We Are The Temple

Today's topic is kind of "out there," but I just ran across this verse in my reading again, and it made me stop and think. It concerns the time of the end.

"Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?" - 1 Corinthians 3:16

Each time I read that verse I think the same thing concerning "God's Temple," because right now God does not have an actual physical temple. As background, the prophet Daniel told us this:

“At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered." - Daniel 12:1

The first thing to note is that God is talking to Daniel when He says, "Your people." God is talking about the Jewish people here.

If we are currently living in the last days, everyone should be standing against Israel and condemning them, right? Isn't that happening now? Currently, it seems like the entire world is condemning Israel. According to Pew Research, 60% of Americans now have a negative view of Israel. And we are Israel's #1 ally!

Secondly, Daniel 1 says that there will be "a time of distress" happening on a scale that has never been seen before. Isn't that the situation now?

And lastly, it says "your people" will be delivered. "Everyone whose name is found written in the book." That's the 

Book of Life. All those who are going to be saved. Christians, and those Jews who have recognized Jesus as their Messiah.

God always leaves a remnant for Himself, dontcha know.

I believe that 144,000 Jewish converts will be raptured, along with all believers, at the time of the end. Why do I believe that?

“Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.” ⁴Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel." - Revelation 7:3-4

Now, getting back to the Temple. Like I mentioned already, there is currently no temple in Jerusalem. There are no sacrifices being offered. However, preparations for all these things have already been made (see link at bottom to The Temple Institute).

It is my opinion that the "abomination that causes desolation" is a resumption of animal sacrifices. Why is this an abomination? Because God Himself already made the ultimate sacrifice, when Jesus died on the cross - "once, for all."

"The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. ²Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. ³But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins. ⁴It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

⁵Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said:

“Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,

    but a body you prepared for me;

⁶with burnt offerings and sin offerings

    you were not pleased.

⁷Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll—

    I have come to do your will, my God.’”

⁸First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them”—though they were offered in accordance with the law. ⁹Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second. ¹⁰And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

¹¹Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. ¹²But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, ¹³and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool." - Hebrews 10:1-13

Since Israel was scattered 2,000 years ago there have been no sacrifices. There has been no "Nation of Israel" until 1948. But now, the nation of Israel is planning to resume sacrifices once again. And, in so doing, will declare the sacrifice of Jesus, meaningless. And THAT is what God will find to be an abomination. IMHO.

In the opening verse God said that WE are His temple and His Holy Spirit dwells in all who believe in Jesus.

Paul reaffirms this in his second letter to the church in Corinth.

"We are the temple of the living God." - 2 Corinthians 6:16

Keep this in mind as you consider:

"It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God." - Hebrews 10:31

Negative View of Israel - Pew Research

The Third Temple - The Temple Institute

A Thousand Years

• God created all things
• 1,000 years later, God sent a flood on the earth
• 1,000 years later, Abraham
• 2,000 years later, Jesus crucified
• 2,000 years later (right about now), He will return and set up His millennial kingdom. A 1,000-year reign for the King of kings and Lord of lords

A thousand years. TWO thousand years. It seems like God likes to do big things in 'thousands of years.'

"But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day." - 2 Peter 3:8

[Side note: the above list of events equals 7,000 years. Look up the number 7. What do you find?

"the number seven connotes such concepts as completion and perfection, exoneration and healing, and the fulfillment of promises and oaths."

Seven days to create all things in Genesis. The Seven Churches of Revelation 1, Seven Golden Lampstands, gold refined 7 times (Psalm 12), the seven spirits of God (Revelation 3), etc. "Seven" appears 518 times in the Bible.

I heard a song recently and was reminded of the Lord's millennial reign. A thousand years in the presence of our King! This is from that song (link at bottom):

"Watching you stand alone,

All of my doubt suddenly goes away."

Jesus will stand alone on the Mount of Olives one day soon. And it sounds like there will be a rather large earthquake as well.

"On that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south." - Zechariah 14:4

Have you noticed the increase in seismic activity recently? Venezuela comes to mind, with two quakes in the 7+ range on the same day. Still, a bigger quake looms in Jerusalem. But let's not get sidetracked.

The thousand-year reign of Jesus. What will that be like?

"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” - Revelation 21:1&4

Personally, I can't wait. To actually see Jesus! It will be well worth the wait . . . a thousand years . . . two thousand years . . . none of that will matter. We get to spend ETERNITY with our King!

A Thousand Years - Christina Perri

Come!

"The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life." - Revelation 22:17

I never really thought much about it before but "the Spirit and the bride" has meaning beyond just those five simple words.

The Spirit, of course, is the Holy Spirit (see how it is capitalized?). And all believers are "The Bride," according to scripture. That much I've noticed before. But what caught my attention THIS time around is the word 'say' that comes afterwards. So, is this verse is about evangelism then? No. This is Revelation 22, the last chapter in the Bible. It's too late ti evangelize. The Spirit and the Bride are calling to Jesus.

As soon as you and I came to believe, we received the promised Holy Spirit. We literally became part of the collective "bride" of Christ. The verse tells, in this final chapter, that we, currently, should be DOING something with our faith. We should be TELLING others about our hope and, in so doing, inviting them to 'come' to Jesus.

We can do this visibly through our actions towards others and in our communities. But the verse specifically says 'say.' We are called to speak to those around us about our Lord and Savior. Are we doing that?

Have you watched the news lately, and seen the events that are happening in the world these days? Much of what we see has prophetic implications, and many biblical scholars believe we are living in "the last days" before the return of Jesus for 'His Bride.'

When we speak with others are we asking ourselves, "How can I direct this conversation to include Jesus?" We should be. That's part of why we have been given the Holy Spirit to begin with.

Why do we go to church? Has it become a "box to check" at the end of each weekend? Or is it to edify ourselves and equip ourselves to share the Gospel.

Jesus said, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few" (Matthew 9:37). WE are the workers!! Are we workin', or just sittin'?

Every true Christian wants to hear Jesus say to us, "Well done, good and faithful servant" (Matthew 25:23). How can we hear "well done" if we HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING with our faith?

I sit in my living room chair and write these stories each week, but what am I DOING beyond that? Am I engaging others around me and asking them leading questions that will take them directly to Christ? Not enough, I fear. Not NEARLY enough.

When Jesus said "the workers are few," He wasn't kidding - both then and now. And let's not skip over the word 'work.'

"A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest - ³⁴and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man." - Proverbs 24:33-34

Weight A Minute

"Do not have two differing weights in your bag - one heavy, one light. ¹⁴Do not have two differing measures in your house - one large, one small. ¹⁵You must have accurate and honest weights and measures, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. ¹⁶For the Lord your God detests anyone who does these things, anyone who deals dishonestly." - Deuteronomy 25:14-16

Well . . .Did you hear about our local grocery and big box stores? The following is from StateofSurveillance.com

"Kroger announced plans to use facial recognition for "targeted coupons": personalizing prices based on who you are. They backed off after public outcry, but their electronic shelf labels (slated for 2,600 stores by 2026) make the infrastructure for personalized pricing trivially easy."

Walmart piloted facial recognition to spot shoplifters. They won't confirm current use."

Interesting.... Lowes also uses it. Many, including Home Depot, refused to answer the survey, citing "competitive reasons."

Stores are using facial recognition cameras and software to determine who you are as soon as you walk into their store. They can also adjust prices for you accordingly as well. How nice. And they can do it immediately.

This system, currently in use by many retailers, could be perverted into a prophetical biblical system where the Antichrist could prohibit anyone from buying groceries, simply by knowing who you are, or aren't, and you will not be allowed to buy. That system....

"forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, ¹⁷so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name." - Revelation 13:16-17

The Bible is coming alive my friends. We are living in the last days. One last tidbit: 

Wegmans, a NYC chain, uses facial recognition this way:

• Parking lot cameras capture license plates as you pull in
• In-store cameras track your movements through the aisles
• The Wegmans app and store WiFi collect IP addresses and geolocation
• Browser cookies track your web activity before and during shopping
• Credit card numbers, purchase history, and SNAP benefit usage are logged

So.... we ARE being watched. And scanned. This is not a conspiracy theory.  It is happening right now.

Are you ready for the return of our King? Maranatha!!

Your Grocery Store is Scanning Your Face

And . . . Action!

Have you noticed how quiet things have gotten with China and Russia lately? Yeah, there's occasional news stories about Russia vs. Ukraine or China tormenting Taiwan, but other than that, all is quiet. TOO quiet.

Some things we need to remember: 1.) Both China and Russia are allies of Iran. They cannot be pleased with what's going on in the Middle East. 2.) China gets (got) most of their oil from Iran. Trump's blockade denied several Chinese ships access to much-needed oil shipments. 3.) Both China and Russia are nuclear powers.

Here's a sci-fi, action, end-times movie plot for you, made up from my own demented mind:

Iran makes a deal with China and gets a nuclear weapon. China gets lots of oil in return. LOTS. China also promises to help Iran against Israel and the U.S. (they're already doing that. So is Russia).

Iran would like to use their new weapon against Israel but Israel is too close, and with the prevailing westerly winds, it would be unwise as Iran lies to the east of Israel. So, the target becomes the United States. But when?

This Saturday is the 4th of July, America's 250th birthday. Are you thinking what I'm thinking?

Why does Iran keep delaying the peace talks? 🤔 It is not in their nature to make peace with their enemy. It's victory or death for them. They have become experts at dragging things out. They are simply re-arming themselves and licking their wounds.

Meanwhile, back to my movie plot. Russia is not just waiting in the wings. With the U.S. cleaning up Washington D.C. after the blast, Russia will invade Latvia. That will give them a much needed sea port, and it will isolate Estonia, their next target. They will be satisfied with what they have gotten from Ukraine to date. For now.

NATO will do absolutely nothing. The U.S. will drop them like a hot potato. Russia has already fired drones into Poland. Putin will be licking his chops. And then there's Turkey and North Korea, but that will be in the sequel. 

The thing that China and Russia will be forgetting of course is the God of Israel and the followers of the Lord Jesus.

The climax of the movie begins when Jesus takes all of His children out of here. The restrainer will then be removed and the lawless one revealed. The seven year tribulation period will begin. And then things will REALLY get ugly.

The thing about scary movies that makes them REALLY scary is when the story is something that could actually happen.

Back in the 70's two sci-fi movies came out - Star Wars and Close Encounters. Both were good entertainment, but only one was actually believable. Like it could actually happen during that time period.

Hopefully my movie plot will never come true, but according to the Bible, some of it will. And the scary thing is, it COULD happen. Would anything surprise us anymore?

We were surprised on September 11, 2001. No one ever dreamed that could ever happen. Yet, it did.

“At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book." - Daniel 12:2

And should this movie plot ever make it to reality, there is one way to survive the coming wrath: Repent, Believe, then Forever Receive.

All of us were sinners at birth. We need to acknowledge that, and believe in the one who sacrificed Himself on our behalf - satisfying our Just Judge. Only then can we enter in to the promised land and receive all of the blessings that God has promised.😊❤️🙏

Earthquakes

In the Book of Matthew, in the 24th chapter, Jesus is asked by His disciples, "Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” (Matthew 24:3). Jesus then gives them an entire checklist of things that will happen.

"Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. ⁵For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. ⁶You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. ⁷Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. ⁸All these are the beginning of birth pains.

⁹“Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. ¹⁰At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, ¹¹and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. ¹²Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, ¹³but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. ¹⁴And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." - Matthew 24:4-14

Are any of those things happening now? Well, all of them are. This past week there were two earthquakes in Venezuela over 7 (7.2 and 7.5). One right after the other. They are still sorting through the rubble, but there are already over 1,400 among the dead, with tens of thousands more among the missing.

To be clear, there are measurable earthquakes every day, but big ones like this stand out. And Jesus said these are just "the beginning" (v8).

Then he said this in verse 9:

"You will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me."

Who is the "you" in this verse? Well, Jesus is talking to the disciples, but as history has shown, ALL Christians will suffer because of their faith in Christ. The key words are "because of me."

As of Saturday night, there were 40,000 people still missing after this week's earthquakes in Venezuela.

When there us unrest in the Middle East, and things like this begin to happen, it's always a good idea to pray and then wait anxiously for His return. Wars and rumors of wars, peace, peace, when there is no peace. It's all happening.

Yet, come, Lord Jesus!

"He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!" - Revelation 20:20

"When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” - Luke 21-28

A Spiritual War

Have you ever had one of "those days"? A day when nothing seems to go right? Well, take heart. There's a cure for that.

Monday was such a day for me. Just feeling down, for no apparent reason. "What's going on?" I asked myself. The answer, as per usual, is in the Bible.

The final straw, the thing that pushed me to take action, was when my wife and I were watching the news at supper time. It was a story about Iran.

"What is with those guys?" she asked. A very logical question. In my mind, there was a very logical answer, so I offered it.

"It's a spiritual war."

"And why does everyone hate Israel?" Another logical question. Because it certainly seems that way.

"And what's up with Tucker Carlson? What happened to him?" She's making good observations and asking the appropriate questions. So, what's happening? What is causing all of this turmoil? What is the root cause of all this grief, unrest, depression, anxiety, and angst? Let's take a look.

"We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one." - 1 John 5:19

"In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." - 2 Corinthians 4:4

"And you were dead in the trespasses and sins ²in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work." - Ephesians 2:1-2

Satan, "the evil one" in the 1st John verse, is now at work in the world. He has been working since Eve gave Adam some fruit to eat. HE is the cause of all this trouble.

The next two words after that Ephesians 2 verse above are, "But God." Oh, those two beautiful, wonderful words! God is the cure!

I got up out of my living room chair, went downstairs to my office, and played some worship music. After that, I slept like a baby.

What is the answer to all of Satan's evil schemes? The pain and suffering he causes? It's Jesus! Embrace Him, receive Him, love Him. Submit to Him, abide in Him, and worship Him.

When we do that one thing, worship, with all of our heart, all of our problems fade away. Thank you, Lord! Our wonderful, merciful Savior.

Wonderful Merciful Savior - Selah

The Battle Is The Lord's

Christian theologian Karl Barth (1886-1968) once said, "We must hold the Bible in one hand and the newspaper in the other." That's good advice. Especially these days with Iran, the U.S. and Israel trading missles and drones every day.

So, why aren't the world leaders reading their Bibles? I'm not sure. If they did, and inquired of the Lord, perhaps the "conflict" could have ended already, one way or another. However, this is not your stereotypical war. It is a spiritual battle. 

"All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give all of you into our hands.” - 1 Samuel 17:47

That was King David ranting against the Philistines shortly before he killed Goliath. Trump and Netanyahu should read rheir Bibles every morning before breakfast IMO. Maybe they do, but their actions say otherwise.

Have you noticed how Iran talks the big talk and rattles their saber every chance they get? They are like Goliath. They are all about delaying and delaying while they restock their ammo and rebuild their defenses. They don't negotiate for peace. It's merely a tactic. They negotiate to delay.

“Because they lead my people astray, saying, “Peace,” when there is no peace, and because, when a flimsy wall is built, they cover it with whitewash, ¹¹therefore tell those who cover it with whitewash that it is going to fall." - Ezekiel 13:10-11

And Trump is more interested in his team winning the November election than in obtaining victory in the Middle East. Let's negotiate! He wants to be portrayed as a man of peace come November. He should have finished the job, but he won't. 

Have you noticed how Trump posts on social media on Thursday about a peace deal so the market can soar a thousand points before the weekend?

Persia (Iran) will still be there in the final battle. Meshek and Tubal (Turkey), and many others are also mentioned in Ezekiel 38.

This present-day skirmish is a Satan vs. God battle. What we are witnessing today is just a stirring of the pot. The ingredients have all been added. And soon it will come to a boil.

Want to know how the story ends?

"Then I saw heaven standing open, and there before me was a white horse. And its rider is called Faithful and True. With righteousness He judges and wages war. ¹²He has eyes like blazing fire, and many royal crowns on His head. He has a name written on Him that only He Himself knows. ¹³He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and His name is The Word of God.

¹⁴The armies of heaven, dressed in fine linen, white and pure, follow Him on white horses. ¹⁵And from His mouth proceeds a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and He will rule them with an iron scepter. He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. ¹⁶And He has a name written on His robe and on His thigh:

KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS." - Revelation 19:11-16

The time is short my friends. Jesus has promised to return for His bride (The Church). Are you a member? Have you repented? Do you abide in Christ?

Go To Your Room!

"But your dead will live, Lord; their bodies will rise - let those who dwell in the dust wake up and shout for joy - your dew is like the dew of the morning; the earth will give birth to her dead.

²⁰Go, my people, enter your rooms and shut the doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until His wrath has passed by.

²¹See, the Lord is coming out of his dwelling to punish the people of the earth for their sins. The earth will disclose the blood shed on it; the earth will conceal its slain no longer." - Isaiah 26:19-21

What did we just read? Yes, it was the prophet Isaiah. But what was he talking about? It sounds like he is describing God's wrath (v20), but he also has God telling his people to "enter your rooms" until God's wrath has passed. 

And in verse 19 Isaiah prophesied about the dead rising. This is the Resurrection!

Two verses immediately come to mind.

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. ²My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? ³And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. ⁴You know the way to the place where I am going.” - John 14:4

And also . . .

"For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ." - 1 Thessalonians 5:9

And previously, in Paul's letter to the church in Thessalonica, we find this . . .

"Brothers, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who are without hope. ¹⁴For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we also believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him.

¹⁵By the word of the Lord, we declare to you that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who have fallen asleep. ¹⁶For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will be the first to rise. ¹⁷After that, we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord.

¹⁸Therefore encourage one another with these words." - 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17

Why is this not preached from every pulpit, every Sunday?! This is incredible news!!

I encourage you to watch the following video (from which the inspiration for this story came). It's an hour plus, but fast forward to the 30-minute mark. Interesting discussion!

Live Free - Josh Howerton w/ John Bevere

Big House - Audio Adrenaline

The Beast System

If you are familiar with the prophetic writings of Daniel and John in Revelation, you have probably heard the term 'Beast.' In Daniel, four beasts are mentioned. In Revelation there are three.

Daniel's beasts are empires or countries. In Revelation, these beasts represent people. Both are symbolic in nature and take place during a future time. The time of The End.

These empires, countries, and rulers, all exhibit power.

“After that, in my vision at night I looked, and there before me was a fourth beast—terrifying and frightening and very powerful. It had large iron teeth; it crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. It was different from all the former beasts, and it had ten horns." - Daniel 7:7

The beast's "victims" are people like you and me - Christians. All who are unwilling to submit to the authority and power of The Beast - the Antichrist.

He will establish power and authority over all nations and people, and will be controlled by the ultimate "beast " - Satan. In order to maintain control this Antichrist will set up a government or "system" to help him maintain his dominance. This has become known as The Beast System.

As we look at the world today, can we see any such thing taking place? Some kind of system of worldwide power and control? The United Nations perhaps? Maybe. But the actual means by which control will be established?

How about Artificial Intelligence (A.I.)?

It is already here and growing in both power and scope. Think about it. We are all plugged into this system already with our phones, computers, cars, and TV's. Any device that is "smart." How can Alexa answer unless it is always listening?

Did you know that all 2026 cars have the authority to surveil us? This system will watch us constantly, warning us if it thinks we are falling asleep or are impaired in any way. AI already parks our cars for us and slams on the brakes for us if it thinks our car is going to hit something.

When you go online to company websites, we often encounter AI "assistants," asking us, "How may I help you today?"

"How about by turning yourself off and going away?"

"I'm sorry. I can't do that, Dave."

"The system" is here and growing in power and knowledge at an exponential rate. Robots are running marathons and beating humans. Armies around the world are using drones. Ukraine is already deploying robots on the battlefield. This is all happening right now. What do you think will happen when The Antichrist comes to power and takes control of AI?

One good thing about all this - we won't be here to see it. God will remove all of the Christians according to the Bible. We will never know who the Antichrist is, and we won't really care. This is not our home anymore. Our home is with Jesus. We're just waiting and watching.

"And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. ²He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. ³He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore." - Revelation 20:1-3

Safe Passage

There is a parable playing out on the nightly news. Have you seen it? Let's call it The Parable of Safe Passage.

There are lots boats in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman right now. They are all wanting to get from Point A to Point B. Yet very few of them are wanting to go through the Strait of Hormuz. Why not? Because Iran will shoot at them or attack them with speed boats, armed with a 50 cal.

Iran and the U.S. are having a "disagreement" right now. Some are calling it a war while others are referring to it as an "operation." Either way, no one is getting anywhere, oil shipments are being disrupted, and no one is having any fun whatsoever.

How is this a parable? Well . . .

Think of the boats as humans. They too want to get from Point A to Point B, only they call Point B Heaven. Someone doesn't want the humans to get to heaven. That would be Satan. Iran plays Satan's role in this present day parable.

If you've purchased gas for your car recently, it's easy to see the effect this skirmish is have on the world. Gas prices are nearly double what they were last year. Our pocketbooks need a savior. Sadly, there is nobody playing the role of Jesus in this parable.

Without someone to intervene, the fighting will continue, gas prices will remain high, and all of the boats will just continue to float out there with nowhere to go.

Now, imagine this situation going on indefinitely, like for all eternity. That would not be good for anyone. The world needs someone to step in. A man proclaiming "peace and safety" perhaps.🤔

"While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape." - 1 Thessalonians 5:3

It will be a false peace.

There are so many "end times" events playing out right now. One would almost think that the end times were upon us.

Well?

Radar

Where would we be without weather radar? I think back to my grandparents, living on a farm in north-central lower Michigan. My grandpa would go out into the fields each day and feed the sheep or bale some hay, not knowing what weather was coming at him over the horizon.

Today we know what the weather will be like next weekend already so we can plan our events accordingly - all because of computers, weather "models," and radar. Ah, science.

Back in biblical times, all they had was the sun, moon, and stars to foretell coming events. And the prophets. And God Himself.

Today, we are seeing many signs on the evening news, yet most people dismiss them. "There's nothing to see here. These aren't the droids you're looking for." Yet . . .

"And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years." - Genesis 1:14

The prophets in the Bible also foretold coming events. Ezekiel and Daniel,  the two big "end times" prophets, prophesied many coming events. Many have come true, but some of their prophesies haven't happened yet.

"And He said, "Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. ¹⁰Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand." - Daniel 12:9-10

The question then becomes, "Are we wise?" and "Do we understand?"

The words of Jesus, our Lord:

“There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. ²⁶People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. ²⁷At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. ²⁸When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” - Luke 21:25-28

The Bible is our radar. Keep watch.

Breaking The Bow

Are you ready for a little trip? Let's go! First, open up your Bibles to Jeremiah 45:35-39, then hold on!

"Thus says the Lord of hosts:

‘Behold, I will break the bow of Elam*, the foremost of their might. ³⁶Against Elam I will bring the four winds from the four quarters of heaven, and scatter them toward all those winds; there shall be no nations where the outcasts of Elam will not go. ³⁷For I will cause Elam to be dismayed before their enemies and before those who seek their life. I will bring disaster upon them, My fierce anger,’ says the Lord; ‘And I will send the sword after them until I have consumed them. ³⁸I will set My throne in Elam, And will destroy from there the king and the princes,’ says the Lord.

³⁹‘But it shall come to pass in the latter days: I will bring back the captives of Elam,’ says the Lord.” - Jeremiah 49:35-39

*Elam was an ancient civilization centered in the far west and southwest of what is today Iran.

Well . . . is Elam's bow being broken as we speak? Iran's air force and navy have been destroyed (aka broken). It certainly looks like what is going on in Iran aligns with that prophecy from Jeremiah.

Look at verse 36 where God says that He will scatter Iran's people to every nation. I just read a story that said 3.2 million Iranians have been displaced due to this current conflict. 🤔 Not to mention the estimated 45,000 Iranian protesters who were murdered by the Iranian regime.

We are living in the last days. As we watch the news headlines, it would be wise to have a Bible on our laps while doing so.

Iran won't be destroyed completely however. They have to be around for the BIG war when they again fight against Israel along with Turkey and Russia. But we won't be here for that one, according to the Bible anyway. The Christians will be removed.

Are YOU a Christian? A BORN-AGAIN Christian? Jesus said we must be born again.

"Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” - John 3:3

Getting back to Elam's bow being broken, as I mentioned earlier, it can't be TOTALLY broken as Iran has to be around for the Ezekiel 38 war that takes place during The Tribulation. So, the current efforts of Israel and the U.S. must fall short. A peace treaty perhaps?

I'm not a prophet, but I do read my Bible. And I do believe that Jesus will return for His Church. We are seeing signs all around us that His return is imminent. Be ready. Be prepared by becoming a born-again believer in Jesus Christ. And sooner, rather than later, would be good.

Conflation

"While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape." - 1 Thessalonians 5:3

If you have watched the news for any amount of time it's easy to become discouraged; especially these days. There are SO many bad things happening in the world right now. And then to find out that Chuck Norris has died!?! Oh my....

So, today I want to talk about a theory I have about these times we are living in. I am not a prophet nor a pastor, but I study my Bible pretty intently and there is something going on that has made me, and mamy others, take notice.

First, let's begin with a little scripture from the Book of Daniel.

"There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then." - Daniel 12:1

Check. ✅ That's happening right now for sure.

So, here's my theory. These things that we see happening now are merely the visible portion of what is actually occurring. We are only seeing 10% of "the iceberg," so to speak.

I'm not a conspiracy theorist. I just see news headlines and find myself asking questions. (My favorite question is "Why?" and my favorite statement is "Follow the money.")

Here's a word to ponder as you consider this theory of mine. Conflation - a fusing together; a merger of two or more things or ideas into one.

And one more word. Technocracy -  government by technicians. Specifically : management of society by technical experts.

As we watch gas prices rise we can read headlines like this and begin to ask "Why?"

Saudis Warn Oil Going to $180, Gasoline to $7 at Pump

Oh, it's war the with Iran, Israel bombed an Iranian oil field, or Iran bombed a UEA oil field. Saudi Arabia has cut production. All of those are true, but here's where my conflation theory comes in. What are we NOT seeing and hearing? Why would someone WANT to see oil prices rise? Could it actually be God's will? I have no idea, but read this:

“Two pounds of wheat for a day’s wages, and six pounds of barley for a day’s wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!” -Revelation 6:6

Does that sound like inflation to you? And "do not damage the oil?" Trump just told Israel "Don't do that."

I recently listened to a podcast by a panel of five men, all of them are pastors who specialize in eschatology. One of them brought forth an article he had written about Donald Trump, what's happening in the world today, and The Board of Peace.

Did you know that Trump is the self-appointed head of the BoP? And did you know that he is the chairman? FOR LIFE? Yep. You can check it here.

These present-day events are a reflection of scriptural prophecies in the Bible. If these events that we are seeing today are just the tip of the iceberg, we will probably be leaving soon. And for those who remain after our departure, repent, believe, and forever receive.

In the meantime, keep reading your Bible so that you are not caught unaware. These are crazy times, but also exciting times as we see the day approaching.🙂☝️

Prophecy Roundtable

The Abomination

According to an article in Israel National News (link at bottom), the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) warned about what it described as intentions by “settlers" (Jews) to carry out the commandment of the Passover sacrifice on the Temple Mount during the upcoming Passover.

Interesting . . .and scary.

[FYI - the 2026 Passover begins April 1 and ends April 9]

There is a group of Jewish people that want to reinstitute the temple sacrifice. Their only problem is there is currently no temple. Or is there? 🤔

Let's go back and look at Daniel for a moment. The angel Gabriel was talking to Daniel in verse 27 about The End Times.

"And he (The Antichrist) will confirm a covenant with many for one week (the seven year tribulation), but in the middle of the week he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of the temple will come the abomination that causes desolation, until the decreed destruction is poured out upon him.” - Daniel 9:27

So, there WILL be sacrifices happening during the first half of the tribulation, according to Gabriel anyway. But my question is, why are there sacrifices taking  place at all? Speaking of Jesus, Paul wrote . . .

"For the death He died He died to sin, once for all, but the life He lives He lives to God." - Romans 6:10

The problem here is that the Jews do not believe that Jesus is the Messiah. They believe that the Messiah has not come yet.

Can you see the problem here? The present day Jewish leaders want to start sacrificing animals to God. But God already sacrificed His one and only Son. God already put an end to sacrifices. Jesus died once, for all.

Do you think God might get a little angry? Do you think God might remove all of those who follow Jesus and begin the seven year tribulation period? I would say that is a VERY REAL possibility.

If we think that these wars going on right now are horrible, wait and see what the Tribulation period looks like. Of course, we who follow Jesus woll mot be here, but talk about "weeping and gnashing of teeth!"

If you have not done so, trust in Jesus today! Repent of your sins, submit to His authoriry, and pray.

PLO Warns Against Temple Sacrifice - INN

Purim

"Purim is the account of a genocidal decree overturned on a single, decisive reversal. These events unfolded in Persia, which is modern-day Iran, where Haman plotted the annihilation of the Jewish people. What was intended for destruction became deliverance. The God who preserved His people in the days of Esther still reigns over the nations and rulers today. And history consistantly proves that evil designs do not have the final word.

This year, Purim will be observed March 3rd. It coincides with the one-month ultimatum that President Trump gave the Islamic Republic to accept his terms for a deal. Wouldn't it be something if that regime were confronted with the same resolve shown against modern-day Hamans on that very day?" - Amir Tsarfati

As Amir stated above, this year Purim occurs on March 3rd. Something else happens on March 3rd as well - a blood moon.

"The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes.” - Joel 2:31

A blood moon is often associated with divine judgment, prophetic events, or even divine intervention.

"And I watched as the Lamb opened the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black like sackcloth of goat hair, and the whole moon turned blood red." - Revelation 6:12

There have been "blood moons" before. Just like there have been earthquakes before. They are nothing new. But the Bible DOES say that there will be a blood moon when Jesus opens the sixth seal judgement.

And this is from the Talmud . . .

"When the heavenly lights, i.e., the sun and the moon, are eclipsed, it is a bad omen for the enemies of the Jewish people." - Sukkah 29a

Will the U.S. and Israel attack Iran on March 3rd? I don't know. I'm not predicting anything. I just find it interesting that so many things are happening on that one day. What do YOU think?

An earthquake is also mentioned. Will a major earthquake happen in Iran on March 3rd. I have no idea.

There have been lots of things happening on the world stage lately. Could it get any crazier? I DO know this: it will.

Here's a question for you. What do you think would happen if suddenly all of the Christians were no longer here? The Rapture is also a prophecy, just like a blood moon and an earthquake.

One thing we DO know for sure, and that is this: When God makes promises, they WILL be fulfilled. It was promised in the Bible that Jesus would return one day. Jesus told us to look for signs. We are currently seeing the signs He spoke of on our nightly news broadcasts.

"At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. ³¹And He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other." - Jesus, Matthew 24:30-31

And lastly this: God does not lie. When He promises something, will He not do it? What do you think? 

"God is not man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should change His mind. Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not fulfill it?" - Numbers 23:19

Book of Esther

The Heavy Stone

Did you notice how suddenly Benjamin Netanyahu came to see President Trump this past Wednesday? He was originally going to come to Washington NEXT week, but SOMETHING happened and became very urgent. That made me think....

Many Christians believe that we are living in the last days - the days before the rapture of The Church and the beginning of the seven-year tribulation period. I am one of those people. So, I have been watching Israel and the Middle East very closely.

There is a prophecy in Zechariah that mentions Israel standing alone in the last days . . . saying "in those days," speaking of a future event. It also says ALL the nations will stand against her (Israel). I can see that easily happening in the VERY near future.

“Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples. Judah will be besieged, as well as Jerusalem.

³⁰On that day, when all the nations of the earth gather against her, I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who would heave it away will be severely injured." - Zechariah 12:2-3

For many years these verses spoke about a future time that sounded like it was WAY into the future. Today, it seems like it could happen at any moment.

The thing about Zechariah's prophecy is that it says ALL nations - even the United States presumably. The U.S. has always been an ally of Israel. How could that change? Could Israel ever do something to upset the U.S.? Yes, it has already done that by attacking Doha, Qatar on September 9, 2025. Trump made Netanyahu apologize.

It could also be that a new president, who hates Israel, comes to power A Mamdani type perhaps? Either way, once the U.S. removes its support from Israel the stage will be 100% set for The Ezekiel 38 war.

The opposition is already positioned - Iran, Turkey, Russian, and the entire Muslim Brotherhood nations list. They're just waiting for the opportunity. And for God to act. Yes, this war will be from God.

In my lifetime I have never seen anything like what is happening in the world today. And these things are increasing in frequency and intensity. We are in the last days. Are you ready?

"Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened." - Matthew 24:34

Ezekiel 38

Do Not Be Deceived

"As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

⁴Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you." - Matthew 24:3-4

The text days that Jesus was talking about "the end of the age," but I wonder if He was also talking about Artificial Intelligence (AI). And I also wonder if we have arrived at "the end of the age" that Jesus was talking about. There is definitely a lot of deception happening these days.

There was a time, and not that long ago, when we had no reason to doubt news stories, photos, or videos that appeared on our newsfeeds. Those days are gone.

My wife was sad to learn that the LIMU emu was computer generated saying, "I thought it was real!" She's not alone in her thinking.

Pretty much any movie that comes out of Hollywood these days is fake. Or at least has some CGI in it. The movies are as fake as the actors in them - hired to play someone else in a green-screen sound stage somewhere.

And isn't that what WE are in danger of becoming? Every night we watch "fake news" orchestrated by a bunch of suits sitting around a conference table in a board room dozens of floors above the sidewalks where their audience walks.

Deception is everywhere, except in God's Word. It is constant. It is truthful. In the original text. Yet even some translations have become corrupt through "fleshly" interpretations. Stay away from The Message "Bible" for example, which is NOT a translation but a paraphrase written for kids. There are others.

The Jehovah's Witnesses have their own Bible (The New World Translation). So do the Mormons (The Book of Mormon). Both groups claim to be Christian, but their "religions" both features a fake Jesus.

There is only one Church, despite all the denominations on the planet - those who believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God. No green screens are needed for the miracles and wonders that HE performs. He is the real deal. 

The Elect

We just watched something happen in New York City that may be the beginning of something very prophetic in nature - the election of Zohran Mamdani as its mayor. Mamdani is a young, charismatic, anti-Israel Muslim and he was elected handily by the left-leaning city.

The Bible speaks of Babylon, a great city, doomed to destruction. Could NYC be biblical Babylon? Keep your eyes open and read Revelation 18 (link at bottom).

Today I am writing about another kind of election though - "The Elect" of God. Who exactly are these people? Let's find out by opening our Bibles to Ephesians 1.

"He chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love ⁵He predestined us for adoption to Himself as sons through Jesus Christ." - Ephesians 1:4-5

Let us bow our heads in humble submission, for WE, my brothers and sisters in Christ, are "the elect."

Let that sink in for a minute or two. God chose us before the world even existed. Is God omnipotent or what?!

If you are a born-again child of God, you are one of the elect. That knowledge carries with it a certain amount of weight and responsibility. Honor and humility also.

So, what do we do with our "elect status" in Christ Jesus our Lord?

We should act like it! Act like Jesus! Love everyone we meet. Pray for those who need healing. Have compassion for those who are hurting. Reach out to the lost on behalf of Jesus. Share the Gospel with others. Give to one another as there is a need.

Speaking of the Tribulation, Jesus said this:

“If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened." - Matthew 24:22

Mr. Mamdani, it appears, is not one of the elect, based on his Islamic faith. Our New York City brothers and sisters should be watchful, and follow God alone in their obedience. We must pray.

Senator John Kennedy (R-LA) asked something veru revealing about socialism / communism this week.

"When the Berlin wall fell, which side did the people run to?"

Who Are The Elect of God? - GotQuestions.org

Revelation 18

A Time For War?

"A time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace." - Ecclesiastes 3:11

Right now, negotiations are taking place in the Middle East to end the war in Gaza. It seems as if the entire world is against Israel, doesn't it? And that is the way God intended it to be. But that war is insignificant to what is brewing elsewhere and in the future.

If we zoom out from the Middle East it's not long before we can see Ukraine and Russia. They too are in the midst of a war.

Keep zooming out and we can soon see the NATO countries. And China. And North Korea. There are plenty of antagonists out there. And plenty of egos to satisfy.

Trump has had some success at stopping small wars but he will not have success with Russia, nor China. This is just my opinion. "Change my mind," as Charlie Kirk used to say.

Russia has already "accidentally" flown drones into Poland and Denmark. Three Russian war planes entered Estonia's airspace. Putin is testing Nato's reaction. Even NORAD had to scramble some planes to intercept Russian jets that were approaching Alaska.

Jesus tells us in the Bible (Matthew 24) that a BIG war is coming. There are also other references in Ezekiel and Revelation. It's going to be bad. Very bad.

"For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now - and never to be equaled again." - Matthew 24:25

We who confess faith in Jesus do not need to concern ourselves with this. We should be gone from here by then. Time will tell.

Christians have hope. The rest of the world does not. And that's sad. Many of those we know and love are not going to make it. Though we try to tell them, they don't have ears to hear.

For the Christian, this is a very interesting time. We are seeing the Bible coming to life as we wait for Jesus. But God did not give us a Spirit of fear. As Jan Markell always says, "Things are not falling apart, they are falling into place."

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control." - 2 Timothy 1:7

So, be encouraged! We are not of this world. We are IN it, but not OF it. Our hope is in God.

There is a single Hebrew word that means "the Lord saves." That word is 'yeshua.' In English-speaking bibles and languages we use the word Jesus in it's place. It also translates as Joshua.

"She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” - Matthew 1:21

The point being that Jesus saves. His death and resurrection saved us from our sins. Would he not also save us from the coming wrath of the Lord God Almighty? I believe He would.

Russian Drone Flights - AP