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The Gates to Hell Will Soon be Wide Open - By Joseph Chambers - www.pawcreek.org
"And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord. And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcasses of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh" (Isaiah 66:23-24). If you think our world is becoming hellish, wait until the gates to Hell are wide open. Every day it appears that we sink a little deeper into the mire. The Bible is very plain that Satan is preparing to take control of the earth for seven years. Every possible preparation for his control is being prepared. It is almost impossible for someone to be converted because hardness against spiritual things grows daily. The only possible answer for what we see is that the end is at hand. Listen to the biblical warnings of these demons coming up out of Hell below to attack Earth's population: "And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men. And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them. And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone. By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths" (Revelation 9: 15-18). The Rapture is your escape before these dark creatures invade your life. The saints will be out of here. The great divide between the earth and its inhabitants and hell and its inhabitants has always remained a mystery. Upper Sheol in the First Testament was the abode of the righteous dead, and Lower Sheol and Hell fire was the abode of the wicked dead. Even between these two separate locations, there was an impossible gap. Abraham plainly told the rich man in Hell that none could pass between the two abodes. "And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us that would come from thence" (Luke 16:26). Jesus told this great story to teach the truth of man's eternal destiny. The gulf between the two abodes was very narrow compared to the gulf between Earth and Hell. In fact, man is forbidden to ever consider communication with the dead across that gulf. The Gates of Hell Will Soon Be Wide Open:
Scripture teaches us clearly that the abode of the wicked is in the heart of the earth. Upper Sheol no longer exists because Jesus Christ led the captives out of their captivity, and they ascended with Him to dwell in His presence. They are awaiting the resurrection of their body. The righteous dead in the Old Testament could not escape death and its bondage until Jesus Christ was crucified and arose from the dead. Now, the gulf is only between Lower Sheol and the earth. No one should attempt any contact with the location of Hell or the people that are damned. Those in Hell are awaiting the White Throne Judgment, where they will appear to give account to the rejected Creator of this universe. Hell is not just a place of wicked men and women, but also a place where fallen angels are already being judged. Jude spoke of this when warning the church about wicked men. "And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like-manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire" (Jude 1:6-7). The apostle Peter also reminded us of the judgments of angels that had already begun. "For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;" (II Peter 2:4). When the Son of God met demon-possessed individuals, the demons would beg not to be dismissed into the deep, clearly referring to Hell or the bottomless pit. I believe humans can become so wicked that they are demons as surely as fallen angels are demons. Jude gave reference to humans that had become beasts. "Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. Woe unto them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core" (Jude 1:8, 10, 11). Calling humans "brute beasts" certainly suggests a dark state of character. Hell is inhabited with the darkest of all fallen angels, and the godless and wicked throughout more than six-thousand years of human history. They have festered in their vileness and grow increasingly wicked by the day. Our Father and the Lamb are going to unleash a multitude of this wicked crowd right onto the earth. Joel, an Old Testament prophet, gave a preview of this ninth chapter of Revelation. "Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand; A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations. A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them. "The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run. Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array. Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness. They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks: Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded" (Joel 2:1-8). There is no possible interpretation of this passage but the truth before us. Joel's army is clearly paranormal, wicked, and set to destroy, the exact character of demons. All future judgment and End-Time prophecies find their perfect fulfillment in this masterpiece of literature. "Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision" (Psalm 2:1-4). The chasm between Hell and the bottomless pit at the deepest extreme of Hell is about to be bridged to the earth for the Great Tribulation. Satan and the Father will use every wicked resource: Satan will use them to work havoc, and the Father will use them to judge and destroy their own kind. The devil's history is full of the destruction of his followers. The demon-possessed write of their own war with each other and the dangers, as a demon-possessed individual tried to climb the ladder of priesthood in their dark realm. There is no doubt that Satan's kingdom is in the realm of darkness and every aspect of their character is darkness and destruction. "And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit" (Revelation 9:1-2). The darkest place in God's universe is about to open onto the earth. Remember that Jesus Christ the Lamb opened the seventh seal; out from that seal appeared seven angels with seven trumpets. This is the fifth of those angels sounding their trumpets. And another angel, one of the seven Cherubim assigned to His churches, descended quickly from heaven. Remember, an individual angel or cherubim was assigned to each church during the Church Dispensation. The seven stars were the angels of the seven churches, which are now established in Heaven since the Rapture. They are the defenders of righteousness in the earth, and that includes redemption and judgment. This great star or Cherubim has a key to the bottomless pit. No one, demon or human, that has ever been assigned to that pit was ever let out before. The gate has never been unlocked on the exit side of this dark chasm. Everything and everyone inside the bottomless pit is as wicked as they could possibly be. They are corrupt with corrupting personalities and have longed for an opportunity to vent their fury. If this crowd had not been held in captivity, this earth would have descended into an even darker and deeper vileness. Their captivity has been part of God's restrictive plan until the fated hour should arrive. When the great gate was opened, the smoke of this furnace quickly darkened the universe. The sun and moon, plus the atmosphere, are covered and filled with the very spirit and darkness of this frightful abyss. No doubt the smoke is but a conveyor of a stench and presence that darkens the mind of every soul it touches. There will be no pure light until this open door to Hell is closed, and it will not be closed until this seal is finished. "And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads. And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man. And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them" (Revelation 9:3-6). These creatures are nothing less than demons with dark powers that Satan has trained and mobilized for his hour. Hell and the bottomless pit is indeed a place of fire and brimstone, but it cannot devour spirits or souls. It can only torment and create an atmosphere of misery. In this abyss the spirits and souls will scheme, plan, and anticipate the day when they can spread their misery. That day has come in this text. Like locusts, hungry to devour, they have power like scorpions and inflict pain that will seem unbearable. They will be commanded to hurt nothing of nature, but only the wicked that have rejected the God of Righteousness and do not have the seal of the Father and His Lamb in their forehead. They cannot kill these wicked souls but are commanded to torment them. The torment lasts for five months with a pain that goes to the depth of human captivity. The wicked have killed and maimed the righteous and God-honoring; now, the tide has turned. This great multitude will seek to die and will make every effort to take their own life, but death will be beyond their reach. "And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them" (1 John 4:3-5). Revelation Chapter Eight started the period of God's revenge on the godless that mercy could not touch. They cannot blame the Father or the Lamb, because mercy and forgiveness was held before this world for at least the first three and a half years. Even now, the door is open to repent, but this multitude wants no repentance. Now, the misery is too dark to see past. "And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men. And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions. And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle. And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months" (Revelation 9:7-10). The appearance given to these spirits and souls was planned to create the very atmosphere of the bottomless pit. Misery loves misery; now, misery has invaded the world. Their appearance is like horses, crowned with gold and having faces like men. They have hair like women and teeth like lions. They wear breastplates of iron and they have wings like many chariots racing to destroy. Their tails are quick to inflict pain and torment. It's a scene of Hell on Earth, for indeed hell has invaded the earth. These amazing creatures are servants of Satan and are venting his fury against his own worshipers. Satanism has never made sense because it is the opposite of a sane mind. God the Father actually uses Satan to punish himself and his followers and to show that the very nature of evil is to destroy. Evil does not have the ability to do good. This Seven Years of Tribulation will reveal all that is evil for a final display of its nature. "And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon. One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter" (Revelation 9:11-12). Satan's kingdom is organized. The Book of Ephesians shows four levels of the hierarchy of Lucifer. "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places" (Ephesians 6:12). The organization of evil is off the radar of human sight and understanding. We fail to see how sinister it is in our normal world. The Book of Revelation actually pulls the cover off and we can begin to catch a better picture. This king over the bottomless pit is a destroyer. He is one of Hell's most powerful creatures. "And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works" (Revelation 20:10-12). Everything represented in every name one can find for Satan in Scripture shows that there is no capacity for good, even to their own. This king has prepared his army well; they do their job under his leadership, and their only reward is more of Hell. One woe is over, but two more are on the way. "And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates" (Revelation 9:13-14). A voice rings out from the very altar of God. The sixth angel has blown his trumpet and the depth of judgment must be made manifest. Satan has always been on a leash. He can do only what he is allowed. These four angels have been bound because of previous deceptions and dark deeds. They are masterminds of evil and have, by necessity, been bound awaiting judgment here. Their location of dwelling is in the Babylonian vicinity, because this is Satan's stronghold. They must be loosed to finish the task that wickedness demands. It's fitting that during Satan's last rampages his powers will be concentrated out of his natural habitat. Babylon will be fully rebuilt and occupied. His Antichrist will rule from this city. Evil will develop right out of Babylon and will spread out over the whole earth. "And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men. And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them. "And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone. "By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths. For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt" (Revelation 9:15-19). Hell's fury will certainly arise from the center of the Beast's kingdom. There is certainly some connection between the first half of this chapter and this second horde of spirits. They both issue from the earth or beneath the earth. Their former dwelling place is Hell or the abyss. They all serve the devil and his principalities. Their period of destruction is one year, one month, one day and one hour. They will make use of every minute, and one-third of earth's population will be slain. The size of this great demonic army is threatening to consider. Two hundred million trained, equipped, and vicious demonic spirits will go out from one geographical area to invade the earth. Two hundred million suicide bombers all dressed in explosives could not do the damage this multitude will do. John saw the vision and describes them. He called them "horsemen" or half horse, half man with "breastplates of fire, jacinth and brimstone." Their heads are like lions and they breathe out smoke, fire, and brimstone. The very sight of this army is enough to cause the world to seek death before they even arrive. Their power is both from their mouth and in the tail. They kill coming and going. This kind of creature is being portrayed in mythology and has been trivialized until Revelation seems a joke. When the national news shows this evil footage, the fun will disappear. Demons have previously taken on the appearance of holy angels or an angel of light, but that capacity is no longer available. When the angels of God cast Satan out of his second heavenly empire, he will be stripped of his powers to appear holy like holy angels. His only appearance must derive from his character, and this vision is the result. What you are really seeing in this vision is Satan and his demons exactly as they are in their culture. Finally, Satan will look like the devil, and all of his horde of spirits will look the same. "And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts" (Revelation 9:20-21). Unimaginably, there is still a multitude that will not repent. The call to repentance has not subsided. Angels are always flying through the Heavens calling men to repent. We will see that in future passages. The flesh loves its gods of self, devils, idols, and wealth. The sin of Adam was caused by the desire for things, especially things that touch the emotions. God must have known that if man fell, it would be because He gave Him that wonderful creative ability to be emotional, to feel things, and to have emotions of desire, success, and triumph. Man's most beautiful creativity is his emotions, but they are also his downfall when the heart is deceived. At this point, the world's population is almost totally given to the lust of unbridled emotions. Nothing can help a man when his emotions are unchecked, and Satan will produce just that kind of world when God gives him free reign for the coming seven years of tribulation. Israel vows to destroy Iranian positions within 40 km (25 miles) of Syrian border - By Shoshana Kranish - http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Report-Israel-vows-to-destroy-Iranian-positions-within-40-km-of-Syrian-border-515209 Syrian President Bashar Assad reportedly offered Netanyahu a comprehensive deal that would include a demilitarized zone stretching 40 kilometers from the border. Kuwaiti newspaper Al Jarida revealed on Sunday that an Israeli source disclosed a promise from Jerusalem to destroy all Iranian facilities within 40 kilometers (25 miles) of Israel's Golan Heights. The source, who remains unnamed, said that during Syrian President Bashar Assad's surprise visit to Russia last week, Assad gave Russian Premier Vladimir Putin a message for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: Damascus will agree to a demilitarized zone of up to 40 kilometers from the border in the Golan Heights as part of a comprehensive agreement between the two countries, but only if Israel does not work to remove Assad's regime from power. The report also claims that Putin then called Netanyahu to relay the message, and that the Israeli prime minister said he would be willing to accept the deal, but that Israel's goal of eradicating Iran and Hezbollah from the country would remain. According to the source, Jerusalem sees Assad as the last president of the Alawite community, indicating that a change of regime in Syria - at least towards a government less-linked to Iran - would be favorable for Israel. The Alawites are a minority Shi'ite community in Syria, and have long been supported by Iran, which seeks to extend its influence from the Gulf across the region to the Mediterranean. The source also commented that after the defeat of the Islamic State, the conflict in Syria would become ''more difficult,'' likely pointing towards a vacuum that would be left without the group. Russian, Syrian and Iranian-backed forces have been fighting against ISIS, while also seeking to knock out rebel groups that oppose the current regime. Russia's stated interests have been in line with Iran's in wanting to keep Assad in power. Israel has participated mostly on the periphery of the war in Syria, responding to fire on the northern border and occasionally bombing positions, including a weapons depot and scientific research center that allegedly produces chemical weapons. Damascus and Jerusalem have exchanged heated remarks as well, with Netanyahu threatening to bomb Assad's palace, and Syrian officials warning of ''dangerous repercussions'' to Israeli strikes on Syrian targets. Over the course of the war, Israel has operated several field hospitals near the Syrian border, where those injured from the war are treated and subsequently returned to Syria. Some of those who have been treated have been rebels fighting against the Assad regime, leading some to say that Israel is assisting the rebels to unseat Assad. Rather than disarm, Hamas vows to attack Israel - https://www.timesofisrael.com/rather-than-disarm-hamas-vows-to-attack-israel/ Deputy head of terror group in Gaza says that holding on to its weapons is a red line and not up for debate Palestinian terror movement Hamas again refused to disarm on Monday ahead of a key reconciliation deadline, instead threatening to carry out attacks against Israel in the West Bank. By Friday, the Islamists are due to hand over control of the Gaza Strip to the internationally recognized Palestinian government, based in the West Bank city of Ramallah. But the future of their armed wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, remains unclear. "The weapons of the resistance are a red line that is non-debatable," Khalil al-Hayya, deputy head of Hamas in Gaza, told a press conference, referring to the Qassam Brigades. "These weapons will be moved to the West Bank to fight the occupation. It is our right to resist the occupation until it ends." Hamas, an Islamist terror group, seeks the destruction of Israel. Around 400,000 Israelis live in settlements in the West Bank, alongside around three million Palestinians. In Gaza, which Hamas has ruled since seizing it in 2007, there are no settlers after Israel withdrew in 2005. The United States and Israel have said they will reject any reconciliation agreement leading to a unity government including Hamas unless it disarms, renounces terrorism and recognizes Israel. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has also said there will only be one security force in the Palestinian territories. The reconciliation agreement signed on October 12 in Cairo does not specify a future for the Qassam Brigades. Saudi vows new Islamic alliance 'will wipe terrorists from the earth' - Anuj Chopra - https://www.yahoo.com/news/saudi-vows-islamic-alliance-wipe-terrorists-earth-140228852.html Saudi Arabia's crown prince vowed to "pursue terrorists until they are wiped from the face of the earth" as officials from 40 Muslim countries gathered Sunday in the first meeting of an Islamic counter-terrorism alliance. "In past years, terrorism has been functioning in all of our countries... with no coordination" among national authorities, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is also Saudi defence minister, said in his keynote address to the gathering in Riyadh. "This ends today, with this alliance." The summit is the first meeting of defence ministers and other senior officials from the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition, which officially counts 41 countries and identifies as a "pan-Islamic unified front" against violent extremism. The alliance was announced in 2015 under the auspices of Prince Mohammed, whose rapid ascent since his appointment as heir to the throne in June has shaken the political scene across the region. Sunday's meeting comes as several military coalitions, including key Saudi ally the United States, battle to push the Islamic State group from its last remaining bastions in Iraq and Syria. The alliance groups largely, although not exclusively, Sunni-majority or Sunni-ruled countries. It excludes Saudi Arabia's arch-rival, Shiite-dominated Iran, as well as Syria and Iraq, whose leaders have close ties to Tehran. Sunday's meeting coincides with an escalation in tensions between Riyadh and Tehran, particularly over wars in Syria and Yemen and the political structure of multi-confessional Lebanon. Saudi Arabia accuses Iran of supporting armed groups across the Middle East, including Lebanon's Shiite Hezbollah and Yemen's Huthi rebels. "The pillar of this coalition is inclusion," said Saudi General Abdulelah al-Saleh, the alliance's acting secretary general, playing down the exclusion of the three countries. "Our common enemy is terrorism, not any religion, sect or race." The alliance meeting in Riyadh brings together Muslim or Muslim-majority nations including Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Afghanistan, Uganda, Somalia, Mauritania, Lebanon, Libya, Yemen and Turkey. - 'Distorted image of Islam' - Retired Pakistani general Raheel Sharif, who has been appointed commander-in-chief, also insisted that the coalition was not against any religion or state. The alliance aims to "mobilize and coordinate the use of resources, facilitate the exchange of information and help member countries build their own counter-terrorism capacity," Sharif said. While the alliance officially includes Qatar, which is the target of a six-month boycott led by Saudi Arabia, organizers in Riyadh said no Qatari officials were present at the meeting. Qatar's flag was also absent. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain abruptly cut diplomatic and trade ties with Qatar in June, accusing the emirate of being too close to Iran and supporting Islamist extremism. Doha denies the allegations. Egypt, which sent a military official and not its defense minister to Sunday's meeting, is reeling from a Friday attack on a mosque that killed more than 300 people during prayer time. While IS has not claimed responsibility, Egyptian authorities say the organization is the main suspect as the mosque is associated with followers of the mystical Sufi branch of Sunni Islam, whom IS has branded heretics. Prince Mohammed said Friday's "painful event" was a reminder of the "danger of terrorism and extremism". "Beyond the killing of innocent people and the spread of hatred, terrorism and extremism distort the image of our religion," he said. Since his sudden appointment as crown prince, Prince Mohammed has moved to consolidate power, announcing crackdowns on both terrorism and corruption. A corruption purge saw around 200 members of the Saudi elite including princes, ministers and business tycoons arrested or sacked earlier this month. Birth of the Covenant - By Daymond Duck - http://www.raptureready.com/2017/11/26/birth-covenant-daymond-duck/ Please understand that the terms of a peace treaty in the Middle East may soon be born, but there is no guarantee that they won't be aborted. Most of the treaty has not been drafted. It will take several weeks to get it on paper. There are no guarantees that Israel, the PA or anyone else will sign it. There is no deadline for the treaty to be signed. Everyone is apprehensive, issuing denials and making demands. But game-changing events are hitting the news. Iran's Shiite sect of Islam is different from Saudi Arabia's Sunni sect. The Shiites and Sunnis hate each other. Both sects say the other is heretical. Both sects want the other sect destroyed, etc. Iran is powerful and trying to take over the Middle East. The Saudis are afraid of Iran. They want Iran stopped, but there are two major problems: One, Saudi Arabia's King Salman is 81 years old and not healthy enough to lead his nation in a war with Iran; and Two, Saudi Arabia is not strong enough to defeat Iran by herself. To solve problem one, Saudi Arabia's King Salman intends to turn his throne over to his son, Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman (known as MBS). He has given MBS the task of taking on Iran. To solve problem two, MBS has decided to seek Israel's help in a war with Iran. MBS knows that Iran's proxy, Hezbollah, has taken over Lebanon and become a threat to Israel, that Iran has military bases and tens of thousands of troops in Syria, and that Iran has often threatened to destroy Israel. Based on these things, MBS believes that Israel will help Saudi Arabia in a war with Iran, but there are two problems: One, Saudi Arabia doesn't have diplomatic relations with Israel; and Two, Israel wants the Arabs to recognize Israel's right to exist as a Jewish nation. To solve problem one, MBS has announced that he will soon establish diplomatic relations with Israel. To solve problem two, MBS said he will support Israel's right to exist as a Jewish nation after Israel and the PA reach an agreement on a peace treaty. As a candidate for Pres., Mr. Trump promised to do something about Iran's nuclear weapons program. Saudi Arabia and Israel want him to follow through on that. They believe all three nations (Saudi Arabia, Israel and the U.S.) could cooperate and get something done. Pres. Trump might be willing to work with them, but he also wants them to help him advance a final-status treaty for peace and security (safety) in the Middle East. Notice that all of these nations want something done about Iran, and all of them want something else: Saudi Arabia wants Israel's help, Israel wants the Arabs to recognize Israel's right to exist as a Jewish nation, and Pres. Trump wants a final-status agreement for peace and safety in the Middle East. It has been reported that Pres. Trump has ordered his advisors to draft a plan to end the conflict between Israel and the PA. No date has been set, but his advisors expect to have a plan ready for discussion in late January or early February 2018. Israel has reported that MBS ordered PA Pres. Mahmoud Abbas to avoid the influence of Iran, cut the PA's ties with Hezbollah in Lebanon and to accept Pres. Trump's peace plan, or resign. Mr. Abbas is talking like he won't do it, but Saudi Arabia gives the PA millions of dollars every month, and their money will prevail. Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister has urged MBS to support Pres. Trump's final-status agreement once it is drafted. He believes other Arab nations will oppose it as soon as it comes out, but he believes they can eventually be persuaded to drop their opposition and accept it. On Nov. 19, 2017, a member of Prime Minister Netanyahu's Cabinet acknowledged that Israel has been making covert contact with Saudi Arabia in view of their common concerns over Iran. Israel's military leaders called for closer ties with Saudi Arabia. Understand that Pres. Trump drafting a peace treaty is not the same thing as the Antichrist confirming a peace treaty. The Antichrist could confirm Pres. Trump's peace treaty in a matter of days or it could take years. The peace treaty that the Antichrist confirms will be a covenant with "many." If the other Arab nations can be persuaded to accept it, then it will be a covenant with "many." An attack on Iran, or preparations for an attack on Iran, could trigger the Battle of Gog and Magog. That will change the world. It has been reported that Pres. Trump has embraced the two-state solution. That will be unacceptable in some Jewish quarters and it will cause God to drag the nations into the Battle of Armageddon. It has also been reported that Pres. Trump wants "gradual borders." The meaning of "gradual borders" is vague, but to this writer it sounds like the treaty could involve a time frame that could turn out to be seven years. It has also been reported that Pres. Trump's peace plan will designate Jerusalem as an international city (neither Israeli, nor Palestinian). This could have implications for sharing the Temple Mount, letting Israel rebuild the Temple next to the Dome of the Rock, for the resumption of the animal sacrifices, and more. There have been many efforts to get a final-status peace treaty in the Middle East, and all of them have failed. Many are skeptical that this could be the birth of the long-anticipated covenant. But if Pres. Trump's plan is agreed to in 2018, that will be 70 years from 1948. Considering the importance God attaches to the number 70, the birth of a peace treaty in 2018 would not surprise many prophecy teachers. Prophecy Plus Ministries, Inc. Daymond & Rachel Duck duck_daymond@yahoo.com The Truth About Truth - An interview with Paul Copan, PhD - Lee Strobel - www.biblegateway.com I went back to the infamous question posed by Pilate two thousand years ago. "What is truth?" I asked. I was expecting a complex answer laden with philosophical jargon. Instead, Copan's definition was surprisingly straightforward: "I think people instinctively understand that truth is a belief, story, ideal, or statement that matches up with reality or corresponds to the way things really are." When I asked him for an example, he said, "If I say the moon is made of cheese, that's false because there isn't a correspondence, or a match-up, with the way things really are. Or consider an event in history: Martin Luther wrote out his ninety-five theses in 1517. That's factually true, and to disagree with that would mean that you believe something that's false. "Something is true - or corresponds to reality - even if people don't believe it. I often use the example of the earth being round even when people thought it was flat. Some people have said to me, 'Well, wasn't the earth flat for them at that time?' I say, 'No, the earth was still round. It wasn't as though people could fall over the edge of the earth and be swallowed by dragons back then. The earth was round, even if people didn't believe it.' " "So truth is true even if people don't acknowledge it," I said, cementing his point in my mind. "That's right. In fact, truth is true even if no one knows it, admits it, agrees with it, follows it, or even fully grasps it." "Some people," I observed, "believe that whatever works for them is true." "Yes, that's the pragmatic view," he said, nodding in acknowledgment. "The problem is that people can have beliefs that are 'useful,' maybe temporarily and for certain ends, but they may be completely false. And some things can be true - like the temperature at the North Pole - even though they don't help us in any way. So truth isn't merely what works. "On the other hand, the pragmatist does have a point when he asks, 'Can my beliefs be lived out practically?' If not, then it's highly likely that the view isn't true. What is true can be lived out consistently -there doesn't have to be a mismatch between 'theory' and 'practice.' "Another view of truth is called coherence," he continued. "This means that our beliefs must have internal consistency. In other words, our beliefs cohere in a kind of web or fit together like a puzzle. Now, coherence is important. If something is incoherent, it can't be true. But coherence, by itself, isn't enough to determine if something is true." "Why not?" "Look individually at Buddhism and Christianity," he said. "They both have an internal coherence, right?" "That's right," I replied. "Yet both of them can't be true," he said. "The Buddhist rejects the existence of God, while the Christian embraces the existence of God. So by itself, internal coherence isn't enough: we have to ask whether either of these views matches up with reality. Coherence is an important component of truth, but it doesn't constitute truth. It's not all that there is to truth. "Ultimately, any theory of truth is going to correspond with reality. Something true is like a socket wrench that matches up to a bolt - there's a fit. And truth isn't merely propositional. Look at the person of Jesus. When he said he's the truth in John 14:6, there was a correspondence with reality. There was a match-up: He was faithfully and authentically representing to us who God is. He was the revelation of God, and he genuinely lived out what human beings are supposed to be before God." I was reminded of a quote I had come across in my research. I searched through my notes until I found the words of New Testament scholar Andreas J. Köstenberger and read them to Copan: The very notion of truth has largely become a casualty of postmodern thought and discourse. Truth is no longer "the" truth, in Jesus' terms who claimed to be "the truth." Rather it is conceived of as "your" truth or "my" truth - that is, different yet equally legitimate ways of perceiving reality. Hence truth is simply one's preferred, culturally conditioned, socially constructed version of reality. Copan was listening carefully as I read. "I agree with his analysis," he said. "Ultimately, it comes down to a theological question: Can there be an authoritative viewpoint? To put it in Christian terms, is there the possibility of a special revelation in which God speaks authoritatively for all times and all cultures? Can God break onto the scene and offer a way to know truth with confidence?" He allowed the question to hang in the air for a moment, then added: "Not only do I believe he can, but I believe he has." Daily Jot: Saudis interesting prophetic move - Bill Wilson - www.dailyjot.com Saudi Arabia's crown prince Mohammed bin Salman this past weekend convened the second meeting of defense ministers and other officials from the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition. The coalition was formed by Mohammed in 2015 and consists of 41 countries claiming to be a "pan-Islamic unified front" against violent extremism. The nations or political states include Afghanistan, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Somalia, Pakistan, Egypt, Palestine, Sudan, Yemen, Benin, Jordan, and several others. It does not include Iraq, Syria or Iran. Interesting that many of these countries are terrorist sponsoring nations, with Saudi Arabia one of the largest contributors to international terrorism. The coalition's website claims it "seeks to bring peace to affected regions and promote stability and prosperity to the Islamic world as well as the entire world." It also claims in its ideology that it seeks to "Launch and sustain a journey to build a better tomorrow for generations to come, rooted in a consistent and global message that reaffirms the Islamic principles of tolerance and compassion, and counter the narrative of violent extremist ideology through presenting the true nature of Islam and supporting ideological, psychological, and social reforms." The coalition will pool its money to share military information and encourage military counter terror capacity to "deter aggression and violence." From a contemporary historic perspective, it is noble that these nations want to establish peace in the Middle East region. It is questionable, however, given the longstanding history of terrorist support that these nations are sincere. For example, Saudi Arabia is the exporter of Wahhabism and the Salafi movement that teaches a most radical form of Islamic terrorism. Turkey has supported the Islamic State in its efforts to overthrow Syria. Somalia is known as a hotbed for terrorists as is Sudan, Yemen and Libya. One has to wonder if the Palestinian "state" will use its cut of the shared military money to fight the Israelis that they consider terrorists. We must also remember that the "peace of Islam" is all nations under submission to Sharia Law. The prophetic implications of this coalition are interesting. Saudi Arabia is home to the most holy of Islamic holy sites, Mecca. The coalition brings together Turkey, Sudan, and Libya as recalled in the Ezekiel 38 end time coalition. In Ezekiel 38:3-8, the Lord says, "Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: and I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army...Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them...against the mountains of Israel..." These areas mentioned in Ezekiel 38 coincide with modern Turkey, Iran, Sudan, Libya, and parts of Iraq, even Saudi Arabia. Iran and Iraq, specifically not part of the present-day Saudi coalition, come under submission to Turkey's Gog to attack Israel in the end of days. We may be seeing a foundation laid for the prophetic future. Daily Devotion: Live Fully - By Greg Laurie - Greg Laurie - www.harvest.org Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite to this day, because he wholly followed the Lord God of Israel. -Joshua 14:14 We have a lot of half-hearted people filling the pews of churches today. They want to give the bare minimum to the One who gave everything for them. They have too much of the Lord to be happy in this world, but too much of this world to be happy in the Lord. They are in a miserable no-man's land. The Bible tells the story of Caleb, one of the unsung heroes of Scripture. He never lost his edge spiritually, and in every sense he finished well. He was faithful to the end. After forty years of wandering in the wilderness, Caleb, Joshua, and the Israelites entered the Promised Land. The land was being parceled out, and Caleb was promised a portion of it. We pick up his story in Joshua 14, where he was asking for what had been promised to him: "I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh Barnea to spy out the land, and I brought back word to him as it was in my heart. Nevertheless my brethren who went up with me made the heart of the people melt, but I wholly followed the Lord my God. . . . Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the Lord spoke in that day" (verses 7-8, 12). If you want to live the Christian life as it was meant to be lived, then, like Caleb, you need to wholly follow the Lord your God. After I became a Christian, I started meeting some half-hearted Christians who wanted to play with the world and still be Christians. That made no sense to me. I knew how empty and futile it was. I urge you, don't lead a half-hearted life. Like Caleb, wholly follow the Lord your God. FROM THE HEART
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