Televangelist Keith Moore’s ministry Faith Life International has purchased a third jet following a fundraising campaign to raise $10 million. The used Dassault Falcon 7X jet acquired by Moore’s ministry was listed for sale at $17.5 million, while a new model would have cost $60 million.
In addition to the Falcon 7X, Faith Life International also owns a Dassault Falcon 900 EX (tail number N7KM) and Raytheon 390 (tail number N8PJ) jets. Moore is a licensed pilot and certified to fly all three jet models; however, both Falcon jets require an additional pilot in the cockpit.
Creflo Dollar’s new Gulfstream G550: After televangelist Creflo Dollar asked for 200,000 donors to give $300 each to fund the purchase of a new $65 million Gulfstream G650 jet back in 2015, he faced an immediate backlash due to critical international news coverage. Instead of purchasing the Gulfstream G650, Dollar’s property holding company, World Heir, acquired two used jets: a Gulfstream G-IV (tail number N878SM) and a Learjet 60 (tail number N978SM), which was recently sold.
Why can’t these churches see that they fit God’s description of the church at Laodicea? It is the seventh church representing the church in the seventh year of the 70th Week of Daniel, the final year before Jesus returns to Earth with resurrected Saints to fight the battle of Armageddon and usher in His Millennial Kingdom (http://www.millennialkingdom.net) The church of Laodicea is left behind to face the wrath of God that is poured out with the Trumpet and Bowl judgements over the final year. The sixth church, the church of Philadelphia, is raptured and kept from the wrath of God.
CHURCH OF LAODICEA: LEFT BEHIND TO FACE THE WRATH OF GOD
“‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.”Revelation 3:15-17
CHURCH OF LAODICEA: “BE ZEALOUS AND REPENT“
“I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” Revelation 3:18-20
CHURCH OF PHILADELPHIA: “KEPT FROM THE HOUR OF TRIAL”
“‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name... Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.” Revelation 3:8,10
At the end of the nearly two-hour Musk/Trump exchange on X, Musk ended with the following remark.
“I think we’re at a fork in the road of destiny, of civilization, and I think we need to take the right path, and I think you’re the right path, so I think that’s where it comes down,” Musk added.
The interview, which Musk claimed was listened to by approximately 1 billion people as of Tuesday, marked Trump’s most prominent return to the platform after being banned in the wake of the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
Here are 5 highlights from their exchange.
‘Now I’m more of a believer’
The two started off their discussion talking about the assassination attempt against Trump on July 13 in Butler, Pennsylvania, which claimed the life of volunteer firefighter Corey Comperatore and critically injured two other rallygoers.
Trump told Musk that the attempt against his life was “surreal” and “not pleasant,” but also went on to suggest that his narrow escape from death was the result of divine intervention and that it has strengthened his faith in God.
Trump noted that he only avoided a bullet because he happened to turn his head slightly at just the right moment as he was looking off toward his right at a chart about illegal immigration statistics.
“For those who don’t believe in God, I think we’ve got to all start thinking about that. I’m a believer. Now I’m more of a believer, I think. And a lot of people have said that to me. A lot of great people have said that to me, actually,” he continued.
Crime Crisis
While Trump joked that illegal immigration saved his life because of the chart he turned to look at in Butler, he also spoke about the dangers posed by the unrestrained surge of illegal immigration during the Biden-Harris administration.
Trump painted a grim view of Biden’s presidency, claiming that “nobody’s better off now” than they were four years ago amid what he claimed were rising crime and inflation.
“Now [people] really feel unsafe, because you have a new form of crime. It’s called ‘migrant crime.’ I call it Biden migrant crime,’ maybe I’ll call it ‘Kamala migrant crime.'”
Musk noted how his mother lives in New York City and that three of her friends were assaulted in separate incidents while walking in the streets.
“They don’t even bother reporting it, because they know people aren’t going to get prosecuted,” Musk said. “They just let violent criminals out in New York.”
“The only one that gets prosecuted is Donald Trump,” Trump interjected, later adding that the allegedly political persecution against him is setting a dangerous precedent.
Tampon Tim
Trump hit at Harris’ running mate Gov. Tim Walz, D-Minn., for supporting a 2023 state education law that potentially mandated free tampons in public school boys’ bathrooms.
Musk asked Trump to comment on apparent attempts to portray Vice President Kamala Harris as a moderate despite her far-left political record, which he described as an “overnight propaganda attempt.”
“Her running mate approved, signed into legislation, tampons in boys’ bathrooms, OK?” Trump said as Musk laughed. “Now, that’s all I have to hear. Tampons in boys’ bathrooms. And that means she believes in that, too!”
Trump added that she picked Walz because she is closest to him as “an anti-Israel, radical left person,” and that if the two of them win, he doesn’t think “the country can survive.”
EU and NATO
Trump also blasted the European Union for allegedly ripping off the United States, even as the U.S. provides protection for them through NATO.
“I know the European Union very well,” Trump said. “They take great advantage of the United States in trade, as you know. Through a different forum, NATO, we protect them. And yet, if you build a car in the United States, you can’t sell it in Europe. You just can’t sell it, it’s impossible. The same thing with our farmers. Our farmers find it very difficult to do business,” Trump said.
“We have a deficit with them of $250 billion, which people don’t know. It sounds so nice — the ‘European Union,’ but let me tell you, they’re not as tough as China, but they’re bad. And let them know it, and that’s probably why they notified you,” Trump continued, referring to the letter that European Commissioner for Internal Market and Services Thierry Breton sent to Musk ahead of the Trump interview that warned him against spreading “harmful content.”
A fork in the road
At the end of their conversation, Trump and Musk agreed that the upcoming U.S. presidential election presents “a fork in the road.”
Trump explained that he intends to provide more incentive for companies to come to the U.S. and hire American citizens, which he noted is fundamental to the American Dream.
“We’re going to give incentive to companies to come into our country not to leave our country,” he said. “We’re going to be giving tremendous incentives. We want companies to build here not to build in other locations, and we want to create jobs.”
“It’s about the American Dream, you don’t hear about the American Dream anymore, Elon,” Trump continued, adding that Musk is an example of the American Dream “in the truest sense.”
“And you’re going to hear about it from people,” he said. “They need that incentive to go out and do it. And they’re going to love their lives. […] They’re going to look forward to getting up in the morning and going to a job that they love, not a job that they can’t stand, or not any job at all, where they have no money.”
Trump closed his remarks by calling Musk “a great inspiration” and warning that the election will be unusually consequential.
“We’re going to have a big election coming up, and I think November 5 will be the most important day in the history of our country,” Trump said. “I think that election will be the most important, and I think it’ll end up being maybe the most important day in the history of our country. Because if we don’t win, I just feel so sorry for everybody.”
In 2016 when Kamala Harris was Attorney General in California emails show that she and leaders of Planned Parenthood agreed on a plan to have a dozen or so State agents raid the house of pro-life journalist David Daleiden, the head of the Center for Medical Progress. Mr. Daleiden had recently published videos allegedly showing Planned Parenthood officials gruesomely describing how they extract aborted baby body parts, then sell them for profit. Instead of thanking Daleiden for this key exposure, Harris sued Daleiden, weaponizing the power of her office. A relentless 9-year legal battle appears still to be unresolved.
Planned Parenthood loves Harris so much that they have an abortion bus outside the Democratic Convention Hall. It was confirmed that 25 babies were killed in the abortion bus. Reported by Kristan Hawkins of Students for Life of America at 7:38 p.m. EST Tuesday evening. They were also sterilizing men with vasectomies and handing out free abortion pills to women.
According to the Life Legal Defense Foundation, Illinois and nearly half the other States don’t require reporting requirements for complications from abortion pills. The complications include excessive bleeding, infections, uterine ruptures, rotting body parts, and dead babies. No reporting allows abortionists to lie saying” that there is no evidence that abortion is harmful to women.”
Engraving of “Molech” published in “The Story of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation” Published by Charles Foster in 1883. The engraving is now in the public domain.
This is spiritual warfare. The Molech death cult spirit is now brazenly active. This demonic spirit had parents publicly sacrificing their children by flames drowning out their cries as they were being incinerated. Death instead of LIFE! That same wicked death spirit is embraced by the pro-abortion crowd.
Here is the LORD’s Word in Leviticus 20:1-5:Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Moreover, you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘Any Israelite or any stranger residing in Israel who gives any of his children to Molech (the god of the Ammonites) [as a human sacrifice] shall most certainly be put to death; the people of the land shall stone him with stones. I will also set My face against that man [opposing him, withdrawing My protection from him] and will cut him off from his people [excluding him from the atonement made for them], because he has given some of his children to Molech, to defile My sanctuary and profane My holy name.”
Kamala Harris was married at age 50 (born in 1964 and married in 2014) and has two step-children but no biological children.
The Bible is replete with examples of God’s people being called to influence nations and governments. One of the most striking examples is found in the book of Daniel.
Daniel, a prophet, served in the courts of Babylonian and Persian kings, providing wisdom and guidance that shaped the course of entire empires (Daniel 2:48). His role was not just spiritual but also political, showing that God can use His people to influence leadership at the highest levels.
Similarly, Joseph’s rise to power in Egypt under Pharaoh (Genesis 41) demonstrates how God can elevate His chosen individuals to positions of political authority to fulfill His divine purposes. These biblical stories underscore that involvement in politics is not inherently dangerous but can be a means through which God’s will is enacted on earth.
Prophecy and political leadership
Prophecy has always been pivotal in guiding God’s people, especially in times of crisis or transition. The Old Testament prophets were often called to speak truth to power, offering divine insight into the direction of nations. Amos 3:7 states, “Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets.” This suggests that God uses prophecy to guide leaders and nations.
In the New Testament, the role of prophecy continues, with the Apostle Paul urging believers not to “treat prophecies with contempt” (1 Thessalonians 5:20).
Prophecy serves as a way for God to communicate His will, including matters of leadership and governance. Therefore, dismissing modern-day prophecies about political figures like former President Donald Trump could mean overlooking a vital aspect of God’s communication with His people.
The danger of political neutrality
The Newsweek article highlights concerns that endorsing political candidates from the pulpit could harm the church’s witness. However, political neutrality is not always the safer path. In fact, remaining silent on political issues can be just as dangerous, as it may allow unrighteousness to go unchecked. Proverbs 29:2 reminds us, “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.”
The Bible calls the Church to be the “salt of the earth” and the “light of the world” (Matthew 5:13-16). This mandate extends beyond personal morality and into the realm of social and political influence. If the Church fails to engage in politics, it risks allowing ungodly leaders and policies to prevail, leading to the moral and spiritual decline of the nation.
Prophecy and the modern church
The rise of prophetic voices in support of former President Donald Trump has sparked controversy, with some Evangelical leaders warning against equating God’s will with that of a political party.
Yet, history shows that God has often raised up leaders who are imperfect but chosen to fulfill His purposes. King David, for instance, was far from perfect, yet he was “a man after God’s own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14).
The key is discernment — churches must prayerfully consider whether a leader aligns with biblical principles and values. Rejecting prophecy outright because it does not fit our preconceived notions of what a leader should be could mean missing out on God’s chosen vessel for a particular time and purpose.
Why churches must engage in politics
The Church has a responsibility to engage in politics, not for the sake of power but to ensure that God’s principles and justice prevail in the land. Prophecy is one of the ways God communicates His will for nations, and the Church must not ignore this vital aspect of divine guidance.
By carefully discerning the role of prophecy in political leadership, the church can fulfill its biblical mandate to be a guiding light in times of moral and spiritual darkness.
Rather than retreating from political involvement, the church should embrace its role as a prophetic voice, calling leaders to righteousness and ensuring that God’s will is done on earth as it is in heaven.
This article is by Troy Anderson. His upcoming book, The Trump Code (Charisma House/FrontLine, September 17, 2024), delves into various prophecies and their potential connections to contemporary political events, providing a fascinating perspective on the 2024 Presidential Election.
Troy Anderson is a Pulitzer Prize-nominated investigative journalist, bestselling author of The Babylon Code, Trumpocalypse, The Military Guide to Armageddon, and Revelation 911, former executive editor of Charisma magazine and Charisma Media, and reporter at the Los Angeles Daily News and other newspapers. He’s the founder and president of the Inspire Literary Group and writes for Newsmax, Charisma, Townhall, and other media outlets. www.troyanderson.us and www.inspireliterary.com.
I am not sure where the idiom “guernsey” originated but it came to mind so I thought I would use it. Its typical meaning “If someone or something gets a guernsey, they get public recognition for an achievement or a quality”.
I think God did get a guernsey at these Olympic Games. I have already posted on several athletes who have won medals and they gave the glory to God for their achievements.
From a spiritual standpoint, these people were, in many ways, doing what they were created to do. Like a bird soaring in the air, a rose bush blooming where it’s planted, athletes from around the world showcased their mettle and ability. Whatever sport I couldn’t help but think of the following Psalms: “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!” Pslam 103:1 and “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.” Psalm 150:6.
One hundred years ago, at the 1924 summer games, Eric Liddell – the famed Scottish sprinter whose life was portrayed in the 1981 film “Chariots of Fire” – made history with his record-breaking first-place finish in the 400-metre race. This wasn’t his best event. He was scheduled to run in the 100-meter race but because it was scheduled on a Sunday he withdrew. When asked about running, Liddell once said the following: “I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast! And when I run, I feel his pleasure.” But that’s only part of the quote: “You will know as much of God, and only as much of God, as you are willing to put into practice. Christ for the world, for the world needs Christ!” Liddell, who spent his post-Olympic life as a missionary in China, understood his purpose was not limited to the Olympic stage nor his ability to run fast. Yet, he could see how they were connected.
Daniel Roberts also got it. He was interviewed a week before he left his home in Georgia to compete in the 110-meter hurdles, in which he placed silver. He wasn’t aware of Liddell or his faith, but when told, he immediately beamed with a broad smile and said. “That’s cool that even back then there were disciples out trying to just live their faith out loud and not be ashamed of the gospel”. “At the end of the day, that’s all I’m trying to do” Roberts added “And if maybe 100 years from now someone can say the same thing about me, I feel like I’ve done something right”.
However, the smiles and emotional highs often quickly fade in the waning weeks, months, and years. That’s especially true for retiring athletes. Marilyn Okoro, who represented Team Great Britain in track and field in 2008 and 2012, retired after the Tokyo Olympics. She struggled to give up a sport to which she dedicated thousands of hours in addition to blood, sweat, and tears. “By the grace of God, I feel fully recovered from my retirement,” Okoro conceded in an interview before the start of the summer games. “Every athlete will tell you it’s a big question mark of your identity. And one thing for me, I knew my identity was in Christ.” “It was my faith that pulled me out of that season. And God has really shown me that there is life after sport. There’s life in Him,” she continued, explaining her plans to attend the Paris games to pray for the athletes.
Behind the scenes, there was a huge prayer and evangelistic movement with “hundreds upon hundreds” of salvations according to Frank Shelton, a four-time chaplain at the summer games. His team of volunteers was part of a multi-national initiative to pray with athletes, coaches, and spectators throughout France. “We had the honour to see souls saved on the street,” Shelton wrote in an email. “Some of the athletes I met said, worship was happening in the village and I saw video footage of them praising God near the Olympic Village. What was so beautiful was how so many athletes gave glory to God.”
Shelton acknowledged the outrage over the opening ceremony but had this to offer. “I reminded all those disgruntled at home after the opening ceremony that if we have to wait for the ‘perfect conditions’ to share the Gospel, we will never get started”. “As Christians called to share the faith, we must resemble a dedicated fireman. Why? We just need an opening to run in and through when everyone else is running out or quitting.”
Shelton shared a story to summarize the ministry outreach in Paris. It was of a chaplain for track and field walking and conversing with track star Grant Holloway. Frank said that another chaplain wrote, “God just opened the door for me to start a Zoom Bible study with some of the Olympians long after we leave Paris.” What if the last two weeks were only a sampling of something bigger and better the world has to offer?
Shelton summed it up with “Praise God, folks are hungry for the Lord. True winning isn’t just going after gold but God. However, when we seek Him first and His righteousness all these other things will be added unto you. Sometimes that includes gold, too!”
This is the last episode in The Last Reformation Revealing series. It shows vital evidence around the persecution of Torben in the United States and the terrible effects of slander. The episode identified the main source of this slander. It was this slander that eventually led to Torben’s detention.
What is troubling to me in this story is how Satan was able to use Christians, particularly the police officer who was responsible for Torben spending twelve months in prison and then being deported.
The roles played by Paul May and Andre Hojer in the saga are shocking. Watching Paul May give his deposition was illuminating. Based on information provided by Andre Hojer, a man in Denmark who Paul May had never met, May played the prime role in destroying the reputation and life of Torben, also a man he had never met. Satan used both of these men, professing Christians for his purposes.
Please distribute this video widely to family and friends.
I received the following email from the leader of the Kenya House Church Movement in the north of Kenya. Charles is based in Migori, close to the border of Tanzania.
Hi Ron, Glad you will hit 88 yrs next week and you are using your years wisely. I will be praying for your son Glenn that God will use this life-threatening illness and he will come back to Christ. Your commitments and effort to writing and LEN posts is a great blessing to the entire KHC family. We shall keep upholding you, your family, and your grandchildren in our prayers. Keep praying for me and the KHC movement, We just came from a discipleship mission trip to Tanzania now 4 days ago, a successful meeting. We were able to witness the mighty working of God in our midst. I have attached some pictures.
Blessings, Charles
I am unable to support the KHC group as I have in the past so I am hoping that God will prompt some of my readers to connect with Charles and provide support, prayer, and finance as God leads. You can donate on this website see the link on the Home Page or contact Charles directly Phone:. (254)741196559, Email otienochris@yahoo.com, Address: Charles Otieno Owino, Isbana Rd, Migori Kenya.
Charles is the large man on the left of the bottom picture. This was taken on my visit in 2022. We had a meeting of house church leaders. Some are holding a copy of my most recent book: Living Eternal Now – Ready for Jesus Return.
We have previously reported that observations of distant galaxies using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) are contrary to the predictions of the Big Bang but match predictions of biblical creation. Now, new observations of the angular sizes of distant galaxies challenge one of the essential underlying assumptions of the Big Bang – that the “fabric” of space is expanding as galaxies recede.
Without an expanding space, a big bang is impossible. These observations support a new creation-based model of cosmology – the Doppler model – which makes specific quantitative predictions about future observations.
Predictions
The Doppler model allows us to make predictions regarding future JWST observations that differ from the predictions of the Big Bang based on the FLRW metric (The metric that describes an expanding or collapsing universe named after the four founding physicists: Friedmann-Lemaitre-Walker-Robertson). The median angular diameter of galaxies beyond a redshift of 20 should continue to be smaller than galaxies at low redshifts. In particular, the Doppler model predicts the median diameter of galaxies beyond a redshift of 20 to be around 0.2 arcseconds. This is roughly ten times smaller than the predictions based on the FLRW metric. Furthermore, The Doppler model predicts that such galaxies will be fainter by more than one magnitude. Time will tell which model is correct.
Note that these are specific, quantitative predictions. Successful specific predictions are the hallmark of good science. Dr. James Lisle suggests that the Big Bang is not good science as it does not make specific successful predictions. Furthermore, it is inconsistent with the latest JWST observations of galaxy sizes and brightnesses. In addition, the Big Bang has difficulty accommodating the existence of galaxies at such high redshifts since they have had so little time to form according to secular assumptions. Lisle predicts that galaxies will continue to be discovered at higher redshifts, up to the detection limit of the JWST.
Conclusions
The angular sizes and apparent brightnesses of distant galaxies are consistent with the Doppler model and not with the Big Bang. To be clear, the universe is indeed expanding because the average distance between galaxies increases with time as these galaxies move through space. But the fabric of space is not expanding. The FLRW metric is wrong. This affects the estimated sizes of distant galaxies because the FLRW metric predicts a magnification effect that is simply not seen. The implication is that distant galaxies are about the same size and brightness on average as nearby galaxies. Thus, there is no evidence of galaxy evolution over the supposed billions of years. Thus the Doppler model fits the natural expectation of a “recent” (thousands of years ago) supernaturally created universe. The Doppler model is compatible with the ASC model that explains how distant starlight reaches Earth within the biblical timescale.
This creation-based Doppler model makes specific quantitative predictions about the angular diameters and brightnesses of galaxies that will be discovered in future JWST images. Namely, these will have an average angular diameter of 0.2 arcseconds, roughly ten times smaller than the Big Bang model predicts. And such galaxies will be fainter than Big Bang predictions by a little over 1 magnitude (2.5 times).
This is a very exciting time to be a biblical creationist. All the observations coming from the JWST confirm biblical creation models, and none are supportive of a Big Bang. In fact, these latest observations are absolutely devastating to Big Bang interpretations. And since models like Doppler and ASC make specific predictions about future observations, creation scientists are now leading the way in cosmology research.
This article is an extract from an article by Dr Jason Lisle: New James Webb Space Telescope Observations Challenge the Big Bang | Aug 2, 2024 | Astronomy on http://www.biblicalscienceinstitute.com
8.3 million minors in the USA received mental care in 2023, highlighting a ‘Decaying Culture’.
The family unit, social interaction, and politics are a few of the many variables that impact a developing adolescent. When a child’s family unit is broken, social life is in shambles, or the political public square becomes unavoidable, it can have consequences on who they become as their worldview takes shape. As evidenced by previous reports, as well as one published last month, mental health concerns are exploding in the younger generation.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) conducted a July survey that analyzed the amount of counseling, medication, or other forms of mental health therapy minors underwent in 2023. According to the results, 8.3 million youth ages 12 to 17 received mental health care, which The Epoch Times noted “is equivalent to nearly one-third of the adolescents in the U.S. undergoing treatment for mental health issues.”
The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), which is the title of SAMHSA’s annual survey, found that the results were in line with the trend they’ve seen since 2009, namely, that “the percentage of teenagers who receive treatment for mental health has climbed practically every year.” As ET highlighted, “Authorities from SAMHSA said that they considered the increase to be a positive development, highlighting efforts to mainstream and remove the stigma associated with getting treatment for mental health issues.”
The survey included statistics concerning the underage and their use of alcohol and drugs, as well as the rates of suicidal thoughts, plans, and attempts among adolescents. To accompany those statistics in greater detail are countless other studies accentuating what causes children to engage in such harmful behaviors and acts — all of which often lead to mental health issues.
For instance, The Washington Stand highlighted a report from last year “that compared dozens of studies conducted between 1987 and 2022,” emphasizing the way fatherlessness impacts children. In analyzing the results, the America First Policy Institute (AFPI) noted there were “clear correlations between children raised in fatherless homes and developmental challenges ranging from bad grades, anxiety, and suicide to violent behavior, drug use, and criminality.”
Additionally, the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study from 2022 examined 7,111 children “who did not identify as anything other than their biological sex, as well as 58 transgender-identifying children between the ages of 9 and 10.” As the report emphasized, “Children who identified as transgender at this young age were more likely to experience depression … anxiety … conduct problems … and suicidality.” The study also pointed out that trans-identifying children were more likely to have endured “significant psychological trauma” such as “exposure to domestic violence, mental illness, alcohol or drug use in the home, physical or emotional abuse or neglect, sexual abuse, and parental divorce.”
Needless to say, there are many factors involved in the “recipe” of “despair, hopelessness, nihilism, [and] disaffection,” as Marlo Slayback, national director of Student Programs at the Intercollegiate Studies Institute, previously shared with The College Fix. According to Slayback, Generation Z is surrounded by a “decaying culture,” which inevitably affects them as they try to navigate through it. But to further break down how this all relates to the most recent findings, Joseph Backholm, Family Research Council’s senior fellow for Biblical Worldview and Strategic Engagement, shared his insight with TWS.
“It’s beyond dispute at this point that social media is harming the mental health of young people,” he said. Especially among the youth, the technological realm is “creating constant comparison which leads to a lack of contentment.” Not to mention, he added, it’s replacing real-life relationships with the appearance of virtual relationships.” But beyond social media, Backholm urged that our analysis should consider that “the way we talk and think about mental health may explain some of this as well.”
He continued, “We have destigmatized mental health in ways that are good, but we have almost glamorized certain mental health ways that make young people want a diagnosis.” Numerous instances prove that “adults are rushing children into mental health treatments in ways that have never happened before.”
“Abigail Shrier does a good job documenting this in her recent book Bad Therapy,” where she “argues that the problem isn’t the kids — it’s the mental health experts.”
It appears, Backholm stated, that “in an attempt to make sure we don’t ignore a child’s struggles, adults may inadvertently be encouraging children to fixate on them which could make things worse.” In addition to that, “if children receive special attention for having a mental health challenge, we inadvertently encourage children to have them, or at least claim to.” According to Backholm, “Mental health challenges are real, but they are also invisible, which makes diagnosing them more difficult and more susceptible to cultural and personal factors rather than scientific ones.”
From a biblical worldview, Backholm explained how “a sinful world is full of challenges,” and really, “Christians understand why.” Ultimately, “When we live and think the way God intended, in relationship with Him and others, our minds will be better for it.” But the truth is, Backholm contended, “We live in a broken world, and no one escapes the consequences fully.” As a result, we are incapable of living completely as God intended us to live.
A major influence is that most young people have been taught in schools and universities that God does not exist, they evolved from monkeys and therefore there’s no meaning or purpose to life. They have no hope. God’s commandments have been jettisoned: homosexuality, gay marriage, transgenderism, and abortion are acceptable. Christians who hold to God’s standards are bigots, homophobes, and worse.
The true history of the world is no longer taught even by our Bible Colleges. Due to the acceptance of evolution, they have abandoned Genesis, its creation account, and the worldwide flood of Noah’s day. Fortunately, God’s Word, the Bible tells us that this would happen in the last days before Jesus’ second coming.
“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.” For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, and that by means of these, the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished.” 2 Peter 3:3-6
Christians know how the story of this world ends. Jesus in his Olivet Discourse, given in three of the Gospels, provides a lot of detail as does Revelation. In the O.T. the revelation given to Daniel was for the end times. Three times Daniel was told, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end.” Daniel 12:9
Daniel, like no other book, reaches all the way back to Israel’s beginnings and outlines the whole sweep of Israel’s history of crisis and covenant discipline, reaching its glorious resolution in the kingdom that has come on earth as it is in heaven.Daniel is the key to organizing the whole of scripture around the main themes of kingdom, covenant, and mystery. But it is Jesus’ Olivet prophecy in particular, and the emphasis He puts on one centermost event (abomination of desolation), that becomes the key that opens not only Daniel but also sets all the prophecies spoken concerning the coming day of the Lord in clearest covenant context.
We must remember that the NT revelation of the mystery of the gospel is built around Christ’s first coming, His departure, and His return to Israel, specifically to the Mount of Olives from whence He ascended. He must return to the place where He was crucified under the placard that said, “This is Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.”
Why end the age just there, in that physical locality? Why has God constructed the end of the age around an ancient land dispute that is divinely calculated to plunge the nations into an insoluble crisis from which none will be able to extricate themselves? (Zech 12:2-3). Why would God bind together the issue of the mystery of the gospel with the mystery of Israel?
Part of the answer regards His deliberate intention that both comings would be surrounded by an element of mystery is to elude the pride of self-reliance (Mt. 11:25-26), just as Paul warns in Ro. 11:25. Just as the mystery of Christ’s twofold coming so deeply searched and tested Jewish hearts, just so, the mystery of Israel is designed to test and sift the hearts of the nations, even gentile believers.
But there is one important difference: The mystery of Christ’s cross and twofold coming was not only hidden from Peter and the disciples (Mt 16:22; Lk 18:34); it was hidden even from the angelic powers (1 Cor 2:7-8). Not so the mystery surrounding the Lord’s return.
Those well-marked days will only come “as a thief” upon the unregenerate church and the unbelieving world, but not upon the faithful children of the light (1 Thess. 5:4). We know this because Daniel’s prophecy is clear that the vision will be unsealed and known to the wise at the time of the end. They will be doing great exploits, instructing many, and turning many to righteousness. A countless number will be saved out of, “the great tribulation (Rev 7:14).
But the larger answer to the question has all to do with the completion of an ancient covenant promise. It is the age-ending climax of the “everlasting covenant” that forms the framework of the future. In the larger context of God’s eternal purpose in Christ, this is what defines how and why the age ends just as the prophecy of both testaments so fully describes.
Reggie Kellie of Mystery of Israel (www.mysteryofisrael.org) says, “Towards the goal of seeing the big picture, I believe the Lord Jesus Himself has given us the key to establish what I like to call a “plumbline of simplicity” that will align and pull many of the strands together into a coherent clarity. The object will not only be to know what is most important to know, but how best to show others how to make the case from scripture without getting bogged down in details, in a way that will equip others to equip others.
If observed, God has given us an amazing, and now especially timely, provision to equip the body, not only to escape the manifold forms of end-time deception but to have the Lord’s own, personally commended key of interpretation that will enable them to “instruct many” and “turn many” to righteousness” (Dan 11:32-33; 12:3, 10).
Is the Middle East inching toward all-out war? The Biblical answer is yes, and the time is near.
Nothing is certain. Iran’s leadership has promised, publicly, loudly, and repeatedly, that it will strike Israel militarily. It says this is to avenge the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh on July 31 in Tehran. This killing was carried out by Israel, although Jerusalem has not claimed responsibility for the event.
Haniyeh has been replaced as overall Hamas leader by Yahya Sinwar, the architect of the October 7 atrocity. A ceasefire may still be on the cards, but whenever Sinwar shows his face the Israelis will surely kill him.
A day before Haniyeh’s death, an Israeli strike killed Hezbollah’s military commander, Fuad Shukr, in Beirut. The Israelis were responding to a Hezbollah 50kg rocket that hit an Israeli Druze village and killed 12 young people. As a result of the death of its military commander, Hezbollah too has vowed, repeatedly and explicitly, a major strike on Israel.
So Iran and Hezbollah have now committed to military actions against Israel in the coming days.
The world has taken these threats seriously. The Albanese government advised Australians in Lebanon to leave now, while they can. Numbers of international airlines have stopped flights to Beirut and some to Israel. Others have decided to avoid Iranian air space.
Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, says Israel is already at war with Iran.
Netanyahu sees Iran as a unique existential threat to Israel. He also sees it as having a much bigger significance in global politics. In his recent speech to the US Congress, Netanyahu said: “For Iran, Israel is first, America is next. So, when Israel fights Hamas, we’re fighting Iran. When we fight Hezbollah, we’re fighting Iran. And when we fight Iran, we’re fighting the most radical and murderous enemy of the United States.
Iran’s leadership seethes with visceral hatred of Israel. Even in Australia, the Iranian ambassador thought it good form to tweet out a statement that he hoped the “Zionist plague” would be “wiped from the map” by 2027.
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, promised “harsh punishment” for Israel. Hossein Salami, the commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, vowed a “severe response” to teach Israel a lesson.
Senior Iranian officials reportedly told Arab governments they no longer cared whether their forthcoming attack on Israel caused an all-out regional war. This may be a bluff, or at least stylised military signalling.
Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, also told his own people his group would hit Israel harder than before. In a fiery speech in Beirut he declared: “We have not sought escalations until now, we have been fighting in support of Gaza but keeping in mind the Lebanese national interest. Every time one of our commanders was killed, our response was heightened but always measured.
“But the assassination of a top (Hezbollah) leader (in Beirut) must be treated differently. Our response is coming, God willing, from us and the axis of resistance – and it must be strong.”
The “axis of resistance” Nasrallah is talking about is Iran and its regional proxies, namely Hezbollah, the Houthis in Yemen, Shi’ite militias in Iraq and Syria, and Hamas as well as Palestinian Islamic Jihad in the Palestinian territories.
All except the Palestinian groups are Shi’ite. Iran has always aspired, mostly forlornly, to lead and inspire the entire Muslim world. Its leaders had close connections to the Sunni extremist Muslim Brotherhood. Although the Arab Middle East generally is divided into Sunni versus Shia, this hasn’t stopped Iran from supporting, supplying, and effectively leading Hamas and PIJ.
Iran is the ram of Daniel 8:4. “I saw the ram charging westward, northward and southward. No beast could stand before him, and there was no one who could rescue from his power.” With its proxies: Hezbollah (Lebanon), Hamas (Gaza), Palestinian Islamic Jihad (West Bank and Gaza), Houthi (Yemen), Al-Ashtar Brigades (Bahrain), Kata’ib Hezbollah (Iraq), Badr Organization (Iraq), Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq (Iraq), Fatemiyoun Brigade (Syria), Zainabiyoun Brigade (Syria), Quawt al-Ridha (Syria), Baqir Brigade (Syria) it is pushing westward, northward and southward.
Who is the goat of Daniel 8? The Hebrew word translated “Greece” is actually YAVAN. Yavan were an ancient people that occupied eastern Greece and western Turkey. The principle city within the region is Istanbul. The Angel is not referring to Greece but rather to the land once occupied by the Yavan people who lived in western Turkey! Hence, Turkey is the goat. Daniel instructs us that a great war is about to take place between Iran and Turkey, and Turkey will ultimately prevail. It will be a war between Shia Muslims and Sunni Muslims. Turkey will re-conquer Babylon (Iraq) and conquer Persia (Iran). This will create an empire that is part Lion, part Bear, and part Leopard (referring to Rev. 13). A revived Ottoman Empire.
Why does scripture highlight this particular war? It is highlighted because it launches the career of the Antichrist! Scripture reveals that a revived Ottoman Empire exists for a short time but it is broken up into four. We are not told by whom but it could be the United Nations. They would not like to see a revived Ottoman Empire. It is out of one of the four nations the Antichrist arises.
“Out of one of them came a little horn, which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the glorious land. It grew great, even to the host of heaven. And some of the host and some of the stars it threw down to the ground and trampled on them. It became great, even as great as the Prince of the host. And the regular burnt offering was taken away from him, and the place of his sanctuary was overthrown.“ Daniel 8:9-11
For Christians, the next major end-times sign is the Goat (Turkey/Sunni) v Ram (Iran/Shia) war. When this eventuates Christians can show non-believers the truth of God’s Word. Apocalyptic evangelism should be a powerful tool.
LIVING ETERNAL NOW 