"2018 & Future Trends"

While the rest of us were tracking the latest Trump tweets, Clif High of Half Past Human was busy mining internet data.

The reason? "Predictive Linguistics", of course, a system he uses to sort through internet data to predict the future.

In an interview with Greg Hunter of USA Watchdog.com, High claims good times are coming and we're heading for what he calls "The Soaring Twenties".

"There is a really interesting set of data that's been building for some time," Clif High explained, "and we have had this big flush of long-term data, which is why I decided to do this report that is going five years out."

High reports the coming years will see "a combination of an economic boon and a technological boom that are feeding off each other.

The spark? Trump's tax redo. "It's not a reform, it's a total redo. The money coming back is going to create a resurgence. A new kind of American is going to be rising out of this resurgence. We are going to be in a new great generation forming, not the millennials, but the ones that are behind them."

Sounds peachy, doesn't it? But before you get all verklempt, check this out:

David Stockman, former White House Budget Director under Reagan (also a USA Watchdog guest) predicts the exact opposite.

"I think it's (the Trump tax cuts) going to be a fiscal calamity of Biblical proportions.

Meanwhile, The New York Post wastes space on confusing psychic predictions.

Hmmmm...kind of proves our point. Want predictions of Biblical proportions? Try reading the Bible.

A wise man once said: "People recognize some thing's going to happen, and they'd better get ready." -- Tim LaHaye

"Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants the prophets." (Amos 3:7)

News:

• AP: Trump predicts GOP and Dems will agree on health care plan; "The very unfair and unpopular Individual Mandate has been terminated as part of our Tax Cut Bill, which essentially repeals (over time) Obamacare."
• Newsweek: Stephen Hawking predicts we only have 100 years left on earth. Climate change, asteroid strikes, epidemics and over population cited.
• Daily Reckoning Australia: "The U.S. To Attack N. Korea Before March" predicts financial guru James Rickards, claiming the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency told him.

"Aging Gracefully"

"Imagine, if you will, being able to know first hand what it feels like to be 20, 30 or even 40 years older than you are right now. Well, thanks to new technology--you can.

Genworth Financial, Inc. has developed an "age suit" that simulates old age.

The Genworth R70i Aging Experience uses state-of-the-art technology that allows people to experience the physical effects of aging, such as:

• vision and hearing impairments
• muscle loss
• mobility limitations
• speech and mental confusion

Talk about walking a mile in some one's shoes! Donning the R70i Age Suit = instant empathy.

The Genworth R70i Aging Experience--watch the Age Suit in action!

Geoffrey Fowler of The Wall Street Journal wore the suit and said, "The unforgettable, and at times distressing experience shed light not just on aging, but also on how virtual reality equipment can teach empathy and shape our perceptions on the world around us."

Amazing, isn't it? But even more amazing, a little over 2,000 years ago, God put on a "man suit". "Jesus, who is wholly God, also became wholly human," says Greg Laurie, pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship.

"It is extremely important to note that Jesus did not cease to be God when He came to earth," says Laurie. "He simply laid aside His divine privileges and walked the earth as a man.

"In doing so, He was personally able to experience the gamut of human emotions, ranging from happiness to deep sorrow. He felt what it was like to be tired, cold, and hungry.

"Moreover, He came to this earth with a clear objective in mind: to bridge the gap between a holy, perfect God, and unholy, imperfect man.

"The truth is, we all suffer from a terminal condition called sin, or falling short of God's perfection. Sin is not just an act but the actual nature of our being. In other words," contends Laurie, "we are not sinners because we sin. Rather, we sin because we are sinners!

"When the Israelites of the Old Testament sinned, they would have the high priest go into the Temple and offer an animal sacrifice to God to atone for their sins. In a symbolic sense, this was a way of putting one's sins on the animal, which stood in the place of the guilty person. The Bible teaches without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins (Hebrews 9:22).

"These sacrificial rituals were only a foreshadow, or symbol of what Jesus would do when He came to this earth. He took the sin of the world upon Himself, once and for all time when He suffered and died on the cross."

In other words, Jesus put on our sin-defiled "man suit" and died in our place.

A wise man once said: "To have your sins forgiven, you must admit you are a sinner, turn from your sins, believe that Jesus Christ died in your place and rose again from the dead" --Greg Laurie, pastor.

"The free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23).

Find out "How To Go Heaven"

News:

• Fox News Channel: New poll reveals: Fewer Americans believe Christmas is a religious holiday; 26% see December 25 as a "commercial holiday"
• Gallup News: Eight in 10 Americans afflicted by stress; just 17% say they rarely feel stressed
• The Wall Street Journal: Drug And Alcohol Deaths At U.S. Workplaces Soar; deaths jumped more than 30% in 2016, as the struggle with a deadly opioid epidemic migrates to the workplace. 

"Scientists Issue Ominous Prediction"

Is there a correlation between major earthquakes and the Earth's rotation?

Scientists say 'yes' and that spells trouble for 2018.

Detailing their findings in a recently published paper, Roger Bilham and Rebecca Bendick discovered:

• The Earth's rotation slows periodically 
• This change in rotation is almost imperceptible yet releases underground energy
• The slowdown signals a five-year 'warning period' of predictable earthquake activity

Apparently, 2017 marks the fourth year since the Earth's rotation slowed imperceptibly meaning

 2018 = earthquakes.

The researchers concede that the relationship is still a mystery and yet insist it is quite apparent.

"The correlation between Earth's rotation and earthquake activity is strong and suggests there is going to be an increase in number of intense earthquakes next year," said Bilham.

"It is straight forward," Bilham insists. "The earth is offering us a five-year heads-up on future earthquakes."

Bilham believes, "Next year we should see a significant increase in numbers of severe earthquakes. We have it easy this year. So far we have only had about six severe earthquakes. We could easily have 20 a year starting in 2018."

Upsurge in big earthquakes predicted in 2018...

Yikes.

A wise man once said: "The earth continually has 'birth pangs' today. (see Romans 8:22); during the Tribulation, these sorrows will increase in intensity and frequency until Jesus returns" --Len Woods, Th.M.

"Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. All these are the beginning of birth pains" -- Matthew 24:7

News:

• Air Force Times: U.S. F-22s intercept Russian fighter jets, fire warning flares over Syrian air space along Euphrates.
• The Atlantic: Sen. Lindsey Graham: "30% Chance Trump Attacks N. Korea. If nothing changes, Trump's gonna have to use the military option, because time is running out."
• The Jerusalem Post: IDF spokesman: "Hamas is playing with fire"; tensions along Israel's border soar after Trump recognizes Jerusalem as capital.

"Trump Drops Historic Bombshell"

On Wednesday, December 6, President Donald Trump made history by announcing that the U.S. recognizes Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

Not everyone was thrilled. In fact, many accuse Trump of playing with fire (including the Pope!), while the Palestinians and the Arab world are warning of violence.

Recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital--even if it did not include moving the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem would, "Overturn decades of consensus among international peacemakers that any change in Jerusalem's status must come as part of a negotiated deal," according to The New York Times.

The problem? The international community and the Palestinians do not recognize the fact that the land belongs to God. God gave the land to the Jews and documented the transaction in the Old Testament.

Unfortunately, because the Jews were unfaithful to God, He scattered them throughout the nations in 70 A.D. with the promise to bring them back to the Land of Israel in the last days.

For 2,000 years the Jews were exiled and their land became the God-forsaken, sparsely populated, underdeveloped land of Palestine, which nobody wanted...until God brought the Jews back and President Truman recognized Israel as a state.

Fast forward exactly 70 years to December 6, 2017.

"Incredibly, the White House announcement comes on the Hebrew date, the 17th of Kislev, the same date on which the U.N. General Assembly adopted the Partition Plan for Palestine, recognizing the State of Israel in 1947," says The Times of Israel.

Coincidence?

A wise man once said; "Seventy years is biblically significant. You find it all through Scripture. Trump's move is historically significant. It comes exactly 70 years after his predecessor President Harry Truman recognized Israel as a state." -- Yehudah Glick, Israeli Knesset member

"Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, "To your descendants I will give this land (Genesis 12:7).

"Thus says the Lord God: "I will gather the people of Israel from among the nations. I will bring them home to their own land from the places where they have been scattered" (Ezekiel 37:21).

News:

• DEBKAfile: Palestinian leader Abbas: "Trump announcement will lead to war"; PA calls for 3 days of rage while Khomeini derides U.S. "incompetence and failure" on Jerusalem.
• Reuters: Turkey says declaring Jerusalem Israel's capital will start "fire with no end in sight"
• FNC: Trump orders State Dept. to begin moving U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

"War With North Korea Suddenly No Laughing Matter"

While American media has been engaged in a sex-scandal feeding-frenzy, North Korea "Decoders" have been frantically sounding alarms of a nuclear North Korea.

According to The Wall Street Journal:

"North Korea boasts about its nuclear weapons program by releasing photos and videos of its missiles. But in them are tiny clues to their true capability. A team of U.S. analysts, working outside the government, shows how they decode these images to determine when North Korea is bluffing--and when it is showing true power."

The consensus? North Korea isn't bluffing.

Long dismissed as a joke, North Korea "...is far more sophisticated than most people realize," claims Jeffrey Lewis of Middleberry Institute of International Studies.

Lewis' team analyzes video footage frame-by-frame and are able to determine an accurate estimate of North Korea's true capabilities, including:

• type of fuel used
• engine power
• potential distance capabilities
• size and weight of missiles
• whether they have nuclear warheads

According to Lewis and other open source independent researchers, they provide a 'check' when government public statements don't match up with private analysis.

For instance, while testifying at the U.N. Security Council, Ambassador Nikki Haley said, "North Korea has not yet passed the point of no return," in regards to nuclear weapons.

"Not true," says Lewis. "They're wrong. North Korea already has nuclear weapons. The door for a military option is basically closed."

Lewis' position is based on two assumptions:

1. some missiles are already armed with nuclear warheads
2. destroying all of North Korea's missiles wouldn't be possible

Lewis believes video footage suggests North Korea is capable of horizontal fueling, meaning the missiles can be prepared for launch hidden in tunnels without being detected.

So even a 'decapitation strike' that takes out leader Kim Jong-Un would not stop a nuclear armed North Korea. Apparently, things have gone too far for that.

A wise man once said: "I expect North Korea and Iran to simultaneously create 'war' in the near future intending to destroy, distract and/or disable Israel and the USA and this, possibly before years' end..." --Pastor Jack Hibbs, Calvary Chapel Chino Hills

"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid" --John 14:27.

News:

• WashingtonTimes.com: Fresh concern over possible Iran-North Korea nuclear links; U.S. national security circles worry about depth of military cooperation.
• CNN.com: For the first time since the end of the Cold War, Hawaii will test nuclear sirens; Nikki Haley: "If war comes, we will destroy North Korea."
• HAARETZ,com: North Korea fires ballistic missile it says can reach mainland United States. Trump says: "I can only tell you that we will take care of it." 

"Who Do Atheists Thank?"

"Any casual observer to the 24-hour news cycle and the relentless buzz of social media can tell you something in contemporary culture is awry," says Jerry Pierce of Decision Magazine.

Understatement. Of. The. Year. Anyone with two functioning brain cells can see, as a society, we're going off the rails, sinking fast, going to hell in a hand-basket.

Pierce points to heightened racial tensions, sexual anarchy and political polarization to say, "Morally, society is unhinged."

(Not to mention: school, work, recreation and church-shootings).

According to Pierce, "The Apostle Paul clearly explains in Romans 1: 18-32 that failing to honor God and give Him thanks is at the root of societal collapse:

"His invisible attributes, namely His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened" (Romans 1: 18-21).

"Romans 1 goes on to say that as people suppress the truth that is seen in nature and resist the gracious God who created it, they dive deeply into moral lawlessness," Pierce explained.

"The chaos Paul describes is progressively severe as God's wrath is revealed--by His giving sinners what they want. Idolatry and rampant sexual immorality follow.

"And yet people--even atheists--still have an impulse to be thankful," says John Stonestreet, President of the Colson Center For Christian Worldview.

"I've heard atheists and agnostics describe a sense of gratefulness. Popular atheist and evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins has described feeling "sort of an abstract gratitude" at the wonders of the universe. But that doesn't make any sense in their worldview. It's what's called cognitive dissonance. Who are they thanking? Who are they grateful to?"

Chris Tomlin video

A wise man once said: "To observe Thanksgiving rightly, one must acknowledge the holiness and majesty of the God to whom thanks is due." -- Albert Mohler, President of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

News:

• China State Media: China revealed next generation nuclear weapon capable of striking "anywhere in the world."
• Reuters: U.S. judge strikes down Texas measure to limit second-trimester abortions.
• DEKBAfile: Russia holds summit on Syria with Turkey and Iran; meanwhile Iran sends warship to Gulf of Mexico.

"Why Does God Allow Evil, Pain, and Suffering?"

"God has the power to prevent suffering and calamity--so why does He allow it?" Dr. Charles Stanley offers a biblical answer to this age old question.

You don't want to miss his 6 minute video.

"Everywhere we look," says Stanley, "there are disasters, tragedies, trauma, misery, suffering, and loss. But what happens when adversity becomes close and personal?

"Sometimes adversity comes suddenly," he continued. "Life could be going on as normal when an accident or negative report from the doctor leaves us unexpectantly devastated. We may feel helpless and have no answer for why God would allow us to go through it."

In 2 Corinthians 11:23-28, the apostle Paul described the various forms of adversity he experienced while serving God: he was beaten and thrown into prison, whipped, stoned and left for dead. Ultimately, he had his head chopped off.

"Why would God allow Paul, the man who introduced the Roman world to Jesus Christ, to suffer like this and be killed?" asks Stanley.

"From a human perspective, Paul's sufferings may seem unfair, but God used his hardships and pain to accomplish His will.

"During his imprisonment in Rome, Paul wrote the books of Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians. And his letter to the Philippians is filled with joy because Paul understood that through adversity God accomplishes His divine purposes and works for our ultimate good."

In other words, all the hell God allowed into Paul's life equipped him to write most of the New Testament (under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit) and lead countless multitudes into heaven. Paul will reap his reward for all eternity.

"And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them" (Romans 8:28).

A wise man once said: "Are you going through a tough time? Take heart. The Lord is sovereign and He controls all adversity in our lives. That's why it's important to remember how much He loves us. If He allows us to go through pain, suffering, and loss, then He has something good He wants to accomplish in us." -- Dr. Charles Stanley

News:

• BBC News: Greece searches for the missing after deadly floods; flash floods kill 15.
• Israel News: Trump Middle East team begins draft of Israeli-Palestinian peace plan to solve decades-long conflict.
• DEBKAfile: Israel on high alert, deploys Iron Dome batteries against missile attack.

"Why Would A Good God Send Anyone To Hell?"

"If God loves people, why doesn't He just save everyone?" Greg Laurie, Pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship, gives the answers to life's biggest questions. Why would God send people to hell?

"While the question is good," says Laurie, "it places the blame for peoples' damnation on the wrong person: God."

"God doesn't want anyone to spend eternity in hell. In fact, He earnestly desires that everyone spend all eternity with Him in heaven."

Laurie explains, "Scripture tells us, God does not want anyone to perish, so He is giving more time for everyone to repent" (2 Peter 3:9). "Throughout the Bible we see God's loving and patient invitation for us to come to Him."

"Come to Me, all you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28).

"Come. Let the thirsty ones come--anyone who wants to. Let them come and drink the water of life without charge" (Revelation 22:17). 

"The truth," contends Laurie, "is that there are some things only God can do--such as cleanse us of our sin, forgive us, and justify us. At the same time, there are some things only we can do--such as come to Him, believe in Him, and repent of our sins."

Laurie concludes, "While God does indeed love everyone, He has given us a wonderful but dangerous gift. That gift is called 'free will'. It is the ability to choose between right and wrong, good and evil, God and Satan, and heaven and hell. God will not force His salvation and forgiveness upon our lives. It is our choice to say 'yes' or 'no'.

In other words--people end up in hell because they reject God's offer of forgiveness.

A wise man once said: "The gates of hell are locked from the inside." -- C.S. Lewis, author

"What makes us think that we can escape if we are indifferent to this great salvation that was announced by the Lord Jesus Himself?" (Hebrews 2:3).

If God Is Good...

News:

• The Wall Street Journal: Texas church where gunman killed 26 people last Sunday will not reopen says pastor.
• Channel 10 Israel: Mideast peace proposal coming early next year; Trump has secret plan.
• The Sun: Pope Francis Vows To Save World From Nuclear Disaster As Tensions With N.Korea Mount.

"CERN: Universe Should Not Exist"

So what's new with the CERN Research Center? You remember CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research and home to the world's largest (and most expensive) Hadron Collider. No?

Well, just outside Geneva on the Swiss/French border, deep in a round, 17 mile subterranean tunnel is the Large Hadron Collider (LHC).

Inside the LHC are subatomic particles or protons that careen around the  17 mile electromagnetic track and bang into each other at the speed of light in hopes of re-creating the Big Bang--the explosion that supposedly jump-started the universe.

The problem? Despite major breakthroughs in quantum weirdness, scientists can't seem to figure out how matter is able to exist in our universe. Apparently, matter is made up of particles and antiparticles that should have completely destroyed one another--but haven't--leaving the scientific community dumbfounded.

"All of our observations find a complete symmetry between matter and antimatter, which is why the universe should not actually exist," said physicist Christian Smorra.

Around the globe, a multinational collaboration of scientists come together at CERN and burn the midnight oil attempting to solve the riddle of how the universe came into existence.

Yes indeedy, friends and neighbors, this is THE hot topic in modern physics.

Why doesn't someone tell them to simply open the book of Genesis and read:

"In the beginning God..."

A wise man once said: "Science offers only a 'veiled' view of an underlying reality which science cannot access." -- Bernard d'Espagnat, French physicist

"So the creation of the heavens and the earth and everything in them was completed. On the seventh day, having finished His task, God rested from all His work. And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when He rested from the work of creation" (Genesis 2:1-3).

News:

• Behold Israel: U.S. Defense Dept. holds unpublished EMP Drill Simulation this weekend to prepare for N.Korea attack.
• NBC News: N.Korea Defector Warns Military Will React To Any Sign Of U.S. Attack; N.Korean officers trained to 'press button'-ask questions later..
• DEBKAfile: Iran's Khomeini says "U.S. number one enemy". 

"What's New In Business? Witchcraft 101"

"Interest in spirituality has been booming in recent years while interest in religion plummets," says Kari Paul of MarketWatch.

MarketWatch? Isn't that about finances?

Yup--apparently the occult sells. And sells BIG.

Known as the 'psychic services industry', the metaphysical "Arts" include: astrology, aura reading, mediumship, tarot card reading, and palmistry (among other things).

The once backroom business has recently gone mainstream, bringing big bucks with it.

How big? $2 billion annually, according to industry analysis firm IBIS World.

So who is buying this stuff?

Millennials. That's right folks, the 18-30 demographic is reaching for the stars.

Catland, a 'metaphysical boutique' based in Brooklyn, offers workshops like "Witchcraft 101", "Astrology 101" and "Spirit Seance". According to owner Melissa Jayne, interest has been soaring for the past five years.

"Whether it be spell-casting, tarot, astrology, meditation and trance, or herbalism, these traditions offer tangible ways for people to enact change in their lives," she said.

Really? Astrology has been debunked by numerous academic studies and yet according to a survey by the National Science Foundation, a majority of young adults believe astrology is a science.

Banu Guler, co-founder of a new astrology app Co-Star, agrees.

According to Guler, "There is a belief vacuum: we go from work to a bar to dinner and a date, with no semblance of meaning. Astrology is a way out of it, a way of putting yourself in the context of thousands of years of history and the universe."

Co-Star's servers were so overwhelmed by demand after it launched on October 12 that the app crashed three times in its first week.

And then there's the spiritual subscription service Mystic Lipstick, whose customer base is growing exponentially according to founder Danielle Ayoka. Her specialty? A "mystic box" containing crystals, 'reiki'-infused bath salts and incense customized to the unique energy of the current moon cycle.

And on and on it goes.

Unfortunately, all this mysticism comes with a price and we don't mean dollars.

Known as the doctrine of demons, the Bible forbids the practice of astrology, horoscope and all things occult as an abomination to the Lord.

"And do not let your people practice fortune-telling 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).

"Their judgment is based on this fact: The light from heaven (Jesus) came into the world, but they loved the darkness more than the light..." (John 3:19).

A wise man once said: "Interest in religion may be "out" but faith in Jesus is not a religion--it's a relationship with the Living God." -- Greg Laurie

How to go to heaven

News:

• Yahoo!News: Plague alert over Madagascar's Dance with the Dead; sacred ritual sees families exhume the remains of dead relatives, re-wrap them in fresh cloth and dance with the corpses. Outbreak of plague sweeping the island.
• DEBKAfile: Third U.S. carrier strike group deployed to Pacific as tensions mount over N. Korea nuke program.
• Reuter's: "Earth is fragile", Pope tells astronauts who see planet from "eyes of God" and "Earth will pass in a moment."

 

"Paranoid 'Rocketman' Turns Existential Threat"

While the rest of us have been mesmerized by the stunning implosion of Harvey Weinstein, North Korea has been busy wringing its hands over Donald Trump.

The situation on the Korean peninsula "has reach the touch-and-go point and a nuclear war may break out any moment", warned North Korea's Deputy U.N. Ambassador, Kim In Ryong.

Apparently, North Korea (aka NoKo) is convinced the U.S. has a plan to stage a "secret operation aimed at the removal of our supreme leadership."

According to Ambassador Kim, NoKo has no intentions of taking this threat laying down.

"This year," said Kim, "North Korea completed its state nuclear force and thus became a full-fledged nuclear power which possesses the delivery means of various ranges, including the atomic bomb, H-bomb, and intercontinental ballistic rockets."

On Monday, the ambassador warned the U.N. General Assembly's Disarmament Committee:

"The entire U.S. mainland is within our firing range and if the U.S. dares to invade our sacred territory even an inch, it will not escape our severe punishment in any part of the globe."

This warning follows escalating threats between North Korea and the United States and increasingly tough U.N. sanctions.

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Sunday that diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving the North Korean crisis "will continue until the first bomb drops."

Meanwhile, Congress received a bone-chilling warning about a North Korean EMP attack.

The bottom line? An EMP could cause a nationwide blackout and kill millions (90% of all Americans).

So is NoKo just being paranoid about a secret plan to remove their Supreme Leader?

Let's hope not. The Rocketman needs to go.

Worried about a nuclear explosion? Here's what to do.

"Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall"--Proverbs 16:18.

A wise man once said: "I think this leader is thinking more highly of himself than he ought to. His people have deified him, but he will answer to the Lord Jesus unless he repents." -- Mike Macintosh, pastor.

"Seek the LORD while He may be found.

Call upon Him while He is near.

Let the wicked forsake his way.

And the unrighteous man his thoughts;

And He will have mercy on him;

And to our God,

For He will abundantly pardon.

-Isaiah 55:6

News:

• NBC News: Putin On N.Korea Crisis: "Don't Back Kim Jong Un Into A Corner; Russia warned possibility of conflict growing.
• The Epoch Times: "N. Korean EMP Attack 'Existential Threat' To U.S." warns experts.
• New York Daily News: N Korea Vows To Unleash 'Unimaginable' Nuclear Strike On U.S.

  

"The Devil Works Overtime"

Once one realizes that all of God's promises are interwoven with the nation of Israel, the puzzle pieces of Bible prophecy begin to fit together.

For instance: Antisemitism.

Hitler wasn't the only one driven by a passionate desire to rid the world of Jews. There have been an amazing number of crazed lunatics throughout history all with one rabid intention: Destroy the Jew. Why? It's completely irrational...unless one considers the spiritual dimension: Destroy Israel and you destroy God's credibility. Mmmm...I wonder who'd want to do that?

Bible prophecy is a two-edged sword. On the plus side, God reveals His plan in advance, giving us reliable proof of His existence and authenticating the Bible as the infallible word of God. On the downside, the adversary, Satan, is also privy to the plan.

This creates a dilemma that God solves by using a bit of obscurity. While He can't be so veiled that we don't get the message, it prevents Him from giving us all the detail we might want. Ever wonder why God doesn't just spell it all out for us? He's got good reason; there's a certain demonic element intent on sabotaging God's plan.

From the time of Moses to the time of Christ, Satan tried over and over again to kill all male Hebrew children. Why? Because he knew the Messiah would be a Jew. If he could get rid of the Hebrew babies, the Messiah would never be born. When that failed, he thought he'd nailed it (no pun intended) at the cross. But no, foiled again! The crucified Savior was resurrected. Satan had played right into God's hand--not realizing that the only begotten Son had to die--it was God's plan all along: The Savior would die so we could live.

Even now, the Devil and his minions are working overtime to crush the Jew. Is it a coincidence that Israel is surrounded by enemies?

The Bible predicts the Messiah will return to Jerusalem when the Jews are back in their homeland and besieged on every side. If there are no Jews, there is no Messiah. If there is no Israel, then Satan wins and there is no God. That's how interwoven the nation of Israel is with God's promises.

A wise man once said: "Jewish survival is a phenomena. Jewish history, with all of its tragedies and triumphs, has been accurately foretold; we see the Jews as a miracle of history." -- Hal Lindsey-author

"It shall be in that day that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem" --Zechariah 12:9.

News:

• DEBKAfile: Israeli Defense Minister Lieberman said on Tuesday: "In future conflict, Israel will face a unified front of Syria, Lebanon, Hezbollah, the Assad regime and its confederates."
• Associated Press: U.S. Defense Secretary James Maddis: "Stand Ready' For World War III; U.S. Army must stand ready if called upon to go to war against North Korea.
• Jerusalem Post: Iran Nuclear Threat Is Already Very Real; Tehran works "unabated" on its missile program.

"USA Today: Americans Thinking About End Times"

"When the month began, a confluence of hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, wild fires and a brewing international nuclear confrontation already had some Americans thinking about End Times," says USA Today writer Rick Hampson.

USA Today?

Forgive our surprise, but it's not exactly an everyday occurrence to read an article about End Times in a mainstream news outlet.

Hampson went on to lament the worst mass shooting in U.S. history as "the latest in this peerless series of catastrophes."

Continuing he said, "A summer that seemed destined to be remembered for its magnificent solar eclipse had lurched suddenly towards the eve of destruction."

Yikes--sounds apocalyptic--but wait...there's more...

What USA Today failed to mention is actually much more prophetically significant than the weather.

Last week Russian President Vladimir Putin went to Ankara to "forge an alliance with Russia, Turkey and Iran", according to Al Arabiya.

Significant because the Bible predicts an alliance between Russia, Turkey and Iran will form in the last days. The last days began with the rebirth of the nation of Israel in 1948 (Ezekiel 37). This alliance will result in an attack against Israel called the War of Gog and Magog (Ezekiel 38). Keep in mind until the 1990's, Russia and Iran had been fierce enemies for 2,500 years, and Bible scoffers used this prophecy to discredit Scripture insisting it could never happen.

Russia and Turkey haven't exactly been BFF's either over the years, but in 2015 tensions between the two nations soared when Turkey shot down a Russian fighter jet and assassinated the Russian ambassador to Turkey. War between the two was narrowly averted.

Fast forward to last week and Russia, Turkey and Iran are one big happy family?!

Hmmmm...maybe USA Today is on to something.

A wise man once said: "We turn to God for help when our foundations are shaking only to learn it is God shaking them." Charles C. West, author

Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish" --Isaiah 46:10.

News:

• U.S. News & World Report: CIA official predicts N. Korean provocation on Columbus Day; date coincides with Pyongyang founding anniversary
• Newsweek: Earthquake Swarm At Yellowstone Super-volcano Now One Of The Longest Ever Recorded; 2,500 quakes recorded since June 12.
• Yahoo! News: Russian military accuses U.S. of 'supporting' ISIS group preventing their defeat in Syria. 

"Revelation: The Book of Advanced Technology?"

While most of civilization was advancing one small step at a time, the Book of Revelation took a giant leap into the future.

Any sufficiently-advanced technology can seem indistinguishable from magic, especially waaaaay back in, say, A.D. 95 when the Apostle John wrote the Book of Revelation.

Remember, John was instructed to write down the things "that he saw" (Rev. 1:2) and most of what he saw was nearly 2000 years in the future.

Talk about mind-blowing future-shock! How would a 1st century prophet describe things like:

• advanced attack helicopters
• armoured vehicles
• biological and chemical weapons
• fighter jets
• nuclear warfare?

Imagine the difficulty a primitive, non-technical man from the 1st century would have trying to make sense of modern advances and warfare--never mind trying to put it all in writing.

We take today's technological advances for granted, but back in John's day they must have seemed like magic.

In Revelation 13, John describes a statue that come to life and is able to speak. Some believe John is using symbolic language. We believe he's probably describing a technology.

"Holoportation" is a new type of 3-D capture technology that allows high-quality 3-D models of people to be reconstructed, compressed and transmitted anywhere in the world in real time. When combined with mixed reality, they are actually present in the same physical space. Communicating and interacting with remote users becomes as natural as face-to-face communication. 

A wise man once said: "John was catapulted by God from one time period to another so that his extensive "visions" would have the authority of an eyewitness. The prophet then unknowingly encoded a warning for the generation in which these things would happen with conviction, accuracy and authority." -- Hal Lindsey, author

"He was permitted to give life to this statue so that it could speak. Then the statue commanded that anyone refusing to worship it must die" -- Revelation 13:15.

"Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near" -- Revelation 1:3. 

News:

• CBS New York: Mystery Surrounds Metal Towers Popping Up In Tunnels & Bridges; MTA project shrouded in secrecy.
• Defense One: U.S. Military constructing a Giant Armed Nervous System; every weapon, vehicle, and device will be connected and sharing data.
• Express: Scientists able to control the weather using lasers; breakthrough could potentially eradicate droughts

"2017 Predictions: Serious Study or Wild Speculation?"

Predicting the future is both tricky and dumb, and yet, people go on doing it. Why? Because people love it. They eat it up. They're even willing to pay for it. And so, of course, people continue to make predictions. Too bad no one seems to notice (or remember) how few of them come to pass. Google '2017 predictions' and we predict you'll get a ridiculous mix of astrology, I Ching, Nostradamus, and a wide variety of psychic prognosticators. Oh, and just enough Bible prophecy to discredit it along with all the others. That's right. Mix it all together--and voila--the Mayans, the Hopis, and the Bible are all equal.

Wait a minute. The purpose of this blog is to examine biblical prophecy and to raise a word of caution regarding non-biblical attempts to predict the future. We are continually shocked to discover how many people believe there is no significant difference!

Because we are living in the most incredible times the world has ever known, it is becoming clear even to the dimmest among us that something unusual is happening. Everything from natural disasters to international conflicts bombard us daily. Every new turn of events reminds us that the 'tipping point' could be just around the corner. And it could be. But one of the dangers of such expectations is the wild speculations that are sure to follow.

Instead of wildly speculating, why not use the signs of the times as a motivation to seriously study what the Bible has to say about our future?

As prophecy teacher Dr. Ed Hindson put it: "Along the highway, signs are used to identify locations, provide information, and give warnings. The same is true of prophetic signs. They stand out on the biblical horizon to get our attention. They give a glimpse of things to come--but only a glimpse. Signs are not intended to give all the details of future events, yet they do play a prominent role in biblical prophecy."

Much is being said about September 2017. Will the church be taken out? Will there be more earthquakes? Hurricanes? Wars? Your guess is as good as ours.

Speculating about the future beyond what the Bible actually predicts is a dangerous game we don't want to play. Just ask the Mayans.

A wise man once said: "The errors of faith are better than the best thoughts of unbelief." -- Thomas Russell

"You have more than enough advisers, astrologers and stargazers. Let them stand up and save you from what the future holds. But they are as useless as dried grass burning in a fire. They cannot even save themselves" Isaiah 47: 13,14.

News:

• Reuters: Mexico quake leaves 273 dead.
• Associated Press: Puerto Rico faces months without power after direct hit from Hurricane Maria
• The Washington Post: Trump seeks international support to confront N.Korea; U.S. officials consider situation at crisis point.

Revelation 12 & September 23, 2017

According to "Doomsday Doug", "the hottest topic in eschatology today is the Revelation 12 sign and September 23, 2017."

While intriguing, speculation in regards to Christ's soon return is just that: speculation. Why? Because "no man know the day or the hour." Jesus could return at any moment and warned us to be ready. But let's face it, gang, we could also die at any moment. Jesus' advice is the same--be ready.

In his classic best seller, Erwin W. Lutzer cuts right to the chase and asks:

"Where will you be...one minute after you die?"

Will you be delighted beyond your wildest dreams or forever separated from all that is good?

"Many people spend more time planning for a vacation than preparing for eternity," say Lutzer. "So while relatives and friends plan your funeral, you will be more alive than you have ever been."

The Big Question? Where, exactly will you be? That depends on choices you make now. There are only two alternatives. "Either way, your future will be irrevocably fixed and eternally unchangeable," Lutzer explains. "One minute after you die, you will either be elated or terrified--and it will be too late to re-route your travel plans."

Wow...with stakes that high you'd think God would have given us detailed instructions on how to choose correctly. You'd think He would have sent a few messengers to make sure we understood exactly what we need to do to ensure we don't miss the boat on this one.

Guess what, gang--He did. It's that Bible some of us "messengers" are constantly trying to shove down your throat.

Atheist comedian Penn Jellette (of Penn & Teller, magician duo fame) once said,

"I don't respect people who don't proselytize. If you believe that there's a heaven and a hell, and people could be going to hell or not getting eternal life, and you think that it's not really worth telling them this because it would be socially awkward...how much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize? How much do you have to hate somebody to believe everlasting life is possible and not tell them that?"

From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible is woven with predictions. In fact, more than 1/4 of the Bible is prophecy. Most of them (roughly 80%) have already been fulfilled with 100% accuracy.

These prophecies are very specific, provable events. God chose prophecy as the vehicle to authenticate the Bible. How better to prove One's existence and power over world events than to tell history in advance? Fulfilled prophecy conveys the unique signature of God, and is a powerful proof to an unbelieving world.

A supernatural book requires a supernatural key to unlock its mysteries. Pray to be filled with the Holy Spirit and that God will flood you with light so that you can understand the wonderful future He has promised to those He called. "I want you to realize what a rich and glorious inheritance He has given to His people" (Ephesians 1:18).

Do you want to know where you will be one minute after you die? click here

A wise man once said: "We must accept God as He is revealed in the Bible, whether He suits our preferences or not." -- Erwin W. Lutzer, author of One Minute After You Die

"I pray that you will begin to understand the incredible greatness of His power for us who believe Him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated Him in the place of honor at God's right hand in the heavenly realms" (Ephesians 1:19,20).

News:

• FNC: N.Korea fires another missile over Japan Thursday fueling war fears.
• The Washington Post: S.Korea delegation asks Washington for nuclear weapons; meanwhile, N.Korea threatens to "sink" Japan, reduce U.S. to ashes.
• DailyMail.com: Antidepressants raise risk of early death by 33% study finds; the drugs do more harm than good, researchers say.

"Time of the Signs: Zero Hour"

Is it just us, or have you noticed a quickening in the news cycle, too? Wash, rinse, repeat...one crisis after another with each one seemingly worse than the last.

In his classic commentary on The Book of Revelation, What The World Is Coming To, the late Chuck Smith, founder of Calvary Chapel states:

"The world is moving toward its zero hour. We're in the final countdown...The "birth-pains" have begun." (Matthew 24:8; Mark 13:8).

Doom & gloom? You betcha--if the birth-pains (or doom & gloom) were the only message.

"The Book of Revelation delves into grave details using remarkable symbols of judgment," proclaims S. Douglas Woodward of Faith-Happens. "Each broken seal discloses a new horror; each trumpet portends a new calamity; each vial grows increasingly more horrible."

"If we dwell on these images of doom, no doubt we too would become gloomy," cautions Woodward. "Nevertheless, the Bible consistently offers a starkly contrasted message: the greatest day for those who believe in Christ, comes on the worst day for those that don't."

In other words, the doom & gloom has a purpose. For the unbeliever, these "birth-pains" are a warning: seek God while He may be found; receive the redemption His Son suffered and died to purchase for you before it's too late.

For the believer and student of Bible prophecy, these same birth-pains are an amazing, faith-building, fear-of-God producing, awe-inspiring wonder to watch as events unfold exactly as God said they would in His word.

Remember, the purpose of Bible prophecy is not to predict the future, but to authenticate the message.

And what is the main message of the Bible?

Hope! God is the creator of everything. He has a plan and a purpose to redeem not only those of us who believe that Jesus died in our place and rose again as our Savior, but His entire creation as well.

"Now we live with a wonderful expectation because Jesus Christ rose again from the dead. For God has reserved a priceless inheritance for His children...It will be revealed on the last day for all to see. So be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead..." 1Peter 1:3-6

Eventually, there will be a new heaven and a new earth where everything (including us) must be born again. But first, like any birth--there are birth pains.

A wise man once said: "Night is coming...a darkness that will cover this globe in suffering and sorrow such as we have never known. But we must not sit and wring our hands about the state of the world. God has provided a way to escape the coming night. Now is the time to tell everyone about the hope of a brand new world waiting for us." -- David Jeremiah, author

"So I pray that God who gives you hope, will keep you happy and full of peace as you believe in Him. May you overflow with hope through the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13

Prophecy Alert: Don't miss Amir Tsarfati's Breaking News

News:

• The Washington Free Beacon: N.Korea revealed plans for EMP attacks for the first time this week in its official Communist Party newspaper, Rodsng Sinmum, after Tuesday's nuclear bomb test.
• Miami Herald: Hurricane Irma: strongest hurricane ever recorded; meanwhile, last week's Hurricane Harvey claimed 70 lives.
• Reuters: Wildfires sweep across U.S. West with huge fires raging in Montana, Idaho, Oregon, Washington and California burning more than 1.4 million acres; military called upon for help.

"Even Demons Believe In God"

The percentage of U.S. adults who say they are "absolutely certain" God exists has slipped, according to the  Pew Research Center's Religious Landscape Study.

No surprise there--anyone with half a functioning brain cell can see God is no longer at the top of our national priority list.

And for the college student, the downward trend has accelerated even more. Christians are being mocked and ridiculed by a university system that insists science and God are mutually exclusive.

Physicist Frank J. Tipler, an expert in the field of quantum cosmology, begs to differ.

In his book, "The Physics of Christianity", the scientist "demonstrates that the essential beliefs of Christianity are wholly consistent with the laws of physics."

Tipler even illustrates a scientific foundation for the Virgin Birth, the Resurrection, and the Incarnation of Christ.

While interesting, scientific proof doesn't always result in saving faith.

Why? Because faith in Christ as Savior is not a head issue--it's a heart problem.

Generic belief in God will not get you into heaven. James 2:19 says: 

"You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror."

Saving faith takes God at His word. The Bible is His Word and it says every one of us is a sinner separated from God.

The Good News? "Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and He was buried. He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures." 1Corinthians 15:3-4

The Gospel is centered on the physical death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God who became human yet never sinned (see Galatians 1:6-10).

Christ died for our sins. He suffered in our place to endure the just wrath of God against us, according to the Scriptures.

What does according to the Scriptures mean? Jesus Christ lived and died in accordance with the prophecies about Him in the Old Testament (see Psalm 16:10, Psalm 22, Isaiah 53:8-10). Thus, authenticating the Bible as God's inspired (read: God breathed) Word.

The Resurrection verifies the fact that Christ's death paid the full price for sin. The Greek term translated "rose" emphasizes the ongoing effects of this historical event.

In other words: Jesus Christ is alive and well today.

But only those who really believe this will turn away from their sin and be saved.

A wise man once said: "You can live with the full assurance of your salvation by surrendering your life to Christ--repenting of your sins and believing in His sacrifice on your behalf. Don't live another day unsure."  -- John MacArthur, pastor and author

"Don't be afraid, just believe" Matthew 5:36.

"Bad News & Good News" - a message by Pastor J.D. Faraq

News:

• The Sun: U.S. nuke-ready jets drop bombs near N Korean border as Kim Jong-Un blasts "wild military acts of the enemies" in joint military operation.
• CBN News.com: Iranian Threat Moving Closer To Israel; U.S. 2015 Iran Nuke Deal provided funds to terrorists in Syria, Lebanon and Gaza.
• The Washington Post: Harvey is a 1,000 year flood event unprecedented in scale; intensity and scope of the disaster so enormous forecasters "couldn't believe their eyes". Meanwhile, Hurricane Irma likely to grow into Cat 4 that could threaten New England.

"America: Sowing Seeds of Destruction"

When nature is allowed to run its course, you'll end up with a certain balance, especially when it comes to gender.

For instance, 105 male babies are born for every 100 females.

By age 30, the numbers become equal. Why? Because the death rate for boys is slightly higher than girls.

In other words, there is roughly one male for every marriage-age female.

Not so in China. Abortion based on gender has unnaturally stacked the deck in favor of boys.

The result? 40 million Chinese men facing life without a mate.

The Chinese would call this cause-and-effect (the end result from a certain action).

The Bible calls it 'reaping what you've sown'.

David Kupelian, author of The Snapping of the American Mind, believes the U.S. is sowing the seeds of its own destruction. Kupelian contends:

"We have a culture and a bureaucracy in which basically we're taught there is no God, there is no right and wrong, and the biblical morals that this country did pretty well with for several centuries are oppressive and racist and we need to get rid of them."

China thought they needed draconian family planning rules (e.g. murdering lots of baby girls). Decades later they've got 40,000,000 frustrated and angry men on their hands and a demographic bent towards violence and an illicit sex trade.

Kupelian believes "America the Beautiful" will morph into "America the Bizarre" if our nation continues on its current path. Only it won't take decades. It seems our people have already lost the ability to distinguish between right and wrong, male and female, and what's good and what is evil.

"Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life" Galatians 6:7-8.

A wise man once said: "It is a vain attempt to "mock" God for a Christian to think that if he sows to his flesh he can escape the harvest of destruction and judgment that comes upon those who participate in sin." -- Andrew Hill, Ph.D.

Pastor J.D. Faraq-Prophecy Update 8/20/2017

News:

• Yahoo!News: UN Racism Committee issues 'warning over U.S. tensions'; a rare move often used to signal the potential of a looming civil conflict.
• CBN News.com: Kindergartners Scared They Will Be 'Turned Into Boys' After School's Transgender Celebration; parents outraged.
• Israel News: FEMA Prepares For 'Black Sky' Doomsday Events With Emergency Drills; 'not a matter of if, but when', says expert.

"Fake News That Destroys: Don't Let Anyone Mislead You"

One of the most fascinating and least understood phenomena of the human brain is the Placebo Effect.

According to the American Cancer Society, a placebo (pluh-SEE-bo) is a substance or other kind of treatment that looks just like a regular treatment or medicine, but is not. It's actually an inactive "look-alike" treatment or substance.

Author and scientist Dr. Joe Dispenza discusses practical applications of the so-called Placebo Effect and how the "expectation of a particular outcome" can be harnessed. In other words, we can essentially cure ourselves of maladies simply because we believe we are being cured of them, claims Dispenza in his new book titled--you guessed it--The Placebo Effect.

That's right gang, apparently, we can trick ourselves healthy!

And while the Placebo Effect may come in handy for making our body feel better, it can be deadly when applied to our spirit.

"There is a faith that has the appearance of genuine faith, but does not save," says Bible scholar John MacArthur.

Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God (John 3:3).

2Corinthians 13:5 says: "Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is in you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith.

Romans 8:9 says: "But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to Him at all."

Sometimes religion is like a placebo. It can be an inactive look-alike that actually inoculates us against the transforming power of the Holy Spirit (see 2Timothy 3:5). 

Authentic Christianity is not a religion, but a real and dynamic relationship with the living God.

 If His Spirit is not in you, you've been tricked with an inactive and powerless but spiritually-deadly placebo.

A wise man once said: "A Christian is so much more than someone who simply at one point in time believed the truth. A true believer has an ongoing love for God that holds fast even in trials. Love for God shows itself through obedience to His Word, the Bible" (1John 2:5-6; 5:1-3). -- John MacArthur, author

"I will give you a new heart and put a new Spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh" -- (Ezekiel 36:26).

God has promised the priceless gift of eternal life for all those who receive His Son. "Seek Him and you will find Him when you seek Him with all your heart." How to go to Heaven

News:

• CBN: Franklin Graham Defends President Trump, Slams Satan For Charlottesville Chaos
• MSN: Officials confirm 13 dead and scores injured in Barcelona terror attack
• DEBKAfile: Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff: Peace with N. Korea possible, but so is military option: "What's unimaginable to me is not (using) a military option. North Korea nukes must be stopped."

"Kim Jong-Un: Crazy Fat Kid or Credible Threat?"

On December 30, 2011, North Korea, already a rogue state, became much more dangerous when 27-year old Kim Jong-Un assumed power.

Almost from the get-go, Kim was mocked for his bizarre behavior and "that chubby face", as described by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday.

"He's a fool," Duterte said, "and a son-of-a-..." (you -know-what) who is "playing with dangerous toys."

Last March the North Korean dictator went ballistic after Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) called him a "crazy fat kid".

"China is the only one that can control Kim Jong-Un, this crazy fat kid that's running North Korea," McCain said.

Enraged, Kim responded by calling McCain's remarks, "tantamount to a declaration of war."

Fast forward 5 months, 11 missile tests, and escalating war provocations pouring out of North Korea, and we have this: U.S. officials believe Kim Jong-Un has built a miniaturized warhead and has an arsenal of 60 nuclear bombs capable of hitting Hawaii, Los Angeles, Chicago and New York.

Suddenly, this roly-poly-little-fat-faced twerp seems like a credible threat that has the world holding its breath as war rhetoric reaches crisis level.

Kim Jong-Un and Trump Locked In Extraordinary Standoff

A wise man once said: "North Korea risks the end of its regime and the destruction of its people if it does not back down. It is grossly outmatched by the allied armies now pitted against it..." -- U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson

"Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you" (Isaiah 43:1-2).

News:

• DEBKAfile: U.S. Defense Secretary warns N. Korea to stop before it is destroyed; strongest terms yet.
• NBC News: Reports that N. Korea has fitted nuclear warheads onto missiles were confirmed on Thursday.
• The Washington Times: Military solution in place to address N. Korea threat says Defense Secretary on Thursday 

"Current Events Predicted With 100% Accurancy 2,000 Years Ago"

In the West, Christian persecution might mean being mocked and ridiculed or in some cases even slapped with a lawsuit--but torture and death? Not so much.

And yet, the "systematic elimination of Christianity" happening right now in Muslim regions of the world has "gone largely unnoticed by the international community," says Coptic Bishop Anba Angaelos.

According to a report by Open Doors, a non-denominational mission supporting persecuted Christians in over 60 countries:

"In the 21 worst nations for Christians, 100% of Christians experience persecution,including unimaginable torture, beheadings and atrocities resulting in the wholesale slaughter of our brothers and sisters in Christ."

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.

"Slaughtered Christians..." (click and then scroll down to article)

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:

• CBN: ABC News called out for labeling a law firm that defends religious liberty a "hate group".
• Jerusalem Post: Iran and Turkey fund recent round of terror related to Jerusalem's Temple Mount.
• Israel News: Hamas calls for "Day of Rage" in Jerusalem this Friday.

"Microchip Implants: Technology Catches Up To The Bible"

"It's the next thing that's inevitably going to happen, and we want to be a part of it," says Todd Westby, Chief Executive Officer of Three Square Market in Wisconsin.

Microchip implants are inevitable, but not because Westby says so. The Bible has predicted the technology for 2,000 years, and next week the Wisconsin company will implement it for the first time in the U.S. (though it's been a growing trend in Europe for at least 3 years).

As tiny as a grain of rice, implantable RFID microchips are capable of holding all our personal information including:

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

And last but not least...(drum roll please)...they can track you. Think of it--no more lost or stolen children. No more wandering elderly.

Of course Three Square Market has no intention of tracking anybody, nor will they be storing even a fraction of the data RFIDs are capable of. http://kstp.com/news/wisconsin-company-to-implant-microchips-in-employees-three-square-market/4549459/

But imagine if you will, a global leader who does.

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 St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Robot stock boys to roam aisles at grocery store chain; Schnucks Grocery will test robots for 6 weeks.
• CBS: CA Islamic Center calls for annihilation of Jews; Imam under fire after sermon translated into English.
• Reuters: Scientists dim sunlight; suck up carbon dioxide to cool planet; project risky and expensive

"Lure of the Occult"

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, the fashionable little ghouls 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)

 Our adversary, the devil, is looking for  someone to devour. Don't let it be your child.

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, comedian

"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: Activist Mommy Starts 'Operation Pull Teen Vogue' after magazine peddles perversion to minors.
• The Washington Post: Va. principal charged with assault after spanking 12-year old female student in cafeteria.
• Reuters: "The Walking Dead" zombie series inked 'first view' deal with Charter Communications to lure subscribers.

"Look Who's Talking"

It's bad enough that the IRS, NSA, and DHS are all spying on us, but guess who else is jumping on the bandwagon?

Your local supermarkets!

Yep--you read that right. According to privacy advocate Katherine Albrecht, supermarkets have plans to track shoppers using 'smart shelves'.

What are smart shelves, you ask? Shelving that has been rigged with Microsoft Kinect technology that can detect your:

• age
• gender
• physical traits

And that ain't all, folks!

Once they've figured out your specific demographic, the technology within the store shelf will be able to target you with a personalized ad or message. Right then and there--while you're in the store shopping.

For example, suppose you're looking at the premium ice cream and you've got a couple of extra chins. Your ad might sound something like a satanic temptation:

"Mmmmmm....just look at that scrump-dilli-iciousssss, melt in your mouth deliccccioussssnesss. You know you can't resissssst...."

Or let's say you're fit-n-trim:

"Hey, you there! You look mahhhhvalous. Absolootly, mahhhhvalous! You've certainly been taking great care of yourself. So, how 'bout a little reward, hmmmm???"

Get the picture?

The reason for all this, according to Albrecht, is so the stores will be able to charge different prices for different people.

Albrecht believes the store of the future will have no set price points. Customers will have to aim their cell phones at a product to get their specific price.

Inch, by incremental inch, people.

First Big Brother, someday Stater Bros.?

Is nothing sacred?

click here for more info

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, U.S. Supreme Court Justice

"Do not be afraid for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine when you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior."  Isaiah 43:1-3

News:

• AFP News: Robots debate future of humans at Hong Kong tech show; Artificial Intelligence-dominant theme.
• CBC: Sacramento Considers Driver-less Shuttle Buses; vehicle described as 'train with virtual' tracks.
• CBS: Minnesota town allows Satanic Monument erected in Veterans' Memorial Park; first Satanic monument on public property in U.S. history.

"Endtimes Cash Crash?"

If the Bible does not speak directly about a global economic collapse, why have prophecy teachers always taught there would be one? Because, just as the doctrine of the Trinity is never spelled out for us, it is undeniably there. An economic collapse is there too--by implication.

One only has to read the Book of Revelation to get a glimpse of what's coming. There will be wars, pestilence, famine and terrible natural disasters, like massive earthquakes, unprecedented drought, heatwaves, and humungus hailstones. Revelation 6 releases the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse; #3 mentions food prices. "When the Lamb broke the third seal, I heard the third living being say, "Come!" And I looked up and saw a black horse, and its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. And a voice from among the four living beings said, "A loaf of wheat bread or three loaves of barley for a day's pay. And don't waste the olive oil and wine." This rider on the black horse takes prosperity from the earth and replaces it with famine and hyperinflation.

The Book of James doesn't mince words when it says in Chapter 5: "Look here, you rich people, weep and groan with anguish because of all the terrible troubles ahead of you. Your wealth is rotting away and your fine clothes are moth-eaten rags. Your gold and silver have become worthless. The very wealth you were counting on will eat away your flesh in hell. This treasure you have accumulated will stand as evidence against you in the last days."

These Scriptures (among others) paint a bleak economic picture, but Revelation 13:16-17 is the clincher: "He (Antichrist) required everyone--great and small, rich and poor, slave or free--to be given a mark on the right hand or on the forehead. And no one could buy or sell anything with out that mark..."

Well, we don't know about you--but most people would probably balk at giving up their money in exchange for a mark...unless, of course, their money didn't cut the mustard anymore. The Bible makes it clear these judgments will encompass the entire planet. Who could have guessed 2,000 years ago we'd end up with a global economy?

This doesn't necessarily mean that our current global economic troubles are in any way connected to Bible prophecy. It's possible the world will recover, (or at least seem to do so).

In fact, some Scriptures imply things will appear to be humming along like normal just before the end. In Luke 17, Jesus says: "When the Son of Man returns, the world will be like the people were in Noah's day. In those days before the flood, the people enjoyed banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat and the flood came to destroy them all..yes, it will be 'business as usual' right up to the hour when the Son of Man returns."

1 Thessalonians 5 says that Day will come "...expectantly, like a thief in the night. When people are saying, 'All is well; everything is peaceful and secure', then disaster will fall upon them as suddenly as a woman's birth pains begin when her child is born. And there will be no escape."

Sounds contradictory until you remember that there are yet two comings of Christ:

1. The Rapture of the church. The church will be rescued, but the world at large will be caught completely off guard and left behind to endure the time of trial that will come upon the whole earth. (Revelation 3:10).
2. The Second Coming of Christ.  Comes 7 years later, when the world is neck deep in judgment.

We're betting the final economic collapse comes sometime between these two events. It's possible the sudden disappearance of millions of people triggers the collapse. Imagine the panic, the absolute chaos.

So, if the Bible predicts a global economic collapse, are we seeing the beginnings of it now? We don't know. It could be just another economic cycle, or it could be one of those famous 'birth pains'. Only time will tell.

Market Crash Coming (USA Watchdog.com)

A wise man once said: "There is no doubt that we are in financial fantasyland...there is going to be a moment of reckoning." -- Gregory Mannarino, Market Report

News:

• Sun Times: Illinois Capitol on lock down ahead of budget vote; incident sparked by disgruntled women.
• The New York Times: Hopes of 'Trump bump' for U.S. economy shrink as growth forecasts fade.
• CNBC: Marc Faber has a warning for investors: "Brace yourselves for another financial crisis;" cites high level of global debt.

"Endtimes? How We Know 4 Sure"

Why is it so difficult to pinpoint exactly where we are on God's Timeline?

Because the signs He gave us to watch for (Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21) were not clearly defined.

The disciples asked Jesus what will be the sign of His coming and of the end of the age? He answered by telling them to watch out for:

1. deception
2. wars/rumors of wars
3. famines
4. pestilences
5. earthquakes

That would be fine and dandy if those things had never happened before, but let's face it, there have always been:

1. deception
2. wars/rumors of wars
3. famines
4. pestilences
5. earthquakes

So what's different now?

Israel, of course.

The signs mentioned above were meaningless until the Jews were back in the land. It's important to remember that for almost 2000 years, Israel did not exist, and yet hundreds of prophecies regarding the end of the age refer to Israel, Jerusalem and the Temple. If Israel didn't exist, we couldn't possibly be near the end of the age.

Jesus said those signs were only the beginning. They would increase in both frequency and intensity--just like labor pains in a pregnant woman. But in Luke 21: 28 He says, "Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near." In other words, the believer won't be here to see the hard labor, though it's probable we'll see the beginning of the birth pains. Jesus put it this way: "Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When it's branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near--at the doors! Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, buy My words will by no means pass away." (Matthew 24:32)

B ready 4 anything!

click for "The History of Israel's Wars with Pastor Jack Hibbs and Amir Tsarfati" video

A wise man once said: "Sometime in the future there will be a seven-year period climaxed by the visible return of Jesus Christ. Without the re-birth of Israel on May 14, 1948, this seven-year period couldn't begin." -- Hal Lindsey, author

News:

• The Jerusalem Post: Iran's flag on Israel's border: "We Are Coming"; threat written in Hebrew and Arabic
• DEBKAfile: Tehran marks ballistic missile target area with large Star of David; "clear evidence of Iran's continued intention to harm the State of Israel," says Israeli Ambassador to U.N.
• Associated Press: Kremlin sees U.S. urging regime change in Russia; fear feeds rising tensions between the two countries.
• The Jerusalem Post: Israel to Russia: "Your tensions with U.S. might endanger our border."

"How Authentic Are You?"

"Although large crowds followed Jesus wherever He went, Jesus knew that not all who followed Him were genuine disciples," says Sim Kay Tee, author of Can I Really Trust the Bible?

"Jesus taught often of the radical commitment needed if we want to follow Him," cautions Tee.

"If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me," Jesus said in Luke 9:23.

"Deny yourself?Take up a cross?

Who wants to do that?"

John MacArthur, one of today's foremost Bible teachers, dares to teach the hard facts: "The world is filled with millions of people who think they are headed for heaven--but they are deadly wrong.

"Probably most people think heaven awaits them, but it doesn't. But what is especially sad is that many of those people sit in evangelical churches misinformed," says MacArthur.

Why? Because many churches "adjust the message" fearing the truth will make us uncomfortable.

"It's not my truth," contends MacArthur. "I don't have any saving truth, neither does anyone else but God."  Jesus said, "I assure you, unless you are born again, you can never see the Kingdom of God" (John 3:3). "Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives new life from heaven" (John 3:6).

According to MacArthur (and the Bible): "The true gospel is a call to self-denial. It is not a call to self-fulfillment.

"Salvation is giving up your life and embracing His. It is taking in Christ by faith, acknowledging the reality of who He is and what He did."

In other words, we need to understand that Jesus Christ was God in human flesh. He led a perfect, sinless life so He could die an agonizing death to pay the price for our sin. He rose again on the third day in a resurrected body to eternal life. All who receive His substitutionary death and turn away from their sin will also rise to eternal life. Simple, but not easy. Free, but not cheap.

The Gospel message is offensive and exclusive. It offends those who believe they're okay the way they are and it excludes all the offended.

So, is the church full of phonies? A more accurate description is: The modern church is full of unconverted people who don't know the Scriptures. And if they don't know the Scriptures, they don't know Christ. They've been taught a watered-down, feel-good, anything-goes gospel. The Bible says "be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves" (James 1:22).

And let's face it gang-it's impossible to "do" the word if we don't know the word.

Solution? Read the word of God and just do it!

A wise man once said: "As a Christian, you are called to live like Jesus--a life of courage, joy, passion, and purpose. The same Jesus who walked with such resolve and determination throughout His own earthly life has a distinct and daily purpose for yours. God does not call us to happiness, but to holiness." --John MacArthur

"Our lives are a fragrance presented by Christ to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those being saved and by those perishing. To those who are perishing, we are a fearful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume" (2 Corinthians 2:15-16).

How To Go To Heaven...

News:

• The Jerusalem Post: President Trump's top adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner in Israel pushing Mideast Peace negotiations; peace deal top priority.
• CBN News: Witches worldwide cast spells against Trump attempting to #BindTrump on summer solstice.
• World News: Canadian District Bans Christian School From Teaching "Offensive" Parts Of The Bible