Sudden Destruction--The Day of the LORD is Near!

For the day of the LORD is near upon all the heathen: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee: thy reward shall return upon thine own head. For as ye have drunk upon my holy mountain, so shall all the heathen drink continually, yea, they shall drink, and they shall swallow down, and they shall be as though they had not been.

Obadiah :15-16

As was mentioned in a prior post*, the prophets of ancient Israel dealt with situations that occurred in their time while also addressing events related to Jacob's Trouble, which is also commonly referred to as the Tribulation.   Many of these books have dual fulfillment.  Parts of their prophecies have been fulfilled while some are unfulfilled and speak specifically to the last days. This is the same situation with Obadiah.  This phrase should immediately draw our attention--The Day of the LORD.  Obadiah was a post-exhilic prophet (after the deportation to Babylon).  His concern was that Edom would have a day of the LORD; a day when God would reward them for their treatment of Judah during the Babylonian deportation.  As they had assisted the Babylonians, they too would be visited with similar catastrophe.  Rather than assisting Judah, Edom aided the Babylonians and foraged fallen Jerusalem.  Obadiah assures them that God would bring the Edomites to His justice bar.  HE did!  *Get Your Thoughts In Order--Trouble For The Neighbors

However, the Day of the LORD is also a direct prophetic reference to the events of the acharit-hayamim, the End of Days.  This term encompasses the time period when God will reveal the Only Begotten One to the world.  The day starts with the darkness of the Tribulation just as a Jewish day starts at night.  The day continues into the Millennial Reign of Yeshua.  Like many prophets, Obadiah gives us some insight as to when that day is near.  Furthermore, verse 15 is the Old Testament equivalent to Paul's mention of sudden destruction found in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11.  Some call Obadiah's warning "the law of reciprocity".  What you do to Israel is exactly what will happen to you!  When this pattern develops mankind will know that the day of the LORD is about to be poured out on the godless.  Paul warns believers to be aware and not let that day overtake them in surprise.  As this series labeled "Sudden Destruction" has pointed out, that pattern surfaced about 21 years ago!  It is high time to be sober and vigilant.  Jesus Christ is Soon2Come!

So far, these posts have focused mainly on the United States with only a couple of exceptions.  This item will reveal that this law of reciprocity is also being visited on the entire world. Consider these examples! In his book, The Israel Omen II, author David Brennan exposes the events surrounding Europe and this Israeli  tourism poster partially seen above.  A complaint to the British Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) in March of 2010 led to a decision that banned this poster.  Tourism money is the life's blood of Israel.  Much of its revenue comes from travelers seeking to visit the Holy Land.  Hurting that tourism means hurting Israel.  Also, the decision was a direct affront to the God of Israel.  The complaint centered around the small picture on the poster above simply labeled "Jerusalem".  The disgruntled party mentioned that this picture showed the Wailing Wall which is a part of disputed East Jerusalem.  The ASA concurred citing that this poster gave the impression that this "occupied territory" was a part of Israel proper.  The final decision was made April 14th, 2010.  As the ASA began deciding the fate of the poster, the Eyjallajokull Volcano in Iceland began to rumble to life in March of 2010. On the same day as the decision to ban the poster was rendered, the volcano exploded.  It quickly shut down all flights across Britain and most of Europe--no tourism.  The volcano brought Britain's tourism, also having a high dollar tourist industry, to its knees.  As they did--GOD did!  

UK Bans Western Wall from Israel Tourism Ads - honest reporting

Reciprocity is roughly translated as getting what you give out in return. Is this what happened to Japan?  On March 1, 2011, an interesting article appeared on many news sites.  The article revealed that the Japanese government was about to release 32.5 million US Dollars to the Palestinian Authority to rebuild a water treatment facility in Jericho.  On the 8th of March it was announced that Japan would also send 3.1 million US Dollars in support to the Palestinian Authority (PA) Ministry of Social Affairs Social Safety to buy food for the Palestinian people.  Within 24 hours of this second announcement, a 7.3 precursor to the larger event that followed hit the Honshu region just off of the coast.  Also during this same time, a Japanese news agency shared an editorial that the Arab world was now looking to Japan to leadership.  Think of it.  Japan was siding against the God of Israel in respect to the Covenant Land.  Their government was also feeding and giving water to the enemies of Israel while sending great overtures of friendship.  In just a few short days, they would be overwhelmed with water and be in desperate need of food and water.  As they did--God did!

asahi.com（朝日新聞社）：POINT OF VIEW/ Lukman Faily: Arab world in transition looks to Japan - English

Japan Donates 32.5 mln USD for PNA Projects

Japan Increases Food Support to Palestinian People

Given the time and space, we could visit many, many strange "coincidences" such as these; however, time and space will not permit it.  Briefly, we will look at two.  While former Australian PM Rudd was calling for Israel to reveal its nuclear capabilities to the world which would in turn make it vulnerable to its enemies, Australia was hit with tragedy. As the world discussed the opening of Israel's nuclear arsenal a rain pattern set in and caused the worst flooding in Australian history.  An Australian pastor also took notice of this pattern and shared that it was judgment from God for siding against the people of covenant.  The news blasted him for the inference, yet it fits the pattern that has been going on for years.  As they did--God did!

Pastor blames Australian floods on Rudd's Israel views

Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Store visited the Labor Youth League Summer Camp in  Utøya, Norway on Thursday July 21st, 2011.  What most do not realize is that annual camping event was dedicated to pro-Palestinian, anti-Semitic rallies.   They were teaching the youth to hate Israel.  They soon become the targets of hate.  The picture above was taken during the Foreign Minister's visit to the camp where he stated in his 5:20 pm speech, "The Palestinians must have their own state, the occupation must end, the wall must be demolished and it must happen now..."  Again, within 24 hours many of the poor indoctrinated youth there would face eternity.  Anders Behring Breivik would kill scores.  They were feeding on hate and then faced an act of hate. 

 Pro Palestinian Rally at Norway Youth Camp the Day Before Massacre | American Pendulum

Reciprocity is the indicator that the day of the Lord is near.  More importantly, it is reciprocity related to Israel or Christ's body.  Remember the Pakistani flood at the height of killing Christians or the Indonesian Tsunami devastating a city, Banda Aceh, where extremists were planning to massacre Christians throughout Indonesia.  It is a sure sign that the Day of the LORD is near upon all heathen!  You need not be a target--there is a tree of safety!  It is the old rugged cross of Calvary.  Turn to Jesus!  He is Soon2Come!

Today's News--War on the Horizon

Iran to fire long-range missiles... JPost - Iranian Threat - News

US military chief to visit Israel to reassure ... JPost - Defense

EU envoy: Israel has nothing to fear from regional rise of Islamists - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News  Is this a joke?

U.S. finalizes $30 billion weapons deal with Saudi Arabia - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News

'Stuxnet virus used on Iran was 1 of 5 cyberbombs' - Israel News, Ynetnews

Iran: U.S. In 'No Position' To Give Orders On Strait Of Hormuz | Fox News

IAF strikes rocket launching squad in Gaza - JPost - Defense

PLO Plans to 'Disengage' From Israel - Defense/Security - News - Israel National News

IDF Chief: Nuclear Iran a threat to entire region, not just to Israel - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News

Sudden Destruction--Obama

And they took the things which Micah had made, and the priest which he had, and came unto Laish, unto a people that were at quiet and secure: and they smote them with the edge of the sword, and burnt the city with fire.

Judges 18:27

In 1 Thessalonians 5 Paul clearly warned of a time near the end of days when the world would cry for peace and safety but only would receive sudden destruction.  It is also clear to anyone looking that this pattern is present currently as it relates to policies towards Israel and the Covenant Land.  Why Israel?  God has warned that Israel is the timepiece of prophecy.  He made unalterable covenant promises to Abraham, Issac, and Israel.  Those promises include the coming of Messiah Yeshua to save Israel (Paul also speaks of this revival in Romans 11-13).  God also made an immutable covenant promise to King David that an heir would forever sit on his throne.  For there to be a throne of David, the Israelis would need to be reunited as one so that the promise can be fulfilled in its entirety.  God, then, promises that the covenant people would need to be present in the covenant land so that His covenant promises could be fulfilled.  All who are seeking to remove the Israelis from the land of promise are waging war against God--a war they will not win.  He IMMEDIATELY calls his horrendous arsenal to bear on anyone who attempts to foil his promises.  To review the tragedies and their causes, visit these prior posts:  

Sudden Destruction

Sudden Destruction--Really! (1990s)

Sudden Destruction--George W. Bush

Peace and Safety

2011: A Year of Tradgedy

President Obama is no exception to the rule.  During his administration there have also been several of these sudden destruction incidents.  It is strange that a mediator in a squabble would set preconditions for talks between the two sides that they stand between.  That is for the two opposing sides to do, set conditions, debate, accept, reject, and discuss them.  Yet, the President did just that.  He told Israel that all talks for peace would cease as long as Israel was building in East Jerusalem in April of 2010 while serving as a mediator.  This led to a standoff between the Obama Administration and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu.  This was also part of a major policy change by the Obama Administration.  On April 19 it was announced that the US would no longer stand unequivocally with Israel in the UN.  As this mess was going on the Deepwater Horizon explosion began covering the Gulf waters with oil ON APRIL 20.  Not only this, Israel was celebrating its Independence as a nation, an event directly brought about by God.  Truly, sudden destruction came!

A year later, the US and the other members of the Quartet were engaging in talks discussing the removing of covenant land.  If you remember, in April of 2003 the US took a leading roll as the Quartet met for similar purposes.  During that time the US was hit with a record 562 tornadoes.  America did not notice the first tornado warning in 2003, so the second record setting event was much worse. In 2011, tornadoes would again devastate the US.  562 was a major record, but April 2011 saw the setting of a new monthly record at 753!  Also, there were hundreds of deaths.  God is sending a clear message--when you cry for peace and safety while rejecting His plan destruction ensues!  

Again, there are many other things that could be written.  However, nothing is more important than turning to Christ.  There is peace and safety for those who wish to receive it God's way.  It is found in Messiah Sar Shalom (Christ the Prince of Peace).  Safety is found only in His everlasting arms.  Will you not take the time and ask for it?  Don't put it off as Jesus Christ is Soon2Come!  

Today's News--War on the Horizon! 

Iran to Mine Hormuz, US, NATO On Alert

IDF confirms preparations for extensive future Gaza military action - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News

‘US, Israel discuss ‘triggers’ f... JPost - Iranian Threat - News

US 5th Fleet won't allow disrupt... JPost - Iranian Threat - News

Haniyeh: Our Objective is to Eliminate Israel - Defense/Security - News - Israel National News

Israel, U.S. discuss triggers for military strike on Iran - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News

Apostasy in the Last Days

UK Bishops Come Out Against Israel - Jewish World - News - Israel National News

U.N. Adopts ‘Religious Intolerance’ Resolution Championed by Obama Administration | CNSnews.com

Protestants aren't proper Christians, says Pope | Mail Online

Filthy Without Jesus!

But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

Isaiah 64:6

While in a checkout lane the other day I saw something that immediately made me think of the truth that Christ is the only, YES--ONLY, available means to get to heaven.  Outside of Jesus there is no salvation.  There was a lower shelf that had new wash cloths for sale.  The brand name said "Coexist".  They had that Universalist bumper sticker insignia on them that I have often seen which includes the emblems of most of the main world religions on it. The symbols help to make up the letters.  The wash cloths were extremely dirty probably because of their location near the checkout lane.  Immediately, I could see a true spiritual application.  There is no way that a dirty wash cloth can wash away dirt as it needs cleaning before it can be used adequately. Dirt perpetuates more dirt.  That is what religion--even religion garbed in a Christless Christianity, does.  It leaves you dirty even when you think it is cleansing you!

Jesus said clearly that the last days would be about the deception of religion and that some would even come claiming that they were Him.  Furthermore, the Bible is clear that man's religious thought would also amalgamate into one huge mess as the last days approach.  Doesn't the idea sound good though? "Let's just all get along and the world will be a better place", many proclaim.  Really?  Religion will not do you good when you face eternity.  All it will do is send you into eternity without preparation.  Religion is not good--it sends people to hell.  It does not benefit man--it deceives him.  It leads him to follow his heart as the Bible proclaims in this verse, "There is a way that seemeth right unto a man..."  From God's perspective, it brings destruction and that is why the rest of that verse says, "...but the end thereof are the ways of death."  For emphasis, this verse appears twice: Proverbs 14:12 and 16:25.

The prophet Isaiah understood this too when he mentioned that our righteousness is as filthy rags. His word in the Hebrew is actually very disgusting.  (I'll let you look the Hebrew words up in a concordance--"iddah beged"!!)  The point is that religion is worthless.  It makes man out to be his own savior by beguiling him into offering his pathetic works up to God in a vain attempt to convince Him that those works are good enough to merit Heaven and show that you are good deep down.  Yet, like a criminal who serves his sentence and yet still commits crime, our works do not change our sinful hearts.  In the process, the religious one is actually being drawn away from God.  How?  First, God alone is the Savior!  There is no salvation outside of the means He deems acceptable.  His means was the sacrifice of Christ at the Cross of Calvary!  Remember, He is the offended party and has the right to set the means and method of reconciliation as He sees fit!  Second, it is a slap in the face of the work of Christ in that it seeks to offer one's own works up to God instead of trusting in the grace God gives!  Grace draws us to Christ while man made religion separates us from him.  It only leads to Hell!  The only "coexisting" done without Jesus Christ will be in Hell!  Turn to Jesus!  There is simply no other means of salvation!

God is a God of order and unity.  He has one means that stands out so that all can clearly see.   It was God's love and mercy that led Him to make Jesus stand out as no other so that He would not be missed by any seriously seeking Heaven! God allowing 3000 different, contradicting, and confusing ways is not love--it is chaos! Therefore, who else stands out as virgin born? Who else worked hundreds of acknowledged miracles, signs, and wonders that were even testified of by His contemporary enemies?  Who else lived a sinless, holy life without blame? Who else fulfilled prophecies written about him up to 1000 years before His birth?  Who else died and then came back again?  Who else claimed to be God and man united in one person?  No one!  That makes Jesus stand out as no other!   He stands out because the blood He shed is God's only acceptable means, and without Him there is no salvation!  

Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.

Isaiah 28:16

Sudden Destruction--George W. Bush

"For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety*; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.  Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,..." 

1 Thessalonians 5:2-9

George's dad, George HW BUSH, set a precedent.  Every time an American President involved America in attempts to separate the Jewish people from the land of covenant promise, the nation has been hit with incredible and immediate disaster.  All one has to do is search the top ten natural disasters by cost and it can be noted that 9 of 10 are related to treatment of Israel.  Only Hurricane Hugo does not make that list.  As was seen in Sudden Destruction--Really! (1990s) , nearly all of these disasters hit within a 24 hour period after a decision to obstruct God's prophetic unveiling of Jesus and His covenant promises.  All were concurrent with hostile policies towards Israel.  

Also mentioned, many have written on this phenomenon and I strongly encourage you to purchase their books:

John McTernan--As America Has Done to Israel

John Mcternan and William Koenig--Israel: The Blessing or the Curse.

William Koenig--Eye to Eye-- Facing the Consequences of Dividing Israel

David Brennan--Israel Omen    and   Israel Omen II

So what happened to America during George W Bush's tenure as President as it related to Israel?  Here are a few items to consider:

• American policies in the latter half of the Clinton years aided in destabilizing the government of Benjamin Netanyahu.  In the chaos, Ehud Barak won an election that Netanyahu was supposed to have won.  This was only Israel's second election ever specifically for the seat of Prime Minister.  At the same time, destabilization ran amok in American politics too.  Does anyone remember the hanging chads?
• Saudi Arabia's Prince Abdullah sends the President a letter of rebuke with threats to break ties over Bush's apparent siding with Isreal through statements and policies he made in public.  Fearing the loss of oil and an Arab ally, Bush has an abrupt change of heart over Israel.  Bush fires back a letter that says he strongly believes, "the Palestinian people have a right to self-determination and to live peacefully and securely* in their own state, in their own homeland..." Bush then intended to announce the shift in American foreign policy during the week of September 10, 2001.  We all know what stopped that announcement.  *Emphasis mine--see the scripture above.  With that, I strongly recommend that you watch these two episodes of Sid Roth who is interviewing Messianic Rabbi Jonathan Cahn: Cahn interview part 1    Cahn interview part 2      
• America now takes an active role in assisting the Quartet who propels their "Road Map" plan for peace and security in the Middle East in April of 2003.  The Quartet members are the US, EU, Russia, and the nations of the UN.  During this time the US is hit by a record 562 tornadoes that do over 5 billion in damages and that earns the moniker--the worst weather in US history.
• As America is being pummeled by tornadoes, Europe is staring at its hottest weather in 500 years.  This heat wave is so powerful that 50,000 deaths are attributable to it.  I guess the EU should have stayed out attempting to stop God's covenant promises.  (There are many other instances of disasters related to Israel outside of the US that I will try to share in a later post.)
• As IDF troops begin evacuating the Gaza as the US originated plans called for, that same day, August 23, 2004, a tropical depression formed  that would eventually become a hurricane named Katrina.  Ironically, Katrina means "cleansing".  As the last Jew left the Gaza Katrina strengthened to a category 5 storm but it would make landfall as a category 3 storm.   While the Gaza was being bulldozed for the Palestinians, Katrina was bulldozing the Gulf Coast.  Jews have not been able to return to this covenant land and neither have many Americans been able to return home.  David Brennan, mentioned above, was a New Orleans resident at the time of the storm.
• Immediately, the Palestinians begin a campaign of terror by launching hundreds of rockets into Israel.  America had destabilized the southwestern border of Israel and brought terror to the people there.  About the same time, America's southwestern border became highly unstable and parts of it seem to have been lost to the drug cartels. 
• As America and the world joined in to remove the children of Israel from the land promised to them, the world economy began to suffer as well.  At the end of 2008, Bush was highly pressuring Israel to vacate more covenant land as was the rest of the world.  A series of economic downturns with various causes sent America and the world to the brink of an economic abyss.  Notice that the dates of each DJIA drop seem to be sending a clear message.  September 29, 08--777 point drop (a biblical number relating to Christ) this was the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah.   September 30 to October 8, 2008 the markets post the worst ten days since the great depression and these are the Jewish Days of Awe in preparation for the Day of Atonement.  October 9, 2008 the markets sees a drop of 679 points on Yom Kippur--the Day of Atonement.  The market drops 737 points on October 15, 2008 which is also the Feast of Tabernacles.  Add it up--the markets lost 2193 points on all of the fall biblical Jewish holidays that year.

There are many other "coincidences" such as these during those years but time and space will not permit them here.  As a last note until we look at the hostile policies of the current administration, it is important to note that each President who directly opposed the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel has left office in shame.  George HW Bush's slow response to Hurricane Andrew led to a drop in the polls and a loss to Bill Clinton--Andrew was related to anti-Israeli policies.  Clinton left in shame over the Monica Lewinsky scandal being only the second US President to face impeachment.  He should not have humiliated PM Netanyahu.  Finally, George W. Bush left with some of the lowest ratings ever received by a US President. His handling of Katrina forever marred his Presidency.  It is interesting to note that both that he and his dad left office in shame over handling storms.  

Are you preparing for the coming of Messiah Yeshua?  You can't stop him and standing in His way will only get you steamrolled.  It is better to make your peace treaty now with the soon coming King.  Jesus Christ is Soon2Come!

Today's News

The Isaiah 9:10 prophecy: Is U.S. under God's judgment?  An article on Jonathan Cahn mentioned above.

Quartet again calls for resumptio... JPost - Diplomacy & Politics

Iceland recognizes state of Palestine - Israel News, Ynetnews  And with such a big volcano there too!

European members of Security Council condemn Israeli settlements, settler violence - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News

Israel attacks European criticism of West Bank settlement activity - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News  And with Europe's economy once again teetering on the brink of an economic abyss again too!

U.S. to leave Iraqi airspace clear for strategic Israeli route to Iran - Washington Times  ***

US warns Syria's Assad to stop killing - JPost - Middle East

Whatsoever HE Says...

His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.

John 2:5

You can tell a lot about a person when you really hear what they say.  It is the same with Mary, and Christmas time is a great time to listen to her.  There is no doubt that she stands apart from every other woman who has ever lived.  Yet, by her own confession, Jesus is truly the star of the Bethlehem manger scene and rightly so!

Notice these words of Mary in Luke 1:47, "And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour."   Mary made a very important statement.  She needed a savior.  Every man woman and child who has ever lived needs salvation.  Not even the greatest saints of the Bible were exempt from this need.  It was their acknowledgement of this need that made them great and not just their deeds.  Even Mary understands that she is need of salvation.  Since she is about to deliver the Redeemer, she needs His redemption.  What humility!  It is even possible that the phrase "God my savior" (Theos mou soter in Greek) is an admission of needing Jesus.  Jesus' Hebrew name is Yehowshua (often shortened to Yeshua) and it literally means YHWH is Savior.  Jesus, therefore, is "God my Savior".  As the words of a song I heard yesterday said, "Mary knew when she delivered she would be delivered."

The great saints of the Bible also believed first and then acted on their faith.  They did not do good works to convince God that they were good--that is being your own savior.  Working to appease God will only lead you away from God as it robs Him of the glory of being your savior.  The Bible saints trusted the grace of God and then they acted on His word.  Mary, also, is no exception.  When Gabriel delivers God's message Mary's first words were, "How shall this be, seeing I know not a man (Luke 1:34)?" She is not in doubt, but she is simply trying to understand a concept that is beyond her grasp.  It is her next words recorded in Luke 1:38 that reveal her reaction to the grace presented to her, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word."  What a thought provoking response!  She heard God's word and then responded by faith once she had simple understanding.  Do you need salvation as Mary did or have some other need you need met?  Hear God's word for you, understand it, and believe!

All great saints keep their focus on God and not self.  That is why Mary also always seemed to shift the focus to Jesus.  It is interesting to note her words in John 2:5 (above).  These are her last known recorded words in scripture and they occur before Jesus begins His public ministry.  They direct us back to Jesus.  Not only is she focusing us on Jesus, so is the author, John.  How?  John is by what he does not record Mary saying.  No other person spent as much time with Mary after the resurrection of Christ as did John.  Jesus' last words to them both as recorded in john 19:26-27 were, "Woman, behold thy son! (John), Behold thy mother!  John further records, "And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home."  History informs us that Mary was near John for the rest of her life.  Now, why did John not include more of her words?  Like Mary, John also knew that the true Star of Bethlehem was Jesus.  Mary and John both wanted all readers to focus on the only one who brings salvation--Jesus.

Not only are great saints focused on God, they also are obedient to what He asks of them.  Mary, again, is no exception.  Two of Jesus' brothers are also Bible authors.  James (a bad transliteration of Jacob) and Jude (Judah) also were sons of Mary.  As recorded above, Jesus told Mary to stay with John for reasons we can only guess at.  James was an outstanding pastor and early church leader, so it is possible that Jesus' command was associated with that fact.  What is interesting is that Mary left biological children to stay with an apostle of her Son as He wished.  She listened to her own advice and calls to us to do the same.  "Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it."  

During this Christmas season, are you willing to be like Mary and all of the great saints of the Bible?  Simply follow the example left us by Mary.  See your need for salvation that is only found in Jesus.  Act out that simple belief by asking Him to cleanse you of sin and come into your life.  As an act of love and devotion, let Jesus become the focus of all of your life.  Also as an act of love and devotion, follow Him obediently always!  There is not a greater time to accept this great gift God wrapped in swaddling clothes than now!   

Sudden Destruction--Really! (The 1990s)

"For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.  Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,..." 

1 Thessalonians 5:2-9

What do thieves do when they break in?  They steal something--of course!  There is no use of breaking in if you have not come to steal something.  Jesus is prophesied to come as a thief in the night, so what does He take?  The jewels He purchased by His own blood at Calvary's cross--the redeemed!  Also, thieves tend to do a lot of damage when they break in.  Notice that sudden destruction soon follows.  Yet, as mentioned in "Sudden Destruction,"  http://soon2come.blogspot.com/2011/12/sudden-destruction.html 

the call for peace and safety is now bringing sudden destruction on those trying to separate the Israelis from the Covenant Land of God. 

Remember, the land belongs to God and He gives it to whom He wishes--and the recipients were the descendants of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob (Israel) bound with an unalterable covenant.  Furthermore, the sudden destruction pattern is and will be an indicator to those who are soberly attentive portending that the labor pains have begun pointing out the Lords soon coming return.

Over the past two decades the world has witnessed this pattern but most are not perceiving it. Men like John McTernan, William Koenig, and recently David Brennan have done extensive work of showing that these sudden destruction episodes are closely linked to the treatment of Israel.  John McTernan has wisely associated this with Obadiah 1:15 (a parallel to 1 Thessalonians 4), "For the day of the LORD is near upon all the heathen: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee: thy reward shall return upon thine own head."  Notice that both passages are associated with the Day of the Lord--the revealing of Jesus Christ.  In Obadiah's verse, the law of reciprocity that Paul seems to allude to is prophesied.  Mess with Israel and Messiah's revealing and then get hit with sudden destruction.

Why would messing with the Jews bring such swift judgment in the last days.  Men are blindly following Satan who is purposefully trying to thwart God's promises to Abraham, Issac, and Israel. They are also standing in the way of His prophetic plan for the coming of Christ!  Satan is trying his hideous best to stop Jesus from returning while proving God to be inept at keeping His covenant promises. 

Here are links to their various sites:

John McTernan-- http://johnmcternansinsights.blogspot.com/    http://www.defendproclaimthefaith.org/

William Koenig-- http://www.williamkoenig.com/

David Brennan-- http://israelomen.com/     http://israelomen.com/the-blog/  

Buy their books!  They are well worth it!!!!!

So what are the sudden destruction labor pains?  Here are a few:

• President Bush calls for "peace and security" by initiating land for peace--America is hit the same day with the Perfect Storm and Bush's own Kennebunkport home is extensively damaged--October 30, 1991
• Hurricane Andrew devastates Florida immediately after the Madrid Conference resumes on US soil.  President Bush is extremely distracted by the 30 billion dollar storm during the conference--August 23, 1992 *Costliest natural disaster up to that time
• American initiative leads the Israelis and the Palestinians to bargain over Covenant land. During the entire talks the US is hit with historic 15 billion dollar flooding in the Midwest states--April to August 1993  
• President Clinton is meeting with President Assad of Syria discussing the Golan Heights followed immediately by the Northridge Earthquake--July 16-17, 1994  *Highest Richter Scale reading in a metropolitan area to date and costing 25 million dollars
• President Clinton shuns, embarrasses and callously meets Prime Minister Netanyahu.  Shortly after, the President warmly greets Yasser Arafat in the Oval Office (Netanyahu was not brought there).  Later that day the Monica Lewinsky Scandal breaks with the President being embarrassed--January 21, 1998
• America is assisting in the drafting of a document that will yield around 13% of Judah and Samaria to the Palestinians.  Yasser Arafat is in the US to meet with Madeline Albright and Netanyahu.  Immediately, Hurricane George hits the Gulf Coast and stalls--September 28, 1998 and another billion dollar price tag.
• Netanyahu and Arafat meet at the Wye River Plantation in Maryland to resume the talks to carve up Israeli Covenant Land.  During the entire time they are in the US, Texas is hit with historic flooding--October 15-22, 1998
• While Arafat is in the US to raise money for the Palestinian state with President Clinton,  the DJIA drops unexpectedly 216 points--November 30, 1998.  The next day, December 1, 1998, Europe sees its 3rd worst market day up to that point as many European nations also pledge monetary support for the Palestinians squatting on Covenant Land.

I guess we will have to review 2000- present day later.  It would take too much space to outline all that has happened worldwide and the Israel connections.  We will speak of 9/11, Katrina, the Indonesian Tsunami, the Japanese Earthquake and Tsunami, the 2008 banking crisis and much more as all--yes ALL--are directly related to Israel and the coming of the thief for the jewels He shed His blood for.  Even the Gulf Oil Crisis is related to US policy and Israel!  Are you ready?  Jesus Christ is Soon2Come!

Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.

James 5:7-9

Offensive Love

This is a repost of an article from 2010.  There is much going on in the news and it is important that we are sharing the love of God and not cowering in the face of the enemy.  I hope you enjoy.  Blessings! 

Offensive Love

Did Jesus love? Did He love all of those that He came in contact with? He was loving at all times, is loving now and will be loving in the future.

Why all the questions? God's love is so misunderstood today. Like the false notion of complete tolerance, love has been reduced to a weak and spineless testimony by many.

Let's look at the love of Jesus Christ in action.

"Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,..." Matthew 15:7

"But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?" Matthew 22:18

"But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men." Matthew 8:33

"Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched." Matthew 9:44

"And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." Matthew 10:28

Is there any doubt of the love of Jesus?

Wow! He called a disciple satan. He told people about hell--that can't be love! He also called the Pharisees hypocrites; surely this is a mistranslation? No! The problem is that we do not have the concept of love Jesus had. At times, Jesus was quite offensive. His idea of love was closely connected with truth. Being a young Jewish Rabbi (as a man) He was well aware of verses like this from the Old Testament. "Open rebuke is better than secret love." Proverbs 27:5

"Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him." Leviticus 19:7

"He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue." Proverbs 28:23

This same notion would also carry over in the New Testament as well.

"But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?" Galatians 2:14

"Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear." 1 Timothy 5:20

When was the last time that you heard a believer rebuke another for sin in love? When was the last time a loving pastor preached a sermon on damnation?

Our definition of love leaves out truth! Jesus was truthful because He loved. As God, He knew the terrors of hell, and did not wish for one soul to end up there. He used shocking statements like "hypocrite" to awaken the sensibilities and allow those dull of hearing due to self righteousness to see their true condition. He also lovingly rebuked disciples who were listening to the enemy and not following the will of God.

You need not walk around like a judgmental prude constantly, but if the Holy Spirit urges you, you may need to share offensive love in truth. God Bless, JNNJ

Today's Prophetic Headlines

Report: Syria arms missiles with chemical warheads

Did Iran blast target steel needed for nuke program?

Sources: Iran may soon start nuclear work in bunker - Israel News, Ynetnews

North Korea making missile able to hit U.S. - Washington Times

US troops surround Syria on the eve of invasion? — RT

'We can't avoid another... JPost - Features - Insights & Features

Expert: A Threatened Assad May Attack Israel - Middle East - News - Israel National News

Mitt Romney: Islam is not an inherently violent faith | Iowa Caucuses    ***** Remember--Mormonism and Islam have many similarities and Mormonism was seen as a bridge between the two religions as early as the 1800s.  Will a Mormon President draw the two religions together?

Dubai Sheikh: Israel Can Wipe Iran Off the Map - Middle East - News - Israel National News

Saudis Threaten Nuclear Arms Race, Again - Middle East - News - Israel National News

Israel May Not Warn US of Strike Against Iran | United with Israel

Dark Sayings!

 I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.

Psalm 78:2-3

The positioning of the Psalms has always been a mystery.  Let's take the Psalms of David for instance.  Psalms 3-5 all were written in response to the coup of David's son, Absalom, which happened late in his reign.  Psalm 5 deals specifically with the advice of David's traitorous counselor Ahithophel.  Why are these Psalms near the front of the book and not much later?  Events that happened much earlier in the life of David often appear later.  The Psalm of repentance after the adultery and murder revolving around Bathsheba appears as the 51st Psalm although it happened much earlier.  There was, however, an ancient teaching that the Psalms were arranged by the Holy Spirit in such a way to outline the last days revolving around the rebirth of Israel and the Acharit Hayamim--the End of Days.  Each Psalm was believed to give pertinent prophetic information for a given year as the coming of Messiah neared.  Furthermore, the Psalms were/are divided into five books: Genesis (Psalms 1-41), Exodus (Psalms 42-72), Leviticus (Psalms 73-89), Numbers (90-106), and Deuteronomy (107-150).  In their reestablishment as a nation, Israel would go through the steps of nationhood just as in the beginning.  The Psalms were believed to sing the story of their reinstatement.  Let's consider a few Psalms in this light.

That I may shew forth all thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion: I will rejoice in thy salvation.  Psalm 9:14  Tel Aviv has been the entrance point to Israel since it became a city.  The picture above is the dedication of that city to God.  Ironically, this gate to Zion was dedicated and established in 1909.  Some feel that Psalm 9 seems to speak of this. 

Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings, They have now compassed us in our steps: they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth; Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.  Psalm 17:10-12  As WWI was winding down in 1917, British General Edmond Allenby was trying to liberate Jerusalem from the Ottoman Turks without hostilities in the streets of this ancient city.  The story goes that he cabled London and was given a Bible verse when asked how to accomplish this task.  It was Isaiah 31:5, "As birds flying, so will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver it; and passing over he will preserve it."  It gave him the idea of flying aircraft over the city in a mighty display of power.  Every available plane was used, and the Turks, many of whom had not seen airplanes, were so frightened that they threw their arms down and surrendered the Holy City.  Is it possible that the verse above seemingly references this event.  God surely had Jerusalem, the apple of His eye where His Son was crucified and will reign, under the shadow of many British wings that day!  Speaking of Britain's part, what is the symbol of Great Britain?  Isn't it a lion?  

The Psalms numbering 34 to 44 seem to outline the rise of Nazi Germany and the Holocaust.  Psalm 37 alludes to the loss of Jewish privilege in Germany and seems to give comfort that the Nazi train is about to wreck.  "For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth. For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth. The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming." Psalm 37:9-13  

Psalm 38 continues with this terrible cry for relief.  This was also the year of Kristallnacht (The Night of Broken Glass) when the Jews of Germany suffered terribly while the world looked on. "My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand afar off. They also that seek after my life lay snares for me: and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and imagine deceits all the day long."  Psalm 38:11-12  Continuing in the same vein, consider Psalm 40 and 1940, the year the Jews of Warsaw were rounded up and compassed about in the ghetto.  "For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me. Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me. Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil." Psalm 40:12-14

Of all, Psalm 42 seems to speak of the terrors of the holocaust and the nagging question asked by many--where was God in all of those deaths.  1942 saw millions of Jews killed throughout Europe.  "My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?...As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?"  Psalm 42:3 and 10 Having visited several concentration camps while in Europe I have always remembered the pictures of the many bodies and the dry bones of the ovens of cruelty.

Psalms 45-46, then, would outline the end of the Holocaust and WWII.  The rejoicing Psalm of understanding (a maschil), Psalm 45:5-6, states.  "Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the king's enemies; whereby the people fall under thee. Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre. 1946, then, would be the first full year of peace after the horrendous loss of life during this war.  Of course, most of the world was desolated as a result of the new weapons and the brutality of the war. Notice the caption verses below the picture. 

Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth. He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire. Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

Psalm 46:8-10

Of course the greatest year in Jewish history was 1948.  This year was specifically prophesied in Ezekiel to the be the year that Israel would be reborn.  Before the fledgling nation born in a day, as Isaiah said, could apply to the UN for statehood, it had to overcome British policies and ships holding back the Jews from returning to their ancient homeland.  Speaking of British ships, biblically Britain is known as Tarshish.  "Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish with an east wind."  Psalm 48:7.   The nations involved with the UN voted to allow the return of the Jews to Israel and the establishment of a Jewish state seems to be indicated as well.  However, as they passed the refurendum, the Arab states immediately threatened the Jews should they declare statehood.  Those same UN nations ran from the possibility of a Middle East war.  "For, lo, the kings were assembled, they passed by together. They saw it, and so they marvelled; they were troubled, and hasted away. Fear took hold upon them there, and pain, as of a woman in travail."  Psalm 48:4-7  Of course there was great rejoicing among Jews and Christians worldwide when the long dispersed nation was reestablished.  The descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were now freely walking about in their own reformed nation.  "Let mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of thy judgments. Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof."  Psalm 48:11-12

David Ben Gurion and the Proclamation establishing Israel

May 14, 1948

There are many other of these neat coincidences.  The Suez war of 1956 may be referenced in verses 1-3 of Psalm 56.  Psalm 67 is such a jubilant Psalm of praise as one would expect after the witness of Jerusalem is returned to the people of Torah.  Psalm 73 reminds us that the nation was nearly destroyed by the vicious and sudden attack of the 1973 Yom Kippur War.  The Arabs nearly drove the young IDF into the sea.  "But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped."  Psalm 73:2 There seems to be as many of these coincidences as there are Psalms. 

So is this true?  God does know the past from the future.  If it is, our ant-Israeli President should take notice of Psalm 109 as it would align with his taking office in January of 2009.  At any rate, one thing is for sure--Jesus Christ is soon2Come!!

I'll share some news soon!!

I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp. Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?

Psalm 49:4-5