May 16, 2016

nmAnti-Semitism in England

The Labour Party in England has been rocked by a series of anti-Semitic scandals. No fewer than fifty members have been suspended for making inappropriate remarks. Many top leaders have been canned for making outrageous claims.

The former mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, said that Hitler was a Zionist (and therefore Zionists are Nazis.)

Naz Shah, the Labour MP for Bradford West has endorsed a social media suggestion that all Israeli Jews move to America.

Jackie Walker, a vice chair in the Momentum movement, wrote about the “African holocaust” and Jews as “chief financiers of the sugar and slave trade.”

David Watson, the fundraising co-ordinator for the Walthamstow Labour Party, has been suspended pending an investigation. Watson shared articles on Facebook alleging that ISIS has used weapons produced in Israel, and accused the Jewish state of genocide against the Palestinians.

Of course Hitler was no Zionist, but he would feel right at home in the Labour Party. It’s leader, Jeremy Corbyn, was elected party leader last September. He took a trip to the Middle East in 2009. He described Hamas and Hezbollah which have been designated as terrorist organizations by Britain and the United States—as “friends.”

When Corbyn was asked about the problem of anti-Semitism within his party, he replied with a tight smile that “all forms of racism” are wrong. Mr. Corbyn, let me enlighten you; your tepid response is simply not good enough. Too many people have been affected by the tragic loss of six-million lives due to history’s greatest hate crime.

The Labour Party lost several seats in recent local elections, but it did have one stunning victory. Candidate Sadiq Khan was elected as the first Muslim mayor of London. In fact, this is the first time a Muslim has been the mayor of any major city in all of Europe. A key factor in Khan’s victory was the record low turnout at the polls; only 12 percent of the population bothered to vote.

The anti-Semitism in the Labour Party is the result of a growing belief that Israel is a criminal state. Never mind the fact that 99 percent of all acts of mass murder are carried out by followers of Islam—the real troublemakers in the world.

Muslim acts of terror are like falling stars—they occur without warning and are quickly forgotten. A few days ago, a Muslim stabbed three people on a train in Germany. The assailant screaming “Allahu Akbar” as he carried out his unprovoked attacks. By the time I post this article on RR, this incident will have already vanished from the news feeds.

The recent attacks in Paris and Brussels should have made it impossible for Sadiq Khan to become the mayor of London. This was not some massive oversight on the part of the electorate. People are losing the will to resist the evil that drives the Islamic faith.

Events have become so predictable, it is only a brief matter a time before the new Muslim mayor of London starts attacking Israel. The capital of Great Britian has a GDP of $700 billion and I doubt six months will pass before Mr. Khan uses his office to apply economic pressure against the Jewish state.

Some people are complaining about being accused of racism for simply criticizing Israel or the Jews. What they don’t realize is that they are pawns in Satan’s long term goal of seeking to destroy God’s chosen people.

For decades the horrors of the Holocaust have prevented people from crossing the line into anti-Semitism. Nevertheless, it is evident that the devil is working toward making his final attempt to conquer Israel:

“Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it” (Zechariah 12:2-3).

A beneficial outcome of the persecution of the Jews is the prophesied future lifting of the veil from their hearts. At their darkest moment, the children of Israel will turn to the Lord Jesus and receive Him as the true Messiah. This is why God has made this solemn promise:

“But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the Lord thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice” (Deuteronomy 4:29-30).

–Todd


nmAmerica’s Most Dangerous Time

I once wrote the following in an article titled “Israel Betrayed by U.S.?”:

Israel today stands in the bull’s eye of rage. This is true in the case of being targeted by the Jewish state’s perennial antagonists, the Arab and Persian Islamist enemies. It is true in the case of the entire international community, whose constituent nations see Israel as the congestive blockage to regional and world peace. But it is the growing antagonism by United States presidential administration operatives that is most disconcerting while this beleaguered planet wobbles toward a time of unprecedented trouble.

As a matter of fact, that coming time of unparalleled strife that will bring all nations to Armageddon is termed “the time of Jacob’s trouble” by Isaiah the prophet: “Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jeremiah 30:7a).

And, it is Jacob’s trouble–the prophesied end-of-days dastardly treatment of Israel by the nations of earth–that will cause the God of heaven to bring them to Armageddon. This is what the prophet Joel foretells: “I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land” (Joel 3:2)…

Will America Betray Israel?

We come to the question “Israel Betrayed by U.S.?” The article’s title is in the form of a question because like so much of this American administration’s dealings, the “transparency” presidential candidate Barack Obama and then President Obama promised is not forthcoming. Obama’s intended dealing with Israel is wrapped in an impenetrable fog of political doublespeak…

Since the time of that writing, a number of years have passed. Mr. Obama began his administration almost from the very first day by treating Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu like a White House exterminator–having him come in a door other than the front entrance reserved for dignitaries who are honored with official reception by the president.

The president, shortly after that first meeting with Netanyahu, abruptly left the prime minister and went to have a private dinner, presumably with his family. It was an undeniable snub.

This was apparently meant to be within keeping with his promise to have “the most transparent administration ever.” It was certainly transparent that this president has an utter disregard for Mr. Netanyahu and for Israel, our number-one ally in the Middle East, if not our top ally in the entire world.

Subsequent snubs and disrespectful attempts to bully the Israeli leader and the Jewish state are too numerous to get into. Obama’s attempts to intervene within the sovereign affairs of Israel have not abated as of this late hour in the Obama administration. In fact, they have increased dramatically. While there is less than nine months of his time as president remaining, Mr. Obama is said to be planning many interventions into Israeli autonomy.

In yet another audacious display of intrusion into the affairs of Israel’s dealings with its internal enemies–many of whom plot and carry out deadly attacks against Jewish citizens–American’s diplomatic enforcers are at work. Ordered to do so by Barack Obama, America’s State Department minions join with those determined to force Israel to bow to international demands in the matter of housing construction in volatile areas of contention.

One news item reports: WASHINGTON (AP) — Diplomats say the U.S. will endorse a tough new tone with Israel in an upcoming international report. The report is to take the Jewish state to task over settlements, demolitions and property seizures on land the Palestinians claim for a future state…

The harsh language marks a subtle shift. Washington has traditionally tempered statements by the so-called “Quartet” of mediators with careful diplomatic language…(Source: Matthew Lee and Bradley Klapper, “US to Take Tougher Tone on Israeli Settlements in New Report,” Associated Press, 5/7/16).

Early on in the first Obama administration, the pressure to force Israel to give in to diplomatic pressures of land for peace became a driving force in U.S./Israeli relations. The effort has only ramped up since that time. It is as if this president has an obsessive compulsion to impose his will before his time is ended in the White House.

My personal sense is that it is indeed the president’s compulsion that is in play. Because it is the nation Israel we are considering, however, there are also far more powerful intrigues involved. Ephesians 6:12 is at the center of this last minute drive to make the rearrangements that Israel’s greatest hater wants accomplished, it seems to me.

But, my personal sense of prophetic importance of what all of this vitriol pointed toward Israel means is of little consequence. What matters is what the prophetic Word of God says about His chosen nation and its destiny, both near-term and in the ultimate sense.

In that regard, the things we will see develop in these days and months leading up to the November election and beyond can be of profound significance. And in the America and the world vs Israel struggle, we can find little reassurance that anything good can come forth.

America has entered a most dangerous time.

–Terry

May 9, 2016

nmObama’s Twisted Concept of Press Freedom

The relationship between President Obama and the Washington media can best be described in one word: incestuous. I could list a dozen cases where a member of the media is directly related to or married to a top level member of the Executive branch. This profound state of coziness has produced a press that overlooks, omits, obfuscates, and outright lies to protect and advance the political agenda of Obama.

The recent White House Correspondents’ Dinner was full of examples of how the press idolizes him. Years ago, the gathering operated like the old Dean Martin Roasts with the host and various speakers making light-hearted jabs at the president.

Comedy Central’s Larry Wilmore failed miserably in following the traditional format of the dinner. He bombed because he purposely avoided any serious pokes at the president; instead he said he voted for him because he was black. “As long as he keeps being black, I’m good.”

Wilmore spent most of his time targeting his fellow members of the media. He took particularly harsh jabs at CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, “How is he still on television?”

“Hey Wolf, I’m willing to predict a winner. Anyone who isn’t watching The Situation Room.”

Wilmore described anchor Don Lemon as an “alleged journalist.”

His predictable jab at Fox News was that it had racist viewers: “They have no idea what shade means.”

It is very gutsy for Wilmore to make fun of wolf Blitzer’s audience appeal, when his own show has been a ratings disaster. This fixation for having black guests on is show doesn’t give him room to judge Fox.

After Wilmore finished making a fool of himself, Obama got up and delivered several one-liners. The next day, the press cheered him as the “Comedian-in-Chief” for being so funny. Since all his gags were written by the who’s who of Hollywood joke writers; Obama’s ability to read off a teleprompter was the only required skill to be Mr. Funnyman.

The most interesting thing about the dinner was when Obama turned sentimental. He told the reporters they have a “responsibility to dig, and to question,” and “It has been an honor and a privilege to work side-by-side with you to strengthen our democracy.”

Obama continued to say:

It’s not enough just to give people a megaphone, and that’s why your power and your responsibility to dig, and to question, and to counter distortions and untruths is more important than ever. Taking a stand on behalf of what is true does not require you shedding your objectivity. In fact, it is the essence of good journalism.

This statement was shocking because it could not be any further from the truth. During his first days in the White House, Obama promised to usher in a new era of “transparency.” But now, some seven years later, relations between the White House and the media have never been so closed off.

His administration holds the record for censoring government files, and even outright denial of access to them under the U.S. Freedom of Information Act. Obama rarely holds a press conference. The only connection most White House correspondents have with him is the briefing they get from his press secretary mouthpiece.

The Obama Administration has all but declared a war on journalism when it comes to reporting that involves confidential sources. New York Timesreporter, James Risen, faced the possibility of jail time when he refused to testify against a source accused of leaking classified information to him.

One would think that Obama’s name would come up during last week’s World Press Freedom Day. The liberal media thought long and hard and the only threat to press freedom in this nation they could find was from Donald Trump. According to the biased watchdog group Freedom House, “The leading Republican candidate, Donald Trump, made criticism of individual journalists and outlets a major focus of his appeal and used outrageous social-media comments to attract and divert traditional media coverage.”

The reason why the press allows Obama to walk all over them is because they share a demonic kindred spirit. If it were not for this sinister connection, the liberal media would boycott every White House Correspondents’ Dinner until Obama agreed to honor press freedom.

When contemplating this illogical situation, I was reminded of the ten nations—the leaders (ten kings) who will turn over their power to the Antichrist:

“These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast” (Rev. 17:13).

“For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled” (Rev. 17:17).

–Todd


nmOn Binding Satan…

Upon clicking through the religious channels at any given hour of the day–and there are many on my AT&T Uverse set up–there are certain catchphrases I hear consistently.

The most prominent, I’ve found, is the term “plant a seed.” Another is “seed faith brings harvest.” The phraseology is issued forth by the prosperity propagandists, as I term them. These invariably twist and convolute scriptural truth in pursuit of their gullible followers’ contributions.

While there is usually a “seed” of factuality in their pontification that claims planting financial seeds will bring increase, the whoppers I’ve heard some of these “preachers” tell are far beyond anything promised in God’s Word.

For example, I heard not long ago one man with whom most would be familiar because of his constant presence on the fund-raisers say that he once sowed $100,000 into a ministry. This greatly pained him at the time because of his amazement that the Lord would “tell” him to do such a thing. He complied, despite his pain, and the result was a return of $100 million within a month or so. That’s right. The man said he received $100 million for his $100,000 seed.

That was the only reference I’ve heard to this phenomenal “harvest,” so I presume this sort of return isn’t all that unusual in the prosperity circles…or else such claims are just part of the pitch. Looks like, though, that this amazing sort of miracle return on investment should have made the financial news or something.

Another phrase the prosperity preachers are prone to issue on a rather regular basis is that, in the name of Jesus, they “bind Satan.”

Now, this is even more amazing than the $100,000 being turned into $100 million within a month. This implies not a promise based upon biblical return for faith in planting a financial seed, but claims for any human being who is a Christian direct, supernatural power to completely paralyze almost certainly the most powerful being God ever created.

There have been books sold by the hundreds of thousands telling of how this “binding” can be done. Most all of the prosperity ministries hold this teaching close to their statements of faith. This is often a declaration I’ve heard made as a reward for one ministry or the other receiving a large “seed faith” contribution. The on-air person will declare that he or she binds Satan in Jesus’ name for the benefit of the contributor.

Only–I can find no place in Scripture where Christians can “bind Satan.” The old serpent certainly doesn’t seem to be bound these days–does he?

The Bible tells us: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5: 8).

There is no chain on our adversary, according to God’s Word. There is restraint, to be sure, upon the old devil’s activity, but that comes from one source and one source only. The Bible reports the following incident, which gives clue to this restraint on our great enemy.

“Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee” (Jude 1: 9).

There will come a time when a chain will be used to bind Satan. We learn of this future binding in the following account which is prophecy yet future:

“And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season” (Revelation 20:1-3).

So, that we can “bind Satan” is a false teaching. But, we are confronted constantly by the serpent and his minions. Here is the Scripture that tells about this constant confrontation. How then, can we deal with this powerful enemy in the biblically-prescribed way? God’s Word has the answer, of course.

First, we are told how to deal directly with that roaring lion–the devil.

“Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world” (1 Peter 5: 9).

We are to do certain things to prepare for this “resistance” against that old serpent, the devil. Here are our instructions:

“Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:11-17).

We as God’s children cannot and must not claim to “bind Satan.” This is the most powerful instruction for the battle in which we find ourselves the nearer we get to Christ’s call to His Church. “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you (James 4: 7).

–Terry