Prophecy Update Newsletter
November 18, 2016
IN TODAY'S NEWSLETTER...
The Clouds of Heaven - By John McTernan - http://www.defendproclaimthefaith.org/clouds_the_coming_of_jesus.html
The Blessed Hope - The Coming of Jesus Christ for the Believers "Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven." Matthew 26:64. When the Lord Jesus was questioned by the high priest about being the Son of God, He answered in Matthew 26:63-65 by joining two Scriptures together. He joined Daniel 7:13 and Psalm 110:1. He applied Daniel 7:13 to Himself which had a direct reference to His Second Coming. The high priest fully understood what the Lord Jesus was saying and used this statement to condemn Him to death for blasphemy. Daniel 7 is a very important chapter as it shows King Messiah coming to establish His kingdom over all the earth. This will occur at the glorious Second Coming of the Lord Jesus. When studying this chapter, it is very clear that at the Lord's Second Coming He does not return by Himself. He returns with whom the Bible refers to as the "Clouds of heaven." This verse follows: "I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him." Daniel 7:13. The "Clouds of heaven" is obviously a very important term because the prophet Daniel used it, and the Lord Jesus quoted it to the high priest. The high priest understood what the Lord Jesus was saying. He understood because the use of this phrase was in part what caused him to charge the Lord with blasphemy and then crucified. As we will see, the Apostle John, in the book of Revelation, also applied this term to the Lord Jesus' Second Coming. The Bible leaves no doubt what are the "Clouds of heaven." This phrase was first used by the prophet Daniel. When he first mentions this term, he also tells what are the "Clouds of heaven." The "Clouds of heaven" are the innumerable number of believers who are in heaven with the Lord Jesus and return with Him. They are returning with Him as He sets up His kingdom over all the earth. Daniel, in chapter 7, gives a rare glimpse of heaven in the Old Testament. He actually sees events taking place before the very throne of God. He refers to the holy God of Israel as the Ancient of Days. He sees God on His throne. Everything about God is like fire. His throne and the area surrounding Him appeared on fire. Daniel saw something else around the throne and that was a countless number of believers. The believers were recorded as thousand times thousands and ten thousand times ten thousand around the throne. This is a huge number that is beyond description. These are the are the redeemed believers that are in heaven with the Lord Jesus. This huge numbers of believers before the throne of God are the "Clouds of heaven" which return with the Lord Jesus. Thus, the "Clouds of heaven" are the enormous number of believers who are in heaven at the time of the awesome Second Coming of Jesus Christ. They then accompany Him at His return. The verses to show God's throne and this huge number of believers follow: Daniel 7:9 "...the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. (10) A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened." The following verses from Daniel 7 show the Son of Man, the Lord Jesus returning with this cloud of believers. It appears the Bibles uses the term "Clouds of heaven" because the huge throng of believers from a distance would look like a massive cloud. From other Scriptures, the Bible reveals the believers will be dressed in pure white. The Lord's coming with all the believers dressed in pure white will look like a massive cloud in the distance. They will return with Him and be there as He establishes His kingdom on earth. The verses to show this follow: Daniel 7:13 "I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. (14) And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed." Notice that in verse 13 the phrase, "They brought him near before him." This is the people of the "Clouds of heaven" bringing King Messiah before the Ancient of Days. The "Clouds of heaven" can only be the people in heaven who return with the Lord Jesus at His awesome Second Coming. The prophet Zechariah also writes about King Messiah's Second Coming to establish His kingdom on the earth. He shows the events which will immediately precede His return. Zechariah establishes where the Lord Jesus will return and what will happen when He returns. Zechariah also mentions that the Lord Jesus will be accompanied with the "Clouds of heaven." Instead of using the phrase the "Clouds of heaven," he calls the believers the saints. Zechariah shows that the LORD God is coming to establish His kingdom, and all His saints will be with Him. The Lord will return and the Bible gives the exact location. The location is Jerusalem . His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives . He will return at the height of the battle of Armageddon when the nations of the world try and destroy Jerusalem . His presence in great glory will destroy the invading armies. The verses to show this follow: Zechariah 14:2 "For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle...(3) "Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. (4) And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east..." (12) "And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem ; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth." The Mount of Olives will split into a huge valley from the east to the west. This huge valley is evidently caused by a powerful earthquake as the Lord stands on the Mount of Olives . All of Israel will run into this valley to be protected as the armies of the world are being annihilated by the presence of the Lord Jesus. The Bible emphasizes the Lord Jesus standing on the Mount of Olives and this huge valley being created. The verses to show the Lord's return to the Mount of Olives follow: Zechariah 14:4 "...and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. (5) And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah : and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee." The attempt by the nations of the world to surround and destroy Jerusalem is the factor that will trigger the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus. After destroying these armies, the Lord Jesus then sets up His kingdom. Zechariah just like Daniel reports that when the Lord returns He will be accompanied by a vast number of believers which are the "Clouds of heaven." Zechariah reports that when the Lord returns He will be accompanied with all His saints. The saints which accompany Him are the "Clouds of heaven" which Daniel described. The saints and the clouds are one and the same. The verses to show this follow: "...and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee." Zechariah 14:5. "I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him." Daniel 7:13. The New Testament With this foundation in the Old Testament, let's now look at the New Testament and the coming of the Lord Jesus with the "Clouds of heaven." When the Lord was asked by His disciples what was the end of the age and the sign of His coming, He listed many things. Then He said when all had been fulfilled all the tribes of the earth would see Him coming with power and great glory. He then directly tied His coming with the "Clouds of heaven." The Second Coming of the Lord is directly linked with the "Clouds of heaven." The writers all directly tie the Second Coming and the "Clouds of heaven" together. The verses from Matthew, Mark and Luke to show this follow: Matthew 24:29 "Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: (30) And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory." Mark 13:26 "And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory." Luke 21:27 "And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory." The Apostle John also makes the link between the Second Coming and the Lord returning with the "Clouds of heaven." John in the Book of Revelation sees the Lord return with the clouds, and all the people of the earth crying. When they see the Lord returning in His power and glory with the "Clouds of heaven," they will mourn. "Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen." Revelation 1:7. The Bible clearly connects the Lord's Second Coming with the "Clouds of heaven" but up to this point the Clouds are not identified. It is just a huge throng of people before the throne of God who return with the Lord Jesus. The Apostle John in the book of Revelation identifies who are the "Clouds of heaven." John shows that the Clouds can only be the Church. They are the true believers in the Lord Jesus who are in heaven with Him and then return with Him. This is not just the dead in Christ, but it is the entire Church. It is the Lord's completed Church that returns with Him. This is seen in heaven where the entire Church is at the marriage supper of the Lamb. There are an innumerable number of people with Jesus. A number just like Daniel witnessed before the throne of God. There can be no doubt that this event is taking place in heaven. Revelation 19:1 "And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God: (6) And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth." After John identifies this event is taking place in heaven, he goes on to describe what is taking place. This is the marriage supper of the Lamb and His bride the Church. This is all the Church that is heaven with Jesus. There is no indication that part of the bride remains on the earth while this marriage supper is taking place. Revelation 19:7 "Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. (8) And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. (9) And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God." After the marriage supper is finished, the Lord Jesus has work to do on earth. John sees heaven open and Lord returning to earth. He is returning as a mighty man of war. He is going to execute the fierceness of God's wrath over the nations in rebellion against Him. He is going to judge the nations. This is also known as the battle of Armageddon. "And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the wieners of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God." Revelation 19:15. He sees Jesus returning to destroy the beast, also known as the antichrist, and his armies. "And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army." Revelation 19:19. The Bible already has identified where this will take place and the purpose of the beast's armies. This is the antichrist leading the armies of the world in the last attempt to try and kill all the Jews and destroy Jerusalem . This event is going to take place on the Mount of Olives . When the Lord Jesus returns, His feet are going to stand on the Mount of Olives just like Zechariah 14:3-5 states. He is then going to destroy the armies as Zechariah 14:12 states. Revelation 19 and Zechariah 14 tie directly together. This is all clearly mapped out in the Old Testament, and the events of Revelation 19 all tie into this. John sees more than just the Lord Jesus returning to destroy the beast and his armies. He sees the Lord's Church returning with Him. He refers to the Church as the armies in heaven. They return with him clothed in pure white linen. This is the "Clouds of heaven" which Daniel saw in his vision. This is the "Clouds of heaven" which the Lord Jesus told the high priest He was returning with. He is coming back with His bride. The "Clouds of heaven" is the glorious Church returning with the Savior. The Church was in heaven and then returned with the Lord Jesus to defend Jerusalem . What a sight that will be to see the Son of God returning in His power and glory with His bride. "And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean." Revelation 19:14. The Church is all arrayed in white garments and from a distance looks like a massive white cloud. Remember, there is a great multitude of people in heaven, and both John and Daniel see this massive amount of people. What an incredible scene this will be, when the Lord returns in His glory with this massive cloud of believers. Imagine being on earth and seeing this happening. The entire sky filled from one end to the other with this massive white cloud, and at the head is the Lord Jesus in His glory! What Daniel actually witnessed was the Church returning with King Messiah, the Lord Jesus! The verses to show this follow: "And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth." Revelation 19:6. "A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened." Daniel 7:10. The Church returns with the Lord Jesus at His Second Coming. Since the Church is in heaven during the events of the book of Revelation, how and when did it get there? The Church is taken to heaven at Jesus' command. It happens, as the Apostle Paul says, in the twinkling of an eye. Not everyone is going to die, but those that are alive at the Lord's return will be immediately changed and receive an incorruptible body. The dead in Jesus will be raised and joined with those who are still alive. "Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, (52) In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 1 Corinthians 15:51,52. This will happen when the Lord Jesus comes for His bride the Church. He will descend from heaven with a tremendous shout and the blast of the shofar. The dead in Christ shall arise first, and then they which are alive at this time shall be changed into a resurrected body. The entire Church both the living and dead are then taken to heaven and shall forever more be with the Lord Jesus. They go with Him to the marriage supper of the Lamb. 1 Thessalonians 4:15 "For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. (16) For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: (17) Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (18) Wherefore comfort one another with these words." The believers being instantly changed and caught up in the air with the Lord is known as the rapture of the Church. The idea of the Lord's coming for the Church is so powerful that the Bible tells us to comfort one another with this in a time of sorrow over the loss of a loved one. The loss is only temporary as there will be a uniting when the Lord comes for His bride. This is the blessed hope, the coming of the Lord for the Church and being with Him forever. "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ." Titus 2:13. Looking for the coming of the Lord Jesus is a blessed hope. It is not just a hope, but it is a blessed hope. Immediately following the Church being gathered with the Lord is the marriage supper of the Lamb. And, we are blessed to be called to the marriage supper of the Lamb. There is a double blessing for those who are waiting for the Lord's return. There is the blessed hope and the blessing of anticipating the marriage supper of the Lamb. All believers should be living with the blessed hope and the excitement of the marriage supper. If these two hopes are not motivating a believer, there is something radically wrong with that person's faith. Living with the blessed hope is a true sign of a believer, and the Lord Jesus is returning for those that are waiting for Him. "So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the Second time without sin unto salvation." Hebrews 9:28. The Second Coming is not just a doctrine, but it is to be a living reality in a believer's life. If this reality is not there, it is a sign something is radically wrong. Sin and the love of the world could kill the blessed hope. Wrong doctrine about the blessed hope could also kill the reality of the Lord's coming for His bride and the marriage supper of the Lamb. The two comings of the Lord, once for His bride and the second to defend Israel can be viewed like the comings in general. The Bible in the Old Testament does not say that King Messiah is coming twice. But, when you study the Old Testament the clear strain of verses for the two comings are there. In one coming, King Messiah is lowly on a donkey while in the other He is coming in power and great glory with the "Clouds of heaven." These two comings can appear to be irreconcilable until you realize there are actually two comings. With the understanding of two comings, the Scriptures then beautifully fit together. The verses to show the two comings follow: "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion ; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem : behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass." Zechariah 9:9. "I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him." Daniel 7:13. The same pattern in Scriptures can be for the Lord's Second Coming. This coming is in two stages or phases. The first for the Lord is to catch up the bride in the air and then go to the marriage supper of the Lamb. The second phase is at the completion of the marriage supper, to return with the bride as the "Clouds of heaven" to Jerusalem . The Lord's feet will then stand on the Mount of Olives . The verses to show this follow: First phase: The Lord gathers the Church to Himself in the air and then the marriage supper of the Lamb: 1 Thessalonians 4:16 "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: (17) Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." Revelation 19:9 "And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God." Second phase: After the marriage supper, the Church returns with the Lord Jesus to Jerusalem : Revelation 19:14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. Zechariah 14:3 "Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. (4) And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east...(5)...and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee. The Timing of the Lord Coming For His Bride The question naturally arises, when was the Church raptured from the earth? If the Church was taken to heaven for the marriage supper and then returns with the Lord Jesus for the battle of Armageddon, when was the Church taken to heaven? The answer to this question is found in the Book of Revelation. The Book of Revelation is divided into three sections. This is found in chapter one verse 19. The three sections of the division are the things that the Apostle John has seen; the things which are; and the things which shall be hereafter. This verse follows: "Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter." Revelation 1:19. The things which John has seen is the revelation he had of the glorified Lord Jesus in chapter one. The "Things which are," pertain to the letters to the seven churches which are found in chapters two and three. The letters to the seven Churches all end with the same admonition from the Lord. This admonition was directed to all of the Church for all time. The admonition was for the Church to listen to what the holy Spirit was saying. These seven admonitions are all the same and found in Revelation 2:7,11,17,29 and 3:6,13 and 22. The exact admonition follows: "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." The things which shall be hereafter are the events which John sees in heaven. In chapter four, John is translated to heaven. He has a vision of a door to heaven being opened, and he hears a powerful voice say, "Come up hither, and I will show thee things which must be hereafter." "After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will show thee things which must be hereafter." Revelation 4:1. The last time the Church is mentioned on earth is at the end of chapter three. The next time that the Church is seen is in heaven before the throne of God and then at the marriage supper of the Lamb. The Church is no longer on earth, but seems to have been translated with John. The Church is seen before God's throne in huge numbers praising the Father and Son. The Church has been redeemed by the blood of the Lord Jesus. All the people before the throne have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. They are in huge numbers just as described by Daniel. Here is the Church glorified in heaven with the Lamb. The Scriptures to show this follow: Revelation 5:9 "And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; (10) And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. (11) And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; (12) Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing." When the Lord Jesus opens the seven seals of judgment the Church is there with Him. The Church is in heaven before the judgments of Revelation take place. The exact time of the rapture is unknown, but it takes place before God's wrath is poured out upon the earth. The Church is watching from heaven as the events of Revelation unfold. The Scriptures to show the Church is in heaven when the seal judgments are opened follow: Revelation 5:1 "And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. (7) And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. (9) And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation" The Church is then seen at the marriage supper of the Lamb and returning with Him for the final judgment on the earth. The Church is in heaven watching the Lord Jesus open the seven seals. This is before His wrath is poured out, and then the Church returns with Him as His bride for the final judgment on the rebellious nations. The Church is in heaven during the entire time the judgments of Revelation are falling on rebellious mankind. In the Book of Revelation, when the Bible is warning the believers to have patience during the judgments, the Church is specifically not mentioned. Each of the seven admonitions in chapters two and three specifically mention the Church; however, in chapter 13 the Church is left out of the admonition. The reason for this is the Church is in heaven with the Lord Jesus at the marriage supper. The verses to show this contrast follow: Revelation 3:22 "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." Revelation 13:9 "If any man have an ear, let him hear." We are to be focused on the coming of the Lord Jesus for the Church and the marriage supper of the Lamb. If we do not have the right focus, our faith can be adversely effected The Effect of the Blessed Hope on Our Lives The reality of the blessed hope, the coming for the Lord Jesus for His Church, has an awesome effect on the believer. It is not just the doctrine of the blessed hope, but it is the living reality that effects lives. This reality causes tremendous spiritual growth. In the letter to Titus the Bible lists eight effects the blessed hope has on a believer's heart. When a person lives with the anticipation of the Second Coming, the results will include: victory over ungodliness and worldly lusts; sober minded; righteousness; godly living; victory over iniquity; purifying; and a zealousness for good works. Maybe the weakness of many Christians is because they lack the blessed hope in their heart. The Bibles verses to show the effect of the blessed hope follow: Titus 2:11 "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, (12) Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; (13) Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; (14) Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." The blessed hope is spiritual life to a believer, and without it, worldliness can set in and choke the word of God in a person's life. Notice in Titus 2:11-14 in very middle of the admonition to live godly is the blessed hope. This verse was placed there to show how important the blessed hope is to our spiritual life. The doctrines that do not teach the blessed hope as a reality that could soon happen are stealing power from the believer. There is a teaching called preterism which claims the Lord returned in 70 AD which means there will be no catching up of the Church. These types of teachings create weak believers because of the false teaching about the Lord's Second Coming. What Are We To Do Until the Lord Returns? The Bible tells us what to do about waiting for the return of the Lord Jesus. We are to wait with patience for His return. Just as a farmer plants his crops and patiently waits until the crops come, so we are to wait for the coming of the Lord. The Bible also tells us to establish our hearts about His coming. When the blessed hope is established in the heart, holiness will naturally flow from the heart. The Bible leaves no doubt that we are to focus on the blessed hope and live every day like the Lord could return for His Church. We are to live now with patience looking for His Second Coming. The Scriptures to show this follow: "Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. (8) Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh." James 5:7. "To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints." 1 Thessalonians 3:13. The blessed hope is an anchor for our soul. This is the hope which God has set before us. He requires that we keep the blessed hope with full assurance until He comes or we pass away. This hope steadies us during the storms of life. We are to lay hold of this hope and let no one or nothing take it from us. The Bible verses to show this follow: Hebrews 6:11 "And we desire that every one of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: (18) That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: (19) Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil" The Bible places nothing in the way of the Lord's coming for His Church. There is no event which has to take place before He descends from heaven with a shout for His bride. We are not to look for the coming of the antichrist, but we are look for the blessed hope. We are to be aware of world events in light of Bible prophecy, but our anticipation should be for the blessed hope and not the appearance of the man of sin or any other event. Focusing on world events rather than the blessed hope can hinder one's faith and often create fear. No matter what happens in the world, we are to stay focused on the Lord Jesus' Second Coming. This will be an anchor for your soul in the time of trouble. "And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come." 1 Thessalonians 1:10. We are to wait for the Lord Jesus with patience. The waiting should intensify the anticipation for His Second Coming and not weaken it. As we wait for the coming of the Lord Jesus, God works in us to fulfill all the eight characteristics that are listed for those who live with the blessed hope. Those characteristics are: victory over ungodliness and worldly lusts; sober minded; righteousness; godly living; victory over iniquity; purifying; and a zealousness for good works. If you have not been living with the blessed hope in your life, now is the time to confess this to God. And, ask Him to place the reality of the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus in your heart. Now is the time to ask God to make the gathering of the believers at the marriage supper of the Lamb real to you. "He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus." Revelation 22:20. 
Supermoon, Trump's Win and the Clash of Moral Values at the End of Days - By Dr. Rivkah Lambert Adler - http://www.breakingisraelnews.com
"This is Hashem's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes." Psalms 118:23 (The Israel Bible™) The recent supermoon phenomenon within a week of Donald Trump's election could signal a divine and fundamental shift in moral values which will bring the Final Redemption closer, End of Days expert Rabbi Pinchas Winston told Breaking Israel News. Rabbi Winston believes that there is a culture war going on between liberal and conservative values, that God is orchestrating the ascension of conservative values and that the appearance of the supermoon may be an acknowledgement of this. The rabbi was careful to warn that, though his ideas are based on his deep Torah scholarship, they are still speculative. "We're always guessing, because without prophecy we can't know for sure." Nevertheless, he said, it is important to pay attention to the bigger picture of recent events, including the election of Trump and the supermoon. "We've been watching a counter-intuitive trend," he noted. "We saw it first in Israel when Netanyahu won" in 2015, despite polls which predicted victory for the left. More recently, Brexit also revealed a surprising lean towards more conservative values. Rabbi Winston believes that "the election of Trump represents a new ascendancy of conservative, religious values and a rejection of what the liberal left has been building for many years. That's why [the leftists] are so concerned and lashing back." Rabbi Winston asserted that a primary goal of the liberal movement is to break away from the obligations that come with living a God-centered life. According to his viewpoint, as history draws to a close, God is forcing each person to make a decision about where they stand morally. Are they aligned with conservative or with liberal values? He indicated that this moment in history parallels the moment in the desert, during the incident of the Golden Calf, when Moses demanded that people pick a side. Then Moshe stood in the gate of the camp, and said: 'Whoso is on Hashem's side, let him come unto me.' And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him. Exodus 32:26 Where does the supermoon come in? In Talmudic thought, a lunar eclipse is a bad omen, whereas a full moon reflects the strength of the Jewish people, who represent God's Word in the world. According to Rabbi Winston, the Jewish people received the Torah and have an obligation to tell the world what God wants and how both Jews and righteous non-Jews can earn a place in the World to Come. "The supermoon coming out at this time could be a Divine confirmation of sorts that God is behind all this," suggested Rabbi Winston. The very fact that Trump was elected, despite all the scandalous reports of his behavior during the campaign, could be intended to make it clear that God is behind his win, he explained. "It's very significant that the last supermoon was in 1948," said Rabbi Winston. It was a prelude to the Jewish people prevailing over the Nazi effort to destroy them and the establishment of the State of Israel. According to him, the supermoon of 1948 was a signal of the conservative triumph over liberal values and the strength of the Jewish people at that time. It was a reflection of "the next stage of geula (redemption)," he said. As was true in 1948, with the surprising election of Trump, we are witnessing a global shift. Nevertheless, Rabbi Winston warns, "That doesn't mean it's permanent. God has done His part and the question is: 'What does man do with it now?'" Rabbi Winston urged people not to get distracted by the smokescreen caused by current events, but to keep an eye on the essential issue. "You as an individual have to make a decision about what your values are. When Hashem (God) steps into history to end galut (the exile of the Jewish people), polarization is necessary for people to decide who they are and which side of history they're on. This makes everyone personally responsible for their decision and its consequences. No one will be able to say, 'If only I knew...' This period of history is really about choosing to be with Hashem." 
What would Trump have to do to bring the US embassy to Jerusalem? Nothing at all - By Raphael Ahren - http://www.timesofisrael.com/what-would-trump-have-to-do-to-bring-the-us-embassy-to-jerusalem-nothing-at-all/
All it takes to implement the 1995 US law stipulating the relocation is for the president not to sign a waiver. Will the unpredictable president-elect not do what his predecessors have done three dozen times before? In about three weeks, Barack Obama will do something he has done 15 times before during his two terms as president of the United States, something some Israelis hope his successor, Donald J. Trump, will not do even once: He will sign a presidential waiver halting his legal obligation to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Citing the "authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States," Obama will determine once more "that it is necessary, in order to protect the national security interests of the United States," to suspend Congress's 1995 decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital and transfer to it the embassy and the ambassador's residence. Obama is not the first president to sign this waiver. Bill Clinton and the born-again Christian George W. Bush did it twice a year, thus continually betraying their own campaign pledges. But Trump is a wildcard, and more than a week after he won the elections it still unclear what policies he will pursue in the Middle East - including whether he will adhere to widely accepted diplomatic dogma and join the list of presidents postponing the embassy's move every six months, or actually make good on his campaign pledge and order the move. "When it comes to foreign policy he appears to have certain instincts, but it's entirely unclear where exactly he stands on any specific policy issue," said Jonathan Rynhold, an expert on American politics at Bar-Ilan University. "It's really impossible to know. He said so many things, and nearly everything he said he contradicted at some other point." The most often cited argument against recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital and moving the embassy there is that this is a step that should be taken only after the successful conclusion of an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal. The status of Jerusalem is subject to bilateral negotiations, diplomats generally argue, and relocating the embassy as a gesture to Israel before a final-status agreement is signed would greatly anger Ramallah - sending an already moribund peace process to its certain death - and raise the ire of the larger Arab world and thus destabilize the entire region. "It could also severely damage Washington's standing as an honest broker in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict," Rynhold said. "I have always wanted to move our embassy to west Jerusalem," president Bill Clinton said in a 2000 interview, months before the end of his second term. "I have not done so because I didn't want to do anything to undermine our ability to help to broker a secure and fair and lasting peace for Israelis and for Palestinians." But Trump, who campaigned with the promise to do things differently, could throw these traditional axioms out of the window. Although he portrays himself as a strong supporter of Israel, at one point during the campaign (in February) he suggested that he would let Israelis and Palestinians try to reach peace by themselves, without taking too much of a position on the conflict, Rynhold recalled. "How does moving the embassy fit onto this? I don't think he knows." To be sure, the Manhattan real estate mogul-turned-politician declared unequivocally, in an address to AIPAC in March, that he intends to "move the American embassy to the eternal capital of the Jewish people, Jerusalem." In a television interview that month he said he would do it "fairly quickly." However, shortly after Trump's November 8 victory, Walid Phares, one of his foreign policy advisers, appeared to walk back the pledge to relocate the embassy. "Many presidents of the United States have committed to do that, and he said as well that he will do that, but he will do it under consensus," Phares said, causing some confusion. He later clarified that he meant "consensus at home," yet what he means by that is still somewhat murky, since there is broad bipartisan support in Congress for moving the embassy. Since Trump's positions on foreign policy are hazy at best, much will depend on who his top advisers are, according to Ilan Goldenberg, the director of the Middle East Security Program at the Center for a New American Security. "If Donald Trump appoints people like [former US national security advisor] Stephen Hadley or [Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman] Bob Corker, we will see much more continuity. These are folks that have been doing it for years and are a part of the Washington consensus. They understand there's a reason why the US hasn't moved the embassy, and therefore I don't think you'd see a shift," Goldenberg said. "However, if he'll appoint more out-of-the-box characters - then everything is possible." Israel declared the western part of Jerusalem its capital in 1950. In 1980, 13 years after Israel captured the eastern part city in the Six Day War, the Knesset passed a law declaring "united Jerusalem" its capital. But since the international community refuses to recognize Israel's annexation of East Jerusalem, the nations of the world moved their embassies to Tel Aviv, Ramat Gan or Herzliya. Ahead of the 1992 US presidential election, Bill Clinton pledged to transfer the embassy. When he failed to deliver on his promise, both houses of Congress passed the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 with overwhelming majorities. Since then, it has been waived by three consecutive presidents 35 times. If Trump did decide to break with tradition, there is little that would stand in his way. For him to deliver on his election promise he could simply decide not to sign the presidential waiver. The American Constitution gives the president the prerogative to recognize foreign countries and borders, even against the better council of his cabinet and other advisers. Discussing the Emancipation Declaration, Abraham Lincoln was outvoted unanimously by his cabinet. He ended the debate by saying: "Seven nays and one aye, the ayes have it." There are even better examples from modern times that illustrate that the president has the last word when it comes to diplomacy. In May 1948, president Henry Truman recognized the State of Israel minutes after David Ben-Gurion read the Declaration of Independence in Tel Aviv, defying vehement opposition from the State Department. Jerusalem's status as capital is an Israeli consensus, and the wish to have the embassy there arguably is as well, at least in theory. However, some scholars argue that a move to the Holy City could potentially be counterproductive to Israel's claim to a united Jerusalem. Transferring the US embassy to West Jerusalem could be interpreted as the US administration only recognizing Israeli sovereignty in that part of the city, Shlomo Slonim, a professor emeritus at Hebrew University and the author of the 1998 book "Jerusalem in America's Foreign Policy," told The Times of Israel. "It could imply that East Jerusalem, including the Temple Mount, has a different status." What would happen if Trump goes ahead and moves the embassy? Will the region have to brace for more turmoil, perhaps even violence? Not necessarily, several experts said. "It will not change anything fundamentally on the ground, Yaakov Amidror, a former Israeli national security adviser, said this week on a conference call with reporters. "But it would be very important symbolically." Goldenberg, from the Center for a New American Security, predicted a mostly negligible fallout were the embassy moved to Jerusalem. "It would be a huge problem for the Palestinians, but the rest of the Arab world doesn't really care about this; they have other worries right now," he said. Islamic countries would likely protest a move of the embassy to Jerusalem, but not take action that could trigger bloodshed, he added. "On the list of the things that Trump could do that I am very worried about, this is probably not very high." 
News from Hal Lindsey Media Ministries - Hal Lindsey - www.hallindsey.com
Before the election, pundits all over the place somberly warned that if Donald Trump lost, his followers (referred to as a "basket of deplorables" by Hillary Clinton) would take to the streets in violent protest. So be ready! Well, they got it half-right at least (just about the only thing they got right in the last 18 months!). Someone's supporters took to the streets in "violent protest." It just wasn't Donald Trump's supporters! Never mind that I doubt there would have been "violent protests" had Mr. Trump lost. His supporters seem mostly to be mature, conscientious, realistic, patriotic adults. Not so with some of Mrs. Clinton's supporters it now seems. She lost. Fair and square. In fact, she lost so bad that, contrary to recent DNC practice, she's not even asking for major recounts. I suppose the DNC realizes that to do so would run the risk of revealing major examples of attempted election fraud. But I digress. It is amusing -- though terribly disappointing -- that we are having to endure a disgusting national temper tantrum. No doubt, most of it is organized and promoted by far-left agitator organizations (such as MoveOn.org and Black Lives Matter) largely funded by Mr. George Soros, whom I have discussed previously on this program. An interesting side note. MoveOn.org was founded to urge Americans to "move on" and stop concentrating on Bill Clinton's disgusting and criminal behavior during his time in the White House. Not important, I suppose, but interesting nonetheless. It's also interesting that some of Mrs. Clinton's supporters turned out to oddly resemble the "basket of deplorables" she attributed to Mr. Trump. All in all, I'd say this national tantrum is giving America's "millennials" somewhat of a bad name. Of course, who can blame them? They've grown up receiving "participation prizes" in school and sports. Never learning that in real life there are winners and losers. But I suspect it won't improve from here on out. I guess that soon some enlightened educator will determine that even "participation prizes" make non-participants feel bad. So we should give out prizes just for "being." That way, everyone will feel included. Unless you're dead, and then you probably won't care. But I digress, again. The bottom line is that America is going through somewhat of a national convulsion brought about by forces that do not want to see America abandon the path toward one-world globalism and reassert itself as a sovereign nation. These are forces that detest the fact that America's freedom is founded on and guaranteed by America's virtue. They understand that if we forfeit our Judeo-Christian virtue, we will lose that hard-won freedom. Just as the Bible predicts for the final days of this Age of Grace. By the way, please pray for Mr. Trump's personal safety. The forces that oppose him are so dogmatic -- and in many cases, evil -- that I believe his life may be in more danger than previous presidents-elect. Speaking of danger, that is exactly what Israel is facing during the final few weeks of the current "lame duck" administration. Writing in Bloomberg News, Eli Lake noted that some of Israel's friends in Washington fear "the threat of a last-minute speech, executive order, or UN action." The United Nations is especially worrying. Michael Snyder notes: "Barack Obama knows that he is the only one standing in the way of a UN Security Council resolution that would formally recognize a Palestinian state.... If Obama decided not to use the U.S. veto power to block such a resolution, it would be legally binding on both Israel and the Palestinians, and the next president would not be able to go back and reverse course." Given this administration's history of slights and insults directed at Israel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, such a vindictive move is not out of the realm of possibility. Recently, Secretary of State John Kerry refused to assure Mr. Netanyahu that the U.S. would have Israel's back at the UN Security Council in the waning days of Obama's term. I believe that one of the great tests of Barack Obama's presidency will be the measure of his personal integrity in his final days in office. If he fails, it will have lasting and dramatic impact on Israel's safety in the near future. Again, just as the Bible predicts for these days. Finally, when it comes to your personal salvation, "paying your own way" is not the answer. Attempting to earn salvation by works of righteousness causes some people to never trust Christ to save them. For those who are already in Christ, the feeling that they must still earn points with God leads to lives of compromise and defeat. Law and grace are mutually exclusive. The Apostle Paul noted in Galatians 2:21, "If righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain." "Law" and "Grace" are complete systems in themselves. As I said, they are mutually exclusive. We are powerless to earn God's favor. In fact, the impossibility of keeping all of the "Law" forces us to realize this. But under "Grace," our acceptance by God is based on the fact that we are "in Christ" and God accepts Christ completely. He accepts us the same way. Our acceptance is based on Christ's sacrifice for us. But if we insist on relating to God by principle of law, then our acceptance by God is based entirely on our own performance. It's either one or the other. I don't know about you, but I prefer to trust Christ's performance on my behalf than to rely on my own ability to keep every jot and tittle of the Law. This week, I will further discuss the most important lesson that I believe you can learn in scripture -- the story of Grace! Don't miss this week's Report on TBN, Daystar, CPM Network, The Word Network, various local stations, www.hallindsey.com or www.hischannel.com . Check your local listings. Folks, I pray that you will have a wonderful, blessed, and joyous Thanksgiving. Remember to take time to contemplate all of the blessings in your life that come directly from our God. And don't forget to share that gratitude with your family and friends, especially your children. HAPPY THANKSGIVING! Watch this week's Report before it airs! An HD quality MP4 download of each week's show will now be available for purchase from the website. Visit the store at www.hallindsey.com to get your report. 
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 
Watchman Warning: Pardon Me - by Hal Lindsey - http://www.hallindsey.com/ww-11-17-2016/
The Al Smith Dinner is a white tie charity event held every year in New York. During presidential election years, it is usually the last event where the two major candidates share the stage before the election. Each candidate speaks, but it's not campaigning. It's fun. Each one takes a couple of joking jabs at the other, and each makes a few jokes at his or her own expense. This year, Donald Trump said, "Just before taking the dais, Hillary accidentally bumped into me and she very civilly said, 'Pardon me.'" Trump paused, then continued. "And I very politely replied, 'Let me talk to you about that after I get into office.'" Now that Donald Trump has become President-elect, the notion of a presidential pardon for the former Secretary of State is being discussed in elite circles across Washington. But don't expect a pardon from Trump. She has been accused of national security-related crimes while serving as Secretary of State, and of using her power in office to enrich herself, her husband, and the Clinton Foundation. She denies doing anything illegal. During campaign events, Trump audiences often chanted, "Lock her up!" The candidate himself implied that a future Trump Justice Department would consider prosecution. Because of this, there has been speculation that, before leaving office, President Obama might give her a blanket pardon for crimes she committed while serving in his Cabinet. As I write this, she has not applied for a pardon. But Richard Nixon had not applied for a pardon when President Ford granted him one. As that case shows, you don't have to ask for a pardon, or even to have been indicted, to receive one. However, there remains one key requirement. To receive a pardon, you must accept the pardon. Many have speculated that even if President Obama made such an offer to Secretary Clinton, she would refuse. To see why, go back to the case of Richard Nixon. He was extremely reluctant to receive a presidential pardon because he didn't want to admit that he needed one. Eventually, he changed his mind and let the new president know he would accept a pardon if one were offered. Most observers believe Gerald Ford lost the 1976 election because of the pardon. In 1983, Robert Kaplan wrote in The Atlantic that the pardon "would haunt [Ford's] presidency and submerge his campaign two years later." For most of the rest of his life, Ford carried something in his wallet that he obviously felt justified his most controversial action. It was a portion of the text from a 1915 Supreme Court case. In Burdick v. United States, the Court ruled a pardon "carries an imputation of guilt; acceptance a confession of it." Think about those words. You are offered a pardon because you violated a law. That's "an imputation of guilt." And, per the Supreme Court, accepting the pardon amounts to "a confession" of the crime. Hillary Clinton apparently believes she is innocent of all charges, so naturally she refuses to apply for a pardon. She doesn't think she needs one. But this issue points to something far bigger than these current news events. For millions around the world, the issue of guilt and innocence is the dividing line between accepting salvation in Christ, or staying in their sins. They refuse Christ's pardon because they think they don't need it. God sees us as clothed in filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6), and He has a beautiful, pure wedding garment ready to give each of us (Matthew 22:11-13). But millions believe that their filthy rags are "good enough." So, they refuse His gift of the new and clean garment - the equivalent here of a pardon. Back in 1833, a man named George Wilson was convicted of robbing the U.S. Mail, and he was sentenced to death. Wilson had well-connected friends who interceded on his behalf with President Andrew Jackson. The president granted Wilson a full pardon, but Wilson refused to receive it. This case, too, went before the Supreme Court. It ruled, "A pardon is a deed, to the validity of which delivery is essential, and delivery is not complete without acceptance. It may then be rejected by the person to whom it is tendered; and if it is rejected, we have discovered no power in this court to force it upon him." The essential words are; "A pardon... is not complete without acceptance." Jesus offers His pardon to all who will accept it. We do not work for it. We in no way earn it. We cannot be good enough. We are guilty, and pardon is our only hope. But thanks be to God, He offers it freely. It's important to understand the nature of the pardon He offers. No one is above God's law. Sin is a debt that must be paid, and our sin-debt is so great that we cannot possibly pay it ourselves. But that's okay because the sin-debt has been paid - and paid in full! - by Jesus Himself. Jesus bought each of our pardons on the cross. But for the pardon to go into effect, we must accept it. If you have never accepted His pardon, know that it is as close as the air around you. Believe on Jesus Christ. Confess your guilt, and that you need a pardon. Openly acknowledge Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Now is the perfect time. 
Daily Jot: How much damage to America until January - Bill Wilson - www.dailyjot.com
How much damage can a lame duck do before he leaves office in January? That's what Americans have to wrestle with between now and when the current "president" exits. AP reports that the Administration is about to release thousands of Haitians who came to the US illegally because there is not enough jail space to hold them. Meanwhile, Fox News reports that US Border Patrol Agents are "nabbing" 500 illegals a day-just in Texas. Many, they say, are repeat criminals. Illegal border crossings are up 63% over last year, ICE says, but those are only the ones caught by officers. Now the Democratic Party is pressuring the "president" to pardon nearly a million of them before he vacates his occupation of the Oval Office. The "president" has allowed tens of thousands of criminals and Islamists to enter the country at will. So much so, that the system to protect Americans from such is stressed to the point of ineffectiveness. It's where politics and practicality clash. The "president's" policy has put all Americans in harms way and the Inspector General for the Department of Homeland Security John Roth said in March, "we may be admitting individuals who wish to do us harm." This is the result of policy based on remaking America into a socialist nation. This policy causes death and destruction. It is a policy President-Elect Donald Trump vowed to end, but the Democratic Party wants more of it until Trump takes office. The Center for Immigration Studies has analyzed the "president's" immigration policy from data released by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The analysis concludes that since 2010, ICE has released 124 aliens who have been charged with 135 new homicides--some have been released multiple times. In 2014, ICE released a total of 30,558 criminal aliens. These aliens had already been convicted of 92,347 crimes before they were released by ICE. As of July 25, 2015, a total of 1,607 aliens had been convicted of a crime after being freed by ICE. The total number of new crimes for which these aliens were convicted after ICE released them was 2,560, including: 298 dangerous drug offenses, 185 assaults, 40 weapons offenses, 28 sex offenses, 10 sex assaults, four kidnappings, two arsons, and one homicide. It is obvious that these people do not wish to follow the law, nor do they want to assimilate as Americans. The political goal by Democrats and some Republicans is to promote globalism through resettlement. The Bible is very clear about how to handle immigrants. Exodus 22:21 says, "You shall neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him." This is repeated in Leviticus and Deuteronomy. In context, Exodus 12:49 says, "One law shall be to him that is home-born, and unto the foreigner who sojourns among you." This is also repeated in Numbers and Leviticus. One law for all. In this context it is God's law, but these people neither want to submit to the laws of the nation or to God's laws. If they are here illegally, they have broken the law as their first act. Hard as it is, policymakers must address this, otherwise our country is in danger. 
Daily Devotion: A Righteous Judge - Greg Laurie - www.harvest.org
The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. -Psalm 19:9 When it comes to God's judgment, sometimes people will say they believe in a God who is not judgmental. That sounds good, but here is what they are really saying: "I believe in a God who doesn't care about right and wrong." To put it more bluntly, they are saying they believe in a God they just made up in their heads. If God really is loving, then God also will be just. That is what the Bible tells us. The love of God makes Him a righteous judge. Know this: No one will be in heaven who deserves to be there. Nor will there be anyone in hell who does not deserve to be there. No one will be in heaven who went there unwillingly. And no one will be in hell who didn't go there willingly. God won't force anyone to go to heaven. He won't say, "Get up to heaven right now!" You don't have to go if you don't want to. On the other hand, no one will be in hell who did not go there willingly. I like the way J. I. Packer summed it up: "Scripture sees hell as self-chosen. . . . Hell appears as God's gesture of respect for human choice. All receive what they actually chose. Either to be with God forever, worshipping Him, or without God forever, worshipping themselves." How could a God of love send people to hell? He doesn't. He won't. If you end up in hell, then you went there willingly because you rejected His offer of forgiveness. You rejected Jesus Christ and all that He did for you. But if you ask God to forgive you of your sin, He will remove it from you and give you a change, a transformation in your life. You will be born again. 
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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