"Evidence of the End Times"

On his weekly prophecy report, bestselling author Hal Lindsey said, "While the 'Big News' is good news, it's going to be carried in on an ever increasing wave of bad news."

The 'Big News'? Jesus Christ is coming back soon. 

Each day brings new and mounting evidence, as the generation that saw the rebirth of Israel approaches 70.

Unfortunately, the bad news comes first:

• Global rejection of Biblical truth
• Widespread deception characterizes every institution including the church
• Weather and earth changes
• Love grows cold/strife takes hold
• Rise in global tensions and antisemitism

Psalm 83 predicts Israel's enemies will call for a confederacy to join forces to "wipe Israel off the map." Last month Turkish president Erdogan called on 57 Islamic states to form a joint "Army of Islam" to attack Israel. Once warm, relations between Turkey and Israel have only recently grown hostile.

Isaiah 17 predicts Damascus, one of the world's oldest cities, will become a "ruinous heap and cease from being a city." Recently, Russian president Putin claimed he had "inside intelligence" that the U.S. plans to strike Damascus with chemical weapons and blame it on Assad to justify U.S. air strikes in Syria. True? Who knows. But the city has become ground zero lately and rocked by multiple bombings.

Zechariah 12 predicts Jerusalem will become a "very heavy stone" in the last days. While Israel is celebrating Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, the Arab world is infuriated. Many fear the 70th anniversary of Israel's re-birth will be a violent one.

Doom & Gloom? "No," says Lindsey. "Not any more than a woman going into the labor of child birth. The pain is necessary to usher in the new life."

A wise man once said: "Prophecy is knowledge of future events. God has laid it all out in advance and called certain Christians to be 'Watchmen', meaning they are appointed by God to warn people of the coming judgment and to tell them the 'Good News' of the Gospel: Jesus Christ will save those who put their trust in Him. Even though the majority will not listen." -- Hal Lindsey, author

Jesus said: "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." Matthew 24: 33, 34

How To Go To Heaven (click here)

News:

• DEBKAfile: Moscow: "U.S. Attack On Damascus Is Imminent"; Washington, U.S. media silent
• FNC: New documents "strongly suggest" co-ordination between Obama, CIA, FBI, DOJ, and Dems regarding Trump/Russian collusion
• The New York Times: Russia Expels 60 U.S. Diplomats; Tensions Reach Fever Pitch As New Cold War Approaches

"What If You Could Live Forever?"

Sorry gang. We can't live forever...at least not in these bodies. But what if you could be resurrected--raised from the dead--in a new and improved body?

Sounds like a trick question, doesn’t it? What if…me?! Raised from the dead—yeah, right—and while we’re at it, can I be taller, too?

But Jesus told His disciples in John 14:19, “Because I live, you will live, too.” Seven simple words with the power to change the world.

There are many religions, but only one claims that its founder returned from the grave. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the foundation on which Christianity is built. If it isn’t true, we are (as the apostle Paul said), “dead in our sins. We might as well eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die.”

But what if it is true? Consider the following excerpt from Lee Strobel’s The Case for Easter:

“When Jesus was crucified, His followers were discouraged and depressed. So they dispersed. The Jesus movement was all but stopped in its tracks. Then, after a short period of time, we see them abandoning their occupations, regathering, and committing themselves to spreading a very specific message—that Jesus Christ was the Messiah of God who died on a cross, returned to life, and was seen alive by them.

“And they were willing to spend the rest of their lives proclaiming this, without any payoff from a human point of view. They faced a life of hardship. They often went without food, slept exposed to the elements, were ridiculed, beaten, imprisoned. And finally, most of them were executed in torturous ways. For what? For good intentions? No, because they were convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that they had seen Jesus Christ alive from the dead.

“Yes, people will die for their religious convictions if they sincerely believe they are true. Religious fanatics have done that throughout history. While they may strongly believe in the tenets of their religion, however, they don’t know for a fact whether their faith is based on truth. They simply cannot know for sure. They can only believe. In stark contrast, the disciples were in the unique position to know for a fact whether Jesus had returned from the dead. They saw Him, they touched Him, they ate with Him. They knew He wasn’t a hallucination or a legend. And knowing the truth, they were willing to die for Him.

“The disciples didn’t merely believe in the resurrection; they knew whether it was fact or fiction. Had they known it was a lie, they would never have been willing to sacrifice their lives for it. Nobody willingly dies for something that they know is false. They proclaimed the resurrection to their deaths for one reason alone: they knew it was true.”

The good news is that Jesus is still alive today. And…if He lives, we can live too. Seven simple words with the power to change your world.

Video: The Case For Easter

A wise man once said: "We live and die; Christ died and lived! And because He lives we will live too." -- John Scott

" I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live." John 11:25

News:

• BBC News: British PM Theresa May to warn EU leaders over Russia threat to democracy
• YNET News.com: Institute for Science and International Security: Syria may have underground nuclear facility, based on satellite imagery.
• Jews News: Pentagon Admits Missile Defenses Powerless Against Russian Hypersonic Weapons

"Weaponized Video: A New Way To Manipulate The Masses?"

Experts are sounding the alarm on the "terrifying" potential of digitally-altered audio/video capabilities.

That's right, Christian, recent advances in audio/video technology can make anyone appear to say anything by "stamping" one face onto another. www.cbsnews.com/news/experts-warn-of-digitally-altered-video-becoming-weaponized/

For instance: "Imagine a world leader appearing in a video to give a speech that never actually occurred. Computer-generated imagery has made this more possible than ever," said Tony Dokoupil on CBS This Morning.

And video experts as well as lawmakers, are freaking out, fearing it could sow chaos or even war.

"The idea that someone could put another person's face on an individual's body?" said Virginia Senator Mark Warner. "That would be like a home run for anyone who wants to interfere in a political process."

Sen. Warner believes manipulated video and doctored audio could be a game-changer in global politics by 2020, or even as early as later this year.

While this technology has some legitimate purposes, Hany Farid, who  runs a lab at Dartmouth College, is trying to expose it.

"We are absolutely not ready for this," he said, in regards to the new video face "stamp" and the Adobe program (reported on last year) that can create new audio from written text, and actually put new words in some one's mouth.

"Right out of the gate, that's terrifying," Farid said. "Now I can create the President of the United States saying just about anything.

"I think the nightmare situation is a fake video of a politician saying, 'I have launched nuclear weapons against a country.' The other country reacts within minutes, seconds, and we have a global nuclear war," said Farid.

And though his lab is developing tools to identify fakes, Farid believes this is only the beginning.

Yikes.

A wise man once said: "We have a 'fake news' phenomenon that is not going away. And so add to that fake images, fake audio, fake video and you have an explosion of what I would call an information war." -- Hany Farid

"The coming of the lawless one will be accompanied by the working of Satan, with every kind of power, sign, and false wonder, and with every wicked deception directed against those who are perishing, because they refused the love of the truth that would have saved them..." 2 Thessalonians 2: 9-10

News:

• Reuters: Russia says U.S. plans to strike Damascus, pledges military response; claims inside intel
• Gateway Pundit: Radical Atheist Set To Become Navy "Chaplain"
• The Jerusalem Post: U.S. intelligence warns of "real potential" of war in Near East region between Israel and Iran. 

 

"Porn For Pay? New Bill Will Force Citizens To Pay & Register With Gov't."

George Orwell is alive and well in the state of Rhode Island--or so it seems. A new law (should it pass) forces all R.I. residents to register with the state and pay a $20 fee to view online porn.

If your first thought is: "Good," think again.

This bill, S2584, introduced last week by Sen. Hanna Gallo and Sen. Frank Ciccone (D-Providence), will require internet providers to digitally block pornography in the entire state. In order to remove this block, residents will have to pay a $20 fee to the state. This bill includes all internet-enabled devices and requires they must be equipped with "a digital blocking capability that renders inaccessible sexual content and/or patently offensive material."

Hmmmm...exactly what does "patently offensive material" mean?

Unfortunately in today's environment it could  mean just about anything.

For instance, the Bible says the cross of Christ is an "offense" to those who are perishing. Why? Because salvation comes solely through the finished work of Christ on the cross. It requires that we repent of unbelief and put our faith in Christ alone. It renders all other so-called ways to heaven false. It demands a decision few are willing to make and excludes all who refuse. Offensive? You bet it is.

A wise man once said; "This true, offensive Gospel will never be accepted by the world and its ungodly system or the prince of darkness who oversees it. It will always be a scandal, an offense, a sword between those who follow it and those who refuse it." -- Josef Urban, The Offense of the Cross

"For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."  1 Corinthians 1:18

How To Go To Heaven

News:

• FNC: Bible Study, Christian Music Banned by Florida Condo Association; resident files lawsuit
• Eyewitness News: Amazon's Alexa devices are scaring people with out-of-the-blue cackles; unprovoked laughter heard in the middle of the night.
• CNN: JP Morgan exec warns stock market could fall by 40%

 

"The Exorcist's Apprentice"

Last year Pope Francis advised priests not to "hesitate to refer people to an exorcist" should the need arise. This year that need has exploded, according to Newsweek.

"Sicilian priest and  trained exorcist Benigno Palilla told Vatican Radio that demand for priests trained in exorcism had tripled in recent years, with 500,000 alleged cases now recorded in Italy alone."

Newsmax reports "Exorcisms are a booming industry in the United Kingdom," according to researcher Ben Ryan.

"There has been an increased focus in the Anglican Church on exorcisms, and partially that's in response to increased demand," he said.

"They have been getting more and more people calling them saying there's demand for this. Outside the established church, there's a huge increase which you can see with your own eyes. If you walk down the Old Kent Road there are flyers and stickers (for exorcists) everywhere," Ryan said.

To what do they attribute this sinister surge?

Benigno Palilla (aka The Exorcist) pointed to the popularity of fortune tellers, tarot card readers, and other soothsaying mystics in Italy.

"Partaking in such sorcery unwittingly opens the door to the devil and possession," he warned, also citing psychological problems as the root cause.

With demonic possessions soaring, the Vatican plans to train new exorcists to meet the demand, because, according to Palilla, "A self-taught exorcist certainly meets errors."

His solution? An Exorcist Apprenticeship, of course.

A wise man once said:" Recognize Satan's strategies and guard against clever counterfeits, because he will be at work in the last days. Beware of any teaching that distorts the message of Jesus as found in the Bible." -- Greg Laurie, pastor

"Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from what we believe; they will follow lying spirits and teachings that come from demons. These teachers are hypocrites and liars. They pretend to be religious, but their consciences are dead" -- 1 Timothy 4: 1-2.

News:

• The Washington Post: Russia has nuclear arsenal capable of avoiding missile defenses and hitting any point in the world, according to Putin.
• PMW Palestinian Media Watch: PA mufti warns: wars, anarchy and instability in region if U.S. Embassy moved to Jerusalem; move planned in time for 70th anniversary date of Jewish statehood on May 14th.
• GMA News Online: Strange 'Possession' Sweeps Through School In The Philippines; Classes cancelled in response.

"Guns, God & The Problem Of Evil"

"Evil is real. As long as humans have walked the earth, people have chosen to do evil things," said Dirty Jobs host, Mike Rowe in a facebook post. "This is what happened in Florida. A nineteen-year old man chose to do an evil thing. He planned it. He executed it. He succeeded."

The shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida last week led to 17 deaths and a raging debate on why such things keep happening.

Rowe says that while it's important to figure out the contributing factors in the shootings, such as video games, accessible firearms, single parents, no parents, powerful medications, social media, mental illness, bullying, or anything else we can think of that might have driven the shooter--we shouldn't lose sight of the root cause: Evil.

Billy Graham, who passed away this week, left us the following example of how evil works:

"Satan may be able to put evil thoughts directly into our minds. For example, when Judas turned against Jesus and secretly betrayed Him to His enemies, the Bible says that 'Satan entered Judas'" (Luke 22:3).

"But Judas alone was responsible for what he did; he could not blame Satan for his actions. Driven by greed, he willingly accepted the money he was offered to reveal where Jesus could be found. In other words, Satan only took advantage of his sinful desires. The Bible warns that 'each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed'" (James 1:14).

The bottom line? Politically charged conversations won't stop evil people from doing evil things. The best we can do is make it harder.

"But evil people and impostors will go from bad to worse as they deceive others and are themselves deceived." 2 Timothy 3:13

A wise man once said: "The Bible says that the problem is within us--within our hearts and souls. We are separated from God, and we need to have our souls restored. Something that only God can do."    -- Billy Graham 1918-2018

Billy Graham's Final Column" "By the time you read this, I will be in heaven."

News:

• The Wall Street Journal: Trump Holds 'Listening' Session For Victims Of School Shooting; pledges to push stricter gun laws, raise age limit from 18 to 21, ban bump stocks, and place armed guards or gun-trained teachers in schools.
• ABC News: Florida shooter claims he heard voices telling him to carry out massacre.
• USA Today: Billy Graham to lie in honor in Capitol Rotunda for service to the nation.

"Russia+Iran+Israel-the U.S. = Urgent Warning: Believers look up/nonbelievers wake up"

News out of the Middle East last week made those of us tracking bible prophecy hold our breath. For a while there, it looked like Ezekiel's prophecy had begun...or possibly even Isaiah 17:1, the destruction of Damascus.

On Saturday (Israel's Sabbath), Iran sent an unmanned aerial vehicle (aka spydrone) into Israeli airspace from a base in Syria.

Israel shot down the drone and launched multiple air strikes on Iran-backed positions in and around Damascus.

Syrian air defense managed to shoot down one of Israel's F-16 fighter jets as it returned from the bombing raid, something that hasn't happened in decades. Oh, and BTW the anti-aircraft missiles that downed the Israeli plane? Russian--though operated by Syria.

Iran and Russia are present in Syria to provide military backing to the Syrian government. Russia is an ally of both Iran and Syria, but also maintains cordial ties with Israel. Based on the Ezekiel 38 prophecy, we believe this "cordial" relationship between Russia and Israel is about to end.

Iran, (the country formerly know as Persia), has threatened to "wipe Israel off the map" for years, but Saturday marked their first ever direct confrontation. Given Russia's close ties to Iran, why wasn't this escalation prevented?

Meanwhile, "a U.S. jet operating in Syria destroyed a Russian-made T-72 battle tank near Al Tabiyeh, Syria on Saturday," the Pentagon confirmed.

The tank was destroyed after Russian mercenary forces fired on a position held by U.S. troops and their Syrian rebel allies earlier last week.

The story has come to light bit by bit, but apparently 500 "pro-regime forces" (meaning--you guessed it--Russians!) fired on special operations troops and attacked a headquarters used by U.S. troops in Deir al-Zor province approximately 5 miles east of the Euphrates River.

The U.S. responded with a furious barrage of air and artillery strikes killing as many as 200 or 300 Russian mercenaries, insisting the attack was unprovoked.

The Russian media version of the story said Russian private contractors and pro-government forces advanced on oil fields in the eastern Deir al-Zor province and were targeted by the United States, claiming the attack was...wait for it..."unprovoked".

The truth? Ezekiel 38 details a Russian-led coalition (including Iran and other Muslim nations) that orchestrates a surprise attack against Israel. Some speculate the reason for Russia's involvement will be to capture Israel's recently discovered massive natural gas and oils supplies (the same reason Russia wants the Balkans). For the first time in history every major player mentioned in Ezekiel's prophecy are amassed militarily on the Syrian /Israeli border. The prophecy does not mention the U.S. Hmmmm...can't help but wonder why.

JD Farag connects the prophetic dots in his short, but comprehensive prophecy update--a must-see to get us up to speed on future events. You don't want to miss this one.

A wise man once said: "Iran's calculated escalation of threat, and its ambition to project its power and dominance, places all of the people of the region--from Yemen to Lebanon at risk. The U.S. calls for an end to Iranian behavior that threatens peace and stability." -- Heather Nauert, U.S. State Department

Then He instructed me, "Do not seal up the prophetic words you have written, for the time is near" Revelation 22:10.

News:

• The Times of Israel: Russian official: "If Iran attacks Israel, we'll stand with Israel; the U.S. and Russia will be on Israel's side" --Russian Ambassador to Israel, Leonid Frolov
• Breitbart: Israel's 'Deep State' Targets Netanyahu With Bogus Charges; shows remarkable similarities with the Special Counsel probe against Trump.
• The Jerusalem Post: Israel Defense Minister: "Iran declared war on us long ago, Tehran wants to "erase" Israel