End Times Prophecy Headlines: February 27, 2014

End Times Prophecy Report
HEADLINES
February 27, 2014

And OPINION

===INTERNATIONAL

CUBA: Russian Spy Ship Docked in Havana – Cuba has been an ally of Russia–and the USSR–for over 50 years.  How many spy ships have docked in Havana harbor during that time?  Countless ones. The Corporate Media now takes this occurrence as a cause for alarm.

RUSSIA: Pro-Russians seize government buildings in Crimea

There are pro-Russian Ukrainians?  Aren’t all of the Ukrainians divided into two factions: the freedom-loving protesters and government thugs?  This is eerily similar to the way the Egyptian protests in “Arab Spring” were portrayed to Americans.

Then, it was the freedom-loving Egyptian people vs. the evil, government thugs of the Muslim Brotherhood president Morsi.

This manufactured storyline was inconvenienced by continuing protests long, long, long after Morsi stepped down from power.  The narratives were further burdened when the Corporate Media revealed that during those many months of protests, dozens of Muslim Brotherhood supporters were killed in the streets.  If the freedom-loving people of Egypt were the original protesters for the weeks of Arab Spring, who were all these people sacrificing their lives in the months afterward?

The problem was solved when the Corporate Media and American public played their own little version of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” game.

The American public didn’t ask and the Corporate Media didn’t tell.

UKRAINE: Ousted leader seeks Russian aid

SOUTH SUDAN: South Sudan government troops, rebels may have committed war crimes

===NATIONAL

Applications for US jobless benefits rise to 348K – Hard to see how.  With all of the splendid economic news the Corporate Media has been feeding the public, one would think that there would be no unemployment in America.

Obama seeks more federal spending to train doctors – Somewhere this very moment, somewhere in America, a young man or young lady is staring dreamily into space and declaring “I want to be an Obama doc!”

Jobless claims unexpectedly rise – The most amusing word used in economic reports by the Corporate Media is the word “unexpectedly.”  The first two years Obama was in office, practically every grim report of the economy’s performance carried the word “unexpectedly.” ALL bad news, no matter how widespread and persistent, was “unexpected.”   Unemployment figures rose for months in a row?  “Unexpected.”

Perhaps the word is about to make a big comeback?

If it ever left…

Weekly jobless claims unexpectedly rise to 348K

===MISCELLANEOUS

Arizona Governor vetoes “religious freedom” bill – It appears that the country will be treated to a three act play.  This veto was the first act.  The second act will involve many gay people suing Christians until it is Christians who clamor for this type of political “protection.”

The third act will involve their wish being granted. Bills will be passed which will make it legal to refuse good or services on the basis of religion.   To the eternal chagrin of many professing Christians.

MORE: Jan Brewer vetoes controversial religious freedom bill – Arizona SB 1062.

65 percent think Mexico not aggressive enough fighting illegal drugs –  Amusing. Who are using the illegal drugs?  But the ones using the drugs do not want to bear the costs of the drug use [For example, loved ones going away to prison.]  So what is there to do?  Hey, how about getting the countries where some of the drugs come from bear the cost?

Brilliant!

Reflections of the Past – (h/t:G) A clever group of photos by a professional photographer Tom Hussey.  They emphasize the mortality of us all and especially, how fast time passes us all by.

Of course, the believer sees these photos in a much different light than the non-believer.  The non-believer sees these photos and asks “Where did the time go?”  The older one gets, the more often this question seems to pop up in one’s musings.

The believer sees these photos and should be reminded that our hope is not in this life or the things of this present world. The believer should look at these photos and proclaim “One day closer to glory!”  However, this is only true for the true believer.  The true believer actually lives as this life is but a “vapour.”

“Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.”

It’s when the Christian allows this vapour or the things of this present world to weigh more heavily in the scales that anxiety and fear of the future creep in.  The enemy will always try to change the focus from our future with our Savior to what’s going on in this present life. The enemy will even use our love of something wholesome and good–including family and friends–to undermine our complete trust in God; to get us to start looking around for a “backup plan” or a Plan B.

The lie is that this present world, this present life, is all that there is.

Do you know the one who can deliver perfect peace of mind?

Do You Know Jesus?

Nutrition labels to get first makeover in 20 years with new emphasis on calories, sugar

‘Son of God’ takes different tack than ‘Passion’ – No doubt.  Two different peas of the same pod.

Holy Box Office! Bible-Based Movies Flood Theaters – Has Hollywood turned into a Bible-believing community?

This writer had two different discussions yesterday; both which covered the same range of subjects: persecution, living in America and what the Bible says about deception and living in the last days.  What follows is a summary of those two discussions.

1- Many American Christians say one thing, live another.  Either one believes the Bible or they believe what others claim the Bible says.  One either believes we are living in the end times or one doesn’t.

2- American Christians are anxious, to say the least, about coming persecution.  The Bible states there will be persecution.  Many American Christians seem to be looking over their shoulder at the possibility that they may be called to suffer for the name of Jesus Christ.

“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”
—2 Timothy 3:12

3- American Christians exhibit a range of responses to the idea of facing possible persecution.

1. Some choose to confront this challenge head-on through the mercy and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2. Some choose to ignore warnings they receive from other Christians, pretending they don’t believe them–or for any other number of reasons.
3. Some choose to deny that persecution is possible due to the acceptance of false teachings which contradict the Bible.
4. Some acknowledge persecution is possible–but not for them.  They will be spared persecution while others in the body of Christ will partake of it. [Manifest Sons of God, etc.]
5. Some refuse to believe persecution is possible due to confusion of persecution with God’s punishment.

“And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.”
—Acts 5:41

“So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:”
—2 Thessalonians 1:4-5

“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.”
—1 Peter 4:12-13

“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;”
–2 Corinthians 4:17

“Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.”
—James 5:10-11

“Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.”

—1 Peter 4:16

Persecution, Tribulation, Troubles, Trials: What the Bible says to Christians

4- If one is fearful or anxious, one is not fully prepared.  One of the primary reasons is failure to fully submit to God.

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
—James 4:7

5- Christians are currently suffering martyrdom at the rate of one every 3 minutes throughout much of the world–most notably in Asia, Africa and the Middle East.  Many days, it’s estimated that 500 Christians die for their faith.  Many more who are innocent are being sacrificed.  The unborn are currently bearing the brunt of the slaughter in America.

6- Many in America who profess Christ feel they are blessed because they are not suffering persecution and martyrdom–even though the Bible says a person is not sinning when they suffer physical persecution for the name of Jesus Christ.

“Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;”
—1 Peter 4;1

7 – America is ground zero for deception.  It is everywhere like a thick, enveloping fog.  This overwhelming deception is practically impossible to escape.  It’s sometimes amazes this writer that there are any Christians at all in America.

8- Jesus warned about this deception.

“And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.”
—Matthew 24:4

“And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.”
—Matthew 24:11

“For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”
—Matthew 24:24

9-Jesus also clearly warned that the consequences for the deceived are the same as the consequences for the deceiver.

“Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.”
—Matthew 15:14

“And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?”

—Luke 6:39

10- Yet so many American Christians prefer deception to persecution  The particular challenge for the American Church may be to labor against the overwhelming deception that surrounds them rather than face immediate physical persecution.  They should make the necessary preparations to withstand both deception and persecution.  How likely is it that those who succumb to deception will stand in the face of persecution?

Many prefer facing deception over facing persecution even though the eternal consequences can be completely different.  It’s damnation for the deceived while those persecuted for Jesus receive eternal glory and honor.

“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”
—Mark 8:36

“He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.”
—John 12:25

11- Logic, evidence, reasoning, proofs or science will not sway the deceived.  Even God’s Word may not be enough to move the willfully deceived–though Scripture, the Holy Spirit and prayer are the only weapons Christians are to use–and one is to have faith in their eventual triumph.

“And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;”
—Ephesians 6:17-18

12- CONCLUSION: Though believers toil under increasing darkness and there’s occasional frustration at losing so many to the deceptions, Christians are not to lose their peace of mind or their good humor.

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
—John 16:33

We serve an Almighty God who is in control of all things.  Despite the ubiquitous deception, American Christians can take heart, praying to a gracious God to open the eyes of all those who value soul winning and who preach the pure gospel message.

“Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.”
—James 5:20

Some discussions, huh?

71 percent think that Americans try to be honest when filling out their taxes – What does this mean?  Is “trying to be honest” the same as honesty?  This reminds of a few years ago speaking to someone in NYC.  The company was supposed to ship this writer a box of goods.  The shipment never arrived.  The company was called and the company liaison was asked if the goods had shipped.  The reply?

“I feel like they did.”

Later in the conversation, the liaison assured this writer that the goods would ship first thing the next morning.

Which spared the question: “What’s the difference between something actually shipping and someone saying they feel like it shipped?

Most likely the same difference as between honesty and “trying to be honest.”

FASTER THAN AN OBAMA PEACE PRIZE – New MSNBC “journalist” Ronan Farrow has received the Cronkite Award after only three days on the air.  That handily beats the speed record set by President Barack Obama for receiving a Nobel Peace Prize after only 262 days in office.  Great things obviously are in the offing for Mr. Farrow.

===EARTHQUAKES/WEATHER/PESTILENCE

Poás Volcano spews material 300 meters high after explosion inside crater

Drought-hit Malaysian state rations water – Regular readers know what the new gold is.

QUAKE: 6.1 Aleutian Islands Alaska

QUAKE: 5.4 Drake Passage

QUAKE: 3.1 Puget Sound region, Washington