Police officer killed in second terror attack in Paris. Elite French unit preparing operation

Reblogged from debka.com

DEBKAfile Special Report January 8, 2015, 1:22 PM (IDT)

Tags:  France on terror alert,  Islamists,

Cherif Kouachi, 32, (L) and his brother Said Kouachi, 34, (R)

A female police officer, one of two shot in the second terror attack in Paris, Thursday, Jan. 8, has died after being shot in the back in the Malakoff district. There were two gunmen – one seen with an assault rifle and a bullet-proof vest  Police captured one shooter, the second escaped – one witness said he fled into the Metro and disappeared on a train, another that he was picked up by a car. He is still at large along with the two Islamist killers, Said and Cherif Kouachi, who shot dead 12 people at the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo offices in Paris Wednesday. Unnamed sources say the brothers have been located in northern France, reported refueling their car at a gas pump. Elite French police unit in full combat gear is seen preparing for an operation. 

Somber crowds massed in the Place de la Republique at midday for a one minute of silence in tribute to the murdered journalists and police officers. We reported earlier that the youngest of three French nationals being sought by police for magazine massacre, turned himself in to the police, an official at the Paris prosecutor's office said.  French police were still in a huge manhunt for two of the attackers who escaped by car after shooting dead some of France's top cartoonists as well as two police officers, amid fears of further attacks. They were quickly identified by an identity card left in the getaway car, as two Paris-born brothers Said and Cherif Kouachi, of Algerian origin aged 34 and 32. Cherif was part of an Iraqi jihadi network dismantled in Paris and served 18 months in prison on terror charges in May 2008. The two returned from Syria in summer. The third, Hamyd Mourad, 18, is of no fixed abode or known nationality, turned himself in after seeing is name in social media.

Other arrests are taking place in circles linked to the two brothers.
Police published pictures of the two brothers Thursday morning calling for witnesses and describing the two men as "armed and dangerous."
During the attack, one of the assailants was captured on video outside the building shouting "Allahu Akbar!" (God is Greatest) as shots rang out. Another walked over to a police officer lying wounded on the street and shot him point-blank with an AK-47 assault rifle before the two calmly climbed into a black car and drove off.
The third man was not seen in any of the footage and it was not clear if he was directly involved in the attack.
A further four wounded victims are still fighting for their lives.

Tens of thousands joined impromptu rallies across France in memory of the victims and to support freedom of expression. There was no claim of responsibility. However, a witness quoted by 20 Minutes daily newspaper said one of the assailants cried out before getting into his car: "Tell the media that it is al Qaeda in Yemen!"

debkafile reported on Jan. 7 after the attack:
The heavily armed Islamist gunmen who murdered 12 people including police officers at the satirical Charlie Hebdo magazine in central Paris Wednesday, Jan. 7, got clear away and are feared by French and other European security agencies to be seeking out more targets. They are on the loose with AK-47 assault guns, a supply of ammo, and possibly a grenade launcher. Another 10 people were injured, 5 critically.
France has raised its terror alert to its highest level as it launches a massive manhunt for three killers. Its European neighbors have also taken precautions.
This act of terror raised a whole new set of concerns. The gunmen conducted themselves in the calm, deliberate manner of trained professional soldiers, rather than crazed suicidal jihadis. Their combat experience was evident, whether from fighting in the Islamic State’s battles in Iraq and Syria or other Islamist arenas.

Three years ago, Charlie Hebdo ran cartoons lampooning the Prophet Muhammad and in the current New Year, poked fun at ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
French security authorities infer that the terrorists, dressed in black and masked, were gunning for predetermined targets from the fact that they carried lists and asked for their targets by name when they passed through the corridors of the magazine building. They then shot the journalists on their list with cold-blooded precision.
According to one unconfirmed report, the Charlie Hebdo editor and lead cartoonist were among the victims.

President Francois Hollande, who arrived on the scene within minutes, commented that “40 people were saved.” They were evidently saved because they did not appear on the gunmen’s death list.

debkafile’s counter-terror sources note that this attack was the first instance in the war of terror, that Islamists murdered Western journalists for their views on religion in the heart of a West European capital.
Shouting "Allahu Akhbar!" and “We have avenged the Prophet’s honor!” theyleft the building and sped past a police force in the street, shooting accurately at the windscreens of their vehicles. They then jumped into a black getaway car which stood waiting with open doors. A short while later, they stole another vehicle and switched cars.
The president called an emergency cabinet meeting shortly after the attack. Our sources note that although French security and intelligence services have maintained a high terror alert for the past month after a series of incidents against Jewish targets, they failed to predict or forestall one of the most spectacular Islamic attacks seen in Europe in recent years.

11 dead, four wounded critically in shooting at headquarters of French satirical newspaper

Reblogged from www.jpost.com/International

Five others suffered gunshot wounds; Witness tells French TV channel iTELE that men with Kalashnikov guns entered Charlie Hebdo offices.

A policeman stands guard outside the French satirical weekly "Charlie Hebdo" in Paris, February 9, 2006.. (photo credit:REUTERS) 

Black-hooded gunmen shot dead at least 11 people at the Paris offices of the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo, a publication firebombed in the past after publishing cartoons lampooning Muslim leaders and the Prophet Mohammad, police said.

President Francois Hollande headed to the scene of the attack and the government said it was raising France's security level to the highest notch.

"This is a terrorist attack, there is no doubt about it," Hollande told reporters.

Another 10 people were injured in the incident and police union official Rocco Contento described the scene inside the offices as "carnage."

"About a half an hour ago two black-hooded men entered the building with Kalashnikovs (rifles)," witness Benoit Bringer told the TV station. "A few minutes later we heard lots of shots," he said, adding that the men were then seen fleeing the building.

France is already on high alert after calls last year from Islamist militants to attack its citizens and interests in reprisal for French military strikes on Islamist strongholds in the Middle East and Africa.

British Prime Minister David Cameron described the attack as sickening.

Late last year, a man shouting "Allahu Akbar" ("God is greatest") injured 13 by ramming a vehicle into a crowd in the eastern city of Dijon. Prime Minister Manuel Valls said at the time France had "never before faced such a high threat linked to terrorism."

A firebomb attack gutted the headquarters of Charlie Hebdo, a publication that has always courted controversy with satirical attacks on political and religious leaders, in November 2011 after it put an image of the Prophet Mohammad on its cover.

The last tweet on Charlie Hebdo's account mocked Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of the Islamic State, which has taken control of large swathes of Iraq and Syria.

Let's stop idolizing the first century church and love our own churches a little more

Reblogged from Elizabeth Prata ´s the-end-time.blogspot.com.  

           

A Georgia church. EPrata photo

It's fashionable today to hate the church. People like to come across as wise sages, decrying the ecclesiology of the western church. Many people note that church is shallow, entertainment-driven, and lukewarm, with worthless shepherds leading clueless goats. Some even go so far as to say that most churches should be closed. They say they love Jesus but hate religion. They say that they love Christ but disparage the church.


Reasons are given for today's fallen churches.

-Many believers are growing tired of the celebrity culture in our churches.
-Many believers are fed up with the incessant entertainment and worldly amusements found in the churches.
-Many believers are not being fed from the Word of God.
-Many believers are put off by the attempt to cater solely to youth, while ignoring their needs.
-Many believers are tired of just being bench warmers, with no role to play.
-Many believers are weary of the constant need to be “relevant” at the expense of biblical orthodoxy.
-Many believers are looking for the real deal. They want an encounter with almighty God, not just a razzmatazz stage production.
-Many believers are desiring genuine Holy Ghost revival, not just pep talks, self-help seminars, and a me-centered gospel.
-Many believers are starving for the reality of First Century Christianity

You hear more and more that the First Century church is what we should get back to.

A Georgia church interior. EPrata photo

Now before I launch into a defense of the present-day church, I want to say that I agree with the sadness with which many people survey the ecclesiastical landscape in western and eastern Christianity and bemoan its pitiable state. I don't wear rose-colored glasses. I'm just as aware as the next woman of the Mark Driscolls, Joyce Meyers, zip-lining pastors, Steven Furticks, mega-church, Perry Nobles, flat screen hollowness, smoke saturated praise bands. I know.

I've seen a collapse of church attendance, church doctrine, and individual fervor for Jesus just in the ten years I've been a church-goer. In my short tenure I've personally been impacted by a worthless shepherd spiritually abusing his flock, and a serial plagiarist lying to his flock- and neither of them cared. I've seen people fall away, become apathetic, or simply go through the ministry motions. I've seen false doctrine creep into hearts and women be drawn away by false teachers while their husbands look the other way. It's all sad. I've cried many a tear.

Yes it's getting hard to find a church near you that is reasonably doctrinal, and lives what they believe. But for every one mega-church shenanigans, there are 100 small, rural churches clicking along, preaching, loving, believing, having stale cookies in the basement on Wednesday nights. Like mine. None of the things that understandably make us sad makes me want to say any such thing like, "Church today stinks, I want the early church." Here are my reasons.

The number one reason to stop lusting after the first century church is that Jesus put us here, now. None of this is a surprise to Him. He put us here in this time and in this nation.

And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, (Acts 17:26)

In His sovereignty and His plan, He didn't birth us in Jerusalem to see a risen Jesus and become a part of the early church. So get over it.
That first church was an ordinary church.
~John MacArthur
Second, since He did put us here now, what are we to do? Believe. Persevere. Be His lights in a dying culture that hates us. Stop worrying about the way things are in church - and I agree it's bad - but keep on keeping on.

I understand people have had to leave churches because of spiritual abuse, molesting pastors, or doctrinal disasters. I know and I agree in those and other tragic cases there is a warranted reason to leave and seek another place to worship. I also know that many people say that there simply aren't churches in their area that they'd put their trust in or allow their kids to attend. In those cases people have made do with forming their own bible studies in their living rooms and have taken advantage of technology to stay fed, until other options become available.

Let's take a good look at the first century church. Did they have to suffer through any of these issues? Oh yes, they did, and more.

In looking at Mr Muehlenberg's list of reasons to hate the 21st century church, there is nothing on that list the first century Christian's didn't grapple with.

Celebrities? They had 'em.

For when one says, "I am of Paul," and another, "I am of Apollos," are you not mere men? What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, (1 Corinthians 3:4-5)

A Georgia church steeple. EPrata photo

Not that Paul or Apollos thought themselves as celebrities, but the seeds were there to exalt men beyond their station and/or to follow them unto fractioning. There were first century unblieving church celebrities, Diotrephes was named by in 3 John 1:9 as someone who likes to put himself first-

I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church.

Sounds like Diotrephes could have written Mark Driscoll's Mars Hill excommunication letters.

As far as being "fed up with the incessant entertainment and worldly amusements found in the churches" I dare say there were a few believers in the Corinthian church fed up with Lord's table orgies.

There were some believers - whole families even - not being fed the truth, as well. (2 Timothy 2:18, Titus 1:11).

"There were also believers who felt they were bench warmers, with no role to play"...(and whose fault is that?) In the first century church, they found a role to play, and were chastised for it. (1 Corinthians 14:26-33). There have always been bench-warning, resentful believers lusting after another's gifts or a bigger 'role to play.'

If you want a first century church, then do what they did, continually devote yourself...even when the football game is on.

What was that first church like? ... They were involved in what we would consider to be ordinary actions, ordinary realities. Verse 42, “They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” Dear friends, those are the means of grace. Those are the ordinary things that every church should be engaged in. This is the life of the church. There’s nothing in there about entertainment. Nothing in there is spectacular. There’s nothing in there revivalistic. There’s nothing in there that catapults someone to some other spiritual level. ~John MacArthur, The Ordinary Church

Mr Muehlenberg wrote, "Many believers are starving for the reality of First Century Christianity". This is a sentiment echoed not just by him but many others. So let's look at that reality.

A Maine church. EPrata photo

Immediately, Peter and John were put in jail. (Acts 4:3)

Immediately, the first century church sacrificed their belongings. (Acts 4:32). Do you know why?

Because Jerusalem had swelled with Jews from distant lands for Passover and then the crucifixion happened. Then Pentecost. Many thousands of the people who formed the first church were from those distant places. Acts 2:9-11 lists them,

Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians.

They were converted, and they stayed. Thousands upon thousands of men and families stayed in Rome after they became believers. Because, really, what was there to go back to? Peter was preaching in Rome. The apostles were there, teaching. So the first century church had to support them. If you want the reality of the first century, then come together as a local church, each person in your church open your home to believing immigrants, and sell all you have to support them.

The days of purity were short. Along came Ananias and Sapphira and polluted the church by bringing sin into it. The incident is recorded in Acts 5. Days? Weeks? Most timelines I looked at place the killing of Ananias and Sapphira within the same year as Pentecost. So within 365 days at most, probably within mere weeks, corrupting sin was exposed in the church.

Let's set the scene. You're a young man excitedly arriving to worship. You see Ananias arrive too, you know him. Ananias lays a money bag at Peter's feet. Awww. Then Peter points at Ananias, calls him a liar, and he is smote on the spot! You're shocked. Terrified! (Acts 5:5b). You bundle Ananias up and bury him. Not exactly how you had planned to spend your worship day.

You return to continue worship a few hours later, and then the same things happens! Ananias' wife Sapphira arrives. You know her, seen her around. They own that big wheat field just outside of town. Peter points to her and SHE falls down dead too! You're called on to bundle her up and bury her as well. (Acts 5:7-10). Everyone is terrified. (Acts 5:11)

That is the reality of a first century church. A God who personally kills hypocrites in front of your eyes.

And it wasn't just that one time. Many partakers in the Lord's Table defiling became weak or died because of that, as a judgment (1 Corinthians 11:29-30). Jesus personally threatened to kill the false prophetess 'Jezebel's spiritual daughters if they didn't repent. That was the reality. Smiting from the finger of Jesus.

Could you say, "I want to go to another church, I don't think Peter should have pointed out Ananias' sin in front of everyone, that just wasn't loving." No. There wasn't a church down the road. For a long time, there were only seven churches in Israel and Asia.

A closed church. EPrata photo

Let's look at more of the reality of that first century church. You've arrived at your church in Sardis, expecting in a self-satisfied way that your week of ministry work will be accepted, and you'll get a heaping dose of theology to go along with that self-satisfaction. As the pastor walks to the front of the room and sits down, he says, "Today I don't have a sermon. Instead I will read a letter from John, dictated to him by JESUS."

A shock goes through the congregation. And he begins this way:

‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God." (Revelation 3:1-3)

Dead? Our church is DEAD?! You thought it was alive but the One who knows says it's dead. Quite a reality check that day for the church at Sardis.

You're in the church at Laodicea. Same scenario. Preacher goes to the front, and says instead of a sermon we will read a letter from John. He begins by telling you Jesus is so upset with you that he wants to vomit you out of His mouth. In all your comfortable riches, you never expected that. You're shocked. And upset. You want to leave this stinkin' church, and go to another, better one. Except...there isn't one.

A Canadian church. EPrata photo

Still in the first century, because John didn't die until sometime between 96 and 100 AD, you're at Thyatira. You settle in for a nice sermon and some fellowship after. Mmm, the roast smells good over there in the fire pit. The elder goes to the front, and tells you that instead of a sermon that day, he will read a letter from John dictated by Jesus. He then proceeds to tell you that the Lord of the Church HAS THIS AGAINST YOU. He is against you. They had been tolerating sin and Jesus was angry about it, and threatened to kill some women dead! If I was sitting there and reading a letter recently dictated by Jesus to John and heard my Lord had something against me, I'd just die of shame. Not the pleasant Sunday they were expecting. Anger, wrath, and threats of smiting. That was the reality of the first century church.

I've seen this quote by the eminent theologian A.W. Tozer used in support of the lust to go back to the first century church.

“If the Holy Spirit was withdrawn from the church today, 95 percent of what we do would go on and no one would know the difference. If the Holy Spirit had been withdrawn from the New Testament church, 95 percent of what they did would stop, and everybody would know the difference.”

Except we have seen that is not true. The church at Sardis was dead, and no one knew it. Ministries (works) were ongoing but none were advancing the kingdom. They had reputation only, no Spirit. The church at Laodicea had excluded Jesus, and no one knew it. He was outside knocking on the door to be let in. (Revelation 3:20)

The first century church is the same as our church, because it is made up of people who sin. Ananias' sin exposed wasn't the first sin in the church, because we're all sinners. It was just the first one that was exposed. Every local body since Pentecost has had all things in common, and that commonality is the faith in our risen Lord by His atoning work on the cross and subsequent resurrection. We have the Spirit in common. The Spirit wasn't stronger then, it's us who are weaker now.

Some of us. Some are still strong. It's life in the church, ordinary, regular, worshiping and learning church. I like my church. I stand amazed at the work the Spirit is doing in our local body. No we don't have resurrections from the dead or walls shaking with power. But we have the Spirit growing us, families staying together, pastor who prays on his knees, dedicated deacons and teachers. We have the faithful core who shows up every Sunday, and who give sacrificially when someone is in need. Just like the first century church.

In addition, we have a beautiful building in which to worship. We have freedom from persecution that took so many brothers and sisters in terror and in blood. We have the bible! The first century church did not have the advantage of the complete written New Testament! That didn't begin happening until around 170AD and wasn't affirmed until AD 363. Even then...printed materials were rarely in the hands of the people that didn't happen until the printing press made mass production possible after 1436.

In this very good article by Mark Jones, "Loving Christ But Hating His Bride?" Mr Jones said,

We must keep firmly in mind just how much Christ loves his church. That fact alone should transform the way in which we think about the church of Christ, which he purchased with his own blood.

The church grass isn't greener on the other side of the centuries. If Jesus had put me in Rome in 30AD, I'd love the church. Since He put me in Georgia in 2015, I love the church. We do the same things the first century worshipers did: we study, we break bread, we share, we pray. We also sin, we fuss, we stray and get corrected, we worship in truth, we share...we're the church. And because it's the way Jesus designed it, I wouldn't have it any other way.

Seven Major Prophetic Signs Of The Second Coming

Reblogged from http://www.raptureready.com/featured/kelley/jack350.html

 By Jack Kelley

---

 14th Annual Update January 2015 

 There are seven major prophetic signs of the Second Coming, and currently all of them are in some stage of fulfillment.  As in years past, I'll list the seven with their primary Biblical references and offer comments  from current events.  These comments are based are based on reports from a variety of international news services that have appeared in our daily "Prophecy In The Headlines" feature during the past year.

1. Israel Will Be In The Land ... Ezekiel 36:8-12, 37:21

Speaking to the Land God said,

"You, O mountains of Israel, will produce branches and fruit for my people Israel, for they will soon come home.  I am concerned for you and will look on you with favor; you will be plowed and sown,  and I will multiply the number of people upon you, even the whole house of Israel. The towns will be inhabited and the ruins rebuilt.  I will increase the number of men and animals upon you, and they will be fruitful and become numerous. I will settle people on you as in the past and will make you prosper more than before. Then you will know that I am the LORD. I will cause people, my people Israel, to walk upon you. They will possess you, and you will be their inheritance; you will never again deprive them of their children.

And to the people He said,
This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will take the Israelites out of the nations where they have gone. I will gather them from all around and bring them back into their own land.

Although Ezekiel wrote these words while the Israelites were in Babylon, they were not fulfilled in the nation's return from exile there.  Like Isaiah before him (Isaiah 11:11) Ezekiel was speaking of the second and final return, not the one after the Babylon captivity.  We know this because in Ezekiel  36:12 the Lord said His people would possess the mountains of Israel, and they would never again deprive His people of their children.  That means from the time this prophecy was fulfilled there would always be Jewish children born in Israel.  And yet in the first century, the nation ceased to exist altogether.  Therefore in 1948, when Israel took its place among the nations of the world again for the first time in nearly 2000 years, students of prophecy recognized the fulfillment of the primary sign that the end of the age was upon us.

In 2014 the demand for Israel to at least retreat behind pre 1967 borders has reached a fever pitch again, and some have even gone further. Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah, The Islamic State (ISIS - which seemed to come out of nowhere this year and is already an international menace) and other related groups are openly calling for Israel to be wiped off the face of the Earth.

Rocket fire against southern Israel reached an all time high this summer with over 700 rockets from Gaza landing on Israeli soil during a single week.  Israel mounted a 50 day military action to stop the rockets and destroy  secret underground tunnels Hamas had built under Israel's southern border.  These tunnels  would have allowed bands of terrorists to suddenly emerge within Israel and attack the unsuspecting population.  Although many of the tunnels were destroyed, the dust had barely settled before Hamas began building more, and demanding that Israel pay for the damage they caused while destroying them.Also, this year saw a further deterioration of relations between Israel and the US, and for the first time the possibility of US sanctions being imposed against Israel was raised.  Russia is also reportedly studying what beneficial effects an attack on Israel might have as a response to the west's attempts to isolate Russia for destabilizing the Ukraine. 

Anti-semitism is returning to a level not seen since WW2, several European countries have voted to recognize "The State Of Palestine", the Israeli government is taking enormous flack for declaring Israel to be a Jewish nation even though it's charter already says it is,  and its Muslim neighbors are enraged over rumors that Israel wants to make it possible for Jews to worship on the Temple Mount.  

How much more of this can Israel be expected to take?  What other legitimate country in the world is routinely subjected to such attacks?  Little do Israel's enemies know that they are acting against the stated will of God, and the more pressure they apply against Israel, the sooner God Himself will intervene of behalf of His people.  Speaking for Him, Ezekiel said, "I will display My glory among the nations and all the nations will see the punishment I inflict and the hand I will lay upon them" (Ezekiel 39:21).

2. Jerusalem Will Be In Jewish Hands... Luke 21:24

They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

Jesus prophesied that the reunification of Jerusalem as a Jewish City would be a sign that foreign (gentile) influence over the Promised Land, and indeed the world, was coming to an end (Luke 21:24). Fulfillment of this prophecy began in 1967, when Jerusalem became an undivided Jewish city again, and scholars saw it as another major sign that the End of the Age had begun.  The almost world wide effort to divide the city again is in essence a battle of wills.  Nearly every Israeli leader has stood firmly on a pledge to keep Jerusalem united forever as Israel's capital, but the unbelieving leaders of the world are just as resolutely determined to see it divided with the Palestinians.  At year end, a UN Security Council measure that would have required Israel to make East Jerusalem the capital of a Palestinian state came within one vote of passing. The Palestinian resolution might be resubmitted early in 2015 due to a change in the Security Council's make up effective January 1.

The Lord said that at the End of the Age He will make Jerusalem a cup that sends all the surrounding peoples reeling, an immovable rock for all nations.  All who try to move it will injure themselves (Zechariah 12:2-3). This year much of the talk against Israel has been focused on Jerusalem with Hamas and ISIS loudly declaring the time has come to "liberate Jerusalem."  American leaders have joined in, publicly calling East Jerusalem "occupied territory" and demanding that no more Jewish homes be built there.  They have even spoken against construction in undisputed neighborhoods of Jerusalem, saying it's harmful to the "peace process."
 Numerous "lone wolf" attacks have also occurred against civilians in Jerusalem this year with some Palestinians calling for a "Jerusalem Intifada."  Unarmed civilians and even little children have been targeted. 

The Bible tells us Jerusalem won't really be free of Gentile "trampling" until the Lord returns.  Daniel's prophecy that Gentile Dominion will not end until the Lord establishes His kingdom (Daniel 2:36-45), Zechariah's prophecy of half the city's inhabitants going into exile just before the Lord's return (Zech. 14:2), and John's observation in Rev. 11:1-2 of the Gentiles trampling the outer court of the Temple during the Great Tribulation all confirm this. But even so, the fact that Jerusalem is back in Jewish hands is another big sign that the End is coming soon.

3. A Muslim Coalition Armed And Led By Russia Will Attack The Holy Land... Ezek. 38:2-6

"Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal; prophesy against him. This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. I will turn you around, put hooks in your jaws and bring you out with your whole army--your horses, your horsemen fully armed, and a great horde with large and small shields, all of them brandishing their swords. Persia, Cush and Put will be with them, all with shields and helmets, also Gomer with all its troops, and Beth Togarmah from the far north with all its troops--the many nations with you."

Numerous historical references make it plain that Magog stands for modern Russia, and the other countries named here form a coalition based on their common religion, Islam.  Among them are Iran, several North African countries, Eastern European countries along the Danube, and the Turkic nations of Asia Minor.  A quick look at a world map will reveal that these areas are home to some of the most radical Islamic groups.  (For a detailed explanation of the modern nations to which these Biblical names refer, read "An In Depth Look At The Modern Equivalent To Biblical Names in Ezek.38".

As I mentioned above, Russia is exploring the possibility of attacking Israel (using Syrian and Hezbollah forces) in retaliation for  the US led imposition of sanctions arising from Russia's annexation of the Crimean Peninsula.  Additionally, Hamas has come back under Iran's sponsorship and will soon be headquartered in Tehran.  This now gives Iran proxy armies on both the northern (Hezbollah) and southern (Hamas) borders with Israel. Iran has also begun funneling arms into the West Bank with a goal of completely surrounding Israel with a strong, motivated, and well equipped army.

Recent reports also reveal that the US and Iraq are putting together an army of Iraqi Shiite soldiers for the purpose of countering the Sunni ISIS forces, and that this army will be under the direct control of Iran.  Iranian sources claim this new army will be even bigger than Hezbollah, which is also Shiite.  Iraq will provide the manpower, the US will contribute training, funding and weaponry, and Iran will assume the leadership responsibility.  Supplies are already being stockpiled for a major operation against ISIS in 2015.

It doesn't take much of an imagination to predict that this new army could easily be turned against Israel at the proper time.  If so, then the US will have been complicit in helping the Muslim coalition fulfill Ezekiel's prophecy. 

It's important to remember that  Ezekiel 38 calls for a sneak attack on Israel.   Currently that  prerequisite is the major obstacle to an early fulfillment of Ezekiel's prophecy.  It has to occur at a time when Israel is "a peaceful and unsuspecting people, living without walls or gates" (Ezekiel 38:11) and this certainly is not the case today.

But Psalm 83 and Isaiah 17 are yet-to-be-fulfilled prophecies that, taken together, appear to involve all of Israel's next door neighbors in another attempt to wipe the Jewish nation off the map.  A victory by Israel would explain why these next door neighbors do not appear on Ezekiel's list of antagonists, although you'd expect them to be at or near the top.  It would also explain how Israel could soon be living in a perceived state of safety as Ezekiel 38:11 requires.  Currently there doesn't seem to be any other way for  the Israelis to think they're living at peace with no threat on their borders.  The resulting semblance of peace could be just enough to cause Israel to let down its guard, making it vulnerable to attack. 

Another prerequisite for Ezekiel's battle is clearly being met.  Until recently, Israel really hasn't had any wealth to speak of, but offshore oil and gas discoveries, said to be worth billions of dollars, could provide the wealth necessary to make Israel an attractive target for attack.  This could fulfill the precondition of  Ezekiel 38:13 that Russia will be looking for plunder.  These discoveries could make enough natural gas available to supply Israel's needs for more than 100 years while turning the country from a net importer to a net exporter of natural gas.  Russia is already looking for ways to get involved in bringing this gas to market, and according to Ezekiel they'll eventually go to war in what will turn out to be a failed attempt to do so by force.  Ever on guard, Israel has just ordered several more warships from Germany to help protect its offshore oil and gas platforms.

The removal of the US as Israel's powerful ally is also necessary to pave the way for Ezekiel's battle.  I believe this is well underway.  Because of recent experience, many in the Middle East, including Israel, no longer expect the US administration to follow through on its promise to "have Israel's back" if it should come to that.  Add to that the rising threat of a terrorist event in our homeland, our continuing economic struggles, and the nearness of the Rapture nf the Ciurch, and it's becoming a whole lot easier to see how the US could abandon its commitment to Israel. 

When the time is right, having recently taken His church to Heaven, the Lord will use this battle to orchestrate His reconciliation with Israel, and on its heels the anti Christ will emerge with a peace plan that includes a Jewish Temple. So once this battle takes place, end times prophecy will really go on fast forward.

4. The Ancient Roman Empire Will Re-Emerge As A Political Force... Rev 17:9-10

"This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits. They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for a little while."

This one is a little obscure if you don't know your history. When John was writing this, about 95AD, there had been five great world powers; Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, and Greece. All had been conquered and absorbed. The current power was Rome, which was never really conquered and will re-emerge at the end of the age.

 About 600 years earlier, the Prophet Daniel had spoken of a period of time theologians call Gentile Dominion that gives us added insight into Rev. 17:9-10. In Daniel 2:36-45 Gentile Dominion is symbolized by a giant statue that Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, had dreamed about.  Egypt and Assyria had recently been defeated by Nebuchadnezzar, and Daniel said the statue represented the four remaining Gentile kingdoms, which we know as Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome.  In the dream, Babylon was the head of the statue and was made of gold.  Persia was the chest and arms, made of silver.  Greece was the belly and thighs of bronze, followed by the two appearances of Rome, two legs of iron (Biblical Rome) and two feet of iron mixed with clay (the revived Roman Empire). After that God would set up His own, eternal, kingdom.

There are some interesting details in the description of the two feet upon which the statue stands.  Remember, they represent the end times version of the Roman Empire.  Let's read it. 

Just as you saw that the feet and toes were partly of baked clay and partly of iron, so this will be a divided kingdom; yet it will have some of the strength of iron in it, even as you saw iron mixed with clay. As the toes were partly iron and partly clay, so this kingdom will be partly strong and partly brittle. And just as you saw the iron mixed with baked clay, so the people will be a mixture and will not remain united, any more than iron mixes with clay (Daniel 2:41-43).

In the first place iron and clay don't mix. We can imagine sticky clay serving as glue that holds pieces of iron together, but the language describes a clay that's already baked, hard and brittle like shards of pottery. 

You can't make random pieces of iron and pottery adhere, and according to Daniel 2:41-43 this will be the end times empire's insurmountable problem.  Today the western leg is known as Europe while the Eastern leg consists of the Islamic nations of the Middle East.  Although the world is currently focused on the economic challenges Europe faces, ultimately the number one issue of this end times empire will be that of integrating the vastly dissimilar  cultures of the western and eastern legs. They are just too different to be blended and already the failure of the European social experiment called multi-culturalism has become evident.  Throughout the end times the revived Roman Empire will be partly strong (eastern leg) and partly brittle (western leg) and will not adhere.

I'm convinced the aggressive and growing culture of the eastern leg (Islam) will overtake the dying culture of the west and become the dominant voice of Europe.  Recent claims by ISIS predict major inroads into Spain and eastern Europe in the coming year, and current growth trends show that Islam will be the dominant religion in the UK within 10 years.  Only France and Germany seem to be pushing back against the growth of Islam in their countries.  Nevertheless, the prophecy clearly shows both divisions present until the Lord returns to set up His Kingdom, putting an end to Gentile Dominion forever, whether Islamic or not.  (Daniel 2:44).

 5. The World Will Embrace A Single Religion... Rev 13:8

All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast--all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world.

Islam is a major religious force in the world today and its goal is nothing less than world domination, by any means necessary. It's the world's fastest growing religion and is second only to Christianity in number of adherents. Already nearly one out of every four inhabitants of the world is Muslim.  I'm no prophet, but as I look into the future, it's much easier for me to see Islam riding its current wave of momentum to fill the void left by the departure of the Church than it is to imagine some watered  down mix of apostate Christianity and New Age Mysticism doing so.

 By now most serious students of the end times are aware of Muslim prophecies of the one they call alMahdi and their striking resemblance to Christian prophecies of the anti-Christ. For example, both show a leader coming on the scene during a time of great turmoil on Earth.  Both depict him as man of peace who will have a seven year reign, head up a one world religion and one world government, and claim supernatural origins.  Both prophecies culminate in a battle between good and evil that brings about Earth's final judgment.  It's as if they're pointing to the same person. The difference is that in Islam he's a good guy, while the Bible calls him evil. 

Take this charismatic political and religious leader with his supernatural power, add the widely held but incorrect belief that God and Allah are the same, and that Islam is a religion of peace, and then subtract the spirit of discernment that will disappear with the Church and you can see how this charismatic Islamic leader could unite a frightened world on the brink of disaster. 

Currently there's am ongoing battle between the two major sects of Islam, the Shiites and the Sunnis. A substantial majority of Muslims are Sunnis (1.2 Billion) while only 200 million are Shiite. They agree on many aspects of their faith but are sharply divided when it comes to which sect will control the Islamic world. 

You can see this in real time with ISIS (Sunni) attacking Shiites in Iraq and Syria, and with Iran (Shiite) in league with the West against them.  Also, some observers believe a major factor in the current oil price war is due to Saudi Arabia's (Sunni) attempt to bring arch rival Iran (Shiite) to ruin. The fact that Russia, a friend of Iran's and a major competitor of Saudi Arabia, is also on the economic ropes because of this price war is frosting on the cake for the Saudis.  Saudi Arabia has massive oil reserves and can afford to undersell the market for years if necessary to destroy its enemies/competitor.  

(It will be interesting to see how the US fares in all this. Right now we're enjoying the lowest gasoline prices in years.  But Saudi Arabia's goal is to undercut America too, since our burgeoning shale oil production has made the US a major threat to Saudi dominance that has to be eliminated.  US industry sources are predicting as many as 550 drilling rigs will be idled within the first quarter of 2015 since current market prices for oil are below US production costs.  That's about 25% of America's rigs. The entire world economy could be further destabilized by this price war. The blessing of low prices at the gas pumps could soon become a curse.)

 6. The World Will Accept A Single Government... Rev 13:3

The whole world was astonished and followed the beast.

When you look at the deteriorating shape of the world today, it doesn't take much to imagine conditions getting to a point where people will cry out for a leader who can bring order out of chaos.   Whether the issue is climate change, the decline of the US dollar,  the slow motion economic collapse of Europe, war in the Middle East, or the price of oil, the one solution most leaders agree on is the need for some form of coordinated world government. With the things that already threaten our stability getting worse by the day, how much more frantic will people be after millions of their neighbors suddenly disappear in the rapture without warning or explanation, and there's been a war (Ezekiel 38) that brings destruction from Europe through the Middle East and into Russia?  When people become convinced that their problems cannot be solved by human means alone they look to the supernatural for answers. 

In this regard, Paul wrote:The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing (2 Thes 2 :9-10). A leader who promises to restore peace and safety and demonstrates miraculous power that astonishes everyone will quickly be given the reins of world government.  By many accounts, this lawless one is standing in the wings as you read this, awaiting his cue.

7. Babylon Will Re-Emerge As A Prominent City In World Affairs... Rev 18:2-3

With a mighty voice he shouted: "Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great! She has become a home for demons and a haunt for every evil spirit, a haunt for every unclean and detestable bird. For all the nations have drunk the maddening wine of her adulteries. The kings of the earth committed adultery with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries."

You may not realize this, but Babylon is being made ready to accept its destiny as a focus of world power in the end times.  It's just a ceremonial city right now, but 25 years ago nobody even knew it existed at all. One of the shocks of Gulf War 1 was the discovery of Babylon standing there on the banks of the Euphrates River.  Today there's a concerted effort underway to complete what Saddam Hussein began and  return Babylon to world prominence.

But more has already been accomplished than most people think. For example, if you take a close look at the dimensions and capabilities of the new US embassy in Baghdad you will see how easily it could be prepared to house a world governmental headquarters. At 104 acres, it is the largest and most expensive embassy in the world, and is nearly as large as Vatican City.  Babylon is only about an hour away by car. 

In addition, one of Saddam Hussein’s palaces overlooks ancient Babylon and has been completely restored as a hotel and tourist destination. It could*easily iouse the anti-Christ and his entourage.  Finally, there are several large military installations nearby as well.  In short, preparing Babylon to become the capitol of the world won’t take anywhere near as long as most people think.

Because of Babylon's current lack of importance in the world, some students of prophecy search for an allegorical fulfillment of its destruction described in Rev. 18, and of course many see the USA or some American city as a logical candidate.  But remember, even though in Revelation 17:9 John describes "mystery Babylon" as seated on seven hills, a prophecy in Zechariah 5:5-11 shows it being moved "to the plains of Shinar" a reference to ancient Mesopotamia called Iraq today. We can't switch from literal to allegorical interpretations of Scripture without clear direction, and where Babylon is concerned no such direction exists. In fact the opposite is true.  Almost from the beginning, the Bible has been a tale of two cities.  Jerusalem is the city of God while Babylon has always been the city of man.  Both disappeared from the world stage for many centuries, but when Jerusalem came back it was to its original location.  The Bible says the same will be true of Babylon.

Birth Pains ... Matt. 24:6-8

You 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. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.

 Experts said the big things to watch for in 2014 would be the actions of nation against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there's no sign of a let up in 2015.  All around the globe nations are either preparing for war or at war. In the Middle East, we could easily see the fulfillment of Psalm 83 and Isaiah 17. 

In the Far East, China is building up its military capabilities.  According to a recent US Department of Defense report, "the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is engaged in a massive, extensive modernization program, drawing upon the resources of a constantly expanding economy (now the world’s second largest) to support these improvements.  In addition to the ground forces,  the PLA Navy, the PLA Air Force, the Second Artillery (China’s rocket forces), as well as space and cyber-espionage capabilities are all being expanded and upgraded."  In 2014 China launched its first aircraft carrier, nuclear armed submarines, and a stealth fighter aircraft.  In addition to the obvious threat this poses to China's neighbors, it has also been reported that China eventually expects to go to war against the US. 

Africa has become a major battleground as forces loyal to Islam continue in their efforts to gain control of the continent.  Somalia and Sudan, the Congo, and Libya are but a few of the hot spots that have created millions of  refugees and internally displaced people. Thousands of people have been slaughtered from a number of conflicts and civil wars on the African continent. 

There will  be big problems in the EU if they can't stabilize their economy in 2015.  World financial leaders have warned that Europe's failure to resolve their difficulties will plunge the world back into an even worse recession than the one we've supposedly just come out of.  Predictions are being made of widespread civil unrest  as the consequence of Europe's failure to solve its economic problems.

Food prices remain uncertain and experts warn us not to relax.  The price of food will continue to be volatile and among the poor will still consume more than 45% of household income.  Already 1 out of every 6 people in the world goes to bed hungry every night. Experts have said it would only take one or two years of poor crop production to bring a serious famine to the world.  Here in America, participation in the food stamp program has dropped to 46 million from its high of 48 million in 2012. (Much of the decline was due to several states adding work requirements to the qualification process, causing people to drop out.) Even so, two thirds of all children in the US now receive some kind of welfare assistance. 

But many places in the world don't have a government willing or able to go into debt to feed them.   According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, one person out of eight in the world's population suffers from chronic undernourishment.  Half of the world's 10.9 million child deaths each year is at least partly due to undernourishment.  That works out to 6,000 children every day. 

Most experts have finally agreed that earthquakes have steadily become more frequent in recent years.  They are are now an everyday occurrence, averaging in excess of 3 earthquakes with a magnitude of 5.0 or higher somewhere in the world every day.  Some services are now routinely tracking volcanic eruptions as well, noting that their frequency is also increasing. 

The Lord said these birth pangs would be the early warning signs of the approaching End of the Age,  so I have included the above examples to confirm my belief that we're very close to our last days on Earth.  While predictions of what 2015 may bring are all over the spectrum, Christians needn't worry because we walk by faith not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7).  Our citizenship is in Heaven and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ (Phil. 3:20).  Therefore, having seen these things beginning to take place we stand up and lift up our heads because our redemption is drawing near (Luke 21:28).  These promises have never been more important to us than they will be in 2015.     01-03-15. 

Muslim Brotherhood - Eric Stakelbeck - English with Portuguese subtitles.

How to hear God´s voice and know His will

By Shane Idleman , CP Guest Contributor

January 2, 2015|12:28 pm    

• 
            (Photo: Shane Idleman)

Let me begin by applauding your desire to know God's will. This is often a sign of spiritual health. God guides those who are willing to follow.
When it comes to knowing God's will, more often than not, unless it's written in His word, there are no specific answers. For instance, the Bible doesn't say who to marry or where to work, but it does offer important principles that lead you in the right direction. However, there are other areas that are clearly God's will for our lives: to be saved and to worship Him, to be holy and set apart for His glory, to be filled continually with the Holy Spirit, to witness to others, to make disciples, and so on. (Refer to I Timothy 2:4; I Thessalonians 4:3-7; Ephesians 5:17-18; and Matthew 28:19.)

Although this article will not outline God's specific will for your life, it will provide guidance for the journey. The best way to know God's will is to be filled with His Spirit, pray for direction, and obey His word. For example, I'm alarmed at the number of couples who are convinced that God is leading them toward marriage, yet they engage in premarital sex and are considering living together before marriage. I'm equally amazed at the number of people who don't have a servant's heart, who don't apply the word, who don't spend time in prayer, who don't display humility, and yet think the Spirit is leading them.

Let me be clear: God directs us to make "wise" decisions that correspond with His word. Disobedience leads to disappointment. Ask, "Is God truly guiding me?" Before making an important decision. Furthermore, if you're not in the word, the word won't be in you.
One of the best ways to know if God is truly guiding you is to pray, stay, and obey—stay in His Word; obey His principles, and ask for direction. "God is more likely to direct me through wise teaching than through inner voices" (J.I. Packer). Packer isn't discounting the work of the Holy Spirit, but he is cautioning against "inner voice" impulses fueled by man's sinful nature and desires.

Unfortunately, Satan, the world, and our flesh all work against us: God's leading calms your heart, but the flesh wants to rush. God leads, but Satan pushes. God calms, but the flesh obsesses. God encourages, the world discourages. God reassures, the world frightens. God enlightens, Satan confuses. God convicts, Satan condemns.

The need to stay, pray, and obey is absolutely vital when it comes to knowing God and His will. The word opens spiritually blind eyes; it leads us in the right direction; it conquers deception; it crucifies sin instead of justifying it; it exposes instead of excuses; it prevents danger instead of leading us in to it.

Often, we follow the wrong voice...the wrong "god" because we live in deception - hearing but not doing (cf. James 1:22). Worshiping God and applying the word saturate our spiritual lives much like allowing a slow dripping water source to renew a dying bush. A plant that was once dead, barren, and unfruitful can once again be alive, active, and fruitful. And so can you: "The world has yet to see what God can do with a man [or woman] who is fully committed to Him" (encouraging words said to D.L. Moody).

Satan's ultimate plan is to distance us from God - "to kill, steal, and destroy" (John 10:10). A study bible offers these five points: 1. Doubt: Makes you question God and His goodness. 2. Discouragement: Makes you look at your problems rather than God. 3. Diversion: Makes the wrong things seem attractive so that we want them more than the right things. 4. Defeat: Makes you feel like a failure so that you don't even try. 5. Delay: Makes you put off doing something God wants you to do so that it never gets done.

Sin is deceptive: it blinds, leads us away from God, deceives us into a false sense of security, justifies poor choices, excuses wrong behavior, and prevents us from fulfilling the will of God. The application of God's word redirects and brings clarity and joy to our lives.
Imagine how much more encouraging it will be when you begin to saturate yourself with God's word on a daily basis and remove many of the distractions and discouragements of life. Begin today.

If you're searching for God, I encourage you to look to the One who has the answers and surrender your life to Him. No matter what you have done or have experience you can turn to Christ and start anew: "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved" (Romans 10:9).
One famous quote captures it well: "A true measure of a person is not who they were, but who they will become." It's all about Who you know!

Related links from this blog´s author:

Personal Testimonies of God´s providential guidance:

• A single short sentence that saved my life
• 1. Personal Encounters of a Young Believer - Part I
• 2. Personal Encounters of a Young Believer - Part II
• 3. Personal Encounters of a Young Believer - Part III
• Spunky the miracle dog

 Related:

One Word Changes Everything; Can You Handle The Truth?

Can a Person Be Gay and Still Be a Christian?

Should Christians Say, 'God Has a Wonderful Plan For Your Life?'

Hope for the Broken: Married, Single, Separated, or Divorced

Muslims Torch 940 Cars Across France on New Year’s Eve | Pamela Geller, Atlas Shrugs

Muslims Torch 940 Cars Across France on New Year’s Eve | Pamela Geller, Atlas Shrugs

John MacArthur and Cultural Liberalism

John MacArthur and Cultural Liberalism

Welcome to Laodicea

Reblogged from: concerningthetimes.com

Posted by: Howard Green

 

What is it about Bible prophecy and end times dialogue that sets some Christian’s teeth on edge? The reason I’m asking the question is because I can’t remember a time when apathy regarding the Lord’s return has been so widespread. If we were talking about a pagan view of the last days…the previous statement wouldn’t seem so provocative. We are discussing apathy of so many in the Church…..that is why the matter is of deep concern. A few months ago, I defended the importance of Bible prophecy and it’s not my intent to review the subject. What I want to bring to our attention today is a ‘heart’ issue. I want to make a clear distinction between those who ‘love His appearing’ and those who to be blunt…..couldn’t care less.

Just like some people in the the 1st century church, we also have people inside the church now who are lukewarm, complacent, and slumbering. Welcome to Laodicea:  Many inside of our churches today aren’t watching and waiting…….they are scoffing.
Is it just me, or have you also noticed a growing disconnect between some professing believers and those of us who are longing for the Lord’s return as well? I know spiritual apathy has always been around, bu the level and fervor of the scoffers inside the church is reaching a fevered pitch. This lukewarm condition inside the church captured my full attention after I read an article on the Christian Post that was about prophetic events and our time. While I found the article interesting, it wasn’t what captured my attention. It was all of the comments following it that stunned me. I understand just because a media outlet has the word ‘Christian’ in it’s name, it doesn’t necessarily make every article biblical. I’m simply highlighting the fact that a majority of the readers of these publications would most likely call themselves a Christian.

I rarely look at the comments at the end of articles in secular media because it is there where you will find the most vitriolic, hateful, crass, and demeaning words one person could ever write to another. It is just the sad reality of our day and a clear lens into the condition of the unregenerate human heart. Occasionally I do read some of the comments that follow a piece in so called ‘Christian media’ simply to get the pulse of where we are as the body of Christ.

As I started reading the comments referring to the end time article, I was stunned. I decided to research other very recent articles written about Bible prophecy in recent weeks and what I found was the same complacent, slumbering, faithless mindset that I found comments below the original article. It wasn’t necessarily the apathetic nature of the comments that stuck me….as much as the sheer numbers of self professing ‘Christians’ and their animosity toward other believers that was so sad.

I believe the growing disconnect among a growing number of some ‘Christians’ toward those of us who love His appearing is a direct result of being lukewarm. Remember who the Lord is addressing…..the church in Laodicea, these weren’t outsiders. These were people who named the name of Jesus, stood during the same worship time, and perhaps prayed alongside other believers.

“And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.

Revelation 3:14   ‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”

Can you hear the tenderness in Jesus’ words? Isn’t it just like our Lord to reprove us with stern words of warning just as any loving Father would? The point is that He is telling those in the 1st century Laodicean church the same thing He is telling people today:  I’m standing at the door now. I want you to know Me and I want all of you….not just on one day a week. You are smug in your prosperity and self reliance……not even aware that you have nothing apart from Me. My return is near…..are you ready? Can’t you see the Lord reaching out to those He loves with mercy and asking them to repent and turn to Him?

Our God is a jealous God and He won’t compete for attention. Lukewarmness is a symptom of a heart that may be content with ‘religious activity’ and all this life has to offer. True lasting contentment is found in Christ alone.  That is why Jesus is imploring the lukewarm of John’s day and now in our day to get off of the fence and throw open the door to Him. What is on the other side of the door? Nothing less than the fullness of God through the person of Jesus and His presence. He promises the repentant lukewarm ‘believer’,  I will be with you, I will know you, and you will be with me on My throne. How do we conquer and overcome? It’s not by religious activity, piety, or human effort. It can only be done by the work of the Holy Spirit of God living in and through us. His mercy and grace extends to us even now……he is ready to answer anyone who calls on His name by faith.

Now let’s look at how different the heart that’s been regenerated and sanctified by the grace of God differs from the heart of the lukewarm person who claims to be a believer. Some of these are statements I’ve read by ‘professing Christians’ and I’m paraphrasing:

“This is nightly news or newspaper eschatology!” “This Great Tribulation stuff is silly…..it all happened in the 1st century.” Every time something happens….the doom & gloomers come out of the woodwork.”  These things have been going on for years….here they go again trying to sell books and get rich.”  “It’s been 2,000 years & people are still falling for this tripe.” “People have been saying we are in the end times for 100s of years…..when haven’t we not been?” “Funny how many people believed the end times would be in THEIR lifetime…..it’s terribly egocentric.”

Far from being edifying……the previous statements are clearly indicative of a lukewarm heart focused on the here & now instead of the will of God. These are not the railings of a worldly person who thinks Christians are out of touch, but the railings from the heart’s abundance of of a lukewarm Christian.

By contrast, the heart that’s centered in God’s will and walking by His Spirit will be known by it’s fruit. it is the heart that prays:  Come quickly Lord Jesus. It is this kind of believer that is in this world, but not of it. It is this kind of believer that can look at the world news headlines and know…….surely His coming is at the door.

I want to close with this friends:   I expect pressure from the world and in reality, isn’t that the way it’s always been for the follower of Jesus? What I am coming to expect now…….is increasing pressure from inside. The time we live in is very unique. Not only are we feeling pressure from the world, but now more and more ‘Christians’ are also turned off because we expect the rapture of the church as a real distinct possibility at any moment. Scoffers in the world wagging their fingers at the notion we believe Christ’s coming is at the door is one thing, but the fact that many of those doing the finger wagging are ‘inside’ the church is very telling.

2 Peter 3:1  This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.”

Since we live at a time when so many are scoffing at the fact that Jesus will return soon……it encourages me to be ready all the more. It makes me want to reach out to those who are stuck in the lukewarm mire right now. Some of you may be asking, “Isn’t that casting pearls…?” I would say no…….unless our loving admonishment is met by a continued ‘unrepentant’ life pattern by one claiming to be a Christian. Then it may be time to move on and lovingly warn others while continuing to pray for those people before. Jesus stands at the door and knocks. We have the truth of the Bible when we tell people with confidence:  In His own words….Jesus said He was coming soon three times in Revelation 22. Nothing cuts through the mire of the heart like the Bible does.

It is a loving thing to bring a brother or sister to repentance, but repeated scoffing and hard-heartedness toward the things of God is another matter all together.

I want us who love His appearing to get in the practice of encouraging one another as we see the day approaching. I value your prayers if the Lord is leading you to pray for this ministry. I’m mindful of other ministries, writers, and friends who are not welcome in Laodicea. Many in the world and inside the church don’t want to hear that Jesus is coming back for His people & judgement will follow. Keep on faithfully proclaiming the gospel and the soon return of the Lord.

All for Him,

Howard