CHRISTIANITY IS SURGING IN IRAN

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As the conflict between Israel and Iran’s terrorist proxy group Hezbollah in Lebanon widens, reports continue to surface of a growing division between the Iranian people and the Islamist regime of Ali Khamenei. Even as anti-Israel and anti-America protests get most of the attention in Iran, a burgeoning Christian movement is occurring under the surface, an expert on Iranian Christians says.

In Iran, Christianity is intensely persecuted, except small historical Armenian and Assyrian communities. Conversion from Islam to Christianity is considered apostasy and can be punished with death. Still, some reports suggest that conversions to Christianity and support for democracy are on the rise, with as many as 80% of Iranian citizens anonymously supporting a democratic government. In addition, some outlets have reported that hundreds of mosques have closed due to the rising number of Iranians leaving Islam.

Hormoz Shariat is the president of Iran Alive Ministries. It broadcasts the gospel message via satellite TV programs in the Farsi language in predominantly Muslim countries like Iran, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. On Monday, he joined “Washington Watch with Tony Perkins” to discuss how an increasing number of Iranians do not support the Islamist regime’s attacks on Israel and are converting to Christianity.

“[Iranians] have experienced Islam and Islamic rule firsthand for over 40 years,” he noted. “And they’ve come to the conclusion, if the problem is not just the government, the problem is Islam itself. That’s why we see a high number of Iranian Muslims come to Christ because they have not just rejected the government, they have rejected Islam. There is such a gap … between the government and the people. So when the government puts on these rallies saying, ‘Death to Israel, death to America,’ the people of Iran say, ‘We love Israel, we love America.’ And that’s the trend.”

Shariat also pointed out that there were also many Iranian Americans who came out in support of Israel after the October 7 Hamas attack.

“We know that the media covered … the pro-Palestine, pro-Hamas demonstrations in America,” he noted. “You saw it everywhere. You saw it on campuses. You saw it on the street. You saw it in Washington, D.C. But you did not see all the Iranians who came on the streets even in America, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and San Diego, everywhere. Iranians came out pro-Israel. Not even one Iranian rally was pro-Palestine, and the media did not cover that. Iranians are pro-Israel.”

Shariat further described how his ministry has spread. “[W]e … have a 24/7 satellite broadcast going over the heads of the mullahs — they cannot stop the signal from the sky. We go into people’s homes, millions of homes. [A]n independent survey [found] that we have seven million viewers daily. So we go into people’s homes, tell them about God’s love, and guess what? They are ready. Iranians are rejecting Islam. They’re ready for the message of the gospel.”

According to Shariat, a spiritual awakening is currently occurring in Iran. “It’s a move of God, and God uses suffering, and Iranians have suffered for 40-some years. … So there is an openness among Iranians. … God has used [suffering] to open their minds, open their eyes towards Islam. They … have rejected Islam [but] not [out] of emotion and [not from making an] overnight decision.”

Shariat asked for continued prayers for his ministry and Christians in Iran.

ISRAEL’S CENTRAL ROLE IN THE END TIMES

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Have you heard Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu’s speech to the United Nations? It was incredible on so many levels. It showed that Israel was living in continuation of the Israel of Scripture. We know that to be true, but it was fascinating to hear it shared on such an elevated platform at such a pivotal historical time.

We must remember the blessing that Moses, the man of God, gave the Israelites before his death.

“The God of old is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He drives out the enemy before you and commands, “Destroy!” So Israel dwells securely; Jacob lives untroubled in a land of grain and new wine; even his skies drip with dew. How happy you are, Israel!
Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord? He is the shield that protects you, the sword you boast in.
Your enemies will cringe before you, and you will tread on their backs.” Deuteronomy 33:27-29

Moses also said they would be cursed and scattered throughout the Earth through disobedience.

“And the Lord will scatter you among all peoples, from one end of the earth to the other, and there you shall serve other gods of wood and stone, which neither you nor your fathers have known. And among these nations you shall find no respite, and there shall be no resting place for the sole of your foot, but the Lord will give you there a trembling heart and failing eyes and a languishing soul.” Deuteronomy 28:64-65

This prophecy was fulfilled and so will the next one. Moses told them the end of their story: God would gather them from the ends of the Earth to be His nation again.

“And when all these things come upon you, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before you, and you call them to mind among all the nations where the Lord your God has driven you, and return to the Lord your God, you and your children, and obey his voice in all that I command you today, with all your heart and with all your soul, then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have mercy on you, and he will gather you again from all the peoples where the Lord your God has scattered you.” Deuteronomy 30:1-3

Netanyahu did not share these Scriptures with the U.N. perhaps he should have.

Two of Netanyahu’s quotes that jumped out to me were these: In the first quote, he shared how the continuation of Israel’s government goes back to what we find in Samuel, Chronicles, and Kings.

Ladies and gentlemen, King Solomon, who reigned in our eternal capital, Jerusalem, 3,000 years ago, proclaimed something that is familiar to all of you. He said: There is nothing new under the sun. 

The second showed the continuation of God’s covenant with Abraham and its confirmation in the time of Moses.

When I spoke here last year, I said we face the same timeless choice that Moses put before the people of Israel thousands of years ago, as we were about to enter the Promised Land. Moses told us that our actions would determine whether we bequeath a blessing or a curse to future generations. And that is the choice we face today: the curse of Iran’s unremitting aggression or the blessing of historic reconciliation between Arab and Jew. In the days that followed that speech, the blessing I spoke of came into sharper focus. 

Incredible times we are living in. We’re living in the Epic Story of Truth.

Here’s the whole speech: https://www.youtube.com/live/7yy0OJ09OIc?feature=shared

HAMAS TO TRUMP: ” WHEN WE WILL WIPE OUT ISRAEL”

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Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, in a round-table discussion with youth in the Gaza Strip on Thursday, slammed the Trump administration’s demand that it renounce terror and recognise the Jewish state.

Rather than considering recognition of the Jewish State, “the discussion now is about when we will wipe out Israel,” the Hamas leader affirmed in comments directed to President Trump.

Rather than considering peace negotiations, “the discussion now is about when we will wipe out Israel,” he declared, according to the Hamas-linked news agency Shehab, Times of Israel reported.

“No one in the universe can disarm us. On the contrary, we will continue to have the power to protect our citizens,” Sinwar asserted. “No one has the ability to extract from us recognition of the occupation.”

Sinwar’s bellicose remarks were made in response to a statement by US Special Mideast Envoy Jason Greenblatt– following the reconciliation agreement between Hamas and Fatah, the ruling party of the Palestinian Authority (PA) – that Hamas must renounce terror and commit to peace negotiations with Israel.

ISIS is re-gathering in the Egyptian Sinai Desert and joining forces with Hamas after losing their position in Syria. Now, with the recent Hamas and Palestinian Authority reconciliation this means Abbas is now joining forces with Hamas in Gaza and accepting their ‘destroy Israel’ ideology … When you put that together with the fact that Hamas is now with the PA and working with ISIS in the Sinai on Israel s southern border, the situation for Israel just got much more serious.

Hence, Israel is preparing for a coming war with Hezbollah, Hamas, Iran, and Syria as they are rapidly building up their forces along the Israeli, Syrian and Lebanese borders.

The news that Hamas was finally submitting to Palestinian Authority in Gaza is HUGE, for now the last stumbling block preventing a unified Palestinian front has been removed.

The annihilation prophecy of Obadiah and Isaiah 34 continues to slowly grind forward.

What we see being played out in the Middle East is exactly what is prophesied for the “end times”. Israel is once again centre stage in the spiritual battle being raged between Satan and his demons and God and His angels.

UNDERSTANDING THE TIMES: ISRAEL, ISLAM AND THE GOSPEL

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Hi Brothers & Sisters, I mentioned in a previous post, I was attending a Conference in Tyler Texas, August 4th and 5th – Understanding the Times: Israel, Islam & The Gospel. My main reason for attending was to meet up with Dr Nelson Walters who was a speaker at the Conference. Nelson has agreed to be on the Board of an “End Times” Ministry I am setting up, to provide pastors and Christian leaders with Power Point Sermons and Video Sermons to equip the church in these “last days” to make disciples to complete the great commission – website http://www.powerpointsermons.net.  As well, I hoped to connect with some of the speakers at the conference who would become partners in the ministry. Two great connections were Joel Richardson and Mark Davidson.

Joel is author of many books but two I can recommend are Mideast Beast: The Scriptural Case for an Islamic Antichrist and Mystery Babylon: Unlocking the Bible’s Greatest Prophetic Mystery.

Mark is author of several books but as with Joel I can recommend two – Daniel Revisited: Discovering the Four Mideast Signs Leading to the Antichrist and Iran’s Great Invasion  and Why it’s next in Bible Prophecy.

If you want to get up to speed on what end time events the Bible has prophesied for the near future, then listen to Mark being interviewed on Wings of the Eagle. They were also active at the conference and a website to watch.

 

Presidential candidate, Ben Carson on ‘End of Days’

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Ben Carson One Nation

GOP presidential candidate Ben Carson says its possible the world is headed toward the end times prophesied in the Bible, but added that as president he would take action to “ameliorate” it.

Appearing Sunday on “Full Measure,” Carson, a Seventh-day Adventist, was asked by host Sharyl Attkisson about his views on the biblical prophesies of the end times compared with current world events.

“Do you think we’re at the End of Days?” she asked.

“You could guess that we are getting closer to that,” Carson responded.

But he contrasted his own end-time views with those of some Islamic extremists in the Middle East who believe they must take actions to set up a caliphate in order to usher in the prophesies of the Quran.

“You do have people who have a belief system that sees this apocalyptic phenomenon occurring, and that they’re a part of it, and who would not hesitate to use nuclear weapons if they gain … them,” he said.

Attkisson asked if a “change of course” could avert “something that’s prophesied.”

“I think we have a chance to certainly do everything that we can to ameliorate the situation.” Carson said. “I would always be shooting for peace. You know, I wouldn’t just take a fatalistic view of things.”

Carson came under fire for saying on “Meet the Press” September 20 that he doesn’t think a Muslim should be president. He has since said he meant that any Muslim president would have to put the Constitution over Muslim teachings, as would any Christian president and that Sharia is incompatible with that position.

In discussing the president, Carson noted that “Obama serves the interest of the progressive movement,” stating his belief that those are not policies the American people want. Carson declared that President Obama has been successful at foisting progressivism on the country.

He reiterated his position that elements of Islam such as Sharia Law are incompatible with the American Constitution because it “subjugates women in a pretty substantial way” and punishes by death acts of “adultery and homosexuality.”

Attkisson asked Carson about the fact that more Muslim refugees in Syria have been granted Visas compared to Christians in Syria. Catholic News Agency reported that over 900 Muslims from Syria have been granted asylum compared to about 20 Christians, she said.

“I don’t think our policies make a whole lot of sense,” declared Carson. “Why would you bring them into a country that they are dedicated to destroy?”

The United States could use some of its expertise and financial resources to help solve the problem and settle them within their own region, he added.

On the issue of separation of church and state, Carson said “there should be a line drawn” while also noting “there shouldn’t be a Constitutional reason why a person can’t live a public life of faith.”

When asked about firearms, Carson said he has been awarded several awards for his marksmen skills, is a member of the NRA, and owner of “mostly shotguns.”

When asked by Attkisson about the strengths and weaknesses of the major Democrat candidates for the presidency, he called former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton somebody who has “tenacity,” but added her weakness was “dishonesty, lack of integrity.”

He said Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders weakness was “socialist” policies and his strength was “being a populist.” Vice President Joe Biden, who has not declared his candidacy, is somebody who is known for being amicable, Carson added, but he has wholeheartedly embraced “Obama’s policies.”

Carson continued to criticize the politically correct culture and people who are easily offended by displays, such as a Christmas creche in the public square.
http://nws.mx/1G2tu90