Muslim persecution of Christians

COPY of pre-blog email (as in ‘About’).:

I’m circulating to draw attention, as does Barnabas Fund, not only to the criminal massacre of our brethren in Egypt but also and especially to the author’s early paragraph:

Meanwhile, not only are Western governments apathetic, but it was revealed that “Obama’s top Muslim advisor blocks Middle Eastern Christians’ access to White House.” Newt Gingrich asserted that Obama’s “strategy in the Middle East is such a total grotesque failure” and likened the “Arab spring” to an “anti-Christian spring.”Ann Widdecombe accused the British government of “double standards in its threats to cut aid to countries which persecute gay people while turning a blind eye to persecution against Christians.”

You may recall my grave concerns in June 2009 over President Obama’s Cairo Address. This indicated its claims to his being a historian and Christian were quite shallow, if not hollow. [ALSO see latest against his stance in MEF Aug’12 below.]

Many analysts, too, were deeply concerned, especially in his development of connections with the Muslim Brotherhood and the worrying direction his administration has taken the USA – even concluding that ‘POTUS’ (President of the United States) may be a crypto-Muslim.  Subsequent events served to confirm the validity of their well-reasoned reservations.

If latest reports are true, clear indications of what many regard as a subversive, anti-Christian agenda have now surfaced, viz:

Beirut Arab news agency al Nashra reported on Saturday November 22, that [White House Muslim envoy] Dalia Mogahed has succeeded in cancelling a meeting between the Maronite Patriarch of Lebanon and President Barack Obama. Writing in al Nashra, the reporter said “an unnamed US source told the news agency, that those who sought cancelling a visit of (the spiritual head of the Maronite Church) Patriarch Beshara Rahi to the White House are Dalia Mujahid (Mogahed), the highest adviser on Arab and Islamic Affairs in the State Department, who is from Egyptian origins. And that,” according to al Nashra, heeding a request by the higher leadership of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, who consider that US Administration must support the Islamist Sunni current facing the Iranian current in the region.”

The author of the MEF item below, Raymond Ibrahim, born of Egyptian Coptic parents, is a specialist in Islam exploring “the pivotal but ignored point where Islam and Christianity intersect…translating pertinent Arabic news that never reaches the West”. Biographical notes read:

Immediately after 9/11, Raymond—then a student of history and theology, not politics and current events—began reading up on al-Qaeda and other Islamist organizations; he began watching Al Jazeera.  He was immediately struck by the continuity evident between the words, deeds, and goals of the 7th century mujahidin (“jihadists”), whom he had been studying for years, and the near verbatim words, deeds, and goals of 21st century jihadists. Since then, he has maintained that to truly understand contemporary Islam, one must first understand Islamic history, doctrine, and epistemology

He discovered, translated and published original Al-Qaeda treatises, from which he concluded:

Based solely on al-Qaeda’s own words, this collection of translations, “proves once and for all that, despite the propaganda of al-Qaeda and its sympathizers, radical Islam’s war with the West is not finite and limited to political grievances—real or imagined—but is existential, transcending time and space and deeply rooted in faith.”

Please visit Middle East Forum for his October’11 and subsequent monthly updates.

LATEST  INDICTMENT: Obama Administration’s War on Persecuted Christians.

Encouragement from Egypt

COPY of pre-blog email (as in ‘About’):

After the distressing details of the Maspero massacre at long last I’m able to share some TRULY POSITIVE, VERY GOOD news. This comes as a result of prayers after that event and which led to a massive, historic prayer meeting in which Muslims joined!

Developments during the year made me wonder about the fulfilment of the prophetic details I’d divulged about the fall of Islam and the Holy Spirit setting all Eastern Africa ablaze from Mozambique to Egypt and across to the Arabian peninsular. Yet now we learn of an event on 11.11.11 from 24-7 Prayer and a popular ‘tall skinny Kiwi‘ of:

“Egyptian leaders are telling us there has been a significant spiritual ‘shift’ in their country and we are trying to make sense of it all…

Since the event, one Egyptian Christian leader told us,

“The heavens are clean! It is easy to pray!” He calls it the beginning of revival:
“I saw signs of the beginning of revival that I have never seen before!”

There’s an interesting reference to this activity focussing upon a ‘garbage city’ – now where’ve we heard that before? (Such gave rise to Iris Ministries in Mozambique and the phenomenal work the Lord is doing there through Heild and Rolland Baker.)

Praise the Lord !!

Richard

Stand today and next week re. Israel

COPY of pre-blog email (as in ‘About’).:

Dear Friends,
.
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.
.
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!)
.
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!
.
– 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.”
ICEJ UK
From ICEJ UK
12 September 2011
The Stand – Westminster – 13th September 2011

Not many people know…

CONTINUATION of pre-blog email Touching Turkey:

Now all this prefaced John’s talk ‘Eyes to See and Ears to Hear’ (Matt 13) in which he spoke about the Church’s deliberate choice of being either blinkered or able to see and understand what the Lord is doing and moving us into.  He hinted that this may explain why so many believers find it hard to appreciate what happens during visitations of the Lord, for example in Argentina, at Toronto, Pensacola, Lakeland, Mobile etc.

Did you know that the Holy Spirit-led Argentinian revival and the ‘Toronto Blessing’ have borne fruit in the Islamic world?  This oft-ignored impact has come mainly through those revivals’ associated ministries of:

> Norwegian LH made many secret missions into Pakistan where hundreds of thousands, if not now over a million Muslims, have come to faith in Jesus.

> Rolland and Heidi Baker, founders of Iris Ministries in Mozambique, through whom Muslim provinces have converted to Christ in response to their uncompromising approach.  On her visits there, Heidi would challenge them to, “Bring out your demon-possessed, your blind, deaf and lame”, whence all get healed by and encounter Jesus’ love direct.

When I discussed with Rolland a vision of Holy Spirit’s fire sweeping up Eastern Africa and across the Sinai into the Middle East (here), he told me about a strategists’ report from the highest Islamic centre of Al Azhar University, Cairo.  A discussion heard on Arabic TV stated the report’s goals of achieving a global caliphate were well on the way to being achieved BUT with the exception of Africa because of this ministry’s mission, where mosques have become churches!

Praise you, and lots, lots more Lord!

Update on intercession request

COPY of pre-blog email (as in ‘About’).:

“I haven’t heard about that! Why haven’t my church friends told me?” Nina’s hairdresser indignantly retorted this morning.
“Because it won’t be covered in the news and, if it is, it’ll be badly biased – and few believers know, or are interested!” Nina replied.

Friends who’ve joined this intercession well know that we’re a minority.  I offer this update and attached extract of Rabbi C’s message, plus some inspiration:

Yesterday, there were clashes throughout the West Bank
and IDF placed upon standby after having been trained for various scenarios. Earlier in the week security forces were beefed up to close the border to refugees from Syria (other neighbouring countries were closed too). 

On Thurs I found a website devoted to the Intifada. It reported on demonstrations at the Israeli embassy in Egypt and for a mass protest to march from Tahrir Square, Cairo and be joined by several hundred thousand protesters to advance upon Israel tomorrow.
Reading a few of that site’s items showed their very poor standard of historical and journalistic accuracy – and confirmed the original intention of incitement to violence. (That was why their first Facebook page was shut down.) 

However, today I see that website’s two home pages have been replaced by masses of articles from supporters, including one about First Scottish Minister Alex Salmond’s strongly condemnatory anti-Israel stance!!  (Its author ridiculously refers to David Cameron as pro-Zionist!!  Not so, according to Spectator blogger Melanie Phillips whose open letter to him about his meeting with PM Netanyahu minces no words!)

Prior to prayer yesterday, I was listening to Paul Keith Davis speaking at Dudley about the Bridal company and Sons of the Kingdom (many thanks to Richard in Bath). Suddenly, he gave reference for this as being in Matthew 13 as well as Zecharia 12.8 regarding Jerusalem in ‘That Day’.  Now Paul had already confirmed things I’d had from the Lord, but during intercession I turned to that OT chapter – WOW what insights came for today, and how it could fit into what this rabbi teaches  – thank you Lord! 

Zecharia 12
could well distinguish between what’s happening now and what’s coming through the ‘Two State’ supposed solution – verse 2 is about the surrounding peoples, as in this 3rd intifada – verse 3 is about the whole world, as in UNO, EU, USA !  And there’s lots more throughout chapters 12 and 13 that may apply to revival in Israel and for ALL inhabitants of Jerusalem, including the ultra orthodox Jews (who outdo muslim hatred for Christians!) and Arabs.

May the Lord lead our prayers

Richard

PS > > SHOULD YOU WANT MORE details see today’s entry at
http://johnmcternansinsights.blogspot.com/

Comfort one another with these words

COPY of pre-blog email (as in ‘About’).:

Dear Friends,
Am catching up with weekend’s emails and you may be interested in how an Israeli unbeliever was introduced to Jesus’ prophetic words about recent events, as below. 

(‘Funnily’ only in this morning I’d highlighted Luke 21.28, to which Mike also refers, about lifting up our heads, because it connects right into the time Jesus rescued me from my life of sin. Perhaps I’ll re-issue my testimony one day – now published here.)

Below, Mike quotes Matthew 24 “…kingdom against kingdom..” but didn’t, I presume, know about this afternoon’s news hot from the Middle East !!!  Allow me to quote:

“Saudi and United Arab Emirates troops…from a special force within the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council…crossed into Bahrain to support king against escalating demonstrations and Kuwait soldiers are on the way…By this action both Arab kingdoms flouted…Obama’s policy of boosting  popular movements against autocratic Arab regimes…King Abdulla blames Obama’s policy for unseating Mubarak and has no intention of following the America line…
“Jordanian King Abdullah II is casting about for a protector…after finding the American shield full of holes…and (it’s rumoured) is desperate enough to seek help from  Israel…Damascus (has become) Qaddafi’s foremost armorer. Cairo remains the only Arab capital still keeping faith with Washington…(but) its army is crumbling from within and its affinity with Washington is loosening its control of the streets…” 
WOW, things are really wobbling all over and the American ‘empire’ losing more ground!   Mike’s encounter, as below, with Ahmadinejad is particularly interesting. (It was fascinating to read how the Lord got him through the top-level security lock-down at that hotel, and had a room reserved!)  Trust you will be blessed by his report.
Richard
Sent: Saturday, March 12, 2011 12:52 AM
Subject: Comfort one another with these Words
Comfort one another with these Words
Dear Richard & Janina,
Beloved, I was recently in prayer for you, and the Lord clearly spoke to me to comfort you with these words. I know you have seen today’s news about the record-breaking earthquake and the ensuing tsunami in Japan. I know you are praying for those affected by this grave crisis.
I received a call from Israel from a high-level government official. He was describing to me the condition of the planet. I said, “My dear friend, let me read you the words of the most famous Jew that ever lived. From the Holy City of Jerusalem, He described the very day in which we are living.”

I turned to Matthew 24, and as I read the words to him, he kept saying, “I’ve never in my life heard that. I can’t believe that’s in the New Testament. It’s amazing.” You see, the earthquakes and catastrophic weather conditions that the planet is experiencing are totally predicted by the Lord Jesus Christ in that chapter. In verse 7 He talked about earthquakes in various places.
Jesus uses another word to describe the planet in chapter 24: groaning. It’s the word used by the Apostle Paul for birth pangs. Romans 8:22 says, “For we know the whole creation has been groaning as in the pangs of childbirth up until this present time.”
My diplomat-friend is not a believer, and when he described the condition of the planet he said, “All hell is breaking loose.” I responded, “No! There’s some good news on which you can focus: All heaven is breaking loose. The Apostle Paul describes this powerfully in I Thessalonians 4:15-18:

I can tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not rise to meet him ahead of those who are in their graves. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the call of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, all the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and remain with him forever. So comfort and encourage each other with these words.”

Today, I want to encourage you with these words. Jesus is coming soon. What we are seeing in the Middle East right now is described in Matthew 24:

And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places…”

The only place where “kingdoms” can be found is in the Middle East. Now, kingdoms are rising up against kingdoms. Late September I met with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in New York City when he came to the United Nations. I also met with more than a dozen of his cabinet ministers including his foreign minister. When we shook hands, I placed in President Ahmadinejad’s hand a page from my Bible with the fifth and sixth chapters of Daniel. I circled verses 24-28 of chapter five. Verse 28 says, “You have been weighed in the balances, and found wanting …” It was a prophecy from Daniel to Ahmadinejad’s predecessor, Nebuchadnezzar.
Ahmadinejad showed up for the Fox interview which I had arranged surrounded by mullahs. All demanded chairs next to him so they could pray for him. Not only did they pray for him, he began to pray and call out to the Mahdi for power. That power never came.
The battle being fought on our planet is a battle between two books, two spirits, and two kingdoms. If you read the book, the Good News is: we win! Because Jesus lives, we shall live also.
Remember the prophecy of Jesus almost forty years before the destruction of the Temple. In the second verse of Matthew 24, He prophesied that it would be taken apart stone by stone, and it was. In verse 5, he declared one of the greatest signs of His coming would be deception. He said many would come in His Name—reputation, authority, and fame—saying, “I am anointed.” Many will be deceived.
The word in the Greek for “I” is “ego.” Christ said many strong egos claiming an anointing on their lives would deceive many before His return. We are seeing that today in all realms of society—and especially in the political arena.
I have the rare privilege as a journalist and confidant to leaders in the Middle East to see the signs of the times and correlate them with the scriptures. The Bible says, “When you see these things, look up, for your redemption draws nigh.” I like what the Psalmist David says in Psalm 27:

“The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked came against me to eat up my flesh, my enemies and foes, they stumbled and fell. Though an army may encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war may rise against me, in this I will be confident. One thing I have desired of the LORD, that will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life…”

Yes, it’s true; this old earth is groaning with birth pangs, but be encouraged, Jesus is coming soon! Many in the world are desperately trying to move in the direction of the Temple site, wanting to divide the Holy City of Jerusalem. Every devil in hell has tried to keep prophecy from being fulfilled. Hitler thought he had succeeded when he had six million of my people murdered; but he did not.
The prophecy in Ezekiel about the valley of dry bones and the spirit of God breathing on them (Ezekiel 37) was fulfilled. The prophecy of Isaiah proclaiming that a nation would be born in a day (Isaiah 66:8) was fulfilled. God has kept every promise to my people. He restored the Hebrew language. Jerusalem was reunited. He will keep every promise He has made to you. David, the shepherd boy, found it to be so. When God made a promise to him through the prophet Samuel, He kept it despite Goliath and a wicked King Saul. David saw the promise fulfilled and declared in Psalm 23: “The Lord is my Shepherd; I have everything I need. He lets me rest in green pastures. He leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths bringing honor to His name. Even when I walk through the darkest valleys, I will not be afraid for you are close beside me. Your rod and staff protect and comfort me. You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” (NLT)
Passover in Israel will be observed starting at sundown on Monday, April 18. In past years, we have been asked to provide Passover meals for elderly Holocaust victims…poor Jews…new refugees that came to Israel with nothing but the hope of praying in Jerusalem…and children who had been victims of terrorist attacks or left orphaned by this great evil. I have visited many of these people and have comforted them.

Ask for the Nations – Psalm 2 v 8

COPY of pre-blog email (as in ‘About’):

This is a more personal letter to you as I believe it’s time to tell about a revelation that amazed me, for it came only a couple or so years after my re-birth. (And only now am I glimpsing how it may connect with an open vision of fire shooting up E Africa to Egypt.) So I’d be interested if this may strike a chord, or you get a word from the Lord – or even a check in your spirit. Kindly bear with me as this needs be a bit lengthy.

As what I saw is directly relevant to the past month’s (Jan 2011) momentously historic events (which could affect our Western nations’ economies) I’ve been hesitant to relate this without the Lord’s go-ahead. Thus, early yesterday I sought the verses about His word not returning to Him void (Isa 55.11) but my eyes fell first on Isaiah 44.24-26, as though confirming the validity of the revelation and giving clearance to write:

“I am the LORD who has made all things, Who alone stretched out the heavens, Who spread out the earth by Myself, Who foils the signs of false prophets and makes fools of diviners, Who overturns the learning of the wise and turns it into nonsense, Who carries out the words of His servants and fulfils the predictions of His messengers….”  (NIV)

First, some background. At the time I received this staggering ‘download’ my Baptist pastor and elders were unable to help, possibly because it came in a dream, and I was a ‘young’ Christian…It was, however, an excellent church for solid Biblical tuition and discipleship – thank you Lord.

W Mediterranean

Nonetheless, what I received proved helpful to a young missionary in France as well as to an evangelist off to Egypt. I’d put the full account in a letter, which he put on top of clothes in his suitcase. Thus, when Egyptian customs questioned him and checked inside his case he was reminded and encouraged in his mission. Here’s what I’d written:

The BBC late evening news on 6th January 1992 announced that leaders in the Muslim community wanted to establish a Muslim parliament in Britain…:

In a dream that night I saw Western Europe, mainly France and the Mediterranean, as if from the space shuttle and heard the popular worship chorus ‘All Hail The Lamb’ being sung, as if in the atmosphere!  This praise was repeated many times most melodiously, as though by angelic choir ,and seemed to spiral upwards. Then I heard a very loud, authoritative voice declare, “As Communism fell, so too will Islam fall”.

I understood this as the Almighty’s declaration that Islam’s demise would come when Muslims themselves want to be free and rise up en-masse. Clearly, by referring to the events that had rippled across the Eastern Bloc to end the Soviet empire, we could expect a similar, unanticipated wave to sweep across Africa, the Middle East and Asia to the Pacific. It, too, would be like dominoes falling. In fact, some commentators are likening what’s happening now to that effect – Telegraph and Foreign Policy reports.

As a prophetical impression the dream awaited proper weighing and confirmation by my leaders. Only a few years ago I read an article by the prophet Marc Dupont in which he referred to a very similar word at about the same period. EVEN SO, if you’re with me thus far, please do weigh and check all this. [Months after this email I discovered that Lance Lambert had later that year brought the same message about God shaking the nations.]

Later yesterday I got an email from leading analyst on Middle-East affairs, Daniel Pipes, supporting that concept of change, viz:

“Something remarkable, unpredictable and unprecedented took place in recent weeks on Egyptian streets. A leaderless mass movement galvanized large numbers of ordinary citizens, as in Tunisia days earlier. It did not rage against foreigners, scapegoat minority Egyptians, nor endorse a radical ideology; instead, it demanded accountability, liberty, and prosperity. Reports reaching me from Cairo suggest a historic turn toward patriotism, inclusion, secularism, and personal responsibility.” – Washington Post

Let’s remember the Lord’s ultimate redemptive plan for Egypt, as stated in Isaiah 19 especially verses 19-25.

19 In that day there will be an altar to the LORD in the heart of Egypt, and a monument to the LORD at its border…24 In that day Israel will be the third, along with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing on the earth. The LORD Almighty will bless them, saying, “Blessed be Egypt my people, Assyria my handiwork, and Israel my inheritance”.

Pertinent to these verses is this closing statement of an email just in: “..the Egyptian identity needs to be resurrected, thereby allowing all of the nation’s sons and daughters to work together for a better future—without the dead weight of foreign encumberments, namely Arabism or, worse, Islamism.” [Assoc. Dir ME Forum: Egypt’s Identity Crisis.]

Did you read in my email 10 Feb of Dutch Sheets’ word given 13 Jan about the Lord supernaturally visiting the Middle-East? Well, on Monday I bought his classic book Intercessory Prayer but didn’t dig in until last night. On fanning through I was drawn to a prophetic word about nations falling rapidly before Him (see large red asterisk in attached). I think the Lord is trying to get our serious attention, don’t you?

THEREFORE, I believe it’s a pivotal prayer-time to ask the Lord for those nations that are closed to Him to become fully open to the Gospel. The harvest fields are ripening.

For example, many Iranians realise that 30 years’ Islamic rule has utterly failed. They’re desperate for the real truth of God. Previously it took one missionary a life time to bring 10 to Christ. Yet last year just one phone call served to bring 30 to salvation! Multitudes are responding to dramatic personal visitations and miracles direct from the Lord, as well as through satellite/phone evangelism. (Dr Hormoz Shariat, Iran Alive Ministries.)

“…By Myself I have sworn, My mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked: Before Me every knee will bow; by Me every tongue will swear (allegiance). They will say of Me, ‘In the Lord alone are righteousness and strength’.” All who have raged against Him will come to Him and be put to shame. But in the LORD the descendants of Israel will be found righteous and will exult.

[Isa 45.23-24 NIV’s ‘raged’ seems more appropriate than ‘incensed’ in NKJV & Amp]

I close as All Hail The Lamb starts playing on pc – WOW, what a coincidence, or rather God-incidence!!

“He’s the Lamb upon the throne…He IS the Lord”

UPDATES:

Deep US-Saudi rift emerges

Part 1 of pre-blog email (as in ‘About’).:

Today’s news: ‘Deep US-Saudi Rift’

Dear Friends – did you spot the prophetic parenthesis in my previous ‘news flash’? 

Actually, I’d added the short comment shown below only as an aside to a notification about the Guardian’s ‘Talks Leaks’.  Little did I know the next day everything would start unravelling in Egypt!  Apparently, it was a few days after Mubarak had refused to protect Christians from persecution!  Mind you, the Muslim Brotherhood (the originators of Hamas & Al Quaida) had already stated it would emulate the uprising in Tunisia if its demands were not met.

You may have followed developments in the main media news but missed the concerns over America’s subversive efforts in Egypt and over Obama’s demand that an ally caves in to an uprising despite his hush over Iran’s suppression of democratic dissent.  (In my opinion that’s no surprise in view of the ways he stabbed the only democratic ally in the Mid-East in the back; eg. the offensive way he treated Israel’s PM Netanyahu.)   But more emphatic was the deep consternation of professional commentators over the Obama administration’s seesaw ambivalence.

So, this morning the rebuking of Obama was announced in the Times’ exclusive, front-page headline – ‘Saudis told Obama not to humiliate Mubarak’.  The article suggests the exchange between leaders was more than a slap on the wrist from King Abdullah.  Details revealed by Debka indicate it was more a big cuff behind the ear (http://www.debka.com/article/20650/).

Even so, if Mubarak does step down let’s hope his vice-president Omar Suleiman holds the reins for he’s played an extremely important intelligence and diplomatic role with Israel.  The dangers are in a secret alliance between the Sunni and Shiite extremists manipulating Egypt into a war against Israel. (25 yrs ago, at the height of the Iraq-Iran war, I saw a TV report on their elite forces uniting to rehearse an attack upon Jerusalem!)

[Update: see Robert Spencer; Egyptian Copts overwhelmed by “anxiety and fear”, see Muslim Brotherhood government as “worst in memory” – 14 Oct 2012] 

However as regards these events…(click here to read Part 2 The Lord’s Perspective:, after email below).

Praise our Almighty God and Father of Lord Jesus

Richard

From:
Richard Barker

Sent: Monday, January 24, 2011 1:31 PM
To: Undisclosed Recipients
Subject: TODAY’S NEWS – ‘Talks Leaks’ a.k.a. ‘Palestinian Papers’
….

As January has seen riots in Tunisia, severe internal tensions in Lebanon, calls for the overthrow of Jordan’s government (Egypt next?), then let’s not be surprised if these leaks lead to a major shaking of Palestinian leadership, if not their complete overturn, in February!

Perhaps, therefore, we may soon see whether or not Christian commentators upon the prophesied Psalm 83 Middle-Eastern war and fulfilment of Obadiah 15 are proved correct??

Let’s keep our gaze upon our awesome Lord Jesus

Richard

Is Egyptians’ attitude better than British one?

COPY of pre-blog email, with my emphases .:

Friends,
At a ladies’ regular house gathering in a village near Guildford, guest speaker ‘H’ was eloquently forthright about the situation here in comparison with her homeland of Egypt.  There ordinary Muslims would expect Christians to be as fervent as they are in their faith.

 [I’m only too aware of the current persecution of our Coptic brethren, possibly because that’s where the Muslim Brotherhood took root and which is pressing for political power in the event of President Mubarak’s demise. One of its martyred leaders is regarded as the founding father of modern jihad and its deeply doctrinaire targeting on all fronts of America and Europe.

[Update: see Robert Spencer; Egyptian Copts overwhelmed by “anxiety and fear”, see Muslim Brotherhood government as “worst in memory” – 14 Oct 2012] 

You may recall my having quoted Miracles Among Muslims by Christine Darg. So, it was good to hear ‘H’ say over a million Egyptian Muslims secretly believe in Jesus and that Middle Eastern believers are migrating to the relatively more tolerant Egypt. [NB: 2 years ago!]

‘H’ mentioned the Lord had advised her not to regard outward events as being of His will but to look for His redemptive plan for nations.  Thus, she gained insight into the Isaiah 19 prophecy regarding Egypt, Israel and Assyria (ie Iraq) – which is also a  pillar for Canon Andrew White’s reconciliation work in Baghdad, Jerusalem and Cairo!!  [See previous post.]

Perhaps the serendipitous references to this scripture came in answer to my thoughts upon Acts 1:6-7?  When answering the disciples’ query on restoring the kingdom to Israel, could Jesus have had in mind Father’s strategy to fulfil that prophecy??  What do you think, my friend?  Some teach that Jesus rebuked them because they were mistaken about God’s purposes. But surely Jesus would have explicitly said so? 

Let’s remember when He upset them by saying He was going away to prepare a place for them in Father’s house, He explained: “Were it not so I would have told you” (John 14.2).  Surely, Jesus would have applied that same teaching principle when answering their question about Israel’s future, wouldn’t He?  

Jesus’ answer was not an emphatic “No” but rather a “Not yet and it’s not for me to say – I have a something else for you”.

Meanwhile, let’s take our stand…

Richard

Obama’s Cairo speech

COPY of pre-blog email (as in ‘About’) – The main points covered therein are.:

> Jesus said, “Take heed that you be not deceived … (Luke 21:7-8).

> President Obama’s Cairo speech to Muslim world included delegates from the banned Muslim Brotherhood who were invited at Obama’s specific request. This Islamist group is banned by the Egyptian government because of its teachings and violence against all authorities that do not fully implement Islam’s sharia law.

> My reservations about the accuracy of his claims as a Christian and historian. In fact, Obama negated known actual facts to present a fully Arabic and Palestinian narrative.

The link to Rick Joyner’s paper is defunct but is open here: Discerning the Times pt34

Update 1: Elliott Abrams, Fellow of the Council of Foreign Relations, on 25 Sept 2012 briefly remarks on this in Pressure Points – Obama, Judaism and the Holocaust:

As Ronald Reagan once said, there he goes again. Islam has a prophet; Christianity has a savior, but Judaism has…. the Holocaust. The problem Jews and especially Israelis face, with apologies for having to spell it out, is not so much Holocaust denial as it the slander of the Jewish religion as a whole and the desire to eliminate the Jewish state.

Mr. Obama and his speechwriters should get over their equation of Judaism and Israel with the Holocaust. It is dispiriting to see the 2009 error repeated again three years later.

Update 2: Raymond Stock provides an excellent overview of the situation in the Foreign Policy Research Institute E-Note, On Mistaking Mohamed Mursi for His Mask (Feb ’13).  For introductory post, see Lunch with Raymond Stock.

Dear Readers,

Doctor Luke quotes Jesus on the signs of the times; ‘…And He said, “Take heed that you be not deceived…”(NKJV).

What are your thoughts and reactions to President Obama’s exceptional speech to Muslims last Thursday in Cairo?

To check it for yourself click  http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Remarks-by-the-President-at-Cairo-University-6-04-09/

The widely welcomed speech brought a good response in Lebanon’s election with the defeat of Hizbollah-controlled coalition – but watch out Beirut! And SURPRISE, SURPRISE, in false-anticipation of a Hizbollah victory, Iranian/Syrian-proxy Palestinian terrorists responded in combined Hamas/Fatah/Al-Quada assaults upon Israel’s border, all of which failed.

According to an exclusive report based upon military and security sources, those attacks were only one outcome of Egypt’s intelligence minister meeting with Hamas’ politburo chief, who rejected Obama’s call and refused to call off terror campaign against fellow Palestinians. Also, soon after that meeting came the first ever missile strike from Gaza upon Egyptian security forces.

Book of Daniel

Far more importantly, it will be well-worth watching how Obama’s plans will connect into the EU’s European Neighbourhood Policy – which, some surmise, is part of the ’70th week’ of Daniel (chpt 9:20-27) that Jesus spoke about in Matthew 24:15. Should you need any proof, read this letter of intent:http://www.fulfilledprophecy.com/workspace/solana_remarks_obama_speech_cairo.pdf

A FlawedSpeech?

May I submit to you that were Obama’s proposals for the seven issues he addressed put on a 3-legged stool, they’d probably collapse.

Why? Like legs upon which his argument was based, three connected claims in his opening remarks are flawed. Hence, the speech has some deceptive inaccuracies and dangerous nuances – even a clear implication of the New World Order’s agenda of multi-faith projects through the Alliance of Civilisations (and the Blair Foundation? – remember his strong connection to the Clinton’s and Hilary’s rebutted/denied previous Bush Admin’s agreement with Israel!).

First, it was sensible to slant a speech towards the mindsets of the Mulsim audience – like St Paul did with the Athenians. But after quoting ‘Be conscious of God and speak always the truth’ from the Koran, Obama said “I will try…to speak the truth…” and closely followed with “I’m a Christian”. IF he really were a believer, wouldn’t he have referred to what Jesus taught about how the truth makes one free?

IF Obama really were aChristian, he would not have firmly declared, as US President in his inaugural address and consequent trip to Europe, that America is no longer and never has been a Christian nation!! The national intercessor and teacher Dutch Sheets said that’s like the stronghold of Goliath mocking God’s people – so maybe there’s a warning here? We believers know God is not mocked!

IF he really were aChristian would he have spoken, as do Muslims, of Jesus as being equivalent to Mohammed??

IF he really were aChristian, then why are many Church leaders gravely concerned?

Rick Joyner writes,“…This new unity in the church is being driven because of foreboding created by the demeanor and laws being passed by the Obama Administration, which seem to be specifically designed to open doors for persecuting the church.”

To read his report Discerning The Times, Part 34  clickhttp://www.morningstarministries.org/Publisher/Article.aspx?ID=1000051215

“As a student of history…”.If Obama really were a well-informed Christian and student of history then he would have told the truth about the founding of Israel, not only in 1948 but also despite fierce Arab riots and attacks against Jewish settlers since 1916, and about the reasons and origins of Arab and Jewish refugees within the Palestine region.

IF he really were a Christian and familiar with history, he would NOT have claimed the foundation of America and its universities were not influenced by God’s word and Christian principles. Whilst on-air, the renowned intercessor Dutch Sheets took great exception to Obama’s gross mistake and quoted from historical records to disprove the President’s claims that America is not and never has been a Christian nation.

Hence, Obama started out from a fundamentally flawed position and those errors affected the whole speech – like a little leaven. What do you think?

If you’d like further details on these important matters please do ask me to clarify or explain. Or, you could read these excellent articles from the Washington-based Centre for Security Policy:

May you be blessed mightily
Richard
For more on this read Middle-East Update – July 2009.

Today’s importance in history

COPY of pre-blog email (as in ‘About’). The main points covered therein are.:

> warnings from Zecharia 12 and Ezekiel 38 and about ‘the Ezekiel Alliance’ [Gog-Magog].

> Arabs and Europeans against Israel; US presidents support terrorism within Israel

> Obama seeks cash from Arabs and courts Iranian terrorist masterminds!

> possible fulfillment of 1Tim4:3 prophecy in the UK: a Hebrews 12:23-27shaking’!

Dear Friends,

Buried beneath the daily dross of parliamentary piracy and ‘privilege-to-pilfer’ are momentous events concerning the Holy Land. I’ve kept close tabs with those who monitor Middle-Eastern machinations and watched a maelstrom gather momentum over the months.

Altho’ our gaze as believers is toward heavenly Jerusalem, it’s right not to overlook our God of Israel’s heart for actual Jerusalem and His covenant people. His intention and warning to the nations given through Zechariah (ch 12) still apply – and Ezekiel 38 opposition is moving into alliances. Hence, the world’s continual concern with Jerusalem and Israel.

Today, that storm comes to a climax as Prime Minister Netanyahu meets President Obama to discuss the latter’s 2-state solution for the Middle-East.

You may know that this involved attempts to turn the Arab world and Europe against Israel, and to appease Iran – even to ‘blackmailing’ Israel over its nuclear defence! (It’s reported Obama wanted to be able to use Iran’s territory for supplying US troops in Afghanistan and Pakistan.)

Also, there’s been dismay in Cairo and Riyadh over his courting the terrorist mentors in Teheran. No wonder Egypt and S.Arabia – both kept militarily informed by Israel – and five Gulf emirates turned a deaf ear to Pres. Obama’s secret (and 3rd) delegation seeking hundreds of billions dollars investment in US and global economic stimulus plans! It’s reported, however, that over the weekend a political furore gripped Washington and frayed Obama’s key policies.

The Bush and Obama administrations’ misguided intentions are to establish a terrorist-run nation within the ancient home-land of Judea/Israel. The consequences for USA in betraying its ally Israel could be severe, as when Bush wanted to trade land for peace (as collated by the accredited White House correspondent Wm Koenig). The Lord gave detailed warnings of judgement in Nov ’99 which included not only last year’s collapse of stocks but also the betrayal of Israel by Western allies!

Last week’s papal visit to the Holy Land may result in UN military units (ie. ‘armies of the nations’) in and around Jerusalem. Koenig has also noted that papal pronouncements contrary to God’s purposes for His Land have soon been followed by revelations of sexual scandal within the Roman hierarchy – so wait and watch.

United Kingdom

“Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter days…terrible times will come…” wrote Paul to disciple Timothy. The second letter gave many explicit details, all of which are now common-place – ie. the prophecy is fulfilled in its entirety today!

Could Paul’s reference to the prevention of marriage (at 1Tim4:3) be construed as also meaning any kind of alteration to this God-ordained covenant?

Hence, how entirely appropriate that those who’ve deliberately spurned His requirements and commands in making our laws are themselves now being turned upside down. And, as indicated in Hebrews 12:23-27 could we not expect lots more shaking? Could that visionary map I saw being ripped apart be the political map of England? I wonder…

Let’s remember Psalm 122 instruction, “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, may they prosper who love you…”, that we may earnestly seek its welfare.