PROPHECY UPDATE...............10/11/2022

 

Don’t Be Deceived: The Rapture Happens First – Jonathan Brentner - https://www.jonathanbrentner.com/https/jonathan-brentner-g8fgsquarespacecom/config/2022/10/5/dont-be-deceived-the-rapture-happens-first   As the world moves closer to another world war, which may include nuclear weapons, some speculate that the Tribulation period has already begun.   Others grow weary of waiting for the Lord’s return. How much longer will Jesus keep us on earth before He comes for us? Is He really going to keep us out of the time of the Lord’s wrath that’s rapidly approaching our world?   Please know that the Bible assures us that Lord will come for us before the start of the seven-year Tribulation, which begins the moment that the antichrist makes a covenant with Israel. This has not yet happened!   1Thessalonians 5:1-11 provides much needed encouragement regarding our hope in Jesus’ soon appearing. In this passage, the Lord through the Apostle Paul promises that we as believers in Jesus will miss the wrath of the coming Day of the Lord, which includes all of the Tribulation period.   Many Bible students also see 2 Thessalonians 2:3 as verse that confirms the pre-Tribulation Rapture of the church:   Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition. (KJV)   The traditional way of regarding “falling away,” or “rebellion” in some translations, has been to regard this as reference to a time of future apostasy in the church. The Greek word here, apostasia, normally makes one think of apostasy such as in a spiritual falling away.   However, in recent years, apostasia has received heightened scrutiny from biblical scholars with many now regarding it as a reference to Jesus’ appearing to take us home to heaven, the physical departure of the church from the earth. This actually aligns with the earliest English translations of the Bible, which translated apostasia as a departure such as a physical exit from a particular location.[i]   Do sound reasons exist for such an interpretation?   I believe they do. Below, I discuss the reasons that changed my long-held viewpoint of this matter to that of regarding apostasia as a reference to the pre-Tribulation Rapture.   THE WORD APOSTASIA CAN REFER TO A PHYSICAL DEPARTURE   The first question to ask is this: Is it possible for apostasia to refer to a physical departure such as the Rapture? Yes, it can.   In his book, The Falling Away, Dr. Andy Woods provides much evidence regarding the use of the Greek word apostasia in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 as a physical departure rather than a “falling away” from the faith. He wrote this regarding the basic meaning of the word:   “. . . apostasia simply means to ‘to stand away from’ or ‘to depart.’ Only by examining how this word is used in its immediate context will determine what the departure is from, whether it be a spiritual or physical departure.”[ii]   The root verb form apostasia confirms that it can refer to a physical departure from a location. New Testament writers used the verb form of apostasia fifteen times. As Dr. Woods points out:   “. . . only three times does it mean a spiritual departure. The remaining twelve times it clearly means a physical departure. For example, Luke 2:37 says, ‘and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four, she never left the temple.’”[iii]   Since apostasia can refer to either a physical departure or a spiritual falling away, we must rely on the context to determine the proper interpretation.   THE CONTEXT SUPPORTS A PHYSICAL DEPARTURE   Both the immediate and extended context of 2 Thessalonians 2:3 support a physical departure such as the Rapture. It’s the main subject matter of both books that Paul wrote to the Thessalonians.   2 Thessalonians 2 begins with these words, “Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him . . .” (v. 1). Paul introduces 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 with a reference to the Rapture. It seems unlikely that he would switch to a spiritual departure a couple verses later.   As for the greater context, Dr. Woods writes,   “Since the ‘context is king’ in determining the meaning of the apostasia and the larger context of the Thessalonian letters pertain to the return of Christ, interpreters should be open to a physical departure understanding of the word. Thus, the larger context of these two books does not favor spiritual departure interpretation of the apostasia, but rather it favors the physical departure view.” [iv]   The usage of apostasia in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 as our physical departure via the Rapture aligns with both the immediate and overall context of the verse. The context favors the interpretation of apostasia as a physical departure such as the Rapture of the church.   PAUL IS REFERRING TO A DEFINITE EVENT   Paul’s use of the definite article in front of apostasia tells us he has a specific event in mind, either a particular instance of apostasy or a definite occasion such as the Rapture. Because he does not further explain the event, this indicates the apostle was referring to an event that his readers would readily recognize.   The only apostasia of which his readers would have been aware of is that of the Rapture. They had no framework leading them to assume it meant a spiritual departure from the faith; again, we have no evidence that Paul even talked about this until much later. At the time, he assumed he would be alive at the time of Jesus’ appearing for His church.[v]   The apostle has a definite event in mind, one that his readers would readily recognize. On the other hand, Paul never refers to spiritual apostasy in either of his epistles to the Thessalonians and offers no additional clarifying information in the text.   The only departure that his readers would readily recognize is that of the Rapture.   PAUL DOES NOT MENTION SPIRITUAL APOSTASY IN EITHER EPISTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS   As we look at 1 and 2 Thessalonians, we see repeated references to the Rapture, but Paul never mentions a falling away from the faith.   Why would Paul cite a spiritual departure from the faith as a key indicator of the Day of the Lord with no other mention of it in either book that he wrote to his readers? And if he had not yet mentioned it to them, we would expect to see an explanation. However, he provides no such background to his reference.   As Dr. Woods points out, Paul does not refer to the spiritual apostasy of the church in the latter days until much later in his ministry, near its end.[vi] And when he does, the apostle always adds much supporting detail in each case (1 Tim. 4:1-5; 2 Tim. 4:3-5).   THE SENSE OF PHYSICAL DEPARTURE IS CONSISTENT WITH VERSES 7-8   In 2 Thessalonians 2:7-8 Paul writes,   “For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming.”   These verses tell us that the revealing of the antichrist cannot happen until the Restrainer is taken out of the way. The evidence strongly points to the Holy Spirit as the Restrainer and thus to the Rapture as the time His special restraining presence leaves the earth along with the church.   Notice the parallels with verse 3 if we assume apostasia refers to a physical departure.   In verse 3, Jesus removes His church via the Rapture first and then we have the revealing of the “man of lawlessness.”   In verse 7, the Lord takes away the restraining work of the Holy that keeps the antichrist from making himself known to the world.   In both verses 3 and 7, the antichrist steps onto the world scene after a “departure,” or the removal of either the church or the particular work of the Holy Spirit through the church.   If apostasia refers to a physical departure in verse 3, we then find a parallel in the context in verses 7-8, which provides us with additional evidence favoring a reference to the Rapture in verse 3.   AN EXAMPLE FROM CHURCH HISTORY   As additional evidence supporting the interpretation of apostasia as a physical departure, we have an example from early church history. A key leader at the time referred to what we now call the Rapture as a “departure.” Cyprian, a bishop in the city of Carthage during the third century AD, wrote this:   We who see that terrible things have begun, and know that still more terrible things are imminent, may regard it as the greatest advantage to depart from it as quickly as possible. Do you not give God thanks, do you not congratulate yourself, that by an early departure you are taken away, and delivered from the shipwrecks and disasters that are imminent?[vii]   Cyprian (AD 200–258) used the words “depart” and “early departure” to refer to the Lord’s appearing to take His church away before a time of “shipwrecks and disasters.” While this by itself doesn’t confirm the translation of apostasia as “departure,” it lends considerable support to our interpretation of the word as a reference to the Rapture.   Please also note that Cyprian believed the church would depart before a time of great trouble on the earth.   THE RAPTURE IS CONSISTENT WITH THE EXPECTATION OF THE THESSALONIANS   The young believers in Thessalonica expected the Lord to come for them before the start of the day of the Lord. Their response to an errant message telling them this time had already begun confirms this. They panicked when they received the mistaken communication.   In response to their frayed nerves, Paul told them “not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed” (2 Thess. 2:2). “The verb shaken denotes a rocking motion, a shaking up and down, like a building shaken by an earthquake . . .”[viii] To be “alarmed” signifies a feeling of “fright” with its usage here conveying a “state of alarm, of nervous excitement.”[ix]   Paul’s main purpose in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 was to comfort and assure the Thessalonian believers that the Day of the Lord had not yet started. The fact that they remained earthbound does that much better than a spiritual falling away from the faith that might occur far away.   SINCE APOSTASIA REFERS TO A PHYSICAL DEPARTURE IN VERSE 3, THE RAPTURE MUST OCCUR BEFORE THE SEVEN-YEAR TRIBULATION   If apostasia refers to the Rapture in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, and we have many reasons to believe that it does, then we can know with certainty that Jesus will appear before the seven-year Tribulation to take us to heaven.   In my book, The Triumph of the Redeemed, I wrote this regarding how such an interpretation confirms the pre-Tribulation Rapture of the church:   If apostasia refers to a physical departure and the context and other evidence strongly supports this conclusion, Paul is telling his readers, and us, that they could know that the Day of the Lord hadn’t yet started because they remained earthbound. This must signify that the Rapture occurs before the start of the Tribulation, since the judgments of this time fall under the umbrella of the Day of the Lord.[x]   This is not wishful thinking, but rather the result of a careful study of word usage as well as the context of 2 Thessalonians 2:3.   If apostasia signifies the physical departure of the church from the earth, and the evidence strongly suggests that it does, the Rapture must occur before the antichrist makes his appearance on the world scene and makes a covenant with the nation of Israel.   The fulfillment of Jesus’ words in John 14:2-3 is the next event on God’s prophetic calendar. Keep watching and enduring until the glorious day Jesus comes for us!   “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”   My book, The Triumph of the Redeemed-An eternal Perspective that Calms Our Fears in Perilous Times, is available on Amazon. This book provides a step-by-step account of why the Rapture must happen before the Tribulation period.   Note: Please consider signing up for my newsletter on the home page of my website at https://www.jonathanbrentner.com/. Thanks!   [i] The Wycliffe Bible (1384), Tyndale Bible (1526), Coverdale Bible (1535), Cranmer Bible (1539), Breeches Bible (1576), Beza Bible (1583), and Geneva Bible (1608) all translated “apostasia” as a physical departure.   [ii] Andy Woods, The Falling Away – Spiritual Departure or Physical Rapture? (Taos, NM, Dispensational Publishing House, Inc., 2018), p. 19.   [iii] Ibid. p. 23   [iv] Ibid. p. 27   [v] Jonathan C. Brentner, The Triumph of the Redeemed (Crane, MO: Defender publishing, 2021) pp. 146-47.   [vi] Andy Woods, p. 13   [vii] Cyprian, Treatises of Cyprian, “On the Mortality,” section 25.   [viii] Hiebert, D Edmond, The Thessalonian Epistles (Chicago: Moody Press, 1971), p. 301.   [ix] Ibid., p. 302   [x] Brentner, p. 148.

Feast Of Tabernacles: Rapture Types & Shadows Of Things To Come – by T.W. Tramm - https://www.prophecynewswatch.com/article.cfm?recent_news_id=5644   The most joyous festival on God's calendar, the Feast of Tabernacles, begins October 11 This year.   Also called the Feast of Ingathering, Tabernacles celebrates the completion of the harvest, when the year's produce is gathered in from the fields (Ex. 23:16; Deut. 16:3).   To observe the festival, God instructed the Israelites to "take palm branches and rejoice before the Lord for seven days" (Lev. 23:40, 41). Additionally, the people were to build makeshift huts, or booths, and live in them during the feast as a reminder of the temporary shelters they lived in during the time in the wilderness (Lev. 23:42, 43).   While the Feast of Tabernacles points ultimately to the Millennial Kingdom, when God will dwell, or "tabernacle," with man, its themes also correspond to the Rapture.   Consider the parallels:   • Tabernacles is one of three designated harvest festivals (Ex. 23:14-17). The Rapture is a 'harvest' (Matt. 13).   • Tabernacles is when all men must appear before the Lord (Ex. 34:22, 23). The Rapture is when all believers appear before the Lord (2 Thess. 2:1).   • Tabernacles is a time of rejoicing before the Lord (Lev. 23:40). The ultimate time of rejoicing before the Lord will be after the Rapture (1 Thess. 2:19).   • Tabernacles is the last festival, so the trumpet blast announcing it is the "last trump" (1 Cor. 15:52).   • Tabernacles begins at the full moon. Since the moon is symbolic of the Church, the full moon at Tabernacles signifies the "fullness of the Gentiles" at the end of the age (Rom. 11:25). Moreover, the full moon is when the goodman of the house, a picture of Jesus, returns (Prov. 7:19, 20).   • The Gentile Ruth married the Jewish redeemer Boaz, a picture of the Church's wedding to Messiah, after the harvest was complete (Ruth 2:21, 23 DRB). Tabernacles is when the harvest is complete (Lev. 23:39).   • The seven days of Tabernacles parallel the seven-year 'wedding celebration' after the Rapture (Lev. 23:39; Gen. 29:26, 27).   • At the end of every seventh (Sabbatical) year, during the Feast of Tabernacles, the Law, symbolizing the 'marriage contract,' is read aloud before the people (Deut. 31:10, 11).   • Tabernacles (Sukkot) is the name of the place Israel first camped after departing Egypt (Ex. 12:37). The departure from Egypt is a picture of the Rapture.   • In John chapter 7, Jesus attends the Feast of Tabernacles in partial secrecy because His "time had not yet fully come," and "even his [Jewish] brothers did not believe in Him" (vv. 5, 6). Similarly, the Rapture is a limited appearance of the Lord at a time of unbelief.   • Tabernacles has special meaning for Gentiles, and will be celebrated by them throughout the Millennium (Zech. 14).   • The First Temple was dedicated to God at the Feast of Tabernacles (1 Kings 8:65). The ultimate "Temple," the Church, or Body of Christ, will be dedicated to the Lord at the Rapture (Eph. 2:20-22).   In addition to the parallels, a Tabernacles Rapture makes sense contextually.   Consider the overall festival scenario:   Pentecost, in early summer, is when the Church is "sealed," or betrothed, by the Holy Spirit in anticipation of the future day of redemption (Acts 2; Eph. 4:30).   Feast of Trumpets, at summer's end, is a "memorial," or reminder, of the betrothal and a wake-up call that the day of redemption is near (Lev. 23:24).   The ten "Days of Awe" represent the final opportunity to be sealed before Yom Kippur arrives.   Yom Kippur, the day of the Jubilee trumpet blast, is when one's fate is determined: the sounding of the trumpet is a declaration of redemption for those who are sealed by the Holy Spirit, and a pronouncement of judgment for those who are not (Isa. 61:1, 2; 63:3, 4).   Finally, the full moon at Tabernacles denotes the fullness of the Gentiles, and the completion of the Church-harvest. The seven days of rejoicing before the Lord correspond to the seven-year 'wedding celebration' in heaven and, conversely, seven years of Tribulation on earth. This scenario is pictured in Revelation where a great multitude is seen celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles in heaven, during the Tribulation (Rev. 7:9, 10).   Speaking of Tabernacles and the Tribulation, it was seven years ago on the Feast of Tabernacles that a blood moon eclipse, a rare "supersized" version, appeared above the Americas, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Since the God of the Bible is known for giving a seven-year warning, this ominous sign in 2015 is one to take note of in 2022:   "The moon will turn blood red before the great and terrible day of the LORD comes" (Joel 2:31).   Having made the case for a Tabernacles Rapture, the point of this study is not that the Rapture must happen at the Feast of Tabernacles.   The point is that it could.   The Rapture could also occur on a day unforeseen:   Jesus ascended to heaven on a non-feast day, and two angels testified that He will return in "like manner" (Acts 1:10, 11).   Paul says there is no need to discuss "times and dates" because the Day of the Lord will arrive like a thief, i.e., at a time no one can predict (1 Thess. 5:1, 2 NIV).   Jesus tells even His closest followers to "keep watch," because He is coming at an hour they do not expect (Matt. 24:44)   For this reason, it is wise to be ready always:   "Be dressed and keep your lamps burning ... Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes .... If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants!" (Luke 12:35, 37, 38). . . .   NOTES: 1. Feast of Tabernacles timing: The modern (precalculated) Jewish calendar has the seven-day Feast of Tabernacles beginning at sunset October 9. However, those who reckon the months by the sighting of the New-Moon crescent will observe the festival two days later, beginning at sunset October 11. https://torahcalendar.com/Calendar.asp?YM=Y2022M7   2. Tabernacles is mentioned more than any other festival in Scripture.   3. The temporary shelters the Israelites lived in during the Feast of Tabernacles are also symbolic of man, a spiritually eternal being who dwells in a temporary covering, or body, in the present world.   4. Trumpets are sounded at all biblical festivals (Ps. 81:3).   5. Feast of Tabernacles observed in heaven: It is evident that the great multitude in Revelation 7 is celebrating Tabernacles because they are rejoicing before the Lord with palm branches, and it is said that God will spread His "tabernacle" over them (vv. 9-12, 15 BSB). The reason given for the multitude being there is that "they have washed their robes ... in the blood of the Lamb," an allusion to the white robe worn by the priest on the Day of Atonement (Lev. 16:3-5).

Shadow of Apocalypse - By Hal Lindsey - https://www.hallindsey.com/ww-10-9-2022/   In Japan, people scrambled to find shelter as a North Korean missile flew overhead. The nation issued a J-alert. Train service was suspended. Officials ordered residents in the northeastern part of the country to evacuate buildings and find bomb shelters. Both Japan and South Korea sit minutes away from almost all of North Korea’s large ballistic missile stockpile. But they’re not alone. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea also has intercontinental ballistic missiles that can reach most of the world, including the United States.   On October 4th, the Los Angeles Times ran an article with the headline, “North Korea’s latest missile test reminds the world of Asia’s powder keg.” The article said, “With the war in Ukraine and Russia’s threats to deploy tactical nuclear weapons, it was easy to lose sight of the rising danger North Korea poses.”   But with a threat like Russia, such an oversight is understandable. When the nation with the world’s largest stockpile of nuclear weapons, repeatedly threatens to use them, it’s hard not to put your focus there. It may feel good to see Ukraine’s success, but we also need to understand the danger their success creates. Putin’s army is falling apart. Men fearing the draft have been fleeing the country at an astounding rate.   An ever-growing number of Putin’s inner circle have met untimely deaths, suggesting that it’s dangerous even in private to question the Czar-like Putin. But on the battlefield, another kind of desperation has set in. It has become increasingly common to see white flags attached to Russian tanks, and Russian soldiers walking toward enemy lines with their hands raised.   Vladimir Putin is being deeply humiliated. That feels like justice, but it has created an almost unfathomable danger for every person in the world. The Daily Beast ran an October 4th article with the headline, “It’s Time to Brace for Putin’s Greatest Meltdown Yet.” They called him a “cornered animal,” and said, “The great unraveling of Russian President Vladimir Putin could be right around the corner. It won’t be pretty.”   As Russia’s leader is further weakened, he becomes more likely to lash out with the only thing Russia has that scares everyone else — his nukes. He’s looking for a way to stay in power, and maybe even to stay alive. It is a time of desperation, and that means anything is possible.   That same day, October 4, 2022, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said it was purchasing $290 million worth of the drug Nplate, used “to save lives following radiological and nuclear emergencies.” Think about that. The United States is now stockpiling antiradiation drugs. What brought that on? One guess. Russia.   Vladimir Putin, a man who seems to be in poor health and showing increased mental instability, controls the world’s largest arsenal of nuclear weapons — larger even than that of the United States. In a televised September speech to the Russian people, Putin said he was not bluffing when he warned that he might use nuclear weapons against the West. He told them the very existence of Russia is now at stake in Ukraine. Since he said that, Russia’s strategic position in Ukraine has only grown more dire.   “Perilous times” have come, just as the Bible said they would. Stay close to the Lord in prayer and Bible reading. We must not despair, but walk in faith — getting the Gospel out in every way we can, for as long as we can.

Just For Today… - By Mike Damron - https://www.raptureready.com/2022/10/04/just-for-today-by-mike-damron/   One thing that the Lord has taught me over the years is to live one day at a time. I get easily overwhelmed when I look too far ahead. A while back, I made up a list of things (priorities) to keep me focused on every day. Below is that list. I pray that this helps you also.   1. Just for today – I’m going to read my Bible. It may only be one chapter. It may only be one verse. It may only be one word. I will seek the Holy Spirit’s help in understanding what I read and for His help to put it into practice in my life, knowing that I cannot grow spiritually without His Word. And my greatest goal in reading His word is getting to know Him more!   2. Just for today – I’m going to take time to pray. Before I start my day, I’m going to ask God for guidance, for protection, and for strength. If there is any known sin in my life, I will confess it, forsake it, and ask God for His forgiveness. I will thank God for all my blessings. I will praise Him for who He is as my God, my Creator, my Savior, and my Friend. If there are any needs in my life, I will ask God to meet them according to His will. And most of all, I will ask that His will be done in my life. I will not forget to pray for others (intercessory). And I won’t forget to send up prayers throughout the day as needed (pray without ceasing). I will end my day in prayer.   3. Just for today – I’m going to trust God. Just as I trusted Him to save me from my sins, I’m going to trust His promises, reminding myself that God cannot lie and that He has proven Himself faithful to me in past troubles. I will trust Him when I’m afraid. I will trust Him even if it seems that He is against me. My faith will be tested.   4. Just for today – I’m going to love God with all my heart and love others. I will remind myself that love is the greatest commandment in the Bible and is more important than anything I am able to say or do for the Lord. I will let my love for God be greater than the love I have for the world. I will let my love for God be the motivating factor for everything I do for Him. I will love others (my neighbors), even those who are my enemies. I will exhibit to others an agape (unconditional) love, the love which God has for me.   5. Just for today – I will seek to be a blessing to others. I will be kind, gentle, patient, and courteous to others – reminding myself that these traits are fruits of the Holy Spirit and cannot be done in my own strength. I need His help. (Pray!) I will encourage and edify others.   6. Just for today – I will not complain, grumble, or gripe to others. I will learn to take all of my complaints (cares) to the Lord (first) before going to others. My God has big shoulders!   7. Just for today – I will seek to live a life that glorifies and honors God. I will be careful not to do anything that would bring reproach upon His Name. Even though I could never become worthy by the things I do, I remind myself that as a child of God, He is worthy of a walk by me that will glorify and honor Him in all I do and say.   8. Just for today – I will forgive myself. I will remind myself that I will never be perfect in this life and that everyone has fallen short of the Glory of God and makes mistakes. If (since) God has forgiven me of all my sins (which He has since I am a believer), then I need to forgive myself. I will not allow the devil to make me feel guilty or condemned over sins that have been confessed, forsaken, and forgiven!   9. Just for today – I will share my faith and the love of Jesus to someone who is lost. I will speak first through the life that I live in front of them and then will use words. I will remind myself that no one will care what I have to say until they know that I care. I will be careful not to shove grace in their face and will let the Holy Spirit be my guide.   10. Just for today – I will not give up! No matter how many times I fail or fall, I will never give up! I will get up every time and will keep going, reminding myself that the Lord is by my side, helping me to get up, helping me to keep going, and most importantly, that He will never forsake me. He is cheering me on! He is on my side. He is not mad at me.   If I fail or forget to do these things today, I will not beat myself up over it, reminding myself that every new day brings about a fresh start, a clean slate, new mercies, grace, and compassion from my wonderful Lord!! Amen!!   May the Lord bless you as you wait for Him to return!   Mike Damron   mdamron@damronwalls.com

Daily Jot: The curse of a lack of common sense - Bill Wilson – www.dailyjot.com   It takes no real genius to discern that America is in terrible shape economically, socially and morally. The headlines alone offer little hope for the immediate future. And when one looks toward the future, there are tremendous clouds on the horizon. Schools are sexualizing children. Parents are allowing school systems and local governments to sexually molest their children with the immoral abomination of the homosexual, transexual, and any other sexual deviant concepts. Is this the future our country—pink and green haired, pierced, inked leaders that have no idea whether they are men or women, and can’t make a common sense decision to even save themselves?   The leaders of America are no better. Those who are supposed to stand for the truth have abandoned the truth to follow a political religion of communism, where government is god, wrong is right, and science is political rather than practical. The media has utterly failed to report the truth. It is in league with an unholy alliance of government and industry that has abandoned any sense of propriety to the citizenry. If they say “stakeholder capitalism,” they mean each of us must bend to their leftist ideals or not be a part of society. If they say “democracy,” they mean people who can be controlled economically and socially are to be made to believe they have control over their lives.   In short, whenever the media, the captains of industry, and government together promote anything, the truth and reality of the situation is most always the opposite. Who wants to destroy the oil and gas industry? Those who want their cronies in the “green energy” industry to become wealthy. Who wants to claim they are driven by science and censor all those who question their “findings”? Those who become filthy rich at the expense of the victims of their science. And the government, as we can see with Joe Biden and his brother and son, or with Hillary Clinton and her minions, forces the masses to accept their shenanigans. Even church leaders have fallen prey to these horrible deceptions and abominations.   Deuteronomy 32:28-33 says, “They are a nation void of sense; there is no understanding in them. If they had insight they would realize this, they would understand their end: How could one rout a thousand, or two put ten thousand to flight, Unless their Rock given them over, the LORD delivered them up? For their rock is not like our Rock, Even our enemies themselves concede. For their vine is from the vine of Sodom, And from the fields of Gomorrah; Their grapes are grapes of poison, Their clusters, bitter. Their wine is the venom of serpents, And the deadly poison of vipers.” Indeed, this is what we have experienced. It is a curse of a lack of common sense. We need the ROCK of our salvation, Christ, to do a great “reset” in our lives that we may boldly act as Christ’s holy nation of people. Only then can we rout these evildoers.

Daily Devotion: The Legacy of Ananias - by Greg Laurie – www.harvest.org   Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” —Acts 9:10   https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/the-legacy-of-ananias/ - Listen   What do you think will you be remembered for? What will your legacy be?   In Acts 9, we read about a man named Ananias, whom God used to minister to Saul, later known as the apostle Paul.   The Lord got a hold of Saul on Damascus and said to him, “Why are you persecuting Me? . . . It is hard for you to kick against the goads” (Acts 9:4–5 NKJV). Essentially, God was saying, “Saul, you have been under the conviction of the Holy Spirit and have been resisting Him again and again. Now your time has come.”   Then the newly converted Saul said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” (verse 9 NKJV).   Afterward, God directed Ananias to seek out Saul and pray for him. But Ananias replied, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name” (verses 13–14 NKJV).   But God said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake” (verses 15–16 NLT).   Ananias was understandably reluctant, but in obedience, he did what God had told him to do. He discipled the newly converted Saul, who, in time, became the legendary apostle Paul and probably the greatest preacher in the history of the Church.   I thank God for the Ananiases of the kingdom, those who faithfully work behind the scenes. We rarely hear their names, but they faithfully pray, give, and labor away in obscurity. They are unknown to people, but they are God’s beloved.