This exceptional account gives a glimpse of what the Christian church was like immediately after Jesus walked the earth. For Randy Clark it must have been like a trip in a time machine. We’ve been blessed to meet this most humble servant of God in Canada and UK several times. His website is www.globalawakening.com (Some miraculous healings he encountered of disappearing surgical metal parts may be seen here on this blog.) Thank you Tembisa.
Taking a brief break from redecorating our bathroom to catch up yesterday with online news a couple of items got connected – serendipity again? [Definition in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary: ‘the faculty or phenomenon of finding valuable or agreeable things not sought for’.]
I didn’t intend writing yesterday, just to scan dozens of emails but one covered Ambrose Evans-Pritchard’s pitch. I’ve often read his articles and realised the importance of this so hastily copied it (as previous post). But this time I had to avoid reading around to get a fuller picture. So I didn’t check out William Hague’s speech or follow the link to Daniel Hannan. (He’s one of the few politicians I have time for. As a Member of the European Parliament he’s well informed and frequently stands up against the EU’s nonsense.) I merely noted the reference to his on Swiss economic arrangements with the EU.
Now, where had I spotted another reference to Switzerland yesterday? It was within the plethora of news items posted on Sunday in John McTernan’s Insights, as follows:
“Muslims enraged by cross on Swiss flag: “Many Muslims feel this Christian slogan is a provocation and an assault against Islam” 10/16/12 The Muslims cannot stand the cross, and this shows how they want to dominate any society that they are in.”
John read in The Local, Switzerland’s News in English, about Muslims objecting to a Swiss International Air Lines advertising campaign simply because of a play on words upon their fleet’s ensign! Journalist Malcolm Curtis explains:
Alluding to its logo, taken from Switzerland’s national flag, the slogan says in German, “Kreuz ist Trumpf”, literally, the “cross is trumps”, or the “cross is a plus”. The words are used in a billboard campaign, launched within the country last month, that highlights the white cross on the back of one of its planes.
Muslims in Switzerland have responded negatively to the advertising, which they believe promotes Christianity over other religions. In Swiss internet forums, Islamists complain that Swiss makes reference to the “cross” and not the “Swiss cross”, Der Sonntag newspaper reported….
Swiss maintains that its ad campaign does not carry any religious or political message. The slogan is, in fact, a play on words, referring to “trumps” in Jass, the popular card game that is strongly rooted in Switzerland, airline spokeswoman Myriam Ziesack told Sonntag.
She said it was unfortunate that the billboard advertising appeared at the same time as the anti-Muhammad American film surfaced on the Internet. “We didn’t intend to make any religious or political statement with this advertising message,” Ziesack said. (See full article and links.)
The time is soon coming when most of these folk will be embarrased about extremists’ viewpoints and want to bring their religion into the 21st century. But as that’s according to the Christian calendar, should that be ‘the modern world’? Objections to a nation’s culture and heritage are not the way to bring peace between people.
Incidentally, about that offensive video, there’s more to it than meets the eye if there’s any credence in investigators claims, writes Palestinian Walid Shoebat (read his latest).
Thank you Gillan for an excellent commentary upon this most welcome news – especially for including Dr Sookhdeo’s editorial. Perhaps we could say the ‘oiks’ have been hoisted by their own petard. The violent hatred expressed within the basic beliefs of their ideology should be evident to all rational people.
With all due respect to individual Muslims, the religion seems to regard their prophet as more holy than their god; is that not blasphemy? Until Islam has a Reformation this dividing difference between civilisations will remain. But I believe the Holy One of Israel is the one to do this – after all many Muslims are having direct revelations of Jesus and learning who he really is, which is not as Islam supposes!
NB: re. infamous video clip: WALID SHOEBAT, Palestinian ex-Jihadist now Christian, HAS PRODUCED EVIDENCE THAT THE MOVIE’S MAKER IS NOT A CHRISTIAN COPT! [link] His knowledge and investigations lead to the probable conclusion it may well be of terrorist origin in order to defame Christians, similar to false claims about Israeli sabotage of ‘holy’ olive trees.
In the midst of a sequential graphical calendar of major football and rugby events on Wembley Stadium website appears this unusual page devoted to the National Day of Prayer and Worship. It describes the amazing beginnings of this event as follows.:
Several years ago, Jonathan Oloyede, a convert from Islam, had several vivid visions of renewal, revival and transformation coming to the UK. These included graphic pictures of Wembley Stadium filled to capacity with worshipping and praying Christians (emphases mine, RB).The inspiration which sparked him into action was a vision of people all over the four Nations praying the Lord’s Prayer at the same time; in pubs, churches, schools, offices, homes and on the streets. As the Christians prayed in one accord, Light and Healing spread across the British Isles.
His vision will be realised on September 29th with The National Day of Prayer & Worship, a once in a generation gathering at Wembley Stadium that will unite the church across class, colour, creed and culture.
The website concludes by quoting Jonathan,
Wembley 2012 will be an historic opportunity for the church as thousands across the British Isles converge in unity and prayer. We invite Christians, churches and delegates from every village, town and city to come for an unforgettable occasion.
Thank you to Wembley Stadium for being so helpful and supportive of Jonathan’s work, and to you for that splendid mission Jonathan. Amen to your prayers and may the Lord powerfully bless and work through the marvellous legacy of this project > What Next?
[My personal impressions are on previous, updated post.]
Another well argued and presented viewpoint from Gillan Scott, with several comments including those of yours truly.
PS: Read about the Egyptian TV presenter who engineered the rage, who “prides himself on baiting liberals, Christians and Jews” (Telegraph).
UPDATE 27/9: Former member of the Muslim Brotherhood, Walid Shoebat, claims on his blog that the offensive video trailer was, in all likelihood, produced as a terrorist scam. This renowned peace activist arrives at that conclusion after examining the contradictions and falsehoods within the media accounts, plus his own previous investigations into the characters and his family connections and direct knowledge of the Middle-East. Citing 7 facts, he shows the media story is faulty and inconclusive!
William Koenig has HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD!
Readers may have noted my Paws 4 thought on cycles (29 Aug) outlined the 11 year cycle of major conflicts in the Middle East. [For a brief introductory outline see my post Points to ponder: 2011-2012 and then Koenig’s intriguing ‘Timeline 2011 to 2019‘ – regret no longer available since updating of his website.]
A week ago I received the following News Alert from Bill in which he anticipated another ‘historical day’ in connection with Israel, militant Islam and the USA. But before reading it consider these momentous events.:
The world now knows another September 11th (Tuesday) became notorious for conflict: the American embassy in Egypt and consulate in Libya came under siege from raging Islamist mobs and, as they fled to safety, US Ambassador Stevens and three consular staff were murdered in cold blood in Benghazi (Debka exclusive report).
Also on Tuesday, President Obama decided not to meet PM Netanyahu on his forth-coming visit to the States, thereby increasing strained diplomatic relations and causing a flurry of news reports (here’s just one, a Debka special).
Now, take careful note of the prophetic news alert (web version here)..: [Koenig’s Eye-View Friday 14th has day-by-day account of the week.]
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Crucifixions have been reported in some Islamic nations, all of which requires a sensitivity in handling source materials, as may be inferred from my early post Not on the 10 o’clock News. However, lack of such expertise – and of a grasp of spiritual dynamics – generated a great deal of verbiage, misunderstanding and false conclusions, as outlined below:
A fortnight ago I noted Stuart James’ question on his popular blog-forum eChurch: “Are Christians being crucified by the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt? Important blog post by my friend Gordon looking at the veracity of the Christian crucifiction(sic) claims in Egypt, that have spread like wildfire online and created widespread anger amongst Christians.”
Gordon Hudson’s blog examines various reports and commentaries of this event in some depth. (It is claimed to have taken place in front of the presidential palace.) He endorses Canadian editor and columnist Jonathan Kay’s National Post article entitled Egypt’s ‘crucifixion’ hoax becomes an instant Internet myth, wherein he pronounces at the very outset:
It’s a story worth dissecting — not because it’s true (it isn’t), but because it is a textbook example of how the Internet… has been co-opted by culture warriors as a weapon to fire up the naïve masses with lies and urban legends.
In concluding his ‘investigation’ of this particular case, he refers to a dated report (ie. three years old!) that repudiated false reports of crucifixions and thus wrote:
The people reporting this false story were not deliberately lying. As I noted in my original post, they have simply become so wrapped up in the idea that we are fighting an existential war against militant Islam, that they are willing to believe any nonsense story they come across without checking it. If it sounds like it could be true, then it must be. The first casualty of war, as always, is truth.
Stuart’s friend puts it, “It shows how stories can change as they are spread. Especially where indignation is involved and there is an information vacuum.” Both these writers dug around a lot and have taken the trouble of posting updates, all of which may be read via the above links. It’s too easy, however, to pontificate from the comfort of one’s cosy corner…
Within hours I received an email update from the original Western reporter.
As far as I can find, critics haven’t refered to the original report, its publication date or the identity of the man who’d broken the story to the West! The account first appeared in a ‘guest column’ of The Investigative Project on Terrorism on 15th August under the title Muslim Brotherhood ‘Crucifies’ Opponents, Attacks Secular Media, by Raymond Ibrahim.
Unlike his critics, Raymond is not only fluent in Arabic but also a specialist in Islam who explores “the pivotal but ignored point where Islam and Christianity intersect, translating pertinent Arabic news that never reaches the West”. Born of Egyptian Coptic parents, Raymond discovered, translated and published original Al-Qaeda treatises (earlier post refers: Muslim Persecution of Christians).
In response to the deluge of media speculation Raymond has reconsidered his report and answers Jonathan Kay point by point. He takes up Kay’s above opening shot with,
Alternatively, dissecting Kay’s claims is useful as it is a textbook example of how the Western mindset tries to rationalize away whatever does not fit its intellectual boundaries.
He doesn’t so much dissect as dismembers Kay’s argument. His rebuttal Crucifixion, Not Fictions should be read by all who are concerned about these severe issues. In point of fact he noticed, ahead of Kay, that the original Sky News report he’d seen and written about had been withdrawn! In reviewing the facts he writes on 4th Sept:
I did not have to make this point, or mention Sky News at all, since other reports—including El Balad, a much higher trafficked Arabic website which I also quoted—independently mentions the crucifixions in original language and further adds that two people died. And that report, as of now, is still up.
Raymond proceeds to answer Kay’s claims by referring to actual facts of life in Egypt, including the Maspero Massacre, and especially as regards media subjugation under the Muslim Brotherhood’s president Morsi. This had also been reported by renowned Caroline Glick in her long analysis published 17th August, Who lost Egypt?
On Sunday, new President Mohamed Morsy (sic) completed Egypt’s transformation into an Islamist state. In the space of one week, Morsy sacked the commanders of the Egyptian military and replaced them with Muslim Brotherhood loyalists, and fired all the editors of the state-owned media and replaced them with Muslim Brotherhood loyalists.
He also implemented a policy of intimidation, censorship and closure of independently owned media organizations that dare to publish criticism of him. (my emphasis)
Raymond Ibrahim concludes his firm rebuttal as follows:
All this leads to the most important point. Whereas Kay appears intent on proving that the crucifixions never happened, a close read of my article shows that I never said they did happen. As always, I merely reported and translated what was on the Arabic media; noted that Sky News took its story down; and then offered my own interpretation—including the fact that Muslims have been known to crucify their opponents in the modern era, crucifixions are prescribed by the Koran and Sharia, and an Egyptian parliamentarian recently called for crucifixions to be legalized.
In light of all the above, I reiterate my original conclusion: “there is little reason to doubt this crucifixion story.” (my emphasis)
Indeed, soon after this crucifixion story appeared in the Egyptian media, a disturbing video surfaced from Yemen, of a mutilated man, crucified.
How long before the usual naysayers try to portray even this video as a “hoax”?
If you wish to query Raymond’s argument, I’d direct you to this article in response to the decapitation of a Christian in Tunisia, and in which he lists several pertinent facts about the Arabic media and blogo-sphere that Western self-styled pundits miss.
The crucifixion video which he provides a link to is gruesome – it can be viewed only by turning safety button off! It thrusts a grim reality into one’s face. AND, amputation as punishment is common, the latest occurrence of which is in Mali (AP report here). I’ll desist from commenting about medieval religious mindsets that attempt to justify and promote outrageous barbarity. It brings a vivid portrayal of what would have happened to Jesus Christ, which Paul Priest portrays in The reality of the Crucifixion, [not for the squeamish].
By the way, there’s also ongoing persecution in Israel of Christians and Messianic Jews from ultra-orthodox Jews, of which the latest vandalism at a monastery is a minor episode (see World News – thanks Stuart).
So is someone, or something, masterminding a ‘crusade’ against Christians? And why?
Answers please on a postcard…
UPDATE: May 2013
For another well-informed and fuller, historical consideration see the Orthodox Christian Robert Sidway’s Crucifixion in Islam: Christians ascend their Golgotha
Even if you decided not to take up Chuck Missler’s challenge, you will have thus gained a glimpse inside a fantastic T R E A S U R E C H E S T that only a few know about!
I like Chuck’s rapid-fire style of teaching. No way can one nod off when he’s getting to the heart of whatever’s in his sights. His full, clear exposition on ‘End-Times’ was very interesting and covered questions I’d raised many years ago, viz:
I’d done quite a lot of research on the Biblical aspects, including works by well known British teachers David Noakes, Derek Prince, Lance Lambert and David Pawson. Also ferreting around for answers elsewhere I found the following secular as well as Christian online sources provided a trail of incisive analysis based upon accurate information. Why not check them out for yourself?
Should you wish to investigate for yourself, other links listed on the Home page will also be of help.
Should you wish to take up Chuck Missler’s challenge and quickly find out for yourself what the Bible itself says, visit What On Earth Will Happen Next? for John Puddicomb’s introductory outline.
NOW, come with me into my ‘time machine’ where we may meet, not TV’s fictional time lord Dr Who, but the real Lord Of Time! Click here to enter…
COPY of pre-blog email (as in ‘About’).:
I’m circulating to draw attention, as does Barnabas Fund, not only to the criminal massacre of our brethren in Egypt but also and especially to the author’s early paragraph:
Meanwhile, not only are Western governments apathetic, but it was revealed that “Obama’s top Muslim advisor blocks Middle Eastern Christians’ access to White House.” Newt Gingrich asserted that Obama’s “strategy in the Middle East is such a total grotesque failure” and likened the “Arab spring” to an “anti-Christian spring.”Ann Widdecombe accused the British government of “double standards in its threats to cut aid to countries which persecute gay people while turning a blind eye to persecution against Christians.”
You may recall my grave concerns in June 2009 over President Obama’s Cairo Address. This indicated its claims to his being a historian and Christian were quite shallow, if not hollow. [ALSO see latest against his stance in MEF Aug’12 below.]
Many analysts, too, were deeply concerned, especially in his development of connections with the Muslim Brotherhood and the worrying direction his administration has taken the USA – even concluding that ‘POTUS’ (President of the United States) may be a crypto-Muslim. Subsequent events served to confirm the validity of their well-reasoned reservations.
If latest reports are true, clear indications of what many regard as a subversive, anti-Christian agenda have now surfaced, viz:
Beirut Arab news agency al Nashra reported on Saturday November 22, that [White House Muslim envoy] Dalia Mogahed has succeeded in cancelling a meeting between the Maronite Patriarch of Lebanon and President Barack Obama. Writing in al Nashra, the reporter said “an unnamed US source told the news agency, that those who sought cancelling a visit of (the spiritual head of the Maronite Church) Patriarch Beshara Rahi to the White House are Dalia Mujahid (Mogahed), the highest adviser on Arab and Islamic Affairs in the State Department, who is from Egyptian origins. And that,” according to al Nashra, “heeding a request by the higher leadership of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, who consider that US Administration must support the Islamist Sunni current facing the Iranian current in the region.”
The author of the MEF item below, Raymond Ibrahim, born of Egyptian Coptic parents, is a specialist in Islam exploring “the pivotal but ignored point where Islam and Christianity intersect…translating pertinent Arabic news that never reaches the West”. Biographical notes read:
Immediately after 9/11, Raymond—then a student of history and theology, not politics and current events—began reading up on al-Qaeda and other Islamist organizations; he began watching Al Jazeera. He was immediately struck by the continuity evident between the words, deeds, and goals of the 7th century mujahidin (“jihadists”), whom he had been studying for years, and the near verbatim words, deeds, and goals of 21st century jihadists. Since then, he has maintained that to truly understand contemporary Islam, one must first understand Islamic history, doctrine, and epistemology
He discovered, translated and published original Al-Qaeda treatises, from which he concluded:
Based solely on al-Qaeda’s own words, this collection of translations, “proves once and for all that, despite the propaganda of al-Qaeda and its sympathizers, radical Islam’s war with the West is not finite and limited to political grievances—real or imagined—but is existential, transcending time and space and deeply rooted in faith.”
Please visit Middle East Forum for his October’11 and subsequent monthly updates.
LATEST INDICTMENT: Obama Administration’s War on Persecuted Christians.
UPDATE 14 Oct’12: Robert Spencer; Egyptian Copts overwhelmed by “anxiety and fear”, see Muslim Brotherhood government as “worst in memory”.
COPY of pre-blog email (as in ‘About’):
After the distressing details of the Maspero massacre at long last I’m able to share some TRULY POSITIVE, VERY GOOD news. This comes as a result of prayers after that event and which led to a massive, historic prayer meeting in which Muslims joined!
Developments during the year made me wonder about the fulfilment of the prophetic details I’d divulged about the fall of Islam and the Holy Spirit setting all Eastern Africa ablaze from Mozambique to Egypt and across to the Arabian peninsular. Yet now we learn of an event on 11.11.11 from 24-7 Prayer and a popular ‘tall skinny Kiwi‘ of:
“Egyptian leaders are telling us there has been a significant spiritual ‘shift’ in their country and we are trying to make sense of it all…
Since the event, one Egyptian Christian leader told us,
“The heavens are clean! It is easy to pray!” He calls it the beginning of revival:
“I saw signs of the beginning of revival that I have never seen before!”
There’s an interesting reference to this activity focussing upon a ‘garbage city’ – now where’ve we heard that before? (Such gave rise to Iris Ministries in Mozambique and the phenomenal work the Lord is doing there through Heild and Rolland Baker.)
Praise the Lord !!
Richard
CONTINUATION of pre-blog email Touching Turkey:
Now all this prefaced John’s talk ‘Eyes to See and Ears to Hear’ (Matt 13) in which he spoke about the Church’s deliberate choice of being either blinkered or able to see and understand what the Lord is doing and moving us into. He hinted that this may explain why so many believers find it hard to appreciate what happens during visitations of the Lord, for example in Argentina, at Toronto, Pensacola, Lakeland, Mobile etc.
Did you know that the Holy Spirit-led Argentinian revival and the ‘Toronto Blessing’ have borne fruit in the Islamic world? This oft-ignored impact has come mainly through those revivals’ associated ministries of:
> Norwegian LH made many secret missions into Pakistan where hundreds of thousands, if not now over a million Muslims, have come to faith in Jesus.
> Rolland and Heidi Baker, founders of Iris Ministries in Mozambique, through whom Muslim provinces have converted to Christ in response to their uncompromising approach. On her visits there, Heidi would challenge them to, “Bring out your demon-possessed, your blind, deaf and lame”, whence all get healed by and encounter Jesus’ love direct.
When I discussed with Rolland a vision of Holy Spirit’s fire sweeping up Eastern Africa and across the Sinai into the Middle East (here), he told me about a strategists’ report from the highest Islamic centre of Al Azhar University, Cairo. A discussion heard on Arabic TV stated the report’s goals of achieving a global caliphate were well on the way to being achieved BUT with the exception of Africa because of this ministry’s mission, where mosques have become churches!
Praise you, and lots, lots more Lord!
COPY of pre-blog email (as in ‘About’).:
“The Lord is really working in Turkey. He’s on the verge of doing some-thing that’s quite big, we’re certain of it” – ”He’s giving us many signs of His Presence and we believe this is to prepare us for quickly gathering a huge harvest”.
COPY of pre-blog email (as in ‘About’).:
Dear Friends,
Have received God TV’s letter for June which announces their focus upon events in the Middle East and which will especially focus upon the extraordinary work of Canon Andrew White, the ‘Vicar of Baghdad’. Transmission is scheduled for 9-12 June, should you want to watch these programmes.
Furthermore, I’d draw your special attention to the attached prophetic word about the Arab nations. It was first published in Journal of the Unknown Prophet, which bears the following wholehearted recommendation of Colin Dye, pastor of Kensington Temple:
‘The Journal carries the distinctive ring of a genuine prophetic word of our times’.
This word, and many more, was received during a 10-day visitation in Nov 1999 and of which one particularly spoke of the future betrayal of Israel by nations which had previously been her allies:
“…For even the governments of the West and the Western powers shall shift and sway and even those you thought were solid allies to you, shall in the coming days shift allegiance…”
Over the past two years – climaxing last week in Washington! – we’ve seen this genuine prophecy come to pass. But praise the Lord there’s one God-fearing leader in this world: Canada’s PM Stephen Harper – would that ours were of his spiritual calibre.
During the last few weeks I’ve been discovering more about the Lord’s wonderful work within the Muslim nations, and would like to share it another time.
To close, could Jesus’ words at John 5.23 about honouring Him be aimed at not only Jews but also Muslims? After all they regard Jesus as a prophet and thereby give him honour – and look what happened to the Samaritan woman when she recognised Jesus as a prophet (John 4.19), He then blessed her with the revelation of Him as Messiah!
Awesome!
SEE ALSO:
COPY of pre-blog email (as in ‘About’).:
Dear Friends,
Further to my very brief references recently to the dangers behind the unrest in the Middle-East, (ie. effect upon our world economy and secret alliance between Sunni-Shia extremists) I would draw your attention to the opening paragraphs of the following alert. It is worth taking seriously because Iraq’s biggest oil refinery was blown up just this morning! [Details: http://www.debka.com/article/20710/]
Last week, Iran’s leader announced that the region’s revolutions are the work of the coming, hidden 12th Mahdi.
“The final move has begun. We are in the middle of a world revolution managed by this dear (12th Imam). A great awakening is unfolding. One can witness the hand of Imam in managing it,” said Ahmadinejad. [Full report at http://www.france24.com/en/20110211-us-israel-will-soon-exit-middle-east-ahmadinejad ]
The removal of America and Zionism from the Middle East will then lead to the global caliphate! BUT we know the Lord High God’s plans regarding the true messiah, our Lord Jesus.
As Bill Koenig at the White House reports last night,
“With events transpiring at a breathtaking pace in Israel, the Middle East, the United States and the rest of the world, it is becoming extremely challenging keeping up with the weekly news activity.”
Also, the potential for President Obama’s impeachment has increased, says a former Speaker of their House of Representatives, because of his sudden announcement not to uphold the federal Defense of Marriage Act, contrary to his constitutional duty!
Richard
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COPY of pre-blog email (as in ‘About’):
This is a more personal letter to you as I believe it’s time to tell about a revelation that amazed me, for it came only a couple or so years after my re-birth. (And only now am I glimpsing how it may connect with an open vision of fire shooting up E Africa to Egypt.) So I’d be interested if this may strike a chord, or you get a word from the Lord – or even a check in your spirit. Kindly bear with me as this needs be a bit lengthy.
As what I saw is directly relevant to the past month’s (Jan 2011) momentously historic events (which could affect our Western nations’ economies) I’ve been hesitant to relate this without the Lord’s go-ahead. Thus, early yesterday I sought the verses about His word not returning to Him void (Isa 55.11) but my eyes fell first on Isaiah 44.24-26, as though confirming the validity of the revelation and giving clearance to write:
“I am the LORD who has made all things, Who alone stretched out the heavens, Who spread out the earth by Myself, Who foils the signs of false prophets and makes fools of diviners, Who overturns the learning of the wise and turns it into nonsense, Who carries out the words of His servants and fulfils the predictions of His messengers….” (NIV)
First, some background. At the time I received this staggering ‘download’ my Baptist pastor and elders were unable to help, possibly because it came in a dream, and I was a ‘young’ Christian…It was, however, an excellent church for solid Biblical tuition and discipleship – thank you Lord.
Nonetheless, what I received proved helpful to a young missionary in France as well as to an evangelist off to Egypt. I’d put the full account in a letter, which he put on top of clothes in his suitcase. Thus, when Egyptian customs questioned him and checked inside his case he was reminded and encouraged in his mission. Here’s what I’d written:
The BBC late evening news on 6th January 1992 announced that leaders in the Muslim community wanted to establish a Muslim parliament in Britain…:
In a dream that night I saw Western Europe, mainly France and the Mediterranean, as if from the space shuttle and heard the popular worship chorus ‘All Hail The Lamb’ being sung, as if in the atmosphere! This praise was repeated many times most melodiously, as though by angelic choir ,and seemed to spiral upwards. Then I heard a very loud, authoritative voice declare, “As Communism fell, so too will Islam fall”.
I understood this as the Almighty’s declaration that Islam’s demise would come when Muslims themselves want to be free and rise up en-masse. Clearly, by referring to the events that had rippled across the Eastern Bloc to end the Soviet empire, we could expect a similar, unanticipated wave to sweep across Africa, the Middle East and Asia to the Pacific. It, too, would be like dominoes falling. In fact, some commentators are likening what’s happening now to that effect – Telegraph and Foreign Policy reports.
As a prophetical impression the dream awaited proper weighing and confirmation by my leaders. Only a few years ago I read an article by the prophet Marc Dupont in which he referred to a very similar word at about the same period. EVEN SO, if you’re with me thus far, please do weigh and check all this. [Months after this email I discovered that Lance Lambert had later that year brought the same message about God shaking the nations.]
Later yesterday I got an email from leading analyst on Middle-East affairs, Daniel Pipes, supporting that concept of change, viz:
“Something remarkable, unpredictable and unprecedented took place in recent weeks on Egyptian streets. A leaderless mass movement galvanized large numbers of ordinary citizens, as in Tunisia days earlier. It did not rage against foreigners, scapegoat minority Egyptians, nor endorse a radical ideology; instead, it demanded accountability, liberty, and prosperity. Reports reaching me from Cairo suggest a historic turn toward patriotism, inclusion, secularism, and personal responsibility.” – Washington Post
Let’s remember the Lord’s ultimate redemptive plan for Egypt, as stated in Isaiah 19 especially verses 19-25.
19 In that day there will be an altar to the LORD in the heart of Egypt, and a monument to the LORD at its border…24 In that day Israel will be the third, along with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing on the earth. The LORD Almighty will bless them, saying, “Blessed be Egypt my people, Assyria my handiwork, and Israel my inheritance”.
Pertinent to these verses is this closing statement of an email just in: “..the Egyptian identity needs to be resurrected, thereby allowing all of the nation’s sons and daughters to work together for a better future—without the dead weight of foreign encumberments, namely Arabism or, worse, Islamism.” [Assoc. Dir ME Forum: Egypt’s Identity Crisis.]
Did you read in my email 10 Feb of Dutch Sheets’ word given 13 Jan about the Lord supernaturally visiting the Middle-East? Well, on Monday I bought his classic book Intercessory Prayer but didn’t dig in until last night. On fanning through I was drawn to a prophetic word about nations falling rapidly before Him (see large red asterisk in attached). I think the Lord is trying to get our serious attention, don’t you?
THEREFORE, I believe it’s a pivotal prayer-time to ask the Lord for those nations that are closed to Him to become fully open to the Gospel. The harvest fields are ripening.
For example, many Iranians realise that 30 years’ Islamic rule has utterly failed. They’re desperate for the real truth of God. Previously it took one missionary a life time to bring 10 to Christ. Yet last year just one phone call served to bring 30 to salvation! Multitudes are responding to dramatic personal visitations and miracles direct from the Lord, as well as through satellite/phone evangelism. (Dr Hormoz Shariat, Iran Alive Ministries.)
“…By Myself I have sworn, My mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked: Before Me every knee will bow; by Me every tongue will swear (allegiance). They will say of Me, ‘In the Lord alone are righteousness and strength’.” All who have raged against Him will come to Him and be put to shame. But in the LORD the descendants of Israel will be found righteous and will exult.
[Isa 45.23-24 NIV’s ‘raged’ seems more appropriate than ‘incensed’ in NKJV & Amp]
I close as All Hail The Lamb starts playing on pc – WOW, what a coincidence, or rather God-incidence!!
“He’s the Lamb upon the throne…He IS the Lord”
Part 2 of pre-blog email Today’s News: ‘Deep US-Saudi Rift’ – see previous post:
The Lord’s Perspective:
However, as regards these events (Egypt and Saudi-USA rift) it’s far more important to seek the Lord on any connection to His Word and on how He sees them, and to ask about His plans. In this connection we’d watched the prophetic intercessor Dutch Sheets on this issue.
On 13 January (2011) Nathan Morris was off with ‘flu from the revival meeting in Mobile, Alabama. However, Dutch stood in for him and taught about it being a true revival and become so significant outpouring of the Holy Spirit it would be the start of a ‘Third Great Awakening’. He said this is indicated by an unsurpassed number of medically attested miracles and salvations amongst the young.
Afterwards, Dutch went into intercession for a number of nations, but stopped and fervently declared he believed he’d just heard that the Lord is going to move super-naturally across the Middle East with dreams, visions and miracles. He claimed the Lord would be doing what evangelists cannot do in these closed lands and bring whole Muslim villages to salvation in Jesus. [NOTE below]
Watch the following profoundly important prophetic message after John Kilpatrick hands over to Dutch at 1hr40min. Three minutes later he opens up about a ‘great awakening’ which the Lord has been talking to him about since 1991. [Note: this brief note of a word given in June 2012 is also relevant. Read also of his experience in Sept 2014 – email updated 13 Nov 2014.]
Dutch’s descriptions reminded me of a vision of holy fire sweeping up the eastern side of Africa from Mozambique (where Rolland and Heidi Baker have brought whole Muslim provinces to Jesus), up to Sudan and Egypt and then into the Arabian peninsula! Even so, the one who would usurp God’s throne will no doubt get stirred up. So we shall see…
[2012 Note: The vision came when I first saw Heidi addressing a conference in Toronto. Suddenly, it was as though I was in orbit over central Africa and saw tall flames leaping high into the atmosphere over the whole of Mozambique and which spread northwards. The Mediterranean coast sat on the curvature of the globe and I saw the flames go along it and across the Sinai peninsular. Upon speaking to Rolland Baker a year or so later, he informed me this vision is similar to that which their director Supresa Sithole had for Iris Ministries.]
Praise our Almighty God and Father of Lord Jesus.
NOTE: The day after Dutch’s intercession the president of Tunisia fled to Saudi Arabia. Three days later an Egyptian man copied the earlier self-imolation of a Tunisian street seller, which led into the major protests in Egypt and toppling of president Mubarak. See Timeline (24 Jan 2012)
COPY of pre-blog email, with my emphases .:
Friends,
At a ladies’ regular house gathering in a village near Guildford, guest speaker ‘H’ was eloquently forthright about the situation here in comparison with her homeland of Egypt. There ordinary Muslims would expect Christians to be as fervent as they are in their faith.
[I’m only too aware of the current persecution of our Coptic brethren, possibly because that’s where the Muslim Brotherhood took root and which is pressing for political power in the event of President Mubarak’s demise. One of its martyred leaders is regarded as the founding father of modern jihad and its deeply doctrinaire targeting on all fronts of America and Europe.
[Update: see Robert Spencer; Egyptian Copts overwhelmed by “anxiety and fear”, see Muslim Brotherhood government as “worst in memory” – 14 Oct 2012]
You may recall my having quoted Miracles Among Muslims by Christine Darg. So, it was good to hear ‘H’ say over a million Egyptian Muslims secretly believe in Jesus and that Middle Eastern believers are migrating to the relatively more tolerant Egypt. [NB: 2 years ago!]
‘H’ mentioned the Lord had advised her not to regard outward events as being of His will but to look for His redemptive plan for nations. Thus, she gained insight into the Isaiah 19 prophecy regarding Egypt, Israel and Assyria (ie Iraq) – which is also a pillar for Canon Andrew White’s reconciliation work in Baghdad, Jerusalem and Cairo!! [See previous post.]
Perhaps the serendipitous references to this scripture came in answer to my thoughts upon Acts 1:6-7? When answering the disciples’ query on restoring the kingdom to Israel, could Jesus have had in mind Father’s strategy to fulfil that prophecy?? What do you think, my friend? Some teach that Jesus rebuked them because they were mistaken about God’s purposes. But surely Jesus would have explicitly said so?
Let’s remember when He upset them by saying He was going away to prepare a place for them in Father’s house, He explained: “Were it not so I would have told you” (John 14.2). Surely, Jesus would have applied that same teaching principle when answering their question about Israel’s future, wouldn’t He?
Jesus’ answer was not an emphatic “No” but rather a “Not yet and it’s not for me to say – I have a something else for you”.
Meanwhile, let’s take our stand…
COPY of pre-blog email (as in ‘About’):
Friends – did a prophetic word pop into my previous mailing? (Also with some intriguing ‘synchronicity’, as below!) Previously, after having written on a scripture, I didn’t know what to put and thought, “You know all about it Lord, so over to you”. Hence my wording below (now in red).
TODAY, scriptural confirmation has come via John McTernan, with full explanation! Please see today’s posting Elam/Iran in The Latter-Days – it’s engrossing reading, as is his second item Islam vs The Bible.
My previous was relatively brief to avoid taking up a lot of your time. That meant omitting many details, one of which is the reason for the pundits’ alarm. There had been talk of an imperative strike to take out the nuclear reactor. But that had to be executed before it went live to avoid woeful repercussions, as in the ‘Chernobyl incident’. [Over 600 fires in Russia have resurrected the radioactive perils arising from many nuclear incidents – see report.]
The reactor at Bushehr has become operational. On the previous day, Iran test-fired its latest missile (the words “Ya Mahdi” written on its side!), the US ‘reassured’ (!!) Israel that Iran is still a year away from making an atom bomb, and announced the resumption of Israel-Palestinian peace talks. (Debka, however, reported sources close to President Abbas quoted him as saying direct talks were not in the offering because a “big military surprise awaits the Middle East”!! It’s known that all four armies in the region are on a full war-footing.) Furthermore, Israel’s hands were tied by a secret US-Russian deal!! [Debka report].
SO, presumably Obama thinks he must do something to earn that fatuous Noble Peace Prize endowed at the start of his office! BUT he’s thus tied USA into the Gog-Magog alliance of Russia, Iran, Turkey & Syria, (Ezekiel 38 refers) thereby fully confirming his own anti-Israel stance. (We can draw our own conclusions about the consequences for USA.)
AND HOW VERY INTERESTING that the question of Obama’s being a Moslem has blown up just in time for all these events! (You may recall my reservations on his professed Christianity in view of his Cairo speech and deliberate championing of ‘gay pride’?) The White House say his Christian belief is obvious – some pastors agree – BUT, whether Christian or Moslem, he ignores God’s holy word and His commands – YET, now his administration is turning America away from God and taking it back to ‘the days of Noah and Lot’, perhaps the Lord may be using Obama to bring about His purposes?
– – – – –
Do I sense pieces of the Lord’s biblical ‘jigsaw puzzle’ falling into place? (At this very moment, as I write, my PC radio plays ‘Dies Irae’ (Day of Wrath) from Verdi’s Requiem Mass!! Now is that just coincidence or God-incidence? I’d stopped writing to get a coffee and share my thoughts with Nina before resuming with fresh idea about jigsaw. Had that not happened there’d have been no synchonicity – so I’m awestruck!)
May He be with you and your dear ones in these most fascinating times.
Richard
Previously:…Scripture instructs us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem – and that democracy’s leaders need the wisdom of the Lord. Yet perhaps He may take alternative means of action to thwart the maniacs…?
COPY of pre-blog email (as in ‘About’) – The main points covered therein are.:
> Jesus said, “Take heed that you be not deceived … (Luke 21:7-8).
> President Obama’s Cairo speech to Muslim world included delegates from the banned Muslim Brotherhood who were invited at Obama’s specific request. This Islamist group is banned by the Egyptian government because of its teachings and violence against all authorities that do not fully implement Islam’s sharia law.
> My reservations about the accuracy of his claims as a Christian and historian. In fact, Obama negated known actual facts to present a fully Arabic and Palestinian narrative.
The link to Rick Joyner’s paper is defunct but is open here: Discerning the Times pt34
Update 1: Elliott Abrams, Fellow of the Council of Foreign Relations, on 25 Sept 2012 briefly remarks on this in Pressure Points – Obama, Judaism and the Holocaust:
As Ronald Reagan once said, there he goes again. Islam has a prophet; Christianity has a savior, but Judaism has…. the Holocaust. The problem Jews and especially Israelis face, with apologies for having to spell it out, is not so much Holocaust denial as it the slander of the Jewish religion as a whole and the desire to eliminate the Jewish state.
Mr. Obama and his speechwriters should get over their equation of Judaism and Israel with the Holocaust. It is dispiriting to see the 2009 error repeated again three years later.
Update 2: Raymond Stock provides an excellent overview of the situation in the Foreign Policy Research Institute E-Note, On Mistaking Mohamed Mursi for His Mask (Feb ’13). For introductory post, see Lunch with Raymond Stock.
Dear Readers,
Doctor Luke quotes Jesus on the signs of the times; ‘…And He said, “Take heed that you be not deceived…”(NKJV).
What are your thoughts and reactions to President Obama’s exceptional speech to Muslims last Thursday in Cairo?
To check it for yourself click http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Remarks-by-the-President-at-Cairo-University-6-04-09/
The widely welcomed speech brought a good response in Lebanon’s election with the defeat of Hizbollah-controlled coalition – but watch out Beirut! And SURPRISE, SURPRISE, in false-anticipation of a Hizbollah victory, Iranian/Syrian-proxy Palestinian terrorists responded in combined Hamas/Fatah/Al-Quada assaults upon Israel’s border, all of which failed.
According to an exclusive report based upon military and security sources, those attacks were only one outcome of Egypt’s intelligence minister meeting with Hamas’ politburo chief, who rejected Obama’s call and refused to call off terror campaign against fellow Palestinians. Also, soon after that meeting came the first ever missile strike from Gaza upon Egyptian security forces.
Book of Daniel
Far more importantly, it will be well-worth watching how Obama’s plans will connect into the EU’s European Neighbourhood Policy – which, some surmise, is part of the ’70th week’ of Daniel (chpt 9:20-27) that Jesus spoke about in Matthew 24:15. Should you need any proof, read this letter of intent:http://www.fulfilledprophecy.com/workspace/solana_remarks_obama_speech_cairo.pdf
A FlawedSpeech?
May I submit to you that were Obama’s proposals for the seven issues he addressed put on a 3-legged stool, they’d probably collapse.
Why? Like legs upon which his argument was based, three connected claims in his opening remarks are flawed. Hence, the speech has some deceptive inaccuracies and dangerous nuances – even a clear implication of the New World Order’s agenda of multi-faith projects through the Alliance of Civilisations (and the Blair Foundation? – remember his strong connection to the Clinton’s and Hilary’s rebutted/denied previous Bush Admin’s agreement with Israel!).
First, it was sensible to slant a speech towards the mindsets of the Mulsim audience – like St Paul did with the Athenians. But after quoting ‘Be conscious of God and speak always the truth’ from the Koran, Obama said “I will try…to speak the truth…” and closely followed with “I’m a Christian”. IF he really were a believer, wouldn’t he have referred to what Jesus taught about how the truth makes one free?
IF Obama really were aChristian, he would not have firmly declared, as US President in his inaugural address and consequent trip to Europe, that America is no longer and never has been a Christian nation!! The national intercessor and teacher Dutch Sheets said that’s like the stronghold of Goliath mocking God’s people – so maybe there’s a warning here? We believers know God is not mocked!
IF he really were aChristian would he have spoken, as do Muslims, of Jesus as being equivalent to Mohammed??
IF he really were aChristian, then why are many Church leaders gravely concerned?
Rick Joyner writes,“…This new unity in the church is being driven because of foreboding created by the demeanor and laws being passed by the Obama Administration, which seem to be specifically designed to open doors for persecuting the church.”
To read his report Discerning The Times, Part 34 clickhttp://www.morningstarministries.org/Publisher/Article.aspx?ID=1000051215
“As a student of history…”.If Obama really were a well-informed Christian and student of history then he would have told the truth about the founding of Israel, not only in 1948 but also despite fierce Arab riots and attacks against Jewish settlers since 1916, and about the reasons and origins of Arab and Jewish refugees within the Palestine region.
IF he really were a Christian and familiar with history, he would NOT have claimed the foundation of America and its universities were not influenced by God’s word and Christian principles. Whilst on-air, the renowned intercessor Dutch Sheets took great exception to Obama’s gross mistake and quoted from historical records to disprove the President’s claims that America is not and never has been a Christian nation.
If you’d like further details on these important matters please do ask me to clarify or explain. Or, you could read these excellent articles from the Washington-based Centre for Security Policy:
Richard's Watch 