The signs of the Times are Screaming at us that Soon the Great Shofar of God will Sound!

The signs of the Times are Screaming at us that Soon the Great Shofar of God will Sound! - By Daymond Duck - https://www.raptureready.com/2024/10/12/screaming-by-daymond-duck/ On Oct. 2, 2024, a reader sent me the following that was written by Christine Darg (author and Co-Founder of jerusalemchannel.tv): Are we not near to the calling up of believers and the beginning of the Great Tribulation? The signs of the times are screaming at us that soon the great shofar of God will sound. Some of the signs that caused Darg to say this are: · Israel is at war. · Israel has been attacked by Iran (a Gog and Magog foe). · Hurricane Helene has caused mayhem in the USA. · The world is trying to deal with biological warfare and plagues. · There is worldwide apostasy and persecution of believers. · The UN defies God and Israel. · The love of many has run cold. Here are just a few more that I keep writing about: · Israel is surrounded by enemies that want to destroy them (Psa. 83:4). · Israel has a great military (Ezek. 37:10). · The development of technology to track all buying and selling (Rev. 13:16-17). · The rise of world government (The New World Order; a borderless world; Rev. 13:8). · A departing from the faith (Pope Francis supports the rise of world government and world religion; II Thess. 2:3; Rev. 17-18). · The controversy over Jerusalem (Zech. 12:2-3). · Efforts to rebuild the Jewish Temple (Matt. 24:15; II Thes. 2:3-4). · The Revived Roman Empire has come back into existence (Dan. 9:26). · Hyper-inflation and a global economic collapse (Rev. 6:5-6). Here are recent events that seem to indicate that the end of the age is close: One, concerning a possible economic collapse and the decline of America: on Oct. 2, 2024, Gary Bauer (author, political activist, served in Reagan White House, and much more) said: · In the last 2 years, the Biden/Harris administration raided $1 billion from FEMA’s budget, money meant for disaster relief like hurricanes and catastrophic flooding (such as that caused by Hurricane Helene on the U.S. East Coast) and spent it “to provide humanitarian services” for illegal aliens. · If your blood isn’t boiling yet, consider this: The Biden/Harris administration is bragging that it sent $1 billion of your tax money to the Palestinians over the past year. · Adding insult to injury, they just sent $336 million this week in the devastating aftermath of Helene. · As communities across the southeast struggle to rebuild and restore power, the Biden/Harris administration has raided our reserve of emergency electrical equipment and sent it to Ukraine. They’ve been doing this even as our own country has been struggling with a critical shortage of electrical transformers. Have you got that: $1 billion on illegal aliens, $1 billion on the Palestinians, $336 million on victims of Helene, and sent a lot of our reserve emergency electrical equipment to Ukraine. (More: On Oct. 3, 2024, it was reported that FEMA has put several long-term recovery projects on hold for lack of funds.) (More: On Oct. 3, 2024, it was reported that Kamala Harris told Helene victims in North Carolina that have lost everything – their homes, vehicles, everything – FEMA will be sending them a check for $750. One victim told her, “You can take that $750 and wipe you’re a__ with it!”) (More: On Oct. 3, 2024, FEMA said it does not have enough money to get through the hurricane season.) (More: On Oct. 4, 2024, the U.S. announced that it will provide $157 million in humanitarian aid to help people who have been driven out of their homes in Lebanon.) (More: On Oct. 6, 2024, it was reported that many of the Helene victims have not seen anyone from FEMA helping anyone, and they are having to fend for themselves.) (More: On Oct. 7, 2024, Hurricane Milton became a Category 5 Hurricane, the most powerful hurricane to hit Tampa Bay in over 100 years. Gov. DeSantis ordered mandatory evacuations in the areas to be the hardest hit along the West Coast.) (My opinion: I am guessing – and hoping – that Congress will budget some money to help the victims of hurricanes Helene and Milton, but all this makes me want to scream: PUT AMERICA FIRST.) (More: On Oct. 7, 2024, it was reported that Kamala Harris was recently asked if she considers Israeli Prime Min. Netanyahu a close ally of the U.S., and she dodged the question.) Two, concerning the coming world government and world religion: on Oct. 2, 2024, it was reported that during a recent penitential vigil (a confession of sin with a request for forgiveness), Pope Francis declared that borders are a sin against migrants. According to the article, “This falls perfectly in line with his long-standing advocacy for mass migration, reflecting the globalist ‘great replacement’ agenda that some believe seeks to erase national borders and traditional European identities.” God created nations at the Tower of Babel, but Francis views borders as “paths to death” and opposition to open borders as a sin. He ignored the fact that some illegal immigrants are drug dealers, terrorists, hardened criminals, etc. He pushes the New World Order (world government) because he wants to establish a world religion that will clearly be satanic and persecute true believers. (My opinion: It makes me want to scream: PUT LEGAL IMMIGRATION AND LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS FIRST.) (More: A recent Congressional report says jihadist terrorist attacks are increasing in the U.S., and officials cannot verify that terrorists are not crossing America’s open borders.) (More: On Oct. 6, 2024, the Anti-Defamation League reported that there have been more than 10,000 anti-Semitic incidents – 8,015 instances of verbal or written harassment, 1,840 cases of vandalism, and 150 physical assaults targeting Jews – in the U.S. since Oct. 7, 2023.) Three, concerning a possible economic collapse of the U.S. and perhaps the global economy: on Oct. 2, 2024, Moody’s, a highly-regarded credit rating agency, said the U.S. economy is declining, and America’s ability to turn it around is also declining. According to Moody’s, the next President of the U.S. must address this issue. The problem is that the Congressional Budget Office, Congress, and the Biden administration have known this for a long time, and they have not acted. (My opinion: It is enough to make a person scream: WHY DON’T YOU DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE?) Four, concerning wars and rumors of wars: on Sept. 30, 2024, Turkey’s President Erdogan urged the UN General Assembly to call for force against Israel if the UN Security Council cannot convince the Israelis to stop attacking Iranian-backed Hamas and Hezbollah targets in Gaza and Lebanon. Five, concerning wars and rumors of wars: on Oct. 1, 2024, Iran fired about 180 missiles at Israel. Israel said Iran will pay a steep price for the attack. The next day, on Oct. 2, 2024, Iran said it will launch a stronger attack on Israel if Israel retaliates for the Oct. 1, 2024 attack. (More: When asked if he supports an Israeli attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities, Pres. Biden said no. He said Israel has a right to respond to Iran’s missile attack, but Israel’s response should be proportional.) (More: Israel’s ambassador to the UN asked, “What do you want to do, to wait for Iran to have a nuclear capability, and then they can put that on ballistic missiles and launch nuclear ballistic missiles into Israel?”) (More: Joel Rosenberg, author and editor-in-chief of All Israel News, said, “Iran is the existential threat to Israel. Biden knows it, but Biden is weak’ and not providing essential support.) (More: On Oct. 7, 2024, an Israeli news station said the U.S. is offering Israel extensive diplomatic backing and a large, additional package of military assistance if Israel will agree not to attack Iran’s nuclear facilities or oil wells. Israel responded that all targets are still on the table. Israel’s Defense Min. will visit the U.S. tomorrow to discuss the situation.) (My opinion: The attitude of Western leaders like Biden is prolonging the war and making the world more dangerous.) (More: On Oct. 9, 2024, it was reported that Israel is refusing to tell the Biden administration how it plans to retaliate against Iran for firing missiles at Israel.) Six, concerning the destruction of Damascus in one night, on Oct. 2, 2024, Israeli jets killed the son-in-law of Hassan Nasrallah in Damascus. (More: On Oct. 8, 2024, Israeli jets struck a residential building in Damascus. 7 people died, 11 were injured, and the property damage was significant.) Seven, concerning the Days of Lot and the moral rot in America: on Oct. 8, 2024, it was reported that a first-grade teacher in Pennsylvania was telling her students their parents were guessing if they were boys or girls at birth and their parents could be wrong. Three moms sued, and a judge ruled that the teacher was breaking the law. Here is my daily update on the Israel-Hamas war: Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024 (Day 362): The three hundred and seventh day of the resumed war. Day 140 of the attack on Rafah. · Israel said 8 Israeli soldiers have been killed so far in the current operation in Lebanon. · More than 100 rockets were launched from Lebanon into Israel. · Israeli jets struck Hamas command-and-control centers in the Gaza Strip. Several of the centers were operating in Palestinian schools. · Israeli troops discovered a tunnel in a residential neighborhood more than a half mile long with rooms and equipment designed for very long stays. · The U.S. State Dept. said Hamas has refused to discuss a ceasefire for several weeks. Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024 (Day 363) The three hundred and eighth day of the resumed war. Day 141 of the attack on Rafah. · A terrorist group in Iraq took credit for launching a drone toward Israel. · Israel told citizens in 25 Lebanese villages to leave immediately and go north. · Israel said it killed Yahya Sinwar’s right-hand man and 2 other senior officials about 3 months ago, but Hamas kept it secret because the truth would hurt the morale of Hamas fighters. · Israel killed the Hezbollah terrorist in Lebanon that killed 12 children at a soccer game earlier this year. Friday, Oct. 4, 2024 (Day 364) The three hundred and ninth day of the resumed war. Day 142 of the attack on Rafah. · Israel destroyed a two-mile-long tunnel between Lebanon and Syria that was being used for smuggling and storing weapons. · The U.S. military used aircraft and ships to strike more than a dozen Houthi targets at 5 locations in Yemen. · The Iranian-backed Houthis said the U.S. will pay a heavy price for attacking them. · Following Israel’s assassination of Hezbollah Leader Hassan Nasrallah, the Ayatollah Khamenei appointed Nasrallah’s cousin to succeed him. Israel attacked the site where they think he was tonight, and they killed him. Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024 (Day 365): The three hundred and tenth day of the resumed war. Day 143 of the attack on Rafah. · Israel said they have killed 400 terrorists since launching their ground operation into Lebanon. · Israel believes it has destroyed about 50% of Hezbollah’s missiles, but they still have drones and 60-100,000 rockets that they can launch. Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024 (Day 366) The three hundred and eleventh day of the resumed war. Day 144 of the attack on Rafah. · Israel struck several Hezbollah weapons storage facilities and infrastructure targets all over Beirut, Lebanon, and there were many secondary explosions. · Israel ordered evacuation from 25 areas in Southern Lebanon. · Israel ordered Palestinians in Jabaliya, a city in northern Gaza, to evacuate before Israel strikes terrorist facilities. · Israel said Hamas no longer exists as an organized military force in Gaza. · The commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) may have been killed when Israel killed Nasrallah’s replacement on Friday (Oct. 4, 2024). Monday, Oct. 7, 2024 (Day 367) The three hundred and twelfth day of the resumed war. Day 145 of the attack on Rafah. · Israel said it will not let Hamas rebuild its forces in Gaza. · The Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen fired a missile at Tel Aviv. Israel’s Air Force intercepted it before it crossed Israel’s border. · Israel killed 6 senior Hezbollah commanders and 44 other terrorists today. · On the one-year anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel, Netanyahu told grieving family members of hostages, “Together we will continue to fight, and together – with God’s grace – we will triumph.” Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024 (Day 368) The three hundred and thirteenth day of the resumed war. Day 146 of the attack on Rafah. · Hezbollah fired more than 100 rockets at one of Israel’s largest cities (Haifa). · Israel said it will launch a naval assault on Lebanon from the Mediterranean Sea and urged citizens to stay away from the Sea and off the beach. · The most senior Hezbollah leader that is still alive in Lebanon called for an unconditional ceasefire today, but Israel doesn’t trust him. · Israel increased its attacks on Hezbollah despite threats from Iran. · Israel destroyed a Hezbollah tunnel that started in Lebanon and extended into Israel, but the exit into Israel had not yet been completed. · Israel destroyed dozens of Hezbollah underground command centers and killed at least 50 terrorists. Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024 (Day 369): The three hundred and fourteenth day of the resumed war. Day 147 of the attack on Rafah. · 90 rockets were fired at Israel from Lebanon. 2 people were killed. 8 were injured. · Yahya Sinwar is alive and demanding that Muslims resume suicide bombings in Israeli cities. FYI: God does not send anyone to Hell (all of us are born with a sin nature and destined to go to Hell because we sin), but God has provided a way (Jesus) for everyone to go to Heaven (and He is the only way to get there; John 14:6).

People of God?

People of God? By Tom Gilbreath In a typical horror movie, the usually teenaged hero at some point turns to a trusted source for help. It might be a parent, teacher, clergyman, or police officer. Then, to his horror, the young person learns that the ogre got there first. He finds that the once trusted source of help has been compromised — killed or perhaps even taken over by the monster. A scenario might go like this. Chased by demons, a teen goes to his pastor for help. But when they are alone, the pastor’s mouth twists into a sinister grin as devil horns sprout from his head. Silly? Sure. But in this case, it reflects something real. When corrupted by sin, institutions meant to help become part of the problem. That’s especially true of a church that turns away from God as He has revealed Himself in scripture. The clergy in such churches don’t sprout literal horns, but they become part of the monster they should be fighting. The Old and New Testaments give many warnings against false teachers. In his dramatic farewell to the elders of the Church at Ephesus, Paul warns in Acts 20:29-30 (NKJV) that “savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.” Verse 28 reminds us that Christ “purchased” each member of the true Church “with His own blood.” Yet some would look on people so precious to God as mere profit centers. “Speaking perverse things” literally means “speaking distorted things.” They distort the word of God for personal gain. They may look nice and friendly, but the scripture calls such teachers, “savage wolves.” That makes them wolves in shepherd’s clothes. 2 Timothy 3:13 says, “Evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.” Thank God for pastors and elders whose teachings remain true to the Bible. But not far away from the faithful church, maybe just down the street, an “imposter” fills the pulpit. The KJV calls that person a “seducer.” Such teachers have always been around, but they are increasing in number and in their level of perversion. The Bible is full of miracles and good news. It offers a close, personal relationship with the Friend “who sticks closer than a brother” … and that Friend is also “King of kings and Lord of lords” forever and ever! The Word of God offers the certainty of heaven. All that and so much more ought to be enough. But lots of people are more interested in the baser things. They want assurance that God approves even of actions that His Word expressly condemns. And they don’t want to be seen as different or weird. So, they choose the ever-changing fashions of political correctness over the eternal and unchangeable Word of God. Imagine a woman sick from sin. In desperation, she turns to the Church, the people she always hoped would have the answer. There, she sees the vacant eyes of the unfaithful staring back at her. She hears the people say, “Don’t worry. We are just like you.” Instead of help, she beholds in them the very monster from which she had hoped to find deliverance. At that moment, satanic horns sprout, the horror movie becomes real, and hope dies. The Gospel of Jesus is not like the message of the world. It warns that all have sinned, and until Christ saves us, we are headed for a cliff. God calls Christians, not to join in the deadly plunge, but to tell everyone about the dangers of sin, and about the beauty of salvation in Jesus.

DAILY DEVOTIONALS: 10.25.24

Significance Through Remembering “The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot.” (Proverbs 10:7) What more miserable thought can we conjure than that all our words and deeds will fade and be forever forgotten? This should motivate us to seek how we can find and hold significance that persists beyond our brief stay on Earth. This proverb helps answer our deep longing for lasting meaning. The name of the wicked will not be remembered, but memories of the just will endure. For example, the Lord chose not to name the mightiest man alive during the Exodus—a recalcitrant Egyptian pharaoh. Yet, in that same narrative, the Lord named the just and brave midwives. “And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah” (Exodus 1:15). Those women’s names are blessed, being recorded and preserved in Scripture. Despite building monuments to himself, that pharaoh is now dust, and his name decayed with him. How can we avoid this fate and be counted among the just? Malachi 3:16 says, “Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.” We must fear the Lord. We often labor for significance by trying to make ourselves great in this world. If that’s all we have, then our names will die with us. However, those who fear the Lord find forgiveness, justification, and sanctification. God will likewise bless the memory of our words and deeds in a “book of remembrance.” What joy we’ll find in those blessed pages! BDT ---------------------- Endurance Empowers Sanctification “But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses.” (2 Corinthians 6:4) The phrase “in much patience [endurance]” could be used to summarize all of the apostle Paul’s life. The Greek word for endurance (hupomone) is used in the New Testament over 30 times. Endurance is triumphant patience, causing the troubled saint to rise above difficult circumstances. John Chrysostom, an early church father, said endurance “is a fortress that is never taken, a harbor that knows no storm.” It describes a believer boldly facing the difficult circumstances of life. So, what were a few of Paul’s afflictions (Greek thlipsis)? Paul uses the same Greek word to describe his “trouble which came to us in Asia” (2 Corinthians 1:8) as well as his distress in writing his sorrowful letter to the Corinthians (2:4). He also used this word to summarize the troubles that caused him deep anguish (4:16–17). Even with these great struggles, Paul obediently overcame and endured. Paul remained steadfast under the most arduous trials, and so can any believer in Christ. “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body” (4:8–10). The sufferings of this present world are not to be compared with the glory that is ours in eternity. As one saint described, “Ministry will be a wildly oscillating experience.” Through all of life’s oscillation, the Holy Spirit grants the believer the strength to endure with contentment and integrity. May we be empowered to follow Paul’s example (11:1)! CCM ------------------ Godly Derision and Wrath “He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the LORD shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.” (Psalm 2:4-5) What does an individual gain by opposing God and His plan? Can human opposition succeed against the Almighty One who created the universe? Obviously, no rebellion has a chance to succeed. God’s sovereign control will certainly overpower man’s feeble attempts to wrest command from Him. He will simply laugh in derision. However difficult it is for us to imagine God laughing in this manner, we can surely understand His derision at the futility of created beings confronting their Creator and His right to rule over their lives. The name used for God is Lord, meaning master. As Creator He has the authority to set the rules for His creation and the power to exact the penalty for breaking the rules. Note that His response exceeds mere derision. It extends to “wrath.” At the appointed time, the sovereign Judge will address all those who have rebelled against and opposed Him. Man has no right to question God’s authority or goodness in exercising it. Indeed, “the Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). He even sacrificed His only begotten Son to pay the just penalty for sin. What more could He do? With our sin penalty fully paid, our sin is forgiven, and we gratefully acknowledge His kingship over our lives. Once submitted to Him, we face everlasting fellowship with Him. With sin banished, believers need never fear His derision or wrath. JDM ----------------- The Active Power of Faith “And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:4-5) When God grants the gift of faith that enables us at the point of salvation (Ephesians 2:8), it should not be seen as a static power that merely resides in our minds but rather an empowerment that is expected to grow into a dynamic and demonstrable “divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4-9). Faith preserves and protects us. Jesus insisted, “He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:24). These words are precise. Once faith is exercised, an eternal transaction takes place wherein a person is “passed” from spiritual death to eternal life. This is an absolute change and eliminates the possibility of hell (John 10:28-29). Faith is power for effective prayer. The “mustard seed” promise in Matthew 17:20 does not refer to size or amount but to quality. The Greek comparative hoce, translated “as” in that passage, refers to the same kind of faith as the mustard seed. Just so, the promise of Matthew 7:7 (that if you ask and seek, you will find) depends on our confidence (faith) in the heavenly Father. Faith is our “shield” against the Enemy. The seven pieces of God’s armor identified in Ephesians 6:10-18 include “the shield of faith” that provides an ability “to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked” (v. 16). That shield is defensive in the sense that it only provides protection when we use it to block the “darts.” The active use comes when we “resist the devil” (James 4:7) “in the faith” (1 Peter 5:9). Do you use faith as God intended? HMM III ------------------------

ALERT!!!!! 10.25.24 - Outbreak Investigation of E. coli O157:H7: McDonald’s Quarter Pounders October 25, 2024

Outbreak Investigations & Safety Advisories FDA Human Foods Program The following is an update from FDA of concern to our subscribers. Outbreak Investigation of E. coli O157:H7: McDonald’s Quarter Pounders October 25, 2024 The FDA, USDA FSIS, CDC, and state partners continue to work quickly and collaboratively to investigate and identify the source of illnesses linked to E. coli contamination in McDonald’s Quarter Pounders. As of October 24, 75 people infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7 have been reported from 13 states. Illnesses started on dates ranging from Sept 27, 2024, to October 10, 2024. Of 61 people with information available, 22 have been hospitalized, and 2 people developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a serious condition that can cause kidney failure. One death has been reported from an older adult in Colorado. Of the 42 people interviewed, all 42 (100%) report eating at McDonald’s, and 39 people report eating a beef hamburger. FDA is using all available tools to confirm if onions are the source of this outbreak. This includes working with federal and state partners and the companies involved to collect and evaluate records and distribution information as part of our traceback investigation. FDA and state partners are also collecting onion samples for analysis. While the investigation is ongoing, Taylor Farms, the supplier of slivered onions for the affected McDonald’s locations, has initiated a voluntary recall. Recalled yellow onions were sold to additional food service customers. Customers who received recalled onions have been directly notified of the recall. FDA is working closely with the implicated firms and will continue to provide updates as they become available, including any additional recalls or notifications that might be needed for recipients of recalled onions. At this time, FDA is not aware of any cases or affected product outside of the United States. More information will be provided as it becomes available.

Have We Ever Seen a Time When 4 Major Global Wars Are All Percolating Simultaneously?

by Michael Snyder - https://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/have-we-ever-seen-a-time-when-4-major-global-wars-are-all-percolating-simultaneously/ We have reached a moment in history that none of us will forget. We are literally standing on the precipice of the unthinkable, and most people don’t even realize it. Of course, horrific wars have a way of erupting when most people are not expecting them. Hardly anyone expected a global war to erupt in 1914, but then tens of millions of precious souls died over the next four years. Hardly anyone expected a global war to erupt in 1939, but then tens of millions of precious souls died over the next six years. This time around, what is happening should be glaringly obvious to everyone. Personally, I have been specifically warning about what is taking place right now for more than a decade. If we do not change course, billions of precious souls could die during the nightmarish global wars that are rapidly approaching. At this moment, most Americans have no idea that a war between the United States and China is coming. Just a few days ago, Chinese President Xi Jinping boldly talked about “preparation for war” as he was dressed in military fatigues… On Thursday Chinese Communist Dictator Xi Jinping commanded troops to strengthen their preparedness for war while visiting his People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force following last week’s drills of surrounding the sovereign country of Taiwan. “Xi said the military should ‘comprehensively strengthen training and preparation for war, (and) ensure troops have solid combat capabilities,’ CCTV reported,” according to the AFP and reported on Barrons Saturday. Why would China need to prepare for war? Needless to say, nobody is planning to attack China. The truth is that the only reason that China would need to prepare for war is if it was planning to invade Taiwan. Because the moment that China invades Taiwan, the U.S. and China will be at war. In recent days, the Chinese have been getting very aggressive with Taiwan… On Monday, Beijing had deployed fighter jets, drones, warships and coast guard vessels to encircle Taiwan — its fourth round of large-scale war games around the democratic island in just over two years. China’s communist leaders have insisted they will not rule out using force to bring Taiwan under Beijing’s control. Meanwhile, western leaders continue to publicly discuss sending NATO troops to Ukraine. The latest example of this came from the foreign minister of Lithuania… The Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said in a statement to Politico on Monday that European Union countries should return to the idea of putting boots-on-the-ground in Ukraine to fight Russia. The idea comes after French President Emmanuel Macron said in February that sending Western troops to Ukraine is not ‘ruled out’ for the future plans in war against Russia, according to the AP. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz shut down that plan for the time being however. “If information about Russia’s killing squads being equipped with North Korean ammunition and military personnel is confirmed, we have to get back to ‘boots on the ground’ and other ideas proposed by [French President] Emmanuel Macron,” he said in written comments, Politico reported on Monday. One of the reasons why this has came up again is because there are reports that soldiers from North Korea are being equipped and sent to fight for Russia on the front lines of eastern Ukraine… North Korean soldiers have been filmed receiving uniforms and equipment at a training ground in Russia’s far east, appearing to confirm reports from South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) that 1,500 soldiers have been shipped over for military training to be deployed in Ukraine. The North Korean troops are thought to be receiving training before being sent to the front line in Ukraine, in what is thought to be a clear sign of the ever-warming relations between Moscow and Pyongyang. Both sides just continue to escalate matters. It appears to be just a matter of time before we find ourselves in a direct conflict with the Russians, and that is a really, really bad idea. North Korea has been making all sorts of noise lately. In addition to sending troops to fight in Ukraine, the North Koreans are also threatening to invade South Korea… North Korea has said it had found the remnants of a South Korean military drone and that any further “violation” of its territory would result in a “declaration of war.” Tensions between the two sides of the peninsula have escalated since May when the North began flying balloons carrying garbage across the border to the South, prompting Seoul to respond by restarting loudspeaker propaganda broadcasts. This week, North Korea accused South Korea of flying drones over Pyongyang on three occasions this month and threatened to respond with force if it happened again. The North Korean military is vastly superior to the South Korean military. If North Korea invades, the only way that South Korea will survive is if we intervene. But right now the U.S. military is focused on the Middle East, because that conflict could spiral completely out of control at any moment. On Sunday night, IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari warned that Israel would soon begin targeting any financial institutions that aid Hezbollah… “In the past 24 hours, dozens of projectiles have been fired at northern Israel,” he began. “In the next minutes, we will issue an advance evacuation warning to residents of Beirut and other areas in Lebanon to evacuate locations being used to finance Hezbollah’s terror activities. I emphasize here: Anyone located near sites used to fund Hezbollah’s terror activities must move away from these locations immediately.” “We will strike several targets in the coming hours and additional targets throughout the night. “In the coming days, we will reveal how Iran funds Hezbollah’s terror activities by using civilian institutions, associations, and NGOs that act as fronts for terrorism.” And it certainly did not take long for that to start happening. Last night, branches of Al-Qard Al-Hassan Association Bank were hit by Israeli airstrikes… Israeli fighter jets struck dozens of targets in Beirut and other areas of southern Lebanon overnight, including branches of a bank accused of holding funds used by Hezbollah. The military’s Arabic spokesman, Avichay Adraee, had earlier in the night issued several evacuation orders for buildings throughout southern Lebanon he said were in the vicinity of facilities belonging to the U.S.-sanctioned Al-Qard Al-Hassan Association Bank. Most people in the western world have absolutely no idea how chaotic things have become over there. It is being reported that there is “widespread panic” in Beirut at this moment… Jeanine Hennis, the United Nations’ special coordinator for Lebanon, said that after the IDF issued its evacuations, said there was “widespread panic” in Beirut. “A brief window to escape to safety. Intense blasts reverberate across the night sky. With each day, Lebanon suffers more. But even amid the escalating violence, solutions remain available. If only opportunities would be seized,” she said. Could the U.S. soon find itself involved in 4 major global wars? Let’s hope not, because we are not even prepared to fight one… The US Army’s outgoing top commander in the Pacific region has warned that the US can “ill afford” another war because its military is vastly overstretched. According to Defense One, Gen. Charles Flynn said that the US’ authoritarian rivals — Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea — had been placing increasing pressure on American military resources. Speaking at the AUSA conference in Washington DC last week, Flynn described the technology and military alliances between the authoritarian states as a “very dangerous combination.” The U.S. military is not the overwhelming global force that it once was. While other major powers have been feverishly preparing to fight World War III, our military has been rapidly becoming a politically correct joke. Now a day of reckoning is upon us, and we are not ready. BE SURE TO CHECK OUT MY ALL NEW PROPHECY AND CREATION DESIGN WEBSITES. THERE IS A LOT TO SEE AND DO.......... http://prophecy-watcher-weekly-news.blogspot.com http://CreationDesign2013.blogspot.com

Ignoring the warnings

Ignoring the warnings - Bill Wilson – www.dailyjot.com In recent weeks, there have been a lot of conspiracy theories abounding across social media and among friends. We have heard that because there are lithium deposits, the government created the Helene hurricane damage so it can seize the land for a proposed mining operation. Also, there is a theory that the Biden-Harris Administration caused the hurricane to go through key Republican areas of middle America so as to influence the election. The fact is, people will believe what they want to believe and it is more difficult to convince someone of the truth than a lie that they want to believe is true. But hear this: God is in control of the weather and is it not feasible that these disasters are clear warnings? While it’s not proven that government can create hurricanes and direct their paths with secret weather machines and cloud seeding, it is proven that political parties will go to great lengths to keep or attain power. Put aside for a moment the theory of government weather control and look at the aftermath. The presidential election is less than a month away. Areas hit the hardest hold a lot of Republican votes. What is in control of the party in power is the response to recovery. In many cases, people have given up having the government assist in recovery. They are doing it themselves. Will they be able to vote? Not if the infrastructure is so impaired that people cannot get to the polls. The Biden-Harris Federal Emergency Management Administration—FEMA–has a lot of power in determining the pace of recovery. There have been various accounts of how the government, along with billionaire investors and World Economic Forum members like Blackrock, directed the path of Helene through North Carolina so they could take control of the lithium deposits. This theory was so widespread that even the mainstream news media picked up on it. But pump the brakes just a second. It may be true that these corporations, investors and perhaps even the government want to get their greedy hands on the lithium deposits against property owners’ will. However, if the government wanted that land it doesn’t have to create a natural disaster to seize it. There are hundreds of thousands of private property owners who can attest to the government’s power of eminent domain. So let me get to the point. Under Biden-Harris, the US has sent billions of your tax dollars to terrorist entities like Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, Palestinian Authority and more—BILLIONS. They can call it humanitarian aid or whatever—it goes to the terrorists. When these current storms hit, Biden-Harris was trying to bribe Israel to a ceasefire by offering diplomatic protection and weapons. Additionally, Biden-Harris was trying to negotiate a two-state solution with Israel’s enemies. America is inextricably tied to Israel. It is written of Israel in Genesis 12:3, “I will bless them that bless you and curse him that curses you.” How many times has God sent natural, political or financial disasters as warnings? We have a choice to change leadership soon. To ignore that choice is, say it with me, Stupidocrisy.

The Global Dismantling

 The Global Dismantling - John Bellam - https://www.rev310.net/post/the-global-dismantling “Thus he said: 'The fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom on the earth, which will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth and tread it down and crush it.”- Daniel 7:23 An intentional sabotage of the systems of the world's nation-states is in full swing. Piece by piece, inch by inch, the mechanisms that have worked for decades, and centuries in some cases,to make our world functional both regionally and internationally, are being destroyed. From borders to production, shipping to trade, economic profitability to investments, all are being torn asunder as all semblance of stability is being ripped apart limbfrom limb. Why is this? Why is the concept of a “Great Reset” not so much a stepping back to reimagine improvements as we move forward, as it is a nuclear bomb that smashes to smithereens every ounce of common sense, sanity, and prosperity we have known andbelieved …beyond all recognition? The answer is stark and perhaps even dismal for those who strive to keep a positive perspective. Quite simply … we have arrived at the final beast system of world government … and It is here to demolish everything! THE BEGINNINGS “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” -1 Peter 5:8 Way back in history, an event took place that shook the heavens. It was likely before the creation of the world although we cannot be sure of the exact time of its occurrence. But sometimelong long ago, Lucifer, the anointed Cherubim, led a rebellion against God almighty in Heaven. The head Angel was so enamored with his own beauty and great gifts that he wanted to ascend to the heights of Heaven and be worshipped as God Himself: “For thou hast said in thine heart, ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north!” -Isaiah 14:13 Of course, his vain plan failed and God sentenced Him and 1/3 of the angelic realm (the devil’s demonic government who rebelled with him ) to an eternally damned state. There was one caveat,however. The sentence was read but the start date was deferred to a later time. Thus for six millennia, we have seen Lucifer (known as Satan) deceive and destroy in every way he possibly could. He is bitter and he is disillusioned. But He is cunning and hasa powerful team of fallen angels at his side and they are determined to either go down swinging (taking as much of humanity as they can down with them) or hopefully in their depraved minds, figure out a way to still overcome God. After creation, in the Garden of Eden, Satan planted a seed with Eve that has morphed over the last 6000 years. Satan lied to Eve and told her that if she betrayed God and ate the fruit ofthe “Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil “she and her offspring, known as humanity, would be like God. Their eyes would be opened and they could then see things as they really are and not simply be blindly following God’s restrictive agenda. They could gainwisdom and power and be gods themselves if they would just follow Satan’s plan instead of obeying God, whom the Devil insinuated was hiding good things from them. Eve caved in under the tempting pressure! Eve and Adam ate the fruit and sin entered the world. From that point, the ball started rolling toward a world where Satan’s worldview would constantly be uplifted and promoted by fallen manto counter God’s worldview which would be embraced by far fewer human beings. Satan’s ultimate goal was to lead an entire world in rebellion against God and to be worshipped by humanity in place of God almighty! But …God had different plans. GOD’S PLAN In Gen 3:15 God promised Satan that a Savior would come from Eve’s offspring sometime in the far-off future: “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” That Savior would destroy Satan and his evil schemes although the Savior Himself would also endure suffering. In the end, that Savior would restore fallen humanity to God, but through theages, the story of human struggle would be long and painful on its way to their ultimate renewal. SATAN’S RESPONSE Satan knew the summary of God’s plans but not the details so he became obsessed and fixated on stopping the promise. Over the next 1500 years, Satan and his demonic cohorts managed to corrupt nearly the entire world and he may have believed that stopping the future savior from coming was within his grasp.If no one was left to honor God, the Devil figured he would win. But as always is the case, our Heavenly Father preserved for Himself a small family that still was faithful to Him. Noah and his family were protected through the first catastrophic global judgmentof the Great Flood and God started over with a believing remnant to populate the post-flood world and disarm Satan’s attempt to utterly pervert the whole planet. A few hundred years later Satan attempted to unite the world at Babel and bring about a satanic kingdom under an Antichrist-type figure named Nimrod. The timing for such a one-world orderhowever was not right because God had not yet provided the Savior that He promised would spiritually save mankind. God scattered the peoples of Babel to the corners of the world creating the various nation states. He also changed their language so they wouldhave great obstacles in ever again coming together under the Devil as one people moving forward. Communication would be a huge problem. And once again …Satan was foiled and he had to wait! THE SAVIOR’S FAMILY Later …God called Abraham to follow Him by faith and in turn for his faithfulness, God would establish Abraham’s family as the ones that would ultimately bring forth the Promised Savior. TheNation of Israel was born and through that family, the whole world would be blessed : “The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will makeyour name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” -Gen 12:1-3 From the moment Satan figured out that Abraham’s Israeli children were the chosen family to bring forth the Savior, it has been his 3 part obsession to A) take the world’s worship for himselfcontrary to God’s plan …B) keep the Messiah from coming and reclaiming humanity for God’s glory…C) snuff out Israel so the promises of God could never be fulfilled. -He persuaded Pharaoh to try to kill all the newborn Jewish babies in an attempt to eliminate the promised Savior. -He deluded Haman to try and exterminate all the Jews in Persia. -He riled up Herod to seek baby Jesus to try and kill God’s Messiah. -The Devil also tried internal subterfuge. He stirred unrest and unfaithfulness among the Jewish people to betray God from generation to generation often bringing harsh judgment on the nationfrom their Heavenly Father. Centuries passed, the kingdom was split and both halves (Israel and Judah) experienced exile to foreign lands as punishment for their unfaithfulness to God yet a remnant was always preservedby the Lord to keep the plan moving forward and the Savior’s arrival time on schedule. THE SAVIOR ARRIVES When Jesus finally appeared on the scene, the Devil tried to tempt Him into taking the kingdoms of the world as a gift with the sole stipulation that Jesus had to bow down to the Chief ofthe fallen angels. (If God Himself would bow down to Satan then his goal would be achieved) Of course, our Lord rebuked Satan and refused the offer knowing full well that the world’s kingdoms were destined by God’s decree to one day all be His to judge andrule over but that would be at His Second coming. He had other business to take care of on His First earthly visit. He had to die on the cross for humanity (to save them spiritually) and build His church to graft in the Gentiles before the world would everbe restored physically and united under Christ’s global Lordship on David’s throne! At the cross, Satan may have temporarily thought he had gained a victory watching God’s Son rejected as Messiah and killed. In reality, it was the death blow to Satan’s aspirations because,at the Cross, Jesus paid for humanity’s sin and opened the door for sinners to be legally restored to God by His substitutionary atonement. Death and sin no longer were the powerful tools Satan could use to manipulate men through fear. “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our LordJesus Christ.” - 1 Corinth 15:55-58 Jesus came out of the tomb victorious, and He ascended to Heaven to sit at the right hand of God until the Father tells Him it is time to return and claim His bride ( the Church ) at the Rapture. Until that moment comes, the Church was to grow and grow and reach the corners of the globe with the Gospel. Israel was temporarily placed on the sidelines to wait until her King would returnto set up the glorious thousand-year kingdom with Christ on David’s throne in Jerusalem. And the world? Well, it was to heave to and fro with the winds of change, kingdom after kingdom, tyrant after tyrant, growing worse and worse morally, but smarter andsmarter technologically …. Until one day, communication barriers would be overcome and Babel would become a reality once again! THE FOUR BEASTS The prophet Daniel was given a vision of four beasts that would rule over His people Israel from His time in Babylon until the Messiah would come to set up His earthly millennial kingdom.The Beasts were Babylon (in Daniel’s Day), the Medo/Persian empire followed second, Alexander’s Greece was third, and the Roman Empire was fourth. That is where history was when Israel was destroyed and scattered throughout the world in 70 AD. The next twomillennia saw a long succession of earthly kingdoms coming and going as well as the age of the Church being built and the scientific community making huge technological gains advancing us to our current world today. But the final pieces of the puzzle were not yet all in place! Then … In 1948 Israel was reborn as a nation. This was right on the heels of the post-World War Two founding of the UN. The European Coal and Steel Community established a treaty in 1952 tohelp bring about a Western European Union alliance helping birth a modern Roman Empire in its infancy. Out of that, the current EU (European Union) came together and in 1999 they adopted a common currency, the Euro. On a larger scale, we have seen many globalistgroups established since 1948. Groups such as the WEF (World Economic Forum) and the WHO (World Health Organization) along with the IMF (International Monetary Fund) and World Bank and many others. So just as Israel is back, the revival of the fourth beast (Rome) has emerged and from that region of Europe will come the man who will lead a rising global government divided into 10 regionalspheres. The 10 regional governors will pledge their allegiance to this global dictator and make him king of the world just as Satan has long hoped would happen. “The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. These are of one mind, and they will give theirpower and authority to the beast.” -Rev 17:12-13 THE FINISH The Judeo Christian world view that has freed billions of people from tyranny and truly helped establish human rights throughout the planet as it spread westward these last 2000 years, (becauseit recognizes we all have value that comes from being created in God’s image) and is now under intense attack from the globalist promoters because they want all rights to come from government and not from God. The nation states that God established when He destroyed Babel and scattered the people throughout the world, (particularly the leader of those nations which is the sovereign United States OfAmerica ) are under attack because strong nationalism is a deterrent to a global takeover by the elites who want a one-world government just as nimrod wanted at Babel. This is the only time in history where the leaders of individual nations are purposely destroyingtheir own borders, their own economies, their own ability to defend themselves, and their own histories in order to weaken the nations they represent. They foresee positions being granted to them in a higher government of global control and are willing tobetray their constituency to secure positions among the global elites. So now the stage is being set and we have come full circle. If the globalist planners get their way, they get to establish a new Tower of Babel with themselves at the top of world rule! Theirpriorities are to destroy the Judeo-Christian worldview so they can dictate what rights and privileges the masses will be granted. Social credit scores will replace the Ten Commandments. Faulty scientists who adhere to the theory of evolution and the destructiveclimate change cult will be honored as the guides of humanity while faith in the Creator God will be seen as a weakness and a crutch for the mentally unstable. National heroes and those generations of people before us who bore the struggles of being nation builders, carving their niche in history through trial and error and through triumph and failureto better their countries and advance civilization through their hard work, their wars, and their ingenuity …..will all be discarded as failures for not living up to the new moral high ground these globalists claim to aspire to. So we see History being trashed and rewritten. We see borders being destroyed and national identities blurred. We see economies bankrupted and morality redefined. We see belief in the Judeo-ChristianGod being ridiculed and faith in science and man-made gods of Artificial Intelligence being heralded. We see God’s created order of man and woman being replaced with the theory that humans can self-identify as anything they choose. Up is down and down is up …And it’s being purposely engineered this way for a reason. This final Beast will incorporate all of Satan’s past strategies to rule the world in one last gasp: -corrupt humanity with utter sinfulness as He did before the flood making men’s minds depraved and desiring to cast off all remembrance of God and His ways (Ps 2). Perhaps we will even seethe blasphemous merging of man and computer and the altering of DNA again as Satan attempted to do with fallen angels and human women before the flood. -Destroy nations and build a global empire with one Satanic ruler at the top as He did at the Tower of Babel. -Destroy Israel as He attempted with Pharaoh and Haman (and more recently Hitler) so there is no Throne of David for Messiah to return to thus making God a liar for not fulfilling His promisesto Israel. -Prevent God’s Messiah from coming as Herod tried to do by wiping out His Chosen Nation Israel and having the armies of the world waiting at Megiddo to Fight Jesus at His return. -Confuse Israel’s judgment and lead them astray as He did with their Old Testament kings by luring them into a false covenant that will be their demise rather than safety. Putting faith inmen and not God. They will trust their false messiah because they rejected their true one! All these efforts are destroying everything that we have known and are restructuring a whole new world that will ultimately worship Satan. The Old World will be torn to pieces and completelydemolished while the new order is established and set in place. The only element of the world we have known that will not be overcome is the Church because Jesus promised the gates of Hell could never stand against the New Testament Saints. This is why therapture “Must” happen before the Antichrist is revealed. Revelation often refers to Babel as the model for the final system both politically and spiritually. Chapter 17 shows the Great religious harlot that Babel has influenced known as “MysteryBabylon The Great: The Mother Of Harlots!” Chapter 18 shows the mammon system of commerce and worldly political system known as “Babylon the Great”! The final Beast System of Antichrist is a final version of the original Babel. The first Babel introduced allthe false religious systems of the Post-flood world and also initiated the first great attempt to politically control the whole world in one united government headed by Nimrod. When the final system is called Babel it is because that system is Satan’s homebase for a global government. Not so much geographically but the spiritual design for ruling a world order. So…. When God destroyed Babel, He created the nations. In order to re-establish Babel, Satan is leading the destruction of the nations. And He is leaving nothing to chance. The destructionis going to be complete…and irreversible. CONCLUSION All the mechanisms are in place for the rule of all aspects of human life by a global government. The Sustainable Development Goals are nation killers. The Environmental Social Governancepolicies are economic killers. The World Health Guidelines are national sovereignty negators. The migration policies are border destroyers. The LGBTQ and Pro-choice policies are population eliminators. We may possibly even be witnessing weather Manipulationthat is destroying all infrastructure of the human population centers through unbearable storm-related catastrophes. And certainly, the shifting away from the Judeo-Christian worldview of the West is causing all manner of devils to enter the public consciousnessand turn hearts to darkness and minds to pure depravity. What we are witnessing is certainly the rise of the final beast! How do we know for certain? Because God almighty told us that when it would rise, it would crush everything to pieces thatcame before it into a mere residue and there could be no turning back. “After this I saw* in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stampedthe residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns. I considered* the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn wereeyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.” -Daniel 7:7-8 Satan wants to be king of the world. He wants to be worshipped by all humanity. He wants a position that has only been reserved for Jesus Christ but He still wants to claim it for himself.And for a short time, he will get his way in destroying everything that came before and will be the head of a world order, unlike anything we have ever seen before or will ever see again. It is now happening! The Beast system is arriving right now and our world and all we have known is being completely destroyed all around us just as God said it would. But when we see all thesethings come to pass we are to look up … because the Rapture of the Church is right at the the door! And our glorious Lord is about to come and take the throne that only He is worthy to take …And Satan’s long-desired but deeply degenerated desire is about toprove to be a fleeting mirage! “I saw* in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, andhis kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.” -Daniel 7:13-14

Paving Antichrist’s Pathway to False Peace

 Paving Antichrist’s Pathway to False Peace – Terry James - https://terryjamesprophecyline.com/2024/10/07/paving-antichrists-pathway-to-false-peace/ Jesus said in His Olivet Discourse, as recorded in the Gospel according to Luke: “And there shall be…upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity” (Luke 21:25b). Now, deep into 2024,it becomes increasingly obvious that peace in the Middle East is foremost on the minds of the leaders of the major world powers. Distress over the possibility, even the probability, that nuclear conflict might eventuate in the region causes perplexity of themost crucial sort. Absence of peace in the world, and particularly in the region surrounding modern Israel, creates at this late moment in the fleeting age a vacuum into which the prophesied end-of-days leaderwill one day vault to power. Antichrist will climb onto a platform of peace from which to launch his most terrible campaign of conquest. We get some idea of this supernaturally imbued man’s spectacular rise and reign through the Old Testament prophet Daniel: And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. And his power shall bemighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practice, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself inhis heart, and by peace shall destroy many. (Daniel 8:23–25b) A strange, deadly peace is prophesied to serve as launching pad for the Beast, as he is termed in Revelation chapter 13. Paul, the apostle and prophet, gave dire warning about that esoteric peace that will pervade in the days approaching the time of the end: For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. (1 Thessalonians 5:3) Paul said this murderous peace will come immediately following the “thief in the night” break-in upon an unsuspecting world of earth’s inhabitants. (Read 1 Thessalonians 5:1–7.) This refersto the resurrection and translation of the saints of the Age of Grace—the Rapture. The apostle, as he did in speaking of the Rapture in 1 Corinthians 15:51–55 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18, used personal pronouns to indicate exactly whom he was prophesying about.Concerning those alive at that future time, Paul used “we,” “us,” and “our” to indicate Church Age saints and “they,” “them,” and “those” to indicate the lost—the unbelievers—who will be left behind when the Rapture takes place. There will be a cry for peace and safety leading up to this time of world-rending intervention by Christ, and an even more urgent demand for peace and safety following that calamitous event.I infer from my study that the left-behind people who “say peace and safety” seem to be saying also that “now we have peace and safety.” I’m convinced this is the peace of Daniel 8:25 perpetrated upon the earth by the “king of fierce countenance,” who will “by peace destroy many.” Today, leaders of the planet’s most powerful governments consistently fret over the boiling pot the so-called Holy Land presents in threatening to again bring the nations into world war. Otherpotential conflicts—like the increasing military actions between Russia and Ukraine and the nuclear threats coming from Vladimir Putin—add to the fears. But it is the building potential for all-out war between Israel and its Islamic antagonists that has the premiere diplomatic powers that be in “distress” and “perplexity.” Particularly, it is the building potential violence between the Jewish state and a soon-to-be nuclear Iran that brings forth the cry for peace and safety. Globalist leaders meeting a weekago at the UN voted on a “Pact for the Future” that lays the foundation of a “new global order” at the center of which is the declared intention to establish world peace. It was adopted by consensus, but reluctantly so. Like in so much going on these days, God’s hand of derision and restraint was manifest within that anti-God geopolitical body. “No one is happy with this pact,” said Russia’s deputy foreign minister, Sergey Vershinin. Seven countries voted against adopting the Pact: Russia, Nicaragua, Iran, Sudan, Belarus, North Korea and Syria. Additionally, 15 countries abstained from voting, including China, Cuba, Iraq,Laos, Malaysia, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. (“UN’s Pact for the Future is adopted; it will serve the same authoritarian and profitable aims as COVID,” Rhoda Wilson, Expose, September 23, 2024) Heaven’s hand of restraint seemed to take from the attendees’ thoughts of working together to throttle Israel’s ongoing military action in defending itself. The leaders of that globalist get-togetherare frustrated over the peace that eludes all efforts, finding, in particular, Israel’s leadership exasperating—even though it is Israel’s enemies such as Iran that incessantly seek to destroy the Jewish state. But instead of pursuing their collective hate-filled goals against God’s chosen nation, their thoughts turned to self-centered individual interests for the most part. Nonetheless, the globalist would-be masters of the world have solid ground for concern that the volatility could boil over at any time and ignite conflagration in the region surrounding Israel.During the UN summit, Iran’s president raved in a speech against Israel and lauded Israel’s enemies, but without overwhelming agreement from those listening. But Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, continues to declare that Islamic nations will one day watch the destruction of its most-hated enemy, Israel. He is quoted on his websitenumerous times as saying: “Surely, the day will come when the nations of the region will witness the destruction of the Zionist regime…when the destruction happens will depend on how the Islamic nations approach the issue.” Concerns about Israel’s objection to Iran’s nuclear development and those diplomatic elites’ frustration over not knowing what to do about the threat to regional and world peace might remindthe student of Bible prophecy of another predicted situation. The current angst over Iran’s threat evokes thoughts of an apparent note of diplomatic protest that will be issued during a future Iranian (Persian) military action against Israel. Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carryaway silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil? (Ezekiel 38:13) The powers of the West, and even Saudi and others in the Middle East, will send a weak note of diplomatic protest. There will still, apparently, be an inability to deal with the Iranian (andthe accompanying coalition of nations’) threat to world peace. The indecisiveness and the cry for peace and safety will ultimately bring the Beast to power. He will have the answers to foment the deadly peace people want. It will be such peace that will serveas Antichrist’s launching pad to absolute power.

Not Appointed to Wrath, But Not Immune To Persecution

 Not Appointed to Wrath, But Not Immune To Persecution – Joe Hawkins - https://www.rev310.net/post/not-appointed-to-wrath-but-not-immune-to-persecution The concept of a pre-tribulation rapture has often been misunderstood, especially by critics who argue that those holding this view believe they will escape all forms of persecution. The truth,however, is far more nuanced. While the Bible clearly teaches that believers will be spared from the wrath of God, a future outpouring of divine judgment during the tribulation period, there is no promise that Christians will escape persecution in this presentage. In fact, the Scriptures speak extensively about the persecution that believers will face before the rapture, and the global stage provides evidence of this reality. Persecution Is Not Escapable One of the most persistent misconceptions is that believers in the pre-tribulation rapture expect to escape all forms of hardship, particularly persecution. Critics argue that this belieffosters a sense of complacency or avoidance of suffering, but nothing could be further from the truth. While Christians are indeed promised deliverance from the coming "wrath" (1 Thessalonians 1:10, 5:9), this refers to the outpouring of God's wrath duringthe tribulation period, not to the trials, tribulations, and persecutions believers endure now. The Bible repeatedly tells us that persecution is part of the Christian experience. Jesus Himself warned His disciples, "In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcomethe world" (John 16:33). He also made it clear that those who follow Him would face opposition: "If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you" (John 15:18). The Apostle Paul echoed this sentiment when he told Timothy, "Indeed,all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" (2 Timothy 3:12). The reality is that the church has faced persecution from its inception, and it continues to face it today. The notion that pre-tribulation believers are somehow exempt from this reality isnot supported by Scripture. What the Bible does teach is that Christians will be spared from the specific period of divine judgment, also known as the "Day of the Lord," but not from the trials of this world. A Global Landscape of Christian Persecution The persecution of Christians is not a future event; it is a present reality for millions around the world. According to the World Watch List 2023 by Open Doors, more than 360 million Christiansface high levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith globally. The report highlights countries like North Korea, Afghanistan, Somalia, Libya, and Pakistan as some of the worst offenders when it comes to persecuting believers. In places like North Korea, simply owning a Bible can result in execution or life imprisonment. In Nigeria, thousands of Christians are murdered each year by Islamic militants such as Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen. In India, radical Hindu groups often target Christians, leading to mobviolence, forced conversions, and even death. These are not isolated incidents; they are part of a broader, systematic persecution of believers worldwide. According to Open Doors USA, in 2022 alone, 5,621 Christians were killed for their faith, 4,542 churches or Christian buildings were attacked, and 4,765 believers were detained without trial,arrested, sentenced, or imprisoned. These numbers serve as a stark reminder that persecution is not something believers will escape; it is something that many are experiencing right now. Persecution in the United States While the persecution faced by Christians in the United States may not be as overt or violent as in other parts of the world, it is still present and growing. American believers are increasinglyfacing legal, social, and cultural challenges for standing up for biblical values. The idea that persecution cannot happen in a country founded on religious freedom is rapidly being proven wrong. One notable case involved Christian baker Jack Phillips, who faced a legal battle after refusing to design a wedding cake for a same-sex couple due to his religious beliefs. The case, whichwent all the way to the Supreme Court, highlighted how Christians can be targeted for their faith, even in a country that values religious freedom. Phillips’ case is not isolated. Across the United States, Christian business owners, employees, and educatorsare facing fines, job loss, and public shaming for refusing to compromise their biblical convictions. A recent survey conducted by Lifeway Research in 2021 revealed that 60% of Protestant pastors believe religious liberty is on the decline in the U.S., with growing concerns about the futureof religious freedom for Christians. This cultural shift can be seen in various forms of media, entertainment, and political discourse, where Christianity is often portrayed in a negative light. News outlets have reported an increasing number of incidents involving the targeting of churches and Christian symbols. For example, during the social unrest of 2020, several churches acrossthe U.S. were vandalized or burned, with Christian monuments and statues being defaced. This shift reflects a cultural hostility toward the faith, one that is likely to increase as the world moves further away from biblical principles. The Biblical Call to Endure Persecution The Bible not only predicts that Christians will face persecution but also calls on believers to endure it faithfully. In Matthew 24, Jesus describes the events that will unfold in the lastdays, saying, "Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name" (Matthew 24:9). This passage clearly indicates that persecution is a certainty for followers of Christ, especially as we approachthe end of the age. The Apostle Peter also encourages believers to endure suffering for the sake of Christ: "But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear theirintimidation, and do not be troubled" (1 Peter 3:14). In fact, Peter goes as far as to tell believers to "rejoice" when they share in the sufferings of Christ, as this is a mark of their faithfulness (1 Peter 4:13). Paul's letter to the Romans reinforces this idea of enduring persecution as a mark of the believer's faith. He writes, "Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress,or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ... But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us" (Romans 8:35-37). These passages underscore the reality that persecution is not something to be feared, but somethingto be expected and endured through the strength of Christ. Rescued from Wrath, Not Persecution While persecution is an inevitable part of the Christian life, the Bible is clear that believers are not appointed to experience God's wrath. In 1 Thessalonians 5:9, Paul reassures the church,saying, "For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ". This distinction is crucial in understanding the difference between persecution and divine wrath. Persecution comes from the world, Satan, and the forces of evil that oppose Christ and His followers. Wrath, on the other hand, is the righteous judgment of God poured out on a sinful, unbelievingworld during the tribulation. Revelation 3:10 provides further assurance of deliverance from this period of wrath: "Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon thewhole world, to test those who dwell on the earth". This promise, also referred to as the Blessed Hope (Titus 2:13) / Pre-Tribulation Rapture, is the basis for believing that while Christians will face persecution, they will not face the specific period ofGod's judgment during the Tribulation (70th week of Daniel). In Luke 21:36, Jesus commands His followers to pray that they "may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man". This is not anescape from suffering in general, but from the unparalleled wrath of God that will be poured out in the final days. The church is not destined to endure this wrath, but until the rapture, Christians are called to stand firm in the face of persecution. Addressing the Desire for Persecution There are some believers who, despite not currently facing persecution, feel that they need to experience it in order to validate their faith. This mindset is deeply problematic, as it oftenstems from a misunderstanding of salvation and Christian service. The notion that one must suffer to be considered faithful can easily devolve into a form of works-based salvation, where personal suffering is viewed as a way to earn God's favor. This is contraryto the message of the gospel, which clearly teaches that salvation is by grace through faith, not by works (Ephesians 2:8-9). For those who believe they need to suffer to validate their faith, the solution is not to seek out persecution but to boldly proclaim the name of Jesus Christ in their daily lives. In my experience,many of the individuals who hold this belief are not experiencing persecution because they aren’t posing a significant threat to Satan’s stronghold. Simply put, they are too comfortable in their faith. The Bible calls us to be bold witnesses for Christ, andif these individuals are genuinely seeking persecution, perhaps they should start by stepping outside their comfort zones. Proclaiming Christ in a hostile world will naturally bring persecution (2 Timothy 3:12). But for those who feel that they need to be persecuted, I would challenge them to "get off the couch"and start engaging in the spiritual battle more actively. If they’re serious about their convictions, I would even recommend that they take the gospel message to places like North Korea or China, countries where believers face severe consequences for theirfaith. If these individuals desire persecution, let them see how boldly proclaiming the name of Christ in such places challenges their mindset. True persecution is not something to be sought out as a badge of honor; it is the result of faithfully living outthe Christian life in a world that opposes Christ. Conclusion The Bible does not teach that believers will escape persecution; in fact, it teaches the opposite. Persecution is an inescapable reality for those who follow Christ. Whether in countries where believers face imprisonment or death for their faith, or in nations where cultural and legal pressuresseek to marginalize and silence Christians, persecution is a present and future reality. The promise of the pre-tribulation rapture is not a promise to escape persecution, but a promise to escape the wrath of God that will be poured out on the earth. The growing persecution of Christians worldwide, whether through violent oppression or subtle cultural pressure, serves as a reminder that believers are engaged in a spiritual battle. Yet,even in the midst of persecution, we are called to endure, to remain faithful, and to keep our eyes fixed on the hope of Christ's return. We are not appointed to God's wrath, but until He calls us home, we are called to take up our cross and follow Him, evenin the face of persecution.

The Signs of the Times are Screaming at us that Soon the Great Shofar of God will Sound!

 The Signs of the Times are Screaming at us that Soon the Great Shofar of God will Sound!- By Daymond Duck - https://www.raptureready.com/2024/10/12/screaming-by-daymond-duck/ On Oct. 2, 2024, a reader sent me the following that was written by Christine Darg (author and Co-Founder of jerusalemchannel.tv): Are we not near to the calling up of believers and the beginning of the Great Tribulation? The signs of the times are screaming at us that soon the great shofar of God will sound. Some of the signs that caused Darg to say this are: · Israel is at war. · Israel has been attacked by Iran (a Gog and Magog foe). · Hurricane Helene has caused mayhem in the USA. · The world is trying to deal with biological warfare and plagues. · There is worldwide apostasy and persecution of believers. · The UN defies God and Israel. · The love of many has run cold. Here are just a few more that I keep writing about: · Israel is surrounded by enemies that want to destroy them (Psa. 83:4). · Israel has a great military (Ezek. 37:10). · The development of technology to track all buying and selling (Rev. 13:16-17). · The rise of world government (The New World Order; a borderless world; Rev. 13:8). · A departing from the faith (Pope Francis supports the rise of world government and worldreligion; II Thess. 2:3; Rev. 17-18). · The controversy over Jerusalem (Zech. 12:2-3). · Efforts to rebuild the Jewish Temple (Matt. 24:15; II Thes. 2:3-4). · The Revived Roman Empire has come back into existence (Dan. 9:26). · Hyper-inflation and a global economic collapse (Rev. 6:5-6). Here are recent events that seem to indicate that the end of the age is close: One, concerning a possible economic collapse and the decline of America: on Oct. 2, 2024, Gary Bauer(author, political activist, served in Reagan White House, and much more) said: · In the last 2 years, the Biden/Harris administration raided $1 billion from FEMA’s budget,money meant for disaster relief like hurricanes and catastrophic flooding (such as that caused by Hurricane Helene on the U.S. East Coast) and spent it “to provide humanitarian services” for illegal aliens. · If your blood isn’t boiling yet, consider this: The Biden/Harris administration is braggingthat it sent $1 billion of your tax money to the Palestinians over the past year. · Adding insult to injury, they just sent $336 million this week in the devastating aftermathof Helene. · As communities across the southeast struggle to rebuild and restore power, the Biden/Harrisadministration has raided our reserve of emergency electrical equipment and sent it to Ukraine. They’ve been doing this even as our own country has been struggling with a critical shortage of electrical transformers. Have you got that: $1 billion on illegal aliens, $1 billion on the Palestinians, $336 million on victims of Helene, and sent a lot of our reserve emergency electrical equipment to Ukraine. (More: On Oct. 3, 2024,it was reported that FEMA has put several long-term recovery projects on hold for lack of funds.) (More: On Oct. 3, 2024,it was reported that Kamala Harris told Helene victims in North Carolina that have lost everything – their homes, vehicles, everything – FEMA will be sending them a check for $750. One victim told her, “You can take that $750 and wipe you’re a__ with it!”) (More: On Oct. 3, 2024,FEMA said it does not have enough money to get through the hurricane season.) (More: On Oct. 4, 2024,the U.S. announced that it will provide $157 million in humanitarian aid to help people who have been driven out of their homes in Lebanon.) (More: On Oct. 6, 2024,it was reported that many of the Helene victims have not seen anyone from FEMA helping anyone, and they are having to fend for themselves.) (More: On Oct. 7, 2024,Hurricane Milton became a Category 5 Hurricane, the most powerful hurricane to hit Tampa Bay in over 100 years. Gov. DeSantis ordered mandatory evacuations in the areas to be the hardest hit along the West Coast.) (My opinion: I am guessing – and hoping – that Congress will budget some money to help the victims of hurricanes Helene and Milton, but all this makes me want to scream: PUT AMERICA FIRST.) (More: On Oct. 7, 2024,it was reported that Kamala Harris was recently asked if she considers Israeli Prime Min. Netanyahu a close ally of the U.S., and she dodged the question.) Two, concerning the coming world government and world religion: on Oct. 2, 2024, it was reportedthat during a recent penitential vigil (a confession of sin with a request for forgiveness), Pope Francis declared that borders are a sin against migrants. According to the article, “This falls perfectly in line with his long-standing advocacy for mass migration, reflecting the globalist ‘great replacement’ agenda that some believe seeks to erasenational borders and traditional European identities.” God created nations at the Tower of Babel, but Francis views borders as “paths to death” and opposition to open borders as a sin. He ignored the fact that some illegal immigrants are drug dealers, terrorists, hardened criminals, etc. He pushes the New World Order (world government) because he wants to establish a world religion that will clearly be satanic and persecute true believers. (My opinion: It makes mewant to scream: PUT LEGAL IMMIGRATION AND LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS FIRST.) (More: A recent Congressionalreport says jihadist terrorist attacks are increasing in the U.S., and officials cannot verify that terrorists are not crossing America’s open borders.) (More: On Oct. 6, 2024,the Anti-Defamation League reported that there have been more than 10,000 anti-Semitic incidents – 8,015 instances of verbal or written harassment, 1,840 cases of vandalism, and 150 physical assaults targeting Jews – in the U.S. since Oct. 7, 2023.) Three, concerning a possible economic collapse of the U.S. and perhaps the global economy: on Oct.2, 2024, Moody’s, a highly-regarded credit rating agency, said the U.S. economy is declining, and America’s ability to turn it around is also declining. According to Moody’s, the next President of the U.S. must address this issue. The problem is that the Congressional Budget Office, Congress, and the Biden administration have known this for a long time, and they have not acted. (My opinion: It is enoughto make a person scream: WHY DON’T YOU DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE?) Four, concerning wars and rumors of wars: on Sept. 30, 2024, Turkey’s President Erdogan urged theUN General Assembly to call for force against Israel if the UN Security Council cannot convince the Israelis to stop attacking Iranian-backed Hamas and Hezbollah targets in Gaza and Lebanon. Five, concerning wars and rumors of wars: on Oct. 1, 2024, Iran fired about 180 missiles at Israel. Israel said Iran will pay a steep price for the attack. The next day, on Oct. 2, 2024, Iran said it will launch a stronger attack on Israel if Israel retaliates for the Oct. 1, 2024 attack. (More: When asked if hesupports an Israeli attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities, Pres. Biden said no. He said Israel has a right to respond to Iran’s missile attack, but Israel’s response should be proportional.) (More: Israel’s ambassadorto the UN asked, “What do you want to do, to wait for Iran to have a nuclear capability, and then they can put that on ballistic missiles and launch nuclear ballistic missiles into Israel?”) (More: Joel Rosenberg,author and editor-in-chief of All Israel News, said, “Iran is the existential threat to Israel. Biden knows it, but Biden is weak’ and not providing essential support.) (More: On Oct. 7, 2024,an Israeli news station said the U.S. is offering Israel extensive diplomatic backing and a large, additional package of military assistance if Israel will agree not to attack Iran’s nuclear facilities or oil wells. Israel responded that all targets are stillon the table. Israel’s Defense Min. will visit the U.S. tomorrow to discuss the situation.) (My opinion: The attitudeof Western leaders like Biden is prolonging the war and making the world more dangerous.) (More: On Oct. 9, 2024,it was reported that Israel is refusing to tell the Biden administration how it plans to retaliate against Iran for firing missiles at Israel.) Six, concerning the destruction of Damascus in one night, on Oct. 2, 2024, Israeli jets killed theson-in-law of Hassan Nasrallah in Damascus. (More: On Oct. 8, 2024,Israeli jets struck a residential building in Damascus. 7 people died, 11 were injured, and the property damage was significant.) Seven, concerning the Days of Lot and the moral rot in America: on Oct. 8, 2024, it was reportedthat a first-grade teacher in Pennsylvania was telling her students their parents were guessing if they were boys or girls at birth and their parents could be wrong. Three moms sued, and a judge ruled that the teacher was breaking the law. Here is my daily update on the Israel-Hamas war: Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024 (Day 362): The three hundred and seventh day of the resumed war. Day 140 of the attack on Rafah. · Israel said 8 Israeli soldiers have been killed so far in the current operation in Lebanon. · More than 100 rockets were launched from Lebanon into Israel. · Israeli jets struck Hamas command-and-control centers in the Gaza Strip. Several of thecenters were operating in Palestinian schools. · Israeli troops discovered a tunnel in a residential neighborhood more than a half mile longwith rooms and equipment designed for very long stays. · The U.S. State Dept. said Hamas has refused to discuss a ceasefire for several weeks. Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024 (Day 363) The three hundred and eighth day of the resumed war. Day 141 of the attack on Rafah. · A terrorist group in Iraq took credit for launching a drone toward Israel. · Israel told citizens in 25 Lebanese villages to leave immediately and go north. · Israel said it killed Yahya Sinwar’s right-hand man and 2 other senior officials about 3months ago, but Hamas kept it secret because the truth would hurt the morale of Hamas fighters. · Israel killed the Hezbollah terrorist in Lebanon that killed 12 children at a soccer gameearlier this year. Friday, Oct. 4, 2024 (Day 364) The three hundred and ninth day of the resumed war. Day 142 of the attack on Rafah. · Israel destroyed a two-mile-long tunnel between Lebanon and Syria that was being used forsmuggling and storing weapons. · The U.S. military used aircraft and ships to strike more than a dozen Houthi targets at5 locations in Yemen. · The Iranian-backed Houthis said the U.S. will pay a heavy price for attacking them. · Following Israel’s assassination of Hezbollah Leader Hassan Nasrallah, the Ayatollah Khameneiappointed Nasrallah’s cousin to succeed him. Israel attacked the site where they think he was tonight, and they killed him. Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024 (Day 365): The three hundred and tenth day of the resumed war. Day 143 of the attack on Rafah. · Israel said they have killed 400 terrorists since launching their ground operation intoLebanon. · Israel believes it has destroyed about 50% of Hezbollah’s missiles, but they still havedrones and 60-100,000 rockets that they can launch. Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024 (Day 366) The three hundred and eleventh day of the resumed war. Day 144 of the attack on Rafah. · Israel struck several Hezbollah weapons storage facilities and infrastructure targets allover Beirut, Lebanon, and there were many secondary explosions. · Israel ordered evacuation from 25 areas in Southern Lebanon. · Israel ordered Palestinians in Jabaliya, a city in northern Gaza, to evacuate before Israelstrikes terrorist facilities. · Israel said Hamas no longer exists as an organized military force in Gaza. · The commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) may have been killed when Israelkilled Nasrallah’s replacement on Friday (Oct. 4, 2024). Monday, Oct. 7, 2024 (Day 367) The three hundred and twelfth day of the resumed war. Day 145 of the attack on Rafah. · Israel said it will not let Hamas rebuild its forces in Gaza. · The Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen fired a missile at Tel Aviv. Israel’s Air Force interceptedit before it crossed Israel’s border. · Israel killed 6 senior Hezbollah commanders and 44 other terrorists today. · On the one-year anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel, Netanyahu told grieving familymembers of hostages, “Together we will continue to fight, and together – with God’s grace – we will triumph.” Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024 (Day 368) The three hundred and thirteenth day of the resumed war. Day 146 of the attack on Rafah. · Hezbollah fired more than 100 rockets at one of Israel’s largest cities (Haifa). · Israel said it will launch a naval assault on Lebanon from the Mediterranean Sea and urgedcitizens to stay away from the Sea and off the beach. · The most senior Hezbollah leader that is still alive in Lebanon called for an unconditionalceasefire today, but Israel doesn’t trust him. · Israel increased its attacks on Hezbollah despite threats from Iran. · Israel destroyed a Hezbollah tunnel that started in Lebanon and extended into Israel, butthe exit into Israel had not yet been completed. · Israel destroyed dozens of Hezbollah underground command centers and killed at least 50terrorists. Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024 (Day 369): The three hundred and fourteenth day of the resumed war. Day 147 of the attack on Rafah. · 90 rockets were fired at Israel from Lebanon. 2 people were killed. 8 were injured. · Yahya Sinwar is alive and demanding that Muslims resume suicide bombings in Israeli cities. FYI: God does not send anyone to Hell (all of us are born with a sin nature and destined to go toHell because we sin), but God has provided a way (Jesus) for everyone to go to Heaven (and He is the only way to get there; John 14:6). Finally, are you Rapture Ready? If you want to be rapture ready and go to heaven, you must be born again (John 3:3). God loves you, and if you have not done so, sincerely admit that you are a sinner; believe that Jesus isthe virgin-born, sinless Son of God who died for the sins of the world, was buried, and raised from the dead; ask Him to forgive your sins, cleanse you, come into your heart and be your Saviour; then tell someone that you have done this. duck_daymond@yahoo.com

Why Two Goats on Atonement? (Part Two)

 Why Two Goats on Atonement? (Part Two) In Part One, we examined the typical sin offering outlined in Leviticus 4. The basic sequence is noteworthy: The guilty party first laid his hands on the sacrifice's head to symbolize one life being exchanged or substituted for the other. The slain animal's blood was then sprinkled beforethe veil of the Tabernacle, put on the horns of either the incense altar or the brazen altar (depending on who sinned), and the rest poured at the base of the brazen altar. According to Hebrews 9:13, 22, blood provides symbolic cleansing and purification. However, Hebrews 10:4 states this practical fact: "It is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins," which applies on a couple of levels. In the wider context of Hebrews, it testifies to the transcendent efficacy of Christ's sacrifice—itwas so pure and powerful that no animal sacrifice could ever begin to compare. In the immediate context, the author is pointing out that within the sacrificial law, blood could not take away sin—it could only cleanse, purify, or cover. Something else was required to show the sins of the Israelites being symbolically taken away. This removal of sins took place on the Day of Atonement, to which Hebrews 9-10 refers. In type, the blood of the sin offering was a record—a witness—of the sin it covered. Thus, all the blood of sin offerings put on the incense altar (also called the golden altar) throughout the year symbolized all the iniquity committed by thepriests and the congregation. As Hebrews 10:3 observes, "In those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year." The Atonement ceremony brought to the Israelites' minds all the sins for which they had to bring their sin offerings. Because of the accumulated sins, God commanded the high priest to cleanse the incense altar with blood each year (Exodus 30:10). Incidentally, the instructions for the sin offering even include the scenario of the whole nation committing sin (Leviticus 4:13-21), though that was insufficientfor the Day of Atonement. Such an offering—involving defiled blood—would only add another record of sin to the incense altar. The offering on the Day of Atonement involved a different ceremony—using blood without a record of sin—for cleansing the altar and removing the iniquity. The unique sin offering for the congregation on Atonement consisted of two goats (Leviticus 16:5). Through the casting of lots, one goat was designated as "for the LORD,"meaning that it was to satisfy or appease the Lord. At this point, God's instructions intentionally leave out a highly significant step: No hands were laid on this animal! It was simply killed. Its blood did not testify of sin. Rather than contributing more iniquity to the record, its blood cleansed the objects nearest to the Lord. Leviticus 16:15-16, 18-19 shows this: Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering, which is for the people, bring its blood inside the veil, do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bull [see verse 14], and sprinkle it on the mercy seat and before the mercy seat. Sohe shall make atonement [Heb. kaphar; covering, cleansing, or purging] for the Holy Place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions, for all their sins; and so he shall do for the tabernacle of meetingwhich remains among them in the midst of their uncleanness. . . . And he shall go out to the altar that is before the LORD [the incense altar], and make atonement for it, and shall take some ofthe blood of the bull and some of the blood of the goat, and put it on the horns of the altar all around. Then he shall sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times, cleanse it, and consecrate it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel. With the blood of the first goat—free of confessed sin—the incense altar and holy objects were atoned for or cleansed. Many translations call the second goat the "scapegoat." The Hebrew word is azazel, which means "goat of departure" or "goat of complete or entire removal." The azazel was the means for all the cleansed sins to be completely or entirely removed from the congregation: Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, confess over it all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions, concerning all their sins, putting them on the head of the goat, and shall send it awayinto the wilderness by the hand of a suitable man. The goat shall bear on itself all their iniquities to an uninhabited land; and he shall release the goat in the wilderness. (Leviticus16:21-22) In the standard sin offering, hands were laid on the substitutionary sacrifice to symbolize a transference, and then its blood was shed. Notice, though, that on the Day of Atonement, the order is reversed! This explains why the offering requiredtwo animals: One animal had its blood shed, while a second animal had all the sins confessed over it so they could be taken away. Because the ceremony began with one animal being sacrificed, a second, living animal was necessary to have hands laid on it. Thelive goat received, as it were, all the iniquities, transgressions, and sins of Israel. None of that defilement was ever placed on the first goat, whose purpose was simply to provide a cleansing. As Romans 10:4 teaches, "Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes" (New International Version). Jesus Christ perfectly fulfilled both aspects of this unique Day of Atonement offering. Hebrews 9:12-14 not only shows His fulfillment of the first goat with His own blood, but also how superior His shed blood was, even to the point of cleansing consciences: Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifiesfor the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? Likewise, the Scriptures record Christ's fulfillment of the azazel through bearing and taking away sins. Isaiah 53:6 declares, "And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all" (emphasis ours throughout), just as the high priest laid Israel's sins on the azazel each year. Christ likewise bore our sins, another function of the azazel: •He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, for He shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong, because He poured out His soul unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors, and He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. (Isaiah 53:11-12) •. . . who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree. . . . (I Peter 2:24) •. . . so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. (Hebrews 9:28) The blood of bulls and goats could not take away sin. The azazel did this in type, but it merely pointed to Jesus Christ, the only One who could perform this—and did (Colossians2:14; Romans 11:27; I John 3:5). - David C. Grabbe