Prophecy Update Newsletter
December 29, 2016
IN TODAY'S NEWSLETTER...
United States Betrays Israel: Why? - J.L. Robb - http://www.omegaletter.com/articles/articles.asp?ArticleID=8362
One reason: It had to happen. This may seem like a simplistic answer to a complicated question, but not really. It is similar to the question asked for the last 2,000 years as to why the Jews "killed" Jesus. If they had not, Jesus would not have been the Messiah. It was written that a messiah would be revealed to the Jewish people, but he would be rejected and killed by those he came to save. "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing." Matthew 23:37 NIV According to biblical scholars, the ancient Jewish prophet Ezekiel spoke to the Jews of his day and wrote the Book of Ezekiel about 2,600 years ago. Israel had been conquered and Jerusalem sacked, because the country continued to defy God. The prophets would warn the people, but they hardly ever listened and often killed the prophets. It was their history since rescue from Egypt. God is speaking to Ezekiel: "...and say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will take the Israelites out of the nations where they have gone. I will gather them from all around and bring them back into their own land. I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. There will be one king over all of them and they will never again be two nations or be divided into two kingdoms. They will no longer defile themselves with their idols and vile images or with any of their offenses, for I will save them from all their sinful backsliding, and I will cleanse them. They will be my people, and I will be their God.'" Ezekiel 37:21-23 NIV In an unprecedented move last week the United States government betrayed Israel at the United Nations for the first time... ever. The President's legacy continues to grow, devastatingly. If you haven't had time to read the resolution that was passed, there are many ramifications and possibilities. Below are the first 3 of 13 parts. Click on The Security Council for the entire resolution 2334. The Security Council 1. Reaffirms that the establishment by Israel of settlements in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, has no legal validity and constitutes a flagrant violation under international law and a major obstacle to the achievement of the two-State solution and a just, lasting and comprehensive peace; 2. Reiterates its demand that Israel immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and that it fully respect all of its legal obligations in this regard; 3. Underlines that it will not recognize any changes to the 4 June 1967 lines, including with regard to Jerusalem, other than those agreed by the parties through negotiations; Israel can no longer build in the West Bank because the UN-One World Government claims it is occupied by Israel instead of conquered war-booty like other nations usually take and keep in times of war, especially when attacked first. If not, the Native Americans and Hispanics would own Canada and the United States. A war-booty relinquishment is purely voluntary, except when it comes to Israel. The new UN resolution calls for Israel to give back Jerusalem and return the borders defined before the Arab-Israeli War of 1967, the third time Israel was attacked by the Arab communities. The hatred toward Israel throughout history is supernatural in origin and part of a long, extraordinary war that would culminate in what the Essenes described in the Book of War, a forty-year war between good and evil. The War Scroll was part of the magnificent find along the banks of the Dead Sea. The reformation of Israel was one of the prophecies that remained unfulfilled until 1948. Thanks to a push and a letter from England's Arthur James Balfour in 1917, the wheels of Zionism began turning at a faster pace than any other time in history toward the reestablishment of Israel to her ancient lands as a single state, never to be divided again into two states." Dear Lord Rothschild, I have much pleasure in conveying to you, on behalf of His Majesty's Government, the following declaration of sympathy with Jewish Zionist aspirations which has been submitted to, and approved by, the Cabinet His Majesty's Government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavors to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country. I should be grateful if you would bring this declaration to the knowledge of the Zionist Federation. Yours, Arthur James Balfour, November 2nd, 1917 Ezekiel was born into a family of priests who served in Solomon's Temple until Nebuchadnezzar invaded Jerusalem and took him captive in 597 BC. The name Ezekiel translated to God is strong. Though Ezekiel is not mentioned in the Quran, he is mentioned by Muslim scholars to be in the list of Islamic prophets. I suppose the Muslim scholars must believe Ezekiel was also a liar since he wrote of the Temple, which they say did not exist. That is why, when the Muslims conquered Jerusalem in 637 AD, they built their Al Aqsa Mosque right on the site of Solomon's Temple, stating it never existed. Building mosques on the holiest sites of Judaism and Christiandom is a common practice in Islam, as they seem to prefer to wipe out previous history with a lie. Solomon's Temple, the First Jewish Temple, never even existed according to Islamic teaching; nor did Yahweh who Islam claims was always Allah. Tell a fictional story long enough and the people will buy it. The Book of Ezekiel berates the Jews for their idolatry and inability to follow the Law of Moses and prophesies times of trouble in their future that would be followed by an eventual restoration of the Land of Israel to her ancient borders. Some believe this prophecy occurred when the Second Temple was built on what was believed to be the site of Solomon's Temple; but the Land of Israel was not restored nor were Jews brought back from all the nations. This is happening now and has been, thanks to the Zionist movement and Christianity, working hand-in-hand to provide the catalyst for the fulfillment of Ezekiel's Valley of the Lost Bones vision: Ezekiel suddenly finds himself in a valley; and there are dry, bones lying everywhere, bones of long dead Israelites and the hopeless. In the vision, the bones of the Israelites begin to move, and then tendons and flesh appear on the once-scattered bones, finally coming back to life to be restored to their land. Then he said to me: "Son of man, these bones are the people of Israel. They say, 'Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.' Therefore prophesy and say to them: 'This is what the Sovereign Lord says: My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. Then you, my people, will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord.'" Ezekiel 37:11-14 NIV Based on the accuracy of biblical prophecy, it is not likely there will be a two-state solution of the land of Palestine. Palestine has never been a country or a state. Israel was and now is again. God laid out His plan plain and simple. The followers of Muhammad in Palestine just won't accept God's wishes for His people. "There will be one king over all of them and they will never again be two nations or be divided into two kingdoms." This prophecy of Ezekiel that Israel will be restored to her ancient borders has not yet completed its journey to fruition. Prior to the final negotiations that led to Israel's rebirth in 1948, the British maps of the new country included most of Israel during the time of King David and King Solomon. By the time the Islamic countries got through with the map, it was a tiny sliver of land along the Eastern Mediterranean and did not even include Jerusalem, the City of David and Ancient Israel's capital. In 1967, Israel was once again attacked by surrounding Arab countries and once again they gained more land, including Jerusalem. Ezekiel's prophecy continued to be fulfilled. Now the World of the UN wants to undo it. That will lead, of course, to Armageddon, the war the Essenes forecast 2,000 years ago. The war the Jewish prophets forecast 2,600 years ago. God is speaking: "I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, 'My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.'" Isaiah 46:10 NIV President Obama, like Islamic scholars, has denied the truth of Ezekiel and betrayed the Apple of God's Eye in the process. I don't know if he knows the gravity of his decision to abstain from voting in the UN resolution condemning Israel, but it had to happen. It was written. On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations. All who try to move it will injure themselves. Zechariah 12:3 NIV The world has always been against Israel, because Satan has been hard at work for millennia. If the UN believes that forbidding Jews to pray at the Temple wall, their Temple wall and if they think Israel will give up its capital, good luck. They are in for a rude and unpleasant awakening. Armageddon the Play is coming to a climax as the world continues its attempt to make it happen. 
January 15th: 70 Nations Will Gather In Paris To Discuss The Future Of Israel - http://www.prophecynewswatch.com/article.cfm?recent_news_id=910
On January 15th, representatives from 70 different countries will gather in Paris, France for an unprecedented global conference. The stated goal of this conference is to promote a "two-state solution" as the way that lasting peace will be brought to the Middle East. In Israel, there is a tremendous amount of concern that whatever is agreed upon at this conference will immediately be used as the basis for a UN Security Council resolution that would permanently divide the land of Israel and create a Palestinian state. But things would have to move very rapidly in order for that to happen, because Barack Obama's time in the White House comes to an end on January 20th, and Donald Trump has already made it exceedingly clear that he would never support such a resolution. The UN Security Council resolution that was passed on Friday was one of the most significant events that we have witnessed in decades. Resolution 2334 made all Israeli settlements in the West Bank and in East Jerusalem illegal, it set the 1967 ceasefire lines as the border between the Israelis and the Palestinians, and it granted every single inch of East Jerusalem to the Palestinians. But it stopped short of giving official UN Security Council recognition to a Palestinian state, and that is why this conference on January 15th is so important. The Israeli government is reportedly fearful that any guidelines agreed in Paris would be turned into another UN resolution before Trump's inauguration. A spokesman for Netanyahu claimed to have "ironclad evidence" that the Obama administration had plotted behind the scenes to promote the UN resolution. Israel has said it will present evidence against the Obama administration to the incoming Trump team. If what an Egyptian newspaper is claiming is true, then there may very well be an international conspiracy at work against Israel. According to a transcript published by the Al-Youm Al-Sabea newspaper, John Kerry and U.S. National Security Adviser Susan Rice met with Palestinian officials in early December and presented Kerry's plan to them at that time... In a meeting in early December with top Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat, US Secretary of State John Kerry told the Palestinians that the US was prepared to cooperate with the Palestinians at the Security council, Israel's Channel 1 TV said, quoting the Egyptian Al-Youm Al-Sabea newspaper. Also present at the meeting were US National Security Adviser Susan Rice, and Majed Faraj, director of the Palestinian Authority's General Intelligence Service. Kerry is quoted as saying that he could present his ideas for a final status solution if the Palestinians pledge they will support the proposed framework. The US officials advised the Palestinians to travel to Riyadh to present the plan to Saudi leaders. The Obama administration is denying all of this of course. But if it is true, then the betrayal of Israel by Obama is much deeper than any of us realized. With less than a month to go in his presidency, Barack Obama has decided to launch an all-out attack on Israel. Once Resolution 2334 passed and the uproar against it was limited, that emboldened the Obama administration to go for broke. Now it looks like they actually could try to get a Palestinian state created before he leaves office on January 20th, and if that happens it will be absolutely catastrophic for America. You see, the truth is that we have been warned for many years that our land will be divided after the land of Israel is officially divided into two states. Many of us have been watching for the creation of a Palestinian state for a very long time, and now we may be right on the verge of it happening. When Donald Trump takes office he would not be able to reverse the creation of a Palestinian state, but one thing that he could do would be to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem. If that happens, the Palestinians are promising to throw a massive temper tantrum... When asked how the Palestinians would react if Trump carried out his promise to move the US embassy to Jerusalem, Erekat reportedly said the Palestine Liberation Organization would rescind its recognition of Israel and ask Arab states to expel their US envoys. Erekat made precisely that threat in a December 19 conference call organized by the Wilson Center policy forum. He said he would immediately resign as the chief Palestinian negotiator, and that "the PLO will revoke its recognition of Israel" as well as all previously signed agreements with Israel. Furthermore, said Erekat, all American embassies in the Arab world would be forced to close -- not necessarily because Arab leaderships would want to close them, but because the infuriated public in the Arab world would not "allow" for the embassies to continue to operate. Ultimately, everything that is happening now is setting the stage for the biggest war in the Middle East that we have ever seen. So instead of this "peace process" being the solution, it is actually going to cause the Middle East to explode in violence. 
Chief rabbi: US has forsaken Israel, we can trust only in the Lord - http://www.timesofisrael.com/chief-rabbi-us-has-forsaken-israel-we-can-trust-only-in-the-lord/
Yitzhak Yosef says White House decision not to veto UN resolution served as 'reminder from above that we can count on no one but our Father' The US has forsaken Israel, and the Jewish state can now place its trust only in God, Israel's Sephardic Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef said Wednesday, as Jerusalem and Washington continued to face off over Friday's United Nations Security Council resolution condemning Israeli settlements. "Sometimes, we need to be reminded from above that we can count on no one but our Father who art in heaven," Yosef told followers at the Western Wall. "Even America... forsook us last week at the UN." He added: "We mustn't forget that the hearts of kings and captains are in the hands of the Lord, and we can count on no one but (the Lord)." US Secretary of State John Kerry again criticized Israel's settlement policies in a speech a major address on the way ahead for the Mideast peace process at the State Department on Wednesday. Furthermore, an official in Jerusalem told The Times of Israel on Tuesday, the government expects more US-led maneuvers at the UN that are critical of the Jewish state. Washington declined Friday to wield its veto power to stop the UN resolution, setting off a renewed crisis with the Israeli government. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his aides have accused the US of colluding with Palestinians and other Security Council member-states to pass the measure. The White House on Wednesday denied any coordination with the Palestinians over the formulation of the resolution, and called recently leaked transcripts of conversations on the matter between top US and Palestinian officials, published by an Egyptian newspaper, a "total fabrication." The resolution states that the settlement enterprise "has no legal validity and constitutes a flagrant violation under international law," and calls for a complete end to all construction in areas Israel gained after the 1967 Six Day War. The text was approved by 14-0, with the United States abstaining. Defending the US abstention - and decision to not veto - the resolution Friday , Kerry said in a statement the move would "preserve the possibility of peace." 
History of the West Bank: Past, Present and Future - By Robert Mandel - http://raptureready.com/soap2/mandell5.html
In 1967, 5 different Arab nations surrounding Israel massed their forces along the edges of Israel's borders and declared their intention to invade and destroy Israel once and for all. They also blocked Israel's access to the Straits of Tiran, a narrow passageway at the lower tip of the Gulf of Aqaba through which 90% of Israel's oil was shipped. This was tantamount to choking off Israel's lifeline and the Arabs knew it...that is why they did it! This alone constituted an act of war by international law. In combination with the 5 armies poised to attack, Israel made a decision to attack first in self-defense. The war was over in 6 days! Israel won a decisive victory! They gained several large pieces of land: the Sinai Peninsula, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Over the next 38 years, Israel used the land which they had conquered to obtain promises of peace from their enemies. They returned the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt in 1980. They returned Gaza (strip of purple color on the map along the Med. Sea) to the Palestinians in 2005. In 2000, President Bill Clinton held peace talks at Camp David. Israel offered to return 98% of the West Bank (purple color on the map surrounding Jerusalem) to the Palestinians for their own free state, but the Palestinian representative, Yasser Arafat, refused the deal, saying that they would settle for no less than 100%. To this day, President Clinton blames the Palestinians for missing their greatest opportunity to have their own free state in 2000. Now the world is demanding once again that we return the West Bank. Should we? Perhaps if we did, the Arabs would then grant us peace? But wait, before we decide, let us evaluate the results of those previous initiatives for peace... The Sinai Peninsula has now been infested by two other terrorist groups, Al Qaeda and ISIS, who have murdered hundreds of Egyptian soldiers and police as they work to smuggle weapons (and themselves) into Gaza to further threaten Israel. The Gaza Strip which we returned to the Palestinians has been taken over by Hamas, a recognized terror group which has launched 20,000 rockets at Israel since then, provoking Israel into two wars. Even southern Lebanon, which we had occupied as a buffer zone from 1982 to 2000 was returned in 2000. The result? Hezbollah moved in and now the entire northern border of Israel is targeted by 100,000 Iranian-made rockets! 2017 will mark a half-century since Israel gained control over the West Bank. Seeing the horrific responses of the Arabic nations to their previous 3 peace initiatives, the Israelis have finally concluded what any reasonable nation would have determined: that there can be no peace with their Islamic neighbors. Therefore, they have decided that it would be suicidal to return the West bank and watch once again, as Islamic terrorists turn it into a fourth heavily-armed and hostile front from which to easily attack all of Israel! So the Israelis decided to populate the West bank which they had won in a war they did not provoke. Doing so will greatly help Israel to protect its Eastern border with Jordan, one of the 5 nations which attacked them in 1967. Doing so will show those same 5 nations the consequences that can re-occur if Israel is attacked again. Doing so is the right which every other nation of the world has exercised when they have won territories through victory in war. Finally, consider the cruel nature of the demand that Israel return the West Bank as illustrated in the following example. Seventeen of today's modern Islamic nations were conquered by Muhammad and his Arabic followers during the first 125 years of the existence of the Islamic religion, 622 to 747 A.D. ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_Muslim_conquests ). Whatever happened to the peoples who were native to those lands? Were any of their territories ever returned to them? Perhaps when the Islamic nations return those 5,000,000 plus square miles of territory they conquered in their wars of aggression, Israel will consider returning the 2,300 square miles of the West Bank which it won during its war of self-defense! Dear readers, you have been very patient with me during all of this geo-political prologue regarding the West Bank. Let us now move on to consider the spiritual connections of the recent UN vote against Israel. There are three points which come to mind as being pertinent to the events of the past week at the U.N. 1. There will be a day of reckoning for every nation which has, at any time, attempted to disinherit Israel of any part of their land grant given them by God! Part of the wrath and judgment of God against the nations during the Tribulation is an accounting for the way those nations have dealt with the Jewish people and with the land of Israel. "I will gather the armies of the world into the valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will judge them for harming my people, my special possession, for scattering my people among the nations, and for dividing up my land." (Joel 3:2 NLT) 2. God's ancient promise to Abraham is still in force! This double-edged sword has never been returned to its sheath! From the blessings bestowed upon America because of its continual support for Israel, to the curses showered upon Germany for its heinous crimes against the Jews, we can see that God is still committed to His promise to Abraham 4,000 years ago! "And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed." (Genesis 12:3 KJV) 3. The Lord is committed to rejoining Israel and Judah into one land and one people no matter what men may say! The northern tribes were Asher, Naphtali, Manasseh, Issachar and Ephraim. The land where Ephraim dwelt is a big part of what is now called the "West bank." This can be easily seen in the map at this link: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:12_Tribes_of_Israel_Map.svg This prophecy indicates that the tribes of the Northern Kingdom which were exiled by Assyria in 722 B.C. will be returned to the land will be one land; one kingdom under one king! This may even mean that some time before the Rapture, we may see Israel officially annex the West Bank into the state of Israel. "Again a message came to me from the LORD: 'Son of man, take a piece of wood and carve on it these words: 'This represents Judah and its allied tribes.' Then take another piece and carve these words on it: 'This represents Ephraim and the northern tribes of Israel.' Now hold them together in your hand as if they were one piece of wood. When your people ask you what your actions mean, say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will take Ephraim and the northern tribes and join them to Judah. I will make them one piece of wood in my hand.' Then hold out the pieces of wood you have inscribed, so the people can see them. And give them this message from the Sovereign LORD: 'I will gather the people of Israel from among the nations. I will bring them home to their own land from the places where they have been scattered. I will unify them into one nation on the mountains of Israel. One king will rule them all; no longer will they be divided into two nations or into two kingdoms.'" A final scripture should be used to conclude this article. It is well known to the readers of Rapture Ready and to students of end-times prophecy everywhere. "On that day I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock. All the nations will gather against it to try to move it, but they will only hurt themselves." (Zechariah 12:3) Let us all be praying that President Trump will have the wisdom to understand and believe what the Scriptures say about Israel's future! America's future depends upon it! Robert Asher Mandel... [email protected] 
Nearing Midnight: The Democratic Party Is Already Planning to Lose 2020 - Todd Strandberg - http://raptureready.com/rap16.html
We are still weeks away from the day that Donald Trump takes office and the Democratic Party has already done everything possibly to ensure they lose the next presidential election. Since November 8th, disaffected Democrats have failed twice to undo the 2016 presidential election. First, there was the failed recount effort launched by Jill Stein, an obvious front for the Clinton campaign-in Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania. Embarrassingly, that effort actually resulted in a wider margin of victory for Trump, but not before Stein wasted $7 million raised from devastated Hillary supporters. The second failure was an effort to convince Electoral College voters to become so-called faithless electors by deciding to cast their votes for someone other than the Republican nominee. When the vote was cast last Monday, five electors chose not to back Clinton while only two decided not to vote for Donald Trump. I guess threatening the life of electors was not the way to go. Their next strategy will be to impeach Trump, more or less from the moment he is sworn in. Trump has already committed a long list of high crimes, according to liberal lawyers that are going over the Constitution with a microscope. Since Republicans control both houses of Congress, the Democrats' dreams of impeachment are going to be out of luck. Let us return to reality. Right after this massive election defeat, the Democrats decide to reelect Nancy Pelosi as minority leader of the House of Representatives. Pelosi has headed the Democratic caucus for 14 years. During her term they have lost more seats in Congress and state legislatures than the entire history of the party. When asked how she could bring new ideas to the party, Pelosi said, "I don't think Democrats want a new direction." This is like saying people don't want cars that get better gas mileage or computers that have faster processors. Pelosi has been so ineffective as a leader, Republicans were mockingly advocating for her to win the leadership election. "I'm rooting for Nancy!," GOP Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy said, "She may have more support in our conference than her own conference." The worst decision by the Democratic Party is the plan to make Rep. Keith Ellison, the first Muslim elected to Congress the head the Democratic National Committee. The vote will take place in February, and so far, Ellison is the only major contender for the job. I think it is a serious mistake to make a Muslim the head of any political organization. Ellison may wave the American flag, and claim he's become a new man since the day he praised anti-Semitic Louis Farrakhan in the 1990s. But Ellison proves his own anti-Semitic stance by being chummy with a host of anti-Israel groups-like the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Muslim Brotherhood, and Hamas. Ellison also failed to disclose that a group founded by members of the Muslim Brotherhood paid for him to make a pilgrimage to the Islamic holy site of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. The voting record of Keith Ellison should disqualify him from heading the Democratic Party. He is one of only eight members of Congress who refused to vote to help Israel fund its Iron Dome anti-missile program that was critical in protecting civilians from the rocket barrage launched by Hamas in 2007 and 2008. In 2009 Ellison was one of only two dozen Congressmen to vote "present" rather than vote for a non-binding resolution "recognizing Israel's right to defend itself against attacks from, reaffirming the United States' strong support for Israel, and supporting the Israeli-Palestinian peace process." The dumbest thing about having Keith Ellison as the DNC head is the money he is going to cost the Democratic Party. The number of Jews in America is only 4 percent, but they are major donors to leftist causes. I'm sure by 2020 Ellison will move the Democratic platform from pro-Israel to pro-Palestinian. This could be the breaking point where a sizable number of Jews will turn to the Republican Party. You would think that Hillary Clinton's political career is over. News reports say she intends to keep her campaign organization together for the next four years to keep open the possibility of running again for president in 2020. "She's convinced that, sooner than later, the voters will come to their senses and realize they made a horrible mistake by putting [Donald] Trump in the White House," a source close to Hillary told Ed Klein Confidential. "She's sure the voters will beg her to get in the race and she says, 'I'm going to run again in 2020.'" Clinton has made few public statements about the election, but it's clear that she accepts zero responsibility for her loss. She is convinced that FBI Director James Comey cost her the election by the October announcement that he was reopening his investigation of her emails. There's no doubt that Clinton thinks that Russian President Vladimir Putin was working with Trump. In telephone conversations with Donald Trump, FBI Director James Comey assured the president-elect there was no credible evidence that Russia influenced the outcome of the recent U.S. presidential election by hacking the Democratic National Committee and the emails of John Podesta, the chairman of Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign. What's more, Comey told Trump that James Clapper, the director of National Intelligence, agreed with this FBI assessment. The only member of the U.S. intelligence community who was ready to assert that the Russians sanctioned the hacking was John Brennan, the director of the CIA, according to sources who were briefed on Comey's conversations with Trump. "And Brennan takes his marching orders from President Obama," the sources quoted Comey as saying. In Comey's view, the leaks to The New York Times and The Washington Post alleging that the Russians tried-and perhaps even succeeded-in tilting the election to Trump were a Democratic Party effort to delegitimize Trump's victory. The bar has been set so low for president-elect Trump, it's going to be very hard for him to fail. When electors for Pennsylvania delegation voted for him, some woman screamed, "You just elected Adolf Hitler." If Trump is able to resist annexing Austria or invading Poland, we'll be able to call his first term a success. There is always the possibility of a massive recession putting the Democrats back in power in 2020. The mistakes that they are making on a daily basis makes this a hard goal to reach. The only other option for a Democratic sweep is the Rapture. Since God is the one who determines the course of world events, the loony left may be set to retake the White House because of the Lord of heaven planning on handing them the ultimate hollow victory. "He that sits in the heavens shall laugh: the LORD shall have them in derision" (Psalm 2:4). 
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 
Simeon Found Jesus - Nathele Graham - [email protected]
Joseph and Mary knew who Jesus was, but that knowledge didn't make them think they were above the Mosaic Law. Under that Law there were certain requirements a woman was to do after giving birth, and Mary was not exempt from following those requirements. When a woman gave birth to a male child, she was considered unclean for seven days (Leviticus 12:2). "And she shall then continue in the blood of her purifying three and thirty days; she shall touch no hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying be fulfilled." Leviticus 12:4. In addition to the mother's requirements, on the eighth day the male child was to be circumcised. "And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised." Leviticus 12:3. This requirement actually pre-dated the Law by many years; God had given this directive to Abraham as the sign of a covenant between Him and the children of Abraham. Mary did all that was required by the Law. Even though she bore the Son of God she was merely human and subject to the Law of Moses. According to the Law, after the time that she was considered unclean a woman was to bring a Lamb and a pigeon or a turtledove for a sin offering (Leviticus 12:6). If for some reason she was unable to bring a lamb then two turtledoves or two pigeons were acceptable. "And if she be not able to bring a lamb then she shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons; the one for the burnt offering, and the other for a sin offering: and the priest shall make an atonement for her, and she shall be clean." Leviticus 12:8. Mary followed the requirement of the Law by bringing her sin offering and a burnt offering. "And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord...and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons." Luke 2:22 & 24. Joseph and Mary must have felt bad because they could only bring birds but no lamb for the sacrifice. Did they understand that Jesus was the Lamb? Just like people today, Joseph and Mary only knew day by day God's plan and followed as best they could. We can be sure that the Magi hadn't visited yet because Joseph and Mary would have been able to buy a lamb to offer as her sin offering. With no gold, frankincense, or myrrh she could only offer the birds. Also, Joseph and Mary brought Jesus to Jerusalem but on the night the Magi visited, Joseph was warned in a dream to leave for Egypt immediately. Being obedient they left that very night. It was on the day that Joseph and Mary took the offerings to the priest that a man named Simeon had his prayers answered. "And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ." Luke 2:25-26. In just a few words we learn so much about Simeon. He loved God. There are many prophecies in the Old Testament that foretold the Messiah's birth and Simeon took the words of the prophets seriously. He was looking for the Messiah and his faith was strong. Because the prophets had foretold of the coming Messiah, many people were looking for Him, but not everyone had the depth of yearning that Simeon had. It's hard to understand how the Scribes and Pharisees missed the Messiah's birth because they studied Scripture, but they didn't look for Him. They didn't have the desire that Simeon had to see the Messiah. The religious leaders had head knowledge of Scripture, but Simeon had heart knowledge. The Holy Spirit still speaks to people today, but most people ignore Him. Many people have head knowledge of Scripture and only a few truly desire to seek the Messiah. Christians are indwelt by the Holy Spirit so it should be easier for us to hear His voice, but too many of us are distracted by the world and ignore God's leading. The Holy Spirit came upon Simeon but didn't indwell him, yet Simeon was devout and heard His voice. When a person is led by the Spirit, wonderful things will happen. Unlike the Priests and Pharisees, Simeon desired to see the Messiah...the consolation of Israel. "And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: for mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou has prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel." Luke 2:27-33. We can all learn from Simeon. His great desire was to see "the Lord's Christ" and was watching for Him. Then, when he saw Him, Simeon embraced Him. Do we do that? When we see our need for Jesus and finally accept Him for our salvation, do we truly embrace Him or do we just go on as if our life hasn't been changed? Simeon also blessed Him rather than waiting to be blessed by Him. Think about it and see if you truly embrace Jesus and if you just sit around waiting for Him to bless you. Embrace Him and bless Him and your life will be changed for the better. Simeon had insight that few people had in those days. He understood that the Messiah would come to Israel, but he also understood that He was coming as a light to the Gentiles. That fact is something that many religious leaders couldn't come to grips with. Many years later a Pharisee named Nicodemus would come to Jesus to seek understanding. Jesus talked a long while with Nicodemus and gave him much to ponder. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16. Jesus said that God loved the "world", not just the Jews. There was separation between the Jews and the Gentiles and much resentment. Jesus came first to the Jews and when they rejected their Messiah, the Gentiles were also welcome to accept His sacrifice for salvation. When Jesus spoke these words to Nicodemus He didn't exclude Gentiles from this gift. God's love is offered to everyone, but His gift needs to be accepted. It would be wonderful if everyone had the desire to see "the Lord's Christ" like Simeon did, because it is God's desire that all people come to salvation. "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." John 3:17. Simeon found the desire of his heart when he saw Jesus. What is the desire of your heart? Do you want to see Jesus, or are you willing to settle for fleeting desires of this world? Jesus didn't come to condemn us but to save us. Salvation through Him should change us. The King of kings was born as a baby in a humble manger. Most people were aware that one day the Messiah would come to them but few were actually seeking to find Him. The Shepherds were the first ones to receive the Good News, and they left their flocks to go find Him. The Magi were looking for Him. They saw His star and followed it to Bethlehem and found Him. Among the few who were looking for Him was Simeon and his prayers were answered. Today we are living in a time that prophecy is being fulfilled. Are you ignoring the signs of the times? Jesus came once to offer salvation to everyone. He will come again to bring judgment upon the unbelieving world that follows Satan. Before God's wrath begins, all those who have placed their faith in Jesus for salvation will be called Home. Right now, today, is when you need to embrace Jesus. If Simeon hadn't been seeking Him he would have missed the greatest gift of all. "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: for mine eyes have seen thy salvation." Luke 2:29-30. Because Simeon saw Jesus he found peace. Can you say that you have found peace? Sin brings death and we are all sinners. Only faith in Jesus Christ will bring forgiveness of sin and eternal life. "Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near" Isaiah 55:6. If you were to die today do you have the same peace that Simeon found by embracing Jesus? It's a fact that we all face death. It's also a fact that God's wrath is very near. Whether death takes you or you are called Home in the Rapture prior to God's wrath, the only way to live eternally with God is to give your life to Jesus right now. You have a choice so choose wisely. God bless you all, Nathele Graham [email protected] www.straitandnarrowministry.com [email protected] Ron Graham's previous commentaries archived at http://www.raptureready.com/featured/graham/graham.html All original scripture is "theopneustos" God breathed. If you'd like to be on my mailing list to receive the commentaries just drop me an email and let me know. 
Daily Jot: "C'mon Man, Really?" Top 10 Awards 10 through 6 - Bill Wilson - www.dailyjot.com
There were a lot of statements made and deeds done in 2016 that are deserving of a slap on the forehead followed by the words "C'mon Man, really?" As the year draws to a close, The Daily Jot wanted to just step outside its regular analytics and provide you what we thought were some of the most foolish statements and actions that characterized 2016. You may agree or not, but they should serve as a reminder of what not to do and how common sense is lacking within our contemporary society. These are things we may want to forget, but for wisdom's sake, should be remembered. So as we count down to the new year, here are The Daily Jot "C'mon Man, Really?" Top 10 Awards, with 10 through 6 going to... Number 10: After Attorney General Loretta Lynch meets with former President Bill Clinton in the back of an airplane, her charge, FBI Director James Comey, announces there was a lot of possible violations of the law, but a lack of intent regarding Hillary Clinton's illegal handling of secret information. Most government sources of The Daily Jot said they would have been prosecuted if they handled information in that manner. Then Comey says the investigation is reopened because Clinton's national secrets were found on Huma Abedin's and her pervert husband's computers. Then he says after reviewing hundreds of thousands of emails in just a couple of days, "nothing to see here." C'mon man, Really? Number 9: Hillary Clinton said that those who would vote for Donald Trump were "unredeemable" and "deplorables." She called Bernie Sanders' socialist supporters "basement dwellers". If you take out the leftist votes of California and New York, Clinton was demeaning the majority of the US voting population. And she thinks she should be president? C'mon man, Really? Number 8: The Islamic State is burning Christians alive, crucifying them, beheading them irrespective of man, woman or child, yet the "president" refuses to designate Christians in hostile Islamic areas as refugees. Instead, he allows hundreds of thousands of Islamists from terrorist-sponsoring nations into the US and resettles them as "refugees." C'mon man, Really? Number 7: The "president" blames the lack of gun control for the spike in murders in Chicago, Baltimore and Detroit, and for terrorist attacks by Islamists across the country-at least one a year during his 8 year tenure. Yet the highest murder rates are committed in places with the strictest gun control and the terrorist attacks are the result of his lax or non-existent immigration security. C'mon man, Really? Number 6: Hillary Clinton, the current "president" and the Democratic Party claiming that Clinton was the most qualified person to be president in the face of extraordinary charges of dishonesty, criminality, and the inability to protect important national security information on unsecured private servers in a home closet. Who cares who hacked the information? It was handled with extreme incompetency or lack of caring. And Clinton is qualified to be president? C'mon man, Really? What does the Bible say? Zechariah 8:16 says, "These are the things that you shall do; Speak you every man the truth to his neighbor; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates." 
Daily Devotion: Within Limits - Greg Laurie - www.harvest.org
Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. -2 Corinthians 12:8-9 When you put your faith in Jesus Christ, a sign is effectively hung around your neck that says, "Under new management." You now belong to Jesus Christ, and He does not operate on a timeshare program. Isn't that nice to know? He doesn't say, "Okay, now I have Greg for six months, and the devil can have him for the next six months." That is not what happens. When we put our faith in Christ, He comes in and is the sole resident in our hearts and lives. Although a Christian cannot be demon-possessed, the devil can affect a Christian outwardly. For instance, demons can tempt and oppress a Christian. The apostle Paul wrote, "And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure" (2 Corinthians 12:7). The word "buffet" means to hit in the face. So Paul was essentially saying, "Yes, I have come under some demon attack. But here is the good news: God will never give you more than you can handle." The Bible tells us in James 2:19, "You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe-and tremble!" Of course, just because you believe something is true doesn't mean you have committed yourself to it. Obviously, demons are in rebellion against God. Paul's oppression was allowed by God and orchestrated by Satan. So God may allow the devil to tempt you or harass you in some way. But remember, He won't give you more than you can take. The only thing that will stop the devil is the power of Jesus Christ. He is our only protection. He is the one we need. 
FROM THE HEART
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