"How Many Minutes Before Midnight?"

According to the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists and their famous Doomsday Clock--it is 5 minutes before midnight.

Headlines from 2014 seem to prove their point. Consider:

• US and Russian relations have cooled to the point of a new Cold War over Moscow's perceived role in Ukraine's separatist conflict. 
• The Islamic State (ISIL) terror group is still rampaging across the Mideast, kidnapping and torturing children. ISIL has now spilled into Lebanon, close to the Israeli border.
• The Ebola outbreak has spread to multiple West African countries, affecting tens of thousands. The possibility of it spreading further cannot be ruled out.
• Cyberwars are keeping the DHS up nights. Russia is the most likely suspect behind a destructive "Trojan Horse" malware program discovered in critical US software that makes what North Korea did to Sony look like child's play.

Not to mention: international unrest in various countries, the recent racial unrest right here at home, the massive security breach that is the US border, and the ever present threat of a nuclear Iran.

In 1948, the nation of Israel was born (again) and with it many Biblical prophecies were fulfilled, each graphic, literal, and exact.

In fact, the entire Scripture is woven through and through with provable, precise prophecy in regards to God's chosen people--the Jews. (For a detailed account of those prophecies, see archived posts from July 2011: Israel: The Key to Prophecy-Part 1 Part 2

The Scriptures seem to indicate the Jews will only be back in their Land for one generation (See Matthew 24) before the return of the Messiah.

Is it possible the Atomic Scientists are correct in setting The Clock @ 5 minutes before midnight - or are they  just alarmists? You do the math.

"So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be sober. Night is the time for sleep and the time when people get drunk. But let us who live in the light think clearly, protected by the body armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation. For God decided to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out His anger on us. He died for us so that we can live with Him forever, whether we are dead or alive at the time of His return."  (1Thess. 5:6-10)

A wise man once said: "Paul warns us that God will hold all people accountable for their attitudes and actions. So don't procrastinate. God wants us to act immediately to receive His forgiveness and power to help us change."  -- David Stoop, author

News:

• Reuters: East-West aerial confrontations heat up with Russia and China pitted against US and allied pilots on a scale not seen since Cold War Era
• AgenceFrance-Presse (AFP): Islamic State downs warplane over Syria, claims capture of Jordanian pilot
• Reuters: Japan fears North Korea cyberattack, works to secure infrastructure

"Do You Side With Satan?"

According to Pastor Ron Johnson of Community Bible Church, God came to earth with a very specific purpose, a purpose that easily gets lost in the Christmas "mythology, fables, and traditions."

"Tradition tells us that it was a silent night when all was calm and quiet."

"Not true," says Johnson. "This night God launched a full-scale attack on sin and Satan, and Satan launched a full-scale attack on Jesus and His followers. Hardly a silent night."

The big question? Whose side are we on? God's or Satan's?

"Whose side you are on is determined by your reactions to Jesus and what He came to do," says Pastor Johnson. "Every person choosing to walk in sin is choosing to side with Satan."

In other words:

It doesn't matter what we say we believe, our actions tell our true beliefs.

• Do we lie?
• View pornography?
• Get drunk?
• Do our actions support Satan?

The Bible says, "You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?" (Matthew 7:16).

Jesus knows our choice by the way we live our lives. Everything we do (in public or in private) indicates our choice.

Jesus said, "Anyone who isn't with Me opposes Me, and anyone who isn't working with Me is actually working against Me." (Matthew 12:30).

So, do our actions match our true beliefs? The Bible says they do.

"I love them that love Me; and those that seek Me early shall find Me." (Proverbs 8:17)

A wise man once said: "It's human nature to take the things Jesus died for and to make it seem like it's not that big of a deal. That's what we do when we make light of sin. What does it say about us if we proclaim Christ but side with Satan? Hypocrite." --Pastor Ron Johnson, Community Bible Church

"But if you refuse to serve the LORD, then choose today whom you will serve." Joshua 24:15

News:

• Gold Core: Russia Supplies China with Hi-tech Military Hardware.
• Yahoo! Finance: Russians flock to stores to pre-empt price rises kicked off by staggering fall in the ruble.
• RT News: Pentagon confirms military buildup along Russian borders for 'peace and stability' 

 

"Global Cold Spell Predicted"

Last month, the Space and Science Research Corporation (SSRC) announced a set of climate predictions.

The good news? Global warming is no longer happening.

Unfortunately, the bad news is much, much worse: a global drop in temperatures.

How low can they go? Historically low.

The SSRC is an independent organization located in Orlando, Florida.

Their mission? To provide an independent, un-biased and objective analysis of climate change.

According to a growing circle of scientists, SSRC and its President, Mr. John L. Casey, have established a record of accuracy in climate change predictions.

And guess what, guys? It has nothing to do with people.

Contrary to all we've been told, the SSRC believes there's a direct relationship between the climate here on Earth and the sun.

(Who'd a thunk it? You mean it's not our SUVs or cow flatulence?)

Using the Relational Cycle Theory (RC Theory), SSRC claims they can prove solar cycles are the main drivers behind the Earth's variations in climate.

So what does that mean for us? According to a SSRC Press Release, nothing good.

Some highlights:

• The Earth is about to begin a steep drop in global temperatures.
• Average global atmospheric and oceanic temperatures will drop significantly beginning between 2015 and 2016.
• The predicted temperature decline will continue for the next 15 years and will likely be the steepest ever recorded in human history discounting past short-term volcanic events

The bottom line? SSRC claims we can expect significant global crop damage, dramatically higher energy costs, social and political upheaval and loss of life in the hardest hit areas.

Yikes.

So which is it? Global warming or global cooling?

We're praying for a Goldilocks scenario--global temps that are just right.

A wise man once said: "There is no question that climate change is happening; the only arguable point is what part humans are playing."  -- David Attenborough, British journalist

"While the earth remains, seed time and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night shall not cease."  Genesis 8:22

News:

• The Washington Free Beacon: Pentagon Considering Deployment of Nuclear Missiles in Europe in Response to Russian Treaty Breach.
• WeatherNews: California Blizzard Warning: Strongest Storm in Years Could Dump Up to 20 Inches in Some Communities.
• NOAA: Winter 2014 'Coldest for Century'; Britain Faces Arctic Freeze 

"The High Price of Cheap Oil"

The price of oil has cratered, and the cost to fill-up on gas has tanked as well. That's a good thing--right? Wrong--according to Bloomberg News, who's headline on Monday read:

      "Oil Shock Streaks Across Globe From Moscow to Tehran to Caracas.Ready for $40?"

Students of bible prophecy will recognize the significance right away. Moscow and Tehran are prophesied to form a military alliance and attack Israel. (see Ezekiel 38).

While Tehran makes no secret of its desire to annihilate the Jewish State, up until recently no one understood what would motivate Moscow to attack. Then in 2009, Israel discovered oil and is now in the process of becoming an energy superpower.

"Oil and gas provide 68% of Russia's exports and 50% of its federal budget. Russia has already lost almost $90 billion of its currency reserves this year, equal to 4.5 % of its economy, as it tried to prevent the ruble from tumbling after Western countries imposed sanctions to punish Russian meddling in Ukraine," reports Bloomberg News. "The ruble is down 35%* against the dollar since June. (* the ruble dropped another 5% on Wednesday).

Financial analyst, Allan von Mehren adds, "A big decline in the oil price in 1997-98 was one factor causing pressure that eventually led to Russian default in August, 1998."

Russia, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), needs $101 a barrel oil to break even, and has based its 2015 budget on the assumption oil prices would continue to top $100. Tuesday a barrel of oil dipped below $70.

Moscow blames the West. "Russia's partners should remember risks involved in disputes between nuclear powers. We hope that our partners will realize the futility of attempts to blackmail Russia and remember the consequences discord between major nuclear powers could bring for strategic stability," Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a not-so-subtle threat.

A crash in oil prices will create economic and political instability across the globe:

• Venezuela, in panic mode, has called for an emergency OPEC strategy to halt the falling prices
• Iran's weakened economy has also been hard hit, and could collapse if prices don't recover soon
• And if you think the US is immune, think again. A prolonged decline in oil prices could cripple our economy too

All things considered, the high price of cheap oil is something none of us can afford.

A wise man once said: " A century ago, petroleum--what we call 'oil'--was just an obscure commodity; today it is almost as vital to human existence as water." -- James Buchan, British novelist

" I will turn you and drive you toward the mountains of Israel, bringing you from the distant north. I will knock your weapons from your hands and leave you helpless...That day of judgment will come, says the Sovereign Lord. Everything will happen just as I have declared it." --Ez. 39: 2, 3 & 8

News:

• Fiscal Times: Russian Leader Accuses Central Bank of Economic Sabotage Due to Its Gloomy Appraisal of Russian Economy
• Behold Israel News: Massive oil spill in Israel's Negev Desert "Worst Environmental Accident in Israel's History" 
• Jerusalem Post: UN General Assembly passes Arab-backed resolution pressing Israel to renounce possession of nuclear weapons and facilities

"Israel Warns of Pre-emptive Strike?"

The Iranian Nuke Deal collapsed on Monday, so world leaders gave the regime another 7 months to run out the clock.

Meanwhile, our old pal Khomeini vowed (yet again) to wipe Israel off the map.Israel, not one to take threats lying down, is hinting at a pre-emptive strike. For instance, The Jerusalem Post ran a provocative headline in Tuesday's edition:

"Cornered, but unbound by nuclear pact, Israel reconsiders military action against Iran."

 And then Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an interview on ABC's This Week:

"Israel will always reserve the right to defend itself against any threat with its own power."

And in regards to the failed nuclear agreement? Netanyahu said that "no nuclear deal with Iran is preferable to a bad deal that will endanger Israel, the Middle East and the entire world." Link to Reuters News article.

Beginning with the restoration of the nation of Israel in 1948 (prophesied in Ez. 37:21), a chain of events has been set in motion in the Middle East. Since that time, with little or no fanfare, the world has been quietly lining-up to fulfill the rest of Bible prophecy through:

• technological advances
• the Arab Spring/ Middle East power re-alignment
• a weakening US
• resuscitation of  Russia / Cold War
• increased global anti-Semitism
• renewed fervor to build a 3rd Jewish temple on the Temple Mount (which the Bible clearly indicates will be standing during the Tribulation period: 2nd Thess. 2:1-17, Matt. 24:15, Dan. 9:27, Rev. 11:1-2).

The Bible makes it clear that Iran will join forces with Russia and attack Israel (Ez. 38 & 39). Keep in mind that up until recently, a military alliance between Iran and Russia seemed impossible because they've been enemies for 2,500 years. 

What the Bible doesn't say is what triggers the attack. 

Could the threat of a pre-emptive strike by Israel on Iran boomerang?

"A long time from now you will be called into action. In the distant future you will swoop down on the land of Israel, which will be lying in peace after her recovery from war and after the return of her people from many lands. You and all your allies--a vast and awesome horde--will roll down on them like a storm and cover the land like a cloud" --Ez. 38:8-9.

A wise man once said: "There are few countries which have played so central a role in world history as the Land of Israel" -- David Ben Gurion, the first Prime Minister of the Jewish State

News:

• Reuters: Russia's "militarization" of Crimea means Moscow exerts influence over entire Black Sea region says USAF general
• Bloomberg News: Jobless claims in US increase; sign labor market has cooled.
• The Washington Post: Millions of illegal aliens now eligible for Social Security / Medicare

"Does the Bible Predict the Future?"

Move over George Orwell and make room for the new kid on the block--Emilott Lantz.

Who's Emilott Lantz, you ask? A 25-year old woman (read guinea pig) from northern Sweden who was among the first of her peers to have a microchip inserted into her right hand.

Lantz attended a futuristic conference in Stockholm last week where "participants were offered to get a microchip fitted for free--an opportunity Lantz jumped at," according to "The Local", Sweden's News in English.

"I don't feel as though this is the future--this is the present. To me, it's weird that we haven't seen this sooner," Lantz said.

A growing trend in Sweden, micro chipping humans is not without controversy.

"The technology isn't new, but the subject becomes sensitive just because it's in the human body," says Lantz. "I'm not surprised that people think it's a big deal--it's not that common yet, but I think it will be. We're already modifying our bodies. Why should this be different?"

As tiny as a grain of rice, implantable RFID microchips are capable of holding all our personal data without the fear it can be lost or stolen, not to mention the convenience of having this info at our fingertips:

• medical / health / allergy records
• financial / banking / credit / debit capabilities
• keyless entry for our cars, homes, office

And to top it off? They can track you. No more lost / stolen children or wandering elderly.

Never happen, you say? People value their privacy too much too ever accept an implantable data system equipped with GPS?

Well, if you own a cellphone, you're carrying an RFID chip that can track your every move right now. How long before the inconvenience of not  being chipped "forces" us to consider it?

Face it, people. The future (as predicted in the Bible) is almost upon us.

"He required everyone--great and small, rich and poor, slave and free--to be given a mark on the right hand or on the forehead. And no one could buy or sell anything without that mark, which was either the name of the beast or the number representing his name. Wisdom is needed to understand this. Let the one who has understanding solve the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. His number is '666'." -- Revelation 13:16-18

A wise man once said: "It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity."  --Albert Einstein

News:

• The Washington Post: Cellphone tracking device goes vertical, estimates a user's altitude within a few feet.
• NBC News: Pilots report drones flying near JFK flight path sparking fears of reckless endangerment.
• CBC News: Crime-fighting robots go on patrol in Silicon Valley using similar technology as the self-driving Google car.

"Is Russia Planning a Sneak Attack?"

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has something new to worry about--Russian hackers.

That's right, folks. It seems the Russians are the most likely suspects behind a destructive "Trojan horse" malware program recently discovered in critical US software and is poised to cause an economic catastrophe," says DHS. 

Forget economics. This bug means the Russians now have the power to bring down our:

• electrical power grid
• nuclear power plants
• water distribution / filtration systems
• oil / gas pipelines

Bring down any one of these and the US is in a heap of trouble.

National Security sources told ABC News "there is evidence that the malware was inserted by hackers believed to be sponsored by the Russian government, and is a very serious threat."

Ya think?

DHS sources told ABC News "they think this is no random attack and they fear that the Russians have torn a page from the old, Cold War playbook, and have placed the malware in key US systems as a threat      and / or as a deterrent to a US cyber-attack on Russian systems--mutually-assured destruction."  Link to ABC News: Trojan Horse Bug

Wait a minute. This Cold War strategy of "mutually-assured destruction "only works if it's mutual.

 

Better start praying we've got a "Trojan horse" of our own in this race. If we don't, the only "assured destruction" will be our own.

"And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don't panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won't follow immediately."  Matthew 24:6 NLT

A wise man once said: "The Cold War isn't thawing; it is burning with a deadly heat. Communism isn't sleeping; it is always plotting, scheming, working, fighting."  -- US President Richard M. Nixon

News

• Canadian News: NATO Chief accuses Russia of sending fresh troops and tanks into Eastern Ukraine. Moscow denies the allegation.
• Fox News Channel: Russian flexes military muscle amid tension with the West sending long-range strategic nuclear-armed bombers near North American waters.
• The Washington Free Beacon: Iran publishes 9-step plan to "eliminate Israel" along with illustrations.

"Warren Pollock: 'Things are about to come unglued!'"

Trends analyst Warren Pollock paints such a grim picture for our future, the temptation to blow him off is natural.

The problem? He's got an impressive track record: predicting the 2008 Market crash and the money printing (QE) that followed.

A former Wall Street CEO, Pollock's a multi-faceted analyst specializing in:

• finance
• geo-politics
• earth changes
• major world trends

Now he's predicting things will become "surreal" around the end of 2015 and warning against the human tendency to rationalize and ignore the warning signs:

"Imagine you are standing in Pompeii just before this volcano is about to explode. All the people around you are saying this volcano is not going to be a problem for us. That's rationalization and dissonance. That's what's happening right now. That's why people are still talking about the economy, even though the bomb of the economy has gone off."

 Pollock believes, in essence, the books are hopelessly cooked in terms of the global economy and the government is doing everything possible to stop things from coming "unglued:"

"They are doing this on a day-to-day basis, and the moment they stop...things will become unhinged or unglued. I can assure you, the next President of the United States, whether Republican or Democrat, will be known as a great failure. He or she will be held responsible for the total decline of the United States."

"So, people right now are in Pompeii, the volcano is about to explode...as far as humankind is concerned, I think we are at the end of an age in a long cycle..."

Let's face it gang.

Pollock, as a secular worldwide trends analyst, is unknowingly agreeing with the biblical end-time scenario. At least in part. This video on USA Watchdog.com has many more details.

The Bible lays out the entire plan:

"The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants--things which must shortly take place." --Revelation 1:1

A wise man once said: "The phrase 'must shortly take place' is an allusion to Daniel 2:28, 29, 45, since shortly seems to indicate that the things that must come to pass in the last days will take place in quick succession. John is the human writer of Revelation, whereas Jesus is the divine Author." -- Barry J. Beitzel, PhD.

"These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold--and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold. So if your faith remains strong after being tried by fiery trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world."  1 Peter 1:7 NLT

Not sure where you stand regarding faith? Click here!

News:

• Bloomberg: Fed Concerned With Repeat of Post-Depression Blunder As Unprecedented Economic Stimulus (QE) Ends
• ABC News: 'Trojan Horse' Bug Lurking in Vital US Computers; Poised to Cause Economic Catastrophe, According to DHS. Russia Suspected
• Reuters': Organization for Economic Cooperation & Development (OECD) Sees Gradual US-led Recovery Despite Euro Zone Weakness.

"California To Churches: 'Fund Abortions or Else!'"

Pastor Jack Hibbs of Calvary Chapel Chino Hills, CA, in an appearance on ""Fox & Friends" says he's been given what amounts to an ultimatum:

"Fund abortions or else."

It seems California insurance companies have caved under pressure and made abortion "a basic health care need", effectively forcing churches to pay for them.

You read that right, people. As of August 22, 2014: California's Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) has mandated "that all insurance plans include elective abortion coverage."

Is this legal? "Nope, it's a bureaucratic sneak attack on religious liberty," says Casey Mattox, Senior Counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom. "And we're encouraging churches to fight back."

As far as Pastor Jack Hibbs is concerned, "Our obedience to the Bible trumps the law. We're being asked to violate our religious beliefs and we're not going to do it."

Meanwhile, pastors in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho have been told by their city government that they must marry same-sex couples.

The punishment for non-compliance? 180 days in jail and up to $1000 in fines per day.

"Similar laws have applied to florists, bakeries, and photographers that have refused to work on same-sex weddings in other states," City Attorney Warren Wilson said.

And have you heard about Houston Mayor Annise Parker, the city's first openly gay mayor?

She "issued a broad subpoena demanding that local pastors hand over copies of their sermons and communications related to the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance," says The Daily Signal.

Senator Ted Cruz, (R-TX) called the subpoena "an assault against religious liberty," while former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee is asking "every pastor in America" to send their sermons to Ms. Parker.

"I hope she gets thousands and thousands of sermons and Bibles," said. Huckabee.

And although Parker walked her demands back a little (very little), she did indeed get thousands of Bibles sent to her from outraged Christians concerned with losing religious freedoms.

A wise man once said: "Something outrageous and unprecedented has happened in America. And if the American church doesn't respond--then there really is no American church."-- Pastor Jack Hibbs, Senior Pastor, Calvary Chapel Chino Hills

"In fact, all those who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." -- 2Timothy 3:12

News:

• Fox News Channel: NY Man Beheads Mother, Kicks Her Head Down The Street, Kills Himself
• MSN Money: Alan Greenspan, Former Fed Chair, says to buy gold, a "currency beyond government policies"
• CBS News: US-Israeli relations reach "new low" after Obama Administration resorts to crude name-calling.

"Occult Explosion Going Mainstream"

Jeff Harshbarger, author of Dancing With The Devil and former satanist, claims "the pervasive influence of the occult" is everywhere.

"You may think occultists live on the margins of society, but you likely know someone who is dabbling in spiritualism, the New Age, or Eastern mysticism.

The occult, once an underground 'religion' is in the process of going mainstream.

The target? Our children.

In fact, many of us have children or grandchildren with a skeleton in their closet even now. Literally.

Ever hear of 'Monster High'? You know, that fashionable little ghoul the children are wearing. The ones sporting all the cute lil skulls.

Along with the 'Monster High' clothing line, the franchise also markets a fascination with the dark side through:

• TV specials (in which all the characters look like zombies)
• a web series
• DVD movies & video games
• fashion dolls (complete with fangs!)
• and a book series (depicting the offspring of famous monsters)

All  designed to convince our little ones that "Freaky just got fabulous!"

Not to be outdone, rival toy company 'MGA Entertainment' released a witch-themed line of dolls known as 'Bratzilla', while 'Playhut' brand toys countered with the 'Mystixx Vampire' dolls.

And it's not just the little tykes who are being seduced. Google teen 'vampire fiction' and you'll get 13.8 million results. Do the same for 'occult-themed TV shows' and 53.4 million hits pop up. And when it comes to movies...forget it.

Innocent fun? Or an early indoctrination into spiritualism and the occult?

The Bible predicts people will turn away from Christianity and become interested in the occult in the end times.

"The Spirit clearly says that in the last times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons." (1 Timothy 4:1)

This Halloween let's not be tricked. Our adversary, the devil, is looking for a little treat to devour.

A wise man once said: "Kids are smart, but they're not wise. Parents need to get involved and steer them in the right direction." -- Dennis Miller, host of the Dennis Miller radio show

"And do not let your people practice fortunetelling or sorcery, or allow them to interpret omens, or engage in witchcraft, or cast spells, or function as mediums or psychics, or call forth the spirits of the dead. Anyone who does these things is an object of horror and disgust to the LORD." (Deuteronomy 18:10-12)

News:

• CBN News: Canadian Parliament Shooter a New Convert to Islam tells other operatives to strike whenever the opportunity presents itself; NY Congressman: "Nobody should feel safe."
• Politico: FBI warns media: Journalists 'desireable targets' for ISIL.
• MSN Money: Sears to close stores, layoff about 5,500 employees
• NY Times: NYC doctor test positive for Ebola after returning from West Africa

 

"Is The Mystery of the Shemitah for Real?"

Controversial author Jonathan Cahn  (The Harbinger) is jockeying with none other than Oprah Winfrey for the #1 spot on the New York Times Bestsellers list for religious titles.

His new offering? The Mystery of the Shemitah.

According to Cahn, a messianic rabbi, judgment or blessing comes to a nation in a 7-year cycle that correlates with the Hebrew calendar.

If a nation obeys God--fine and dandy--blessings follow, but for the nation that turns its back on God, ever intensifying judgment.

In a WND interview Cahn says:

"In The Mystery of the Shemitah, I show how the Shemitah has caused financial and economic collapse throughout modern times. And the phenomenon has been intensifying--with the last two Shemitahs manifesting the phenomenon with uncanny precision."

When were the last two Shemitah years?

• 2000-2001: 9/11 followed by the greatest Stock Market collapse in history to that date.
• 2007-2008: the beginning of the financial meltdown and the Great Recession.

Apparently, this 7-year cycle (also known as the Sabbatical Year) can be traced back through history.

Cahn believes God often sends a series of warnings meant to get our attention and give us an opportunity to repent before the ultimate judgment comes.

So when is the next Shemitah year? It began with a bang on September 25th with a 260+ point decline in the Stock Market and wild swings ever since. It ends on September 13, 2015.

Cahn says we can expect more 'market mayhem' over the next 12 months.

But wait...there's more...

The troubles brought on by the Shemitah are not limited to the financial realm. September 25th also saw the first case of Ebola diagnosed on American soil.

Coincidence or ominous foreshadow of what we can expect throughout this current Shemitah year?

While intrigued, we don't advise jumping on the Shemitah bandwagon just yet. The jury is still out and even Cahn himself makes no claim to knowing the future.

Whether the mystery of the Shemitah is for real or not, current world trends should definitely get our attention. With massive debt, radical Islam and rampant sin hanging over our heads, genuine, sincere repentance seems like an excellent idea.

Shemitah's First 2 Weeks...

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1John 1:9I

A wise man once said: "Those who claim to be saved but continually disobey God are only fooling themselves." --David Stoop, Christian author

News:

• Associated Press: World Health Organization predicts 10,000 new Ebola cases per week in West Africa while Liberia orders 79,940 body bags.
• CNN: Top general worries Ebola will go airborne; General Martin E. Dempsey, current Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, says military should be prepared.
• FNC: ISIS poised to take Baghdad.

"Is ISIS Mobilizing to Hit NYC?"

Guess who's being excluded from the scrutiny of Homeland Security?

The very ones you'd expect to be scrutinized the most--Islamic Mosques!

That's right, people. While the rest of us are having our phone calls monitored and our emails hacked, mosques are being favored with a hands-off policy.

Call us crazy, but we think this is taking political correctness a bridge too far.

According to Investors.com : "This is particularly disturbing in light of recent independent surveys of American mosques, which reveal some 80% of them preach violent jihad or distribute violent literature to worshippers."

And that ain't all folks.

The Washington Times reports: "An Islamic State terrorist bluntly told a VICE News journalist that his group is going to strike New York City any day now and that his radicalized 'brothers' are mobilizing at this very moment."

Meanwhile, the Islamic State (ISIS) is bragging all over social media that our days are numbered.

A recent tweet featuring a photo of an ISIS flag in front of the White House boasted: "We are in your state. We are in your cities. We are in your streets."

Maybe it's time we believed them and stop acting like a TSA officer who skips the Imam and instead frisks the old lady at the airport.

Maybe it's time Homeland Security wakes up to the fact that though most Muslims are not terrorists, most terrorists are Muslims.

A wise man once said: "I fear the day that technology will surpass our human interaction. The world will have a generation of idiots." --Albert Einstein

"Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody." (Romans 12:17)

News:

• JD News.com: Marine Corps holds pandemic outbreak drill; largest of its kind.
• Fox News Channel: US State Department orders 160,000 Hazmat suits
• Reuters: Dow drops over 300 points on global economy fears.

"Is the CDC Lying About Ebola?"

It's official. A video showing a doctor wearing a hazmat suit claiming the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) is lying about Ebola has gone viral.

His message?

• The CDC is vastly understating the threat posed by Ebola
• Ebola is much more contagious than the CDC admits
• US is woefully under-prepared to combat what is surely coming

Dr. Gil Mobley, a microbiologist and emergency trauma physician from Springfield, MO, warns the CDC is "sugar-coating" the risk of the virus spreading in the United States.

"If they're not lying, they are grossly incompetent," say Mobley, "and asleep at the wheel."

"Yesterday, I came through international customs at the Atlanta Airport," he said. "The only question they asked arriving passengers is if they had tobacco or alcohol."

Doctor of Internal Medicine, Jorge Rodriguez (featured on FNC's Neil Cavuto) fears Ebola patients may be contagious before symptoms develop.

"As far as I know," the doctor says, "no one is checking for symptoms at the airport."

"Using the term symptoms is subjective. Who's definition are we using?"

He believes it's possible an Ebola patient may be "feeling lousy" long before blatant symptoms appear. Are they contagious then?

UN Ebola Response Chief, Anthony Banbury, has concerns the virus could become airborne. "The longer it (Ebolavirus) moves around in human hosts in the virulent melting pot that is West Africa, the more chances increase that it could mutate. It is a nightmare scenario, and unlikely, but it can't be ruled out."

"In a career working in these kind of situations, wars, natural disasters, I have never seen anything as serious or dangerous or high risk as this one."

A wise man once said: "A higher rate of urgency does not imply ever-present panic, anxiety or fear. It means a state in which complacency is virtually absent." -- John P. Kotter, Professor of Leadership

"The LORD is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7).

News:

• CBC.com: CDC issues Ebola guidelines for US funeral homes; 3 page list includes avoidance of embalming.
• Fox New Channel: Liberia plans to prosecute man who brought Ebola into US for allegedly lying on airport questionnaire about contact with infection; his family is quarantined in Texas under armed guard.
• The Washington Times: Russia has more deployed nuclear warheads than US for first time ever.

"Does the Bible Predict End Time Beheading of Christians?"

We've all heard the reports coming out of Iraq: Islamic terrorist group ISIS, engaged in the wholesale slaughter of Christians, are also beheading the children of Christians.

Hard to believe? Yes. So hard, in fact, that some have chocked it up to urban legend.

Yet the evidence is mounting as gruesome pictures and videos surface.

Horrific? Yes. Unexpected? No.

In the Book of Revelation, the Apostle John was instructed to write down the things that must come to pass in the Last Days.

After 19 chapters detailing end time events, John writes: " Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony about Jesus and for proclaiming the word of God" (Revelation 20:4).

Beheaded. And while the martyrs of Revelation take place during the Great Tribulation period, current events lend credence to the literal interpretation of Scripture.

The Bible warns us to expect increasing persecution as the Day draws near. The Middle East is already brimming over with it.

"A Christian holocaust is in our midst," says Mark Arabo, a Chaldean-American spokesperson trying to raise awareness of Christian persecution. "A Christian genocide is being conducted by ISIS", and they "are absolutely killing every Christian they see. "ISIS Beheading Children" report. (No graphic images)

Let's not assume the West will be exempt.

"Remember the word I said to you...If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you...because they do not know Him who sent Me" (John 15:21).

A wise man once said: "As I read the news, I can't help but wonder if we're in the last hours."  --Franklin Graham, Samaritan's Purse

"Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because of your allegiance to Me" (Matthew 24:9).

News:

• MSN: ISIS militants advance despite Syria air strikes. The US pounded the region Wednesday.
• CNN: Pentagon says new air strikes target refineries used by ISIS in Syria in attempt to cut off money supply.
• Europe News: Russian air incursion rattle Baltic states which fears it is next after Ukraine on Moscow's agenda.

"Prophecy Signs Converging?"

According to Martin Armstrong, a secular economics expert, international unrest is the worst it has been in 300 years. Martin Armstrong on USAWatchdog.com

"This is not just Ukraine, Russia and the US. You have the Middle East going crazy. Gaza is starting up again with Israel. You go over to Asia and you have civil unrest in Thailand, and the overwhelming part of the population in China wants to go to war with Japan as payback."

Armstrong believes the global unrest is a byproduct of the global economic downturn. "Both of these cycles are converging at the same time," he says.

Eric Barger of  Take A Stand! Ministries also sees a convergence taking place. "A convergence of multiple prophetic signs."   Barger in a message @ CCOD lists 10 reasons why Jesus is coming soon:

1. Widespread deception (spiritual, political, business, etc. Matthew 24:4) and apostasy in the church with false teachers (1Thess. 2:3-4, 1Tim. 4:1-2)
2. Worldwide unrest (Luke 21:10)
3. Changing weather patterns (Luke 21:25-26)
4. Persecution of Christians, with an estimated 146,000 martyred this year alone (and that's before ISIS!) (Mark 13:9)
5. Advancing evil (abortion, homosexuality, and unbridled lust which has become "normal" in our society (2Tim. 3:1-9)
6. Lawlessness (2Thess. 2:7)
7. Signs and lying wonders (with an explosion of the occult becoming mainstream (2Thess. 2:9)
8. Increase in knowledge (especially in regards to understanding of Bible prophecy (Daniel 12)
9. Apathy--people and most of the church are willfully ignorant when it comes to Bible prophecy. Don't know, don't care. (Matthew 24:38)
10. Increase in scoffers (2 Peter 3:3-8) Those who mock the coming of Christ.

The sheer volume of all these events happening all at once in the generation that witnessed the rebirth of Israel in 1948 (which in itself is a super-sign) is a warning that we need to be ready.

"For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with self-control, right conduct, and devotion to God, while we look forward to that wonderful event when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. He gave His life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us His very own people, totally committed to doing what is right" (Titus 2:11-14).

A wise man once said: "The proper response to God's grace is right conduct." -- Steve Arterburn, author

News:

• Reuters: US pledges 3,000 troops to fight West Africa's Ebola crisis; health experts say 'not enough to contain epidemic.'
• FNC: US Congress approves arming Syrian rebels to battle ISIS; despite rebel group's pledge of allegiance to al-Qaeda.
• USA Today: 13 years after 9/11, terror threat undiminished. ISIS now as big a threat as al-Qaeda ever was

"Mystery Virus Plagues Thousands"

According to The Washington Times, "The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is unprepared to protect its own workforce should a major infectious disease hit US shores."

If alarm bells aren't clanging in your head--you're not paying attention.

Imagine, if you will...hundreds, no thousands of undocumented (and unvaccinated!) children pouring over US borders and into American classrooms.

Far-fetched, you say? Not at all. That is precisely what is happening all over the country as we struggle to assimilate nearly 100K South American children.

If DHS officials haven't even planned adequately to provide "antiviral drugs to maintain critical operations during a pandemic" for themselves, what do you suppose the odds are they've planned for us?

And if you think our children will be protected, think again.

Undocumented kids from who-knows-where have overwhelmed our southern border all summer. This fall they have flooded our schools, bringing significant health concerns with them.

Medical experts warn if unvaccinated students are allowed into our schools, "how long before a century of medical advances are erased?"

Colorado admitted over 900 children into intensive care units last week, all believed to be infected with a rare respiratory virus call Enterovirus 68. Symptoms include: mouth blisters, fever, flu-like cough, chills.
At least 12 other states are reporting similar spikes.

Rare Respiratory Illness Sends Hundreds of Children to Hospital

Legal immigrants are required to have medical screening to ensure they don't have anything contagious before entering the US.

Illegal immigrants are not.

A wise man once said: "One of the critical issues that we have to confront is illegal immigration. This multi-headed Hydra* affects our economy, our health care, our education systems, our national security, and also our local criminality." -- Allen West  former US Congressman from Florida
     *mythical many-headed, serpent-like monster

"A prudent person foresees the danger ahead and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences." --  Proverbs 37:12

News:

• boston.com: Lynn, Massachusetts tests 830 patients for TB to determine if they were exposed to tuberculosis.
• CNN: Epidemic of Enterovirus hospitalizations might be "just the tip of iceberg," says CDC. "We don't have all the answers yet."
• The Telegraph: "Ebola is terrifying--and proves how unprepared we are for epidemics," says expert in tropical medicine, Dr. Alexander van Tulleken. "Death toll a warning."

"Amazing Jubilee Prophecy: Is It True?"

Prophecy buffs--revvvv your engines! There's a new (well, not that new) end time date being set--and this one may actually have a track record.

It all began back in 1217 when the Jewish Rabbi Judah ben Samuel was given what is known as the "10 Jubilee Prophecy"

The Rabbi claimed there would be 10 Jubilees before the Messianic end time would begin.

The starting point? When the Ottoman Turks began to rule over Jerusalem, which would last for 8 Jubilees (400 years).

A Jubilee is a 49-year period ending in the 50th year which is a Year of Jubilee (Leviticus 25:8-13).

Three hundred years after the Rabbi's death, the Ottoman Turks seized control over Jerusalem for--you guessed it--8 Jubilees, or 400 years! That happened in 1517, a Jubilee year.

The Turks eventually lost control of the city when the Allied forces, under the command of General George Allenby, drove them out on Hanukkah.

Guess what year? 1917. Exactly 400 years or 8 Jubilees later.

Next the Rabbi prophesied that during the 9th Jubilee (or the next 50 years) Jerusalem would be a "no-man's land" until the next Jubilee 50 years later when it would go back to the Jews.

It happened just as he said.

From 1917-1967, the Holy City literally belonged to no one. It was placed under British Mandate in 1917 by the League of Nations.

By 1948, the Jews were back in the land, but Jerusalem was divided by a strip of land running right through the heart of the city. Jordan controlled the eastern part and Israel controlled the western part of the city.

The strip in the middle? It was dubbed "No Man's Land" by both the Israelis and Jordanians.

In 1967 during the Six Day War, Israel regained possession of the entire city. Once again exactly as prophesied by Rabbi ben Samuel 750 years earlier.

But the Rabbi wasn't done.

He also said that Jerusalem would remain under Jewish control for the 10th Jubilee (a period of 50 years) and the "Messianic end time" would begin.

1967 + 50 = 2017

So, is this true? When it comes to extra-biblical prophecy always  proceed with caution. While this prophecy may seem to be well-documented (just Google it) and is interesting, that doesn't necessarily mean it's from God or that we should expect anything to happen in 2017. Any extra-biblical prophecy should be viewed with skepticism and weighed against Scripture.

In other words: We report, you decide.

"And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit." 2 Peter 1:19-21



A Jewish Rabbi once said: "When the Ottomans conquer Jerusalem they will rule over Jerusalem for 8 Jubilees. Afterwards Jerusalem will be a no-man's land for one Jubilee, and then in the ninth Jubilee it will once again come back into the possession of the Jewish nation which would signify the beginning of the Messianic end time." -- Rabbi Judah ben Samuel

News:

• CBS News: CDC Director: Ebola Outbreak 'Is spiraling out of control' and it's going to get worse. 'Window closing to tamp it down'. WHO: 3,500 known infected.
• Washington Examiner: New ISIS threat: America's electric grid; "Inadequate grid security, porous border, fragile system make grid a target.
• Popular Science: Mysterious phony cell towers could be intercepting your calls; three found in California.

"Is ISIS in America?"

US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel has growing fears ISIS is determined to strike in America. He's calling it an "imminent threat."

And while the White House says there is no evidence of an active plot at this time, Hagel insists, ISIL (or ISIS) poses a threat greater than 9/11."

Hagel warns:

"ISIL is as sophisticated and well-funded as any group we have seen. They're beyond just a terrorist group. They marry ideology with a sophisticated strategic and tactical military prowess and they're tremendously well-funded. This is way beyond anything we have seen. We must prepare for everything and get ready."

According to Governor Rick Perry of Texas, ISIS terrorists may already be in the country. Gov. Perry contends the terrorists' own ambitions will drive them to attack the United States directly. His biggest concern? Our lack of border security.

"And", Perry said, "I think it is a very real possibility that they may have already used that entry point."

A report by the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that only 32 miles of the 4,000 mile border "had reached an acceptable level of security."

And, according to the report, the northern border poses an even higher risk to public safety than the US-Mexico border.

Canada, with its large population centers lining the border, now has more Islamist extremist groups than Mexico does.

And let's not forget Hamas' favorite trick into Israel: Tunnels.

"How Tunnels Along US/Mexican Border Are Built"

Senator Jeff Sessions (R. Ala.) calls plans to provide administrative amnesty to 5 million in the US illegally " a security nightmare." He fears the policy could make it easier for terrorists to carry out an attack on the US.

Senate Armed Services Committee Member, Jim Inhofe said, "Sunni militants are working on the capability to wipe out a city inside the United States. ISIS has long threatened to carry out a catastrophic attack on American soil, boasting that they would fly its flag over the White House."

The senator went on to say, "ISIS members are rapidly developing a method of blowing up a major US city and people just can't believe that's happening."

Maybe it's time we believe...

"This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed." Romans 13:11

A wise man once said: "Remain vigilant, always be prepared, and expect the unexpected. We are living in unparalleled times and the threat against Americans is the worst it's ever been." --Strategic intelligence analyst, Skip DeBusk

News:

• The Washington Post: ISIS militants storm Syrian airbase, seize cache of shoulder-to-air missiles similar to the one used to bring down jet airliner in Ukraine.
• Fox News Channel: al Qaeda magazine hints of looming attack; urges bombing of Las Vegas, Times Square and California; implies an attack is imminent.
• Crisis Relief International (CRI) urgent prayer request: "We lost the city of Queragosh, Iraq. It fell to ISIS and they are beheading children systematically. This is the city we have been smuggling food to. ISIS is within 10 minutes of where our CRI team is working." Please pray. 

"Bible Prophecy & The Militarization of Police"

Alarm bells have been going off for a while now warning against the militarization of US police.

This week the American public finally woke up and was outraged by the sight of armored vehicles rolling down the streets of Ferguson, Missouri, while swarms of camo-clad commando-like cops armed to the teeth followed.

The New York Times called Ferguson a "virtual war zone. The police response has shocked America. The escalating tension in this town of 21,000 people between a largely white police department and a majority African-American community is a central part of this crisis, but the militarization of the police is a dimension of the story that has national implications," the paper said.

And The New York Times is right.

The Pentagon is arming local law enforcement agencies with surplus military-grade weapons including:

• grenade launchers
• armored vehicles
• automatic rifles
• military-style helicopters
• bayonets and scabbards (bayonets?!?)

Over kill? Maybe. Maybe not. Depends on what side of the Molotov cocktail you're on (and what you see coming down the pike. Remember, the Bible predicts a time of coming chaos).

The real problem is, of course, human nature. Humans will always be tempted to abuse power. Give them overwhelming power and the temptation to abuse it will be overwhelming.

How Ferguson Made Conservatives Lose Faith in the Police

A wise women once said: "What I fear most is power with impunity. I fear abuse of power and the power to abuse." --Isabel Allende, Chilean journalist

"The city writhes in chaos; every home is locked to keep out looters. Mobs gather in the streets, crying out for wine. Joy has reached its lowest ebb. Gladness has been banished from the land. The city is left in ruins, with its gates battered down. Throughout the earth the story is the same..." (Isaiah 24:10-13 NLT)

News:

• Reuters: Islamic State threat "beyond anything we've seen"; poses a major threat to US says Pentagon.
• The Los Angeles Times: Study finds 63 trillion gallons of groundwater lost in CA drought; farmers warn of higher food costs.
• ABC News: National Guard ordered out of Ferguson 

"Bible Prophecy & Prophetic Labor Pains"

President Obama believes "we can look out on the horizon and feel optimistic because human trend lines are getting progressively better and better."

"We've substantially improved the global tranquility", claims his new press secretary.

Really? Former Secretary of State, under President Clinton, Madeline Albright says "the world is a mess" and current Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel agrees. "The world is exploding all over," he remarked Tuesday.

Current events seem to prove their point. Consider:

• Northern Iraq and Syria, overrun by ISIS, has seen the slaughter of thousands (including the beheading of children, crucifixion of Christians and the kidnapping/rape of women).
• ISIS has become such a threat to the entire Middle East, that the US military has been drawn back in.
• The Gaza conflict is isolating Israel more and more.
• Russia is amassing troops on the Ukraine border while "daring" the West to stop them.
• The risk of a global financial meltdown has many experts nervous. USA Watchdog.com
• The chaos at the US border has become a major security breach.
• The continuing Ebola outbreak has been declared an "international health emergency" by W.H.O.
• Crippling long-term drought in many parts of the world is threatening the food supply. Central American drought
• Other parts of the world, including the eastern US, are experiencing record-breaking floods.
• Suburban St. Louis has had 5 nights of civil unrest after police shoot an unarmed teen. Ferguson, MO militarized police
• And to top it off? There are giant sinkholes appearing all over the globe.  Giant Sinkholes

So can we look out on the horizon and feel optimistic? You betcha.

We are living in the prophetic times detailed throughout Scripture. And though we are not prophets, we can tell you with certainty: You ain't seen nothin' yet. The world is in labor like a woman about to give birth (Romans 8:22).

And because he knows his time is short (Revelation 12:17), Satan has drawn targets on the backs of Christians and Jews and things will not go well for us.

So how in the world can we remain optimistic?

That's just it, our hope is not "in the world."

"And the world with its seductions is passing away..." 1John 2:17

A wise man once said: "To be consumed with this life is to be unprepared for the next." --Len Woods, Th.M.

News:

• Reuters: Central America braces for drought-linked food crisis; widespread crop damage to blame.
• Fox News Channel: Five nights of riots and looting escalates in Ferguson, MO as police meet threat with military-like force. Highway Patrol vows a change in tactics will turn things around.
• Jerusalem Post: Dramatic surge in anti-Semitism during Gaza offensive: violence against Jews, Jewish institutions "metastasized" during military operations in Gaza.

"Expert:"US Hospitals Unprepared for Ebola""

Dr. Betsy McCaughey, Ph.D. is a health policy expert and author of more than 100 scholarly articles. In 2004 she founded the Committee to Reduce Infection Deaths from hospital-acquired infections and proposed health legislation that became the model used in many states today.

She believes US hospitals are unprepared to handle Ebola.

"Many hospitals are poorly prepared to contain any pathogen. That's why at least 75,000 people a year die from hospital infections. If hospitals can't stop common infections like MRSA, C.diff and VRE, they can't handle Ebola," Dr. McCaughey said.

With a death rate ranging from 60 to 90%, the Ebola outbreak has infected over 1700 people and killed close to 1000. And while most health officials claim Ebola poses virtually no risk to Americans, McCaughey begs to differ.

"For example; an estimated 14,000 patients die each year from Clostridium difficile (C.diff), a health care infection spread by diarrhea. Invisibly small fecal particles contaminate bed rails, curtains, nurses' uniforms and other surfaces, carrying the disease from one patient to another. The same could happen with Ebola if precautions are ignored."

McCaughey contends: "Whether Americans die of Ebola will depend largely on what hospitals do when the first victims unknowingly carrying the virus are admitted."

What about the CDC? They're telling us Ebola is nothing to worry about.

"In the last three months," Dr. McCaughey said, "three incidents of the CDC mishandling pathogens--anthrax, avian flu, and smallpox--have come to light. Why assume the agency's ready for Ebola?"

Good question.

/ebolas-spread-us-inevitable-says-cdc-chief-

"Nations and kingdoms will proclaim war against each other. There will be great earthquakes, and there will be famines and epidemics in many lands, and there will be terrifying things and great miraculous signs in the heavens." --Luke 21: 10 & 11, New Living Translation

A wise man once said: "To believe with certainly we must begin with doubting." - Stanislaus Lescynski, King of Poland (1705)

News:

• CBS Atlanta: CDC raises Ebola alert to the highest level: "The spread in West Africa shows how difficult this outbreak will be to control--but we can control it."
• Breitbart: Lawmakers called back to DC from recess to analyze threat of Ebola; "This is the biggest and most complex Ebola outbreak in history," said CDC Director.
• Wall Street Journal: Pres. Obama weighs airstrikes in Northern Iraq as Christians are slaughtered by ISIS.
• Voice of America: US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel warns Russia could be poised to invade Ukraine; cites Russia troops massed on border. Russia signs pact with Iran to help both countries evade sanctions. 

"Former Hamas Terrorist Gives Shocking Inside Scoop"

"Hamas is not seeking coexistence and compromise. Hamas is seeking conquest and taking over," explains Mosab Hassan Yousef, a Hamas-raised Christian convert.

"And by the way, the destruction of the State of Israel is not Hamas' final destination. Hamas' final destination is building the Islamic caliphate, which means an Islamic state under (sic) the rubble of every other civilization." He also said it doesn't matter how many Palestinians die to accomplish that goal.

Yousef is the son of a Hamas founding member who was raised in the organization but after reading the Bible rejects everything Hamas stands for.

Groomed for Hamas leadership, he authored the book, Son of Hamas that is dedicated to revealing the truth behind Hamas:

• how Hamas indoctrinates the Palestinian people
• why there can never be peace between Israel and Hamas
• how Hamas tortures its own people
• why there have been so many Palestinian casualties in the current conflict with Israel.

"Hamas," he says, "doesn't care about the lives of Palestinians; does not care about the lives of Israelis or Americans. They don't care about their own lives. They consider dying for the sake of their ideology a way of worship." CNN: Son of Hamas interview

Meanwhile, anti-Semitic attacks are skyrocketing amid the growing outrage of the international community over what some see as the indiscriminate bombing of Palestinian civilians.

Anti-Israel protest are springing up all over the world, despite the fact that Israel takes great pains to avoid civilian casualties:

• raining down leaflets from airplanes over Gaza warning people to evacuate the areas to be bombed
• calling ahead on telephones for the same purpose
• dropping unloaded missiles as a warning to clear the area ahead of a 'real' bombing See Israel's 'Knock on Roof' strategy

Israel has done everything possible to avoid civilian deaths, but the world doesn't seem to notice. Hamas hides its missiles among its population and encourages them to stay put and become martyrs. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu says it best:

"Here's the difference between us. We're using missile defense to protect our civilians, and they're using their civilians to protect their missiles.

Israel can't win. Even if they achieve their objective: to destroy terror tunnels under Israel, they will never win in the court of public opinion. The Bible clearly predicts that the nations of the world will turn against Israel in the last days, just as they turn against God.

Christian, stand with Israel, pray for the Palestinians and understand the times we are living in.

"I will make Jerusalem like an intoxicating drink that makes the nearby nations stagger when they send their armies to besiege Jerusalem and Judah...And all the nations of the earth will be gathered against it..." Zachariah 12: 2,3

"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May those who love you prosper." Psalm 122:6

"For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side."  Luke 19:43

A wise man once said: "In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." George Orwell

News:

• CBS News: Liberia warns of 'Global Pandemic'. Ebola outbreak is above the control of the national government. Two infected Americans expected to arrive in US this week.
• The Washington Post: Anti-Jewish slogans return to the streets in Germany as Mideast protests sweep Europe; meanwhile both sides agree to 72 hr. humanitarian cease-fire.
• The Telegraph: Islamic state jihadists issue video depicting the slaughter of hundreds by ISIS terror group as a warning to its enemies that they face a horrific death.
• Fox News Channel: Israeli ambassador warns of a 2-front war in Israel as Hamas asks West Bank Fatah government to join forces against Israel; Israel calls up 16,000 additional reservists. 

 

 

 

 

"Crippling Drought=God's Judgment?"

The latest news regarding the deepening drought situation is anything but good.

The western United States is experiencing what meteorologists are calling "the worst drought in recorded history."

"In fact, four of the driest rainy seasons have occurred in the last seven years," said climatologist Bill Patzert. "The drought started in 1999 and worsened over time. The last three years, however, have been the worst."

For instance, "extreme" and "exceptional" drought conditions now describe 80% of California.

And remember the El Nino everybody was hoping would bring relief? Patzert says, "El Nino is wimping out. And any hopes for an El Nino weather pattern this rainy season are quickly fading."

According to Water Resource Chair, Felicia Marcus, "Not everybody understands how bad this drought is...and how bad it could be. There are communities in danger of running out of water all over the state. This is the most serious drought we've faced in modern times."

For California this means, statewide mandatory water restrictions for the first time ever including:

• $500 fines per day for water hogs
• zero water allocation for Central Valley farmers
• major losses for cattle ranchers

But misery loves company and the US is not alone...

• Australia
• Africa
• South America
• India 
• Russia
• Japan 
• the Middle East
• and parts of Europe

...are all experiencing severe drought conditions that threaten to cause food shortages in some of the poorest nations on earth and soaring food prices across the developed world. And, as always, the trifecta of heat, wind, and drought = wild fires.

Climatologists call drought a "creeping disaster" because its effects slowly creep up on us. Environmentalists call it global warming.

What does our government's legal code call it?

An "Act of God".

This legal term is on the books because past generations understood that God is in control of nature--including droughts. Don't believe it? Check out Amos 4:7-8:

"I have withheld rain from you...I made it rain on one city, I withheld rain from another city...Yet you have not returned to me, says the LORD."

If you want to return to Him, click on the link:"How to Repent According to the Bible"

"The Spirit and the Bride say 'Come'...Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life." Revelation 22:17

A wise man once said: "Jesus is a never-ending supply of living water for a parched earth." --C.P. Hia, Our Daily Bread

PHOTOS:"5 of the World's Lakes at Risk of Drying Up Completely" 

News:

•  FNC: US State Dept.: Russian military escalates situation in Ukraine by firing on Ukraine targets; move constitutes a major escalation
• Reuters: Majority says Putin has advantage over Obama in situation in Ukraine.
• The Daily Caller: Iran Supreme Leader: The only solution for crisis is Israel's destruction; calls for armed confrontation to expand beyond Gaza.

"Tipping Point: World in Crisis"

The world situation has been slowly deteriorationg for some time now, but today it exploded. Literally.

First, a commercial Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 was shot from the sky by a Soviet-era SA-11 ground-to-air missile over Ukraine. All 295 on board perished, including possibly 23 Americans.

This is the third downed plane in that region in the last four days.

The Big Question? Who's responsible? Both sides blame the other.

Ukraine accused militant rebels fighting to unite eastern Ukraine with Russia. Russia flatly denies any involvement, despite recent threats from Russian President Vladimir Putin that any attempt to impose sanctions on Russia would "boomerang and cause very serious damage."

Russian rebels point the finger of blame at Ukraine forces, claiming the Ukraine military is responsible. Ukraine officials cry untrue, and so far it looks like they can be ruled out.

Though it's too early to know for sure, all of the evidence seems to zero in on Russia. If so, get ready for real trouble.

Meanwhile, Israel finally launched a ground invasion into Gaza after days of trying to avert one. The invasion comes hours after a Hamas assault squad of heavily-armed terrorists attempted to carry out a massacre of civilians inside the Israeli border.

Apparently fed up with showing restraint, Israeli PM Benyamin Netanyahu ordered the ground offensive. The stated goal? Eradicate infiltration tunnels Hamas was planning to use to sneak into Israel and cause havoc; and if they can seriously harm the infrastructure of Hamas and other terrorist organizations and stop the constant barrage of missiles aimed at Israeli civilians--all the better.

But that ain't all folks. The world has never before in history had so many crises brewing at once:

• Iraq is unraveling as terror group ISIS conquers one city after another.
• Iran's Supreme Leader has called for more enrichment capacity despite a July 20th deadline to cut a deal with world powers to prevent it from being able to produce a nuclear bomb.
• The Syrian civil war is still raging out of control with an estimated 170,000 dead and counting.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) is warning "the worst-ever outbreak of Ebola has expanded beyond Africa." With 600 dead and hundreds more infected, health ministers from 11 countries plan to gather for an emergency meeting.

And to top it off? The sun is acting weird. But that's another blog...

"...in the last days there will be very difficult times." 2Timothy 3:1

A wise man once said: "Don't let us make imaginary evils, when you know we have so many real ones to encounter." -- Oliver Goldsmith, Irish poet

News:

• Fox News Channel: Vice Pres. Joe Biden says Malaysian plane crash "no accident, blown out of the sky on purpose."
• MSN News: Israel orders ground offensive in Gaza; heavy shelling on border
• MSN Money: Ukraine, Middle East hammer stocks; Dow plummets 161 pts. 

"GMO Crops (or Frankenfoods): Something to Fear?"

There's a food fight going on regarding the pros and cons of eating GMOs (genetically modified organisms).

What's that, you ask?

Scientists add genes to corn, soy beans and other crops to protect the plant from insects (among other things) and claim the practice is perfectly safe.

In fact, without it, our food supply would be unstable and much more expensive, say the proponents.

But the contrarians are worried sick that GMOs pose a threat to our health, and claim a link to depression, allergies, infertility, and even the big C--cancer

No way, say the pros. GMOs have been in our food supply for 20 years now and no such link exists. And besides, farmers have been altering crops for centuries.

So, who's right? With 75% of consumers concerned about the safety of GMOs, and 91% preferring to avoid GMOs if given the choice (according to Dr. Oz), let's see if we can boil down the facts.

Food for thought:

• The cons cite a report that appeared last year in Food and Chemical Toxicology that rats developed tumors after eating GMOs for 2 years
• The pros immediately jumped on the study as 'slanted' and scientists agreed. The report was later retracted as untrue by the journal.
• Food science professor, Ruth MacDonald cites hundred of other studies that have found GMOs as safe as non-GMOs.
• State Senator David Zuckeman of Vermont claims, "As consumers, we are guinea pigs, because we really don't understand the ramifications.
• Not true say biologists. GMOs have been studied intensively and found benign.
• The cons say GMOs are too new for us to know if they are dangerous.
• Popular Science tells us genetically-engineered plants first appeared in labs about 30 years ago and became a commercial product in 1994. Since then, over 1,700 peer-reviewed studies vouch for their safety.
• Contrarians claims farmers can't re-plant GMO seeds.
• The facts? Farmers do sign agreements that prohibit re-planting in order to ensure annual sales, but large-scale commercial growers typically don't bother to save seeds anyway. "The quality deteriorates," says plant scientist Kent Bradford. "They get weeds and so on--and it's not a profitable practice."
• All research on GMOs has been funded by big-Ag, claim the cons.
• "Simply not true," says Popular Science. "Hundreds of independent researchers have published peer-reviewed safety studies. At least a dozen medical and scientific groups worldwide, including the World Health Organization and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, have stated that GMOs currently approved for market are safe."

The scientific consensus? GMOs are no more or no less risky that conventional crops.

Chew on that for a minute and then consider a compromise: labelling. Although that opens another whole can of worms and promises to bite us in the wallet, maybe it'll finally put an end to the food fight...but don't hold your breath. Something tells us that labelling won't cut the mustard either.

A wise man once said: "Facts are God's arguments; we should be careful never to misunderstand or pervert them." --Tryon Edwards, American theologian

"...the bread from heaven gives eternal life to everyone who eats it. I am the living bread that came down out of heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will lives forever..." (John 6:50-51).

News:

• The Times of Israel: IDF preps for ground strike, military source says. After massing soldiers on border, army said to be about to enter Gaza.
• CBS: Chip implanted under woman's skin could deliver birth control for up to 16 years.
• Weather Channel: Freak polar vortex arrives in mid-west in mid-July.

"Chemtrails: Are They Real?"

Chemtrails (not to be confused with contrails) are lighting up the internet with conspiracy theories.

Have you noticed those strange, long thin clouds crisscrossing the sky? Theories range from:

• a sinister experiment meant to de-populate the earth
• a normal product of jet planes known as contrails
• or an attempt by governments from around the world to slow global warming

If you chose Door #3, you get the cigar, at least according to Geo Engineering Watch.org, a website dedicated to educating us on the subject. Their definition?

"Chemtrailing is the public's term for the classified ongoing artificial modification of Earth's climate systems using reflective nano-materials (aerosols) to reflect sunlight. The aerosols are dispersed via jet aircraft trails that expand into reflective artificial clouds."

The stated goal? To block the sun.

Sounds fine and dandy until you get a load of the unintended consequences:

• historic droughts/snowstorms
• destruction of the ozone layer
• mass animal die-offs (honeybees, fish, birds, etc.)
• astronomical increases in autism and Alzheimer's disease

The Big Question? What, if anything, is going on in our skies?

Clearly, there is a plethora of information in regards to chemtrails on the internet. Page after (endless?) page, some more believable than others. Some so ridiculous the temptation is to chalk it all up to the lunatic fringe.

(For instance, one shared other revelations such as Arnold Schwarzenegger had been killed in an accident and cloned. The clone's growth had been scientifically accelerated to make him the same age as the original Arnold. Oh, and the destiny of this clone? You guessed it--the Antichrist).

But let's not be hasty to simply laugh it all off.

A published UK government report from a few years back suggests appointing a global body, such as the UN, to regulate geoengineering. The House of Commons report, entitled "The Regulation of Geoengineering, was compiled in collaboration with the US House of Representatives.

This, in our opinion, lends creditability and demonstrates that something is going on (like maybe those governments are busy playing God again.

"If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among the people, and if My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:13-14).

A wise man once said: "We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses."  Abraham Lincoln

News:

• AccuWeather.com: Holiday hurricane fear for N. Carolina
• Real Science: Antarctic sea ice hits second all-time record in a week. Director of National Snow & Ice Data Center attributes this  increase to global warming
• Breitbart: W. African nations in crisis talks as EBOLA outbreak spreads; 759 diagnosed with 467 dead. 

"Pope Warns Global Economy Near Collapse"

While the US was obsessing over the Washington Redskins dropping their "racist" name, Pope Francis was busy trying to wake up the sheeple.

"Our world economic system can't take it anymore," he told Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia. "We discard a whole generation to maintain an economic system that no longer endures."

"Inequality is the root of social evil," he recently tweeted and during a UN address he said, "Equitable economic progress will be made by the legitimate redistribution of economic benefits by the state."

Liberals are crazy about the guy and conservatives blast him as a socialist.

The real question? Is he right about the global economy? Is he correct in assuming that what goes up, must come down?

Financial expert James Rickards, author of the best-selling book, The Death of Money predicts "...the coming collapse of the the international monetary system."

"We are on the precipice now," says Rickards. "The mistakes have already been made. The instability is already in the system; we are just waiting for a catalyst. It's coming because the instability is already here."

Rickards explains, "It is the thing you won't see coming that will take the system down."

According to Rickards: "The international monetary system has collapsed three times in the past hundred years. Each collapse was followed by a period of tumult, war, civil unrest."

Pope Francis has challenged the world's business-elite to do more to help the poor and vulnerable. If James Rickards' predictions prove correct, they're going to be needing all the help they can get.

James Rickards on financial collapse...

A wise man once said: "One of the greatest disservices you can do to a man is to lend him money he can't pay back." --Jesse H. Jones, US Secretary of Commerce

"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.' That is why we can say with confidence, 'The LORD is my helper, so I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?'" (Hebrews 13:5-6)

News:

• Fox News Channel: US economy shrinks by 2.9% in first quarter; worst performance in 5 years.
• Yahoo! News: Obama seeks $500 million from Congress to help Syrian rebels.
• World Affairs Brief: Presbyterian Church votes to allow gay marriages. 

"'Common Core': Revolutionary Reform or Ominous Foreshadow?"

The school year of 2014-15 will see the full implementation of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in most school districts. If you have school-aged children or grandchildren, you better hang on to your hats.

According to Truth in Education:

"There will be a massive data tracking system on each child with over 400 points of information collected. This information can be shared among organizations and companies and parents don't have to be informed about what data is being collected. They will collect information such as: Your child's academic records, health care history, disciplinary record, family income range, family voting status, and religious affiliation, to name a few. Big Brother will be watching your child from pre-school till college (P-20 Longitudinal Data System). You, the parent, are UNABLE to opt your child out of this tracking system."

Got your attention?

(The above quote is a negative spin on the P-20 Longitudinal Data System (SLDS). For the positive spin, click on the link: P20 Longitudinal Data System

Common Core, a sweeping educational system touted by its proponents as a "revolutionary new way to teach our children" and "fundamentally flawed" by its opponents, will change this nation forever. For instance: The curriculum replaces the classics with government propaganda! (More on that in a future blog).

The Land of the Free and Home of the Brave is about to become alot less free.

With such comprehensive data systems, the government will soon have a file on everyone now in the school system (including teachers and those being home-schooled).

SLDS is a citizen tracking system, and a grant program that rewards states financially for participating. It's also called P-20, which means pre-school through age 20. In other words, they continue tracking into college and/or the workforce.

The government claims this data will be kept confidential except as permitted by federal/state law. What's that suppose to mean? Except if they decide not to?

While the ramifications of Common Core are epic, we chose to zero in on P-20 because we found it to be the most disturbing of its mandates.

Listen up Mom and Dad: It's time to do your homework. Revolutionary education reform may be needed, but Common Core isn't all it's cracked-up to be. P-20 and some of the other worrisome aspects of this system (stay tuned) seem like an ominous foreshadow of things to come.

A wise man once said:

"We are rapidly entering the age of no privacy, where everyone is open to surveillance at all times; where there are no secrets from government." -- William O. Douglas, Associate Justice of the US Supreme Court

"Here is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey His command, for this is the duty of every person. God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad" (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).

News:

• Fox News Channel: Phoenix VA paid out $10 million in bonuses over 3 years based on lies that cost veterans their lives
• Infowars: Iraq Crisis: US Embassy workers evacuated over growing Middle East crisis
• CNSnews.com: Gallop: Confidence in TV news at all-time low; only 18% have confidence in news medium 

 

 

"Pope Francis & Revelation 17"

What do Jews, Muslims, Mormons and Catholics all have in common?

Not much, unless of course you happen to be the new Pope. Then they are all one big happy family, with invites to the Vatican to pray.

During his recent visit to the Middle East, Pope Francis made an historic call for unity: He invited Israeli Jewish and Muslim leaders to join him at the Vatican, which they did on June 8th, Pentecost Sunday.

An impressive delegation of rabbis, Islamic imams and Catholic Cardinals, met with the Pontiff for an inter-religious gathering to pray for peace in the Middle East.

Not to rain on the Pope's parade, but is he oblivious to the Bible's predictions of a one-world religious system?

And is he unaware of the fact that most interpreters understand the seven mountains of Revelation 17 to be a reference to the seven hills along the Tiber River, a well-known designation of the city of Rome?

Last October Pope Francis went out of his way to call the Vatican system "a woman" and "a mother".

Is he completely out of the loop? Google Pope Francis and the false prophet to see what Revelation 17, which is famously connected in the minds of most biblically-literate people with the Vatican says:

"And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication. And upon her forehead a name (was) written , Mystery, Babylon the Great, The Mother of Harlots and of the Abominations of the Earth" (Revelation 17:4-5 emphasis added).

With the pedophile priest debacle still fresh in the public mind, the Vatican makes a popular target in regards to the above scripture.

Sometimes, it seems like Pope Francis is unwittingly (?) adding fuel to the fire.

A wise man once said:

"It is the bouden duty of every Christian to pray against Antichrist, and as to what Antichrist is no sane man ought to raise a question. If it be not the Popery of the Church of Rome there is nothing in the world that can be called by that name." -- Charles Haddon Spurgeon

News:

• FNC: Iraqi spirals into chaos, falling into the hands of al Qaeda-inspired militants; the government asks US for air strikes.
• The Washington Free Beacon: Russian bombers fly within 50 miles of California coast; US fighter jets intercept.
• Financial Times: IMF sounds global housing alarm; high risk of devastating housing crash

 

"Has Obama Gone Rogue?"

The President broke the law over the weekend, defied Congress and set a dangerous precedent: He negotiated with terrorists.

All on his own, he decided to swap 5 terrorists in Guantanamo Bay for Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, who has been held captive in Afghanistan by the Taliban for the last five years.

The problem? America does not do business with terrorists.

According to the Council on Foreign Relations,

"The argument against negotiating with terrorists is simple: Democracies must never give in to violence, and terrorists must never be rewarded for using it. Negotiations give legitimacy to terrorists and their methods undermine actors who have pursued political change through peaceful means. Talks can destabilize systems, undercut international efforts to outlaw terrorism, and set a dangerous precedent."

Oh, and the five terrorists our President decided to set free? High-level Taliban militants, who Senator John McCain (R-AZ) said were "possibly responsible for the deaths of thousands."

Not to mention there is a legal requirement to give Congress 30 days advance notice when prisoners are released from the detainee facility at Guantanamo Bay.

The Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Rep. Mike Rogers (R-MI) said,

"Some notion that this was so secret and so sensitive that that couldn't be done is just wrong."

And then there's the little matter regarding Sgt. Bergdahl's fellow soldiers. It seems many of them believe Bowe was captured by the Taliban while deserting his platoon and may have actually collaborated with the enemy.

Traitorous allegations have surfaced to muddy the waters even further and must be investigated despite the White House attempts to make him a hero.

One thing is clear: Obama has unilaterally decided to throw US policy of "never negotiating with terrorists" out the window. Politico calls his non-compliance with the law "going rogue." They think that is good. We think it's dangerous.

A wise man once said:

"America will never negotiate with terrorists." -- every US President in history (until now)

"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret."  (Ephesians 5:11-12)

News:

• Reuters: Bowe Bergdahl's small Idaho hometown cancels Welcome Home celebration; cites security concerns
• The Los Angeles Times: White House faces growing fury in Congress over Bowe Bergdahl deal; Democrat and Republican lawmakers outraged over lack of consultation
• Time Magazine: Asked whether Taliban would be inspired by the exchange (of Bergdahl) to kidnap others, a commander laughed, "Definitely."