This Commentary page contains all entries for the year 2014. Commentary entries are posted weekly (normally Tuesday in Taiwan) and briefly discuss recent news events. Although any news story that catches my attention is fair game, I make no bones about the fact that these entries tend to lean toward news events that might be of interest to believers who, like me, have an interest in end-time prophecy and its fulfillment.

You can use the text links provided at the beginning of each month if you want to move around the page, and the menu below will take you to similar pages for previous years.

*Entries normally include a link to an external article. It's always
possible that any such article may have been moved or deleted.

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1/6/2014 — From the "Pot...Kettle...Black" Department...

A schism has formed within Sunday Assembly, the wildly popular and rapidly growing London-based atheist group that hosts a type of Sunday "service" featuring a feel-good mix of singing, inspiring self-help messages, and calls to public service. It seems that a splinter group has broken off and gone its own way in New York City called Godless Revival.

The problem, according to Godless Revival founder Lee Moore, is that Sunday Assembly just isn't...well, atheistic enough.

According to an article posted on CNN's Belief Blog, Godless Revival has gone back to the foundational truths of atheism and is separating itself from those Sunday Assembly heretics, who have apparently forgotten the true meaning of "godless."

I'm sorry, but I just can't stop giggling.

I thought this sort of thing only happened in Christianity, where denominations crumble like sugar cookies over doctrinal differences that would fit neatly on the head of a pin. Baptism required for salvation or baptism not required for salvation. Baptism by sprinkling or baptism by immersion. Rapture or no Rapture. Pre-tribulation Rapture or post-tribulation Rapture, etc.

The atheists have taken a page out of the Church's playbook, demonstrating that it's just as challenging to get a large group of people to disbelieve the same things. According to the founder of Sunday Assembly Melbourne, "Because it is a godless congregation, we don't have a doctrine to rely on, so we take reference from everything in the world."

The world. Indeed.

Here's the thing: all people were created with the innate awareness of God. Not full-blown belief necessarily, but awareness. It's part of human nature because we were created in His image. Ever wonder what makes people seek something greater than themselves? Ever wonder why people have to make a conscious decision to not believe in God? Who has to make a conscious decision to not believe in the Tooth Fairy, and then grasp at every available straw to defend and persist in that unbelief?

Many atheists talk as if they had discovered a profound truth—but it is ironic that in order to support their unbelief, they have no choice but to refer to the world that was created by the God they refuse to believe in. The problem is that the natural man just doesn't get it...and never will:

In these last days, this celebration of the flesh will grow worse and worse until those who stubbornly persist in believing in God and the fact that He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die to pay the penalty for our sins will be marginalized as dysfunctional dimwits who need to be removed from society.

But that's OK. When the trumpet sounds, we will be.

1/13/2014 — From the "Messiah Mania" Department...

If you haven't heard about this, you probably soon will. Former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon died on Saturday, after being in a coma for eight years. But there's a twist to the story, according to an article posted on WND.com.

A revered Ultra-Orthodox rabbi in Israel named Yitzhak Kaduri claimed that he met the Messiah in a series of visions from 2003 to 2005, and in October of 2005 told the students at his yeshiva (Jewish seminary) that the Messiah would appear shortly after the death of then 77-year-old acting Prime Minister Ariel Sharon—who was in good health at the time.

Things quickly changed, however, when a mere couple of months later in January 2006, Ariel Sharon had a stroke and was put into a medically induced coma from which he never awoke. Then, in the same month, the rabbi died.

Rabbi Kaduri had left a sealed handwritten note that he claimed would name the Messiah, and he asked that it remain sealed for one year after his death. When it was opened one year later in 2007, to the shock of Jews and to the delight of Christians, it named "Yehoshua" (equivalent to "Yeshua," the Hebrew version of "Jesus") as the Messiah.

The above article focuses on a book published by American pastor and author Carl Gallups titled The Rabbi Who Found Messiah, which is no doubt selling like hot latkes at the moment. It seems that a documentary film based on the book has also been released.

At the moment, I am working on an article about this particular topic because there is an important aspect to the story that most people, Carl Gallups included, are blowing right by, and it is the fact that Rabbi Kaduri was a kabbalist (Jewish mystic) who spent a lifetime mastering practices expressly forbidden in Scripture. But that's not the worst of it.

The worst part is that the rabbi made a number of comments about things he claimed the Messiah revealed to him, and they absolutely do not line up with Scripture. Not even close. It is abundantly clear to anyone who exercises a minimal amount of biblical discernment that Rabbi Kaduri no more met the real Messiah—Jesus Christ, the Son of God—than the man on the moon.

But what really disturbs me is the fact that someone like Carl Gallups must be fully aware of this. There's no way around it. He's not that biblically ignorant. He must realize that Rabbi Kaduri didn't meet the real Messiah, because if he doesn't, then he really is biblically ignorant.

Ah, but the books are flying off the shelves...and media appearances on the talk show circuit are probably being scheduled as I write this.

Apparently that makes up for everything.

According to the article, "Both the book and the movie look at Kaduri's many prophecies objectively—neither affirming or denying their accuracy or authenticity."

Objectively. Whew, that's a relief. As long as he's objective. As long as he doesn't affirm or deny anything. That's the ticket. So, no need to get our panties in a wad over whether or not it's biblical, because at least he's objective.

Translation:

Carl Gallups "objectively" dances along the fine line between truth and error, without "affirming or denying" anything. He titillates and tantalizes his readers by allowing them to believe Rabbi Kaduri met Jesus, while artfully never stating outright that he did or did not.

The problem with this is that it lets him hide behind a smokescreen of "objectivity" while deliberately allowing readers to believe a lie. But hey, he never lied to anyone. Carl never tells you the rabbi definitely did or did not meet the Messiah. But one glance at the title of the book drives the message home: "Pssst, hey! Guess what? This rabbi really met Jesus! How cool is that?!"

For Carl Gallups, being "objective" apparently means not taking a stand against something that you know is wrong and dishonors the Lord by deliberately allowing the name of Jesus, the name that is above every name, to be confused with and linked to a demonic entity.

After reading what Rabbi Kaduri said was "revealed" to him by the "Messiah," it is obvious to anyone who has ever cracked open a Bible that the rabbi was communicating with a demonic entity masquerading as Jesus (an entity which interestingly never claimed to be the Son of God), and so everything the rabbi claims about this "Messiah" must be completely discounted as deception. Period. No wiggle room.

But you won't hear that from people like Carl Gallups, who should know better.

I guess it's not seen as a good marketing strategy.

1/20/2014 — From the "Look on the Bright Side" Department...

President Obama thinks the chance for a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians is less the 50 percent, according to an article at the Times of Israel.

Bummer. And even after throwing the full effort of the United States behind reaching such an agreement by April 2014. My, what a disheartening assessment that is.

You know, it occurs to me that it's a pity President Obama is absolutely clueless about the Bible, much less Bible prophecy. It might cheer him up.

After all, the Bible says the chance of reaching a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians (and probably other neighboring countries) is 100 percent. Granted, it will be a false peace that will last for a maximum of three-and-a-half years, but hey, it's a peace deal. And more than likely, it will amount to an enforcement of the treaty U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is frantically trying to hammer out as he racks up some serious frequent-flyer miles between the United States and Israel.

It's a shame that President Obama has never read the book of Daniel, because if he had, he would know that just such a deal was prophesied roughly 2,500 years ago.

So, cheer up, Mr. President. You just might be the tool God uses to work out that agreement.

And it will be worked out—sooner or later, with you or without you.

1/27/2014 — From the "Who Ya Gonna Call?" Department...

Apparently Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas intends to blindside U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry by spurning his herculean efforts to forge a framework agreement for the creation of a Palestinian state. And you'll never guess who he is turning to for help.

Uh, Russian President Vladimir Putin?

Wow, you're a good guesser. According to an article posted on DEBKAfile, Abbas is now seeking to enlist the aid of the intrepid Russian president to find a solution to the diplomatic Rubik's Cube known as the two-state solution—and simultaneously pull the rug out from under the West.

Thanks in part to the unfailing ineptitude of the Obama administration, Putin could once again be in a position to come off looking like the go-to guy in the Middle East—the Cossack in Shining Armor. Much like he did with Iran. Much like he did with Syria.

Rootin' Tootin' Putin. The Vlad-Meister.

The Guy Who Can Get Stuff Done.

Meanwhile, President Obama is no doubt primping and preening for his State of the Union address, his annual opportunity to pretend to be the bold, dynamic leader he fooled America into believing he was. Assuming he can still remember what a bold, dynamic leader looks and sounds like, that is.

So, other than Abbas just wanting to stick it to the evil Zionist regime (read Benjamin Netanyahu, Barack Obama, and John Kerry), why does this matter?

Ezekiel 38–39, that's why.

This is potentially huge in terms of Bible prophecy, because Ezekiel prophesied of a coming Russian-led coalition that would make a fateful decision to attack Israel, only to have their armies devastated by the hand of God. This will be the event that will reawaken Israel as a nation to the fact that He is still their God and their God still fights for them, and will motivate them to return to their covenant relationship with Him.

And that, my friends, is what Daniels's 70th Week—the Tribulation—is all about.

That's why every news item I read that speaks of Russian President Vladimir Putin taking a more prominent role in Middle Eastern affairs, particularly in relationship to Israel, makes Ezekiel's prophecy come more clearly into view.

And those of us who are convinced that the Rapture will occur before the fulfillment of Ezekiel 38–39 feel one step closer to home.

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2/3/2014 — In recent remarks, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry suggested that if current peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians break down and fail to lead to an agreement, it could lead to increased international boycotts against Israel and serve to fuel a growing movement to delegitimize the Jewish state. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wasted no time in rejecting Kerry's remarks, which were construed by many Israeli officials as a not-so-thinly veiled threat.

So, you see what this is coming down to. It's coming down to arm-twisting and diplomatic blackmail by the West to force Israel to give up significant portions of its land and divide the city of Jerusalem to create a Palestinian state for a pack of rabid dogs who seek nothing less than the total annihilation of Israel.

And if the "peace" talks fail, of course, the sum total of the blame will be placed squarely on the shoulders of Israel, and the flames of delegitimization will burn all the more fiercely.

Many in Israel are staunchly resisting Kerry's insinuations, claiming that Israel will manage to get by in spite of boycott efforts, and that Israel will not negotiate with a gun pointed to its head.

But that is precisely what the West is doing—putting a gun to Israel's head like a mugger in a dark alley and saying "Your land or your life!"

I know two things for certain, based on God's Word: (1) Israel will survive this and any other effort to delegitimize it, and (2) this will end badly for the United States. Last time I checked, none of the prophetic warnings to those who attempt to divide the land of Israel or the city of Jerusalem had been rescinded or revoked.

Students of Bible prophecy—watchmen on the wall—have been sounding the warning for some time, praying that someone will listen.

America, don't say you weren't warned.

2/10/2014 — From the "What's on TV Tonight, Honey?" Department...

Well, if you have the misfortune of living in Iran, it's an assortment of soap operas, speeches by the Supreme Leader, documentaries, talk shows, speeches by the Supreme Leader, news programs, and...oh wait, what's this? A video showing a simulated attack on the Zionist regime? I'll make some popcorn!

Iranian state TV aired the 11:35 video, which can be viewed in an article posted on the Jerusalem Post website, to mark the 35th anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The video graphically depicts a devastating attack on Israel as well as American naval vessels.

The video starts out with drones taking reconnaissance photos, and proceeds to missile attacks on various key points within major Israeli cities such as Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Jerusalem, including Ben Gurion International Airport, the Knesset, a nuclear power plant, etc. Then it moves on to missile attacks on American nuclear aircraft carriers which have apparently sashayed into the Persian Gulf to recklessly threaten the peace-loving Iranian people.

Complete with the sounds of explosions and wailing sirens, the video no doubt got two thumbs up from Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei.

The one thing they neglected to do, however, is mention the Author's name in the credits:

This is a Russian-led coalition including Iran (Persia), and the video features the evil device they are devising.

Oh, and they also neglected to mention the supporting cast, which includes the United States as one of the young lions.

2/17/2014 — From the "Read the Fine Print" Department...

Anyone planning to rent an apartment in Jerusalem these days had better do just that, because according to an article from Yahoo News an increasing number of rental contracts in the Jerusalem area stipulate that the tenants must move out in the event of the arrival of the Messiah.

Conditions and clauses vary, ranging from requiring the tenants to vacate the premises immediately to giving them two or three months notice to requiring them to move into and limit themselves to one part of the dwelling to make room for the owner and his family—who, of course, would want to immediately return to live in the holy city to enjoy the era of peace and prosperity they believe the Messiah will usher in.

In my article You Got That Right, I mentioned an uptick in Messianic buzz that would probably follow the death of former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on January 11 of this year due to an alleged prophecy given by the late Rabbi Yitzhak Kaduri, who predicted that the Messiah would emerge shortly after Sharon's death.

Well, it's starting...although I admit this article caught me by surprise.

Some contracts even have details about resolving disagreements over the identity of the Messiah. According to Jerusalem real estate agent Sarah Eiferman, "When he comes, we'll know. It's in the Old Testament."

Yes, Ms Eiferman, it is in the Old Testament. But it may not be the way you and millions of other Jewish people envision it:

Yes, Ms Eiferman, you will know the Messiah when He comes, because He will still have the scars He received when He came to your people the first time.

That's how you will know.

But then again, Ms Eiferman...

Maybe you won't know.

2/24/2014 — From the "Creative History" Department...

The Palestinians are once again stridently insisting that they will never give up a single grain of sand of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which sits atop the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. In an article posted on the Arutz Sheva news website, Sheikh Ikrima Sabri, Imam (head honcho) of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, claims that Al-Aqsa is a "red line" not just for the Palestinians, but for the entire Arab/Muslim world.

This, of course, is nothing new. This merely reinforces the status quo that has existed for decades. One amusing aspect of this particular story, however, was that the Imam claims that King Solomon was a Muslim. Solomon was the son of David, Israel's second (after Saul) and arguably greatest king. And just to be clear, not only does the Bible document the kings of Israel, but secular history supports these facts as well.

Just so you know... There has never been one single archaeological finding or excavation that has ever disproved the biblical account of anything. In fact, the exact opposite is true. Time and time again, archaeological findings confirm or at least lend support to the historical accuracy of the Bible. But prove it wrong? Not yet. And I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you.

But King Solomon a Muslim? I couldn't pass that one up. That makes about as much sense as claiming that Confucius was from Cleveland. Or that Thomas Jefferson was Nigerian.

This is one of the stories to follow, however, as far as end-time prophecy is concerned—the rebuilding of the temple. There will be a rebuilt temple ready for operation by the midpoint of the Tribulation, which means the first three-and-a-half years of the seven-year Tribulation is presumably when it will be rebuilt.

There's really no way around this, according to the book of Daniel. I don't care how many treaties or two-state solutions they come up with—no temple, no Tribulation. It will be rebuilt, and Jews have traditionally insisted that it must be built on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. There are, however, those who believe it will be built in Shiloh, 20 km to the north of Jerusalem. I've heard the arguments, but I remain on the fence.

All I know is that talk of the Tribulation is premature until you hear talk of rebuilding the temple.

But that's exactly what people are talking about more and more these days. Stay tuned.

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3/3/2014 — From the "Like I Care" Department...

Vladimir Putin must be quivering in his boots right about now, after President Barack Obama sternly warned that there would be "costs" to military intervention in Ukraine. In an article from Yahoo News, Obama warned that he will side with the international community in its condemnation of any violation of Ukraine's sovereignty.

Which, uhm, appears to be underway as we speak.

Bad Vlad. No biscuit.

Vladimir Putin is prepared to do whatever is necessary to suck Ukraine back into orbit around Planet Mother Russia, an eventuality that the Ukrainian people are evidently prepared to die fighting to prevent.

Been there—ain't goin' back. Done that—ain't doin' it again.

In reality, I suspect that Vladimir Putin is relishing yet another opportunity to expose the West's (read Obama's) impotence and irrelevance in the face of Russia's (read Putin's) might, as there is absolutely no indication whatsoever that Putin is going to do anything besides what he jolly well pleases. And right now, that would seem to include the reestablishment of a new improved version of the old Soviet Union.

The coming war prophesied in Ezekiel 38–39 has Russia leading a coalition of Muslim countries in an attack against Israel to "take a spoil." So as Russia, in the person of Vladimir Putin, grows in power and influence in the Middle East, this prophecy is coming more clearly into focus.

And as Russia grows ever thirstier for increased supplies of oil and gas and increased control over those supplies, it is increasingly obvious what those "spoils" Ezekiel referred to will be.

3/10/2014 — From the "Catch Me If You Can—Oops, You Caught Me" Department...

Israel has captured an Iranian ship loaded with missiles that were most assuredly meant to end up in the hands of Hezbollah terrorists. In an article in the Jerusalem Post, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu openly called on America's European Union policy chief Catherine Ashton, who is in Iran for a landmark visit, to confront Iranian leaders about such flagrant violations of international policy.

Violations that, according to Israeli leaders, clearly reveal the true face Iran.

Violations that, according to Iranian leaders, are all Israeli lies meant to defame their peace-loving country.

What typically happens (and has been happening for some time) is that weapons are smuggled out of Iran, get juggled around from ship to ship and port to port in an elaborate shell game, eventually get unloaded in Egypt, and are ultimately smuggled into Gaza through underground tunnels. And it doesn't always get much media attention, but Israel routinely catches and stops them at various points in the process.

The Iranians think they're pretty smart, but they're no match for Israeli intelligence, which tracks all this step by conniving step on a routine basis.

So this is not an isolated incident. It is however, a well-timed one, and clearly meant to bring international pressure to bear on Iranian leaders at an opportune moment.

With the West falling head over heels for Iran's smiley-face diplomacy while it is patently obvious the Iranian regime is plunging full speed ahead with its program to annihilate Israel, the Jewish state no doubt feels compelled to call attention to what the regime is doing.

And the way the United States and the world turns a blind eye to Iran's murderous, thinly-veiled schemes, one can hardly blame Israel.

File this under "Shadows of Ezekiel 38–39."

3/17/2014 — They say that the clinical definition of insanity is to repeat the same action and expect different results. That being the case, then the current peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians are a textbook example of clinical insanity.

Israel has long demanded that the Palestinians recognize Israel as a Jewish state. The Palestinians have long refused to do so. These are non-starters for both sides, and both sides are fully aware of it. Israel will never agree to a two-state solution that doesn't recognize Israel as a Jewish state, and the Palestinians will never agree to recognize Israel as such.

And yet the peace talks continue.

And just to drive the point home for the umpteenth time, according to an article at the Times of Israel, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas is in Washington bending President Obama's ear and telling him point blank that he will—surprise—never recognize Israel as a Jewish state.

Oh, but he will agree to extend the peace talks if Israel gives in to Palestinian demands for a settlement freeze and the release of many more Palestinian terrorists from Israeli prisons than are currently set to be released in two weeks.

Just like last time. And the time before that.

Repeat the same action, expect a different result: insanity.

The much ballyhooed nine-month round of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks sponsored and hyped by President Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry are set to come to a climax next month, and if you have not already done so, you can start holding your breath right about now. To me, the question isn't whether they will come to an agreement. I don't think it makes any difference, and here's why:

If Barack Obama and John Kerry put a gun to the head of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to force him to accept an agreement that doesn't recognize Israel (which is just about what it would take), the whole thing will probably collapse and result in war. On the other hand, if he refuses to accept such a deal, the whole thing will probably collapse and result in war.

So, there's good news and bad news. The bad news is that there is an excellent chance that there will soon be war in the Middle East—war involving numerous Arab countries attacking Israel—the same script for every major Middle Eastern war in the last century.

The good news is that there is a God in heaven who fights for His people—the script for every Israeli victory since the days of Moses.

3/24/2014 — From the "Easy as One, Two, Three" Department...

Oh hey, here's some news from Washington. Gosh, I sure hope everything is going OK with that peace process thing with Israel and the Palestinians. I know how hard President Obama and Secretary of State Kerry have been working to bring the two sides together to reach a historic framework agreement that will be a shiny gold star on the president's track record and may win the Nobel Peace Prize for John Kerry (after all, Obama already got his).

Wait, what's this?! You mean...now Washington is afraid the peace talks will collapse!? Oh, no! Say it ain't so!

Sorry. It's just that all of this is about as hard to predict as tomorrow's sunrise. An article at the Times of Israel reports that Washington is "very concerned" that the current peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians will collapse, and is working very hard to twist Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's arm to force him to release even more jailed Palestinian terrorists (or jump through some other equally unsavory hoop) to ensure that the peace talks can be extended beyond their April deadline.

Of course, Mahmoud Abbas has been doing his part in trying to ensure the success of the peace talks by going to Washington and emphatically reiterating the Three Nos:

1. No recognition of Israel as a Jewish state.

2. No abandoning of the Palestinian demand for the "right of return," a demand that would allow Israel to be flooded with millions of Palestinians and their descendants.

3. No "end of conflict" agreement, which would state that the Palestinians would end their attacks and make no further demands on Israel.

Now that's what I call a partner for peace. In his mind, it's as easy as one, two, three. Give us everything we want while we give you nothing, and then we can discuss peace.

Seriously. The only question in my mind is how quickly and how dramatically the talks will collapse and explode into regional conflict. When (not if) it does, the only question is whether it will evolve into:

1. The conflict described in Psalm 83.

2. The conflict described in Ezekiel 38–39.

3. Something else that will lead up to one of the above.

It's as easy as one, two, three.

3/31/2014 — From the "Adding Insult to Injury" Department...

Now the Palestinians are insisting that Jews don't even have the right to pray at the Western Wall.

In an insulting, antagonistic announcement that redefines effrontery, two Palestinian Authority officials are now claiming that the entire retaining wall that surrounds the Temple Mount in Jerusalem is an intrinsic part of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound (that occupies the same area where two previous Jewish Temples have stood). And since the entire retaining wall is an intrinsic part of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, it should be off-limits to all non-Muslims. That is, Jews.

Of course, a small section of that retaining wall is known to Jews as the Western Wall (aka the Wailing Wall), which has been the only part of the entire Temple Mount where Jews have been able to pray since they recaptured East Jerusalem in the Six Day War in 1967. As such, it is essentially the holiest spot on earth for Jews today. At least it's the holiest spot on earth where they are allowed to go.

Not only does this redefine effrontery, it reveals with stark clarity the true intentions of the Palestinians—as if those intentions needed any further revelation. One more time:

The Palestinians do not want peace with Israel.

The Palestinians do not want a two-state solution with Israel.

The Palestinians want no more Israel.

Up to this point, one might have thought the Palestinians merely wanted to sabotage the peace process. One might have thought they merely wanted to force the UN to get involved in the establishment of their state after the inevitable collapse of the American-brokered charade euphemistically referred to as the "Arab-Israeli peace talks."

But no...they want more. Nothing less than the delegitimization and destruction of Israel and the annihilation of the Jews will satisfy them.

They want it all—and they are waiting for the world to hand it to them on a silver platter.

Of course, this is no secret. Anyone who knows anything at all about the Bible or the Middle East is well aware of this. But what's different this time around is the way it's being thrust in the world's face. It's becoming more open, more public, more emphatic...and apparently more newsworthy.

You can believe me when I say that the Jews will never give up the Western Wall. Period. They will go to war first.

After all, that's how they got it back in the first place 47 years ago.

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4/7/2014 — From the "Told Ya So" Department...

No doubt inspired by the recent release of the movie Noah, students at England's Leicester University apparently did something that the producers of the multimillion-dollar Hollywood blockbuster failed to do.

The took 10 minutes to actually read the biblical account of Noah's ark and the flood.

According to a story from The Blaze website, a group of graduate students in the Department of Physics and Astronomy sat down to do some calculations, and came to the studied conclusion that it could have been done...just as described in the Bible.

The students calculated that a wooden ship of the dimensions given in the biblical account (Genesis 6–8) would have easily been able to carry two each of the roughly 35,000 species other researchers have postulated Noah took on board.

One of the students made the following comment:

"You don't think of the Bible necessarily as a scientifically accurate source of information, so I guess we were quite surprised when we discovered it would work. We're not proving that it's true, but the concept would definitely work."

They were surprised. They didn't think it would work. They don't think of the Bible as a "scientifically accurate source of information" (in other words, everybody knows it's just a bunch of fairy tales). They are not proving it's true (heaven forbid), they're just proving that the biblical account is...uhm, more or less, you know...

Let me help you out: scientifically accurate.

In other words, in the last days people will mock those who believe God, and will consciously, deliberately remain ignorant of the fact that God sent His judgment in the form of a flood.

Feel free to stop me when any of this starts to sound familiar.

4/14/2014 — There is nothing about this news item that surprises me, I just think the timing is eerily significant.

So, here we are on the eve of the infamous blood moons—the first of four consecutive total lunar eclipses that all fall on Jewish holy days—and the Bible prophecy world is giddy with anticipation. The much-hyped peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians lie in shambles with apparently no hope of progress, let alone success. Russia is on the brink of devouring Ukraine, thus expanding its power and influence in preparation for its role in end-time prophecy. It is conceivable that Iran already possesses breakout capability in its quest for a nuclear weapon. Earthquakes are off the charts.

It's not hard to see that the trajectories of numerous prophetically significant trends are converging, and so the timing of this news item struck me as interesting. According to an article on the website of the American Bible Society, its annual survey reveals that there are now equal percentages of Americans who are "engaged" with the Bible as there are who are "skeptical" of it. And the percentage who are "skeptical" has nearly doubled since 2011.

Just to be clear:

The survey defines people as "Bible engaged" if they (a) believe the Bible is the actual or inspired Word of God with no (or possibly some) factual errors, and (b) read the Bible daily or at least four times a week.

People are defined as "Bible skeptics" if they selected the most negative or non-sacred view of the Bible from five options, saying they believe the Bible is just another book of teachings written by men, containing stories and advice.

According to the 2014 survey, 19 percent of Americans are Bible engaged, and 19 percent are Bible skeptics. In 2011, 20 percent were Bible engaged and only 10 percent were Bible skeptics. According to the survey, the biggest increase comes from millennials, or young adults between the ages of 18 and 29.

"For the time will come..."

I think it's here.

4/21/2014 — From the "Squeal Like a Pig" Department...

You may be kissing bacon, pork and ham goodbye before too long at this rate. According to an article on the CBS Detroit website, a deadly virus is seriously impacting pigs in the United States. It is called Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea (PED) and it is spreading at an alarming rate.

According to the article, it's not really a food safety issue since most pigs get it at some point during their lives, but older pigs normally recover. Unfortunately, it's almost always deadly for piglets under a month old. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the virus has already reduced the pig herd by three percent, and it's likely to get worse. Oh, and the virus thrives on cold temperatures, so this winter was especially hard on pigs.

Experts estimate that pork production will fall about seven percent this year, which will translate to price increases for pork products of about 10 to 20 percent.

Apparently this is just the tip of the iceberg—just one more in a series of problems that will cause food prices to skyrocket in coming years. All over the United States and the world, adverse weather conditions, drought, pestilences, etc. are wreaking havoc on crops and livestock, and consumers are in for the shock of their lives as some reports are indicating that food prices could double in the next five years.

Why is this happening?!

It is clear to students of Bible prophecy that we are entering into the ramp-up towards the Tribulation, and one aspect of this is described in Revelation (and this is apparently in the first half of the Tribulation, before things really get out of hand):

This speaks of severe famine—of a time when it will essentially require all your resources just to feed your family. Famine such as the United States has never known.

But that's where we are headed, and it will probably only accelerate.

One of the purposes of the Tribulation is for God to pour out His judgment on the nations that have persecuted His people Israel, and over the last few decades, the United States has succeeded in placing herself on that list.

And I guess we thought God wouldn't notice.

One type of judgment sent by God is one in which He simply lowers His hedge of protection, sometimes known as an "abandonment judgment." It's not like He's hurling lightning bolts from the heavens, but His judgment is felt nonetheless.

And our clueless leaders continue to slap Israel around like a naughty child.

I think God notices.

4/28/2014 — From the "Remind Me Again Why God Is Judging America" Department...

According to an article posted on MSN.com, apparently an anonymous family is suing a New Jersey school district because the Pledge of Allegiance contains the words "under God." Thus, it discriminates against atheist children.

Yes, they actually used the words "atheist children."

As a side note, I actually wish someone would survey several hundred random children between the ages of five to seven or so, and see how many identify themselves as "atheists." It might prove enlightening.

The official version of the Pledge of Allegiance reads as follows:

I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

When I was a kid in school, I still recall how each morning at the beginning of class, we would all stand beside our desks, face the American flag that hung at the front of the classroom, place our right hands over our hearts, and recite this as a group. We knew it by heart. And in our young minds, it meant something.

We knew America was special—we were under God. It meant He protected us, and made us strong. We could depend on the fact that America stood for what was right. After all, we were under God. How many other countries could say that? Of course, we didn't know, but that's how it made us feel.

But now we have atheist kids. Kids who are offended at the mere mention of God's name (at least their parents are), and so we need to eradicate it. We need to scrub every trace of God from our society because a handful of militant atheists are offended by the mention of something they claim not to believe in.

And that's exactly what we are doing, step by politically correct step.

I weep for my country, because God is giving us exactly what we have made it clear that we want—a country without God. Look around. God is steadily removing His hedge of protection from a once great nation. It's coming down, bit by bit.

And we are reaping the whirlwind.

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5/5/2014 — From the "Is the Pope Catholic?" Department...

According to an article at the Times of Israel, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is kicking off a push to create a new Basic Law, as they are called in Israel (more or less the Israeli equivalent to a constitutional amendment). And, shocker of shockers, you'll never guess what this new Basic Law says:

Israel is the Jewish nation.

As a matter of historical record, the original UN resolution passed on November 29, 1947 called for the establishment of a Jewish state in Israel. That became a reality on May 14, 1948, and so Israel has never been anything but the Jewish state by definition. It reminds me of the old comeback "Is the pope Catholic?"

So why this? Why now?

Netanyahu linked the new Basic Law with the Israeli demand that the Palestinians recognize Israel as the Jewish nation, which has long been one of the major hull breaches that has sunk every attempt at peace negotiations with the Palestinians—including the recently ended nine-month round brokered by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.

Recognition of Israel as the Jewish state: Israel will never accept a deal without it, and the Palestinians will never do it. I hate to say it's that simple, but it really is that simple.

True to form, Benjamin Netenyahu was quick to point out the obvious:

"There are of course those who do not want the State of Israel to be defined as the nation-state of the Jewish people. They want to establish a Palestinian nation-state next to us, and that Israel slowly transform into a binational Arab-Jewish state in its shrunken borders."

Of course, he is 100 percent correct. It seems that not only the Palestinians, but the entire world is bent on seeing Israel get washed away in the drive to establish a Palestinian state—subsumed in a flood of Palestinian refugees, and eventually drained and weakened to the point where it can be totally eradicated by the Muslim bullies that surround it on all sides.

But I'm happy to report that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob has a message for those who seek to destroy Israel:

And they shall know that I am the LORD. That's why.

And let me remind you of one thing. The more this BDS (Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions) campaign against Israel gains momentum—the more Israel gets delegitimized, dumped on, pushed around and generally kicked to the curb by the international community, the closer we are to the beginning of the Tribulation. I hate to say it's that simple, but it really is that simple.

And by the way, yes, the pope is Catholic.

And Israel is and always will be the Jewish nation.

5/12/2014 — From the "You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet" Department...

According to an article from Gizmodo.com, this past month of April set the record for earthquakes around the world. On the average, the world experiences one or two major earthquakes per month ("major" being defined as magnitude 6.5 or higher).

In April there were 13.

In Matthew 24–25, Jesus gives four of His closest disciples an inside briefing about the last days, and it specifically relates to the future of Israel during the Tribulation, His return to earth at the Second Coming, and the judgments that follow on the heels of the Tribulation.

Jesus had come to present Himself to Israel as their long-awaited Messiah and legitimately offer them God's long-promised kingdom—and He had just been formally rejected by Israel's religious leaders. Little did Israel know that they had just sealed their fate.

Now, their temple, their holy city, and their nation would be destroyed and the Jews would be scattered to the ends of the earth. That is, until the end times, when God would regather them as a nation and then use the judgments of the Tribulation to bring them back into their covenant relationship with Him, and ultimately open their eyes to their true Messiah—the very same Messiah they had just rejected and would conspire to have crucified in another day or two.

Of course, there have always been earthquakes. There have always been wars and rumors of wars. Ditto for famines, plagues, and mental cases who claim to be the Messiah. Many people, however, see the increase in frequency and intensity of these things as a general sign we are entering into the run-up to the Tribulation (not to mention things like, say, the fact that after being dispersed for nearly two millennia, Israel became a nation once again in 1948).

So there's good news and bad news. The good news is that we're not quite there yet. Many students of Bible prophecy (this writer included) believe that although the increase in these general signs are a wake-up call that we are rapidly approaching the Tribulation, the specific wars, rumors of wars, earthquakes, famines, etc. that Jesus refers to here are events that will occur after the Tribulation has started. One reason for this is the fact that this passage of Scripture parallels Revelation 6, which is clearly describing events that occur after the Tribulation has begun.

The bad news only applies to those who reject the gospel:

You ain't seen nothin' yet.

5/19/2014 — From the "Strong Delusion" Department...

It seems Pope Francis is expecting visitors—but not to worry. He'll be prepared to baptize them.

According to an article from Yahoo News, the pope jokingly revealed his willingness, nay, his obligation to baptize little green men from Mars, should they come to our fair planet and request to be beneficiaries of the grace of the Creator.

I'm sorry, but am I the only one whose neck hairs are standing on end after reading this?

There is coming a time when God will allow a strong delusion to be loosed upon the world. It will be predicated by the world's strident refusal to believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and so God will cause the world to believe a lie—and you don't have to be NASA's Rocket Scientist of the Month to see that it will involve the disclosure of so-called "alien contact." I've written about this before, and I probably will again. And nothing has changed.

Except, of course, for the fact that we are beginning to see an uptick in articles like the above.

5/26/2014 — From the "Is the Pope Catholic?" Department...

Pope Francis is in Jerusalem as I write this, talking about peace, talking about a two-state solution, talking about...well, talking. According to an article in Arutz Sheva, Mahmoud Abbas is doing his share of talking as well. Apparently he is bending the pope's ear, whining about how those dirty, rotten Jews are trying make Jerusalem "Jewish."

Seriously.

True to form, Abbas is playing up the fiction that the Jews have no historical connection to Jerusalem, while it is a holy city of paramount importance to Muslims—one they will fight and die for.

The amazing thing is that the world is content to go along with this fiction. People who should know better are going with the politically correct flow and pretending as if there were some substance to this fiction. The pope spoke of the Palestinians as a "state," as if that would help make it come true—as though if one pretends hard enough long enough, this fiction can somehow take on flesh and bones.

Or, maybe it's not so amazing after all. Maybe it's just the continuing fulfillment of Bible prophecy:

Is the pope Catholic? Yep, he sure is.

Is Jerusalem Jewish? Yep, it sure is.

But it doesn't just belong to the Jews:

It belongs to the LORD of hosts.

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6/2/2014 — From the "The More Things Change" Department...

According to an article at Ynetnews, a small town in Guatemala is taking a page from the Nazi's playbook.

A small enclave of roughly 30 Jewish residents call San Juan La Laguna, Guatemala home, and have apparently lived there peacefully for some time. Not long ago, however, it seemed the local residents began to feel uneasy about this small Jewish presence, and asked the mayor to do something.

And like any good mayor, he did something.

The mayor of San Juan La Laguna created a Jewish "registry," designed to maintain a detailed record of all the Jews living in the area. For tourist information, they said.

Then the violence and harassment started.

This is one way in which the Nazis got the Holocaust ball rolling in Europe in the 1930s. It gave them control, and control led to persecution—persecution that culminated in two-thirds of Europe's Jewish population being murdered.

And now (surprise, surprise), the Jews of San Juan La Laguna are being evicted from the town.

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Anti-Semitism is inspired by Satan, because Satan hates the Jews with an indescribable fury. They are the ones who will call upon Yeshua HaMashiach, Jesus the Messiah, to return to save them at the climax of the Great Tribulation. And He will. And when He does, He will defeat Satan and have him bound in the abyss, only to be loosed for a season at the end of the Millennial Kingdom to lead one final (unsuccessful) revolt against God.

Satan will be joined by multitudes of people who will have grown up in a virtual heaven on earth, with Jesus Christ Himself in charge; yet, in spite of this, because they still have a sin nature, many will still rebel against God. The point of the whole thing is to prove once and for all that there are absolutely no conditions under which sinful men can live in peace with a holy God. We must place our faith in Christ and ask for the forgiveness of sin that He purchased for us with His blood to live in peace with our Creator. There's no other way.

Notice it's not even Jesus who binds Satan. It's just an angel. I mean, it's like...

Yo, Michael, take care of my light work for me.

But here's the thing: Satan thinks he can win.

In Satan's overpowering pride and arrogance, he honestly believes he can thwart God's plan. And he knows the key is to destroy the Jews. If he can, then they can't call on their Messiah, and so the Messiah can't return, and he gets to remain the god of this world forever.

Ever wonder why the world hates the Jews? Well, now you know.

6/9/2014 — From the "Speak Softly and Carry a Big Crucifix" Department...

Pope Francis is continuing his foray into Middle East politics by offering everyone a "time-out" from tense, unfruitful negotiations to come to the Vatican to pray for peace. According to an article from Yahoo News, Jewish, Muslim, and Christian prayers were offered at the unprecedented gathering in the shadow of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome on Sunday.

Coincidentally, Sunday happened to be the day of Pentecost for Christians, or the day marking the birth of the Church two thousand years ago.

There are those among prophecy teachers who believe the pope will turn out to be the False Prophet of Revelation 13, who compels the world to worship the Antichrist. Both the Antichrist and the False Prophet—Satan's Dynamic Duo as it were—are referred to as "beasts," the first of which rises up out of the sea, with the second rising up out of the earth.

Now, I can't prove conclusively from Scripture that Pope Francis is going to turn out to be the False Prophet (nor can anyone else, by the way). It is worth noting, however, that if that were the case, then he would need to establish some serious political capital to work with.

I'm just saying.

Oh, and in other news, an asteroid about the size of an aircraft carrier whizzed by the earth on Sunday as well, at a distance of 777,000 miles (a close shave by astronomical standards—and there's that number seven again). And you'll never guess what astronomers nicknamed it:

The Beast.

I couldn't make this stuff up.

6/16/2014 — From the "Previews of Coming Attractions" Department...

The Euphrates River is in the news these days, or maybe I should say the Euphrates Creek. According to an article from TheTrumpet.com, that's just about what this major river has become.

Severe drought? Nope. Natural disaster? Nope.

Conflict between Muslim countries? Yep.

The Euphrates River originates in Turkey, flows through the heart of Syria, and then through Iraq on its way to the Persian Gulf. It just so happens that Turkey has a number of dams on the Euphrates, and they want to inflict damage and suffering on Syria to facilitate the downfall of the Assad regime.

The solution? Turn off the water.

What makes this especially significant is that it is a preview of coming attractions, so to speak. To be precise, it is a preview of the sixth bowl judgment during the Tribulation. There are three series of judgments during the Tribulation: first up are the seven seal judgments, and the seventh seal opens the next series. The second series are the seven trumpet judgments, and the seventh trumpet opens the final series, the seven bowl judgments. So, the sixth bowl judgment comes right near the grand finale, which is the battle of Armageddon.

Obviously, what is happening now is NOT a fulfillment of this prophecy. The Tribulation hasn't even started yet, and this verse is describing something that will happen near the end of it.

But God is giving us a little preview, just to let us know His Word will be fulfilled.

And this is one way it could happen.

6/23/2014 — From the "Well, I'll Be a Monkey's Uncle" Department...

Is it just me, or is the evolution vs. creation debate heating up these days? According to an article from ChristianNews.net, several professors are resigning from Bryan College, a small evangelical Christian college in Dayton, Tennessee because the leadership of the school came out with a statement clarifying their position on creationism:

They actually (gasp) believe exactly what the Bible says!

The school's official statement contains the following affirmation:

"We believe that all humanity is descended from Adam and Eve. They are historical persons created by God in a special formative act, and not from previously existing life forms."

And apparently that was just too much for these fine "Christian" educators to take.

It's amazing when you stop and think about how successfully Satan has infiltrated and corrupted Christian education in America (and the rest of the world has fared far worse). It has reached the point where having the audacity to affirm the truth and historicity of God's Word sets off a firestorm of protest and a cacophony of jeering and mockery.

First off, let it be known by all that I not only wholeheartedly agree with the leaders of this small school, but I also thank God that there are still godly men of biblical integrity out there, fighting the good fight. May God bless and reward them for their faithfulness.

Here's the thing: evolution is a lie. I can't say it any more clearly. It is a lie that has been propped up by more lies by people who have chosen to create their own god, a god called "science." And it's ironic that many who worship at the shrine of science need to be reminded what science is...and is not:

Science is the careful observation of natural phenomena, the formulation of a hypothesis, the conducting of one or more experiments to test the hypothesis, and the drawing of a conclusion that confirms or modifies the hypothesis.

Science is not arrogantly demanding belief and acceptance of a hypothesis in spite of the absence of supporting facts or evidence, and mocking and vilifying those who deign to disagree in light of evidence that clearly points to the falsehood of that hypothesis.

Think I'm just desperately clinging to my silly, unscientific belief in creationism?

Then here's a little tidbit for you to consider—a statement from a leading evolutionary scientist (and I could give you a hundred more just as damning without breaking a sweat):

And yet if you dare to disagree with it, you will be pilloried as a superstitious simpleton.

6/30/2014 — From the "Switch to Plan B" Department...

In the wake of the sudden rise of ISIS, a hardened, radical offshoot of Al Qaeda that has rapidly taken over significant swaths of Syria and Iraq, an interesting twist on the failed peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians is emerging.

According to an article in the Jerusalem Post, Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman is suggesting to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry that perhaps he should forget about trying to negotiate a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians and instead try and help in the formation of a united front of moderate Muslim countries that will be able confront the threat posed by ISIS (with appropriate levels of support from the United States, of course).

The recent emergence of the Sunni terrorist group ISIS has quickly become the focal point of Middle East politics, as the group has already taken over parts of Syria and gained a virtual stranglehold on Iraq, with Jordan as their next immediate target according to experts. Their goal is nothing less than the establishment of an Islamic caliphate throughout the Fertile Crescent (a goal that entails the destruction of Israel, naturally), and it's beginning to appear that the United States could be faced with the unsavory prospect of getting sucked into another conflict in the Middle East—namely to defend Jordan and Israel and God only knows who else from this hyper-militant group that is leaving piles of headless corpses everywhere they go as a calling card.

For prophecy watchers, this is the story right now. Many Bible teachers are scrambling to review end-time prophecies given by several Old Testament prophets to see how this developing threat might fit into the puzzle, and it's going to get much more interesting as we go. Is it possible that this is a big step in the development of the scenario that will give rise to the treaty that initiates the Tribulation? Could that treaty have to do with the confrontation between ISIS and other Middle Eastern countries? Could it morph into the prelude to the fulfillment of Psalm 83?

I have more questions than answers on this one right now. Stay tuned.

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7/7/2014 — From the "Have It Your Way" Department...

Now Burger King is making its true colors known concerning the LGBT community and the homosexual lifestyle: they're all in. According to an article in Christian News, Burger King is now selling Proud Whoppers—a Whopper that comes wrapped in a rainbow-colored wrapper.

The sandwich is exactly the same—it's just a Whopper. The only difference is the wrapper...that advertises your support for the LGBT community. An inscription on the wrapper reads "We are all the same inside."

This is part of an effort by Burger King to advertise their revamped slogan. The company's traditional slogan of "Have it your way" has been changed to "Be your way."

Sigh. Actually, Burger King did get one thing right: the words on the wrapper are correct in every way.

Even biblically.

We really are all the same on the inside: sinful.

And I've got a new slogan to boot:

Be His way.

7/14/2014 — From the "You Go, Dude" Department...

An Israeli infantry brigade commander has found himself in hot water for invoking the name of God in a letter to his subordinate officers. According to an article at the Times of Israel, Col. Ofer Winter, Commander of the Givati Brigade, sent an official dispatch to his battalion and company commanders in which he asked for God's help and blessing in their efforts against Muslim terrorists in Gaza, who, according to Col. Winter, curse and blaspheme the name of the God of Israel.

When I read that part, I thought...

Yeah! Thank God somebody in Israel has enough sense to know where their true source of strength lies. You go, dude!

In his letter, Col. Winter invoked the Shema, a central prayer in the Jewish prayerbook that Jews learn to recite as children. It begins with these six Hebrew words:

Shema Yisrael, Adonai eloheinu, Adonai echad...
HEAR, O ISRAEL: The LORD our God, the LORD is one...

Then the politically correct reality set in. It seems Col. Winter has been criticized by religious freedom organizations within Israel for turning the military operation into a religious war.

These would be religious freedom organizations that are apparently ignorant of the fact that every single war Israel has ever fought throughout its entire history has been a religious war. And always will be.

Here's the thing: the God of Israel fights for His people. It's that simple. And why does the God of Israel fight for His people? (drum roll, please...)

These so-called "religious freedom" organizations in Israel need to wake up and come to terms with the following reality:

Yes, Muslim terrorists in Gaza curse and blaspheme the name of the God of Israel. But know this: Anyone who doesn't know that the God of Israel fights for His people and then has the politically correct gall to scold a man who does is the one who is effectively cursing and blaspheming the name of the God of Israel.

May God bless and protect you and the men you command, Col. Winter, and may He deliver your enemies into your hand. Shema Yisrael, Adonai eloheinu, Adonai echad...

7/21/2014 — From the "Mission Accomplished" Department...

As Israel's ground offensive continues in the Gaza Strip against terrorists from Hamas, it seems that the real reason for the existence of a group like Hamas is becoming clear: to be used as a pawn to intensify anti-Semitic sentiment in nations all over the world in order to ensure worldwide support for a broader-based attack on Israel by surrounding Muslim nations.

And according to an article in Haaretz, it seems to be working rather well.

This past Saturday in cities across France, thousands of anti-Israel protesters marched and rioted in defiance of a ban on such demonstrations imposed by the French government. At least one car was set on fire, Israeli flags were burned, and dozens were arrested.

Similar events are beginning to occur in other places, and the mainstream media is eating it up and fanning the flames. I have noticed that scarcely a day goes by that CNN fails to feature images of crying and/or injured Palestinian children coupled with heart-rending captions decrying Israel's brutality.

Of course, there's no mention of the fact that the IDF goes to extraordinary lengths to avoid civilian casualties under any circumstances, but it's not easy when civilians, including children, are forced to remain in buildings known to be targeted by the Israelis. And how do they know? The Israelis tell them in advance so they can get civilians clear of the building. Instead, Hamas terrorists force them to stay and (hopefully) be injured or killed for the tremendous anti-Israel PR value.

Guess what one of the preferred methods of transportation for terrorists in Gaza is? Ambulances. They know the IDF won't target them.

The battle against Hamas is not the main event. Not by a long shot. In fact, it barely qualifies as the warmup. What is really heating up here is the war of public opinion. Anti-Israel opinion, to be precise.

Make no mistake: the Muslim world has a goal, and that goal is to wipe Israel off the map. It's not a two-state solution, or anything resembling it. These are mere gimmicks that are allowing the final pieces to be put into place for the main show—a major attack on Israel.

So when you see violent anti-Israel protests and demonstrations such as these, and graphic images of injured Palestinian children on the news day after day, and hear more strident criticism of Israel as being a brutal aggressor in the region, understand one thing:

For the Muslim countries surrounding Israel, it's mission accomplished.

7/28/2014 — From the "You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet" Department...

At least somebody in Israel is starting to get it...

Apparently the Chairman of the Bnei Akiva Yeshivas (Jewish seminaries) Rabbi Haim Drucker is one of the few people in Israel who understands the true nature of what is going on with the present conflict between the Israeli Defense Force and Hamas. In an interview with Israeli news outlet Arutz Sheva, Rabbi Drucker said that the current conflict "is God's war, and Israel will win."

Well, yes...and no.

Yes, in the sense that it is, as are all Israel's wars, a religious war. Yes, in the sense that God fights for Israel. Yes, in the sense that Israel will win.

No, if he is suggesting that this is The Big One.

It saddens me to report that the current conflict with Hamas in Gaza is only the curtain coming up for the Big Show. It is the teaser. The warmup. The prelude to The Big One.

This is certainly not "God's war" in the sense that it is one of the end-time battles with Israel's enemies foretold in Scripture. We're not quite there yet, but this could be the spark—the lighting of the fuse, so to speak.

The Bible describes three major regional conflicts in the last days involving Israel, and this little skirmish in Gaza is certainly not one of them.

Trust me, you ain't seen nothin' yet.

Although Bible prophecy teachers parse, arrange, and differentiate them in different ways, we basically have (a) the battle of Psalm 83, (b) the battle of Gog Magog, and (c) the battle of Armageddon. In the battle of Psalm 83, the inner-ring countries immediately surrounding Israel (Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, etc.) come against Israel, and God defeats them. In the battle of Gog Magog, the outer-ring countries (Iran, Turkey, Sudan, etc.) come against Israel, and God defeats them. In the battle of Armageddon, all the nations of the world come against Israel at the climax of the Tribulation. And God defeats them.

I think I see a pattern developing.

I'm being a little bit tongue-in-cheek here, because Rabbi Drucker is actually 100 percent right. It is God's war. And Israel will certainly win.

And people, especially secular Jews living in Israel, may as well start getting used to the idea that the God of Israel fights for Israel.

And as for Hamas, Hezbollah, the Palestinians, the Arab/Muslim world that hates Israel and seeks her destruction, and the liberal Western media that is cheering them on from the sidelines, I have a message:

Deal with it.

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8/4/2014 — From the "Some People Just Don't Get It" Department...

Excuse me while I beat my head against the wall a few dozen times...

OK, that's better. So now thousands of demonstrators are taking to the streets of Washington, D.C. under the appreciative and supportive gaze of one Barack Hussein Obama, and you'll never guess what they're protesting...oh, you guessed.

Th-a-a-t's right. They're protesting the brutal carnage being viciously, relentlessly inflicted by the big bully Israel on the poor, defenseless men, women, and especially children of Gaza. (I say "especially" children because they are the ones who seem to get the bulk of the photo ops.)

According to an article in the Jerusalem Post, thousands of people carrying signs with timely and insightful comments such as "Free Gaza!" and "Stop the Genocide!" marched outside the White House this past Sunday, demanding that Israel pull out of Gaza and immediately stop the aggressive hostilities being carried out on the Palestinians.

Noticeably absent from the article, however, was any mention of signs saying things like...

Stop firing missiles at innocent men, women, and children in Israel!

Quit hiding rocket launchers in schools, hospitals, and playgrounds!

Stop kidnapping and murdering innocent Israeli teenagers!

Maybe they were bringing up the rear.

"And the beat goes on..." The beat of PLT, that is. Palestinian liberation theology—coming soon to a pulpit near you!

8/11/2014 — From the "Start Spreadin' the News" Department...

When Islamic State (IS) leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi walked out a U.S. detention camp back in 2009, he had some parting words for his American captors:

"See you guys in New York."

According to an article in the Daily Caller, those words may have been prophetic.

Now that our intrepid president Barack Obama has effectively conceded that he pulled U.S. troops out of Iraq in politically motivated haste by commencing airstrikes on IS positions, the Islamic terrorist organization is saying what they have been saying publicly for months a little bit more publicly.

The latest word from IS in response to those airstrikes is as follows:

"We will raise the flag of Allah in the White House."

The thing is, as a student of Bible prophecy, I am inclined to take him seriously. Many prophecy teachers are convinced that one of the reasons America apparently has very little significance in the Tribulation and the events leading up to it is because we will be knocked down from our position of global power and influence.

Which is waning even as I write this.

For example, in the battle of Gog Magog, as the outer-ring Muslim countries come in for the kill against Israel, there are several bystanders who do nothing but make statements:

The "merchants of Tarshish" include Spain and England, and the "young lions" include the United States. So, when this goes down, Israel is on its own and the Jewish nation's great protector is on the sidelines, able to do nothing but issue toothless statements.

Now, do you suppose there might be a reason why we can't do anything but issue statements?

8/18/2014 — From the "Please Pass the Holy Water" Department...

Worried about catching the Ebola virus? Well, if you live in Sierra Leone, not to worry. Miracle water is on the way.

According to an article at Vocative.com, Nigerian millionaire and religious conman Temitope Joshua is sending 4,000 bottles of his patented "Anointing Water" to the small African nation that is struggling against Ebola. And not a moment too soon.

Temitope Joshua is just one of a breed of popular religious figures in Africa who prey on poor, uneducated people, dazzling local villagers with phony miracles and equally phony prophecies, such as claiming to have predicted the Boston Marathon bombings and the disaster of Flight MH370.

And he's become a fabulously wealthy in the process. Color me surprised.

God has something to say about such people:

Thousands of donated bottles of "Anointing Water" notwithstanding.

8/25/2014 — From the "They're Here" Department...

So, you don't think Islamic terrorist group ISIS (or IS) is a threat to the United States? You may think again after reading this article posted on the CBS Chicago website.

The article features two photos apparently taken by individuals associated with ISIS, one taken in Chicago and one in Washington, D.C. and an accompanying tweet that reads as follows:

#AmessagefromISIStoUS
We are in your state
We are in your cities
We are in your streets
You are our goals anywhere.

According to terrorism experts, Chicago holds a special place in the hearts of Islamic terrorists because it is "Obama Town." And I suppose the same could be said for Washington.

So far, the goal seems to be to merely send messages that are intended to cause fear and dread in the hearts of Americans; but it is naive in the extreme to believe it amounts to nothing more than threats. A few nyah-nyah-nyah photos and tweets and other such amateurish, juvenile gestures.

These guys are not amateurs.

These guys are not juveniles.

These guys are hardened, well-trained soldiers. They are well equipped. They are very well funded. They are led by intelligent and experienced individuals. They are motivated in a way that resembles demonic possession (and in some cases probably is). They will not stop. They will not negotiate.

And for Americans, they're here.

It remains to be seen precisely what role ISIS is playing or will play in the unfolding of Bible prophecy, but I have a tweet for all who oppose the God of the Bible:

#AmessagefromYHWHtoISIS
I AM THAT I AM.
Every knee will bow,
and every tongue will confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord.
Including yours.
Deal with it.

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9/1/2014 — From the "Be Prepared" Department...

President Obama has no idea what to do about the growing band of murdering fanatics in the Middle East known as IS. He has no idea what to do about Vladimir Putin driving to expand his empire by taking over Ukraine. He has no idea how to get Hamas to stop firing missiles at Israeli civilians. But according to an article in the Washington Examiner, he has an idea how to keep Americans safe in America:

National Preparedness Month.

Apparently the president has announced that September will be officially designated National Preparedness Month, and plans a "PrepareAthon" for September 30 to give Americans a chance to demonstrate how prepared they are for a national disaster.

There is one small thing, however, that keeps me from popping the cork on a bottle of bubbly to join in the celebration of this fun-filled occasion:

God has an exquisite sense of irony.

For example, in 2 Thessalonians, the apostle Paul tells believers that after the Rapture takes place and the restrainer (the Holy Spirit) is removed, the Antichrist will be revealed and God will send a strong delusion so that people who refused to believe the truth will fall for a deception:

In other words:

So you refuse to believe the truth? Fine...I'll make you believe a lie.

Irony of the highest order.

And how ironic would it be for God to allow somebody like IS to launch a series of attacks on American soil during National Preparedness Month? (I don't mean to scare you, but such plans are actually in the works according to experts.)

I'm just saying.

9/8/2014 — From the "Let's Get This Party Started" Department...

It seems that the Islamic terrorist group IS (or ISIS) has managed to make the entire world pee in its collective pants, leaving piles of headless corpses everywhere they go as a calling card—even posting several graphic videos detailing how some of those headless corpses got that way. They have essentially taken over about a third of Syria and about half of Iraq, and they're clearly hungry for more and have world leaders nervously scrambling to slap together a tentative strategy as to how to stop them.

According to 91-year-old former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, however, IS is not our biggest problem. (Wait for it...)

Well, what is?

Iran.

In an interview on National Public Radio, Dr. Kissinger described how the "Shia belt" that runs from Baghdad through Tehran to Beirut will give Iran (who is also Shia Muslim) the opportunity to re-establish a modern version of the Persian Empire, a possibility that dwarfs the threat posed by IS.

In Dr. Kissinger's view, Iran has something that IS doesn't: real military power.

Iran has muscle; IS has moxie.

What I am relatively certain that Dr. Kissinger doesn't realize, however, is that this view dovetails neatly into a current trend in Bible prophecy. In a new book entitled Daniel Revisited: Discovering the Four Mideast Signs Leading to the Antichrist, author Mark Davidson lays out the case for prophecies given in Daniel 7 and 8 having future fulfillments that are currently being revealed and are already underway.

For centuries, Bible teachers have been convinced that all of Daniel 7 and 8 had historical fulfillments. And they did, up to a point. Davidson argues effectively that the historic fulfillments of these prophecies were partial fulfillments that confirmed their future fulfillment, a pattern that is seen throughout the Bible.

Briefly, the first of these events (or "signposts" as Davidson refers to them), is described in Daniel 7:2–4:

According to Davidson, this was fulfilled when the U.S. invaded Iraq, toppled Saddam Hussein, and tried to force Iraq to become a democratic country. OK, so far so good. Next we have the second signpost:

The second signpost, if he is correct, would be Iran flexing their military muscles against IS and essentially having their way in the region—at least temporarily. I'll leave the third and fourth signposts for a later time. (I haven't finished the book yet!)

The bottom line is that if Davidson is right, and I am becoming increasingly convinced that he is on to something, we will see Iran break out and come against IS—presumably in conjunction with other nations, but with Shia Iran really stepping out front and center against the Sunni IS.

Needless to say, we live in interesting times...and they are about to get a lot more interesting from a biblical perspective.

9/15/2014 — From the "Never Again" Department...

Ever since the Holocaust during World War II and the subsequent formation of the nation of Israel, the mantra of the Jewish people has been "Never again!" Never again will they allow six million Jews to be murdered in cold blood. Never again will they allow themselves to be placed in a position where they can be slaughtered by the maniacal, anti-Semitic elements that exist in the world. Never again will they tolerate such an outpouring of genocidal hatred and persecution. Never again...

According to an article in Haaretz, however, it seems that an increasing number of people in Europe and in other parts of the world have different ideas. In the article, British Chief Whip Michael Gove laments that "Europe has forgotten the Holocaust."

Gove states that throughout Europe anti-Semitism is fast becoming "radical chic."

In other words, trashing the Jews is becoming cool. Hip. Trendy. A badge of honor among the in-crowd. An outlet for the apocalyptic angst that is spreading among today's youth like a virus.

Around the world, especially in Europe, incidents involving hatred, violence and persecution aimed at Jews are rising at an alarming rate. Anti-Semitism is alive and well, and making a roaring comeback.

And by default, supporting the Jews makes you a Zionist, which in their minds translates to "warmongering oppressor of the poor, oppressed Palestinians and supporter of the illegal occupation of the land stolen from them."

The only good news is that this is yet one more of the converging prophetic trends that point to the fact that we are staring down the barrel of the Tribulation. Translation for born-again believers: it won't be long.

9/22/2014 — From the "Out of the Frying Pan, Into the Fire" Department...

With ISIS grabbing all the headlines these days with highly publicized beheadings, it seems they have the world trembling in their collective boots. But according to an article posted on Ynetnews, they are not the real threat. The much more serious threat is Iran.

The article argues that the Obama administration and other Western leaders are running the risk of allowing Iran to dream dreams of establishing their own Shi'ite caliphate in the same region now under the sway of ISIS and beyond, only Iran has the muscle to make it happen.

And make no mistake—ISIS has not cornered the market on brutality. Iran and her proxies are no less barbaric than the ISIS cowboys who post their beheadings on the Internet for the world to see. They just don't flaunt it quite as brazenly.

It appears the West is in danger of squashing a comparatively pint-sized, fledgling Sunni caliphate, and in so doing opening the door to a powerhouse Iranian Shi'ite caliphate.

For America and her allies, it would be equivalent to rounding up a street gang that has been vandalizing the neighborhood, and then learning that the Mafia has moved in to fill the void.

9/29/2014 — From the "Why Didn't We Think of That?" Department...

According to Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, the nations that are currently discussing how to defeat the Islamic State (ISIS) are missing one important part of the puzzle—and he was kind enough to point it out to them in comments he made Friday at the United Nations Security Council.

The secret to success? Simple.

Well, duh...just wipe Israel off the map.

And the global reaction anticipated by Iran?

(Forehead slap) Man, why didn't we think of that?!

Here's how he gets there: You see, it's actually Israel's genocidal attacks against the poor, defenseless Palestinians in Gaza that are serving as a "rallying cry" for the Islamic State. It is Zionist aggression that is fueling the growth of this evil Sunni caliphate; therefore, if we want to stop it, we need to eliminate what is fueling its growth.

(And make way for the emergence of an evil Shi'ite caliphate.)

OK, he didn't really say that last part, but you can bet your bottom rial he was thinking it. Trust me, the entire leadership of Iran is thinking it.

And as Iran continues its spirited game of "Hide the Yellowcake" with the P5+1, they are relentlessly edging closer to doing more than thinking it.

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10/6/2014 — From the "Dare to Dream" Department...

When they're not busy making videos of themselves beheading folks and generally terrorizing the Middle East, radical Islamic group ISIS is not afraid to dream big. According to an article at the Times of Israel, Abdullah Ahmed al-Meshedani, a member of ISIS's war cabinet, recently issued a manifesto that offers Russia access to an ISIS-controlled gas field in return for "Iran and its nuclear program."

So, ISIS wants Russia to throw a key Middle-Eastern cohort under the bus and conceivably put nuclear weapons technology into hands of a horde of psychopathic cowboys with AK-47s in exchange for a gas field.

In spite of the fact that the story appeared in a respected mainstream media outlet, I actually checked the infamous spoof website The Onion to make sure this is a legitimate news story.

Apparently it is.

This is so disturbingly insane I'm not even sure how to respond to it. It does bring one important thing to mind, however. According to some prophecy experts, the next major phase of conflict in the Middle East will see Iran come against ISIS in Iraq and other Middle-Eastern countries. This is according to a relatively new line of thinking in the field of Bible prophecy that sees the prophecies given in Daniel 7–8 as having a final end-times fulfillment, in addition to a historical partial fulfilment.

Author Mark Davidson outlines this scenario in his recent book Daniel Revisited: Discovering the Four Mideast Signs Leading to the Antichrist, and his basic ideas appear to have some teeth. Although he probably goes too far in his speculation on certain points, it seems there may be something to his basic premise that the beasts described in Daniel 7–8 are in fact prophecies of what has happened, is happening now, and is about to happen in the Middle East.

I will probably have more to say about the book Daniel Revisited in the future, but here's a teaser: the first "signpost" Mr. Davidson posits was the fall and (attempted) democratization of Iraq.

Hmm...OK, so far so good.

The second signpost is Iran's military sweeping out across the Middle East (presumably to defeat a group such as ISIS).

And now Iran is threatening to make a deep attack on ISIS if they set one foot across their border, and ISIS is asking Russia to throw Iran under the bus so they can steal their nuclear weapons program...

Do I have your attention yet?

10/13/2014 — From the "Now They Tell Us" Department...

The CDC (the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) has been reassuring the public since the beginning of the current Ebola outbreak that the virus can only be spread through direct contact with an infected person. Well, that's comforting to know.

What isn't so comforting, however, is a recent article that says this is not true.

According to an article posted on Natural News, the Ebola virus can be (and has been) spread indirectly, via contact with contaminated surfaces, and also through the air in the form of contaminated droplets from coughs, sneezes, etc.

According to the article, the World Health Organization (WHO) along with virologists around the world knew this all along, and know the CDC is lying to the public (according to some, to avoid a panic before mid-term elections in November).

So apparently the doom-and-gloomers like the WHO that are saying the Ebola virus could conceivably kill tens of millions of people in the United States if allowed to spread unchecked are right.

Welcome to the health crisis from hell.

Students of Bible prophecy are always paying attention to trends that confirm what the Bible predicts will occur in the Tribulation and the run-up to it, and one of those trends has to do with disease:

Plagues. Other translations use the word "pestilences." Today, we might say "pandemics." And with the high degree of mobility in the modern world and the progressive overuse of antibiotics that has left mankind at the threshold of what experts are calling the post-antibiotic age in which bacteria are emerging that no longer respond to treatments that were effective just a few years ago, we are sitting ducks.

Sitting ducks in a pond surrounded by microscopic duck hunters—and that are being confronted yet again with unmistakable evidence of the lateness of the hour.

10/20/2014 — From the "What's Ours Is Ours and What's Yours Is Ours" Department...

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is at it again, calling Jews who visit the Temple Mount in Jerusalem a "herd of cattle" less than 24 hours after calling for the complete denial of access to the holiest site in Judaism by Jews by any means possible.

Maybe it's just me, but that doesn't sound very peace-and-security-ish.

According to an article posted on Arutz Sheva, Abbas did a splendid job of displaying his true face for the world to see (for the umpteenth time), pounding the message home yet again that he is nothing but a Jew-hating thug in a business suit.

Abbas makes it clear on a regular basis that he wants a Palestine free of Jews, and he thinks if he whines loud enough and long enough that the countries of the world will come to his aid and do his dirty work for him.

But as dumb as that sounds, it's apparently working.

Abbas' remarks may not sound very peace-and-security-ish, but they sure do sound burdensome-stone-ish.

10/27/2014 — From the "Calling Evil Good" Department...

Don't look now, but an immensely popular author and television personality in Turkey named Adnan Oktar is telling his audience of millions in Turkey and other parts of the Middle East that both the Mahdi and Jesus are walking the earth today. Not only that, but he is in regular contact with djinns that are keeping him informed and up to date on these and other end-time developments.

According to an article posted on WND, Oktar claims the Mahdi, or the Islamic savior, has been seen in Istanbul, and both he and noted Islamic prophet Isa (Jesus) are walking the earth as we speak, preparing to reveal themselves and win the world for Islam with the help of the djinn.

Oh, and one other thing: Jesus, er, Isa will tell the world that he is not the son of God, was not crucified, was not resurrected, and that he is a Muslim. Sorry...big misunderstanding.

Wow, Jesus, thanks for clearing that up.

Djinns (which is where we get the English word "genie") are spirit beings most of us (except for gifted individuals such as Oktar) cannot see, and according to Oktar there are good djinns and bad djinns (the good ones being Muslim, evidently). They are here to assist the Mahdi and Isa in converting humanity to Islam...when they're not busy keeping Turkish TV personalities up to speed, that is.

According to an increasing number of prophecy teachers, Turkey will play a central role in end-time events, and many are becoming increasingly convinced that the biblical Antichrist will emerge from that country. Some are also speculating that Islamic terrorist group ISIS is merely a Turkish proxy, and is secretly being funded and protected by the Turkish government and is being used to bait their enemy Iran into an attack that will give a Turkish coalition an excuse to destroy them.

Of course, it is clear to biblically knowledgeable Christians that Islam's Mahdi (wherever he comes from) and prophet Isa are none other than the Bible's Antichrist and False Prophet, respectively.

And the spirit beings known as djinns? I'll give you a hint:

They're not angels.

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11/3/2014 — From the "Here We Go Again" Department...

Been there, done that. Same old song and dance. It's that time of year again. Some things never change. Same old same old. Round and round we go.

Here we go again.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is all set to announce (surprise!) a proposal to start a new round of peace talks with Israel and the Palestinians immediately after midterm elections on Tuesday, according to an article in the Jerusalem Post.

One might wonder why the Obama administration would specifically wait until right after midterm elections to make such an announcement. That's a very good question. Well, call me crazy, but I think I can help you out with that one:

After the Democrats get their clocks cleaned on Tuesday by voters who are sick to death of anything that even smells like a Democrat, Team Obama is in the clear. No more pesky elections to worry about. No more pretense of playing nice to Israel to woo wealthy Jewish supporters in the U.S.

In other words, the next sound you hear coming from Washington will be the sound of gloves being removed.

It appears that the Obama administration will be free to run roughshod over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and ram a bad deal down Israel's throat—or maybe I should say deals, plural: a bad "peace" deal with the Palestinians that will attempt to force Israel back to the 1967 borders with a cattle prod, along with an even worse deal with Iran in regard to their nuclear weapons program, which continues unabated in spite of all the rhetoric.

Tensions in Jerusalem are already near fever pitch due to recent violence on the Temple Mount, and there are certain senior Israeli officials who seem to be stiffening in their resolve to change the status quo in regard to establishing greater Jewish control over the holiest site in Judaism.

Not to mention the vulgarity-spewing tensions that are boiling over between the Obama administration and the Israeli government over settlement activity around Jerusalem.

And the burdensome stone gets a little more burdensome with each passing day.

11/10/2014 — From the "Get With the Program" Department...

It seems the arm-twisting being applied to Israel to cave in to demands for a Palestinian state is getting ramped up to unprecedented levels in recent days. According to an article in the Jerusalem Post, a number of other major European nations are falling in line with Sweden's recent announcement and are reportedly mounting initiatives to unilaterally recognize a Palestinian state, or at least are beginning to seriously consider such initiatives.

The sentiment expressed by one senior European official in the Wall Street Journal seemed to encapsulate the growing feelings of an increasing number of countries:

We're not going to wait forever.

So, in that case, I suppose Israel had better hurry up and get with the program, huh? I guess they'd better man up and help the Palestinians form a state that will cut Israel into two indefensible parts, and split their eternal capital of Jerusalem in half and relinquish the holiest site in all of Judaism to a pack of bloodthirsty mongrels.

Whatever kind of deal is ultimately worked out, and it appears that a deal will ultimately be worked out no matter what Israel says or does, one thing is certain: God's Word says the Muslim countries of the Middle East will eventually come against Israel in an attempt to wipe it off the map. That's the bad news.

The good news is that God is in control and is orchestrating this to bring Israel back into their covenant relationship with Him and to prepare them to receive their Messiah. But there's more good news:

He's not going to wait forever.

Oh, did I mention that the Rapture must precede all this?

Have a nice day. I know I will.

11/17/2014 — From the "My New Hero" Department...

According to an article on the Christian Post website, the Washington National Cathedral, an Episcopal church in Washington, D.C., hosted an Islamic prayer service this past Friday, only to have a woman promptly march right in and brazenly disrupt the proceedings.

And she's my new hero.

Er, maybe I should say "heroine." Anyway, the moment the speaker began the announcement to open the service, a well-dressed middle-aged woman strode across the room and declared the following in a loud, clear voice:

"Jesus Christ died on that cross over there! He is the reason why we are to worship only Him. Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior! We have built, and allowed you here in mosques across this country. Why can't you worship in your mosque, and leave our churches alone?"

By the time she was half through, she was already being hustled out of the room. She didn't resist, but neither did she shut her mouth.

That's my girl.

Incidentally, I found a couple of different articles reporting on the same event. The linked article above in the Christian Post described the woman as a "lone protester," and the quote is accurate if you listen to what the woman says in the accompanying video of the incident.

However, a Washington Post article described her as a "heckler," and selectively misquotes her as saying that "America was founded on Christian principles...Leave our church alone!" They saw fit to leave out the clearest part—the part about Jesus Christ being crucified "on that cross over there." I guess that just cut against their politically correct grain a bit too much.

The National Cathedral's website showered the event with glowing praise, gushing about unity, brotherhood, mutual respect and understanding, etc. The site says the service was intended to be a "powerful symbolic gesture toward a deeper relationship between the two Abrahamic traditions."

The two Abrahamic traditions. What a nice phrase that is. Isn't that just the nicest phrase? Nice, until you stop and think about exactly what those two traditions are in reality.

First, you have the Abrahamic tradition that proceeded through Abraham's son Ishmael—the son of Sarah's handmaiden Hagar. Ishmael, the son of compromise who became the father of the Arabs, a race of people who ended up worshiping the pagan moon god Allah, which in all likelihood is little more than a thinly veiled prop used by Satan himself.

Then you have the Abrahamic tradition that proceeded through Abraham's son Isaac—the son of his aged, barren wife Sarah. Isaac, the son of promise who became the father of the Jews, a race of people who have never stopped worshiping the one true God—the living God who created the heavens and the earth.

And the race of people who gave birth to Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God who was crucified "on that cross over there" to redeem mankind.

Of course, He's my real Hero.

Prophetic significance? Let's talk end-times apostasy. I love the woman who did this, and I literally shouted "Amen!" when I read the article. But later, a disturbing thought occurred to me:

Why was it only one person?

A crowd of pagans bowing in worship to Satan in a place ostensibly dedicated to the worship of God? Why wasn't it a hundred people? And why didn't they chase every last one of them out of there with whips and clubs for such a grievous offense against the LORD?

You laugh, but there was a day long ago when that's exactly what believers would have done, if not worse.

But I thank God for the one.

My new hero.

11/24/2014 — From the "Will the Real Mashiach Please Step Forward" Department...

Last week, four people were brutally murdered in a Jerusalem synagogue—three Jewish worshipers and a Druze policeman. The rabbi of the synagogue, Rabbi Yitzhak Mordechai Hacohen Rubin, just happened to arrive late to worship that day, suffering from a stomachache. As he approached the synagogue, he heard shots being fired and instinctively sought cover.

If his stomach was feeling any better before he arrived, it certainly wasn't after learning of the resulting carnage inside. Two Arab terrorists had murdered the four individuals and then proceeded to hack the bodies into pieces in the grisliest way imaginable. Later, Rabbi Rubin went to speak with Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky, recognized as one of the leading rabbinical authorities in Israel, and Rabbi Kanievsky made an intriguing comment:

"The Mashiach must come."

The Mashiach. The Messiah. According to an article in Arutz Shiva, Rabbi Kanievsky is of the opinion that the murdered worshipers represent a partial atonement for the nation of Israel, an atonement that must be made by this generation of Israelis to merit the coming of the Messiah.

Atonement. I'm sorry, partial atonement. This line of thinking, although tragic in its futility, is significant in its import.

The tragedy is that the Jews remain blind to the fact that atonement has already been made. And not by four ordinary Israeli citizens in a Jerusalem synagogue. By Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God. And not just partial atonement. Perfect, complete atonement. And not just for Israel—for all of mankind:

It's significant because it speaks to the growing mindset in Israel today—Jews are actually looking for their Messiah. The hearts of the Jews are beginning to turn to God in their hour of need, just as spoken by the prophets.

And they will find Him.

The one they pierced. That's why Jesus kept the scars from the Crucifixion.

That's how they'll know Him.

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12/1/2014 — From the "Miss No Opportunity" Department...

Ever since a white policeman shot and killed a black youth in the town of Ferguson, Missouri back in August, angry protests and accusations of racism have been flaring up in the small Midwestern town. Last week, a grand jury announced its decision that the policeman would not be charged with a crime, and the streets of Ferguson erupted in the flames of violence. And now it's going national, but with a curious twist: it's being linked to the Palestinian narrative.

The Palestinian narrative. That would be the fictional tale about how the Jews are illegally occupying land belonging to the poor, oppressed Palestinians. So...FREE PALESTINE!!

No? Doesn't ring a bell? That's OK, just watch the mainstream news. You'll get the idea.

Ferguson-related protests are erupting in major cities across the country, and according to an article on Jspace, a Jewish online newspaper, some of the photos being tweeted around the world are linking the protest to the Palestinian situation in the Middle East.

(Note to protesters: some dots can't be connected, no matter how many signs you carry.)

In cities like Seattle, Oakland, Chicago, etc., people are carrying signs and tweeting things such as:

"Missouri, Palestine, Justice Now!"

"Occupation is a crime, Ferguson to Palestine, Resist US Racism, Boycott Israel."

"No matter who you are, what color skin you have, where you live, we are all in this together! This isn't a Ferguson problem it's a Global Problem! We need change NOW! What happened to humanity?"

What happened to humanity? I think I can help you out with that one.

Satan is missing no opportunity to incite hatred against the nation of Israel and the Jewish people, and the world is falling for it hook, line, and sinker. Again.

That's what's wrong with humanity, Mr. Protester. We are plunging full speed ahead toward one of the most thoroughly documented periods of time in the entire Bible: a seven-year period known as the Tribulation, aka the time of Jacob's trouble.

That would be Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham.

That would be Jacob, whose name God changed to Israel.

And what will happen to the Jewish people, especially during the second half of the Tribulation, will make the Holocaust look like a practice run...because that's what it was.

Satan was just getting warmed up during World War II. Now, the curtain is about to come up on the main event.

Remember one thing:

God loves Israel. Satan hates Israel. So whenever you encounter something that denigrates, disparages, divests, disses, or dumps on Israel, take a wild guess who's behind it.

Ooh, good guess.

12/8/2014 — From the "Bless Me Father, For I Have Apostatized" Department...

Rick Warren, megachurch pastor and author of The Purpose Driven Life, visited the Vatican last month where he spoke at yet another interfaith conference. That's interfaith, as in "Protestants, Catholics, Muslims, Jews, whatever...we all kinda sorta worship the same God, so let's put aside our petty little theological and doctrinal differences, join hands, and work together to make the world a better place."

According to an article posted on ChristianNews.net, Warren used the occasion to call on Christians to unite with Catholics and Pope Francis, the "Holy Father," since "we have far more in common than what divides us."

OK, maybe it's just me, but I've noticed that in these interfaith conferences the call is never for Catholics to unite with Christians. It's always the other way around. Maybe there's just something about St. Peter's (I've been there—it really is impressive). Or maybe there's something in the water...er, holy water.

But whatever it is, it's spreading like a fungus in an NFL locker room. Substantial chunks of evangelical Christianity are falling under the spell of Pope Francis and his talk of "unity of the faith," and are steadily being pulled into orbit around Planet Rome.

There is much speculation about the roles that the pope and the Roman Catholic Religious Organization (RCRO) will play in the end-time scenario (I hate to use the word "Church" for it because it's inaccurate and apt to cause confusion). Traditionally, some have seen the pope as becoming the False Prophet of Revelation 13, some as becoming the Antichrist. Some have pinned the RCRO as the Whore of Babylon of Revelation 14. I won't burden you with the details of such speculations here, but I would like to leave you with one thought.

Rick Warren, along with other luminaries of the evangelical world, are increasingly falling all over themselves to kiss the pope's ring, figuratively if not literally, and blather on about how "Luther's protest is over—is yours?" and reiterate Warren's sagacious observation that "we have far more in common than what divides us."

Really? Well, let's have a look see.

According to Catholic doctrine:

Mary is a divine being, a perpetual virgin, and we can pray to her for salvation as our "co-Redemptrix."

We are not saved by faith in Christ alone. Various rituals, sacraments, and good works are necessary for salvation.

The books of the Apocrypha are part of the inspired Word of God, and teach things such as offering money for the sins of the dead.

I could go on, but it's just too deeply troubling. Oh, and the pope, the "Holy Father," is the physical representation of Christ on earth.

Holy Father. I like that, actually. You know, I have a Holy Father, too.

He just doesn't wear a pointy white hat and live in Rome.

12/15/2014 — From the "Thank Goodness for Free Speech" Department...

You know, there are times when I get the feeling things in the Middle East could play out for a few more years, with the events of the Tribulation still a decade or more in our future.

And then I read a story like this.

Recently at the al-Aqsa mosque, situated on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, a Muslim sheik named Omar Abu Sara got up and made an impromptu but impassioned speech to a crowd of a couple hundred Muslim worshipers. In his vitriolic rant, which you can watch in the video accompanying the Times of Israel article, he made a number of somewhat, shall we say, anti-Semitic remarks. Here's a sampling:

"By Allah, the Jews are the most evil of Allah's creations."

"Oh Allah, enable us to cut off their heads."

"I say to the Jews loud and clear: The time for your slaughter has come."

"Allah willing, we are ready for the task, we and the loyal faithful Muslims, along with the armies of the state of the Islamic Caliphate, which will come to liberate this land from your filth."

"Oh, Allah, hasten the establishment of the state of the Islamic Caliphate."

I trust you're getting the drift here: "Hey Muslims, let's join together and kill all the Jews." Hmm, that rings a bell...

The psalmist Asaph then goes on to list precisely what people groups are involved in this attack—they amount to Muslim nations/people groups that immediately surround Israel.

And the flame continues to burn hotter. And Psalm 83 continues to draw closer.

At any rate, I wonder if this Muslim appreciates the irony of the fact that he has the right to free speech in the only democracy in the Middle East.

I'm guessing no.

12/22/2014 — From the "Three R's" Department...

Time for a pop quiz:

Instructions: Fill in the blanks with vocabulary words chosen from the following list:

astute / conducive / erratic / mosque / pastoral / zenith

1. The responses to Muhammad's teachings were at first ________. Some people responded favorably, while others resisted his claim that "there is no God but Allah and Muhammad his Prophet."

2. The ________ of any Muslim's life is a trip to Mecca.

3. It is entirely possible that Muhammad was as a(n) ________, or shrewd merchant, but at about the age of forty, he gave up his career as a merchant and became a religious hermit.

OK, time's up. Put down your pencils.

According to an article at the Fox News website, if you were a high school student in Farmville, North Carolina, this is what you would have been presented with in a recent vocabulary lesson.

Welcome to Common Core, a controversial approach to educational standards in the United States that has parents all over the country fuming / irate / incensed / seething / outraged (choose one).

First it was math, with bizarre methods of performing simple arithmetic that had adults with engineering backgrounds scratching their heads in bewilderment. Now this: blatant proselytizing for Islam.

You know, Islam: the religion of peace...the one that teaches its followers to murder those who disagree with it in the grisliest way imaginable.

It's bad enough that God and the Bible are being systematically removed from American society and are being disparaged / dismissed / disrespected / deprecated / denigrated (choose one).

But now American tax dollars are being used to replace the Three R's—Reading, 'Riting, and 'Rithmetic—with Reading, 'Riting, and Ramallah. As America distances itself from its support of Israel and her right to her homeland, we are decaying from the inside out. And as we fall, we are paving the way for the fulfillment of end-time prophecy.

Which brings to mind one last quiz question for you:

Multiple choice:

1. Islam is a religion that ________.

a. glorifies violence and death
b. worships Satan, not God
c. is a lie from the father of lies
d. all of the above

12/29/2014 — From the "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" Department...

Things are getting interesting in Israeli politics these days, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently fired two key members of his coalition government: leader of Yesh Atid (lit. There is a Future) and Finance Minister Yair Lapid, and leader of Hatnua (lit. The Movement) and Justice Minister Tzipi Livni.

Elections have been scheduled for March of 2015, and according to many political pundits in Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu is still seen as the front runner in the absence of a clear, viable replacement.

According to an article in the Jerusalem Post, however, one of Netanyahu's challengers, freshly fired Yair Lapid, had something interesting to say the other day:

"We will not divide Jerusalem no matter what happens."

Lapid is a former journalist who in 2012 left his career to enter politics and founded his secular party that supports a two-state solution with the Palestinians, among other things. But since he is seen as supporting the two-state solution, the above comment struck me as interesting.

Challengers to Netanyahu, including Yair Lapid, are seeking to tap into the feelings of mainstream Israeli society, so the above comment suggests to me that there are many people in Israel who have no intention of seeing Jerusalem divided, which in reality effectively destroys anything resembling the two-state solution many say they support.

Apparently Lapid is of the opinion that a two-state solution is possible without dividing Jerusalem, but I'm guessing he hasn't run that idea past Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas.

But whatever happens in Israeli politics in the next few months, it is certain to have serious prophetic ramifications that will play out over the next several years. The time to start paying close attention would be about now.

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