Posted in end time, manna, prophecy, supply

Are you grumbling about your manna?

Posted on by elizabethprata

The Lord has plans to prosper His children. He makes continual promises that we should not fear, because He knows our needs, and He will supply them. Matthew 6:31-34 is one example. The verses say, “Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

The People were wandering in the desert and had gotten mightily hungry. (Exodus 16) They began longing for the time of their captivity because at least then, they had bread and meat (Exodus 16:3). They began to grumble against Moses and against the LORD.

So, “Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether or not they will walk in My instruction.” (Exodus 16:4)

The economic crash has been long, hard, and painful. Many people, Christians included, have lost jobs, have faced foreclosure, and have had to undergo extreme austerity measures (voluntarily or involuntarily). Pension plans are wiped out. Americans have been so used to prosperity that we have planned for it in the long-term with retirement accounts that we expected to remain full and fuller as time went on. We expected that after ten or twenty or thirty years that we would of course sell our houses and reap a comfortable profit. We were used to corporate loyalty and lengthy terms of employment, if not permanent ones, if we obtain tenure or have a strong union to back us. Long-term perspectives of our own personal wealth was the norm.

Long-term is no longer the norm. The weather, the economy, the animals, the government, the individual…all are behaving strangely now. God is lifting His Hand and we see the result of having less than full protection as we adjust to the new reality.

Yet, God said He would supply us. I can almost hear the prayers of Christians who beg for supply. Who pray for restoration of what they once had. I can almost hear many brothers and sisters crying out, “Where is it?? ‘My God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.’ (Philippians 4:19) So where is it?”

It is in Matthew 6 and it is in Exodus 16. “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself.” and “the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day.” God IS supplying you, faithful one. He just may be doing it in a manna situation, a one-day supply instead of extra, like before. He sent the Israelites a one day portion delivered, on time, every time. He even made it so that their clothes did not wear out. (Deut 29:5) The LORD told Moses that He was doing it to test them. Not that God didn’t know the outcome of the test, like He needed to learn something, but that He wanted to restrict their supply so that they would learn to more faithfully depend on Him. Is that your situation? Could you be undergoing a test so that you will learn to depend on Him to greater degree and be strengthened for trials?

Do not worry about what you will eat nor what you shall wear. Do not worry about tomorrow. He provides. Think of the Israelites. Think on His promises to keep us and provide for us. If you only have enough today, do not fret, for you are blessed with bread from heaven!

Posted in end time, gordian knot, prophecy

The Gordian Knot of American government

Posted on by elizabethprata

The Gordian Knot is a legend of Phrygian Gordium associated with Alexander the Great. It is often used as a metaphor for an intractable problem, solved by a bold stroke (“cutting the Gordian knot”)  (source; Wikipedia). In gratitude for being made king of Phyrgia, Gordous dedicated his ox-cart to Zeus. The oracle had foretold that the next man coming to town in an ox-cart would be king, and that man was Gordius. He must have been surprised that rather than haggling for corn in town as he intended to do, he was given a throne and made king. In any case, he made a shrine as thanks and pulled the ox-cart, minus the ox, up to it and tied it to a pole that had an intricate Turkish knot on top. The interest in the knot grew and grew over the years, until another oracle said that the man who could loosen the knot would be king of Asia. Soon after, Alexander the Great rode into town, and seeing the knot and hearing of the legend, sliced it with his sword. He did become King of Asia, by the way.

Untying the Gordian Knot has become a euphemism for solving the unsolvable problem.

The government of the United States is in a Gordian Knot right now. It is a problem of unsolvable problems. It is a corrupt, evil, venal, pompous, brutal, and cheating tied-up mess. And that is the nicest thing I can say about it. It is also the kindest thing a Congressman himself can say about it: Rep. Tom Perriello (D-VA) said today,
Dem Congressman: “If You Don’t Tie Our Hands, We Will Keep Stealing”. If the Gordian Knot was on a pole inside Congress I bet they would steal that, too.

Hebrews 11:25  says that “Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;” Sin is pleasurable for a season. The congressmen who have enjoyed economic rape, Federal plunder, raucous pillaging, will soon reap the rewards that such sin eventually wanes away and gives sway to: judgment. Because the Sword is Jesus and His sword of the Word is powerful. As He rides back to earth on His horse, “Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (Ephesians 6:7); “Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth” (Revelation 2:16); “The rest of them were killed with the sword that came out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.” (Rev 19:21) The sword will slice through all the tangled up mess we have made. In one bold stroke, Jesus will slice through all the evil and wantonness and power run amok. Problem solved.

Posted in theology

Temporary hiatus

Posted on by elizabethprata

Hi there,

I started a new phase of my job on Monday and have been busy learning a new set of responsibilities. I’ll be back to blogging tomorrow (Friday). Sorry for the few days’ delay in new information!

Posted in barack obama, cross, end time, new york times, prophcy

Memo to NY Times: Get a room

Posted on by elizabethprata

NY Times’s graphic depicting a silhouetted Obama against a cross is over the top even for the old grey liberal lapdog to present. Have they no shame? No, said Paul. In the time of the end, they will have no shame at all:

2 Timothy 3
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Posted in end time, israel, prophecy, united states deny weapons

US-Israel relations deteriorating

Posted on by elizabethprata

From Debka file today:

US ponders denying Israel arms needed for conflict with Iran
Prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu convened his inner cabinet Saturday night, March 12, to discuss the spiraling crisis with Washington and his first response. Debka’s military and Washington sources report: The Obama administration is considering withholding from Israel military items urgently needed in case of a flare-up of hostilities with Iran.

Clinton warns Netanyahu US-Israeli relations at risk
The crisis in US-Israeli relations took a sharp turn for the worse Friday night, March 12, with a phone call from US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warning Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu that the relationship was at risk unless Israel toed the administration’s line in renewed talks with the Palestinians, Debka’s exclusive sources report. Instead of ironing out misunderstandings which have marred relations, the visitor struck out on his own as America ‘s would-be Middle East policy overlord. Under the unrelenting pressure of the visit and its mishaps, prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu and his closest ally, defense minister Ehud Barak, almost came to blows.

If Debkafile’s sources are correct, then the United States can expect the fulfillment of Zechariah 12:3 very soon: “It will come about in that day that I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who lift it will be severely injured And all the nations of the earth will be gathered against it.”

Of this gathering of enemies at Israel’s door, Israel is preparing for a four-front conflict according to Debka: “Our military sources report that the Barak arms list is tailored to a potential four-front offensive against Israel launched by Iran and its allies.” Talk about surrounded.

Prophecy is unrolling at a faster and faster clip. Are you ready to meet the Lord in the air? You do NOT want to be left behind. Confess your sins and repent of them (turn away) and seek the Lord as savior and ask His forgiveness. Unbelief has eternal consequences… Time is short.

Posted in end time, god of fortresses, prophecy

To the god of fortresses, words are the bricks in the wall

Posted on by elizabethprata

In Daniel 11:38 there is an interesting portion of the coming prophecy regarding the antichrist: “But instead he will honor a god of fortresses, a god whom his fathers did not know; he will honor him with gold, silver, costly stones and treasures.” In verse 39a we read about fortresses again, “He will take action against the strongest of fortresses with the help of a foreign god;”

Many, many more knowledgeable and experienced preachers than me, a layman, have had difficulty with interpreting this passage, especially the part referring to ‘a god of fortresses’ and who that god may be. My intent is not to interpret it, because I am not qualified. I do want to simply relate what it made me think of when I read it.

Fortresses we know from the bible are also known as ‘Strongholds’ which “are erected by our wounded souls to protect us and to keep pain and rejection out. When we were brokenhearted, we went into self-protection mode,” writes Carlotta Waldmann. And when we are protecting self, it is easier to sink into self-delusion, or to accept the lie that satan offers. And the first brick in the stronghold is laid.

Now, God’s intent is to draw us to Him, and for us to become so close to Him we are part of His body (after confessing our sins and asking for forgiveness). Satan’s strategy is separation, to separate us from the truth, from Jesus and from the knowledge of our sins. To keep us from being absorbed into the fold and sealed with the Spirit. If you are stuck inside a fortress, you certainly are separated! Indeed, when satan is successful it results in a person eternally separated from God, in hell. That is the war: are you available and free to be drawn to Christ, or are you stuck behind a fortress?

One way satan separates us is through building strongholds (fortresses) in our mind. Paul defines fortresses:

“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Cor 10:3-5 (NIV)

Paul says that those old fortresses of arguments and pretensions and speculations (words, we note) are demolished through words. The Word of Truth. Thoughts held captive. Paul urges we speak boldly: “I, Paul, who am “timid” when face to face with you, but “bold” when away! (verse 1b)

Now, in Daniel, the god of fortresses to whom the antichrist pays homage is constructed through words & thoughts.

“Then the king will do as he pleases, and he will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will speak monstrous things against the God of gods; and he will prosper until the indignation is finished, for that which is decreed will be done. He will show no regard for the gods of his fathers or for the desire of women, nor will he show regard for any other god; for he will magnify himself above them all. But instead he will honor a god of fortresses, a god whom his fathers did not know; he will honor him with gold, silver, costly stones and treasures.” Daniel 11:36-38

And: “By smooth words he will turn to godlessness those who act wickedly toward the covenant, but the people who know their God will display strength and take action.” Daniel 11:32

Daniel isn’t saying that the action to be taken is to take up a sword and slice every godless soul you see. Nor does it mean build churches, fight, or claim territory in some sort of territorial war. It is through words that the action is taken. It is by speaking the truth of Jesus. Paul says that the destruction of fortresses is via words and Daniel tells us that the god of fortresses is constructed through the antichrist’s words. Do you still believe that “sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me”? They do hurt.

First and foremost they hurt yourself. They allow satan a foothold and every wrong word and every wrong thought is a brick. Another brick in the wall. A cathedral, large as it is, is built brick by brick. So is a fortress in your mind. Every thought not taken captive is one more brick that edges its height inexorably to the top, where your soul, imprisoned, may not fly and your choice to be eternally separated from God is honored.

Christian, are you trapped in a stronghold? Even the tiniest one is the start of something big. Demolish that fortress and serve not the god of fortresses but the One True God, in whom there is no condemnation, but only love. Take a mental sledgehammer and speak firmly to satan, pulling down his speculations and arguments with the simple truth, that he has no authority over you. That you are a child of God, part of Jesus’ body, and guided by the Holy Spirit who is sealed within you. Pray these words, speak these words, say them to others who need to hear them. Fortresses are built with words, the antichrist serves a god of fortresses and speaks smooth words. But they can be demolished with words too. Are you ready to speak them? All Christians are needed now to be ship-shape for the battle.

Posted in end time, prophecy, purple snow, yellow snow

Russia gets purple snow, Bulgaria’s is yellow

Posted on by elizabethprata

Southern Russia overwhelmed with purple snow
The very morning following the widely celebrated Woman’s Day – people in Southern Russia could not believe their eyes when they found purple snow piled on city streets. Scientists confirmed a multi-coloured snowfall– ranging from light purple to brown – had landed in Russia’s Stavropol Region. Having analysed the samples, climatologists ruled that the snow is perfectly safe.

But the experts are baffled as to why, speculating that perhaps it was full of dust from a sandstorm from Africa. Yeah, that’s it. Sand from Africa.

http://rt.com/s/swf/player.swf?file=http://rt.com/v/2010-03-09/552256_snow.flv&image=http://rt.com/s/obj/2010-03-09/snow.jpg&controlbar=over&skin=http://rt.com/s/swf/skin/stylish1.swf&streamer=lighttpd

But wait, another strange snowfall occurred in Bulgaria.

Pale-yellow snow falls in Gotse Delchev
Gotse Delchev. Pale-yellow snow falls in the town of Gotse Delchev, Southern Bulgaria, FOCUS news agency reporter announced. Instead of white the snow that falls in the town is pale-yellow, secretary of Civil Protection service Dimitar Kurtev confirmed the information saying that the most likely reason for that anomalism is that the snow has been mixed with Saharan sand. The town had witnessed such phenomenon 20 years ago when the snow had been ruddy in color.

Oh, wait, maybe it’s NOT Saharan sand! After examination, they found out that the yellow snow “had nothing to do with Africa”. It’s heavy metals making it yellow. Yeah, that’s it. I notice that they are not saying where they think the heavy metals are coming from…

Heavy metals paint snow yellow
In Sofia, authorities previously thought the color came from African sand. Bulgarian media are quoting Romanian meteorologists who rejected claims of their Bulgarian colleagues that the snow turned yellow due to the Saharan sand.  Their research discovered that the reddish powder found in the snow contained copper, iron, zinc, chrome, lead, nickel, arsenic and cadmium – metals usually found in the ground. Ion Paun of Romania’s Center of Meteorology said that their charts showed that the yellow snow “had nothing to do with Africa”.

I wonder what it could have had to do with? Hmmm. We see more of this, “experts baffled.” As God increases His pressure on humanity to repent, His methods become increasingly supernatural and impossible to explain. Yet they will still try to explain it. That is the nature of unbelief. In Matthew 24:5-14 Jesus describes the symptoms of His coming to the disciples. The symptoms begin innocuously enough, with false teachers and rumors of wars. But as Jesus speaks you see the things that will happen become more and more of a hardship upon the world until we get into the Tribulation in Revelation and there is no explanation for what is happening except that it is God. Sun turning to sackcloth? Demon-frogs plaguing the unbelievers? Hail and fire raining down mixed with blood? God, not science.

Unbelief is powerful. Even Jesus in his home town of Nazareth who spoke as a rabbi the most gracious words which astonished the gathered, by the end they hated him and went to throw Him over a cliff! And these were the people He grew up with, spent 30 years living and loving and toiling alongside. His own brothers and sisters did not believe. The gathered knew Jesus better than anyone, and had seen or heard of His amazing miracles. Yet they refused to believe. (Luke 4:22-29)

Unbelief is powerful. But so is belief.  God does exist, and He directly intervenes in the world. He loves each one of us and knows each one of us intimately. He wants us all to come to salvation and not perish. If you are starting to wonder about these things coming on the world you are right to do so. It is a time when people need to take stock of just what they do believe. Your timely examination of your spiritual state could be the difference between eternal life and eternal separation from Our Savior. Think about it. Purple snow? Yellow snow? What kind of a sign would you need in order to believe? How about this one: listen to the heart-yearning for God: “My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.” (Psalm 84:2). That yearning, that niggle at the back of your mind about the snow or the other things happening is trying to give voice to the thought “Could it be???” Yes, it could. Pray for the light to shine in you and confess your sins. Remember, belief is powerful too.

Posted in cheers, end time, prophecy, where everybody knows your name

Where everybody knows your name

Posted on by elizabethprata

In the 1980s, the Cheers television show dominated the comedic airwaves. It was hilarious and maintained its high-ratings almost throughout its historically long run, 11 years, from 1982 to 1993. Thus, its weekly entry into American living rooms meant that the theme song was destined to become entrenched into the psyche of the viewer for decades afterwards. “Where everybody knows your name” was the theme song and it goes a little something like this –

The lyrics say:
Making your way in the world today takes everything you’ve got.
Taking a break from all your worries, sure would help a lot.
Wouldn’t you like to get away?
Sometimes you want to go
Where everybody knows your name,
and they’re always glad you came.

As the song played, I used to admire each attractive painting of each tinted character, and I’d yearn for the bonhomie the show promoted. Yes, I want to be where everybody knows my name. Yes, I want to be in a place where I am recognized, and loved for who I am. Yes, I want to be where they’re always glad I came. Is there such a place? Yes, and it’s not in a bar.

The place where everybody knows your name is heaven. And for each person either the homecoming is either joyful or fearful. There are books kept, and your name is in those books. Your deeds are kept in the books. And He knows your name – and He knows your deeds.

“And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.” Revelation 20:12

“And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:15

On the one hand, your homecoming may be brief. They will know your name but if your name is not found written, you will be thrown into torment, receiving your wish to be forever separated from Jesus. On this earth, when the person in authority opens your file, and stares at you, it is a heart-stopping moment. Have you ever been to the principal’s office? And he opens your file? It makes your toes curl. Have you ever been to the doctor’s office? And he opens your file? It makes your stomach drop. Have you ever been to court? And he opens your file? It makes your heart beat. This will be like that but infinitely worse.

“He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angel.” Revelation 3:5

On the other hand, if you believe, confess, and repent, when they open the book and find your name in it, Jesus will confess your name to the Father and to the angels. You will be admitted permanent entry into the most glorious place possible…the place where everybody knows your name, and they’re always glad you came.

Posted in byzantine art, end time, prophecy

Some art for you

Posted on by elizabethprata

I came across this while looking for art depicting Jesus opening the Lamb’s Book of Life (a visual representation that has been hard to find, surprisingly.) I do not agree with the supporting text from which the art was based, which was an ascetical treatise for monasticism in Eastern Christianity. However, I do think it is a perfect pictorial representation of the growing Christian’s walk toward Jesus and the demonic pitfalls and angelic encouragements along the way. I think in reality the supernatural world that is shielded from us doesn’t look too far different from this…

The Ladder of Divine Ascent or The Ladder of Paradise. A 12th-century icon described by John Climacus. Monastery of St Catherine, Mount Sinai. St John Climacus described the Christian life as a ladder with thirty rungs. The monks are tempted by demons and encouraged by angels, while Christ welcomes them at the summit.

The Ladder of Divine Ascent or The Ladder of Paradise. A 12th-century icon described by John Climacus. Monastery of St Catherine, Mount Sinai. St John Climacus described the Christian life as a ladder with thirty rungs. The monks are tempted by demons and encouraged by angels, while Christ welcomes them at the summit.

Posted in end time, end time. prophecy, sacrifices, temple mount faithful

Temple Mt Groups Ask Police to Allow Passover Sacrifice

Posted on by elizabethprata

The entire article, published in the Israeli newspaper Arutz Sheva Tuesday, follows:

“Jewish organizations that promote the reestablishment of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem wrote a letter to the Jerusalem District police commander Aharon Franco asking him to allow the offering of the Passover lamb sacrifice as is proscribed by the Torah (the Bible) Petitioners stated in their letter that “the Israeli police has the the responsibility to allow the Passover sacrifice as part of its role to allow freedom of worship to anyone on the Temple Mount.”

This request is made every year and every year the answer is always no. Temple Mount Faithful and the recently reconvened (2004) Sanhedrin are likely the organizations making the request, being the most actively concerned with the Temple Mount. Seven weeks ago, the Sanhedrin called for a Passover Sacrifice and called for the world to participate with them. They also announced that they had completed the altar of unhewn stones. This week they announced a first-ever International Temple Mount Awareness day. Jewish focus is definitely shifting to the Temple, Israel, and the right to worship G-d on that spot.

Opinion essays are urging more equitable division of the rights of the religious.  “Let us pray on Mount” is an opinion piece by Yitzchak Reuven slamming discriminatory anti-Jewish policy at Jerusalem’s Temple Mount published two hours ago in YNet News. He is the Director of Multimedia at the international department of The Temple Institute in Jerusalem. He writes that while “Enshrined in Israeli law are two cardinal principles of democracy: freedom of access to places of worship, and the freedom of worship to practitioners of all religions” At the same time, “Non-Muslims are simply not allowed to carry with them a Bible or prayer book and are not allowed to pray. Jews who ascend the Mount, in accordance with Jewish law (first immersing in a ritual bath, and only treading on areas that are permissible according to halacha), are singled out and discriminated against in an abusive, humiliating and derogatory fashion. They are detained at the security booth, their identification cards are inspected (not the case for non-Jews), they are given oral instructions on what they cannot do, (stop in any one spot for more than a few minutes, pray, silently move their lips or sway their bodies. Jews are even warned not to cry, sing or close their eyes).”

Just a few days ago, violence erupted again at Israel’s holiest site. More and more pressure is being applied to the world’s most contested piece of ground, and we know as bible readers that the pressure will only increase until hellish wars occur and then the Jews are allowed to construct the Temple. We also know that the prophetic clock will resume for the Jews and then ALL attention will be on Israel and its worship- first of the antichrist and then of the One True God. The pressure is getting unbearable, no? Bear it we must for the time is not yet.

Let us watch to see if there is spiritual softening in the hearts of those controlling the Temple Mount and allow this sacrifice. We won’t have long to wait for the police’s answer, Passover begins Tuesday, March 30. An answer ‘yes’ will undoubtedly bring violence and anguish, and a ‘no’ will undoubtedly bring violence and anguish. This is because, “And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it” (Zech 12:3).

O Jerusalem!