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end of days. prophecy, end time, jesus, middle east unrest, syria

"It’s all a big plot, I tell ya": Syria accuses world

Posted on March 30, 2011 by elizabethprata

Today Syria’s President Assad accused the external world of a conspiracy to disrupt his government. The report states, “Syrian President Bashar Assad blamed a wave of protests on “conspirators” who are trying to destroy the country, giving his first address to the nation Wednesday since the demonstrations erupted nearly two weeks ago.”

This is not rhetoric nor is it a ploy. I had presented a case yesterday that explored what the Islamic states are really saying when they accuse external forces of meddling in their affairs. I’d written:

“Sudan stated, “The message came as part of the joint consultations between Khartoum and Tehran on global and regional issues of common concern…Hashemi highlighted the importance for the two countries to pay attention to external plots targeting their common interests”. [emphasis mine]. You’ve seen that phrase “external plot” come up in the news the last two weeks: “Bahrain Monarch Says ‘Foreign Plot’ Failed”. The Sudanese President’s statement about external plots was from Dec 2010, and the Bahraini King’s statement about external plots was from this week. Muslims around the global ‘belt’ are tightening ties, drawing together as inexorably as iron shavings to a magnet. And it has happened before our very eyes! Ahmadinejad has done a good job of fomenting perspective that when the nations see us they see us through enemy eyes, and when they see each other they see like-minded allies suffering from external plots. They are internal, we are external.”

To get the full context read here and here.

Today Syrian News agency Sana reports “President al-Assad receives calls from King of Bahrain, Emirs of Kuwait and Qatar, Iraqi President, supporting Syria in face of conspiracy“
“President Bashar al-Assad on Sunday received phone calls from King of Bahrain Hamad bin Issa al- Khalifa, the Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, President Jalal al-Talabani of Iraq , Emir of Qatar Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. King of Bahrain, Emirs of Kuwait and Qatar, Iraq’s President expressed their countries’ standing by Syria in the face of conspiracy to which it is exposed, targeting its security and stability. They underlined confidence in Syria’s capability, as leadership and people, to foil that conspiracy.”

I want to emphasize that they really believe this. The current unrest in the middle east that began in January with Lebanon’s government falling (Whatever happened to Lebanon, anyway?) and continues in Yemen, Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and now Syria is something that is prophesied. The entire focus in the last days of the Tribulation (which is NOT YET upon us) will be on Israel and all her neighbors.

“A prophecy: The word of the LORD concerning Israel. The LORD, who stretches out the heavens, who lays the foundation of the earth, and who forms the human spirit within a person, declares:“I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that sends all the surrounding peoples reeling. Judah will be besieged as well as Jerusalem. On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations. All who try to move it will injure themselves.” (Zechariah 12:1-3).

You see that at the end ALL nations will be gathered against Israel. The inexorable slide toward that moment has begun. A series of battles and wars will occur, (Mt 24:6-7; Rev 6:3). By the time the tribulation begins, the whole world will be in war. Prior to that or immediately after the rapture, Psalm 83 battle will ignite the conflagration in the Middle East like at no other time in the world nor shall ever be. Israel’s neighbors conspire to attack. A confederation including Palestinians, Jordanians, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Lebanon and Syria attack the apple of God’s eye (Zech 2:8;) Israel. Israel is successful in wiping them out, even to the point where Israel reclaims land that was originally given to her by God (Genesis 15:18, Obadiah 1:17-18). For the rest of the tribulation we don’t hear much from any of these nations again. Israel is seen to have an exceedingly great army (Ezekiel 37:10).

In Isaiah 5:30, the analogy of the restless and wicked multitudes as the sea is used: “And in that day they shall roar against them like the roaring of the sea: and if one look unto the land, behold darkness and sorrow, and the light is darkened in the heavens thereof.” Barnes notes explains, “The prophet speaks of the vast multitude that was coming up and roaring like the tumultuous “ocean.” And again, the analogy is used in Isaiah 17:12 “Oh, the raging of many nations–they rage like the raging sea!”

One of the prophesies Jesus told us of in the Olivet Discourse, was that, “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea.” (Luke 21:25.) In my opinion, this is what we are seeing a precursor of now, with the continual revolutions rolling over from nation to nation the Middle East.

In the practical, what we’re seeing today is the coalescing of these nations from individual states battling here and there, into a lock-step united front of a massive Muslim coalition with eyes looking upon a common enemy: Israel. The old Arabic proverb applies here, “The enemy of my enemy is my friend.” Finally they will come together on an issue: and it’s not peace at the diplomacy table, it will be in attacking Israel. They all hate Israel but until now they have been preoccupied with their own business to adhere to a united front.

If Sudan and Bahrain and Syria and Hamas and Hezbollah and Iran are all saying that outside plots are upsetting the peace of the Middle East and causing these revolutions, how long do think it will be until they decide that those outside plots are from Israel (little satan) and US (Big Satan)? It looks like not long.
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antichrist, barack obama, caliph, rush limbaugh

Rush says Obama may be Caliphate building

Posted on March 30, 2011 by elizabethprata

UPDATE: See new post “What do Muslims believe about the end of the age” FMI on caliphate, Imam, and Islamic end time eschatology.

On September 4, 2010, 6 months ago, I posted a piece exploring Obama as Caliph. Seemingly out of the blue, a Pakistani Ayatollah had made a curious call for Obama to be named as Islam’s Caliph. As a side note, isn’t it amazing that now just 6 months later, we are all now very familiar with terms such as Caliph, Shia, Imam and Mullah?

I post this 6-month-old piece again because today Rush Limbaugh made a curious statement. Limbaugh said “Out of the clear it would seem that Obama is into Caliphate-building. It is almost as though Obama might believe he is the Twelfth Imam.” The clip is short and though it goes on for a few more seconds I don’t have a context as to why Rush would say this. But if you read the article below, you will see undeniably that it is not “out of the clear”, that the Muslims have long regarded Obama as a brother. Obama himself has demonstrated this by his actions. He went to a place specifically to hear a Pro-Palestinian message. The Muslims recognize Obama as a brother, as we see below. Obama gave a speech at Georgetown on condition that the crucifix behind him be blacked out or removed. A myriad of clues big and little tell us that Obama is an enemy of the US and an enemy of God.

Please read the post below in light of even more information that has come out. This week it was revealed that the Clerics and Ayatollahs of Iran have produced a video in preparing their people for the arrival of the 12th Imam, the Final Mahdi, in celebration because his near arrival is imminent, they say. They are convinced he is near, just as convinced as we are that the antichrist is near (I believe the 12th Imam IS the antichrist). And you will not forget who works with the antichrist: the False Prophet. Please re-read the essay below with these things in mind, and my assessment of just who Barack Hussein Obama is comes at the bottom.
http://rvm.magnify.net/embed/player/?layout=&playlist_cid=&media_type=video&content=WJ035V0ZQYFPS4ZN&read_more=1&widget_type_cid=svp

Re-post begins:
Ayatollah Durrani’s call for Obama to be Caliph has enormous end time implications in Christianity AND Islam

Yesterday I published a piece that was pretty curious. Out of the blue, an Ayatollah from Pakistan called for Barack Hussein Obama, our President, to be installed as Caliph, leader of Muslims. Further, he called for Obama to lead Muslim Eid holiday prayers from Ground Zero on Sept. 11. The Ayatollah had called the Pakistani newspaper “The Nation” and made this claim, and it was published in both their print version and online. I thought the call for Obama to become caliph was odd, and anything odd these days bears intense research, because as we draw so close to the end, nothing is to be taken for granted. Thus, I began really looking at the language in the Pakistani news article. This is what I found, thanks to the Holy Spirit’s guidance in research.

First, a republishing of the short, odd article:

Minister wants Obama to become Ameer-ul-Momineen
ISLAMABAD – In a development that could be duly termed as one and only of its kind, an incumbent Government’s Minister has urged US President Barrack Obama to offer Eid prayers at Ground Zero Mosque and become “Ameer-ul-Momineen” of Muslim Ummah [the collective Muslim world]. Minister of State for Industries and former member Pakistan Ideological Council Ayatullah Durrani called TheNation on Wednesday to register his demand made to President Obama. “The coming Eid would expectedly be observed on 9/11, this a golden opportunity for President Obama to offer Eid prayers at Ground Zero and become Amir-ul-Momineen or Caliph of Muslims. In this way, all the problems of Muslim World would be solved,” he thought. Durrani argued that Muslim World was in “dire need” of a Caliph and the distinguished slot of Caliphate would earn President Obama the exemplary titles of what he termed, “Mullah Barrack Hussain Obama” or “Allama Obama.” “The time is approaching fast. Barrack Hussain Obama must act now. This is a golden opportunity, Muslims badly need it,” he added, saying that the elevation of President Obama to Muslim’s Caliphate would be the “key to success.” This news was published in print paper.

The term caliph came into use as a title of the civil and religious head of the Muslim state. But because the Muslim state is so fractured, having one head as Caliph became untenable and fell out of use by 1924.

Let’s take a close look at two of the sentences. First, Durrani said: “all the problems of Muslim World would be solved.”

I can’t speak for the Pakistani Ayatollah on exactly how this may solve the Muslim world’s problems, but I do know that the Muslim world is not a united world. Sunni and Shia diverge greatly, and once the office of Caliph was abandoned in 1924, the division became seemingly permanent. “Disagreement over the status and legitimate line of caliphs lies at the root of the division between Shiite and Sunni Muslims. The caliphate has throughout history been an important symbolic focus of unity for Muslims, and since its abolition several pan-Islamic congresses have attempted to establish a rightful caliph. (Cambridge Encyclopedia).

Instituting the office of Caliph with an acceptable candidate would indeed go a long way to solving the Muslim world’s problems.

In Shia end time doctrines, the final Mahdi (12th Mahdi, and they have already had 11) will be a world leader, emerging out of the chaos and violence to institute a one world religion and economic system. The world will worship this Mahdi, (Muslim Messiah)in advance of the coming of Jesus prior to Jesus instituting HIS kingdom. Sound familiar? The final Mahdi is central to their doctrines, CENTRAL. The entire focus of much of Islam (with exception of certain Sunni sects) focuses on this final Imam.

With that in mind, on the Jihadica blog, a conversation took place in 2008 that bears on today’s conversation about Obama as Caliph. The title of the entry is “Mahdi Will Appear After Return and Death of Caliph” and the excerpt is “Discussion of the appearance of the Mahdi, a messianic figure who will appear to restore justice to the world, is not a hot topic on Sunni Jihadi forums (in contrast with Shia miliants, who talk about it a lot). So a post today on Eklaas by al-Fata al-Jurani caught my eye. In it, he argues that the Mahdi will not appear until a caliph once again rules Muslims. After the caliph dies, the black banners will be unfurled and the Mahdi will appear. So if the caliphate were to be declared and acknowledged, would hitherto non-messianic Jihadi groups like al-Qaeda become messianic?”

Are you starting to get the import of this little-reported, curious call for Obama to be a Caliph?

In a second curious sentence from the article, I thought that the Ayatollah’s specificity in delivering the titles for Obama in this yet-to-be-named Caliphate were odd. But they are not odd, in fact, these titles have great meaning for Muslims.

From the article: “Durrani, a former member of the Pakistan Ideological Council, contended that the Muslim world is in “dire need” of a Caliph and occupying this distinguished slot would provide Obama “exemplary titles” like “Mullah Barack Hussain Obama” or “Allama Obama”.

Mullah is generally used to refer to a Muslim man, educated in Islamic theology and sacred law. The title, given to some Islamic clergy, is derived from the Arabic word mawlà , meaning “vicar”, “master” and “guardian”. In large parts of the Muslim world, particularly Iran, Bosnia, Afghanistan, Turkey, Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent, it is the name commonly given to local Islamic clerics or mosque leaders.”

Allamah also spelled Allameh and Allama, is an honorary title carried by only the very highest scholars of Islamic thought, jurisprudence, and philosophy. It is used as an honorific in Sunni Islam as well as in Twelver Shia Islam. The caliphate has throughout history been an important symbolic focus of unity for Muslims, and since its abolition several pan-Islamic congresses have attempted to establish a rightful caliph.

Obama is seen as a uniter, a bridge from the past to the future, a scholar, and a person of diverse origins, able to understand all peoples. From what I have read of Obama’s life, he seems to be able to fulfill the titles the Pakistani Ayatollah has readily prepared for him. Qualifications aside, that Obama has been deemed acceptable by a respected former member of the Muslim Ideological Council is tremendously significant theologically.

And now, the point, if you haven’t figured it out already: from Watchmanbiblestudy.com
“Throughout the Islamic world today there is a call for the restoration of the Islamic Caliphate. The Caliph (Khalifa) in Islam may be viewed somewhat as the Pope of the Muslims. The Caliph is viewed as the Vice-regent for Allah on the earth.”

We know that the False Prophet paves the way for the Antichrist to be worshiped, and the vehicle for that worship is the Mark. (Rev 13:11-17). Is the call by Ayatollah Durrani for Obama to become Caliph really the first call from satan to his false prophet?
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fukushima, jesus, wormwood

Facts and prophetic implications of Fukushima meltdown

Posted on March 29, 2011May 9, 2016 by elizabethprata

The situation in Japan is truly critical. Here is some context and some news, with my interpretation of the end time implications at the end. Believe it or not, I have edited this down from a longer length. But it is a good roundup of the latest and most pertinent facts I could find. I apologize if it is too long.

ABOUT THE REACTOR FACILITIES:

The Fukushima 1 Nuclear Power Plant, also known as Fukushima Dai-ichi (dai-ichi means “number one”), is a nuclear power plant located on a 860-acre site in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. There are six nuclear reactors on site, known as Fukushima-1, Fukushima-2, etc. The plant reactors came online from 1970 through 1979.

Fukushima II Nuclear Power Plant, Fukushima Dai-Ni (dai-ni means “number two”), is a nuclear power plant located on a 370-acre site located 7 miles to the south of Fukushima Dai-chi. There are four reactors at the second Fukushima, which all came online between 1981-1986. After the 2011 Tokyo earthquake and tsunami, the four reactors at Fukushima II automatically shut down without incident.

The situation has been difficult for media to get a handle on because it is a major disaster after all, and things are very fluid. At one point, readings were published that indicated radiation was 10 million times normal but there were extra zeroes in the report that went uncorrected for hours. The radiation was actually 100,000 times normal, which of course, is bad enough. No mother with a baby is going to care how many zeroes are on the report when her child comes down with cancer. But the situation has been hard to get a handle on also because of government’s hiding information and disinformation.

COMPARISON TO THREE MILE ISLAND

Four days ago, we heard from the Japanese Prime Minister that there was a breach at Fukushima-3 and that the situation is in his words, “grave and serious.” An American nuclear scientist, Michio Kaku, was asked for comment /reaction to the news. He said:

“This is huge. For the first time they are using that dreaded word ‘breach’, meaning uncontrolled release of radiation in the environment. This reactor contains plutonium, the most toxic chemical known to science. A millionth of a gram of plutonium can cause cancer if ingested.”

Dr. Kaku explained that the accident at Three Mile Island rated a five in the nuclear accident scale, because one reactor sustained 90% core damage, but very little radiation escaped into the environment. To compare Fukushima, the officials have rated as a level five on the nuclear accident scale. Dr Kaku said there are three raging meltdowns in progress, one spent fuel pond open to the air, hydrogen as explosions, any ONE of which exceeds Three Mile Island. “At the very least, Fukushima should by now be rated a six,” Dr Kaku said. Chernobyl was rated the highest, a seven on the nuclear accident scale.

But we are really parsing here when talking ‘partial meltdown’ and ‘full-scale meltdown’ when it comes to the Japanese people and the toxicity released into the global environment. There are reports on the ground from lay-people posting to Youtube that the situation is out of control, that plutonium has already been released in the air. What is the latest mainstream, credible news?

Follow up to Netanhyahu’s Middle East speech: Justice, Muslim style, cometh?

Posted on March 29, 2011 by elizabethprata

This is an update to the previous post. Please read the previous post to understand the full impact of this post, and then you will understand better exactly where we are on the prophetic timeline…

In the last post, I read the headline about how Iran has been going around strengthening ties on the basis of common interests “and justice.” Initially it seemed like a throwaway part of the quote (“Tehran is ready to increase ties with African countries and particularly Islamic ones in all fields and on the basis of justice.”) but the world justice kept nagging at me for these last few minutes so I looked it up. And here is the root as to the driving force behind Iran’s world tour of strengthening ties. Justice is a key word for all Muslims. Any Muslim reading that will understand what Iran has in mind. According to the “Religion of Islam” website,

“Justice is an obligation of Islam and injustice is forbidden. The centrality of justice to the Quranic value system is displayed by the following verse: “We sent Our Messengers with clear signs and sent down with them the Book and the Measure in order to establish justice among the people…” (Quran 57:25)

“Islam’s approach to justice is comprehensive and all-embracing. Any path that leads to justice is deemed to be in harmony with Islamic Law. God has demanded justice and, although He has not prescribed a specific route, has provided general guidelines, on how to achieve it. He has neither prescribed a fixed means by which it can be obtained, nor has He declared invalid any particular means or methods that can lead to justice. Therefore, all means, procedures, and methods that facilitate, refine, and advance the cause of justice, and do not violate the Islamic Law are valid.” Quote from Qaradawi, Yusuf, ‘Madkhal li-Darasah al-Sharia al-Islamiyya,’)”

“‘To render justice’, in the words of Sarkhasi, a noted classical Islamic jurist, ‘ranks as the most noble of acts of devotion next to belief in God. It is the greatest of all the duties entrusted to the prophets…and it is the strongest justification for man’s stewardship of earth…”

We can see the prophetic indicators on overdrive, as the Muslim nations ready themselves for bringing about justice in the world. This comes as no surprise after the revealing of the video produced by the Clerics at top levels of Iraninan government stating explicitly that the 12th Imam is so near

Iranian Video Says Mahdi is ‘Near’

http://downloads.cbn.com/cbnnewsplayer/cbnplayer.swf?aid=22007
“New evidence has emerged that the Iranian government sees the current unrest in the Middle East as a signal that the Mahdi–or Islamic messiah–is about to appear. CBN News has obtained a never-before-seen video produced by the Iranian regime that says all the signs are moving into place — and that Iran will soon help usher in the end times. While the revolutionary movements gripping the Middle East have created uncertainty throughout the region, the video shows that the Iranian regime believes the chaos is divine proof that their ultimate victory is at hand.”

Joel C. Rosenberg responded to the news of the video with this comment: “It’s a grave development for Israel and the US because it reinforces the notion that the Iranian regime believes chaos and carnage in the epicenter are essential to the Mahdi’s coming.”

Meahwhile, since I began this post, Syria’s Cabinet has resigned and the nation teeters…
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gog magog, islam, israel, netanyahu

Reaction to Netanyahu’s speech today: Ben, that horse has left the barn

Posted on March 29, 2011 by elizabethprata

Prime Minister Netanyahu gave a major speech today, titled, “The Things That Must Follow Present MidEast Turmoil.” In the speech, Netanyahu outlined three things the world must do to quell the Middle East violence and right the runaway train toward peace. I’ll give a summary and offer my reasoning why pursuing these three is akin to spitting in the wind.

Netanyahu said: “what is required is a Marshall Plan by the concerned international powers, and also the public sector, to assist in the concrete development of these two economies. “If you remember, the Marshall Plan was the large-scale economic program of the United States for rebuilding and creating a stronger economic foundation for the countries of Europe. Netanyahu wants to apply that kind of large-scale economic plan to the Middle east nations.

I believe this approach ultimately will fail because it has been obvious for years that the powerhouse in the region, Iran, has deliberately abandoned the economic route and thus abandoned the west, in favor of a philosophical strengthening among like-allies: thru Islam. If you google ‘Iran’, “Ahmadinejad” and “strengthen” you will find hundreds of headlines like these over the last three years:

Iran, Afghanistan vow to strengthen ties
Venezuela and Iran Strengthen Ties
Iran, Africa vow to strengthen ties
Syria and Iran strengthen ties with car and cement plants
Russia, Iran strengthen gas ties
Offshore Kenya-Iran to Strengthen Ties
Iran and Turkey determined to strengthen ties Iran,
Comoros to strengthen ties with Iran.

Those are just a few of the headlines. Ahmadinejad’s ‘strengthening ties’ tour has been going on over the last three and a half years. He has been busy. While we have been watching Obama and Europe has been watching the euro, Iran has reached out to the world.

In the news piece above about Sudan, it states, “The message came as part of the joint consultations between Khartoum and Tehran on global and regional issues of common concern…Hashemi highlighted the importance for the two countries to pay attention to external plots targeting their common interests”. Those common interests are religious, not economic. After all, what can Sudan offer Iran? Comoros?? Ahmadinejad visited Comoros. It is stated: “Mahmoud Ahmadinejad met Comorian counterpart Ahmad Abdullah Sambi and asserted Tehran is ready to increase ties with African countries and particularly Islamic ones in all fields and on the basis of justice.”

You’ve seen that phrase “external plot” come up in the news the last two weeks: “Bahrain Monarch Says ‘Foreign Plot’ Failed”. The Sudanese President’s statement about external plots was from Dec 2010, and the Bahraini King’s statement about external plots was from this week. Muslims around the global ‘belt’ are tightening ties, drawing together as inexorably as iron shavings to a magnet. And it has happened before our very eyes! Ahmadinejad has done a good job of fomenting perspective that when the nations see us they see us through enemy eyes, and when they see each other they see like-minded allies suffering from external plots. They are internal, we are external.

Netanyahu’s strategy of Economic enticements from the west will fail because 1) the Middle east nations are moving forward toward coalescing around Islam, and 2) they have enough money. Witness this next surprising headline:

Headline from today: China, Iran, Turkey emerge as scientific giants
A report from the UK’s Royal Society has found that a diverse range of countries, including Brazil, India and Iran, are rivalling the traditional science superpowers of the United States, Western Europe and Japan.

Other headline from this week: “Released on Monday, the report states that Iran has had the fastest rate of increase in scientific publication in the world and its scientific output rose 18-fold between 1996 and 2008, from 736 published papers to 13,238.” The West likes to perpetrate Iran as a backward, fumbling nation needing our help. Sure, the people are poor, but the nation isn’t.

Does the West know HOW FAR the new world order has gone? Old paradigms like economic ties/sanctions no longer apply. Why? They don’t need us.

Secondly, Netanyahu said “could be done more effectively by still stronger sanctions, and especially those measures that prevent the worst outcome of all – a turbulent, unstable Middle East, an Iran that exports revolutions and subversion, seeking to form militant Islamic regimes in all these countries, or in as many as they can. … the second thing that has to be done is to put maximum pressure on the main engine that drives Islamic militancy in this region, and that is pressure on Iran, and above all, to prevent it from acquiring nuclear weapons.”

Fail. Firstly, sanctions have done no good over the last 8 years. Secondly, Iran has hurtled ahead in cementing ties in Muslim nations and Latin America, cutting out the West, thereby rendering itself nearly immune to external pressure (“plots”). Third, Iran’s covert plan of Middle East destabilization is practically no longer covert. And they are succeeding. Iran is leaping ahead in science, and that means likely that successful invention of nuclear weaponry is at the door. That horse has left the barn, and Netanyahu opines that closing the door will fix it.

Netanyahu’s third proposed solution is to pursue peace, first by strengthening existing peace treaties with Jordan and Egypt, and secondly by advancing peace with the Palestinians.

I believe that no matter how fervently we all want peace, pray for peace, hope for peace, peace will not come until and unless the Psalm 83 battle occurs. The definition of insanity is to do the same thing over and over and expect a different outcome. Pursuing peace through peaceful means has always failed. Israel’s strength, demonstrated in a successful military campaign, will cause a false peace to permeate the region, but be the final push to coalesce what Ahmadinejad has been working toward all along: a military campaign of retaliation. Gog-Magog.
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encouragement, finish the race, holy spirit

Finishing the race

Posted on March 28, 2011 by elizabethprata

Watch, it’s 2 minutes. Then read, it’s encouraging!

Heather Dorniden of Minnesota University raced the 600m at the Big 10 Indoor Track Championships. Her example can be used to remind us what a race really is about. What life in Jesus is really about, in truth. We will fall. We can get up. We finish. But what is your reaction to the fall? To rising up again? Therein lay the difference.

When you fell, did you stay down? Did you lay there? Did you give up?

Did you say “woe is me, I fell, I’m not worthy of Jesus”? There are many people who and engage in continued public self-flagellation in false humility, like the Pharisees.

When you got up, did you then trudge? Paul says do not trudge but spring up and finish the race! Have joy. The race is a “good” race! It is a “good” fight!

Jesus knows we are faulty, that we will stumble, that we fail. But He is there to lift us up, the Spirit is there to encourage us. “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,” (Ephesians 3:20). What awaits you when you arise is the Holy Spirit, there with hand extended, to help you immeasurably!.

We all fall, the joy is in the getting up and finishing.

Keep looking ahead to the finish line. A crown awaits. Our home in New Jerusalem awaits. Eternal joy awaits. Our Lord awaits. Get up, get up! Pilgrims, the time is short, whether through death or rapture, our time here is shortening daily. Spring up and with all joy and energy, run to the finish line!

“However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me–the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.” (Acts 20:24)

Will you be able to say “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;” (2 Timothy 4:7)

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colorado ufo, end time, Gardermoen, jesus

UFO shuts down Norway Airport

Posted on March 27, 2011 by elizabethprata

This is a weird story. It really happened, but the response was off.

Google-translated from Norwegian:
“Any-UFO” frames weekend traffic
Paralyzed air traffic in a half hour – police in disarray
“No one knows yet for sure what it was that disrupted air traffic over the Oslo yesterday. But the consequences were great, and can be spread out over the weekend. Much of the air traffic in Norway was paralyzed between 16.00 and 17.30 yesterday afternoon, after an SAS pilot notified of an unidentified object in the skies that make the approach route to Oslo Airport Gardermoen. SAS plane was on its way up the west side of Oslo Fjord on board when the captain made visual contact with another vehicle that reflected sunlight back into the cockpit of the SAS plane. The distance should have only been a few hundred meters, in a slightly lower altitude. “The Master interpreted it as a glider that had been higher than they normally get to,” said information chief Knut Morten Johansen of SAS to VG Nett. Information Manager Jo Kobro at Oslo Airport Gardermoen projected to VG Nett that “between 60 and 90 aircraft movements (departures and arrivals) were affected as a result of the incident.”

“So far, however, no one really has been able to determine what was actually observed over the Oslo Fjord on Thursday afternoon. Police are connected into the matter, but so far without result. We have created an investigation and make right now a witness questioning. Most likely it was a glider that because of strong winds have come into the approach zone, “said guard manager Morten Undlien at Heathrow police station to the AP.” The second option is a hang glider, but the height is almost impossible to control, and the same goes for so-called ultralight, claims those who have heard of this.” The weather conditions were such that other objects from the ground may have come loose and been transported into the air by an upward air flow.”

Pets and the rapture

Posted on March 27, 2011March 13, 2021 by elizabethprata

I’m asked more often lately about what will happen to our pets when we’re raptured. Some ask about the animals we keep, being a farm community. This place abounds with cows, bulls, buffalo, mules, goats, chickens, pigs and more. An ancillary question is often asked about pets and/or animals in the New Earth. I find the question fascinating, and also encouraging. The question about pets during the rapture has two answers: the literal one and the abstract one

The literal answer would have to refer to the bible. The book of Genesis tells us that we are unique in God’s creation, being made in His image and likeness. Also, though we and the animals have the breath of life in us, we were made to have dominion over the animals. It is reasonable to assume that our futures will be different, being of different flesh and having had different roles on earth.

We read in Isaiah 11:6-9 that there will be animals walking the earth during the Millennial Kingdom.

“The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.”

Those verses do not give us any indication one way or another specifically whether any of those animals will be our resurrected pets or whether they will be all newly created animals, or whether they will be animals completely different from any we could conceive of. After all, our normal picture of angels never prepared us for the passages in Ezekiel 10:10-12 with the cherubim of four faces and wheel within wheels. And a word of caution. Remember, a redeemed earth is not a resurrected earth.

After the thousand year reign of Christ on earth concludes and He makes a New Heaven and a New Earth (Rev 21, 22, 2 Peter 3:13, Isaiah 66:22) there is no indication that animals will be present with us. I take comfort in the Genesis flood accounts that He took care to provide for animals of the earth. He didn’t make new animals after the flood, and He didn’t give Noah only the animals he would eat and sacrifice, but He provided for all the kinds of animals. But the truth is, we simply don’t know.

We do know for a fact that we will feel all joy in the new heaven, and the former things will not be remembered nor come to mind. (Revelation 7:16-17). I take that to mean that if our pets are not accompanying us in the eternal state, not only the crushing guilt of our sin will no longer be remembered and not only also our lost family members and friends will not come to mind, but also we will not remember our pets. Everything necessary to our happiness will be in heaven, and that will mean they will either be present or their memory will be absent.

The abstract answer to the question as to what happens to our pets indicates a growing awareness of the real impacts of imminent rapture. Many Christians who ask me this have been Christians for a lifetime, or at least many years. We hear about the rapture and most of us know it as truth and adhere to it as a doctrine, but peeking into the nuts and bolts of the mechanics of it has largely been absent from our thoughts. This is because until now it has not been obvious that we might very well be the generation spoken of that will experience it. Though the rapture has been imminent for thousands of years, the conditions that immediately follow our departure haven’t been.

But those conditions are present now and growing more glaring by the minute. Christians are waking up to the fact that the rapture could indeed occur in our lifetime, or next year, or tomorrow. As we gaze around at our world and see the decline of the church and the war against truth, we start picturing what it will exactly look like- after.

I have an indoor cat. When I’m raptured, whether it occurs when I’m home or at work, it means they will starve. They will be thirsty and alone and lonely and confused. Maybe a tree will fall on the house in one of the terrible storms and disasters prophesied to come upon the earth, and maybe they will be injured or escape into the world, only to be eaten by a larger predator. I don’t know. But it will be bad. The future does not look good for them.

Nor does it look good for the chickens in the pens and the cows needing to be milked and the dogs tied to the pole or inside the car while the master is inside getting coffee. I try not to think about it. It is just one of the many tragedies that will occur during this time. After all, Jesus Himself said “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.” (Matt. 24: 21-22). It will be a very bad time, for not only the people but for the animals who suffer under the same corrupted earth that we do. I simply try not to dwell on it.

I take encouragement from something Texas Baptist Pastor Don Fawcett said, “For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope, that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.” Romans 8:20-21. It seems abundantly clear from this verse that 1) the entire creation was subjected to decay and corruption due to sin, 2) animals and pets are created beings, 3) animals and pets are subject to corruption as part of the fallen world, 4) Christ, in his atonement, undid the sin/death principle for all corrupted creation, 5) at the eschaton, all things that have been effected by sin and corruption unwillingly will be restored. So, my conclusion- animals or pets in heaven? Animals? No doubt. Personal pets? I don’t know but it is certainly within the scope of biblical theology.”

I would like to agree with this. It is certainly in the scope of possibility, too.

I know God is good. His thoughts are above our thoughts and His plans are always working together for the good and His glory. It comes down to trust. I trust His thoughts and I trust His ways. After all, He sent Jesus to us. He sent the Holy Spirit to us. He sent the bible to us. He knows whither a sparrow falls and He knows our emotions and needs. Maybe He will send Fluffy and Scrappy to us! Heaven is perfection, and so, it will be perfect. I trust that with all my soul.

Further Reading:

Will our Pets be Raptured with Us?

short break

Spring break!

Posted on March 25, 2011 by elizabethprata

Photo: Redbud farms

I’m so glad we get a week off. The kids are gone, many are traveling to Disney, Myrtle Beach, or the mountains. I’m headed over to the couch. Taking the night off, with a book and the sunset.

I’ll be back tomorrow! If there is one! 🙂
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joy, kimyal, the word

Need a pick-me-up? Watch this! Kimyal tribe gets their first bibles

Posted on March 24, 2011 by elizabethprata

Twitter buddies VV Denman and Speli tweeted this today, and it rocked me to the core. Every Christian should watch this video of a tribe first receiving the New Testament in their native language. The Kimyal tribe of Papua Indonesia rejoice…you will too!

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