Publisher, Author at Corporate Prayer Resources

This week the Summer begins on June 21, the Summer Solstice.

Astronomically, the Summer Solstice is the day when the sun reaches its highest point in the sky over the northern hemisphere. It is also the longest day of the year. The opposite solstice, the Winter Solstice, is the day when the sun is lowest in the heavens and the night is longest. The other seasonal markers, the Spring and Fall Equinoxes, occur when the sun is at mid point and day and night are of equal length.

These important calendar dates are also important in God’s religious calendar. The first three Hebrew feasts, pointing to Christ’s death and resurrection, occur near the Spring Equinox, which the last three feats, picturing the second coming of Christ, occur near the Fall Equinox. The Spring and Winter are associated with the appearance of Christ in Hosea 6:3, and the story of Christ’s advent begins with the conception of John the Baptist which is believed to have occurred near the Winter Solstice in 7 BC. Summer is associated with the second coming of Christ (Matt 24:32), and we are told that the Summer is near when the fig tree (Israel) comes to life.

These important spiritual times have also been hijacked by the followers of the religion of the False Messiah, the Pagans. The Winter Solstice came to symbolize the birth of the False Messiah, and structures like New Grange in Ireland are aligned with the sun on the Winter Solstice. Pagans celebrated the Spring Equinox as the beginning of the year, as in God’s calendar, and celebrated the harvest at the Fall Equinox. The Summer Solstice, when the sun is highest, marked the power of their Pagan False Messiahs, and temples like Stonehenge were aligned with the sun on the Summer Solstice.

In modern times, the believers in the Godhead religion (i.e. we are all Gods) have latched onto the Pagan calendar in an attempt to get in touch with the spirits behind Paganism. They have also tried to revitalize the ancient Pagan sites with their New Age religion. They can be seen at Stonehenge, New Grange, Chitzen Itza, Angkor Wat, Chaco Canyon, and other sites trying to bring back the demon spirits. And, of course, the High Holy Day for many is the Summer Solstice.

As Christians, we need to pray for those poor New Age souls who are falling into demonic bondage. We also need to remember that dates like the Summer Solstice were created by God for his glory, and we can celebrate them as Christians.

Yes, the Summer is near, and we should be telling folks the real meaning: the return of Christ is near.

Resource Notes

June 13, 2013Publisher

Housing Still Improving

February brought a stream of good news for the Housing market.

First of all, the number of foreclosures dropped by 29% from the prior year. This is the lowest level since September of 2007, and half the record level of March 2010. While there is still an overhang of foreclosures in places like California and Arizona, it seems that the worst of the crisis is over. The improvement in foreclosures is attributed to a combination of a stronger housing market, low mortgage rates, more short sales, and more efforts by lenders to keep people in their homes.

Secondly, the improved housing market had lowered the number of underwater homeowners. The latest data, for the first 9 months of 2012, shows 1.4 million homeowners crossing over from deficit to equity in their homes. As we have the past (see our 11/21/2012 Blog “Wall Street Back in the Housing Business”), we continue to urge underwater homeowners to negotiate hard and work to hold on to their homes to benefit from the surge in home values.

Lastly, the inventory of homes available for sale is falling and in some places it is already a seller’s market. As a result, homes are selling faster and at better prices. We have entered the early stages of the housing turnaround and now is the time to jump in if you do not already own a home. With mortgage rates are the lowest levels in memory, this is a once in a generation opportunity.

So if you’re in, stay in. If you’re out, get in. Just don’t miss it.

Resource Notes

June 12, 2013June 13, 2013Publisher

The Inquisition Spirit

The Nation has been rocked by revelations that the Government has been persecuting people for their political and religious views. And now we’ve learned that our phone records and internet communications are being collected by the National Security Agency. These activities contradict our Declaration of Independence and the “Spirit of 1776” and in fact take us back to the Spirit of the infamous Spanish Inquisition.

The Inquisition was the prototype of totalitarian systems designed to eliminate all belief contrary to the Politically Correct beliefs of the authorities. In the case of the Inquisition, the Politically Correct belief was a form of Roman Catholicism. Later emulators of the Inquisition Spirit tried to force compliance with the French Revolution, Nazism, and Communism. Today the Spirit of Inquisition is rising in places like Venezuela, Argentina, Turkey, and Russia where Democracies are being converted into authoritarian Governments. And the same trend is beginning to appear in the U.S., where the Politically Correct “Progressive” beliefs in Big Government, sexual “freedom”, and secularism are targeting those who believe in limited Government and who hold Christian views.

The methods of the Inquisition Spirit have varied little down through History. First, the authorities gain control of the Law Enforcement mechanisms society either directly, as in the case of the Communists, or indirectly as in the Spanish Inquisition. Secondly, the power of Government is used to find those who may have opposing views. Those who come to the attention of the Government, whether “Guilty” or not, are then made into an example to terrorize the population into compliance. Often the victims of the Inquisition Spirit are not told why they were targeted and, like the Tea Party IRS applicants, simply left in legal limbo.

Sad to say, even in a country like the U.S., with its legacy of freedom, the Inquisition Spirit is never far away. The current American manifestation began on college campuses, whose “Progressives” have ended academic freedom and used the Inquisition Spirit to eliminate all politically incorrect speech. It should not be too surprising that a whole generation of college graduates have taken the Inquisition Spirit from the universities to the halls of Government.

As intercessors, we must realize that we do not struggle against the individuals, but against the Inquisition Spirit itself. We must pray that the Lord will bless our enemies with the knowledge of the Lord and a desire for freedom. We pray that the Spirit of Inquisition will be turned back in our Government, and we pray for a revival of Christianity and freedom on the college campuses where it began.

Above all we pray that America will remain a free country where we can worship God without Government persecution.

Resource Notes

June 5, 2013June 12, 2013Publisher

The Titanic Memorial

This Sunday, June 9, marks the 100^th anniversary of the dedication of the Titanic Memorial in Washington D.C.

In the aftermath of the tragic sinking of the Titanic in 1912, hearings were held in the U.S. Senate. During these hearings, the doctrine of “Women and Children First” was reviewed and it was found that 90% of those who died in the disaster were men. The First Lady, Nellie Taft, was so moved by the courage and sacrifice of those men that she raised funds to build a memorial to them. It was placed near the White House, bearing the inscription, “To the brave men who gave their lives that women and children might be saved.”

Not everyone was in favor of the Titanic memorial. Feminists argued that “Women and Children First” was a disguised form of paternalistic oppression. They even criticized the women of the Titanic for accepting preferential treatment. The memorial apparently remained offensive to Feminists, and in 1973 it was removed from its prominent place and put in storage. In 1979 it was moved to an obscure location overlooking the Potomac River.

Today the Feminist agenda is at its ascendency, and they are well on the way to eliminating special preferences for women and children. Institutions which are designed to protect children are being forced to put them at risk to sexual predators in the name of equality, and 50 million have been killed in furtherance of the Feminist abortion agenda. Women, especially single mothers, are increasingly left to fend for themselves and now, thanks to the Feminists, women can be sent into front lines of military conflicts. The old belief of chivalry and sacrifice is ridiculed, and then the Feminists are surprised as young men thrown into close contact with young women in the military behave badly. And the abandonment and abuse of women and children by men encouraged to have no sense of honor is increasing every day.

We need to pray that there will be a revival of chivalry and sacrifice in our men. The Biblical role of men, to love their families even to the point of sacrificing themselves like Christ (Eph. 5:25) and the men of the Titanic, must be restored.

Let us remember the Titanic Memorial and pray that its message is moved from the Potomac into the hearts of our men and women.

The Sunday following the anniversary, Father’s Day, would be a good time to start.

Resource Notes

May 29, 2013June 4, 2013Publisher

Gog and Magog in Syria

The announcement that Russia will send sophisticated weapons to the Syrian dictator has renewed interest in the Gog and Magog war described in Ezekiel, Chapters 38 and 39.

Russia is often identified with Gog because of the description “Prince of Rosh” which appears in some Bible translations. In fact, “Rosh” is the Hebrew word for “head”, as in “Rosh Hashanna”, and so the better translation is “Chief Prince”. However, we know that Magog, as a tribe of Japeth, would have been in the areas north of the Middle East, and so Russia is a probable location for Magog. Additional northern Japethetic tribes of Gomer and Beth Togarmah, which are part of the nations joining Magog, could also be from Russian territory.

Other aspects of the Gog and Magog war mentioned in Ezekiel do not fit so well with current circumstances. The attacking coalition of Gog, for example, includes the nations of Persia (Iran), Sudan, Libya, and Turkey, but only Persia supports Syria at present. In addition, the attack comes when Israel is at peace, a situation which does not exist today and probably will not exist for the foreseeable future. (See our Blog of 5/8/13 “The Peace of Jerusalem”). Thus, the Gog and Magog war does not seem likely to occur any time soon.

The best place to look for the timing of the Gog and Magog war is in the other place it is mentioned in the Bible, Revelation 20:7-9. Here Gog and Magog are depicted as forming an army to attack Jerusalem, only to be defeated by fire from Heaven (see Ez 39:6). This war is, however, not part of the warfare surrounding the Second Coming of Christ and the battle of Armageddon, but occurs 1,000 years after Armageddon, at the end of the 1,000 year reign of Christ.

Knowing that the Russian arming of Syria is not a prelude to the post millennial Gog and Magog war can help us focus our prayers. The Syrian civil war is a threat to peace in the Middle East, a threat to Israel, and a plague on the people of Syria. Let us pray that this evil dictator will be overthrown, that the anti-Israel forces will also be defeated, and that peace and healing will come to Syria. Let us also pray that a door will be opened to the Gospel message in Syria.

And, as always, pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

Resource Notes

May 22, 2013May 24, 2013Publisher

Honoring Our Defenders

Next Monday, Memorial Day, the U.S. pauses to remember those who gave their all in our defense.

Warfare is one of the oldest activities of mankind. Beginning with Nimrod in Babylon, rulers have used force of arms to subjugate their enemies and, often, their own people (See our Blog of 1/23/2013 “The Nimrod Spirit”). The great empires of antiquity, Babylon, Egypt, Assyria, Persia, Greece, and Rome rose and fell to the cadence of armies on the march. And the people suffered from the plagues of death, starvation, and disease which followed the armies.

Into this world of brutal warfare God sent deliverers to his people. Abraham recued Lot, Moses defeated Egypt, Joshua defeated the Canaanites, and the Judges fought to rescue the Israelites when they repented of their disastrous turns away from God. God built a great Kingdom on the victories of King David, but the people repeatedly fell into sin and many of their Kings moved in the Nimrod Spirit. The horrors of warfare came upon God’s rebellious people, and the Israelites became slaves in the Promised Land (See Neh 9:36, 37).

Christ came into a world ruled by the sword, but He refused to build His Kingdom by the sword. Instead, he established His Kingdom within the hearts of believers, giving them the inner strength to overcome their real enemy, Satan. Jesus was the greatest revolutionary of all time, bringing millions out of the Kingdom of Darkness. Even the mighty Roman Empire finally bowed its knee and surrendered to Christ.

Alas, the plague of warfare was not eradicated even in the Christian Lands. The Church followed the path of Israel, falling into sinful periods and suffering divisions. New Nimrods arose, some from the Church itself, to subjugate their people. And, as with Israel, God sent deliverers, some with a Bible, like St Patrick who converted the Irish, and some with the sword, like Charles Martel who saved Europe from an Islamic Invasion.

God has also raised up deliverers for our country, whose sacrifice we remember on Memorial Day. Jesus said “Greater Love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:14). As the Lord commends them for their love, so should we.

Let us then pray for our defenders as we honor those who showed the greatest love by sacrificing their lives for us.

Resource Notes

May 15, 2013May 16, 2013Publisher

The Age of Pentecost

This Sunday May 19, the Church celebrates its birthday and the infilling of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost Sunday in 30 AD.

Pentecost was one of the Seven Feasts of Israel which formed the religious calendar of the Torah and served as Prophetic signposts of God’s plan of redemption. The first three, Passover, Unleavened Bread, and First Fruits look back to the Exodus, but foreshadow the death and resurrection of Christ during these feasts in 30 AD. The last three, Trumpets, Atonement, and Tabernacles celebrated the final ingathering of the Harvest (Ex 23:16) and looked forward to the Second Coming of Christ. Pentecost, also known as the Feast of Harvest, celebrated the sowing of the crops in preparation of Harvest. (See Ex 23:16), and represents the beginning of the Harvest of believers by the Church in 30 AD.

Throughout history Christians looking for the return of Christ, as represented by the Feast of Ingathering, have thought that the Age of Pentecost, represented by the Feast of Harvest, was coming to an end. From the generation after Christ to the predictions of 1000 AD, 1844, 1914, 1988, 2000, and numerous others, people who predicted the end of the Age of the Harvest have been proven wrong. Now we have a new batch of Doomsday predictions based on the writings of an Irish monk who listed the future Popes, ending with the current Pope. Some even suggest that he may be the Antichrist.

Just for the record, Pope Francis is a remarkable Christian who has participated in some of God’s most important movements in the Earth. As Archbishop of Buenos Aries, he supported the Charismatic Catholics, who have brought millions into the Kingdom of God, and promoted the Reconciliation Movement which is responding to Christ’s prayer for unity of believers. We wish Pope Francis a long and blessed life until God takes him home and the election of the next Pope exposes the foolishness of the “Last Pope” prophets.

The real damage done by these false Doomsday prophets extends far beyond their foolishness and slander of a good Christian. The focus on gloom and fear is a distraction from our mission to bring good news and hope to the world. Attacks on fellow Christians are not only a form of rebellion against Christ’s command to love our brothers, but also create divisions which undermine the Gospel.

We must leave foolish controversies behind and get about our business of making disciples throughout the world (See our Special Report “The Age We Live In”).
We still live in the Age of Pentecost. Celebrate it on Sunday. Live it on Monday