Category: end time

Posted in end time, gaza flotilla, prophecy, protests, srael

Prophetic indicators on the Gaza Flotilla event

Posted on by elizabethprata

Three years ago the terrorist organization HAMAS took control of the Palestinian territory in the course of a conflict with rival Palestinian group Fatah. The Israeli navy maintains a sea blockade from three nautical miles offshore. Egypt is constructing an underground steel barrier to prevent circumvention of the blockade through smuggling tunnels.  Israel maintains that the blockade is necessary to limit Palestinian rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip on its cities and to prevent Hamas from obtaining other weapons. Egypt maintains that that it cannot open the Rafah crossing since opening the border would represent Egyptian recognition of the Hamas control of Gaza, undermine the legitimacy of the Palestinian Authority and consecrate the split between Gaza and the West Bank. The Gaza Strip has land borders with Israel and Egypt, and a sea border. Egypt fearing a spill-over of Hamas-style militancy into their territory assisted in the blockade. The sanctions were tightened in response to rocket attacks on southern Israel and Palestinian militant attacks on crossing points between Israel and Gaza. Egypt and Israel largely keep their borders with the territory sealed. Israel allows only limited humanitarian supplies from aid organizations into the Strip. [source, Wikipedia]

Nine times over the three years, ‘humanitarian aid flotillas’ have been mounted and tried to breach the blockade. Five times, the Israeli forces allowed them through. The denials have occurred when the ships were carrying banned products, such as arms or materials used for supporting arms, like cement (to make bunkers).

A rocket fired by Palestinian militants from the northern Gaza Strip flies towards an Israeli target Friday, Jan. 2, 2009. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

The Palestinians claim that there is a dire humanitarian issue in the Strip, even starvation, Israel maintains that while there is hardship, no humanitarian issue exists. And of course, if Hamas would release the land it took, then the entire issue would be over. Hamas is deaf to the pleas of the people. They continue to lob rockets, as seen above.

The flotilla approaching the Gaza Strip last night was the largest to date, with 6 ships. Haaretz reported, “IDF sources say that a clash with the activists on the ships will produce bad press from Israel’s point of view – but they believe that this is inevitable in any eventuality. … The basic assumption is that the activists are looking for a clash, and perhaps even a little bloodshed, which will be captured in the media. As far as is known, there are no arms on board the ships.”

Despite repeated warnings from the Israel Navy not to approach, the Flotilla ships did. And as they did, they were stopped by the Israeli Navy. A gunfight ensued, and 15 activists were killed. Of course, cell phones and video cameras caught the action. Unfortunately, the clash occurred in International waters.

This morning, “Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Monday that the organizers of the Gaza aid flotilla were to blame after at least 15 activists were killed when Israel Navy commandos stormed the ship. In a press conference hours after the incident, Barak said that Israel was prepared to accept the consequences of its actions and would continue to protect its autonomy. Barak voiced regret for the deaths, but called the flotilla a political provocation by and said the sponsors of the flotilla were violent supporters of a terror organization.”

Worse, Israel suspects that Hamas is combining forces with Al-Qaeda. “MIDEAST: Gaza Extremists Drifting Towards al-Qaeda?” Two separate bomb attacks on Internet cafes in Gaza last week have served as an uncomfortable reminder that extremist groups within the coastal territory may be stronger than the moderate Hamas organisation which rules the strip. The attacks in Khan Yunis preceded a warning in a study, due to be released this week by the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, that Gaza-based, militant, Palestinian groups may be moving closer to the al-Qaeda – the international Islamist network that has called for global jehad. The Associated Press (AP) has obtained a copy of the study…” [Left, a phosphorous bomb over Gaza]. Here is another report linking the flotilla activity with Al-Qaeda.

The Jerusalem Post reports the Deputy Foreign Minister said that “Their intent was violent, their methods were violent and their results were unfortunately violent,…” This is supported by the statement that “They claim to have offered to transfer all of its aid to Gaza overland from an Israeli port and say that offer was turned down multiple times.” Bad PR for Israel was the intent and that is what the flotilla organizers got, in spades, as the world turns against Israel. “It was never going to look good and Israelis knew that, but it was never meant to be this bad. That sums up Israeli reaction to the flotilla fiasco unfolding in the waters off Gaza.”

It’s pretty bad.

Now, there are protests all over the Middle East decrying Israel’s actions. Protests in Nazareth, in Beirut, in Turkey. Turkey is recalling its ambassador to Israel. Israel is warning Israelis not to travel to Turkey. Israeli forces are on high alert. Turkish protesters try to storm the Israeli consulate.

It’s really bad.

Turkey’s involvement is important because, remember, they eventually ally with the Muslim nations in the evil coalition that surprise attacks Israel in the very last days. This is the Gog-Magog battle as described by Ezekiel in chapters 38 and 39. The attack by Israel on the Gaza Flotilla seems to be a huge step toward cementing that coalitition, with wavering Turkey wavering no more and falling firmly on the side of the Muslims and against Israel.

Interestingly, terrorist group Hamas’s PR had been on the decline of late, and this event by Israel will undeniably give them a shot in the arm, bolstering their credibility in the world standing. They are already crying for the UN to do something against Israel. “Israel’s attack on Gaza flotilla outrages the world.” And again this is a prophetic indicator, because Zechariah said that “Behold, I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that causes reeling to all the peoples around; and when the siege is against Jerusalem, it will also be against Judah. “It will come about in that day that I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who lift it will be severely injured. And all the nations of the earth will be gathered against it.” (Zech 12:2-3) (photo source)

And even more indicators from Zechariah’s prophecy, Allies turn on Israel
“Israel’s allies froze military ties and summoned its ambassadors on Monday over the storming of an aid flotilla bound for Gaza, as Muslim leaders slammed the deadly raid as “criminal” and “inhuman”.”

The world is reeling this morning, against Israel, in a scene ripped from Zechariah. Oh, Lord, come soon!

Posted in armageddon, end time, prophecy

We serve a mighty God!

Posted on by elizabethprata

The scene in Gethsemane usually focused on is the sweet scene where Jesus is praying, alone. It touches the heart to see the beginning of the emotional and physical travail our Savior endured for our sakes. But John’s Gospel alone has the scene where Judas arrives with the soldiers and the soldiers approach Jesus. Jesus asks the soldiers whom they seek:

Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye? They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them. As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground. (John 18:4-6)

This is a picture of what will happen in Armageddon. Both the Old and the New Testaments are replete with passages that at once depict live events, events that are partial fulfillments of the near future, and are complete fulfillments of things that will happen in the far future. One example comes to mind, the destruction of Sodom for sin, and how Peter advised us that what happened at Sodom is an example of what will happen to the ungodly in the future.

As Jesus spoke, his very words (almost) slew the soldiers, and they fell onto their backs. This is a picture of Rev 19:15, 21

The Coming of Christ
From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. And the rest were killed with the sword which came from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse, and all the birds were filled with their flesh.

And to confirm, Isaiah 11:4;

But with righteousness He will judge the poor, And decide with fairness for the afflicted of the earth; And He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, And with the breath of His lips He will slay the wicked.

THIS is the mighty God we serve! He speaks, and the wicked fall. He speaks and worlds are made. He speaks, and angels fly. He speaks, and billions are redeemed. He is mighty and wonderful! No matter what comes upon us in this world, He will see us through it, and then see us as we fly to Him and meet Him in the air, and so we shall be with Him always!

Posted in brimstone, Does the oil platform explosion and oil spill have prophetic implications?, end time, oil, prophecy, sulfur

The Language of God: fire and brimstone

Posted on by elizabethprata

Part 1 in the series “Language of God- Hail”

First, in unusual news, Spaceweather.com reports On May 1st, volcano photographers Steve and Donna O’Meara were stunned when they photographed a perfectly shaped volcanic smoke ring blown out by Eyjafjallajokull volcano in southern Iceland:

©Steve & Donna O’Mears, http://VolcanoHeaven.tumblr.com

“This is a rare phenomenon,” say Steve and Donna. “We’ve only seen it one other time at Italy’s Stromboli volcano in 2001.” Joseph Licciardi, an earth sciences professor from Oregon State University, was there to see it, too. “The ring was visible for five minutes and then fell apart,” he told the UK Daily Mail. “I am thrilled that I was present at the event.”

The Volcanology glossary defines the smoke ring phenomenon as “quite rare.” In other volcano news,

Arenal erupts
Costa Rica’s Arenal volcano has erupted, spewing geysers of lava, ash and toxic gases from its crater and forcing the evacuation of the national park where it is located.  The 1633-metre-tall cone-shaped mountain in northern Costa Rica shuddered into activity at 4am this morning issuing eight successive rivers of lava that flowed down its steep slopes, National Volcanology and Seismology Observatory expert Elicer Duarte said.

Volcano eruption in Guatemala kills 1 injures 20 in Pacaya
President Colom declared Regions in Guatemala are in a “state of calamity” after the Pacaya volcano, 25 miles south of Guatemala City, increased its activity. Pacaya volcano, located about 15 miles (25 km) south of Guatemala City. Pacaya volcano erupted tonight and shut down Guatemala’s international airport in the capital and caused the urgent evacuation of several populations. President Colom said during a press conference that at least four people are missing after the eruption. Police said a local television journalist, who had been reporting on the volcano, died when he was crushed by falling rock. at least 20 people injured as volcanic debris fell on villages.

Ecuador’s Tungurahura erupts, causing evacuations
Lava and ash from Ecuador’s Tungurahua volcano forced the closure of Guayaquil Airport until Saturday afternoon, an airport spokesman said Friday. The glacier-capped, 16,478-foot (5,023-meter) volcano has erupted periodically since 1999, with major eruptions occurring in August 2006 and February 2008, the government’s emergency management agency said.

Is Katla Ready To Erupt And Bring Europe To Its Knees Again?
A report from University College London is pointing towards a near term eruption of Iceland’s giant volcano, Katla, according to MSNBC.com (heard through Zero Hedge). The President of Iceland has also cautioned against an imminent eruption saying that Europe, its governments, and its airline industry needs to prepare. Katla happens to be one of the largest, southernmost volcanoes in Iceland, potentially causing an even graver threat to Europe than Eyjafjallajökull.

Whether the author of the last headline knew it or not, the last headline hits close to the intent of the end time. In this period just prior to the rapture, God makes Himself known more directly and in a variety of ways. (Of course, He makes Himself even MORE known during the Tribulation). Those ways are listed in the bible throughout the New and Old Testaments, but particularly in the Olivet Discourse in Matthew, Mark, and Luke’s Gospels. In Mathew 24, Jesus tells the disciples what the generation at that time can expect, and natural disasters are one of them. One volcano erupting does not mean we are in the end time, and regularly erupting volcanoes that erupt do not mean we are in the end time. But the totality of the volcanic activity combined with the suddenness of some of them, and the appearance of rare phenomena, indicates that God may be speaking, using one of His signature languages: fire and brimstone.

God’s signature use of hail, famine, pestilence, earthquakes, and “brimstone” (sulfur) are well-known throughout history. In a recent entry, we looked at God’s use of hail as a warning to the wicked. Now, let’s look at fire and brimstone.

The KJV of the Bible offers many examples of the phrase “fire and brimstone.” Brimstone is sulfur (British spelling, sulphur). In Genesis 19, God destroys Sodom and Gomorrah for their immoral homosexuality via a rain of fire and brimstone. In Deuteronomy 29, the Israelites were threatened with the same punishment if they abandoned their covenant with God. Divine judgments involving fire and sulphur are prophesied against Assyria (Isaiah 30), Edom (Isaiah 34), Gog (Ezekiel 38), and all the wicked (Psalm 11). The ultimate book of wrath, Revelation, shows God using the punishment with fire and brimstone throughout. Here is one example…

“And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever” (Revelation 20:10, KJV)

Interestingly, in Isaiah 30:33, the breath of God is compared to brimstone: “The Breath of Jehovah, like a stream of Brimstone, doth kindle it.”

“Brimstone,” used to be the common name for sulfur. The word when used today is almost exclusively in allusions to God’s fiery wrath, with one exception in popular culture being the underwater volcano named “Brimstone Pit.” But more on that later.

According to the Jewish Encyclopedia, “sulfur is … found in Palestine, in the region along the banks of the Jordan and around the Dead Sea, both in combination with other elements and in its pure state. In the latter condition it is still employed medicinally for skin-diseases by the wandering Arab tribes, who make further use of it in the preparation of gunpowder. Brimstone is also found in the hot springs that line both shores of the Dead Sea. In one of these springs (at Callirrhoe), Herod took baths in the hope of finding a cure for his ailment (Josephus, “Ant.” xvii. 6).”

In the biblical punishments, God rained down brimstone from the sky. Volcanic eruptions also contain sulfur in its solid and its gaseous state, which, when erupting, rain down fire and brimstone from the sky. And there have been a lot of volcanic eruptions lately.

In 2008 Volcano Chaiten in Chile erupted suddenly for the first time in 9500 years. (that’s the scientists’ dateline, not the bible’s). Have the number of volcanic eruptions been increasing lately? The world’s fevered attention on the Yellowstone Volcano’s quake swarm was only a recent reminder of some of earth’s more ferocious potential for disasters…I set about quantifying the answer to whether volcanic eruptions are on the rise, or not.

First, I found this:

“How many volcanoes erupt every day?”
“The Smithsonian Institution has the Global Volcanism Network and a monthly bulletin about eruptions. About 50 to 60 eruptions happen each month. Some volcanoes are in constant activity — Stromboli, Kilauea, or Sakurajima, for example. There are many examples of volcanoes which show some sign of renewed danger and then erupt within an hour, though more commonly, within one day. Most eruptions last hours but some continue for weeks and months.”

However, in looking further, I found data that gives a better view over time. It seems that the stated average of “50-60” is much higher than it used to be and lower than it is now. According to the Smithsonian’s Global Volcanism Program data, in the 1910’s -1940s, only 30-40 eruptions occurred each year. In the 1980’s and 1990’s the average rose to 58 volcanoes erupting per year. In this millennium, an average of 70 volcanoes erupted each year. In 2010, with only half the year gone, fifty have already erupted. If the trend holds, the year will end with 100 eruptions.

Here is a graph with the data from the above source. It depicts decade average eruptions since 1850. Note, last bar is year only, 2010. I’ll tell you why below:

It is statistically inappropriate to mix apples and oranges, but I’ll tell you why I included the year-only for 2010 with all the previous bars representing ten years’ worth of data. At no time in all the years that Smithsonian has been collecting data, and I looked back to year 580 AD, there have been more than 78 eruptions in one year. That year-high was 2008. Yet in 2010 with only HALF the year gone, there have already been 50 eruptions. An additional eruption occurred overnight while I have been formulating this entry. If the trend holds, the year 2010 will end with 100 eruptions, a phenomenal high.

Biblically, God has used fire and brimstone to warn and punish. He has threatened to use fire and brimstone to punish. He will threaten to use fire and brimstone to punish (Revelation). It is part of God’s vocabulary to us humans.

Now as to the BP oil spill. On April 30, 2010, I asked “Does the oil platform explosion and oil spill have prophetic implications?” I didn’t answer that questions definitively at that time, it being too soon and having formulated no conviction after prayer. I have now decided that the answer is YES. Here is why. Brimstone is sulfur. Sulfur exists on the earth in solid and gaseous states. In 2004 the world’s deepest volcano was discovered, underwater, and it is constantly erupting at that. They named it “Brimstone Pit.” Brimstone pit emits huge amounts of sulfur.

“View of a de-gassing event at Brimstone Pit at NW Rota-1 volcano releasing an extraordinary number of bubbles probably carbon dioxide. The yellow parts of the plume in the background contain tiny droplets of molten sulfur. Credit: NOAA”

It reminds me of a photo that the world has become all too familiar with: BP Oil Leak under the Gulf of Mexico:

The amount of sulfur (hydrogen sulfide) emitted from the oil leak is making crews on boats sick and making those on shore sick too. Sulfur = Brimstone. When the people of the Gulf smell that distinctive “rotten egg” smell, it is sulfur, or brimstone. The LORD will destroy the earth by fire in the end, said Peter in 2Peter 3:10. And Isaiah said “For the LORD will execute judgment by fire And by His sword on all flesh,” (Isaiah 66:16) Brimstone is the language of God, and it is being thrown upon the earth from north to south, in all hemispheres, from volcanoes in high latitudes to those under the sea. Are we listening?

Posted in bp, end time, haven't pumped all day, prophecy

BP lied about pumping. CNN reported the lie, then deleted BP’s admission

Posted on by elizabethprata

As millions eagerly tuned in to the live cam at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico to watch BP’s latest efforts to stop the flow of oil into the gulf, we saw mud roiling from four holes in the riser. We prayed and hoped and watched that this scourge of oil that BP has loosed on the world would be stopped before even WORSE damage was done.

The effort was called a ‘top kill’, an attempt to pipe mud into the top of the Blowout Preventer and then cap it with cement.

Then in a CNN press conference, BP executives admit they haven’t pumped a thing all day. I’ll post the link, but guess what? Half an hour after the story was published online, the paragraph about ‘not pumping all day’ was deleted. Good thing I got a screen shot. Screen shot below along with original reporting verbiage:

Venice, Louisiana (CNN) — BP’s much-anticipated effort to cap its undersea gusher in the Gulf of Mexico was temporarily suspended at midnight and was expected to resume Thursday evening, a BP executive said. The “top kill” procedure continued until “just before midnight, when we stopped pumping operations,” Doug Suttles, the company’s chief operating officer, told reporters. BP has been evaluating the results of the first round of pumping over the past 16 hours. “We have not yet pumped today,” Suttles said. The light-brown material that’s been seen flowing out of the well throughout Thursday was the previously pumped fluid mixed with oil.

The link no longer says the above, the incrminating admission has been scrubbed. Duplicitous CNN, shame on you!

And BP liars! For this was still on the BP website all day up until I grabbed the screen shot at 6:30 PM:

“Update on Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill – 27 May “Top kill” operations continued over the night and are ongoing. There are no significant events to report at this time. BP will provide updates on progress as appropriate.

And they let the world think they were doing something they weren’t…

“But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.” (1 Timothy 6:9)

Misuse of Riches
“Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments have become moth-eaten. Your gold and your silver have rusted; and their rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have stored up your treasure! Behold, the pay of the laborers who mowed your fields, and which has been withheld by you, cries out against you; and the outcry of those who did the harvesting has reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. You have lived luxuriously on the earth and led a life of wanton pleasure; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. You have condemned and put to death the righteous man; he does not resist you.” (James 5:1-6)

Posted in end time, prophecy

Paul’s message to Colossians

Posted on by elizabethprata

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.” (Col 3:15-17)

Christ called us to be different. To be salt, which is a preservative, and light, which is shining to show our works in His name and give Him glory. We cannot be hid. Though you may have lost your job and want to hide, you cannot. You must not. Though your brother may have wronged you, you cannot hold a grudge and hide from fellowship. You must not. NOW is the time for which we have been put on the earth, for just such a time as this. We should be seen singing praises, hosannas, psalms to Him and about Him with all joy! We need to have peace with each other and in our hearts. Everything we do, let us do for Jesus, He who became sin and died for ours. The kind of Christians Paul was urging the Colossians to be, let US be!

Posted in angel, end time, entertain angels unaware, prophecy, satan

About entertaining angels unawares

Posted on by elizabethprata

Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. (Hebrews 13:2 KJV)

From the bible, we know that God created angels. (Colossians 1:16-17) We know that angels interact with humans at the behest of God. (Luke 1:26-38) They deliver messages. (Daniel 9:20-23). They fight for territory. (Daniel 10:20). They guard humans (Matthew 18:10) and report to God on the actions of children, anyway (Matt. 18:1-14) and perhaps to individually minister to adult Christians also (Hebrews 1:14). Angels are divided into hierarchies and troops,  including both good and evil angels, and special categories such as cherubim, seraphim, and the archangel. They are invisible. (2 Kings 6:17). They look like men sometimes, (Gen 18:1-2) and other times they look like glory (Matthew 28:2-4) and other times they look like metal and lightning (Daniel 10:5-6) and still there are other angels who look completely unusual and beyond description (Revelation 4:6-8). [For the record, with one debatable exception, angels are not biblically described as having any wings]

Surely, it is a blessing that there is a class of created being whom God uses for His glory and for our help. It is a blessing also to think that we may entertain one of them at some point in our lives!

But do not forget, there is another class of angels. There was a rebellion in heaven, and the highest angel, one created to guard the throne itself, tried to vault himself above God and was kicked out of heaven for it. His name is Lucifer, whose title is now the devil, adversary, satan. And even though a third of the multitudes of angels lived with God, and saw His glory and knew His heart, Lucifer was apparently so convincing that they sided with him against God, and so they were kicked out too. (Revelation 12:3-4,9)

Not everything supernatural is from God! If you entertain angels unawares, it may be a good angel sent to minister to you. Or it may be a fallen angel, sent by satan to thwart you, deceive you, or hinder you. ( also 1 Tim.4:1-3; 2 Cor.11:13-15) “And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.” (2 Corinthians 11:14-15)

If you are reading this before the rapture, Christian and non-believer, be aware that deceit comes in a guise wrapped in a beautiful package. Fallen angels would look just like the glorious angels, as stated above in the Corinthians verse. If you are a Christian, you should be praying daily to receive wisdom, and it will be given to you without reproach. You should be in the Word daily so that you will know the truth from a lie. If you are a non-believer reading this after the rapture, know that your odds of learning the truth have diminished but you can pray to Jesus to forgive you of your sins (if you are truly sorry for your bad acts and thoughts, that is) and He will forgive you. He will send the Holy Spirit to you to help you discern the truth from a lie. Without His help, you are at the mercy of an adversary who can and does ‘appear to us unawares’ and always for the purpose of destroying us!

NOT EVERYTHING SUPERNATURAL IS FROM GOD! “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,” (2 Thessalonians 2:9). Angels might surround you unawares, but YOU should not be unaware of satan and his angels’ counterfeiting abilities!

Posted in end time, pre-trib, prophecy, rapture

Pre-tribulation rapture in the Old Testament

Posted on by elizabethprata

1 Thes. 4:15, right at the beginning of the Rapture passage, verse 15 opens with the phrase “According to the Lord’s own word.” Here’s the whole rapture scenario from verse 15-18:

“For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”

Well, WHAT ‘Lord’s own word? Paul was referring to the Old Testament, because he was revealing the mystery of the rapture for the first time, and the Gospel of Matthew hadn’t been written yet, or if it had just been written was not widely disseminated yet. So Paul meant the Old Testament. It’s in Isaiah:

Isaiah 26:19-21. “But your dead will live; their bodies will rise. You who dwell in the dust, wake up and shout for joy. Your dew is like the dew of the morning; the earth will give birth to her dead. Go, my people, enter your rooms and shut the doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until his wrath has passed by. See, the LORD is coming out of his dwelling to punish the people of the earth for their sins.”

More explanation here.

I didn’t make up the rapture doctrine. It’s “by the Lord’s own word!”

Posted in end time, end time. prophecy, jesus, mire, sin

Sin rising, mire deepening, Jesus coming!

Posted on by elizabethprata

Jeremiah was a faithful prophet. He preached the Word no matter the cost to himself. Even though the LORD had promised “Then I will make you to this people A fortified wall of bronze; And though they fight against you, They will not prevail over you; For I am with you to save you And deliver you,” declares the LORD” (Jer 15:20) it still could not have been easy for Jeremiah to go through all the things he went through. One day, he was preaching (again) in advance of the coming Babylonians, and the princes of King Zedekiah had had enough. They conspired to throw Jeremiah into a pit and they brought their petition to the King, who, though knowing Jeremiah was a prophet, did not stand for truth when push came to shove. The king said essentially, “go ahead, do what you will’ sort of like Pilate did later on.

So the princes took Jeremiah and threw him into what was probably an oubliette but is called a cistern in the NASB.

“Then the officials said to the king, “Now let this man be put to death, inasmuch as he is discouraging the men of war who are left in this city and all the people, by speaking such words to them; for this man is not seeking the well-being of this people but rather their harm.” So King Zedekiah said, “Behold, he is in your hands; for the king can do nothing against you.” Then they took Jeremiah and cast him into the cistern of Malchijah the king’s son, which was in the court of the guardhouse; and they let Jeremiah down with ropes. Now in the cistern there was no water but only mud, and Jeremiah sank into the mud.” (Jer 38:4-6).

An oubliette is from the French meaning forgotten place and is a derivative of oublier, “to forget”. We also get the English word ‘oblivion’ from oublier. Prisoners whom their captors wish to forget were thrown into an oublier, which was deep with a hole and a grate over the top. The prisoner had no way of escaping. Some oubliers were bottle shaped so the prisoner could not sit down nor even turn around. One famous oublier had no grate but prisoners were simply hustled along a dark tunnel at sword-point until they fell into the hole, shocked and stunned at their sudden descent. In the illustration, notice the man in the right-oubliette (or cistern) with upraised hands.

Whether it was a cistern being used for prisoners or was a purposely built dungeon, the pit was a terrible place. Full of garbage, decay, and rats, being in the lower most parts of the castle, the pit was usually filled with water that seeped up from the earthen floor, making survival almost impossible. Which was the point.

I notice that though the princes hated Jeremiah’s words, they were careful not to toss him but carefully lowered him by ropes. However, once lowered, he sunk way down, (Josephus said that Jeremiah sunk in up to his neck) and then Jeremiah began his lamentation.

Lamentations 3:53-57
They tried to end my life in a pit
and threw stones at me;
the waters closed over my head,
and I thought I was about to be cut off.
I called on your name, O Lord,
from the depths of the pit.
You heard my plea: “Do not close your ears
to my cry for relief.”
You came near when I called you,
and you said, “Do not fear.”

Louis Ginzberg’s Legends of the Jews says of the scene: “Hardly out of prison, he again advised the people to surrender, and the nobility seized him and cast him into a lime pit filled with water, where they hoped he would drown. But a miracle happened. The water sank to the bottom, and the mud rose to the surface, and supported the prophet above the water. Help came to him from Ebed-melech, a “white raven,” the only pious man at court. Ebed-melech hastened to the king and spoke: “Know, if Jeremiah perishes in the lime pit, Jerusalem will surely be captured.” With the permission of the king, Ebed-melech went to the pit, and cried out aloud several times, “O my lord Jeremiah,” but no answer came. Jeremiah feared the words were spoken by his former jailer Jonathan, who had not given up his practice of mocking at the prophet. He would come to the edge of the pit and call down jeeringly: “Do not rest thy head on the mud, and take a little sleep, Jeremiah.” To such sneers Jeremiah made no reply, and hence it was that Ebed-melech was left unanswered. Thinking the prophet dead, he began to lament and tear his clothes. Then Jeremiah, realizing that it was a friend, and not Jonathan, asked: “Who is it that is calling my name and weeps therewith?” and he received the assurance that Ebed-melech had come to rescue him from his perilous position.”

I am guessing that the first thing they did for him was give him a bath and clean him up. Gave him some clean robes to wear.

In thinking about the mire, I can’t help but wonder what bible symbol mire is used for in this case. Since bible interprets bible, I find Isaiah 57:20 -“But the wicked are like the tossing sea, which cannot rest, whose waves cast up mire and mud.” The sea is the wicked and what they toss up is mire, muck, and dirt. The mire is the “fruit” of the wicked. Moreover, the picture of the pit is one that has a soft bottom. Jeremiah didn’t land with a thud, he landed with a plop. Then sunk more and more and more, like we do in sin. We cannot get out of the pit by ourselves and indeed all our vain efforts will only succeed in getting us in deeper. But He will lift us out!

Psalm 40:2 – He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.

NO ONE needs to be in the pit, ever. Jesus died so that He could lift us out of our sins of the pit would be washed away. If we ask Him, He establishes us on the rock and from which no one, not even the gates of hell, can toss us off. But you have to ask.

Jeremiah was cast into the mire, but Jesus volunteered to leave His heavenly abode and to not only spend three and a half wearying years among sinful humans, but He hung on the cross and BECAME sin. He allowed Himself to succumb to the mire and sink below it … for our sakes.

“Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing; I have come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me. I am weary with my crying; my throat is dry; my eyes fail while I wait for my God.” (Psalm 69:1-3)

Imagine His horror, as He became miry sin for us all and the Father turned away … “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Psalm 22:1). For the first time since eternity began, Jesus was separated from the Father … His own throat dry and His own eyes not seeing His glory…but only mire.

Jesus was alone in sin, AS sin, but He does not leave us alone in it. We sink, but if we call out He raises us up out of the mire. As this old world becomes more and more sinful, does it feel to you, Christian, that we are up to our noses in mire? This entire essay began last night as a plea to Jesus to release me and all Christians and children from the sin so prevalent that feels like it is up to my nose. I can barely breathe because of the odor of sulfurous sin from all around, enveloping me. Suddenly the picture of Jeremiah came to me and how he was up to his nose in mire.

Do you feel the sins of the world are so high it strains the neck to stay above it? True repentance means hating the stench of sin, and realizing that all our actions are as nothing to wash away that smell. Only Jesus can wash it away. Well, blessings, He will raise us up! He will snatch us away and take us to the clean place and give us clean robes to wear. “And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” (These are not the tribulation saints but the Church Age saints snatched out of the Tribulation, out of from the Greek word ‘ek’ meaning away from the time, place, and cause) Soon and very soon! Out of the mire, out from the fire, into clean garments and washed by His blood! And remember, though sins pile up all around us, Jesus sunk below that awful mire. He was alone in the universe, apart from the Father, and for that, we sing “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.” (Rev 5:9)

Posted in burning down the shack, deception, doctrines of demons, end time, prophecy

Burning down The Shack

Posted on by elizabethprata

In July of 2008, at the height of Shack-mania, I wrote here that the best-selling book “The Shack” is a devilish deception. I wrote about it again in April of 2009 here, saying it is a book full of doctrines of demons. In November of 2009 I explained why Christians should not read The Shack, here. Are you getting the idea that I believe The Shack is not-good?

Tim Challies was one of the first to identify this book as a deception, back in January of 2008, and he wrote about it here. Another book has come along with a chapter-by-chapter rebuttal of the doctrines of demons contained in the best-selling book that has influenced millions.

Up in flames: Melting false teachings of ‘The Shack’: Professor takes torch to ‘blasphemous doctrine’ of best-seller is the subject of a promotion by World Net Daily. “Author James De Young says of The Shack, “its depiction of God as an African woman who suffered Christ’s crucifixion – and the book’s exclusion of any existence of Satan and hell – represent just some of its many dangerous deceptions.
If such deceptions, which upend biblical teachings on sin, redemption, salvation and damnation, go unchallenged, says De Young, this “feel-good novel” could prove terribly divisive and destructive to millions of Christians.” In my opinion it has already done great damage.

Here is another review of “Burning Down The Shack”, due out June 1:

New Book ‘Burning Down ‘The Shack” Exposes Great Deception Lurking in Church’s Blindside

It’s the feel-good novel about faith that millions of people love. And its warm and fuzzy depiction of God the Father is cherished by millions of Evangelical Christians who’ve embraced it as though it were gospel.

This mass adoration has helped seemingly cement William Paul Young’s The Shack to the stratosphere of numerous best-sellers list–where it’s remained for more than 100 weeks–a claim no other book can make.

Yet it is infused with counterfeit Christianity, says author James De Young in his new book, Burning Down ‘The Shack’: How the ‘Christian’ Bestseller is Deceiving Millions, and its depiction of God the Father as an African woman who bore the scars of Calvary with Jesus Christ is just one example of its many dangerous deceptions.

De Young isn’t only a New Testament Language and Literature professor at Western Seminary in Portland, Ore., he’s also a former longtime colleague of Paul Young, and was his Portland-area neighbor when Young wrote The Shack.

Burning Down ‘The Shack,’ which WND Books publishes June 1, challenges readers to consider the perilous religious beliefs of the author. While writing The Shack, Young, a victim of child molestation, had recently embraced “universal reconciliation” — a belief identified as far back as the sixth century as heresy — which emphasizes that Jesus’ loving nature renders him incapable of eternally damning people.

In “Burning Down ‘The Shack'”, De Young delivers a chapter-by-chapter evaluation of more than 15 heresies within The Shack. Chief among the errors is what Young left out. “A familiar, but deceptive maneuver is to give an aspect of a theological issue, while ignoring an equally important aspect that qualifies or limits the first one,” De Young writes to explain Young’s obvious exclusion of Satan and Hell.”

What does the bible say? 1 Timothy 4:1 – “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.” And The Shack is one of them.

Posted in asymmetric war, damascus, end time, end time. prophecy, gog magog, psalm 83, tipping point, vallely

War is coming: Maj. General Paul Vallely interview

Posted on by elizabethprata

War is coming. I am sure of this, because the bible tells explicitly that a series of wars and battles will occur just prior to the rapture. The details are in Isaiah, Psalm 83, and Ezekiel 38-39. So war WILL happen.. and it seems from developments in the Middle East the last month, that the prophesied wars and battles are closer than ever. [Photo: Iran missile test April 2010]

[Photo: Damascus] We know that the capital of Syria, Damascus, will be obliterated in the end days. “The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap.” (Isaiah 17:1) Damascus is the oldest continuously occupied city in the world so we know that prophecy has not been fulfilled yet. It is a future event.

Definition:
Hezbollah literally “Party of God”) is a Shi’a Islamist political and paramilitary (terrorist) organisation based in Lebanon. [Photo: Hezbollah salute.]

Hamas (in Arabic, an acronym for “Harakat Al-Muqawama Al-Islamia” — Islamic Resistance Movement — and a word meaning zeal) is a radical Islamic fundamentalist organization which became active in the early stages of the intifada, operating primarily in the Gaza District but also in Judea and Samaria. Formed in late 1987 as an outgrowth of the Palestinian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood. Various HAMAS elements have used both political and violent means, including terrorism, to pursue the goal of establishing an Islamic Palestinian state in place of Israel.

Outline of some of the main war events around Israel prophesied for the last days:

  • Isaiah 17:1– Damascus (in Syria) destroyed.
  • Psalm 83: Israel’s near neighbors attack Israel. Israel is successful in warding off the attack, but not without damage. The Psalm 83 nations who attack Israel are Edomites (Jordanians) Ishmaelites (United Arab Emirates, Yemen and the Saudi Arabians), Moabites, Hagrites, Gebal, Ammon (So. Jordan), Philistia/Tyre (Lebanon), Assyria (Iran/Iraq tribes at northern border. However, Israel’s military victory success leads to a state of unpreparedness. She lets down her guard and it at this time that…
  • Ezekiel 38-39: Gog-Magog battle. (Ez 38:11 – “You will say, “I will invade a land of unwalled villages; I will attack a peaceful and unsuspecting people–all of them living without walls and without gates and bars.”) Iran, Russia, Turkey, Armenia, Sudan, Libya, and others attack Israel. Israel almost loses this battle, but God supernaturally intervenes to save Israel. It is this moment that Israel recognizes her God once again and she returns to the Old Covenant. The church is raptured by the time this battle ends.

Major General Paul E. Vallely, United States Army (Ret. ) is currently a senior military analyst for Fox News. Vallely has previously said that the war on terror is a war between Islam and Judeo-Christianity: “That’s what’s going on. If you don’t understand that, then you don’t get it.” He believes that Iran already HAS the nuclear bomb and they are just trying to figure out how to attach it to a delivery missile.

The Maj. General sat down exclusively yesterday with an interviewer on PJTV and for 11 sobering minutes outlined the serious, serious indicators of imminent war in the Middle East. (link to video below, cannot embed). He reveals many things that have been noticed over the last 10-30 days in Lebanon, Israel, and Iran, such as a Russian sub flying an Iranian flag docking in Beirut and offloaded by men in HazMat suits (chemical warfare). And that “Just in the last week, we have very definitive and confirmed information that Iran is planning a preemptive attack against Israel,” said Major General Vallely during the PJTV interview. Gen. Vallely tells PJTV’s Bill Whittle, that Iran has stockpiled “50 to 60 thousand rockets and missiles” in Lebanon.

All these preparations and others discussed in the interview according to Vallely and other experts, point to Iran preparing a preemptive strike against Israel that is designed to preempt Israel’s preemptive strike against Iran. In one piece of news divulged for the first time, the General said that Iran is planning to rain down SCUD’s on ALL Israeli airfields, civilian and military, to deny Israeli flight capability in response, a tactic Iran learned from the Israelis when the Israelis used it on the Egyptians. Remember there were SCUDS delivered to the Syrians three weeks ago. And it is announced that the U.S. is postponing appointment of ambassador to Damascus ‘until further notice.’ At one point, the interviewer asks the General what is different in Lebanon, Israel and Iran and Syria over the last month that hasn’t been seen before, and is given specific answers. Then Vallely is asked if Iran is “nutty enough” to use the bomb, the Maj General says “Absolutely, plus I believe they will load up container ships and attack the US rather than use the ICBM method.” I believe this as well.

Lots to digest here and pray over! The Maj. General said “the whole chessboard has changed THIS YEAR, and the Summer of 2010 is pivotal. It could change the whole world.”

Vallely believes that the summer of 2010 will be “the tipping point for the Middle East”—that “the summer of 2010 is pivotal—it can change the whole world.”We know from the bible that at long last, war erupts in the Middle East and there are protracted battles, damage, and death on a scale that finally prompts the world to cry out for a treaty once and for all. It will happen, and the words of Daniel the prophet say that “He will confirm a covenant with the many for one week [7 years]…

Scary, scary stuff, delivered in calm, measured interview with substantive facts. It is MUST SEE TV for all Israel lovers! All prophecy lovers! All Christians! Watch!

link to video interview

And supporting Vallely’s facts are more facts in the news today:

IDF preparing for mass evacuations in case of Hezbollah strike
The Israel Defense Forces Home Front Command is putting together a plan for the mass evacuation of civilians in the event of missile and rocket attacks. Hezbollah’s rockets can currently hit practically everywhere in the country.

Hezbollah on high alert ahead of IDF drill
Thousands of Hezbollah fighters have been ordered to maintain a heightened state of alert ahead of a large-scale Israel Defense Forces exercise which begins Sunday, the Shiite group’s representatives in southern Lebanon, Nabil Qaouk, told the AFP news agency on Friday.
Spain says Mediterranean Union summit postponed
A meeting to bring together European and Middle Eastern governments has been postponed to give Israeli-Palestinian talks time to achieve results, officials said. Israel on Friday called the reason for the delay ridiculous. … The newspaper El Pais says Syria and Egypt threatened to boycott it if Israel’s hardline foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman, attended.

The situation in the Middle East is so hot right now you could fry an egg on top of the map of it.