General Articles

The Day of Remembrance :: By Daymond Duck

Published on: by RR10

On Apr. 29, 2025, Tania Curado-Koenig (wife of Bill Koenig) posted a letter that she received from a Messianic Jewish diplomat in Israel in response to a letter she had written to him. Koenig wrote the diplomat in an effort to remember and honor Jews that have fallen in war.

The diplomat answered her on Yom HaZikron (the Day of Remembrance of The Fallen Soldiers in Israel’s wars).

  • This is the cost of covenant.
  • Not in theory, but in blood.
  • The defense of Israel is not political — it is spiritual.
  • It is rooted in a promise God made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
  • A promise that still stands. A promise that is tested in every generation.
  • On this Yom HaZikaron, we remember not only the fallen — we reaffirm the covenant.
  • We stand with those who carry the weight of this defense.
  • Those who have buried friends.
  • Those who continue to fight.
  • Those who refuse to surrender their inheritance — even when the world demands it.

(My comment: God made an everlasting covenant to give all of the Promised Land to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and their descendants after them in their generation. He gave it to them, but they have had to fight to keep it. On the Day of Remembrance, Jews remember the fallen, reaffirm God’s covenant, and they promise to keep fighting for the Land God gave to them, even though the whole world is against them. And guess what? They will prevail.)

Here are recent events that seem to indicate that the end of the age is close.

One, concerning wars and rumors of wars at the end of the age: on May 1, 2025, Worthy News reported that:

  • S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday delivered a stern warning to Iran over its ongoing support for Yemen’s Houthi rebels, amid rising tensions in the region and the collapse of planned nuclear negotiations.
  • Hegseth posted the following on X: “Message to IRAN: We see your LETHAL support to The Houthis. We know exactly what you are doing. You know very well what the U.S. Military is capable of — and you were warned. You will pay the CONSEQUENCE at the time and place of our choosing.”

(Update: On May 7, 2025, Pres. Trump delivered an ultimatum to Iran: Iran must either dismantle its nuclear facilities peacefully or brace for a forceful response.)

(My opinion: The U.S. is wasting time trying to deal with Iran, and even if the U.S. could get an agreement, Iran wouldn’t keep it. Iran is committed to establishing an Islamic world government and religion, and they will not stop until God intervenes during the Battle of Gog and Magog.)

Two, concerning wars and rumors of wars at the end of the age: following attacks by Islamic groups on the Druze in Syria, Israel’s Defense Min. told the Syrian government that if the attacks on the Druze in Syria do not stop, we (Israel) will respond with great severity.

He added that Israel is committed to their protection and is closely monitoring the situation.

(My comment: I do not know what will bring about the destruction of Damascus in one night, but Syria has been a thorn in the flesh of Israel for a long time. Many of the Druze live on the Golan Heights, which have been annexed by Israel.)

Three, concerning wars and rumors of wars: on May 1, 2025, Israel’s Chief of Staff warned Hamas:

  • The Hamas terrorists still hold fifty-nine of our brothers and sisters.
  • But they, too, know their safety is not forever!
  • The IDF is ready and prepared to strike them a decisive blow.
  • We will use all the strength at our disposal, increase the pace of operations, and intensify our power.
  • If necessary, we will do so soon, with determination and confidence in the righteousness of our path.

(More: On May 4, 2025, the Israeli security cabinet unanimously approved a major expansion of the military offensive in Gaza and an overhaul of the humanitarian aid distribution system. This expansion is expected to start after May 15, 2025, when Pres. Trump returns from a visit to the Middle East.)

Four, concerning Iran’s efforts to get nuclear weapons: on May 2, 2025, an Iranian official confirmed that Iran and Russia are partnering on the construction of a new nuclear plant in Iran.

The Iranian official said the new nuclear plant would produce peaceful nuclear energy.

Russia will provide the financing for Iran’s new nuclear plant.

Five, concerning wars and rumors of wars: on May 4, 2025, a Houthi hypersonic ballistic missile fired from Yemen struck near Israel’s Ben-Gurion International Airport, wounded six people, and disrupted the landing and takeoff of passenger planes.

Prime Min. Netanyahu posted:

  • Attacks by the Houthis emanate from Iran.
  • Israel will retaliate against their Iranian terror masters at a time and place of its choosing.
  • This isn’t a one-and-done… there will be some big hits.
  • Iran and its proxies will face serious consequences for this unprecedented attack on Israeli soil.

Benny Gantz, the head of Israel’s National Unity Party, posted the following on X:

  • This is not Yemen—this is Iran. It is Iran that is firing ballistic missiles at the State of Israel, and it must bear responsibility.

Iranian, Hezbollah, and Hamas officials celebrated the successful attack and rejoiced over the failure of Israeli and U.S.-supplied defense systems to shoot down the Houthi hypersonic missile.

There is growing skepticism in Israel of America’s negotiations with Iran over the Iranian quest for nuclear weapons.

There are also calls for world leaders to begin to question Qatar’s financial support for Hamas in Gaza.

(Update: During the night on May 4, 2025, U.S. and Israeli jets struck a major port in Yemen that Iran uses to deliver weapons to the Houthis. They also struck multiple concrete facilities that produce concrete for the construction of tunnels and terrorist infrastructure. Since Netanyahu said there won’t be a one-and-done, more attacks are expected.)

(Update: On May 6, 2025, the Houthis announced that they will stop attacking U.S. ships in the Red Sea, and Pres. Trump announced that the U.S. will stop attacking the Houthis in Yemen. Israel has been caught by surprise because the ceasefire does not cover Houthi strikes on Israel.)

(My opinion: It appears that the latter years and latter days Battle of Gog and Magog is close, but many who are watching are weary of waiting.)

Six, concerning wars and rumors of wars: on May 5, 2025, Israel announced that it has found the headquarters (including bunkers and many weapons) that the Syrian military had established on Mt. Hermon.

Israel seized many of the weapons and destroyed the bunkers.

Seven, concerning the election of a new pope, the first vote was held on May 7, 2025, and no one got the required 2/3 vote.

More votes will follow, and several votes before someone is elected are not unusual.

Eight, concerning the ashes of a red heifer: on May 7, 2025, the U.S. ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, and his wife visited Shiloh.

While there, Jewish News Syndicate (JNS News) reported that Huckabee and his wife made an official visit to Shiloh where they viewed “biblically pure red heifers” that are being kept at the site, which are being raised to be used as part of a purification ritual after the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem.

Nothing was said about whether “biblically pure” means some of the red heifers are qualified for sacrifice or not.

FYI: God does not send anyone to Hell (all of us are born with a sin nature and destined to go to Hell because we sin), but God has provided a way (Jesus) for everyone to go to Heaven (and He is the only way to get there; John 14:6).

Finally, are you Rapture Ready?

If you want to be rapture ready and go to heaven, you must be born again (John 3:3). God loves you, and if you have not done so, sincerely admit that you are a sinner; believe that Jesus is the virgin-born, sinless Son of God who died for the sins of the world, was buried, and raised from the dead; ask Him to forgive your sins, cleanse you, come into your heart and be your Saviour; then tell someone that you have done this.

duck_daymond@yahoo.com

King Solomon, Christians, and Fellowship :: By Nathele Graham

Published on: by RR10

King David was a man who loved the Lord. He sinned but was truly repentant, and he never stopped loving the Lord. God forgave David and blessed him greatly. His greatest sin was a one-night stand with a married woman, which led to deeper sin. Bathsheba became pregnant, and David tried to cover up that sin by bringing Bathsheba’s soldier husband home. The plan was that when Uriah got home, he and his wife, Bathsheba, would have a lovely reunion and Uriah would think the baby was his own.

Uriah was very loyal to King David, and he opted to stand guard over David rather than join his wife. Such loyalty is seldom seen, but David couldn’t let his sin be known. The sad ending to Uriah’s life was when David sent him back to war with orders that he be placed in a position that would guarantee he would be killed.

When we cover up our sin, we usually just heap more sin upon our original transgression. So, it was with David. King David did care for Bathsheba, but the child that was born from this great sin died. David mourned, but life went on. Eventually, Bathsheba became pregnant again. This time she gave birth to a healthy son, and he was named Solomon.

“And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: and the LORD loved him” (2 Samuel 12:24).

The name Solomon means “peace,” but there was much turmoil surrounding him. Most of the turmoil was caused by his own poor choices.

God specifically told the people of Israel not to marry foreigners, but Solomon married many.

“But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharoah, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites; Of the nations concerning which the LORD had said to the children of Israel, ‘Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love. And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart. For it came to pass when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father” (1 Kings 11:1-4).

David committed a great sin, but his repentance before the Lord was heartfelt. On the other hand, Solomon had no repentance. God specifically set rules for the man who would be king over Israel.

“But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses; forasmuch as the LORD hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way. Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold” (Deuteronomy 17:16-17).

Solomon ignored all of God’s rules for the king. These pagan wives did turn Solomon’s heart from God.

“Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon, and likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods” (1 Kings 11:7-8).

Solomon built places for his pagan wives to worship their demon gods. Don’t be fooled; if a Christian man or woman marries someone outside of the Christian faith, there’s a good chance that the unbeliever will have much influence over the Christian.

“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14).

This doesn’t just pertain to marriage but to friendships and business partnerships as well. Sadly, many people today are just like Solomon and ignore God’s words.

King Solomon is a good example of a man who had it all. He had all the worldly pleasures a man could desire. The thing he didn’t have was fellowship with God. Without that, there can be no real pleasure. Solomon wrote the book of Ecclesiastes, and if you read it, you see a very unhappy man.

“The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:1-3).

The Hebrew word “hebel” is translated vanity and means a vapor or a breath. It’s something that’s fleeting with no real substance. That’s what Solomon’s life had come to. Even with all the wisdom and riches he had, his life was empty and meaningless. He had been granted wisdom from God and could have had a very meaningful life. He may have had wisdom, but he wasn’t very smart. It’s easy to see what Solomon did wrong because his history is written in Scripture, but he isn’t the only man (or woman) ever to be out of fellowship with God and find life meaningless.

Adam was the first to experience the effects of sin and the despair that comes from a lack of fellowship with God. Christians should be the most joy-filled people on earth. Yet, many Christians make poor decisions, just as Solomon did, and find no joy in life. They walk around as if all is vanity because fellowship with God has been broken.

Do we even think about what Jesus did for us? Our sins are forgiven, which means we can experience fellowship with God. Our eternity is settled the moment we repent and believe. We may not have riches in this world, but Jesus has gone to build us our own mansion!

“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:1-3). 

Jesus will come for His bride and take us Home in the Rapture. Our choices make a difference in our outlook on life. First, we need to choose Christ. When we do that, if we continue to hold tightly to our sin, there can be no fellowship with Christ because sin ruins that fellowship. Without fellowship, life can be discouraging.

If you are feeling the same despairing thoughts as Solomon, look at your life and see what you’re doing that comes between the fellowship you could have with God. There were many things in Solomon’s life that ruined his fellowship with God. God ordains a one man/one woman marriage, not a one man/700 women marriage plus concubines. That isn’t marriage. Is there anything in your life that you put higher than God? What do you watch on television? What do you do with your spare time? Do your friends help you in your walk with Christ? Do you help them?

Salvation isn’t something we can work for, but it comes from faith in Jesus. We have to remember that there aren’t many paths to Heaven. Jesus is the only way to eternal life.

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the father, but by me” (John 14:6).

In spite of his failures, Solomon did good things for God, but works won’t save. Nor will they bring true joy. He built the first Temple, and at the dedication, he showed great hope and wisdom. It’s too bad he didn’t listen to his own words.

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).

In order to find fellowship with God, we must turn from our wicked ways. Solomon only compounded his wicked ways by accumulating foreign wives and allowing them to bring pagan worship to Israel. He built high places specifically for them to practice their pagan ways. Christians must turn from our wicked ways. We are called by the name of Christ and should honor Him with our lives.

“Strive to enter through the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in and shall not be able” (Luke 13:24).

Jesus is that narrow gate and the only way to salvation.

Brothers and sisters, King Solomon had all that he desired but chose to follow the way of the world. Don’t follow Solomon’s example, but follow Christ. He is the way, the truth, and the life. Time on earth is very short, and the Rapture will happen soon. Turn from your wicked ways, and live fully for Christ. Don’t miss out on the fellowship.

God bless you all

Nathele Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com

Recommended prophecy sites:

www.raptureready.com
www.prophecyupdate.com
www.raptureforums.com

All original scripture is “theopneustos,” God-breathed.

If you would like to be on my mailing list to receive the commentaries, just drop me an email and let me know.

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee” (Psalm 122:6).