23 Sept 2024

Blessed Assurance

True believers in Jesus Christ will never be depressed. We will never face circumstances that can cause a loss of trust in our position within God’s family, if we are truly saved.

The above statements are not validated by God’s Word. On the contrary, they’re propagated by the father of lies—the wicked one who stalks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he might devour. And I must confess to myself—and to you—that I have sensed the tempter’s whisper into my own ear lately. It goes something like, “Look around you. In every direction, things are growing ever darker. Think on these things and believe these conditions will grow infinitely worse, as Heaven taking action just isn’t in sight.”

This is my thought, even though I write about all of the strangeness I observe that is transpiring at this time so near the end of the age. I then reason that our Lord wouldn’t charge me with the business of correlating issues and events with end-of-the-age prophecy if there wasn’t the best possible end to it all at some glorious point in the future.

One sentence from Scripture almost always emerges in my thinking to replace the depression begun by that whisper from the evil one: “Comfort one another with these words.”

The most prominent placement of this statement in God’s Holy Word is where the promise of the glorious end of these evil days for believers is presented. And what a presentation it is!

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18).

So, it was the other morning when I began my day with a number of thoughts about the depressing things going on in the world. Paul’s great prophetic utterance above, ending with the comforting exhortation, finally emerged near the surface of my aging gray matter. Then the thought struck that obliterated the depression the minion whispering earlier intended to inflict to ruin my day.

The words of “Blessed Assurance” burst into my memory–melody and all.

The Holy Spirit brought to mind that great old hymn I’ve heard all my life. You may have heard and sung it, too. And what a remembrance it was; what a comforting truth it delivered! Depression from all the oppression that dark region of Satan’s realm could fling had no chance of surviving that burst of “Blessed Assurance”!

Here are the lyrics to remind all of us of the magnificent future we believers in Christ have as inheritors of all of the heavenly riches that belong to Jesus Himself.

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine
Heir of salvation, purchase of God
Born of his Spirit, washed in His blood

This is my story, this is my song
Praising my Savior all the day long
This is my story, this is my song
Praising my Savior all the day long

Perfect submission, perfect delight
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight
Angels descending bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love

This is my story, this is my song
Praising my Savior all the day long
This is my story, this is my song
Praising my Savior all the day long
Praising my Savior all the day long

We can’t avoid the pure evil assaulting our eyes and ears–our spiritual senses—such as yet another attempt on the same presidential candidate’s life while he played golf on Sunday, September 15, in Florida. Yet all the wickedness we observe fades in the brightness of the Lord Jesus’ promise to call us into His presence at any moment. We have blessed assurance that we will not face the concluding seven hell-on-earth years marked by Antichrist’s regime or face the wrath and judgment of the righteous God of Heaven. We will be in Jesus’ Father’s house–which is our house, too (John 14:1–3), because of what Jesus did on that old rugged cross at Calvary.

As that old hymn, “Blessed Assurance,” says, we who are in God’s family are heirs… heirs of salvation and all of Heaven’s glory.

So, as we’re thinking about what Jesus has done for us, we can cast aside the depression–the oppression—Satan desires to inflict. All of this brings to mind another hymn with lines that express how Christ’s work on that cross and His Resurrection give us blessed assurance. This hymn tells us what we should be doing to do the work assigned us while we’re on Earth:

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

If you don’t have that blessed assurance because you’ve never accepted God’s grace gift offer of salvation through belief in His Son, Jesus Christ, the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, here is how to be part of God’s eternal family:

“That if you will confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and will believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:9-10).

—Terry


Kingdom Curiosity

Do you know that we are heirs to a kingdom with wonders far beyond what we can imagine? The Bible says that New Testament saints, that’s us, will someday inherit a kingdom (James 2:5; Ephesians 1:11-14). Paul tells us that in our current state, we can’t yet receive our inheritance. However, Jesus will make us fit to do so by giving us incorruptible and immortal bodies at His appearing (1 Corinthians 15:50-55).

Is this not the most wonderful news imaginable? As I look at the deteriorating conditions around me, I’m relieved in no small way to know that a much, much better day awaits. This current world is not our final destination! It’s not where Jesus is preparing a forever home for us.

The struggles and disappointments of life often drown our curiosity regarding our heritage. Even as watchers, we easily become consumed with the signs of the approaching Tribulation and forget about the wonders of what it will be like to reign with the Savior in His kingdom.

Even though Scripture doesn’t answer all the questions that come to our minds regarding this future realm, it reveals many details for those curious as to what our lives will be like during the Millennium.

The Apostle John tells us that Jesus’ reign over the nations will last one thousand years. However, in Revelation 20:1-10, we don’t see many details concerning this time, apart from the fact that an angel will put Satan in a pit for its duration. That alone tells us this coming time will be unlike anything we can picture in our minds.

The Old Testament prophets reveal much about the conditions of the millennial kingdom, such as the pristine conditions of nature, greatly increased lifespans, harmony in the animal world, the rule of a totally righteous King, and universal worship of Jesus. Despite all these wonderful things, those who enter this realm in their natural bodies will disobey, and at its end, their descendants will rebel against the Lord.

However, there’s another book that sparks immense joy within me as I read its many prophecies regarding the realm to which I am an heir.

Would it surprise you to learn that it’s the Psalms? It exalts Christ as the coming King and, as such, deepens our understanding of what the world will look like between the Tribulation and the eternal state. Of course, His reign will last forever, but the psalmists lift our hearts heavenward with depictions of His Second Coming and establishment of His rule before the eternal state.

Psalm 2 sets us on our journey with its description of a still future time when Jesus inherits the kingdoms of this world and rules over them with a “rod of iron.” As we leap forward to Revelation 19:11-16, we read how these words come to fruition at Christ’s return to the earth.

We find many references to kingdom conditions in Psalms, such as in 46-47. When the Lord assumes control of the world, He will put an end to all wars (46:10). Like the Old Testament prophets, in these Psalms, the sons of Korah assume a gloriously restored Israel as a key aspect of Jesus’ rule over all the nations.

The Psalms emphasize the fact that the entire earth will praise the Lord during this time. The psalmists repeatedly encourage the subjects of the Lord’s future rule to praise Him. The words of Psalm 47:6-7 are typical of how they encourage people to worship the reigning King:

Sing praises to God, sing praises!
Sing praises to our King, sing praises!
For God is the King of all the earth;
sing praises with a psalm!

We see the same invitations to praise the King all through Psalms 95-99. The verses below reflect their theme:

The Lord reigns; let the peoples tremble!
He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake!
The Lord is great in Zion;
he is exalted over all the peoples.
Let them praise your great and awesome name!
Holy is he! (Psalm 99:1-3)

There is coming a time when praise for our Savior will fill the earth. From Daniel 7:27, we learn that when Jesus reigns, “all dominions shall serve and obey him.” Today, the nations rage against Him and His people. When He rules, they will bow down before Him in worship.

The millennial kingdom is not just simply what we read about and seek to defend against those who diminish its splendor by saying the church is it or will someday rule over it rather than the Lord. Please know that we will fully experience its wonders, benefits, and over-the-top joys as we carry out the various tasks that the Lord assigns us in this glorious realm.

The kingdom is only a part of the paradise that awaits all of us as New Testament saints. Our lives in this broken-down world don’t in any way resemble the glories of our final destination, which we will enjoy with immortal bodies. Paul David Tripp, in His book New Morning Mercies, wrote:

If you’re God’s child, the final chapter of your story will take place in an eternal paradise beyond your wildest dreams…. As you face the hardships of today, remember that grace has purchased you a ticket for the paradise that is to come.

Don’t let the sorrows of the present age deter you from looking ahead to the details of your inheritance recorded in Scripture. I’m confident the Lord will bless such kingdom curiosity.

-Jonathan

23 Sept 2024

INSIDIOUS INFESTATION OF THE NATIONS

Apostasy and Doctrines of Demons

‘Inclusive Sunday Collectives’ gaining in popularity among secularists. Growing communities of former “evangelical Christians,” atheists, agnostics, “nones,” and “spiritual” have abandoned traditional organized religion but still want a sense of belonging and “spirituality.” Every one of them elevates man’s wisdom over God’s Word. They’ve changed houses of worship dedicated to God into “meditation and breathing exercises,” readings of “ancient wisdom teachings,” and social justice advocacy.

Hatred of Israel by the Deceived and Deceiving

Canada Blocks $60M arms sale to Israel, endorsing the lie that Israel is guilty of genocide.

Pervasive Perversion

Disney+ will soon release its Marvel Studios series, Agatha All Along, which includes queer witches. Agatha All Along actress Sasheer Zamata said this is the “gayest project Marvel has ever done.”

In Michigan, a megachurch worship pastor set up a hidden camera inside a gender-neutral bathroom in the church’s backstage area. Will Johnson told detectives he placed the camera there intermittently over the past two years, targeting specific church employees known to use that bathroom.

Last Days Traitors and Their Treachery

Another Assassination Attempt on Trump; Shooter is Dem Donor with Criminal Record. Ryan W. Routh attempted to shoot former President Trump on Sept 15 at Trump International Golf Course in Florida. He is a supporter of the Democrat Party; he previously declared on social media that “Democracy is on the ballot” this year, and “we cannot lose,” echoing anti-Trump rhetoric used by Harris and Biden.

The Left has ramped up their vitriol; they know exactly what they’re doing. GOP Rep. Burchett said Democrats were inciting those “on the edge.” “This establishment… it’s an open sewer…. They know if Donald J. Trump is elected, their days are over. We’ll get this country back in order, and they will throw anything and everything at it.”

12 influencers who called for violence against Trump. Many influential actors, journalists, and influencers [deceived and deceiving minions] claimed Trump is an “existential threat” to democracy, compared him to Hitler, and suggested he or his supporters should face violent attacks.

Hillary calls Trump ‘danger to our country and the world’ just one day after 2nd assassination attempt. The Dem leaders know exactly what they’re doing. It’s obvious to all but the deceived that they’re goading the deranged ones out there to assassinate him.

Democrats have repeatedly used violent rhetoric against Trump. Biden said it’s “time to put Trump in the bull’s-eye.” Biden and Harris have called him a “threat to Democracy” on several occasions. Dem Rep. Dan Goldman said Trump is so “dangerous” to Democracy that he “has to be eliminated.” In reality, the Democrat Party is the real threat to this country. It’s a Marxist agenda to destroy this country and then rebuild it to their liking. They use the term “build back better,” but it will be exactly the opposite. The rhetoric hasn’t even toned down even after the second attempt on Trump’s life. Trump said, “Their rhetoric is causing me to be shot at when I am the one who is going to save the country, and they are the ones that are destroying the country, both from the inside and out.”

Read this 2022 article that details How Cultural Marxism Threatens the United States. Summary: With the end of the Cold War, many Americans justifiably believed communism had been defeated. But American Marxists have gained more influence than ever before. Cloaking their goals under the pretense of social justice, these cultural Marxists want to distort America’s history and dismantle its very foundations. Unless Marxist ideas are defeated, their proponents will push the United States to follow a totalitarian ideology that obliterates freedom and opportunity.

‘One-Sided’ Presidential Debate. David Muir and his co-moderator, Linsey Davis, allowed Harris to push false claims while disproportionately, even inaccurately, fact-checking Trump.

Kamala Harris once vowed to forcibly enter homes to check how legal gun owners store firearms, a newly unearthed video shows.

Arizona Supreme Court rules 98,000 people whose citizenship is unconfirmed can vote in pivotal election. The ruling came after a “coding oversight” in state software prompted the swing state’s Democrat Secretary of State Fontes to insist he would send out ballots to those affected anyway.

5 insane Biden-Harris appliance regulations heading your way. It took an angry public reaction against proposed federal restrictions on gas stoves to get the Biden-Harris regime’s regulators to reconsider. But that was last year; in the meantime, bureaucrats have quietly continued their meddling over many other home appliances, with potentially negative consequences for consumers in the years ahead.

Are US authorities legally allowed to commit hoaxes? Federal law suggests so. In the early 1960s, America’s military leaders reportedly drafted plans (Operation Northwoods) to kill innocent people and commit acts of terrorism in U.S. cities to create support for a war against Cuba. Plans included the possible assassination of Cuban émigrés. If government employees enacted a hoax, false flag, or otherwise falsified event, would observers be able to identify acting or pretending?

Planned Destruction of America (Prophecy Watchers program with Billy Crone): Ultimately, Satan is behind the Deep State effort to destroy America from within and make us part of a globalist entity, fast-tracking us to the control of everyone on Earth. It’s the system of the Antichrist (Beast system).

UN agency has terrorists in its employ. UNRWA claimed one of its workers was killed by an Israeli sniper. As usual, they’re not telling the full story. The worker was hurling explosives at Israeli soldiers. Last week, UNRWA claimed 6 of its workers were killed in an IDF airstrike. The IDF later published names of 9 verified terrorists – at least 3 who worked for UNRWA, and several who took part in the Oct. 7 massacre.

Chinese EVs (electric vehicles) in Britain could be ‘weaponized,’ think tank warns. Modules within Chinese-made EVs could transmit sensitive data back to China or even be remotely controlled.

Their Deliberate Border Disorder and its Consequences

We heard about Springfield, Ohio’s population surge by 20,000 Haitians; they’re consuming wildlife and, allegedly, people’s pets. Here’s another case: Migrant population in Charleroi, Pennsylvania, soars by 2,000%, primarily due to influx of Haitians. This has overwhelmed resources and is due to the Biden-Harris regime allowing migrants from countries like Haiti to seek refuge in the US. Some landlords have reportedly evicted long-term tenants in favor of renting to migrants.

Kamala Harris’s shadow immigration scheme: over 1 million migrants granted ‘temporary’ parole, set to stay permanently. ICE is left managing 8 million cases, with each officer handling 7,000 cases on average, making enforcement nearly impossible and leaving the U.S. immigration system on the brink of collapse.

Illegal migrant wanted for murder in Dominican Republic kills family of four in New York. The victims, including two small children, were stabbed multiple times before the house was set on fire.

Europe’s open border utopia is over. The terrorist threat is again shaking Europe. Even Jacques Attali, the intellectual champion of globalism, said: “The issue of borders is essential. Europe is a sieve, and we have done everything to destroy internal and external borders. It is not that Europe does not know how to protect itself; it is that it does not want to protect itself.”

‘Intifada in Paris’: Islamic influencer calls for violent uprising. France faces an alarming threat as Islamists like Elias d’Imzalène openly incite violence, challenging the safety of Jewish citizens and state authority.

Surveillance Society

Co-founder of Oracle says a vast AI surveillance system can ensure citizens will be on their best behavior. Oracle software company is aggressively pursuing AI projects.

LinkedIn is using users’ data to train generative AI models. The professional networking platform’s website states that when users log on, data is collected for details, which includes their posts and articles. Some have taken issue with the feature, particularly the decision to auto-enroll users into it.

Economic and Food Insecurity

How long before the bubble bursts? Federal interest payments top $1 trillion. Just interest payments alone! The U.S. is over $35 trillion in debt now and will hit $36 trillion before the end of the year.

Is there a secret ulterior motive behind the “emergency move” the Federal Reserve just made? The Fed reduced interest rates for the first time in over four years in an emergency move normally only reserved for times of crisis. They knew it would cause stock prices to go way up. When stock prices go up, it makes the party currently in the White House look better. We’re supposed to believe this is just a “coincidence” with election time coming closer.

Iniquity Shall Abound

20 supporters seated behind Trump onstage rushed to ER with blurred vision and eye burns after a rally in Tucson, Arizona.

In Alaska: Man charged, released on bond after violent threats against U.S. Supreme Court justices. Panos Anastasiou began sending messages to the court in 2023, which sparked an investigation. Despite a visit from FBI agents, the messages continued and have become increasingly violent. He is registered as a nonpartisan voter but donates to Democrat Party candidates. Anastasiou’s threats are part of a larger trend. Threats targeting federal judges have more than doubled over the previous three years, and threats against elected officials are also on the rise.

Plague, Pestilence, and Plandemics

Missouri resident first in US to be infected with bird flu despite no animal contact. While he’s only the 14th person in the US to contract H5N1 Bird Flu this year, at least 196 herds of dairy cows in 14 states have confirmed outbreaks [allegedly] since the first report in March. Outbreaks in poultry have [allegedly] been confirmed in 48 states.

Weather Events

Over 900 dead or missing in floods caused by remnants of Typhoon “Yagi” in Myanmar. At least 459 dead, over 450 missing, over 240,000 displaced, and entire regions submerged under floodwaters.

Typhoon “Pulasan” hit Shanghai in China, bringing record-breaking rainfall and flooding on Sept. 19. Around 112,000 people were evacuated. This is the second typhoon to hit Shanghai this week, following Typhoon Bebinca on Sept. 16. Bebinca triggered over a dozen tornadoes.

National flood disaster declared in Mali. There have been around 374 flood incidents in 2024 since flood season began, causing extensive damage, collapsing almost 30,000 buildings, and killing at least 64 people as of Sept. 16.

Libya’s government declared state of emergency due to heavy rains, which caused severe flooding, two deaths, and significant damage.

Floods in Chad have affected 1.5 million since the start of the rainy season and have claimed 341 lives.

Wars and Rumors of Wars

Yemen’s Houthis fired new hypersonic ballistic missile, reaching central Israel for the first time on Sept. 15. Several Israelis were injured running to shelters. A Houthi spokesman said this is the beginning.

Germany delays weapons sales to Israel but approves sales to Hamas funder Qatar.

Israeli border community under constant attack from Hezbollah. Since Hezbollah joined the war in support of Hamas on Oct. 8, over 7,500 rockets have been fired from Lebanon into Israel, and over 200 drones. 44 people have been killed, 271 wounded, and 62,000 evacuated from northern Israel. Those who left have no idea when they’ll return. Damage to agriculture and tourism has reached billions of dollars, and there’s fear that the conflict will escalate further.

Details on how Israel struck 4,000 Hezbollah terrorists in mass pager bombing on Sept 17. Israel reportedly infiltrated Hezbollah’s supply chain and rigged thousands of pagers with explosive material to be remotely detonated. The pagers were recently given to Hezbollah terrorists. About 4,000 were injured, 500 critically, and 11 (update 12) killed.

Israel launches second strike on Sept. 18, detonating thousands of Hezbollah walkie-talkies used by the Iranian-backed terrorist group. The walkie-talkies were part of Hezbollah’s emergency communications system, intended for use during a war with Israel. At least 20 were killed and 450 wounded in this second wave of blasts. Explosions were reported in phones, solar energy systems, and fingerprint reading devices used by the group. By targeting these communication tools, Israel has effectively weakened Hezbollah’s infrastructure without engaging in direct military conflict.

Key Hezbollah leader and commanders killed in Israeli strike on Lebanon. Ibrahim Aqil, a senior member of Hezbollah, was killed along with top operatives. Aqil and the commanders were allegedly planning to occupy Galilee, in what Israel claimed would have been similar to Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack. Aqil was a principal member of Islamic Jihad Organization, which was responsible for the 1983 bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Beirut that killed 63 people. The targeted strike in Beirut came in response to scores of rockets launched from Lebanon toward Israel on Friday. The IDF also struck Hezbollah targets in several other cities in Lebanon.

Hezbollah says “all red lines have been crossed,” and there will be a devastating response to Israel’s “declaration of war.”

Israel’s war front shifts dramatically to north against Iran-backed Hezbollah terrorists. Israel Defense Forces re-deployed its elite and battle-tested 98th Division from the southern war theater in Gaza against Hamas to the north, in a possible prelude to what some say could be a ground invasion to root out Hezbollah terrorists in southern Lebanon.

Two-State Delusion

Saudi Arabia will not recognize Israel without a Palestinian state, says Crown Prince. Also, he strongly condemned what he calls “crimes of the Israeli occupation” against the ‘Palestinian’ people.

Conclusion

The rise and fall of nations has always followed the same pattern. From bondage to spiritual growth; from spiritual growth to great courage; from courage to liberty; from liberty to abundance; from abundance to complacency; from complacency to apathy; from apathy to dependence; from dependence back to bondage.

An example of the fall of nations that have turned away from God can be found in Isaiah chapter 3. The prophet speaks of societal collapse and impending doom brought on by bad leadership and moral decay. Anyone with discernment can substitute their nation in place of ancient Jerusalem and Judah, including what they can see is coming.

“And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them [unfit leaders]…. For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen: because their tongue and their doings are against the Lord, to provoke the eyes of his glory. The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves…. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths. The Lord standeth up to plead, and standeth to judge the people…. Thy men shall fall by the sword, and thy mighty in the war. And her gates shall lament and mourn; and she being desolate shall sit upon the ground” (Isaiah 3:4, 8-9, 12b-13, 25-26).