PROPHECY UPDATE NEWSLETTER STAY INFORMED, GET EQUIPPED, BE ENCOURAGED Pre-Millennium - Pre-Tribulation - PrePARED *If you missed an issue or did not receive your daily copy - All Newsletters are archived at: (Featured Article at Bottom)
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IN TODAY'S NEWSLETTER...
Massive blast reported at suspected Iranian nuke facility Iran is the Greatest Threat Nearing Midnight: Ebola Comes to America Birth Pains are Increasing The Supreme Court Is In Session: How Will God Judge Us? Daily Jot: Ebola, EV-D68 and our ministry work, Part 1 Daily Devotion: In His Hands Featured Article: In the Last Days, there shall be Pestilence
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Two reportedly killed in explosion at secretive Parchin site that shatters windows 12 kilometers away
Two people were killed in an explosion at a defense ministry plant east of Tehran for the production of explosives, Iran's state news agency IRNA reported Monday.
The Defense Industries Organization, quoted by IRNA, said the fire broke out at the plant on Sunday night but it gave no further details.
The BBC, citing a report from the semi-official Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA), reported on Monday that the incident happened in an "explosive materials production unit" at the site south-east of the capital Tehran.
According to ISNA the blast was so powerful it shattered windows up to 12 kilometers away and the glare from the explosion lit up the night sky.
Several arms facilities and military bases are located east of the Iranian capital, including Parchin. UN nuclear inspectors have been seeking to visit the site to answer concerns about Iran's atomic program.
The base lies at the center of allegations of past Iranian research into sophisticated explosives that can be used to detonate a nuclear warhead.
Tehran, which has denied inspectors access to Parchin since 2005, insists its nuclear program is for purely civilian uses. Israel and the West fear Iran is seeking to attain nuclear weapons.
In August Iran reiterated that it will not allow IAEA inspectors to visit the site.
Nuclear experts from the IAEA were due to hold talks Tuesday in Tehran to try and resolve outstanding issues regarding Iran's disputed atomic program.
The IRNA news agency said the visitors were expected in the capital on Monday night ahead of talks with Iranian officials.
IAEA inspectors have been given access to a string of declared nuclear sites as part of an interim nuclear deal reached with the major powers last November. Access to Parchin was not agreed under the terms of that accord but the IAEA has been seeking to visit the base as part of its mission to answer all concerns about Iran's nuclear program, past and present.
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To defeat ISIS and leave Iran as a threshold nuclear power is to win the battle and lose the war.
Unilaterally changing a global conversation isn't easy. Trying to do so when everyone is shouting in panic and with their fingers stuffed in their ears is enough to daunt the most determined. Yet that's what Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu attempted to do last week in the US, where he addressed the UN and spoke with President Barack Obama.
America and Britain are panicking about the threat from Islamic State, so much so they have gone to war (albeit in a half-baked fashion, but that's another story) in Iraq and Syria. Without denying the need to confront the Islamic State threat, Netanyahu wants America and its allies to be most concerned about the thousand-fold more dangerous menace of Iran.
Netanyahu is worried that, since Iran is also fighting Islamic State, this will turn the Iranian regime from pariah into partner and thus provide it with vital leverage in its quest to achieve nuclear weapons capability.
Accordingly, Netanyahu strove to equate Islamic State with Iran and other Islamic terror groups.
Just as the world powers would not let Islamic State enrich uranium, build a heavy water reactor or develop intercontinental ballistic missiles, he said, so Iran must not be allowed to do those things either. "To defeat ISIS and leave Iran as a threshold nuclear power is to win the battle and lose the war."
His anxiety is all too well-founded, as the US is signaling that it wants to reach a deal with Iran over its nuclear program.
In a speech last week to the National Iranian American Council, the White House Middle East coordinator Philip Gordon said: "A nuclear agreement could begin a multi-generational process that could lead to a new relationship between our countries. Iran could begin to reduce tensions with its neighbors and return to its rightful place in the community of nations."
This is astonishingly myopic, or worse. The State Department has listed Iran as the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism. It supports Hamas and Hezbollah and has been behind countless murderous attacks against US, Jewish and other Western interests.
It sows insurgent chaos in Iraq (indeed, to that end it was reportedly an early supporter of Islamic State) because such destabilization helps it control the region. It is waging a self-declared war against the West, and repeatedly declares its genocidal intention to wipe out Israel. The only conscionable agreement with Iran is for it to do what it has repeatedly and categorically ruled out, to abandon uranium enrichment and its nuclear program.
According to Gordon, there was "progress" in the latest round of talks with Iran ahead of the November 24 deadline. What progress? Only towards an Iranian bomb.
In a confidential report, the International Atomic Energy Agency has stated that "little progress is being made" in these negotiations, with Iran implementing only three out of five nuclear transparency steps which it had undertaken to complete before August 25. Yet in the face of such defiance, the US and its international negotiating partners are flirting with proposals which would leave Iran's nuclear program intact and the regime able to manufacture the bomb in short order.
What is so perplexing is that Iran is simply not being treated by the West as the threat that it so patently is, despite its serial atrocities against Western interests.
In Britain, the main anxiety is not about a nuclear Iran but the possibility that Israel might attack it.
Last year the Conservative mayor of London, Boris Johnson, who is tipped by many as a future prime minister, told an adoring TV audience that Iran posed no threat to anyone in the world at all.
This week the British home secretary, Theresa May, observed that "the lesson of history tells us that when our enemies say they want to attack us, they mean it." She was talking, however, not about Iran but about Islamic State, which she described as planning to establish "the world's first truly terrorist state."
But that's precisely what Iran already is. And if Islamic State with its 25,000 followers is such a threat, why isn't Iran, with its standing army of more than half a million and its terror proxies, rocket arsenals and imminent genocide bomb, seen as immeasurably more dangerous? In the US, Philip Gordon, the White House coordinator for the Middle East, North Africa, and the Gulf Region, suggested that a nuclear deal with Iran trumped any such concerns about its behavior.
"The nuclear issue is too important to subordinate to a complete transformation of Iran internally," he said. But while Iran is the world's principal terrorist regime, it is surely beyond irresponsible to allow it to become a nuclear-capable power.
Netanyahu's attempt to educate the world about the hydra-headed global jihad appears to have fallen on deaf ears. Last Monday, the State Department said it did not agree with him that Hamas, Islamic State and Iran were all part of the same Islamist movement. For America, it said, Islamic State posed a different threat. But how can this possibly be worse than Iran? At Wednesday's joint press conference with Obama, Netanyahu opened an ingenious new front. A "commonality of interest between Israel and leading Arab states," he said, was now starting to emerge from the current turmoil in the Arab world.
He seemed to be suggesting a possible alliance by Israel, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates not just against Islamic State but also against Iran. Just as Obama was persuaded to proceed against Islamic State only when he gained cover from Arab states, so perhaps Netanyahu hoped to persuade him he could act with similar Arab cover against Iran.
Even more sinuous was the hint that a similar alliance might pull off the prize Obama always hoped would crown his presidency: a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians. Clever stuff, this, turning Obama's obsession from a malign threat against Israel to a win-win inducement. Whether it has the slightest chance, though, of shifting the US away from its headlong spiral of Iranian-appeasement is another matter.
The alternatives for the US and its allies are stark.
Either they support Israel in fighting Iran as the principal enemy of the West - or they crumble before Iran and thus inescapably empower its attack on the West. The free world can only hold its breath.
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The Ebola outbreak in West Africa is quickly reaching the point of becoming a global pandemic. The official death toll has reached 3,500. The situation in Africa has become so chaotic, that the World Health Organization (WHO) believes the actual death toll could be three times larger.
The WHO estimated that as many as 20,000 Ebola cases would likely occur in the three most affected countries by early November. Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control projected a worst-case scenario of 1.4 million cases in Liberia and Sierra Leone by the middle of January unless effective prevention methods are implemented.
It is easy to see why Liberia is becoming part of the epicenter of the Ebola virus. It is one of the most challenging places in the world to receive quality health care. A decade of civil war brutally devastated the nation's health care infrastructure, causing 90 percent of its health care workforce to flee and 80 percent of its health facilities to shut down.
The ability of the virus to spread far and wide became clear when the first case of Ebola diagnosed in the United States was reported last week. One reason why Ebola reached America before Europe, is because we have a policy that basically grants infectious diseases diplomatic immunity.
Thomas Duncan, the Liberean national who came down with Ebola was screened for fever as he passed through his home country, and again when passing through Brussels, Belgium. But when he arrived in the U.S., there was no check. Our political correctness has so far barred us from even asking the basic cautionary questions. If we had asked, we would have learned that this man had direct contact with people infected with Ebola a few days before he flew to Dallas. Now at least 100 people in the U.S. who have come in close contact with him have the specter of death hanging over their heads.
Another serious health problem we have is the sudden outbreak of Enterovirus. There is a strong possibility the hordes of illegal immigrants that invaded this nation may have a connection to the Enterovirus, which has sickened at least 500-mostly children-in 43 states. The virus has caused several children to suffer paralysis in their arms and legs and has caused or contributed to at least four deaths.
In July, the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security confirmed that communicable diseases were being spread throughout detention centers used to house incoming illegal immigrant children. Later, these children were dumped onto unsuspecting communities around the nation:
"Many Unaccompanied Alien Children (UAC) and family units require treatment for communicable diseases, including respiratory illnesses, tuberculosis, chicken pox, and scabies," the IG report said. "UAC and family unit illnesses and unfamiliarity with bathroom facilities resulted in unsanitary conditions and exposure to human waste in some holding facilities."
The liberal media keeps referring to Enterovirus as a "mysterious virus" even though we've known about it since 1962. The lack of interest from the press in tracing its source reinforces the possibility that this latest outbreak simply walked in from Central America.
One of the strongest indications that people lack the proper focus is a headline from USA Today: "Ebola stocks soar after infection hits U.S." I read a few other reports on this same subject, and there wasn't even a hint of regret over such blood greed. We may all die from Ebola, but some of us will die richer.
Despite the first confirmed case, the U.S. government promises that Ebola poses no threat to the public, but their actions say otherwise. The State Department has recently placed an order with Lakeland Industries for 160,000 hazmat suits specifically designed against Ebola. When you factor in all that ammo they've been buying in recent years, the feds seem to be getting ready for any coming zombie apocalypse.
Only the Lord knows where we will be in the next couple months. A vaccine would still take months if not years to develop. If the Ebola mutated to a strain that becomes airborne, a large portion of the world population may be doomed. There is no proof that modern science can contain an outbreak that has reached this level. If we are in close proximity to the Tribulation hour, I doubt we will be able to put the Ebola monster back into its cage.
"And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth" (Revelation 6:7-8).
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Everywhere you look there are recurring themes in newspapers, blogs, and world news outlets for weeks now. Ebola, ISIS, and natural disasters dominate media outlet headlines. At first glance we may look at these matters and conclude: "Disease and war have always been with us." That is a true statement. I would suggest when we look at these same issues through the lens of God's word, we will see an apparent increase in frequency and progression that remind us of Jesus' words of warning. One look around at the world today and we will see that birth pains are increasing.
Luke 21:10 Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.
Matthew 24:6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.
As believers we have the Holy Spirit inside of us and the Bible for guidance, wisdom, and direction. When we look around us and see events unfolding as they are now....it becomes apparent that this world is heading toward a climax and it's not business as usual. I want to take a closer look at the way and frequency events are unfolding, but want to first address one issue that always comes up when dealing with Bible prophecy:
Whenever the end times are mentioned in light of geopolitical events, some folks including believers get nervous. Because there have been abuses of end time teaching......a knee jerk reaction takes place and some prefer not to go anywhere near the subject of prophecy. I understand abuses and sensationalism have infiltrated some prophecy teaching. That is a direct result of not having the study of eschatology rooted in scripture. The opposite becomes true: Ridiculous claims, date setting, 'hidden codes', and personal interpretation becomes paramount and scripture is often miss-applied in an attempt to substantiate erroneous teaching. There are many godly prophecy teachers who love the word of God and teach with clarity and authenticity. There is a healthy percentage of the Bible focussed on prophecy and in particular....the events just prior to the Lord's return. Since that is the case, we must not ignore what the word says about end time events. When end time teaching is rooted in scripture, the point becomes clear: Bible prophecy is by no means a diversion as some sadly say, rather...it points directly to Jesus' words regarding the great commission, the task at hand, and His soon return. Peter addresses apathy regarding Christ's return:
2 Peter 3:3 knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, "Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation."
Now let's take a look at recent events in light of Jesus' words of warning about conditions prior to His return. The Lord mentions conditions in the last days and uses a very descriptive term. When the Lord used the term "birth pains" to describe end time conditions it leaves nothing to question. In fact, by calling these events birth pains, he discredits any attempt to classify them as routinely occurring conditions. War, pestilence, famine, and earthquakes have always been part of this fallen world but here is the stark difference between now and the rest of recorded history.
These events are increasing in scope, intensity, and frequency just as labor pains come upon a woman in labor.
I won't recount the rapid acceleration of these events in the last century because their increase has been well documented by numerous Bible prophecy teachers. I do want to key in on several birth pain events that have made headlines more and more in recent months.
Pestilence: It's one of the birth pains mentioned in the Bible. Ebola has captured the world's attention and it is worth noting that the confirmed cases are multiplying in just the past few days. There are so many conflicting reports that it is becoming difficult to separate fact from fiction. What we do know is that west Africa is reeling from Ebola and there are 1 million people quarantined in just Sierra Leone at the time of this article. We also know now that America isn't exempt from the threat posed by ebola. World wide travel, open borders, and a few lapses in screening have brought ebola here. Only time will tell if this disease can be contained before the CDC's worst case scenario of 1.4 million deaths might become reality.
Earthquakes: Fukushima 6.6 magnitude quake, 2010 Chile quake magnitude 8.8, 2014 Chile quake magnitude 8.2, 2004 Indonesian quake magnitude est. 9.2 (3rd strongest recorded) and resulting tsunami killed over 230,000 people. Haiti earthquake of 2010 was a 7.0 magnitude and killed an estimated 160,000-200,000 people. Earthquakes have always been a part of life, but the crescendo of their frequency and magnitude has been a mark of seismic activity in our time. Even places such as Oklahoma and Kansas have had 'swarms' of earthquakes in just the last few years.
Wars, rumors and kingdom against kingdom: Very little time has gone by where human history hasn't been marked by the scourge of war. War has always been with us, but again in just the last century we have suffered losses in the tens of millions of people. It is estimated that nearly 230 million people died as a direct or related result of war in the 20th century. If this century continues on the path it is on, we will see the same sadness repeated again. Even with all of our advances in healthcare, information technology, and standards of living.....the condition of the human heart remains the same if left unchecked without God: wretched and depraved.
Added to the reality of war, we have an increasing level of radical ideology fueled by blind hatred. Terrorism and jihadists have multiplied drastically and conditions deteriorate as their numbers increase. What's more....sovereign territories and even whole nations are threatened by the rapid advances of ISIS and other terrorist organizations bent on world domination. Add the rapidly expanding military of Communist China and the recent belligerent activity of Russia and there is no doubt that there is a marked increase of wars & rumors of war in recent months and years.
Famine: So many ministries work around the clock to help with the hunger that plagues many parts of the world. Samaritan's Purse, Compassion Intl., and many others are reaching out to impoverished people in need. The US, Europe, Australia, and other governments try to make a dent in what seems to be a problem that won't go away. East Africa, Southeast Asia, and Central America are full of hungry people and despite all of the humanitarian aid.....famine is getting worse and more frequent in many areas. Why can't we wipe out hunger? I don't know, but I know this world is broken. Government greed, warlords, and conflict all have taken their toll and Jesus told us that famine would increase in scope and intensity....as birth pains do, before His return.
Birth pains are everywhere now. The recent ebola outbreak is another sad reminder that this world is running headlong toward a climax. Jesus is coming soon and the increase in the events mentioned above is evidence of that fact.
As Christians, how should we respond to the unfolding events around us? Each of us will have different ways we respond, but one defining characteristic is that we are not alarmed and have peace because of who we belong to. No matter what the future holds, we know that we are secure in the Lord. War, terrorism, famine, disease, earthquakes will all increase and this world will continue toward it's judgement.
We have the word of God to share, the gospel to share, and our testimony to share. We don't need to have all of the answers regarding the birth pains that are increasing in recent months.....we do know the one who knows the future. I have noticed a weariness and numbness on the faces of many people and I can't help to think it is a result of having no hope.
Since we know people are looking for answers and hope: isn't this an opportunity to tell them about Jesus?
We can give of our resources to those suffering so much. There are many ways to give. We can give financially to relief efforts and there are some wonderful ministries that help the hurting in Jesus name. We can give compassion and friendship to people who have little hope in the midst of uncertain times. We can give of our time and there is no limit to this gift. We can volunteer to assist relief efforts that send help. One of the best uses of our time in light of helping in Jesus' name...is the time we spend in prayer. We have access to the Lord's throne through prayer. What an opportunity to come before Him and remember the needs of others.
Philippians 4:6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
The birth pains we are beginning to see aren't without purpose, we need to remember they are signs that Jesus is coming back soon. We have very little time to work with. It should be no surprise to any believer that the upheaval in the world will only increase in the last days. We will continue to see these events increase in frequency and severity going forward now, just as birth pains progress. We don't know when the rapture of the church will take place, but we know it is imminent. With that in mind, let's share the hope we have in the Lord with people while there is still time.
One look at the condition of the world right now makes it evident: Birth pains are increasing.
All for Him,
Howard
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You may not realize it, but today is the day that the Supreme Court begins its next term. As Americans, we hardly take note when the highest court of the land is in session. I would daresay that most of us know very little of the history of the Court or its purpose within our governmental system.
Among other cases, this session of the Court may decide, once and for all, the legality of same-sex marriage, and therefore will deliver important consequences for our nation. And, as always, I am completely taken by surprise when seemingly random thoughts occur to me, such as, I wonder if there is a Biblical parallel between how God used the Israelite Judges in the Bible, and our own Supreme Court? Rather than dismiss these thoughts, especially if they are recurring, I usually conclude that they are not by chance, at all, and decide to follow where I am being led; so here we go ....
Let's start with the role of the Supreme Court. It was interesting to research different opinions of the Court. One website, Scholastic.com, (which advocates Common Core), describes the Supreme Court in these terms: "The Supreme Court is like a referee on a football field. The Congress, the President, the state police, and other government officials are the players. Some can pass laws, and others can enforce laws. But all exercise power within certain boundaries set by the Constitution. As the "referee" in the our system of government, it's the Supreme Court's job to say when government officials have [exceeded their authority and] stepped out-of-bounds."
Another site, Answers.com, says, "The Supreme Court, the only court created by the Constitution, has the final say on all legal matters that come to it ... The primary role of the US Supreme Court is interpreting the Constitution." Both definitions make it clear that, in matters of law, the Supreme Court bases its judgments on "the highest law of all -- the Constitution."
That's where I think we, as a nation, have gotten off-track. Shouldn't God's laws be the highest in the land? Did you know that we have a history, since the founding of this nation, of conflict over a "Godless Constitution"? Beginning in 1787, with the drafting of the Constitution, there was much debate over the role of God within the Constitution's framework, and the lack of mention of Him in the final draft. Then in 1863, a group called the National Reform Association attempted to propose an amendment "to rectify the religious defect" in the document. According to an article by the European Journal of American Studies, "Ministers attacked the Constitution from the pulpit, usually because it lacked reference to God." Even in our lifetimes, we have seen this controversy around God's role in the administration of our nation, with the rise of the Moral Majority in the 1980s.
Inevitably, this argument comes back to the "separation of church and state" controversy. We could debate endlessly on whether that was the original intent of our Founding Fathers or not; and other than their own writings on the subject, I am disinclined to accept any modern interpretation of their intentions. That being said, we can accept this simple fact, as it has been presented by TheocracyWatch.org: The word "God" does not appear within the text of the Constitution of the United States. After spending three-and-a-half months debating and negotiating about what should go into the document that would govern the land, the framers drafted a constitution that is [virtually] secular. The U.S. Constitution is often confused with the Declaration of Independence, and it's important to understand the difference. The Constitution is a legal document; the Declaration is not.
So, if we accept that our nation was founded with the idea that a legal document was to be "the highest law of all", does this explain how we've steadily wandered from acknowledgment of God as our Supreme Law-giver and Judge ... and that we ignore the highest law of all as established by God, and He will judge whether we have obeyed His decrees?
As a Christian, it is my belief that all nations, leaders and judges have been given their authority by God; and these people[s] can be used by Him to bless us or to discipline us. Just as in the Old Testament, after the capable leadership of Joshua, the nation of Israel no longer trusted in or obeyed God, and proceeded to "do what was right in its own eyes". The Book of Judges chronicles the apostasy of Israel and the merciful deliverance of the nation through the Judges He provided.
Don't get confused by that word "deliverance". It does not mean that God spared Israel from the consequences of its actions, as their repeated oppression by foreign nations testifies. But God did show His compassion and His faithfulness through His covenant with Israel, by providing them Judges, who were political leaders that rescued them from their own unfaithfulness, and eventually delivered them from foreign threats or repression.
So, how does this relate to us, today? In Judges, Chapter 2, the Bible says the people were "greatly distressed," and even though God "raised up judges who delivered them out of the hand of those who plundered them, they would not listen, but played the harlot with other gods, and bowed down to them." This clearly shows that God remained faithful and took pity upon a wayward people who "grieved Him continually." I contend that we qualify for grieving God, and are mirroring the apostasy of ancient Israel, resulting in a downward spiral of disobedience and idolatry that has taken us further away from God, our true Judge. The question remains: Will He take pity on us in this age?
Deborah, the Prophetess and Judge of Israel
The Biblical history of the Israelite judges reveals that some accomplished more for God and the people than others. For all intents and purposes, every generation got the leadership and judges it deserved. What does that say about us, and what does it portend? How will the Judges of our Supreme Court rule this session? Will they be God's instrument of blessing, or will they represent His discipline upon our nation?
Since our Supreme Court has increasingly compromised Constitutional rulings for political ones; and we know that Biblical principles will not play a role in their decisions; we now have a deeply divided Court. This will render the same-sex marriage issue not only the most important matter before the Court in determining our way of life, but it will be the defining legacy of this Court. Since God is not present in the Constitution, and seems to be an absent influence in most of our political leaders, I think it is safe to say we can expect the Justices to do what they think is right "in their own eyes." Or they could decide to delay a decision on this case, causing further dissension, and a continued disregard for God's opinion on the matter.
No matter what the Court decides in this controversial case -- or the others before it -- we, as a nation, must come to realize that disobedience invites discipline, and always brings judgment. Whether we are judged to be a righteous nation, or an apostate one, will be revealed by those God has set to rule over us. At the moment, our breakdown in responsiveness to our LORD, and our lack of conviction to His principles, has led us to a breakdown in our societal and moral fabric.
But we must never forget that God is always there for those who cry out to Him. The Book of Judges reveals the cycles of decline and revival among the ancient nation of Israel. We need to pray and cry out to God to prepare a Deliverer for this nation. If that turns out to be the return of Christ, then that's wonderful! If our Lord is delayed, then let's pray for a righteous leader[s] that will bring renewal to this oppressed land. It's time to break this cycle and change the direction of this country. With God's help, we can!
Judges 2:18 "And when the Lord raised them up judges, in their days He was moved to mercy, and heard the groanings of the afflicted, and delivered them from the slaughter of the oppressors."
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Daily Jot: Ebola, EV-D68 and our ministry work, Part 1 - Bill Wilson - www.dailyjot.com
I have seen countless emails forwarded by Christians that claim the Ebola scare is just that--a scare, perhaps even another government red flag event (if you are a practicing conspiracy junkie). I can tell you this: The lack of security on the US border and the poor processes used by government officials who are supposed to protect Americans could be a deadly combination to you or your child. The government has allowed, even forced the mainstreaming of illegal alien children into our public schools and they do not have to meet even the basic health requirements of citizen children. Ebola and EV-D68 are a threat. How we handle that threat is key. Don't expect much from the government.
The sooner you decide that you must take your own steps to protect your family from unnecessary risk, the less anxiety and actual risk you will experience. The government is not going to protect your family from disease any more than it will protect your family from Islamic colonization and all the barbaric risks it poses. The government has another agenda, and your health and safety, your Constitutional rights, are not part of that agenda. We could learn a thing or two from our ministry work in Ghana, West Africa. The government there has the desire to protect its people, but it does not have the resources. Our ministry partner, William Agbeti, a true pastor and man of God, understood this from the onset.
He explained: "A recent outbreak of cholera exposed how porous the country has become owing to poor personal and public hygiene, as the disease claimed close to 100 lives and affected thousands. Right on the heels of cholera now comes the outbreak of the ebola virus disease (EVD), which is sweeping across parts of the sub-region, claiming in its wake hundreds of lives and infecting several others on a daily basis; putting everyone in this country on edge." Family members, friends, neighbors, students, church members and the entire nation noted for its culture of handshake, are no longer shaking hands. Fear is rife among the populace that the nation is not ready to deal with the EVD, should Ghana record a case."
Our ministry in Ghana trains up pastors to go into the rural areas and establish churches. These rural areas also happen to be targets of Islam. The people are poor. They are unreachable by the government. The Christian churches refuse to venture out into this dangerous and underserved area. Pastor Agbeti wanted to protect these folks from an outbreak of EVD and spread the gospel instead. He prayed about it and enlisted our support. Point is, putting your trust in government won't save you. Psalm 20.7 says, "Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God." We must first determine to remember and listen to the LORD. From there, we must act. In the days ahead, the Daily Jot will share how we protect our church family and share the gospel in Ghana. It will work here, too.
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Since his days are determined, the number of his months is with You; You have appointed his limits, so that he cannot pass. -Job 14:5
The Bible says that our days are numbered, which means there is a day coming (we don't know when) when we are out of here. We can worry about that, or we can simply trust that God knows when that day will be. It doesn't mean that we take up bungee jumping off of bridges or try swimming with sharks, putting our lives at unnecessary risk. But it does mean that we recognize the fact that our lives belong to God. We are in His hands.
This is a very comforting thought because it means that until God is finished with us, nothing will happen to us. That's great to know. But it also means that when our number is up, it's up. When that day comes, there is nothing we can do to turn the clock back.
So what are we to do? As we have already read in these pages, the apostle Paul said, "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21). So we should praise God for each new day, thank Him for the opportunities He provides, for the blessings He gives us, and for our family and friends. We should take time to smell the flowers and bounce a little one on our knees. We should savor the sight of a rainbow or a tree painted with the colors of autumn or the blue surf rolling in across a sandy beach. And of course we should be available and willing to serve Him in whatever plans He has for us.
God values you. He loves you. But if death came for you today, would you be ready? If not, you would face a certain judgment. That's the last thing God wants to happen to you. That's why He sent Jesus to die on the cross and shed His blood for every sin you have ever committed.
Only the person who says, "To live is Christ" can then say, "To die is gain." That is a person whose soul is right with God.
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Matthew 24:7 " For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places."
We are all conscience of the rise of wars, and rumors of wars that have been getting more and more frequent. Wars like in the Middle East, Afghanistan, Ukraine, North Korea, Syria, and now ISIS are all over the news. No matter what a politician says, this world is becoming more dangerous, not peaceful as our lameduck president would have us believe. Ever notice the amount of earthquakes that have exponentially grown in the last 10 years? The earth is being shaken and tribulation is coming upon the earth. I'm not talking about the 7 last years of God's wrath, written in Daniel, spoken of by Jesus in Matthew 24, in Revelation, and Paul spoke of in 1st Thessalonian chapter 5. I'm talking about the run-up to this awful period of human history known as the Tribulation and the Great Tribulation. These signs are a warning, a trumpet call to those who will listen and repent before it is too late. Now let us turn to what has caught the attention of the "lame stream media" and has gotten everyone becoming afraid....PESTILENCE.
Jesus plainly spoke about that during the last days of human history that there would be pestilence. We shall call them modern day plagues. I truly believe now that the last days are upon us, and we see diseases that modern science thought they had all but eradicated. Mutations of killer diseases have again found a way to rise again in our so called " modern age". These diseases are so virulent that our antibiotics and treatments have all but become ineffective to destroy them. What is the definition of the word I just used...virulent? The dictionary says " a substance that is harmful, but synonyms of virulent would be poisonous, toxic, venomous, noxious, deadly, fatal, dangerous, and destructive, just to name a few. In my lifetime, I have seen plagues such as polio, scarlet fever, small pox and tuberculosis all but eradicated, just to name a few, but these have returned in a mutated form that we cannot cure.
Now we have the deadly Ebola virus that is all over the news. We thought that this was an African problem that only spread by close contact with another infected person's body fluids, but has reported to have mutated to being transmitted through the air from a person's cough, much like TB. Or you can pick it up on surfaces where the virus has been deposited and can live for hours, or days unless destroyed by sunlight. You can go to your local ATM and touch the keypad that is sheltered out of the sun, and pick up this disease. You can ride the subway, or a taxi cab and be exposed. But hey, we're not in Africa, we're in America. I can't come here. But oh, it has.
Reported cases of patients exposed in Africa coming to Georgia, to Bethesda Maryland Naval Hospital, or a report of one in Nebraska that was being treated from being exposed in Liberia, or other West African countries in a "controlled" manner in those local hospitals and transferred from Africa to the homeland. But now we learn that the first case of unprotected Ebola has come to Dallas, Texas and the man has come in contact with untold amount of people on the airplane flight here to the USA, doctors and nurses at the hospital where he went for treatment of flu like symptoms, and school children who have returned to their schools. The spread could become exponential in the amount of exposure, to where one expert says, unless stopped will cover the entire USA and the world.
WE WERE WARNED
It was said way back in 1993 that a pandemic of Biblical proportions would come because of the huge amount of the earth's population:
"One professor of microbiology at the John Curtin School of Medical Research in Canberra, Australia, told a conference of his peers in Sydney: "We don't know what it [the plague] will be, or where it will be, but there will be one, we only have to look at history." He cites deteriorating refugee conditions worldwide, fast-increasing populations, high-risk sexual habits and the scarcity of pure drinking water as factors that presage global epidemics (Intelligence Digest, September 3, 1993, p. 3)."
That was over 20 years ago it was warned that a plague would come, and this Ebola could be that plague. How did it mutate to become the next big human killer of possible millions? I'm not into conspiracy theories, but the fact that many have questioned why and how this could be happening, poses the question "Is this a natural occuring phenomenom or something sinister has been unleashed upon an unsuspected planet?" Here's a quote from an article I just read and you can read it for yourself at this URL:
EBOLA, A BIO-WEAPON OF WAR
But the first words of the opening paragraph should give anyone pause:
"Simply stated, the Ebola Virus is a bioterrorism weapon and is airborne. Those are big statements. The facts will show a unique trail and why the US Federal Government does not want you to know these frightening truths. This is not meant to panic anyone, but inform them of the facts that are being withheld from the American public."
In reading this article, would any government allow such a dangerous disease loose in any country? Think on what one scientist said that needs to happen to "save the planet".
"At first, I thought someone was making a really stupid April Fool's joke, but apparently it is true that the Texas Distinguished Scientist of 2006, University of Texas ecologist Eric Pianka told a meeting of the Texas Academy of Science that '90 percent of his fellow human beings must die' in order to save the planet. A very disturbed Forrest M. Mims III -- Chairman of the Environmental Science Section of the Texas Academy of Science, writing at The Citizen Scientist -- reported:
Professor Pianka said the Earth as we know it will not survive without drastic measures. Then, and without presenting any data to justify this number, he asserted that the only feasible solution to saving the Earth is to reduce the population to 10 percent of the present number."
Can you say, Ebola? It's rate of morbidity (rate of disease symptoms) and mortality (death) of an infected person approaches near 100%. Now let's make some hypothetical math equations. If we take what has happened in Africa to their population, it has been mathematically calculated that compared to the country of Liberia which has a population 4.2 million people, let us examine what it would be like if calculated to the population of the USA. If 3692 cases of Ebola have been diagnosed in Liberia and of those 3692 cases, with a fatality rate of 54% or 1998 people have died in Liberia alone. Of that number 3692, represents 0.0086% of the population:
"If that same infection and death rate were applied to the United States Ebola would infect 269,000 people and of those 156,281 would die.
Now, if as doctors and scientists fear the basic reproduction rate rises to 2 in Liberia the numbers change very quickly. Using the mean average incubation time of 9 days it would take around 13 weeks for the entire population of Liberia to become infected. (10 doublings starting with 3692 = just under the population of Liberia. This multiplied by 9 days gives us 90 days which divided by 7 gives 12.85 weeks.) Of the 4,290,000 people infected 2,316,000 would lose their lives.
This is just Liberia, not the other affected countries in West Africa.
Translated to an equivalent outbreak in the United States, where the basic reproduction rate is also 2, the numbers are horrifying. Starting with patient zero it would take around 245 days, 35 weeks for every person in the United States to become infected. Of those 171,180,000 people would die. (27.17 doublings x 9 days = 245 days =35 weeks)"
These figures are pulled from the CDC website and the percentages are correct, so if these percentages were applied to the USA, you could see a pandemic the like we have never seen before in our lifetime.
WHAT CAN WE DO?
Taking the words of our Lord seriously, I claim also His promises. First and foremost is my faith in my God. I am reminded of the words written in Psalm 91 and it has been my rock of divine protection whenever danger is about me.
91:5 "Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
91:6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
91:7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
91:8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
91:9 Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
91:10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling."
That is our promise from God, that no weapon formed against us shall prosper; but that's not given to all of humanity. This promise is made to the child of God, the redeemed man and woman, and the Christian who walks with God daily.
God has not called us to fear: II Timothy,
1:7 "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."
God shows us what is coming and he gives us tools to combat the coming man-made tribulation. Note that I say, man made. We are not part of the wrath of God that will be coming on the whole world during the "real" Tribulation and Great Tribulation, but that is no assurance that we won't be tried in our faith when evil men come on the scene and plan an evil scheme. This could be the run up to even more death and destruction, when God gets really involved and the prophecies of Revelation start to unfold in real time and God pours out His wrath on all humanity that is still on this planet.
In the coming days, before the actual wrath of God reigns down on this earth, God shows us and will lead us to make the right decisions to protect ourselves prior to the removal of His church to the portals of glory, and when we have done all we can do, He will take over and do the hard part. What we can do right now, is something I wish to share with you and my family has already taken the precautions should this Ebola become a pandemic....and from all I have been reading, it's not a question of "if" it will be a pandemic, but when. It's coming and a person of a sound Christian mind takes the steps to protect himself and rely on God to fulfill His promise quoted in Psalm 91. I direct you now to a product called Bio-Active Silver Hydrosol. Reading up on this product that boost your immune system and destroys visuses...like Ebola. I found ours on Swanson Health and it's going fast and most are out of stock. It is reported, also, spices like oregano, cinnamon and Vitamin D can build the immune system but the Silver Hydrsol destroys the virus. It's not being widely reported as the powers that be wish to hide what is coming and the protection available.
Now God is able to protect His people in trying times like we are bound to see, before we are lifted out of here, so not giving an endorsement to any treatment and praying fervently about it, the wise person does not tempt God, but allows God to lead him and to use the Holy Spirit's direction to protect one's self. Remember the words that Jesus said and I opened with a portion of that passage found in Matthew 24?
24:8 "All these are the beginning of sorrows."
We are seeing these played out in our present time, wars, rumors of wars, famines, earthquakes and now killer plagues. What do you do reader when the prophesied Tribulation is actually on the scene? We have so-called man-made biological weapons being formed for the purpose of population control and how sick is that? But know that there is coming a time when everything that is good and Holy will be removed from this planet and then all "hell" literally will be loosed on this earth. The only thing holding back the total annihilation of life on earth, by men, by Satan and his demon horde, is the Holy Spirit residing in men and women of faith, washing in the blood of the Lamb, King Jesus from the sacrifice He gave 2000 years ago. He died to save all who believe on His name.
TAKE NOT THE NAME OF THE LORD IN VAIN
I heard a great message from another brother in the ministry and he opened my eyes to something I had not thought about. It's found in the 3rd Commandment of the written Word of God given to Moses on Mt. Sinai..."Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain"....now most folks thought that meant using God's name in a curse word...My dad was bad about that to his own shame, but that is not what God meant. Those of who call ourselves "Christian" we take the name of Jesus Christ...."followers of Jesus Christ"...that's what the word "Christian" means. But if we take the name as a label, or moniker about our necks and don't live like we follow Him, are we taking His name "Christian" in vain? Have we not broken the 3rd commandment? Yes, we have. You can't play with God. You can't proclaim, "I'm a Christian" and not live it. You have just taken the name of the Lord in vain. If you're not living it, then how many sins are you committing that have not been repented of....are you even a Christian or just a pew warmer?
When I speak of all the protections that are afforded to the "Christian" and I'm talking the true, blood washed follower of Jesus Christ, when evil comes to your dwelling in the form of a plague, or terrorism, or say even a local thug who wishes to do you harm, are you guaranteed any protection from God because you go to church on Sunday, or any other day of the week and have the label "Christian" but live like the devil and no one can tell you apart from the drunk lying in the gutter in front of the local bar? Can you claim these promises? No, you cannot.
"God is not mocked. Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." Galatians 6:7
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Friend, the hour grows short and the signs are all around us. Signs in the heavens shout the message, as I've covered in past messages. The signs on the earth that grow exponentially louder as the earth groans for it's redemption from a sin cursed world. Epidemics and plagues that have risen again and are even more severe and dangerous than when we last saw them or read about them. And that's just this side of the Tribulation when it begins and kicks into high gear in the last 3.5 years called the Great Tribulation that if the "time was not shortened, no flesh would be saved". Matthew: 24:21 " For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.
24:22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect"s sake those days will be shortened."
I had a dear sister stand up in church today and plead with the congregation as she proclaimed, "people we need to get serious about living for God, NOW". She read from these words:
Hebrews 12:25 "See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:
12:26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.
12:27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
12:29 For our God is a consuming fire."
Jesus words in Matthew 24 are written to announce the coming Tribulation and these signs we are seeing, are the "beginning of sorrow". Folks, it is here...
As my sister said today, "It is time to get serious about living for God". I am in agreement and plead with all who will listen and take action to make your "calling and election sure". 2nd Peter,
1:10 " Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble;
1:11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."
I blow the trumpet as a sound of warning. Please, heed the call and make Jesus Christ the Lord of your life, in word and in deed. The time grows short to make that decision for God, as the Tribulation hour looms on the horizon. This is Pastor Mike Taylor, praying God's love, mercy and protection on each one of you. If you have a need, want prayer, or just a listening ear, drop me a line to realteam1999@sbcglobal.net, God bless you all, till we meet at Jesus feet.
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