Posted in bible jesus, prophecy, satan, slander

Satan’s merchandise: lies and gossip

I’m in the midst of watching The Fuel Project, a series of short videos explaining the roots of satan’s evil and his influence in the form of all the false religions of the world from Genesis to Revelation when he is finally defeated.  Kim from The Mystery of the Ages sent it to me and I’ve watched 40 parts already and have found it to be interesting when describing the secular and biblically sound when referring to the bible.

In the first 7 parts, Satan’s fall is explained, why and how. The narrator focused on Ezekiel 28 and especially verse 16 to describe how satan convinced 1/3 of the angels to follow him into rebellion against a Holy God whom they personally knew and  worshiped. I’ve often wondered how angels who saw God’s power in the creation (Job 1:6-7) and who visited the throne room (Ex 37:9) could possibly follow satan? What did he tell them exactly to make them a better offer?? That is answered in Ezekiel 28:14-16 —

“You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you. You were on the holy mount of God; you walked among the fiery stones. You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you. Through your widespread trade you were filled with violence, and you sinned.”

The scene here is a prophecy against the King of Tyre. The previous chapter is spent lamenting the city of Tyre (Lebanon) and its earthly ruler. But as we know from so many examples and passages in the bible, satan is often the puppet master pulling the strings behind the power that is shown through the earthly ruler. The Prince of Persia is another example. Satan is the power behind the throne, so to speak, in many cases. He is the god of this world (2 Cor 4:4), prince of the powers of the air (earth and near environs; Eph 6:12) and at one point remember, he offered Jesus every kingdom on earth (Mt 4:8-9).

In the Ezekiel chapter the scene sifts from the earthly ruler in the flesh (Prince of Tyre, ch. 27) to the supernatural power of the King of Tyre (satan, ch. 28). It is said that wickedness was found in him and through his “widespread trade” he was filled with violence. In this case, the widespread trade does not mean economic traffic. Does one believe there were shops in heaven, with checkouts and money exchanged? No, surely not! What would satan possess that would be better than hat the angels already had? No, instead, the phrase widespread trade comes from the Hebrew word r’kullah, the main word rakil, meaning slander.

Satan went on a whispering campaign against God, the same as he did later to Eve (“Hath God said? Genesis 3). he went around and around and around ceaselessly to the angels, whispering that God was a tyrant, He was egotistical, He was withholding from them the good stuff, whatever that was. With Eve we know satan insinuated God was withholding the knowledge of good and evil. Whatever satan said to the 1/3 of the heavenly host that ended up following satan, it was lies and we know that he was a liar from the beginning.

“You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44). Devil means slanderer.

Revelation 18:12-14 alludes to this satanic lying bill of merchandise. When Babylon the false economic system is fallen, satan is accused of trading in “merchandise of gold and silver, precious stones and pearls, fine linen and purple, silk and scarlet, every kind of citron wood, every kind of object of ivory, every kind of object of most precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble; and cinnamon and incense, fragrant oil and frankincense, wine and oil, fine flour and wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and bodies and souls of men.” The last phrase, souls of men, is a merchandise not in the physical but in the celestial. A good, short study on ‘Satan’s Celestial Slander’ is from Dr. Richard Davidson from Andrews Theological Seminary (7th Day Adventist) here. If you want a thorough examination of the Hebrew word for merchandising used in this context of Ezekiel 28 and the wider exhortations in the bible not to be a slanderer, go here. (Truth Magazine).

A whispering campaign according to Wikipedia, is “A whispering campaign or whisper campaign is a method of persuasion in which damaging rumors or innuendo are spread about the target, while the source of the rumors seeks to avoid being detected while spreading them.” Whisper campaigns are considered unethical, but are used frequently in political campaigning as a strategy. If you apply all the corruption, lies, and unethical behavior from any current Presidential campaign in the US to satan’s original merchandising campaign of busily flitting from angel to angel, painting himself as the better candidate for God-hood, you have the idea of the meaning behind the Ezekiel verse and satan’s method of achieving it. No wonder there are so many prohibitions against slander in the bible!

Agostino Carracci, Whispering Angels

His relentless whispering campaign worked. A third of the angels were swayed, followed satan, and are now forever damned.

If you also put in your mind the energy expended in any political campaign, and think of the Ezekiel verse where the visual image is of satan going all around heaven whispering his bill of goods to the angels, several other scriptures come to mind.

Job 1:1 “The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it.”
Job: 2:2 And the Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it.”

Dan 12:4 “But as for you, Daniel, conceal these words and seal up the book until the end of time; many will go back and forth, and knowledge will increase.””

It is the eternal restlessness of a fallen angel, now a demon, who seeks his will above all and is relentless in stalking the world and its inhabitants. One of the names for satan is Beelzebub (Baal-zebub) and the entire name is Lord of the Flies and zebub means fly. This kind of fly is a hard-to-kill, strong and biting fly that lives entirely by sucking blood of cattle or people. It is the zebub and also known as tsetse fly in Africa. Satan was given that name because he was supposed to be able to be lord over these much-feared flies that caused destruction to cattle and sickness to people. It is one of the reasons God sent a plague of flies to Pharaoh, to show HIS mastery over the flies in the face of helpless false gods. This name was given to the god because he was supposed to be able to avert the plague of flies which in that region was to be feared.Flies never settle for very long Anyone who is not saved will feel that eternal restlessness n his spirit as well. Satan is truly Baal-zebub, Lord of the Flies.

That is satan, flying here and there, to and fro, roaming up and down, claiming blood from victims and buzzing in your ear. There are two lessons here. One: satan is relentless. Flies always come back to garbage no matter how often you swat them away. Second: satan’s lies are powerful. He cold sway angels who knew God in person, in heaven, for perhaps eons. Do you think he cannot sway you? I know he can sway me, if I let him. I use my flyswatter often: studying the Word. It is, after all, how Jesus rebuffed that pestilential fly, He repeated the Word back to satan in each temptation.

Jesus has won the victory. Satan is merely a created being who was completely crushed at the cross and only has been in his frenetic death throes this last 2000 years. But the time the Tribulation comes, he really panics, for he knows he has but a short time. (Rev 12:12). For us, though, beware slandering each other, engaging in ‘widespread trade.’ Do not be a fly, going here and there, whispering things that murder someone’s reputation. Certainly be sterling in all your communications about the LORD. Because His are perfect unto us! And that is a campaign worth participating in!






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Posted in earthquakes, earthquakes are increasing, prophecy, tornadoes increasing

Are the number of earthquakes going up, or not?

I like charts. I like graphs. I like the presentation of large quantities of data in visual form. It’s just neat.

But there is a danger in charts, numbers and statistics. You’ve heard the phrase, “There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.” It was popularly attributed to Mark Twain. It’s a phrase “describing the persuasive power of numbers, particularly the use of statistics to bolster weak arguments, and the tendency of people to disparage statistics that do not support their positions. It is also sometimes colloquially used to doubt statistics used to prove an opponent’s point.” Says Wikipedia. Two people can use the same data to prove opposite points- if you are unscrupulous. And there are a lot of unscrupulous statisticians, governments, and officials these days.

I read about earthquakes and volcanoes and tornadoes and unemployment and I know from past experience having been a reporter, that it is always in the Officials’ best interest to hide, manipulate, and change data. Did you ever wonder why Educational Standardized tests were radically changed every few years? Because it is a general good statistics practice to keep the testing methods the same for at least three years so as to get a baseline. So quite often, the test is changed and in year four and you suddenly find you can’t compare apples to apples anymore and the data comparisons are tainted.

I also know of cases where the data being compared was deliberately manipulated. “They wouldn’t do that!” you gasp. I know. You’re shocked, shocked. But it happens all too frequently. As a matter of fact, data manipulation is usually the default these days. For example, a School Superintendent I know who worked far away and many years ago, was sharing the proposed budget for that year with the community. He had “helpfully” put the information in graphs, and comparing the graph of the last two years with this proposed year, the budget didn’t look like it was going up very much. But he had left out certain information and it turned out that the data being presented for the previous years was actually a combination of a decade while the data for that year as stand-alone. Or something like that. In any case, it was a pure manipulation, which as a reporter, I exposed.

John Williams is a statistician and an economist who got tired of the Government changing its presentations for Unemployment every few years. For example the unemployment numbers for last year suddenly didn’t include short-term discouraged unemployed anymore. Those millions of folks were just dropped off the counts. Of course this flattens the spike, and makes it appear that there are fewer unemployed than there are. In 1994, they dropped off long-term unemployed, as if they simply didn’t exist. Williams decided to calculate unemployment the same way they have always been calculated. His website states, “John Williams’ Shadow Government Statistics” is an electronic newsletter service that exposes and analyzes flaws in current U.S. government economic data and reporting, as well as in certain private-sector numbers…” It is known locally as Shadow Stats.

When the United States Geological survey answers the question in April 2010, “Are there more earthquakes” this way, you just have to scratch your head: “China’s tragic magnitude 6.9 earthquake on April 13 and the recent devastating earthquakes in Haiti, Chile, Mexico, and elsewhere have many wondering if this earthquake activity is unusual. Scientists say 2010 is not showing signs of unusually high earthquake activity. …With six major earthquakes striking in the first four months of this year, 2010 is well within the normal range. Furthermore, from April 15, 2009, to April 14, 2010, there have been 18 major earthquakes, a number also well within the expected variation.” What USGS doesn’t say is that the yearly average of ‘major’ quakes (7.0 mag and above) according to their own data was already exceeded by that point. He was comparing apples to oranges by comparing annual averages to expected variations.

What I always do it go to the raw data. I compare apples to apples, meaning, I compare a decade’s worth of activity to a decade’s worth of activity. I am consistent in the way I count. I use official sources where possible. Where there is a baseline, or an average, I use that. And generally, the longer the trend, the more stable the data. Comparing 2009 and 2010 earthquake activity doesn’t tell you as much as if you compare ten years’ worth. That is why the USGS data is so valuable, it goes back 111 years.

I have personally read these excuses from officials in answering whether there are more quakes, or volcanic eruptions, or tornadoes:

“It only seems like there’s more tornadoes because there is a higher population in the Midwest than there used to be.”
“It only seems like there’s more earthquakes because there is an increase in instruments placed around the world.”
“It only seems like there are more volcanic eruptions because there are more people in the areas where volcanoes are.”

Naw, there’s more of everything. Here is data, by the numbers:

EARTHQUAKES (As of June 15, 2011)

Source United States Geological Survey. Click on table to enlarge. One thing to let you know: for EQ’s in the 6.0-6.9 range for 2011, I put it in red even though it hasn’t exceeded the yearly average yet, because I wanted to highlight that we are only halfway through this year but quakes in that magnitude range already exceed the number of quakes that size that occurred in ALL of 2001. Also that the quakes for that particular magnitude are running way above normal pace compared to the yearly averages.

TORNADOES (June 1, 2011)
I was pleased to see that someone at Weather Channel experienced in meteorology and tornadoes in particular, decided to just do some data counting and did it with integrity. This is a ten-year look at tornado averages and the comparison to this year is amazing. The resulting article shows that the number of tornadoes is wayyyy up.
Source, Weather Channel: “Expert Says 2011 Tornadoes 106% Above Average”

VOLCANOES (Dec 31, 2010)
Source Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. As of Dec 31, 2010

Unemployment, from John Williams’ Shadow Government Stats (SGS)

John Williams’ explanation-

“The seasonally-adjusted SGS Alternate Unemployment Rate reflects current unemployment reporting methodology adjusted for SGS-estimated long-term discouraged workers, who were defined out of official existence in 1994. That estimate is added to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) estimate of U-6 unemployment, which includes short-term discouraged workers. The U-3 unemployment rate is the monthly headline number. The U-6 unemployment rate is the BLS broadest unemployment measure, including short-term discouraged and other marginally-attached workers as well as those forced to work part-time because they cannot find full-time employment.”

 Bank failures 2007-2010, source FDIC

 The same data of bank failures but in a line chart. Just a different visual presentation

I guess the lesson here is that statistics can be massively manipulated. That the government isn’t telling us the truth about unemployment the economy, and the number of natural disasters. Just like the biblical Bereans, who were commended for checking the scriptures daily to see if these things were true, be a civic Berean and check the data yourself. In some of these cases, I literally and personally counted each item. Others, such as USGS earthquakes you can search by year and a total result would be given. Be diligent, suspect the government at all times, and be relieved that you know you can ALWAYS trust the Lord!

PS: you can use any of the charts. I’d appreciate a link back. If you use Shadow Stats’ unemployment chart you have to link back to ShadowStats.






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Posted in boise industrial park, china, end of days, kings of the east, prophecy

America’s light on the hill is going out part 3; Boise Idaho, China’s beachead in America

In part one of this series, I explained what hegemony is and demonstrated the decades of American hegemony and America’s influence in the world of business, finance, diplomacy, and economy. In part two I noted that American hegemony is in decline and showed the prophesies related to the rise of Asia in the last days. In this third and final part, I now show that today’s news is a strong indicator that the final days prophesies of the rise of the Orient are here.

America’s glory is fading because we fail to give glory to God

Der Spiegel, the German weekly, has an article outlining a mega-industrial park slated to be built in Boise, Idaho…by China. The Industrial park will be as large as Amsterdam and will have a special zoning attached to it. It will be a self-sustaining city, right down to its energy needs. I am not making this up. The article likens Boise as a Chinese “beachhead for America” and “establishing a foothold,” though the German article notes that the military-type idioms used by the Idaho Statesman newspaper regarding this project caused such an outcry that the newspaper online webpage took down the quotes. Here is an excerpt from the Google-translated article:

“When Americans speak of Boise, they think of potatoes, jazz and the hinterland. The provincial capital of the state of Idaho produces mostly messages of limited scope. But soon expected to make the city between Seattle and Salt Lake City big headlines. For Boise (pronounced Boisi) is facing a controversial career as China’s beachhead in America. The dimensions are enormous: around the factories in Boise is a complete technology zone planned to warehouses, wholesale centers, logistic hubs and entire neighborhoods with their own energy supply. It’s an economically self-sufficient city, an island with an area of ​​129 square kilometers. This corresponds to the size of Amsterdam. The leading local newspaper, the “Idaho Statesman,” is talk of a Chinese special economic zone on American soil.”

For the Chinese, it makes sense. Boise is the largest city between Seattle and Salt Lake. The plot of land upon which the industrial park will be built is just south of the Boise airport, which is only 45 minutes in air miles eastward of Seattle. The land values in Boise, however, make the 45 extra minutes of airtime extremely attractive.

On the American side, Idaho has a higher unemployment rate than the US National average of 9.1%, of 9.7%. People are broke. There is even a story in the Idaho Statesman that people are stealing newspapers to get the coupons. It is so sad that the same generation who had strength of will to oppose Russia and foment the collapse of Communism, is the one where we voluntarily gave up land for a Chinese beachhead to hasten our own downfall. Is it justice that where we once sought cheap land in hapless, economically deprived nations to make American clothing lines in sweatshops will now be done unto us? No, you say?

American constructions companies whose bosses are crying for lack of ability to feed their families will be only to happy to accept dollars from the Chinese to build an industrial park. Do you think the sub-contractors who need the orders will refuse to make the purchases? Do you think the people stealing newspapers so they can get the coupons will refuse to labor for the Chinese?

The Statesman quotes a local official on the project, saying ““I think China’s coming over here shows they are willing to collaborate on the reinvigoration of the American industrial base,” said Jeff Don, CEO of Eagle-based C3, which is acting as an Idaho representative for the Chinese company, called Sinomach for short.”

I think that the official has never heard of the Trojan Horse.

More to the point of the end times, though, in the days of the Tribulation, the Kings of the East are extremely active. They mount an army of incredible numbers.

“And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates. And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men. And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them.” (Revelation 9:13-16)

Perhaps the staging area and beachhead for this future campaign is helped along by labor and cheap land in the once powerful and shining America, whose light is slowly but surely winking out.






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Posted in bible, messiah, prophecy

Pray boldly, in confidence and thankfulness

We are humble before the Lord, but we should also look to the examples of our fathers and mothers in the bible to remember how strongly and boldly they prayed. In 1 Samuel 2, Hannah is praying in thanks to the LORD for the gift of her son, but the song is so much more than that. Did you know that this prophetic prayer is the first time we read of a someone uttering the “MESSIAH’ or the “Anointed” in the bible? Here is the song, 1 Samuel 2:1-10, then some commentary about it, to encourage you

Then Hannah prayed and said:
“My heart rejoices in the Lord; in the Lord my horn is lifted high. My mouth boasts over my enemies, for I delight in your deliverance.
“There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.
“Do not keep talking so proudly or let your mouth speak such arrogance, for the Lord is a God who knows, and by him deeds are weighed. “The bows of the warriors are broken, but those who stumbled are armed with strength.
Those who were full hire themselves out for food, but those who were hungry hunger no more. She who was barren has borne seven children, but she who has had many sons pines away.
“The Lord brings death and makes alive; he brings down to the grave and raises up. The Lord sends poverty and wealth; he humbles and he exalts.
He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor. “For the foundations of the earth are the Lord’s; upon them he has set the world.
He will guard the feet of his saints, but the wicked will be silenced in darkness. “It is not by strength that one prevails; those who oppose the Lord will be shattered. He will thunder against them from heaven; the Lord will judge the ends of the earth. “He will give strength to his king and exalt the horn of his anointed.”

Beautiful! In the bible, ‘horn’ is the symbol of strength. Hannah is not magnifying herself when she says that her horn is lifted high. She is saying that in Him, she is strong.

Clarke says, “she describes the promised Savior of the world as a King, before there was any king in Israel; and she first applied to him the remarkable epithet Messiah in Hebrew, Christ in Greek, and Anointed in English, which was adopted by David, Nathan, Ethan, Isaiah, Daniel, and the succeeding prophets of the Old Testament; and by the apostles and inspired writers of the New.”

As Barnes Notes describes, “The song of Hannah is a prophetic Psalm. It is poetry. And it is prophecy. It takes its place by the side of the songs of Miriam, Deborah, and the Virgin Mary, as well as those of Moses, David, Hezekiah, and other Psalmists and prophets whose inspired odes have been preserved in the Bible. The special feature which these songs have in common is, that springing from, and in their first conception relating to, incidents in the lives of the individuals who composed them, they branch out into magnificent descriptions of the Kingdom and glory of Christ, and the triumphs of the Church,”

Matthew Henry says, “Hannah’s heart rejoiced, not in Samuel, but in the Lord. She looks beyond the gift, and praises the Giver. She rejoiced in the salvation of the Lord, and in expectation of His coming, who is the whole salvation of his people….And here is the first time that we meet with the name MESSIAH, or his Anointed.”

Pray boldly, pray confidently. Know that your Savior, long prophesied from the time of Hannah, has come. The Kingdom she has alluded to, is soon to come. Picture the words from her mouth as musical notes wafting through time, woven throughout the pages of the epochs of the bible, to land in your heart, today. Love the Lord in all praise and confidence.

A biblical study on Hannah, here.

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Posted in dubbi, end of days, eritrea, eruption, nabro, prophecy

Spectacular volcanic eruption at Eritrea: last eruption was 1861

Last night’s quake swarm evidently did trigger or was a precursor to a volcanic eruption at Eritrea. There are several volcanoes in that region, though Nabro is said to have never erupted and Dubbi last erupted in 1861. The volcanoes in that area have been quiet ever since. Until last night. Here is the progression of the news:

Eritrea quakes
“A series of moderate earthquakes struck the Eritrea – Ethiopia border region on Sunday evening, seismologists said, but it was not immediately known if there was damage or if there were casualties. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported a total of 14 light to moderate earthquakes in the border area on Sunday evening, with the strongest being two 5.7-magnitude earthquakes which were both centered in Eritrea.”

Seismologists, volcanologists, and knowledgeable laymen immediately noticed the unusual nature of these quakes. They were strong, and they were occurring in a pattern that suggested a circle around a known volcanic region.

Then people noticed what looked to be an ash plume forming, seen in successive satellite photos. The cloud seemed to be stationed over one area, but grow over time, lengthening in the all-too-familiar plume formation. It looked for all the world like an ash plume, not a thunderstorm. But how can this be? The area was thought to be fairly dormant for volcanoes?

Getting news from the area was difficult because of the nature of the remoteness and lack of infrastructure to disperse news quickly. The quakes were a fact, confirmed on USGS and EMSC. Whether these quakes were related to the Nabro or Dubbi volcanoes, I was not sure. I went to bed.

This morning, the net was alive with stories swirling about this unusual event. It WAS a volcanic eruption!! Irish Weather Online explains:

Major Eruption Of Nabro Volcano In Eritrea
“The Anabro (Nabro) volcano in the Northern Red Sea Region of Eritrea in Africa has erupted sending an ash plume more than 15 kilometres into the sky. Part of the Afar Triangle, the stratovolcano is one of many volcanic caldera complexes in the north easternmost part of the East African Rift valley region. It is located in the Danakil Depression, close to Eritrea’s border with Ethiopia and north of Djibouti, and has not erupted in at least 150 years.”

“The volcano erupted at 2103 GMT Sunday evening. The Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) said Monday that the 5,331 ft volcano has resulted in a large ash plume of up to 8 miles high. The eruption was preceded by seven moderate earthquakes yesterday afternoon. A 5.6 magnitude quake at 9.03 signalled the start of the eruption. The quake was centred 48 km south of the town of Edd (pop 11,259) and 199 km southwest of the city of Al-h’udaydah (pop 617,871). A 4.6 magnitude quake followed less than 35 minutes later.”

“The ash cloud from the volcano could potentially cause some disruption to air traffic in the region. According to Irish Weather Online senior forecaster Peter O’Donnell, the ash cloud is heading west towards Sudan. “The eruption happened in Nabro, a stratovolcano that has not erupted in historic times. (some early reports mention Dubbi or Dubbo to the north but satellite imagery confirms the source as Nabro). Potentially, there could be impacts on visibility and optics over at least parts of southern Europe and west Africa, the Middle East … but there would be no direct impacts on Ireland from present information.” The largest known historical eruption in Africa occurred on May 1861 when the Dubbi volcano, also located in Eritrea, showered maritime traffic in the Red Sea with pumice and plunged coastal settlements into darkness.”

The volcanism blog has the more scientific facts–

Ash cloud from Eritrean volcano Dubbi, erupted June 12

Volcanism blog: plume picture
A significant eruption is evidently under way at Dubbi volcano (although there is still some doubt about the precise identity of the volcano involved) in Eritrea, north-east Africa. An earthquake swarm occurred during during the evening of 12 June, with moderate quakes followed by two strong quakes of magnitude 5.7, all around 10 km depth:
12 June 2011 15:37UTC: mag 5.1 Eritrea-Ethiopia region (USGS info)
12 June 2011 19:21UTC: mag 5.0 Ethiopia (USGS info)
12 June 2011 20:32UTC: mag 5.7 Eritrea-Ethiopia region (USGS info)
12 June 2011 21:03UTC: mag 5.7 Eritrea-Ethiopia region (USGS info)

“A volcanic eruption appears to have begun around the time of the last 5.7M earthquake, at about 21:00 UTC. Toulouse VAAC identified the volcano as Dubbi and issued two Volcanic Ash Advisories so far for this eruption today: at 04:00 UTC the eruption was reported to have started at 23:00 UTC on 12 June 2011, and to have produced a plume between FL150/300 (15,000-30,000 feet/4,500-9,000 metres altitude), while at 06:00 UTC the volcano was described as being in ‘continuous emission’ with ash at FL300 (30,000 feet/9,000 metres altitude) and trending W/WNW.”

“Dubbi was responsible for the largest known volcanic eruption in Africa in historical time, in 1861: more than 100 people were killed, ash fell more than 300 km from the volcano and the lava flows travelled 22 km and reached the Red Sea. Other possible candidates for the current eruption include Nabro and Mallahle.  UPDATE. Thanks to Clive Oppenheimer of Cambridge University (via Earthquake-Reports) we have a useful news report from the Cambridge Geography Department site related to Clive’s Eruptions that Shook the World book: Eruption in Eritrea, 12 June 2011. ‘Loud explosions were heard in Afdera, across the border in Ethiopia, and ashfall is reported as far as Mekele in Tigray province’ … the identity of the volcano is still to be confirmed – Nabro or Dubbi?”

That is the news, and those are the scientific facts. Here is the biblical fact: Jesus said that the time between His ascension and the time He came back would be like birth pangs. We know that birth pains grow from almost unnoticed, to very frequent and painful. Then the rapture would happen and the Tribulation would begin. Jesus still has 7 years in the Decree stated in Daniel to work with His people the Jews. In that 7 year period he would punish them for their transgressions, and do 5 other things. Here is the link to the passage in Daniel 9:20-27 which explains the Lord’s purpose for the Tribulation.

We, the Church, have had our sins wiped away, they are remembered no more (Colossians 1:22; Colossians 2:14). Therefore we are not to be punished (Acts 3:19), nor are we appointed to wrath. The Tribulation’s wrath is stated to begin in Revelation 6 with the opening of the seals.

In explaining all this, Jesus sat down with His disciples at the Mount of Olives and answered their questions about the signs of the end of the age. Jesus said that one of those signs would be earthquakes in diverse places. I think a sudden and powerful volcanic eruption coming out of nowhere and the first in recent history qualifies as diverse.

Even more prophetically, the nations in that area are part of coming events. In Ezekiel 38-39 it is explained that an alliance of nations attack Israel- and almost win. This alliance includes Iran, Russia, Turkey, Armenia, and the northern tier of Africa, where these quakes were and eruption was. Ethiopia, Libya, Sudan, are all mentioned. The larger context is that Cush and Put are the regions that will join with Iran to attack Israel, and those include larger territories than the nations’ borders of today. In effect, the northern tier of Africa decides to join with Russia and Iran and go against God’s people in an evil attempt to wipe them out and steal their riches. This is known as the Gog-Magog battle and though the timing of it is not stated n the bible from other events that occur before and after, we can put it in a general time of this battle being the gateway to the Tribulation.

While I was watching the Eritrea event occur last night, there was a powerful quake at Christchurch, New Zealand, and the Chilean volcano erupted again, sending the lower part of the world into a frenzy due to airplane flight cancellations because of ash. The birth pangs are occurring so frequently now that they overlap, and their increasing impact on the world is incredible. I feel that the time is so short that we may even hear the trumpet and the call to “Come up here!” any moment. Surely the time is near. Please repent, please seek Jesus as your savior and your Lord. Your eternal destiny depends on it.

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Posted in bible jesus, prophecy

The dangers of "The bible AND…"

A reader sent me an interesting story out of Maryland. An Episcopal church has decided to convert, en masse, to Catholicism. The parishioners, along with the pastor, wants to be under the authority of the Roman Catholic Church and its pope. Why? “[C]hurch members said, they were satisfying their longing for a clear religious authority by welcoming the leadership of Pope Benedict XVI.” It was not because their denomination allowed gay and lesbian ordination of pastors. No, that wasn’t it, sad to say. It wasn’t because of bitter land disputes around the country costing tens of millions, either, as “Seven breakaway Northern Virginia congregations have been in court for more than four years with the Episcopal Church” over land issues. No, the congregation is converting because they want authority and they decided that the Reformation was a mistake. “It feels fantastic,” Delaney said. “It’s like correcting 500 years of history.”

The thirst for authority has come, they say, because of the dearth in leadership in their congregations, and the ‘absolute authority’ of the Pope is attractive enough to fill that spiritual void.  “In the Episcopal Church, bishops in one place say one thing and in another say another,” explained Patrick Delaney, a lay leader from Mitchellville. “That’s the crux of it. Each bishop has its own kingdom.”

They forgot that their authority is Jesus, the Word!

This story is emblematic of the larger problem of the prophesied apostasy. Apostasy is a falling away from the truth. The word Paul used in the prophecy of 2 Thessalonians 2:3 is ‘apostasia’ meaning a defection, or leaving a previous standing. Apostasy is not new to the church. Almost immediately, the church was infested with people falling away, and Paul even used these words to describe one group that defected [from the Truth]: “I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel;” (Galatians 1:6).

But Jesus said that at the end of days and as a sign of His coming, defection from the truth would occur in widespread fashion. In Matthew 24:5 He said, “For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ’ and will deceive many.” And in verse 10 He reiterates, “At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other,” and in Luke 18:8b Jesus asked rhetorically, “However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

Other examples of a current falling away come to mind. Charismatics, many in holiness Pentecostal churches, allow personal revelation and spiritual experience to be added to the Divine Word. It’s gotten so bad in some cases that they allow personal revelation and ‘spiritual’ experience to be the authority for the congregation instead of the Word. When one member stands up and says “God told me and we should do the following,” they DO, even if it is against the Word!

In the case of Mormons, they have allowed an angel named Moroni bringing a different Gospel to become their authority. Even though Paul wrote in Galatians 1:8, “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!” Mormons accepted what “Angel Moroni” had to say and a cult was born. The Mormon issue is serious because one who holds great political and cultural and political sway is Mormon Glenn Beck, and two candidates running for President are Mormon. (former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.). The article “Mainline Protestants need not apply” remarks on how none of the current 2012 Presidential candidates are from traditional Protestant denominations.

The figure atop all Latter Day Saints (Mormon) temples is the angel Moroni. Jesus is not given that high position of worshipful adoration, a false angel is, even though the Word says not to do it! (Rev 22:8-9)

In these three cases, either a fallible man (Pope) has become their authority, or personal experience has become their authority, or an angel has become their authority. The Catholics allowed the Word to be swamped under Tradition. The Charismatics have allowed the Word to be added to. The Mormons allowed the Word to be rewritten.

I believe all humans have an inherent compass that seeks ultimate authority. We chafe under authority sometimes but we all need it and we all look for it. In the cases of apostasy, that drive to find ultimate authority has been jogged off the path of righteousness toward a false authority of some kind or another. In all cases, from Paul’s time to this, the mistake is the same. They left their first love. The sin of the Church at Ephesus so described by Jesus in the Revelation 2:4 is that they declined in love, slipped and slid away from sound doctrine. They were not completely cold. But the condition of the faithful at the end of the age is one that WILL have lost all its warmness. Paul warns Timothy that people will be unholy and without love (2 Tim 3:2b-3a). Jesus prophesied that at the very end, “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold,” (Mt 24:12)

When fervency for the Word is lost, other doctrines creep in, and so do other authorities. The bible and its doctrines are all-important because Jesus IS the Word, and the Word IS Jesus! “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1) When you submit to His authority you submit to the Word, and when you submit to the Word, you submit to Jesus. Accepting other authorities means you set Jesus aside and accept not the truth. Then begins a long, downward spiral. It’s like that 70s song by Johnny Lee, “Looking for love in all the wrong places“

Mark 12:24  Jesus replied, “Are you not in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God?

Romans 10:17  Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.

The authority is not the Pope. The authority is not Moroni. The authority is not a spiritual revelation given by a dream or a word. The authority is Jesus and His Word. Do not leave your first love. Why? Because He first loved US! (1 John 4:19)

————————————-
 For fun, listen to the video again but through a filter of Jesus and the truth. Video.

I’ve spent a lifetime looking for you
Single bars and good time lovers, never true
Playing a fools game, hoping to win
Telling those sweet lies and losing again.

I was looking for love in all the wrong places
Looking for love in too many faces
Searching your eyes, looking for traces
Of what.. I’m dreaming of…
Hopin’ to find a friend and a lover
God bless the day I discover
Another heart, lookin’ for love

You came a’knocking at my heart’s door..
You’re everything I’ve been looking for..
…
God bless the day I discover
You, oh You, lookin’ for love

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Posted in fallen angels, genesis 6, nephilim, prophecy

The Nephilim and the Fallen Angels: Part 1

There is a strange doctrine spoken of in the bible, in Genesis 6, and alluded to in several other places in the Old and the New Testaments. The doctrine is also prophesied to occur again in the last days. Strange as this one is, it behooves us to pursue doctrines in good faith, to learn what the Word may be saying to us. It involves the Fallen angels, women, and the Nephilim, their ungodly offspring.

That the fallen angels came to earth and mated with women, is a certainty in my interpretation, though others try to make it into what the scriptures say it’s not but by so doing twist the scriptures to adhere to their pre-suppositions. I always take the plain meaning when it is presented. Here is what the verse says, you decide-
“And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.” (Genesis 6:1-2)

In the next verses God determined to destroy all living matter on the earth, except for Noah, who had found grace with the LORD.

Could it be? Fallen angels mated with women, took them, actually, and offspring were born? But angels can’t have sex, you say. They cite Mark 12:25, or Matthew 22:30: “For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.” The verse says they do not marry, not that they cannot. Angels are eternal, and eternal beings have no need to make more of themselves. They’re eternal. Unless they have an evil goal in mind, that is.

The Genesis verse continues, “There were giants [Nephilim] in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown. And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.” (Genesis 6:4-5, NKJV)

The NIV and King James use Nephilim instead of “giants”. Who were these “mighty men”? One was Goliath, a giant for sure, along with his brothers. (1 Samuel 14:4;2 Samuel 21:18-22 KJV). Og, King of Bashan was another. “For only Og king of Bashan was left of the remnant of the Rephaim. Behold, his bedstead was an iron bedstead; it is in Rabbah of the sons of Ammon. Its length was nine cubits and its width four cubits by ordinary cubit.” That means his bed was 18′ X 8′. (Deuteronomy 3:11). Raphaim, from which their tribe was named, means giant, from the Hebrew Rapha.

The giants were on earth in the Land shown by God to Joshua. He and the 12 spies saw that the grape clusters were so large they had to be carried by two men (Numbers 13:13) and that the Anakites were there. Anak means long necked giant and in Deut 1:26-28 & 2:10-11 we learn that they were descended from the Rapha.

There are many other examples, but it seems that the fallen angels of the earliest days of humanity on earth, took women, and the women bore children who were hybrids, half human and half celestial. The women were killed in the flood and the angels who did this were rounded up and jailed in chains in the lowest abyss (Tartarus) until judgment (Jude 1:6) If you know your pagan religions, and later the Greek and Roman mythology, this factual event that the bible describes is represented in mythology of the ‘gods’ who came to earth and took women, producing half-celestial, half human hybrids, such as Hercules.

“The rout of the fallen angels”, Illus to Milton’s “Paradise Lost”. By Wm. Blake

Some examples from Greek mythology are Antiope, the daughter of the Boeotian river god Asopus. Her beauty attracted Zeus, who, assuming the form of a satyr, took her by force. Zeus was busy, he also took Leda while disguised as a swan, and he took Semele as a smooth seducer. Zeus took Alcmene by transfiguring himself into the image of her husband. Zeus resorted to deception to get at Callisto. Callisto had taken a vow of chastity as one of the women who served Artemis, but He came to her disguised as Artemis, and when she let down her guard Zeus raped her. Zeus came to Danae as a shower of golden coins. Neptune took Aethra by force. The satyrs chased everyone.

In ancient mythology, the ‘gods’ who came down from the heavens could enchant, seduce, transfigure, and take all the women that they chose, who later bore hybrid children endowed with supernatural powers and who were giants. In mythology Hercules and Perseus are two examples. In the bible, these were Og, Goliath, Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai, who were the children of Anak; and many others individuals and tribes of giants who were mighty men of renown. You see the parallels.

The Fallen angels under the direction of Satan attempted to corrupt the bloodline of the people whom Jesus said would spring forth the savior. They were successful enough so that by the time of the Flood, the intents of people’s hearts was only evil, continually. Noah was perfect in his generations, meaning, his bloodline was untainted by the genetic corruption the fallen angels were wreaking. God judged all humans and all of the fallen angels who had done this, but spared Noah and the other 7 because they had found grace. The fallen angels didn’t stop, though. After the Flood, there was a second infestation of the Nephilim, resulting progeny of the fallen angels and women whom they chose (“…and also after that” Gen 6:4). These tribes, several of which I mentioned above, were active in the Land until David. After David wiped out the last of them, this particular kind of assault on humanity seems to have sunk into the recesses of myth and cultural memory. Until, perhaps, the Tribulation.

There have been many books written on the subject. It seems to fascinate, and I admit it fascinates me too. I’ve written about the Nephilim and genetic modification here, and UFOs and the Nephilim here. Also about the Nephilim and vampires, here. Patrick Heron wrote a very good book, “The Nephilim and the Pyramid of the Apocalypse.” At the link, you can read the introduction and the first chapter, buy the book, or download it on iTunes. Chuck Missler preached on it in a series, here.

I’ll write part two next, in which I discuss the current vampire obsession, and examine whether it is related to the Nephilim after all. There are some scriptures in the New Testament that the Spirit gave me interesting and deeper insight into, and have investigated and which may well be alluding to the third irruption of these fallen angels and their progeny, the mighty men of old, men of renown. I’ll share those with you next time for your consideration.
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Posted in creation, genesis, prophecy, revelation

If Genesis is creation, is Revelation UNcreation?

I’ve been reading the Creation verses a lot lately. Genesis 1 is wonderful and it fascinates me completely. I am also listening to John MacArthur’s series on Creation and last night I heard him explain the verses relating to Day 3. I think it is so important to be thoroughly familiar with the Creation verses because they are under such assault. The Spirit has impressed me with this, and when I read in the local newspaper an opinion piece by the founder of the paper that he believes evolution and creation are co-existent, I couldn’t let it go. Rather, the Spirit wouldn’t let me let it go. I wrote a response, and still, the Spirit wouldn’t let go.

Part of what I wrote was this: “First, science and the bible are at odds on the point of creation. There is no scientific process that has, can, or will ever confirm the creation of the world. It can’t. Creation was not a scientific event, it was a supernatural one.”

Christian, don’t worry about defending the bible against science. It is our job to witness to His holiness against sin.

I continued listening to the sermon, and MacArthur got to the part about seeds. The earth was made fully mature. Adam and Eve were grown adults. The trees were mature and bore seeds and fruit from the first moment. So did plants. (Genesis 1:11). MacArthur said,

“One of the great, great wonders of the world is the science of seed dispersal. I watched an entire video on that just absolutely astonishing to see how God designed seed dispersal, not the least of which is accomplished by birds in your own yard, sometimes even attempted on your car and on your head. Pre-fertilized seed dispersal is very efficient.”

How DO seeds disperse, I wondered. Wikipedia explains, “Seed dispersal is the movement or transport of seeds away from the parent plant. Plants have limited mobility and consequently rely upon a variety of dispersal vectors to transport their propagules, … There are five main modes of seed dispersal: gravity, wind, ballistic, water and by animals.” I started to think about the Tribulation and the verse in chapter 8 came to mind.

“The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down upon the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.” (Rev 8:7). The earth is judged and that includes the vegetation, which He created on Day 3. Hmmm, grass and vegetation die in this, the First Trumpet Judgment.  But the verse later in Revelation came to mind also,

“After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree.” (Rev 11:6). If wind is one of the major ways seeds are propagated, then after the vegetation is burned up then there is very little chance that new growth will occur, especially of no wind if blowing “on any tree”… or its seeds. And when the Two Witnesses cause no rain to fall upon the earth for three and a half years, (Rev 11:6) then that diminishes the chance for new growth all the more.

Michaelangelo’s Creation of Adam, detail, Sistine Chapel

It occurred to me then, that Revelation could be seen as the orderly progression of UNcreation. Do the seven days of Creation match in reverse the seven years of Tribulation? Not exactly but in general. Revelation depicts judgment to be sure. But what a synchronicity that the first book of the Bible reveals how Creation was made, and the last book depicts its unmaking. On Day 1 the Light turned on, and ‘immediately after the tribulation of those days’, the sun, moon, and stars give no light” in other words, the lights are turned off. (Matthew 24:29-31). Heaven is made on Day 2, and in Rev 6:14 heaven is rolled up as a scroll. The sea creatures die. The land creatures die. The people die. The sun, moon, and stars fall.

The people know it is God, that He exists, and that He is exerting His power over them. In Revelation 16:9 they curse God on account of the plagues but they refused to repent and glorify Him. Those on the earth who rebel and deny His creative power will watch a slow and excruciating dismantling of creation, plank by plank. This is judgment indeed.

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Posted in prophecy, sex in graveyard

Sex in the graveyard? "rolling over in the grave", literally

Before I get serious today with a post I’m working on, here is a story out of New Jersey that skitters over to black comedy and at the same time is just sad.

Woman is injured in Hamilton graveyard by falling tombstone during ‘extracurricular activities,’ police say

Note: photo not of the graveyard in question.

 “HAMILTON – A woman who may have been engaged in sexual activity in a township cemetery Tuesday evening was injured when a tombstone fell on her leg, police said. The 39-year-old woman was not badly hurt, and the administration of Ahavath Israel Cemetery declined to press charges, according to police. The woman was with a male friend in the graveyard off Cedar Lane just before 7 p.m. visiting the grave of a relative. When the two engaged in some “extracurricular activities,” one of the grave markers rolled onto the woman’s leg, Capt. James Stevens said. The woman was taken by ambulance to Capital Health Regional Medical Center for treatment. Police did not know the extent of her injuries. Cemetery management was contacted, but no criminal investigation of the two was launched after the administration decided not to file a criminal complaint.”

What about the family of the person’s grave that they defiled? I hope they file charges. And I wish they would release the name of the woman and the man.

Here is a rhetorical question. We know the answer already. How does the visitation of a dead relative, an activity that usually evokes emotions of sadness, melancholy, reminiscence, tragedy, etc, flip over to instant and wanton sexual gratification? It’s just gross and monstrous to think that people would have such little self-control that they decide then and there to engage in such activity instead of concentrating on the purpose for which they arrived in the first place. Ugh, in a graveyard no less. In normal times such mixtures of activities and places remain far apart from each other, but as we skid headlong into the Tribulation, we can see the results of Paul’s warning.

Perilous times will come:

“…for they will be unholy, unloving, without self-control…lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God…” As we see society breaking down piece by excruciating piece, Paul’s warnings along with Peter’s, Jesus’ and others show us how far from propriety, holiness, and self-sacrifice we have come. Thanks to the nature of sin, there is still a long way to go. But praise the Lord, we won’t be here to see it. Frankly, I’ve seen enough already.
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Posted in egyptian cleric proposes slavery, prophecy, revelation

Slavery in the Tribulation? Muslim cleric proposes it as solution to economic woes

I’ve always been puzzled by a verse in Revelation. LOL, more than one verse, but this one really gets me. At the fall of Babylon, we see in the threefold woes that are uttered, that a healthy economy in luxuries had been ongoing. Far from the economy being dead, as many suppose, it traded in all the world’s luxuries as if nothing untoward was happening. The rich still exist but the poor comprise most of the world. We also know that the economy is massively different, being under the control of one man, the Beast (antichrist) as revealed in Revelation 13. But the rich still buy things. We know from Revelation 6 that many are not rich but are really are devastatingly poor, unable to even afford more than a loaf of bread which equals a whole day’s pay. For the rich, they keep on keeping on with their consumerism of ridiculously luxurious items. Except for one particular luxury item in the verse at the end:

Revelation 18: 9-13
Threefold Woe Over Babylon’s Fall
“When the kings of the earth who committed adultery with her and shared her luxury see the smoke of her burning, they will weep and mourn over her. 10 Terrified at her torment, they will stand far off and cry:

“‘Woe! Woe to you, great city,
you mighty city of Babylon!
In one hour your doom has come!’

“The merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her because no one buys their cargoes anymore— cargoes of gold, silver, precious stones and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk and scarlet cloth; every sort of citron wood, and articles of every kind made of ivory, costly wood, bronze, iron and marble; cargoes of cinnamon and spice, of incense, myrrh and frankincense, of wine and olive oil, of fine flour and wheat; cattle and sheep; horses and carriages; and human beings sold as slaves.”

I could not understand how this could be, though I believe it totally because God’s word is inerrant. But I had thought slavery was pretty much stamped out. There is indentured servitude in informal form, and children sold as sex slaves. But organized slavery today, though it exists is the smallest number than it ever has been in history, is rare. 12-27 million people are purported to be slaves today. Most are debt slaves, largely in South Asia, who are under debt bondage incurred by lenders, sometimes even for generations, according to Wikipedia. But then again, I don’t know why I am surprised that slavery as indicated in the Revelation verse would not be a going boom to the economy. It is the natural end to the philosophy of Darwin, and simply an extension of abortion and euthanasia. There is no regard for life if you adhere to those philosophies or engage in those activities. Life means nothing. Further, the bible tells us that life will mean less than nothing:

“Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. (Mark 13:12)

“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.” (2 Timothy 3:1-5)

Jesus said, “Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.” (Matthew 24:12). Lawlessness here in this verse translated from the Greek is ‘sin’ or total and complete disregard for God’s laws. People who totally dismiss God will be more liable to disregard the soul of the person inhabiting the body, and just kill it. Or sell it. It’s an “it,” not a person. Then today I read this:

Egyptian Cleric: Poverty Can be Solved by Selling Humans ‘Like Groceries’
“Over the past week, a video has surfaced featuring prominent Egyptian cleric Salafi Shaykh Abi-Ishaq al-Huwayni. In a translation posted by Al Mutarjim on his blog Translating Jihad, al-Huwayni is quoted as advocating jihad (he says it’s “a real pleasure”) and encouraging listeners to ease financial problems through the capture and sale of human beings (he says they can be sold “like groceries”).”

Here is a translation from the video which is at the link. Sounds like he has thought long and hard about this. I mean, he has a mini-economy in people going on there in that twisted head of his:

Here’s the translation in copy form:
“We are in the era of jihad. The era of jihad has come over us, and jihad in the path of Allah is a pleasure. It is a real pleasure. The companions (of the Prophet) used to compete to (perform jihad). The poverty that we’re in—is it not due to our abandonment of jihad? But if we could conduct one, two, or three jihadist operations every year, many people throughout the earth would become Muslims. And whoever rejected this da’wa, or stood in our way, we would fight against him and take him prisoner, and confiscate his wealth, his children, and his women—all of this means money. Every mujahid who returned from jihad, his pockets would be full. He would return with 3 or 4 slaves, 3 or 4 women, and 3 or 4 children. Multiply each head by 300 dirhams, or 300 dinar, and you have a good amount of profit. If he were to go to the West and work on a commercial deal, he would not make that much money. Whenever things became difficult (financially), he could take the head (i.e. the prisoner) and sell it, and ease his (financial) crisis. He would sell it like groceries. Of those who are–” and the video is abruptly cut off.

I am writing about that verse for the first time, and inevitably the Spirit gives deeper understanding each time I read it. But for now, we take at face value that there will be an economy in human commerce in the Tribulation. Slavery. Dead ahead.
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