Tag Archives: #Bible_Updates

Updates on the fulfillment of Biblical prophecies, either moving toward or becoming manifest in their fullness

End-times Briefing 13: Book of Revelation’s importance – 10 key points

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[First posted 4.7.20]

In his third annexure to Simplicity, Neil Mackereth asks and points out:

WHY IS THE BOOK OF REVELATION SO IMPORTANT?
10 KEY POINTS

1. It is the Culmination of The Bible Story. The denouement.
Could you imagine the Bible ending with the one-chapter book of Jude?

2. It Shows Jesus in His glory – As King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
So awesome that even His close friend John fell on his face as if dead when he saw Jesus. We know Jesus as prophet, teacher, priest, healer and so on – but here we see Him in all His glory.

3. It Provides Knowledge: to Defeat Misinformation. A challenge to false prophets and false doctrine.

4. It Provides Knowledge: to Help us Understand World Events. Revelation shows that God foreknew, He is in control, and His plan will not be thwarted.
Current events: Israel, 1948 and following; moves towards a new world order – a world economic system and a world governmental system.

5. It Provides Knowledge: to help us be pathfinder guides and watchmen for Israel.

6. It is a Basis for Evangelism.
It is my contention that the incredible significance and glorious wonder of so much fulfilled prophecy in the Bible, is so “undersold” that it indicates the church has been duped into veiling parts of the Word of God Any other prophetic book that was so absolutely accurate over so many events over such a long period of time, would be hailed and revered in awe and wonder by the secular world.

7. An antidote to complacency.
We now know enough to not be caught unawares.

8. Future Focus: it prepares us for what lies ahead.
Revelation tells us more about our eternal home and condition, rather than our current temporary state – more about the significance and urgency of the choice we, and all people, need to make.

9. Worship.
A book full of worship, and how to worship – 11 major songs that have inspired a multitude of hymns and choral works, songs etc.

10. Because God tells us it is Special!
It is the only book in the Bible that blesses the reader and the hearer (Rev 1:3) John wrote it as he saw it and heard it, which may account for its unusual style – he was continually being reminded to write down what he saw and heard, and then told not to change it! – Reveleation 22:18-19.

Neil Mackereth 21 May 2020

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End-times Briefing 12: an overview of the Book of Revelation

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[First posted 2.7.20]

Briefing 11’s Introduction to the Book of Revelation draws to a close by its author, Neil Mackereth, stating “Apocalyptic works seek to inform the reader about aspects of an End-Times drama. The grand climax of the Bible is imminent — that is to say, it could happen at any moment…”  He reminds us, “The Bible explains that two absolute powers or principles operate in the universe…In the book of Revelation (and the whole Bible), God himself is the ultimate source of all that is good; Satan and his followers refuse to submit to God and are the ultimate source of evil. This ethical dichotomy underlies the conflict within the book of Revelation”.:

OVERVIEW OF THE BOOK OF REVELATION

The Prologue provides essential information for understanding the meaning and structure of the Book of Revelation. “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place; he made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw.” (Rev. 1:1–2).

Apostle John conveys to his first-century readers the unveiling of Jesus. It’s something like the showing of a video of a Monarch and his court. The Book of Revelation is written for Christians who understand the language of a faith unique to Christian experience. But given the complexity of the metaphors and images, even “insiders” have difficulty understanding Revelation. However, anyone can grasp the basic message: Jesus is going to return to earth, overthrow Satan’s evil empire, reward his faithful followers, punish those who reject his Lordship, and create a new heaven and a new earth.

From the very start, it is abundantly clear that God holds the Book of Revelation to be of paramount importance.

Revelation continues with 7 letters dictated by Jesus to John for distribution to the churches at: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea. The letters, which summarise positive and negative aspects of these representative churches, have stood the test of time.  They were written over 1,900 years ago but signpost conditions and circumstances that continue to exist in churches today.

The pattern of the letters is fairly consistent. Each is addressed to a specific church, followed by a particular characteristic of Jesus. Then comes positive comments (none for Sardis or Laodicea) and negative comments (none for Smyrna or Philadelphia), and advice to each.  The letters close with an entreaty that the readers will open their ears and hear, and with a promise to ‘overcomers’, which is different for each church.

These letters are relatively straightforward and understandable (which is not to say that we shouldn’t look for help to “unpack” their full meaning!).

From chapter 4 onwards we move into an altogether more challenging series of visions that are filled with symbolism, allegories, metaphors, imagery and other such figures of speech and apocryphal language: to try to interpret the Book literally would be to miss its meaning.  Some scholars argue that there are seven visions each of which is linked to a matching day in the seven days of creation in Genesis (ie. that the order of events links the beginning with the end).

The timing and sequence of events can be difficult to follow.  This is in part because the very act of writing things down gives them an order that may not be intended.  Some of the actions recorded are clearly happening simultaneously.

I have the impression that John (Jesus’ scribe) is seeing visions on a huge scale (like vast paintings) and trying to scribble down what catches his eye, without necessarily having time to arrange and classify the information.  It is clear that there are two or three sections that are digressions or parentheses from the central narrative.

Furthermore, the unusual style, which is not in character with John’s other writings, may have remained ‘unedited’ because of the very strong warning against alteration given in Rev. 22: 18-19.  These verses show us again that Revelation is both unique and of huge significance: no other book of the Bible has such a ‘health warning’!

In simple terms, Revelation shows that:

  • Things on earth are not right and the Church is not as it should be (Rev. 2 & 3);
  • Things in heaven are right: God is on His throne and Jesus is the overseer and leader for the End-Time plan and action (Rev. 4 & 5);
  • The world will suffer great tribulation for 3½ years, under the unholy trinity of Satan, the antichrist and the false prophet (Rev. 6-18);
  • Jesus will return as King of kings and Lord of lords, defeat the armies of the unholy trinity and establish His rule on the earth for a thousand years. The Day of Judgement will be at the end of the millennium rule, followed by the ushering in of the new heaven, new Earth and new Jerusalem (Rev. 19-22).

JESUS WINS!

Neil Mackereth 21 May 2020

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End-times Briefing 11: an intro’ to the Book of Revelation

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[First posted 2.7.20]

It’s now time to expand upon Briefing 3’s listing of Signs from the Gospel accounts and Paul’s letters by considering ‘The Apocalypse’, as in the annexures to Neil Mackereth’s paper dated 21st May: Simplicity. First, recall Apostle John’s opening remarks on its awesome origin, along with benediction (Young’s Literal Translation – in Greek here):

A revelation of Jesus Christ, that God gave to him, to shew to his servants what things it behoveth to come to pass quickly; and he did signify [it], having sent through his messenger to his servant John, 2 who did testify the word of God, and the testimony of Jesus Christ, as many things also as he did see. 3 Happy is he who is reading, and those hearing, the words of the prophecy, and keeping the things written in it — for the time is nigh!

AN INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF REVELATION

The challenge in introducing Revelation to a new audience, or to infrequent readers of the book, is twofold: how do we make sense of this strange book; and how do we overcome longstanding antipathy to it, which, unfortunately, is often reinforced by those who should be explaining its message. I want to describe what apocalyptic literature is and to provide a basic overview of what Revelation is about.

The Bible, at its opening, quickly moves to the fall of man and the success of Satan. Then follows God’s sovereign selection of His chosen people Israel, the story of their triumphs, failures, trials and tribulations up to the first coming of Christ. The New Testament describes Jesus’ life and role as Redeemer King, His death, resurrection and ascension to heaven. At the close of the Bible, Jesus returns, Satan is overthrown and his followers are defeated. Without the Book of Revelation, the story would be incomplete.

First, I believe it is essential to consider what the writer’s mindset might have been, if we are to have any hope of untangling and understanding the book’s mysteries.

The Hebrew Mindset

Those who first taught me Bible truths encouraged me to read the Bible with integrity, in context and with a Hebrew mindset. I felt confident about the context and integrity aspects but, in the past, rather glossed over the “mindset” factor.

Recently, whilst meditating on the concept of divine control, I had a distinct feeling that I should address the mindset question far more rigorously. As I have come to understand it, there are three main types of mindset, and each will lead to a different world view:

  1. Barbarian: Tyrannical “strong man” rule based on control by fear. Typically, a ruthless dictator using extreme force to subjugate. Examples of the Barbarian mindset include ISIS, the Taliban, the Church during the Inquisition, Iraq under Saddam Hussein, Iran, North Korea and so on.
  2. Greek: Man-centric democratic rule based on the concept that human reason reigns supreme and that the application of intellect and logic can bring about a utopian liberal society. Ours is the pride, power and glory, there is no need for God. Knowledge is power and anything that cannot be comprehended is ignored. Examples include USA, UK, most European countries and communist nations.
  3. Hebrew: God-centric (Theocracy) based on acknowledgement of God’s existence and His absolute power and authority. A biblical way of thinking and acting that is Holy Spirit lead. Standards based on the Torah which guides moral values of right and wrong, holy and unholy. Examples here are more difficult. Historically, the Jewish nation had a Hebrew mindset. However, the new Israel, post 1948, is much more secular. There are undoubtably people groups and individuals who have a Hebrew mindset; but no nation.

The various mindsets do not necessarily operate in isolation. Barbarian groups may work within a democracy and vice versa. Also, to state the obvious, Bible believing committed Christians may live in democracies or in totalitarian states.

Why is it important?

If we don’t put God at the centre in our Christian walk and our Bible study, we will live on the fringes of what is available to us (Proverbs 3:5,13; Joshua 1:9; Psalm 1; 1 John 5: 13-15; etc.).

When considering the Book of Revelation, we need to overcome centuries of ‘Greek World-View’ interpretations and analyses that seek to apply logic and to deny or ignore any supernatural implications. Recently, it was made clear to me that the word ‘theological’ is a one-word oxymoron (contradiction in terms) implying that God can be explained by some logical process. We can learn a huge amount by a systematic approach to the study of theology, but the mystery remains and there comes a point where only faith and God-given spiritual discernment can help us.

God is in control and is shaking the foundations of our man-made democratic systems and liberal world view. I am convinced that churches which adopt the Greek mindset, and only operate in what they understand, will not see miracles. That is not to say that individuals with a Hebrew mindset within those churches won’t see miracles. Those with eyes to see and ears to hear will recognise that the weaknesses of democracy are being exposed.

BACK TO REVELATION

The word Revelation is synonymous with the word ‘Apocalypse’, which means unveiling or revealing. The Book of Revelation is so called because it reveals the glory of Jesus, and unveils God’s End-Time plan. Because of its “end of the world” association, the meaning of the word apocalypse has come to be used as a descriptive noun that denotes damage or destruction on a catastrophic scale.

John wrote the book of Revelation during the era of apocalypticism. This rather daunting word is more about how we view things than being a clearly definable literary style or type. There are historic plays and dramatic writings of the period, between 200 BC to 200 AD, that share some common literary themes with Revelation. Apocalypticism involves a view of reality where there is a disclosing, unveiling, or revealing of something that was previously hidden or secret. Put another way, when John was writing, an apocalypse would have been understood as a public disclosure of something that had previously been kept secret.

In a dream or trance-like state, John is transported to heaven and is given a conducted tour of God’s headquarters. There he gains some insights into the workings of heavenly realms and God’s operations room, and their interaction with the worldly realm. He sees and is briefed on various aspects of God’s End-Times plan, including some classified information which he is told he is not to reveal. For most of his tour he has an angelic guide who explains the meaning of the events and visions that John is witnessing.

The idea of an angelic mentor is not unique to Revelation. The books of Ezekiel, Daniel, and Zechariah have apocalyptic passages where angels provide commentary (Ezekiel 40:3–4, 43:6–27; Daniel 7:15–28, 8:15–27, 10:10–21; Zechariah 1:9–2:13, 4:1–6:15).

Further to this point, for a full appreciation of End-Times prophecy it is necessary to study a wide range of Old Testament prophetic books and New Testament scriptures. Revelation draws together many threads of End-Times prophetic writing. For example, the description of the antichrist given in Daniel 9 is developed more fully in Revelation 13. Similarly, the apocalyptical threads in Daniel 7-12, Isaiah 24-27, Ezekiel 37-41 and Zechariah 9-12 are all drawn together in Revelation. In other words, I don’t think that Revelation can be studied in isolation. Some theologians go so far as to suggest that the whole Bible could be studied (reverse-studied!) from Revelation: to which I would comment; such an undertaking would not be for the faint-hearted!

Apocalyptic works seek to inform the reader about aspects of an End-Times drama. The grand climax of the Bible is imminent — that is to say, it could happen at any moment. As the prologue of Revelation explains, “The time is near” (1:3). The Bible explains that two absolute powers or principles operate in the universe. A fundamental divide exists between good and evil. In the book of Revelation (and the whole Bible), God himself is the ultimate source of all that is good; Satan and his followers refuse to submit to God and are the ultimate source of evil. This ethical dichotomy underlies the conflict within the book of Revelation.

Neil Mackereth, 21 May 2020

Next, we look at Neil’s overview of The Book of Revelation >>

Continue End-Times Briefings.

End-times Update: Days of Noah – White House sacrilege fulfills blasphemy prophecy (PPU 131.2)

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First, we continue from PPU 127.1 with reaction from Catholic clergy, including another call for Biden’s excommunication!

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“…I ask my Brethren in the Episcopate and priests to recognize that Joe Biden has incurred latæ sententiæ excommunication, and as such must be expelled from the churches and not admitted to Communion. I call on Catholics and all Christians to pray that, on this solemn Easter Day, the Risen Lord will have mercy on the United States of America and put an end to the onslaught of the infernal forces unleashed today more than ever before…

Luciferian hatred of God and our Lord Jesus Christ can no longer be hidden or denied. This is the revelation unveiled before us, which the servants of darkness provocatively mock by celebrating perversions and vices on the very holy Day when we honor the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ…”

Read this bravely forthright archbishop’s Statement in full here.

Now to the prophetic word brought by Julie Green on Biden’s blasphemy:

One Nation Under God received on 3rd July last year concludes (emphases except for last are mine and note ‘Two Presidents’ reference, as brought 16 years ago yesterday by Kim Clement, copy herein):

‘Great blasphemy I have seen and heard. Watch what happens next in the White House, your Capitol Building, and Washington, D.C. A great fall is about to take place. 

“Biden is a fake!” people will scream. “Two presidents, how can this be? How can this happen in our Nation?” Great judgment will be seen in this land against the ones who have stolen your freedom, your Nation, your elections, and your health. 

The day is drawing near when you will see all who are against you be removed. So stand your ground. Hold the line and do not give up on Me and My protection of it (this Nation). You will see that I am the defender and protector of the United States, and your enemies will never have this Nation or what they desired from it. 

Their (your enemies’) great reset is about to fall. Hold on a little bit longer. Their dam is about to break. Every lie is about to be revealed, and truth will completely set you free, saith the Lord.  

I am with this Nation, no matter what man says, no matter what your enemy says, and no matter what it looks like. This Nation will be what it was always meant to be on this Earth – a blessing to the nations; a light to the world; a superpower to help defend and protect from the evil, corruption, and enemies that have tried to infiltrate every nation on this Earth. This country will be what I have called it to be, and nothing will get in the way of that.  

Freedom is coming like you have never known. Call it in. Receive it now in My Name, the Name of Jesus. It has been won. Your enemies are defeated. Believe that this day. Freedom will rise, and liberty will be celebrated once again. Shout your freedoms today. Take back what is yours now,” saith the Lord your Redeemer.’

Now note, Donald Trump trump’s Biden’s call:

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EPIC: Trump Mocks Dementia Joe Over ‘Trans Visibility Day,’ Declares Election Day Will Be ‘Christian Visibility Day’

Lord, may that declaration speak into 5th November being the removal of political plots and their culprits in the USA, just as in Guy Fawkes’ capture foiled the Gunpowder Plot of his attempting to blow up King James in Parliament in 1605.

End-times Update: Days of Noah – Biden desecrates God’s two holiest days! (PPU 131.1)

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I’ve not wanted to blog on this repulsive matter over the most Holy-days as it makes me feel unclean, so dealt first with Godly material this week but now need to address this as a Bible Update.
In End-times Briefing 3, signs 23 and 24 are Jesus saying – and recall the widespread wickedness of sodomy and related practices implicit in His references:  

  • “As it was in the days of Noah, so also in the days of the Son of Man: “They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.”
  • “Likewise as it was in the days of Lot…on the day Lot left Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed all. Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.”

Exposure of rampant deep evil in USA and consequential judgement must now go full throttle after Biden blatantly throws down satan’s gauntlet at The Almighty on the day’s when Christians mourn Jesus’ death and rejoice in His resurrection, on behalf of ALL humanity.  I’m sure most readers will be aware of that nasty news:

So, here’s some related news items captured on Richard’s Watch and other Telegram channels and elsewhere. First, we consider the political and in the next post prophetic fulfillment and church reactions:

NB, Biden’s Proclamation shows his definite personal anti-scriptural stance. SO, Lord have mercy on him and send Holy Spirit to thoroughly convict him and bring public repentance and penance: Continue reading →

End-times Briefing 10 cont’d: key signs and prophecies

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[First posted 1.7.20]
We continue Annex A to Simplicity and examine some items in earlier Briefings:

KEY END-TIME (or SECOND ADVENT) SIGNS and PROPHECIES

An awareness of End-Time signs will help us to see if any world events, as they unfold in the weeks, months and years ahead, can honestly be described as fulfilling Biblical prophecy. Analysis of world events in relation to prophecy requires care and integrity, both to ensure genuine spiritual significance, and to avoid “false news”, conspiracy theories and the pronouncements of false prophets. It will be exceedingly hard to convince a sceptical world that prophecy is being fulfilled!

Some prophecies in the Bible seem particularly significant, in light of current world events, especially in the Middle-East. The following prophecies are worth bearing in mind, especially by those who are intentional about marrying historic prophecies with contemporary occurrences. They are, in short, signs of the End-Times:

  • Egyptian will turn against Egyptian (Isaiah 19:2)
  • Damascus will be in ruins (Isaiah 17:1)
  • Gaza will writhe in agony (Zechariah 9:5)
  • There will be false teachers and prophets who lead people astray (2 Peter 2:1-2)
  • Earthquakes, famines, plague and pestilences will intensify (Luke 21:11)
  • People will prefer fantasy to reality, myth to Christian truths (2 Timothy 4:3-4).

Some other signs of note:

  1. The Jews have returned to their Biblical homeland, however, not all of the Jews have returned, and not to all of what was originally the Promised Land. We can expect to see more Jews returning and there may be further expansion of the current borders of Israel.
  2. The desolate land of Israel has become fertile and fruitful – Zechariah 7:14.
  3. The Gospel will be preached to all nations – Matthew 24:14. The Gospel is being preached in many nations, though not yet in all nations. It may be difficult for us to determine when full coverage has been achieved! At the same time, it is surely significant that in a matter of a few years from now the Bible, or parts of it, will have been translated into every known language.
  4. We can expect that in any communication on End-Time prophecies the message, and the messenger, will be mocked and ridiculed (2 Peter 3:3-4).
  5. Jerusalem will be seen as a problem by the whole world (Zechariah 12:2-3). Zechariah made this prophecy in about 520 BC, when Jerusalem was in ruins. Today, as foretold, Israel and Jerusalem are the focus of massive media coverage that is totally disproportionate to the size of the city or nation.
  6. Christians will be persecuted and martyred (Matthew 24:9).
  7. Many will turn away from the Christian faith (Matthew 24:10).
  8. The governance of Jerusalem will be free of Gentile involvement (Luke 21:24).
  9. The “Man of Lawlessness” (the Antichrist) will appear on the world stage. He will be seen as a great and very effective unifying world leader (Revelation 13:3-8). He will establish a seven-year covenant of peace with Israel which, after 31/2 years, he will break when he declares himself as god in the Temple in Jerusalem.
  10. A worldwide financial system will be established requiring people to register and show allegiance to the Antichrist, as a prerequisite to being able to shop and trade (Revelation 13:16-17). We hear talk today of a “new world order”, the need for a worldwide economic organisation and a world government.
  11. A 31/2 year period of desolation and despair, the “Great Tribulation”, will follow the “Abomination of Desolation” by the Antichrist in the Temple.
  12. In order for the prophecy at 11 above to be fulfilled, assuming it is not allegorical, we can expect to see the Temple rebuilt in Jerusalem.
  13. All nations will gather to fight against Jerusalem (Zechariah 14:2).
  14. Jesus will return and defeat the attacking nations at Armageddon (Zechariah 14:3-4, Revelation 16:14-16, Revelation 19:11, 19-21).
  15. The awesome realisation that Jesus is the Messiah, and all that that implies, will come to the nation of Israel in absolute certainty (Zechariah 12:9-10).
  16. Nations will be judged according to their treatment of the Jews (Joel 3:1-2).

(Annex A) CONCLUSION 

Undoubtedly, more signs could be added. However, time and space dictate a degree of selectivity. Jesus gave us pointers for the circumstances that will prevail when he returns, but makes it clear that the specific time of his coming cannot be known. It seems clear that we are well along the time line of prophetic events. Those signs that await fulfillment could happen very quickly. Reading the Bible, watching what is happening, particularly in Israel and Jerusalem, and seeking to understand the spiritual significance of unusual signs and symbols in the world around us, are all key elements in our being ready for the return of Jesus.

Neil Mackereth, 21 May 2020

Continue End-Times Briefings.

End-times Briefing 10: the centre line – where are we now?

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[First posted 1.7.20]
Simplicity of the Gospel and in Evangelism and in End-Times – Neil Mackereth
Annex A to Neil Mackereth’s paper Simplicity goes deeper into Matthew 24 signs than earlier Briefings 2: the ‘When?’ and 3: the ‘What?’ of Watching [cross-references to the book of Daniel are mine]:

1 Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple. 2 And Jesus said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”

THE CENTRE LINE OF END-TIME PROPHECY – WHERE ARE WE NOW?

At the start of Matthew 24 the disciples are seeking Jesus’ acknowledgement that the Temple is a beautiful building.  They were shocked by His response, that the Temple would be utterly destroyed, not one stone left on another.  This startling prophetic statement leads them to ask two very significant questions: “When will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” (Jesus responds to this as two questions, the second having two parts) Before answering these questions, Jesus warns the disciples against being deceived by people falsely claiming to be Christ. This thread of potential deception by false prophets continues throughout the chapter. Question 1: “When?” The answer to the first is most clearly given in Mark 21:20-24: “When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city. For this is the time of punishment in fulfilment of all that has been written.  How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.”   The exact fulfilment of this prophecy came in 70 AD. It is worth noting that the Roman General Vespasian was in the process of establishing a siege around Jerusalem when he was recalled to Rome to be installed as Emperor. Thus, a lull occurred which allowed many to escape the city before Vespasian’s son, General Titus, fully established the siege which led to the destruction of the city and Temple. There was nothing metaphorical about the siege of Jerusalem and its destruction: those who knew what Jesus had said, and were obedient to His advice, escaped.  Since then, the sacred Temple site has been “trampled on by the Gentiles”. Question 2: “What?” – 2nd Part In answering the second question, which has two overlapping parts, Jesus addresses part 2 first: “the sign of the end of the age”. He summarises several signs before giving the sign. He makes it clear that while the various catastrophic events constitute the “birth-pains” for what is to come, and these along with persecution will cause many people to turn away from faith, they are not the final sign.  That sign is given in v 14: “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”  This can be seen as the required culmination of the “Great Commission”; the task given to the disciples in Matthew 28, to go and make disciples of all nations.  Determining when this task has been completed will be difficult! These early verses of Matthew 24 emphasise the need for Christians to stand firm during the labour pains that indicate the imminence of the “birth” of the Kingdom of God on earth. From verse 15 to 25 the focus narrows to Israel. When “the abomination that causes desolation” [Daniel 9:27,11:31,12:11] is seen in the “holy place” [9:23, 8:13 ‘Wonderful Numberer‘] it is time to flee.  The continued warnings of deception, the sense of great distress and the indications of extreme urgency given in these verses cannot be overstressed. The words were spoken by Jesus and he tells us how to pray. Note that Jesus does not say that we should pray against these things happening, rather that they won’t happen in winter, or on the Sabbath. What is “the abomination that causes desolation”?  It seems that the events of AD 70 were a “model” or “shadow” of what will happen at the end of the age.  When Titus destroyed the Temple, he set up an idol on the site.  Prophecy relating to the end times (2 Thessalonians 2:4; Revelation 13:14,15) says that the antichrist will declare himself god, set up an image of himself in the temple, and order everyone to worship it.  This is the “abomination” that mocks God. Jesus goes on to say (Matthew 24:24) that some false Christs and false prophets will be so convincing that even the “elect” (well established, strong Christians) may be deceived, and that things will be so bad that no one would survive if the “days had not been cut short”. Question 2: “What?” – 1st Part Jesus then addresses part one of question two: what will be the sign of His coming? The order in which He answered the two parts to the question is significant.  Jesus’ return will be unmistakeable! If we think that Jesus might have come, then He hasn’t!  If we don’t believe that Christ can make His second and glorious coming to Earth obvious to everyone, then we seriously underestimate the power, authority and capability of our God. In the closing verses of chapter 24, Jesus urges us to be both watchful and prepared and that His return will be swift and sudden. We are not told the “day or the hour” (verse 36) and it seems clear that we should not speculate on these matters. However, we do have some indication of the events leading up to the end of the age, and that things will be as they were “in the days of Noah” (verse 37). 

IN THE DAYS OF NOAH – END-TIMES’ TRENDS

As shown in Matthew 24:27, the characteristics of end-times world activities and conditions are likened to the circumstances in the days of Noah.  This parallel is repeated in Luke 17:26. In Luke 17:28 the comparison is expanded to include the conditions in Sodom during the time leading up to Lot’s departure from the city. The account of Noah’s righteousness and the situation before the flood is given in Genesis 6. How do the conditions then and now compare? The earth was full of wickedness and evil thoughts (v 5), violence (v 11) and sexual corruption (v 12).  It seems that materialism, violence, corruption and immorality were accepted as the norm. The positive features of the story of Noah are that he was supernaturally warned.  Noah “walked with God” and “found favour in the eyes of the Lord”. He was obedient to God and, as head of his family, took full responsibility for his household and led them to safety. The conditions in the end-times are summarised by Paul in 2 Timothy 3:1-5: “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.” So, are the conditions in the world today as they were in the time of Noah?

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End-times Briefing 8: Hourglass of End-time Harvest – Veronica West

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[First posted 25.6.20]

Late yesterday afternoon Veronika posted this on her ministry Facebook. Upon reading it Neil Mackereth, author of SIGNS: The Significance of Bible Prophecy reacted as follows,

“That is very powerful indeed…I also had clear direction that the time of allowing the wheat and the tares to grow together is about to end – the harvest of separation is about to begin.”

I reminded him of my hearing in 2008, “This is ALL about to be fulfilled!” upon opening my Bible to re-read Matthew 13’s parable of the wheat and tares harvest – see Briefing 1, Why? and The End-game Is Now In Play (we were soon to become good friends).

Here’s Veronika’s Facebook version and this published on His Kingdom Prophecy:

AN URGENCY OF TIME; THE GOLDEN REVOLVING DOOR OF THE AGES and of ETERNAL DESTINY — THE HOURGLASS of the END-TIME HARVEST!

Last night I had a powerful dream that I would like to share for the purpose of Prayer.

This dream was incredibly complex and so I will do my best to describe what I saw, heard and felt in the dream. So please bare with me as I try to share and interpret what I saw, and what I believe The LORD is revealing.

As I woke from the dream in the early hours of the morning, I immediately began to draw what I saw in the dream (see pictures below).

This dream came with such an urgency of the times and the need to begin to cry out for the nations of the earth who are in the valley of decision.

I believe this dream speaks to the 11th hour. A kairos time in the earth. An appointed time of The End-time Harvest!

For an eternity without Christ is an eternity of damnation and darkness…!

In this dream I was caught up in The Realm of The Spirit where I could see the globe of the earth. And yet at the same time, I could see all the nations of the earth laid out before me like a map.

As if in three dimensional vision, I could also see the boundaries of the many nations and the different people of those nations, but as I looked at the globe of the earth, suddenly a large clock appeared before me and I could hear the sound of ‘ticking” in The Realm of The Spirit.

The deep sound of ticking, seemed to penetrate my innermost being, which caused a great urgency to rise up within me, (an urgency that time was running out) and then I heard these words,

“The Clock of Creation. Time and Eternity.”

As I heard those Words, suddenly I saw what looked like a heavy Golden Revolving Door that sat at the centre of The Clock (the type of revolving doors you would see at the entrance way of a large hotel or even a hospital, the type of door that has multiple entryways).

As I looked at the heavy Golden Revolving Door, I heard these words,

“The Golden Revolving Door of The Ages and of Eternal Destiny.”

I could clearly see the three hands of The Clock, the second hand, the minute hand and hour hand. The time on The Clock read 11:55, and between the minute hand which sat at (11) and the hour hand which sat at the (12) there was an “entry-way”.

Then I heard these words,

“Grace! Grace! Grace! Grace! Grace! For these are the days of My Grace, come! Enter in… For now is the time for a great Harvest is at hand.”

Five times I heard the word “Grace!” and then I heard again the loud sound of ticking which echoed in The Realm of The Spirit.

My eyes were drawn to the second-hand on The Clock, which was moving around the face of The Clock with great momentum, and then suddenly, my eyes were drawn to the centre of The Clock and a Golden Hourglass appeared over the face of The Clock..

I heard these words,

“The Hourglass of the End-time Harvest”.

As I looked at The Golden Hourglass, I saw that the top of the Hourglass was narrow and the bottom of the Hourglass was wide…and… I could see the sands of the Hourglass falling.

Then suddenly I saw Jesus and a multitude of Angels standing at the centre of the Hourglass and His Face was turned towards the “doorway/entry point” of The Golden Revolving Door and the nations of the earth were standing on the threshold of the entryway.

I saw the right hand of Jesus lift up and He was knocking. Then suddenly my eyes were drawn back again to the small second hand of The Clock, which was still moving very fast.

I felt again such an urgency in my spirit, as I could see that as the small second hand moved, so the minute hand was moving and the entryway of The Golden Revolving Door was getting smaller and the top of the Hourglass was getting narrower.

At that point in the dream I began to cry out for ‘mercy’ for the nations which had not yet entered through The Golden Revolving Door…

And as I cried out… suddenly, I saw what looked like (5) Archangels of The LORD, each one standing at different markers on The Clock…different ‘entry points’ of The Golden Revolving Door (which I knew by revelation represented different times in history).

Then I heard these words,

“Angels of Awakening. The Guardians of past great Revivals and Awakenings on the earth”.

As I looked at the first Angel, I saw the time ’17:30’ come up before me and I knew immediately that the time represented the ‘year 1730’ which was the start of the ‘First Great Awakening’.

As I looked at the Archangel of Awakening, I saw a blazing sword of Fire in his hand and the angel stood guard at the entry point of that time… and the doorway was ‘sealed shut’ by a wall of fire!

Then I saw the time ’18:20’ come up before me. Again I knew that the time represented another time of a great spiritual awakening in the earth, the ‘year 1820’ was the beginning of the ’Second Great Awakening.’

Just like I saw with the First Great Awakening, I could see a second Archangel of The LORD standing guard at the entry point of that time in history and with a blazing sword of Fire in his hand and the doorway to that era was ‘sealed shut’.

Now as I kept watching and listening in the dream, the time and numbers ‘1875‘, the year of the ‘Third Great Awakening’ also came up before me, and then ‘1906‘, ‘The Azusa Street Revival’ and then ‘1910‘, the beginning of the ‘Twentieth Century Revival’.

As each of these specific times in history came up before me, I watched as the heavy Golden Revolving Door would move and the time on The Clock would change and the sands of The Golden Hourglass would fall.

As I watched, each great awakening come and go, I saw Archangels of Awakening being stationed at each entry point and a wall of Fire would seal shut that time in history!

But then the dream shifted again and my eyes were drawn away from the past times of great awakening which were now sealed off by a wall of fire.

As my eyes were drawn back to the time on The Clock and I heard these words,

“The 11th hour Harvest is here…. And the Reapers are Angels!”

As I heard those words in the dream, suddenly I saw again Jesus and the multitude of Angels who were standing at the (centre of The Clock, at the centre of The Golden Revolving Door and the centre of golden Hourglass) and I heard these words,

”Prepare! Prepare, for I stand at the door and knock, for the time is short. Watch! For the 11th hour Harvesters are now being released onto the earth.”

As I heard those words, I saw the multitude of Angels who were standing with Jesus, being released into the nations and I saw they were carrying golden sickles in their hands.

I watched as The Angels of The Harvest went forth upon the nations, and then I saw the Sons and Daughters of God begin to rise up within the nations and they began to co-labour with The Angels of The Harvest.

I watched as multitudes of people from every tribe, tongue and nation across the earth, who had been standing in The Valley of Decision and on The Threshold of The Entryway of The Golden Revolving Door, begin to enter in and cross over to the other side.

I could see the sands of The Golden Hourglass beginning to fall with an even greater acceleration, as both ‘time’ was being accelerated and ‘heaven’ was being populated.

As I watched The Angels of The Harvest and the Sons and Daughters of God moving together across the harvest fields of the nations, the sound of the ticking clock seemed to be growing louder and louder with every passing second.

Then suddenly I heard these Words,

“Watch and Pray! For but a little while longer The Golden Revolving Door of The Ages and of Eternal Destiny stands open before the nations.
“As the days of My Grace and Mercy are poured out upon the nations, watch! For the time is here, for the 11th Hour Harvesters will herald the birthing of a new great awakening on the earth!”

PS – A few things to ponder and pray!

As I woke from this dream, I began to write and draw everything I saw and heard in the dream!

While meditating over this dream, a few things that really struck me as powerfully significant in the dream.

The first was the repeating of the number five (5) and the mention of God’s Grace… Grace, Grace, these are The Days of Grace!

Another amazing aspect of the dream highlighted to me were the five Archangels of Awakening and how they stood as guardians over the past awakenings and how a wall of fire sealed off those different era’s of awakening.

I felt as I prayed over this aspect of the dream, The Holy Spirit impressed upon my heart that while the past awakenings were incredibly powerful and amazing in their time, what God is about to do in this ‘new era and great awakening’ in the earth will look nothing like the past revivals, and that heaven is about to do a new thing in the earth — ‘that eyes have not seen, ears have not heard and minds have not imagined’!

Again and again, the urgency of time in the dream was impressed upon me.

The time is now! The time is short! There is an supernatural acceleration taking place over time!

This certainly kept getting stronger and stronger in the dream…

The Golden Revolving Door of The Ages and of Eternal Destiny is closing…. The 11th Hour Harvest is now upon us…

The nations are standing in The Valley of Decision, standing on the threshold…

As Sons and Daughters we must arise and begin to co-labour with The Angels of The Harvest for this is a kairos time… an appointed time of harvest on the earth….

No more delay!

Veronika West, 24th June 2020

For an  inspired interpretation of the dream’s significance click next >

Continue End-Times Briefings.

I’m reminded of: El Shaddai Publications, 2001.

End-Times Update: earthquakes, the earth is speaking! (PPU 125)

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In End-times Briefing 3, Sign 5 cites Jesus in Matthew 24.7 – emphasis mine:

  • “And there will be famines, pestilences and earthquakes in various places and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven ; All these are the beginnings of sorrows….”

Thus, He’s not prophesying a major earthquake but significant ones in many places, but with possible inference of proximity in time, that is within a certain period of time. From minute 4 of the following video pastor John Kilpatrick cites four on the Day of Atrocity against Israel, 7th October 2023, and eight more worldwide before the end of October. That is, a dozen within three weeks and soon followed by major events in Iceland.

“God said this is something you have to preach and I want the live stream and God TV audience to hear” (too).

Click on image to play:

A state of emergency was declared in Iceland after a volcano erupted for the fourth time in three months on Saturday, March 16, 2024 > ‘coincidental’ clip length of 22 secs BUT “No such thing as coincidence”!!

End-times Great Apostasy in Rome; pope versus the faithful

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Further to the two-part report on papal apostasy confirmed by a sign from heaven on the pope’s birthday, when lightning struck a statue of Saint Peter at a Catholic church near his home diocese Buenos Aires, the co-founder and CEO of LifeSiteNews John-Henry Western writes a profound, shocking short paper upon more proof of the pontiff’s heretical leanings:

Click to read in full:
https://www.lifesitenews.com/blogs/pope-francis-has-declared-war-on-faithful-catholics/

It is a veritable ‘must-read’ about the pope’s strong support of abortion (child sacrifices to the false-god Molech) and thus empowering so-called Catholic Biden to threaten US Supreme Court Justices attending his abysmal speech on the disastrous state of the Union (click image to read and watch clip):

Biden Threatens Supreme Court Justices to Their Faces (Video)

End-times Great Apostasy – making God in our image!

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This is one of the two aspects of this matter on my mind when I was blessed with the insight of God’s Word being His ‘Battle-Plan’. Revd Franklin Graham remarks about it on his Facebook as follows (emphases and linkage mine):

‘The Methodist Church in the United Kingdom has released its own “Inclusive Church Language Guide” that urges ministers and church-goers to avoid using words such as “husband” and wife” (and more) because those terms can be “hurtful” and “offensive.” Shame on the Methodist Church. These are Biblical terms—and marriage between a man and a woman is Biblical truth. The word “wife” is used in some 360 verses in 38 books of the Bible. They are in essence trying to edit what the Word of God says and teaches to be more appealing to the changing whims of culture.We are warned against that in Scripture. As Christians, we aren’t called to avoid what might offend people—we are called to share the Truth of God’s Word that can guide and direct us through every step of life.’

UN-BIBLICAL ‘BLESSINGS’

Let us not forget that in 2021 this body voted by 254 to 46 to allow same-sex marriages, requiring a change to the definition of marriage to be “a lifelong union in body, mind and spirit of two people who freely enter it”.  This is completely contrary to and at odds with what the saintly founder of Methodism, Charles Wesley, taught – and is utter heresy! Continue reading →

Bible Update: Psalms 2 & 83, Ezekiel 38-9 (Gog-Magog) being fulfilled TODAY!

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Bible References (NKJV):
  • Psalm 2 The Messiah’s Triumph and Kingdom – Why do the [a]nations [b]rage,
    And the people plot a [c]vain thing? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the Lord and against His Anointed,[d] saying, 3 “Let us break Their bonds in pieces And cast away Their cords from us.”
  • Psalm 83 Prayer to Frustrate Conspiracy Against Israel – 2  For behold, Your enemies make a [a]tumult; And those who hate You have [b]lifted up their head. 3 They have taken crafty counsel against Your people, And consulted together against Your sheltered ones. 4 They have said, “Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, That the name of Israel may be remembered no more.” 5 For they have consulted together with one [c]consent; They [d]form a confederacy against You: 6 The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites; Moab and the Hagrites; 7 Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek; Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre (Lebanon)
  • Ezekiel 38 Gog and allies Attack Israel 5 Persia, [b]Ethiopia, and [c]Libya are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; 6 Gomer and all its troops; the house of Togarmah from the far north and all its troops—many people are with you.
  • Ezekiel 39 Gog’s Armies Destroyed – 5 You shall [c]fall on [d]the open field; for I have spoken,” says the Lord God. 6 “And I will send fire on Magog and on those who live [e]in security in the coastlands. Then they shall know that I am the Lord.  7 So I will make My holy name known in the midst of My people Israel, and I will not let them profane My holy name anymore. Then the nations shall know that I am the Lord, the Holy One in Israel. 8 Surely it is coming, and it shall be done,” says the Lord God. “This is the day of which I have spoken.

This morning’s headlines at Watch.org:

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/in-hebrew-tweet-khamenei-says-crimes-of-zionist-entity-will-be-remembered-after-it-is-wiped-from-earth

https://www.jpost.com/international/internationalrussia-ukraine-war/article-781535

Another look into these goat nations’ future, as foretold by in the vision given to Jesus’ close disciple John:

NOTE: Scripture quotations courtesy of BibleGateway.com

End-times Great Apostasy – confirmed by word from the Lord

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I’m delighted to find Chris G Bennett posted this on his Facebook yesterday:

FALLING AWAY

I see one or two prophecies talking about many things being pointers to the end-times. One of the things I don’t see is any reference to the great falling away, or loss of faith, prior to Christ’s return for the rapture or the second coming. The Lord pointed this out to me the other day and said, very simply, “Have you ever had a look at this?”

Only one mention is made in scripture, in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, of this virtually ignored subject. So many either ignore it altogether, or they brush over it and try to pretend it’s of little or no consequence! Yet there it is, in plain sight for us all to see, to mark, note, and inwardly digest.

Here it is –

“Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come.”

One question, simply,

‘Has not the present state of much of the church amply confirmed that “the falling away” has well and truly started and is progressing at an alarming rate?’ So much so, indeed, that many churches are unrecognisable as Christian churches, but rather resemble more as self-righteous glee clubs, full of gossip and other even less sanctified behaviour!

But the Bible tells us that unless this comes first, then other end-time events cannot happen! So God is not surprised nor dismayed nor even appalled as we so often are! He may be sad at the extent of our sin, but never surprised nor dismayed. Another important point to bear in mind – the falling away must happen BEFORE the other end-time events, and there’s never a timeline laid out in biblical prophecy. However, other end-time signs as in Matthew 24 and elsewhere in Thessalonians, all agree in their pointing to this particular time that we’re in today.

The present falling away is unprecedented anywhere in history – the signs are there for all to see – all of which are declared by scripture as being abhorrent before God, an abomination – yet the church daily goes against scripture and Gods law in so many ways!

  • Abortion/child sacrifice
  • Same sex marriage
  • No heaven – no hell
  • L.G.B.T.Q./Trannies
  • Unsaved & unrepentant clergy

False doctrines; e.g. Replacement Theology, Hypergrace, the twisted Word of Faith / Prosperity gospel, the fallacy that women are not speakers or leaders, and more … (I realise this incomplete list may cause contention but – so be it! I don’t want an argument so: Please just scroll on by!)

Even recently, the Methodist Church probably caused Wesley to turn in his grave again when they came out against the term “husband and wife” in favour of “partners”!

So, call the intercessors again! Yes, call the intercessors, and join them too, to wage spiritual war on the false gospel, on the ‘tolerant’ church, on the ‘live and let live’ communities.

We cannot ignore the falling away any longer. It’s not going anywhere unless we do something about it, and if we don’t do something about it, then God will but we will not like it when He does!

I don’t hate anyone, but I hate sin, even though I’m not innocent either. I love all of Gods creation, even the unlovable and hateful ones. All I can do is love and leave the rest to God. As Billy Graham famously said, “It’s God’s job to judge, Holy Spirit’s job to convict, and my job to love!”

CGB

RB: So encouraging after having posted 70 items on this grave issue that the Lord has told a friend to check it out! The primary topic of both Paul’s letter to the Thessalonian church is that of the Lord’s return and Paul spells out what will happen just prior to that dread yet awesome supra-natural event – and God’s permitting and dealing with it all!!

Psalms 83 and 2 apply TODAY – Iran admits culpability for atrocities of 6th October

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Prayer to Frustrate Conspiracy Against Israel

83 Do not keep silent, O God!
Do not hold Your peace,
And do not be still, O God!
2 For behold, Your enemies make a [a]tumult;
And those who hate You have [b]lifted up their head.
3 They have taken crafty counsel against Your people,
And consulted together against Your sheltered ones.
4 They have said, “Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation,
That the name of Israel may be remembered no more.”

5 For they have consulted together with one [c]consent;
They [d]form a confederacy against You:  (..cont’d at BibleGateway)

The Messiah’s Triumph and Kingdom

2 Why do the [a]nations [b]rage,
And the people plot a [c]vain thing?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves,
And the rulers take counsel together,
Against the Lord and against His Anointed,[d] saying,
3 “Let us break Their bonds in pieces
And cast away Their cords from us.”

4 He who sits in the heavens shall laugh;
The Lord shall hold them in derision.
5 Then He shall speak to them in His wrath,
And distress them in His deep displeasure: (..cont’d at BibleGateway)

Here’s an apposite play on ‘gaslighting’ – psychological manipulation and control of other people’s thoughts and behaviour through deceit and blame-shifting:

Selection of December’s reports:

Iran Claims Credit for Oct. 7. Hamassacre, Saying it was Revenge for President Trump’s Killing Suleimani

Bible Update PS: just as Holy Spirit told Paul on End-times

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Further to the Bible Update on Paul’s letters to Timothy on what Holy Spirit told him about End-times and how they describe today’s evil:

Visit Richard’s Watch Telegram for more prophecy-related news

Bible Update: events and human behaviour show End-times are here, as foretold by Apostle Paul

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Drawing the previous post to a conclusion with reference to Dr Jan Halper-Hayes’ most important point, as made at the close of her discussion with Steve Schultz, wherein she cites 2 Timothy 3:1, as in this screen-shot, I add “The full chapter describes precisely today’s widespread anti-God wokeness”.

Dr Jan quotes the Amplified Bible translation of Apostle Paul’s letter written about 1,960 years ago, the first verses of which chapter read (emphasis mine):

“Difficult Times Will Come”
But understand this, that in the last days dangerous times [of great stress and trouble] will come [difficult days that will be hard to bear]. 2 For people will be lovers of self [narcissistic, self-focused], lovers of money [impelled by greed], boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy and profane, 3 [they will be] unloving [devoid of natural human affection, calloused and inhumane], irreconcilable, malicious gossips, devoid of self-control [intemperate, immoral], brutal, haters of good, 4 traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of [sensual] pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of [outward] godliness (religion), although they have denied its power [for their conduct nullifies their claim of faith]. Avoid such people and keep far away from them.’  [BibleGateway.com]

My New Spirit-Filled Life Bible defines the Greek ‘chalepos’ as follows and note: ‘The word describes a society that is barren of virtue but abounding with vices‘!

A couple or so years earlier Paul had conveyed to his disciple Timothy what the Holy Spirit had told him prophetically:

‘But the [Holy] Spirit explicitly and unmistakably declares that in later times some will turn away from the faith, paying attention instead to deceitful and seductive spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 [misled] by the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared as with a branding iron [leaving them incapable of ethical functioning]…’

This introductory background clearly foretells today’s great apostasy not only in many main-line denominations but also, according to his announcement this week, by the one who’s supposedly a successor to Apostle Peter presiding in The Vatican, Rome!

Lastly in case you may not have seen, please note the valuable contributions added to the previous post, especially Tim Shey on the City of London’s financial history and his inclusion of these links:

The Deathbed Prophecy of King Edward the Confessor, 1066

A History Lesson: Colonel Isaac Barre

Modern Israel and Paul’s letter to the Romans – Neil Mackereth

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The previous post with Neil’s covering email refers:

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF ISRAEL – SOME COMMENTS ON ROMANS

After 2000 years of study, it may seem unlikely that there will be any truly new insights in our examination of Biblical prophecy. It is possible, however, that some truths will only be revealed at the appropriate time “But you, Daniel, close up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end” (Dan 12:4).

There was much that the disciples did not understand until Jesus was crucified, rose again and ascended into Heaven. In similar vein, much of Isaiah is clear to us now, after the cross, but must have been mysterious for the 800 years before Jesus was born

The OT is full of promises and prophecies that show that God has a special relationship with Israel and that they would be “the power in the land”. However, certainly in worldly terms, Gentiles appeared to take over the position of favour on the earth. Prophecy indicates that, in due course, God’s relationship with His chosen people will be restored. “Blindness in part is happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved, as it is written” (Rom 11:25, 26 (KJV)).

“The fullness of the Gentiles” should not be confused with “the times of the Gentiles” (Luke 21:24): one refers to spiritual blessing, the other to earthly power. It may be that Jerusalem will not be free of Gentile involvement in its affairs until Jesus returns to take David’s throne. The very expression “until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in” shows something will change, and implies a difference between Gentile believers and Israel. Is there a counter in Heaven – the numbers mounting while Satan watches, without knowing the target figure?

In Romans 11, Paul (the “Apostle to the Gentiles”) reasons that branches of the Abrahamic “tree” have been broken off and Gentile branches (believers) grafted in. The tree, whose roots Gentile Christians share, is essentially Abrahamic. Note that Paul never considered himself as having ceased to be a Jew, nor as having moved into a new religion, nor did he ever disparage his Jewish pedigree. Jesus as Messiah was for Paul the full expression of Judaism. Later (Rom 11:13-14) Paul added that, despite his calling as the apostle to the Gentiles, the ultimate motivation of his ministry was the salvation of his fellow Jews (Rom 10:1)

The Biblical predictions (prophecies) of a restored Israel are amazing, and the re-establishment of the Jewish nation in Israel, fulfilled in 1948, is even more so. The survival of national identity in dispersion, which the Jews maintained for nearly nineteen hundred years, prior to the rebirth of Israel, was a phenomenon in itself

Continuing in Romans 11 we see that this hardening will stay “until the full number of the Gentiles has come in;” and Paul adds, “And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: The Deliverer will come from Zion; He will turn godlessness away from Jacob, and this is My covenant with them.” (Rom 11:25-27). Does this mean that Israel will be brought within the blessings of the Gospel of Grace (the New Covenant), or that the Jews will be blessed on a different principle (the Abrahamic Covenant), or a bit of both? I really don’t know. Certainly, there is a remnant saved by grace: “at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace” (Rom 11:5, see also Rev 12:17)

As mentioned above, the OT clearly shows that the Jews enjoyed a special relationship (blessing). Jesus confirmed the patriarchal promise: “Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs so that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy.” (Rom 15:8, 9). We can understand that the Cross broke down the barrier and levelled all distinctions. As to righteousness “there is no difference, for all have sinned;” (Rom 3:22, 23), as to mercy “there is no difference between Jew and Gentile – the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on Him.” (Rom 10:12). However, the promises to Israel are very specific. If there is “no difference”, can God give blessing on a principle, which seems to imply that there is a difference? In other words, the expectation of certain promises to Israel would appear to be inconsistent with the concept of “no difference”!

Romans 11 indicates that Gentile believers and Israel now enjoy the same privileges. Nevertheless, it is part of the same revelation that although grace comes to the Gentile just where he is, it does not confirm him as a Gentile, but gives him a new nationality as a citizen of the Kingdom of God; for in the Church “there is neither Jew nor Gentile.” (Gal 3:28. Contrast with John 4:22, “Salvation is from the Jews”). The promises to Israel, on the other hand, imply that blessing will reach the Jew as a Jew, i.e., recognizing his national position and endorsing his special relationship under the patriarchal covenant. Jesus will return to Jerusalem and take His throne as King of the Jews

The New Testament opens with the record of the genealogy, birth and ministry of Jesus as “the Son of David, the son of Abraham;” (Matt 1:1). Jesus was “a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth” (Romans 15:8). The angel told Mary that the son she was to bear would be King on “the throne of his father David and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever” (Luke 1:32,33). The question the Magi asked: “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?” (Matt 2.2) appeared to be a confirmation of Jewish expectation

In both Daniel and Matthew, Jerusalem is the focus for End-Time events and that confirms the necessity and huge significance of the re-establishment of Israel and the re-unification of Jerusalem. The history of the Jews is a record of miraculous events: their escape from Egypt, their ordeals and God’s provision on the journey to the Promised Land were miraculous. Their successes and failures, conquests and captivities, their whole history is interwoven with miracles. The seventy years from Jesus’ birth to the dispersion of the Jews were full of remarkable events and prophetic fulfillment. From that time until 1948, however, there seems to have been a lull, as far as Biblical prophecy is concerned. We can now see the miracle of Jewish survival in dispersion. This is a new era: the very existence of modern Israel is the miraculous and essential ingredient for the next stage of prophetic fulfillment

In summary: “God has not cast away His people Israel” (Rom 11:1,2 KJV). In the Acts of the Apostles, Jerusalem was the centre for God’s people on earth, Gentiles were then admitted, “grafted in”. Initially, the Church was essentially Jewish. The Apostles taught in the temple (Acts 2:46; 3:1, 5:42). Their testimony was in line with the old prophecies (Acts. 3:19-26.), and even when the Christians were scattered by persecution, the Apostles remained in Jerusalem.

Those Christians who left Jerusalem evangelised only among the Jews (Acts. 8:1, 4, and 11:19). Peter had to be persuaded to go among the Gentiles (Acts. 10), and that was not popular within the Church (Acts. 11:2-18). Over the centuries the number of Gentile believers grew and the Jewish membership fell away. In Israel today there is a remnant “who obey God’s commandments, and hold to the testimony of Jesus” (Rev 12:17); Jews, and yet Christians; Jews who believe in Jesus, the One whom secular and non-messianic Jews will continue to reject, until He appears.

It is my personal view that there are two courses to the fulfilment of End-Times prophecy:
  1. The church (which includes messianic Jews) will be raptured, and…
  2. The remnant of Israel will then come to recognize who Jesus is, a conviction of sin, repentance and be saved.

Neil Mackereth, 15th November 2023

The Day of The Lord – today’s verse puts ‘global warming’ in its place!

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Holy Writ, as we well know, puts ‘global warming’ mania well and truly ‘in the shade’:

It’s highly appropriate for assessing our placing on the Almighty’s Timeline that we check the lead-in verses at BibleGateway.com (emphases mine):

The Day of the Lord

Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. 2 I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.

3 Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4 They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” 

5 But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6 By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7 By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgement and destruction of the ungodly.

8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance…’ (cont’d in Verse of the Day) 

https://www.space.com/aurora-alert-solar-flare-eruption-cannibal-cme-november-30-december-1

PS to Update #6 – ‘Aliyah to Israel hits 30-year peak’

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According to David Parsons, VP & Senior Spokesman of the ICEJ, in July-August 2023 edition of Word From Jerusalem:

‘Recently, Israeli authorities released the latest Aliyah figures showing that over 100,000 new immigrants have arrived in Israel since the start of 2022, marking the highest number since the mass Soviet Jewish influx three decades ago. Over these past 17 months, some 60,000 Jewish immigrants have come from Russia, 20,000 from Ukraine and the remaining 20,000 from other countries worldwide.’ (Aliyah to Israel Hits 30-year Peak)

Undoubtedly, this rise will continue as a result of the intensely anti-Semitic marches worldwide, and mirrored by uninformed, gullible younger generations.

Humanity’s 2nd Pivotal Point: Update #6 – 2nd Exodus – religious basis of war against Israel

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Click for Veronika’s first posting > Urgent Word on Start of Israel’s Second Exodus

According to David Parsons, VP & Senior Spokesman of ICEJ, in July-August 2023 edition of Word From Jerusalem:

‘Recently, Israeli authorities released the latest Aliyah figures showing that over 100,000 new immigrants have arrived in Israel since the start of 2022, marking the highest number since the mass Soviet Jewish influx three decades ago. Over these past 17 months, some 60,000 Jewish immigrants have come from Russia, 20,000 from Ukraine and the remaining 20,000 from other countries worldwide.’ (Aliyah to Israel Hits 30-year Peak)

Undoubtedly, this rise will continue as a result of the intensely anti-Semitic marches worldwide, and mirrored by uninformed, gullible younger generations.

GOG-MAGOG COMPONENT

NOW note involvement of Iran’s direct involvement in negotiations for releasing hamas captives – in total alignment with Islamic doctrine of dimmi status of non-believers, clear preferential treatment is given to muslim abductees. Everyone else as normal human beings are too inferior!

Apart from the documented fact muslims started this war, their utter lack of compassion is abundantly evident. It unequivocally disproves all claims whatsoever to their god being identical to the Almighty God of Jews and of Christians!!

Extract from Cordelia’s report (emphasis added)

‘…Behind the scenes, Thailand officials have been quietly working away at trying to get their citizens freed, attending meetings in Qatar and Iran. 

At the centre of the Thai negotiating team is Lerpong Sayed, a Thai Muslim who, in an exclusive broadcast interview, told Sky News Hamas was justified in taking hostages.

Dr Sayed in recent weeks has split his time between his home country and Iran, where he spoke to Hamas five times.

“We went there to negotiate as normal people, not politicians. Hamas saw this. They saw us as Thai Muslims,” he told me in an interview that provides a window into his high-level talks.

“They promised that if there was a ceasefire Thai people would be released in the first group.

“Now we can obviously see Thais are among the first citizens freed compared to 20 other nationalities.”…’

Read in full at https://news.sky.com/story/thai-hostage-negotiator-thanks-iran-for-support-and-says-hamas-justified-in-taking-captives-13018272?dcmp=snt-sf-twitter

PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY DECREE

Yesterday, on Telegram’s Behold Israel Amir Tsarfati quotes:

‘PA senior official Jabril Rajub: “The events of October 7 were a natural reaction to oppression. The occupation and its crimes are responsible for the incident. The action was part of the Palestinian war of defense and the next outbreak will take place in the West Bank.”

And to end with a message of unity:
“Hamas is an integral part of the political fabric. The current campaign is the beginning of unity with the aim of establishing a Palestinian state on all Palestinian territories”
Rajub, a senior minister was a star in the “Partners Campaign” of the Geneva Initiative!”

What Rajub is hinting is that the military force of the Palestinian authority (that America so diligently helped build and fund) might do to Israelis near the West Bank what Hamas did to Israelis near Gaza.

The U.S. administration must wake up! The Palestinian authority is more of the same! It’s Hamas, ISIS Nazis!’

This comes as absolutely no surprise to Christians familiar with Bible prophecy, or to those comparatively few wide-awake folk who treat political rhetoric with contempt.