Thursday, June 2, 2011

Prophecy Today Q&A: "Sad For My Unbelieving Friends And Family" -Jack Kelley


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Jack Kelley

Sad For My Unbelieving Friends And Family

Q. I know Jesus is my Savior, and long for His return. I see so many of my friends and family who don’t feel the same way, and am sad for them. The situation in my life now is such that I am choosing to lean on Him more than ever. But I got a comment from my cousin that caused me to pause and think. She wrote, “I’d be hesitant to associate myself with another being [Jesus] who says things like that, or refers to his followers as ‘sheep’, or thinks good people who don’t know him should suffer.”  I know that Jesus’ love is offered freely to all, and that He doesn’t want us to suffer, but we must choose to follow Him. I’ve made up my mind, and I think she has also, but what can I tell her?

 

A. Like all unbelievers your cousin thinks Jesus is just another man and rejects the notion that our Creator has the right to hold us accountable for our actions.  Unbelievers have a relative standard of behavior that lets them believe some people are good and don’t deserve punishment.  But the Bible says no one is good except God alone (Mark 10:18) and that all have sinned and fall short of His glory (Romans 3:23).

I think you’re right about your cousin so rather than try to come up with a good response, your best strategy is to pray that God will open her mind to further discussion about her need for a Savior.

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Prophecy Article Today: "'Priestly Blessing on Jerusalem Day" - Hillel Fendel

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First Time: Temple Mount Priestly Blessing on Jerusalem Day

 
by Hillel Fendel
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Hundreds of religious Jews from all streams were able to happily commemorate the 44th anniversary of the first-ever entry of Israeli soldiers onto the TempleMount.

For the first time in the history of Israeli restrictions on Jewish entry to the Temple Mount, the recitation of the Priestly Blessing was permitted there.  It happened on Wednesday, Jerusalem Reunification Day, when hundreds of visitors – all of whom immersed in a mikveh (ritual bath) prior to coming and took other precautions required by Jewish Law – were allowed to enter the Temple Mount in groups of 30-40.

Among them were several Cohanim (descendants of Aharon the Priest).  They spread their hands in the customary manner and recited, “May G-d bless and watch  over your… May G-d shine His countenance upon and show you grace… May G-d raise His countenance towards you and grant you peace” (Numbers 6, from the portion to be read aloud this week in synagogues throughout the Jewish world).

Rabbi Yisrael Ariel, head of the Temple Institute and one of the paratroopers who helped liberate the Temple Mount in 1967, and who was miraculously saved from death at the tim, recited aloud the blessing, “Barukh – Thou art the source of blessing, G-d, Who performed a miracle for me in this place.” Many visitors and listeners, including policemen, recited "Amen!”

The visitors specifically noted the fair and pleasant attitude displayed by the police, as well as the preparations and security precautions they implemented for all those wishing to ascend to the Temple Mount on this date.

In addition to the above, Rabbi Yoel Elitzur delivered a Torah lesson on Temple-related issues, after which the participants – again, including policemen – stood for the recitation of the Kaddish.

Despite the close proximity of the Moslem Waqf policemen and their obvious anger, the visit went off nearly without a hitch. One Israeli policemen yelled angrily and threatened the Jewish visitors, but that incident ended relatively quickly. 


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Is it Biblical: Is homosexuality a sin? -Blogos



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"IS IT BIBLICAL"

Is homosexuality a sin?

As we continue looking at the top 20 most frequently asked questions on GotQuestions.org, #2 is another one that I wish I could avoid. There is probably no other topic that produces such angry and hateful replies as homosexuality. Saying that homosexuality is a sin is probably the ultimate taboo in current society, at least in Europe and the USA.

The question of whether homosexuality is a sin has become the “third rail,” if you touch it, you will be electrocuted! Those who are promoting the homosexual agenda purposefully attack with over-the-top outrage and vitriol in order to frighten and discourage Christians from speaking out on the issue. If you believe homosexuality is a sin, you hate homosexuals. If you believe what the Bible says about homosexuality, you are a hateful, homophobic bigot. The gay rights movement has gone far beyond fighting for equal rights. They are now, in fact, fighting to take away the free speech rights of those with whom they disagree. How long before it becomes illegal to say that homosexuality is a sin? How long before the search engines begin banning any sites that state homosexuality is a sin?

The Bible absolutely condemns homosexuality as an immoral and unnatural sin (Leviticus 18:2220:13Romans 1:26-271 Corinthians 6:9). Homosexuality is a result of the Fall. The Fall has infected the entire human race with sin, and sin warps, twists, and distorts what God created us to be. Homosexuality is clearly a perversion of the created order. Obviously, men and women were designed to “fit” together sexually. One does not have to believe what the Bible teaches in order to recognize that homosexuality is not the way things are supposed to be. The obviousness of the sinful nature of homosexuality is likely the reason why the gay rights movement responds which such hate towards anyone who dares to question the rightness or normalness of the lifestyle. If it was not so obviously unnatural, if it was so clearly normal, there would be no need for the gay rights movement to be so vitriolic.

Sadly, some Christians (and/or some who claim to be Christians), take the Bible’s teaching on homosexuality and apply/proclaim it in hateful ways. Groups like Westboro Baptist Church make it very difficult for the true Christian message to be heard and understood. What is the true biblical message? Yes, homosexuality is a sin, but no, homosexuality is not worse than any other sin. Through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, God can and will forgive the sin of homosexuality, just as He will forgive any other sin. Once a person has received forgiveness and salvation by faith in Jesus Christ, God can and will help a person to overcome the sin of homosexuality. There are thousands of examples of homosexuals find victory over and freedom from the sin of homosexuality (for examples, see Exodus International).

Probably the most difficult homosexuality-related question is: if a homosexual receives Jesus Christ as Savior, will he/she be instantly and permanently healed of all homosexual desires? Sometimes the answer is a resounding yes. Other times, homosexual impulses are a lifelong struggle. God does not deliver us from our sinful nature until we leave this world and join Him in heaven. ALL Christians struggle with sin. To say that a Christian can struggle with other sins, but not the sin of homosexuality, is unbiblical. The key word, though, is “struggle.” The Christian life is a struggle against sin, not a life of bondage to sin. Is it possible for a true Christian to give in to homosexual temptations? Yes, it is, just as it is possible for a true Christian to give in to heterosexual temptations.

Again, the biblical message is: (1) homosexuality is a sin, (2) but homosexuality is no greater sin than any other sin, and (3) God’s forgiveness, salvation, and ultimately deliverance is just as available to the homosexual as it is to everyone else. May we all remember the words of Ephesians 4:15, “…speaking the truth in love…”

Related GotQuestions.org article: homosexuality sin

 


 


 

 

Prophecy Devotional: "The Rapture The Greatest Demonstration of Sheer Holy Ghost Power Part 1” -Joseph Chambers

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Joseph Chambers

The Rapture The Greatest Demonstration of Sheer Holy Ghost Power Part 1


It is impossible to separate the power of the Holy Ghost from the Rapture and Resurrection of the Saints. If the Resurrection of Jesus Christ was clearly the Divine function of His Spirit, then our resurrection is even more the sovereign work of the same Holy Spirit. Apostle Paul said it plainly, “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.” (Romans 8:11) This verse is not only speaking of His resurrection but also our present resurrected life with a clear secondary meaning in relation to our coming resurrection. You cannot separate our present Spirit anointed life from our future Rapture and resurrection. It is all the work of His Holy Ghost in us, shedding forth the power of His resurrection. If you do not have that power working in you now, you cannot expect to receive some kind of infusion when the Son of God splits the sky.

This future demonstration of this office of the Holy Ghost is breathtaking. The powers and supernatural activities of this event will expend the greatest display ever to occur at one moment of time since creation. In fact, I think it will be so similar to creation that we can learn much from that historical moment. The account of Moses is a beautiful picture of sheer Holy Ghost creative power. When God the Father chose to create this earth, the Son of God was the Word and the Holy Ghost was His right arm. “And God said” was a statement which imbodied the action of His eternal Son, who He called the “Word.” John’s gospel begins with this account, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” (St. John 1:1-3)

But we must give His eternal Spirit His rightful place, also. Even before Jesus the Word spoke the first statement of creation, the Scripture stated, “And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” (Genesis 1:2) I love that statement, “the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” The triune God was creating this Universe and each member of the Godhead was powerfully involved. The Father made the choice, the Son spoke the Word, and the Spirit of the Father and the Son acted in supernatural powers and this cosmos “was created.” Every sphere of life in this entire created universe is throbbing with His spark of life since that moment 6,000 years ago. If His presence was withdrawn for one minute, every expression of living cells, atoms, and molecules would fold in instant death. All life is the living manifestation of the whisper of life by His mighty Spirit.

Creation was an incredible moment of mighty acts of power. Our bodies are a living testimony of this power as is all of creation. Every creature after his kind was created and Adam named them by their characteristics. Scientists baffle themselves in their study of life when they refuse to believe the account of Genesis. I have been reading a book entitled, The Body Electric. This capable doctor and surgeon speaks glowingly of the body’s ability to heal itself and has proven that our body is not just a mechanical machine. His documentation of a current, which he cannot understand acting in the human body amazes him. All I could think was how much he needs to meet this Creator I know and then he could know. The mystery of life is everywhere and God’s Spirit (the Holy Ghost) is the ordained source of every speck of that life. Nothing exists apart from our Great God.


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TheoQ&A: If God is sovereign, so what? (Who’s in charge here anyway?) -Relevant Theology


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RELEVANT THEOLOGY

Who’s in charge here anyway?”

– If God is sovereign, so what?

Ok, so what if I admit that neither ‘free’ will (mine or anyone else’s) chance, Satan, or demons can counter the plans of God or stay His hand in anything He purposes to do? How does that make a difference in my life? When the storms of life hit, when loved ones die, the economy crashes and I lose my job, what does God’s sovereignty give me? Will it bring back the dead, provide for my family, or ease the burdens I carry around daily?

When life seems to be nothing more than directionless chaos, considerHebrews 12:1 “…let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” The race marked out for us? Huh! There’s a race marked out for us? Some versions say the race “set before us.” It means “appointed, made up in advance.” Like the slalom skier who races downhill at breakneck speed, seemingly out of control, we move through the appointed gates of life and God’s complete control of every aspect of our lives keeps us on the exact course He has planned out for us.

Nothing surprises Him; nothing takes Him off His game or thwarts His plan. His purpose for each of His children is foreordained. Jeremiah 29:11 “’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” Psalm 139:16 adds “All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” So not only can we be sure that everything that happens is foreordained by God; we also have the assurance that His plan for us is for our benefit, our hope and our future.

The Lord Jesus certainly found solace in God’s sovereignty. He wasn’t answering Pontius Pilate’s questions, and Pilate said "Do you refuse to speak to me?" "Don't you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?" Jesus answered, “You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above” (John 19:10-11). Jesus knew where the power was and who was in charge of the plan. He also understood that God’s plan was for the ultimate benefit of millions who would come to Christ for salvation—the benefit, the hope, and the future promised inJeremiah 29:11.

The comfort and peace this affords to those who belong to God through Christ are huge! They are life-changing, monumentally encouraging, and profound. Imagine, though, what a horror a completely sovereign God would be if He were not also good, loving, kind, merciful, faithful, compassion, and immutable. We’ll consider that next time.


 

Prophecy Today FEATURE: "The Battle of Ezekiel 38-39 … Part 1" -Jack Kelley


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 Prophecy Today  FEATURE

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Jack Kelley

The Battle of Ezekiel 38-39 … Part 1

Table of contents for The Battle of Ezekiel 38-39

  1. The Battle of Ezekiel 38-39 … Part 1
  2. The Battle of Ezekiel 38-39 … Part 2
  3. The Battle of Ezekiel 38-39 … Part 3
  4. The Battle of Ezekiel 38-39 … Part 4, Conclusion

 

I first began studying Ezekiel 38 in the 1980′s and have watched with great interest as our changing world conforms more and more to Ezekiel’s words.  As the time of the end draws nearer the insights we gain from the changes around us give us a better understanding of Bible prophecy in general and Ezekiel 38 in particular.  In this update of our study we’ll apply these insights to Ezekiel’s 2600 year old prophecy.

 

What Time Is It?

First of all, let’s get some kind of time frame settled. Ezekiel’s prophecies are chronological.  Falling between the prophecies of Israel’s modern re-birth (Ezekiel 36-37) and the Millennium (Ezekiel 40-48),  the battle of Ezekiel 38-39 has to take place during a time of peace after 1948 but before the 2nd coming, and all agree it hasn’t happened yet. This has led some to see the passage as a description of Armageddon, but as we’ll see there are many prominent nations missing from this battle whereasZechariah 14:2 prophecies that every nation will join the battle of Armageddon.  That being the case, the time frame narrows to sometime between 1948 and the beginning of the Great Tribulation, after which no place in the world will be at peace, especially Israel.

Ezekiel prophesied that the Lord would use this battle to turn Israel back to Him and to complete the return of Jews from all over the world to Israel, not leaving any behind (Ezekiel 39:28). This leads us to believe that the battle of Ezekiel 38-39 is the event that re-starts the clock on the 490-year period of time spoken of by Daniel, the famous 70 weeks of Daniel 9:24-27. 69 of those weeks (483 years) had come when the Messiah was crucified and the Temple destroyed, stopping the clock one week (seven years) short of fulfillment. I believe the dramatic victory the Lord wins over Israel’s enemies in Ezekiel’s battle will convince them to officially re-instate their Old Covenant relationship with Him to fulfill the remaining seven years of Daniel’s prophecy.  This will require two things to happen.  First they’ll need a Temple for worship. It’s this Temple that’s later desecrated by the anti-Christ, kicking off the Great Tribulation.

And second, the Church will have to disappear. Paul wrote that Israel had been hardened in part until the full number of Gentiles has come in (Romans 11:25). That means as long as the Church is around Israel won’t be able to recognize God’s involvement in their national life.  But the Battle of Ezekiel 38 will be such a miraculous victory that it will re-awaken Israel to God’s presence. This means the Dispensation of Grace will have come to an end and the Church will be gone by the time this battle comes to an end.

With all this in mind, let’s begin a careful study of Ezekiel 38-39, to prepare us for these events should they become reality soon.

The word of the LORD came to me: “Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal; prophesy against him and say: ‘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. (Ezek. 38:1-6)

In another study, I made the claim that Gog is a supernatural figure (perhaps Satan’s counterpart to the Archangel Michael) and the behind the scenes commander of this event, while Magog is listed in Genesis 10 as one of Noah’s grandsons, a son of Japeth. Over 130 historical references demonstrate that Magog is the father of today’s Russian people. (For a more detailed treatment on the modern names of all the nations mentioned in this passage, click here.)

The phrase “hooks in the jaw” comes from the equestrian world where a special bridle is used to make a rebellious horse obedient to its rider’s commands.  It symbolizes God forcing Russia to become involved in this battle to assure that His will is done. Persia is the ancient name for Iran, Cush and Put represent the North African nations, Gomer was Magog’s brother and settled along the Danube River in what would become Eastern Europe, and Togarmah, a son of Gomer, inhabited what’s now known as Turkey. The characteristic all these nations have in common today is their religion. They’re all Moslem.

“Get ready; be prepared, you and all the hordes gathered about you, and take command of them. After many days you will be called to arms. In future years you will invade a land that has recovered from war, whose people were gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate. They had been brought out from the nations, and now all of them live in safety. You and all your troops and the many nations with you will go up, advancing like a storm; you will be like a cloud covering the land. (Ezek. 38:7-9)

The fact that Israel is the target in this passage is self evident, but a controversy rages around the Heberew word betach translated “in safety” in verse 8. A secondary meaning, “carelessly” could mean that they’re not really safe but just think they are and so their guard is down.   To achieve either of the conditions this word implies would require a truly miraculous change in Israel’s current situation and for many years scholars were uncertain as to how this could ever happen.

But a little known prophecy in the Psalms might have the answer.  According to Psalm 83 all of Israel’s next door neighbors will unite in an effort to wipe Israel completely off the map.  But Israel will soundly defeat them and capture their lands as well. Enemies like Hezbollah, Lebanon, the Palestinians, Hamas, etc.  will cease to exist, and the lands they now occupy will once again belong to Israel.  (Many people don’t realize that even the land of Lebanon was originally given to Israel and will belong to Israel again in the Millennium.)

It’s also beginning to look like the Isaiah 17 prophecy of the destruction of Damascus could be fulfilled at the same time.  Israel has officially declared that they’ll hold Syria responsible for any attack by Hezbollah, and will retaliate accordingly.  High Israeli officials have recently said that the Syrian government will not survive such a retaliation and its infrastructure will be destroyed.  This is a direct threat against Damascus.

If the fulfillment of Psalm 83 and Isaiah 17 precede the Battle Ezekiel 38, it helps explain how Israel could be taken by surprise when the Moslem coalition attacks and why none of Israel’s next door neighbors are mentioned in Ezekiel’s line up.

Next time we’ll look at the other nations that are not involved in this battle and you’ll see why it can’t be referring to Armageddon.  We’ll also see how the Lord chooses to reveal Himself to the nations. See you then.

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