Outrageous! Judge decides what parts of Bible can and can’t be preached

APPALLING, GROSS INJUSTICE METED OUT TO STREET PREACHER

This morning Christian Concern issued the following news update:

Mike OverdIn an extraordinary judgment, Taunton street preacher Mike Overd has been convicted of a Public Order offence for using the wrong Bible verse in a public conversation with a man who identifies as homosexual.

However, Mike was acquitted of two other Public Order charges relating to the critique of Muhammed.

District Judge Shamim Ahmed Qureshi said that Mike shouldn’t have referred to Leviticus 20:13 to make his point about homosexual practice but indicated that he could have used Leviticus 18:22.

The Judge said that Leviticus 20:13 was inappropriate because it mentions the death penalty, although Mike didn’t even use this part of the verse. “I am being punished for words that never passed my lips,” he said. (Emphasis added)

“The Judge is effectively censoring the Bible and deciding which parts are acceptable to use in different situations. Today it’s preaching on the streets that’s threatened. Tomorrow it could be the pulpit”  Andrea Williams (CEO Christian Concern).

Mike has been ordered to pay compensation for causing “emotional pain” to the man, even though it was the man who approached Mike aggressively.

‘Love for Christ’

Mike commented: “I have been ordered to pay compensation for causing ’emotional pain’ to someone who approached me aggressively demanding to debate the issue. There was no harm, injury or theft, just a simple disagreement over theology which I have now been fined for.
“My motivation for preaching the gospel is my love for Jesus Christ and my deep concern for people who do not know His great love and are heading towards an eternity separated from God.

‘Flimsy evidence’

A number of the witnesses interviewed in connection with Mike’s case said they couldn’t remember what was said or when it was said. One of them said that he was “unable to recall exactly what phrases he was using, but it was clear to me that it was homophobic.”

Even though the evidence was so flimsy, Mike has to pay a fine of £200 and a total of £1,200 in costs and compensation.

‘Offensive’

Mike has already faced significant injustice and opposition. In a Somerset newspaper, police accused him of “being hostile” and asked people to record him if they felt he was making “offensive remarks”. Despite this, no substantial evidence has ever been produced.

Legal support: Christian Concern are not charging Mike for legal services, but if you’d like to support them in this and their continued defence of gospel freedoms please donate here.

Cranmer’s in-depth report

‘His Grace’ (Archbishop Cranmer blog) provides a more thorough and ‘disinterested’ analysis, To preach Leviticus 20:13 now constitutes a Public Order Offence. He offers this opinion:

…As the Judge notes, “As far as (Mr Overd) is concerned, he is preaching the Gospel.” He adds later: “He has clearly not studied religion deeply enough to comprehend it fully but has accepted whatever others taught him about his religion.. He is clearly selective in his arguments and is blind to any negative points in his own religion.” And there is much evidence of this in Mr Overd’s sometimes painfully injudicious and inconsistent responses to cross examination by the prosecution.

But biblical ignorance and theological superficiality are not crimes. Nor is proclaiming that ignorance or superficiality in the public square.

Yet Judge Qureshi insists that if Mr Overd wishes to preach against homosexuality, he may use Leviticus 18:22 (which is identical to the first sentence of Leviticus 20:13), but he may not use Leviticus 20:13 even if he omits the second sentence (ie Leviticus 18:22). This is a bizarre ruling (emphasis added). It seems that the omission of the second sentence does not mitigate the allegation of ‘threatening’ language, because, the Judge says, “the words he did use have to be put into context with his behaviour which the prosecution allege is threatening”.…“Informing people of their fate in the Hereafter is not a criminal offence but threatening them in this world is,” he says. The fact that Leviticus 20:13 has additional ‘context’, and that context is threatening “in this world”, appears to transgress the acceptable boundaries of freedom of speech.

Cranmer quotes case law on people being free to express such views as Mike Overd, but which this Judge is challenging:

Mr Overd was not inciting anyone to violence, and yet Judge Qureshi has challenged Lord Justice Sedley’s ruling head-on by effectively finding Mr Overd guilty of using threatening words despite the contextual earthly judgment never having passed his lips.

Read Cranmer’s 2-page exposition and commentators’ discussion here. Also, it will be interesting to read any fuller opinion messrs Frank Cranmer & David Pocklington in Law & Religion UK may offer in due course.

As Khamenei urges “Death to America,” Kerry insists progress being made on nuclear deal. Obama administration is playing with fire.

Readers wanting some Biblically-related background will find Mark Davidson’s recent thoughts on Daniel 8 of interest, as here.

joelcrosenberg's avatarJoel C. Rosenberg's Blog

"Death to America!" says Iran's Supreme Leader, the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. “Death to America!” says Iran’s Supreme Leader, the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

We are rapidly approaching the March 31st deadline for the Iran nuclear negotiations. Yet while Iran makes few if any concessions, the P5+1 continues to make more and more concessions to the tyrants of Tehran.

Iran’s leaders keep openly and unabashedly threatening America and Israel with annihilation. Yet the Obama administration and the major world powers keep giving Iran what it wants. Under the current deal that’s being discussion, Iran does not have to dismantle its nuclear infrastructure. It will still be allowed to enrich uranium. It does not have to disclose its nuclear weaponization efforts. It does not have to modify much less abandon its efforts to build ICBMs. And it will be given assurances that all economic sanctions will be removed from Iran in due time, and all nuclear inspectors will be removed, as well.

This is a dangerous road. The…

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British PM pledges support for Jewish community

In case readers may have missed my update to Thursday’s post on Israel’s elections, I’m now posting it in full below.

Digitally ‘incommunicado’ over Thursdays to Mondays I go online only to download the weekly ‘Eye View’ report from William Koenig to fill the missing gaps in our weekend  newspaper and media. Whilst printing I scanned his World Watch Daily homepage, saw the headline below and inserted it as an update link to Jewish News Service’s original:

British PM David Cameron pledges $14.7 million to protect Jewish community

Credit Wikimedia Commons

Credit Wikimedia Commons

British Prime Minister David Cameron has pledged 10 million pounds (about $14.7 million) to protect Jewish schools and synagogues in the wake of recent terror attacks on Jewish sites in Europe, including in Paris, Copenhagen and Brussels, over the past year.

“At a time when once again the Jewish communities of Europe feel vulnerable, and when anti-Semitism is at record levels here in Britain, I will not stand by, I will not turn a blind eye,” Cameron said at the annual Community Security Trust dinner on Wednesday, reported London’s Jewish Chronicle. The Community Security Trust is a charity working to protect British Jews from anti-Semitism.

“If the Jewish community does not feel secure then our whole national fabric is diminished. It is a measure of the vigour of our institutions and the health of our democracy that the Jewish community feels safe to live and flourish here,” Cameron said.

He added, “Over generations we have built something incredible in our country: a multi-ethnic, multi-faith democracy—and we are not going to let anyone destroy it.”

JNS’ source is the Jewish Chronicle’s Cameron gives £3m for shul security after JC campaign. Especially noteworthy in view of President Obama’s peevish reaction to last week’s news is this:

Mr Cameron also pledged his continued support for Israel, which he described as “an extraordinary nation”. He said: “I will always stand up for the right of Israel to defend its citizens… with me you will always have a British Prime Minister whose belief in Israel is unbreakable and whose commitment to Israel’s security will always be rock solid.”

He praised the country’s democracy and congratulated Benjamin Netanyahu on his election win.

His remarks were greeted with a standing ovation from the audience, which included cabinet members, the Chief Rabbi and senior diplomats.

Quick quotes and comments on Bibi’s unexpected win

Netanyahu_TelegraphReaders may appreciate some informed comments free from political claptrap, pundits’ prattlings and mad-media mindsets. Even the UK’s conservative Telegraph offers an op-ed which misses the point – but isn’t as off-beam as Obama!

Scanning some informed articles, I’ve cut and pasted a few snippets into this ‘scrapbook’ of quotes from what, in my humble opinion, are noteworthy comments from.:

Israel – a secular media voice: Debkafile (click title to read their case in full)

Why the Israeli voter re-elected Netanyahu and strengthened his party 

“While they admittedly operated in a widespread climate of popular despondency and hankering for change, Likud’s rivals also missed the strong underlying trends: [4 in toto]

1. “A common convention has always been that an Israeli prime minister who falls out with an American president must go and make way for a politician able to heal the rift and restore good relations with Washington. This presumption has been superseded by four changes [in Israeli voters, who are]:

  • a lot better informed on events…around his country’s borders – hotbeds of instability, civil war bloodbaths and galloping Islamic radicalism….
  • not so much worried by the way Netanyahu stood up to President Barack Obama’s policies in the Middle East as he admired his pluck in defending national interests.
    Herzog and Livni’s pledge to improve relations with the Obama administration, instead of being a vote-catcher had the opposite effect. While better relations are desired, the average Israeli is not prepared to pay for them by concessions on security.
  • most recent waves of immigrants…from Russia and France…have colored [Israel’s] perception of national and security issues. Neither group is stranger to brushes with radical Islam, on the one hand, or arguments with the United States, on the other. Both prefer pro-reactive responses to hostile challenges rather than knuckling under.
  • [Thus] the conflict with the Palestinians became sidelined…as a non-issue.”

2. “Opposition parties claimed they lost…because security issues overshadowed the economy. This too was groundless >> average voter not only re-elected Likud for another term, but shrank the smaller right-wing parties. This boosted Netanyahu’s support in parliament from a low 18 seats to thirty…he need no longer be prey to the harrassments of small partners, but will enjoy greater leeway…to get important jobs done.”

3. “Negative electioneering  rarely works. The opposition kicked off its campaign with the “anyone but Bibi” slogan and smear tactics against the prime minister, his wife Sarah and their personal lifestyle…The tactic’s very intensity boomeranged, when Bibi craftily turned it into an asset. He reached out to the voter as the underdog who had been unjustly vilified by the “haves.”

Britain – a spiritual blog voice: Cranmer (click title to read excellent post in full)

Benjamin Netanyahu promises legitimacy, peace and security 

“The Archbishop of Canterbury made a pronouncement last year which was somewhat unusual in modern Anglican geo-political quibbling and hedging…it makes plain that Justin Welby,

“fully accepts that Israel has the same legitimate rights to peace and security as any other state and to self-defence within humanitarian law when faced with an external threat”.

“The people of Israel have voted to guard those rights. The reaction from the civilised world to Benjamin Netanyahu’s unexpected victory has been reserved, to put it politely. At the time of writing, it is reported that President Obama, the putative leader of the free and democratic world, has still not phoned Mr Netanyahu to offer his congratulations… (emphasis added)

“We know that Barack Obama wants a Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders. He isn’t going to get that for as long as Benjamin Netanayhu is Prime Minister, for whom such a proposal is both “unrealistic” and “indefensible”.

“While Israel remains surrounded by enemies – having ceded Gaza to Arab control from whence rain thousands of Katyusha rockets – Obama still advocates a ‘peace plan’ which poses an existential threat to the only democracy in the region. There has been no ‘Arab spring’ in Gaza. Where Spring has sprung, there is no sign of a glorious summer of liberty, democracy and religious equality…and Iran is pledged to wipe Israel “off the map”: the whole of Arabia seems intent on Israel’s destruction. In this context, the Obama ‘peace plan’ is likely to yield genocide on a scale not seen since Auschwitz.

“A Zionist is one who believes that the Jews have a legitimate right to a homeland; that Israel is that homeland; and that Jews have a right to live in that country in peace and security. Conservatives are Zionists. Or, rather, true Conservatives are Zionists. As David Cameron reminded us last year in a speech to the Conservative Friends of Israel:

There is something deep in our Party’s DNA that believes in Israel, the right of Israel to exist, the right of Israel to defend itself and that a deal should only happen if it means that Israel is really allowed to have peace within secure borders and real guarantees about its future… The West has to understand that there isn’t an equivalence between a demo-cratically elected Government of Israel, a state of Israel that is a democracy, that’s a member of the United Nations, that has a totally legitimate right to exist and defend itself – there is no equivalence between that and a group like Hamas…

“The starting point for peace in the Middle East is not the Obama plan…The path to lasting peace is contingent first and foremost upon an unequivocal commitment by the governments of all Arab states that “the Jews have a right to a homeland in Israel and a right to their country”; that Israel has “the same legitimate rights to peace and security as any other state”.

Update 1. 21st March: PM Cameron pledges £10M to protect the Jewish community. Full details and more in next post >>

Update 2. 23rd March: Joel Rosenberg refers to of claims about Netanyahu being racist on the grounds he warned that foreign organizations were mobilizing large numbers of Arab voters. In his commentary Joel enumerates several facts disproving the claim, and reports 3/4 of an Arab town actually voted in favour of Netanyahu and his Likud party!!

He later reports on Netanyahu apologizing to Arab leaders: “I know the things I said several days ago offended some of Israel’s citizens, hurt the Arab citizens. I had no intention to hurt anyone and I am sorry if did…My actions as prime minister, including the tremendous investment in minority sectors prove the opposite. I think, too, that we must never let anyone outside the state of Israel interfere with our democratic process….I see myself as the prime minister of each and every one of you, all the citizens of Israel, regardless of faith, ethnicity or gender. I see all citizens of Israel as partners in building a prosperous and secure state, a state for all its citizens”.

Update 3. 25th March: Senior Jerusalem Official states White House tried to unseat Netanyahu.

See also: Arabs and Jews unite to agree only solution to conflict is Jesus Christ

NB: Both articles should be read in full to appreciate their logical argument.

Photo credit: The Telegraph, source unknown.

Netanyahu miraculously surges to 30 seats with 6-seat lead. Obama campaign backfires.

Undoubtedly the Lord’s man – and woman – for Israel…

joelcrosenberg's avatarJoel C. Rosenberg's Blog

Netanyahu at victory rally in Tel Aviv in the week hours of Wednesday morning (photo credit: Times of Israel) Netanyahu at victory rally in Tel Aviv in the week hours of Wednesday morning (photo credit: Times of Israel)

Near-final results put Netanyahu's Likud Party at 30 seats, 10 more than final newspaper polls predicted. (Source: Times of Israel) Near-final results put Netanyahu’s Likud Party at 30 seats, 10 more than final newspaper polls predicted. (Source: Times of Israel)

UPDATED AT 8:30AM ISRAEL TIME: (Central Israel) — The Israeli media was completely wrong.

The American pundits were wrong.

The Israeli newspaper polls were completely wrong.

The TV network exit polls were completely wrong.

The Obama team efforts to unseat an American ally were a complete failure.

Netanyahu wasn’t losing. He wasn’t about to be shipped off to retirement in disgrace.

This wasn’t close — this was a landslide.

Bibi’s blow out.

It’s now…

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Honouring the life of John Paul Jackson

Thank you for such a deeply personal tribute Justin.
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERARegarding Wales, a friend at Ffald-y-Brenin reported this weekend that their site is seriously affecting ungodly activity in the Preseli mountains. They’ve received a ‘thank you’ card requesting removal of their large outdoor cross! It is strategically postioned on a shoulder of Carn Ingli (Hill of the Angels) overlooking the lovely Gwaun valley. So ‘Amen’ to your prayer Justin!
(Interesting I’m having difficulty reblogging this! Third attempt successful)

Amazing ‘coincidences’ – cycles and Shemitah-Jubilee years

You possibly won’t believe this! Carry on reading only if you have an open mind for, as I’ve blogged before, “truth is stranger than fiction”. The above title could easily read:

‘God-smacked’ by TWO sets of ‘God-incidents’!

Blogging time is currently at a premium. For the past fortnight I’ve wanted to explain  why re-scheduling my wife’s spinal surgery was significant.  Last week began with a couple of ‘quick’ items, and I settled into blogging on this as and when possible. Re-gathering my thoughts the first draft was too long, but I was inspired afresh mid-week.

I was ‘nudged’ to tackle it differently – overkill, so it seemed!  Was I going overboard on a personal matter?  Nudged yet again, “An introduction would help”.  But hadn’t I done enough with musing further upon Paws 4 thought ?? I don’t want to bore readers!

Hand and puzzle pieces - Anusorn p NacholBut there was something in the air!  Something deep was stirring. I couldn’t put a handle on it – maybe it was the mix of controversial headlines and others’ incisive blogs? However, I tried putting into words a strong sense of history repeating itself. To bring some sort of clarity into this – and I am not one for blowing my own trumpet – it’s necessary to refer to my early email. (Have entered 7th year of writing.)

sine-wave_thumb.jpgThat is, I began taking a different tack which should help you grasp what I was ‘sensing’. Thus, the first of a trilogy referred to a cyclic nature of historical events.

So Wed-Thurs last week I was busy getting this ‘off my chest’ before our usual long-weekend – and a week ago today I got up early to input editorial changes…but…

Little did I suspect this would ignite a series of coincidences on this subject!

Here’s what happened, like pieces of an invisible jigsaw falling ‘out of the blue’:

1. Thursday: on waking I heard, “Jonathan Cahn!”, and knew to refer to him to give  those familiar with his book a hook and time-frame for my posts. [See ‘A’ below]

2. Moved original post’s mention of ‘Bells’ to new post’s opening paragraph; thought it may relate to blog’s long-standing contributor TP [B].

3. After updating draft, checked emails only to find one of TP’s friends had just emailed me direct about “timing…just right” and that “something is changing spiritually”!

4. Completed/published ‘1of 3’, logged out and noticed number of followers is ‘360’ [C].

5. Friday: on waking heard “360 degrees in a circle!” – precisely what I’m blogging about but as cycles! Therefore, writing about these specific cycles is confirmed!

6. Saturday: caught up with a dvd of Cahn’s session ‘The Shemitah Year’ at January’s  Prophecy Summit in Alabama. Fascinating teaching and it refers to 2014-15.

7. Sunday: phoned D&SB in Devon (who’d recommended Cahn’s The Harbinger), only to be told that C&RP of their home group will be leading review of his book this week!!

8. Monday: at church prayer group told host MC about 1 & 7, but we were both amazed  because that morning, without any pre-decision, she’d picked out that teaching to listen to next from her collection of recordings!!!

Teamwork by Franky242

Notes:

A. In the UK it was months before Messianic rabbi Cahn’s book came to my attention. It received poor reviews here as a sensationalist Christian novel. But I now find it was, in fact, published on 3rd January 2012 – when I was drafting a brief overview (as here) of financial analyst Eric Hadik’s work on economic cycles! Very interesting synchronicity, or ‘God-incidence!!

But for our friends’ insistent recommendation I wouldn’t have read The Harbinger. I got around to reading it as a birthday present last September!  Until then I hadn’t known it was based upon the Levitical instruction to let land lie fallow every seventh year, which was practised for centuries in England until modern times.

I’m now sure there’s far more, a great deal more, to Cahn’s thesis than meets the eye!

B. Musing upon what I’d blogged since mid-February got me buzzing. Late afternoon a week ago yesterday, Wednesday 4th March, I split the original post and found myself writing about Middle-East news saying bells had started to ring!  My mind was racing  and I found some moments before bed to work on a hardcopy to reshape it. First thing in the morning ‘the bells’ got moved to the new first part’s opening paragraph.

There was a distinct feeling like when a series of almost two dozen coincidences struck me in 2012 in respect of Queen Elizabeth’s diamond jubilee bells. (The ‘God-incidents’ could be drawn like a series of logic-trees.)  Now, I recalled Tony Puccio, a new reader at that time, had got in touch to refer to a dream about his doorbell being rung – see GET READY… (He’s now re-visited it, as here.)

C. Although TP’s friend decided to follow this blog on Thursday I didn’t know the total number of followers because that data’s not shown in WordPress’ admin screen. I could check on a linked screen but the figure’s based upon fellow WordPress bloggers’ only and excludes email-only readers. Therefore, I don’t note these different totals.

Logging-off for the day, however, I decided for once to check total number of ‘follows’ on the browser screen. There, the pop-up invitation window is easily read and includes all subscribers.

It said, “Join 360 other followers” – I thought no more about it; that is, until waking up the next day!

I can’t escape the conclusion that the Lord is stressing these cycles are important.

The Shemitah and Jubilee

In his book’s chapter 17, ‘The Mystery of the Shemitah’, and before explaining how it’s timing is directly connected to major international financial crashes, Cahn writes:

The Shemitah revolves around the number seven – it’s the seventh year. It begins and ends in the seventh month of the biblical year.

HarbingerIt originates in the opening verses of Leviticus 25, which describes it as a sabbatical rest for not only the land but also for labour and debts and associated matters.  Seven such Sabbath years, that is 49 years, are especially significant and the 50th is a consecrated holy year – a Jubilee. (Visit BibleGateway to read chapter 25 in full and consider this interesting rabbinical post, The Fiftieth Year.)

Rabbi Cahn’s in-depth teaching explores how he found these 7 and 49/50 year periods are demonstrated in dramatic historic events since the founding of the USA, as well as those of modern Israel. His exposition deserves careful attention:

Some take issue with his relating the Lord’s instruction for Jewish observance to any modern gentile nation. For his thesis Jonathan goes back to events at the founding of the United States as a nation specifically based upon Judeo-Christian principles. Some would also comment with good reason about the large freemasonic influence in those days, which leads into speculative conspiracy theories of which I’m well aware.

Let me add my ‘tuppenny worth’ in pointing to grounds for Jonathan’s historical claims:

as-america-has-done-to-israel8Jewish immigrants played an important part in British colonial and independent states of New England, none more so than Haym Salomon from Poland. Fluent in several languages and expert international financier he arrived in 1772, joining the Sons of Liberty in New York City. It was one of the colony’s most radical revolutionary groups.

Five years after rebellion against Britain’s king George the colonials were bankrupt. The American currency collapsed in 1781 with its treasury empty and no means of paying for the war or its debts. Saloman’s skill, knowledge, honesty and generosity kept America solvent during its first economic crisis with his personal credit backing the US finances. He died penniless in 1785 from a sickness contracted whilst imprisoned (twice for spying against the British).

According to John McTernan, he never received recognition during his lifetime but an official commemorative stamp was issued in 1975 in his honour. Its reverse stated:

Financial hero-businessman and broker Haym Salomon was responsible for raising most of the money needed to finance the American revolution and later saved the nation from collapse.

Therefore, had it not been for a self-sacrificing Jewish financier, America wouldn’t exist as we know it today.

For details of John McTernan’s As America Has Done To Israel, click on image.

Conclusion

Scripture suggests the above ‘God-incidental’ events may be explained as follows:

‘The steps of a [good] man are directed and established by the Lord when He delights in his way [and He busies Himself with his every step]’.  Psalm 37:23, Amplified Bible

Therefore, it certainly appears that the Lord is unequivocally telling us to take heed and learn about this Shemitah-Jubilee Year – and why!

May He bless you on your voyage of discovery…

More on cycles

Images

  • ‘Hand Holding Puzzle Pieces’ by Anusorn P Nachol
  • ‘Teamwork’ by Franky242
  • both appear courtesy of Freedigitalphotos.net

Obama prophecy fulfilled? Netanyahu speech to Congress

UN Sep12 NET-OBAMA1_13jpgI’m always amazed a number of visitors dip into my PS to Wendy Alec’s prophecy for President Obama. This happens at times of increasing political activity and tension between USA and Israel. The PS gives  extra details on her prophetic word and urgent prayer request for Mr Obama issued on 12 November 2012.

That word remarkably prophesies a healing of personal rifts between President Obama  and Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu, and which could possibly be seen in last week’s controversial address to Congress. Wendy’s prophetic word opens as follows.:

“I sensed the Lord saying: It is time to stop. It is time for a complete turnaround of my people. It is time to pray.

And as my people, as my church, rises up across the nation and the nations of this world to pray –

Pray fervently for President Obama; pray fervently for the government; pray fervently for the White House

That we will see in the land of the living –

That we will see a change in the direction of the White House –

That we will see a change – a transformation even of policies –

And it will be My Hand that has wrought this change says the Lord

For my hand has been restrained, says the Lord – My Hand has been restrained because of the disobedience of my people –

For there have been many prayers that have risen up to my throne but there has been prayerless-ness for this government

For I tell you, beloved son, beloved daughter that as you arise in prayer for this government – as you arise in prayer for this President – for this husband; for this father of children, for this President of the nation of America –

That my hand shall once again be loosed to move upon the White House – upon the government – upon the President – in power – in glory and in might

And as you lift up your voice in the day and as you lift up your voice in the night hour before my throne and pray for wisdom for this man –

I tell you that even in an instant – I shall release wisdom –

Even in an instant I shall release revelation –

Even in an instant – his eyes shall be opened to things in the natural and things in the spirit realm that he has been previously blinded to –

And I shall pour out My Spirit upon the White House –

And I shall pour out My Spirit upon Congress…”

After referring briefly to healing within Congress, the word continues:

“For there shall begin a healing of rifts”, says the Lord

A healing of rifts

A healing of rifts between the Republicans and the Democrats

A healing of rifts that shall extend even from the Congress to Israel

For there shall even be a healing of rifts between President Barack Obama and President Benjamin Netanyahu…”

[Read this 2012 word in full here for a complete, contextual understanding.]

So Bibi Netanyahu’s warm, conciliatory and statesman-like words for Barack Obama upon opening his speech to Congress are not entirely surprising:

congBIG

In Congress (credit Amos Ben Gershom GPO; and PMO)

“We appreciate all that President Obama has done for Israel. Now, some of that is widely known. Some of that is widely known, like strengthening security cooperation and intelligence sharing, opposing anti-Israel resolutions at the U.N.

“Some of what the president has done for Israel is less well-known. I called him in 2010 when we had the Carmel forest fire, and he immediately agreed to respond to my request for urgent aid. In 2011, we had our embassy in Cairo under siege, and again, he provided vital assistance at the crucial moment. Or his support for more missile interceptors during our operation last summer when we took on Hamas terrorists. In each of those moments, I called the president, and he was there.

“And some of what the president has done for Israel might never be known, because it touches on some of the most sensitive and strategic issues that arise between an American president and an Israeli prime minister. But I know it, and I will always be grateful to President Obama for that support…”

[click to read full text, courtesy of Prime Minister’s Office; watch full address via Washington Post.]

This is most interesting news in view of having blogged upon reconciliatory moves two years ago in Obama prophecy – another development, especially in the light of ‘Obama v. Netanyahu’ in Politically relevant gov’t news from UK & USA.

A heavenly perspective:

Another perspective of what’s happening now for the USA is offered in Lana Vawser’s account of what the Lord spoke to her last week:

“United States of America is at a TIPPING POINT  and it is TIME TO FIGHT!”

Read her highly inspirational prophetical account at USA, It is Time to Fight!! (‘Hat-tip’ to Tony Puccio.)

Most interestingly, a technical glitch prevents my commenting upon or re-blogging her associated WordPress site!  When I try it tells me I’m not logged in, whereas I must be to write and publish this post!!

What do you make of that?

Critical Calendars Affecting Netanyahu’s Speech to Congress

Further to my recent posts, Dr Randall Price’s commentary Critical Calendars Affecting Netanyahu’s Speech to Congress published on Bible Prophecy Blog is most timely in discussing political (and potential nuclear deal), Purim, original Islamic ‘peace-deal’ and prophetic calendars.

1 of 3: The ‘Endgame’ gets ramped up another level

A fast fortnight ploughed a deep furrow along a cycle of time – ‘a wheel within the greater wheel’ of End-time events…

Bells start ringing that we’ve been here before – and at this time of year too! – like fresh, bright-yellow daffodil bells I see springing up outside!  Let me to add to what others are doing as ‘prep’ for 2015…

Spiral stairway to cloudsTime is non-linear.  Our analytical mindsets think time’s a straight line. Often we see time-lines listing events in history – or use one for our own life.

The passage of time and events is seasonal; ie. cyclical. I regard time like a spiral for, when considered dynamically under the interaction of various influences, it’s just like a corkscrew being turned. Nature provides an excellent example that carries information – the DNA spiral.

Spiral stairs franky242Another example: on a spiral staircase we pass by different walls. If it’s in a castle turret there’d be a doorway on each floor and in the same vertical wall of the well. Regard this wall as a certain kind of event and note how it connects with us, or is relevant to us, at different times and levels.

Hence, various types of event can crop up in a cyclical pattern of repetitions at different levels and show some development has taken place. So it is in history and with God’s plans too, could we but be aware, or receive revelation.

Before I heard about Jonathan Cahn’s US best-seller The Harbinger, I’d outlined the Biblical analysis of historical and financial cycles in one of my first months’ blogs,  Points to Ponder 2011-2012. (For more see below.)

Quick recap

Last week I promised to reveal how a possible option between either one of two weeks for surgery affected, or even enabled(!), further insights into something we’d recently mulled over on this blog – Satan’s strategy to avoid the Lake of Fire.

Please accept my apologies for not having done so in ‘the next post’. So much was still surfacing – from both the past and the present – that I had to take stock.  To my great surprise a cycle of events was laid bare.

Blog JigsawOnce again, more of the ‘Invisible Jigsaw’ is appearing, as blogged extensively in 2014  (click image to read about its themes).

So, I’ll explain this year’s view of ‘the grand design’ for you to follow my logic. Let’s look at the jigsaw pieces we’ve placed down thus far.

I mused upon how Satan could have adopted tactics to avoid his destined demise in the Lake of Fire and a progression of ‘pieces’ was revealed as follows:

  1. Paws 4 thought: devilish plot to avoid the Lake of Fire – the removal of conditions necessary for Jesus’ prophesied return: no Jews alive in Jerusalem and Mid-East and disunity among Christians, plus not living in Holy Spirit’s power and a deep   rejection of Jews and Israel on supposedly ‘scriptural’ grounds!
  2. An insight into global Satanic strategy: Part 1 – misinformation from many political leaders. ‘Coincidently’, Archbishop Welby denounced anti-Semitism and had its most vociferous vicar silenced.
  3. An insight into global Satanic strategy: Part 2 – history of Islam from start up to the Crusades and exposure of the myth they taught Muslims to hate and attack Christians. It originated in Western intellectuals, whose fallacies within academia continue unabated!
  4. Anti-terrorism summit confirms this week’s insight – Within a day of blogging as above, international news on security confirmed my conclusions. But technical hitches hindered my publishing this, which revealed I faced ungodly opposition!

History cycles around

On top of those concepts, accelerating developments in the Middle-East only add to the mix. Therefore, an appreciation of my background in this will be of some help.

Pertinent to today’s issues is a personal event that hooked me into Eschatology, as well as subsequent developments, viz:

Mid-1980s

Invisible HandAs stated in this blog’s Welcome, the Iran-Iraq war opened my eyes as an unbeliever because I’d been given an unusual ‘secular’ book on OT prophecies of modern events. Whilst watching a TV documentary about that war I flicked through the brand-new book and noted references to the significance of Jerusalem.  THEN I heard the TV narrator speak about, and showed, elite units from both sides rehearsing together an attack upon Jerusalem! – despite being at war with one another!! So I’ve since kept an eye on international affairs.

Once again, conflict in Iraq involving Iran is in the news because of ISIS’ invasion of Iraq in 2014.

2009

Six years ago last weekend, on 28th February 2009, I started what would become a series of private emails to Christian friends and church leaders drawing attention to the plain fact that events are fitting more clearly into Biblical prophecy.

We’d already debated the Lakeland, Florida, outpouring as I’d known of Todd Bentley before-hand. However, the new direction had become abundantly obvious and so I emailed them, The ‘Endgame’ is now in play.

It was only much later, in Autumn 2011, that the Lord prodded me into going public with this blog. (If you’re interested in numbers; the 700th post is one the above ‘insights’.)

As said, significant End-time events began to escalate. To appreciate how they’ve again become ‘hot potatoes’ you may like to dip into later emails of May and July 2009 noting especially as below:

  • Today’s Importance In History – reference to Obama’s ‘back channels’ (secret diplomacy) contact with and appeasement of Iran, and consequential dismay in Egypt and Saudi Arabia – and their cooperation with Israel.
  • Middle-East Update July 2009 – Obama’s making Netanyahu the bogeyman in preventing nuclear-arms discussions with Iran. Obama’s character.

2010

An entirely forgotten idea privately posited with those friends popped up again unbidden in the last fortnight. Part 2 will show how the shuffled surgical schedule reported in The Shepherd, the Shadow and the ‘Spread’ fits into our ‘jigsaw’.

I hope you’ll have time to dip into those archived papers whenever possible.

Continued in Part 2 >>

More on cycles

[‘Spiral Stairway To Clouds’ by Victor Habbick and ‘Spiral Stairs’ by Franky242, courtesy of Freedigitalphotos.net]

Iran’s leaders reject Obama deal, calling it “unacceptable.” It’s been a bizarre few days. Here’s the latest.

As one of my subscribers comments elsewhere, “It’s a reminder that the heart of the king is in God’s hands”!

joelcrosenberg's avatarJoel C. Rosenberg's Blog

US Secretary of State John Kerry meets with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, for a new round of nuclear negotiations on Monday, March 2, 2015. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) US Secretary of State John Kerry meets with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, for a new round of nuclear negotiations on Monday, March 2, 2015. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

(Washington, D.C.) — Consider the odd developments of the past few days:

* The leader of our most faithful and trusted ally comes to Washington to warn of a mortal and rising threat from a dangerous and deceiving enemy.

* The President of the United States refuses to meet with him.

* The President sends his VP out of the country to avoid our ally.

* The President sends the Secretary of State out of the country to avoid our ally, and instead to meet with our enemy.

* The President refuses to allow any of his Cabinet Members attend the speech by our ally.

* The White House pressures Members of Congress to boycott the speech of our ally.

* The President’s…

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On eve of Purim, Netanyahu warns of new Persian threat to Israel & the world.

A momentously significant day in world history; thank you Joel.

joelcrosenberg's avatarJoel C. Rosenberg's Blog

The Prime Minister of Israel addressing a Joint Session of Congress on March 3, 2015. The Prime Minister of Israel addressing a Joint Session of Congress on March 3, 2015.

(Washington, D.C.) — That was one for the ages.

In 25 years living in or near the nation’s capital, I have never actually been to a Joint Session of Congress. But if there was ever a speech I wanted to hear, it was this one.

I wish you could have been there with me. It was so fascinating — and so humbling — to be in the House Chamber as the Prime Minister of Israel arrived to thunderous and continuous applause.

As I listened to him speak, I felt I was witnessing history being made, as if Winston Churchill himself were personally warning us of the gathering storm.

On the eve of Purim, the Jewish holiday remembering the Biblical book of Esther and the Persian plot to annihilate the Jewish people 2,500 years ago, Prime Minister…

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The Keys of the Kingdom – true confessions at the Gates of Hell

Good post Jo. I’d add gates were a ‘power-base’ of government, legislation, and business. So even satan’s governors aren’t able to overcome Jesus’ assembly, or true holy synagogue/ekklesia. (Useful reference http://www.gotquestions.org/city-gate.html)

Jo-Blogs's avatarThe Kingdom

Key to the KingdomI found a key with ‘J’ on it in my sleeveless vest pocket.  I don’t remember acquiring it.  It must have been after I helped set up the sound equipment for my church, but I can’t find the owner of the key.  It’s funny because my initial is ‘J’ and I’d been reading in the Bible about the Keys of the Kingdom.

Where do these keys fit and what doors do they unlock?  What did Jesus mean when he said He would give the keys to Peter, the apostle who declared he was the Messiah?  The promise of authority came with a question; Who do you say I AM?”  Jesus asked.  Simon Peter answered “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my…

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On a new revival of prayer in US and elsewhere!

In view of its significance, the prophetic declaration accompanying yesterday’s Lion Bites: Watchmen Arise! merits this separate posting, with a couple of additions.

Endless Bridge by Evgeni DenevBoth words were published together to draw attention to their concord, but now I’d draw your attention to their appearing on opposite sides of the Atlantic within hours of one another. Hence, my tagging both posts as ‘Bridge Over The Pond’.

Lion Bites is published 6am weekdays in Glasgow. Yesterday’s (Monday) closely harmonises with a declaration delivered way beyond the other side of ‘the Pond’ 12 hours earlier in the Sunday morning service at Church of His Presence in Daphne, Alabama. (Time difference of 6 hours.)

JohnK 214_logoHalfway into the usual half-hour or so of opening praise, Rev John Kilpatrick interrupted to introduce prayers for ALL Christians being slaughtered around the world, as well as to bless, per Gen 12:3, Prime Minister Netanyahu’s visit today to address the US Congress on the danger of Iran.

As a result of the congregation’s ardent prayers, the Holy Spirit’s presence came upon them and the pastor ditched his well-prepared sermon. Also, a spirit of generosity came upon them, as witnessed by the congregation giving offerings without any direction from John.

Over a hour later, intercessor Lila Terhune made the following declaration:

“Not only over Church of His Presence but over all nations that are watching right now; that the coming revival will be a revival of prayer – that will be the face of the new revival; is the revival of prayer.

“And so Lord, we declare according to Your word, according to Your purposes Oh God,

“That You would awaken the Church,

“Awaken the Church to her Calling,

“Awaken the Church to her Purpose,

“Lord, and we declare – Alleluia! – that it will begin not only in the United States but all around – every nation that we’re engaged with today – let the spirit of prayer begin to surface – Oh Lord, and out of the prayer will come The Presence,  out of the Presence will come souls and deliverance and healing: in the name of Yeshua, in the name of Jesus! Amen!”

Watch this pastor and congregation yield to Holy Spirit’s presence and allow Him to have His way in this archive of Service March 1st. (The declaration is at 1hr 33min.) Note the Lord has used this pastor to host two revivals; one of repentance and one of healing – Brownsville (Pensacola) and The Bay of the Holy Spirit (Daphne/Mobile).

CHP’s services are watched live by thousands across North America and the world.

Relevant posts published this year 2015:

Credits:

Lion Bites: Watchmen Arise!

Lion_Roars_email_logo_HIGHER

This word for today is published with the kind permission of the Glasgow Prophetic Centre. (Click on graphic for archive and link to a daily morsel of Lion Bites):

“I heard the Holy Spirit ask, “Where are my watchmen?”

“I am calling my watchmen and watchwomen to arise. I am calling to my intercessors, to those who stand in the gap, to come out of hiding. I am gathering you and I am deploying you this year. Watchmen, would you come out of your hiding and see that I am making a space for you on the earth? 

“The work you do is hidden in the natural but seen in the spiritual. I am not calling you into visibility by man but into acceptance and welcoming by my body. The numbers of my watchmen have been few but I seek to add to you. I will add to you those who have previously been fearful and intimidated by this call and I will add to you even those who ran from the duty in times past. I will multiply your numbers because you are a necessary battalion in my army for these days.”

Those who feel the stirring as you read this – the Lord is anointing you to be a prayerful, Spirit-filled watchman and intercessor for the days ahead. Hear the call of God, follow his direction for He has much to show you and much to do through you!”
 

Ezekiel 3:17
Son of man. I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me.

NB: The above word complements a prophetic declaration on a new revival of prayer given only 12 hours earlier, as reported in the next post.

The Shepherd, the Shadow and the ‘Spread’

Psalm23 table“The Lord is our shepherd…” asserted the psalmist David; and his descendant Jesus of Nazareth, who came as the Messiah, God’s anointed leader whom Israel long awaited, described himself as “The Good Shepherd”.

Even when we go through the dire depths of the Valley of the Shadow to struggle with sickness, loss of well-being and even of life itself, the Good Shepherd’s ‘rod and staff’ guide, encourage and ensure we keep on the right track, albeit hidden and thus raising thoughts that maybe we’ve gone astray. So, the Lord definitely does comfort us.

And beyond that dark vale He opens the veil to bring about our personal good – because we love Him and are called according to His purposes. There, He spreads a banqueting table before us – and not only for us to be blessed at His celebratory, festive spread but also for our personal earthly and spiritual opposition, the hosts of wickedness, to see and witness our reward and blessing at His hands!

For the last five months we’ve been through a deepening trial over Nina’s health, which came to a climax six weeks ago in severely painful and crippling loss of mobility. Hence my personal note of mid-January.

The faithful intercessory support of dozens of brothers and sisters in the Lord were a strong and sure support. Answers to our prayers started manifesting this week with the successful outcome of precision, albeit very dicey, non-invasive surgical procedure on her damaged spine. Thank and praise you Lord.

The scheduling of this surgery brought an unusual, coincidental effect upon this blog. The operation would have been performed last week had it not been for the half-term holidays. That is, a full surgical team wasn’t available because some staff needed to be absent for their school children.

Therefore, it enabled me to be on-hand to watch a situation develop. It would have been missed had the surgery been performed a week earlier!

All will be revealed next week…

Meanwhile, be blessed by reading Carol Good’s meditative blog on The 23rd Psalm, and to whom this post’s illustration is accredited.

Aligning Yourself to the Sound of Heaven

Thank you Brynn for a succinct summary of how our praising the Lord directly links into His Glory.

brynnshamp's avatar

Revelation 4:3-8 (AMP) boldly declares,

“And He Who sat there appeared like [the crystalline brightness of] jasper and [the fiery] sardius, and encircling the throne there was a halo that looked like [a rainbow of] emerald. Twenty-four other thrones surrounded the throne, and seated on these thrones were twenty-four elders ([b]the members of the heavenly Sanhedrin), arrayed in white clothing, with crowns of gold upon their heads.

Out from the throne came flashes of lightning and rumblings and peals of thunder, and in front of the throne seven blazing torches burned, which are the seven Spirits of God [[c]the sevenfold Holy Spirit];

And in front of the throne there was also what looked like a transparent glassy sea, as if of crystal. And around the throne, in the center at each side of the throne, were four living creatures (beings) who were full of eyes in front and behind [with…

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Anti-terrorism summit confirms this week’s insight!

Puzzle in sky - Idea goOpening Part 2 of An insight into global satanic strategy, I mentioned a few fascinating things happened over its content – and its timing! Maybe God-incidence? Let me tell you what I read whilst relaxing over a morning coffee yesterday:

First, recall that most of my work recently has been re-blogs of others’ posts as a result of home circumstances affecting my regular blogging time-slots. We’re trusting the Lord in all this, but a change in schedule was necessary. Yet I had time to write more fully this week.

Also, be aware my plan was to finish and publish what I’d already drafted on a dubious aspect of Churches Together prayer-focus for Lent (started last Wednesday). So that got well and truly waylaid – martyrdom of Egyptian Copts demanded my attention!  And then my brief covering note to Joel’s piece on that led directly into the 2-part ‘insight’.

In other words, on two counts that ‘insight’ would not have seen the light of day! Over two half-days I wrote the full piece and then separated into 2 parts; published the first half on Thursday and scheduled the second half for Friday morning.

Yet that second part didn’t see the light of day either!  A few teaks were needed and so I postponed its appearance for another day. But I reckoned without 3 technical issues!

1st Technical Glytch

What a game that was! As you know, Fridays to Sundays I’m normally off-line and we were heading out for the morning. So just a quick tap into my smartphone straight into WordPress to reset the date would do the trick!

No it didn’t!

There were connection issues trying to adjust the publication date – annoying! So I had to boot-up the pc, wait for that to load, log-in Norton security, launch WP and do the job.

That was the first spanner in the works!  I did get the date adjusted and off we went…

Stunning Confirmation

Nero_6A superb cappuccino and croissant in Caffé Nero, Petersfield with Nina tackling the paper’s crossword and me digging dug inside…I read that Barack Obama has referred the previous day at a counter-terrorism summit to “twisted interpretations” and “lies”! That’s more or less the focus in my 2-part ‘insights’, both published and yet to be published parts!!

Furthermore, Britain’s Home Secretary addressed the Washington summit about the immediate need for an unprecedented need for a global response to the threat of ISIL!! Now that’s exactly why the Crusades were launchednote well Mr Obama!

The Telegraph reporters open with (emphases added):

ISIL will develop into “something even more grotesque and inhumane” unless the world acts now, Theresa May, the Home Secretary, said yesterday…

“There is simply no choice…The extraordinary nature of the threat posed requires an extraordinary response. It must be international in reach, unprecedented in scale and immediate“.

They go on to report:

Mr Obama…said that, while Western nations must take care not to vilify and marginalise their Muslim minorities, Muslim leaders “have a responsibility to push back, not just on twisted interpretations of Islam, but also on the lie that we are somehow engaged in a clash of civilisations”.

He added: “The notion that the West is at war with Islam is an ugly lie”.

Hmm, I was amazed!  (See copy of the full report below.)

2nd Technical Glitch

As Nina’s daughter is here for the day and took mum out for the morning I published Part 2, and can spend time on this post.

When I looked for the digital version of what I read in yesterday’s paper there was only an earlier piece by one of the journalist’s. (Nothing further has followed online or in today’s Telegraph, but the Guardian has White House resists call to focus on Islamist terrorism at 3-day summit – for a paper keen on security and focussing on the Ukraine this is a poor show for the Telegraph.)

3rd Technical Glitch

In trawling for the summit through the Telegraph’s recent archive my Internet Explorer encountered a ‘buffering event’ that IE couldn’t repair! Google couldn’t get any network connection either.

The home network had vanished and Windows couldn’t repair the connection after its auto-diagnosis!! The router’s settings had been trashed!!!

Re-booting and repeating re-boot twice didn’t clear the problem. Fortunately, there’s a handy laptop…and it worked. Thank you Lord

So more time had been wasted and it seemed I was being prevented from publishing Part 2. Something spiritually unclean doesn’t like what I’ve found and am writing about!

SO THIS MUST BE VERY IMPORTANT

 As this doesn’t exist on-line, here’s the hardcopy I read: 

(The closing paras’ reference to youngsters leaving Britain to join the terrorists is borne out in last night’s news. See also Frontpage Mag Obama’s Summit of Jihad Denial.)

ISIL Threat

[Puzzle in Sky by Idea Go, courtesy Freedigitalphotos.net]

An insight into global satanic strategy – part 2

Timing in publishing this follow-on, 700th post is exceptionally fascinating not only for its confirmation in directly related news from Washington but also in other details. I will explain in next post; meanwhile, may you too be blessed with insights as you read:

Hand Holding Puzzzle PieceContinuing from Part 1 let’s consider further the revelatory ‘jigsaw piece’ found whilst musing upon satan’s strategy to avoid the Lake of Fire. It came whilst reading specialist historian Paul Crawford’s  Four Myths About The Crusades.  His solid, illuminating essay on president Bill Clinton’s unsound premise to his remarks on the 9/11 attack also apply to Barack Obama’s recently equating Christianity to Islamist butchery of Christians. Paul’s paper exposes falsehoods behind and adroitly disposes of the following:

  • Myth #1: The Crusades represented an unprovoked attack by Western Christians on the Muslim world.
  • Myth #2: Western Christians went on crusade because their greed led them to plunder Muslims in order to get rich.
  • Myth #3: Crusaders were a cynical lot who did not really believe their own religious propaganda; rather, they had ulterior, materialistic motives.
  • Myth #4: The Crusades taught Muslims to hate and attack Christians.

Part 1 of this post briefly summarised Myth #3 and I concluded:

“The period of the Enlightenment with its liberal intellectual and philosophical attitudes nourished a growing rejection of religion, agnosticism and atheism. So a jaundiced view of Christian scripture and history developed. Thus, the Western intelligentsia began to put a twist upon the Crusades.”

His paper deserves to be studied in full and in view of its importance in this part I shall quote more extensively, adding emphases where appropriate:

The Muslim Attitude to the Crusades

Dr Crawford begins answering Myth #4 by stating part of the answer lies in that for Myth #1 – ie. Muslims had attacked Christians for centuries ever since the inception of Islam. His answer to the first myth succinctly summarises what was happening, as itemised on 7 pages by Dr Bill Warner on Political Islam, and which show that ‘jihadic’ attacks and strategic advances occurred on average every 5 years for 460 years!

Paul continues by stating Muslims “needed no further incentive to continue (jihad). But there’s a more complicated answer here…”.

“…until quite recently, Muslims remembered the crusades as an instance in which they had beaten back a puny western Christian attack…(One) of Lawrence of Arabia’s letters (describes) a confrontation during post-World War I negotiations (over) a case for French interest in Syria going back to the crusades, which Faisal (later Faisal I of Iraq). dismissed with a cutting remark: “But, pardon me, which of us won the crusades?”

He goes on to state that before WW1 most Muslims had a similar, if any, attitude to the Crusades,

“…that is, when Muslims bothered to remember them at all, which was not often. Most of the Arabic-language historical writing on the crusades before the mid-19th century was produced by Arab Christians, not Muslims, and most of that was positive…There was no Arabic word for “crusades” until that period, either…It had not seemed important to Muslims to distinguish the crusades from other conflicts between Christianity and Islam…As Carole Hillenbrand has noted, “The Muslim response to the coming of the Crusades was initially one of apathy, compromise and preoccupation with internal problems”.

“The first Muslim crusade history did not appear until 1899. By that time, the Muslim world was rediscovering the crusades — but it was rediscovering them with a twist learned from Westerners.”

At this point our author has introduced a new angle: the influence of modern European schools of thought. This was covered in Part 1 of this post for the purpose of leading into an appreciation of how Muslims’  attitudes towards the Crusades  changed radically in the early decades of the 20th Century. As Crawford explains:

“At the same time, nationalism began to take root in the Muslim world. Arab nationalists borrowed the idea of a long-standing European campaign against them from the former European school of thoughtmissing the fact this was a serious mischaracterization of the crusades and using this distorted understanding as a way to generate support for their own agendas.

“This remained the case until the mid-20th century, when, in Riley-Smith’s words, “a renewed and militant Pan-Islamism” applied the more narrow goals of the Arab nationalists to a worldwide revival of what was then called Islamic fundamentalism and is now sometimes referred to, a bit clumsily, as jihadism.

“This led rather seamlessly to the rise of Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda, offering a view of the crusades so bizarre as to allow bin Laden to consider all Jews to be crusaders and the crusades to be a permanent and continuous feature of the West’s response to Islam.

“Bin Laden…is no more accurate in his view about the crusades than he is about the supposed perfect Islamic unity which he thinks Islam enjoyed before the baleful influence of Christianity intruded. But the irony is that he, and those millions of Muslims who accept his message, received that message originally from their perceived enemies: the West.

“So it was not the crusades that taught Islam to attack and hate Christians. Far from it. Those activities had preceded the crusades by a very long time, and stretch back to the inception of Islam. Rather, it was the West which taught Islam to hate the crusades. The irony is rich.”

Conclusion

The last leads Paul Crawford ‘back to the present’ in asking how much of president Bill Clinton’s Georgetown speech of 2001 was accurate, especially his emphatic assertion that the story of the Crusades was “still being told today in the Middle East and we are still paying for it!”.

“This is the most serious misstatement of the whole passage. What we are paying for is not the First Crusade, but western distortions of the crusades in the nineteenth century which were taught to, and taken up by, an insufficiently critical Muslim world.

In drawing everything together, this specialist in the history of the Crusades offers his opinion:

“The problems with Mr Clinton’s remarks indicate the pitfalls that await those who would attempt to explicate ancient or medieval texts without adequate historical awareness, and they illustrate very well what happens when one sets out to pick through the historical record for bits—distorted or merely selectively presented—which support one’s current political agenda. This sort of abuse of history has been distressingly familiar where the crusades are concerned.

Thank you Paul Crawford for such an excellent examination and clarification of a crucial current issue. (Paul is an Associate Professor at California University of Pennsylvania –  also see his bio at Queen Mary University of London, and The Intercollegiate Review.)

The Diabolical Spin

Clearly, as shown above, the “Father of Lies” has been spinning his worldwide web of deceit, to which a surprising confirmation has been given this week and will be revealed in the next post.

Out of the post-Reformation intellectual freedom that eventually led to the rejection of most Judeo-Christian values, was born an anti-Christian mind-set that deliberately warps any spiritual understanding. It eventually affected not only traditional Christian beliefs but also associated historical facts.

Into his engineered ungodliness Satan could sow seeds of disbelief to twist and poison intellectual integrity. This serves his strategy to disunite and weaken Christianity further by falsified history harnessed to intellectual dishonesty and arrogance to belittle, blame and persecute the church of Jesus Christ.

“But Jesus…”

UPDATE: current security concerns led to a relevant development upon this thesis, as revealed in Anti-terrorism summit confirms this week’s insight.

MORE: this theme develops further in 1 of 3: the ‘End-game’ gets ramped up a level.

[‘Hand Holding Puzzle Piece’ by Ponsulak, courtesy Freedigitalphotos.net]

An insight into a global satanic strategy – part 1

A nuance new to me of our enemy’s tactics has come to light which seriously affects politicians’ and public’s perceptions. As in the caveat to Paws 4 thought, it’s a topic I’d much rather not blog about, but current events require this information to be shared. It should help you to understand the huge, beguiling deception blinding national leaders.

An “aha!” moment instigated continuation of those musings. Long-standing readers may recall, like my friend and fellow End-times teacher-author ‘Neil Mac’, that ‘jigsaw pieces’ occasionally bring revelation ‘out-of-the-blue’.

Hand Holding Puzzle Piece by PonsulakAfter popping a small ‘piece’, the last link, into my brief comment to the re-blog of Joel Rosenberg’s post on the war against Christianity, it struck me that link is part of an ‘invisible’ jigsaw. Not exactly as depicted in this photo by Ponsulak, it seemed like I’d inserted a ‘piece’ into a large puzzle, part of which covers Islamist actions.

Puzzle - Salvatore VuonoTo the first ‘puzzle pieces’, or links to comments on US National Prayer Breakfast, I added two more on the Crusades. It was upon later reading the last of these four at leisure that I was struck by it’s being like a piece connecting one area to another (rather  like Salvatore Vuono’s picture here).

That ‘piece’ connects the modern revival of Islam in all its original barbarity that overflowed from Arabia 1,500 years ago with my musings on the Devil’s plot to avoid the Lake of Fire. Now, it’s not the fact that this phenomena is part (5) of my historical evidence, but more the facts emerging from further analysis that brought a better perspective.

Historical Evidence cont’d

In those musings we considered just a few events to support my thesis that satan is the source of anti-Semitism and Christian disunity. There’s a ‘rationale’ to such a strategy.  Nowadays,we’re brainwashed into ignoring the historical facts behind Christianity’s massive reaction 920 years ago to 460 years of jihad – widespread strategic attacks and invasions. That is, it all started 1,380 years ago – and ISIS/ISIL want the whole world to regress not improve! (Hence, my re-blog’s link to Dr Warner’s itemised listing.)

Also, militant Muslims, backed by mendacious academics in Western universities, use that twisting of historical facts to pretend they’re victims of the Crusades: but in actual fact, Muslims came out as the winners!!

What is deeply disturbing is the fact that presidents Clinton and Obama were duped, or else wallowed in self-imposed ignorance, about the Crusades – and displayed this in public!  My readers in the States will be aware of the outcry following Remarks by the President at National Prayer Breakfast in Washington on 5th February when Mr Obama said, and I underscore the cause of the issue:

“…we have seen violence and terror perpetrated by those who profess to stand up for faith, their faith, professed to stand up for Islam, but, in fact, are betraying it.  We see ISIL, a brutal, vicious death cult that, in the name of religion, carries out unspeakable acts of barbarism…and claiming the mantle of religious authority for such actions…[examples of sectarian wars] a rising tide of anti-Semitism and hate crimes in Europe, so often perpetrated in the name of religion

“So how do we, as people of faith, reconcile these realities…operating alongside those who seek to hijack religious for their own murderous ends? 

“Humanity has been grappling with these questions throughout human history.  And lest we get on our high horse and think this is unique to some other place, remember that during the Crusades and the Inquisition, people committed terrible deeds in the name of Christ.  In our home country, slavery and Jim Crow all too often was justified in the name of Christ…”

To his credit the President didn’t refer to deep anti-Semitism that had riddled European churches since the ‘early Church fathers’ and led up to the Holocaust. (Reformer Martin Luther was renowned for his strident, ungodly dislike of Jews!)

Elliott AbramsEven so, cluelessness masks deep disingenuity over the recent anti-Semitic murders of French and Danish Jews, as Elliot Abrams (Senior Fellow at the CFR and just one among myriad experts) pointedly questions and explains, Why can’t the White House see Terrorism and anti-Semitism? (see his linked lead-in post too).

Franklin Graham, outspoken son of Billy Graham, took issue with Obama’s comments, as emphasised above. On his Facebook page the evangelist sought to correct them:

“Today at the National Prayer Breakfast, the President implied that what ISIS is doing is equivalent to what happened over 1000 years ago during the Crusades and the Inquisition. Mr. President–Many people in history have used the name of Jesus Christ to accomplish evil things for their own desires. But Jesus taught peace, love and forgiveness. He came to give His life for the sins of mankind, not to take life. Mohammad on the contrary was a warrior and killed many innocent people. True followers of Christ emulate Christ—true followers of Mohammed emulate Mohammed.”

A fortnight later Franklin asks about the butchery in Libya,

“…In a statement the White House even called the 21 Christians who were beheaded “Egyptian citizens,” refusing to identify them as Christians. The truth is–their barbaric murderers openly said they killed them because they were “people of the cross.” Why is the President seemingly continuing to protect Islam and refusing to open his eyes to the truth?” (emphasis added)

The essential point, as in several earlier posts, is to compare the founders of both faiths – that of Islam just doesn’t, and cannot, bare comparison with Jesus.

William Koenig’s perspective on this as an accredited journalist at the White House and editor-in-chief of World Watch Daily is worth noting too:

“An important point to remember is that President Obama’s speeches have a specific audience or audiences in mind. At the National Prayer Breakfast…he equated the Christian (ie. Catholic) Crusades with radical Islam’s brutality. Moreover, he neglected to contrast the sacrificial love of Jesus Christ, who came as the Savior to the world, with the brutality of Mohammed, who attempted to dominate and terrorize the world…

 “What did Muslims hear? A Muslim apologist who happens to be the President of the United States, and who calls himself a Christian, lectured Christians not to be on a “high horse”. He equated horrific Muslim violence with Christians who resorted to violence in two specific periods in history.”

This furore comes as no surprise. I questioned the President’s claims to be “a student of history” in his 2009 Cairo speech, which benefitted the Muslim Brotherhood. To the very deep disquiet and legitimate suspicion of many Americans, the MB since infiltrated and became too influential within the US administration, as lawyer and author Joseph Klein recently maintained in Obama Bolsters the Brotherhood.

Also refer to Tuesday’s article by Ephraim Karsh, professor emeritus of Kings College London, on White House Delusions, Islamist Realities, wherein he tells what happened after Cairo. UK readers will find relevant material by searching on ‘Cordoba foundation’ and ‘UK islam and democracy conference’ by Global MB Watch.

‘Four Myths About The Crusades’

Historian Paul Crawford’s above-titled article is the revelatory ‘jigsaw piece’ referred to above. It was first published by the Intercollegiate Studies Institute in 2011, but I found it through the Catholic News Agency. It gave me a new perspective into another tactic used by the Devil against Christianity. This scholarly paper should be recommended reading for every serious student of history; click to read in full.

The author, a specialist teacher of medieval history, opens by referring to Bill Clinton’s speech in 2001 where he, like Obama, excused the perpetrators of 9/11 by comparing them to medieval crusaders!

Crawford’s well-reasoned and illuminating essay exposes the falsehoods behind and adroitly disposes of:

  • Myth #1: The crusades represented an unprovoked attack by Western Christians on the Muslim world.
  • Myth #2: Western Christians went on crusade because their greed led them to plunder Muslims in order to get rich.
  • Myth #3: Crusaders were a cynical lot who did not really believe their own religious propaganda; rather, they had ulterior, materialistic motives.
  • Myth #4: The crusades taught Muslims to hate and attack Christians.

What opened my eyes to a nuance in the devilish scheme to avoid the fiery lake was a scenario cloaked within the facts underlying Myths #3 and #4, for which the scholar’s opening gambit to the first (#3) reads:

“This has been a very popular argument, at least from Voltaire on. It seems credible and even compelling to modern people, steeped as they are in materialist worldviews. And certainly there were cynics and hypocrites in the Middle Ages…

“In the modern period, there were two main European schools of thought about the crusades. One school, epitomized by people like Voltaire, Gibbon, and Sir Walter Scott, and in the twentieth century Sir Steven Runciman, saw the crusaders as crude, greedy, aggressive barbarians who attacked civilized, peace-loving Muslims to improve their own lot. The other school, more romantic…saw the crusades as a glorious episode in a long-standing struggle in which Christian chivalry had driven back Muslim hordes. In addition, Western imperialists began to view the crusaders as predecessors, adapting their activities in a secularized way that the original crusaders would not have recognized or found very congenial…”

Free from church controls, the Enlightenment’s intellectual and philosophical liberality nourished a growing rejection of religion, agnosticism and atheism. So a jaundiced view of Christian scripture and history developed. Consequently, Western intelligentsia put their own twist upon the Crusades.

Part 2 will look at how this diabolical spin generated Myth #4; that the Crusades taught Muslims to hate and attack Christians – and the implicit activity of the “Father of Lies” in avoiding his ultimate demise.

[‘Hand Holding Puzzle Piece’ and ‘Puzzle’ courtesy Freedigitalphotos.net]