COPY of first pre-blog email (see ‘About‘) sent to friends and certain church leaders. The main points covered therein are.:
> wheat and tares parable, “This is ALL about to be fulfilled” – sifting the Church!
> Jesus stressed 7 times “Watch…be alert…on your guard…”
> nurse sacked for praying for patient; example of how prayer helped Nina fight for life!
> tyrannical tool of intolerance: equality and diversity – MI5 director warns of ‘sleepwalking into police state’ – lawlessness within society and authorities…
Dear Friends – further to Rev’d William Smith’s recent request re Christian Freedom, may I offer some observations upon our times and, in another message, suggest a way forward?
Last year, I encountered two conflicting claims about Jesus’ explanation of the parable on the end-time harvest of wheat and tares (Matt13:36). So I went to check scripture but upon opening my Bible a deep excitement exploded within as I heard, “This is ALL about to be fulfilled” – WOW!!
Hence, my previous remarks about a sifting of the Church – in preparation for a rapid ‘sHifting’? Jesus urged His disciples to look out for and observe signs of the times. Regarding their questions about His return at the end of this Age, the earliest Gospel account has Jesus stressing 7 times, “Watch…be alert…on your guard“ (Mark 13). Matthew 24 reports Jesus saying 4 times, “Watch…and when you see…” followed by the parables of the burglar and of the virgins:> “Don’t be caught napping!” [Is the Church still asleep?] Luke’s account has, “Be always on the watch…” (ch21:36) and chpt 12 (NIV) has sections on watchfulness and interpreting the times. In each Gospel Jesus commands, “Learn the lesson of the fig tree…”. Also, the Apostles went on to give more indicators (Acts 3:20-1, Hebrews 12:26-7, 2 Peter 3, 2 Timothy 3 and the first and second letters to the Thessalonians).
Have you studied or read/heard/given any teaching on this topic lately? So, let’s watch closely what’s happening here and globally.
When I’m by a news stand it’s noticeable that the Daily Telegraph is the only paper to headline matters of Christian concern – several within a fortnight recently. Eg. on 6 Feb it broke the news of Nurse Caroline Petrie’s suspension for offering to pray for a patient with front page headline ‘NHS staff face sack if they discuss religion’. (Daily Mail often supports Christians.)
We took exception to this and wrote to N.Somerset PCT saying we were glad their policy wasn’t in effect 3 years ago when Nina was fighting for her life! (I explained it was only because the night-duty nurse prayed that her throat immediately opened and she became peaceful, as shown on her monitor’s read-out.) So, we’re pleased to learn Caroline has been allowed to return to work, but I’m challenging the PCT’s ‘equality’ stance.
However, this is just one instance of the growing persecution of believers, principally through a policy supposedly promoting toleration but that’s now a tyrannical tool of intolerance – Equality & Diversity. There are other powers of suppression. Even the previous director of MI5 warns about UK sleep-walking into a police state (‘Abject nonsense’ responded a gov’t minister who lives on another planet). Rampant lawlessness now exists not only in society but also within legal authorities – laws not approved by Parliament – ‘snoop and snitch’ culture – correction punished and evil behaviour rewarded – ID cards and routine interception of email and phones – etc etc. Clearly, Banking isn’t the only thoroughly corrupt UK institution.
Let us, however, keep our eyes fixed on Jesus as we await the blessed hope of His glorious appearing. May the Lord bless you and keep you and yours,
Richard's Watch 
Hello Richard, I read a short time ago (but cannot now find it) a prophetic word that said among other things that Satan would use “woke” culture to silence and persecute Christians. Guess that one was fulfilled before it was even spoke. Mark
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13 years – wow! Thank you for your faithfulness and tenacity dear brother – we live in baffling times and there is only One who can untangle and interpreting what we are seeing or not seeing because it has been hidden from us. Your service to the Body of Christ is appreciated and valued by this member and no doubt many others too.
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Thank you dear John – maybe my acknowledgement won’t crash my internet! Been difficult afternoon.
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