DEMONIC POSSESSION AND OPPRESSION, BOTH ARE REAL

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Experience of the demonic

Two stories of Duncan’s experience with the demonic are taken from the article Does the Devil Exist? in Patheos Evangelical JANUARY 11, 2022 by Duncan Edward Pile.

STORY ONE: My friends and I were in San Fernando, Philippines. It was our day off, so we decided to walk into town and share the Gospel with anyone who was interested. Ten minutes into the walk we came across a gathering on a street corner. It was the intersection of several dirt streets, with an open area of dusty ground and a small stand selling coca cola. Around us were rustic homes constructed from tree fibres.

We stopped and began to talk with the locals, and I was soon engaged by an old, staggering drunkard, wearing a large medallion – a carving of a snarling, demonic face. I’d seen plenty of similar items in the UK but they’d always struck me as harmless, gothic accessories. This was different. Just looking at it made me feel sick.

The old man grabbed my arm, and I immediately felt nauseated. Suddenly he wasn’t drunk anymore. I began to retreat but he came after me, seeking to touch me again. I became frightened. Every time his skin brushed mine I felt another wave of nausea and an intense sense of spiritual oppression. It was clear the old man was aware of the discomfort he was causing me. His eyes were cold and hard, staring at me with a hatred so intense it was palpable. He raised a bony finger before my face.

“In…your…HEAD!” he barked, stabbing my forehead with his finger. I ran, chased by his cackling until I found a group of friends. I ducked into the middle of them and squatted on my heels, arms wrapped tightly around my knees. I was literally hiding, utterly terrified.

I knew what I’d encountered. Back in the UK, I’d cast out a couple of demons. I knew the look in a person’s eyes when possessed. It’s like nothing else, but I wasn’t afraid of them until that moment. I believed they were defeated at the cross, and had no power other than that which we lend them, but I’d never encountered a person utterly given to possession – like the man in the Bible who had a whole legion of demons within him. Now I had, and the encounter had shaken me to my core.

My friends calmed me down, and a good look around told me the old man had gone, so I went to the Coke stand to get a drink. There was one customer already at the stand, and as I placed my order, I realised it was the same old man. I have no idea how I failed to spot him. He saw me and broke into a broad, nasty leer. He got into my space, and banging the heel of his palm rapidly against his chest, said:

“Why is your heart going boom boom boom?” For the second time that day, I ran, and this time I didn’t return.

STORY TWO: Some friends and I were ministering at a church in Manila. During a meeting a girl doubled over, crying out in pain. She was clutching her chest, just below her left collarbone. Everyone gathered around her, praying for her to be healed, but I was on the far side of the room and there was a ring of people between her and me.

One of the gifts of the Spirit is the discernment of spirits, and at that moment, I knew beyond human knowledge that her pain was the result of demonic oppression, rather than illness. I was filled with power and authority and knew I had to act, so I crossed the room, asking people to move aside. The ring of praying folk around her parted, and on reaching her, I placed my finger on her collarbone and said: “Go! In Jesus’ name.”

Instantly, she gasped, collapsing in relief. She’d been having these attacks for some time, and even had a diagnosis for them, but the pain was instantly and completely gone. This wasn’t a ‘out of ten, how do you feel?’, before and after kind of comparison, which can be manipulated to make something seem like more than it is. One moment she was in agony, crying out in pain, and the next she was completely free of pain. She was utterly astonished.

So, what to make of the above? Each situation can certainly be explained in modern terms. The old man might have been a master of human behaviour, and sensing my vulnerability, decided to prey on me. Or perhaps we were both deluded. Maybe there is no God, and no Devil, and human beings are capable of manufacturing all manner of intense inner experiences we then label as spiritual. Maybe we were both complicit in a mutual delusion, playing for imaginary teams in an imaginary game.

In the second scenario, perhaps my conviction was enough to persuade her she was set free, and the placebo effect resulted in the sudden cessation of pain.

It’s possible to explain anything away if you try hard enough, but why do we feel the need to do so? It is also possible that there is a God, and that evil spirits oppose him, seeking to harm the lives of those he loves.

The consequences of denying the Devil’s existence

The Bible gives us both warnings and advice about demons and how to cope with their attacks. Sadly many churches do not address this basic issue and leave their congregations open to demonic attack.

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” 1 Peter 5: 8-9

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground.” Ephesians 6:10-13

The importance of spiritual warfare

When I pray for others, I rely on the leading of the Spirit to know how to pray. At times I know to pray for the mercy of God, at others for grace, and yet for others, I know to go to battle on their behalf, praying in power and authority against spiritual forces trying to harm them. This spiritual dimension is essential to the dynamics of effective prayer, and to Christian faith in general. I’ll tell you this much – if you’re going through trouble, these are the kind of believers you want praying for you. Good wishes and warm thoughts achieve nothing.

I fear we are busy pouring out the baby with the bathwater, reshaping Christianity in an image so far from the life and ministry of Jesus it becomes something else altogether. My prayer is that we are not so deceived by our own importance and cultural perspective that we deny the spiritual side of life, including the darkness we are called to resist. Where we’ve replaced spiritual activity with softly-spoken ponderings and general niceness, I pray we will get real.

In these last days before Jesus returns we know from Biblical prophecy that demonic warfare will only increase so we need to heed Paul’s warning to put on the full armour of the Lord daily to be able to minister in the power of the Holy Spirit gifts. Know full well that the world will hate you for being Jesus’ disciple. Torben Sondergaard and his team at Last Reformation Ministries were casting out demons from people on the streets of Denmark. Satan managed to make it look like Torben was doing something that was damaging particularly to children looking on and so the government made it illegal and a jailable offense. The situation became so intolerable for Torben that he fled to the USA. After an incredible time of ministry all over the USA making disciples of Christ that are prepared to reach out to their communities to make more disciples, Torben is now in jail in the USA on a trumped-up charge. It has been six months and he is still there. God of course has used Torben in jail to transform the lives of other prisoners but his testimony of what God has been doing to transform Torben Sondergaard will both challenge and inspire you. Take a look at my post New Year’s Greetings from Torben Sondergaard – Now six months in Jail posted January 4th, 2023.

I AM CONTENT WITH WEAKNESSES, HARDSHIPS, PERSECUTIONS, AND CALAMITIES

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I am content with weaknesses, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. Who can say such a thing? From a worldly standpoint, it is insane. It was Paul that said it and it is useful to look at Paul’s circumstances at the time of making such an outlandish statement.

“So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Christians in Pakistan are truly living as Christians despite intense persecution.

To put this Scripture passage in context, Paul tells us of his experience of being taken by God into the heavens where it would be easy to become conceited. Why? “Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations“ he was given and where “he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter” This was why he was given a thorn in the flesh. But what was that thorn in the flesh? It was “a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited.”. For us, it should be remembered that whenever we are being obedient to God’s call that we can expect messengers of Satan to harass us. Persecution comes with the territory of being an obedient Christian.

Paul discloses this experience not so that we should focus on the attack; we are to focus on Jesus’s words instead. The Lord’s revelatory word of grace to Paul becomes the apostle’s reason for living – to proclaim the gospel. He can now “boast” in the weaknesses of his many sufferings and persecutions, knowing that such weakness brings on the power of the Holy Spirit to enable him to do what God has for him to do (2 Corinthians 12:9–10). He also discloses this experience as a way to help us understand that God does use Satan and his demons for his purposes particularly to teach us that a humble and contrite heart is what He desires.

Lessons to Be Learned from the “Thorn” in the Flesh

  1. Sometimes our most blissful experiences with the Lord follow, precede, or are accompanied by hardships and suffering.
  2. The Lord says, “no” to Paul’s request to remove the thorn. Do we recognize that sometimes God’s answer to our prayers may be “no”? And that he might have a higher purpose for us in our predicament, as he did Paul?
  3. The Lord also promises: “my grace is sufficient for you.” Despite our suffering, God is with us to comfort us, just as he was with Paul despite all his hardships and experiencing persecution.
  4. Like Paul, the Lord may want us to learn that there is strength and power in humility, weakness, and suffering. As Paul says, “When I am weak, then I am strong.”

WHAT ARE YOU HOPING FOR?

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The Scriptures reveal what our hope should be in, it is in Jesus Christ’s return. Verses about Jesus’ glorious return and the years immediately preceding it comprise nearly 25% of the Bible.

Our hope comprises all of the following: resurrection from the dead”(Acts 23:6), the hope of glory (new amazing body) (Col 1:27), to rule over the nations with Jesus (Rom 15:12), the presence of our Lord Jesus and all of our loved ones who know Jesus (1 Thessalonians 2:19). Note what Peter tells us to do: prepare our minds for action.

“Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:13

.This is a lot to hope for, and all of these things happen upon Jesus’ return. Paul had this to say about those who only hope in this life and not in the return of the Lord:

“If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied” 1 Corinthians 15:19

The Coming of the Lord
But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this, we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord, himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

“Our citizenship is in heaven, and from it, we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body,” Philippians 3:20

“The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father.” Revelation 2:26-27

Our hope is for Jesus’ soon coming return when all of these wonderful promises will be fulfilled. Surely, we are prepared to face the coming tribulation knowing that the indwelling Holy Spirit will ensure we can handle it just as He did for Stephen when he was stoned to death. Even more important, surely you want to complete the work God has for you to do in these last days in order to receive His commendation.

“But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God… And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.” Acts 7:55-56, 59-60

SEXUAL PERVERSION IS A MAJOR “END TIMES” SIGN

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The first chapter of Romans may give the greatest explanation of the sign of sexual perversion in the last days. We read that once
man perverts God’s plan for sex, they are given over to a depraved mind taking them deeper and deeper into sexual perversion. In that chapter, the depravity leads to an embracing of homosexuality and gender issues.
Compared to past generations homosexuality and gender confusion have reached unimaginable heights. In every debate against legalizing these perversions, it is constantly said that normalizing one sexual perversion is a slippery slope to something else. It truly is a downward spiral. Something the Holy Spirit made clear through the Apostle Paul in the epistle to the church in Rome. And yet nations are legalizing it and criminalizing anyone who speaks out against it. God calls these goat nations and He will judge them harshly. There are still some sheep nations see my post entitled Hungary – A Sheep Nation by God’s Standard, April 22nd.

“Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
For this reason, God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, and malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, and ruthless. Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.” Romans 1:24-27

ARE THE TIMES OF THE GENTILES FULFILLED?

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Multiple times in Scripture we run across this phrase “the times of the Gentiles.” It’s odd, but it reveals one of the most measurable signs of the last days. One of these is in Luke 21:24,

“They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” Luke 21:24

This Scripture refers to the midpoint of the last seven years when the Antichrist declares himself to be God (Abomination of desolation) and kills many Jews.

We see an even more descriptive mention of this “times of the Gentiles” in Paul’s epistle to Rome,

“Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.” Romans 11:25

God provides through Paul that there is a “times of the Gentiles,” and that time will come to an end. You can also see how it is closely related to the central role of Israel. The previous signs go hand in hand with this one.

Like nearly every prophetic statement in the New Testament, there is an Old Testament precedence. God gives us a timeline of the “times of the Gentiles”. In Daniel 2, we find the vision of a statue. It’s revealed that each section of the statue represents an empire that would rule over the land of Babylon from that moment until the establishment of the Messiah’s kingdom or as we know now the Second Coming of Jesus. Daniel 2 closes by saying that these are the “times of those kings”. Which kings? The ones ruling in the times of the Gentiles. In Daniel 7, there is a parallel vision of Daniel 2, which concludes with,

“These four great beasts are four kings who shall arise out of the earth. But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever.” Daniel 7:17-18

We are given the first three kingdoms that would rule the land of Babylon in this time of the Gentiles. The first is Babylon, the second the Medes and Persians, and the third is the Grecian empire of Alexander. In the Book of Daniel, we are not given the fourth which disappears and comes back. Regardless of which final empire will rule the land of Babylon, we see that the first three came to pass in a 450-year period which ended over 2,200 years ago. That alone points to the fact that we are way down the timeline. When it comes to that last empire, there are two prevailing theories—the Roman Empire and the Ottoman Empire (Islamic Caliphate). Regardless, of which one you hold to, both have already passed. The Roman Empire passed 1,400 years ago in the west and nearly 600 years ago in the east. The Ottoman Empire ended 100 years ago. According to the timeline in Daniel 2, only a revival of this past empire keeps the “times of the Gentiles” from ending.

We believe the final empire will be a revived Ottoman Empire ( Muslim Caliphate) and evidence of this rising can be seen in the Arab Spring of 2011. Two instances to show the fulfillment of this sign are ISIS and Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s goal to revive the previous Turkey-led Ottoman Empire.

Turkish President Erdogan poses with Ottoman era soldiers in front of a monument dedicated to a revived Ottoman Empire

Between 1299-1923 the Turkish-ruled Ottoman Empire conquered territory from western Europe to India. The revival of the Turkish-ruled Ottoman Empire marks the end time, and Turkish President Erdogan is ambitiously rebuilding it. To celebrate the one-year anniversary of the failed military coup in Turkey, Erdogan has erected a giant statue commemorating the rise again of the Ottoman Empire. He also hinted at the reunification of all Islamic nations under Turkish rule. Tek Devlet “One State” the image read. Sounds like the tower of Babylon all over again. Please notice that this statue does not honor the god of Islam but it does honor the god of Turkish military conquest (the god of forces). Daniel talks of the Antichrist honouring the God of forces.

“But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things.” Daniel 11:38

Could Erdogan be the Antichrist? It is a possibility but only time will tell. Watch as Jesus told us to watch, as the prophesied end times signs unfold.

PROPHETIC PRAYER DIRECTION FOR 2023

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Rick Ridings heads up Succat Hallel, 24-hour worship and prayer in Jerusalem.

Succat Hallel (Hebrew for Tent of Praise) is a dynamic community of worshippers and intercessors from five continents drawn together to stand as watchmen on the walls of Jerusalem.

The Lord brought Rick & Patricia Ridings to Jerusalem in 1999 to birth Succat Hallel. It began in their living room in February 2000 and grew into watches in various locations. In November 2004, the Lord opened the door for Succat Hallel to relocate to a beautiful facility overlooking Mount Zion and the Old City of Jerusalem. Since then they have been crying out day and night 24/7 – until He makes Jerusalem a praise in all the earth.

I met Rick Ridings at an ICCC Conference in Jerusalem in 2018. He was one of the keynote speakers. He made a number of prophecies at the conference that have subsequently come to pass so I feel confident about posting his prophetic prayer direction for 2023.

PROPHETIC PRAYER DIRECTION FOR 2023

A keyword I am hearing for this next season is “contend”. The Webster dictionary: struggle to surmount (a difficulty). The key scripture is Matthew 11:12:

“And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has been treated violently, and violent men take it by force.” Matthew 11:12 [NASB]

We must contend to wait upon the Lord in praise and worship and to do only what He is leading us to do. This is not a season where we can afford to move in reaction to what the enemy is doing, or out of our emotions. We must be serious about inquiring of the Lord, doing only what He is leading us to do, and in His timing and ways. Only that which is born of God will overcome the world.

In times of financial shakings, we must not be led by finances, but truly lean into the Lord as our Source. He will release the resources for what is truly His Kingdom’s work. But the resources will increasingly be cut off from that which promotes men’s kingdoms rather than His Kingdom.

We must contend for the destiny of children and youth.

As we train and release children and youth into becoming worshippers, they will not be stolen by the enemy, but will instead plunder the enemy.

Where this becomes a priority, there are children and youth who will move in signs and wonders. There will be children and youth used in mighty ways to evangelize.

They will lead the way in demonstrations of the Kingdom of God in public places with healings and deliverance from demons. But they will be protected as they have a foundation of regular worship, and they are overseen by true spiritual fathers and mothers.

We must contend to “turn back the battle at the gates” of government, high-tech, media, and education.

This is a season where: “He will be a spirit of justice to the one who sits in judgment, a source of strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate.” Isaiah 28:6 [NIV]

There will be some major victories in certain nations that have had a widespread 2 Chronicles-7:14 prayer movement, such as what recently happened in Kenya. In Kenya, during August and September 2022, both the chairman of the electoral commission and the Supreme Court publicly admitted they had been harassed and intimidated by forces trying to get them to overturn the election of a strong Christian president, but that they stood fast for truth and justice.

We must contend for more of this in Africa. And that Africa will arise into a new season of many “sheep nations” emerging, and certain nations becoming models of nation-building.

In other nations, there will be the need for patience and perseverance. Of a kind exhibited by those who prayed for so many years for the reversal of the “Roe vs. Wade” liberalization of abortion by the Supreme Court of the USA.

We must contend to not allow the enemy to escalate regional conflicts into a premature World War III.

Many years ago, I shared that the Lord had shown me that, when the harvest started to break through in some of the most difficult nations (such as Iran and Afghanistan), the enemy would try, as he succeeded in doing in World War I, to stop a major missions-and-harvest movement by inciting a world war.

But I felt the prayer movement could receive the “Rees Howells” mantle and anointing to intercept this strategy of the enemy.

We must contend that the Chinese Communist Party will not be allowed to succeed in military or economic global domination.

The Lord gave Patricia (my wife) a key understanding in Isaiah 26:20,21-27:1 that after a time of many “hiding in their rooms” (which could be applied to the COVID restrictions), the Lord would expose the shedding of innocent blood (as has happened in many nations).

Then in Isaiah 27:1, it says: “On that day the Lord will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent, with His fierce and great and mighty sword, Even Leviathan the twisted serpent; And He will kill the dragon who lives in the sea.” Isaiah 27:1 [NASB]

We believe that a key strategy to contend against this dragon spirit is to pray that the sword of the Lord is released to cut and bring division between those influenced by the dragon spirit in the leadership of the CCP. Thus thwarting the plans of that demonic principality.

We must contend for the crumbling of ancient religious strongholds, and for a great harvest in the region from the Pacific islands back to Jerusalem.

I received visions in 2014 of a great underwater activity near the international dateline, releasing a tsunami of glory and harvest, shaking and crumbling ancient strongholds, such as the demonic powers behind ancestor worship, idolatry, Shintoism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam.

I sensed it was not yet time then. But on January 15th, 2022, I received a strong confirmation that now is the time when there was an underwater volcanic eruption near the international dateline.

Scientists have said it was so powerful that it needed a new “ultra classification”; that it released a tsunami that reached the Atlantic and the Mediterranean; that it released “Lamb Waves” circling the globe and sound waves that sounded like a bell rung three times around the globe; and that it shook the atmosphere even unto outer space.

We must contend, as is written in Isaiah 60, for the acceleration of His light and glory arising over Jerusalem during a time when “thick darkness” is being released in the nations.

This is a time to contend that there be places of “open heavens” in Jerusalem where righteous world leaders can receive wisdom from the Lord; where Israel will receive great financial wealth from the seas; where business alliances will strengthen with the Arabian Peninsula.

But with such a move in that region, even Saudis will bring not only wealth but also praise to the God of Israel in Jerusalem. For a great Aliyah of Jews returning from the West; and for blessings to come upon nations aligning with the Lord’s plans and purposes for Israel.

May we all stay in the place of worship, rise above the circumstances resulting from shakings, and see from His perspective where we are seated in heavenly places in the Messiah Jesus. May we hear His voice of how to contend and take territory for His Kingdom and glory as His unshakable Kingdom emerges in the continuing shakings.

GOD IS USING DANIEL’S 70 WEEKS PROPHECY TO SAVE JEWS TODAY! (Video Testimony)

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Daniel’s 70 Weeks Prophecy gives the Jews a timeline from their return from Babylonian captivity until a time of everlasting righteousness in relation to their Messiah and His time on this earth. It even reveals their Messiah will be cut off (killed) and Jerusalem destroyed. Likewise, Isaiah reveals a Messiah who is a suffering servant on whom God “has laid on him the iniquity of us all“. The Jews have this information of a first and second coming of their Messiah in their Torah so how come they reject Jesus. The video testimony by Dennis Karp is revealing.

Isaiah Prophecy

“Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds, we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way, and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:4-6

The Seventy Weeks Prophecy

“Seventy weeks are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place. Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince, there shall be seven weeks. Then for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again with squares and moat, but in a troubled time. And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing. And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood, and to the end, there shall be war. Desolations are decreed. And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator.” Daniel 9:24-27

When Dennis’ coworker invited him to a Messiah in the Passover presentation, he accepted with the goal of proving the speaker wrong—but Dennis was not prepared for what he would hear!

101 ARCHAEOLOGICAL DISCOVERIES THAT PROVE THE BIBLE IS AN ACCURATE HISTORICAL RECORD

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Secular archaeologists have spent 200 years attempting to establish that the Bible is a collection of mythology and Jewish/Christian propaganda, yet archaeological evidence is more consistent with the Bible as an accurate historical document. In Unearthing the Bible, Dr Titus Kennedy isolates and illuminates 101 archaeological discoveries that buttress the thesis that the Bible is a reliable historical record by the traditionally recognized authors at the traditionally accepted times they lived.

Kennedy’s book should be in the hands of everyone serious about a historical study of the Bible. Sketching 101 intersections between God’s Word and archeological evidence, Kennedy crafts a sturdy structure of information and argument that makes clear that belief in the truth, accuracy, and reliability of the biblical narrative is not merely possible, but it is sensible and rational. Indeed, it takes a full dose of willful blindness and/or intellectual dishonesty to refuse to acknowledge the legitimacy and implications of some of these artifacts. Complete with photographs and translations of ancient inscriptions, a helpful principle of organization, and explanations that are clear and coherent, the book is a genuinely useful tool. No fair-minded reader can deny the book’s success in demonstrating that ancient events left behind extensive evidence that the biblical narrative is accurate.

As Kennedy notes on page 9, “the Bible has been routinely attacked and disregarded on the basis of history or archeology.” Unearthing the Bible challenges those attacks and dismissals head-on. The book cites the biblical passages related to each artifact, anchoring the archaeological context with the date and location of each piece’s discovery, a note on the biblical period in question, keywords, and citations of related biblical passages. The reader’s sense and understanding of the relevance of each artifact to the scriptural record grows as the array of archaeological discoveries increases in number and characteristic. In the end, a reader hostile to a biblical worldview may still ‘attack’, but ‘disregarded’ is no longer an option.

 Kennedy’s book is a collection of convincing illustrations that scientific evidence does not contradict God’s Word. Just as biology, geology, chemistry, and physics are consistent with the Bible, the evidence found in archaeology is consistent with the Bible.

MILLENNIAL KINGDOM – LAW & ORDER

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Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance, and the very ends of the earth as Your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall shatter them like earthenware. Psalm 2:8–9 NASB

“But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and He shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth; and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.” Isaiah 11:14

“For the nation and kingdom that will not serve you shall perish; those nations shall be utterly laid waste.” Isaiah 60:12

“Thus says the Lord, “I will return to Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth, and the mountain of the Lord of hosts will be called the Holy Mountain.” (Zechariah 8:3 NASB)

In the parable of the talents, Jesus tells the faithful slaves who have doubled their wealth that they will rule cities. I believe by our faithfulness we will have proved ourselves capable of ruling cities in the Millennium.

“Then the sovereignty, the dominion, and the greatness of all the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the people of the saints of the Highest One; His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all the dominions will serve and obey Him.” Daniel 7:27 NASB

“Do you not know that the saints will judge the world?” 1 Corinthians 6:2

In the Millennium the law and order that God set up for Israel will apply, particularly the Sabbath, Shemitah, and the Jubilee for debt forgiveness and restoration of the land. As well, most of the Feast Days will apply. It will not be enough for people to say that “I love my neighbor”; They must actually invest in their material well-being.

No doubt the death penalty will be reintroduced and is part of Jesus and the Saints ruling with a rod of iron during the Millennium. Moreover, evil deeds will be judged and dealt with speedily.

“Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil.” Ecclesiastes 8:11

We know that when Satan is released at the end of the Millennium he is still able to raise an army like the sand of the sea to come against Jesus and the Saints. Just as Satan in the presence of God and the angels in heaven, he was able to convince one-third of the angels to rebel against God, on earth, at the end of the Millennium, Satan is able to convince many people who were born during the Millennium to rebel 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, and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” Revelation 20:7-10

It must be remembered what the Lord said about the wickedness of man at the time of Noah.

“The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” Genesis 6:5

“For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.” Mark 7:21-23

How is your heart are you in rebellion against God and His Kingdom? If you are, you will shortly face the wrath of God that is poured out with the Trumpet and Bowl judgements. At the end of Jesus’ Millennial reign is the second resurrection when you will be judged at the White Throne and then thrown into the Lake of Fire where you face a second death.

“Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.” Revelation 20:6

“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 21:8

For more on the Millennial Kingdom please go to my new website which is in development http://www.millennialkingdom.net and please click on the link on the Home Page to get the Newsletter advising you of new resources being made available on the website.

Click on RESOURCES to Download the FREE six Powerpoint Presentations on Israel:

  1. God and Israel – Nations are God’s idea – As we approach the time when Jesus will set up His Millennial Kingdom on earth from a renewed Jerusalem. It is helpful to look at why and how God initially set up His nation Israel. God initially set up nations at the Tower of Babel when He confused the languages. Nations are God’s idea and they were made for His purposes. Even before the Israelites entered the Propmise Land, Moses told the people prophetically all that would happen to them including their being cast out of the land and being dispersed all over the world but God would gather them back to the land and eventually their promised Messiah will rule the nations from new Jerusalem.
  2. Israel: History & Purpose – Israel is God’s vehicle to bring salvation to all the world. God created Israel to be His “Kingdom” on earth. Nine times, He described the Land of Israel as His “Land”—“the place He has chosen as the dwelling place for His Name.” The covenant with Abraham is described as “everlasting” or “forever”. Israel’s rebirth in 1948 after almost 1900 years was a miracle, a miracle which Jesus prophesied in the Olivet Discourse (parable of the fig tree) as the first major sign prior to His return.
  3. Jubilee Cycles – Provide Prophetic Milestones in God’s Redemptive Plan – Can we build a reasonable Biblical case for the Jubilee cycles as the prophetic backbone of the Bible? Has God built the entire history of this Cosmos from its beginning to its fiery end based on Jubilee cycles? A straight forward summation of early biblical patriarchal lineages, reveals there were 41 generations which also represent 41 Jubilee cycles between Adam and Abraham and 41 from Abraham to Yeshua. How many Jubilee cycles have there been since Yeshua? Further insight is added when we consider that the book of Revelation associates the New Jerusalem with the number 144 and that the 144th Jubilee begins in the 8th year of the 8th Millennium.
  4. Prophesied Restoration of the Land to Israel – Prior to Jesus’ Second Coming – The prophesied restoration of the land to Israel which began in 1948 is undeniable evidence of Biblical truth and that we are living in the last days. God revealed to all of the Old Testament prophets the future history of His nation. Even before Israel had set foot on the land God told Moses that He would drive the Jews out from the land He was about to give them because they will reject Him and His Messiah, but by God’s grace, all were shown the end of the story with a regathered people in a restored land with a descendant of King David ruling and reigning from Jerusalem. God created Israel to be His nation to show a fallen world, separated from God, His ways, His laws and the consequences of obeying and disobeying those laws. We need to know that the laws concerning the Sabbath, Shemitah and Jubilee are extremely important to God. A major reason for Israel’s 70 year captivity in Babylon was that Israel failed to keep 10 Shemitahs. What about now is God still controlling Israel’s history with regard to the Shemitah and Jubilee? I hope this presentation will convince you that God is controlling history in accordance with His timing, particularly with regard to the Jubilee.  As well, I hope to reveal the people and events that God used and is using to achieve His purposes, for His nation Israel, exactly as prophesied.
  5. Israel’s Feast Days – In Type and Prophecy – In the Bible, God set festivals, events, and times according to the lunar calendar of 354 days. God’s timetable meant that these events didn’t line up to MAN’S way, but HIS. Man wants a fixed and predictable timetable. But God says, “Trust Me and My timing”. We will look at Israel’s Feast Days (Moedim –Appointed Times) from a “last days perspective. When God set up Israel as His nation, in Leviticus 23, He established the laws of “acceptable approach” to God which was sacrifice, there is no forgiveness for sin without the shedding of blood. In Numbers, God has Moses institute seven annual feasts. The Lord instituted His Holy Feasts as holy assemblies to remind His chosen people of how to live their lives in a manner acceptable to Him. Moreover, it is also prophetic of God’s plan for His world. Israel’s Holy Days are prophetic, they represent a calendar of His Story of His Cosmos. It demonstrates God’s total control of history. Hopefully, it will strengthen your confidence and hope in our Lord for the future and enable you to endure the coming prophesied tribulation. 
  6. Israel Fully Restored – Jesus will rule the nations from Jerusalem – As Jesus told some of the disciples on the road to Emmaus “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.” Luke 24:27. God’s story from beginning to end is all about Jesus. This presentation seeks to show that right from the beginning God prophesied about Jesus and His battle with Satan and that He will be victorious and rule and reign the nations from Jerusalem in the land He set aside for His nation. The Millennium Kingdom is a transition period prior to the White Throne judgement and God creating a new heaven and new earth where only the righteous dwell. We know that Sarah’s seed was supernaturally produced by God which resulted in Abraham and Sarah producing Isaac. Moreover, we know that God challenged Abraham to sacrifice Isaac which prefigured God sacrificing His own son Jesus. Jesus was of course in Abraham’s lineage. The millennial reign of Jesus fulfills the covenant Jesus made with Abraham and all the prophecies of the O.T. prophets.

MAKING SENSE OF THIS WORLD

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Today in the west, many consider the church to be dead or dying. Christianity is seen as outdated, bigoted, and responsible for many of society’s problems. This leaves many believers embarrassed about their faith and many outsiders wary of religion. But what if the Christian message is not the enemy of our modern Western values, but the very thing that makes sense of them?

Author Glen Scrivener is a minister, blogger, speaker, and filmmaker. He wrote the book, The Air We Breathe – How we all came to believe in freedom, kindness, progress, and equality, particularly for non-Christians, both those without any religious affiliation and those who, through disillusionment, have moved on from Christianity. The book is also richly rewarding for Christians. Please purchase it directly from CMI at http://www.creation.com.

Some Commendations:

  • “A really excellent book. The last time I read apologetics this compelling, it was by CS Lewis”—Steve Holmes, lecturer in theology, University of St Andrews, Scotland.
  • “This gripping book is apologetics gold: historically informed, cogently argued, relevant and contemporary, and sparkles with interest from start to finish”—Philip Bell, CEO CMI-UK/Europe