It’s About Time :: By Daymond Duck

On Apr. 25, 2024, by a vote of 357-20, the European Parliament passed a resolution:

  • To place the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corp (IRGC) on the list of terrorist groups.
  • To sanction Iran’s oil and banking industries.
  • To acknowledge that Iran is not keeping its nuclear agreement.
  • To acknowledge that Iran is destabilizing the Middle East.
  • To call for Hezbollah to cease its attacks on Israel and withdraw its forces to the Litani River.

These steps are important and long overdue, but years of watching the international community let Iran get away with violating sanctions and agreements has made me a skeptic.

(My opinion: Iran will likely sell its oil to Russia, China, or some other country; that country will sell the oil to a U.S. company at a higher price; U.S. citizens will pay the difference at a gas station, and nothing will be done about it; Iran will continue as usual. It’s about time they do something that makes a difference.)

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

One, concerning hostages, Muslims keeping agreements, the decline of America, etc.: on Apr. 25, 2024, the U.S. was one of 17 nations that urged Hamas to release all the hostages it took when it attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

Hamas responded, “No. You can’t force us to do anything.”

The 17 nations are: the United States, Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Spain, Thailand, and the United Kingdom.

It is about time they realize that placating Islamic terrorists does not work.

Two, concerning Israel’s coming invasion of Rafah: on Apr. 26, 2024, it was reported that Hugh Lovatt, a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, said, “My assessment is that Hamas in Gaza will survive the Rafah operation. It has been a long time coming, and the military wing will have been preparing for this… to a certain extent, they will be able to regroup in the central part of Gaza and the north.”

Giving Hamas time to prepare and survive seems to be what Biden wanted by forcing Israel to delay the attack.

Biden has allowed Hamas time to regroup: stock up on weapons, ammunition, medical supplies, food, water, etc.; booby-trap, fortify, and disguise the tunnels, and more.

His efforts to protect Hamas will make the war more difficult for Israel and get more Israeli soldiers killed.

(More: On Apr. 26, 2024, White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said it’s “not clear” that it’s even possible for Israel to have “a credible plan” for an invasion of Rafah that the White House would support.)

(More: On Apr. 28, 2024, former U.S. senator and candidate for Pres. of the U.S, Rick Santorum, said, “To him (Pres. Biden), it’s all about winning elections, and he is willing to throw Israel under the bus.” Santorum added, “President Biden is doing everything he can to pressure Israel into doing things that are not in their national security interests. He is doing everything he can to support Iran as being the power in the Middle East.”)

(My opinion: The White House will not support a plan that does not include the Two-State Solution – division of Israel – and Prime Min. Netanyahu will not agree to that. Netanyahu’s resistance is why Biden keeps trying to undermine him. Biblically speaking, the division of Israel is not in anyone’s interest; Joel 3:2.)

Three, concerning the Two-State Solution and the controversy over Jerusalem: on Apr. 29, 2024, it was reported that several EU nations will recognize a Palestinian State that includes the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem at the end of May despite Israeli opposition.

According to the European Council President, their goal is to trigger significant progress toward peace in the Middle East.

Israel has already said it will reject any unilateral recognition of a Palestinian State.

Four, on Apr. 29, 2024, U.S. Sec. of State Blinken met with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), and MBS announced that the Saudis will normalize relations with Israel in exchange for guarantees that there is a Palestinian State at some point in the future.

MBS was saying:

  • It is no longer a matter of if Saudi Arabia will normalize relations with Israel; it is a matter of when to do it (in the next few weeks, after the U.S. election, etc.).
  • Saudi Arabia will stop demanding the creation of a Palestinian State now and only ask for guarantees that there will be one in the future.

Israel is opposed to the creation of a Palestinian State due to the Palestinians’ ties to terrorists that are committed to the destruction of Israel.

According to the Bible, the Tribulation Period will begin when the Antichrist confirms a worthless 7-year treaty, and that may be shaping up.

(My opinion: Iran and her terrorist proxies and allies will try to thwart this.)

Five, concerning the violence and hatred toward Jews on college campuses: mobs of hate-filled students (and some college professors) are threatening to harm or kill Jews, disrupting classes, forcing Jews to leave the campus, forcing Jews to take classes online, calling for the destruction of Israel, calling for the destruction of America, calling for a repeat of Oct. 7 (rape of women, beheading babies, seizing hostages), etc.

On Apr. 24, 2024, Mike Johnson (U.S. Speaker of the House) called the demonstrations at Columbia University “disgusting and unacceptable,” and he called for the Pres. of Columbia University to resign.

On Apr. 24, 2024, Israeli Prime Min. Netanyahu said, “What’s happening on America’s college campuses is horrific. Anti-Semitic mobs have taken over leading universities. They call for the annihilation of Israel. They attack Jewish students. They attack Jewish faculty – it is reminiscent of what happened in German universities in the 1930s.”

(More: On Apr. 26, 2024, it was reported that Columbia University expelled a student when a video of him was unearthed that has him saying, “Zionists don’t deserve to live.”)

(My opinion: It’s about time they acted. It seems to me that calling for the death of Jews and people who support Israel is hate speech.)

(My opinion: Satan wants to destroy Israel to make the Scriptures wrong and to prevent the Second Coming. It is impossible for him to succeed at this.)

(My opinion: Even though I am aware that some officials have good reason to believe that foreigners (and some U.S. haters such as the George Soros clan) are paying these protestors to harm America (and America’s relationship with Israel), something else is going through my mind: At the end of the age, God will cause multitudes of Jews to leave the nations they are in and to return to the Promised Land. The demonstrators are unwittingly fulfilling Bible prophecy that is a prelude to the Rapture and Tribulation Period.)

Six, because of complaints that Israel was hindering the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza, the U.S. decided to build a pier in Gaza so ships can deliver aid.

U.S. troops working on the pier came under attack, and Israel agreed to protect them.

On Apr. 24, 2024, while UN officials were touring the pier to observe its construction, terrorists in Gaza started firing rockets at them, and the Israeli army rescued them.

(My opinion: The fact that Israel has to protect U.S. troops and UN officials while the U.S. and UN are trying to get humanitarian aid to the Palestinians is incredible. It reveals that a big part of the aid problem is Hamas, not Israel.)

Seven, concerning world government: on Apr. 28, 2023, it was reported that “Muslims across Europe are chanting Allahu Akbar and discussing ways to form a global Sharia law (Islamic world government) by force.”

Sadly, the Muslim groups that are behind this movement to take over the world are not banned.

Eight, concerning pestilence killing multitudes at the end of the age: on Apr. 23, 2024, it was reported that open border policies (like what is happening in the U.S.) are spreading pestilence around the world.

In many cases, government officials are spreading the diseases by transporting infected illegals to various cities in their nation and refusing to track them.

Diseases that were once thought to be extinct (or almost extinct) are on the rise, and apparently, many officials are unconcerned.

Nine, concerning the Battle of Gog and Magog: on Apr. 26, 2024, Russia’s Defense Minister notified Iran’s Defense Minister that Russia is ready to expand its military and technical cooperation with Iran.

Ten, concerning the coming cashless society: a recent report by the World Economic Forum says, “Over 98 percent of the global economy’s central banks are researching, piloting or deploying central bank digital currency (CBDC).”

This is a necessary step toward tracking all buying and selling at the middle of the Tribulation Period.

(Note: As I understand it, the central banks must start using CBDCs before they can force ordinary citizens to use them.)

Eleven, concerning the coming economic collapse: on Apr. 28, 2024, it was reported that Ford sold 10,000 electric vehicles during the first 3 months of 2024, and it lost the equivalent of $132,000 for each vehicle sold.

The Biden administration seems determined to force consumers to shift from gas-powered vehicles to electric vehicles.

Twelve, concerning world government: society is now about one month away from the WHO meeting (May 27-June 1, 2024) when nations will cast their vote on the International Pandemic Treaty and amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHRs).

Concerning the WHO Pandemic Agreement, the Family Research Council (FRC) has concluded that:

  • The WHO Pandemic Agreement puts in place the beginnings of “a turnkey totalitarian state.”
  • FRC’s official comment filed with the U.S. government warns the WHO Pandemic Agreement, as written, “could authorize funding and support for abortion.” The agreement obligates nations to ensure the provision of “essential health care services during pandemics,” and critics say abortion can be held up as an essential service.

Concerning the WHO Pandemic Treaty and the International Health Regulations: on Apr. 25, 2024, presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy said:

  • In desperation, watered-down versions of the proposed international health regulations and pandemic treaty were floated over the past few days. Don’t be fooled! The WHO still wants experimental vaccines rolled out, still wants liability shields, still wants to impose censorship, and still plans to use ‘One Health’ to control humans, plants, animals, and ecosystems, all in the name of health.

According to the Bible (Rev. 13:2-7), the world will be ruled by a satanic world government during the Tribulation Period, and the world is on the brink of a vote that will permit unelected godless people to establish one.

Thirteen, concerning the tracking of all buying and selling during the Tribulation Period: a committee in the U.S. House of Representatives is investigating several U.S. government agencies (FBI, etc.) and at least 13 financial institutions (Bank of America, Chase, Citi Bank, Wells Fargo, etc.) for tracking what people bought following the J6 demonstrations at Dick’s Sporting Goods, Cabela’s, Bass Pro Shops, etc., without warrants.

Without getting the required court permission, federal agencies apparently tracked the purchases of private citizens to see if they bought guns, knives, etc.

Part of the problem appears to be that federal agencies haven’t limited their tracking of purchases to J6 citizens; they have also tracked millions of other citizens who hold conservative views (called white supremacists, white nationalists, etc.).

Simply put, it looks like big government has started spying on average American citizens who are politically conservative (especially those who might oppose the globalist agenda or support Make America Great Again).

Fourteen, concerning the destruction of Damascus in one night: on Apr. 29, 2024, it was reported that a Western diplomat said, “The Israelis clearly warned Assad (Syria’s Pres.) that if Syria was used against them (in Israel’s war with Hamas), they (Israel) would destroy his regime.”

Hezbollah and Iran have attacked Israel from Syrian territory (and there are some Hamas terrorists in Syria), but Pres. Assad appears to have kept Syria’s troops out of the Israel-Hamas war.

Fifteen, concerning pestilences at the end of the age: on Apr. 28, 2024, the Arizona Republican Party passed a resolution that says mRNA jabs are biological and technological weapons.

The “Ban the Jab” resolution calls upon the governor and attorney general to analyze the vaccines and prevent their distribution.

Some authorities believe people have committed murder by forcing others to take mRNA jabs.

Sixteen, concerning corruption in Washington: on Apr. 29, 2024, it was reported that a South Carolina state representative said, “The federal government is including voter registration forms in packets at the Social Security Office in Spartanburg, South Carolina,” and the packages are being sent to non-citizen refugees.

Seventeen, concerning world government: there are reports that the UN may restructure itself (called UN 2.0) at the Summit for the Future on Sept. 22-23, 2024, to speed up the development of world government.

I cannot predict what they will do, but power must be given to Ten Kings before the Antichrist appears, and everything seems to indicate that he is waiting in the wings.

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

Thursday, Apr. 25, 2024 (Day 202): The one hundred-forty-seventh day of the resumed war.

  • An anti-ship ballistic missile fired by the Iranian-backed Houthis at a U.S. ship in the Gulf of Aden was shot down.
  • Several missiles (about 7) were fired from Lebanon into Israel. Israel struck back.

Friday, Apr. 26, 2024 (Day 203): The one hundred-forty-eighth day of the resumed war.

  • Egypt sent negotiators to Israel to push for a ceasefire that would hold off an Israeli invasion of Rafah.
  • Israel told Egypt this is a last chance for a ceasefire. Hamas must quit stalling and accept a ceasefire soon, or Israel will attack Rafah.
  • Houthi terrorists attacked 2 vessels in the Red Sea (one damaged).

Saturday, Apr. 27, 2024 (Day 204): The one hundred-forty-ninth day of the resumed war.

  • A Hezbollah official said Jews will not be allowed to return to their homes in northern Israel anytime soon, and the increased fighting between Hezbollah and Israel may mean they will never be allowed to return.

Sunday, Apr. 28, 2024 (Day 205): The one-hundred-fiftieth day of the resumed war.

  • Saudi Arabia does not say so publicly, but in private, they prefer to see the Iranian-backed Hamas terrorists defeated.
  • Israel said it is expecting Hamas Gaza Chief Sinwar to respond to the latest ceasefire proposal within 48 hours. Hamas said a delegation will deliver its response in Egypt on Monday.
  • Fox News asked the White House if college protesters will be barred from student loan forgiveness programs, and the White House did not comment.
  • In a phone call between Biden and Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Min. asked Biden to prevent the International Criminal Court (ICC) from issuing arrest warrants for Netanyahu and several other Israeli officials. The U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee is threatening to demand sanctions against ICC officials if they issue arrest warrants.

Monday, Apr. 29, 2024 (Day 206): The one hundred-fifty-first day of the resumed war.

  • The Lebanon branch of Hamas launched about 3 dozen rockets into Israel.
  • Israel killed an Iranian Revolutionary Guards Commander (IRGC) in Iran that attacked several synagogues in Germany 2 years ago.

Tuesday, Apr. 30, 2024 (Day 207): The one hundred-fifty-second day of the resumed war.

  • The right-wing parties in Netanyahu’s government are threatening to leave if he puts off the invasion of Rafah again. This could possibly (but not necessarily) bring down Netanyahu’s government. There will be an urgent meeting today to discuss the matter.
  • Netanyahu said Israel will attack Rafah with or without a ceasefire deal.
  • Qatar reneged on an agreement with the U.S. to expel Hamas leaders and freeze Hamas bank accounts in Qatar if Hamas did not agree to a release of hostages. (My opinion: Agreements with terrorists who are determined to kill people are worthless.)

Wednesday, May 1, 2024 (Day 208): The one hundred-fifty-third day of the resumed war.

  • Netanyahu told U.S. Sec. of State Blinken he will not accept the end of the war in Gaza as part of a hostage deal.
  • Israel is expecting a response from Hamas on Israel’s latest ceasefire offer later tonight.

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

 

What Should We Add to Faith? :: By Nathele Graham

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10).

Any Christian who has studied faith should understand that we can add nothing to what Christ did for us on the cross. He paid the full price for our salvation. After being beaten unmercifully, Jesus had hung on the cross for hours, shedding His blood for our salvation, and it was time for Him to give up the ghost; the battle for our souls was over, and He won the victory.

“When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost” (John 19:30).

Many denominations would have us believe that what Jesus did isn’t sufficient and that our salvation depends upon something we do, such as baptism or dressing a certain way.

Baptism is important, and every Christian should be baptized, but it’s something we do as evidence that we believe in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ for our salvation. We don’t do it to obtain salvation – because Jesus did it all for us.

John the Baptist baptized people and even baptized Jesus, but remember, that was before the cross. Jewish requirements had people take a ritual bath called a mikvah for spiritual purification prior to starting an important event in life, such as getting married or in preparation for the sabbath or a holy day. Jesus was baptized prior to beginning His ministry, but it definitely wasn’t for salvation or purification! He was Jewish and didn’t come to destroy the Law but to fulfill it.

“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil” (Matthew 5:17). 

Jesus is the example to follow. Begin a new life in Christ by repenting of your sin, and be baptized to symbolize your new life in Christ.

As for dressing a certain way, the fact is Christians should dress modestly.

“What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). 

This applies to both men and women. We usually think that a woman shouldn’t dress flashy or provocatively, but there’s an ugly trend today for men to wear baggy pants that slip well below their waist, exposing their buttocks. That should not be a part of a Christian man’s wardrobe. Modesty is encouraged throughout Scripture and should be taken to heart.

“In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; but (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works” (1 Timothy 2:9-10). 

I knew a very sweet Christian lady who always dressed very nicely. Her manner of dress was very modest without being plain or frumpy. I once commented to her about always looking very nice. She told me she tried to dress with “understated elegance,” and I thought that was an example to follow.

Peter also spoke of appearance. “Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing gold, or putting on of apparel; but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price” (1 Peter 3:3-4). 

Inward beauty is not flashy, but it is true beauty. These things don’t bring salvation, but our salvation should bring about changes in how we present ourselves.

We cannot add anything to what Christ did on the cross, but once we see that we are sinners with no hope for salvation except through Jesus Christ, we need to repent and turn away from our sin and worldly ways. It’s unreasonable to say that you have accepted Christ for salvation while you continue to embrace the sin from which you claim to have repented.

James talks of how a chain reaction from thought to action happens. “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren” (James 1:14-16).

We need to stop associating with old friends who will tempt us back into old habits of sinful lust. Make friends with fellow Christians and help each other to stay strong in faithful living.

Salvation is completely through Christ, and nothing we do can make us any more saved than we are when we first turn to Him. It’s His grace alone that saves us.

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Can you think of anything you could possibly do to save yourself? You are not greater than God, so we all need to place our faith in Him and His finished work on the cross. That being said, we can earn rewards by our behavior. The desire of our hearts should be changed, and instead of doing things for our own glory, we need to do all things for the glory of Christ. Our faith should inspire us to do good works.

“But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” (James 2:20).

We need to live our faith.

Jesus had done some miracles, and people had been fed with bread and fish. They wanted more from Jesus and knew He was going to the other side of the sea. They jumped in their boats to meet Him there. “Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves and were filled” (John 6:26). 

We may try to fool Jesus into thinking our faith is real. Do we seek Him because we are grateful for what He did for us and want to follow Him? Or do we just want “fire insurance” and have no desire to honor Him with our life? He knows false faith from true faith. He also knows false works from works done for His glory.

Jesus told the group that met Him across the sea, “Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed” (John 6:27). 

Grace is free, and we don’t have to earn our salvation, but out of gratitude, we need to labor for the Lord.

The people asked what works to do. “Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent” (John 6:28-29). 

We only need to have faith. God has made our salvation very easy, but humans try to complicate it. Church doctrines usually have long lists of do this and don’t do that, but God says only have faith. That faith should urge you to labor for God. You may think that you cannot do anything worthy of Him, but you can walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh. You can witness to a neighbor, or you can pray for people.

In writing to the Galatians, the Apostle Paul told them how to avoid sin. “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16). 

Walking in the Spirit is using Scripture as the guide for your life. You may be saved by grace, but the evidence of that faith is honoring God with your life.

The Apostle Peter was a man who had a struggle learning to walk the walk. He followed Christ for three years but didn’t really have true faith until after the resurrection. Jesus made a point of letting Peter know that he was chosen for a very special purpose in spite of his failures. Peter was to be a pastor and care for and teach the people who would come to faith. Peter learned most of his lessons the hard way, but he did serve Jesus faithfully. He wrote letters of encouragement to fellow believers, and we all need to read them and take them to heart.

“According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (2 Peter 1:3-4). 

Peter recognized the faith of his readers and encouraged them in their walk. “And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience, and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:5-8). 

Peter didn’t mean that works will save a person, but they grow through our faith. James talked of dead faith, and Peter concurred with him. “But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather brethren, give diligence to make you calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:9-11).

Peter knew that he was soon to be martyred for his faith but left encouragement to his flock and to us. His faith was true faith, and his works honored and glorified Jesus.

We all slip in our walk with Christ, but He is always willing to forgive us when we repent. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

Confess your sins to Jesus, not to a priest. A priest cannot forgive your sins. Walk closer with the Lord and always keep Him on your mind. In that way, you won’t fall into temptation but will be guided by the Holy Spirit.

Faith is the foundation on which to build your life. Jesus gave His life for you. Live for Him and honor Him.

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