Hanukkah is the Jewish holy days that mark the defeat of the Grecian leader Antiochus Epiphanes who tried to destroy Jewish worship at the Temple in Jerusalem and was defeated by the Maccabees who rose to the occasion and defended the Jews from a terrible tyrant.
On December 25, 168 B.C. Antiochus entered the Temple and desecrated this Jewish holy place by slaughtering a pig on the altar which was eventually reclaimed by the Jewish people three years to the day later with the lighting of the Menorah. Jimmy's Prophetic Prospective on the News The celebration of Hanukkah, celebrated by the Jewish people, marks a victory of a Grecian king who controlled what is Syria today, but this Jewish holy day has a connection to Christmas as well. The eight day Jewish holy days of Hanukkah mark the victory over the Grecian King Antiochus Epiphanes who ruled what is today Syria. The eight days result from the lighting of the Menorah with enough virgin olive oil for the Menorah to burn one day, but instead it burned for eight days. That happened in 165 B.C. when the Maccabees reconsecrated the Jewish Temple after the madman Antiochus had committed an abomination of the Temple which happened exactly three years to the day before on December 25, 168 B.C. By the way the date, December 25th, was chosen by the early Church fathers to celebrate Christmas because Jesus Christ celebrated Hanukkah, John 10:22. When Antiochus slaughtered that pig on the Jewish Temple altar, the Bible called it the abomination that maketh desolate, a prototype of the abomination of desolation that the Antichrist performs at the mid-way point of the Tribulation Period, Daniel 9:27, Matthew 24:15, and II Thessalonians 2:4. Since this Satanic event will take place in a Jewish Temple in Jerusalem, that reveals to us that there will be a Temple in Jerusalem for this prophecy to be fulfilled and the next Jewish Temple is ready to be rebuilt right now. In addition, there must be one that fulfills the prophecy for the Antichrist. That world dictator is alive and well on planet earth today and ready to assume his Satanically energized power and seed of authority, Revelation 13:1-3. Jews celebrating Hanukkah today is a reminder that in a near future day Bible prophecy will indeed be fulfilled. |
Wednesday, December 17, 2014
As the Jewish people celebrate Hanukkah there is an interesting connection to Christmas as well as the Syrian crisis in the Middle East
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
The Middle East nation of Iran has stepped up its crackdown on Christians
Tuesday, November 25, 2014
Pope Francis has used his leadership role to change the Roman Catholic church
In his leadership role as Pope of the billion plus Catholic worshipers, Pope Francis now leads this 2,000-year-old church into the future differently than any previous Pope due to the fact that he is a Jesuit. The world continues to watch Pope Francis implement his style of leadership with a mission to expand the outreach of Catholicism and to enlarge the total number of the Catholic worshipers to the worldwide church.
Since the Jesuits are the militant arm of the Catholic church with a desire to see the world convert, only time will tell how successful Pope Francis will be with his mission as leader of the church.
Jimmy's Prophetic Prospective on the News
The leadership of Pope Francis will set the stage for Bible prophecy to be fulfilled.
Pope Francis, the first Jesuit to ever lead the Catholic church as Pope, brings to his leadership role a desire to convert all the world to Catholicism. The Jesuits, founded in 1540 AD were brought together as a counter reformation movement. They want to turn back the reformation of Luther and Knox and bring all non-Catholics back into the fold. They have an eschatology that believes that all the world will one day be of the Catholic church and then Jesus Christ will come back to rule this worldwide kingdom that they have set up.
True biblical eschatology, which is a study of the end times, states that the false church that will be headquartered in Rome, Italy the seven mountain city will indeed come to power in the first half of the coming Tribulation Period, Revelation 17. This ecclesiastical Babylon will be led by the Antichrist who is referred to as the Beast some eight times in Revelation 17. Revelation 17:16 reveals that the world leaders, the revived Roman Empire, will rise up and destroy the false church and give their power worldwide dominion to the Antichrist, Revelation 17:17 which indicates that the Lord Himself will put into the hearts and minds of these world leaders to accomplish His will. This will then open the opportunity for the Antichrist to rule a worldwide economic Babylon yet in the future.
Sunday, November 9, 2014
'The Hal Lindsey Report' Muslim-terrorists-on-steroids
Over the last few months, the world has been stunned by the sheer barbarism and brutality of the Islamic terror group known variously as ISIL, ISIS, or Islamic State.
Mass murder, torture, crucifixion, beheading, rape, plunder, enslavement, and wanton destruction are business as usual for these Muslim-terrorists-on-steroids.
As a result of their full-bore, take-no-prisoners (and if you do, kill them), give-no-quarter battle fervor, ISIS intimidates most who would oppose them. This includes the Iraqi Army. That's where ISIS has gotten so many of its arms and so much of its equipment. The Iraqis abandoned them on the battlefield and ran.
It seems that the Kurdish fighters, the Peshmerga, are the only ones who aren't cowed by ISIS.
As I've previously reported, even al-Qaeda has distanced itself from ISIS because of its unbelievable brutality. Until now.
Even though al-Qaeda had publicly disowned ISIS, the differences were about internal politics, not core values. For weeks now, those political differences have been melting away.
Various al-Qaeda franchises have announced their loyalty to ISIS. Even several leaders in the Pakistani Taliban have deserted Mullah Omar and switched their allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of ISIS and self-proclaimed "Caliph of all Muslims and the Prince of Believers."
Some of al-Baghdadi's followers think he is the Mahdi or Muslim Messiah.
The Fiscal Times recently noted: "The merger of ISIS and al-Qaeda could cripple the civilized world." I personally don't expect a long-term reconciliation between radical Muslim factions, but I am concerned that the extreme hatred of Christians and Jews and of the United States and Israel that they hold in common may cause them to accept a temporary truce. That will be dangerous for the whole world.
Last week, I called radical Islam a "contagion." Currently, the most virulent form of that contagion is ISIS. However, it's not the only deadly form.
Recently, the Czech Military Intelligence Service reported that al-Qaeda, like ISIS, is now successfully using social networking as a recruiting tool throughout the European Union. Citing venues like Facebook and Twitter, the report stated: "Radical ideas have been spreading uncontrollably."
In other words, radical jihad is contagious and it's spreading. And we may now be seeing the rise of its most insidious incarnation -- the "lone wolf."
I'm sure you've heard by now about the recent article in the online edition of The Atlantic. Written by Jeffrey Goldberg, one of America's top reporters on Middle Eastern affairs, the story features remarks by a "senior Obama administration official" about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The official (who didn't have the courage to allow his name to be revealed) used a crude schoolyard pejorative that evoked a barnyard image. What's more, other "unnamed" officials agreed with him.
Not only did they criticize Prime Minister Netanyahu for his steadfast defense of Israel's sovereignty, but they blatantly called him a coward. They resent the fact that he will not cave to the American administration's demands to cede enough territory to the Palestinians to make Israel indefensible.
It's obvious to those who observe the way Washington works that these officials made the demeaning and derogatory remarks about Mr. Netanyahu with President Obama's tacit approval, if not his outright urging. Mr. Goldberg, who has an insider's relationship with the White House and the President, noted that Mr. Obama had often alluded to Netanyahu's "lack of political courage."
Apparently President Obama and his operatives have trouble discerning between political courage (which Mr. Netanyahu has in abundance) and political arrogance (which they have in abundance).
All of that aside, though, the thing about the article that caused me the most concern was the headline: "The Crisis in U.S.-Israel Relations is Officially Here." Since 1948, when President Harry S. Truman recognized the re-established nation of Israel just 11 minutes after its declaration, America and Israel have had a sort of "big brother, little brother" relationship.
Not only do we have mutual, democratic interests, but Israel is our first line of defense against Islamic terrorism. More importantly, though, because we are a nation founded on Christian principles -- no matter what anyone says to the contrary -- we are spiritually descended from the Jews. Because of these historical facts, their roots are our roots. That's why Muslim radicals across the world -- both terrorists and terrorist states like Iran -- call America "The Great Satan" and Israel "The Little Satan."
Like it or not, the Muslims recognize America and Israel as being bound together. From a strictly secular and militaristic point of view, if one of us goes down, the other will go down, too. Of course, from a Biblical perspective, we know that's not going to happen because we know what the Bible promises for the days ahead.
Remember, more important than any of the political or strategic determinations an American administration may make is this fact: God made an irrevocable covenant with the Jews to return them to the land of Israel in the years just prior to the return of Jesus Christ for His church. And He went further. God promised to bless all of those who will bless and protect His chosen people -- the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Conversely, God promised to curse those who curse, harm, or abandon them.
That's why I'm concerned when a top-flight national reporter with close ties to the Obama administration writes, "The crisis in U.S.-Israel relations is officially here."
I don't fear what may happen to the United States even if we are attacked by ISIS, al-Qaeda, and all the Muslim terrorists of the world as much as I fear what may happen to the United States if we abandon Israel to the wolves of this world.
God does not lie and He's not given to idle threats.
Mass murder, torture, crucifixion, beheading, rape, plunder, enslavement, and wanton destruction are business as usual for these Muslim-terrorists-on-steroids.
As a result of their full-bore, take-no-prisoners (and if you do, kill them), give-no-quarter battle fervor, ISIS intimidates most who would oppose them. This includes the Iraqi Army. That's where ISIS has gotten so many of its arms and so much of its equipment. The Iraqis abandoned them on the battlefield and ran.
It seems that the Kurdish fighters, the Peshmerga, are the only ones who aren't cowed by ISIS.
As I've previously reported, even al-Qaeda has distanced itself from ISIS because of its unbelievable brutality. Until now.
Even though al-Qaeda had publicly disowned ISIS, the differences were about internal politics, not core values. For weeks now, those political differences have been melting away.
Various al-Qaeda franchises have announced their loyalty to ISIS. Even several leaders in the Pakistani Taliban have deserted Mullah Omar and switched their allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of ISIS and self-proclaimed "Caliph of all Muslims and the Prince of Believers."
Some of al-Baghdadi's followers think he is the Mahdi or Muslim Messiah.
The Fiscal Times recently noted: "The merger of ISIS and al-Qaeda could cripple the civilized world." I personally don't expect a long-term reconciliation between radical Muslim factions, but I am concerned that the extreme hatred of Christians and Jews and of the United States and Israel that they hold in common may cause them to accept a temporary truce. That will be dangerous for the whole world.
Last week, I called radical Islam a "contagion." Currently, the most virulent form of that contagion is ISIS. However, it's not the only deadly form.
Recently, the Czech Military Intelligence Service reported that al-Qaeda, like ISIS, is now successfully using social networking as a recruiting tool throughout the European Union. Citing venues like Facebook and Twitter, the report stated: "Radical ideas have been spreading uncontrollably."
In other words, radical jihad is contagious and it's spreading. And we may now be seeing the rise of its most insidious incarnation -- the "lone wolf."
I'm sure you've heard by now about the recent article in the online edition of The Atlantic. Written by Jeffrey Goldberg, one of America's top reporters on Middle Eastern affairs, the story features remarks by a "senior Obama administration official" about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The official (who didn't have the courage to allow his name to be revealed) used a crude schoolyard pejorative that evoked a barnyard image. What's more, other "unnamed" officials agreed with him.
Not only did they criticize Prime Minister Netanyahu for his steadfast defense of Israel's sovereignty, but they blatantly called him a coward. They resent the fact that he will not cave to the American administration's demands to cede enough territory to the Palestinians to make Israel indefensible.
It's obvious to those who observe the way Washington works that these officials made the demeaning and derogatory remarks about Mr. Netanyahu with President Obama's tacit approval, if not his outright urging. Mr. Goldberg, who has an insider's relationship with the White House and the President, noted that Mr. Obama had often alluded to Netanyahu's "lack of political courage."
Apparently President Obama and his operatives have trouble discerning between political courage (which Mr. Netanyahu has in abundance) and political arrogance (which they have in abundance).
All of that aside, though, the thing about the article that caused me the most concern was the headline: "The Crisis in U.S.-Israel Relations is Officially Here." Since 1948, when President Harry S. Truman recognized the re-established nation of Israel just 11 minutes after its declaration, America and Israel have had a sort of "big brother, little brother" relationship.
Not only do we have mutual, democratic interests, but Israel is our first line of defense against Islamic terrorism. More importantly, though, because we are a nation founded on Christian principles -- no matter what anyone says to the contrary -- we are spiritually descended from the Jews. Because of these historical facts, their roots are our roots. That's why Muslim radicals across the world -- both terrorists and terrorist states like Iran -- call America "The Great Satan" and Israel "The Little Satan."
Like it or not, the Muslims recognize America and Israel as being bound together. From a strictly secular and militaristic point of view, if one of us goes down, the other will go down, too. Of course, from a Biblical perspective, we know that's not going to happen because we know what the Bible promises for the days ahead.
Remember, more important than any of the political or strategic determinations an American administration may make is this fact: God made an irrevocable covenant with the Jews to return them to the land of Israel in the years just prior to the return of Jesus Christ for His church. And He went further. God promised to bless all of those who will bless and protect His chosen people -- the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Conversely, God promised to curse those who curse, harm, or abandon them.
That's why I'm concerned when a top-flight national reporter with close ties to the Obama administration writes, "The crisis in U.S.-Israel relations is officially here."
I don't fear what may happen to the United States even if we are attacked by ISIS, al-Qaeda, and all the Muslim terrorists of the world as much as I fear what may happen to the United States if we abandon Israel to the wolves of this world.
God does not lie and He's not given to idle threats.
Friday, October 31, 2014
'The Hal Lindsey Report' It's radical Islam.
While the threat of Ebola within the United States continues to dominate many of the headlines and much of the attention in the electronic media, there's another growing contagion that has me even more concerned.
It's sweeping across North America and it's far more dangerous than Ebola. It's radical Islam.
Last week in Canada, two recent converts to Islam killed two Canadian soldiers. One used his car, the other a gun. Then the second one attacked the Canadian Parliament building where he spewed gunfire inside the building before being shot dead by the Parliament's Sergeant-at-Arms.
The next day, another recent Muslim convert used a hatchet to attack three New York police officers posing for a picture on a public street.
Three teenaged girls from Colorado were intercepted in Germany attempting to make their way to Syria to join the jihad.
Another young lady from Colorado recently pled guilty to charges of conspiring to help terrorists in Syria. In fact, she had fallen in love with a jihadist online and intended to join him in Syria.
Some members of the mainstream media and government are trying to say that the terrorist events in Canada and the U.S. are not important because A) they're "lone wolf" attacks, not coordinated by any terrorist organization, and B) the assailants had been in trouble with the law before converting to Islam.
I think that makes them even more disturbing. First, the fact that they're "lone wolf" attacks only confirms the size and scope of the challenge. It's more subversive and dangerous than if they were "card-carrying" members of an organization. This means they harbor jihad in their hearts and heads until they're ready to unleash an attack. That makes it impossible for them to be identified by the authorities. It's much easier for them to fall through the cracks or operate under the radar.
As to being in trouble with the law before conversion, that's part of the plan. Radical Muslims actively recruit people whose lives seem hopeless or who are thoroughly disenchanted with the system.
Jihad is overwhelmingly attractive to those who love violence. That increasingly describes our culture. Have you seen any popular video games lately. Even their prime-time television ads are alarming. Today's culture not only teaches violence, it exalts it as a human ideal and great fun!
In fact, Muslims have used this love of violence to recruit angry young men around the world. One of their main recruiting tools has been to compare that aspect of Islam with the "peacefulness" of Christianity. Jesus said to "turn the other cheek." They proudly tell potential recruits that they do not believe in turning the other cheek. They believe in full bore retribution for every slight.
And don't make the mistake of assuming that Muslim jihadis are backwoods buffoons. Though their ideology is straight out of the seventh century (and that's exactly where Sharia law seeks to return societies), their social media skills are impressive. They are adept at using media portals such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube to connect with millions of potential recruits around the globe.
And the images and language they use are slick and effective.
It doesn't help that our young people have diminished immunity to this "disease." Day by day, the capacity of our youth to resist this contagion is being systematically weakened. It's a bit like a spiritual chemotherapy. Those who are trying to rid our society of the restraints of Christianity are making our young increasingly vulnerable to the message of violent jihad.
And it's made even more dangerous and insidious by its subtlety. In fact, the message of "jihad" is being quietly preached in Ferguson, Missouri.
You will never hear about this in the mainstream media, but the forces of Islam are out in impressive numbers in Ferguson. And they're trying to subvert the "civil rights" issues of that conflict and refocus it into a hatred of Israel.
Yes, you read me right. There are more than a dozen major Islamic, Palestinian, and anti-Israel organizations that have converged on Ferguson in a coordinated attempt to co-opt those protests. They are seeking to equate the Israeli-Palestinian issue with the American civil rights movement. They want to foment the unrest by suggesting that African Americans are victims of the same "militaristic policing" tactics that they say the Palestinians face in Israel.
I have neither the time nor space to delve into the utter absurdity of those assertions and comparisons. Unfortunately, the distinctions will be lost on most Americans who aren't paying attention.
One of the hallmarks of the American civil rights movement has been its generally nonviolent nature. In fact, in his Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., said, "Nonviolence is a powerful and just weapon. Indeed, it is a weapon unique in history, which cuts without wounding and ennobles the man who wields it."
The Muslims' attempts to equate their "struggle" -- which is universally characterized by inhuman, grotesque violence, beheadings, tortures, crucifixions, rapes, murders of all kinds, the subjugation of women, children, and minorities, and the destruction of even the most basic human rights -- with the nonviolent tradition of the American civil rights movement, implies that they equate Islam's exaltation of death and bondage with Judeo-Christianity's reverence for life and equality.
That is a lie straight from Satan himself. To pit the Koran against the Bible is to pit death against life.
Islam teaches that one can never be certain of his or her ultimate "salvation." It teaches that the ONLY way to know for certain that one is gaining paradise, is to die in an act of martyrdom for Allah. That's why so many of the terrorists involved in 9/11 were discovered to have spent time at strip clubs and in other sinful pursuits just prior to the attack. They were taught that this one deed (dying as a martyr for Allah while killing infidels) immediately and automatically outweighed every other bad deed or act they had committed in their entire lives.
That's what makes radical Islam (which is actually "fundamental" Islam) so dangerous. The threat of violent death means nothing to an enemy who welcomes that violent death -- if its received while killing enemies of Allah -- because he mistakenly believes it's his only certain ticket to paradise.
On the other hand, Jesus told us that only in Him we will find true life -- both here on earth and in eternity. In fact, He values EVERY person's life so highly that He sacrificed His own so that we could all be assured of life eternal with Him after our time on this earth.
That's the glaring difference between the claims of Mohammed and those of Jesus Christ. Jesus says that we can KNOW for a certainty that we will share eternity with Him in paradise. And all we have to do is BELIEVE that He is who He says He is; RECOGNIZE and CONFESS our sin; ACCEPT the free gift of pardon from that sin that He purchased for us by His death at Calvary; ACKNOWLEDGE that He is Lord; and FOLLOW Him with the power and help of His Holy Spirit.
The Gospel infinitely surpasses any man-made system of faith because Jesus is the only true life.
It's sweeping across North America and it's far more dangerous than Ebola. It's radical Islam.
Last week in Canada, two recent converts to Islam killed two Canadian soldiers. One used his car, the other a gun. Then the second one attacked the Canadian Parliament building where he spewed gunfire inside the building before being shot dead by the Parliament's Sergeant-at-Arms.
The next day, another recent Muslim convert used a hatchet to attack three New York police officers posing for a picture on a public street.
Three teenaged girls from Colorado were intercepted in Germany attempting to make their way to Syria to join the jihad.
Another young lady from Colorado recently pled guilty to charges of conspiring to help terrorists in Syria. In fact, she had fallen in love with a jihadist online and intended to join him in Syria.
Some members of the mainstream media and government are trying to say that the terrorist events in Canada and the U.S. are not important because A) they're "lone wolf" attacks, not coordinated by any terrorist organization, and B) the assailants had been in trouble with the law before converting to Islam.
I think that makes them even more disturbing. First, the fact that they're "lone wolf" attacks only confirms the size and scope of the challenge. It's more subversive and dangerous than if they were "card-carrying" members of an organization. This means they harbor jihad in their hearts and heads until they're ready to unleash an attack. That makes it impossible for them to be identified by the authorities. It's much easier for them to fall through the cracks or operate under the radar.
As to being in trouble with the law before conversion, that's part of the plan. Radical Muslims actively recruit people whose lives seem hopeless or who are thoroughly disenchanted with the system.
Jihad is overwhelmingly attractive to those who love violence. That increasingly describes our culture. Have you seen any popular video games lately. Even their prime-time television ads are alarming. Today's culture not only teaches violence, it exalts it as a human ideal and great fun!
In fact, Muslims have used this love of violence to recruit angry young men around the world. One of their main recruiting tools has been to compare that aspect of Islam with the "peacefulness" of Christianity. Jesus said to "turn the other cheek." They proudly tell potential recruits that they do not believe in turning the other cheek. They believe in full bore retribution for every slight.
And don't make the mistake of assuming that Muslim jihadis are backwoods buffoons. Though their ideology is straight out of the seventh century (and that's exactly where Sharia law seeks to return societies), their social media skills are impressive. They are adept at using media portals such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube to connect with millions of potential recruits around the globe.
And the images and language they use are slick and effective.
It doesn't help that our young people have diminished immunity to this "disease." Day by day, the capacity of our youth to resist this contagion is being systematically weakened. It's a bit like a spiritual chemotherapy. Those who are trying to rid our society of the restraints of Christianity are making our young increasingly vulnerable to the message of violent jihad.
And it's made even more dangerous and insidious by its subtlety. In fact, the message of "jihad" is being quietly preached in Ferguson, Missouri.
You will never hear about this in the mainstream media, but the forces of Islam are out in impressive numbers in Ferguson. And they're trying to subvert the "civil rights" issues of that conflict and refocus it into a hatred of Israel.
Yes, you read me right. There are more than a dozen major Islamic, Palestinian, and anti-Israel organizations that have converged on Ferguson in a coordinated attempt to co-opt those protests. They are seeking to equate the Israeli-Palestinian issue with the American civil rights movement. They want to foment the unrest by suggesting that African Americans are victims of the same "militaristic policing" tactics that they say the Palestinians face in Israel.
I have neither the time nor space to delve into the utter absurdity of those assertions and comparisons. Unfortunately, the distinctions will be lost on most Americans who aren't paying attention.
One of the hallmarks of the American civil rights movement has been its generally nonviolent nature. In fact, in his Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., said, "Nonviolence is a powerful and just weapon. Indeed, it is a weapon unique in history, which cuts without wounding and ennobles the man who wields it."
The Muslims' attempts to equate their "struggle" -- which is universally characterized by inhuman, grotesque violence, beheadings, tortures, crucifixions, rapes, murders of all kinds, the subjugation of women, children, and minorities, and the destruction of even the most basic human rights -- with the nonviolent tradition of the American civil rights movement, implies that they equate Islam's exaltation of death and bondage with Judeo-Christianity's reverence for life and equality.
That is a lie straight from Satan himself. To pit the Koran against the Bible is to pit death against life.
Islam teaches that one can never be certain of his or her ultimate "salvation." It teaches that the ONLY way to know for certain that one is gaining paradise, is to die in an act of martyrdom for Allah. That's why so many of the terrorists involved in 9/11 were discovered to have spent time at strip clubs and in other sinful pursuits just prior to the attack. They were taught that this one deed (dying as a martyr for Allah while killing infidels) immediately and automatically outweighed every other bad deed or act they had committed in their entire lives.
That's what makes radical Islam (which is actually "fundamental" Islam) so dangerous. The threat of violent death means nothing to an enemy who welcomes that violent death -- if its received while killing enemies of Allah -- because he mistakenly believes it's his only certain ticket to paradise.
On the other hand, Jesus told us that only in Him we will find true life -- both here on earth and in eternity. In fact, He values EVERY person's life so highly that He sacrificed His own so that we could all be assured of life eternal with Him after our time on this earth.
That's the glaring difference between the claims of Mohammed and those of Jesus Christ. Jesus says that we can KNOW for a certainty that we will share eternity with Him in paradise. And all we have to do is BELIEVE that He is who He says He is; RECOGNIZE and CONFESS our sin; ACCEPT the free gift of pardon from that sin that He purchased for us by His death at Calvary; ACKNOWLEDGE that He is Lord; and FOLLOW Him with the power and help of His Holy Spirit.
The Gospel infinitely surpasses any man-made system of faith because Jesus is the only true life.
Saturday, October 25, 2014
It’s Not About ’67 Borders’....Defense Minister: As long as Palestinian children are educated to kill Jews, there will not be peace.
The conflict with the Arabs will not end even if Israel withdraws to the pre-1967 borders, Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon said on Thursday.
Ya’alon, who is in the United States, made the comments during a visit to the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, where he met with wounded American soldiers.
“As far as the Palestinians are concerned, the conflict will not end with the 1967 borders,” he said, in comments related to Wednesday’s terrorist attack in Jerusalem in which a three-month-old baby was murdered.
“The heart of the conflict is the lack of desire on their part to recognize us and our right to exist as a Jewish state. The Palestinian education system and the Palestinian rhetoric cause the incidents that are occurring in Jerusalem,” added Ya’alon.
“Yesterday we saw the result of this in the murder of an infant in Jerusalem by a young man with a Hamas-related background,” he continued. “Why did it happen? It happened because in the Palestinian Authority, kindergarten children as young as three are taught, for example, to put on explosive belts and use them to kill Jews. As long as this is the situation, and Palestinian youth are educated to kill Jews, there will never really be peace here.”
Ya’alon’s comments echo ones he made on Wednesday night, hours after the terrorist attack in Jerusalem.
Speaking at a gathering in Washington, Yaalon said that the PA has never sought peace. “The terror attack Wednesday is the natural outcome of the education to incitement against Jews given to every Palestinian schoolchild, and the encouraging of the concept that the Jews will eventually be eliminated. The incitement starts with lies told by Abbas at the UN,” he said.
Pray for the Middle East!!!!
Monday, October 20, 2014
Pastor warns Ebola is God's Punishment for Obama dividing Jerusalem
The current Ebola outbreak is God’s punishment for U.S. President Barack Obama attempting to divide Jerusalem, according to the founder of Christians United for Israel (CUFI), John Hagee.
The San Antonio-based pastor, Zionist, and televangelist issued the grim warning in a recent broadcast of the Hagee Hotline. Hagee cited Joel 3 to alert America that God intends to judge any nation that attempts to divide Israel.
”God says that when any nation divides up the land of Israel, they are subject to judgement, and dividing Jerusalem is dividing the land," Hagee said. "Our president is dead set on dividing Jerusalem. He is watching, and he will bring America into judgment.”
“There are grounds to say that judgment has already begun, because he, the president, has been fighting to divide Jerusalem for years now. We are now experiencing the crisis of Ebola,” the Christian-Zionist leader proclaimed.
The CUFI founder also stated that America is currently in a “crisis of leadership,” as evidenced by the chaos that has taken over the country. In addition to “the crisis of Ebola," America is experiencing an economic crisis as well as the threat of being "attacked by radical Islam.”
On the same broadcast, host Matthew Hagee cited Matthew 24:7 to claim that the current Ebola crisis is a “pestilence,” and thus, a sign of the end of times, and the second-coming of Jesus Christ.
"Pestilence is an illness for which there seems to be no cure," Hagee said. "That would certainly describe Ebola, " he added.
The San Antonio-based pastor, Zionist, and televangelist issued the grim warning in a recent broadcast of the Hagee Hotline. Hagee cited Joel 3 to alert America that God intends to judge any nation that attempts to divide Israel.
”God says that when any nation divides up the land of Israel, they are subject to judgement, and dividing Jerusalem is dividing the land," Hagee said. "Our president is dead set on dividing Jerusalem. He is watching, and he will bring America into judgment.”
“There are grounds to say that judgment has already begun, because he, the president, has been fighting to divide Jerusalem for years now. We are now experiencing the crisis of Ebola,” the Christian-Zionist leader proclaimed.
The CUFI founder also stated that America is currently in a “crisis of leadership,” as evidenced by the chaos that has taken over the country. In addition to “the crisis of Ebola," America is experiencing an economic crisis as well as the threat of being "attacked by radical Islam.”
On the same broadcast, host Matthew Hagee cited Matthew 24:7 to claim that the current Ebola crisis is a “pestilence,” and thus, a sign of the end of times, and the second-coming of Jesus Christ.
"Pestilence is an illness for which there seems to be no cure," Hagee said. "That would certainly describe Ebola, " he added.
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
'The Hal Lindsey Report' in the last days, "there will be famines and pestilences."
Ebola, ISIS, and Israel, three names you probably heard on last night's newscast -- no matter what channel you watched.
Ebola, ISIS, and Israel, three names you'll hear if you watch the news this week. Not just because they're three of the hottest stories in the news, but because I believe each has a significant role in the end-times scenario.
In chapter 21, Luke quotes Jesus as saying that in the last days, "there will be famines and pestilences." The Greek word used here and translated "pestilences" refers to both virulent plagues and pests. It fits a variety of outbreaks we've seen across the world in recent years, even months, including the bizarre monkey infestation in New Delhi, India, the AIDS pandemic, and now Ebola.
The Washington Post reports that, "The virus could potentially infect 1.4 million people in Liberia and Sierra Leone by the end of January." That's just over three months, folks. Recently, Dr. David Nabarra, the United Nations Special Envoy overseeing its efforts to combat Ebola said, "This is a disease outbreak that is advancing in an exponential fashion."
Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines "exponential growth" as "characterized by or being an extremely rapid increase." Jesus described the signs of His return as being like a pregnant woman's "birth pangs," meaning that they would increase in frequency and intensity as the day approaches.
I'm no rocket scientist, but I'm thinking those two descriptions are eerily similar. And lest we think the Atlantic and Pacific oceans protect America from this deadly pestilence, America's first Ebola death occurred just this past week -- and even now scores of people who had some contact with this one man, Thomas Eric Duncan, are either in quarantine or are being "observed" for symptoms.
Modern transportation, global commerce, and politically correct national leaders guarantee that America is, indeed, no longer immune to the ravages of this modern-day scourge, or any of a variety of other pandemics.
Speaking of scourges, is there any other way to describe ISIS or any of its burgeoning network of "affiliates?" Yes, there is. You've heard me say it many times before: demonic! These terrorist demons are committed to destroying anything that stands in the way of an Islamic Caliphate. That includes all secular or apostate Muslims, all Christians, all Jews, Israel, and the United States.
So how do any or all of the above targets successfully combat this demonic, Islamic scourge? Here's a hint: Don't do what this administration (and most of the west) is doing. Infrequent, nighttime-only airstrikes of non-essential targets will not get the job done.
Only when our leaders are compelled to recognize and actually acknowledge who the enemy is, then commit as completely to destroying them as as they're committed to destroying us, do we have any hope of defeating them.
Oh yeah, as in the case of Ebola, don't be misled into thinking ISIS cannot pose a danger to Americans. Its influence on our shores has already been felt. A few days ago, a grandmother in Moore, Oklahoma, became its first victim.
Did you ever believe you'd hear me say these words? Islamic beheadings have come to America.
Of course, it doesn't help to have national leadership that can look at all the crises enveloping the world and our nation and decide that the issue that needs to be urgently addressed is Israel's decision to build 2,500 apartments in Jewish neighborhoods of East Jerusalem.
First, it's none of our business. Second, we'd never tolerate another nation attempting to dictate where or how we provide housing and comfort for our own citizens. Here's a scary thought: A nation's survival often depends on its priorities because we expend our valuable efforts and influence on the things that are most important to us. I'm just saying....
Finally, you've often heard me quote the Bible's admonition that we are to be "watchmen on the wall," warning others of coming dangers, either spiritual, moral, or physical.
Appropriate to the times in which we live, the Bible also has a warning regarding those "watchmen." In Psalm 127:1, the writer cautions: "Unless the Lord guards the city, The watchman keeps awake in vain."
Many of the "watchmen" that America has placed on its walls have done a good job of warning us about the approaching dangers. The unfortunate truth is that many of those warnings have fallen on deaf ears or have been blatantly ignored by our leaders.
Lately, the blame has been flying thick and heavy over the "unexpected" rise of ISIS and the imminent threat posed by Ebola. Once again, the unfortunate truth is that our watchmen have been faithfully and regularly issuing dire warnings to our leaders. Plainly put, those warnings have been ignored, either intentionally or out of arrogance, ignorance, incompetence, or political correctness.
I don't think you can deny that God has providentially protected our nation throughout its history. But I also believe that He will not remain patient with us forever. Dangers -- and enemies -- that we have traditionally assumed would never reach our shores, now walk among us or lurk in our shadows.
Folks, there is only one place to be truly secure, and that is in Christ. In this crazy, mixed-up, and darkening world, we have only one true hope -- to fully put our faith in Jesus Christ and His power to redeem us and keep us until we join Him in heaven.
If you have not chosen that place of safety by accepting Jesus Christ and the free gift of pardon that His death on Calvary purchased for you, do it right now.
Please don't ignore this watchman's warning.
Ebola, ISIS, and Israel, three names you'll hear if you watch the news this week. Not just because they're three of the hottest stories in the news, but because I believe each has a significant role in the end-times scenario.
In chapter 21, Luke quotes Jesus as saying that in the last days, "there will be famines and pestilences." The Greek word used here and translated "pestilences" refers to both virulent plagues and pests. It fits a variety of outbreaks we've seen across the world in recent years, even months, including the bizarre monkey infestation in New Delhi, India, the AIDS pandemic, and now Ebola.
The Washington Post reports that, "The virus could potentially infect 1.4 million people in Liberia and Sierra Leone by the end of January." That's just over three months, folks. Recently, Dr. David Nabarra, the United Nations Special Envoy overseeing its efforts to combat Ebola said, "This is a disease outbreak that is advancing in an exponential fashion."
Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines "exponential growth" as "characterized by or being an extremely rapid increase." Jesus described the signs of His return as being like a pregnant woman's "birth pangs," meaning that they would increase in frequency and intensity as the day approaches.
I'm no rocket scientist, but I'm thinking those two descriptions are eerily similar. And lest we think the Atlantic and Pacific oceans protect America from this deadly pestilence, America's first Ebola death occurred just this past week -- and even now scores of people who had some contact with this one man, Thomas Eric Duncan, are either in quarantine or are being "observed" for symptoms.
Modern transportation, global commerce, and politically correct national leaders guarantee that America is, indeed, no longer immune to the ravages of this modern-day scourge, or any of a variety of other pandemics.
Speaking of scourges, is there any other way to describe ISIS or any of its burgeoning network of "affiliates?" Yes, there is. You've heard me say it many times before: demonic! These terrorist demons are committed to destroying anything that stands in the way of an Islamic Caliphate. That includes all secular or apostate Muslims, all Christians, all Jews, Israel, and the United States.
So how do any or all of the above targets successfully combat this demonic, Islamic scourge? Here's a hint: Don't do what this administration (and most of the west) is doing. Infrequent, nighttime-only airstrikes of non-essential targets will not get the job done.
Only when our leaders are compelled to recognize and actually acknowledge who the enemy is, then commit as completely to destroying them as as they're committed to destroying us, do we have any hope of defeating them.
Oh yeah, as in the case of Ebola, don't be misled into thinking ISIS cannot pose a danger to Americans. Its influence on our shores has already been felt. A few days ago, a grandmother in Moore, Oklahoma, became its first victim.
Did you ever believe you'd hear me say these words? Islamic beheadings have come to America.
Of course, it doesn't help to have national leadership that can look at all the crises enveloping the world and our nation and decide that the issue that needs to be urgently addressed is Israel's decision to build 2,500 apartments in Jewish neighborhoods of East Jerusalem.
First, it's none of our business. Second, we'd never tolerate another nation attempting to dictate where or how we provide housing and comfort for our own citizens. Here's a scary thought: A nation's survival often depends on its priorities because we expend our valuable efforts and influence on the things that are most important to us. I'm just saying....
Finally, you've often heard me quote the Bible's admonition that we are to be "watchmen on the wall," warning others of coming dangers, either spiritual, moral, or physical.
Appropriate to the times in which we live, the Bible also has a warning regarding those "watchmen." In Psalm 127:1, the writer cautions: "Unless the Lord guards the city, The watchman keeps awake in vain."
Many of the "watchmen" that America has placed on its walls have done a good job of warning us about the approaching dangers. The unfortunate truth is that many of those warnings have fallen on deaf ears or have been blatantly ignored by our leaders.
Lately, the blame has been flying thick and heavy over the "unexpected" rise of ISIS and the imminent threat posed by Ebola. Once again, the unfortunate truth is that our watchmen have been faithfully and regularly issuing dire warnings to our leaders. Plainly put, those warnings have been ignored, either intentionally or out of arrogance, ignorance, incompetence, or political correctness.
I don't think you can deny that God has providentially protected our nation throughout its history. But I also believe that He will not remain patient with us forever. Dangers -- and enemies -- that we have traditionally assumed would never reach our shores, now walk among us or lurk in our shadows.
Folks, there is only one place to be truly secure, and that is in Christ. In this crazy, mixed-up, and darkening world, we have only one true hope -- to fully put our faith in Jesus Christ and His power to redeem us and keep us until we join Him in heaven.
If you have not chosen that place of safety by accepting Jesus Christ and the free gift of pardon that His death on Calvary purchased for you, do it right now.
Please don't ignore this watchman's warning.
Thursday, October 9, 2014
Putin’s East vs. Globalist West: Merging Into a New World Order
With all of the alleged points of conflict — Ukraine, Syria, Cuba, Iran, and more — between Russian strongman Vladimir Putin and the West, the notion that Russia and its allies may someday “merge” or “converge” with the United States might sound ludicrous. Still, as we shall show, that is the ultimate plan, and it has been for decades, if not longer. In fact, even the supposed “crises” and “tensions” between “East” and “West” — largely manufactured for public consumption — are helping to drive that process. Somewhat behind the scenes but hardly in total secrecy, Putin and his supposed nemeses among the global government-promoting Western establishment are in fact working together toward what they call a “New World Order.”
Toward that end, globalists have long been advancing what they refer to as “convergence.” In essence, for the world to be ruled under a single global regime, East and West, Third World and First World, will all have to “converge” — meet in the middle, perhaps. (See our related article Putin: Key Player in the ‘New World Order.’”) In recent decades, however, it has become clear that the scheme involves making the United States and Europe more like China and Russia, rather than the other way around, playing the public on both sides to accelerate the process.
This, too, has been a long-term operation. As far back as 1953, then-Ford Foundation President H. Rowan Gaither, an important operative with the global government-promoting Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), explained the strategy to congressional investigator Norman Dodd. The major tax-exempt foundations and key government insiders, he explained, were working “to so alter life in the United States that we can be comfortably merged with the Soviet Union.” The White House was apparently fully on board as well.
Friday, September 26, 2014
'The Hal Lindsey Report' "The ISIS Weapons and Relief Act!"
This is how U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel recently described ISIS (variously known as ISIL or Islamic State): "This is a force that is sophisticated. It's dynamic, it's strong, it's organized, it's well-financed, it's competent. And it is a threat to our allies all over the Middle East. It's a threat to Europe. It's a threat to every stabilized country on earth, and it's a threat to us."
Senator Dianne Feinstein, Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, described ISIS as "the most vicious, well-funded and militant terrorist organization we have ever seen.... In the absence of U.S. leadership and action... we could suffer the consequences for decades to come."
So what is the President, with Congressional cooperation, going to do? Well, promptly send some more weapons and equipment to ISIS. To be fair, the official line is that the weapons, equipment, and support are going to "moderate elements" among the Syrian rebels. But there is absolutely no way to guarantee that those new arms will not end up in ISIS' hands. None of the rebel factions in Syria or Iraq can be trusted. And ISIS is certainly capable of taking the stuff away from them, anyway. The advanced American equipment they're using now they took away from the Iraqi armed forces!
The Congress might as well have passed "The ISIS Weapons and Relief Act!"
Folks, we're in a pickle in that part of the world. By pulling our troops completely out of Iraq and allowing those rebel elements to regain momentum, power, and critical mass, we've virtually guaranteed that we'll have to put boots back on the ground to restore what we gained there through immense sacrifice of lives and treasure. "Pinpoint" airstrikes won't do the job completely.
Is it just me or has President Obama's 2009 Nobel Peace Prize lost a little of its luster over there on the White House mantel?
Unbelievably, there are those who contend that it's not urgent that we deal with ISIS and other jihadist groups. They say that they don't pose an immediate threat to the U.S. homeland.
We must understand that to hit the United States in some way is not a meaningless act to Islamic jihadis. Hitting the United States is the ultimate goal of all terrorists. They hate the U.S. with a supernatural passion. Remember, they view the U.S. as the "Great Satan." So the most ruthless, barbaric, and spectacular attacks against us builds them up as major players in the world -- fighters not afraid to take on the biggest bully on the block.
And any notoriety like that only helps them compete for recruits and funding with rival terrorist groups.
Over the years, Newsweek has had a contentious relationship with Jesus. Magazines publishers learned long ago that putting Him on the cover provides an easy sales boost, no matter what they say about Him in the pages. Every year, as we approach Christmas or Easter, we see major magazines featuring sensational stories about Jesus or the Bible.
Last week, Newsweek published an article which they titled, "Jesus Was Crucified Because Disciples Were Armed, Bible Analysis Suggests." As usual, their "Bible scholars" went to great lengths to find some way to debunk the miracle of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection.
But claiming that Jesus was arrested and crucified because a couple of His followers violated a Roman weapons ban? That's scraping the bottom of the barrel!
That may give us a clue as to why when Newsweek first started its war on Jesus, it was one of the most respected and well-read magazines on earth. All these years later, it's barely even in existence. In 2010, it sold for one dollar. And the new owner said publicly that he regretted even spending the buck. He called it "a mistake."
Since 2013, Newsweek has existed only on the internet. I believe that may be because the magazine's editors consistently showed contempt for traditional American values, including respect for the Christian faith. And, apparently, they're still at it; still trying to take down Jesus.
That's a little like a mouse butting its head against the Rock of Gibraltar.
Another establishment that seems to be determined to eliminate Jesus and His influence from its ranks is the United States military. I've reported many times on those efforts over the last few years. But I've got some good news. The opponents of Jesus Christ may not be winning that war, either.
Senator Dianne Feinstein, Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, described ISIS as "the most vicious, well-funded and militant terrorist organization we have ever seen.... In the absence of U.S. leadership and action... we could suffer the consequences for decades to come."
So what is the President, with Congressional cooperation, going to do? Well, promptly send some more weapons and equipment to ISIS. To be fair, the official line is that the weapons, equipment, and support are going to "moderate elements" among the Syrian rebels. But there is absolutely no way to guarantee that those new arms will not end up in ISIS' hands. None of the rebel factions in Syria or Iraq can be trusted. And ISIS is certainly capable of taking the stuff away from them, anyway. The advanced American equipment they're using now they took away from the Iraqi armed forces!
The Congress might as well have passed "The ISIS Weapons and Relief Act!"
Folks, we're in a pickle in that part of the world. By pulling our troops completely out of Iraq and allowing those rebel elements to regain momentum, power, and critical mass, we've virtually guaranteed that we'll have to put boots back on the ground to restore what we gained there through immense sacrifice of lives and treasure. "Pinpoint" airstrikes won't do the job completely.
Is it just me or has President Obama's 2009 Nobel Peace Prize lost a little of its luster over there on the White House mantel?
Unbelievably, there are those who contend that it's not urgent that we deal with ISIS and other jihadist groups. They say that they don't pose an immediate threat to the U.S. homeland.
We must understand that to hit the United States in some way is not a meaningless act to Islamic jihadis. Hitting the United States is the ultimate goal of all terrorists. They hate the U.S. with a supernatural passion. Remember, they view the U.S. as the "Great Satan." So the most ruthless, barbaric, and spectacular attacks against us builds them up as major players in the world -- fighters not afraid to take on the biggest bully on the block.
And any notoriety like that only helps them compete for recruits and funding with rival terrorist groups.
Over the years, Newsweek has had a contentious relationship with Jesus. Magazines publishers learned long ago that putting Him on the cover provides an easy sales boost, no matter what they say about Him in the pages. Every year, as we approach Christmas or Easter, we see major magazines featuring sensational stories about Jesus or the Bible.
Last week, Newsweek published an article which they titled, "Jesus Was Crucified Because Disciples Were Armed, Bible Analysis Suggests." As usual, their "Bible scholars" went to great lengths to find some way to debunk the miracle of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection.
But claiming that Jesus was arrested and crucified because a couple of His followers violated a Roman weapons ban? That's scraping the bottom of the barrel!
That may give us a clue as to why when Newsweek first started its war on Jesus, it was one of the most respected and well-read magazines on earth. All these years later, it's barely even in existence. In 2010, it sold for one dollar. And the new owner said publicly that he regretted even spending the buck. He called it "a mistake."
Since 2013, Newsweek has existed only on the internet. I believe that may be because the magazine's editors consistently showed contempt for traditional American values, including respect for the Christian faith. And, apparently, they're still at it; still trying to take down Jesus.
That's a little like a mouse butting its head against the Rock of Gibraltar.
Another establishment that seems to be determined to eliminate Jesus and His influence from its ranks is the United States military. I've reported many times on those efforts over the last few years. But I've got some good news. The opponents of Jesus Christ may not be winning that war, either.
Friday, September 19, 2014
'The Hal Lindsey Report' President Barack Obama spoke of the Islamic State
Recently, President Barack Obama spoke of the Islamic State, variously known as ISIS or ISIL. He said, "ISIL is not 'Islamic.' No religion condones the killing of innocents. And the vast majority of ISIL's victims have been Muslim."
The President apparently means it's not "Islamic" in some vague spiritual sense, but it's simply not true. It's wishful thinking. In every measurable way, ISIS is "Islamic." It consistently reflects the hard, fundamental teachings of the Koran, the Hadith, and the severe example of Mohammed's own life.
The "I" in ISIS or ISIL really does stand for "Islam." Will they let Christians and Jews join the organization? Of course not. They force them to convert or face death. When they take over a community, do they set up secular systems of laws? No. They immediately impose Sharia law.
In responding to the recent video of the ISIS beheading of British aid worker David Haines, Prime Minister David Cameron said, "Islam is a religion of peace. They (ISIS) are not Muslims, they are monsters." Yes, Mr. Prime Minister, they're monsters, but they're also Muslims.
President Obama says that they can't possibly be Islamic because the majority of their victims are Muslims. Jack the Ripper's victims were all British. Does that mean he wasn't British? Killers kill whatever victim they find at hand.
Gary Bauer of the Campaign for Working Families said, "The reason the overwhelming majority of victims have been Muslim is a matter of geography - ISIL operates in a predominately Muslim region... for now. If ISIL, Hamas and Hezbollah ever get to Israel, the great majority of their victims will be Jews."
Also, their killing of fellow Muslims fits in with teaching from the Koran and Hadith. They kill those that they consider apostates, just as their religion dictates. Millions of Muslims believe that theirs is a religion of peace because, like some Christians, they haven't really looked closely at their own founding documents of their faith.
I don't expect Presidents to be as plainspoken about Islam as someone like myself, a Christian minister. Part of my job is to contrast other belief systems with that of the Gospel and show, as much as I can, the infinite superiority of Jesus and His Word. But I do expect them to be realistic in their assessment of Islam. It's not their job to contrast Islam and Christianity, but neither is it their job to conflate the two.
The world wants to put a smiley face on religion. It teaches that all religion is basically good. The sugarcoated world of political correctness is not always the real world at all, and when a government's policy is based on PC instead of facts, that government - and its people - are in real trouble.
The President appears to be building his new strategy for dealing with ISIS on the idea of arming the "moderate" rebels to help us fight ISIS in Syria. The day after his announcement, the "moderate" rebels in whom President Obama had just publicly placed his faith, agreed to a non-aggression pact with ISIS. In essence, they publicly declared that they will not fight or oppose ISIS.
That agreement may or may not hold, but it shows the shaky ground on which we walk. We might as well build our ISIS policy on Peter Pan and Tinker Bell. The moderates we're looking for just don't exist.
In the past, I have applauded President Obama for not giving in to pressure from those who believe this myth. That's all changed now. In his September 10 speech, he made not only their existence, but also their reliability a cornerstone of his ISIS strategy.
By saying that we can trust them now, he's admitting to a fundamental error in judgment then. If the rebels really were the good-guy alternatives to Assad and ISIS, then he could have armed them two years ago and today we wouldn't be dealing with Assad or ISIS. But the "moderates" were an illusion then, and they're still an illusion today.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is undoubtedly an evil and vicious man, but he is not ISIS. And he is the head of a state that needs to maintain some sort of acceptance among the nations of the world, unlike ISIS, who believes that the more brutal and barbaric it behaves, the more it pleases Allah.
It's an understatement to say that events and developments in the Middle East and around the world are disturbing and frightening. It's also understating the issue to say that most of our leaders have no clue about what to do because they refuse to identify the enemy and act based on that assessment, not on what is politically acceptable. That makes what's happening in the world even more frightening.
And there's no doubt that hatred of Christians and Jews is exploding around the world. Unbelievably, in our "civilized" world, beheadings and crucifixions are now in the headlines.
Jesus Himself warned that in the last days we would be hated for His name's sake. As I've said many times, I think physical persecution of Christians is coming soon to America. Will you be ready to stand strong in those days? For many of our brothers and sisters in other nations, "those days" are here.
The President apparently means it's not "Islamic" in some vague spiritual sense, but it's simply not true. It's wishful thinking. In every measurable way, ISIS is "Islamic." It consistently reflects the hard, fundamental teachings of the Koran, the Hadith, and the severe example of Mohammed's own life.
The "I" in ISIS or ISIL really does stand for "Islam." Will they let Christians and Jews join the organization? Of course not. They force them to convert or face death. When they take over a community, do they set up secular systems of laws? No. They immediately impose Sharia law.
In responding to the recent video of the ISIS beheading of British aid worker David Haines, Prime Minister David Cameron said, "Islam is a religion of peace. They (ISIS) are not Muslims, they are monsters." Yes, Mr. Prime Minister, they're monsters, but they're also Muslims.
President Obama says that they can't possibly be Islamic because the majority of their victims are Muslims. Jack the Ripper's victims were all British. Does that mean he wasn't British? Killers kill whatever victim they find at hand.
Gary Bauer of the Campaign for Working Families said, "The reason the overwhelming majority of victims have been Muslim is a matter of geography - ISIL operates in a predominately Muslim region... for now. If ISIL, Hamas and Hezbollah ever get to Israel, the great majority of their victims will be Jews."
Also, their killing of fellow Muslims fits in with teaching from the Koran and Hadith. They kill those that they consider apostates, just as their religion dictates. Millions of Muslims believe that theirs is a religion of peace because, like some Christians, they haven't really looked closely at their own founding documents of their faith.
I don't expect Presidents to be as plainspoken about Islam as someone like myself, a Christian minister. Part of my job is to contrast other belief systems with that of the Gospel and show, as much as I can, the infinite superiority of Jesus and His Word. But I do expect them to be realistic in their assessment of Islam. It's not their job to contrast Islam and Christianity, but neither is it their job to conflate the two.
The world wants to put a smiley face on religion. It teaches that all religion is basically good. The sugarcoated world of political correctness is not always the real world at all, and when a government's policy is based on PC instead of facts, that government - and its people - are in real trouble.
The President appears to be building his new strategy for dealing with ISIS on the idea of arming the "moderate" rebels to help us fight ISIS in Syria. The day after his announcement, the "moderate" rebels in whom President Obama had just publicly placed his faith, agreed to a non-aggression pact with ISIS. In essence, they publicly declared that they will not fight or oppose ISIS.
That agreement may or may not hold, but it shows the shaky ground on which we walk. We might as well build our ISIS policy on Peter Pan and Tinker Bell. The moderates we're looking for just don't exist.
In the past, I have applauded President Obama for not giving in to pressure from those who believe this myth. That's all changed now. In his September 10 speech, he made not only their existence, but also their reliability a cornerstone of his ISIS strategy.
By saying that we can trust them now, he's admitting to a fundamental error in judgment then. If the rebels really were the good-guy alternatives to Assad and ISIS, then he could have armed them two years ago and today we wouldn't be dealing with Assad or ISIS. But the "moderates" were an illusion then, and they're still an illusion today.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is undoubtedly an evil and vicious man, but he is not ISIS. And he is the head of a state that needs to maintain some sort of acceptance among the nations of the world, unlike ISIS, who believes that the more brutal and barbaric it behaves, the more it pleases Allah.
It's an understatement to say that events and developments in the Middle East and around the world are disturbing and frightening. It's also understating the issue to say that most of our leaders have no clue about what to do because they refuse to identify the enemy and act based on that assessment, not on what is politically acceptable. That makes what's happening in the world even more frightening.
And there's no doubt that hatred of Christians and Jews is exploding around the world. Unbelievably, in our "civilized" world, beheadings and crucifixions are now in the headlines.
Jesus Himself warned that in the last days we would be hated for His name's sake. As I've said many times, I think physical persecution of Christians is coming soon to America. Will you be ready to stand strong in those days? For many of our brothers and sisters in other nations, "those days" are here.
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