Prophecy Update Newsletter
IN TODAY'S NEWSLETTER...
The Destruction of America? - by Pastor Mike Taylor -
https://pastormiketaylor.blogspot.com/2020/09/the-destruction-of-america.html " Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. 1:19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: 1:20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it."(Isaiah 1:18-20) I have been reading again a very interesting, although controversial book by Rabbi Jonathan Cahn by the title "Mysteries of the Shemitah". It is an expansion on his first book that I also read, the "Harbinger". In the first book of the "Harbinger" Jonathan Cahn analyzes the parallels of what happened to Israel and the "harbingers" of impending national collapse and what is happening right now in America. The parallels are uncanny and can only be said beyond coincidence. Oh, there are many critics of the first book, as there are critics of this book I've been reading, but let us explore what Rabbi Cahn is trying to convey to all who will listen with the spiritual mind, instead of just dismissing without discernment. So what is this "Mystery of the Shemitah" and what does it mean? For the Israelite, it was given by God to use the land for 6 years, but each 7th year, the land was to lay fallow, or resting and anything that grew of its own was for whomever wished to gather it. That included the poor, the widow, or the average man on the street. The products were for everyone. We know by reading our Bibles that Israel was sent into exile for not following God's command and disobeyed the law of God for 70 consecutive Sabbath years, or for a total of 490 years and were warned by Jeremiah and other prophets that judgment was coming. But Israel rebuffed their words that came from God and persecuted and even killed the prophets for their warning, until God sent them into exile for 70 years. Now the critics emphasize that this covenant was for the nation of Israel and not for anyone else. So they scoff at the idea that God could use the same test for any other nation. But are they right? Let me state a few obvious things here: -Is our God the same yesterday, today and forever? Of course, He is. -Does God use the Old and the New Testament as learning tools for us today on how he deals with individuals and even nations who obey Him and those who disobey? Yes, He does. -If God dealt harshly with Israel, a nation that He was the center of their culture and they wandered away from His laws and commandments for living, then will He deal harshly with any other nation that does the same? Maybe, since God has not changed. -Are the Ten Commandments still in force today of how any individual is to live their life and if they are, what other commandments are still in force? 5:18 " For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."(Matthew 5:18-19) -Finally, what were the Sabbath rest for the land designed for in the first place? Let us consider what the last question, as the first four are obvious to the follower of Jesus Christ, even though most theologians can't grasp their eternal meaning. But what was the Year of the Shemitah, or a Sabbath rest for the land designed for? It was designed to let mankind know that their substance, their living, and their very existence and breath came from God. Can we learn a lesson from the following? These were major economic laws given by God, designed to prevent undue wealth acquired through acquisition of farm land from accumulating in the hands of the rich while the poor become further impoverished. God repeatedly emphasizes that people are not to oppress one another (Leviticus 25:14, 17). Deuteronomy 15 says that following these economic laws would bring God's blessing (verses 4, 6, 10). God wants people to learn to be generous and compassionate-to have a "give" attitude rather than one of "get." So every 50th year (the year after 7x7 sabbatical years), men were set free, debts were forgiven, and every man was equal in that they owed no one, but God. It was the year of Jubilee. But greed and the pursuit of wealth and money clouds and interferes with giving thanks to God as men look to themselves to be their own god, and they don't need God Almighty. The nation of America has been blessed, and we have used the economic theory of Capitalism, and it has served us well, as men are in charge of their own destiny, and we don't reward sloven behavior in the past, but note that this has all changed, especially of our last 8 years of the Democrat "usurper in chief" that turned our economy into a product of welfare and the social state. The above example instituted by God shows what it required even further by repentance of sinning against God and humbling yourself before Him and growing close to Him, instead of growing further and further from following His way of life. That was the sin that Israel committed during those 490 years. The land rest was a symbol of national repentance and getting right with God. As Israel grew further and further from God and rejected God, they fell further and further into idolatry to even to burn their children in the fires of pagan gods. Finally, God had enough and banished them from their homeland for a national lesson in repentance and being humbled by force by an invading, foreign army of Babylon....Hence, we have gone the way of ancient Israel and have allowed our greed and pursuit of "stuff" to cloud our vision and ability to see to put God first in our economic dealings with other men. BUT ISRAEL IS NOT THE U.S.A? Israel was the only nation that was commanded to observe this year of the Shemitah and true we, the USA are NOT Israel, as many have pointed out, and never will be. We are NOT the New Israel or descendants of a scattered 10 lost tribes as some religions have so erroneously believed, BUT is there a lesson in something that is so prophetic in nature that can be applied to modern times we live in? Can this be used as a prophetic sign from God Almighty to any nation either in blessings or in curses as God warned? Let me take a few points that jumped out at me when I read Rabbi Cahn's book and I wish to address them here and I'm paraphrasing in my own words. Such a prophetic sign could be given to any nation that in any way, matches the description and the attributes of ancient Israel. Those attributes would include the following: -Any nation that is in defiance of God's ways or judgments would be a candidate. Course that could cover a lot of nations, no matter what their religious practices be, whether Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, or totally secular. But let's narrow it down a bit. -A nation that has known God, but has rejected His ways and turned away from Him. That could apply to many "Western" nations that have had the label "Christian", or is largely post-Christian. But let us narrow it down even further. -A nation that its foundation was laid upon the precepts of Almighty God found in the Ten Commandments and their laws were governed by His Word for the sole purpose of His glory and His attributes and to establish a nation "Under God". Now that narrows it down a whole lot. There are only TWO nations that have built their society, their government, their laws upon God's law. That would be Israel, and the United States of America!! If you can think of another, because I can't. Our forefathers came to this land and envisioned a new government built upon the precepts of Almighty God when it was a fledgling colony in Massachusetts and from there, through the War of Independence and our founding documents beginning with the Declaration of Independence and then our Constitution, God and His Word was the mold that shaped our new nation, under God. President Ronald Reagan spoke of that very important fact, who is but one of the leaders of our country, down through our history that recognized the importance of God in our society. He said " If we ever forget that we are a nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under".( AMEN.) For the last 200 years, God has blessed this nation beyond any nation in all of history and the wealth of this nation has surpassed all nations upon this earth, past and present. But times have changed in the last 50 years (and as noted especially the last "administration" of 8 years), as our slide into idolatry has grown more pronounced and more anti-God in our schools, our universities, our halls of government, and in our very lives. God has been legislated out of the very foundation of our republic and "progressively" (I use that term tongue in cheek) God has been told that He is not welcome. We don't need God, we can handle ourselves. Oh, really and how has that been working out for you in the years of this nations last dictator in chief who thought he was above the law. (thank God he is gone..or is he?) HAS GOD REMOVED HIS HAND FROM AMERICA? Let us think for a moment, what would it look like in a society that has kicked God out of our everyday affairs. Since the beginning of our founding, God has had His hand on this nation and blessed us in business, in resources, in national security, militarily in our wars with victory, and every aspect that makes up the USA. No question of that, as the history books speak of how this nation became a lone superpower, and not by its own might, but by the very Hand of God. Why was that? Because we honored Him, we prayed to Him, and we looked to Him for guidance in the majority of the population. What would happen if God removed that protective hand and removed the protective hedge that He has placed around us? As Jonathan Cahn wrote in his book: "What if God released "His grip" on the United States and He pulled away His protection from that nation, even for a moment? What if He allowed a nation so deafened and hardened itself to His calling voice, would now allow it to be "shaken"? IMAGINE HOW GOD MIGHT GET THAT NATIONS ATTENTION To a nation that has driven the God it once had known out of its life (as this nation has), rejected His ways, defied His will, and hardened itself to His call, a Shemitah would be the opposite of blessing, it would be judgment. In Leviticus chapter 26, God gives blessings for following after God, but He also gives curses if they do not: 26:14 "But if ye will not hearken unto me, and will not do all these commandments; 26:15 And if ye shall despise my statutes, or if your soul abhor my judgments, so that ye will not do all my commandments, but that ye break my covenant: 26:16 I also will do this unto you;......."(Leviticus 26:14-16) God listed all the curses He would level at Israel in the next few verses, and as a warning, an example to us, (as the Bible was written down for the last days for us, read the curses for yourselves), as He said that He will utterly destroy that nation who does not fear or respect Him. But God is a merciful God, and before He passes judgment, He gives us warnings. Folks, since the 1960s, God has been trying to get our attention and in the leaders of this country and the elite, they have turned a blind eye and led the population down a torturous road bound for most certain destruction. It was shown that every 7 years of our modern time, since 1973, in a cycle of every 7 years, there has been an economic downturn that has affected the nations business found in the stock market on Wall Street and our financial structure. And the amazing thing, it all happened on the very year of remission of debts, and the freeing of obligations to another person, the year of the Shemitah. Each and every instance, Wall Street has taken a hit, and in some years, a huge smack-down of losing near half of it's worth. The cycle has been ominous in its destruction of a major portion of our national wealth and our GNP (Gross National Product), including prices for goods, and unemployment with major losses of jobs, due to businesses being forced to close. These warnings have been growing louder and louder, as America has been isolated and protected on our shores through two World Wars and many foreign conflicts, as those conflicts never saw an attack on our soil, until.....you guessed it...September 11, 2001 (9/11). America's security and feelings of invincibility were shattered on that day. What once was the symbol of our economic might and wealth, lay in rubble as so many bricks and mangled steel upon itself, as the Twin Towers fell to the earth. Would it concern you that this was the Year of the Shemitah? Yes, 2001 was a Sabbath Year rest and I believe, a call to repentance for national idolatry. On the following days, the stock market crashed, due to the shaking of the economy and the fall of the Twin Towers due to this terrorist attack. Not only has the cycle of economic instability happened every 7 years, but now God was letting evil come against even our infrastructure and leveled one of the tallest buildings on earth, as a warning. America was shaken and filled the churches of the land, but it lasted only a few weeks and we went back to sleep. We continued in unrepentance and ignored a physical warning, I believe was allowed by God. Next came 2008, and yet another Sabbath year. What happened then? We had another stock market crash that pretty well destroyed most of people's retirement that were based in the stock market. The stock market fell from over 14,000 points to a little more than 600 in days. It spelled an economic recession and the scrambling of the government to save businesses "too big to fail". Since then we have printed money out of thin air and the stock market is soaring again. We think all is well...is it? But if you think that, you lie to yourself and many people can feel something coming, a foreboding of doom. I watch in amazement as the stock market has soared to unprecedented heights that give the nation a false sense of security. I have just watched and waiting for the air to be let out of this bubble that is built on "funny money" and the total collapse of this nations economic might. We are well overdue for a correction in the stock market. WHAT MAY BE COMING? Understand, I make no predictions or set dates of when God will do anything, but the coincidences keep building and a person that has money in the stock market might be feeling a little trepidation, right about now. Remember 2008, and 2001 as the price of oil did about the same as a precursor to a stock market crash? Oil prices are pretty steady right now, but will it last? Now we all know, or should that the level of the stock market in 2020 is nothing but a bubble based on cheap money and interest rates. It's a house of cards that could implode any moment and the stock market will make a drastic correction. Investors are making a sucker's bet that they can read the market. As in the past, it will catch them flat footed. First thing, these events have been extremely precise in 2001 and 2008 and for that matter, every stock market downturn has happened during the fall of the year, in what is called the month of Tishri, or the beginning day of the Feast of Trumpets, a Holy Day and month given to Israel. It's all happened either in September or October during that month with the end of the Sabbath year, or the Shemitah on the Elul 29 or the end of the Jewish year and Rosh Hashanah, or the Feast of Trumpets being the first day of the new Jewish year calendar. We are now in the year 2020 and we see the stock market doing a zig-zag of up and down losses and increases, much like the last crashes that happened. When will the correction begin? If it does come, then how deep will it slide? How long will God allow us to continue in our idolatry to the god of wealth and greed? If the falling of the World Trade Center was a physical warning, along with monetary losses in the stock market, what could be a even more powerful warning? Since 1960s, America has been going down a slippery road and it became even more slippery, when we let the Supreme Court let stand a ruling called Roe V. Wade and the subsequent murder of now well over 60 million babies, inside and outside the womb. What in the past we called evil, we now call good. What was abhorred in the past, we now celebrate. Homosexual marriage, or that lifestyle was an a abomination that was not spoke of in public circles, but now we have parades for "Gay Pride" in all parts of the this country. and what was considered abnormal is now an "alternative lifestyle" and is glorified. Both are evil in the eyes of God and His Word condemns both. We are being warned. 20 "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! 21 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! 22 Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink: 23 Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him! 24 Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the Lord of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel." (Isaiah 5:20-26 King James Version (KJV) As Jonathan Cahn testifies in his book, it is not about the land's Sabbath rest per se, but a call to repentance, a time of humbling, and a time to understand that God is the source of your very existence. As a nation, we must turn away from the path that we are on. God is a God of being unchangeable and what He has done in the past to any nation, so shall may He also do to ours. I breathed a heavy sigh of relief when a former first lady did NOT get into the White House, this last election cycle, as her election would have given the elite of this world, their One World Government in a hand basket...with our present POTUS, I believe we have been given a short reprieve. Oh, it hasn't stopped our slide, just slowed it down. And note the total resistance from the Liberal left found in our dereliction of duty we call the "Free Press" and the Political left of the "Communist Democrat Party" that is not the party of JFK any longer, but they have sold their soul to the devil. Now any nation on earth is deserving of the wrath of God, and believe me, brother, it is coming as the Tribulation drum beats grow louder and louder, but even as Israel was scourged and disciplined most severely by Almighty God, so may the USA be scourged and disciplined just as severely. I believe the ONLY think holding back the complete destruction of this nation, are God's people who hold onto His Word with both hands and will NOT stop praying for this nation until they are removed from this planet in what is popularly called "the Rapture, or the HARPAZO" ...then all bets are off. If you should still be here, those who read this and have an ear to hear, you will see this nation fall with such a loud crash, it will make many commit suicide, much like they did in 1929 market crash and causing the Great Depression. WHY IS THIS SO FOR THE WESTERN NATION OF AMERICA? Why, you ask, would this be so? Because like Israel, the USA knows better. Of all lands upon the earth, we were the producers of missionaries, Bibles, and distributed the Word of God from one corner of the globe to the other. But now all we are famous for is pornography and lewd living. Our crime statistics are rampant. Race relations are to the point of a civil war between people of color and the white majority. We murder our unborn. The family, the foundation of a Christian society has been all but torn asunder and when the foundation goes, the nation goes as well. As Paul wrote and God warned us in 2nd Timothy: 3:1 "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, de'spisers of those that are good, 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 3:6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth."(2nd Timothy 3:1-7) If that was ever a description of the majority of a population, this prophecy has been fulfilled in America. Judgment is coming, my friend, make no mistake about that. When will it happen and what will lead up to it? Only God knows, but from historical accounts, and what is happening right now, Look what is going on right now in the home of the free and the brave.... Fires going out control along the west coast from 1500 lightning strikes in one hour. Hot and dry conditions that make the states a tinder box that has exploded. Homes and businesses burning down and many people fleeing, what can only be labeled a portion of godless USA. Look at the riots all over Democrat run cities burning down peoples homes and businesses, not from lightning, but from Marxist called Black Lives Matter and Antifa. Not to mention this big push in Washington DC to change this country into a Socialist/Communist country that will cause persecution of those who do not fall in line with their agenda of a One World Government that has been planned for nigh 100 years. Who will win this coming election? Although I will vote my conscience, I leave the outcome to God. If the Democrats get in, then God's judgment will fall on this country and will be warming up toward the Tribulation. If we get four more years of what has happened in the last four years, then God has given us a reprieve for a short time...BUT I feel judgment on this country is forthcoming and dooming it to being a third world country. Especially if China's desire to invade this country from launching an EMP to send us back to the stone age. Or Russia who has a hyper-sonic missile than can overcome our defenses to shoot it down. I feel that like Rabbi Cahn, I am sounding a warning to all who will heed the trumpet call. It is time, no past time, to get right with God. What will happen in the end of 2020 and into the next year or two, only God knows. Will American collapse? Will her economy implode to where the ripple effect causes world-wide panic and other stock markets to also collapse? Will it usher in a "new world order" and be the trigger for a One World government? The puzzle of the end time events grows stronger and stronger. What could be coming? Could it be war in the Middle East, leading to a possible 3rd World War? Could it be economic catastrophe to the USA homeland that puts the rest of the world into bankruptcy and chaos? Will the USA become a third world country that can't afford to help Israel any longer when the Gog-Magog war prophecy is fulfilled? Will we be ripe for invasion from a foreign nation, much like Babylon invaded Israel and destroyed their nation and many lives? The symptoms of an end time prophecy coming to pass mount up to be unable to dismiss or ignore. I believe that what is being warned of, could possibly even happen this fall. Many prophetic teachers, pastors, and even laymen see something happening this fall...Why? Because we are at the end of a generation of the formation of Israel as a nation, and the fulfilling of the prophecy given by Jesus when He warned: 32 "Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: 33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. 34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. 35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. 36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only." (Matthew 24:32-36) We are at the end of a generation that will see the coming of the Lord Jesus in the clouds of heaven, that Jesus called "no man knoweth the day or the hour" and is exactly what the feast of Trumpets is called. Is it a clue to the coming of our Lord, based on His Feast of Trumpets and the next in line for fulfillment, much as He fulfilled His Spring "plan for mankind"? If Jesus comes this fall, and only God knows, then my friend, you will witness all "hell on earth" begin and grow more destructive in a crescendo wave of the annihilation of most of mankind. If what is suggested comes to pass, and friend, I use this in all humbleness, when literal "hell on earth" comes to roost in your own front yard, who will you call to? Will you cry out to your congressman, your senator, or even the president of the USA? Will your government help you, your senator, or your congressman? No, my friend, nobody will come to your aid. When this scenario or any part of it does come to fruition, then there is only One that can help you. He is the Holy One of Israel, the Great I AM that I AM. God Almighty, through His Son, Jesus Christ. "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." (Isaiah 1:18) "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved."(John 3:16-20) Believe in your heart the verses 16-18, but do not be like those condemned in verses 19-20 of the above passage. Think not that you can weather the coming storm all by yourself. The Son of Man, Jesus Christ could be on the very cusp of His return. I make no prediction, but "No man knoweth the day or the hour" (Matthew 24:36) a term used for the "Feast of Trumpets" the sign of the King...King Jesus. As He has warned us, we take Him seriously of all who call upon His name and will love His appearing. So come my Lord. We look up expecting our redemption as it draweth nigh. 8 "But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."(Romans 10:8-13) This is Pastor Mike Taylor, praying that God reveals Himself to you, through His Son, Jesus Christ. If you need prayer, counseling, or just a listening ear, email me at [email protected]. , God bless you all, till we meet at Jesus feet.......soon. Arabs: Israel Is Not Our Enemy - by Khaled Abu Toameh - https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/16518/arabs-israel-enemy A growing number of Arabs, particularly those living in the Gulf, say they finally understand that Israel is not the enemy of the Muslims and Arabs. This change of heart manifested even before the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain signed peace agreements with Israel during a ceremony at the White House on September 15. It is the direct result of the expansionist ambitions of Iran and Turkey in the Arab world and the feeling among Arabs that those two states pose the real threat to their national security. Until recently, it was unimaginable to see Arabs openly admitting that they had been mistaken in their belief that Israel was the enemy of the Muslims and Arabs. Now, Arabs seem to have no problem saying that they were wrong all these years about their attitude toward Israel. These Arabs now are saying out loud that Iran and its proxies in the Arab world, and not Israel, are the real enemies of Arabs and Muslims. Until recently, most Arab writers, journalists and political activists avoided any form of criticism of the Palestinians. Such criticism was considered taboo in the Arab world: the Palestinians were considered the poor spoiled babies who were suffering as a result of the conflict with Israel. Now, however, one can find in Arab media outlets more criticism of the Palestinians and their leadership than in Western media, or even in Israeli media. Until recently, for most Arabs, the terms peace and normalization (with Israel) were associated with extremely negative connotations: humiliation, submission, defeat and shame. No longer. Many Arabs are openly talking about their desire for peace with Israel. These Arabs are saying that they are looking forward to reaping the fruits of peace with Israel and that it is time that Arab countries prioritize their own interests. Of course, none of this means that the entire Arab world has changed course and is ready to recognize Israel and establish relations with it. The voices of the Arabs and Muslims who reject any peace treaty with Israel remain vocal and representative of the sentiments of the majority of the people in the Arab and Islamic countries, especially those that have not educated their public for peace. Yet, it is remarkable to see how an increasing number of Arabs are airing their views regarding Israel and the Palestinians in the public sphere. The message coming from these Arabs: "We helped the Palestinians for many years; we gave them money; we gave them weapons, and some of us even fought wars with Israel because of them. In the end, we discovered that our Palestinian brothers are ungrateful, obstinate, lack good leadership and are refusing to move on with their lives." The Arabs are telling the Palestinians: "You no longer have a veto on peace with Israel." Most importantly, the Arabs of the Gulf are openly admitting that it is Iran, and not Israel, that poses a major threat to peace and stability in the Middle East. The Gulf Arabs are saying that Iran and its Palestinian and Lebanese proxies -- such as Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Hezbollah -- are destroying Arab countries and dragging them toward more bloodshed, violence and chaos. As Saudi writer Mohammed al-Sheikh recently noted: "For us in the Gulf, Israel is no longer the No. 1 enemy, as it was before the Persian mullahs seized control of Iran in 1979 and began exporting their revolution, or before Erdogan assumed the presidency in Turkey and worked to restore the Ottoman occupation of the Arab world." Al-Sheikh said that the Gulf Arabs are the only ones entitled to assess the dangers and threats surrounding them: "It is we, not other Arabs, who assess the dangers surrounding us and arrange our priorities. The problem is that most Arabs, including the Palestinians, insist on playing the role of guardians over us and on defining for us our priorities. They continue to argue that the mullahs of Iran and Erdogan's Turkey do not pose a threat to us as much as Israel does." Praising the prospect of peace and normalization with Israel, the Saudi writer pointed out that: "Israel is an advanced and superior country in all fields, and by creating a space for peaceful cooperation with it, we believe that we will benefit from its progress and superiority." Arabs who are opposed to peace with Israel, al-Sheikh added, "do not care about development and modernization, and that is why they are at the bottom of countries in terms of modernity and development." Echoing a common theme in the Gulf states nowadays, al-Sheikh said that peace with Israel would benefit the Arabs as much as Israel. He is saying, in other words, that the Arabs stand to gain a lot from making peace with Israel. "We are certain that our cooperation with the superior Israel and the US will definitely affect our national interests, and it will have the best impact on our national security, specifically toward our enemies, and it will positively reflect on our development." Ahmad al Garni, editor of the Saudi newspaper Sada al Hijaz, said that the days when Arabs used Israel to scare other Arabs are finally gone. "Scaring us with Israel has become a thing of the past," al-Garni wrote. "We are not afraid of Israel. We are not cowards. Dealing with Israel does not mean that we love it. It's one thing to love Israel, and another thing to have commercial, economic and political relations with it." Expressing growing disillusionment with the Palestinians in the Arab countries, Saudi writer Amal Abdel Aziz al-Hazany said that the Palestinians who are now condemning the UAE and Bahrain for making peace with Israel were among the first Arabs to normalize their relations with Israel when they signed the 1993 Oslo Accord. Al-Hazany pointed out that Iranian meddling in the internal affairs of the Palestinians has resulted in the separation of the West Bank from the Gaza Strip and triggered a power struggle between the two main Palestinian factions, Fatah and Hamas, that continues to this day. She said that despite Iran's endorsement of Hamas and Islamic Jihad, the Arabs continue to support the Palestinian cause in international forums and remind the international community on every occasion that the Palestinian issue is the Arabs' first concern. Al-Hazany also noted that funds nevertheless continued to flow to the Palestinians, especially from the Gulf states: "The Arabs, especially Saudi Arabia, have provided everything possible in favor of the Palestinian issue, and millions of dollars have not stopped flowing to the PLO, without accountability, but with the hope that they would spend this money to provide a decent life for the Palestinians... Can the Arab countries be blamed today for looking after their interests by establishing open relations with Israel? Times change, everything has changed, except for the Palestinian mood that rejects anything and everything. It is not in the Palestinians' interest to adopt a negative attitude towards the countries that decide to normalize the relationship with Israel, which is increasing and will increase with time." Emirati political analyst Issa bin Arabi Albuflasah expressed outrage and disgust over the Palestinian leadership's recurring insults and attacks on the Gulf states for daring to seek peace with Israel. "Palestinian leaders are the main cause for the suffering of their people," Albuflasah remarked. "They have achieved nothing for the Palestinians. They only care about power and achieving personal and partisan gains at the expense of the Palestinian issue." Accusing the Palestinians of being ungrateful, the Emirati analyst said: "The UAE and the rest of the Gulf states opened their doors and institutions to the Palestinians, where they lived as brothers, enjoying everything that the citizen enjoys, and receiving care and attention. The Palestinians are now responding by insulting us and aligning themselves with Iran, Turkey and the Muslim Brotherhood." Saudi writer Mohammed al-Saed also lashed out at the Palestinians and accused them of living in "a miserable film." "Human history will not see the birth of a Palestinian politician. I wish to remind everyone of the weakness and confusion that dominates the Palestinian issue and of the guns and explosives that were directed mostly at Arab and Western civilians to cover up the [Palestinian] state of bankruptcy." Noting that Palestinians have a long history of rejecting peace offers with Israel, he said that the Palestinians did not bother to inform their Arab brothers of their intention to sign the Oslo Accords: "It was excessive selfishness from [former PLO leader Yasser] Arafat and his unfortunate negotiating delegation who participated in Oslo. Within 50 years, Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and many Arab countries paid a heavy price and fought several wars on behalf of the Palestinians. Yet Arafat did not let them know about the negotiations that led to the signing of the Oslo Accords." Explaining why Arabs are now moving closer to Israel, Saudi writer Fahd al Degaither commented: "Geopolitically speaking, new enemies of the Arabs have appeared in the region, with new and very dangerous ambitions that are declared and different from those of Israel. We were told that Israel's slogan was [to expand] 'From the Euphrates to the Nile.' Iran, however, does not hide its expansionist ideological trend, which it is already practicing through its militias in Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen. Turkey, on the other hand, is seeking to seize new sources of energy in Libya and has sights on Africa along the Red Sea. These developments prompted the moderate Arabs to start reconsidering previous their political positions." Saudi writer Osama Yamani concurred: "Our enemy today is Iran and Turkey, who occupy Arab lands in the name of the Palestinian issue. As for the enemy of the Palestinians at home, they are the corrupt leaders and traitors who rest in the bosom of Iran. For us, the real issue now is development, peace and justice that were stolen from the Arab world and forgotten by the Arab peoples. The Palestinian issue concerns the Arab peoples who want a solution, but the leaders benefit from the status quo. These leaders benefit from the problems and suffering of their people. There is no solution under corrupt leaderships. The Palestinian leadership is in the hands of traitors and beneficiaries." Saudi writer Saeed al-Farha al-Ghamdi, in an article published in the Saudi newspaper al-Madina on September 4, says he can't understand why the Palestinians fail to read reality. "The Palestinian issue is in retreat and Palestinian leaders are moving in the opposite direction, as if their minds have been frozen. The Palestinians have become lost and without a leadership that looks after their interests," al-Ghamdi said, urging the Palestinians to keep a distance from Iran, Turkey and Qatar, "which have agendas that seek to exploit the [Palestinian] issue." Saudi writer and researcher Fahd al-Shkiran advised the Palestinians to "catch up" with the normalization agreements between Israel and the UAE and Bahrain. "The historic agreement will change the face of the region," al-Shkiran wrote. "It is tantamount to turning the tables on the axis of resistance and its terrorist militias. It is not reasonable for the Palestinian Authority to remain in its negative attitude regarding the changes that are sweeping the world." Al-Shkiran also advised the Palestinians to hold their leaders accountable on two levels: "The first is political accountability: The reasons and causes of the continued rejection of all realistic deals that were offered to them since the beginning of the problem until today. Second: Opening the files of corruption. The Palestinian has the right to ask about the billions of dollars paid by the Gulf states for the Palestinian cause. All that money has disappeared." Judging from the comments of many Gulf Arabs, it is evident that a growing number of Arabs realize that they have been misled about Israel for decades. They were brainwashed to believe that Israel was the true enemy of all Arabs. It is refreshing to see that many Arabs have become aware of the misconceptions and lies they were fed all that time. The Palestinians, however, are unlikely to see similar changes as long as their leaders continue to inform them, in no uncertain terms, that normalization and peace with Israel constitute the high crime of treason. Daily Jot: Where are the police? - Bill Wilson - www.dailyjot.com The most recent Minneapolis City Council meeting should become the anthem for liberal cause and effect. In June the Council bowed to Black Lives Matter and Antifa activists to pledge to defund the police and replace them with some undefined social workers called "violence interrupters." Since then, Minneapolis Police Department crime data indicates that more people have been killed in the city in the first nine months of 2020 than in all of last year; arson has increased 55%; and all violent crimes, property crimes and theft have increased significantly. Now the very same Council members grilled the police chief, asking "Where are the police?" As it turns out, over 100 officers-double the usual number-have left the police department, according to police chief Medaria Arradondo. In addition, City Council members were whining that officers were not arresting perpetrators of the crime. NPR reported that Council President Lisa Bender, who was among those leading the call to defund the department, suggested that officers were being defiant. She said that her constituents say officers on the street have admitted that they're purposely not arresting people who are committing crimes. Council members complained that crime had increased in wards which are usually safe and that their constituents are feeling "terrorized." NPR reports that the increased crime statistics, however, has not deterred Council member Phillipe Cunningham of the 4th Ward from getting rid of the police department. Cunningham supports the creation of a new community safety agency to replace the police department. He told the Council that it's particularly important now to start instituting public health-based approaches to violence prevention. He said, "If we have these systems in place we are getting ahead of the violence. That's why I have advocated so strongly for the violence interrupters, because if they are interrupting the violence before the guns are being fired, then the MPD doesn't have to respond to that violence." The council earlier took more than $1 million from the police budget to hire "violence interrupters" to address potentially violent confrontations. This entire City Council meeting episode exposes the absolute lunacy of the liberal mindset. The Council unanimously caved to the very people who were committing violence and voted to defund the police. Then they diverted a million dollars from the police budget to fund social workers to interrupt violence. In the meantime, police are quitting the department at twice the normal rate and violent crime skyrocketed. The leftist response: "Where are the police?" They are essentially accusing the police of what they, themselves, did. No clue, or no recognition of responsibility. And these type of people are in charge of most every major city. Proverbs 18:2 says, "A fool has no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself." And if you follow him down the road, you will end up in the ditch asking "where's the road?" Daily Devotion: What Legacy Will You Leave? - by Greg Laurie - www.harvest.org I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. -2 Timothy 4:7 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/what-legacy-will-you-leave-2/ - Listen There was a man who had the unique opportunity of reading his own obituary. One day over his morning toast, he opened the paper and saw his name in the obituary column. Obviously it had been printed by mistake, but what really distressed him was the fact that he was remembered as the man who created dynamite. He thought, "Of all of the things I'll be remembered for, it will be my creation of something that is used for mass destruction." So he decided to make some dramatic changes in his life. The man's name was Alfred Nobel, and he went on to create the Nobel Peace Prize. In 2 Timothy 4, the apostle Paul stated his legacy. His turbulent life was coming to an end, but he had truly made a difference. Paul said, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing" (verses 7-8 NKJV). Notice that Paul didn't say, "I ran the race." Rather, he said, "I finished the race." It is not enough to start well. We need to finish well. It is not enough to run fast. We need to run fast and long. The goal is to make it across the finish line and have an abundant entrance into the kingdom of God (see 2 Peter 1:11). You are running a race. Keep running. If you have slowed down, it's time to move forward, because you will leave a legacy. What will you be known for? Your life can make a difference if you're on the right course. 
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 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 
|
|