Prophecy Update Newsletter
IN TODAY'S NEWSLETTER...
Guilty till Proven Innocent - Alf Cengia - http://www.omegaletter.com/articles/articles.asp?ArticleID=8730
The media kerfuffle between Christine Blasey Ford and Brett Kavanaugh is both fascinating and deeply frustrating. I don't want to analyze the debacle here - and it is a debacle. I'm interested in the reactions to this fiasco, and why people take sides. For those who may not be familiar with the issue (I somewhat envy you), here's a quick summary from Wiki: President Donald Trump nominated Kavanaugh on July 9, 2018, to replace retiring Associate Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy. During the confirmation process, Christine Blasey Ford accused Kavanaugh of having sexually assaulted her in the early 1980s. Over the next few days, two other women accused Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct. Kavanaugh "categorically and unequivocally" denied that the event Ford described occurred and strongly denied all allegations. Not everyone is impressed with Ford's allegations. See PJ Media's article giving several reasons for concern HERE. See this article as well. It does seem rather politically expedient (at least to me) that Ford remained silent all these years, only speaking up following President Trump's nomination of Kavanaugh. Naturally, most conservatives defend Kavanaugh. Others have quickly sided with Ford, despite not having seen any evidence. Many are professing Christians, some are feminists. Perhaps predictably, most of the presumption of Kavanaugh's guilt examples I've seen come from progressive leftists. From a political standpoint, an accuser doesn't need to prove anything regarding Kavanaugh. Once doubt is sufficiently cast the smear has done its work. From the standpoint of a leftist activist, whether he is guilty or not is irrelevant to the "greater political good." But leaving aside political and ideological biases, over the years I've noticed a tendency among people to presume a person's guilt based on nothing except presumption and subjective intuition. The Lindy Chamberlain case comes readily to mind. See also the Wiki article Death of Azaria Chamberlain. The Chamberlains claimed a dingo took their baby girl. Long before the authorities officially charged them, some of my acquaintances "just knew" that Lindy was guilty of murdering Azaria. I recall asking why. Did I miss something? They told me she looked guilty. Others agreed, including enough of the media for a case to be made against the Chamberlains. One enterprising journalist claimed that the name Azaria meant "sacrifice in the desert." It actually means "YAHWEH has helped" in Hebrew. Of course there was no internet or Google in those days, and so the rumor mill gained traction! Naturalists informed us that dingoes don't naturally take babies. Ironically, long after the fiasco, there were reports of dingoes exhibiting aggressive behavior. Warning signs were strategically placed in tourist spots advising the public to keep an eye on their children - and not to feed the dingoes. Despite the eventual exoneration of the Chamberlains, many stood by their guilty verdicts. They wanted the Chamberlains to be responsible, rather than the animal. I know of a more personal case of around that period. A fellow in his teens was suddenly called into his work manager's office. He was promptly told that he stood accused of inappropriately touching a female line worker. The accuser - a hard-working quiet woman more than twice his age - stood in a corner crying profusely. The accused male's face immediately turned red. If I didn't know any better, I'd have said he was guilty. I mean, how can someone - who isn't a professional actor - possibly fake crying like that? And why blush if you haven't done anything. But I knew for certain the poor schmuck was innocent because he was me! And I'm so glad I didn't have those intuitive face-readers judging my case. As it turns out, our company had been preparing to re-locate to another area which my accuser didn't want to travel to. She found another job, gambling that if she brought assault charges, the company would pay her early annual leave and release her. Providentially, she related her intentions to other female employees, who promptly alerted the manager. When she eventually put her plan into action she was fired. But here's the rub - I'm still guilty! Oh, I wasn't guilty of assaulting that woman. Brett Kavanaugh may also be innocent of the particular crime Ford and others accuse him of. Ford may also be telling her truth. Yet we're all guilty of sins and crimes deserving eternal punishment. We're not guilty till proven innocent- if we stand alone, we are guilty. How many of us would feel comfortable standing in front of an Omniscient Judge as every single event and secret thought of our lives was uncovered for the world to see (Matt 12:36; Rom 14:12)? Would that frighten you? It should. The thought of it terrifies me. While we might plead our innocence regarding any given sin, the sum of our sins will eventually catch up with every single of us. One day we must all face the only Judge and Court in that matter. The good news is that Jesus Christ has offered a way to salvation and the covering of our sins. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom 6:23 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Co 5:21 Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man to whom the LORD shall not impute sin. Rom 4:7-8 If you haven't already placed your faith in Christ's provision for your sins, isn't it about time you did? For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16 We have an Advocate in Jesus Christ (1 John 2:1-2). Praise be to God! State Department: No 'Jerusalem, Israel' On US Passports - By Jackson Richman - http://www.prophecynewswatch.com/article.cfm?recent_news_id=2609 Despite the United States recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital in December and relocating its embassy from Tel Aviv in May, Americans born in Jerusalem are still unable to list "Jerusalem, Israel" on U.S. passports. "The president has made clear that the specific boundaries of Israeli sovereignty in Jerusalem remain subject to final-status negotiations between the [Israelis and the Palestinians]," a State Department spokesperson told JNS. "We have not changed our practice regarding place of birth on passports or Consular Reports of Birth Abroad at this time." A group of 55 House Republicans sent a letter to U.S. President Donald Trump several weeks ago, urging him to instruct the State Department to permit American citizens born in Jerusalem to list Israel as their birth country on their passport. "Despite the progress in moving the embassy, the State Department has not yet fully implemented the administration's policy of recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital for purposes of registration of birth, certification of nationality, or issuance of a passport of a United States citizen born in the city of Jerusalem," the letter stated. Pro-Israel groups weigh in Jewish and pro-Israel groups expressed concern to JNS over this development. "We strongly supported legislation that would enable U.S. citizens to declare Israel to be their place of birth should they so desire," said AIPAC spokesperson Marshall Wittmann. "We encourage the administration to adopt this approach." "It is deeply frustrating that the State Department ignores the fact that Jerusalem is never mentioned in the Koran; Arabs face Mecca when they pray, Jews face Jerusalem," said Zionist Organization of America president Mort Klein. "It has never been the capital of any country except Israel. Jerusalem became a slum when under Arab control from 1948-67, and no Arab leader except King Hussein visited Jerusalem during that time." "It has been Jerusalem, Israel, for thousands of years according to God, U.S. law and history, but not according to the State Department," he continued. "Where is [Secretary of State Mike] Pompeo on this? Shameful appeasement." Sarah Stern, founder and president of the Endowment for Middle East Truth, said "this is inconsistent with his previous message, declaring that 'Israel, like any other sovereign nation, should have their right to determine its own capital.' Why should Jewish babies born in Jerusalem continue to remain stateless?" Daniel Mariaschin, CEO and executive vice president of B'nai B'rith International, remarked that the State Department needs to change its policy in accordance with Trump's. "The president has made clear that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel," he said. "So any U.S. citizen born in Jerusalem is therefore, de facto, born in Israel, and their U.S. passport should reflect that reality." Executive vice chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations Malcolm Hoenlein stated that hopefully, this is just bureaucratic resistance that can be pushed aside to right any wrong. "It is disappointing that apparent bureaucratic, or worse, biased judgements are impeding the correction of this historic wrong," he said. "It does prejudge anything regarding borders or boundaries to acknowledge the place of birth correctly. I hope higher authorities will intervene." Apparently, it is advertent bureaucratic resistance inside the State Department, according to Daniel Pipes, president of the Middle East Forum. "Even before President Trump made his announcement recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital, in a White House backgrounder for analysts, a ranking State Department official made clear that the recognition had no geographic definition, that the complex U.S. position on the city going back to the Corpus Separatum concept in the 1947 United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine, remains entirely in place," explained Pipes. "Thus did the bureaucracy manage to salvage something from what it considers the wreckage of Trump's recognition." On hold due to upcoming Mideast peace plan Although Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital, he has the authority to not have "Jerusalem, Israel" listed on U.S. passports in accordance with Zivotofsky v. Kerry, where the Supreme Court ruled it is solely the president who has the power to recognize foreign entities in accordance with the U.S. Constitution's Reception Clause. "Zivotofsky ruled in favor of the executive; he was not required to comply with the federal law," said constitutional scholar Ilya Shapiro. "Trump, like Obama, can decline to stamp 'Israel' on the passport of a citizen born in Jerusalem." Washington-based geopolitical strategist and diplomacy consultant John Sitilides told JNS that the administration may be withholding putting "Jerusalem, Israel" on passports due to its much-anticipated Mideast peace plan. "President Trump has recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, but is now emphasizing his support for a two-state solution, and is withholding on the passport issue to maximize U.S. leverage as his diplomatic negotiating team finalizes its proposals," said Sitilides. "He has publicly stated that Israel must be more flexible now that Jerusalem has been recognized, even as he declares that the Palestinian team has nowhere else to go to secure an enduring solution to its perennial issues." "Both sides, and all interested parties," he said, "are holding their breath as the Trump administration prepares to unveil its long-awaited proposals." News from Hal Lindsey Media Ministries - Hal Lindsey - www.hallindsey.com It is almost impossible to overstate the importance of the crossroads at which we stand today in America. The unexpected election of Donald Trump forced into open view the truth about the "fundamental change" that has occurred in our nation during the last few years. It revealed unacknowledged corruption in our government's institutions that has shaken the confidence of many Americans. In the same way, the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court has exposed the extreme threat the Left poses to the core values of our republic. None of us doubted that the Left would fight tooth and nail to defeat anyone who might pose a perceived threat to our national orgy: the unrestrained practice of killing our unborn -- or almost born -- at whim. Most Americans, even if not practicing Judeo-Christians, still have within themselves an uncomfortable sense that something is not right about this national disgrace. After all, the "lawful" murder of 152 absolutely innocent persons per hour per day per week per month per year cannot be swept under the cosmic rug forever. Deep within most Americans, the disconcerting thought lurks that, at some point, God Himself is going to say, "Enough is enough!" But I think few of us realized exactly how much the Left is willing to sacrifice to preserve that national sin. Everything. One of the defining principles of our nation -- one that is almost innate within the psyche of Americans -- is the idea that each of us is "innocent until proven guilty" of any accusation. We all grew up knowing that, when the stakes were high, at least we had the protection of that fundamental assumption. We knew that in matters great or small, the onus of proof was on the accuser. (Unless the accuser was Mom. She didn't actually need proof, she somehow just knew.) In fact, it has been a main pillar of jurisprudence in America for centuries, and millennia in previous societies. Yet the main bludgeon in the final battle against Kavanaugh's nomination has been an attempt to pervert that principle. The Left is so desperate to win that it has chosen to sacrifice that hallowed right on the altar of expediency. The Democratic Party, the mainstream media, academia, entertainment, and a disappointing number of "establishment" organizations (even churches) apparently all agree that "guilt by accusation" is the new, acceptable standard. And that the concept of a "statute of limitations" is unnecessary. I don't need to tell you how explosively dangerous both of those ideas are. Normal Americans understand the frightening possibilities this quicksand represents. Those on the Left know, too, that's why their reckless willingness to discard them is so disturbing. "Guilt by accusation alone" was the foundation on which The Inquisition, the Salem witch trials, and the Reign of Terror were perpetrated. (Also, the practice that the accused defend himself before he heard the accusation. The Senate Judiciary Committee's minority members -- the Democrats -- insisted that Judge Kavanaugh testify in his defense before Dr. Ford presented her accusations. The Committee Chairman refused.) As I write this, I feel vaguely like we are Christian in the Slough of Despond (The Pilgrim's Progress). It is, indeed, a dangerous place that can claim our lives if someone does not happen by to help us reach the other side. In this case, I believe that "someone" is God and He has already happened by to help us. He has helped us by providing a spotlight to expose the dangerous bog into which our nation has wandered. And the helpful hand that is extended to us is the recognition that we, as citizens, have the power to pull ourselves out of this immediate threat before it is too late. We have the means to reject the wiles and ploys of those who are willing to subvert our rights and liberties to hold on to the power to which they feel entitled. That means is the ballot box. Our power is the vote. We are just over a month from the mid-term general elections. As I always do, I encourage you to study the platforms and policies of the candidates in your state and your district. Compare them to the principles taught in the Bible. Then vote the Bible. And vote your conscience. Once again, I cannot overstate the importance of this moment in our history. If we are to continue to realize God's blessings on our nation, we must get serious about rejecting the slide into nihilism. We must get serious about restoring to preeminence the moral foundations on which our nation was built. We must get serious about seeking God's forgiveness for our national failures and working to restore our national values. Our second President, John Adams once observed, "Avarice, ambition, revenge and licentiousness would break the strongest cords of our Constitution, as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made wholly for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." America was not designed to operate in the chaos of backstabbing, greed, and rage. But since our nation has been systematically eliminating God from our institutions and culture, we no longer have the moral compass to sustain the greatness that our heritage allowed us to achieve. Pray for America. We are at a moment of great crisis. And greater danger. Don't miss this week's Report on TBN, Daystar, CPM Network, various local stations, www.hallindsey.com or www.hischannel.com . Please check your local listings. Syria Threatens to take Golan from Israel - By Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz - https://www.breakingisraelnews.com David stationed garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and the Arameans became tributary vassals of David. Hashem gave David victory wherever he went. II Samuel 8:6 (The Israel Bible™) Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem recently addressed the UN General Assembly, accusing Israel of supporting terrorism while warning that his country intends to "liberate" the Golan Heights from Israel. "Israel supported terrorist organizations in southern Syria and intervened to protect them," Muallem said. "Just as we liberated southern Syria from terrorists, we are determined to restore the Golan Heights to the borders set in 1967." Syrian state media often describe Israeli air strikes against Syrian or Iranian military sites as support for terrorist groups. "We call on Israel to comply with UN resolutions and allow the Palestinians to establish their state," Muallem concluded. After Arab aggression led to the 1967 Six-Day War, Israel conquered almost 700 square miles of territory in the Golan Heights from Syria, ending years of the ongoing and indiscriminate shelling of Israeli towns in the valley below. In the 1973 Yom Kippur War, the Syrian army overran much of the Golan but was finally repelled at great cost by the IDF. The Golan was annexed by Menachem Begin's Israeli government in 1981. "We welcome any assistance with reconstruction from those countries that were not part of the aggression on Syria," he said. "The countries that offer only conditional assistance or continue to support terrorism, they are neither invited nor welcome to help." Muallem referred to the U.S.-led multi-national coalition currently in his country fighting Al Qaeda and the Islamic State (ISIS) as "occupying forces" and demanded their immediate evacuation. "They must withdraw immediately and without any conditions," he told the UN General Assembly. The U.S. currently has approximately 2,000 troops in Syria. Russia also has a significant military presence in Syria, supporting the regime of President Bashar al-Assad. There have been several attempts by the Israeli government over the years to arrive at a peace agreement with Syria, many of which included ceding the Israeli Golan to Syria. Iran's involvement in Syria over the years has made this form of peace agreement unlikely. In May 2009, Prime Minister Netanyahu said that returning the Golan Heights would turn it into "Iran's front lines which will threaten the whole state of Israel." In his address to the UN, Muallem invited Syrian civilians who fled the country during their ongoing seven-year civil war to return. "Conditions are now present for the voluntary return of refugees," Muallem said. "We have called upon the international community and humanitarian organizations to facilitate these returns. They are politicizing what should be a purely humanitarian issue." It is estimated that more than 500,000 people have been killed in Syria's civil war. In 2016, from a pre-war population of 22 million, the UN identified 13.5 million Syrians requiring humanitarian assistance, of which more than 6 million were internally displaced within Syria, and an additional five million were refugees outside of Syria. Daily Jot: Vigils to a false god - Bill Wilson - www.dailyjot.com The Hill reports over 300 candle light vigils were "attended by thousands nationwide," even in front of the Supreme Court in Washington, DC. They were calling on the government god to stop the confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. The Hill reports, "Demonstrators at the Supreme Court vigil called on senators to reject Kavanaugh's nomination, not only because of the multiple sexual misconduct allegations against him, but also because of his judicial record on abortion and immigration rights." The Hill reported that women's and progressive (code: communist) groups have been staging protests across the country. What people don't know is that many of the protesters are paid professionals. The George Soros-funded Moveon.org website says, "Kavanaugh would rule for a generation against reproductive freedom, health care, the environment, voting rights, workers' rights, LGBTQ rights, and immigrant rights, while siding with big corporations, Big Money, and the Trump agenda. And we can't let the White House rush and hamper an FBI investigation. The survivors who have stepped forward in recent weeks deserve better, as do we all." The disclaimer at the bottom of the page says that this is part of Moveon.org Civic Action, a "501(c)(4) organization which primarily focuses on nonpartisan education and advocacy on important national issues." Moveon.org and other extreme leftist groups have been documented to be paying protesters. This certainly is not the definition of "nonpartisan education." Robert Reich, former Secretary of Labor under Bill Clinton, Thursday sent out a fundraising email on behalf of Moveon.org's emergency campaign to stop Kavanaugh. The email, according to Breitbart News, stated that Kavanaugh was an "accused sexual predator and right-wing anti-woman, anti-LGBTQ partisan." He also accused President Trump, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Kavanaugh of making a "mockery of the Senate." So thousands of paid communists and anarchists, joined by unwitting dupes influenced by the political agenda, are holding "candle light vigils" to stop Kavanaugh. A vigil is defined as "an event or a period of time when a person or group stays in a place and quietly waits, prays, etc., especially at night." Who do you figure they are praying to as they shout obscenities and chants, and inflame violence? Not one issue named among them is in alignment with the one and only true God of Abraham, Jacob and Isaac. But communists have their own false god-government. The Communist Manifesto says, "...Communism abolishes eternal truths, it abolishes all religion, and all morality, instead of constituting them on a new basis." The organizers of these so-called vigils likely care nothing about sexual assault, LGBTQ rights, or even abortion. Unifying the factions who do care against America is the communists' means to an end. They are no different than the child-sacrificing pagans of the ancient days and the fools who followed them. The first Commandment in Exodus 20:3 says, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." We are witnessing the type of country, the type of "democracy," fomented by those who keep vigils to a false god. Daily Devotion: The Third Conversion - By Greg Laurie - www.harvest.org On the first day of each week, you should each put aside a portion of the money you have earned. Don't wait until I get there and then try to collect it all at once. -1 Corinthians 16:2 There are two subjects that, when I talk about them as a pastor, the room gets very quiet. What are they? Evangelism and giving. Why are these awkward? I think it could be that we aren't doing what we need to be doing in these areas. If we're sharing our faith regularly and hear a message about evangelism, I think our response will be a positive one. If we're giving faithfully of our finances and hear a message about giving, we'll say, "Of course. I know that. That is such a blessing!" But if there's a discomfort with these topics, it could be that we're struggling with these two areas of our lives. What we don't grasp about giving in particular is that God promises to bless us when we do it. There is a specific promise about tithing in the Bible, where God says, "Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do, . . . I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won't have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!" (Malachi 3:10 NLT). The word tithe means a tenth. Tithing means giving a tenth of our income to the Lord. Whether it's gross or net, just start somewhere. And know this: Everything we have belongs to God. The Bible talks about bringing our tithes and offerings to the Lord, yet studies indicate that only 2 to 3 percent of Christians regularly give of their income to the Lord. Martin Luther said, "There are three conversions necessary: the conversion of the heart, mind, and the purse." If our wallets haven't been converted yet, we are missing out on a blessing. 
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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