"America: Divided We Fall"

Has the Deep State really infiltrated every American institution including:

• the FBI, CIA, DHS, IRS
• the public education system
• the entertainment industry
• the mainstream news media
• and all 3 branches of government?

Ask the people on the right side of the aisle and some will answer with a resounding- 'yes, our country is being hijacked by a shadow government bent on destroying America from the inside out.'

Ask the Left (or "Progressives") and they will look at you askance while tracing "Cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs" circles next to their ear, indicating only the "crazies" or conspiracy-theorists believe that stuff. America's problem, they'll say is the racist conservatism, or more specifically: Donald J. Trump, and his ignorant, bigoted supporters. The best thing for the country? Get rid of:

• Trump and his "deplorable" supporters
• Guns
• Capitalism
• (and last, but not least) borders of any kind

To say America is a divided nation is the understatement of the century. There is an unprecedented "us vs. them" partisan edge permeating every public (and private) institution.

Jesus warned against this, saying, "Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and any city or house divided against itself will not stand" (Matthew 12:25).

"In the endtimes scenario," said Greg Laurie of Harvest Christian Fellowship, "a number of nations seem to be identified in Bible prophecy. Clearly, we find the nation of Israel. Perhaps we can find the nations of Russia and China in end time events.

"But what amazes me is that I can find no passage in the Scriptures that clearly identifies the United States of America. Where is America in Bible prophecy? Where is the U.S. in the prophetic puzzle?"

According to Laurie, "We may simply fade away as a world power. This is a very likely scenario."

Way back in the 1700's, John Dickerson coined the phrase "United we stand, divided we fall." He was right. Red States + Blue States should = United States. 

Because we sink or swim together.

A wise man once said: "America needs divine intervention. We need God's help." -- Greg Laurie

"How To Go To Heaven"

News:

• USA Today: Google blasted by top Republican for linking California Republican Party to Nazism
• Jewsnews: Divine Irony: Rockets fired by Gaza terrorists hit electric facility in Israel...that provides the Gaza Strip with electricity
• The Washington Post: Italy's political crisis is a gut-punch to Europe; If fresh elections are required, furious Italians expected to vote for the same anti-establishment Finance Minister.
• FNC: Democrats oppose Trump's "Right To Try" bill that gives terminally ill patients the right to try experimental treatments; Dems say wrong to give patients "false hope".

"Happiness: A Moral Obligation?"

"Happiness is a serious problem," at least according to the founder of Prager U, Dennis Prager. In his classic book by that title, Prager explores ideas about happiness, including our moral obligation to pursue it.

"We tend to think that we owe it to ourselves to be as happy as we can be," said Prager. "And this is true. But happiness is far more than a personal concern. It is also a moral obligation," and he gives three reasons why.

Reason#1
Happy people are pleasant to be around.

"We owe it to our husband or wife, our fellow workers, our children, our friends, indeed to everyone who comes into our lives, to be as happy as we can be." And this doesn't mean faking it or acting phony, Prager insists.

"But it does mean that we owe it to others to work on our happiness," because chronically unhappy people are difficult to be around.

"Ask a child," urges Prager, "what it was like to grow up with an unhappy parent, or ask parents what pain they suffer if they have an unhappy child (of any age.)"

Reason#2
There is a connection between being a "good" person and happiness.

"In general, people act more decently when they are happy," Prager said, explaining why he wrote an entire chapter on the wisdom of seeking goodness.

Reason#3
Unhappy religious people reflect poorly on their religion and on their Creator.

"Unhappy religious people should therefore think about how important being happy is--if not for themselves, then for the sake of their religion,' he advises.

Prager, a religious Jew, hits the nail on the head but many Christians will be quick to point out the difference between joy and happiness.

• Happiness is a feeling, joy is not.
• Happiness is fleeting, joy is not.
• Happiness depends on circumstances, joy is from God.

Bottom line? If a person is joyful, they are happy. There's no such thing as glum joy. Christians should be joyful and if that means they are happy...rejoice.

"Those who have been ransomed by the LORD will return. They will enter Jerusalem singing, crowned with everlasting joy. Sorrow and mourning will disappear, and they will be filled with joy and gladness" Isaiah 35:10.

A wise man once said: "The Lord gives His people perpetual joy when they walk in obedience to Him." -- Dwight L. Moody

Link: "How To Go To Heaven"

News:

• DEBKAfile: A secret Iranian long-range missile facility reportedly discovered; researchers call discovery "disturbing"
• FNC: California Democrats pass new controversial gas-tax that will bring the cost of a gallon of gas to $5 and dramatically increase vehicle registration fees.
• Yahoo! News: Trump cancels summit with North Korea due to "tremendous anger and open hostility"

"Violence and Israel: Is Prophecy Speeding Up?"

"Did you know God is everywhere--even in the news? That's why we view every news story through the lens of faith," says the CBN News motto.

This week, more than most, that motto was spot on.

The prophet Zechariah tells us that in the Last Days the attention of the world would be zeroed in on the city of Jerusalem.

"As the world watched, the United States officially moved its embassy to Jerusalem Monday and many believe the event was the fulfillment of Bible prophecy," writes Talia Wise, of CBN News.com. "But according to Bible scholars that is not the only world event that points to the end times and Jesus' Second Coming."

Very true--prophetic events world-wide have increased dramatically--but Israel is still the key. Students of Bible prophecy agree that the Jews back in the Land is the most significant prophecy in modern times. Why? Because the fulfillment of so many other prophecies hinge on it.

For instance, the war of Ezekiel 38, scheduled to be fulfilled in "the time of the end" or "the latter days" can't happen  if Israel doesn't exist. (Ezekiel 38, 39).

Psalm 83 predicts Israel's closest neighbors will call for a confederacy to join forces to "wipe Israel off the map." Israel was reborn on May 14, 1948. On May 15, 1948, armies from the surrounding countries invaded with the declared purpose of "extermination". Israel won. Two more wars followed. Same players, same purpose, same outcome.

Despite its tiny size, Israel miraculously prevailed even though they were outnumbered 100 to 1.

The Bible predicts Israel will always prevail.

"I will plant Israel in their own land, never again to be uprooted from the land I have given them, says the LORD your God" (Amos 9:15).

"Hear the word of the LORD, O nations; proclaim it in distant coastlands; He who scattered Israel will gather them and will watch over His flock like a shepherd," (Jeremiah 31:10).

And now Turkey's Erdogan is calling for an "Army of Islam" to attack Israel on all sides.

Good idea? (hint: we wouldn't touch it with a 10-foot pole.)

A wise man once said: "If the Arabs put down their weapons today, there would be no more violence. If the Jews put down their weapons today, there would be no more Israel." -- Benjamin Netanyahu

find out "How To Go To Heaven"

To find out what really happened on the Gaza border, click here

News:

• MAARIV online: Hamas confirms 53 Hamas terrorists members among the 63 killed in Monday's Gaza protests
• The Jerusalem Post: IDF strikes Hamas position in Gaza in response to fire on Israeli forces.
• The Bottom Line Radio Show: UN General Assembly drafts resolution condemning Israel for border violence; U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley vetoes.

"Israel Turns 70: Prophetically Significant?"

On May 14, 1948, the nation of Israel was "reborn". (predicted in Isaiah 66:8).

On May 14, 2018, the nation of Israel will turn 70 years old.

Prophetically significant? We report, you decide.

In Matthew 24, Jesus details the signs and events that will happen at the End of the Age. He includes the parable of the Fig Tree. "The Fig Tree " often represents the nation of Israel in Scripture (but certainly not always).

"Now learn this parable of the fig tree: when its buds become tender and its leaves begin to sprout, you know without being told that summer is near. Just so, when you see the events I've described beginning to happen, you can know His return is very near, right at the door. I assure you, this generation will not pass from the scene before all these things take place. Heaven and earth will disappear, but My words will remain forever" (Matthew 24:32-35).

Whether the Fig Tree represents Israel in this passage or not, the generation meant is the generation that sees the signs Jesus just described beginning to happen and all of them revolve around...you guessed it! Israel.

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: Anti-Semitism.
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: "Outside the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ nothing proves God's faithfulness to His Word like the Jews and the nation of Israel. Satan would like nothing more than make God look like a liar, which explains his obsession with destroying Israel." -- Hal Lindsey, author.

How to go to Heaven? click here

News:

• DEBKAfile: Iranian units in Syria launched heavy missile barrage at IDF in Golan; Israel blasted Damascus Int'l. Airport in response as regional tensions mount.
• FNC: Israel calls up reservists, amass tanks on Syrian border, and warns Iranians against starting a war.
• White House: Israel Has The Right To Self-Defense

"Christ's Imminent Return: How Close Are We?"

Christian author and founder of  The Berean Call , Dave Hunt died in 2013. He left behind a legacy of expert scholarship, impeccable research, and a wide variety of in-depth studies we can all benefit from. He also left us with a couple of warnings:

• "There are two solemn and related warnings which Christ gave concerning His coming again. First of all, He repeatedly and earnestly declared that He was coming very soon and should be expected at any moment. That He hasn't come in more than 1900 years, far from discrediting that promise, makes it all the more urgent that we heed it in our day. By heaven's reckoning, Christ has been gone a very short time; and His coming is nearer now than it ever was."

• "Secondly, He warned us about preoccupation with the things of this life. Christ knew the attraction which the pleasures and ambitions of this world, wicked though we realize it to be, can have for each of us. So He warned us that unless we kept the thoughts of His return fresh in our hearts at all times, we would be caught by surprise at His coming."

Dave Hunt was adamant about the fact that there are no signs for the rapture of the church. Not even one. There is absolutely nothing that must proceed it. Jesus said that He would come like a thief: "At such an hour as you think not" (Luke 12:40). Some translations say He's coming when you least expect Him. There are at least twenty warnings in the Bible telling us to watch, be ready, and stay awake.

Why? Because complacency is human nature. Remember the parable of the 10 bridesmaids in Matthew 25? "When the bridegroom was delayed, they all lay down and slept" (emphasis added).

The world is asleep right now and sadly, so is the church. And yet:

• Israel is back in the land (Ezekiel 37:21)
• surrounded by enemies (Psalm 83)
• Iran , Russia & Turkey have a military alliance for the first time in history (Ezekiel 38:5)
• technology has advanced to the degree that everything predicted in the Scripture is possible for the first time in history (Revelation 13)
• the financial world is sagging under its debt load (Revelation 6:5-6; James 5:1-3)
• sin is rampant; deception everywhere (Matthew 24:9)
• everything has gone super sized (i.e. earthquakes, storms, droughts, floods etc.) (Luke 21:25-26)

People--these are signs for the Tribulation and the Second Coming, not the Rapture, two distinct events that take place 7 years apart.

No one knows the day or the hour of the Rapture, but once it comes (when we least expect it) and the covenant (peace treaty?) of Daniel 9:27 is confirmed,  the Second Coming can be calculated to the very day. Everything hinges upon the covenant (or peace treaty signing) because it is the kickoff of the last 7 years as detailed in the Book of Daniel (Daniel 9:20-27).

Jesus said, "Watch out! Don't let me find you living in careless ease and drunkenness, and filled with the worries of this life. Don't let that day catch you unaware, as in a trap. For that day will come upon everyone living on the earth. Keep a constant watch. And pray that, if possible, you may escape these horrors and stand before the Son of Man" (Luke 21:34-36).

Why did Jesus warn us to keep a constant watch? Because the signs of the Tribulation will all be there in the distance for anyone who is aware and watching to see. For those who are not watching it will be "business as usual right up until the hour when the Son of Man returns" (Luke 17:30).

"So keep a sharp lookout! Don't let Him find you sleeping when He arrives without warning. What I say to you I say to everyone: Watch for His return!" (Mark 13:35-37).

A wise man once said: "How close are we? Christ could come at any moment--before I finish writing this page, or before you finish reading it. Does that thought bring joy or regret--perhaps even fear? The honest answer to that vital question reveals one's spiritual condition and the measure of one's love for Him." -- Dave Hunt (1926-2013)

(want to be sure you're ready? click here )

News:

• Reuters: Netanyahu not seeking war with Iran, he says after unveiling evidence of secret Iran nuke program; Pompeo: Iran nuke deal "based on lies".
• CBS News: 9 tornadoes hit Midwest; bad weather threatens 40 million across U.S.
• DEBKAfile: Iran's Foreign Minister: No renegotiation on nuclear deal; Deadline for Trump decision on deal looms next week