Prophecy Update Newsletter
November 14, 2016
IN TODAY'S NEWSLETTER...
This Was Your Life - Pete Garcia -
http://www.omegaletter.com/articles/articles.asp?ArticleID=8336 While the world was fixated on the national elections, the Democratic scandals, the World Series, earthquakes, wars and rumors of war around the world, evangelical Christianity lost another one of the greats this last week with the passing of Jack Chick. There was no national outpouring of grief. No press coverage that I could discern. No tributes aside from what few believers shared on Facebook and Twitter. Yet, I bet heaven's reception party was such that it dwarfed anything we simple mortals could have put together. If we were to try and quantify the impact of Jacks' tract ministry, I would easily put him ahead of Augustine, Charles Spurgeon and Billy Graham. Truth be told, we won't know this side of heaven how many lives his ministry has touched, but if I were a betting man, it would probably be in the hundreds of millions of lives saved, lives touched, and with outreach in every nation on the planet. I even used this same title in the second article I'd ever written for the Omega Letter back in July of 2011 as a tribute of sorts to Jack Chick and his 'Chick Tracts', which have had a profound influence in my own life. Fearless in their messaging, Chick Tracts were unafraid to tackle even the toughest of topics like the occult, homosexuality, abortion, hell, Roman Catholicism, and prophecy. Yet, despite their boldness in proclaiming truth, they were also uncompromisingly sincere in their presentation of the Gospel at the end of each story. The artwork was compelling, oftentimes capturing the tiniest of details and nuances people make when confronted with both truth and error. Also notable was their citing of sources, whether a statistic or Scripture, in order to validate the message they were presenting. The earliest Chick tract that I can remember was called Back from the Dead, and it told the story of a man who had clinically died and went to hell. In the hospital, the doctors and the medical team had given him up for dead, but he came back, with quite the story to tell. Being a young boy, I was fascinated by monsters, and I remembered the pictures from the scene where the man is in hell. I carried those frightening images with me locked in my mental filing cabinet for decades to come. That picture, probably more than any sermon or teaching, motivated me to never want to go there, or let anyone else go there. Chick tracts was one of the few ministries I recognized and respected early on for its reach and imagination in terms of trying to reach everyone they possibly could. Furthermore, every born-again believer who has ever been called into some type of ministry, should only ever have as one driving goals, that their work continues on even after they are gone. Jack Chick, having now passed on to glory at the age of 92, spent the last fifty years working in a ministry, and leaves behind a legacy which will continue to impact this world until the Lord returns (and perhaps even beyond the Rapture). If there were any detractors that I could think of regarding Chick Ministries, it was in their over-zealousness in promoting the 'KJV-only' view. Personally, I do not begrudge anyone who holds that view, but I also don't champion that position myself. I believe there are far too many other pressing issues currently trying to undermine the Gospel to be hung up on which translation I use, or don't use. Still, it was a position they were unwavering on, and should be commended at least for their consistency and doing so in an age of compromise and capitulation. The bottom-line though, is that they tempered their truth with love, and they always presented a clear message of both the Gospel and that Jesus Christ is, was, and will only ever be the only means of salvation. Assessment Therefore, we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences. 2 Corinthians 5:9-11 NKJV Part of the reason I began writing, was that I too wanted to leave something behind should sudden-death beat old-age to the punch. Granted, my own ministerial scope and reach are microscopic compared to Jack's, but I believe in my heart that thus far, I am doing what the Lord has called me to do. When we are doing what He has called us to do, that is all we can do until He has calls us to do something different. We each have our place in this world to accomplish something that was tailor-made for us. We grow, we learn, we share, we love, we teach, and we write...all in the hopes that we can make an eternal impact on someone whom the Lord has placed in our path. But not to be discouraged, God has not called us all to be Charles Spurgeons, Jack Chicks, or Billy Grahams. If you think about all the potentialities, all the possible scenarios, with all the theological heavyweights out there; Is it better to be a Billy Graham...or the person who led Billy Graham to Christ? Is it better to be a Charles Spurgeon, or the person who led Charles to Christ? The beauty of our salvation, is that we never know who or what our own impact will have this side of eternity, or what impact that it will have later on down the line. But there are some common misconceptions about our eternal future, and that is that we are all going to be the same. Another misconception is that all of our sins are going to be laid bare at the Bema Judgement, in which we will have to answer for every little thing we've ever done which detracts from our reward. Both of these views are incorrect. As believers, our sins were paid for at the Cross. All of our sins. In fact, every sin you and I have ever committed, was thousands of years into the future from the 1st century when Jesus of Nazareth hung on that old cruel cross to bear the wrath of God for you and I. He just didn't die for some of your sins...He died for ALL of them. He knew about the sins you and I would commit millennia before you and I were even conceived. So to be clear, salvation is by grace, through faith, NOT of works, lest any man should boast. (Paraphrase of Eph. 2:8-9) So either Christ paid for all your sins, or He didn't, and if He didn't, then you and I would be doomed forever because we are incapable of ever earning our own salvation through our own efforts. Let's just be glad that He did and move on to the work laid before us. So then notice what is being tested below...is it works for salvation, or because of salvation? 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. 1 Corinthians 3:11-15 So we understand that only Jesus Christ can lay the foundation, which is our salvation. ANYTHING we do beyond that, is added on top of that foundation which is already laid...these are works because of salvation. When believers stand before Christ at the Bema Seat Judgment, we are judged for what we did or didn't do for Christ in the time we had available. If we were doing what God had called us to do, our intentions (not our results) are what is put to the flame. That will either be the gold, silver, precious stones, or it could be the wood, hay, stubble...depending on what we were trying to get out of it. Were we doing it for our own glory? Were we more concerned with growing our congregations or classes by size, or by maturity? Were we more concerned with the budget, or with the giving? Were we envious because someone else got the book deal, or the radio spot, or the television interview? Were we jealous because the neighbor has a nicer house, car, husband, wife, etc.? Intent, not results, is what is what's brought out at the Bema Seat Judgment. (Rom. 8:27, Rev. 2:23) I believe many on That Day will expect a lot, but receive little. I also believe that many who do not expect much, will receive great reward for the faithfulness in the calling in which God has called them. In other words, it isn't the size of our church, our budgets, or our ministries that God rewards, it is the intent of our hearts, and whether we were good stewards of the talents and opportunities He has placed before us in our appointed times. Although it might seem paradoxical that I mentioned the enormous influence of Jack Chick's ministry in terms of global reach and impact as being a good thing, while also saying that it isn't about the size or budget of our ministries, reach, and scope as being what is important to God, it is not. If we are faithful to God's calling, whatever that is, He can do the miraculous through us. In Jack's case, it was monumental. In yours or mine, it may not even be noticeable. Either way, God judges the intent of the heart, not the results...those belong to God and He can do with them whatever He chooses. Perhaps your calling was to be a godly mother. How many of the Christian greats look back to their mothers as the inspiration to become a Christian in the first place? And because they did, these men and women go on to impact the world? Perhaps your calling is to be a mechanic, store clerk, truck driver, fry cook, missionary, preacher, or teacher? Whatever it is, be faithful and God will bless your efforts. He may not bless your results in any way that is discernible in your life now, but your efforts may be the reason that someone else turns to Christ because they saw the love of God in you. Or perhaps it was because you were bold enough to share with them the plan of salvation. They may not turn now, but somewhere down the line that seed that was planted and will spring forth by the convicting of the Holy Spirit, and the Lord will bring to their remembrance that time when you laid out the plan of salvation without fear and without hesitation. Conclusion While it's not a popular message these days to remind people that we may not see results instantaneously, we keep it in mind because you and I are prone to discouragement because what we are doing seems to be bearing no fruit. Remember, God is in charge of the results, not you or I. Also keep in mind that you are a sinner. I am a sinner. Born-again as we might be, we are not sinners because we sin, we sin because we are sinners. (1 John 1:8-10) It is as inherent and instinctive to our fallen nature to want to sin, as it is for dogs to chase cats, or for birds to fly. It is the fleshly nature that currently encapsulates our souls in a cocoon of corruption. It very much desires us to be in synch with this fallen world, and not with God. The sin nature works double time, all the time, to keep us silent and distracted from doing the things of God. But one day soon, the Lord will come to redeem His bride, and give us our new, immortal, sin-free bodies that we can worship and rejoice in the glory of the Lord in. But until that day, remember... ... since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2 
Living Prophecy - Israel Marks First National Aliyah Day - Tom Olago - http://www.prophecynewswatch.com/article.cfm?recent_news_id=803
A massive yet low-profile exodus of a specific group of people has been taking place over the centuries and continues to the present day. The exodus has been from countries all over the world; their common destination the land of Israel. It's commonly referred to as Aliyah - the return of Jews scattered across the world, and is considered a major fulfillment of end-time Bible prophecy. Israel celebrated its first Aliyah Day with a ceremony in Jerusalem last week. Earlier this year, the Aliyah Day law was passed to recognize the importance of immigration to Israel and its development as a multicultural society. The law designated Aliyah Day as the seventh day of the Hebrew month of Heshvan, coinciding with the reading of the Torah portion, which describes the divine commandment directing Abraham to go to the land of Israel. Immigrant Absorption Minister Sofa Landver, who immigrated to Israel 37 years ago, said she is "proud and excited that for the first time, Israel is marking a day commemorating immigration to Israel." "All those immigrants, from the first wave of immigration to Israel to the fifth, from Operation Moses and Solomon to the new immigrants -- they are all composed of the ingathering of exiles called the state of Israel," she said. Israel is a country of eight million citizens, 40 percent of whom were born outside of the country. Over three million people immigrated to the Jewish state since its inception in 1948, coming from every corner of the globe--from the US to Mozambique. According to Reformjudaism.org, there have been five such major Aliyah waves so far: 1. The first wave, known as the "First Aliyah," took place prior to political Zionism, in the late 1800s. Most of these new immigrants came from Russia and Yemen, and set up towns. 2. The Second Aliyah, prior to World War I, was almost exclusively made up of Russian Jews, following pogroms and anti-Semitism in their country. Inspired by Socialism and Jewish nationalism, this group started the first kibbutz and revived the Hebrew language. 3. After World War I and until 1923, the Third Aliyah came to Israel. This group was also from Russia, but they arrived after the establishment of the British Mandate over Palestine and the Balfour Declaration and set about creating a sustainable Jewish agricultural economy by strengthening and building the kibbutz movement and its ancillary institutions. 4. The Fourth Aliyah, which took place over a short period of time from 1924 to 1929, was mostly made up of Jews seeking to escape anti-Semitism in Poland and Hungary. Many of these immigrants were made up of middle-class families who established small businesses and created a more rounded economy. 5. The Fifth Aliyah coincided with the rise of Nazism in Germany and extreme nationalism across Eastern Europe and included the largest number of immigrants to date - nearly one-quarter of a million Jews entered Mandate Palestine between 1929 and the beginning of World War II. This group of immigrants included professionals, doctors, lawyers and artists. They created a thriving art and architecture scene, and with the establishment of the Port of Haifa, a thriving economy. There have been other smaller pockets and waves of Aliyah since. One such wave was recorded by Wikipedia.org - the Jewish Aliyah from Ethiopia, or the immigration of ethnically and religiously Jewish Ethiopians (Falashas) to Israel. It began during the mid-1970s, during which the majority of the Beta Israel community emigrated to Israel. Fast-forwarding to today - no doubt the pace of Aliyah has continued unabated. Pastor Enoch's blog (pastorenoch.com.au) three months back reported that 2015 saw the highest number of Jews making Aliyah in the past 12 years, with the numbers doubling since 2008. France, Ukraine, and Russia are three countries leading the way in global Aliyah. Additional factors driving the pace of emigration rates have also been identified in these nations. In France, rising anti-Semitism has been a catalyst for French Jews to undertake Aliyah. The French Jewish community has also been the target of several terror attacks in recent years. A growing number of French Jews see the 'writing on the wall' and believe they have no future in France. These fears have only been exacerbated by the recent refugee influx into France that has been comprised mainly of anti-Semitic applicants. In fact, a recent survey indicated that 43% of French Jews - in other words, 200,000 Jews - are currently considering making Aliyah. The ongoing war in Ukraine has been another contributory element. Anti-Semitic tendencies have been reported to be on both sides of the conflict. A top rebel leader on the pro-Russian side reportedly blamed the 'Jews of Ukraine' for masterminding the downfall of the previous pro-Russian government in Ukraine. Meanwhile, there are also concerns about neo-Nazi/fascist groups who have been taking part in the fighting on the Ukrainian side. In 2015, Russia experienced a sudden 40% spike in Aliyah driven primarily by the financial crisis of 2015 that saw Russian wages drop by 8.5% and the value of the Russian Ruble cut in half compared to the US dollar. Another motivating factor would be that Russia is home to half the world's Neo-Nazis, and just as in times past, the Russian bear could easily turn on its Jewish population. Yemen too has yielded up her Jews to Israel. According to the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, the final group of Yemenite Jewish immigrants landed in Israel Sunday, March 20 following a complex covert operation coordinated by the Jewish Agency for Israel, thus bringing the historic Yemenite Aliyah to a close. Some 200 Jews have been secretly rescued from Yemen by the Jewish Agency in recent years, including several dozen in recent months, as attacks against the Jewish community have increased and the country has descended into civil war. More than 51,000 Yemenite Jews have immigrated to Israel since the country's establishment in 1948. The majority of the community - nearly 50,000 individuals in total - was brought to Israel in Operation Magic Carpet in 1949 and 1950. According to a recent Christiantoday.com publication by Florence Taylor, there are now just 50 Jews left in Yemen after the latest covert airlift operation. Even American Jews are returning to Israel. Several years back, unitedwithisrael.org examined why this would be so, as they live in relative safety and comfort. For many American Jews, the answer is simple. Israel is the Jewish homeland. It is the land promised to the descendants of Abraham in his covenant with God, the land that housed the holy temples, the land to which the Jews have been longing to return for 2,000 years... It is clear that Jews in Israel are not only establishing an integral connection to their past, but also defining their future as the Jewish people. Many American Jews are making Aliyah to help lay the foundation for the current and future "history" of their nation. Chinese Jews are also eagerly standing up to be counted as Israeli Jews. Algemeiner.com reported early April the case of five women who are among the few remaining traceable descendants of China's ancient Kaifeng Jewish community. They made Aliyah to Israel that week. The women plan to formally convert to Judaism and become Israeli citizens. "Our ancestors are Jews...I have to be here... As a child, my parents and people around me always called me 'Jewish girl,' new immigrant Yue Ting, a 25-year-old primary school teacher, told NBC News. "I didn't understand the meaning of Jewish at that time." "I know I am Jewish," said Yue. "To be Jewish, I have to go back to Israel...I've been waiting for this time for a long time." So are some Indian Jews. In December of 2014, ibtimes.com reported that a small tribe of people from a remote corner of northeastern India claimed to be descendants of Jews and are seeking asylum in Israel. In the Indian state of Manipur, which borders Myanmar (Burma) to the east and Bangladesh to the west, thousands of local people have either converted to Orthodox Judaism over the past few decades or claim they belong to a group called the Bnei Menashe, who believe they trace their ancestry to one of the Lost Tribes of Israel. The Bnei Menashe - actually the Kuki-Mizo-Chin tribes of northeastern India - think they are descended from the Menasseh tribe, who departed Israel in the eighth century B.C. after the Assyrians invaded. Al-Jazeera estimates about 7,000 Bnei Menashe currently reside in India, while about 2,000 have already settled in Israel. So what significance, if any should be attached to the persistent Aliyah drift? Pastor Enoch of pastorenoch.com.au weighed in on the prophetic angle of it all: "The Bible predicts a great end time ingathering of the Jewish people from the four corners of the globe. This arguably started to take place at the beginning of the 19th Century as Jews began returning to Israel... This return was not just from Babylon as in the days of Ezra, but rather a return that would bring Jews from virtually every country on the globe.... Life in Israel is not exactly easy either, but the God of Israel has promised to protect His returning people. Jeremiah's comforting words foretell that "He who scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him as a shepherd does his flock" (Jer. 31:10 NKJV). 
Prayers at the Western Wall - By Daymond Duck -
http://raptureready.com/featured/duck/dd253.html Christians believe that prayer is one of the greatest privileges we have. We believe that earnest prayer in Jesus' name acknowledges the existence of God, that He actually hears every prayer, that He is all-powerful, and that prayers of faith can move Him to change things. But unlike some that believe they have to pray at certain times of the day, or in certain positions, or facing a certain direction, Christians believe we can pray anytime, in any position and facing any direction. The Holy Bible teaches that Jonah prayed in the belly of a whale. Daniel prayed in a den of lions. Jesus prayed on a mountain, in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross. He prayed at night. He prayed in the day. He prayed alone and He prayed in public. So Christians can pray anytime and anywhere; and it is a great privilege that our loving sovereign God has given to all of His people. Having said this, at least periodically, some people like to go to Churches, shrines, or significant designated holy places to pray. In fact, every year several million people visit the Wailing Wall in Israel to pray. God said His heart and eyes are always there so some Christians believe His divine presence is there in a special way and they want to go there to feel it and to pray. But many people do more than stand in front of a wall weeping and praying. Since the 1700s, Christians and Jews have been writing prayers on pieces of paper, folding the paper and sticking it in cracks between the blocks of the wall. Hillary Clinton visited the Wailing Wall in 2002 and again in 2005. On both occasions, she stuck a piece of paper in a crack, but she never revealed what she wrote on them. There is nothing wrong with that. Prayers can be private or public. She kept her prayers private. As a candidate for president of the U.S., Barack Obama visited the Wailing Wall in 2008. He stuck a piece of paper in a crack that was later removed by a seminary student and sold to a newspaper that published it. Mr. Obama's prayer was "Lord, protect my family and me. Forgive me my sins and help me guard against pride and despair. Give me the wisdom to do what is right and just. And make me an instrument of your will." The newspaper that published his prayer received a lot of criticism for violating Mr. Obama's privacy. Since then, others have complained that his prayer was mostly selfish because he mentioned "me" five times. They believe he should have prayed for people other than himself and family, and that he should have prayed for peace on earth, asked God to bless the U.S. or whatever. Now, Donald Trump is U.S. president -elect. As far as this writer knows he hasn't yet visited the Wailing Wall., but he sent one of his advisors, David Faiman, to Israel with a prayer and instructions to place it in a crack in the Wailing Wall. Mr. Trump reportedly wrote the prayer with the help of his Jewish daughter, Ivanka. It reads, "May you bless the United States, our armed forces and our allies. May your guiding hand protect and strengthen our great nation." Notice that Trump did not ask for anything for himself. He asked God to bless our nation, our military and our allies (Israel and others), and to protect and strengthen America. The election is now behind us and it would be good to pray for the winner, and for all the things mentioned in Mr. Trump's prayer. And remember that God will bless those that bless Israel. Prophecy Plus Ministries Daymond & Rachel Duck [email protected] 
What's Next??? - A.V. Rauf -
http://bibleprophecyfortoday.com/ We are just over 6 weeks away from Christmas! It sure goes without saying that the year 2016 has certainly come and gone in the blink of an eye. Most recently, there has been a change in the Administration of our country which will officially take place on Friday, January 20, 2017. One demographic segment of American voters not being fully recognized by the corporate media for President-elect Trump's victory is the Church itself.. It has been said that approximately 90% of the Body of Christ voted for Donald Trump. Exit polling reported that (Trump) captured 81 percent of the evangelical vote - exceeding the evangelical support for Bush, McCain and Romney. In the third debate, Trump took on the partial-birth abortion issue, and this may have been the moment he closed the deal with evangelicals and solidified their support. Furthermore, Polls also showed that Trump recaptured the Catholic vote for the GOP by a margin of 52 percent to 45 percent, after most of them voted for Obama in the two previous presidential elections. Nonetheless, the focal point of this post is NOT the issue of the presidency as much as it is rather the prophetic ramifications it may have In Bible prophecy and the upcoming 70th Week of Daniel. The LORD will first rapture the faithful Church but He ultimately returns with it. The period that commences after the rapture of the Church will also usher in what is known as the "Time of Jacob's trouble": Jeremiah 30:4-7 --And these are the words that the LORD spake concerning Israel and concerning Judah. For thus saith the LORD; We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace. Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness? Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble, but he shall be saved out of it. Daniel 12:1 -And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. Matthew 24:15-22 -When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. The age of the Church will end and the Time of Jacob's trouble and the salvation of the nation of Israel will become the central element in the purpose of God on earth. Israel and the Jews will be in the worst turmoil ever and the surviving remnant of the Jews and Gentiles will enter the Millennial Kingdom after the Day of the LORD comes to pass. The Day of the LORD is not a 24 hour day, but rather a series of events in which the wrath of God is poured out on those who are not raptured, including the persecutors of the true Church and the haters of the nation of Israel. It will also culminate in God's prevailing justice of the kingdom of AntiChrist. Amos 5:16-20-Therefore the Lord, the God of hosts, the Lord, saith thus; Wailing shall be in all streets; and they shall say in all the highways, Alas! alas! and they shall call the husbandman to mourning, and such as are skilful of lamentation to wailing. 17 And in all vineyards shall be wailing: for I will pass through thee, saith the Lord. 18 Woe unto you that desire the day of the Lord! to what end is it for you? the day of the Lord is darkness, and not light. 19 As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him. 20 Shall not the day of the Lord be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it? Each day that passes by we see the nation of Israel becoming more alienated from the rest of the world. Several nations that once were considered allies are no longer supporting her. Israel is beginning to find that she has no allies. This was all spoken of in the Bible. Joel 3:1-2--For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, 2 I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land. As of late, the issue of dividing land for Peace in Israel has been a major issue. Zechariah 12: 2--Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. 3 And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it. 4 In that day, saith the Lord, I will smite every horse with astonishment, and his rider with madness: and I will open mine eyes upon the house of Judah, and will smite every horse of the people with blindness. 5 And the governors of Judah shall say in their heart, The inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be my strength in the Lord of hosts their God. 6 In that day will I make the governors of Judah like an hearth of fire among the wood, and like a torch of fire in a sheaf; and they shall devour all the people round about, on the right hand and on the left: and Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place, even in Jerusalem. 7 The Lord also shall save the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem do not magnify themselves against Judah. 8 In that day shall the Lord defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the Lord before them. 9 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. 10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. What is for unbelieving Israel is not for the faithful Church. We need to understand that tribulation is one thing. Whereas the wrath of God is entire something else. Once the Rapture of the Church commences, those who have not been removed will find themselves in the Day of the Lord and may be objects of His wrath. Even from this only a few will survive and be saved. Zechariah 14:1-9 --Behold, the day of the Lord is coming, And your spoil will be divided in your midst. 2 For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem; The city shall be taken, The houses rifled, And the women ravished. Half of the city shall go into captivity, But the remnant of the people shall not be cut off from the city. 3 Then the Lord will go forth And fight against those nations, As He fights in the day of battle. 4 And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, Which faces Jerusalem on the east and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, From east to west, Making a very large valley; Half of the mountain shall move toward the north And half of it toward the south. 5 Then you shall flee through My mountain valley, For the mountain valley shall reach to Azal. Yes, you shall flee As you fled from the earthquake In the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Thus the Lord my God will come, And all the saints with You. 6 It shall come to pass in that day That there will be no light; The lights will diminish. 7 It shall be one day Which is known to the Lord- Neither day nor night. But at evening time it shall happen That it will be light. 8 And in that day it shall be That living waters shall flow from Jerusalem, Half of them toward the eastern sea And half of them toward the western sea; In both summer and winter it shall occur. 9 And the Lord shall be King over all the earth. In that day it shall be- "The Lord is one," And His name one. Once again to put it into simplest terms, when the LORD comes and removes the faithful Church and unleashes His wrath on this earth and on the kingdom of AntiChrist, He will be intervening in the strategic conflict against the nation of Israel. This is the Day of the LORD. It is now very obvious to discern what is about to take place in the Middle East. Let me also add that with a current change in administration, this just may accelerates many things prophetically speaking: For example, the Trump Administration will be completely committed to Israel. In other words America will once again bless Israel. The Lord's promise of Genesis 12:3 stands firm with America once again being Israel best and closest ally in the world. Genesis 12:3- And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. American political intervention during Israel's military operations against Islamic terrorist organizations within and without her borders will be non-existent during the Trump Administration which means one very significant thing factor for the Nation of Israel. It may well be that the very restrictions that may have been imposed upon Israel's offensive military operations for the last 8 years will have been removed. The Israeli Defense Force may finally respond without restriction to the ongoing tension brewing in Gaza, Judea and Samaria, the Sinai and even Lebanon. Could Psalm 83 be fulfilled in the very near future? Psalm 83--Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God 2 For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head. 3 They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones. 4 They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance. 5 For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee: 6 The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes; 7 Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre; 8 Assur also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot. Selah. 9 Do unto them as unto the Midianites; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison: 10 Which perished at Endor: they became as dung for the earth. 11 Make their nobles like Oreb, and like Zeeb: yea, all their princes as Zebah, and as Zalmunna: 12 Who said, Let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession. 13 O my God, make them like a wheel; as the stubble before the wind. 14 As the fire burneth a wood, and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire; 15 So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm. 16 Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O Lord. 17 Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish: 18 That men may know that thou, whose name alone is Jehovah, art the most high over all the earth. Furthermore, will the prophecies of Damascus Chapter 17 calling for the destruction of Damascus (which is today in present Day Syria) or even the Jeremiah 49:23-27 will come to fulfillment? Jeremiah 49:23-27-Concerning Damascus. Hamath is confounded, and Arpad: for they have heard evil tidings: they are fainthearted; there is sorrow on the sea; it cannot be quiet. 24 Damascus is waxed feeble, and turneth herself to flee, and fear hath seized on her: anguish and sorrows have taken her, as a woman in travail. 25 How is the city of praise not left, the city of my joy! 26 Therefore her young men shall fall in her streets, and all the men of war shall be cut off in that day, saith the Lord of hosts. 27 And I will kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus, and it shall consume the palaces of Benhadad. Bear in mind that in the past, Israel's Psalm 83 enemies has never been afraid of American military intervention in the last 70 years; Not in 1948, or 1967 or 1973 or even in the multiple actions in Lebanon and Gaza in recent years. To the contrary, Israel's Psalm 83 enemies have always been able to count on the Units States using political leverage to restrain the Israeli Defense Force in its battles. Beginning with the new Trump Administration this entire paradigm will no longer exist. The next act of the Psalm 83 war will be the last and complete the prophetic fulfillment. On a final note, Donald Trump told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that as president he would recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Ladies and gentlemen, this statement would mark a dramatic shift in American foreign policy as the U.S.- as well as almost every other country in the world- does not recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital and maintains its embassy in Tel Aviv. The international community does not accept Jerusalem as Israel's capital because its status has not been resolved since Israel established itself in West Jerusalem in 1948 and then effectively annexed East Jerusalem after the 1967 Six Day War. Trump told the leader that under his administration the U.S. will "recognize Jerusalem as the undivided capital of the State of Israel,. The Bible does mention in 1 Thessalonians 4 :16 that For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the TRUMP of God........... Truly, Israel and her capital, Jerusalem, are the keys to knowing how close the world is to the advent of Antichrist and the beginning of the last seven years in history known as the Tribulation period. A time is approaching, and I believe very soon, when God will return His strategy for salvation back to the nation of Israel. We need to read and understand the time we are living in. Enough said. 
Watchman Warning: Microaggressions and Trump - By Hal Lindsey -
http://www.hallindsey.com/ww-11-11-2016/ America has a long tradition regarding new presidents. Their arrival in office is accompanied by a spirit of goodwill in Washington and the country. We call it the "honeymoon." It once last for several months after the inauguration. But in recent years the honeymoon has been getting shorter and shorter. President-elect Donald Trump didn't even get through the night of his election before protestors took to the streets. Only in the days leading up to the Civil War was America this divided. But even then, the discourse was rarely as angry and inflamed as today. Compare the Lincoln-Douglas debates with this year's debates and you'll see what I mean. Lincoln and Douglas disagreed. They jabbed at one other. But they also spoke respectfully. You might answer, "Yes, but these are different times." And that's my point. Proverbs 15:1 begins, "A gentle answer turns away wrath." (NASB) But today, millions of people don't want to turn wrath away. They want to further inflame it. They prefer the second half of Proverbs 15:1 - "But a harsh word stirs up anger." For internet trolls, it's like a game where there are no fouls. They urge people to kill themselves. They zero in on whatever makes a person different from them - anything from weight to race to region of origin. With demonic hatred, they do all they can, not just to win an argument, but to destroy the person they're arguing with. But while they do great harm, they are a mere symptom of a far bigger problem. Every cosmopolitan nation on earth, including the United States, is shattering in slow motion. It's like a glass hitting the floor, but so slowly that we can see each crack begin and grow into a full break. And we see it from inside the glass. Everywhere we turn, we see the shattering and breakage. Jesus said that in the last days, "Nation will rise against nation." (Matthew 24:7 NASB) As I've said before, the Greek word translated "nation" is "ethnos," from which we get the word "ethnicity." Jesus is speaking about fighting among people groups. On all sides of every racial divide, we've seen a massive rise in bigotry over the last five years. But it isn't just race. Everywhere you see a division today, it tends to be deepening. The educational and entertainment establishments seem determined to exacerbate the problem. They teach everyone, especially the young, to constantly be on the lookout for what they call "microaggressions" against them. It can be a microaggression to look at someone; or to not notice them. A smile can be a microaggression - as can a frown or a neutral facial expression. Young people are taught to take any statement or question about race or gender as a microaggression. They are also taught to consider people not mentioning race or gender as a microaggression. This puts everyone in a lose-lose environment, especially the person who has learned to perceive everyone as against him. We are brainwashing people into paranoia. It is the new way of keeping women and minorities away from success, and making them miserable in the process. One of the worst aspects of the emphasis on microaggressions is the damage it does to friendships. Friends engage one another in conversation. We don't carefully prepare press releases to tell our friends what we think. Yet, in this environment, even professional writers struggle to prepare statements that people looking for microaggressions won't pick apart. If that's true of carefully crafted statements by professionals, imagine what it does to off-the-cuff conversation. Without conversation, what happens to friendship? And without friendship, how can we meaningfully cross ethnic and other human divides? So, here we stand in the middle of a glass as it impacts the floor. We see new fault lines form in every direction we look. Hatred, fear, and rage are shattering the world. What do we do? We do what Jesus said to do. We love. In John 13:35, He said, "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." (NASB) The best testimony of Christ's love in your life is an expression of that love to someone else. The world may shatter along the lines of various people groups, but believers in Jesus must not - not even a little. When Paul talked about the unity in Christ between believing Jews and believing Gentiles, he gave a lesson regarding all potential fault lines among believers. "He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one, and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall." (Ephesians 2:14 NASB) If you're angry with Christian brothers and sisters who voted against Trump - or with those who voted for him - please stop a moment. Pause. Forgive. One person's conscience dictates one thing, and another person's conscience says something else. Be loving! I call these articles "Watchman Warnings," based on the scriptures that speak of the "watchman on the wall." That's what God has called me to. Here is my warning: don't allow Satan to infect you with anger or paranoia. Heed the words of Jesus in John 15:12. "This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you." (NASB) 
My Review of "Rapture Ready...Or Not?" Over the last 35 years, I have literally read hundreds of books on Bible Prophecy and End Time signs. I especially enjoy books on the Rapture, and I have read almost every Rapture-related book published. In all those years, devouring thousands of pages, and millions of words, I have not read a better book on the Rapture than, Rapture Ready...Or Not? Terry James might be physically blind, but he is spiritually sharp and well discerning beyond most authors. In "Rapture Ready...Or Not?" Terry has nailed the pre-trib Rapture, and removed any doubt what so ever about the Church going through the Tribulation. With great insight and Godly discernment, Terry explains with simple, yet profound words, why and how that he has come to believe the ways he does about the Rapture, the Tribulation, and the End Times scenario. I think after reading "Rapture Ready...Or Not?" you too will believe as Terry does, and be Ready for the Rapture like never before! - Randy Thomas - Publisher / Editor - Prophecy Update For more information and or to get your copy of "Rapture Ready...Or Not?" use this link: http://www.raptureready.com/terry/book35.html 
Still Not Our Savior - By Donna Wasson - http://raptureready.com/soap2/wasson171.html
"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world." 1 John 2:15-16 (KJV) "It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man." Psalm 118:8 (KJV) "Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord. Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is." Jeremiah 17:5, 7 (KJV) (Emphasis mine) Well, the fat lady sang and Jezebel was cast down from her high tower, spattering blood and guts all over the pavement for the dogs to lick up. Excuse me for mixing metaphors here, but you get the idea. Poor Hildabeast. The brass ring she's worked 40+ years to grasp was at her fingertips, only to be snatched away by a neophyte with a spray-on tan and a bad comb over. Just think of all the animals sacrificed and infant blood consumed during those pot-luck, Spirit Cooking sessions she attended, in her quest for power; all wasted. My son Ben gets the prize for the best description of the shocking upset of Donald Trump winning the presidency: "Well, now Hillary Clinton knows firsthand what it feels like to be aborted right before birth!" That's my boy! There are a few things about this election that the Lord wants me to point out to you, dear readers. First of all, there is no doubt the defeat of Hillary Clinton was a bona fide miracle resulting from Almighty God's gracious answer to the pleas of His people all over the world. Do not forget that, and be sure to give glory to the One to whom glory is due. According to WND, believers all across the world were corporately praying throughout election night, interceding, repenting, and begging for the mercy of God on this nation. The timing of when the election results began to turn around is astounding! Simply astounding. Our God reigns and DOES hear the prayers of His people. Please take a couple of minutes to read the following article. http://mobile.wnd.com/2016/11/signs-of-divine-intervention-in-trump-victory/ However, despite this unfamiliar, delightful tinge of hope in the air, Trump is STILL not our savior. He is only one man, up against a House of Representatives and Senate filled with corrupt, globalist elite who live to engineer methods of lining their pockets through backroom deals, and who schemed to ensure he wasn't elected. You're deluding yourself if you think Mr. Trump will be able to keep 1/10th of his promises, even with a Republican congress. He plans to upset their applecart, "drain the swamp" so to speak, and they aren't about to allow that! He's also going to have to continue to deal with a very angry liberal mainstream media who hates his guts, and will go to any length to derail his presidency before it even gets started. Add to all that the thousands of liberals currently rioting and sniveling in their tai-soy, sugar-free lattes, while damaging the vehicles and businesses of hardworking Americans, all because things didn't go their way for once. These people have nothing better to do than post vitriolic hatred on their Facebook pages and tweet whining appeals for someone to assassinate a man who was fairly elected, which is highly illegal. I hope the FBI identifies these panicking snowflakes and arrests them for making terroristic threats, just like they did when Obama was first elected! I must admit, I remember the weeks-long demonstrations, riots and pillaging conservatives committed after both of Obama's elections. Oh, wait...that's right. There were no demonstrations or acting out! Conservatives tend to respect the rule of law and property rights. You know, the characteristics of grown-ups? I've stated before that I greatly fear for this man's life and that of his family. IF he lives to be sworn into office on January 20, 2017, the uphill battle he'll be forced to wage during his tenure will make his election campaign look like a carefree vacation. I don't know how anyone can possibly cope with that much resistance and subterfuge. Pray for him and for Vice President Pence. The enemy and minions of hell are gnashing their teeth in rage right now. As you probably already know, these demonstrations against Trump's election are being organized and funded by everyone's favorite Nazi collaborator, George Soros. His anarchic organizations, MoveOn.org and BlackLivesMatter.org are behind bussing in and paying thousands of rioters to blend in with peaceful demonstrators to cause chaos. That's pretty much all Soros knows how to do. Foment chaos and destruction. Dude really needs to get an honest job! So, what you're seeing on your TV news is in large part, fake rage. There are several scenarios that can result from this. The parents of the millennials who are wasting time marching, could threaten to lock them out of the house if they don't knock it off. That would be nice, but I don't see that happening. The vast majority of the parents of these self-absorbed morons are left over, drug-addled hippies of the late 60's and early 70's, and are just as upset Hillary didn't win. After all, they were really counting on that free college tuition for their little darlings! I find it telling that Obama and Hillary aren't speaking out against these rioters. Hmm, kinda makes me wonder if they're colluding with Soros to allow destruction by their obvious silence. If either one of them were a true leader of any worth, they would make a joint appearance and tell the sensitive little crybaby brats to go home, and prepare to get one of the jobs that will hopefully come back to this country. No more sleeping in till noon. If Obama and/or Hillary refuse to enter the fray and call for calm, you can lay the destruction at their feet. Will Obama allow and even tacitly encourage the riots to continue and spread, leading to a declaration of martial law? I put nothing past the man. He has but little time left to finish off America. Then, there's NATO, who continues to provoke and aggravate Russia by their build-up of military assets and hardware at Russia's border. Contrary to mainstream media reports, WE are the aggressors in this frosty relationship. Putin is no angel, but he has demonstrated incredible restraint in the face of being bullied, threatened, maligned and nonsensically blamed for interference in America's business. We have NO right trying to depose Assad. NONE. Just like we had no business going into the Middle East to bomb and foment regime change in Egypt, Libya, Iraq, Afghanistan, etc. What the Bush and Obama administrations have done over there is ALL about the oil, folks. It's all about a pipeline the globalists want to run through Turkey to supply Europe and cut Russia out of its main source of income. It's not about trying to spread democracy. What a load! No, it's all about greed, pure and simple. Innocent civilian deaths are just a part of doing business to these wicked leaders. Will Obama and NATO continue to flick the ear of Putin, daring him to launch an attack in defense of his country, or that of his ally, Syria? The industrial military complex President Eisenhower warned us about in his final address to the American people, love nothing more than war and carnage. There's lots of money to be made in the death and destruction of others, and they are salivating at the prospect of WWIII. That's one reason the Powers That Be hate Trump so much. He is a reasonable man who's not interested in ruling the world. He's genuinely interested in making deals with other countries that are in America's favor, but which also benefit the other party. Oh, that this were a different era...I honestly believe he's got the potential to be one of the greatest presidents this country has ever seen. But, this time in history is NOT normal by any stretch. These are still the last days, people. God may have been merciful to block Hillary from office, but that doesn't mean America will be turned around. Happy days are NOT here again. Sorry. Like I said, Donald Trump is only one man. Just a flawed human being up against impossible odds and increasing powers of darkness over this land. You want to know why America will not be restored? Because we don't deserve to be restored! That's why! There is little to no repentance for our national sins and abominations against the God of our fathers. As clearly demonstrated from the election results, nearly half of the citizens of this country have been infected with Marxist/Communist ideology from our schools and universities over the last 50 years. The rest still cling to the Constitution, and at least have some respect for the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, even if they don't consider Jesus to be their Lord and Savior. Then, there are the Christians-in-name-only, who warm the cushy pews of the mega-churches and cathedrals, listening to a different gospel every week consisting of prosperity doctrine, or "loving" acceptance of all sorts of sinful lifestyles. You really believe God will hear to their prayers, when even THEY don't see their need to repent and return to the basic tenets of the Bible?! Do you realize how very small the remnant of true, God-fearing, Christ loving, cross-dragging Christians there are in America? Think about it. Seriously. It's a pretty small club. That's because membership is so expensive. It costs us everything to join and remain in good standing. To be considered, all hopes, dreams, desires, plans, flagrant sins, and ambitions have to be surrendered at the foot of the cross. Not only that, this commitment must be continually pondered and updated. We no longer live for ourselves or earthly things; our goal is to further the Kingdom of our Jesus. It's a mighty tough row to hoe, and most people just don't want to live their lives like that. It ain't fun sometimes! But, it is and will be well worth it in the end. Were America filled with true Christians as described above, I do believe there would be great hope to restore this nation to its former glory and standing in the world as a shining beacon on a hill. But it's not filled with believers like that. Not even close. Read the book of Jonah and see for yourself what it took to avert the judgment and destruction of Nineveh. Every single being with a heartbeat from royalty to the beasts of burden, was commanded by the King to fast and repent in sackcloth and ashes, for the sins of the city, and to beg God for mercy. Can you see that happening in America? Did it happen after 9/11? Nope. That was a stern warning shot across the bow, but the churches were only filled for about 3 weeks until everyone returned to business as usual. Since 9/11, we've overthrown the historical basic unit of human families, traditional marriage between one man and one woman, in favor of sodomite unions. Hillary Clinton and her crowd have no problem openly admitting their belief that murdering a full-term, viable baby, partially hanging out of the birth canal, is perfectly acceptable in their eyes. What's the big deal? After all, in her words, the unborn have no rights. Tell that to the Creator, Hildabeast! Nope, people, I'm sorry. America will not be turned around, nor restored. Nor, should it be. Why would anyone believe we garner God's favor or deserve His blessing? Read your Bibles and pay attention to how He dealt with rebellious, wicked nations. He warned and warned the people through prophets; He allowed their crops/livestock to be destroyed; He sent destructive storms and disease to get their attention; when all else failed, He delivered them into the hands of their enemies. EVEN ISRAEL, His chosen people, were taken captive by the Assyrians and the Babylonians. What in the world makes us think He won't deal the same way with us? In my ever so humble opinion, the Lord mercifully answered the plea of His people to keep Hillary Clinton out of office. This might possibly make life in the United States a little easier until judgment comes. Perhaps it will be worse. Perhaps Trump will end up being our worst nightmare, although I'll admit it's unlikely anyone could top the Hildabeast in that category. All I know is America remains unrepentant and rebellious against a very Holy God. He's watching right now to see who will put their faith and trust in the man, Donald Trump, to provide for and protect their future, and who will continue to look to Him for the same. I am delighted and relieved that Hillary didn't win, but one fact remains: Donald Trump is STILL not our Savior. author: [email protected] 
Daily Jot: Soulless Dissent - Bill Wilson - www.dailyjot.com
We are going into the better part of a week past the 2016 Presidential election and the riots, violence and hate is continuing in heavily Democratic Party areas where people cannot accept that government crime boss Hillary Clinton lost the presidency. The internet is full of videos of the most ignorant displays of humanity-a Black high school girl beating her white classmate because she tweeted that she hoped Donald Trump would win; a mother forces her 8-year-old son out in the street because he voted for Trump in a school mock election (painful to watch); Teens and young adults in fetal positions, college professors excusing students from exams, social media calling for the assassination of Trump. Wow! The media continues to stir the pot by interviewing these distraught people. They are afraid to be a woman because of the possibility of men acting out Trump's remarks; they are afraid to be an illegal immigrant because they fear deportation; they are afraid of being Muslim because Trump said he would stop immigration from countries of known terrorists; they fear being a person of color because Trump supports the police. Many of them are not even immigrants, Muslim or people of color, but their fears have led to anger, hate and law-breaking. Those who are accusing Trump of hate are violently demonstrating hate and bigotry-they have accused others of exactly what is in their hearts. Jesus says in Matthew 7:20, "Wherefore by their fruits you shall know them." Indeed, it is true. Little do most of them understand that they are but pawns in a larger chess game of those who wish to overthrow the American republic. They are manipulated and exercised by anarchists, communists, and totalitarians who have infiltrated the Democratic Party. Their platitudes of freedom and tolerance are abandoned at the very thought that someone would disagree with them. They are right. They are the standard. Anyone who disagrees with them is wrong and must be a bigot, a hate-monger, a racist. Then they, themselves, thrust their violence and hate on those with whom they disagree. It is much easier to call someone else a bigot, racist or xenophobe than to face your own demons. Sadly, this is a soulless dissent. These are dark and empty souls. They justify their dark and hopeless world by projecting moral superiority while having no moral foundation in the content of their hearts. Being deplorable themselves, they call others deplorable. Being haters, they allege others of hating. Being bullies, they accuse others of bullying. It is easy to become angry at them, but we as Christians have the answer to this division. These soulless dissenters need hope. They need Christ. We know 2 Timothy 1:7-"For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." If you encounter a soulless dissenter try responding with the light of Christ in you-not by jamming the Bible down their throats--but through gentleness and wisdom of the Holy Spirit. They need light, not more darkness. 
Daily Devotion: The Power of Forgiveness - Greg Laurie - www.harvest.org
David and his men tore their clothes in sorrow when they heard the news. They mourned and wept and fasted all day for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the LORD'S army and the nation of Israel, because they had died by the sword that day. -2 Samuel 1:11-12 If an enemy who had opposed you for years was finally dealt with, what would be your first thought? I doubt it would be how to show kindness to that person or to members of his or her family. Generally, we want to give the way that we get. If we get hit, we want to hit back-even harder. That is human nature. But David had made a promise to Saul's son Jonathan, and he was a man of his word. He would look out for Jonathan's children and show mercy and kindness to his descendants. After Saul and Jonathan were killed in battle, there was no king over Israel. David was the rightful king, but the battle continued between the house of David and the house of Saul. Saul had a son named Ishbosheth, and Abner, Saul's general, made him king. He ignored the fact that God had chosen David as Saul's successor. Then Abner and Ishbosheth had an argument, and Abner threatened to defect. Sure enough, he went over to David's side. But there were problems with that because Joab, David's general, hated Abner. He couldn't believe that David would allow Abner into their ranks. This escalated, and Joab ultimately hunted down Abner and killed him. David was outraged. He was tired of the fighting and wanted it to end. He didn't want to deal with his enemies in the way they had dealt with him. He wanted to forgive them. David could have engaged in some big-time payback. But he did the very opposite. Even before all of the experts figured it out, David knew the power of forgiveness. Was David a perfect man? No. Did he have his flaws? Yes. But God loved David. And He uniquely described him as a man after His own heart. 
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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