Apostasy in America

Apostasy in America


The people of America are paying a high price for their sins and their sins are legion. The Lord, will not be mocked. No government exists and no individual rules, except what He allows.

Isaiah 59: 6-8 "Their works are works of iniquity, and the act of violence is in their hands. Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths. The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace.”

History, both secular and Biblical, is replete with examples of recalcitrant sin laden peoples being inflicted by the Lord with leaders who have decimated and destroyed the masses that they deceivingly purported to represent for good and just reasons. Some of these were black of heart and viciously disposed and others were simply bumbling idiots, either way they led their nations and those who populated them to destruction and ruin.

That this nation is laden by sin and of a corruptness of heart is incontrovertible, the mortals that populate it have descended into depravity, deep sexual deviancy, soul-destroying avarice and bestiality of thought. They revel in their wickedness’s and flaunt them before the world. They splatter the airwaves and cyber space with immorality and deviancy. They pipe it into the homes domestically and export it to foreign shores. Only the ignorantly obtuse and the mentally feeble fail to understand the pitiably deficient state of the collective morals of this people and this society, if they are not abject doers of evil they are upholders and enablers of evil. They are as rotten fruit and about to be plucked and eliminated as the affront they are to a righteous and holy God.

There are no secular solutions for a spiritual disease. The bums will not be thrown out they are where they are for a reason, and if they should drop by the wayside they will simply be replaced with those who are equally perverse. All too often I have hear others say that the Lord helps those who help themselves, this is absolutely a lie. The truth is that the Lord delivers those who do His bidding and who rely on Him in all things.

Jeremiah 17:5 “Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.”

A righteous and virtuous people can expect righteous government and virtuous leaders; an unwholesome and iniquitous people can expect the same unwholesomeness from those who rule over them. The last three government administrations amplify that fact. The unholy trio, Clinton, Bush, and Obama have brought this nation and its people to a precipice overlooking an abyss, all were, during their tenure, liars and deceivers and upholders of vice and personal corruption. They have piped a Godless recalcitrant people down a crooked road to an imminent demise.

Obama’s decline has been rapid and percipient, probably the only thing that has saved him from a more drastic fall in public esteem is an ever worshipful propagandist media and Republicans who, true to form, in their Herculean bent to appease socialist liberals haven’t the statesmanship, the intelligence, or the courage to stand on principle and oppose his Marxist policies.

An adoring liberal-socialist media and the mindless believers in Obama as savior have made much of his alleged brilliance, he is in fact possessed of an entirely normal intellect and is neither brilliant nor possessed of a mentally superior adeptness. He is entirely one-dimensional and incapable of thinking in abstract terms.

His guiding light is his spouse who is what Jezebel was to Ahab, a not unintelligent evil spirit behind the throne. Michelle’s undisguised hatred of America and of the Caucasian race guides her thinking and that of her husband. There can be no doubt that she was the guiding light responsible for her mate’s Marxist political appointees.

Some speculate that Obama is "the" antichrist I don’t believe it. He hasn’t the cleverness, guile, or the complexity and quickness of mind of an antichrist. Although I do believe that he is "a" antichrist. He has surrounded himself with those who do and they are, thanks to his guided appointments and the weakness of his political opponents in heading off those appointments, in critical positions at every level of government where they are systematically and incrementally installing a totalitarian Fascist/Marxist system in once was a Constitutional Republic.

If Mr. Obama were to read this, he would be greatly offended. Not by my allegations of his political intent and Marxist leanings, because he is very transparent in that regard and unashamed of his political bent, but my questioning of his alleged brilliance and his mental adeptness would irritate him immensely, in point of fact it would absolutely infuriate him as he is a complete and perfect Narcissist, a true lover of himself.

America will fall, but there is still hope for the people of America:
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
John 3:18 “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

Jesus Feeding The 5,000!!

Jesus Feeding The 5,000!!

Because of the apparent importance the gospel writers placed on this miracle, modern day scholars and theologians have spent much time as well trying to figure it out.

Jesus looked at the gathered crowds, and wanted to feed them, physically, and spiritually. In his miracle of feeding them, there are lessons for us, ready for us to explore more deeply. Jesus feeds the 5,000 with only a five loaves of bread and two fish.

Jesus had proven that not only could he heal people of their illnesses, he could provide their basic needs, such as food, as well. And to do this, he used what little a young boy could provide. It doesn't matter how much or how little we have, Jesus can use us for his work. We simply must be willing to do what we can for Him

Jesus is teaching on a hillside, there are over 5000 people there, and when evening approaches the disciples become concerned. They fear that the crowd will go hungry, and their solution is to ask Jesus to send the crowd away so that they will not have to worry about them.

But Jesus says to them, you feed them!! Jesus asks Philip, a disciple, what they will give them all to eat. In John's account, it is Jesus who raises the question, perhaps further emphasizing the disciples' inability to see a creative solution to the hunger of the gathered masses.

But Philip is skeptical:
"Six months wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little." Andrew at least makes an attempt at a solution, bringing up a boy who has five loaves and two fish, but pessimistically responds that they will do nothing among so many hungry. Jesus doesn't hesitate - he just tells the disciples to get the crowds seated. He blesses the food, and passes it around. We read that all ate and were satisfied, and twelve baskets of food were left over.

Matthew 14:13-21, 13 When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities. 14 And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick. 15 And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals. 16 But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat. 17 And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes. 18 He said, Bring them hither to me. 19 And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. 20 And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full. 21 And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.

How can we do all we're being asked to do? Enough is enough! We're already overextended, we've already done all we can, given all we can, answered as many calls from God as we can. So often we opt for the safe floating along in the shallow end of the predictable, taking no risks, never going outside our comfort zone, we cannot afford it, we say.

The feeding of the 5000 is, for one, a miracle about how we use our resources. How do we make what seems like too little and not enough meet the needs of everyone present. How do we use our resources? Do we use what we have been given in a way that makes sure that all are provided for?

Jesus concern is for filling the hungriness that touches our very souls. Jesus wants to touch people's spiritual emptiness, to fill the void in so many lives he confronts. For Jesus, cost is not a factor that slows things down, be it the financial cost that might have been involved in feeding the crowds with bread, or be it the deeper costs of his time, energy, heart, even his life.

We are called to do likewise, to live in this way like Christ. The hungry crowds await us too, making demands on our time, making demands on our love, making demands on our resources, and making demands on our lives

The world is full of people who are hungering for something deeper, who are hungering for meaning and love. We are so rich, richly blessed with abundant life, abundant resources, and abundant love from the God who created us, redeemed us, and continue to sustain us.

Thank you, oh blessed Lord for your Word.
Bob

An Inevitability

An Inevitability

What do Iran, Syria, Lebanon, and Russia have in common? They will all be a part of a new axis that confronts Israel in the next, and perhaps last, great war. Recent headlines report the tensions between these countries and Israel and it is only a matter of time before the pot boils over. In fact, the Middle East is on the brink of all out nuclear war. This summer could prove to be the beginning of the end for this world as we know it. With deep routes of terrorism residing in the said Middle Eastern countries, terrorism will play an intricate role in the war in addition to the state sponsors, Syria and Iran, who may potentially launch their known weapons of mass destruction. Lebanon’s biggest role in the conflict will result from the terrorist group, Hezbollah, participating in what may be there final march in their fight against Israel. Russia fits nicely into the scenario with its historical interest in the region, namely oil, and its recent transactions of the nuclear deal with Iran and arms deal with Syria. Russia has not been so intimately involved in the Middle East since the Cold War, and its renewed relations with these countries are indeed affecting ties with the United States. This paper attempts to show the imminence of such a war; the only question remains is exactly when.

A Brief History of Israel

The modern conflict among these nations goes back to the late 1800’s when Jews began to migrate to Palestine to rid the land of swamps and malaria in preparation for the “rebirth of Israel.” They were accompanied by Arabs from neighboring areas seeking jobs and better living conditions. Because no people had claimed the land of Palestine since the Jews did 2000 years before, the British looked favorably on creating a homeland for the Jewish people. In 1923, the British divided the land between what is today Jordan and Israel. This was only 25% of the original land proposed for Israel. Palestinian Jews made up the land west of the Jordan River while Palestinian Arabs made up east of the Jordan River, which became known as Trans-Jordan, the first and true Palestinian state. In 1947, U.N. Resolution 181 sought to divide the remaining 25% of Palestine into Jewish and Arab states. Jewish Palestinians accepted but the Palestinian Arabs rejected and wanted 100% of the land. So on May 14, 1948, Jewish Palestinians declared themselves their own State of Israel. The next day, seven neighboring Arab armies- Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Yemen- invaded Israel. These Arab countries told the Arabs living in the declared Israeli territory to leave during the removal of the Jews and would be rewarded Jewish property upon their return. But it did not quite work out like that. After 19 months, Israel survived and even lost 1% of their population. The Arabs that stayed became Israeli-Arab citizens while those that fled became the first wave of “Palestinian Arab refugees” (1).

For the next 20 years Israel would suffer terrorist attacks based out of Jordan, from whence the Palestinian Liberation Organization was founded (PLO); Syria, which is separated from Israel by the Golan Heights; and Egypt, Israel’s long-time enemy. Jordan and Egypt occupied the West Bank and Gaza, respectively. Although the Arabs now owned 85% of Palestine, this was still not the 100%. In 1967, these countries used the Golan Heights, Gaza, and the West Bank to launch an attack strictly aimed at destroying the State of Israel. Much of the rhetoric used then is still used today, i.e. “drive the Jews into the sea!” and “slaughter the Jews!” It took only 6 days for the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) to wipe out all three armies. Israel seized the Sinai Peninsula from Egypt, the Golan Heights from Syria, and the West Bank from Jordan. What is ultimately mind-blowing are Israel’s efforts to create and maintain relations with its Arab neighbors, despite their hatred for Israel. Since the Six-Day War, Israel has given the entire region of Sinai back to Egypt, which is rich in oil and strategic for air bases and a security buffer (1). Furthermore, they have withdrawn from the Golan Heights and have hoped for a peace plan between Israel and the Palestinian Arabs, which the late Yasser Arafat continuously rejected.

Terrorist Roots: State and Non-State Organizations Against Israel

“Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it, just as it obliterated others before it.” --Covent of the Islamic Resistance Movement, HAMAS (2).

“Kill so many Jews that they will eventually abandon Palestine." --Ibrahim Sarbal, Leader of Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine - Al-Aqsa Brigades (2).

“Six million descendants of monkeys [i.e., Jews] now rule in all the nations of the world, but their day, too, will come. Allah! Kill them all, do not leave even one!" --Imam Sheik Ahmad Ibrahim, HAMAS leader, in a sermon at the Palestine Mosque in Gaza (2).

These examples represent the malevolent rhetoric spewed by the mouths of the Islamic extremists who wish to see the destruction of Israel. The following sections reveal the roots of terrorism against Israel.

Hamas

Hamas stems from the Muslim Brotherhood Movement, which was founded in Egypt in 1928 and has spread throughout the Arab world (2). It has become the Palestinian’s largest and most influential fundamentalist Muslim movement. It has gained popularity amongst the Palestinian people through its funding of healthcare, mosques, schools, soup kitchens, clinics, orphanages, and sport leagues, which the PA often fails to do (3). HAMAS joins the Muslim Brotherhood Movement in its denouncement of Western and Communistic values as well as its seeking of a pan-Islamic state in the Middle East on the basis of Islamic law. Both movements share the ideology that Israel is Islam’s theological archenemy and see Israel as the agent for the West (2). Sheik Ahmed Yassin preached and did charitable work in the Gaza Strip and West Bank following the Six-Day War and in 1973 established the Islamic Center to coordinate Muslim Brotherhood activities. In 1987, Yassin founded Hamas as the Muslim Brotherhood’s local political arm in Gaza after the first Intifada was launched against Israel for control of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The first homicide bombing took place in 1993, and five months later the Oslo accords were signed between the PA and Israel, which later unraveled during the second Intifada in 2000. Today, Hamas continues to attack Israel. The result has led to the death of innocent Palestinians and Israelis. The above graph depicts the death toll since September 29, 2000 to April 3, 2005. 963 Israelis have been killed while 3,609 Palestinians have perished (4).

Lebanon

It is not so much Lebanon that will make war with Israel; but it is the Islamic terrorist group, Hezbollah, that will rise up against the Jewish nation. Hezbollah may be the most funded and supported terrorist organization in the world with its backing from Syria and Iran, who have both been identified by the United States as state sponsors of terrorism (5). The organization was formed in 1982 following the Israeli invasion of Lebanon (6). Israel’s invasion was based on previous terrorist attacks stemming from Lebanon and one final provocation by Abu Nidal (7). The foundations of Hezbollah were laid by Iran in an effort to export the Islamic Revolution and to establish terrorism as an integral part of its national security policy. Hezbollah seeks to create an Islamic state modeled after Iran and is a devout foe of Israel. It is believed since 1988 that Hezbollah has delivered nearly 200 attacks, killing more than 800 people. The organization is tightly woven into Lebanese politics with its support and funding of schools, hospitals, and agricultural services for thousands of Lebanese Shiite Muslims (6).

Iran

The U.S. State Department has declared Iran the number one state sponsor of terrorism. It remains the ideological center for American hatred saturating the Middle East (8). Iran supports many different terrorist organizations throughout the Middle East with training, funding, weapons, and sanctuary. Iran has been a strict Islamic state ever since Muslim clerics overtook the American-backed Shah in 1979. It is now lead by two leaders: Muhammad Khatami, who is the reform-minded, popularly elected president, and Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader whose anti-American, anti-Western hard-line ideology still dominates the Iranian military and intelligence services. Iran has been involved in terrorism since its occupation of the American Embassy in 1979 where student revolutionaries took hostage 52 American for 444 days. Other activities include prior knowledge to Hezbollah terror attacks, such as a Marine kidnapping and killing and the bombings of Jewish cultural institutions in Argentina in 1992 and 1994. Iran also supported and inspired the group behind the truck bombing that killed 19 U.S. servicemen at a U.S. military residence in Saudi Arabia in 1996 (9).

Iran shaped Hezbollah’s ideology, granted it political backing, and built up its operational capability (5). It possesses weapons of mass destruction including chemicals that can induce bleeding, blistering, and choking, as well as the bombs and artillery shells to deliver these agents. Iran has an active biological weapons program as well, which is driven by its acquisition of “dual use” technologies—supplies and machinery that can be put to either harmless or deadly uses, like the nuclear power plant currently being built. Iran also has hundreds of Scuds and other short-range ballistic missiles to deliver WMDs.

Syria

Syria has been on the State Department’s list of state sponsors of terrorism since its inception in 1979. It also has one of the world’s worst human right’s records. Although it has not been involved in terrorist activity since 1986, it still supports several terrorist organizations, including Hezbollah. Although Syria helped the U.S. drive Saddam out of Kuwait during the first Gulf War, ties between Iraq and Syria warmed over the years, allowing them to sign a free trade agreement that made Syria Iraq’s number one oil conduit, against U.N. sanctions. It is purported Saddam was able to ship his WMDs to Syria where they remain today. Syria has an extensive chemical weapons program, including the means to deliver them.

The Bear from the North

It appears that Russia is returning to its Soviet-era days, under the leadership of Vladimir Putin, “when it played countries like chess pieces” (11). It has officially aligned itself on the side of Syria and Iran and their conflicts with the West. While relations between Russia and the United States have been somewhat amiable since the Cold War and the fall of the Soviet Union, Russia is increasingly weaving its way back into international politics and conflicts, in particular with Middle Eastern interests. President Bush returned empty-handed from a visit at the Kremlin in March when Russia signed the nuclear deal with Iran, supplying the Islamic state with nuclear fuel that will make Iran capable of producing a nuclear weapon. Russia has also supplied Syria with surface to air missiles, surface to surface missiles, tanks and armored personnel carriers, and small arms. The missiles can easily infiltrate Israeli borders (12). The Russians have indeed thumbed their noses at the U.S. and European Union without regard. Russia also has an interest in Syria since its only foreign naval base is located there.

Tying It All Together

The tensions among the countries of the world today have never been so high. Consider recent political strife between the United States and Europe, human rights issues with China as well as China’s threats to Taiwan, the North Korean issue, conflict between Pakistan and India, and, of course, the hot bed of the world- the Middle East. The line in the sand has been drawn and many countries are beginning to take sides. It is obvious which countries will line up together: Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia. With the backing of Russia, China, and North Korea, at least concerning arms sells and nuclear proliferation, the Arab countries and their allies pose an even greater threat. It seems that Israel’s lone friend is the United States, with the EU sitting on the fence post and partial backers such as Australia and Great Britain still riding America’s coattails. One cannot deny oil being a considerable issue underlying much of the contention, especially with poverty-stricken Russia. However, the whole world is suffering due to the oil crisis. But more than that, there is a great cause to remove the United States presence and Israeli existence in the Middle East, mostly by Islamic fundamentalist Iran and its ideological-shared cohorts. While the war in Iraq is indeed subsiding with their recent elections and buildup of its own military force, the region is far from stable. Syria’s recent transaction with Russia has ruffled Israel’s feathers and poses a greater threat to the Jewish country. Also, the pullout of Syria’s troops from Lebanon should become an interesting situation. The last Syrian soldier is scheduled to pullout on April 30, 2005. Even more interesting is the relocation of the troops. They have been pulling out to the Beka Valley, which is at Israel’s doorstep.

Iran is a greater threat than most people realize. They are not building their nuclear program for defensive purposes. Remember they have the ideology of “death to the Jews and Americans!” This is not merely hate speech. Once they have the capability, they will not hesitate to launch an attack. Israel, the United States, and several European nations have warned that Iran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon. In fact, there are war games being conducted in Israel with Israeli and American troops, who are preparing for a coming confrontation. If no resolution can be implemented, Israel will not hesitate to take out Iran’s nuclear facilities. The United States will be forced to come in and back Israel. Likewise, any American attacks within Iranian or Syrian borders will automatically bring Israel into a war. Iran and Syria have recently declared that they will unite on all fronts if either country’s livelihoods are challenged or threatened. Whatever the situation may be, it will be all eyes on Israel.

Concerning the United States’ War on Terror, it is inevitable that a coming conflict will come. After the attacks of 9/11, the American public was told time after time that this is going to be a very long war that could last years, perhaps decades. Well, the war is only four years old and is hardly over. There still remains numerous terrorist organizations and countries that harbor, support, and train these groups as well as conduct terrorist activities themselves. The mere existence of these entities poses a great threat to all of the people of the world, not just the United States. Iran or Syria is next on the list. Whether they strike first is another question. Nevertheless, the world will be in total havoc. Furthermore, one cannot ignore Russia’s true intentions, or know what they are for that matter. They have already announced support for Syria and Iran; but how much support? Is getting their military involved an option? Absolutely! Russia has much at stake in the Middle East with trade agreements, oil, and a base in Syria. They see Israel as a thorn in its side. The Russian bear has been sleeping for quite some time and with its current leadership it is finally awakening. An attack on Israel is not out of the question!

China and North Korea cannot be forgotten. If and when war breaks out in the Middle East, North Korea may see this as their chance to rattle its saber and perhaps get bold enough to do something about it. China’s increasing conflict between itself and Taiwan has turned out to be a very dangerous situation. The United States has vouched full support for Taiwan while China has written in law that it is an internal conflict and other countries need to stay out. They signed into the law that military force is an option and they need no excuse to use it.

The bottom line is as follows: the world is on the brink of World War III. A world war is a military conflict affecting the majority of the world's countries. World wars usually span multiple continents, and are very bloody and destructive (13). There is already war in Iraq, although it is dwindling. A spark between U.S. forces or Israel and an Arab country will escalate into full scale war in the region. The threat in Asia is looming more than ever. Whichever region blows the top first, the other will soon follow. More countries, if not all countries, will be brought into both conflicts and the world may very well see the most death and destruction it has ever suffered. Nuclear weapons will most certainly be used and other WMDs such as biological and chemical weapons are indeed a great possibility. These things could begin as soon as this summer, but no later than a couple of years. The world has been primed for a great war, which could very well be the last. This planet’s fate is at hand.


References;

1. http://www.masada2000.org/historical.html
2. http://www.nizkor.org/hweb/orgs/american/
3. http://cfrterrorism.org/groups/hamas.html
4. http://www.mepc.org/public_asp/resources/mrates.asp
5. http://www.terrorism-info.org.il/malam_multimedia/html/final/eng/sib/3_04/hezbollah.htm
6. http://cfrterrorism.org/groups/hezbollah.html
7. http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/History/Lebanon_War.html
8. http://www.capmag.com/article.asp?ID=2888
9. http://cfrterrorism.org/sponsors/iran.html
10. http://cfrterrorism.org/sponsors/syria.html
11. http://www.theinsider.org/mailing/article.asp?id=867
12. http://frontpagemag.com/Articles/Rea...e.asp?ID=17389
13. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War

The United States in Bible Prophecy?

The United States in Bible Prophecy?

Since the United States is not mentioned specifically by name in Bible prophecy, people have resort­ed to their ima­ginations to find our nation in the Scriptures.

Some have pointed to Isaiah 18 which speaks of a peo­ple “tall and smooth” who are “feared far and wide.” The passage further states that this is a “powerful nation whose land the rivers divide.” The chapter ends by stating that the people of this nation will bring “a gift of homage” to the Lord when He returns to reign from Mt. Zion.

Because these verses speak of a powerful nation whose land is divided by a great river, some have jumped to the conclusion that the nation is the United States since it is divided by the Mississippi River.

But the open­ing verses of this chapter indicate it is speak­ing of “Cush,” the ancient name of Ethiopia. At the time Isaiah wrote this passage, Ethiopia was a part of the Egyp­tian empire and the river referred to is undoubtedly the Nile.

Probably one of the most popular passages where peo­ple claim to have found the U.S. is in Ezekiel 38 where the pro­phet describes an invasion of Israel that will be launched in the end times by a nation “from the remote parts of the north.” The descriptive verses about the northern power make it clear that this nation is Russia. What is not so clear is where the U.S. fits into this invasion.

Those who find us in the passage point to Ezekiel 38:13 which says that “the merchants of Tarshish and all its villag­es” (or “young lions” depending on translation) will speak out against the invasion. The argument is that Tarshish is Britain and the “villages” or “young lions” are the English speaking nations like the U.S. and Australia that were foun­ded by British immigrants.

To say the least, this is a highly imaginative interpreta­tion. Its validity is seriously questioned by the fact that no one knows for certain the true identity of “Tarshish.” Fur­ther­more, recent archaeological develop­ments indicate that Tarshish was most likely Spain, not Brit­ain.

Another favorite passage for applied imagination is Rev­ela­tion 12:13-17. These verses state that in the middle of the Tribulation God will provide a means of escape for the Jew­ish remnant in Israel. They will be carried into the wil­der­ness to a hiding place on the “wings of a great eagle.” As written in the "Left Behind" series.

Some people have seized on this imagery to teach that the United States, whose national symbol is the eagle, will supply the end time air lift that will save the Jewish remnant.

But the Bible is its own best interpreter. And when you look up the phrase, “wings of an eagle,” you will find that it is the same one that God used in Exodus 19:4 to describe how He brought the Israelites out of Egypt. God is the ea­gle, not the United States (see on this in Deuteronomy 32:11).

This brings us to the final and most widely used pas­sage for identifying the U.S. in Bible prophecy. It is Revela­tion 18 where the destruction of “Babylon the great” is de­scribed.

There is no doubt that the United States shares many simi­larities with the corrupt commercial empire described in this chapter. But the U.S. is not a fulfillment of Revelation 18. That chapter is describing the last Gentile world empire that will dominate the earth at the time of the Lord’s Sec­ond Coming. It is the empire of the Antichrist.

So, where is the United States in Bible prophecy? The an­swer is that we are not mentioned directly and specifical­ly. In the United States, we are cov­ered by general prophecies that relate to all nations, but beyond that, our end time destiny must be a matter of speculation.

General prophecies that apply to the U.S. include those that say all nations will be judged (Isaiah 34:2-3) and all na­tions will cease to exist except the nation of Israel (Jeremiah 30:11 and 46:28).

I personally believe (in my opinion) that the reason the U.S. is not men­tioned in end time prophecy is because we will suddenly cease to be a world power and will therefore play no signifi­cant role in end time events.

The destruction of American power is most likely to occur in two stages. The first could be an economic catastrophe that will result from our out of control debt situation. To most Americans, god is the dollar and the Lord is going to destroy that god when the weight of our debt collapses our economy.

The second stage could occur when Russia launches its invasion of Israel (pro­phesied in Ezekiel 38 and 39). I think it is very likely that they will launch a preemptive nuclear at­tack against our nation, since we are the only country in the world that might possi­bly come to Israel’s defense. This attack may be hinted at (in my opinion) in Ezekiel 39:6 where it says that fire will fall on “those who inhabit the coastlands in safety.”

With the U.S. immobilized, the Russians will then attack Israel and, according to Ezekiel, their army will be wiped out su­pernaturally by God on the hills of Israel (Ezekiel 39:1­4). The greatest power vacuum in the history of mankind will be created almost overnight. The world will be gripped by panic. Into that vacuum will step a dynamic, charismatic Euro­pean political personality who will be energized by Satan. He will begin to rally the world to his support through his brilliant proposals for world peace. The world will be mes­merized by him (Revelation 13:8).

Russia is now too weak to launch any attack against Israel or the United States (least right at the moment). It is true that the econo­my of Russia is in shambles, but the military power is intact, including thousands of nuclear warheads!

In fact, Russia is far more dangerous to the world today than before the Soviet collapse. The increased danger is rooted in the instability of the government.

There is no hope for de­mocracy in Russia because the societal values that are es­sential for the working of a demo­cratic system do not exist. Nor is there any histori­cal expe­rience with democracy. Be­fore the Commissars were the Czars.

The current experiment with democracy will not last long. It will be overthrown, most likely by a coup that will produce a military dictatorship. That new tyranny will then most likely resort to one of the oldest techniques of govern­ment — namely, stirring up trouble abroad to divert people’s attention away from their domestic problems. That foreign trouble will be the invasion of Israel.

I do not like this speculative scenario. But it seems the most likely chain of events to me. When it first occurred to me, I was particularly repelled by the idea of God using Russia to judge our nation. I asked, “How can a holy God punish those who are evil with those who are more evil?”

My quest for an answer to that ques­tion led me to the book of Habakkuk. I discovered that Habakkuk asked God the same question when God re­vealed to him that Judah would be judged by an invasion of the Chalde­ans.

God never answered Habakkuk’s question. He just called on Habakkuk to proceed in faith, believing that God knew best (Habakkuk 2:4). After a difficult spiritual struggle, Ha­bak­kuk stepped out in faith and said, “Lord, even if the Chaldeans completely destroy us, I will continue to exalt Your name” (Habakkuk 3:17-19).

The Chaldeans came. They destroyed the nation of Judah and the Temple of God. But where are the Chalde­ans to­day? In the dust bin of history. Where are the Jews? Gathered back to their land, God gave them.

The point is that God has the wis­dom and power to or­chestrate the evil of man, to the tri­umph of His holy will in history. It is not for us to question His ways. Rather, it is for us to trust Him.

There is another possible fate for the United States. If the Rapture were to occur today, we would be devastated because our nation contains more born again Christians than any other nation in the world more than all of Western Europe combined. Further, we have many born again Christians in high positions of commerce and government. The Rapture would reduce our nation to chaos, removing us from the international scene as the world’s dominant power. And I pray that this, is the case.

We can hope and pray that this will be the destiny of our nation, because if it is not, we are headed toward outright destruction due to our rebellion against a gracious God who has blessed us more than any other nation that has ever existed.

Bob

Four Types of Christians

Four Types of Christians

This year, taken at my doctors office.

1) THE DEAD CHRISTIAN Revelation 3:1 And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.

The first type of Christian we find is one who is a Christian in name only. The Dead Christian may go to church, and may even claim to follow Christ, but hasn’t truly come to Him for forgiveness.

Jesus addressed the Dead Christian in Revelation 3:2-3 when He told them, “I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent.”

What is the work of God He found to be incomplete? John 6:29 tells us that “the work of God is that you believe in him whom he has sent.” And what is it we’re to believe? We find the answer to that in 1 John 5:11-13, “God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.”

Once a person believes in, and calls on Christ to forgive them, they are forgiven and are “made alive” in Him 1 Cor 15:22.

2) THE BOUND CHRISTIAN Galatians 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

The next type of Christian we want to look at is the Bound Christian. This is a Christian who is alive in Christ, but is bound by sin, and this hinders his relationship with the Lord.

Romans 6:16 warns that “when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness.”

Galations 5:17 tells us of a battle that wages between the Spirit and the flesh. “The desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.”

We follow the Spirit when we “crucify the flesh with its passions and desires” and produce the fruit of the Spirit which is “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Galation 5:22-24

Yes, we’ll stumble in our walk, but when we do “if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

We don’t have to be slaves to sin. We can be slaves to righteousness if we follow the Lord’s ways. Romans 6:17-18 gives “thanks to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.”

3) THE LONER CHRISTIAN Hebrews 10:22-25 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

The third type of Christian is the Loner Christian. The Loner Christian is alive in Christ and enjoys fellowship with God. His life is full of blessings but the Loner Christian is keeping his blessings to himself.

Jesus said He came so that we “may have life and have it abundantly.” John 10:10 Christianity is a faith that should be lived through both our words and our actions.

Jesus told Peter in John 21:17 that if he loved Him he would care for His followers. We’re all blessed with some sort of gift. Some are good at encouraging, some are able to teach, some love to pray, others have the gift of compassion… there are many different types of gifts but what they all have in common is the gifts God gives us are designed to serve others. This stands in sharp contrast to the world which put its emphasis on serving yourself.

4) THE COMPLETE CHRISTIAN Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

The final type of Christian we want to talk about is the Complete Christian. We call him complete because he alive in Christ, has a strong relationship with God and is a blessing to everyone around him.

We are encouraged in Matthew 5:16 to “let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”

We should live our lives in a way that when people see us, they see Jesus, and God is glorified. When we came to Christ we took all the blessings that go along with it. Forgiveness from sin, freedom from sin, fellowship with God and the honor of representing the living God to the dying world.

Bob

Christians should be supporting Israel.

Christians should be supporting Israel.

Christians should definitely support the nation of Israel. We must remember that Israel, the nation, is very special to God. We read in
Deuteronomy 7:6-8 For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. 7 The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: 8 But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

God's eternal purpose is to bless the world through Israel. Already He has done so in measure, for "salvation is from the Jews", but the fullness of future blessing is indicated in the wondrous promise of;

Isaiah 27:6 He shall cause them that come of Jacob to take root: Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit.

John 4:22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.

The declaration that "salvation is from the Jews” suggests our immeasurable debt to Israel. All that we have worth having has come to us through the Jews. Our Bible is a Jewish Book, and our Savior is a Jewish Savior. Let us never forget to pray for God's chosen people. It is true that Israel, today, is in the place of rejection. The nation is a secular, unbelieving. Some Jews are being saved and are becoming members of the body of Christ through faith in their Messiah.

Romans 11:5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

Jews are, biblically speaking, the "chosen people of God" and dearly loved by Him. Another reason for Christians to support the nation of Israel is because of Abraham's Covenant. We read of God’s promise in Genesis 12:2-3 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

Genesis 27:29 Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother's sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee.

Numbers 24:9 He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.

One of the United States’ most worthwhile accomplishments has been its consistent regard for the plight of the Jewish nation. No nation in the history of the world has a better record of treating individual Jews with respect than does America. The same can be said for our befriending Israel as a nation. America has committed many sins for which we may well deserve judgment, but as a nation, we have been a consistent friend of the Jews and the nation of Israel, as well as a benefactor. In 1948, President Harry Truman helped persuade the United Nations to recognize Israel as a nation. Since then, the United States has contributed billions of dollars in aid to Israel.

From the biblical declarations of God's love and care for His chosen people, the nation of Israel, and from the history of nations being destroyed because of their evil dealings with God's chosen people, the Jews, Christian believers should give support to the chosen people of God. This is not to say that we support necessarily the methods they use in their relationships with the Arab nations. The Bible warned that conflict would always characterize the relations between the descendants of Isaac and Ishmael. Sadly, this conflict will continue until Jesus comes back to judge the nations and sets up his 1,000 year reign of peace on earth. We must look at the "big picture” with a biblical worldview. While we do not have to support everything Israel does as a nation, we most definitely should support Israel’s right to exist. God will fulfill His promises and covenants with Israel. God still has a plan for Israel.

Genesis 12:2-3 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

I staggered by the speed with which Obama has sought to undermine the Jewish people. Jews may then have tried to avoid Obama’s anti-Semitism, but they cannot now avoid the consequences of avoiding Obama’s anti-Semitism. He has unleashed an evil in this world the extent of which we are only now beginning to see. He has made the world safe for haters and killers. We have to be able and willing to make moral distinctions and stand up for the good and fight evil, and that is something that both the Europeans and Obama refuse to do.

How the United States will hold onto a friendship to Israel. I don't know but, I will say all Christians need to be praying for Israel today, right NOW!!

May the Lord grant you His peace and Grace.
Bob

Request For Transfer

Request For Transfer

TO: Commander and Chief Spiritual Armed Forces, Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour

Dear Lord,
I am writing this to You to request a transfer to a desk job.

I hereby present my reasons:

I began my career as a private, because of the intensity of the battle You have quickly moved me up in the ranks. You have made me an officer and given me a tremendous amount of responsibility. There are many soldiers and recruits under my charge. I am constantly being called upon to dispense wisdom, make judgments, and find solutions to complex problems. You have placed me in a position to function as an officer, when in my heart I know I have only the skills of a private. I realize that You have promised to supply all I would need for the battle.

But Sir, I must present You a realistic picture of my equipment. My uniform, once so crisp and starched, is now stained with tears and blood of those I have tried to assist. The soles of my boots are cracked and worn from the miles I have walked trying to enlist and encourage the instructed troops. My weapons are marred, tarnished and chipped from constant battle against the enemy. Even the Book of Regulations I was issued has been torn and tattered from endless use. The words are now smeared.

You have promised You would be with me throughout, but when the noise of the battle is so loud and the confusion is so great, I can neither see nor hear You. I feel so alone. I'm tired. I'm discouraged. I have Battle Fatigue.

I would never ask You for a discharge. I love being in Your service. But I humbly request a demotion and transfer. I'll file papers or clean latrines. Just get me out of the battle please Lord. Thank you for letting me blow off some steam.

Your Faithful but tired Warrior,
Discouraged Guerrilla



Our LORDS reply;

To: Faithful, but tired, Soldier, Spiritual Armed Forces

Location: The Battlefield

SUBJECT: Transfer

Dear Discouraged Guerrilla:

Your request for transfer has been denied. I herewith present My reasons:

You are needed in this battle. I have selected you, and I will keep My Word to supply your need. You do not need a demotion and transfer. (You'd never cut it on latrine duty.) You need a period of "R&R" -- Renewal and Rekindling. I am setting aside a place on the battlefield that is insulated from all sound and fully protected from the enemy. I will meet you there and I will give you rest. I will remove your old equipment and "make all things new."

You have been wounded in the battle, My soldier. Your wounds are not visible, but you have received grave internal injuries. You need to be healed. I will heal you. You have been weakened in the battle. You need to be strengthened. I will strengthen you and be your strength. I will instill in you confidence and ability. My Words will rekindle within you and renewed love, zeal and enthusiasm. Report to Me tattered and empty. I will refill you. My Blood is sufficient and never runs out.

Compassionately,
Your commander in Chief, Lord and Saviour.
Jesus Christ
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There is another alternative reply from our Commander in Chief, it goes like this:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dear Discouraged Guerrilla,

Your request for transfer has been denied. I herewith present My reasons:

This has all been part of your training. The fact that you have come to realize that you don't have the skills to be an officer means you are finally ready for your next promotion.

I want you to be one of my Generals.

It is now you will realize that the battle is not yours. It belongs to me.

The reason you are worn and weary is that you have been fighting in your own strength with primitive weapons against forces you have no power to defeat.

You will now see me fighting with weapons of warfare that are Mighty to pull down the unseen forces you have been trying to defeat.

Arise General Guerrilla, you mighty man of valor.

This is the year of our favor. This is the day of our vengeance.

It's time for you to perform the one task I have for you as you watch our victory.

Stand!

Signs of Jesus' Return

It is mind-boggling to think that our generation alone is uniquely standing on the precipice of time and where no generation has ever stood. We are living in the days spoken of by the ancient prophets.

These prophets spoke of the Israelites being gathered back into their own land, in passages such as Ezekiel 37:21 This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will take the Israelites out of the nations where they have gone. I will gather them from all around and bring them back into their own land.

This began in 1948. The “dry bones” of Ezekiel 37 have come alive. As also prophesied, we are seeing the world turn against Israel.

Zechariah 12:3 On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations”

The catalyst for this is oil, or petro-dollars, causing the world to sell out tiny, democratic Israel to despotic Muslim nations for purposes of greed.

These signs are historically unprecedented. Only this generation has seen them. But there are many other biblical signs, such as: increased violence worldwide (as in the days of Noah), increased apostasy, increased cults and false religions and false prophets, increased natural disasters such as frequency of earthquakes, and more.

For these and many other reasons, is it any wonder that millions believe the return of Christ is so near? Polls show that even non-believers think the world is at such a point. This is the most exciting time in all history to be alive!

Just the question, when? Causes some Christians to cringe, protest, or even scoff! They quickly point out that Jesus said, Matthew 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man

Some believers criticize other believers who are seeking God’s clues, either from the Scriptures or by personal revelation. It is interesting that it was apparently by personal revelation, not Scripture, that many people knew the exact day of Elijah's rapture (2 Kings 2)! Are there types in the Old Testament? Do God’s principles repeat themselves?

Some claim we should focus only on the Great Commission and evangelism and not be concerned when the Lord will return. However, the Bible repeatedly tells us to “watch” for the signs, so not doing so would be disobedient. Also, those who are watching and expecting Jesus’ soon return are probably the most zealous group of witnesses for the gospel among all Christians.

The doubters may mention Paul's words that the day of the Lord will come like "a thief in the night" (1 Thessalonians 5:2). But many believers have so misunderstood these verses that they are oblivious to the times, not watching for the Lord as He commanded, and are often absorbed by the cares of this world and their own agendas.

As to Matthew 24:36, some scholars point out that Jesus' words here are in the present tense, addressed to His hearers at the time, and not to those alive at the end of the age when Daniel's vision would be unsealed (Daniel 12:9). This would be similar to Matthew 16:20 Then he warned His disciples not to tell anyone that He was the Christ.

As evidence, many other Scriptures reveal to us that God will reveal at least the approximate time. (Even if the "day and hour" restriction is literally valid today, it may be because the Earth is in 24 time zones and always in two different days.)

Jesus also said, “but my Father only” knows, which pins the statement to His hearers at the time, when Jesus was still on the earth, because surely there are now no secrets in the Trinity between the Father and the glorified Son, who are truly One.

Also, in context, He seems to be speaking of heaven and earth passing away (v. 35), not other end-time events. In addition, Jesus said,

Revelation 3:3 If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee

He is obviously saying that to the one who watches, He will not come as a thief and that person will know the hour! (Hour -- Greek hora -- Strong’s 5610; various meanings, including, “any definite time, point of time, moment.”

It is clear that Jesus will not come as a "thief in the night" for watchful believers, because in the very same passage, verse 4, Paul tells us, But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief.

If we are trusting in Christ and looking for His coming, Paul said that even the very day does not have to surprise us!

Also, Jesus exhorted, "If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief" Revelation 3:3, obviously saying He will come as a thief only to those not watching! It is obvious that for those watching, He will NOT come as a thief.

Jesus rebuked those who did not understand the signs of the times in His day:
Matthew 16:3 O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky, but can ye not discern the signs of the times

Of the end of the age, Jesus said,

Luke 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh

He said we would know when it is near!

God said, "Surely the sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing it to His servants the prophets" (Amos 3:7, NIV). God said "nothing," and He did not exclude Christ's return. I take Him at His word.

God not only knows the end from the beginning, He tells us that He makes it known!
Isaiah 46:10 I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come.

He has already made it known! I personally believe it has been hidden in His Word all along, to be unlocked in His timing. There is nothing wrong with seeking! No doubt, it pleases God.

God said, Isaiah 48:5 I have even from the beginning declared it to thee; before it came to pass I shewed it thee

Jesus said the Holy Spirit "will teach you all things" (John 14:26). He said "all things." Did Jesus make a mistake, forgetting to exclude when He will return? I don't think so.

Friends confide in one another. Abraham was called God’s “friend” (Isaiah 41:8; James 2:23).
Genesis 18:17 And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do

Now, because of Jesus’ atonement, we are called friends of God.
John 15:15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends

The Bible also says that Jesus was crucified so that the blessing of Abraham, part of which was friendship with God, would come upon the Gentiles -- us (Galatians 3:14).

Ecclesiastes 1:9 What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun

Many Bible students believe that ancient events and dating in the Bible are shadows and clues that foretell the coming of the Lord, even the timing. An example is the six days of creation, seen as 6,000 years of man’s dominion over the earth, before the return of the Lord and the seventh, or Sabbath Millennium of peace, with Christ ruling in Jerusalem. According to scholars, we are now at the end of 6,000 years since Adam.

There are other such passages. God clearly promised that we would know at least approximately when Christ will return, and even "the day" will not surprise us, as the Holy Spirit reveals through Paul!

In addition, there is ample precedent for God revealing specific times in advance.

He gave Noah advance notice of when the flood would be (Genesis 6,7).
He told Abraham how long the Israelites would be in Egypt (Genesis 15:13).
As mentioned, He revealed to many the very day of Elijah's rapture (2 Kings 2).
He told Jeremiah how long the Babylonian exile would be (Jeremiah 29:10).
He told Daniel exactly when Messiah would come the first time (Daniel 9:25-26).

Some, including the brilliant Sir Isaac Newton, believe this same passage holds the key to the timing of His return.

There is evidence that the Bible reveals the exact number of years of "the times of the Gentiles" and the exact span of time to Israel's rebirth in 1948 and the recapture of Jerusalem in 1967.

Obviously, leaving us clueless now would violate God's own established pattern as revealed in His Word!

Also obviously, we are not left clueless. There are many signs. Let us remain watchful and ready, and be found doing the Master’s work.

Bob