IS CENSORSHIP OF THE BIBLE NEXT?

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Excerpts from a great article by Dr Jennifer Oriel in The Australian April 23rd, 2018. She is a columnist with a PhD in political science. She writes a weekly column in The Australian. Dr Oriel’s academic work has been featured on the syllabus of Harvard University, the University of London, the University of Toronto, Amherst College, the University of Wisconsin and Columbia University. She has been cited by a broad range of organisations including the World Health Organisation and the United Nations Economic Commission of Africa.

Israel Falou celebrates after scoring a try during the Rugby Championship match between the Australian Wallabies and the Argentina Pumas last year.

Picture: Israel Folau celebrates after scoring a try during the Rugby Championship match between the Australian Wallabies and the Argentina Pumas last year.

“A perfect storm is brewing over religious freedom and Israel Folau has dived into the eye of that storm. The unfinished business of the Turnbull government is to legislate protection for religious freedom following the legalisation of same-sex marriage. While the census indicated Australians are losing their religion, the volume of submissions to the national Religious Freedom ­Review was unprecedented. More than 16,000 public submissions were received, forcing the government to postpone the reporting date to May. At the core of the debate is whether the state will use discrimination law to ­extend its authority over religious individuals and organisations, or strengthen provisions to protect religious freedom and belief.

Criticisms of Folau as prejudiced or too outspoken fail the test of reason. He didn’t stop play and shout out “hell to gays” in the middle of a match. He responded to an explicit question about the word of God on the question of homosexuality. And he responded by referring to the Bible. If you ask what God’s plan is, be prepared for the answer.

Those who oppose Folau’s right to cite scripture are advocating censorship of the Bible.

It’s not quite as dramatic as book burning, but the principle is the same.

Report from Pastor Jeffrey Daly, Founder/Director National Day of Repentance
“California legislators now seek to BAN all reference material (books, tapes, CD’s and, ultimately, the very scripture itself) that challenge the LGBTQ+ perversion narrative.  They claim it is over-hysteria from the so-called “Christian right” to claim that they really want to ban the Bible.  However, isn’t the scripture the DIRECT SOURCE of all the teaching against sodomy and perversion?  Of course it is.  These new laws are just a ruse of the devil.  Removing scripture AND Christians is Satan’s end game.”

 

You might not believe in the Bible. You might not believe in God. You might think that Christians should praise God only in private and religious belief should be purged from public life. You might believe in queer ideology and refuse to brook criticism of it. But consider that a gay person’s right to love openly is no more important than a Christian’s right to love God openly. Question whether Christians should have to hide their love in the closet vacated by gays. Ask yourself whether the history of state atheism enforced by totalitarian regimes is the future you want for Australia.”

US EMBASSY IN JERUSALEM OPENS ON ISRAEL’S 70TH BIRTHDAY

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In terms of end times events the following announcement is significant both in terms of the act itself and the timing. Well ahead of schedule, the new US Embassy in Jerusalem will open in May 2018 in celebration of Israel’s 70th anniversary of independence. Already the Arab nations have responded with “threats of  a regional explosion”. 

“President Trump’s decision to move the United States Embassy to Jerusalem on the coming Independence Day in May follows his historic declaration in December to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement issued by the Israeli Embassy in Washington on Friday.

The May opening marks a significant acceleration. During his historic address to the Knesset in January, Vice President Mike Pence said the embassy would open by the end of 2019. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who signed off on the security plan for the new embassy on Thursday, had said it would take years.

The Arab world responded in anger to the news that the US embassy will be moved to Jerusalem this coming May, coinciding with Israel’s 70th Independence Day.

The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday condemned “in the strongest terms” the American announcement regarding acceleration of the embassy move, saying they considered it “a provocative aggression against the Palestinian people.”

Arabs slam US embassy move as ‘aggression,’ ‘crime’

Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki (AP/Ivan Sekretarev)

The decision “is a direct aggression against the Palestinian people and their just and legitimate national rights, while at the same time rewarding the occupation for its violations and crimes, especially as it coincides with the anniversary of the Nakba [‘catastrophe’ in Arabic, referring to Israel’s independence] that afflicted the Palestinian people and is still ongoing, and encouraging it to continue to destroy any chance for peace based on a two-state solution,” the Ministry said in US will open Jerusalem embassy in May, on Israel’s 70th birthdaya statement.

HAMAS THREATENS A REGIONAL EXPLOSION

Hamas threatened to “bravely confront the plan to relocate the US embassy,” warning that it “will be the trigger that will detonate the whole area in the face of the Israeli occupation.”

ARAB LEAGUE – A NEW AND DANGEROUS EPISODE

Secretary General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit said the US decision to move its embassy to Jerusalem on the 70th anniversary of the “Palestinian exodus, the Nakba,” is “likely going to undermine the last chance of peace and coexistence between the Israelis and the Palestinians.”

 

 

GOD HONOURS PRAYER & FASTING

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Be encouraged by this 13 minute video of what has happened in Bourke (remote town in the”outback” of Australia)  largely with the indigenous people as a result of prayer and fasting and being involved in the 40 Days of Prayer and Fasting Movement in 2017. Check out their website http://www.nationaldayofprayer.org.au 

Now 12 Months later good things are still happening in Bourke. The churches are working together in new ways and are experiencing renewed favour in the community. The broader community is working together as never before. Crime rates are the lowest they have been for ten years. 

When did you and your church last participate with other churches in prayer and fasting for your community and the nation? It’s time.

ISRAEL AND IRAN IN THE “LAST DAYS”

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Netanyahu: ‘We Will Act if Necessary…Against Iran Itself’

Addressing the Munich Security Conference in Germany last Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that Israel “will act if necessary, not just against Iran’s proxies that are attacking us, but against Iran itself.”

The Israeli leader displayed a piece of an Iranian drone that was captured in Israel as evidence of the growing Iranian aggression.

Netanyahu, a longtime critic of the Iran nuclear deal, likened it to the infamous 1938 “Munich Agreement” that Western powers signed with Adolf Hitler in an attempt to stave off war in Europe. Rather than bringing peace, the concessions to the Nazi regime led to World War II.

Are we seeing the stage being set for the “last days” war of Gog (Leader/Prince/King) of the land of Magog (uttermost parts, north of Israel, Russia) outlined in Ezekiel 38 & 39? Gog forms an alliance with Persia (Iran) Ezekiel 38:5 and ” it shall come to pass in the latter days, that I will bring you against my land (Israel)” Ezekiel 38:16.  The other countries in the alliance to come against Israel are Sudan, Libya, Turkey and some of the -stan (Kazakhstan, Afghanistan, Pakistan etc) countries (all Muslim).

Iran marks anniversary of Islamic Revolution with missiles, burning of flags

Iran celebrated the 39th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution by stressing its hatred towards the US and Israel.

 Millions took to the streets across Iran on Sunday to mark the 39th anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution in a show of violent force.

PROPHESIED LAST DAYS EVENTS ARE PLAYING OUT IN OUR DAY. AWAKE CHURCH, PROPHESY IS A GREAT EVANGELISTIC TOOL TO USE AT THIS TIME. ALSO, AS TORBEN SONDERGAARD (LAST REFORMATION), AND OTHERS ARE DEMONSTRATING, THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ARE EVIDENT WHEN WE STEP OUT TO SHARE THE GOSPEL.

JESUS SECOND COMING

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Does the Bible provide much information on Jesus’ Second Coming?

There is more prophetic evidence about Jesus’ second coming than any other prophetic event in the Bible. The end times is the most written-about subject in all of Scripture. There are over 150 chapters in the Bible in which the majority of the chapter is about the end times.  Most of the prophets spoke about the future “Day of the Lord” which relates to the events of Jesus’ coming. For more information go to Mike Bickle’s article entitled “150 Chapters on the End Times.” I can also recommend Nelson Walters book, Revelation Deciphered.

Why is it important that we study “end times” prophecies, particularly the Book of Revelation?

Studying what the Bible has to say about the future empowers us to be victorious in love and power during the most glorious and difficult time in history. It prepares us to actively participate under Jesus in the end-time events and to rightly interpret Jesus’ leadership in the coming global crisis instead of being offended by Him (Matthew 11:6). Studying the end times awakens urgency in us for intercession, knowing that our prayers may minimise evil and increase victory. Understanding end-time Scriptures strengthens our confidence in God’s sovereignty by knowing that He is in control and is never surprised (Joel 2:13-14; Zephaniah 2:3; Matthew 11:6, 24:4; Philippians 1:10; Revelation 12:11).

 How can we be confident that we are living in the “last days”?

There are many biblical trends that reveal “the season or generation” of His coming (Matthew 24:4-8). They include an increase of wickedness (Daniel 8:23, Revelation 14:9), apostasy in the church, the increase of knowledge (Daniel 12;4), emergence of global prayer (Isaiah 56:7), the great harvest from all nations (Matthew 24:14, Revelation 7:9).

Are we able to know the signs of the times?

Yes, Jesus commanded the people who lived in the generation of His return to know the signs (Matt. 24:32-4). Jesus rebuked those who did not heed the prophetic signs that pointed to His coming (Matt. 16:1-4; Luke 19:41-44). Prophetic signs serve the church in the same way that a weather station signals coming trouble so that people can prepare and save lives.

Can the signs of the times be understood?

Yes. The Scriptures on the end times and the signs of the times were written to be understood by all, since the majority of people throughout history have been uneducated peasants. The Scripture was written for them. Jesus and Paul emphasised the know-ability of the prophetic signs of the end times (Matt. 24:32-34, Luke 21:25-29, 1 Thess. 5:1-6, 2 Thess. 2:1-11). The lie is that we are not to know the times and seasons of His return (Acts 1:7-8).

How can we know when Jesus is coming if He says in Matthew 24:36 that “no one knows” the day or the hour? Jesus did not say we could not know the season or the conditions surrounding His coming. Neither did Jesus say that the church would not know the day and hour in the generation the Lord returns. We must seek the Father’s Word as to when this begins, because only the Father knows. God did not want to make the day and hour known in the early church, but Daniel and the apostle John made it clear that the Messiah would come exactly 1,260 days after the abomination of desolation (Dan. 7:25; 12:7; Rev. 11:2-3,12:6, 14; 13:5).

Will the church be on earth during the Tribulation and Great Tribulation spoken of by Daniel (Daniel 9:24-27)?

Yes. The church will absolutely be on the earth during six of the seven years of the Tribulation and Great Tribulation. However, the church will not experience the wrath of God, which is poured out in the trumpet and bowl judgements during the seventh year, prior to Jesus Second Coming to earth with the Saints who were raptured at the sixth seal. The last verse describing the events of the sixth seal announces “For the great day of His wrath has come, and who can stand? (Revelation 6:17). John then sees the resurrected and raptured saints (great multitude which no one could number of all nations, tribes and peoples and tongues standing before the throne and before the lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands.” (Revelation 7:9). This prior to the trumpet and bowl judgements being poured out on unrepentant mankind.

 The end times is the church’s finest hour, when miracles will occur and supernatural prophetic direction will be released. The miracles of Acts and Exodus will be multiplied and combined on a global level (Mic. 7:15). The victorious believer in Revelation 12:11 will overcome Satan by the blood of the Lamb, the word of their testimony and the fact that they did not love their lives to the death.

 

Extracts from article by Mike Bickle: Answers the 100 most frequently asked questions about the End Times. Although I have taken a PreWrath Rapture position and I believe Mike Bickle takes the Post Tribulation position. He is the director of the International House of Prayer Missions Base of Kansas City, Missouri,

EXTREMES OF CHRISTIANITY: WHICH TRULY EXPRESSES JESUS EXAMPLE?

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Simple missional forms of church were normal in the first century – and are proving relevant for today. Here are some insights on the early church taken from the New Testament. 1. All NT churches met in homes, 2. There were multiple churches in each community that loved on its people, 3. All members of the church participated, 4. Church was not a building Christians went to or a denomination they belonged to. Christians were church in their community. 5. Households provided natural leadership for home churches, 6. Paul did appoint ‘overseers’ to foster these networks. These were mature believers, not given to power seeking – but encouragers, able to facilitate disciple making and the planting of new churches, 7. They were relational communities – eating, serving, sharing. Christians shared in Sabbath fellowship, Communion, Scripture reading and prayers. There is no tension over culture or ethnicity. 8. They were ‘zero dollar’ – but high cost church plants. First century believers shared faith with family, friends and neighbours, inviting them to their homes. High cost because it is a sacrifice of time and energy to share faith with family and social networks. Offerings help with rent, food for someone who has lost their job or a struggling family. Maybe to assist school expenses for a single mum or support another church start up. 9. Church structures are simple and Holy Spirit directed. No hierarchical structures, 10. Churches easily reproducible. Disciples made disciples and baptised them and in turn they made disciples. 11. They are the best environment to hand on faith.

Developed from article by Peter Rosenfeldt. Check out his website http://www.newlifechurch.com

PASTOR IN INDIA

A pastor in India who was known for long five- to six-hour prayer sessions was found beaten, tortured and hung to death from the rafters of his church, parishioners said. The murder has deeply shocked the congregation.

Morning Star News reported on Sunday that the body of pastor Gideon Periyaswamy of Maknayeem Church in southern India was found early Saturday morning. His death comes after he had complained about Hindu extremists.

Pastor Azariah Reuben, a close friend of the 43-year-old victim, said that Periyaswamy converted from Hinduism 25 years ago, and has served as pastor in Adayachery for more than 12 years, becoming known as a “prayer warrior.”

“The local Hindus were not happy with growing Christianity,” Reuben said. “They had several times tried to stop the ministry.”

PASTOR IN THE U.S.A

Kenneth Copeland’s ministry announced last Friday the acquisition of the “debt free” jet, which hit the market with a $36 million price tag in 1998. The ultra-long-range business jet can accommodate up to four crew members and 14 passengers in an executive configuration, according to Gulfstream. It is unclear how much Copeland’s ministry paid for the jet but A V Buyer says they currently have the lowest priced Gulfstream V on the market priced at just under $6 million.

“Father we thank you so and I’m asking you now sir, according to your word, bless our partners beyond measure. Yes, in the name of Jesus. For you said in 2002, ‘I’m sending you new partners who are very strong financially and they will obey me.

And I will increase your longtime partners and they will obey me,” Copeland, 81, said in a prayer of thanksgiving for the new jet.

“And you will not come short. And you will not fail. And you will not lack. And you will not come behind and you will not be diminished. Praise God,” he said of his donors.

 

WHEN WILL THE END COME?

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More from Alan Kurschner of Eschatos Ministries:

“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout the whole inhabited earth as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come” (Matt 24:14).

Here we have another explicit prophecy that must happen before the end: the gospel being preached “throughout the whole inhabited earth.” Since Jesus taught in the Great Commission that the church will be on earth up to the end of the age, they will witness the fulfilment of Jesus’ prophecy of the world-wide proclamation of the Gospel. Five words demonstrate this point: “then the end will come” (Matt 24:14). The church will not be removed until this prophecy is fulfilled. The church will not be raptured until this prophesied event happens.

On a related noted, having established that the church will be present on earth up to the end of the age in verse 14, notice in verse 15 Jesus says, “Therefore [oun] when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place…” The interpreter should not miss that Jesus has the same audience in view after verse 14. In verse 15, Jesus begins to describe the Antichrist’s great tribulation in more detail. There is no justification to claim that the referent “you” in verse 15 and afterwards is different from the “you” before verse 14. In other words, the disciples, who represent the new community of God (i.e. the church), are the consistent audience of Jesus’ entire discourse. In short, since the “you” before verse 15 represents the church, there is no reason—except for theological bias—that it represents anyone differently in verse 15 and afterwards.

Image result for pictures of gay couples getting married in church

The church will see “the abomination of desolation (Antichrist)  spoken of by Daniel, standing in the holy place”.

The question to ask: Is the church prepared for the coming tribulation? I think the answer is no for most of the major denominations, and it will be the reason for the prophesied great falling away. ” Let no one deceive you by any means for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed , the son of perdition. ” 2 Thess. 2:3. We are already seeing evidence of an apostate church.

SUPPORT WHAT GOD IS DOING IN SYRIA AND ISRAEL

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This is a powerful and wonderful story of what God is doing with His disciples in the Middle East. Join them, support them, get in step with what God is doing in these “last days”. Share this video with your church so they understand what God is doing and encourage them to get them involved.

PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL OF THE COMING DAY OF THE LORD AT AN ABORTION CLINIC

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Alan Kurschner of Eschatos Ministries is joining our group (www.powerpointsermons.net) to provide resources  for the “last days” church. Alan is an academic. Take a look at his bio: He holds an MA in biblical languages (Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary), graduate studies in New Testament (Harvard Divinity), and a BA in philosophy (University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire). He is a PhD candidate studying Greek linguistics (McMaster Divinity College). Areas of research include Greek linguistics, the book of Revelation, eschatology, and hermeneutics. He also runs the Center for Learning Biblical Greek. At the same time, Alan understands the need to heed Jesus command to evangelise the lost, and importantly, the value of proclaiming the coming day of the lord. I hope you will be challenged as I was by the following report.

Part of Eschatos Ministries’ mission statement says that we exist to proclaim the Gospel of the second coming of Jesus to the lost. Jesus did it. So did his disciples, including the apostle Paul. We must do the same. Jesus is coming back either as Savior or Judge.

This morning some church friends and myself went to the largest abortion clinic in New Jersey telling people to repent of their sins because the return of Jesus is nigh.

Some mocked. Some were indifferent. Some listened.

Many babies this morning were murdered being torn apart or burned to death by the abortion “doctor.” Satan was certainly not bound in the abyss this morning! Abortion is unabated Satanic activity.

But thanks be to God, one of the many women who entered the abortion mill heard the gospel message and changed her mind, and got her money back. The gentleman with her came out and hugged Rob Parker for vocalizing the message through the abortion doors (he is in the photo standing next to the door with the placard). Pray that this woman’s conviction is genuine and that the Spirit will convert her to Christ.

I was able to have some fruitful discussions with several people, including an Uber driver who dropped off a mother to kill her baby, sadly. The driver was receptive to the gospel. Pray that the Spirit will convict him. His Word does not return void.

It is always a special unction to get out on the streets proclaiming God’s message to the lost of how they can have true peace, lest they experience the soon-coming day of the Lord’s wrath. “Look! I am coming soon, and my reward is with me to pay each one according to what he has done!” (Rev 22:12)

Pray that God restrains the wickedness of abortion in this land and bring repentance to abortion doctors and the politicians who support and celebrate their monstrosity of evil.

If you live in North Jersey and belong to a Bible believing church come join us. You can contact me for details.

“Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, and he had an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language, and people. He declared in a loud voice: “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgement has arrived, and worship the one who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water!”” Rev 14:6–7

A WATERSHED END TIMES EVENT – PART TWO

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On December 13th, the heads of state and top officials from Islamic nations gathered together at an emergency summit of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Turkey, in an attempt to forge a unified Muslim world stance against Trump’s move.

The Istanbul gathering of heads of state and top officials from the 57-member OIC could offer a strong response by the Muslim world to Washington’s move.

Abbas says America’s role in middle east peace process is over

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan— the current president of the OIC — called on countries to urgently recognise the Palestinian state and Jerusalem as its capital.

Erdogan has been among the most vocal critics of Trump’s announcement. In remarks to the summit, he said Israel is an “occupying state” and a “terror state.”

Palestinian Authority head, Abbas, called Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital a “crime” that threatened world peace.

These bizarre statements explains why there already has been three major battles by these Muslim nations in an attempt to destroy Israel. Miraculously, Israel won them all despite overwhelming odds. Sadly, Jesus prophecies a coming battle during the prophesied 70th week of Daniel which Israel does not win. It is before His prophesied return to earth to restore Israel after the final battle of Armageddon.

“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are inside the city depart, and let not those who are out in the country enter it, for these are days of vengeance, to fulfil all that is written. Alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great distress upon the earth and wrath against this people. 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 21:20-24

Are you living as if we are in the prophesied “last days”? Are you in a church that understands the times and is raising up disciples to reach the lost? As you would know from reading my posts, I believe the last days church will be like the church described in the Book of Acts. Leaders such as Francis Chan and Torben Sondergaard are leading the way in this regard. With the Holy Spirit’s prompting, one further step I have taken is to connect with like minded Christian brothers to provide sermons and videos which will equip the “last days” church for the escalating tribulation that is prophesied. Take a look at the website, which is a work in progress, http://www.powerpointsermons.net  and the resources already there. Feedback is welcome and please sign up to get a regular Newsletter. Also, please get the word around to churches that could benefit from the resources that are there, and will continue to be added, as we connect with more Christian leaders that can contribute resources to the site.