PROPHECY UPDATE ...................12/02/2022

 

Jesus is Coming…Are You Ready? - By Pastor Mike Taylor - https://pastormiketaylor.blogspot.com/2022/11/jesus-is-comingare-you-ready.html   19 “And I scattered them among the heathen, and they were dispersed through the countries: according to their way and according to their doings I judged them. 20 And when they entered unto the heathen, whither they went, they profaned my holy name, when they said to them, These are the people of the Lord, and are gone forth out of his land. 21 But I had pity for mine holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the heathen, whither they went. 22 Therefore say unto the house of Israel, thus saith the Lord God; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went. 23 And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the Lord, saith the Lord God, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.” (Ezekiel 36:19-23)   We live in an age of miracles. Who would have dreamed the advancements that have been created in a short, by comparison of the last 125 year, to the history of mankind. But science has made great advances in medicine on understanding genetic codes, some good, and some not so good. As it was in the days of Noah, mankind has mastered many secrets to life, but have done things that God destroyed the whole earth because of doing things against His Creation. Man attempts to merge DNA's of humans and animals in test tubes is an abomination before God. To create artificial intelligence and make man a hybrid of machine and humanity. Then man has been able to manipulate weather such as using HAARP but creates havoc using such devices to control the elements.   Then we see the advances in space travel and I remember the news coverage when we first landed a manned space craft on the moon. Man expects in the future to travel to distant stars, to Mars and other planets outside our atmosphere. It appears there is nothing that mankind cannot do....to a point, that God will allow. Mankind has limits that are in the bounds of time, which we cannot control. We see the past and learn from history, but we cannot see the future and make any type of predictions, as we can only guess.   ISRAEL, A MODERN DAY MIRACLE   Take for example the restoration of Israel as a modern day democracy after almost 2000 years of being destroyed as a nation on earth. No one would have believed 150 years ago OR even 80 years that Israel would ever come back to her native country as we have seen in the last 74 years. Israel was virtually uprooted in 702 BC by Sargon II who conquered the northern half of the nation we now know as Israel and carted the people to distant lands, scattering them to the four winds and placed other people conquered into the land to prevent an uprising and rebellion of nations they conquered and overran. It is how the Samaritans came to be in the northern half of the once great nation of Israel in the days of Jesus. Likewise, the southern half of Israel, know as Judah was taken captive by the Kingdom of Babylon and finally returned after 70 years of exile. But in 70AD Jerusalem was destroyed and the Temple burned and the nation of Israel was no more when in 135 AD the city was sown with salt and plowed under and the national name was changed to Palestine by the Roman Empire after the name of the Philistines in Gaza area.   Still the prophets wrote confidently by Holy Spirit moving them to write, that in the last days, Israel would again be reborn in her own land. Once again the Hebrew people would inhabit real estate from which they were displaced, seemingly forever.   "And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country." (Ezekiel 34:13)    Writing of the Gog Magog invasion, God inspired Ezekiel to prophesy;   "After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them." (Ezekiel 38:8)   In this passage, we find a time frame in Ezekiel's prophecy that would come to pass as he said “after many days, in the latter years”. They would be brought forth from all the nations that they had wandered to and be brought to the ancestral lands to a land who had always been laid waste for near 2000 years. A place when Mark Twain visited called it the most desolate place he had ever seen on earth. Nothing grew and there were no trees, but only desert and barren hills.   For more than 2,500 years, this prophecy of Ezekiel remained dormant. Israel was destroyed by Sargon and never again existed as an independent nation. Until, on May 14, 1948, when the survivors of the Holocaust were 'brought forth' under the banner of 'never again' to the 'mountains of Israel' -- which 'had always been waste' as the nation of 'Israel'.   During the time before Israel became a nation again, they petitioned Great Britain to allow them a homeland in the African country of Uganda, as they would have settled for any country, but that is not what the prophets wrote and not what God had promised Abraham, Isaac and Jacob that Israel and the Jewish people would inhabit again the mountains of Israel and that is exactly what happened.   I say all that about how Israel in a brevity of statements how Israel is now a nation again, to say this.   WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE TRIBULATION?   Understanding the purpose of the Tribulation in relationship to Israel would go a long way to helping us to understand whether the Church of the Living God will be raptured before the tribulation, out of it, or after it.   Let us go back to the prophet Daniel and explore a little more of the vision given to the prophet and how history would unfold. Daniel foretold the rise and fall of three great empires and the rise, fall and revival of the last great world empire -- that of Rome.   "Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy." (Daniel 9:24)   The main points of the prophecy given to Daniel fall into these categories: A. 'Weeks' refer to 'weeks of years' – 70/ 7 year periods equalling 490 years using the Hebrew 'shabua' or 'heptad' the way we use the Greek 'decade' in our culture to divide years into groups of ten years each. B. The angel specifically said this period was for Daniel's people (Jews) and Daniel's holy city (Jerusalem).  C. Within this time frame six things will be accomplished; 1) finish the transgression, 2) make an end of sin, 3) make reconciliation for sin, 4) bring in everlasting righteousness, 5) seal up the vision and prophecy and 6) anoint the Most Holy.   All of these points are clearly directed at Israel, as the Church had not been formed yet. Point 1-3 in numeral category C above have already been accomplished and were settled for the church at the cross of Calvary by our Lord and Savior. Points 4-6 occur at the end of the Tribulation, with the establishment of the Millennial Kingdom and the rule of the King of kings, Jesus Christ.   The first 69 weeks or 483 years (70x7=490 years) concluded with Jesus riding in on a donkey to to loud proclaims of “Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest ” and the people proclaiming Jesus as King. A few days later and Jesus would be crucified, as as the text in Daniel says:   “And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.” (Daniel 9:26)   Thus, the prophecy was put on pause, as the points 4-6 could not be completed because the Temple was destroyed in 70AD. At that time, God turned His attention to building a people who were not His people, the Church of the Living God. Daniel is told that the 70th week will open when the “Anti-Christ” confirms a covenant between Israel and the many or nations of the world.   “And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.” (Daniel 9:27)   Daniel indicates in the passages noted above, that the Tribulation period is for Israel's national redemption. That theme is picked up by the prophet Zechariah:    “The burden of the word of the Lord for Israel, saith the Lord, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him. 2 Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. 3 And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.” (Zechariah 12:1-3)   Zechariah goes into great detail in chapter 12-14 of the redemption of Israel and is further proven in Revelation chapter 4 all the way through to chapter 20.   Jeremiah states further, that this is the time of Jacob's trouble: 7 “Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble, but he shall be saved out of it. 8 For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him: 9 But they shall serve the Lord their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them.” (Jeremiah 30:7-9)   "For I am with thee, saith the LORD, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet I will not make a full end of thee: but I will correct thee in measure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished." (Jeremiah 30:11)   THOSE THAT DWELL ON THE EARTH.   There is also a second group that go through the Tribulation, right along with Israel:   "Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth." (Revelation 3:10)   Remember me telling you in times past, that the phrase “Keep thee from” is found in the original Greek in the word “EK” or meaning to keep from the hour, to separate those from the time and space. To bring them out of, not through an event. In this case, Jesus is talking about the coming Tribulation that will try “them that dwell upon the earth”. And the Church is not part of the Tribulation, as Jesus will take us “out of” His coming wrath poured out.   Note the phrase, 'them that dwell upon the earth'. We find it six other times; in Revelation 6:10, 8:13, 11:10, 13:8, and 17;8.   These are the individuals that gloat over the death of God's two witnesses found in chapter 11 of Revelation. And those who are pronounced to endure the final three trumpets which are to come written in chp. 8 of this same book of your Bible. These “dwellers on the earth” are the people who are deceived by the beast rising up from the sea, make an image of the first beast, and worship the beast which all speaks of the Anti-Christ:   6 “And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. 7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. 8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” (Revelation 13:6-8)   Those who dwell upon the earth will gaze in wonder at the scarlet beast:   7 “And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns. 8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.” (Revelation 17:7-8)   These are the people, those that dwell upon the earth, who do NOT have their names written down in the Book of Life and will take the mark of the beast.   In contrast to these earth dwellers, Jesus says of the Church in His prayer at Gethsemane;   14 “I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” (John 17:14-17)   Jesus is praying at the time for His apostles, and all who the Father would give Him. It is a blanket prayer for all the saints of God down through time from the time of the cross. Clearly, since the Tribulation period is the time of Jacob's Trouble, was pronounced upon Daniel's people and Daniel's city, and its purpose is to accomplish for Daniel's people in the last days the same thing accomplished for the Church at the Cross, the Tribulation period is for the Jews. As I have spoken of many times in the past, the two group of people found during the tribulation as noted above are the Jewish people, the nation of Israel, and those who are rebellious against God known as the “dwellers upon the earth” . Israel will be refined as silver is refined in the furnace, as Malachi tells us:   2 “But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: 3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. 4 Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord, as in the days of old, and as in former years.” (Malachi 3:2-4)   Just as clearly, according to Jesus, it is also to judge the earth dwellers whose names are not written in the Book of Life.   14 “And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. 15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. 16 And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped. 17 And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. 18 And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. 19 And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20 And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.” (Revelation 14:14-20)   If there is a purpose for the Church in the Tribulation Period, there is no express mention of that purpose in Scripture, although Scripture is clear regarding both Jews and 'earth-dwellers'. And the 'earth dwellers' can't be the Church, since their names are not written in the Book of Life.   Paul tells us through God's Holy Spirit that we are not appointed to the wrath that is befallen those who dwell upon the earth, that starts in chp. 6 of Revelation.   9 “For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; 10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.” (1st Thessalonians 1:9-10)   But what wrath to come? To those who will be delivered unto hell fire for their rejection of Jesus Christ as personal Savior. The wrath of God will fall on all earth dwellers in the Tribulation that have rejected the only propitiation or substitute for the wrath we deserve, which is death. Again in Romans chapter 8, Paul confirms that we are not part of God's fury, as the wrath of God is fallen on those who are condemned.   “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (Romans 8:1-4)   Now lets look at 1st Thessalonians of Paul has further to say:   “But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3 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. 4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. 8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. 9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,” (1st Thessalonians 5:1-9)   Notice in verse 3 "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." (Note the pronouns 'they' and 'them')   Then we read in verse 5: "Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: WE are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let US not sleep, as do others; but let US watch and be sober." (Note the change -- 'they'- 'them' become 'we'- 'us')   Then in verse 7, Paul tells us the difference in “we,us” in verse 5, by differentiating between those that sleep and are drunk:   "For THEY that sleep sleep in the night; and THEY that be drunken are drunken in the night."   And finally, tells us that we must be vigilant "But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation."   There is a clear distinction between Jewish people who are alive during this time, and earth dwellers who are also going through the Tribulation, and “US” the Church, but let me make a point here.   Look at verse 8 above. It refers to the “hope of salvation”. What does that mean?   Salvation from what?   My salvation comes with an iron-clad guarantee, signed in Blood. I don't 'hope' for salvation -- I am saved now.   17” For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.” (1st Peter 4:17-19)   The church is being judged now. We are saved by the Blood of Jesus and have salvation from eternal punishment that is found in hell and the Lake of Fire.   But salvation from the 'wrath to come' is indicated by the context and consistent with the doctrine that says,   "I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them from my hand." (John 10:28)   And the 'wrath to come' is the Tribulation period - the time of Jacob's Trouble. The Church is not needing judgment as we have already been judged righteous clothed with the righteousness of Jesus our Lord, and that not of our own.   The argument for a pre-tribulation Rapture of the Church is consistent with Scripture. Keep in mind that the salient point is not so much 'when' as it is "Who" is coming.   ARE YOU READY?   Do you know who is coming? Are you ready to meet Him? Will you be clothed with His righteousness, or found wanting by being clothed with your own? Yours cannot stand in front of a Holy God who will not allow sin into His presence. There is only one Way back to God our Father and to be forgiven of all of our short comings in breaking the Laws of God, for if you have sinned in one point, you have sinned in them all. One sin is just as great as the other in God's eyes. What must you do to be forgiven and be able to escape what is coming?   The Remedy is found in One Name that is above every name. Jesus Christ is that Name...He stands at the door of any sinner's heart and knocks to be allowed entrance. He won't force His way in, but will accept your invitation to make Him Lord of your life.   16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:16-18)   8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.” (Romans 10:8-11)   Who will you be identified with in the coming time of the return of Jesus Christ for His Church...will you be that church, the bride of Christ, or will you simply be a sin filled “earth dweller” that has to go through the most horrific time known to God's world. Jesus is coming. Now is the season of making that decision for Jesus Christ and get on the ark of safety, which is the Son of God. Do it today, as the time of that closing window of opportunity is closing fast.   This is pastor Mike Taylor, praying you enter into a relationship by the blood of Jesus Christ, with Almighty God. If you need prayer, counseling, or just a listening ear. Email me at pastormiketaylor@yahoo.com  or visit me online at pastormiketaylor@blogspot.com ....God bless you all, TILL WE MEET AT JESUS FEET.

Draconian Lockdowns and Forced Vaccinations… Now They Want Amnesty for Their Catastrophic Decisions? – By Dean Dwyer - https://harbingersdaily.com/draconian-lockdowns-and-forced-vaccinations-now-they-want-amnesty/   The so-called experts, being those elites and politicians who basically brought mayhem and destruction to so much of the world in the name of ‘keeping us safe’, are now more or less pleading for us to just forgive and forget. With much of the mainstream media – and even some senior executives from Big Pharma – now saying that our political and medical overlords made mistakes, many are fearing backlash. And well they should! There is no way to properly estimate the price of all the carnage and catastrophe caused, not by some virus but by State overreach, overkill, fear-mongering, panic and what may well be the biggest con in human history.   With all the coercive and tyrannical measures used on the masses – draconian lockdowns and forced vaccinations that contravened one basic human-rights charter after another – the costs may never be fully known: not just financial, but in terms of human lives. How many small businesses were lost forever? How many careers ended permanently? How many were forced out of their employment? How many economies were destroyed? How many people committed suicide? How many overdosed on drugs or binged on alcohol? How many missed important medical appointments? How many young people spiraled into deep depression and despair? How many ordinary citizens who marched for basic freedoms, human rights and civil liberties were met by a determined police response complete with rubber bullets, tear gas, arrests and imprisonment? How many were like the young pregnant mother who was arrested in her own home in her pajamas? How many were treated like fools, outcasts and pariahs for daring to ‘question the science’ and not just blindly run with the herd in fear and subservience? How many suffered adverse reactions or died from the rushed, experimental and improperly tested vaccines?   The above is anything but a complete list, yet our elites and politicians simply want us to forget all about it and pretend none of this ever happened. And the excuses are already starting to pour out from these folks. For example, they claim that they simply did not have all the information back then. However, many people did seem to have the information back then but they were demonized, abused, hated, treated like dirt and shouted down. Now it turns out that they were basically right all along, whether it was warning of lockdown madness, the folly of ineffectual masking or the suppression of proven medications. At the very least we are owed an apology, but instead we are hearing our elites and leaders calling for an amnesty. They want to simply be let off the hook. “Let’s just forgive, forget and move on” they say.   What they really want is our forgiveness without actually admitting they were wrong. They are publicly forgiving themselves, saying they have no blood on their hands and have nothing to be sorry for. But a piece penned by American writer Tanya Berlaga said in part: “After almost everything ‘the experts’ told us has been proven false they demand amnesty because of the uncertainty they were facing. Yet, back then, they denied that any uncertainty existed. Back then they claimed they knew exactly what to do. Back then they claimed that everyone who either contradicted or doubted them was spreading misinformation. They proclaimed themselves ‘the science’ and ordered everyone to follow their orders or else.”   We don’t need to know the future – only the past – to know that science does not require a blind following. Science involves debate, experimentation and inquiry. The so-called ‘experts’ and their admirers replaced real science with THE SCIENCE (also known as dogma) and every time it clashed with reality they absolved themselves of responsibility. That is not the hallmark of a good leader. A good leader admits mistakes, finds ways not to repeat them and ensures that those who were complicit in the error are held accountable for their actions.   It seems the only thing faster than “the speed of science” are politicians who are determined to run away from the investigations that we trust will come.

Prophecy Update Videos

Prophecy Update Top News Headlines - 12/1/22 Prophecy Update: Something Big Is Happening! – Pastor Tom Hughes & Don Stewart Prophecy Update: Leave Us and Our Children Alone! – Pastor Brandon Holthaus Acts 04. How Firm a Foundation (part 2). Acts 1:8-11. Dr. Andy Woods They Did WHAT? When Good is Evil & Evil is Good... – Britt Gillette It may NOT be WHAT you THINK!!! – Pastor James Kaddis & Don Stewart

Marauding Bands Of Looters Are Stealing Billions Of Dollars’ Worth Of Merchandise As America Descends Into Lawlessness - by Michael Snyder - http://endoftheamericandream.com/marauding-bands-of-looters-are-stealing-billions-of-dollars-worth-of-merchandise-as-america-descends-into-lawlessness/   Three years ago, I bet that 99 percent of my readers had never heard of ORC. Of course by now almost everyone knows that ORC stands for “organized retail crime”, and it is prompting retailers to permanently shut down stores all over the nation. Right now, retail theft is happening from coast to coast on a scale that we have never seen in our entire history. Marauding bands of looters are barging into stores, grabbing as much merchandise as they can possibly carry, and then loading it into their vehicles. Online marketplaces make it easier than ever to turn stolen goods into cash, and at this point organized retail crime has become a multi-billion dollar business. As I have repeatedly warned my readers, America is descending into lawlessness. The thin veneer of civilization that we all depend upon on a daily basis is rapidly disappearing, and if we stay on this path our society will soon be completely unrecognizable.   Every year, organized retail crime gets even worse. According to Fox Business, the number of ORC incidents in 2021 was 26.5 percent higher than in 2020…   ORC incidents soared 26.5% on average in 2021, with 81.2% of retailers surveyed reporting “somewhat more” or “much more” ORC-associated aggression and violence year-over-year, according to the survey.   Of course things are even worse here in 2022, and this is particularly true in states where shoplifting laws are very soft.   For example, in Portland some stores are often victimized “more than once a day”…   Some of the hot items are perfumes and expensive handbags. Often, stores are victimized daily and sometimes more than once a day. A local pastor whose window looks out on the local Nike store says he sees thieves running out of the store with their arms full of stolen stuff all the time. And the excellent KGW-TV story makes the point that this stolen stuff is not to feed hungry children. It is organized theft. The stuff gets sold online and in flea markets.   Needless to say, it is almost impossible to run a profitable business in such an environment, and many store owners are throwing in the towel.   In recent days, one store owner in Portland made headline news all over the nation by posting a note that explained exactly why the store is being closed…   A Portland, Oregon, clothing shop permanently shut down this month after facing a string of break-ins that has left the store financially gutted, according to a note posted to the front of the store.   “Our city is in peril,” a printed note posted on Rains PDX store reads, according to KATU2. “Small businesses (and large) cannot sustain doing business, in our city’s current state. We have no protection, or recourse, against the criminal behavior that goes unpunished. Do not be fooled into thinking that insurance companies cover losses. We have sustained 15 break-ins … we have not received any financial reimbursement since the 3rd.”   Sadly, organized retail crime is not just plaguing cities on the west coast.   This is truly a national phenomenon, and large retail chains are losing giant mountains of money because of it.   In fact, Target recently caused quite a stir when it admitted that organized retail crime accounts for most of the 400 million dollars that it has lost from shoplifting over the past year…   Shoplifting is such a big problem, that last week, when officials from Target were explaining why the company’s profit fell by 50% in the third quarter, they mentioned shoplifting as a contributing cause. Target Chief Growth Officer Christina Hennington said Target shoplifting has jumped about 50% year over year. Target estimates shoplifting has cost the retailer $400 million and most of that, Hennington said, has come from organized retail theft.   If things are already this bad, what will happen when economic conditions in this country really start deteriorating in 2023 and beyond?   The more desperate people become, the worse organized retail crime will get.   At this point, thievery has reached such epic proportions that some retailers are actually considering locking up all of their merchandise…   In September, on an earnings call with investors, Rite Aid’s executive vice president of retail, Andre Persaud, floated an idea to improve the chain’s performance in New York City: turn the drugstore into one giant vending machine in order to fight shoplifting. “We’re looking at literally putting everything behind showcases to ensure the products are there for customers to buy,” Persaud said.   Does that sound familiar? Many big-city pharmacy chains are halfway there, with plexiglass cases that have mushroomed over even low-priced household goods like shampoo and deodorant—to say nothing of laundry detergent, razor blades, and baby formula. It’s like shopping at a pharmacy 100 years ago, with a white-aproned clerk pushing around a ladder to grab your tinctures and tonics, except now it’s a minimum-wage cashier with a key ring. These days, you press a red button and a loudspeaker tells the store that you have a foot fungus. In July, a Manhattan Duane Reade made international news when it placed a can of Spam—Spam!—in a theft-deterrent plastic case.   If this trend catches on, the way that we shop could change forever.   The days of just going in and quickly gathering what you need could soon be gone permanently.   And it is all because our society is becoming completely and utterly lawless.   Earlier today, I was deeply saddened to read about a particularly horrific crime that happened in Philadelphia on the day after Thanksgiving…   A Philadelphia parking authority officer was shot in the head in broad daylight by a thug in the City of Brotherly Love last Friday.   The suspect was caught on a surveillance camera walking up behind the 37-year-old male parking official and shooting him in the head at point-blank range at 3.50pm on the 4500 block Frankford Avenue the day after Thanksgiving.   The officer, who was on duty at the time of the crime, is seen in video footage immediately collapsing onto the sidewalk before help arrives.   The fabric of our society is coming apart at the seams all around us, but most people don’t seem to care.   Most people are just so self-obsessed that they can’t even see that our society is rotting and decaying at a truly frightening pace.   A highly civilized society is extremely difficult to create, but it is very easy to lose.   Unfortunately, most Americans are not going to realize this until it is far too late.

A Strong Delusion - Nathele Graham - twotug@embarqmail.com   It’s coming. Whether you believe in the Harpazō or not, you will be affected by it. If you’ve accepted Christ for salvation, then you will be taken to Heaven to be with Jesus. However, if you’ve rejected Christ’s offer of salvation, you will face God’s wrath. Scripture is clear about the Rapture/Harpazō, but many who call themselves Christians haven’t a clue what it is. I’m sorry to say, that pastors seldom teach about it, and the congregation sleeps in the pews never opening their Bibles to read, let alone study, God’s word. The Rapture is our blessed hope. It’s a promise that those of us who have placed our faith in Jesus, won’t face God’s wrath and judgment during the final seven years of history on earth. There is much written in Scripture about the Rapture, but there are various interpretations and it can get confusing. “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” 2 Peter 1:20-21. It’s always best to just believe what God says and not listen to man’s ideas. Some pastors teach that there won’t be a Rapture. These same preachers are most likely in error on other clear Biblical truths. Most likely they believe in Replacement Theology, which is the false belief that Christians have replace the Jewish people in God’s heart. We haven’t replaced them: we have our own special place, and they have their special place. Then there is the ridiculous idea that Christians have to go through the Great Tribulation so that the we can be purified. Really? That’s what Christ did for us. No human is sinless, and only the sinless blood of God can take our sin away. Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and therefore fully God. He was also fully human, because His mother, Mary, was human.   When the Apostle Paul was in Thessalonica, he taught them deep truth in a very short time. He was there three weeks and not only taught them the truth of the Gospel, but taught them about the Rapture. He also established a congregation there that was truly saved. They remembered his teaching about the Rapture, but they also saw tremendous persecution happening all around them. The Christians there forgot what had been taught to them and were concerned that they had missed the Rapture. Paul assured them they hadn’t missed it, then went on to explain the order of events. The Rapture is a fact. “Now we beseech you, brethren by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.” 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2. Today, there are more and more people, even pastors, who deny the truth of the Rapture, or else place it out of order when teaching on the end times. Christ will come for us before the events of the final seven years, and before the Antichrist is revealed. “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;” 2 Thessalonians 2:3. The Greek word “apostasia” is translated “falling away” and there is debate over what Paul meant. Did he mean there would be many people believe false doctrine, or did he mean there would be a departure? This could actually mean both. There are many, many false doctrines being taught and according to Paul’s letters to Timothy, this is a sign of the times. Pastors go to seminary and learn to question God’s truth, then come up with their own interpretation of Scripture, write books, and lead thousands upon thousands of people astray. Paul could have also meant that the man of sin cannot be revealed as long as Christians are on earth. The Holy Spirit resides in us and restrains the totally evil man to be able to come into power. As Christians become more worldly, it’s easier for Satan to work his evil, and all things are falling into place for the Rapture first, then the seven years of tribulation.   No matter what exactly Paul had in mind, there are many signs that the Rapture is drawing near. Things are getting unbelievably wicked in the world and Christians are going along with the worldly ways that lead to destruction. Shame on us for not standing firm on God’s truth. The Apostle John wrote that we need to test spirits. “And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.” 1 John 4:3. Brothers and sisters, study Scripture and prepare yourself to discern God’s truth from Satan’s lies. Then stand firm on the solid foundation of God’s truth.   Paul agreed with John. “For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming; even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.” 2 Thessalonians 2:7-10. John had written that the “spirit of antichrist” was already in the world, and Paul said that the only thing that holds this evil in check is the Holy Spirit. Only God can restrain Satan. When Christians are Raptured, the man of sin will have a free rein to deceive all who are left behind. The Holy Spirit will continue His work to draw the unsaved and reveal God’s truth to all who are left behind, but you’d be wise to listen to Him now. Satan is a liar and is able to deceive anyone who has rejected God’s truth. When Jesus walked this earth, He did many miracles. He healed lepers, gave sight to the blind, fed thousands with a few fish and some bread, and many more wonderous signs. These were true miracles, but Satan has some power, too. Nothing like the power of God, but he will empower the man of sin to work “signs and lying wonders”. He will deceive the people left here. Jesus talked about this. “But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.” John 5:42-43. If you don’t have the love of God in you, then you are open to the deceptive lies of Satan and the antichrist.   God has done everything He can to bring everyone to salvation. He entered His creation and willingly allowed Himself to be crucified…the final sacrifice for our sin. He gave us Scripture and there have been many Christians who share their faith. The Truth is available to anyone who seeks it. Unfortunately, many have rejected the truth. They will be left on earth to face the horrors of the Great Tribulation. “And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12. What’s the lie? There are many ideas about this. Some say that the lie is that UFOs are good and benevolent beings from a distant star system. They have come to help humanity to live better. That is certainly a lie. As we draw nearer to the end of time, and Christians aren’t standing strong in their faith, we hear more about UFO sightings and many people claim to have been abducted. These reports are too numerous to ignore and are something that Satan would do in order to bring fear and confusion. Could the lie be that men think they are really women, and women think they are men? In his letter to the Romans, Paul goes into great detail about what happens when God is rejected as the Creator. A belief in the lie of evolution leads to sexual depravity. Jesus said that it would be incredibly wicked at the end. “And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; but the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.” Luke 17:26-29. If you study what was happening during Noah’s time and Lot’s time, you will see very similar things that are happening today. You have to study Scripture. Most pastors don’t touch on this subject at all, and therefore many Christians haven’t any idea of what’s happening in the world around us.   Another delusion that will be strong is that the Antichrist is actually Jesus and worthy of worship. “And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast saying, Who is like unto the beast? Who is able to make war with him?” Revelation 13:3-4. This, of course, happens after the Rapture. Christians will be in Heaven with Jesus, but the Antichrist will be alive and well, deceiving those left behind and causing everyone to take his mark. When a person takes the mark of the beast, they can no longer be saved. The world is being prepared for the end times, so be very careful what you allow into your body.   God has given us all the information we need in order to avoid being deceived. We all have a choice. If you study Scripture…really study and not just read it or believe everything the preacher says…you might find that you are believing things that God doesn’t say in Scripture. It’s easier to be deceived if you don’t have facts. “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” Acts 17:11. Don’t be deceived or fall for any of Satan’s lies.   It's easy to be deceived if you don’t know truth. Study Scripture and don’t compromise God’s truth.   God bless you all, Nathele Graham   twotug@embarqmail.com ron@straitandnarrowministry.com   Recommended prophecy sites: www.raptureready.com                                                   www.prophecyupdate.com                                                   www.raptureforums.com   All original scripture is “theopneustos” God breathed.   If you’d like to be on my mailing list to receive the commentaries just drop me an email and let me know.

Daily Jot: WHO could be the Beast? - Bill Wilson – www.dailyjot.com   The G20 is a group of 19 nations plus the European Union committed to coordinating global economic, health, and travel policy. This coalition of nations includes countries such as Turkey and Saudi Arabia, biblical players in the end time Beast network. Among the G20 initiatives is the World Health Organization (WHO), which at the last G20 meeting gained approval of its global authority to act as a “health” control mechanism for international travel, pandemic management, food growth and distribution, and climate control. The G20 nations appear to have empowered themselves to build the vehicle that can be driven by an oligarchy of unelected leaders, or a single leader to control the world and enslave its inhabitants.   The Biden Administration is “all in” on the G20 and WHO. The White House has posted the G20 Declaration in its briefing room website page. The 52-paragraph document reads like a blueprint for a one world order government. It uses noble words to cast a vision of fairness, minority and women empowerment, environmental protection, and goodwill. But beneath those words is the true meaning of tyranny. Paragraph 23 says, “We acknowledge the importance of shared technical standards and verification methods, under the framework of the IHR (2005), to facilitate seamless international travel, interoperability, and recognizing digital solutions and non-digital solutions, including proof of vaccinations.”   The declaration uses code words to endorse global censorship of dissent in paragraph 24, “We acknowledge the importance to counter disinformation campaigns, cyber threats, online abuse, and ensuring security in connectivity infrastructure.” The declaration seeks to control who buys and sells and who eats. Paragraph 31 calls for an international tax: “We are committed to the swift implementation of the OECD/G20 two-pillar international tax package.” The plan is to use digital technology to track transactions globally, under the guise of transparency against corruption. Paragraph 6 says, “We commit to protect the most vulnerable from hunger by using all available tools to address the global food crisis.” This could be used to ration and distribute food.   Just as Satan gives power, his seat and great authority to the Beast in Revelation 13, the G20 has given power to WHO. This is not the Beast of Revelation, nor is the G20 Satan, but it is a type and shadow of what is prophesied in Revelation 13:7-8, “And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” The choice to worship the Beast (antichrist) will be cognizant, meaning it will be known that to choose the Beast is to lose salvation. The G20 empowerment of WHO will mean coercion by international laws and policies. It is no doubt a forerunner for what is to come. Beware of WHO.   Read the declaration here:   https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/11/16/g20-bali-leaders-declaration/

Daily Devotion: Trust God’s Plan - by Greg Laurie – www.harvest.org   We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. —2 Corinthians 10:4   https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/trust-gods-plan/ Listen   Malchus should have been thankful that Peter was a fisherman and not a swordsman. As the disciples spent time with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, they saw the crowd coming. Peter drew his sword without hesitation and took a swing. Malchus, the high priest’s servant, lost his ear.   Peter was trying to fight a spiritual battle with physical means.   Jesus said to him, “Put away your sword. . . . Those who use the sword will die by the sword. Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly? But if I did, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that describe what must happen now?” (Matthew 26:52–54 NLT).   In other words, “Peter, that is not the way to fight this battle. This isn’t the time for that.”   The Bible tells us, “We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments” (2 Corinthians 10:4 NLT).   It is also worth noting that Jesus healed the high priest’s servant. Malchus didn’t deserve it. Yet Jesus reached down and healed his ear. That was the last miracle Jesus had ever performed.   You know the rest of the story. Our Lord was crucified. He bore the sins of the world. And He rose from the dead.   For every Christian, there will come a Gethsemane, a place where we realize that our obedience overrules our personal desires. The glory of God becomes more important than our glory and desires, and we say, “Not my will, but Yours, be done.”   Are you at such a place right now? Surrender to the will of God. You will be glad that you did. His plan for you is better than your plan for yourself.