Death, or ‘destiny’, it was my choice – but I didn’t know, and I’d chosen wrongly!
Thankfully, I was given the chance to choose again – yet once again flunked it! How? A young man who happened to share my birthday pointed out the facts. Yet I decided, quite deliberately, to ignore them and thus made the wrong choice.
Then another, very much older man, came like a thief in the night. He showed me how those incorrect decisions bear consequences affecting my own post-mortem existence! Twenty two years later, that event remains vividly etched within me.
Maybe this sounds rather far-fetched or fictional, or like Dickens’ A Christmas Carol where ghosts confront Ebenezer Scrooge?
However, please make no mistake. What I’m relating has nothing to do with ideas or beliefs, faith or feelings, supposition or superstition. Rather, it has everything to do with plain, simple facts.
The eventual outcome of our own life – even one’s post-mortem existence – is a matter of fact. And it’s our choice.
Now, dear reader, let’s turn the dials in our imaginary time machine again. Set your watch back yet another 700-odd years – and discover how we can go forward from there!
This takes us to the time ancient Rome was founded and the first Olympic Games got under way in ancient Greece. Also, Assyria was poised to conquer the Middle East and become a mighty regional power.
A Hebrew prophet and student of geopolitics, Isaiah, could see conflict approaching and, sure enough, the northern kingdom of Israel, Samaria, fell to Assyria in 721BC. A couple of decades earlier, Isaiah had a profound vision of the glory of The Holy Lord of Heavenly Hosts within His temple (see 6th chapter of The Book of Isaiah).
Not only did Isaiah thus come to hear the Lord and learn of His heart and mind for his own time, but he was also given a revelation into the far distant future of the life and personality of Jesus Christ. This is recorded in the 53rd chapter of the Book of Isaiah within the Bible’s Old Testament. Prior to that, the Lord Most High had told him:
“For I am God and there is no other, I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand and I shall do all My pleasure’…”(Isaiah 46:9-10 NKJV)
Therein lies the key to foretelling the future. We’re privileged to learn what The Almighty has determined is to happen because He shared his plans with a select number of ancient sages or prophets over several centuries.
In fact about 50 years earlier, the first of the ‘writing prophets’ had recorded a distinct word about just this at what we know as verse 7 of the third chapter of Amos’ book:
“Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.”(NKJV)
Now, allow me to divulge the inspiration behind this posting:
During our online visit this Sunday afternoon to a live service at Church of His Presence in Mobile, Alabama (mid-morning there), we were thrilled by Reverend John Kilpatrick’s sermon. (To listen, let the video play and as the gray buffer bar progresses click at 52 minutes for the commencement of this pastor’s revelatory teaching.)
John Kilpatrick spoke in a novel way of the parable of the good Samaritan, saying it’s only one of several passages for which the Lord’s given him fresh insights. He said all these can be regarded as ‘foreshadowing the future’ and quoted his scriptural authority for coming to that conclusion lies in Isaiah 46 verses 9-10, as above. What amazed me, however, was that upon opening my old, well-annotated paperback NIV Insight Bible, I saw those very verses had already been highlighted by me in bright yellow!
W O W !!
I just had to conclude, therefore, those verses are especially appropriate for this blog.
Now, let’s return to the future and set or watches forward well over 2600 years to 14th September 1989 at Reading in Berkshire, England for a personal date with destiny.
Why? In short: I was told to watch – plus a spectacular event made it personal. Yet why do that? To answer this, and other questions, take a quick trip with me back in time.
Like scrolling page to page on pc, tablet or smartphone brings different images to your own virtual or cyber realm, use your mind’s eye to imagine yourself getting into a ‘time machine’. Are you sitting down? Then let’s go for a spin’…
Off Beyond The Med…
Set your watches (or digital calendars) back by -1,975 years. We head beyond the Eastern Mediterranean’s shore towards the Dead Sea’s deep valley well below sea level. A hill-top city quickly appears wherein we zoom into a large closed room. Here, we find ourselves in the midst of about 120 men and women – Jesus Christ’s original disciples.
We learn that Jesus had commissioned twelve of these men as apostles, or ‘ones sent forth’. He not only authorised but also empowered them to continue His teaching – with miracles – and to establish groups of believers. [See opening chapter of ‘The Acts of the Apostles’ in the Bible’s New Testament.]
Peter had been charged with leading these followers in spreading the ‘good news of Jesus Christ’; i.e. the kingdom of God’s love, as fully demonstrated by Jesus’ life and ministry to the ‘lost’. Their remarkable ‘rabbi’ had told them,
“…You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth”. (Acts 1:8 NIV).unt of Jesus’ public ministry. This will be known as ‘The Gospel According To Mark’. His account is the earliest of four to be recognised as authentic, inspired by God’s Holy Spirit and, thus, authoritative or canonical.
“But what’s all that to do with this blog?”, you may ask. Let me explain:
Mark, also known as ‘the interpreter of Peter’, wrote what Jesus had privately confided to his very first followers, James and John plus Peter and Andrew, about God’s plans for the near and far future. Jesus gave them the startling promise that He would return in the flesh to reign as ruler of God’s fully established kingdom!
To help you get a handle on this;
If those disciples were our contemporaries and Peter’s eye-witness account were to be published for the first time TODAY, then his story would cover events of less than 40 years ago – that is, since the Falklands War. Now, back to the point:
Jesus told both pairs of brothers that certain events would clearly indicate His return is imminent. Future followers would know, therefore, what to look out for just prior to the bodily return of Messiah (anointed redeemer) Yeshua onto the world stage. This future event is known as The Second Advent; the First Advent being when Jesus was born in Bethlehem, in the Roman province of Judea (see map).
Hence, the four weeks preceding Christmas are designated within the western church calendar as Advent, from Latin ‘adventus’, meaning ‘arrival, approach’, also ‘coming’. (Read here to learn about the personal relevance of both Advents.) This year it began on Sunday 28 November 2011.
What’s That To Do With Us?
Apparently, for every prophecy in the Old Testament about Jesus’ birth and life during the Ancient Roman Empire, there are 7 to 8 times as many about His Second Advent – what’s more, it’s increasingly likely to occur in our lifetime! (I’ll explain elsewhere why this is so.) Jesus stressed the great importance of that future event. For example, in His instruction to the four who’d been with him from the beginning, as recorded at Mark 13:33-37:
“Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch.
“Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming – in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning – lest, coming suddenly, he finds you sleeping! And what I say to you, I say to all, ‘Watch!’.”
That’s why I’m on the lookout – and, believer or not, you’re included in the action! So, if you don’t know Him yet, I trust that something you may read herein will enable you to recognise, and want to get to know personally, the author of your and my salvation, the Lord of Lords – Jesus Christ. It’s all about Him! I wonder, do you know Him yet?
If not, this stirring 3 minute video clip describes so well who Jesus is.:
Preacher Sam has a terrific way with words in describing where God came from.:
We may meet the Lord of Time later…but first, here’s his key to prophecy!
This post, one of my first blogs in November 2011, later featured on the Home page to inform visitors of the acceleration of prophetic fulfillment, as may be inferred from the links to confirmatory events two years later:
As you may have gathered from my Welcome, I’m into eschatology – the theological study of the destiny and judgement of nations and all people, even angels! You may know it as ‘The Last Days’ or, more popularly, as ‘End-Times’. The origin of this term is in the ancient Hebrew Torah’s description: Acharit Hayamin, ie. ‘Last of the Years’.
Let me take you for a very brief visit into one of my favourite classes where Dr Chuck Missler is asking his students, ‘Why Eschatology?‘
“It is very practical”, he answers himself and explains:
“Apparently, we’re being plunged into a period of time about which the Holy Bible says more than any other period – including the time when Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee!
“Now that’s a preposterous statement – and I challenge you to challenge my statement! To do so you need to do two things:
1 Find out what the Bibleitself says about this and – this is a bit harder,
2 Find out what’s really going on – but you won’t get that on the ten o’clock news!
“Fortunately, thanks to the internet, the alternative press and to talk-radio you can do some homework and find out what really is going on. The more you do those two things the more you’ll understand why many scholars are extremely excited about the horizon we’re moving into – because it all deals with the return of Christ to rule earth.
“It really is remarkable how controversial this topic is, but there are:
over 1800 references in the Old Testament to this event – 17 Old Testament books give prominence to the event.
over 300 references in the New Testament – 216 chapters in 23 of its 27 books give prominence to this primary issue: the return of Jesus to rule on earth.
“You may not believe what the Bible says, but what’s utterly astonishing is that so very many claim to believe in Jesus yet have no grasp of the idea Christ is to literally return and rule!”
I respect Chuck for frequently stressing that we shouldn’t take what he says as ‘Gospel’ but always do a ‘Berean check’ per Acts 17:11; that is, to search the scriptures to find out whether or not his ideas line up with them. Also, I admire his public apology for admitting that, having long taught about an anticipated Middle Eastern war from a certain scriptural stance, he’s gained a better understanding from other passages. So Chuck explained why he’d changed his mind. For more information visit his website at Koinonia House.
What are we to do when mainstream news doesn’t help? To find out, click here…
Footnote
The following posts are just a few examples among many of subsequent eschatalogical developments:
A brief note further to my email on the debate on Replacement Theology. There is news from two separate sources that the Lord may be drawing this issue to the fore.
The first is found via a comment to the debate. In recent years liberal seminaries have strongly encouraged a new, non-Biblical, Palestinian form of theology through the works of Lutheran pastor Mitri Raheb and Anglican Naim Ateek.
Also, the same morning I read Christian Leaders Against Heresy, which is a clarion call against this error because of claims that Jesus was a Palestinian have appeared in The Jerusalem Post. Its author draw attentions to the fact some well-respected and highly influential leaders within the Church are leading many astray.
May the Lord continually garrison our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Welcome to my musings about what’s going on in the world and I trust this blog may help you gain some insights. Indeed, what on earth is going to happen next?
You may find some of my ideas challenging, even outlandish! For instance, come along on an imaginary trip in a ‘time machine’ and, later, receive unusual instructions on how to tell the time!
Some pertinent points from my past are given in my Bio Info, where you’ll learn some facts about a seminal work that was to serve as a fascinating foundation for a my appreciation of Bible prophecy.
Reading The Invisible Hand in the mid-1980s made me very aware of Middle Eastern and related events, all indicative of things not being as they may seem. I was amazed to learn they’re of major Biblical significance! (More on the book in ‘Bio Info’.) Bemused, therefore, I began to watch…:
A Supernatural Rescue
A couple of years later, I was alarmed to be unexpectedly faced with my own immediate demise – but I was blessed that a real, invisible handsaved me. The Living God made me an offer I simply couldn’t refuse. I gladly accepted His free gift of everlasting life, ie. Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection was for my personal benefit. Incredible!
As the Living God graciously and gently dealt with me I was completely turned around (ie. repentance) and cleansed of my involvement in yoga and the occult. Some years later, I received training in and practised full gospel prayer ministry, as well as secular person-centred counselling.
Inner Eyes Descaled
As I got to grips with my new life in him, learned his ways and was introduced to his Best Instructions Before Leaving Earth – scales fell from my eyes! Scriptures about what’s happening to the world became particularly clear. For the last few years I’ve updated Christian friends upon possible connections between holy writ and current events.
You, dear reader, may be unaware of the exceptional relevance of a great chunk of the Old and New Testaments to today’s events. Regrettably, many others are not only woefully uninformed but may also be quite biased against Christianity. Therefore, I ask you to adopt an open mind as you mull over the themes and ideas expressed in this blog.
As not many people know of this, let’s seek expert advice next…(click on this ‘next’)
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 asubversive, 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.
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.)
A video is now available on each proponent’s blog of last Wednesday’s 90min debate on Revelation TV, should you wish to watch.
First – or instead – it would be useful to read the text below both site’s video shots; ie. the interesting comments (with corrections!) thread on Calvin Smith’s blog as well as Stephen Sizer’s opening statement on his blog:
Despite each advocate’s reputation going ahead of him, there was a lack of acrimony and although neither gave ground each came to respect their opponent.
Calvin Smith stood staunchly against the wider view that Christian Zionism is a heresy. He could have mentioned this valid Biblical understanding blossomed during the Commonwealth Period under Cromwell. The Puritans laid great emphasis upon inter-preting and understanding the Holy Bible correctly. Hence, their realisation that the Jewish people ought to return to their ancient homeland – the eventual outcome of which was The Balfour Declaration of 1917 by the british Government.
Stephen Sizer has a concern for the well-being of fellow believers within the Jewish and Arab communities and wants to draw them towards one another – other ministries are already doing so. It seems his view may be fuelled by unreasonable and dangerous attitudes prevalent within US military based upon an extreme support for Israel, right or wrong. Like us, both contestants recognised that the modern state of Israel is far from perfect and we shouldn’t be blindly supporting it.
More:
In this connection, I’m forwarding Doug Chaplin’s succinct reflections upon Judaism’s painful relationship with the church – hat-tip to Stuart for your recommendation. This reminds me of, and thus I rejoice over, the ‘one-new man’ relationship demonstrated magnificently between Rev John Kilpatrick and Rabbi Curt Landry in Alabama. (You may recall my referring to them last May regarding intercession for Israel v. proposed 3rd intifada.) Boy are those two men of God a powerhouse when together!
Also, it reminds me of the blessed time last year when Nina and I were privileged to attend and be instructed in the celebration of Rosh Hashanah. What a download I received about Almighty Father’s personal connection to His Holy Word, and Nina was unquestionably impacted by His Holy Spirit during that event – we were speechless!!
Upon receipt of my mail, Neil Mc had just finished the second part of his comments upon Replacement Theology for the End-Times course at WinVin and he replied: “God is certainly bringing this subject to the fore! I strongly believe that time is short and, as you say, the ground is being prepared.” His comments upon RT open with wise words:
Some caution and tentativeness is advisable as there are varying opinions and interpretations: we do well to remember, in humility, that God has set limits to our knowledge and understanding. Claiming absolute certainty in any explanation of puzzling aspects of scripture, or of unfulfilled biblical prophecy, is risky! Suffice it to say, we should keep an open mind, read scripture with integrity and in context and, wherever possible, adopt a literal interpretation in preference to dynamic equivalence….
Also, a couple of weeks ago I took Nina to a packed Woman To Woman conference in East London. (Public transport was non-existent in view of work-in-hand for Olympics!) Afterwards, Nina excitedly told me most of what happened as 3000 ‘spell-bound’ ladies listened to Billy Graham’s daughter, Anne Graham-Lotz.
She spoke in depth explaining why the End-Times are upon us. To paraphrase in summary;
“I know a lot of you are scoffing, but I don’t care – it’s all there in the Bible and that’s good enough for me. Just watch what’s happening and check it out in your Bible”.
Scales fell off their eyes.
SO MUCH of what Anne said was anointed by the Holy Spirit that Nina kept being fired up by Him as though getting mild electric shocks! Most of her message was given in her oft-repeated ‘WAKE UP!’ call which is usually available on line during conferences such as May’s Epicentre Conference jointly hosted with Joel Rosenberg (see video overview)
Friends – If you have satellite TV you may want to watch this debate on Revelation TV (sky 581, Freesat 692) on WED 9.11.11 at 9pm gmt.
For the motion will be Anglican vicar Dr Stephen Sizer arguing that Christian Zionism has no Biblical foundation or historical precedent, even playing a dangerous role in politics of M-East. (He’s gained a questionable stance in being vociferously pro-Palestinian claims and anti-Israel.)
Against the motion will be Dr Calvin Smith, Principal of King’s Evangelical Divinity School. His stance may be gained from Stuart James’ Church posting on Friday, Messianic Alarm
That very day I came across two other items directly related to this topic:
1. A posting on politically forthright blog Harry’s Place referred to Nick Clegg standing against an Islamist student body, FOSIS. This well researched post indicates doubts over Sizer’s integrity.
2 That evening came Bill Koenig’s weekly report from the White House, and which included his resounding denunciation of An Open Letter to America’s Christian Zionists published by Just Peace-making Initiative. After reprinting portions of the letter he concludes:
Koenig’s perspective: These men are totally clueless and dangerous. They say there has been theft of Palestinian land? Open the Bible, guys. And study your history — what so-called sovereign “Palestinian land” was ever stolen? Human rights? What about Christian rights in country after country in the Middle East? What about the wars of self-defence forced on Israel over the years? What about Israel’s right to live in the Holy Land with peace and security?
This position is becoming more and more prevalent in liberal Christian seminaries and within the leadership of the replacement theology church organizations.It is ominous and must be confronted boldly.
Rather than accept those intense remarks at face value I carefully checked the full content of that letter as an exercise in being open-minded. Its authors make an apparently honest rationale in their approach to fellow Christians: but in quoting scripture (especially Genesis) they twist its meaning completely to their biased viewpoint – not only was the letter riddled with error but it also reminded me of how Satan did the same when tempting Jesus! So are these replacement theoreticians simply Satan’s sad stooges??
Could the increasing frequency of this issue indicate the Lord is testing who’s really worthy of being his bride and thus clearing out his house?
Re below – developments in this serious saga with Iran warrant our closer observation. Therefore, I’m widening circulation beyond friends who watch out for Israel.
.
Whether current developments are a psychological ploy or not, at long last this deeply critical issue has moved away from Israel’s’ go-it-alone option and into international involvement.
.
For further details on yesterday’s news please see Joel’s subsequent fuller report here. Of relevance on this side of the ‘pond’, I espied today’s Guardian headlines, UK military steps up plans for Iran attack, following last night’s special report from Debka’s inside sources. These suggest that Israel’s role may be purely that of tactical readiness for self-protection rather than active involvement.
.
Richard
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=================
From: Richard Barker
Sent: Wednesday, November 02, 2011 3:18 PM
To: Undisclosed Recipients
Subject: Fw: [New post] SPECULATION GROWING ABOUT POSSIBLE ISRAELI FIRST STRIKE AGAINST IRAN:
.
Friends – The following development has been expected for some time, but I’d draw your attention to Joel’s personal observation in 3rd para below.
.
Also, this afternoon Debka reports the conclusion of an Israeli-Italian air exercise as well as testing a new nuclear-capable missile and extensive preparations in central Israeli for missile attacks. The region’s getting hotter…
Subject: [New post] SPECULATION GROWING ABOUT POSSIBLE ISRAELI FIRST STRIKE AGAINST IRAN: Netanyahu warns Israeli parliament about Iran nuclear threat, says “a security philosophy cannot rely on defense alone.”
Israeli PM Netanyahu speaking before the Knesset on Oct. 31, 2011.
Speculation in Washington and the Middle East continues to grow about a possible Israeli preemptive military strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities. This is in part because Iran is getting closer to building nuclear warheads, in part because of remarks Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke to the Knesset on Monday about the Iran threat, in part because former Vice President Dick Cheney recently speculated about an Israeli first strike, and in part because the Obama administration is publicly pressuring Israel not to hit first.
“If I had to summarize what will happen in our region, I would use two terms: instability and uncertainty,” Netanyahu told his parliamentary colleagues Monday. “The collapse of Gaddafi’s regime in Libya, the bloody incidents in Syria, the American forces leaving Iraq, the new government in Tunisia, the upcoming elections in Egypt and many other events – these are all expressions of the immense changes occurring around us. These changes can increase the instability within these countries, and the instability between countries….A nuclear Iran would pose a terrible threat on the Middle East and on the entire world. And of course, it poses a great, direct threat on us too….A security philosophy cannot rely on defense alone. It must also include offensive capabilities, which is the very foundation of deterrence. We operate and will continue to operate intensely and determinately against those who threaten the security of the State of Israel and its citizens. Our policy is guided by two main principles: the first is ‘if someone comes to kill you, rise up and kill him first,’ and the second is ‘if anyone harms us, his blood is on his own hands.'”
I’ve never heard Netanyahu discuss those two principles before (RB’s emphasis) — they certainly lay the moral and strategic framework for preemptive military action, both against the Hamas terrorists that are firing rockets and missiles at Israel from Gaza, and against state enemies such as Iran.
Such developments echo major plot points in my new political thriller, The Tehran Initiative, but this is not fiction. Could a major new war in the region be coming later this year, or early next? It’s too early to say, but there is little question that senior Israeli officials are now actively weighing such an option, or that the Obama administration is deeply opposed. What would a Republican president do differently that President Obama to neutralize the Iran threat? That remains to be seen as none of the GOP contenders has yet offered a major policy address focused on the Iran issue.
Barak: Israel has not already decided to strike Iran— “Amidst a flurry of recent reports regarding a possible Israeli attack against Iran, Defense Minister Ehud Barak said on Monday that he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have not already decided that Israel will conduct such a strike.”
“The Vatican called on Monday for sweeping reforms of the world economy and the creation of a ethical, global authority to regulate financial markets as demonstrations against corporate greed continued to spring up in major cities across the globe…
The economic and financial crisis which the world is going through calls everyone, individuals and peoples, to examine in depth the principles and the cultural and moral values at the basis of social coexistence,” said the Vatican document…
The Vatican called for the establishment of “a supranational authority” with worldwide scope and “universal jurisdiction” to guide economic policies and decisions. Such an authority should start with the United Nations as its reference point but later become independent and be endowed with the power to see to it that developed countries were not allowed to wield “excessive power over the weaker countries”…
Most laudable as all this may be, particular points under sub-head Effective Structures are illuminating:
One section of the document explained why the Vatican felt the reform of the global economy was necessary and called for specific reforms such as taxation of financial transactions.
In economic and financial matters, the most significant difficulties come from the lack of an effective set of structures that can guarantee, in addition to a system of governance, a system of government for the economy and international finance,” it said…
In fact, one can see an emerging requirement for a body that will carry out the functions of a kind of ‘central world bank’ that regulates the flow and system of monetary exchanges similar to the national central banks,” it said. The document acknowledged that such change would take years to put into place and was bound to encounter resistance.
Of course, this transformation will be made at the cost of a gradual, balanced transfer of a part of each nation’s powers to a world authority and to regional authorities, but this is necessary at a time when the dynamism of human society and the economy and the progress of technology are transcending borders, which are in fact already very eroded in a globalised world…”
And Sunday saw an item headed New euro ‘empire’ plot by Brussels about the European Council president’s plan for a new ‘United States of Europe” with a single Treasury based in either Frankfurt or Paris!
Recalling the explanation Daniel was given for his visions, and Jesus’ prophetic words as well as the revelation Father gave to Him (Rev 1.1), we recognise what may be indicated in those proposals together with current events – Is this combination a unique confluence of religious and political purposes moving towards the same goal?
What do you think, my friends?
As Christian watcher John McTernan states in hisDaily Digestof Monday:
“The Vatican jumps right into the one-world economy with a statement that is right out of an end-times prophecy book! What truly amazing times we are living. The pope is calling for a new economic order with a central world bank based on fairness and honesty!!!“
I like his retrospective treatment of scripture,. He writes as though were already in the Lord’s Millenium reign and, like a TV news commentator report’s upon what’s already happened; but, as ever, I take remarks concerning the Rapture carefully.
For example, Leaser omits to mention that Paul states the great apostasy within the Church, which is already under way, will definitely precede the appearance of the ‘Son of Perdition’. Both those events and the stupendously terrifying miracle of the worldwide resurrection of deceased believers would occur before our being ‘snatched’ upwards. (1Thess 4.15 & 2Thess 2.3).
Matt closes with Luke 21.28, which is personally pertinent for its relevance to Jesus rescuing me:
When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.
Would you join me?
Richard
(God-incidentally as I closed, Handel’s Zadok the Priest started on my pc – quietly leading into the anthem “Long live the King!” Hmmmm)
Further to 8 October, we were blessed to watch the live service I flagged up a couple of weeks ago and hear Nathan Morris reporting about a move of the Holy Spirit in the North East of England.
[Reminder: After a brief UK tour, evangelist Nathan Morris of Shake the Nations visited Alabama for a camp meeting in July 2010 en-route to Hawaii. Suddenly, the tangible Presence of the Lord God came into their service, heavily affecting Nathan. The host, pastor John Kilpatrick recognised this as the same as happened for him in Pensacola in 1995. Thus commenced the Bay of The Holy Spirit Revival. Nathan therefore stayed until his US visa needed renewing around May 2011. They were praying this renewal would be quick, which at 5 months is much shorter than the average of 18 months – thank you Lord!]
On his return to Mobile on 9 Oct Nathan spoke of the deep hunger in the nations for the glory of God, as evident during his visit to Finland where many came from across Scandinavia (even from Australia!), to Jerusalem – and within UK.
Away from USA he learned of the immense international impact of the Bay Revival – eg. miraculous healings from HIV-aids, whole Muslim families giving their lives to Jesus, pastors reporting holy fire falling in churches. He wept over many who’re so desperate because of deep darkness to get to the Bay but are unable to afford travel.
Upon Nathan’s return to UK, the power of God was felt from the outset of visiting New Life Church, Hull. Later, so many had been healed there was a 5 hr queue for Sunday afternoon’s service, which ran into the next day! It was harder to get in that evening because, upon entry, everyone got ‘zapped’ by Holy Spirit: “It was like a battlefield” – wow, the Living Lord God was in charge! Leader Jarrod Cooper reported, “I came into my office Monday morning and all my staff were laid out on the floor for hours!” (That is, they were under the weight of God’s glory in the church premises.)
In Newcastle, pastor Ken Gott’s 8yrs old grand-daughter was wonderfully healed. Born with malformed hip joints that turned both legs 90 degrees from normal, the only medical remedy was to break them at the hip and thereby turn and pin the hip around (12 month recovery).
Nathan went on, “In the service, she said ‘Mummy I feel a wind blowing around me – my legs are burning!’ Then she sat down cross-legged, which she’d never been able to do (for which her school had put her with disabled children). Her father, a doctor, declared he didn’t know how God did that but He had to turn her leg joints around!” Is it any wonder Nathan gets so excited? Wouldn’t you?
On-line in Mobile, Alabama, Nathan admonished, “When you ask for revival fire of God, get ready! – (because) He comes to purify our hearts, to purify His Church!”
(Through words of knowledge Nathan has even warned pastors to get right with God because of sexual sin! They didn’t and the next day it splashed across news headlines!)
IMHO that whole service is well-worth following, especially to hear Pastor Kilpatrick’s instruction on how blessing the congregation greatly multiplies their regular offerings. Run the video and as grey buffering bar progresses click on it to advance to 1hr 15 for the start of Nathan’s stirring report, followed by his message…
Why is Nathan so loud and excited? He explained, “It’s the Fire inside my belly”! (Probably that’s also why he gets so hot!)
Soon after circulating yesterday’s update about Iran & Egypt I received a report from Barnabas Fund What Future For Christians in Egypt?, with details of atrocities.
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Upon reading it, your fellow reader Rosemary remarked, ”How can so many of us be so complacent when these things are happening??”
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Today’s Bible Prophecy Blog features an incisive review upon persecution of Christians by Caroline Glick, deputy managing editor of Jerusalem Post – I agree with Bill K honouring her as ‘ne plus ultra’ (ultimate) analyst and commentator. (Caroline served as in Israel’s core negotiating team with Palestinians and later as assistant foreign policy advisor to Bibi Netanyahu during his first term as PM.)
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Her article is highly recommended reading. It covers the Christian situation throughout the Middle-East as well as the extremely embarrassing stance of cosy Churches:.
“Aside from Evangelical Protestants, most Western churches are similarly uninterested in defending the rights of their co-religionists in the Islamic world….
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“As for the Vatican, in the five years since Pope Benedict XVI laid down the gauntlet at his speech in Regensburg and challenged the Muslim world to act with reason and tolerance it its dealing with other religions, the Vatican has abandoned this principled stand. A true discourse of equals has been replaced by supplication to Islam in the name of ecumenical understanding…”
(Perhaps explains why Cranmer has yet to receive a reply from the Holy See on Pastor Youcef?)
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In conclusion, Caroline adroitly puts her finger on our leaders, as well as pointing out what informed people know only too well about appeasement:
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“It is unclear what either Western governments or Western churches think they are achieving by turning a blind eye to the persecution and decimation of Christian communities in the Muslim world. As Sunday’s events in Egypt and other daily anti-Christian attacks by Muslims against Christians throughout the region show, their behavior is not appeasing anyone. What is clear enough is that they shall reap what they sow.”(My emphasis.)
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Heavenly Father please fill all our brothers and sisters with Your Son’s peace and grace in their suffering.
Dear Friends – am breaking into our usual long-weekend of cyber-silence because of what happened last night.
After awaking I told Nina about two consecutive dreams which left me very excited (who me?) over rapid and imminent changes about to happen in the Church and for advancing The Kingdom. I was saving some of my understanding for afterwards, but from my brief opening description Nina immediately understood – and thereby confirmed – that it includes whatever will happen during and as consequence of tomorrow morning’s service in Mobile, Alabama. How will that affect UK? I don’t know for sure, but our on-fire revivalist from Rotherham, Nathan Morris, will be there once again now he’s at last got an extended visa.
Hopefully, you may be able to set aside a couple of hours at 4.30 tomorrow (Sunday) afternoon to watch. If not, it will be available later on video via that site’s Media tab. A fortnight ago we heard pastor John Kilpatrick teach some important aspects of using personal prophecy in standing against the adversary.
This morning the excitement of what was going on woke me up! But the Lord blessed me with its continuance when I eventually got back to sleep. That both dreams are not simply personal but relate to a higher level is evident not only from their content but also because they’re in sequence with a similar one of a month ago. After bouncing that earlier dream off a few friends it became clear it was connected to the Revival Alliance Gathering that was being held that day in London. This was accepted by the organiser, who’d had a prophetic word a year earlier and which gave the confirming scripture to the dream’s theme!!
All very exciting – especially as his post-event reflections tie into what I wrote after a conference held by the same groups in Winchester (see Revival: Glory Stories)!
Please take the time to read my account ‘Your Kingdom Come’ and about the event’s Inception with earlier scriptural details and prophetic words.
ALL THREE dreams closed with Holy Spirit-filled energy, leaving me with a deep sense of urgency over how the Lord may be going to move here in the UK.
May you each be blessed with a revelation of what our Lord is up to and wants us to do.
At long last this pc’s back up to speed and plays sound. So Nina and I caught up with a video-link Bill Koenig provided to a recording of Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech at the UN. He was spectacularly statesmanlike. However, the link has since disappeared and, not surprisingly, copies and links are hard to find but here’s one full version, especially just for you:
I strongly recommend setting aside 40 mins to watch this firm declaration of many truths to a hostile world – as though the Lord was standing alongside and inspiring him! He gives a compelling account as well as a rational denunciation of the UN as ‘a theatre of the absurd’! We know that through his close friendship with Mike Evans, chairman of the Corrie Ten Boom Foundation, this democratically elected PM is deeply appreciative of Christian prayer support. In view of my previous closing comments (below), it was interesting to hear of Bibi’s very ancient ancestral connection to Jerusalem. Also, it was appropriate his speech followed that of the unelected PLO’s Abbas and Iran’s A-madman-jihad and which, for the discerning, can be seen as an honest alternative.
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For a solid but brief overview of the address, see Joel Rosenberg at:
An email just received from Mike reports, in part:
As Abbas waved the copy of the petition he had earlier submitted to the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon, the hall repeatedly resounded with thunderous applause. One would have sworn it was Nelson Mandela fresh out of prison to proclaim an end to South African apartheid. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech delivered less than an hour after Abbas left the podium was brilliant and focused, but instead of enthusiastic applause, there were empty pockets in the hall where representatives of Arab countries had departed. The silence was deafening
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Do you know the one very simple fact that reveals Abbas’ duplicity? When the PLO were permitted to open up diplomatic missions the map displayed on their flags and literature depicts their proposed state as being the whole territory between the Med, Lebanon, Egypt and the river Jordan – ie. excluding Israel, as in the photo below and again reported recently at http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/148183
Friends – Please see below Joel Rosenberg’s forwarded item upon this afternoon’s breaking news.
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Negotiations have been getting extremely intense over these issues since my prayer call on Tuesday. As suggested in my concluding line, the Americans are putting immense pressure on Palestinian leader Abbas. And even after stern warning’s and attempts to turn the tide from the Saudis, EU High Rep Ashton and Quartet Envoy Blair, Abbas isn’t backing down. If you should be interested and have time for the finer details see:
In his in-depth analysis of the Hebrew meaning of Israeli leaders’ names, William Koenig summarised:
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God has given Benjamin Netanyahu to Israel. The “gift from God” [Benjamin] and the “Son of the right hand” [Netanyahu] is a protector of Israel and will be to the very end. It will certainly be interesting to see how God will use Benjamin Netanyahu in the days ahead.
Israeli PM Netanyahu will address the U.N. next Wednesday (AP photo from Sept 2009)
Senior aides to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin originally told me the PM was not going to come to the opening session of the United Nations General Assembly this year. But things have changed. Haaretz and Ynet News are now reporting that Netanyahu is coming to New York and will deliver a major address before the U.N. General Assembly next Wednesday. The decision reflects the PM’s desire to personally, directly and very publicly confront the Palestinian effort to unilaterally declare a state and receive a U.N. blessing, rather than engage in direct negotiations with the Jewish State. Netanyahu will also strongly condemn Iran’s bid for nuclear weapons and challenge the world to rein in Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who is also coming to the U.N. next week.
During a press conference in Jerusalem yesterday with the visiting Czech Prime Minister, Netanyahu told reporters: “I have decided to personally convey the message of direct negotiation and striving for peace at the General Assembly — I know Israel doesn’t get a fair hearing at the General Assembly. It has an automatic majority which is quick to denounce Israel. I have decided to go… to tell the truth.”
The Palestinian Authority this week announced that on Friday, September 23rd it will formally submit its bid for full membership in the United Nations. A General Assembly vote would likely go overwhelmingly in favor of the Palestinians. The U.S., however, has vowed to veto a Palestinian statehood bid if it comes before the U.N. Security Council.
Am catching up with my in-box and, if you’re as yet unaware, I’d draw your attention to the following ICEJ call for prayer back-up – please note the reminder about next week’s UN activity.
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I’d hoped to have given a brief outline of the importance of this month to bring you up to speed but this revamped pc is so excruciatingly slow whilst I await repaired motherboard. (Albeit optimized and tuned, it’s only 15% power of faulty pc, with processor too often at 100% capacity and struggling to multi-tab in browser!)
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Hopefully, you may have kept tuned to what’s going on and I herewith insert some pertinent points that open John McTernan’s posting of early this morning:
“As the United Nations vote on a Palestinian state grows closer, the talk of war is accelerating. It seems that each day the war drums are getting louder and louder. Turkey and Egypt are now in a race to see who will be the first at war with Israel. It is now a full-time job to watch the coming Psalm 83/Obadiah war. I still believe the war is going to focus on Jerusalem. The Palestinians now are using Obama’s words against (him) in that he promised them a state! This has a life of its own and is careening towards war…. “
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LATEST NEWS:
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– Turkey’s bellicose attitude, on top of expulsion of Israeli Ambassador and ‘corralling’ Israeli airline passengers, is becoming serious now its frigates are instructed to disable weapons of any Israeli ships outside territorial waters! (DebkaFile – unable to copy link) – all to avert attention away from growing domestic ills? Time to kick Turkey out of Nato!
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– last weekend’s storming of Israel’s Cairo embassy by founding branch of Al Qaeda and Muslim Brotherhood activists required urgent intervention of USA’s Obama and Clinton before Egyptian authorities protected the besieged staff from an extremely grave situation (DebkaFile – unable to copy link) – all on top of Iranian machinations in Gaza and Lebanon.
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Just perhaps all this is one way the Lord may change Barack Obama’s deep anti-Israel stance?
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Let’s keep looking to our Lord Jesus
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From: ICEJ UK
Sent: Monday, September 12, 2011 12:15 PM
Subject: Update re The Stand
You are still encouraged to attend ‘The Stand’ tomorrow outside Parliament between 3-5pm. Tim Gutmann of Mordecai Voice writes: “Please, for a final push spread the word and pray with us that a great number of Bible believing Christians will come on Tuesday at Old Palace Yard (immediately to the West of the Houses of Parliament) 3pm-5pm. Please invite as many as you can and ask folk to RSVP at this email address or mordecaivoice@hotmail.co.uk. I believe for a great turnout of love, support and a standing with Israel at this key time.”Pray for the Parliamentary seminar that will take place at the same time (3-5pm) inside the Houses of Parliament, which has been organised by Christian Middle East Watch with involvement by ICEJ UK and with the title Are the Palestinians ready for statehood?” Pray that a large number of MP’s and peers will attend (If you would like a PDF of the invitation to the seminar, to pass to your MP, please request it: info@icejuk.orgJust a week away now, the Palestinians will demand international recognition for statehood at the United Nations in New York. Download a guide to the unilateral Palestinian Declaration of Statehood (pdf) It comes nearly 37 years after Yasser Arafat first entered the UN General Assembly, a gun holster strapped to his side, and legitimized a lifetime of terrorism against the Jewish people. “I have come bearing an olive branch and a freedom fighter’s gun,” he declared. “Do not let the olive branch fall from my hand.” Arafat’s chilling threat still hangs over the UN chamber in New York as the Palestinians openly warn of another ‘intifada’ against the Jewish people if the world refuses to give them what they want: the city of Jerusalem.Then, on September 22nd the UN’s Durban III conference will take place in New York City. This ‘anti-racism’ conference has always targetted Israel and given a platform to anti-semitic abuse from her enemies.However, as Tim Gutmann writes, ‘We are excited because we stand with truth, with the gospel of peace, with Jesus and we stand with Israel in these dark days…. We are excited to publicly proclaim this, to publicly pray, to publicly declare scriptural truth regarding Israel and His people, the Jews. We look forward to raising a public voice of love and support for Israel in a time of increasing isolation and hatred. We are looking forward to standing together in unity with you as we declare that; not only do we not believe the lies of the delegitimization efforts against Israel, but more than that! We believe Israel is covenanted with God forever, that His land has been promised to the Jewish people and their inhabiting is the fulfilment of prophecy from thousands of years.”
Kindly consider Paul Keith Davis’ August e-newsletter as being of value for deep reflection and which may be found on this link.
Therein, Paul Keith covers the distinct possibilities of previous prophetic perspectives coming into fruition. He is most encouraging in discussing our direction for magnifying the Kingdom’s manifestation.
May I further encourage your visiting his ministry’s website to sign up for his E-newsletters? You may be able to receive his special report Affirmations of the Open Door, issued only two days ago. This report’s importance lies in the revelation a month ago of last weekend’s unprecedented tropical storm that swept the US eastern seaboard as far as New England. The word from the Lord was to watch for a physical storm that would come upon Washington DC – “It will be a sign that cannot be prevented” of the commencement of heavenly intervention against the evil one’s plans therein. This could be truly awesome!
In my humble opinion, watchers of the wickedness happening within that leading Christian nation, as well as those familiar with Chuck Pierce’s insights into the spiritual divisions across the USA, will see the relevance of this information.
Some pertinent points from my past are given in my 
Richard's Watch 