"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.