO was forced to postpone the vote due to the attempted coup in Turkey. A new vote is expected to take place in October. Facing a strong international backlash against the resolution after the cancelled vote, Bokova backpedalled, saying in a July statement, "To deny or conceal any of the Jewish, Christian or Muslim traditions undermines the integrity of the site." In its recent letter to Bokova, the Sanhedrin called for UNESCO to put an end to its efforts to establish Muslim exclusivity on the Temple Mount. Breaking Israel News was shown the letters by the Sanhedrin and is exclusively reporting the exchange between the Sanhedrin and UNESCO. "The Jewish people demands that UNESCO and the European Union stop dealing with this anti-Biblical manifesto," the letter read. "According to God's command, the people of Israel conquered the territory of Judah and the Temple Mount from the Canaanites under the leadership of Joshua the son of Nun and later by King David. These areas were sanctified for the people of Israel and for the construction of the Temple as a place of prayer every man." The Sanhedrin went on to cite the incontrovertible archaeological evidence of the Jewish claims to the Temple Mount and Israel, and point out the absolute lack of any such proof for Muslim claims to the site predating the Muslim conquest of Jerusalem in 636 CE. The letter also called for a neutral international committee of scientists and archaeologists to establish the facts, and demanded that Jewish sovereignty be re-established on the Mount. "This [Muslim] occupation ended with the establishment of the State of Israel," the Sanhedrin stated. "The followers of Islam must therefore immediately vacate the premises and return it to its rightful owner." The letter reiterated a claim the Sanhedrin has made in the past linking the rise in terror to UNESCO's actions separating Jews from the Temple Mount. "The centrality of the Temple Mount in the life of the Jewish nation has a central role in preserving world peace," said the letter, adding, "Only by following the word of God and fulfilling his will as presented in the Book of Books will salvation come to all people and nations...Rejecting the heritage of the existence of the Holy Temple in its place directly supports terrorism, ISIS, and the dream of setting up a bloody Muslim caliphate." The letter was signed by Rabbi Dov Stein, Secretary of the Sanhedrin, Rabbi Prof. Hillel Weiss, and Rabbi Yishai Babad, spokesmen for the Sanhedrin. On August 24, Francesco Bandarin, the UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture, responded on behalf of Bokova with a letter to the Sanhedrin. After noting that UNESCO member states, and not Bokova, take part in the votes, he quoted her July statement insisting that UNESCO is not denying Jewish, Christian or Muslim traditions at the Mount. However, Mr. Bandarin made no reference to any of the multiple UNESCO initiatives that declaim Jewish ties to the site, or the impending vote to grant Muslim exclusivity to the site. Instead, he ignored that point entirely and focused on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Israel, which he wrote "attest[s] to our commitment to Jewish culture." However, few of the listed sites have anything to do with Judaism, or even the Bible. Among the nine sites on that list are Masada, where Jews committed mass suicide in order to avoid Roman capture, and the Necropolis of Bet She'Arim, an ancient Jewish cemetery. A collection of architectural landmarks in Tel Aviv notable for incorporating the Bauhaus style from pre-war Germany is on the list. Two sites holy to the Bahai religion and several other sites of archaeological and anthropological note also made the cut. There are no sites on the list significant to either Judaism or Christianity; not even the Western Wall is considered a World Heritage Site. The outer walls of Jerusalem are on the list as a cultural site whose "territorial status is yet to be determined." In another weak attempt to prove UNESCO's "commitment to Jewish culture", Bandarin cited a joint UNESCO/Simon Weisenthal Center exhibition, "People, Book, Land: the 3,500 Year Relationship of the Jewish People with the Holy Land". UNESCO had delayed the exhibit's Paris debut by six months in deference to Arab concerns, citing "unresolved issues relating to potentially contestable textual and visual historical points, which might be perceived by Member States as endangering the peace process." The exhibit did eventually open in March, after the venue was changed to the UN's New York City headquarters. 
DISCLAIMER: We love Michael Snyder and appreciate his well-written and insightful articles, but we have to agree to disagree when it comes to his viewpoints concerning the Rapture and the Tribulation. We want to make it clear that we in no way endorse or approve of his Post Tribulation viewpoint nor his new book, "The Rapture Verdict." We believe that the Bible clearly teaches that the Church will not go through the Great Tribulation, but will be Raptured prior to the beginning of this time of Jacob's Trouble. Furthermore, we believe the Bible teaches that the Tribulation period can't even begin until we are taken out of the way! Some pre-tribulation ministries have completely banned Michael Snyder. For the time being, we will continue to post his very popular articles, but only with this disclaimer included.
The Percentage of Working Age Men That Do Not Have a Job Is Similar to The Great Depression - By Michael Snyder - http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/archives/the-percentage-of-working-age-men-that-do-not-have-a-job-is-similar-to-the-great-depression Why are so many men in their prime working years unemployed? The Obama administration would have us believe that unemployment is low in this country, but that is not true at all. In fact, one author quoted by NPR says that "it's kind of worse than it was in the depression in 1940." Most Americans don't realize this, but more men from ages 25 to 54 are "inactive" right now than was the case during the last recession. We have millions upon millions of strong young men just sitting around doing nothing. They aren't employed and they aren't considered to be looking for employment either, and so they don't show up in the official unemployment numbers. But they don't have jobs, and nothing the Obama administration does can eliminate that fact. According to NPR, "nearly 100 percent of men between the ages of 25 and 54 worked" in the 1960s. In those days, just about any dependable, hard working American man could get hired almost immediately. The economy was growing and the demand for labor was seemingly insatiable. But today, one out of every six men in their prime working years does not have a job... In a recent report, President Obama's Council of Economic Advisers said 83 percent of men in the prime working ages of 25-54 who were not in the labor force had not worked in the previous year. So, essentially, 10 million men are missing from the workforce. "One in six prime-age guys has no job; it's kind of worse than it was in the depression in 1940," says Nicholas Eberstadt, an economic and demographic researcher at American Enterprise Institute who wrote the book Men Without Work: America's Invisible Crisis. He says these men aren't even counted among the jobless, because they aren't seeking work. So why is this happening? If you look at the inactivity rate for men in the 25 to 54 age bracket, it was sitting at just 8.1 percent in January 2000. In January 2008, right at the beginning of the last recession, it was sitting at 9.2 percent, and by the end of the recession it had risen to 10.3 percent. Today, it is sitting at 11.5 percent. Remember, these are men that don't even count toward the official unemployment rate. They are not working, but they are not considered to be "looking for work" either. So what are these men doing? You may be tempted to think that many of them have decided to stay home and raise the kids as their wives go off to work. But according to NPR, that is not what is happening... What the missing men aren't doing in large numbers is staying home to take care of family. Forty percent of nonworking women are primary caregivers; that's true of only 5 percent of men out of the workforce. We do have the largest prison population in the entire world by far, and without a doubt that does play a role in these numbers. However, a far bigger factor is the millions of men that have become content being dependents of the federal government. More than 100 million Americans receive money from the government each month, and a lot of people (both men and women) have found that it is just easier to sit back and collect government checks than it is to go out and try to work hard for a living. But of course the number one factor is the lack of jobs available. I personally know people that have been looking for work in their fields for years and have not been able to get hired. We have a major employment crisis in this nation, and it is only going to get worse in the years ahead as we continue to lose jobs to technology and millions more good jobs get shipped overseas. And a lot of the "jobs" that have been created during the Obama administration have been very low quality jobs. Since December 2014, we have gained about half a million jobs for waiters and bartenders, but meanwhile we have actually lost good paying manufacturing jobs. If we continue down this road, the middle class will continue to shrink. In addition to everything that I have just shared, here are some other facts that are pertinent to this discussion... -Right at this moment, there are approximately 102 million working age Americans that do not have a job. -Nearly one out of every five young adults are currently living with their parents. -The Wall Street Journal recently declared that this is the weakest "economic recovery" since 1949. -Barack Obama is on track to be the only president in U.S. history to never have a single year when the U.S. economy grew by at least 3 percent. The economy is far weaker than you are being told, the employment crisis is far worse than you are being told, and as I mentioned yesterday, the stage is clearly set for a new financial crisis of epic proportions. And if we are going to see markets crash, this time of the year is a good time for it. In fact, CNBC says that history tells us that this is the "worst period of the year for stocks"... The worst period of the year for stocks has just begun - at least based on market history. Over the entire 120-year history of the Dow Jones industrial average, Sept. 6 to Oct. 29 tends to be the worst period for the market. And more specifically, the last few weeks of September have been an especially bad time. Someday when people look back at this time in history, they will not be surprised by how horrific the coming collapse will be. The truth is that anyone with a lick of common sense can see that the greatest debt bubble in the history of the world is going to end badly. No, what is going to amaze them is that the system was able to hold together as long as it did. It truly is incredible that the debt-based, fiat currency Ponzi scheme that the central banks of the world have been desperately trying to prop up has been able to keep chugging along all the way to the middle of 2016. How much longer can they keep the magic going? I don't know, but history tells us that time is not on their side... 
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 
Winning Friends or Influencing People - Nathele Graham - [email protected]
Most people want to have friends. We enjoy socializing and being around other people because that's just part of being human...God made us that way. We like to laugh with friends, feel the love of family, and care for others. This can be a mixed blessing. Too often it becomes more important to have friends than to influence people by honoring God, and that's when we begin to stumble down a slippery slope and fall into sin. "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." Romans 12:1-2. Sometimes it's difficult for even the most devout Christian to avoid stumbling, but it's in those times that we need to turn to Jesus for strength to overcome temptation. The important question to ask is if it's more important to join the world and win friends, or to stand firm on God's word and influence people to come to know Jesus as their Saviour? I don't know why it is that the lure of the world is so appealing. Any pleasure found in living in opposition to Jesus is temporary and can never fully satisfy or bring lasting joy. Even those who have been raised and nurtured in a Christian home sometimes feel that having friends is more important than serving God. The pull of the world brings temptations that many people just can't resist. Jesus told a parable about a young man who was raised in a well to do family, but that wasn't enough for him. He wanted to chase his dreams. He asked his father for the money he would inherit and off he went to make new friends and enjoy the so called pleasures of life. His dream became a nightmare. "And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living." Luke 15:13. This prodigal son found that his money bought friends and all the wild living he could desire. When the money was gone so were his fair weather friends. He spent time and money winning friends, but his influence on people left a lot to be desired. When famine came upon the land he found himself in dire straits. He had no friends and no money, but he did find work feeding swine. Now, for a Jewish man this was sinking as low as he could sink. He was so hungry that he was even tempted to eat the swine's food. The story has a happy ending because this young man repented of his wild ways and returned to the safety of his father's house. No good comes from being so enamored by the world that you will do anything to win worldly friends. If you are rebelling and living a sin-filled life, now is the time to repent and return to the safety of walking close to Jesus. He is a true friend who will never leave you nor forsake you. Christians should be concerned with influencing people. Many people who have accepted Christ for salvation face rejection by family and, in many cases they face death because of their faith. By living by Biblical standards your way of life can be a positive influence on other people. When Jesus walked the streets of Jerusalem He faced these same problems. He never compromised and because of that He changed lives, healed disease, and raised the dead. He also faced anger and scorn from the religious establishment that accused Him of everything from being a drunkard to blasphemy. "For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil. The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!" Luke 7:33-34. Jesus won friends among the people who were considered outcasts of society by loving them and seeking their friendship, but unlike the prodigal son Jesus did not let these sinners influence Him but He influenced them. Even a few Pharisees to come to faith. He loved everyone and He still does, but it's up to each individual to accept or reject Him. Most of the religious leaders hardened their hearts against Him, but because of His way of life, today we are still being influenced by His example. We can look to Jesus for guidance in whatever we may face. The need to be strong in our faith and not become a part of the world is not new. Satan sets his traps to ensnare us and pull us away from God just as he always has. In recent times the news media has been quick to proclaim the failures of Christians, or I should say those who claim to be Christians. Some high profile preachers have been caught up in the lust of the flesh and their names make headline news. They found friends in worldly people and their influence is certainly not good. The secular world likes to point fingers and group all Christians into the same category, but many Christians live their lives so that Christ shines through. These are the ones who represent Christ and honor Him. They don't allow anger to control them and they reject sin in their lives. Like Jesus they may have friends who are worldly, but they don't allow the world to get a hold of them. "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world:" Titus 2:11-12. These blessed people live among the wolves of the world, but let God's light shine before men for all to see. They may be missionaries in a foreign land or the Sunday school teacher who shares God's truth with a new generation of Christians who need to learn to embrace Christ rather than sin. Are you one of these people who unashamedly live for Christ? If so, then you are the influence that this dark and fallen world needs. We should always be on our guard so that the things of this world don't stumble us. Moral standards as set by Hollywood are not acceptable for Christians. People who don't know Christ cannot understand how important He is to a believer. Have you repented from sin and through Christ turned away from addiction or various activities that are opposed to God? If so then the worldly people around you, both friends and family, will try to draw you back into the sinful life you left behind. "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ." Colossians 2:8. Bible study and solid Christian friends are important to keep us walking close to Jesus. When people try to draw you back into sin, stand firm on God's word. This is when influencing people becomes more important than winning friends. The Holy Spirit lives within you and will guide you and give you the strength to resist temptation. "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God." 1 Corinthians 2:12. Jesus loves you and laid down His life for you. He is your strength when you're tempted to enter into sin. On the night of His arrest Jesus knew what He was about to face and He knew what His disciples would face. He prayed a beautiful prayer and asked God the Father to protect them from the evil of this world. "I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world." John 17:14-16. Jesus didn't pray that these men would be taken out of the world because they would be the ones to take the Gospel to the world. If they had been removed from this life or lived as hermits in a monastery the Gospel would have been lost. By living in this world the men whom Jesus had chosen were able to influence generation after generation of people to come to a saving faith in Christ. They faced persecution, temptation, and most were martyred, but they were strong in their faith and their influence is a blessing to us today. When Jesus prayed for them, He also prayed for those of us who believe because of those first disciples. "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word" John 17:20. That's me. Jesus prayed for me. I believe in Him because I heard about Him, read my Bible, and understand its truth. Do you? Since I believe and want to honor Him, my desire is to introduce others to Jesus and also to strengthen other Christians in their walk with the Lord. That means I try to win friends, but I don't join in sin. If I see a fellow Christian walking down the wrong path, then I need to influence them to return to Jesus. I also need to keep studying my Bible to be sure that I'm following the narrow road that He wants me to walk upon. Are you winning friends or influencing people? Be sure that winning friends isn't more important than influencing people. That is, influencing people to come to Jesus. God bless you all, Nathele Graham [email protected] www.straitandnarrowministry.com [email protected] 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: Christian conservatives and the election - Bill Wilson - www.dailyjot.com
According to data and analysis released by pollster George Barna of the American Culture and Faith Institute, support for Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump is gaining momentum among a demographic identified as SAGE Cons. SAGE Cons are Spiritually Active, Governance Engaged Conservatives. According to Barna, they are "Christians who are actively engaged in a range of religious activities; consistently follow political news and participate in political activity; are followers of Jesus Christ and committed to growing in their relationship with and faith in Christ; and donate to one or more Christian ministries that are involved in social and political action." Demographically, SAGE Cons tend to be middle-aged or older; white; upscale; married; and more heavily located in the southern and Midwestern states. They are 56% male and 46% female. They are conservative both ideologically and theologically. Barna says SAGE Cons are well-educated, with more than half (53%) having graduated from a four-year college and about one-third (31%) who attended graduate school. Compared with all US adults, just three out of ten (28%) graduated from a four-year college and about half of those (15%) attended graduate school. So when liberals say those supporting Trump are less educated, low income, and ignorant, they are lying. According to Barna, "In a January survey among SAGE Cons, Mr. Trump was the favorite of just 11% of these voters. His favorability ratings were quite low at the time, with only 15% claiming to have a very favorable impression of him. During the eight months since that survey, things have changed dramatically for the New York real estate mogul. Once it became clear that he was the GOP favorite for the party's nomination, 70% of SAGE Cons said they would vote for him in a match-up against Hillary Clinton. That level of support in a head-to-head contest remained unchanged until after the Republican convention in late July. At that point his support jumped to 83%. It has remained in the 80% to 84% range ever since." A few takeaways from this: The more we share the information we have on Hillary Clinton, the more impact we can make. Let us remember, however, that there is no political solution to our country's problems. It is a spiritual resolution that we need. Notwithstanding, it has to start somewhere and our charge is as Christ said in Mark 16:15, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." If we continue to make the case based in love and the good reason of the gospel and allow the Holy Spirit to convict people, we are doing our part to raise the Lord's standard for our nation. We can use political and other events to encourage and evangelize. Even with all the information out there, Barna reports that support among Christian conservatives for Hillary Clinton has doubled to 4%. Keep fighting the good fight. 
Daily Devotion: Hurricane Grace - Greg Laurie - www.harvest.org
Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. -Matthew 8:23-24 The film The Perfect Storm tells the story of an actual storm off the coast of Massachusetts in 1991, which was the strongest storm in recorded history. This so-called perfect storm was the result of three storms that combined into one, creating an almost apocalyptic situation in the Atlantic Ocean. Two existing storms were hit by a hurricane, ironically dubbed Hurricane Grace. The combination of these three weather elements produced a monstrous, two-thousand-mile-wide hurricane that produced one-hundred-foot waves. In Matthew 8 we find a story of Jesus' disciples facing what could be described as a Hurricane Grace of their own. We are told that "when [Jesus] got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep" (verses 23-24). Notice that verse 23 says, "His disciples followed Him." And where did that lead? Right into a storm. This storm came because the disciples obeyed the Lord, not because they disobeyed Him. Sometimes when troubles come, we say that it's a result of disobedience. But the fact may be that the storm is actually a result of obedience. God can use the storms in our lives to accomplish His purposes. As the saying goes, the same hammer that shatters glass also forges steel. Sometimes it seems as though it would be better if we never went through a storm. We think life always should be easy. But there are things we learn in storms. There are things we learn in hardships and crises that we don't learn anywhere else. Where there are no trials in life, there are no triumphs. God has His purposes in the storms. And just as Jesus was with His disciples, He will be with us, too. 
FROM THE HEART
IF YOU HAVE BEEN BLESSED THROUGH THIS MINISTRY, THEN WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD PLEASE REMEMBER PROPHECY UPDATE IN YOUR GIVING - WE ARE TRULY, TRULY, THANKFUL FOR YOUR SUPPORT Prophecy Update has no corporate sponsors. This ministry is paid for and prayed for by readers and supporters. Without your support, there would be no Prophecy Update, Please pray about becoming a monthly supporter - thanks! If ever there was a time to invest in God's Kingdom, it's now! What on earth are you doing for Heaven's Sake? "Share in the Blessings and Rewards that will last Forever!" "Folks, it's all beginning to unravel. America is in more danger of falling than at any time in its history. But I believe Bible prophecy predicts this very decline. From this point on, we believers have to get serious. We are going to face discouragement, disillusionment and, most certainly, persecution in the time between now and the Rapture. But don't be discouraged or disillusioned. The coming turmoil will provide us unrivaled opportunities to share the good news of the Gospel. So be ready to share your faith and your hope with those who need Christ. We still have time to reap a great harvest of souls for God's kingdom!" - Hal Lindsey 1) We need your prayers!- We proclaim the Truth of the Word of God and we are under constant spiritual and sometimes even physical attack. 2) We need your encouragement!- We need to hear from you, let us know how the Lord is blessing you through this ministry so that we can share it with others. 3) We need your input! - If you have a prophetic article or story or if there is a news related item we missed, let us know. 4) We need your financial support!- To put it quite simply, without your support, there would be no Prophecy Update. I ask that you would prayerfully consider partnering with us to get the Word out and keep the world informed. Remember, your gift, no matter how small, does make a difference! You will be helping to touch lives, around the world, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, thanks to the internet your generosity carries a global impact! - Thanks! Our Prayer for You- "Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else." 2 Corinthians 9:10-13 Prophecy Update is a 501 (c) (3) tax exempt - non-profit organization, and all your donations are tax deductible. If you have been blessed by Prophecy Update and would like to help support this ministry financially. You can make a secure donation online by going to: DONATE NOW Or Visit our website: http://prophecyupdate.com/donations/ Or write us at: Prophecy Update P.O. Box 40516 Bakersfield, CA 93384-0516 
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