Category: Resource Notes

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The Peace of Jerusalem

            This week on May 6 the Nation of Israel will celebrate its 66th year as an independent nation.

            The rebirth of Israel after almost two thousand years stands as an amazing fulfillment of Bible prophecy.  Numerous scriptures refer to an end time role for the Nation of Israel. Even the date of Israel’s formation can be calculated from the scripture in Revelation 11: 1,2 which speaks of a “42 month”, or 1260 year, “Age of the Gentiles” which is  measured from the time the Temple Mount was lost to unbelievers. From the time the Dome of the Rock was constructed on the Temple Mount, 687, until 1947, the year the U.N. voted to establish Israel, exactly 1260 years had passed.

The survival of Israel against overwhelming forces is one of the greatest modern miracles of God. Israel has fought wars in 1948, 1956, 1967, and 1973, and has emerged victorious every time. She has fought many smaller engagements and has endured sustained terrorist activities. The Hand of God has been evident, as described by The Prophet Zechariah, who speaks of Jerusalem as an “Immovable Rock” and a “Cup that sends the surrounding peoples reeling” (Zechariah 12:2,3).

Yet today Israel is still surrounded by its enemies. Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran are sworn to Israel’s destruction. Islamists are pushing for an end to their peace with Israel. For those who subscribe to a historical interpretation of Revelation, the situation is described in Rev 9:1-11, the fifth trumpet, as a 150 year war with the Arabs (See our special report “The Times We Live In”). We can expect not peace, but another 84 years of warfare in the Middle East.

The end will come after Israel is defeated by the Antichrist (Zechariah 14:2 and Rev 11:7). But Jerusalem will rebel against the Antichrist and he will gather the nations to fight at Armageddon (Megiddo, in Israel) (Rev 16:16). Then, when all seems lost, Christ will return to the Mount of Olives (Zechariah 14:4 and Acts 1:11, 12) and destroy His enemies (Zechariah 14:3 and Revelation 19:19-21). Only then will peace come to the Middle East and the world (Zechariah 14:9 and Revelation 20:1-6).

Nevertheless, we must continue to pray for the Peace of Jerusalem. When they have peace so will we.

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The Lesson of May Day

This week, on May 1, we mark a pagan holiday which has been celebrated from the most ancient of times until the present.

 The European Druids celebrated May 1 as “Beltane”, a holiday named after their god “Bel” and the word for fire, “Tane.” On Beltane all fires were extinguished except for the sacred fires of the Druids, which were then used to start new fires. The ritual actually traces back to Babylon, as does the name of the pagan god “Bel.”

 Another ritual of Beltane was celebrated by gathering around the “May Pole.” The pole actually represented the Cosmic Axis, or North Pole, and this type of celebration has been found as far away as the North American Indians. The pole is also a Phallic symbol, similar to the Egyptian obelisk, echoing the pagan claim that their god is the “Seed of Woman” (See Gen 3:15), a title which belongs only to Jesus Christ.

 Another feature of the May 1 celebration is its position 52 days, or one seventh of a year, from the Summer Solstice, an important pagan worship date and the focal point of the ancient Stonehenge monument. The day 52 days after the Summer Solstice, August 15, is also a Druid holiday known as Lughnasa. Interestingly, these dates are also celebrated by the Mayans, and form the structure of their 260 day, or five sevenths of a year, calendar. The Egyptians also built a 52 day period into the Great Pyramid, although their periods are tied to the Winter, not summer, Solstice.

 These amazing connections between Babylon, Egypt, the Druids, and the American Indians are merely one of many examples worldwide of common cultural practices. For those who understand that the Bible presents an accurate history of humanity, it is a simple matter to trace those beliefs back to the time when all humanity was gathered into one place: Babylon. It was the event we call the Tower of Babel, actually a civil war, which scattered the people and their practices across the earth. And it was God who sent Jesus to save humanity from the false religion born in Babylon.

 This week we can celebrate a May Day where we recognize the goodness and mercy of God as He has poured out his grace on our societies. The National Day of Prayer, May 1, gives us the opportunity to thank God for His mercies and humble ourselves to pray for our nation.

 The lesson of May Day is the provable reality of God’s word. Let us learn our lesson and pray that our nation will not go the way of the Babylonians, Egyptians, Druids, and Mayans who turned away from God on May Day.

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Carbon 14 and The Bible

              For years some scientists have been using Carbon 14 dating to undermine the Biblical timeline of History and attack the truthfullness of the Bible. Now they are having to rethink their arguments.

 

            The Carbon 14 dating method measures the amount of the radioactive Carbon 14 isotope in organic material and, comparing it with modern levels of Carbon 14, productes an age based on the radioactive decay of Carbon 14. This dating method is assumed to be good for 40,000 years, and produces very old dates for archeological sites.  However, it also produces dates which clash with historical dates derived both from Biblical information and other historical and archeological sources.

 

            The problem with Carbon 14 dating is simply that the current levels of Carbon 14 are much higher than past levels of Carbon 14, and this produces a much earlier date than the actual date.  Based on the more  accurate data about past Carbon 14 levels, one scientist documented 15,000 findings and found that none were over 7000 years old, and that many were about 4500 years old, the date of the worldwide catastrophe we call Noah’s Flood. Thus , for example, an American Indian artifact claimed to be over 11,000 years old may really be only 3,000 years old.

 

            Now archeologists are joining in the criticism of the Carbon 14 dating system. At a recent meeting, a noted archeologist observed that “In some circles it has been a crime to cast doubt on the accuracy of radiocarbon dating.” Nevertheless, this scientist showed conclusively that radiocarbon levels fluctuate from season to season and vary with location, providing erroneous age readings. When added to historical fluctuations in Carbon 14 levels, the whole Carbon 14 dating method becomes very suspect.

 

            The reason that some scientists cling to the inaccurate Carbon 14 system is simply that it produces results which are much older than actual. They fear that the real dates would be more in line with Bible history, and they would rather be wrong than give up their Anti-Biblical bias (See our Blog of 1/22/2014 “The Battle Over Biblical Archeology”). Their problem is that the more Science learns about the past, the more it supports the Bible (See our Blog 1/1/2014 “Looking Back to Look Ahead”).

 

            We salute the courageous Scientists and Archeologists who challenge the Anti-Biblical Orthodoxy of their peers. Let us pray that God’s truth will prevail and that proofs of the accuracy of the Bible history will continue to be discovered by truth seeking Scientists.

 

            And may the attempts to destroy the faith of believers by false, Anti-Biblical, Pseudo-Scientific theories be exposed. Let no weapon formed against us prosper.

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Celebrating Indestructible Life

This year as we come up to Resurrection Sunday, April 20, we will once again celebrate the power of indestructible life.

Our first parents, Adam and Eve, brought death into the human family by following Satan into rebellion against God. People became slaves to Satan because of their fear of death, and Satan ruled the world by the time Jesus came. But Jesus came to destroy Satan and death, itself, and bring abundant life to His followers. Satan thought he could kill Jesus, but the empty tomb of Easter morning proved the life of Jesus to be indestructible. Jesus is alive!

 And not only Jesus. The indestructible life He had, He passed on to His followers. Infused with that life, they turned from quivering cowards into bold evangelists, turning the world upside down. Satan could kill their bodies, but the fear of death was gone, as the indestructible life given by Jesus continues forever. The indestructible life made an indestructible army to advance the Kingdom of God. And, from Roman Emperor Constantine’s surrender to Christ to the survival of the Church in Communist China, the power of indestructible life has prevailed over God’s enemies.

 Satan’s only success have come when he lured Christians into forgetting the indestructible life by focusing on the destructible fleshly life and the corresponding fear of death. Such Christians find themselves trapped in a joyless existence. Often they are tempted into joining Satan’s rebellion, believing that the world can bring back the life they have abandoned. History is littered with failed Kings, clerics, nations, and people who have lost their way.

 And yet, despite the many failures, the Church still stands as a testimony to the indestructible life of Jesus and the indestructible life He gave to His people.

 This Easter, let us give thanks for the indestructible life of Jesus who bought indestructible life for us. God knows our genetic code. He knows our thoughts and memories. When this fleshly body ceases to function, He has prepared an indestructible body for us.

Thank you Lord, for our indestructible life.

 And may we bless others who can find God and join us in our indestructible life.

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Blood Moon Rising

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            The Blood Moon, or Lunar Eclipse, which will happen on the night of April 14-15 is drawing much attention after Pastor John Hagee’s book Four Blood Moons showcased Lunar Eclipses as a sign of Christ’s Return in the Sun, Moon, and Stars.

 

            During a Lunar Eclipse the Moon turns red as the sunlight is reflected through the Earth’s atmosphere. It is as if the Moon, called the “Faithful Witness in the Sky” (Ps 89:37) and representing the believers, was covered in the Blood of Christ. We are also reminded that we overcome Satan by our witness and the Blood of the Lamb (Rev 12:11). (See Today’s Blog of our Sister organization, the Star Bible Society, “The Overcomers Moon”).  Thus, the Lunar Eclipse is  not a sign of Judgment but is instead a picture of God’s grace and mercy extended to believers.

 

            To illustrate this grace aspect, there are two outstanding Lunar Eclipses which we can point to in Biblical times. The first occurred on the night of the First Passover in Egypt in 1446 BC, when the Blood covering kept out the Angel of Death. The second occurred on Passover night of 5 BC, when the Star of Bethlehem appeared and our research indicates that Christ was born. These Blood Moons happened as God was pouring out His grace and mercy on His people.

 

            In the modern era, Pastor John Hagee’s book “Four Blood Moons” has identified groupings of Four Blood Moons on Jewish Feast days of Passover and Tabernacles in 1493-94, 1949-50, and 1967-68. History tells us that the Evangelization of the New World began when Christopher Columbus set sail back to the Americas during a Blood Moon on the Feast of Tabernacles in 1493. It was during a Blood Moon on the Feast of Tabernacles in 1949 that Billy Graham became a household name, launching a revival in conjunction with the healing revival of those years. The Blood Moon year 1967 saw the start of the great Charismatic Revival, which has produced 600 million believers, and also the beginning of the Messianic Jewish movement which many believe is preparing the way for Christ’s Return.

 

            Looking forward to the Blood Moons of 2014-15, we can join Pastor Hagee in his expectation that God will do something historic. In fact, we have already seen a historic reconciliation event in Pope Francis’s video of blessing sent to his Protestant brothers (See our Blog of 3/5/14 “Pope’s Unity Message Goes Viral”). Since Church unity is cause for the world to believe our message (See John 17:23), we can hope that the Lord will pour out His Spirit in revival during this time.

 

            Some are planning prayer vigils to accompany the Eclipse, which will be visible in the U.S. from 3:00 A.M. to 4:30 (EDT) or 2:00 to 3:30 (CDT).

 

            Pray for revival and get ready for something special to happen.

 

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Another Unity Message

Another Unity Message

            Recently we wrote about the historic video blessing sent by Pope Francis to the Protestant/Evangelical Christians (See Our Blog of March 5, 2014 “Pope’s Unity Blessing Goes Viral”).

We have been given permission to share a Papal blessing sent to Matteo Calisi, one of the leaders of the reconciliation movement, for a reconciliation meeting he held earlier this year. The message:

“ Dear Brother,

You have kindly informed me that from 20 to 22 February next a Meeting of Reconciliation will be held in Phoenix between Evangelicals and Catholics, in which you will take part. This news gave me great joy and made me more conscious of the need for reconciliation in this week in which we pray for Christian unity.

I hope that this meeting will draw down the Lord’s blessings so that we can persevere along the path to unity. We who have received the one baptism long for full communion; this is a grace of the Lord which we must fervently implore. In some parts of the world Christians are being attacked and rejected, at times violently. Those who attack us do not distinguish between Orthodox, Luterhans, Evangelicals or Catholics; they know only that these brethren are Christians. As far as they are concerned, we are all the same. And in these attacks many of our brothers and sisters have given their lives in witness to Jesus Christ. In such places they are experiencing the ecumenism of bloodshed, the ecumenism of martyrdom. This should compel us all the more to seek paths of unity in our daily lives.

Dear brother, I will accompany you with my prayers in these days of the Meeting, asking God’s blessings up all taking part. By praying for one another, we exercise that spiritual ecumenism which accompanies all our actions. I ask you and all those taking part in the Meeting kindly to pray for me as well.

May the Lord bless all of you.

Fraternally,

s / Francis

From the Vatican, 22 January 2014 “

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The Bear Bathes in the Black Sea Again

The Bear Bathes in the Black Sea Again

            The Black Sea and the Turkish Bosporus have been targets of Russian expansion for centuries.

In 1774 the Russians under Catherine the Great conquered the Northern Black Sea coast and the Crimean Peninsula, which juts strategically out into the Black Sea. In an almost 21st Century move, Crimea was left as an independent state and then absorbed into Russia nine years later. This illegal annexation brought about another war with Turkey which allowed the Russians to gain more territory and be legitimized as the ruler of Crimea.

In 1833 it appeared that the Russians had gained their objective of controlling the Bosporus when the Turks gave them exclusive rights to send warships through the Bosporus and into the Mediterranean. However, this action threatened the English and the Russians were forced to give up their protectorate. Then the Crimean War of 1853 to 1856 with England and France was fought over the same issues. A Russian attempt to achieve its objective in 1908 laid the groundwork for hostiles between Austria – Hungry and Russia which led to the First World War.

So Vladmir Platin, following in the footsteps of the Czars, has once again brought Crimea into the Russian Empire. Using a strategy of “Protecting” ethnic Russians first perfected by Adolph Hitler in the Czech Sudetenland, Putin seized Crimea and threatens Eastern Ukraine. And feckless Western leaders, like their counterparts who gave Hitler the Sudetenland in the infamous Munich Summit, seem to have left the Ukrainians on their own.

There is no danger of a general war over Crimea or the Ukraine because only the Ukraine would fight. The real danger is that Putin will overplay his hand and force the dithering Western powers to do something.  It could be in Turkey, now surrounded by Russia to the North and allied Syria to the South, where Russian overreach led to wars in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries. Or it could come in recently liberated countries of Eastern Europe.

This is a dangerous hour, and we need to pray that Western leaders will find the backbone and wisdom to withstand Putin’s aggression. We also need to remember that many Russians and Eastern Europeans are our Brothers in Christ as members of the Orthodox Church.

Let us pray for peace for our Brothers and all people in Eastern Europe.