THE DAY GOD DESTROYS THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH WITH FIRE

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God tells us in His Word (Bible): “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). But are you also aware that one day God will destroy the heavens and the earth with fire?

“Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to his promise, we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” 2 Peter 3:11-12

Shocking? Absolutely. Unbelievable? Not at all.

The Apostle Peter, writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, delivered this staggering news to God’s people: “The day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be burned up … That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat” (2 Peter 3:10,12).

Yes, you read that correctly. The heavens will be dissolved, and the earth will literally melt in the heat.

A few verses earlier Peter described how in the last days before Jesus returns scoffers will deny that God judged the world previously with the worldwide flood of Noah’s day.

 “Knowing this, first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing… For they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s Word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and with water. By water also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men” (2 Peter 3:5-7).

The coming day of judgment is just as certain as God’s creation of the universe, and just as sure as the great flood in Noah’s day. The worldwide flood that buried millions of dead creatures all over the world, fossils, including fossil fuels (decayed vegetation under pressure), adequate evidence it occurred.

The good news: the Apostle John was given a vision of what will happen after God burns up the earth.

“Then I saw a new Heaven and a new earth, for the first Heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of Heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ’Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’ He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’” (Revelation 21:1-5).

Every child of God will inhabit the New Heaven and New Earth with a perfect body that is incorruptible.

“The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body” (1 Corinthians 15:42-44).

Talk about an upgrade! If you could choose today between going to Heaven or going to Hell, you would certainly choose Heaven, right? After all, who wants to go to Hell? But do you realize that there is only one way to be forgiven of your sins and get into Heaven?

Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).

Peter proclaimed: “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under Heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

Saved from what? 1. Sin, 2. Death, and 3. Hell. The final chapter of the Bible makes things crystal clear:

“And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also, he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end… The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” Revelation 21:5-8

Those who have deliberately and persistently pursued their sinful desires will find themselves in the Lake of Fire where there is punishment and the second death.

Your good works cannot remove a single stain from your soul. Like everyone else, you need the blood of Jesus that was shed on the cross 2,000 years ago. When you turn to Christ in faith and rely upon His death for your salvation, your robe is instantly washed clean and made white in the blood of the Lamb.

“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace” (Ephesians 1:7).

Peter informed believers: “In keeping with God’s promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness” (2 Peter 3:13).

The day God burns up the earth will be terribly frightening, to say the least, but this global upheaval must take place before the Lord ushers in a New Heaven and a New Earth.

In the meantime, “God wants everyone to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth,” (1 Timothy 2:4), and “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13).

I have adapted this post from an article by Dan Delzell, The Day God Burns Up The Earth, pastor of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Papillion, Nebraska. 

REPORT ON HOW ISRAEL WILL RESPOND TO HAMAS ATTACK

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The following video is hosted by John Lockwood of Kingdom Builders, Australia. This week John organised two Israeli leaders to give us a report on what is happening in Israel and how Israel’s leaders will respond to this horrific attack.

I have visited Israel four times and spent time on a number of Kibbutz. In the video, Eitan shows a photo of a group of Australians (Kingdom Builders Tour) on a kibbutz with the leader of the kibbutz (center front row). His family was killed in the recent attack. I am in the photo taken on this Kibbutz where the main attack occurred on the border of Gaza. I am the person in the back row second from the right.

Thank goodness Christians are not taken by surprise at what we see unfolding in the Middle East. God’s Word (Bible) is largely prophecy. God tells us in advance what will happen so that we know He is in control. Spiritual warfare is hotting up and the last seven years prior to Jesus returning to Earth with the glorified Saints to commence His Millennial Kingdom is fast approaching. All Christians have been praying ” Your Kingdom come your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven” That prayer will be answered with Jesus’ Millennial reign on this Earth.

ISRAEL’S RETURN, JUDGEMENT & THE MILLENNIUM

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Jonathan Cahn preaches on the many end-times prophecies, starting with the rebirth of Israel and the great falling away in denominational institutional churches and ending with the coming Millennial reign of Jesus from a restructured/rebuilt Jerusalem.

Jonathan like many born-again leaders knows we are in the last days before Jesus returns and is preparing his congregation for what is ahead. My only concern is that he does not address the timing of The Rapture and the fact Christians need to prepare for the coming tribulation, even great tribulation. As Jesus and Paul told the disciples that they would see the Abomination of Desolation (Antichrist) (Matthew 24:15, Mark 13:14 and 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4) seated in the Temple declaring himself to be God. This takes place midway through the last seven years before Jesus returns to Earth with the Saints. The Rapture timing is at the end of the sixth year, the sixth seal, and the sixth church (church of Philadelphia).

SIXTH SEAL (Celestial signs that precede Jesus coming to rapture the Saints and signals the great day of God’s wrath has come): “When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale. The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?” Revelation 6:12-17

CHURCH OF PHILADELPHIA: “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

Moreover, the Church of Laodicea is the church that is left behind to face the wrath of God which hopefully leads to repentance and saving faith.

WHAT ARE GOD’S REQUIREMENTS FOR ANSWERED PRAYER?

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This is the answer I got from ChatGPT.

The concept of God’s requirements for answered prayer varies among different religious traditions and interpretations. While it is important to note that beliefs and teachings may differ, I can provide you with a general understanding based on common religious perspectives.

  1. Faith and Trust: Many religious traditions emphasize the importance of having faith and trust in God when praying. Believers are encouraged to approach God with sincerity, confidence, and a genuine belief that their prayers will be heard and answered.
  2. Alignment with God’s Will: It is often believed that prayers are more likely to be answered when they align with God’s will or divine plan. This means that praying for things that are in accordance with God’s teachings, values, and purposes may have a higher chance of being granted.
  3. Righteousness and Moral Living: Some religious traditions teach that living a righteous and moral life increases the likelihood of prayers being answered. It is believed that being in a state of harmony with God’s commandments and living according to ethical principles can positively influence the outcome of one’s prayers.
  4. Persistence and Patience: Persistence and patience are often regarded as virtues when it comes to prayer. It is believed that consistent and persevering prayer, coupled with patience and trust in God’s timing, can enhance the chances of prayers being answered.
  5. Forgiveness and Compassion: Many religious teachings emphasize the importance of forgiveness and compassion. It is often suggested that harboring resentment or holding grudges can hinder the effectiveness of prayer. Being forgiving, compassionate, and demonstrating love towards others is seen as favorable when approaching God in prayer.
  6. Humility: Approaching God with humility is another common requirement for answered prayer. Acknowledging one’s dependence on God, recognizing one’s limitations, and expressing gratitude can create an environment conducive to receiving answers to prayer.
  7. Relationship and Personal Connection: Building a personal relationship with the divine is often considered crucial in prayer. Nurturing an ongoing connection with God through regular communication, worship, and spiritual practices can deepen one’s relationship and potentially increase the likelihood of prayers being answered.

It’s important to note that these requirements for answered prayer may vary based on different religious beliefs and individual interpretations. Understanding the specific teachings and doctrines of your own faith tradition will provide a more precise understanding of the requirements for answered prayer within that particular context.

User

I then qualified my question as follows: I should have said the Christian’s God of the Bible. What does He require?

Answer from Chat GPT

In Christian belief, there are several principles and conditions often emphasized for effective prayer and receiving answers from God. Here are some key requirements as outlined in the Bible:

  1. Faith: Faith is a central element in Christian prayer. Jesus, in the Gospels, often emphasized the importance of faith when approaching God in prayer. For example, in Mark 11:24 (ESV), Jesus says, “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”
  2. Alignment with God’s Will: It’s important to pray in accordance with God’s will. This concept is stated in 1 John 5:14 (ESV): “And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.”
  3. Repentance and Forgiveness: Jesus taught the importance of forgiveness and repentance in prayer. In the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13), Jesus includes the line “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” This implies a connection between receiving forgiveness and extending it to others.
  4. Persistence: Jesus encouraged persistence in prayer. In Luke 18:1-8, he told the parable of the persistent widow to illustrate the importance of not giving up in prayer.
  5. Righteousness and Obedience: Living a righteous and obedient life is important for effective prayer. In 1 John 3:22 (ESV), it says, “and whatever we ask we receive from him because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.”
  6. Asking in Jesus’ Name: Jesus taught his disciples to pray in his name. This is mentioned in passages like John 14:13-14 (ESV): “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.”
  7. Thanksgiving and Gratitude: Gratitude is important in Christian prayer. Philippians 4:6 (ESV) advises, “Do not be anxious about anything,
  8. Trusting in God’s Timing: Trusting that God knows the best timing for answering prayers is crucial. This is highlighted in passages like Ecclesiastes 3:1 (ESV), “For everything, there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven.”
  9. Love and Compassion: Demonstrating love and compassion towards others is linked to effective prayer. In Matthew 5:23-24 (ESV), Jesus instructs, “So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First, be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.”
  10. Fasting and Prayer: Fasting is sometimes recommended as a means to intensify one’s prayer life. Jesus spoke about this in Matthew 6:16-18 (ESV), though it’s important to note that it should be done with sincerity and not for show.
  11. These principles are based on Christian teachings as outlined in the Bible, but interpretations may vary among different Christian denominations and individual believers. It’s always advisable to consult with a trusted spiritual leader or source within your specific Christian tradition for personalized guidance.

I was amazed at the speed of the response and the accuracy of the information. It was immediate, as soon as I had finished submitting the question the response came.

The Book of Daniel is largely end-times prophecies, note what Daniel was told about the time of the end; “knowledge shall increase“.

“But you Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.” Daniel 12:4

We are living in the prophesied end times: artificial intelligence and robotics are just two of the end times signs. It is not the technology that is the problem, God provided that and our ability to use it. It is what we do with it, that is the problem. Digital currency is the next step governments will take to restrict our freedom and it is just one more step to the prophesied end times, Mark of the Beast.

“Also, it (Antichrist) causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name.” Revelation 13:16-17

SATAN IN THE LAST DAYS

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Demons. Satan. Evil. These themes are increasingly appearing in songs, music videos, and movies. What does it mean and why does it matter? Christian Post reporter Ian Giatti breaks it all down on this week’s episode of “The Inside Story.”

“The thing is, the devil doesn’t show up with horns and pitchforks, but actually masquerades as an angel of light, something beautiful, glorious even,” Giatti wrote in a recent review of rapper Doja Cat’s new music video in which she dons a demonic persona. He cited 2 Corinthians 11:14, which reads, “And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.”

“The Inside Story” takes you behind the headlines of the biggest faith, culture, and political headlines of the week. In 15 minutes or less, Christian Post staff reporters and editors will help you navigate and understand what’s driving each story, the issues at play — and why it all matters.

https://player.edifi.app/embed/index.html#/episodes/Are-Generational-Curses-Biblical-Demons-Evil-and-‘The-Secrets-to-Generational-Curses’/6119286

Fortunately, God has told us in His Word that in the last days before Jesus returns to bring righteous rule to the Earth, Satan understands his time is short. In the near future, he will be cast down to earth and indwell the Antichrist. Biblical prophecy reveals God will give the Antichrist, 3 1/2 years to rule planet Earth but during that time God will also pour out His wrath upon the Earth for the last one year and ten days (same time as God poured out His wrath with the worldwide flood of Noah’s day). What follows is Jesus’ Millennial reign on this Earth with the glorified Saints. Satan is bound in the Abyss but at the end of the 1000 years, he is released and is still able to raise an army like the sand of the sea to come against Jesus and the Saints.

“And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them,” Revelation 20:7-9

What follows is revealed in the following Scripture. This earth and heaven are destroyed.

“Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.” Revelation 20:11-12

SO-CALLED NATURAL DISASTERS OCCURRING WITH INCREASED FREQUENCY

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Libya Flood Death Toll Rises

An estimated 5,300 people in northeast Libya are feared dead, with thousands more missing amid devastating floods from Mediterranean storm Daniel’s historic rainfall Sunday. The rare, tropical storm-like phenomenon—the same storm responsible for last week’s floods in southeastern Europe—lost strength yesterday as it tracked east into Egypt. The country’s northeastern port city of Derna, roughly 150 miles east of Benghazi, was hit hardest, with over 16 inches of rain falling in 24 hours (its September average is 1 inch). Roughly a quarter of the city of 90,000, bisected by the Wadi Derna river (see map), was completely washed away after two upriver dams failed, sending walls of water down the valley and across the city’s delta to the Mediterranean Sea. See photos here. Rescue efforts have been delayed as a result of flooded or destroyed infrastructure, a network of aging bridges and roads experts claim have not been maintained amid the country’s decade-long division into rival east and west governments.

Death toll from the earthquake in Türkey and Syria passes 45,000

More than 45,000 people have been killed in the earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria, and the toll is expected to soar, with some 264,000 apartments in Turkey destroyed and many still missing in the country’s worst modern disaster.

The death toll in Turkey stands at 39,672 while neighbouring Syria has reported more than 5,800 deaths. Syria’s toll has not changed for days.

Mosques around the world on Friday performed absentee funeral prayers for the dead in Turkey and Syria, many of whom could not receive full burial rites given the enormity of the disaster.

What did Jesus say will be the signs prior to His second coming?

“There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.” Luke 21:11

WHY THE PROGRESSIVE LEFT ALLOWED THE MORAL DESTRUCTION OF AMERICAN BLACK CULTURE

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Great article by Kendall Qualls the leader of the organisation Take Charge whose Mission is to inspire and educate black and other minority communities of their full rights and privileges as Americans granted to them by the Constitution.

We desire to inspire them to take charge of their own lives, and the lives of their children and not to rely on government and politicians for redemption and prosperity. We do not apologize for embracing America or its history. We believe that a well-grounded knowledge of American and world history strengthens our diverse country.

Christian faith, two-parent families, and an education that teaches children about God, skills, and character are essential to being a successful and happy American citizen. You have not heard nor will you ever hear these important factors promoted by the NAACP, the Urban League, the Congressional Black Caucus, and Black Lives Matter. 

(Likewise, you will not hear it in Australia from the National Institute Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) The amount of money it spent, was $3.8 billion in 2021/2022 to improve the lot of Indigenous Australians and one has to wonder what was achieved.)

For 50 years now, these leftist groups and their allies have ushered in policies that were heavily promoted in black urban areas and then spread throughout the nation. These policies weakened, and then later destroyed, two-parent families, public school education, God-given social norms of behavior that were universally accepted, and the ability of young people to learn to be competitive in the workforce. This happened while many of these leaders, including blacks who considered themselves to be “progressive,” became wealthy at the expense of the people they were supposed to be serving. 

Maxine Waters, a congresswoman who represents one of the poorest districts in California,  for example, lives in a $6 million mansion outside the district she represents. Similar financial “miracles” have been replicated by other black “progressives,” most recently Patrisse Cullors, the co-founder of Black Lives Matter, who resigned to one of her mansions amid controversy over her organization’s finances — an investigation into which showed Black Lives Matter had raised $90 million.   

While black elected officials have increased steadily in numbers post-civil rights era, we have not seen that same level of success in the black community when it comes to academic performance, private sector expansion, and quality of life. (The same can be said in Australia, the number of Indigenous elected officials has increased, and their impact on the quality of life for the Indigenous community is not significant).

Jason Riley, a Fellow at the Manhattan Institute, noted that, between 1970 and 2010, the number of black elected officials nationwide increased from fewer than 1,500 to more than 10,000. The vast majority of those elected officials have been on the political left. During the same time period, the black community had transformed from overwhelmingly two-parent families to 37% living in broken homes, without one initiative to reverse the trend. 

Why is that the case? Because frankly, my dear, they don’t give a damn (I would add they have no fear of God). 

The left needs a dependent and ignorant population to perpetuate a false narrative of racial disparities, even though the disparities are generated by a culture of government dependency.

Black elected officials hold or have held seats of power in cities like Baltimore, Cleveland, Detroit, Philadelphia, and, recently, the four largest cities in the U.S.: Houston, Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York City. 

They have also held seats of power in police departments and public school systems. One would think these cities would be the safest cities for black Americans, with children thriving in schools and with robust local economies. The opposite is true, however. Black Americans who have the financial ability to leave these dangerous communities with failing schools do so because they are unsafe, and corrupt and restrict parents from sending their children to better schools by blocking school choice options.

Some may suggest that the mismanagement of cities and schools is due to incompetence. I would agree that incompetence is part of the problem, but the real driver behind the 50-year deterioration of cities across the country is a deliberate progressive/socialist agenda of permanent political power and wealth. When it comes to the lack of economic progress in the black community, the violence we witness daily, and numerous failing schools, my reaction is: frankly, my dear, they just don’t give a damn.

Read what Jesus has to say about the world that will exist prior to His return. Those of us who hold to God’s values will be hated and even eventually be put to death. Thank goodness God has told us beforehand.

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” Matthew 24:9-13

Biblical prophecy also tells us that Jesus returns first to rescue His Saints but He also pours out His wrath upon an unrepentant world prior to returning to restore righteousness and reign for 1000 years with the resurrected Saints. This fallen world will experience Jesus and the Saints ruling the nations from Jerusalem. The nation God established for His purposes, Israel, will finally be the leading nation of the world which fulfills God’s covenants and many OT and NT prophecies. This is an essential transition period prior to this world’s destruction, the White Throne judgement, and finally a new heaven and new earth where only the righteous dwell.

PROPHESIED END TIMES SIGNS BEING FULFILLED

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“There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.” Luke 21:11

“There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains.” Mark 13:8

“For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.” Matthew 24:7

It took only moments for residents and tourists in Morocco’s fourth largest city to realise the cause of their discomfort: the country had been struck by the largest earthquake in its history, registering 6.8 to 7.2 magnitude. By Saturday afternoon it was feared to have killed at least 1,037 people and injured more than 1,200. Now the death toll has soared to 2000.

The minaret of a mosque stands behind damaged or destroyed houses following the earthquake in Moulay Brahim, Al-Haouz province. Picture: AFP

Its epicentre lay just over 64 kilometres to the southwest, near the town of Ighil in Al Haouz province, in a remote spot in the High Atlas mountains.

The most serious damage in Marrakesh was to the Medina, the Unesco-listed old city. Many of the low-rise buildings that line its narrow, maze-like streets quickly collapsed, sending the people inside – large numbers of them tourists – fleeing into the streets. The city’s more modern buildings, including large hotels, appeared to have held up better.

Residents and visitors alike gathered in Jemaa el-Fna, an expansive triangular 14th-century space surrounded by market stands, restaurants, and public buildings. Popular with tourists, it is normally filled with street entertainers, market stalls, and snake charmers. Many spent the night camped out there, lying down either in sleeping bags or just the clothes they were wearing, their suitcases, and other belongings close by them. As dawn broke, many returned to their homes to see what, if anything, could be salvaged.

WHY CHRISTIANS REJOICE IN THEIR SUFFERINGS

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As we fast approach the time before Jesus’ return when persecution of Christians intensifies we need to begin to develop the type of Christian life that doesn’t need a large church to sustain it and a walk with Jesus that values true community, not backseat participation – in effect, non-participation. You might grow as never before under persecution, as millions around the world can testify, and as Paul testified clearly in Romans 5:1-5:

“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through Him, we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” Romans 5:1-5

We will experience hope in a new way as we are persecuted. Our focus will more and more turn to what is next on God’s agenda for this world, Jesus Millennial Kingdom (www.millennialkingdom.net). Suffering will purify us of our preoccupation with the current corrupt world. God will grow us all up in a hurry under such conditions, and those of us who have long lamented the differences between the church of Acts and the modern church will get a chance to see many of those differences wiped away in an instant. It will be an exciting time.

Middle Eastern Christians have learned what it means to bless those who persecute them.

Christians in Syria are learning daily how to do this. Many have chosen to stay in their towns and cities, even if Islamist rebels have overrun them and raped, looted, tortured, and killed them. As Open Doors USA spokesperson Emily Fuentes has reported: There are some Christians who are fleeing because they have no other choice, but there are many Christians who have really felt God’s call to stay in town, even though they have been attacked and targeted because of their faith. They realize that God’s using them, and (are reaching) out to their Muslim neighbours.
Thus, it seems to me that in the days ahead as persecution increases we will have the basic option of running, or remaining and seeking to win our attackers and fellow refugees to Christ. The choice that we make will be a matter of conscience, as Scripture can be used to support both. Believers in both Syria and Egypt have made different choices.

In the parts of Syria where church buildings have not been desecrated, they have become de facto relief agencies, providing clothes, food, and Christian teaching. These churches are seeing people come to faith in Christ as the congregants love everyone who has been made homeless, not just Christians. This is in stark contrast to the Islamic approach to providing aid for Muslims only.
As Syrian Christians have ministered to all people as war rips their country apart, they ask not for relief from the persecution, for money, or any sort of assistance, but primarily for prayer. Syrian Christians know prayer is the only way that peace will come to their country.
What an amazing witness, to care for everyone in the midst of intense suffering. The Church has done this throughout history. I would venture to say all of the books in the world’s libraries would not be enough to tell the stories of instances when Christians helped people in desperate need, regardless of skin color or creed.

Soon, I think, we will all enjoy caring for people in our communities and have the opportunity to make a bigger impact on their souls than a thousand sermons would be able to. It will be thrilling to watch all of our fellow church members get their hands dirty in ministry, a greater percentage than ever before, I believe! Can you see how suffering refines a church? It will do the same for us. There will be no more CEO (Christmas and Easter Only) Christians in our churches when the persecution starts. All of you who are tired of the pretenders coming to Sunday services will see the meeting sizes shrink as the wheat is separated from the chaff (Matthew 13:24-30). As a side note, won’t it be thrilling to see all the prophetic Scriptures that we have read for so long coming to pass? I think it will be an incredible time, even when it is very hard. I also believe God will give us abundant grace as we endure. All of the distractions that have kept us from following hard after God will be eliminated. Daily life will consist of a focus on how everyone in our community is doing, how they can be helped that day, how the new believers can be discipled, and how God’s love can be shown to the occupiers. Does that sound like Acts 4? It sure does to me. All of those sermons over the years, where pastors lamented the differences between Acts 4 and twenty-first-century churches will be made irrelevant. We will be living Acts 4.

Our churches will never become Acts 4 churches until the circumstances around us mirror the conditions of the early church. That prophesied day will come. And I think we will enjoy living out our faith as our predecessors did and those Christians who are already experiencing intense persecution in Muslim countries in the Middle East.

One source in Egypt reports the reaction of Christians to the burning of dozens of churches: “Churches are united together. And the spirit of prayer is happening in all the churches. People are praying all the time,” according to a source named “David.”

Churches united, churches praying, and people praying all the time. The church will become what we’ve all wanted it to become, but it may not happen until we are aggressively persecuted.

The churches in Egypt haven’t stopped with simply prayer. According to a Charisma News source in-country, Christians are answering the violence and pro-Islamic graffiti with signs that read, “You burned our church, but we love you.” If you were a Muslim in these cities, what would you think of such signs? I can tell you the two predominant reactions would be, 1. “Those Christians are just total weaklings” and 2. “How does this happen? How does someone love rather than avenge?” God is certainly doing all sorts of things amid this brutal persecution, acts of salvation that we won’t know about until we get to heaven.

During the great tribulation under an Islamic Antichrist, we will see brothers and sisters killed for their faith often, some right out of our communities. This is what is happening in the countries of the Arab Spring; martyrdom is expected, not imagined.

Soon, we will know true suffering and understand so many other portions of the Bible, such as 2 Timothy 4:6-8:

“For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:6-8

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to utter these words, knowing you are about to be killed for your faith? You might get this opportunity, and join the crowd of people who come out from under the altar as Jesus returns, those who had been martyred by the Beast (see Revelation 6:9 and 20:4), reigning on special thrones, and given authority to judge.

Early church father Tertullian’s famous line, “the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church,” will come true before our eyes as those around us see our courage, even in the face of death, and are deeply moved.

It’s sad but true; people have to feel absolutely helpless sometimes before they look to God.

Peace and courage during these sorts of times of suffering have a powerful impact on the hardest hearts. One Egyptian has reported about the church’s witness there: “It’s a great message of forgiveness. This makes many Muslims discover the reality of Christianity, and many of them come to know Jesus.” These new believers are meeting “underground in a secret way. They worship the Lord together, and they’re growing.”

Extracts from Ralph Stice’s book Arab Spring, Christian Winter: Islam Unleashed on the Church and the World

IS THE ANTICHRIST ALREADY HERE?

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Gog of Magog is here, on this earth. And he is ready to cause the Antichrist Covenant with the Many. Who is Gog (he’s not Putin), where is he from, and how does he play a role in the signing of the Antichrist Covenant? Watch this Nelson Walters video for details you haven’t thought about.

When does the Antichrist invade Israel? When does the Gog of Magog battle take place? We know that there will be a Gog of Magog battle at the end of the Millennium but maybe that is just a repeat of what happens at the end times prior to Jesus return. In fact, Biblical prophecies indicate the end times Gog of Magog battle begins at the midpoint and ends with the battle of Armageddon. Ancient Magog, Meshech, and Tubal are all located in Turkey so that is where the Antichrist (Little Horn of Daniel’s end times prophecies) comes from.

“I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots. And behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things.” Daniel 7:8

“A king of bold face, one who understands riddles, shall arise. His power shall be great—but not by his own power; and he shall cause fearful destruction and shall succeed in what he does, and destroy mighty men and the people who are the saints. By his cunning he shall make deceit prosper under his hand, and in his own mind he shall become great. Without warning he shall destroy many. And he shall even rise up against the Prince of princes, and he shall be broken—but by no human hand. The vision of the evenings and the mornings that has been told is true, but seal up the vision, for it refers to many days from now.” Daniel8:23b- 26

Make sure you also take a look at Gog of Magog’s Identity HIDDEN in the Torah!- Guest Author Travis Snow. I can also recommend Travis Snow’s book The Passover King.