Pricks, Thorns, and Vexing :: By Daymond Duck

Published on: March 15, 2025 by RR10

The Bible begins, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” (Gen. 1:1).

“All things were made by him; and without him not anything was made that was made” (Jn. 1:2).

“He [Jesus] was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not” (Jn. 1:10.

“The earth is the Lord’s and its fullness; the world, and they that dwell therein. For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods (Psa. 24:1-2).

The Bible clearly teaches that this earth and everything in it, including all the people, belong to God.

It is true that Adam and Eve sinned and allowed Satan to take over, but Jesus redeemed the entire Creation (bought it back, people and all) at the cross.

Let’s go to Numbers chapter 33.

Moses has led the Hebrews out of Egypt, they have wandered in the wilderness for forty years, and they have finally arrived at the Promised Land.

God said, “When ye are passed over Jordan into the land of Canaan; ye shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their pictures, and destroy all their molten images [idols], and quite pluck down all their high places [places of pagan worship]: And ye shall dispossess the inhabitants of the land, and dwell therein: for I have given you the land to possess it (Num. 33:51-53).

“But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you: then it shall come to pass, that those which ye let remain of them, shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell” (Num. 33:55).

Was God being unfair?

No, this world belongs to Him, and He was fed up with the sins of the Canaanites.

He said, “Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my good pleasure” (Isa. 46:9-10).

God is God, and He does what He wants to do.

Anyway, if the Hebrews didn’t put all of the Canaanites off the Promised Land, the Canaanites would cause major problems for Israel in the future.

They did it in Old Testament times, and they are doing it today.

But know that Israel is not the only one that will suffer from pricks, thorns, and vexing.

What the Canaanites (and the nations) try to do to Israel will come back on them.

They will reap what they sow.

And their pricks, thorns, and vexing will be so great, no flesh would be shortened.

However, those days will be shortened for the elect’s (Israel’s) sake.

(My opinion: Notice that God didn’t say kill the Canaanites. God said drive all of them off the land. I find it interesting that Trump wants to remove the Palestinians from Gaza, but others want to force them to stay in Gaza where many of them will suffer and die.)

Here are recent events that seem to indicate that God may be getting ready to deal with the world’s treatment of Israel.

One, concerning wars and rumors of wars: after meeting with several former Hamas hostages at the White House on Mar. 5, 2025, Trump posted a message to Hamas on Truth Social:

Release all of the Hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is over for you.
Only sick and twisted people keep bodies, and you are sick and twisted!
I am sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job.
Not a single Hamas member will be safe if you don’t do as I say.
This is your last warning! For the leadership, now is the time to leave Gaza while you still have a chance.
To the People of Gaza: A beautiful future awaits, but not if you hold Hostages. If you do, you are dead! Make a smart decision.
Release the hostages now, or there will be hell to pay later!

(More: On Mar. 6, 2025, U.S. Sec. of State Rubio said, “He’s (Trump is) tired of watching videos of emaciated hostages being released.”)

(More: On Mar. 6, 2025, the head of a terror victims group in Israel said, “When you surrender to evil, evil learns that terrorism pays.”)

(More: On Mar. 6, 2025, the U.S. special envoy to the Middle East said the U.S. and Israel could take joint military action against Hamas if negotiations with the terrorist group fail.)

(More: On Mar. 7, 2025, Israel’s Prime Min. Netanyahu ordered Israel’s military to prepare for an immediate return to fighting in Gaza.)

(More: On Mar. 9, 2025, it was reported that Hamas has agreed to release more hostages for an extension of the ceasefire, but no details were available at that time.)

Two, concerning Hamas releasing more hostages: on Mar. 6, 2025, Amir Tsarfati said Hamas is demanding to stay in power in exchange for more hostages, but Israel is refusing to let Hamas stay in power.

Tsarfati asks, “So, what do we do with this stalemate?”

Tsarfati said,

If Hamas still refuses to move forward, Israel will cut the 19% of Gaza’s water that it supplies.
If Hamas still refuses, Israel will cut electricity to Gaza’s desalination plants so that they cannot purify their own water.
If Hamas still refuses, Israel will resume air attacks.
If Hamas still refuses, Israel will resume a ground war.
To this final end, Israel’s government approved a call-up of 400,000 reserves.
That’s 100,000 more than were called up after October 7.
In other words, Israel is not playing around.

In my words, Israel’s military toolbox is full of pricks, thorns, and vexing.

(More: On Mar. 9, 2025, Israel announced that it will immediately cut off the electricity it sends to Gaza. The desalination plants that receive electricity from Israel will have to shut down. Trump warned that if all the hostages were not released, there would be hell to pay, and it is beginning to look like payday has arrived.)

(More: On Mar. 9, 2025, Israel announced that it is actively working on plans to move 5,000 Gaza citizens per day to other nations and to get other nations to take them. If they can accomplish this, it will take a year to clear out Gaza.)

(More: On Mar. 10, 2025, in a meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, U.S. Sec. of State Marco Rubio said any reconstruction effort in Gaza must exclude Hamas.)

Three, concerning wars and rumors of wars: in a message to Congress on Mar. 4, 2025, Pres. Trump talked about his threats to impose tariffs on other nations.

Trump said the additional tariffs, including reciprocal tariffs and non-tariff actions, are aimed at addressing years of trade imbalances.

In addition to trade imbalances, Trump said he was imposing tariffs on China because they keep sending fentanyl into the U.S., and he wants it stopped.

China responded, “If war is what the US wants, be it a tariff war, a trade war, or any other type of war, we’re ready to fight till the end.”

(More: On Mar. 5, 2025, Pres. Trump postponed 25% tariffs on many imports from Mexico and some imports from Canada for a month amid widespread fears of the economic fallout from a broader trade war. He emphasized that the tariffs are about stopping the smuggling of fentanyl and fixing the trade deficit.)

Four, concerning wars and rumors of wars and the coming Battle of Gog and Magog, on Mar. 4, 2025, Sen. Lindsey Graham urged Pres. Trump to allow Israel to destroy Iran’s nuclear program while we can.

Graham said there is zero chance of getting a nuclear pact with Iran that would convince the Ayatollah Khamenei to abandon his ambitions to build the bomb.

He added that Khamenei wants three things:

To dominate Islam.
To kill all Jews.
To drive the U.S. out of the Middle East.

(More: On Mar. 4, 2025, 77 retired U.S. generals and admirals released a letter to Pres. Trump urging him to support Israel’s efforts to finish the war with Iran before Iran crosses the nuclear threshold. According to them, two decades of negotiations have accomplished nothing.)

(More: On Mar. 5, 2025, it was reported that Iran’s president said he would negotiate with the U.S., but Khamenei refuses.)

(More: On Mar. 5, 2025, it was reported that Iran has established a new terrorist group in Syria. Iran said the new group will represent all groups in Syria, defend Syria against occupation, and stand against falsehood. The group is demanding that Israel withdraw its forces from southern Syria and the demilitarized zone in the Golan Heights. It has claimed responsibility for several recent attacks against Israel’s military forces.)

Five, concerning wars and rumors of wars and the coming Battle of Gog and Magog: on Mar. 7, 2025, Trump said he sent a letter to Khamenei demanding that he negotiate with the U.S. because he (Trump) will not allow Khamenei to have nuclear weapons.

In an interview, Trump said,

We have a situation with Iran that something’s going to happen very soon, very, very soon.
There will be interesting days ahead.
There are two ways Iran can be handled: militarily, or you make a deal.
I’d rather see a peace deal than the other, but the other will solve the problem.
If Iran doesn’t negotiate, it will be very ugly for them.

Six, concerning wars and rumors of wars: on Mar. 5, 2025, French Pres. Macron said France and the EU should prepare for war because Russian aggression knows no borders.

He said Europe will not accept the capitulation of Ukraine to Russia under the guise of peace negotiations.

Macron added that France would use its nuclear arsenal against Putin.

(More: Germany’s Foreign Minister urged the European nations to start mobilizing now and not wait until April when there is a new government in Germany.)

Seven, concerning the ashes of a red heifer without blemish and spot: on Mar. 7, 2025, it was reported that the five calves that have been moved from Texas to Israel have all been disqualified.

According to the report, the red heifers are occasionally inspected to see if they are still unqualified, but at this time, all of them have more than one non-red hair.

Eight, concerning the Two-State Solution and Judea and Samara: on Mar. 7, 2025, I heard a prophecy teacher say that there is the possibility that the U.S. and Israel are planning to announce Israel’s annexation of all of Judea and Samaria, and the death of the Two-State Solution in about a week and one-half.

All of the land from the (Jordan) River to the (Mediterranean) Sea will be part of Israel.

(My opinion: Israel will be divided after the Rapture, but Israel will get all that land and a lot more at the Second Coming.)

Nine, concerning the Battle of Gog and Magog and Iran’s desire to destroy Israel: on Mar. 8, 2025, Iran criticized the Arab’s Gaza reconstruction plan.

Iran’s Foreign Min. said, “While we respect the views of some brotherly nations regarding the two-state solution, the Islamic Republic of Iran maintains that this approach will not fulfill the rights of the Palestinian people.”

Iran wants a one-state solution, not a Two-State Solution.

(More: The mayor of Paterson, NJ, is the son of a Syrian woman and a Lebanese father. On Mar. 10, 2025, it was reported that he has declared Paterson, NJ, the capital of Palestine in the U.S. He changed the name of Main Street to Palestinian Way, closes schools on Muslim holidays, serves Muslim food in the school cafeterias, uses loudspeakers to blast a call to Muslim prayers in the city, etc.)

Ten, concerning world government: on March 7, 2025, the U.S. rejected the UN Sustainable Development Goals (on the grounds that they would hurt America and establish a world government).

Edward Heartney, a Trump-appointed representative, told the UN General Assembly the Sustainable Development Goals (climate change, wealth redistribution, ending poverty, gender equality, etc.) “advance a program of soft global governance that is inconsistent with U.S. sovereignty and adverse to the rights and interests of Americans.”

A UN representative responded by saying the goals were approved by all the nations in the UN, and so the U.N. is holding onto its guiding principles “to advance a world of peace, prosperity and dignity for all.”

(My opinion: The Trump representative’s statement confirms that the UN Sustainable Development Goals are about world government and the surrender of national sovereignty. The UN response indicates that, at least for the time being, the UN is sticking to its goal of a world government by 2030 or sooner if possible. Also, we know that the UN must be restructured, that the Restrainer is holding the world government back, and that despite Trump’s desire to Make America Great Again, there will be a world government after the Rapture.)

(My opinion: I am not predicting a date, but “2030 or sooner if possible” means that people could have less than five years to be ready. And who knows? It could be quite a bit less.)

Eleven, concerning the new HTS-dominated government of Syria: on Mar. 8, 2025, it was reported that government troops have killed more than one thousand Syrian citizens (including women, children, and Christians).

(More: A report on Mar. 9, 2025, said women were paraded naked in the streets before being shot. There was also a report that a teenage boy was given a rifle and forced to shoot his family.)

(My opinion: This seems to deny HTS claims of moderation and confirm Israel’s suspicions of once a terrorist always a terrorist. Israel’s suspicions are why Israel has kept troops in the buffer zone on its border with Syria.)

Twelve, concerning Russia, Iran, Turkey, and others using Syria to attack Israel: on Mar.10-11, 2025, Israeli jets struck 41 targets (radar, aerial detection systems, headquarters, and weapons depots under the new regime) in southern Syria that Israel said could pose a threat to Israel and Israeli operations in the future.

Thirteen, concerning illegal immigrants in the U.S.: the Trump administration is now allowing illegal immigrants to self-deport and offering them the opportunity to apply to return legally in the future.

If they self-deport and are not criminals, terrorists, cartel members, etc., there is a good chance that they will be allowed to return legally to live the American Dream.

Fourteen, Canada has replaced Trudeau with a new Prime Min., and I am being asked what he is like. I don’t know, but Alex Newman, a man that I greatly respect, said the situation in Canada has been controlled to ensure that the globalists continue to stay in power.

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

Are You Doing Your Part? :: By Nathele Graham

Published on: March 15, 2025 by RR10

Many people feel inadequate as if they are living hum-drum lives that just don’t matter. I can tell you with certainty that you do matter. You matter to God. Too often we feel that if we haven’t done great things, then we just aren’t doing anything. That isn’t true.

Think of Billy Graham. He went around the world holding crusades, speaking to large crowds, and sharing the Gospel. Did you ever wonder about the people who heard his message? I’m sure there were plenty of people who heard him speak, but the message fell on deaf ears, or maybe they were full of hope and joy at first, but then they returned to old ways and turned away. I personally know two people who attended one of the crusades and gave their lives to Christ. Now, these people haven’t gone out and held their own crusades, but their faith is strong, and they have made a difference in their own community. There are many people in Scripture who did just that; they made a difference in their own family and community.

Many people followed Christ, but we don’t know much about most of them. We know of the twelve disciples. Even Judas is remembered for his betrayal of Christ. He heard the Gospel just like John and the others, but if anybody on the outside judged Christianity by the actions of Judas, they get the wrong idea. He may have physically followed Jesus, but his heart was far from following.

Many things have been done in the name of Christianity that are wrong and don’t represent the truth of the Gospel. These things hinder God’s plan. Even you can hinder His work through your treatment of others. Instead of finding fault with others, it’s better to love them with a Godly love.

Jesus was asked about the great commandment in the law. “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Matthew 22:37-40).

If Christians would just follow these two commandments, we would all make a difference for Christ. We might even influence someone to do great things in the name of the Lord.

We all know the story of Saul, later known as Paul, who was filled with hatred toward those who followed Christ. He was feared by those early Christians who fled from Jerusalem to escape from his hatred and persecution.

“And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem” (Acts 9:1-2).

Saul’s plans were interrupted by Jesus. Saul saw a bright light and heard the voice of Jesus. That encounter left him blind, but his heart was changed. His companions took him to Damascus. For three days he didn’t eat or drink. What was he to do? There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and God chose him for a frightening task. Ananias was to go find Saul and care for him.

“Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem; and here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name” (Acts 9:13-14).

What if Ananias had refused to do the Lord’s bidding? He had every reason to fear Saul, but this man chose to do the Lord’s bidding. Ananias was obedient. He didn’t seek fame and glory but just did his part to serve the Lord. Because Ananias did his part, Saul became a Christian, known as Paul. His missionary work brought many to Christ, and he wrote letters that we treasure today.

Parents and grandparents have a special calling to lay a solid foundation of Christ for their children and grandchildren to build their lives upon. The job isn’t always easy, especially with public schools and the social media evil of today, but God wants men who are fearless in their role as husbands and fathers and women who are not ashamed to be wives and mothers to stand up and do their part for Christ. In his travels, Paul met Lois and Eunice. They were the grandmother and mother of Timothy. Paul was impressed with the faith of Timothy and made a point to mention the ladies in his life and their influence on him.

“When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also” (2 Timothy 1:5).

Paul took Timothy under his wing, and they traveled on missionary journeys together. Paul left Timothy in Ephesus to straighten out the false teachings there and be a pastor. The letters to Timothy should be required for every pastor to fully understand. If God has blessed you to be a wife and mother, take that calling seriously. Your faith may influence your husband, and it will establish a firm foundation for your children.

Paul and Silas were called to travel to Philippi. On the Sabbath, they went to the riverside where they knew a prayer meeting was taking place. They sat down and spoke with a group of women who prayed there.

“And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul” (Acts 16:14).

Lydia came to know Jesus that day and was baptized, along with her household. She didn’t keep her faith to herself but wanted all of her household to be saved, and they were. Then she set about doing her part for the Lord. As a woman, she was not to lead a church, but she did what she could. She opened her house for Paul and Silas to stay there. We don’t all have the same part to play in God’s plan, but we all have the ability to do something for Him.

Much happened to Paul and Silas in Philippi. A possessed woman followed them around, mocking them and God. Paul cast the demon out, but they were arrested, beaten, and chained in a dungeon for this kindness. How could they possibly witness for Christ in prison? They sang hymns and prayed.

The other prisoners heard and were influenced by this testimony of faith. When an earthquake happened, the prison doors were opened, and the chains fell from all the prisoners; none of them escaped. The jailer would have been punished if they had escaped. When the jailer found out all the prisoners were there, his heart softened, and he tended to the wounds of Paul and Silas. More than that, he came to Jesus.

“And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house” (Acts 16:30-32).

This jailer came to faith because Paul and Silas praised God even though they were in prison. Because the jailer came to faith, his entire household heard the Gospel message and also came to faith. Paul and Silas were just doing their part, and many others were saved. Isn’t that what we all should do? No matter what our circumstances, we need to praise the Lord so others will see. Then be ready to give answers to their questions. If we hide our faith, we aren’t doing our part.

Think of the people in your life who have influenced your faith. Each one did their part. Not everyone has an encounter with Jesus in the way that Paul did, but everybody must hear the Gospel in order to believe.

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:13-17).

You need to do your part by sharing the Gospel. That doesn’t mean you have to go to the deepest, darkest jungles to spread the Gospel. You have family and friends who may not have heard God’s truth. There are two ways you can do your part. You can talk to them. Speak words in love and share your faith. Or you can show your faith by how you conduct your life.

“But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” (James 2:20). It is possible to say many words proclaiming your faith but then deny your faith by your actions.

“For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also” (James 2:26). Do your part by speaking your faith as well as living your faith.

There are many more examples of how people came to faith. Many people followed Jesus and had faith in Him. Look up and study how Zacchaeus did his part and showed his newfound faith by returning what he had stolen (Luke 19:2-10), or how Mary Magdalene, who was possessed by seven devils which Jesus had cast out (Mark 16:9), showed her faith. What about the man in Gadara who was possessed by a legion of demons? (Luke 8:26-39). What a testimony these people had!

There are many more whose lives were changed by Jesus. If they hadn’t done their part, Christianity would have ended long ago. We all need to do our part today. We are living in the end of days, and the more people we can share the Gospel with, the better. Christ is the only way to eternal life. We need to speak the truth in love in order to do our part for the Kingdom of God.

Are you doing your part?

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.

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