Keys to Unlocking the Future

The media of mass deception has been trying to predict the future Republican election results ad nauseam. They think that hundreds of polls taken over the last few months will give us an indication of who the nominee eventually will be. Well, I think that many of the polls are deceptive. Who votes in them? I do not answer my phone without monitoring the callers anymore because I don't want to be involved in any polls. How many other Americans are sick of these calls and do the same thing that I do?

Did anyone reading here see that latest poll about Congress? The questions asks people to rate how Congress is doing, but the first two choices are:

1. Excellent (Recent results said 5%)
2. Fair (Recent results said 23%)

So does that mean that the approval rating is only 5% or is it really 28%? Depends on how you read the poll, doesn't it?

The media reporting the results claim that Congress has a positive approval rating of only 5%. Is that a correct reading or is it deliberately deceptive?

The majority of unredeemed men obviously do not have the honest capability to present a silly poll correctly, no less predict an election outcome!

But this post really isn't about polls, elections, or the lamestream media. Though, the election will be a very important one regarding the direction that our country will go in after the Obamination is out of office, it all pales in comparison to what the Bible tells us about the ultimate future in the book of Revelation.

One of the very first books about Revelation that I bought at a weekend seminar several years back was Ed Hindson's The Book of Revelation: Unlocking the Future

Book Description
Series: 21st Century Biblical Commentary Series | Publication Date: May 1, 2002
WILL THE HUMAN RACE SURVIVE IN THE FUTURE?


EVERYONE IS CURIOUS ABOUT THE FUTURE. There is something in human nature that wants to know what is going to happen next. God speaks to the need in our lives by revealing the future before it happens. That process is called a prophecy of future events. This book is a study of the prophecies in the book of Revelation.

The book of Revelation is the grand and noble conclusion to the Bible. It captivates our attention, stirs our imagination, and points us to our glorious future destiny. It shows the living relationship between the risen Christ and His Bride, the Church. It also records the final days of this world and reveals the glorious new world yet to come. The book of Revelation gives us hope for the future when God will make "all things new" (Rev.21:5).

Dr.Hindson simplifies the message of the Revelation so that you can easily understand it for yourself. He surveys the general content of this captivating book of prophecy with a view to keeping the big picture in mind, rather than getting lost in all the details. His approach is to keep the study focused on the key issues in each chapter.

The Book of Revelation has been called the epilogue of the unfolding drama of redemption. It's God's road map to help us understand where human history is going. In the biblical record, human history begins in a garden and ends in the eternal city. It begins with tragedy and ends with triumph. It begins with man's failure and ends with his exaltation. In between, there stands a cross! And on that cross, Jesus Christ changed the course of human history forever.

The message of the Bible represents the timeless truth of God. As each generation seeks to apply that truth to its specific context it becomes necessary for an up-to-date commentary to be created just for them. The editors and authors of the Twenty-First Century Biblical Commentary" have endeavored to do just that. They represent conservative, evangelical, and dispensational scholarship at its best.

In the introduction pages of the book, Dr. Hindson describes "the big picture" by comparing the contents of the Revelation with other biblical prophecies and we find that basic patterns emerge:1

1. The Church will coninue to grow. But it will have varying degrees of success and difficulty. Jesus promised to continue to build His Church and empower it to attack the gates of hell (Matt. 16:18). But He also warned of persecution and rejection (Matt. 25:9-12).

The dual nature of this phenomenon becomes more and more evident with each passing year. The conversion of Muslims to Christianity in Iraq, for example, is quite a change from when Saddam Hussein was in power. Yet, the persecution of new believers from radical Islam severely tests the new believers because they could lose their lives as a result of their faith in Jesus Christ.

Here in the United States, the liberal, leftist, secular, progressive, atheistic, (which includes socialist/communist/Islamist sympathizers) haters of the Gospel of Jesus Christ continue their attacks against Christianity at an alarming rate.

I am grateful to God that Jesus warned us of such things; but the fact that Jesus has "overcome the world" and we know how it all ends is truly the kind of peace that one can have in one's heart that surpasses all understanding!

Jhn 16:33 "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

2. Satanic opposition will intensify. Things will get worse as we get closer to the time of the end. "Difficult times" will come (2 Tim. 3:1-5). Scoffers will mock the idea of Christ's second coming (2 Pet. 3:3-4; Jude 17-18). False prophets will increase and apostate religion will rival the true Church (1 Tim. 4:1; 2 Pet. 2:1-3; 2 Cor. 11:13-14).

Over the past three years (ironically, during pResident Obama's corrupt administration) the uptick in satanic activity cannot be denied. You name the "ism" (socialism, communism, Islamism, secular humanism - the list is endless) and you will see how sin and evil have permeated our culture at an alarming rate. What used to be unthinkable (i.e. abortion, approval and celebration of homosexual behavior, fornication, assisted suicide etc.) is either being ignored or even promoted as "good" in many apostate "churches"!  This is very damaging to our culture.

3. Israel will return to the Promised Land.  The great end-times regathering has already begun (since 1948). Israel is once again a nation in her own land (Exek. 20:34; 37:12-21; Is. 43:5-6). But her return will touch off a storm of protest and conflict in the Middle East (Joel 3:2-14; Ezek. 38:1-6).

Imagine the scoffers before 1948 who were saying that such a prophecy would NEVER happen and Israel would never be re-born as a nation state! They had centuries to argue against it, but when Israel became a nation once again in 1948, another prophecy of the Bible had come true.

We can see all the wars and rumors of wars as many of the Arab nations surrounding Israel puff themselves up and declare that they will "wipe Israel off the map." Boy, are THEY going to be surprised by God's protection over His Nation and people (and the utter destruction of Her enemies) at the battle of Armageddon!

4. The Church will be raptured to heaven. When our Lord departed to heaven, He promised His disciples He would return to take them home with Him (John 14;3). The apostle Paul predicted that the dead in Christ shall rise first, and we that are alive and remain shall be caught up into heaven (1 Thess. 4:16-17; 1 Cor. 15:51-52).

This could happen at any moment! There is nothing that still needs to be fulfilled before Christ comes for His own and we meet Him in the air and are taken up into heaven with Him! We will escape the coming judgment.

5. Judgments of the tribulation period will follow. The great judgments of the End Times vividly described in the book of Revelation are called "the hour of testing" (3:10), "the great day of their wrath" (6:17) or "great tribulation" 7:14). These judgments relate to the seals, trumpets, and bowls of the Apocalypse.

Chapters 6 - 19 reveal a series of catastrophic judgments on the earth. However, these judgments result in the final triumph and return of Christ and the establishment of His kingdom on earth for one thousand years (see 19:11-20:6).

6. Marriage of Christ and the Church. The Church's absence from chapter 4 through chapter 18 is best explained by the fact that she has already been raptured to heaven to participate in the marriage supper of the Lamb (19:7-9). Here she receives her rewards, crowns, and robes of righteousness prior to her procession back to earth with the Savior.

On another page in this book, Dr. Hindson reminds us of all of the names and titles of Christ. There are 33 of them! However, Christ is called "The Lamb" 28 times! Why? Because Christ REDEEMED man from sin, evil and death at His first coming. All of those who call upon His name, confess and repent of their sin and believe that Christ has risen from the dead will be saved!  The Apocalypse is the epilogue of the unfolding drama of redemption!

7. Triumphal return of Christ. The climax of the Apocalypse comes in 19:11-21, when the glorified Christ returns as King of kings and Lord of lords with His Bride, the Church, at His side. He returns to conquer all opposition to His reign and to establish his Millennial Kingdom on earth (19:19 - 20:4).

The Bible proclaims that "every eye will see Him" when Christ returns. In biblical times, this might seem impossible. But with today's technology (iPhones, computers, iPads etc.) each person will have a device in hand or in front of him/her to see His return as the conqueror King!

8. Millennial Kingdom. Jesus Christ will reign upon the earth for one thousand years (a millennium) while Satan is bound in the "abyss." During this time, God's promises to Israel will be fulfilled. The Messiah shall reign from Jerusalem over all the earth in peace, blessing, and prosperity (Rev. 20:1-6; Is. 2:2-4; 9:6-7).

The Jews long-awaited Messiah will come - but it will be His Second Coming to this earth - where they will THEN recognize Jesus Christ as Messiah! This is why Christians and Jews can be said to worship the same God. No other religion can claim the same.

9. Final triumph. Even after one thousand years of earthly blessing, Satan will once again attempt to destroy the kingedom of God by one final act of rebellion. This time his defeat is final, and he is cast into the lake of fire (20:7-10). The Great White Throne Judgment follows, when even death and hell are cast into the lake of fire (20:11-15).

Wouldn't want to be in that!!!!

10. Eternal state. The Revelation describes eternity as "a new heaven and a new earth" (21:1). It also emphasizes the significance of the New Jerusalem in the celestial state (21:2). God is pictured dwelling with His people in an eternity of peace and blessing. Suffering and death are no more and every tear is wiped away. Paradise is truly restored, and the saved have access to the tree of life (21:3- 22:5).

There is a LOT of detail that can be shared about these points, and I highly recommend purchasing Hindson's book! But suffice it to say that thisw brief synopsis can be viewed as a road map provided by God to help us understand where human history is going.

Dr. Hindson concludes the introduction section:

The fact that it points to the time of the end is clear throughout the entire book. It serves as the final consummation of biblical revelation. It takes us from the first century to the last century, from persecution to triumph, from the struggling Church to the Bride of Christ, from Patmos to paradise.

Paradise restored!

In the biblical record, human history begins in a garden and ends in the eternal city. It begins with tragedy and ends in triumph. It begins with man's failure and ends with his exaltation. In between, there stands a cross! And on that cross, Jesus Christ changed the course of human history forever. Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Endnotes:

1 For a detailed list of "25 Major Prophecies of the End Times," see Ed Hindson, Final Signs (Eugene, OR: Harvest House, 1996), appendix. 197-214.

Iranian Video Says Mahdi is 'Near'

Watched the following video over at CBN.com tonight and thought I would share it with readers here.



Excerpt:

New evidence has emerged that the Iranian government sees the current unrest in the Middle East as a signal that the Mahdi--or Islamic messiah--is about to appear.

CBN News has obtained a never-before-seen video produced by the Iranian regime that says all the signs are moving into place -- and that Iran will soon help usher in the end times.

While the revolutionary movements gripping the Middle East have created uncertainty throughout the region, the video shows that the Iranian regime believes the chaos is divine proof that their ultimate victory is at hand

.

'The Coming is Near'

The propaganda footage has reportedly been approved at the highest levels of the Iranian government.

It's called The Coming is Near and it describes current events in the Middle East as a prelude to the arrival of the mythical tweflth Imam or Mahdi -- the messiah figure who Islamic scriptures say will lead the armies of Islam to victory over all non-Muslims in the last days.

"This video has been produced by a group called the Conductors of the Coming, in connection with the Basiji -- the Iranian paramilitary force, and in collaboration with the Iranian president's office," said Reza Kahlil, a former member of Iran's Revolutionary Guards who shared the video with CBN News.

Kahlili, author of the book, A Time to Betray, worked as a double agent for the CIA inside the Iranian regime.

"Just a few weeks ago, Ahmadenijad's office screened this movie with much excitement for the clerics," Kahlili told CBN News. "The target audience is Muslims in the Middle East and around the world."

To watch the video in its entirety, visit Kahlili's website.

Continue reading HERE

Hat Tip:

CBN.com

What's Wrong?

In my mind...lots of happenings in the world today are wrong! This news roundup will express just some of the latest reasons why I, along with millions of other Americans, think that something is terribly wrong with our nation and the world.

The end times prophecy books that I have read and re-read over the past several months do explain why such events are happening. However, I often wonder about people who have no idea what is prophesied in the Bible. Those who may never have read the Bible and don't know about the 300 plus prophecies which have already been fulfilled in the life of Jesus Christ can't possibly discern the signs of the times. What do they think of the current trend towards a humanistic New World Order utopia that the puppetmasters here on earth are trying to set up?

The prophetic books of the Bible, like Ezekiel, Daniel, Jeremiah, and Revelation, are chock full of information, wisdom, and knowledge. How ironic it is that the current generation seems to be following every religion, trend, movement, political idea and/or leader that looks like they can solve their individual problems; only to be disappointed in the end when they wake up from the stupor and discover how wrong these particular beliefs are in practice! Hard lessons are to be learned when people trust in men rather than in God!

More than ever before in my lifetime, I am seeing a huge rise in ungodliness and the pursuit of worldly lusts. I don't even want to list them. Just watch the news for several nights in a row and you will witness what these worldly lusts are.

In Titus 2:12 Paul wrote, "Denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soverly, righteously, and godly in the present age."

In Dr. David Jeremiah's study guide, Revealing the Mysteries of Heaven, he writes:

These are not theoretical ideas, they are actionable ideas -- hands-on goals to pursue. In the world we live in, anyone who is not "pursuing" and "denying" is going to get caught up in the things of this world.

Isn't that the truth! "Pursuing godliness and denying ungodliness" covers it all!

Dr. Jeremiah continues:

The connection between the pursuit of godliness and the return of Christ is everywhere in the New Testament. Not to see the value of the study of heaven is to miss a central theme of Scripture.

I have read such passages many times over the 20 plus years I have been reading and studying the Bible, but the fact that there is a connection between pursuing godliness and the return of Christ just jumped off the page at me today.

Unfortunately, I have seen compromise creep into the lives of some of the most conservative, godly Christian brothers and sisters that I know. This saddens me greatly. For example. A woman who was very involved with trying to keep a gay/straight alliance from our local high school (back in 2000) recently sent me an email of her "picks" for the election that occurred on November 2nd. She wrote that "Meg Whitman is pro-choice, but she is against partial birth abortion and thinks that parental notification for minors is necessary." For me, I just could not vote for Whitman, knowing that she is for the killing of babies in the womb. I COULD NOT COMPROMISE on that issue! I couldn't do it regarding Obama, in whom I disagreed on most issues back in 2008, nor could I do it regarding Whitman, even though I agreed with most of her other policies. As a result, we got liberal leftist Jerry Brown - who won by a substantial margin anyway. I didn't vote for Arnold when he ran and I never regretted that decision.

I know that some conservative voters might blame me (and other pro-life hold-outs who didn't vote for Whitman) for Brown's win. So be it. I'll take those lumps. But after re-reading Dr. Jeremiah's central ideas regarding pursuing godliness, I still do not regret my CA governor decision.

Dr. Jeremiah:

* 1 Corinthians 1:7-8 Being blameless (holy) when Christ returns.

* Colossians 3;4-5 Put to death unholy practices in light of Christ's return.

* 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13 Having blameless (holy) hearts when Christ returns.

* 1 Thessalonians 5:23 Being blameless (sanctified) when Christ returns.

* 1 John 2:28 Not being ashamed at the time of His coming.

* 1 John 3:2-3 Purifying ourselves in light of Christ's appearing.

[B]eing tough-minded about godliness means making hard decisions about what we spend our lives doing in the present in light of our future with Christ.

Each day, when I look at my favorites reading list there are inevitably several blog posts with information that point towards end times prophecies. For example:

AS PRESIDENT OBAMA HITS ISRAEL AGAIN, CANADA’S PRIME MINISTER YET AGAIN PROVES HIMSELF TO BE THE MOST PRO-ISRAEL LEADER ON THE PLANET
posted by joelcrosenberg at Joel Rosenberg's Weblog - 1 hour ago
President Barack Obama sharply and unfairly criticized Israel yesterday while visiting Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim country. While visiting mosques and meeting Muslim leaders and giving speeches a...

Two years ago, would any Christian American have ever thought that we would have a pResident of the United States that was so hostile and critical towards Israel?

1Ki 22:8
So the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "There is still one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may inquire of the LORD; but I hate him, because he does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil." And Jehoshaphat said, "Let not the king say such things!"

2Ch 18:7
So the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "There is still one man by whom we may inquire of the LORD; but I hate him, because he never prophesies good concerning me, but always evil. He is Micaiah the son of Imla." And Jehoshaphat said, "Let not the king say such things!"

Zec 2:8
For thus says the LORD of hosts: "He sent Me after glory, to the nations which plunder you; for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye.

*******

Despite Escalating Attacks on Christians… Obama Hails Indonesia As Example for World
posted by Jim Hoft at Gateway Pundit - 1 hour ago
Christians run for their lives in Ambon, Indonesia. (BBC) Barack Obama praised Muslim Indonesia as an example for the world during his speech today. The BBC reported: US President Barack Obama has held up ...

Would any Christian American have ever thought that the leader of our nation would ignore acts of violence purpetrated by radical Islam and act like socialist Hugo Chavez does by praising countries/peoples/regimes that are hostile towards those who believe in Jesus Christ?

Jhn 15:18
"If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.

Jhn 15:25
"But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, 'They hated Me without a cause.'

Jhn 15:24
"If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father.

*******

Comrade Atkins Admits Communist Infiltration of Democratic Party

posted by Admin at New Zeal - 19 hours ago
This blog has long contended that the Communist Party USA and other Marxist groups have heavily infiltrated the Democratic Party. This has enabled the Communist Party to both influence Democratic Party po...

Obama A Little Too Interested In The Fact That Communists Are Part Of India’s Mainstream

posted by nicedeb at Nice Deb » Video: A Professor, a Priest, and Counsel Denounce as Discriminatory and Discreditable Notre Dame’s Treatment of Pro-Life Demonstrators - 19 hours ago
Just wondering…it seems a little weird that he would be singling out Communists the way he reportedly has, on more than one occasion during his trip to India: Via Weasel Zippers, and according to this repo...

Video: Glenn Beck on Soros the Puppet Master Part 1
posted by LonelyConservative (The Lonely Conservative) at Maggie's Notebook - 13 hours ago
Here's video of Glenn Beck's special segment on George Soros the "Puppet Master." Watch the latest video at video.foxnews.com Via Lonely Conservative ------------------------------ Maggie's Notebook

Are you watching Glenn Beck's latest exposure of the billionaire puppet master George Soros? If not, you need to so that you will be informed about just who is pulling the White House strings while at the same time demolishing what's left of the Democrat party.

See Romans 1




Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,


Rom 1:19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.


Rom 1:20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,


Rom 1:21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.


Rom 1:22 Professing to be wise, they became fools,


Rom 1:23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.

Why Soros (an admitted atheist) is the way he is:


1Jo 2:18
Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour.

Rom 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;


Rom 1:29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers,


Rom 1:30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,


Rom 1:31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful;


Rom 1:32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

*******

Worst. Speaker. Ever… Pelosi Continues Her Disgusting Lies About Reducing Deficit

posted by Jim Hoft at Gateway Pundit - 13 hours ago
What an awful liar. Just when you thought you’d heard it all from this horrible person, she outdoes herself. Pelosi claimed in an editorial today at USA Today that she reduced the deficit, via HotAir. Acco...

See above Scriptures regarding Pelosi, too.

*******

The Sin of Tolerance
posted by Bill Muehlenberg at CultureWatch - 5 hours ago
Tolerance is all the rage today, and perhaps no other value is so trumpeted in modern Western culture than this one. It is the ultimate test of whether one is politically correct or not. But the modern not...

The misuse of the term "tolerance" today is just an excuse to dismiss sin. Jesus himself certainly didn't tolerate sin. For example, look at what he said regarding "offending little ones" -


Mat 18:6
But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and [that] he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

Mar 9:42
And whosoever shall offend one of [these] little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.

Luk 17:2
It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.

That's quite harsh...wouldn't you agree? Crimes against children in our "tolerant" culture today have escalated beyond belief. Why? Matthew 6:19-23 helps explain:


Mat 6:19
¶
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

Mat 6:20

But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

Mat 6:21

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Mat 6:22
¶
The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.

Mat 6:23

But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great [is] that darkness!

*******

Back to Dr. Jeremiah's book.

Many people think studying the Scriptures concerning the return of the Lord and the inauguration of heaven is a waste of time. But it's not! If that were true, the authors of the New Testament would not have focused on it like they do. Remopve all the information about the future from the Bible and you remove about one-fourth of the book. Christ promised that He was going to return to earth, so we need to be tough-minded about that promise and live in light of it.

Peter said that scoffers would come in the last days and mock the promise of Christ's return (2 Peter 3:3-4). But men forget that God doesn't keep time like we do (2 Peter 3:8). All the prophecies in the Old Testament about Christ's first coming were fulfilled, and we can be sure the promises of His Second Coming will be as well.

C.S. Lewis wrote, "I must keep alive in myself the desire for my true country which I shall not find until after my death. I must never let it get snowed under or turned aside. I must make it the main object of life to press on to that other country and help as many as I can, do the very same."

Here are some New Testament exhortations about the return of Christ:

* Philippians 3:20 Wait for Him eagerly.

* Titus 2:13 Watch for His coming.

* Hebrews 9:28 Eagerly wait for His coming.

* 2 Timothy 4:8 Love His appearing.

We need to be tough-minded about Christ's promise to return and not let the world lull us into apathy and ungodliness.

1Jo 2:12 I write to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake.


1Jo 2:13 I write to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, Because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, Because you have known the Father.


1Jo 2:14 I have written to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, And you have overcome the wicked one.


1Jo 2:15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.


1Jo 2:16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.


1Jo 2:17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.



Hat Tips to all links.

From Crisis To Consolidation

This past Sunday, I watched another segment of Dr. David Jeremiah's sermon series, The Coming Economic Armageddon. Doesn't it seem as though it is already here? The jobless claims just came out again and we have hemorrhaged another 462,000 jobs last week!

If you have studied end times prophecy, you already know that as we get closer to the Rapture, our lives here on earth will continue to spiral down because of the evil, sin and death that is being unleashed. The chaos [known as the seven years of Tribulation] that will ensue after millions of Christians disappear simultaneously from the earth will result in the rise of the most evil dictator and "leader" the world has ever known - the Antichrist.

As the whole world groans under the harsh oppression unleashed by the unholy trio known as the Antichrist, the False Prophet, and the Beast; those who become new believers will figure out what happened during the great disappearance and they will become the remnant here on earth who will help those who don't know Jesus Christ to become believers. After the seven years of tribulation, the triumphant return of Jesus Christ to this earth will result in the holy and righteous 1,000-year reign of the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.

I am still waiting for the delivery of Dr. Jeremiah's new book. In the meantime, I have been following the series via his Sunday morning T.V. broadcast. There is an interesting little mini-series that appears before each broadcast called "Haven's Light." [Note: Can view episodes 1-4 as of 10/10/10.]

Haven’s Light is a brand new Turning Point mini-series chronicling the end-times events as seen by underground video blogger, Haven Light.

About Haven's Light:

Shot sometime in the future, this “end times” journal is recorded by underground video blogger, Haven Light. Haven is part of a resistance movement opposing the world monetary takeover which they believe is leading to an apocalyptic end of the earth.

Haven’s weekly video installment is secretly recorded in various “safe places” in and around New York City. Shot in guerrilla video style and rough-cut together, this ten-week series chronicles the lives of these "end times" survivors as they search out and report on the events of the day and connect them to Scripture and biblical teaching they've uncovered.

Haven and his team post an exciting video entry on the web each week.

This sobering video journal allows the audience to catch a glimpse into the future and will motivate them to take seriously the biblical warnings about the new global economy and its role in the ultimate destruction of the earth.

The Story:

In the not so distant future, in a time some call the beginning of "the end," one lone voice cries out in the chaos. Broken economies, worthless currency, widespread poverty―all around him the marks of a global economic Armageddon. A cashless society. A one-world monetary system. Computer chips implanted into humans determines who can buy or sell. The world is now controlled by those who promise peace, but threaten destruction.

But his voice won’t be silenced.

A rebel not by choice but by necessity, Haven seeks only compliance with the serious warnings he has discovered in the pages of a Bible his grandmother gave him before she disappeared. A deep calling in his soul compels him to share the unfolding story around him with others who are curious about the events of the day that connect to Bible prophecy. Haven, along with others in an underground resistance group, chronicles the cataclysmic events of their world on video, and post cyber reports on the Internet by hacking into the global government-controlled worldwide web. Though this technological breech could cost him his life, he and the others take the risk required so the world will know the truth about the economic Armageddon.

Haven's Light Character:

Former television reporter, Haven Light, has lost everything in the collapse of the American economy and now lives in squalor in New York City. The devastation of the global financial landscape causes Haven to wonder if what the world is experiencing could be the "end times" scenario religious leaders once warned about. Haven looks outward for clues in the unfolding chaos around him, and inward at a spiritual stirring he has never experienced before.

Utilizing his skills as a reporter, expertise in technology, and the Bible his grandmother left him before she vanished in the “Great Disappearance,” Haven decides to reach out to others by reporting on the downward spiral of the global political landscape. His intention is to connect with others who share his concerns, and warn people about what he fears is a financial, political, and spiritual takeover of the world. Haven begins the first of many rogue video blogs by hacking into the government controlled Internet.

Also see: Haven's Light Production Blog


To view last Sunday's broadcast "From Crisis to Consolidation"[click the green Watch Now icon], the previous broadcasts [click Broadcast Archives], and the Haven's Light mini-series episodes [click on small video screen, then when larger screen appears, click on "episodes"], go to David Jeremiah.org and click on the appropriate links.

Excerpt:

The Coming Economic Armageddon

ABOUT THE CURRENT TELEVISION SERIES

Every mother knows this about births: They are unpredictable; each one is different. There’s another birth―the only one of its kind in history―that is coming due soon, and its timing will be unpredictable as well: the birth of the kingdom of God on earth. Jesus Christ is coming back to earth to establish His kingdom to rule and reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords for one thousand years.

Even though we don’t know exactly when the specific events leading up to the birth of the kingdom will take place―events like the Rapture of the Church, followed by the seven-year Tribulation―we will experience “birth pangs” that tell us the time is drawing near. Every mother knows “that feeling” that comes with the onset of labor, the pains that tell her the blessed event is drawing nigh. And it will be the same with the coming kingdom of God: pain and discomfort on a global scale―“groans and labors with birth pangs” (Romans 8:22).

The world began experiencing discomfort in a serious way in 2008―economic birth pangs causing unprecedented degrees of pain and suffering around the world. And as of the publishing of this study guide, the pains show no signs of letting up. Bad financial policy at many levels came to a head in the fall of 2008 and caused a collapse of confidence in the world’s economic infrastructure. Those waves of upheaval have trickled down to the man and woman on the street―loss of jobs and income, evaporating savings, home foreclosures, and the revelation that financial institutions and authorities don’t always operate with the best interests of the public in mind.

But there is another dimension of the crisis that discernment will discover. The steps taken by governments around the world to put a hedge around the growing financial chaos have created new forms of consolidation and control that will have ominous repercussions. Governments have inflated their money supplies by printing massive amounts of currency―paper money with no backing―in order to rescue financial institutions and stimulate economies. They have incurred billions, in some cases trillions, of dollars of debt which stand no chance of being repaid. And at the same time they have extended their reach into the lives of private citizens―such as the health care entitlement mandated by the United States government.

All this government activity, set in motion either because of, or commensurate with the economic upheaval beginning in 2008, has resulted in increased calls for a “new world order” or a “new economic order”―a world-level structure that would put some kind of government body in charge of solving the problems faced by the global community. And because everything―food, clothing, shelter, jobs―is a function of finances, a combination “new world economic order” seems destined to emerge.

Students of biblical prophecy will not be caught off guard by these developments. As far back as the prophet Daniel, Scripture has foretold the rise of an end-time government led by the most despotic dictator in history. This leader will be “Satan’s CEO,” empowered by the devil to move people’s eyes away from Christ and toward himself, the Antichrist. Because of his power, this leader will control who can buy and who can sell in the world. And people who are hungry will swear allegiance to him rather than starve.

The Coming Economic Armageddon has been created to help you understand what was foretold in the past, what is happening right now, and how to prepare for the future. But most of all, it has been prepared to encourage you to put your trust and hope in God―the One who knows the beginning from the end, the One who is surprised by nothing, the One who can deliver you safely through the economic storms of our day.

Hat Tips:

Fox News.com

David Jeremiah.org

The Heavenly City

If you are a regular reader of this blog, you may have already seen several blog posts written here about Dr. David Jeremiah's study guide, Revealing the Mysteries of Heaven. Every chapter is filled with so much good news and Bible verse knowledge about heaven, I consider it a crash course in clarifying the most important questions Christians have about their future eternal home.

One thing that catches my eye each time I read about the heavenly city is the fact that "no lie will ever be told" there. Could you imagine how wonderful life would be? Living in the truth of that reality changes everything!

In our temporal world, lying is an art. It is considered not such a "big deal." Everyone does it. That may very well be true, but lies destroy - rather than build up. It is the reason why what man sees as a "not so severe sin" is seen as unacceptable in God's eternal world.

Every chapter and lesson in this study guide is so good, it is difficult to choose a favorite. However, one of the lessons that makes me smile most and causes me to look forward to eternity with joy has to be Lesson 6 - The Heavenly City. Most of the chapter is about Revelation 21.

In this lesson we discover the glory of the New Jerusalem, our heavenly home.

Dr. Jeremiah discusses the dimensions of the city. How interesting that it is described as a perfect cube with many translucent floors.

Next, there is the description of the city. Dr. Jeremiah gives detail about the following:

1. The Holy City (Wycliffe Bible Commentary describes the holy city: "A holy city will be one in which no lie will be uttered in one hundred million years, no evil word will ever be spoken. No shady business deals will ever be discussed, no unclean picture will ever be seen, no corruption of life will ever be manifest. It will be holy because everyone in it will be holy."

Only those who have been cleansed of their sin by the blood of Christ will be able to enter the holy city. )

2. The Pearly Gates (Can you imagine a huge gate made of one pearl? It is interesting that Dr. Jeremiah reminds us that a pearl is formed in an oyster as a result of a wound - just as our entrance into the "pearly gates" is accomplished through the wounds of Christ and the shed blood for our sins.)

3. The Foundations of Precious Stones (Amazingly, a twelve-layer foundation of the city is built from 12 precious stones including emeralds, sapphires, topaz etc.)

4. The Streets of Gold (Gold so pure it is translucent! The street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass" (verse 21) We will most likely perceive things differently in our glorified bodies!)

5. The Lamb (Jesus Christ) That Is the Light (There will be no lights in the New Jerusalem: "The Lamb is its light" (verse 23). The glory of God will illuminate the entire city (Isaiah 60:19).

6. The Tree of Life (Oh yes - it reappears! Remember such a tree in the Garden of Eden before the fall of man?)

7. The River of Life (That flows freely for the healing of the nations. This will be healing in a therapeutic sense: growing in our sense of fulfillment, pleasure, and joy at being in the presence of God.)

My brief descriptions above only touch the surface of Dr. Jeremiah's descriptions.

Now, at the end of this particular lesson, Dr. Jeremiah describes "The Denial to the City (Revelation 21:27):

It is unfortunate, but not every person that has lived on earth will gain entrance to the heavenly city. In Revelation 21:8 we read, "But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."

Verse 27 also says, "But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life."

The Bible doesn't say that you can't have ever committed any of these sins and still enter the New Jerusalem. It refers to these sins as lifestyles - those people who have practiced those sins willingly, have never repented of them and received the forgiveness of their sins through Christ. Every person who enters the New Jerusalem will be a person who has sinned, and in many cases the sins will be some of those listed above. But they will be sins that have been repented of and forgiven and that no longer characterize the life of the one who once committed them.

That last paragraph is crucial to realize when you are witnessing to the lost. No one is good enough to get into heaven. Only Jesus Christ accomplished what no mortal man could ever achieve. And that is what the Gospel and Great Commission is all about.

Dr. Jeremiah:

Our calling as Christians today is to go throughout the world as Christ's ambassadors, telling people of the place God has prepared for them and inviting them to accept Christ's invitation to come to Him to be made ready for the City of God. We get that message out every way we can: In person, in print, on television and radio, the Internet - whatever is available, we will use. After reading the glorious description of the city God has prepared for us, doesn't it break your heart to know that some may not get to enjoy it? They at least need to know of the opportunity. If they reject Christ's invitation, that is one thing. But if they die without having heard of the opportunity, that is another. And we are accountable for their failure to hear the Good News that is for them.

[H]eaven is real and so is the New Jerusalem. But only for those who have received the forgiveness of sins Christ offers that makes them pure enough to enter the Holy City of God. Make sure that you are one of those who has made a reservation to stay in the New Jerusalem for all eternity. If you wait until the city appears, it will be too late.

Hat Tip:

Dr. David Jeremiah.org

A Glimpse of Reality

I kind of feel like I am experiencing a bit of writers block today. But on further examination, that isn't exactly the case. There is PLENTY to write about today. However, my dilemma is that there is NOTHING in the current evil and corrupt political world out there that I really WANT to write about! When I feel this way, I usually just instruct readers to click on the links in my sidebar. There is a plethora of topics to peruse there.

Since I started reading Dr. David Jeremiah's book/study guide called "Revealing the Mysteries of Heaven," my focus has shifted away from the chaotic world in which we live towards learning more and more about heavenly matters.

A Bible verse spoken by Jesus himself comes to mind:

Jhn 3:12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?

Jesus said that to Nicodemus in the book of John Chapter 3. Nicodemus was a Pharisee - a leader of the Jews at that time in history. If you read the entire chapter, you will notice that Jesus tells Nicodemus that he must be born again in order to see the kingdom of God.

What I love about the Bible is the fact that so much of Scripture can be applied towards the individual who is receiving the instruction at the time, as well as each and every reader (us!) who studies God's Word.

Introduction excerpt from book/study guide:

Thomas Guthrie was a nineteenth century Scottish preacher and theologian who wrote, "If you find yourself loving any pleasure more than your prayers, any book better than the Bible, any house better than the house of the Lord, any table better than the Lord's table, any persons better than Christ, or any indulgence better than the hope of heaven - be alarmed."

That last phrase is in italics because it highlights the focus of the Revealing the Mysteries of Heaven study guide.

Dr. Jeremiah's book/study guide can be used along with his audio lessons or, it can stand on it's own (with your Bible handy by your side) as a great resource to answer so many of the typical questions Christians might have about heaven. I have been enjoying just reading each segment of the book, and answering the questions at the end of each lesson. It gives me the opportunity to apply what has been learned in my own life, as well as providing me the opportunity to share new and exciting information with others that I, and they, may have missed when previously reading the Bible.

In the introduction portion, Dr. Jeremiah writes:

Intentionally or unintentionally, there are far too many Christians who find themselves loving the prospects of heaven less than they do many of the indulgences of this world. And in the words of the Scottish divine [Thomas Guthrie - mentioned in previous paragraph], we should be alarmed at that reality. The writer of the letter to the Hebrews had it right: there are many weights and sins that so easily ensnare us in this world, causing us to take our eyes off Jesus, "the author and finisher of our faith." We fail to see him sitting "at the right hand of the throne of God" in heaven--the very heaven that is the destination of those who believe in Him (Hebrews 12:1-2).

Dr. Jeremiah admits that many things about heaven are not easy to understand. It isn't like earth, which we know, currently experience, and are used to living in. We have never visited heaven. Even the drawings of what heaven might be like (we have no photos of it!) fall short of what it will be like. Our minds eye cannot even fathom it, yet our souls long to be there one day.

Dr. Jeremiah:

We are left with Scripture alone to inform us about our eternal home and answer the many questions that arise.

One of the most impressive things about the study guide is the fact that it is not based on the speculation of a preacher, or even the writer of the guide. It is filled with Scripture references and descriptions about heaven - many of which were difficult for the prophet writing about it to describe.

For example:

The Bible says, "No man shall see [God], and live" (Exodus 33:20). Therefore, when John looked into heaven, he only saw the appearance of God and tried to put it into words as best he could: "...like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald." A jasper stone is what we know as a diamond, and the sardius is our ruby. So John saw a brilliant, multifaceted stone that sparkled in the light. Somehow, what John saw was best described in terms of brilliance, worth, beauty, and light. Who among us could have described it any better? It is hard to find words in any human language to describe the appearance of God. All John could do, and all we can do, is describe the impact of His presence, not His person. Describing God is like describing the wind --the best we can do is describe the presence or impact or appearance of the wind, not the wind itself.

That is so wonderfully stated! John's experience informs us that worship is not about us -- it's about Him [God]! Worship is not about here --it's about there! Our focus should be on God - not ourselves! We worship Him because of Who He Is, and what He has done for us through His Son, Jesus Christ!

There are so many paragraphs from the book that I could include here! But my thoughts suddenly drifted back to my former post, and the comment that Susan made regarding her mentor. She wrote that her mentor, a woman with deep faith in Jesus Christ and the heart to share the Gospel, said "Worthy is the Lamb" to Susan shortly before she passed on to be with the Lord. I commented, "what better words could she have ever uttered?"



The worthiness of Jesus Christ to open the scrolls at the culmination of all of human history is described in Revelation 5:

Rev 5:1 And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals.


Rev 5:2 Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?"


Rev 5:3 And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it.


Rev 5:4 So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read [fn] the scroll, or to look at it.

During his vision, John "wept much" because "no one was found worthy" to open and read the scroll, or to even look at it!

But watch what happens next:

Rev 5:5 But one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose [fn] its seven seals."


Rev 5:6 And I looked, and behold, [fn] in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth.


Rev 5:7 Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.

The Lamb who had been slain was Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary. He, and he alone is worthy to open the scroll!

Rev 5:8 Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.


Rev 5:9 And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,


Rev 5:10 And have made us [fn] kings [fn] and priests to our God; And we [fn] shall reign on the earth."

You see, the only way for all of us to have been redeemed was by the shed blood of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins. If Christ had not completed his mission, he would have re-entered heaven alone - without "every tribe and tongue, and people and nation." Through what Christ did, we are made "kings and priests to our God" and it is revealed that we shall "reign on the earth" [a reference to the Millennium where Christ rules on the earth for 1,000 years] with Christ!

Rev 5:11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands,


Rev 5:12 saying with a loud voice: "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!"


Rev 5:13 And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: "Blessing and honor and glory and power [Be] to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!" [fn]


Rev 5:14 Then the four living creatures said, "Amen!" And the twenty-four [fn] elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever. [fn]

Seeing Jesus Christ is going to be so awesome. Indescribable, in fact! We will realize the reality of Jesus being "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!" All we could do is fall on our knees in worship and adoration for our King!



Dr. Jeremiah writes:

In C.S. Lewis's allegory The Great Divorce, he tells of a man who journeys to heaven and finds it to be grander in scale and more beautiful than he could have imagined. Hell, he discovers, is the opposite, a fleck of dust by comparison with heaven. In the same way, Lewis suggests our lives in this world get smaller and smaller the more we comprehend the grandeur of heaven and eternity. Seeing heaven was for John like us walking up to the edge of the Grand Canyon for the first time--speechless in wonder.

This world is passing away. But heaven will last forever! Before his ascension to the Father, Jesus informed us that he is going "to prepare a place for you [us], so that where I [he] go [goes], there you [we] will be also. If it were not so, I would have told you."

Jesus accomplished all that he said he would during his three year ministry here on earth. His promises can be trusted. Our faith is not a blind faith, for we see through the eyes of faith in a Person - Jesus Christ - who did what no other religious leader could have ever accomplished. He rose from the dead! Therefore, we can have the confidence to believe that God is able to do above and beyond what we can ask and think or expect (see Ephesians 3:20). Nothing is impossible for God (see Luke 1:37).

Dr. Jeremiah writes:

We may not see into heaven with our eyes, but we see the character of God through His Word and our songs of praise that proclaim His worthiness. We can hear Jesus remind us of the same things of which he reminded John: "John, I want you to know that things are not as they appear to be. I'm going to show you how things really are. I'm going to walk you into the throne room of heaven and show you genuine reality. Things are not out of control. Satan has not won. Evil has not triumphed. Peek through the door; get a glimpse of reality. God is on His throne, and such a sight will transform your heart and your mind forever."

Hat Tips:

Revealing the Mysteries of Heaven

Blue Letter Bible

NKJV Footnotes:
(5:4) NU-Text and M-Text omit and read.
(5:5) NU-Text and M-Text omit to loose.
(5:6) NU-Text and M-Text read I saw in the midst . . . a Lamb standing.
(5:10) NU-Text and M-Text read them.
(5:10) NU-Text reads a kingdom.
(5:10) NU-Text and M-Text read they.
(5:13) M-Text adds Amen.
(5:14) NU-Text and M-Text omit twenty-four.
(5:14) NU-Text and M-Text omit Him who lives forever and ever.

An Eternity of Worship in Heaven

The apostle John looked through a doorway into heaven and saw that worship was a central activity. The Christian's life should be a dress rehearsal on earth for an eternity of worship in heaven.

Link to YouTube video: Chris Tomlin's "I Will Rise".

I love Chris Tomlin's song, "I Will Rise" so much! Especially because the lyrics contain so much intense meaning about Jesus. The message is, "worthy is the Lamb" - which is directed towards the worship of Jesus Christ in heaven - "The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." The crescendo that rises in the middle of the song is representative of the worship songs described in the book of Revelation. There is an obvious crescendo that grows throughout the book. When church choirs do that - begin soft and simple and end loud and complex - it's biblical!

Dr. David Jeremiah in "Revealing the Mysteries of Heaven":

There is another aspect of crescendo we should consider: It's as if the crescendo of worship for God escalates in accord with the timeline of God's purposes in the world. In other words, the farther along God's timeline of history we go, the greater becomes the praise and worship for Him. There has never been in the history of Christianity an emphasis on praise and worship like there is today. Christian radio stations can't play enough praise and worship music. Churches are incorporating more of it into their services.

[T]his crescendo of praise and worship we are experiencing is in accord with His timeline because we are getting ever closer to the "grand finale" of His purposes on earth, ultimately culminating with the praise of God in heaven.

Resource: Revealing the Mysteries of Heaven by Dr. David Jeremiah, Turning Point for God, 2009 pp. 76 and 77.

Journey To Global Governance

Hello everyone. I have been a bit behind in my blogging and answering comments, so please accept my apologies for neglecting such important duties. Although Henry Lamb's article appeared online yesterday, I just read it today and thought that I would discuss it here.

Lamb has been quite accurate in his evaluations about social, political and global happenings and occurrences. His latest article does not disappoint!

I am posting it in it's entirety here today. Over the next few days, I will come back and place commentary, links, and additional information that will show readers here how accurately Mr. Lamb has evaluated what is to come as a result of this new Marxist/globalist administration's intentions.

Christine

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Quote:

Obama to put world ahead of America
Posted: January 17, 2009
1:00 am Eastern© 2009

Most of the world is giddy about the inauguration of the first black president of the United States. The media have invested unprecedented airtime to transform this man into a modern messiah. The celebration is not because he is black. Far better qualified black candidates, such as Condoleezza Rice, Walter Williams or Thomas Sowell would not be celebrated, nor even welcomed as president. In fact, Condoleezza Rice and Colin Powell, both black secretaries of state, were ridiculed as "Uncle Tom" and "Aunt Jemima" by many of the same people who celebrate Obama.

Obama's color may be a bonus, but it is his philosophy that much of the world celebrates.

Much of the world sees Obama not simply as the first black president, but as the first president to accept global governance to be more important than U.S. governance. His Berlin speech last July promised "a new global partnership" and a new "global commitment" to "save the planet."

To implement his commitment to global governance, Obama has nominated Hillary Clinton to be secretary of state. In addition to her book, "It Takes a Village," Hillary is on record in support of the World Federalist Association's efforts to establish a world government, and publicly applauded Walter Cronkite's receipt of the WFA "Global Governance" award.

Obama has named Carol Browner to the new position of energy czar. This woman, until last week, was a commissioner for the Socialist International Commission for a Sustainable World Society. Browner's new position requires no confirmation and is beyond congressional oversight. She will be empowered to administratively implement Obama's philosophy across all federal agencies.

Obama chose Erick Schwartz to coordinate his transition team's interface with agencies that deal with the United Nations. Schwartz is, among other things, the person in the Clinton administration who "managed the White House review that resulted in the U.S. signature of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court." In an effort to influence the Obama administration's global governance agenda, Citizens for Global Solutions set up a conference call with the transition team. These organizations are advocates of global governance and are deeply embedded throughout the Obama administration.

Obama's inauguration is a major, historic event. Many black people – and some whites - will weep because they have lived to see a black man elected president. Many white people – and some blacks – will weep because they have lived to see an American president who apparently puts global interests above the interests of the United States of America. [bold, italics mine]

Expect Obama's global agenda to embrace the U.N.'s global warming program. The world is giddy about his inauguration because the world expects Obama to sign and support whatever the U.N. designs as a replacement for the Kyoto Protocol. The U.N.'s answer to global warming is substantial reduction in the use of fossil fuel in developed nations while allowing developing nations to do whatever they wish. Expect new energy taxes at the international, national and state levels. Expect new tax-paid subsidies for alternative energy operations and new, punitive tax-increases for fossil fuel users. Expect Obama's U.N.-inspired energy policy to be a ball-and-chain on the American economy.

Expect Obama to re-sign the U.N.'s International Criminal Court Statute to demonstrate to the world that the United States is, indeed, a new member in the world community. Never mind that the document gives the ICC the power to prosecute U.S. military and private citizens for whatever the Court defines to be "crimes against humanity." For years, U.N. delegates have accused the United States of "crimes against humanity" for refusing to ratify the Kyoto Protocol.

[Note from Christine: In the past, I have written several blog posts about an end-times series of movies based on the book of Revelation that were produced by a Christian group called Cloud Ten Pictures. Many of the scenarios proposed by the plots in the movies have become quite prophetic over the last few years. The last movie in the series is called "Judgment." (At the site you can watch a movie clip - click on "trailer.")

Here's a description:

The Story

Good vs. Evil. It's a colossal battle as old as eternity itself. But this time it's going to court...

Mitch Kendrick (Corbin Bernsen) is a respected lawyer troubled by his lost faith and haunted by the memory of his deceased father. To make matters worse, he is visited by his ex-lover and O.N.E. (One Nation Earth) Prosecutor Victoria Thorne (Jessica Steen), who makes him an offer he can't refuse. He's ordered to defend the Christian resister Helen Hannah (Leigh Lewis), who has been indicted on charges of hatred against humanity, or face the wrath of Franco Macalousso (Nick Mancuso), Supreme Leader of O.N.E.

A reluctant Kendrick accepts the case only to find that the entire proceeding has been rigged and his client will be found guilty regardless of his defense. Outraged at Victoria for her deception and frustrated by Helen's unwillingness to denounce her beliefs, he decides that the only way to uncover the real truth is to put God himself on trial!

Kendrick proposes this to Macalousso, who likes the idea of putting his eternal nemesis on trial for all the world to see. God himself is on trial for crimes against humanity... it's simply too good to be true. He allows Mitch to proceed even though Vicky is against the idea.

Meanwhile, J.T. Quincy (Mr. T) rages against the unjust trial of Helen Hannah. A man of action and tried of the passive resistance of his fellow Christians, he's determined to strike a blow against the evil of Macalousso. Quincy plots a daring escape plan to break Helen out that is fraught with danger and enlists the help of some not-so-faithful friends.

But as Kendrick slowly unveils the truth throughout the trial, he not only experiences a personal epiphany but is also made aware of the deceitful lies and evil machinations that Macalousso uses to control the world.

Suspense mounts as these perilous events close in on themselves and the world waits breathlessly for the supreme court's final JUDGMENT.

What is so eerie to me is the fact that this movie is so similar to what is actually happening to Christians today...losing our freedom of speech, being labeled as "bigoted" and "hateful" because we adhere to Biblical morality and believe that homosexual behavior is sinful; and even being punished for that belief through prosecution of so-called "hate crimes" laws!

The courts are filled with activists judges today who do not follow the law and the United States Constitution, but make their own laws based on their own liberal opinions (and, at times international law/opinions) and usurp what the majority of citizens actually want on these social and moral issues.

The film depicts the Christians as "terrorists" and "haters", blaming them for crimes that are actually committed by the O.N.E. nation earth forces.

Sound familiar?

Look at what is happening in Britain:

Christians are becoming social pariahs in Britain, claims Jeremy Vine
Jeremy Vine, the BBC presenter, has claimed that it is becoming "socially unacceptable" to be a Christian in Britain.

Is the United States of America far behind on such an attitude towards Christians?

Nope!

Look at what is already happening here:

Bible Giveaway Banned at School on Religious Freedom Day

Religious group sues for access to Cobb schools

There are hundreds of examples that I could list here!

The "Judgment" movie is excellent and I highly recommend it.

Here are a few of my former posts about it:

Destroying Freedom of Conscience

"Hate crime" to quote the Bible?

Real Life "God-on-Trial" Plot]

Continuing original article:

With Obama's support, expect to see John Kerry, the new chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, introduce a line of U.N. treaties that have been stalled for years.

The Convention on the Law of the Sea will be a high priority. This treaty declares that: "Sovereignty over the territorial sea is exercised subject to this Convention and to other rules of international law" (Article II(3)). Advocates of this treaty willingly surrender national sovereignty over territorial seas to the U.N.

The Convention on the Rights of the Child, another treaty waiting in the wings for U.S. ratification, will effectively remove authority for raising children from parents and bestow that authority upon government.
Watch for CEDAW, the Convention to Eliminate all forms of Discrimination Against Women.

Phyllis Schlafly says this treaty would require a rewrite of U.S. laws to conform to the fantasies of international feminists.

There are many more U.N. treaties waiting to be ratified, and still more under construction. This is the essence of global governance championed by Barack Obama and those he brings to power. His inauguration is far more than the celebration of the first black president. It should be recognized as the last step on the journey to global governance. /quote


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P.S. If that article wasn't enough to cause concern about the coming Obamination, read this one too!

Hat Tip: WorldNetDaily

Zechariah's warning to Bush and Condi

"God has a plan and this is included, as we continue we must remember, He is in control. The parties involved will not alter the outcome. We need to pray that God's will be done." - SFCleeUSAret

Lindsey:

I am stunned the Bush administration is pressuring Israel to agree to all of the Palestinian demands in advance, with the threat that they'll be blamed for the summit's failure if they don't.

In view of this, my question is, "What's the point of the conference?" "What's left to negotiate?" President Bush and Secretary Rice have already done the Palestinians' negotiating for them. And all of this despite the fact that the Palestinians have not lived up to one prerequisite condition outlined in Bush's own "Road Map for Peace."

These are the exact conditions Zechariah predicted would be part of the last stages of this age. He continues, "And it shall happen in that day that I WILL make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for ALL PEOPLES. …" – meaning the entire world. Now here's the punch line: "ALL who would seek to heave it away will surely be cut in pieces." The original Hebrew makes the meaning of this even clearer. It reveals that everyone who tries to remove the heavy burden of the Jerusalem crisis will be utterly destroyed for getting involved with it. Isaac and Ishmael's fight over possession of Jerusalem has drawn the whole world into it – just as the prophets predicted. It is the culmination of Ishmael's 4,000-year-old hatred of his half-brother Isaac, the forefather of the Israelites.

...They must be ignorant of a prophecy God made 2,500 years ago through the Hebrew prophet Zechariah. It applies to this precise time and situation in history. God said, "Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples. …" The people surrounding Jerusalem are all the current Muslim nations.


I pray that somehow this message will get through to President Bush and Secretary Rice. This prophecy applies to this very moment in which we live. And in light of what they are forcing on Israel, it applies to them personally.

read more digg story

Notice that Lindsey also stated in his article:

"You know, I fear for both President Bush and Secretary Rice. I also fear for my beloved country."

I have heard several end-times-prophecy biblical scholars mention that the United States does not appear to be involved in the conflict at the point in the future where it is predicted that an eminent attack against Israel happens; but at the last moment the attack is supernaturally halted. Many have speculated about this, wondering, "so, where is the United States?"

I can honestly say that I do not know. But it is eerie to me that Bush and Condi are trying to force a Palestinian state upon Israel, and they are doing it in such a way that requires way to much compromise.

I hope and pray that this summit does not amount to anything. It will probably end up being just another failure at forcing "peace" between the Palestinians and Israel. It is the same old situation that has gone on over the past 40 years. In a way, the lack of progress on Bush's (as well as every former president's efforts on this issue) "Roadmap for Peace" can be viewed as God's protection for our nation. I pray that it continues.

Lindsey:

While Bush and Rice strive to create legacies for themselves – just as most presidents have tried to do with the Middle East conflict for the last 40 years – they not only endanger themselves, but also endanger this nation with the divine curse promised above. Mr. President, there is nothing on this earth worth what you are doing. In the power of God's Spirit, I warn them both, "Stop, before it's too late!"

Lindsey's plea will most likely fall upon deaf ears. That is why we must have faith that God will "stop it before it's too late."

*******

Related articles:

Israelis: Don't even think about dividing Jerusalem

Rice in photo op with 'no-land-to-Jews' cleric. Shows support for enthroned patriarch Israel refuses to recognize.

HT: WorldNetDaily

Without Sound Doctrine, One Can Easily Be Deceived

In a former blogpost, I emphasized that sound doctrine is crucial in our Christian walk with Jesus. I re-posted that thread at my message board, and a member named Sothenes brought up this point:

What is missing here is an understanding as to why Sound Doctrine is important. There are a lot of good verses here but there are two overall points that I would like to make.

I know people who are constantly erring in the faith and they think they are more spiritual because they are charismatic and yet they will believe in things that are constantly unscriptural and when I object, they say something like,"Why aren't we Christian?"

If we make something other than God the object of our desires, the major themes will be idolatry. Dinonysus was the god of sex so even though we don't understand sex as a god, the ancients did have them as gods.

Only the foundation of the Church (Apostles and Prophets) were given infallibility through inspiration and we can't claim that alone without scripture. We can make mistakes but scripture won't. People who try to build upon the foundation should be careful as to how they build because if it isn't scripture, it will just be a wind of doctrine that won't stand parallel to God's plumbline.

My reply:

Well put, Sothenes.

"Spirituality" does not always mean that a person is a true Christian. Jesus told us what is necessary. "You must be born again." It is only then that a person receives the Holy Spirit of God indwelling the soul. And, the work of the Holy Spirit is to lead them in understanding Scripture, as well as sanctifying them towards God's will in their lives.

The term "Christian" is misused all the time. When it is used to describe the true meaning of the label, it means "Christ in one." That only happens when the gospel message is heard, believed, and received through being born again in Christ. It cannot be faked. Perhaps some people will be fooled for a time, but God knows who is genuine. He will one day separate the "sheep from the goats" (meaning, true believers from false converts). Meanwhile, we will still evangelize, even with with the "goats" in our midst.

What you wrote here is so true:

"If we make something other than God the object of our desires, the major themes will be idolatry"

That object of idolatry can be anything. When people lift things, other people, or desires above their worship for God, it is then that they can easily decend into idolatry. Many are so self-deceived in this way, that the only hope for returning to God is to repent, confess, and ask for forgiveness for their sin. Those who love their idols don't want to do the very thing that can save them from deception. Giving up their pride of self and humbling themselves before the Lord is anathema to them.

God's Word even tells us how far their hardness of heart and refusal to repent and turn to the Lord will go; even during the Great Tribulation of the end times:

Rev 6:12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;


Rev 6:13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.


Rev 6:14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.


Rev 6:15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;


Rev 6:16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:


Rev 6:17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

How utterly foolish it is for people to think they can hide from God! How totally deceived and reprobate they will be to want to commit suicide rather than repent and be saved.

Where else in Scripture have we heard someone tell a believer to just "curse God and die?"

Job 2:9 Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.

Nowhere in Scripture will you find someone telling another to "curse God and live."

Why?

Because we all have the need, if not just the desire, to be reconciled with God and live. To know and love God, and be loved by Him, despite our foolish sinfulness, is the ultimate desire of our souls. Nothing else in this world can ever satisfy our need for God.

Oh yes. Sin may be "pleasurable for a time," but ultimately we find ourselves to be "utterly wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked" because sin leads to nothing but death. Allowing sin to consume us and keep us in darkness and deception is the ultimate goal of the enemy of our souls. What he offers us is absolutely nothing but evil, sin, deception and death.

When compared to the agape love, mercy, grace and eternal life with God through Christ's gospel message, we see how ridiculous it is to be fooled by the "blue pill" of Satan.

Rev 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

Jesus' own words in Revelation 3:18-22 describe the truth (can be similarly described as being like the "red pill" of reality in the movie, The Matrix):

Rev 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and [that] the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.


Rev 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.


Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.


Rev 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.


Rev 3:22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.