Appointed Times :: By Daymond Duck

Published on: December 28, 2024 by RR10

The Bible clearly teaches that God has appointed times for things to happen.

For example:

>There is some disagreement over Methuselah’s name, but Dr. Henry Morris said it means “when he dies, judgment.” Methuselah lived 960 years (longer than anyone has ever lived; he died, and the world was destroyed with a Flood.

>God made a covenant with Abraham to give him and his descendants all the Promised Land at the end of the age, but His Word teaches that they would be put off the land three times (in Egypt, in Babylon, scattered all over the world) before they finally received permanent possession of it. God said they would be slaves in a foreign land 400 years (they were in Egypt 430 years (Gen. 15:13-16), and then He would afflict Egypt (Ten Plagues).

>God told Abraham the covenant would go through his son Isaac, who would be born at a set time in the next year (Gen. 17:21).

>God told Abraham his descendants would have to wait to occupy the Promised Land because the iniquity of the Amorites was not yet full (Gen. 15:16). Their sin had to pile up (accumulate) before God would remove them (before His judgment would fall; also see Psa. 75:8; Rev. 14:10; Rev. 17:4).

>God told the Jews to celebrate seven feast days at certain times (Lev. 23). Jesus was born on the first one (Passover), His body was in the grave on the second one (unleavened bread), He was raised from the dead on the third one (first fruits), the Church began on the fourth one (Pentecost), and many Christians believe major events will occur on the last three.

>Before God raised up Babylon to put the Jews off the land the second time, God used the prophet Jeremiah to tell the Jews they would be in Babylon 70 years, then Babylon would fall, and the Jews would return (Jer. 25:8-13; 29:10). Babylon fell when the hand wrote on the wall exactly 70 years after Babylon captured Judah. Then, the Jews were allowed to return home.

>Jesus had to come into the world as a baby (Isa. 6-7).

>Jesus had to appear (His Triumphal Entry) 483 years after a command to restore and rebuild Jerusalem (69 weeks of years = 483 years), and it had to be before Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed again (70 A.D.; Dan. 9:25; Neh. 2:1-8).

>Jesus came into the world the first time at God’s appointed time (Gal. 4:4-7).

>The Tribulation Period cannot begin until God removes the restrainer (II Thess. 2:5-12).

>God has an appointed time for His Second Coming and the Millennium (Dan. 8:19-26).

>God raised Jesus from the dead to assure us that He will come back at an appointed time to judge the world (Acts 17:30-31).

More than 100 specifically different prophecies had to be fulfilled, but just know that Jesus is the only one to ever fulfill all of them, Jesus fulfilled all of them at God’s appointed time, and His timing was perfect (Matt. 5:18; Luke 24:44).

Know also that God reveals what is going to happen before it happens (Amos 3:7), and He put these things in the Bible and told His people to watch for them (Matt. 24:42-51; Mark 13:33; Luke 12: 35-40; Luke 21:34-36).

Many prophecy writers, including myself, believe these things indicate that the appointed time for this world to be judged (the Tribulation Period) is close.

Here are some recent indicators that seem to indicate that.

One, concerning the failure of the UN wannabe world government: on Dec. 18, 2024, the brother of one of the Oct. 7, 2023 hostages being held by Hamas was invited to address the UN Security Council, and he said,

For every day this council fails to act, the message to the world is clear: Some lives are worth saving, and others are not.
This is not merely a political issue. This is a human issue, a moral issue.
I want to ask every member of this council: What would you do if it was your child, your brother, your loved one?
Hamas’ actions are not just blatant violations of international law; they are an assault on humanity itself.
Holding civilians hostage – men, women, and children – is a violation of the principles that this very council was created to protect, and yet, your silence is deafening.

God’s judgment is coming,

He has appointed a time to replace the corrupt anti-Semitic UN with the government of Antichrist, and His wrath will fall.

Two, concerning a United Nations (UN) wannabe world government: in the year 2000, the American Policy Center (APC) pushed a bill to get the U.S. out of the UN (United Nothing), but the bill failed.

On Dec. 23, 2024, it was reported that two members of Congress have introduced the DEFUND Act (Disengaging Entirely From the United Nations Debacle!).

If passed, the bill would:

Terminate U.S. membership in the UN and all affiliated bodies, conventions, and agreements.
Stop all funds to any UN body.
Prohibit U.S. participation in UN peacekeeping operations.
Throw the UN headquarters out of the U.S.
And end U.S. membership in the World Health Organization!

We know that there will be a fundamental change in world government at the appointed time, and passing this bill could be a spark that leads to that.

(My opinion: There will be a fundamental change in world government at the appointed time after the Rapture, so we need to be sure we are Rapture Ready.)

Three, concerning wars and rumors of wars and Iran’s quest for nuclear weapons: on Dec. 18, 2024, it was reported that the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) warned that,

Reviving a nuclear deal with Iran is no longer useful because Iran is on the verge of having nuclear weapons.

Be aware that Israeli Prime Min. Netanyahu and Pres.-elect Trump have been discussing a pre-emptive strike on Iran’s nuclear weapons facilities.

(My opinion: The Bible seems to indicate that nuclear weapons will be used during the Tribulation Period (Zech. 14:12; Rev. 6:14), but they will probably be used against nations, not Israel. One nuclear bomb would probably destroy the tiny nation of Israel, but Israel cannot be destroyed.)

Four, concerning wars and rumors of wars and Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons: on Dec. 22, 2024, it was reported that:

Iran’s position has weakened following Israeli strikes on its proxies: Hamas, Hezbollah, and the fall of the Iran-aligned Syrian president.
The White House has warned Pres.-elect Trump that Iran could move to build a nuclear bomb.
Trump should be vigilant for the threat of nuclear escalation.

Five, concerning Syria being taken over by several different terrorist groups supported by Turkey and supposedly following a group called Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS): Israel moved in and took over the buffer zone between Syria and Israel, the Syrian side of a strategic mountain called Mt. Hermon, and positions on the Golan Heights to protect Jewish settlements there.

Now, several nations are accusing Israel of seizing Arab land and trying to occupy Syria.

They want the UN (who never did one thing about the Russians, Iranians, or Turkey taking over Syrian land) to kick Israel out.

Israel denies the charge and says,

The buffer zone was an agreement between Syria and Israel, but the collapse of Syria means Syria can no longer enforce the agreement.
Israel will not accept the presence of terrorists in the buffer zone or terrorists firing at Jews on the Golan Heights.
Israel is willing to return to its border when there is a government in Syria that is willing to protect Israel’s interests.

We know that God has an appointed time for another attack on Israel (a war on the mountains of Israel called the Battle of Gog and Magog in the latter days and latter years).

Six, God said the Jews walk and harvest fruit on the mountains of Israel again at the end of the age (Ezek. 36).

In the 1967 six-day war, Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria.

In 2019, Pres. Trump recognized the Golan Heights as part of Israel.

On June 16, 2019, Israel announced it would establish a community called Trump Towers on the Golan Heights to honor Pres. Trump for recognizing that the Golan Heights are part of Israel.

On Dec. 24, 2024, it was reported the community called Trump Towers has a population of 50-100 Jews, but there is a waiting list of 2,000 Jews that have signed up to relocate there, and it is turning into a popular tourist site.

On Dec. 24, 2024, it was also reported that the election of Pres. Trump has spurred more interest by Jews to relocate there, and Prime Min. Netanyahu said he wants to boost the population of the Golan Heights to 100,000 Jews for security reasons.

Because the elevation of the mountains is 8-9,000 feet, the weather on Mt. Hermon and the Golan Heights will soon get extremely cold, so Israel has already started opening new routes and moving tons of construction materials, communication equipment, food, water, medical supplies, thermal clothing, ski equipment, etc. to military outposts there.

Israel has also notified the terrorists that have taken over the Syrian government that Israel intends to stay there.

(My opinion: This is clearly a fulfillment of God’s Word and that the appointed time of the end is near.)

Seven, concerning Israel’s prosperity (cattle and goods, silver and gold, a great spoil; Ezek. 38:13) in the latter days and latter years: on Dec. 24, 2024, it was reported that foreign investments in Israel increased 15% in the first half of this year despite Israel being at war on multiple fronts.)

Eight, concerning the Battle of Gog and Magog (Russia, Iran, Turkey, and others attacking Israel) and Jerusalem being a cup of trembling and a burdensome stone for the entire world at the end of the age: in a speech to a group of young people on Dec. 21, 2024, Turkey’s Pres. Erdogan repeated his four-year-old promise to conquer Jerusalem.

Nine, concerning Syria, Iran, and Hezbollah: on Dec. 22, 2024, al-Julani, the temporary leader of the Turkish-sponsored group called HTS (that has taken over Syria), said he will not allow Iranian planes to enter Syrian airspace.

Al-Julani said he has committed to not allowing terrorist groups to pose a threat both within Syria and externally to the U.S. and its regional partners (Israel, Kurds, etc.).

This is great news if al-Julani will keep his word and stay in office because Iranian planes have been flying across Syria with weapons, ammunition, troops, etc., to prop up Hezbollah in Lebanon.

(More: al-Julani is presenting himself as a moderate in Syria, but in the past, he has presented himself as a man that wants to bring all religions under Islamic rule. Who is the real al-Julani?)

(More: Armed and masked Islamic terrorists from a group that helped al-Julani burned a large Christmas tree that had been erected in a city near Damascus. They also banned Christians from celebrating Christmas. Christians protested by marching in the streets of Damascus, and Al-Julani apologized for the incident.)

Ten, concerning Israel being a great army at the end of the age: on Dec. 22, 2024, a newspaper in Saudi Arabia reported that:

A Hamas official has admitted that Israel has neutralized most of Hamas’ military capabilities.
Some Hamas groups falsely claim success in some areas, but the facts say otherwise.
It is a mistake to believe the false claims and lies of the defeated.

Eleven, concerning the potential economic collapse of America: on Dec. 22, 2024, Pres. Biden signed a Continuing Resolution to fund government spending until March.

There were 1,547 pages in the bill when it was first introduced in the House.

Pres.-elect Trump and Elon Musk strongly condemned it, and it failed to pass.

When it passed in the U.S. Senate, it had 118 pages in it.

Put another way, 1,429 pages of bad legislation and unnecessary spending were removed.

The past practice has been to pass the bills to find out what was in them, and that has contributed greatly to the economic mess America is in.

Twelve, concerning the moral and economic decline of America: on Dec. 23, 2024, it was reported that federal records show that Biden’s State Dept. spent the following this year:

Columbia—$6 million to help LGBTQI+ refugees and immigrants.
Peru—$2 million on sustainable solutions for LGBT migrants and refugees.
Italy—slightly more than $25,000 to help LGBTQI+ migrants to overcome linguistic, cultural, and social barriers to integration.
Costa Rica—$310,000 to provide LGBT migrants with training, certification, psychosocial and legal assistance.”
Panama—an unreported amount to make Panama more pro-LGBT.
Kanya, Malawi, Mexico, Greece, and Ecuador—unreported amounts on an assortment of programs for gays.

(My opinion: I pray that former Pres. Obama’s “fundamental transformation of America” is over.)

(More: On this same date – Dec. 23, 2024 – Sen. Rand Paul released a report documenting more than one trillion dollars of government waste this year.)

Thirteen, it was recently reported that the U.S. will exit the globalist World Health Organization (WHO) on Day one of Pres.-elect Trump’s new administration taking power.

The U.S. is the WHO’s largest single donor.

This is bad news for the WHO, but it is great news for America.

Here is my daily update on the Israel-Hamas war.

(Note: I am seriously considering a reduction in reporting on this because, for all practical purposes, Israel has defeated Hamas.)

Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024 (day 439), The three hundred and eighty-third day of the resumed war. Day 217 of the attack on Rafah.

Israel’s Gen. Halevi said, “We are dismantling Hamas and targeting its infrastructure and forces to ensure that there will never be another Oct. 7.”
Israel’s Finance Min. Bezalel Smotrich said, “Hamas is at its weakest point since the war began. This is not the moment to offer it any reprieve. We must continue to apply pressure and defeat it, ensuring that the hostages are returned under terms that demonstrate its surrender, not ours.”

Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024 (day 440), The three hundred and eighty-fourth day of the resumed war. Day 218 of the attack on Rafah.

After the Houthis fired a missile toward Israel, Israeli jets struck several Houthi targets in Yemen.

Friday, Dec. 20, 2024 (day 441), The three hundred and eighty-fifth day of the resumed war. Day 219 of the attack on Rafah.

Netanyahu said he will not end the war in Gaza before Hamas is removed from power.

Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024 (day 442), The three hundred and eighty-sixth day of the resumed war. Day 220 of the attack on Rafah.

The Houthis fired a missile at Tel Aviv, and sixteen people were slightly injured.

Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024 (day 443), The three hundred and eighty-seventh day of the resumed war. Day 221 of the attack on Rafah.

Israel’s Defense Min. said Israel will crush Hezbollah’s head if Hezbollah violates their ceasefire agreement.
Israel destroyed a terrorist command center in a school in Gaza.

Monday, Dec. 23, 2024 (day 444), The three hundred and eighty-eighth day of the resumed war. Day 222 of the attack on Rafah.

Israel has captured 18,000 Hezbollah weapons at villages on its border with Lebanon.

Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024, (day 445) The three hundred and eighty-ninth day of the resumed war. Day 223 of the attack on Rafah.

It was reported that Israel will start targeting Houthi rebel leaders in Yemen to stop the Iranian-backed terrorists from firing missiles at Israel.

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

Joy In God’s Desire :: By Nathele Graham

Published on: December 28, 2024 by RR10

Christmas is a time of excitement but not a lot of joy. It can be a very selfish time of year. We tell our children to ask Santa for the desire of their heart, but soon that shiny new toy has lost its appeal or is broken to bits. The joy is gone. Or maybe the neighbor child got a better toy, so your own toy looks cheap. Santa, or should I say Dad and Mom, should have put more money on the credit cards in order to get you the best gift possible. Sadly, this attitude is encouraged by parents who make sure little Johnny or little Betty know that Santa will bring them things.

Parents continue the lie of Santa, and worry their child is growing up when the child realizes Santa isn’t real. Those same parents don’t worry whether or not their child believes in Jesus. “Things” become more important than what will truly bring joy. That eternal joy can only come from a personal faith in Jesus Christ, but we tend to forget it’s His birth we celebrate on Christmas. The joy that comes from the Lord is everlasting and won’t break or become outdated.

“[[To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David]] The king shall joy in thy strength, O LORD; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!” (Psalm 21:1).

Of course, David is speaking of himself as being the one who shall have joy. King David loved the Lord in whatever circumstances he found himself. He started as a shepherd boy who spent much time watching the flocks. Now, that’s a very important job, but it doesn’t require a lot of thought. It would have been easy for him, as a young boy, to get complacent and lose his focus. Not David. He honed his skill with a slingshot and paid attention to the wandering nature of his flock. These simple tasks taught him to be a powerful military commander and a wonderful king. He learned to trust God and to serve Him.

When King Saul’s army was hiding in the hills in fear of the giant Goliath, it was David, armed with a slingshot, who faced this evil giant and killed him. Don’t ever look at anything in your life as being trivial. You may only watch a flock of sheep, but that chore can teach you many important skills. David also used that time with the sheep to draw nearer to the Lord.

This psalm of David is one of joy and praise for God. He was never slow to sing the praises of his Lord. “Thou hast given him his heart’s desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips. Selah. For thou preventest him with the blessings of goodness; thou settest a crown of pure gold on his head” (Psalm 21:2-3).

The Lord gave David the desires of his heart because David desired what the Lord desired.

Do you feel as if you’re missing out on blessings? Do you feel as if everybody has received great things from the Lord while you struggle to get by? Maybe the desires of your heart aren’t in tune with God’s desire for you. Perhaps there’s a reason you are stuck in a job you see no future in, or in a marriage with no mutual respect. David made the most of what God blessed him with…a flock of unruly sheep…and David used that blessing to make himself suitable for the next blessing from God…King of Israel.

Desire what God desires, and don’t get confused by what the world offers you. One day, all Christians will stand before the Creator of the universe, and our service to the Lord will be judged. That judgment will be for rewards, not to see if we are worthy of salvation. Faith in Jesus made us worthy for salvation and not works we’ve done. The rewards for our works will be handed out at the Bema Seat judgment. We will receive crowns for what we’ve done. Those crowns will be a joy to us but a gift we can give back to Jesus because He has done all for us. I want a crown – not one to parade around with pride in my own self – but joy in Christ and what He has helped me to do for His glory.

David is an example of a man who trusted God even in the worst of circumstances. His son wanted to kill him, but David trusted the Lord. King Saul wanted to kill him, but David trusted the Lord. “He asked life of thee, and thou gavest it him even length of days for ever and ever” (Psalm 21:4).

The Lord gave David life, even when it seemed as if his life was in danger. David was a special man in the eyes of the Lord. When the Apostle Paul was speaking in the synagogue in Pisidia, he gave a history lesson to the people there. Paul spoke of King Saul and of David. “And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will. Of this man’s seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus” (Acts 13:22-23).

David wasn’t perfect, but he was deeply repentant of his sins. If you think that your sins are too great for God to forgive you, read David’s story. God didn’t condemn him because He humbled himself before the Lord and earnestly repented. That was David’s nature and love for the Lord. The desire of his heart was to please God.

God did give him life for ever and ever. Jesus Christ was born from the lineage of David. When Gabriel came to Mary to announce that she had been chosen to give birth to the Son of God, he told her, “He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end” (Luke 1:32-33).

And so, it happened. David’s throne is forever. David was a man who looked forward to the coming Messiah with all his heart, and he will live eternally. David always seems a little amazed that God gave him so many blessings. That’s the way we should all see Jesus. He loves us and has given all who believe eternal life. No matter what happens in this life, there is hope for eternal life through Jesus Christ.

David knew that his greatness wasn’t through his own great deeds but was God’s greatness in him. “His glory is great in thy salvation: honour and majesty has thou laid upon him. For thou hast made him most blessed for ever: thou has made him exceeding glad with thy countenance” (Psalm 21:5-6).

Again, David is talking of himself in the third person when talking of what God has done for him. We can all have that same joy in the Lord if we see the great things God has done for us. David was made a king, but so are we. When Jesus dictated letters for John to send to seven churches, John sent greetings from himself and Jesus. “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father, to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen” (Revelation 1:5-6).

We have been made kings and priests, so we all need to take that seriously. Shouldn’t we study Scripture and apply it in order to be the best kings and priests that we can be? We must begin our training now. Scripture is our guide. Our desires need to line up perfectly with God’s desires. When we fail, we need to truly repent.

The Apostle John saw 24 elders around God’s throne in heaven. These elders represent the redeemed. “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And has made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth“ (Revelation 5:9-10).

Kings and priests need to have their heart’s desire to be what God desires.

David trusted God, even when it was hard to trust. That’s just the way David lived his life. “For the king trusteth in the LORD, and through the mercy of the most High he shall not be moved” (Psalm 21:7).

That attitude needs to be a part of everybody who loves God. We can trust Him, even when we cannot see how He will work things for good. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

Stephen was the first Christian martyr and was stoned to death while preaching truth to the Jewish leaders, who were very offended by his words. “And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep” (Acts 7:59-60).

I’m sure that when the stones hit him and the pain was intense, Stephen couldn’t see any good that could come from him standing firm on his faith. Yet, as the stones flew, a young man named Saul was standing there holding the coats of those who threw the stones. He heard Stephen’s words and saw his faith.

Years later, Saul was on a trip to Damascus in a rage at people who had come to faith in Jesus. It was there that Saul, later called Paul, met Jesus and fully understood what Stephen had said. Stephen trusted the Lord and was not moved. Just as King David had written long ago, Stephen and later Paul were steadfast in their faith and would not be moved.

Can we stand strong in our own faith? What about when a friend mocks God in front of you or when you are tempted to sin? Do you stand strong in your faith, or do you go along with the crowd?

The more you desire what God desires, the easier it is to stand against evil-doers and mockers. God knows who loves Him and who doesn’t. We all make a choice to accept or reject the free gift of salvation through Christ. If we accept Him, then we gain salvation and eternal life. If we choose to reject Him, then our choice is an eternity in the burning lake of fire.

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

David understood the consequences of being an enemy of God. “Thou shalt make them as a fiery oven in the time of thine anger: the LORD shall swallow them up in his wrath, and the fire shall devour them. Their fruit shalt thou destroy from the earth, and their seed from among the children of men. For they intended evil against thee: they imagined a mischievous device, which they are not able to perform. Therefore shalt thou make them turn their back, when thou shalt make ready thine arrows upon thy strings against the face of them” (Psalm 21:9-12).

There is coming a day when there will be no chance of repentance. This day will be a time of great evil on the earth, and God will have no choice but to destroy the armies of Satan. Now is the time to repent and give your life to Jesus. Now is the time to desire what Jesus desires. Repentance of sinners so nobody will face the lake of fire and eternal damnation. Jesus entered His creation and shed His blood as the once-for-all sacrifice for everybody who will accept it. Then, come to know Him and desire what He desires. Be a witness to others so they can find salvation.

“Be thou exalted, LORD, in thine own strength: so will we sing and praise thy power” (Psalm 21:13).

David desired what God desired long before Christ was born. As Christians, our desire should be to bring as many to faith as we can. You do that by drawing nearer to Christ and humbling yourself before Him. Just as Stephen stood firm and was able to find strength in the face of death, so should we. Find joy in God’s desire.

God bless you all

Nathele Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com

Recommended prophecy sites: All original scripture is “theopneustos,” God-breathed.

www.raptureready.com

www.prophecyupdate.com

www.raptureforums.com

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