America: On Borrowed Time!

Posted on April 14, 2014 by prophecyinperspective

America’s top leadership from the President on down have given the green light to aborting unborn children by the thousands and to those who want to redefine the biblical definition of marriage.  We have watched in almost total unbelief as an out of control federal government in the process of usurping the freedoms of ranchers in Nevada and the powers of a sovereign state, attempted to confiscate the cattle of an American citizen to destroy them.  Also, we have witnessed how America’s military chaplains have been given their “marching orders” never to use the name Jesus Christ in their prayers and definitely not to communicate the very truth that Jesus taught: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6) So deeply has the spirit of unbelief permeated our American culture that even the recently released movie, “The Son of God” deletes from the mouth of the actor that plays Jesus the second half of that verse!

Today, following the trends of American unbelief and compromise toward God, most big name Christian publishers in America resist publishing books on biblical prophecy.  This is because a new form of “Evangelicalism” and new type of Evangelical leadership is being systematically and effectively promoted in American Christianity.  This new type of Christian leadership uses far less Bible in preaching and publications and views prophetic teaching as a waste of time.  It uses a new form of biblical interpretation (hermeneutics) called “preunderstanding.” This is a new way to approach the interpretation of the Bible that seeks to make the Scripture say what the speaker thinks it should say, not necessarily what it actually does say.    Among these new type of evangelical leaders today is a growing anti-Israel, anti-prophecy sentiment. Many are supporters of the so-called Two-State Solution which is a slap in the face of God who declared His unconditional covenant with Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3!

Therefore, I believe that America is on borrowed time!  Everywhere we see crosses being taken down.  But this is permitted to happen outwardly only because the cross and God have already been removed from the hearts of supposed Christian citizens in America who elect liberal and pro-abortion politicians and who praise the unbiblical and compromising teachings of many American preachers!  I speak of the preachers who are mainly interested in acceptance and popularity.  These Christian leaders  have systematically and successfully kept the American Christian distracted from understanding the times (2 Chronicles 12:32) through their “purpose driven,” psycho-theological and shallow slogans.  They have accomplished this while Satan has infiltrated the land and has taken over the most powerful and influential seats of government as well as the seats of evangelical leadership, media and publishing houses.

One clear indication that this has happened is the avoidance of prophetic preaching and writing that has evidenced itself in America for the past 30 years.  There is far more interest in teaching leadership principles then there is in teaching the actual Word of God.  Pastors across America are more concerned with helping people feel ok about themselves than in exhorting them to know what sin is and how to live righteously.  Witness how today many of  those who claim they are Christians, who will conspicuously wave their hands and stand up and clap during worship are the same ones who also will happily cast a vote for Political leaders that are the most virulent supporters of abortion and immoral lifestyles!

It seems that the days of sound teaching are for the most part gone in America.  The love of God for the sinner is not being spoken of in truth. This is because what used to be commonly known as sin is now not viewed as sin, but enlightened and liberated behavior.  What used to be spoken of in America’s pulpits and church class rooms as evil is now promoted as good, and that which was preached as good is now viewed as evil!  The prophets of the Old Testament clearly warned any nation that a curse would come through such reversal of moral and theological truth:  “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! (Isaiah 5:20)

When Jonah went to Nineveh to warn them of coming doom for their sins, they repented. God spared them for another century.  But they went back to sin and God destroyed them.  America was founded upon the moral, governmental, judicial and ethical principles of the Bible as well as the wise teachings of men who definitely were not anti-biblical.  These were men, and some amazing women, and people of different races and national and cultural backgrounds who stood together to affirm the truth that there is a God to whom we are accountable.  These were people who were highly motivated by a desire for freedom to worship the one true God and to serve Him without fear of molestation by an atheistic  and overreaching government.  They were man (and women) who were wise in applying the precepts of the Bible to the founding of a great nation under God.

In these days of trial, growing governmental tyranny and rising ecclesiastical compromise and apostasy,  we need to remember what Jesus said to His faithful servants who anticipated His soon return:  “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over His household, to give them food in due season?  Blessed is that servant whom his master, when He comes, will find so doing (being faithful to the Master’s truth).  Assuredly, I say to you that He will make him ruler over all His goods.” (Matthew 24:45-47)

Some are pointing to the four blood moons which astronomers predict will come in 2014-2015.   We hear preachers say that this means that something is about to happen!  Well, the word of God has been clearly saying this for centuries, that something is about to happen!  God does not look lightly on Americas’ sins and a time of reckoning is indeed at hand!  If the four blood moons did not present themselves at this time, we would still have plenty of dependable biblical prophecies that make the reality of impending judgment on America undeniable.

A growing anti-Semitic attitude within the American Evangelical Church indicates that we are indeed living on borrowed time as a nation.  Now is the time to trust in Jesus Christ as personal Savior and to take a stand for truth in a time of rampant compromise.  I believe that all of the indicators of the soon coming of the Lord show that the rapture of His true Church is at hand.

If only preachers and government leaders would take the clear warnings of the prophecies of the Scriptures and apply them to our day as they were intended.  I pray that they will and that God’s people will love the Lord again, as the Bible teaches that we should, and take seriously the Words of the Lord: And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. (Revelation 22;12)  

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Many Are Seeking Four Blood Moons; Watch for Jesus Christ!

Posted on April 12, 2014 by prophecyinperspective

Many books are flying off the shelves in book stores these days on the subject of the signs of the Four Blood Moons.  But there are some things that watchful Christians should realize about this popular teaching.  Realize, first, that most of the world will not be able to see these red moons when they occur.  So it is hard to call them genuine signs!  These blood moons are interesting though!  But, as an informed believer, be cautious about what is being taught concerning this and be sure to prove all things by the Word of God!   I do believe that there will be indications from the heavens that are significant for us to notice as possible indicators that we are in the specific times that are leading up to the coming of the Lord, Jesus Christ. But I do not think that the “Four Blood Moons” teaching itself is entirely sound!

From the stand point of clear and plain biblical interpretation of prophecy, the Bible shows that the moon turning to blood signaling the coming of the Lord will occur in a way that all the world will be able to see it, and that it will happen in the closing days of the Great Tribulation Period!  Joel 2:31 says: “The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord come.”   Revelation 6:12 says:  “And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood.” 

Interestingly, the Bible does not say that there will be four blood moons, in the latter days. The above two references (two of five) that are used by leading proponents of the “Four Blood Moon” teachings cannot refer to the years 2014-2015, as has been advertised, because, as prophecy scholar, Mark Hitchcock explains:

“…we are not in the Tribulation yet. Connecting the blood moons in 2014-2015 to Revelation 6 (or to Joel 2:28-32) would require us to already be in the seven-year Tribulation of the end times, which we are not…(Further) notice the full content of Revelation 6:12-14.  The moon becoming like blood is just one of six cosmic signs that will occur.  The other five are:  A great earthquake; The sun becoming as sackcloth made of hair; The stars of the sky falling to the earth (It will appear from humanity’s perspective that the stars are falling.  This probably refers at the very least to extremely large meteor showers.  From the vantage point of earth, heavenly bodies will look like they are dropping like figs from a tree.); The sky splitting apart like a scroll; The mountains and islands moving.” (Blood Moons Rising, Mark Hitchcock, pp.123-124 [This is a book I highly recommend on this subject!])

Mark Hitchcock, who I believe is refreshingly trustworthy on this issue, further states:

“What the Bible does not say about the four blood moons is critical.  The silence is very significant when it comes to assigning meaning to this phenomenon.  Building a view that contends something major is about to change in our world on something the Bible never actually predicts is shaky at best and irresponsible speculation at worst.

“Let me reiterate that I do believe in signs of the end times.  I believe there are legitimate signs today that point toward the coming of Christ, and I have no personal ax to grind against the blood moons prophecy or it proponents.  Nevertheless, I think a fair, contextual reading of the five biblical passages used to support this view shows its sizable shortcomings.” (Hitchcock, p. 125)

It is important to “prove all things, hold fast that which is good!” (1 Thessalonians 5:21).  There are plenty of indications that we are certainly in the last days!  But the Word of God does not command Christians to watch for signs that man sets forth, but those which the Word of God sets forth.  Any way, as the Bride of Christ, the Church is not commanded to watch for signs as such, but to watch for the Savior, our coming Bride Groom, Jesus Christ!  He will return at any moment to rapture His Church to heaven.  Then the Great Tribulation will begin and last for a period of seven years.  There will be astrologically predicted blood moons, because they happen every once in a while.  But, be careful about those who are sensationalizing them, or other astrological occurrences, as though they were specifically prophesied in the Word of God!

I believe there are amazing events happening now that show that the nations, the heavens and the earth are preparing for the end times scenario to unfold.  And we need to continue watching Israel, the growing Church Apostasy and the formation of end times, Satanic Global Government.  But always remember that the Great Tribulation cannot begin as long as the Bride of Christ, the Church, is still on the earth! (2 Thessalonians 2) Watch for Jesus Christ Himself Who will suddenly come to rapture us to heaven. And be sure to tell the world:  “Be ready!  Jesus is coming to take us to be with Him!”  Encourage them to trust in Jesus Christ as their personal Savior!  Jesus commanded us with these words:  “And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch!” (Mark 13:37)

 

 

 

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Some Mock the Possiblity of God’s Judgment

Posted on April 7, 2014 by prophecyinperspective

Peter the Apostle, in His Second letter to the early church predicted that one of the signs of the last days would be the growing skepticism that people would have about God’s judgment. Peter said: “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of His coming?” (2 Peter 3:3)

Many deny that God will hold mankind accountable for his sins.  Immorality today has been redefined to fit the “politically correct” and anti-biblical mindset of our days.  Many just want to live the way they desire and are growing increasingly petulant toward those who disagree with them.  Nahum, 713 B.C. said:  “The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and He knows them that trust in Him.  But with an overrunning flood (of judgment) He will make an utter end of the place thereof (where wickedness is found), and darkness shall pursue His enemies.” (Nahum 1:7-8)

In Nahum also we read that God will certainly bring judgment on Nineveh, and, I believe, on America, “Because of the multitude of harlotries of the seductive harlot (extreme immorality), The mistress of sorceries, who sells nations through her harlotries, and families through her sorceries.” (Nahum 3:4)  God is here speaking to Nineveh just before He destroyed it for its horrible immorality.  America is in this condition today.  The loudest voices in America today are of those who defend and promote freedoms to be immoral!  Notice how in the expression of this prophecy that Nineveh’s sins were being exported to other nations.  Families were being destroyed through Nineveh’s sins.  We are certainly seeing this in America.  For many years America has exported the Gospel through missions to other countries. We also exported freedom through the power of our military and strong beneficent foreign policy that assumed “American exceptionalism” because of being  predominately under the influence of biblical morality.  We were a force for good in the world.  But, things are changing fast!  We are now exporting immorality through cults, pornography, immoral entertainment.  We are apologizing to nations we have actually helped and have acted like we are the reason for the world’s problems.  Now, our military is being more and more restricted from even talking about God.

Added to all of this is the anti-God crowd that is working hard to remove all references to God from road sides to mountain tops!  Because we are in the latter days, we should understand that the Bible already prophesied these conditions.  But Christians should never despair!  The Bible predicts that as immorality grows, becomes fashionable, and belief in institutions as fundamental and ancient as the family become the subject of jokes, ridicule and persecution, then the time of the Lord’s coming to rapture His Church to heaven is near!  (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)  No matter how much man mocks God, His people and the truth about coming judgment, God’s word will still be fulfilled.  Jesus is coming again!

You can take courage in these times of mocking and growing skepticism about God, America and the family.  John writes:  “And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.” (1 John 2:28)  Today is a good time to trust in Jesus Christ who died on the cross for your sins, as personal Savior!  The first step to knowing the joy of the Lord is by simply acknowledging that you need God in your life.  There is no better life than the new life that we can receive from God through believing in Jesus Christ.  God still loves the sinner!  (John 3:16)  Time to trust in God’s Son, Jesus Christ while there is still time!  Judgment is coming!  The louder the mocking, the nearer we are to His coming!

 

 

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Indicators of The Soon Return of Jesus Christ

Posted on April 5, 2014 by prophecyinperspective

The Chines are now saying that they believe they are detecting “pings” from the black box of Malaysia Flight 370 somewhere in the South Indian ocean.  The battery life is due to expire in the next couple of days.  There are also “pings” that are going off in the world today signaling the return of Jesus Christ and the eruption of Great Tribulation on the earth.  In Matthew 24:37-39, Jesus told His disciples that the indications of His return would be a revival of the kind of times that were present in the days of Noah, just prior to the flood.

But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.  For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,  And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Well, there is certainly an incredible amount of “eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage,” today.  The times that Noah was living in were filled with all kinds of iniquity and wickedness.  So bad were the moral conditions among mankind then that the Lord expressed sorrow about even having made mankind on the earth.  God then determined to do something about the situation by calling Noah to build an ark so that God could destroy the earth and save Noah and his family.  By the way, the current movie about Noah is far different from the Bible’s account!  The Scriptures tell us about the situation as it existed then:

“And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.  And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. (Genesis 6:5-7)

“The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. (Genesis 6:11-12)

Clarence Larkin writes about these closing days of our present Church Age as being like it was in the days of Noah.

“Let us glance back for a moment at the characteristics of those “Noah Days” and we shall have an idea of the character of the closing days of this dispensation (Church Age).  We mention but seven features.

1.  There was a tendency to worship God simply as Creator, and not as Jehovah requiring atonement for sin. (Today it is almost always forbidden to pray in public in the name of Jesus Christ.  This is because demons, who know Jesus is coming soon, hate that powerful name of the Son of God.)

2.  There was a rapid advance in civilization and in the arts and sciences. ( The arts have become vulgar and anti-Christ, and science celebrates excluding God and mocking Christianity)

3.  There was a union of the holy line of Seth and the wicked line of Cain. (Like Christian joining other religions but still professing faith in Christ)

4.  There was a vast increase of population and congestion of population in the great cities.  (Notice, that Larkin, who wrote in the early twentieth century did not foresee the horrible practice of abortion in the latter days which has taken the lives of millions of unborn children.)

5.  There was an undue prominence of the female sex and disregard of the primal law of marriage. (Today marriage is much in  focus as many are trying to re-define it to fit the latter days morality which is also prophesied to be like the days of Sodom and Gomorrah[Jude 1:7] , but they will never succeed, for Jesus said “what therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder!”  [Matthew 19:6] 

6.  There was an unlawful intercourse of “Denizens of the Air” with the daughters of men. (That is, relations through occult means with demons)

7.  There was a rejection of the preaching of Enoch and Noah.  (Both Enoch and Noah preached the coming of the Lord and of judgment.  But the world hated their testimony and rejected them and the Word of God. [Jude 1:14, 2 Peter 2:5]) ”

Larkin goes on to say that these indicators are present in our days:

“A careful observer of the sign of the Times will note that all these features are characteristic of these days, and warn us that we are rapidly approaching the close of this Dispensation.  We are living in the days of the revival of ‘Spiritism.’  The air is full of ‘Seducing Spirits,’ and there is a revival of the ‘Doctrine of Devils.’ (1 Timothy 4:1)…

The preaching of today as to the ‘coming of the Lord’ is also largely rejected, thus fulfilling the words of Peter:  ‘knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days Scoffers, walking after their own lusts and saying-Where is the promise of His coming’ (2 Peter 3:3-4)

Soon the Holy Spirit will no longer strive with men, as He ceased to do before the flood, through God gave them 120 years’ warning (Genesis 6:3), and (the Holy Spirit) will go back with the Church when it is called out of the world, and the world will be left for judgment.  From this we see that this dispensation, like all that preceded it, will end in Apostasy. (Clarence Larkin, Dispensational Truth, p. 40)”

If only Christians in our days were searching as diligently for the “pings” of the Lord’s return as the nations are searching for the “pings” of the black box of Flight 370.  But to truly search for the indications of the return of Jesus Christ means we will have to be committed to God’s truth.  We will have to stand for truth and even endure persecution for doing so.

Those who are dedicated to evil in our days are being stirred by Satan to do all they can to intimidate the righteous, but the Lord will prevail.  The messages in both the days of Noah and the days of Sodom are the same as the message of these latter days:  Jesus Christ is going to return and judgment is coming as well!  The Lord will certainly overthrow all evil.  Now is a good time to repent of the wickedness of the world the flesh and the devil and to turn by faith to the Lord Jesus Christ.  In this way alone you can receive forgiveness for your sins and become a new creation to serve the Lord forever!(Galatians 2:20)

 

 

 

 

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The Fort Hood Shooting And The Rise of Violence In The Latter Days

Posted on April 3, 2014 by prophecyinperspective

Yesterday, America, and much of the world, was again shocked at sudden violence and murder at Fort Hood in Killeen Texas. We recall how four years ago, 2009, an Islamic extremist, Nidal Hasan, who was sentenced to death in August of 2013, was responsible for murdering 13 and injuring more than thirty on the Fort Hood Army base. Lesser known is the fact that there was another would be Islamic terrorist, who attempted to murder more innocent people from Fort Hood.  This occurred in 2011 when Naser Jason Abdo was arrested for planning to execute a bomb attack on a restaurant near the fort where many Fort Hood personnel went to eat and hang out. Abdo was a Muslim soldier who stated that he was opposed to the U.S. war in Afghanistan.  He was sentenced to life in prison.

Yesterday, another Fort Hood shooter, Ivan Lopez, 33, of Killeen, Texas, while wearing an Army uniform at the time of the shooting, shot and killed 3 and wounded 16 before taking his own life.  We can also recall the Navel yard shooting just about a year ago.  Sad to say that in the face of these violent episodes, the problem, as stated by morally compromised and confused liberals in America is always going to be with the availability of guns.  It is as though the weapons themselves cause the crimes!  But these horrible acts come from the heart of man.

Liberals will use this most recent assault from a depraved heart on the lives of the innocent as another opportunity to seek ways to disarm the public.  If successful, this  will make it a lot easier to command and control an unarmed populous.  If the trained soldiers on our bases were allowed to carry weapons the evil cowards who are quick to follow their basest impulses will be far less inclined to attack the innocent!   The Bible, which our highly secularized society has largely rejected, says: in Jeremiah 17:9  “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” The real problem is not the guns, the knives, the bricks, the bats, the fists, etc., but it is the depraved human heart that rejects the moral guidance of the Bible and of God, and strikes out against others as though they have the right to do so!  But liberals in America today are so morally confused that they insist upon using real problems and crises as opportunities to further their humanistic agenda. 

The rise of violence in America and around the world today is prophesied in the pages of the Bible..  (Read Matthew 24:1-14; Luke 21:20-24; 2 Timothy 3:1-4).  The government and government-run education in America has given itself over to godless humanism and has been teaching new generations of children that man is not created in the image of God, but is only the result of evolutionary chance.  Thus, little wonder why sudden and unexplained violence is on the rise in our land today.  This violence, is motivated by Satan, and, again, arises out of the heart of man who has been taught that he is his own god.

God said through the prophet Jeremiah:  “For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.” (Jeremiah 2:13)  The last time a murderous rampage was carried out at Fort Hood, it was clearly an Islamic terrorist attack.  But our leaders did not call it what it was, but named it “work place violence.”  “Broken Cisterns” always leak!  If we say evil is less than it really is then we are not protecting the innocent because we are too selfish to take a stand that might be controversial to some that we seek to impress.  Yet the result is always the same, “Broken Cisterns,” false solutions which, in this case, resulted in inadequate preparations for this sudden and latest murderous attack.

Thus, Fort Hood was still vulnerable to this latest assault because the previous attack was not called for what it was, Islamic Terrorism!  It is time to step up!  It is time to call things as they are!  I pray that we will get back to God in this country and put some leaders in office who will stand on truth!  Meanwhile, pray for the families that have been hurt by these murders.  Pray for our leaders to have wisdom and courage to defend the defenseless instead of defending the “politically correct.” It is time for us to return to the Lord in full faith and surrender to His Word and His ways!

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

(2 Chronicles 7:14)

 

 

 

 

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Does Jesus Still Speak Today?

Posted on April 1, 2014 by prophecyinperspective

 

It has become popular to say “the Lord spoke to me!” But this notion has been taken to an extreme today. More and more are claiming that God and Jesus are speaking in full sentences, paragraphs, pages and entire books. Two of the most popular of these examples of “direct revelation” by God and Jesus are the books: God Calling and Jesus Calling.

God Calling was written in the 1930’s by two “anonymous listeners” who purported to receive direct messages from God which they wrote down.  Many Bible students today have rightly recognized that God Calling is an example of occult spirit writing.  Today, the most popular of the current and growing number of books that purport to be the very words of Jesus is Jesus Calling by Sarah Young. In the original introduction of her book, Sarah Young praised God Calling as her chief inspiration.

Through writings of this kind, thousands of people are subtly being drawn away from  sound doctrine and the Word of God.  Many are putting their Bibles aside.  They are becoming dependent on this and other writings and teachings that are not from the Bible nor are they the same as the Bible.

Jesus Calling reads as though it is Jesus Himself doing the speaking. If you are well read in the Gospels and the entire Bible, you would readily see that Jesus Calling is anything but the Bible!  Yet millions who have a desire to hear from Jesus are sincerely seeking this book to give them what they are looking for.  But we must be careful not to be deceived in this latter-day.

Under the distinct inspiration of the Holy Spirit, in 1 Timothy 4:1-2, Paul warns: “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils, speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron.” (KJV)

We may be sure that in these latter days, when we are looking for the appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ at any moment, the devil and lying spirits will seek to lead people away from the Word of God. These spirits are spoken of as “seducing spirits,” and they will teach “doctrines of devils.” For those who take Bible prophecy seriously, they have to acknowledge the reality of the arising of popular teachings and writings that purport to be God speaking, but they are not!

The lying spirits of the latter days will heavily influence people to listen to teachers and teachings that are counterfeits of the true Jesus Christ.  They  will substitute His eternal and unchanging Word for seductive and “feel good” messages.  The Christian mind that passively receives these messages and does not “prove all things, hold fast that which is good,” (1 Thessalonians 5:21) is risking a great deal.  Jesus said to those of us living in the latter days:  Take heed that no man deceive you.  For many shall come in MY NAME, saying, I am Christ; and SHALL DECEIVE MANY!” (Matthew 24:4-5) 

Be careful about accepting “another Jesus” (2 Corinthians 11:4).  Devotionals are good so long as the authors do not presume to speak the very words of God!  It is time for the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ to return to the doctrine of the Absolute Authority and Sufficiency of Scripture!  Paul was clear that “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may perfect (complete), thoroughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Timothy 3:16)

Beware of  Contemplative/Mystical/Spirituality of New Age and Emergent Christianity.  God warned of dire consequences of adding to His Word. Proverbs 30:6 says: “Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.”  To assume that the words of Jesus Calling are entirely the words of Jesus, the Son of God, as the book clearly implies, is at best dangerously presumptuous, or at worst, blasphemous!   The only direct revelation of the words of Jesus that exist on the earth today are the very words He spoke in the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.  Some additional places in the New Testament where Jesus speaks are found in Acts 26:14-18, and in the Book of Revelation. (1:8,11,17-20;2:1-3:22;22:7,12-13,16,20)

Of course, the entire context of all the other books of the Old and New Testaments provide enough truth, insight, wisdom, direction, encouragement, conviction, promises, prophecies and instruction so as make any Christian “perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”  (2 Timothy 3:16)

Yes, God does still speak today, but through His AUTHORITATIVE and SUFFICIENT Word, the Bible!  The indwelling Holy Spirit will encourage us day by day to depend upon God’s Word, the Bible, to know what God desires to say to you through the prayerful and personal study of God’s Word.  Be careful not to listen to “another Jesus!”  There are many false Christ’s out there today.  But the one true Jesus Christ speaks today through His Word, the Bible!  Depend upon God’s Word to teach and lead you today and every day, for God’s Word is SUFFICIENT!

 

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Many Mysteries Today, But Many Glories Tomorrow!

Posted on March 30, 2014 by prophecyinperspective

There are many mysteries today, like the mystery of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, and the mystery of the many “wars and rumors of wars…famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes in divers places.” (Matthew 24:6) Nations are threatening other nations. We are concerned now about Russia in Crimea and how they are threatening to invade Ukraine. But, with all of this going on, and much more, we need to turn to the Bible to understand that God still has an amazing plan for the future!

The Prophet Micah, fully 710 years before the birth of Jesus Christ predicted God’s plan for the earth in the last days. Let’s look at what he said:

Now it shall come to pass in the latter days
That the mountain of the Lord’s house
Shall be established on the top of the mountains,
And shall be exalted above the hills;
And peoples shall flow to it. (Micah 4:1)

There is an entire end time scenario that the Bible clearly shows us.  A brief overview of the order of events will be:  Jesus will return in the clouds to call the Church up to Himself. This is called the Rapture. At this time the dead in Christ will rise first and then we, the living, will be caught away to meet the Lord in the air.  He will take us up to heaven to be with Him through the seven-year Tribulation Period that will take place on the Earth. (John 14:1-4; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Matthew 24:21; Daniel 9:27)

At the close of  the seven-year Great Tribulation Period, when all nations are gathered in the Valley of Megiddo (Armageddon) to destroy Israel, then Jesus will return to the earth.  He will return to the land of Israel with His glorified Saints. (Revelation 19:11-21; Zechariah 14:1-5) All enemies of God’s people will be destroyed by the Lord Himself. (Zechariah 14:12) Then He will establish Israel as the world capital for a thousand-year kingdom. He will elevate the mount of the temple and bring higher mountains down to make Jerusalem the highest place on the earth. The many earthquakes today are likely signals that this future geological phenomenon has already begun. (Luke 3:5) Micah goes on with his amazing prediction:

 Many nations shall come and say,
“Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
To the house of the God of Jacob;
He will teach us His ways,
And we shall walk in His paths.”
For out of Zion the law shall go forth, (Micah 4:2)

This will be the scene when the Lord Jesus Christ returns and rules over the Earth personally.  Micah then tells us how the Lord will administrate His Kingdom:

 He shall judge between many peoples,
And rebuke strong nations afar off;
They shall beat their swords into plowshares,
And their spears into pruning hooks;
Nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
Neither shall they learn war anymore (Micah 4:3)

There will be no wars during this thousand-year reign of Jesus Christ upon the Earth. Satan will be bound away in the Bottomless Pit during this time. The Devil will not be able to “deceive the nations,” as he is doing in the world today, stirring up hatred and conflict. Micah tells us how people will live during this future time in the last days:

But everyone shall sit under his vine and under his fig tree,
And no one shall make them afraid;
For the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken.
 For all people walk each in the name of his god,
But we will walk in the name of the Lord our God
Forever and ever (Micah 4:4-5)

God’s purpose is to bring Israel back together into their land permanently.  The Jew has been returning there for decades and will continue to do so until the return of Jesus Christ.  The God of the Jew is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob!  He is the one true God who created all things, and who sent the flood in Noah’s day because of the wickedness on the earth!  This is the same God who gave His only begotten Son to die on the cross for our sins. He rose from the dead. He has gone back to the Father and will come again soon! (John 3:16; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4;Revelation 22:20) Meanwhile great evil is arising on the earth both in and among the nations.  The whole earth is going through birth pangs signaling the end days and the Lord’s soon coming! (Matthew 24:1-15; Luke 21:8-19; Matthew 25:13; Romans 8:22) Micah predicts the return of the Jews to Israel in the latter days:

“In that day,” says the Lord,
“I will assemble the lame,
I will gather the outcast
And those whom I have afflicted;
 I will make the lame a remnant,
And the outcast a strong nation;
So the Lord will reign over them in Mount Zion
From now on, even forever.
And you, O tower of the flock,
The stronghold of the daughter of Zion,
To you shall it come,
Even the former dominion shall come,
The kingdom of the daughter of Jerusalem.”  (Micah 4:6-8)

God will re-establish the weak and persecuted Jews, who are outcasts among the nations today.  All the nations of the world will be blessed in the latter days.  That is, those nations that will have helped the Jews to return to their land. (Matthew 25:31-46)  While there are many mysteries, conflicts and troubles today, there are glories in  the future for those who trust in Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.  We can be confident that the Bible is true and so are the many prophecies and promises for the latter days!

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Is The Search for Malaysia Flight 370 in the South Indian Ocean a Decoy?

Posted on March 29, 2014 by prophecyinperspective

It is amazing to me how long it has been since the initial spotting of debris in the South Indian Ocean and the long delay that something, anything, has actually been picked up.  While many are making a sincere effort in finding this plane, still it looks like there may be some subtle stalling going on.

Just recently the potential crash site had been moved further to the North East and a bit closer to the Australian main land. The weather delays and inability to actually locate debris spotted by satellite and by over flying aircraft continues. Interestingly, the highly efficient Global Hawk and other like unmanned drones which could linger much longer in the areas in question have not been used, at least to our knowledge. Some have wondered if they have been prioritized to the “Northern Sector” to search for, still possible, landing sites in Pakistan, or Iran.

Of course I do not believe we are hearing all the information there is to know.  U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, has at least implied that they are still actively investigating the possibility that the airliner may be somewhere else other than the South Indian Ocean.

We all would like to see a resolution to this whole question of what happened to Flight 370 and to the passengers and crew. Did the airliner crash, as most believe, in the middle of nowhere, namely, the South Indian Ocean?  Or, could there still be a possibility that this aircraft poses a threat by being used in an attack on Israel?

I believe that there is a genuine supernatural element in this mystery. There are not many who want to consider this.  Satan, the great deceiver, evidently influenced the pilot, the crew, or someone to divert this plane and all the souls aboard.   There are many in the world today who are under the sway of powerful demon spiritual forces that are all too real. (Ephesians 6:12) Jesus dealt with these powers all through His ministry.  Their existence and genuine ability to influence and sway the direction of governments, religious movements and individuals to do inexplicable and horrendous things is recorded all through the Old and New Testaments.  We find that the evident strength and presence of these highly organized demonic forces will only increase as world history nears the end of this present age.  (Revelation 6:1-17)

The subsequent events following the mysterious disappearance of Malaysia Flight 370 have also indicated a supernatural aspect.  For weeks we have witnessed this apparent supernatural aspect in the unexpected confusion and inexplicable delays in discovering where this plane ended up and for what reason it was taken in the fist place.

No doubt, the great deceiver, Satan, is at work behind the scenes.  Many that are given over to evil spirits are used by them as mediums to generate mind-control.  This mind-control can come through false teachings.  In this way Satan is able to use people to carry out his occult missions of murder and mayhem. Often, demons are responsible for depression, suicidal thoughts and actions, and the kind of religious zealotry that engenders immoral behavior, violence and conflict. (2 Corinthians 4:4)  This may often explain the deep depression of soldiers who have fought in foreign countries and cultures which harbor strong occultist, anti-Christian and anti-Semitic beliefs and practices.  While this reality is downplayed and even ridiculed by secularists, the fact remains that strong mind-control forces have succeeded in altering the outlook and thinking of many.

Is the present search in the South Indian Ocean a decoy and diversion from where the plane really is?  We will see, but the pattern seems to indicate that there is more here to consider than what is readily apparent.

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China is Investigating; Russia is Invading – What’s Next?

Posted on March 25, 2014 by prophecyinperspective

Recent reports state that China is demanding that the Malaysian Government hand over the satellite information they used to come to the abrupt conclusion that Flight 370 went into the South Indian Ocean and crashed with all lives lost. Chinese family members are very upset, understandably so, that the Prime Minister drew his conclusions with no corroborating evidence, such as recovered parts from the plane. Many do not accept that their loved ones are actually dead. Malaysia has completely mishandled this whole situation and it will be very interesting to see if the Chinese glean the same conclusions from this satellite information. I have my distinct doubts that they will place as heavy a weight of confidence on this evidence as the Malaysians have. I anticipate that they will demand much more proof that the loved ones of their citizens are really deceased. They will not hesitate to continue to search for them at any rate. The Malaysians however seem ready to put this whole matter behind them. But it wont’ be so easy! And it shouldn’t be! Much more investigation is needed!

Meanwhile, Russia has captured the last Ukrainian ship in their naval arsenal. This is virtually the final step in Russia’s conquest of the Crimea.  The Putin Empire continues to grow with thousands of troops poised to invade the rest of Ukraine as soon as the order is given.  As usual, the leadership of the United States seems to be at a complete loss as to how to effectively respond to Putin.

Amazingly, the Prophet Ezekiel predicts that in the latter days there will be just such an expansion and conquest of many nations by Russia with the ultimate goal of invading Israel.  Ezekiel writes that some of the nations that will be included in Russia’s invading army will be the land of the Crimea, Eastern Turkey and possibly even Germany.  These are the nations that are referred to in Ezekiel 38:6 as “Gomer with all its troops…”  Also mentioned is “Beth-togarmah,” which is the part of Turkey near the Syrian border. Additional nations that will ally with Russia in their future campaign against the Holy Land and the Jews are listed as “Persia (Iran), Ethiopia (Southern Sudan), and Put (Libia)”  These are Muslim countries.

Several sideline nations are spoken of as “Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all its villages. These probably represent the far away merchant lands and economies such as the United States, Great Britain and some nations of Europe.  According to Ezekiel, these countries will not try to stop Russia by force, but will only question Russia’s motives probably through diplomatic means!  They will ask Russia and her Islamic allies if they are invading Israel in order to seek plunder…silver and gold…cattle and goods (land and commodities of great value)…to capture great spoil? (Ezekiel 38:13)  These nations will not have the resolve to help Israel. 

Today, we are seeing something that looks eerily similar to this prophetic scenario as the G8 meeting at the Hague finds the member nations, including the U.S.  excluding Russia, at least temporally, from their club (thus, as of March 24, returning to the designation, G7) But Putin is un-impressed!   Nor is he moved to pull back from his determined forward movement toward re-building  Russia again into superpower status.

None of these events today are isolated nor merely coincidental, but all are an integral and strategic part of what God is doing prophetically in the world today.  What’s next?  God’s desire is for all to know His Son as personal Savior, who died and rose again, and to fully trust in Him for everlasting life.  Therefore we do not need to be confused in today’s world with all of its rebellion, conflict, mysteries and tragedies.  God has great and eternal plans for this world, and for you!  And you can hope in Him as you, by faith, look forward to the appearing of Jesus Christ at any moment! He is coming again! (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

 

 

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Is Flight 370 Where Malaysia Wants It To Be?

Posted on March 24, 2014 by prophecyinperspective

Before reports came in as to exactly what kind of debris was going to be picked up in the South Indian Sea, the Malaysian Prime Minister suddenly appeared to announce that there was no doubt that Flight 370 crashed there and all were dead. From his report of this grievous news for the families, the Prime Minister somewhat haltingly described a new kind of never-before used type of satellite analysis which brought them to the apparently incontestable conclusion that the airliner has crashed into the South Indian Sea.  After all of the emphasis on finding and examining the yet-to-be-fished-from-the-sea debris, it seemed to me that the Malaysian government was anxious to preempt this by delivering the hard news of their absolute certainty of the fate of Flight 370.

We need to see what further evidence shows, because there are many reasons to distrust the Malaysian government about this whole situation.  What an embarrassment it would be for them to have to wait for reports to come in about possible inconclusive results of the examination of the debris obtain by foreign countries.  They would not be able to live down the loss of face to many in their country who already suspect their leaders have shown incompetency during this entire ordeal.   It would be an even greater embarrassment to see further evidence that the aircraft was indeed taken north into Pakistan or Iran, or some other location and landed.

There is much political unrest in Malaysia. It stands to reason that this scenario is likely to bring the least embarrassment to the government there. The least disturbing scenario to Malaysia would be if the plane simply was deliberately crashed by a couple of crazed pilots who happened to support the very troublesome political opposition leaders in Malaysia.  They have drawn their conclusions! Case closed!  Only, the case is long from being closed!  And, on top of this, I think that this report is much more pleasing to the Obama administration which craftily won re-election on the false premise that Al-Qaeda is on the run and Islamic terrorism has been stopped during his watch.

Now the families of Flight 370 are more grief-stricken than they would have needed to have been had the Malaysian government simply not tried to beat everyone else to the punch, and allow the search for debris and the initial examination of that debris to play out.  This would certainly have cushioned the bad news more than this rushed,  ill-advised, if not entirely inaccurate, face-saving measure.  I, for one, am still holding out for a different conclusion in this matter, one that is not hurried, not politically motivated, and most of all a conclusion that is accurate! 

In these days when we can anticipate the soon return of Jesus Christ, we can take heart that God can reveal all that is questionable and entirely wrong about how the Malaysian government has mishandled the investigation and reporting of missing Flight 370.  Of course governments seek to gain and maintain power, but often this is done in wrong ways.  This is why the Bible tells us that we are to obey government and pray for those who are in leadership. (Romans 13:1-7)  We may be sure that God will hold those in government accountable for their actions.  In these latter times, the Bible predicts that men and women who make up governments “will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2 Timothy 3:13), so we will need to stay prayerful and watchful as these End-Time days continue to unfold.

 

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