Prophecy Update Newsletter
IN TODAY'S NEWSLETTER...
Things That Will Come to Pass - By Gene Lawley -
https://www.raptureready.com/2020/09/25/things-that-will-come-to-pass-by-gene-lawley/ As an earlier article indicated, there are four phases of God's revelation of Himself to the world. The first one was by verbal declarations directly and through His prophets; the second was by the written Word of Law given to Moses and related to the children of Israel; the third was, and is, the direct entry into human history when Christ, the living Word, became flesh and dwelt among us; the fourth will be when Christ returns to the earth and takes up the restored throne of David in Jerusalem and rules the world as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. It will be a government by theocracy. This present age of grace began with the entry of Jesus Christ into the world to give up His life as the Son of Man as payment for the sins of all mankind, that whosoever believes on Him will not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). This era has now spanned over 2,000 years, and still counting. It is the age of grace, that unmerited favor of God whose arm is not shortened that He cannot save. What then is yet to happen before this age comes to an end? Daniel 9:26-27 foretells of a coming person of Roman heritage, that ancient Roman regime which destroyed the city of Jerusalem and its temple in 70 A.D. This person apparently will be one of international authority or recognition, for he will confirm a covenant with others, a covenant that will give Israel seven years of peace. He will be someone who has far-reaching authority in the world, for he will stop the new Jewish temple worship activities and declare himself the God to be worshipped. Look at Daniel 9:26-27: "And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself, and the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, and till the end of the war, desolations are determined. "Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; but in the middle of the week he shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, even until the consummation, which is determined, is poured out on the desolate." Jesus said, in Matthew 24:15, that this event is still future, being an indication of the impending last days: "Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains." This occurs, apparently, when the Antichrist assumes the position of the eighth head of the Beast (Revelation 17:10-11) and confirms a covenant with "many." It was with many nations that the United Nations established Israel as a new nation in 1948. No doubt, it will take such authority to establish a peace covenant between Israel and the Palestinians, most likely one that is imposed upon them. This person's authority extends into the seven years of tribulation, for he has power to shut down the worship of the Jews in their new temple. He will even declare himself God and demand all to worship him as God. This is confirmed in 2 Thessalonians 2:4: "... who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God." He will continue on to ride out on that white horse (Revelation 6), "conquering and to conquer" during that seven years, ending with his being cast alive into the lake of fire. At the moment of that covenant's confirmation, according to 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3, this follows: "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." No doubt, but the "they" in that passage is Israel, for who else has desired peace and safety since its founding in 1948? Also, this seven years is identified in Jeremiah 30:7 as "the time of Jacob's trouble," using "Jacob" instead of "Israel" to indicate a judgment against the sinfulness of those people of Jacob's heritage. (Israel was God's new name for the man who had wrestled with the Angel of God and prevailed.) At the moment of this "sudden destruction," another activity ends and a massive change in the earth's population occurs. Look at 2 Thessalonians 2:3 and 6-7: "Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first... and now you know what is restraining, that he [the deceiver] may be revealed in his own time, for the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way." The only one capable of restraining evil has always been the Spirit of God, and He indwells the lives of mortal believers on earth. Therefore, when the One who restrains is taken away, that body of believers in Christ is gone also. It is the Rapture, and with it, the Day of the Lord, like a thief in the night, comes bringing sudden destruction upon the whole world. (Yes, the Holy Spirit fills all things and will remain in the world, but the Spirit-filled believers will not be here, and those are the ones who live among the evildoers where their presence provides a restraining force against them.) The world is experiencing a massive push to embrace evil instead of righteousness. The so-called "Progressives" in tandem with the sexual revolution, identifying as the acronym LBGTQI+ (and I would add "P" for "perversion") have pushed the nations into a corner that has no pleasant answer. Will it continue until the nations are permeated with immoral degeneration, as was Sodom in Lot's day, or will God bring judgment at a sooner time? Finally, it strongly appears that the fulfillment of the Feast of Trumpets among the seven festivals of the Lord that He had Moses schedule every year is the Rapture of believers. (See Leviticus 23.) No other explanation fits that annual festival. All the other six have clear purposes to celebrate, and four of them have already been fulfilled-Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, and Pentecost. Then, the economic and social conditions when that event comes to pass are certainly relevant. In Luke 17:26-30, we see that economic and social conditions are flourishing abundantly when the Lord is revealed. Contrary to many prophecy watchers, this cannot be the case at the end of the seven years of tribulation when the Second Coming of Christ is scheduled. Then there will be famine, warfare, death-all depicted by the four horses of Revelation 6, plus the mark of the beast, limiting buying and selling to only those who have taken that mark. Even so, it will not be anything like what is described in Luke 17:26-30. What happens after the Rapture for those who are taken out of the judgments of God? There are four major events that Scriptures indicate the risen saints will be doing, plus other services to the Lord. In Revelation 4 we see, with John, the first of the four-the judgment seat of Christ. There, the saints will be judged according to their obedience during their lives on earth after being saved. 1 Corinthians 3:11-15 tells of this: "For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire." In that scene of the twenty-four elders, having crowns on their heads, we see them bowing before Christ on His throne of judgment. Then we see them casting their crowns at His feet. After that, the saints will be taken to places the Lord has prepared for them in His Father's house, as John 14:1-3 tells us: "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you, and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, THAT WHERE I AM, THERE YOU MAY BE ALSO." (Capitalization used for emphasis-see Luke 17:37b in NKJV.) The third of the four events is the marriage supper of the Lamb, the coming together of the Bride and the Bridegroom, depicting Christ and His body of believers in unity, as reported in Revelation 19:7-9: "Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready. And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, 'Write: 'Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!' And he said to me, 'These are the true sayings of God.'" The final event involving the saints will be when they join with Christ at his Second Coming. It is recorded chronologically at Revelation 19:11 and following, but Jesus foretells it also in Matthew 24:29-31, telling of angels being sent to gather God's elect from the four corners of heaven [not the earth] to go with Christ at His return: "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." So it is written. So it is prophesied. So it will come to pass. "If we believe not, yet He abides faithful; He cannot deny Himself. Of these things put them in remembrance..." (2 Timothy 2:13-14a). Contact email: [email protected] The stage has been set for a historic national meltdown... - by Michael Snyder - http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/archives/the-stage-has-been-set-for-a-historic-national-meltdown Everything that has happened in 2020 so far has set us up for a grand finale that none of us will ever forget. This year we have already witnessed the worst public health crisis in about a hundred years, widespread lockdowns all over the nation, a crippling economic collapse and civil unrest in major cities across America. To say that the American people are in a bad mood would be a major understatement. Now we are less than a month away from a bitterly contested presidential election, and as you will see below, one survey recently found that a majority of Americans are expecting violence. That is extremely unfortunate, but these are the times in which we live. Our country is literally falling apart all around us, and nobody seems to have a way to stop it from happening. And the worse economic conditions become, the worse the mood of the nation is going to get. On Thursday, we learned that another 840,000 Americans filed new claims for unemployment benefits last week... The latest jobless claims figures from the Labor Department, which cover the week ending Oct. 2, show that 840,000 workers sought aid last week, about four-times the pre-crisis level. More than 63 million Americans have sought jobless aid since the coronavirus lockdowns began in mid-March. If someone had told me late last year that 63 million Americans would file new claims for unemployment benefits this year, I would have thought that person was crazy. Prior to 2020, the worst number for a single week in all of U.S. history was 695,000, and now we have been way above that figure every single week of this pandemic. Of course the layoffs just keep rolling along. Right now, it is being reported that WarnerMedia expects to lay off thousands of workers in the coming weeks... AT&T's WarnerMedia is preparing a restructuring that seeks to reduce costs by as much as 20% as the COVID-19 panic drains income from movie tickets, cable subscriptions and TV ads, reports The Wall Street Journal. The layoffs are expected to begin in the coming weeks and would result in thousands of layoffs across Warner Bros. studios and TV channels like HBO, TBS and TNT, the paper said. Personally, I wouldn't be saddened if WarnerMedia completely shut down on a permanent basis. They produce an endless barrage of garbage programming that is corrupting the minds of millions of Americans, and our society would definitely be better off without them. But at the same time that millions upon millions of Americans have been losing their jobs, those at the very top of the economic food chain have been getting even wealthier thanks to the Federal Reserve's reckless intervention in the financial markets. At this point, the top one percent of all Americans have more than 15 times more money than the bottom 50 percent combined... According to the latest Fed data, the top 1% of Americans have a combined net worth of $34.2 trillion (or 30.4% of all household wealth in the U.S.), while the bottom 50% of the population holds just $2.1 trillion combined (or 1.9% of all wealth). If you think that there isn't a lot of resentment out there, then you haven't been paying attention. We are seeing the rise of a "Robin Hood mentality" among many that live in deeply impoverished areas, and when things get really crazy out there they are going to be hitting wealthy neighborhoods really hard. Unfortunately, a lot of people believe that this upcoming election could potentially be the spark that sets off a lot more civil unrest. Personally, I have such a bad feeling about what is going to happen, and I believe that having so many people voting by mail could cause all sorts of problems. In fact, even the mainstream media is admitting that we could see a million ballots that are sent through the mail rejected for one reason or another... Absentee ballot rejections this November are projected to reach historic levels, risking widespread disenfranchisement of minority voters and the credibility of election results, a USA TODAY, Columbia Journalism Investigations and PBS series FRONTLINE investigation found. At least 1.03 million absentee ballots could be tossed if half of the nation votes by mail. Discarded votes jump to 1.55 million if 75% of the country votes absentee. In the latter scenario, more than 185,000 votes could be lost in Florida, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin - states considered key to capturing the White House. Any system of voting that could potentially disenfranchise a million voters is deeply broken and should not be used. But at this point it is too late to do anything about it. More than 6 million people have already voted, and more votes are being sent in with each passing day. Of course millions of other Americans are also deeply concerned about the integrity of this election. Just check out the results of a recent YouGov survey... The YouGov poll of 1,999 registered voters found that nearly half - 47% - disagree with the idea that the election "is likely to be fair and honest." And that slightly more than half - 51% - won't "generally agree on who is the legitimately elected president of the United States." The online poll was conducted Oct.1-2 and has a margin of error of +/- 2.56 percentage points. In essence, about half the country believes that this election may not be legitimate. That is a major national crisis right there. In addition, YouGov has also found that 56 percent of Americans believe that there will be "an increase in violence as a result of the election"... In addition, a YouGov poll of 1,505 voters found that 56% said they expect to see "an increase in violence as a result of the election." That question had a margin of error of 4.2 percentage points. This definitely is not the America that I grew up in. In the old days, nobody would have ever imagined widespread violence after a presidential election. Another recent survey discovered that a whopping 61 percent of Americans believe that "the U.S. could be on the verge of another Civil War". We have never seen anything like this before, and at this point it is undeniable that our society is breaking down all around us. But instead of bringing us together, the results of this upcoming election are only going to deepen our divisions no matter who wins. Everything that our forefathers worked so hard to build is at risk, and we are getting very, very close to crossing the point of no return. Revival Or Revolution: Is There Another Option? - Tim Moore - https://www.prophecynewswatch.com/article.cfm?recent_news_id=4334 For years, some Christians have held out hope that America would experience another wave of spiritual regeneration. But midway through 2020, anarchists and agitators, culture-drivers and even some politicians, are openly advocating for Socialism, racial division, and the wholesale rejection of Judeo-Christian values. So which is it? Are we poised for revival or revolution? It is very unlikely that America will experience another national revival. That is not to minimize the power of the Holy Spirit, but merely to state the obvious. Much, if not most, of the Church is preoccupied with the Social Gospel and has long abandoned a zeal for the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. In the age of "woke" relativism, evangelism is passé. Prophecy Fulfilled This reality could be disheartening, but it is exactly what Bible prophecy says will happen in the end-times. Jesus told us that as the end draws near, lawlessness will increase and the love of many will grow cold (Matthew 24:12). Paul outlined the steady decline of any society that rejects God; He gives them over to increasing debauchery and inevitable destruction (Romans 1:18-32). Paul also foretold the rise of apostasy in the latter times, as some fall away from the faith handed down to the saints (2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 and 1 Timothy 4:1). Perhaps even more disheartening to American patriots - including Christians - is our society's trend toward revolution. In just the last 20 years, we've seen a dramatic rise in lawlessness and increased polarization - politically, racially, ethnically, economically and socially. In recent months, chaos has engulfed many American cities. Even now, polls claim that an increasing number of Americans are ready to reject Capitalism in favor of Socialism. At the core of movements like Progressivism and Black Lives Matter is a rejection of Judeo-Christian morality, worldview and societal norms. But in that regard, we've been in the midst of a revolution since the mid-1960s. The sexual revolution that cast off "fetters" of restraint has already resulted in rampant adultery and fornication, an explosion of pornography and divorce and an embrace of every abomination of the LGBTQ+ lifestyle. In every arena, we witness the rise of the satanic religion of Humanism with its idolization of individual autonomy. So what hope remains if revival is unrealistic and revolution is underway? Reliance on God's Word For the individual believer, the same Word of God that revealed these inevitable end-time realities must ground our faith. Like David, we can boldly proclaim (Psalm 56:9-11): This I know, that God is for me. In God, whose word I praise, in the LORD, whose word I praise, in God I have put my trust. I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me? The Bible offers us many examples of people who determined to put their trust in God - even in the midst of catastrophe. Jeremiah offered a testimony of hope in spite of national disaster (Lamentations 3:19-24). Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego proclaimed their reliance on God in the face of a fiery furnace (Daniel 3:16-17). And Habakkuk, who calmed his own heart with a prayer requesting mercy in the midst of wrath (Habakkuk 3:1-2). Christians can demonstrate that kind of tough faith because we have the revelation of God. He has told us what to expect as the Day of the Lord draws near. And, He has promised never to leave us or forsake us. Guidelines for End-Time Living God reveals Himself and His overarching plan for Mankind throughout the entire Word of God. Here are some practical ways Christians can overcome the fear and the apostasy of the present age: - Study the Word of God (hide it in your heart, glean its promises, become "well-versed"). - Pray (without ceasing). - Determine not to quench or grieve the Holy Spirit. - Keep your eyes on Jesus, not only to receive a blessing, but also to:
Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled - By Grant Phillips - https://www.raptureready.com/2020/10/08/let-not-your-heart-be-troubled-by-grant-phillips/ "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me... Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (John 14:1, 27). Most of us would agree that this world has gone mad, but we in the USA should consider that many other countries have been experiencing madness as a way of life. What magnifies the insanity here in America is that it is new to us. We have been the land of the free and the home of the brave for many, many years. Love of country has been our badge of honor. Respect for authority (police agencies, for example) has been taught to us by our parents. Respect for others was once ingrained in our psyche. Sexual morality and character-building once existed in our society, as did honesty and justice. Then it all started going south around 1963. It's nearly impossible for the younger generation, but for those in their twilight years, the contrast is shocking. The world I remember and the world I see now are as different as two sides of a coin. It's the same coin, but that's about it. The country I love, the one of my birth, is beginning to pay for its rejection of the God of the Bible, and it's just going to keep getting worse. In my opinion, there is no longer any hope for us as a nation. We have crossed the line, and the wrath of God is coming soon. However, there is hope, a sure hope, for every believer in Jesus Christ. He told us in the introductory Scriptures above to believe in Him. He said He will give us peace, not the phony peace the world gives, but real peace that works. He told us not to be troubled or afraid. Even though the world is falling apart around our ears, God is faithful to His Word and will not disappoint. Many Christians are afraid, or at best concerned, but as you trusted Him to save you, also trust Him to be with you in times of trouble. We can rest assured that God is in control. What we are seeing today surprises many of us, but God is not surprised. The world is doing exactly what He told us it would do as the days draw closer to His return. Notice the following words of God and take heart. "Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, 'Let us break their bonds in pieces and cast away their cords from us.' He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The Lord shall hold them in derision. Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, and distress them in His deep displeasure: 'Yet I have set My King on My holy hill of Zion.' "I will declare the decree: The LORD has said to Me, 'You are My Son, today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel.' "Now therefore, be wise, O kings; be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him" (Psalms 2). This passage of Scripture is just as relevant to us today as it was to Israel during the days of King David. By the way, did you notice the last sentence, "Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him?" With that said, let's take a look at a few Scripture passages in the book of Jeremiah. Those Who Trust in The Lord "But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit" (Jeremiah 17:7-8). Our hope is not in the President of the United States (although I pray the Lord allows him to serve one more term). Our hope is not in Congress; neither is it in a political party. Our hope is in the God of gods, the Lord of lords and the King of kings. God knows what He is doing. We just need to trust Him. He is divinely orchestrating this fallen world to its own fate. We look around us and see man fighting against man, but the real battle is spiritual. The apostle Paul said: "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:12). Does it seem the battle is intensifying? Well, it is because Satan is quickly approaching his last days, and he knows it. I have no idea when the Tribulation will start, but one thing is sure, all the road signs are pointing in that direction. And remember, Jesus removes His bride before His day of wrath (Tribulation) begins. Understanding these verses and accepting them will help us be just like the trees God speaks about in these verses of Jeremiah 17:8. By the way, He says the same thing in Psalms 1:3. Those Who Trust in Man "This is what the LORD says: 'Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the LORD. They are like stunted shrubs in the desert, with no hope for the future. They will live in the barren wilderness, in an uninhabited salty land'" (Jeremiah 17:5-6). Those who trust in the Lord do not put their trust in man, but to the contrary, those who do not trust God will depend on man to pull us out of this mess we have created for ourselves. These dear folks will depend on presidential leaders and Congress to save our bacon. They will believe that politicians and the media are being truthful to us. In other words, they are naïve, to say the least. The sad thing is the Democrat party is doing everything in their devious might to destroy this country. The same can be said of some Republicans. Will God continue to work through President Trump and Vice President Pence? I pray He does, simply because it tells me anyway that God is delaying His game plan a short while longer so more can be saved. The point is that those who trust man over God are going to be mightily disappointed. If President Trump does not get a second term, the Democrats will finish what they started with Obama and destroy everything this country has stood for over the last 200 plus years. If President Trump is allowed by God another four-year term, the anti-nationalist Democrats (and some Republicans) will attempt to derail President Trump at every turn, just as they have been doing the last four years. The Democrats (and some Republicans), the liberal media and others of influence want more than anything to have a one-world government. Guess what? Eventually, that is exactly what they will get. It will be headed by the Antichrist during a time called the Tribulation, all because they trust in man instead of God. Those Who Trust in The Heart "The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? But I, the LORD, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve" (Jeremiah 17:9-10). Our county does not have a political problem, or a morality problem, or a justice problem, or a ________ (fill in the blank) problem. Our country has a heart problem that is filled with sin. All these other things are just what flows out from a deceitful and wicked heart. Only a wicked heart would murder innocent, defenseless little babies. Only a wicked heart would loot, burn, destroy, steal and murder to get their way. Only a wicked heart would be the number one propagator of porn, illicit drugs, sex slave trade and all that is evil in God's eyes. Only a deceitful, wicked heart would look us in the eye and purposely lie to us for their own gain while they smile at our gullibility. Not so ... those who trust in the Lord. Satan is having a field day for now, but we know who gets tossed into the lake of fire when the dust settles. No wonder he is fighting so hard. But we have nothing to fear and everything to rejoice about. Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, will rule with a rod of iron in the end. I close with these verses: "And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. "I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely... "He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly..." (Revelation 22:12-17, 20a) Grant Phillips Email: [email protected] Pre-Rapture Commentary: http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com Rapture Ready: https://www.raptureready.com/featured/phillips/phillips.html Daily Jot: The Farm Chronicles: Sowing and Reaping - Bill Wilson - www.dailyjot.com There is something very earthy about growing up on a farm. You experience things as a youngster that others do not. You learn a certain sense about events in life that inform you for the rest of your life. It is beyond the cold, frigid mornings when you pry open the barn door frozen to its latch and the cows and horses greet you with a "mooo" or a "whinnie." It extends beyond the musty smell of hay mixed with the odors of the animals-maybe repulsive to some, but they become a sweet perfume of remembrance to those of us who loved the farm life. There are bonds that are never forgotten to times, places, people, even animals that you knew along the way. These are memories that flash through our minds of a time long ago. The farm life is a microcosm of a lifetime packed into weeks rather than years. Life and death are interwoven into the daily fabric of farming. It is not only the crops that have new life in the spring and are harvested in the summer and fall. It is also the joy of a newborn calf, lamb, pig, puppy, or foal, and the solemn knowledge that they are part of our lives for far too short of a time. There are the sicknesses and the accidents that bring death into focus at a very young age. You don't become hardened to it, but aware of it and how to handle these tragedies along the way. There are the simple joys like lying on your back in the fresh spring grass looking at the cumulus clouds in the blue sky and your dog comes up and lays down beside you, putting his paw in your hand. Growing up on the farm, I learned to appreciate life at a very young age. One of the Biblical principles in play every day is reaping what you sow. It is true for the spectrum of life. Galatians 6:7, says "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap," and verse 6:9 says, "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." It applies to our personal lives as well. Proverbs 22:8: "He that sows iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail." There are no better examples of sowing and reaping than that found in farming. It is the cycle of life. There is joy. There is sadness. There are times that you never want to end. There are moments that last way too long. There are things that are in your control, and you learn quickly how fast they can change. There are things that are out of your control, and you learn quickly that God is ultimately in charge-very few atheists in farming. If they say they are, they are fooling themselves. A farm lesson for all: You reap what you sow. Sow the best, give your best each day even in the face of disappointment and challenges. The prophet writes in Hosea 10:12, "Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you." Good advice for the times in which we live. Daily Devotion: An Authentic Voice - by Greg Laurie - www.harvest.org The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. -2 Chronicles 16:9 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/an-authentic-voice/ - Listen The term "know-it-all" usually has negative connotations. But Jesus literally is a know-it-all because He's omniscient, which means all-knowing. Jesus knows everything, yet He made himself vulnerable and open during His earthly ministry. For instance, He reached out to the woman at the well in Samaria, and she ended up believing as a result. He engaged her in conversation, and after she realized that He knew everything about her, she "left her water jar beside the well and ran back to the village, telling everyone, 'Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?'" (John 4:28-29 NLT). So the people from the village went to see Him. Why? Because she was an authentic voice. Everyone knew her story. She was infamous for her immorality, so when she talked about Jesus, people had to take notice. Sometimes we think we have to be perfect to be used by God when it's actually the very opposite. God seems to go out of His way to choose the most unlikely people to be instruments that He uses. Have you ever noticed that? God often chooses people who have had a rough life, but they've come to trust in Him. And they're willing to put their lives out there for the Lord to use. The Bible says, "The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him" (2 Chronicles 16:9 NLT). Maybe you're saying, "Well, I don't have anything to bring to the table." Then you're a perfect candidate. If you pray, "Lord, whatever I have, I give it to you. I offer it to you. Would you use me?" then watch out. I'm confident that God will answer a prayer like that. 
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 
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