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Friday, September 26, 2014

You Better Know What "Palliative Care" Means!

You Better Know What "Palliative Care" Means! - Belle Ringer - http://www.salvationandsurvival.com/2014/09/you-better-know-what-palliative-care.html 

 
     Get ready for the new buzz word in the world of Medicine and Health Insurance/Provider jargon ... "Palliative Care".  Do you know what it means?  I didn't, but figured it must be pretty important to be at the center of a new report on End-of-Life Care by a 21-member "non-partisan committee" appointed by the Institute of Medicine, which is the research arm of the National Academy of Sciences.
 
      I don't know about you, but I get a little nervous when any "committee" gets together to decide how I should be treated in the latter stages of my life --- especially a group that is supposed to be "nonpartisan" and is appointed to provide guidance and advice to policy-makers.  When the make-up of that committee overwhelmingly consists of professors from university medical schools ... well, let's just say I'm a little suspicious of recommendations coming from academia.  A little real-world experience with actual patients might give me a little more confidence in their opinions.
 
      Nevertheless, this distinguished group of professionals determined that "The country's system for handling end-of-life care is largely broken and should be overhauled at almost every level."  That's a pretty bold statement with serious implications! Among their key findings and recommendations are the following points:
 
*  One out of every 4 Americans over the age of 65 dies in the emergency room or hospital, which results in a burden on hospital facilities and family budgets.
*  The elderly are living longer, often with lengthy illnesses that task family resources and demand excessive time delegated to caring for the patient.
  Most people nearing the end of life are not physically, mentally, or cognitively able to make their own decisions about care. The majority of these patients will receive acute hospital care from physicians who do not know them. Therefore, advance care planning is essential to ensure that patients receive care reflecting their values, goals, and preferences.
*  Although professional guidelines and expert advice increasingly encourage oncologists, cardiologists, and other disease-oriented specialists to counsel patients about palliative care, wide-spread adoption of timely referral to palliative care appears slow.
*  Palliative care services, including hospice, improve patient outcomes and may reduce health care costs by lessening use of acute care services. Changes are needed throughout the health care system to incentivize provision of comprehensive palliative care.
*  Medical schools and groups that accredit and regulate health providers should greatly increase training in palliative care and set standards so that more clinicians know how to compassionately and effectively treat patients who want to be made comfortable but avoid extensive medical procedures.
*  Finally, there is a need for public education and conversations about death and dying.  Americans need to know what their choices are, and the value of Palliative Care.
 
      That's just a quick and incomplete summary of "the panel's" findings.  But, I'm sure you noticed that term "Palliative Care" sprinkled throughout their recommendations.  So, what is it?  The dictionary defines it as:  Specialized medical care for people with serious illnesses. It focuses on providing patients with relief from the symptoms, pain, and stress of a serious illness-whatever the diagnosis. The goal is to improve quality of life for both the patient and the family.  A little more research into the exact meaning of "palliative", and you will find the sense of soothing or calming for the terminally ill.  A little bit deeper, and you will find these terms associated with Palliative Care:  painkiller, sedatives, tranquilizers, opiates.  It's one thing, to consider Hospice Care, when that is the decision of the patient and the family.  It's quite another to consider that Palliative Care is also recognized as a method of reducing the costs of health care.
 
     So, while I agree that too often, the elderly and terminally ill may be subjected to painful, long-term, and expensive care that does not yield a positive result; and that there are times they would actually choose to forego such treatment, it makes me just a little bit nervous that we now have a panel of "health experts" who are recommending that Palliative Care of the elderly be incorporated (and dare I say, mandated) into our health care system.
 
      Even the panel, itself, issued a veiled warning with this recommendation:  "Quality standards and measures are needed to ensure that changes in payment systems, particularly those occurring under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, do not adversely affect quality of care for patients at the end of life."  Sounds like they might be just a tad concerned that Palliative Care could get out of hand and be misused in ObamaCare. 
 
There is a fine line that needs to be walked here.  Would I rather die at home in my bed, surrounded by friends and family, instead of in a cold, hospital environment attached to tubes?  That's an easy answer.  Any policy that allows me to make that decision at the time it needs to be made is one that I could accept.  But to make the blanket statement, "Most people nearing the end of life are not physically, mentally, or cognitively able to make their own decisions about care", lends itself to suspicions that those decisions will be taken away from us and made by the oft-denied "death panel."
 
      And if I have this "Advanced Planning" discussion with my doctor, what are my options for changing or amending those decisions?  Or does that private conversation with my physician become part of my permanent medical records, which are shared with insurance providers and hospital staff, so that anytime I am admitted to the hospital, it becomes potential grounds for determining my medical care (or in this case, lack of life-saving care)?
 
      At what age does Palliative Care become mandatory?  If you read between the lines of these recommendations, you might become concerned about your twilight years.  We all know that our economy is suffering in many sectors, and with our aging population, the exorbitant costs of health care are coming under extreme scrutiny.  And it's not hard to get a little worried, when you read what The Blaze recently reported: "Dr. Ezekiel J. Emanuel, a former Obama administration health policy adviser and the brother of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, said in a recent op-ed that 75 is the ideal age to die, claiming that "living too long" can often lead to a "deprived" state - one that sometimes causes people to be remembered as "feeble, ineffectual, even pathetic."
 
     The last thing I want is "policy advisors" like him to start determining when I might become a burden on society.  So, maybe I'm becoming a little too paranoid, but the way I see it is that how I live the end of my life should be a determination made by myself, my family, and my doctor.  When panels and policy wonks and insurance providers start laying out guidelines, how long before my voice is no longer heard?
 
Leviticus 19:32    "You shall stand up before the gray head and honor the face of an old man, and you shall fear your God: I am the Lord."
BE SURE TO CHECK OUT MY PROPHECY WEBSITES...............................
 
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Police: Woman beheaded at Oklahoma workplace:

Police: Woman beheaded at Oklahoma workplace:
 
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - A man fired from a food processing plant beheaded a woman with a knife and was attacking another worker when he was shot and wounded by a company official, police said Friday.
AP Photo: The Oklahoman, Steve Sisney
In this Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2010, photo, Vaughan Foods President Mark Vaughan poses for a photo at the food processing plant in Moore, Okla. Authorities said Sept. 26, 2014, that a man fired from an Oklahoma food processing plant beheaded a woman with a knife and then stabbed another worker on Thursday before being shot by Vaughan.
Moore Police Sgt. Jeremy Lewis said police are waiting until Alton Nolen, 30, is conscious to arrest him in Thursday's attack and have asked the FBI to help investigate after co-workers at Vaughan Foods in the south Oklahoma City suburb told authorities that he recently started trying to convert several employees to Islam.
Nolen severed the head of Colleen Hufford, 54, Lewis said.

Woman beheaded at Oklahoma workplace

Duration: 1:33 Views: 90k
"Yes, she was beheaded," Lewis told The Associated Press before a Friday news conference.
Lewis said Nolen then stabbed Traci Johnson, 43, a number of times before Mark Vaughan, a reserve sheriff's deputy and the company's chief operating officer, shot him.
"This was not going to stop if he didn't stop it. It could have gotten a lot worse," Lewis said. "The threat had already stopped once we arrived."
Lewis said Moore police have asked the FBI to look into the man's background because of the nature of the attack, which follows a series of videotaped beheadings by Islamic State militants.
In a statement, FBI Special Agent in Charge James E. Finch said the motive for the attack has not been determined but that there is no reason to believe there is a threat to anyone else.
Johnson and the suspect were hospitalized and in stable condition Friday, Lewis said. Nolen had not yet been charged and Lewsi said he didn't know what charges the suspect would face.
Oklahoma Department of Corrections records say Nolen has served time in prison and is on probation for assault and battery on a police officer. He also was convicted of cocaine possession with intent to distribute in 2011.
Corrections records show Nolen has what appear to be religious tattoos, including one referencing Jesus and one in Arabic that means "peace be with you."
Lewis said Nolen had been fired in a building that houses the company's human resources office, then immediately drove to the entrance of the business. Lewis said he didn't know why the man was fired.
A Vaughan spokeswoman said the company was "shocked and deeply saddened" by the attack.
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Why Christians need not dread getting older

Why Christians need not dread getting older - Greg Laurie - http://www.wnd.com/2014/09/why-christians-need-not-dread-getting-older/ 
 
Pastor Greg Laurie emphasizes deeper, sweeter nature of life when one follows Christ
 
I think we would all agree that we live in a youth-obsessed culture today. We are absolutely focused on what youth are thinking and what youth are doing. Even some of those who have been around for a while, like my generation, still think they are young. The anthem of my generation, the baby boomers, was "Forever Young." But we can't sing that anymore.
 
It's funny how we look at age as we get older. When you ask a child how old she is, the answer usually will be along the lines of "3 and a half." That half is very important to a child. Kids in their preteen years will tell you, "I am going to be 16," even though they may be 13 or 14 at the time. Then adulthood arrives, and it is very official. You become 21. Then you turn 30. Next, you are pushing 40. Then you reach 50, and you make it to 60. You hit 70 and then your 80s, when it becomes a day-by-day thing. You hit Wednesday. When you are in your 90s, you hit lunch. If you make it to 100 and someone asks how old you are, you might say, "Well, I'm 100 and a half." You start over again.
 
When Billy Graham was asked what had been the greatest surprise of his life, his answer was, "The brevity of it." I think that as you get older, you really start seeing the truth of this. When you are young, time seems to move so slowly. But as you get older, the years fly by. What? It's Christmas again?
 
Christians do not have to dread the passing of time, however. We do not have to dread getting older, because if we have made the right choices and have walked with God, then we can know that no matter what we are facing, the best is yet to come.
 
That is what we see in the first miracle of Jesus, which took place at a wedding. His first miracle showed us something of great significance. It showed that he had amazing power. Jesus had, at his immediate disposal, unlimited power to do anything He chose. He could supply the deficiencies of earthly resources. At a moment's notice, Christ could meet the needs of man.
 
Isn't that good to know? When things come our way and we wonder, What am I going to do? How am I going to resolve this?, when the boss calls you into his office and tells you that your job has been downsized, when that unexpected bill comes, when your spouse wants out of the marriage, when that loved one unexpectedly dies, when the doctor says you have cancer, it is good to remember that we face an awesome God who has unlimited power. He can change our circumstances. He can do whatever he needs to do.
 
Jesus was a guest at a wedding, where they ran out of wine (which would have been an embarrassment). Mary was there, so she spoke to her son. But Jesus gave an unexpected response: "What does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come" (John 2:4 NLT). Why did he say that? Why did he take this posture with Mary? He was effectively saying, "With all due respect, I am on a timetable here. I am doing the work of my Father."
 
What was this hour that Jesus was talking about? It was the hour of his death, resurrection and ascension. It was the hour when his earthly ministry would be completed. It was the hour when he would take upon himself the sins of the world and would be tortured, humiliated and murdered by way of the barbaric act of crucifixion.
 
He was saying, "Mary, it is not time. When my hour has come, I will do what needs to be done."
 
Sometimes we come to God and say, "Lord, do this thing for me now. When are You going to act?" Maybe we see a corrupt person succeeding. Maybe we see things happening that are not right. Or maybe someone is saying things that are unkind or untrue or even vicious about us. We say, "God, when are You going to do something?"
 
Essentially, God says, "I am going to do what I am going to do when the time is right. Your problem will be solved. The provision will be made. But the hour has not yet come."
 
Notice the response of Mary, which were her last recorded words in the Scriptures. She said to the servants, "Whatever He says to you, do it" (John 2:5 NKJV). So Jesus instructed the servants to fill six stone pots, which held 20 or 30 gallons apiece, with water. When the master of ceremonies tasted what had been drawn out of the pots, he said to the groom, "A host always serves the best wine first. Then, when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best until now!" (verse 10 NLT). God always saves the best for last.
 
On the other hand, sin can appear so appealing at first. Remember Eve in the Garden of Eden? Genesis 3:6 says that "she saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it." There is an initial attractiveness to sin. But then it kicks you to the curb. That is how sin works. And generation after generation lines up and goes down this same primrose path.
 
I've been a Christian for more than 40 years now. Did I miss anything by becoming a believer at such a young age? Yes, I missed some parties. I missed some experiences. But as I look at the toll those things have taken on people of my age group over the years, I realize that I didn't really miss anything. For me, life has only gotten better - not easier, less complicated, or more trouble free, but definitely better, sweeter, richer, deeper and more satisfying. Every day, every month, every year of walking with Jesus gets better and better.
 
For the Christian, the best is yet to come.
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Who is the Antichrist?

Who is the Antichrist?

A Dallas pastor created a stir when he accused President Obama of "paving the way for the future reign of the Antichrist." A Montana GOP congressional candidate caught the nation's attention, when he referred to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as the "Antichrist". A prophecy scholar shocked the scientific community when he announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin is undoubtedly the "third Antichrist" predicted by Nostradamus. Just mention the name of any well-known politician and the Antichrist, in the same breath, and it is sure to generate interest.

By Rick Brinegar

The Man With the Answers

Well-known Bible commentators have popularized the idea that the Antichrist will come onto the world scene as a glib, well-dressed politician with all the answers to the world's problems. Others say that he must be a prominent religious leader or a ruthless military strategist. Whatever his profession, he will be many things to many people, with a message of power, prosperity, peace and brotherhood. With a rock-star-like ascension, he will be received as messianic deliverer by many. He may appear as the Iman Mahdi to some. Others may be convinced that he is Krishna or Maitreya. But to the millions of members of the end time one-world religion, he will be the "Christ".
 

Alive on Earth Today?

In the last days, according to the Bible, this final "false Christ" will rule over vast portions of the world as he blasphemes God and sets himself up in the Third Temple as God himself. He will ultimately reign over his world government for three and one-half years just prior to the Second Coming of Jesus. The most evil person, of all history, will use every kind of wicked deception to fool those who are on their way to destruction, because they refuse to believe the truth that would save them. The convergence and acceleration of fulfilled end-of-the-age prophecies suggest that he is probably living on earth right now.

How will We Know Him?

The Antichrist, who will claim to be God but will actually lead a rebellion against God, is also known by such Biblical names as the Man of Sin, the Little Horn, the Prince Who is to Come, the Son of Perdition, the Man of Lawlessness and the Beast.

The Bible tells us that the Antichrist will come from the people whose armies destroyed the Second Temple. In other words, his ancestors are descendants of the people who occupied the Roman Empire. He will be arrogant and satanically empowered. He will become the preeminent ruler among ten kings or kingdoms, and he will rule politically, economically and religiously. The Antichrist will confirm a treaty with the people of Israel for a period of seven years. He will go out to do battle and will conquer a sizeable portion of the world's population. He will wage war against Christians and Jews, and will attempt to destroy every religion except his own. Most of the world will fall under the scope of the Antichrist's global domination.

A Shrewd Peacemaker

Daniel 8:25 prophesies concerning the Antichrist: "And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many." This passage tells us that the Antichrist will be a skilled peacemaker, but he will use diplomacy to ultimately destroy all those that oppose him. Not all peacemakers are peaceful, and neither can they be trusted.

The Real Deal

Be careful. It is possible to spend too much time trying to identify the one who will be revealed as the Antichrist. The Bible promises a crown of righteousness for those who watch for Jesus' Second Coming, for those who "love His appearing" (2 Timothy 4:8), not for those who are obsessed with watching for His enemy. Currency experts are quick to point out that the best training for identifying counterfeit bills is to become familiar with the genuine article.

Biblically-Credentialed Candidates

Strong types of antichrists have appeared throughout history, such as Hitler, Stalin and Mao Tse-tung. Today, popular culture speculates that the Antichrist could be any one of a variety of well-known personalities, ranging from Hillary Clinton to Al Gore. Here, however, we will consider a few of the more popular candidates who seem likely to have at least some of the Biblical qualifications required to assume the infamous role of the Antichrist. Finally, we will examine one of the public's favorites, although he may not seem to be the most Biblically credentialed contender for the Antichrist title.

King Juan Carlos I, the Best-Dressed

Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia of Spain met Pope Francis for the first time in April 2014. It was an historic occasion, as it was the first time that two Popes had been declared saints at the same time. The royal couple was later treated to a private audience with the Pontiff and his Secretary of State. King Juan Carlos, who turned age 76 in January, was coronated in 1975 after he was hand-picked by fascist Generalissimo Franco to be his successor. He became king of the tenth nation to join the European Union. According to Daniel 9:27, the Antichrist will "confirm a treaty with many for seven years." Juan Carlos has been directly, or indirectly, involved in the Middle East peace process ever since the Spanish government hosted the 1991 Madrid Conference which brought together Israel, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and representatives of Palestine.

Born in Rome, Juan Carlos received the Charlemagne Award in 1982, for his contributions to European unification. He was educated by the Jesuits, and holds the title "Protector of the Holy Places in Jerusalem." Israel urged Juan Carlos to take a leading role in Israeli and Palestinian negotiations in 2001. He visited Syria in 2003, and held talks with President Bashar al-Assad in order to improve political dialog between Damascus, Madrid and the European Union. The Syria Times reported that the royal visit played "a significant role in the dialogue between Islam and Christianity." The United States government has welcomed Spanish diplomacy as a link in the globalization process.

Juan Carlos has enacted political reforms and free democratic elections. Also, he was able to keep the Spanish army in check throughout an attempted coup in 1981, as well as survive the rise of the Socialist Party in 1982. Known for his bearing and elegance, Juan Carlos has been called one of the world's best-dressed men by Vanity Fair. We will see whether his charm will translate into the kind of ruthlessness needed to become a global dictator.

Tony Blair, Middle East Peace Envoy, Interfaith Leader

Former United Kingdom Prime Minister Tony Blair struggled to maintain his standing recently, as he was accused of trying to delay the publication of a report on the Iraq War, which could present an incriminating view of his handling of the conflict. Also, Mr. Blair had urged that Britain should set aside its differences with Russia to fight radical Islam. The speech was dismissed as "embarrassingly simple-minded" by some experts, and led some to question how long he can continue as the West's envoy to the Middle East.

In 2009, the same year that the Chilcot Inquiry into the Iraq War was initiated, Mr. Blair had received a prestigious million-dollar Israeli prize for his leadership on the world stage. The Dan David Prize was awarded to him for "his exceptional leadership and steadfast determination in helping to engineer agreements and forge lasting solutions to areas in conflict." Mr. Blair is an envoy of the international Quartet (comprised of the United States, the European Union, the United Nations and Russia) on the Middle East peace process.

Mr. Blair became instrumental in the interfaith movement in 2011 when he established the Tony Blair Faith Foundation to promote interfaith understanding and research on religion and globalization. The Faith Foundation works toward ending religious conflict and extremism, and uniting faith groups in the struggle against poverty and disease. Advisors to the Faith Foundation include Rick Warren, advocates for HIV/AIDS victims and world Baptist, Catholic and Jewish leaders.

In 2012, Mr. Blair urged the European Union to carry out continent-wide elections for a President of Europe. His proposal was viewed as a further hint that he was positioning himself for the job. In the early stages of the implementation of the Lisbon Treaty, which became Europe's first constitution, Mr. Blair was considered to be a front-runner for the newly created post of European Union President. At that time, Mr. Blair sent his former Chief of Staff, Jonathan Powell, to lobby European leaders to make sure that his name was on the short list of contenders for the position. He was promoted as a superior choice for those who wanted "Mr. Europe" to have the global recognition factor and leadership charisma. The future European federation, which he may soon head, is commonly called the "United States of Europe". It is this European "Super State" that is believed to be the progenitor of the Revived Holy Roman Empire, the future kingdom of the Antichrist. (Daniel 2; 8:25)
 

Prince Charles, "Savior of the World"

BBC News reported in 2002 that a remote town in Brazil called Palmas was to install a giant bronze statue of Prince Charles of Wales. Although the Prince is destined to become Defender of the Faith when he becomes King of England, the inscription on the statue in Brazil honors him as "Savior of the World". As he accepted a scale model of the sculpture, which depicts him with angel-like wings with human bodies at his feet, Prince Charles said that he was "amazed" and "deeply touched". The Daily Mail reported in 2010 that Prince Charles believes that he was placed on earth as a future king for the purpose of saving the world. "I wanted to express something in the outer world that I feel inside." he said. "We seem to have lost that understanding of the whole of nature and the universe as a living entity."

Tim Cohen, in his book, Antichrist and a Cup of Tea, points out that Prince Charles' lineage places him at the head of the Merovingian Dynasty. Prince Charles' ancestry, according to Mr. Cohen, can be traced back to Israel's King David, Jesus, and Islam's Mohammed, as well as the Tribe of Dan and Satan. His coat of arms, in the British system of Heraldry, reveals, according to Mr. Cohen, a literal depiction of satanic imagery, with Prince Charles' power, throne and authority derived from the "red dragon". The beast on the left-hand side of Prince Charles' coat of arms has the head and mouth of a lion, the body of a leopard, and the feet of a bear. Revelation 13:2 says of the Antichrist, "And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority."

Author's note: Cohen says Prince Charles' coat of arms has the feet of a bear. However, in the official description, it states the feet are lion's feet. Cohen later admitted to bending the truth in order to make Charles' coat of arms perfectly match the beast of Revelation 13.

Daniel 9:26 states that the people of the "prince that shall come" were to destroy the temple. Queen Elizabeth has announced that she does not intend to step down for her son, Prince Charles, to become King. If Tim Cohen is correct in his contention that Prince Charles is the future Antichrist, then he must remain a Prince, and not become a King.

Prince Charles has a good reputation among the followers of Islam. The Guardian posted a video of Prince Charles, in February 2014, donning ceremonial dress complete with elaborate dagger, bandolier and bullets, to join Saudi Arabian princes in an annual Janadriyal festival sword dance.

Prince Charles has not always been as popular with some Britons as he is with Saudi Arabs. The scandal about his infidelity with Camilla, the duchess of Cornwall, and rumors of a conspiracy to eliminate Princess Diana has damaged the image of the British monarchy of Windsor. In 2012, only 39% of those surveyed wanted him to succeed the Queen, and 48% wanted to skip a generation and pass the crown directly to Prince William. Then, a 2013 survey by Ipsos MORI concluded that most Britons wanted Prince Charles to be the next King. Prince Charles and Camilla recently celebrated their ninth wedding anniversary and an improved public image.

Abdullah II of Jordan, the Hashemite King

King Abdullah II bin al-Hussein is the supposed 43rd generation direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad. His British mother, Antoine Fe Gardiner, provides him with the European ancestry required for a Revived Holy Roman Empire origin. In a 2003 Travel Channel special, King Abdullah was portrayed as a "man for all seasons", flying a helicopter, appearing in pompous military ceremonies, touring Petra after a camel ride through the desert, cruising on the Gulf of Aqaba, socializing with the common Bedouin desert people and climbing a mountain to a shrine for prophets. Isaiah seems to indicate that the Antichrist may be from Assyria (Isaiah 10:12, 14:25). At its peak of power, Assyria included lands now under the control of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

King Abdullah appears to be playing a role of increasing importance to the Middle East peace process. His official website declares, "Today, the pursuit of peace in the region and beyond - a hallmark of Hashemite leadership - is the cornerstone of His Majesty King Abdullah II's foreign policy." He considers a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians to be crucial for comprehensive regional peace and development. He has also been very vocal in his support of the API, the Arab Peace Initiative, and has signed several anti-terrorism treaties. He has been an advocate for the World Economic Forum and his own G-11 Initiative.

King Abdullah met with US Secretary of State John Kerry in March 2014, in hopes of helping to broker a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians. Jordan has a peace treaty and cordial relations with Israel, and borders both Israel and the area which would make up most of the future Palestinian state. Jordan also contains a large population of Palestinian refugees and holds influence with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. King Abdullah urged Israeli and Palestinian leaders to not let negotiations "blow up", saying the chance for peace would not come again.
 
 

Erdogan, Prime Minister of Turkey, "the Assyrian"

Recep Tayyip Erdogan was once one of the United States' closest allies. He was considered to be religious but secular, powerful but democratic, independent but reliable, and a "role model" for the post-dictatorship Arab world. Then, it seemed that yet another Middle East strongman had turned into a dangerous dictator when he mistreated the Kurds, denied the holocaust, crushed anti-government demonstrators and fired or removed hundreds of police and security officers. Some believe that if the United States bombardment of the Assad regime in Syria had taken place, Turkey could have influenced the structure of any new Syria, and that ancient nation could have become part of a larger Ottoman-style empire.

Erdogan, who denies ongoing accusations of bribery and corruption, could yet fulfill the role of the "Assyrian" king of Isaiah chapter 10. The Antichrist, as we have seen, is called "the Assyrian" in Isaiah chapter 10. As such, he will do the same things the Assyrian kings did. Assyrians are an ethnic group whose origins lie in what is today Iraq, Iran, Syria and, significantly, Turkey. Isaiah chapter 10 seems to simultaneously describe the previous conquest of Syria by Assyrian King Tiglath-pileser and the future invasion of Israel by the Antichrist.
"Yet he does not mean so, Nor does his heart think so; But it is in his heart to destroy, And cut off not a few nations. For he says, 'Are not my princes altogether kings? Is not Calno like Carchemish? Is not Hamath like Arpad? Is not Samaria like Damascus? As my hand has found the kingdoms of the idols, Whose carved images excelled those of Jerusalem and Samaria, As I have done to Samaria and her idols, Shall I not do also to Jerusalem and her idols?'" (Isaiah 10:7-11, NKJV)

Vladimir Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin's behavior fits the role of the King of Fierce Countenance of Daniel 8:23.
"In the latter time [the end time, just prior to Jesus' return] . when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up." (Daniel 8:23)
Putin is known to be "stern-faced". The prophet Daniel also describes the Antichrist as a man "whose appearance was greater than his fellows." (Daniel 7:20) Other translations render this phrase "more stout than his fellows," or "more imposing than his fellows."

The Antichrist will "understand dark sentences". Some translations say that he will be a "master of deception", or "skilled in intrigue". Putin was the head of Federal Security Service, the FSB. (successor to the KGB) The FSB combines the functions of an elite police force with those of a spy agency. The agency still operates from the Lubyanka, the central Moscow building notorious during the Soviet era for interrogations in its basement cells.

The Antichrist becomes powerful, but not by his own power. Putin became powerful, even though he did not rise through elected channels. He had no natural constituency. He owes his political power to Boris Yeltsin.
"The Man Without a Face is the chilling account of how a low-level, small-minded KGB operative ascended to the Russian presidency and, in an astonishingly short time, destroyed years of progress and made his country once more a threat to her own people and to the world..Handpicked as a successor by the 'family' surrounding an ailing and increasingly unpopular Boris Yeltsin, Vladimir Putin seemed like a perfect choice for the oligarchy to shape according to its own designs. Suddenly the boy who had stood in the shadows, dreaming of ruling the world, was a public figure, and his popularity soared." (Penguin Book Review, The Man Without a Face: The Unlikely Rise of Vladimir Putin by Masha Gessen)
In 1999 the "family", Boris Yeltsin and his associates, was under investigation for a variety of illegal activities. Yeltsin was afraid. He was allowed only two terms under the constitution, and he was in his second term. The "family" needed someone in power who could be trusted to prevent prosecution of anyone for wrongdoing. Putin had a reputation for being loyal to "the family". Yeltsin resigned as president and appointed Putin as his successor. As soon as he was appointed, Putin granted Yeltsin immunity from prosecution.

According to traditional translations of verse two of chapter 38 in Ezekiel, Gog is the "chief prince of Meshech and Tubal," ancient kingdoms near the Black Sea. However, the Hebrew word "nesi rosh", which is translated "chief prince", could also be rendered "ruler" or "president". Some scholars believe that "rosh" is not an adjective, but a noun denoting the name of a nation. Therefore, Gog is the "prince of Rosh", or, the "President of Russia".

According to Gaon Rabbi Moshe Shternbuch, the times of Messiah are upon us. "When you hear that the Russians have captured the city of Crimea, you should know that the times of the Messiah have started," said Rabbi Shternbuch, "that his steps are being heard. And when you hear that the Russians have reached the city of Constantinople (today's Istanbul), you should put on your Shabbat clothes and don't take them off, because it means that the Messiah is about to come any minute."
 

Barack Obama, "Messiah Figure"

Finally, we consider the current President of the United States, who has been described as the most polarizing of all American presidents. On February 18, 2008 Rolling Stone Contributing Editor Claire Hoffman posted a blog in Newsweek magazine's "Under God" religious section titled: Is Obama a (or the) Messiah? The blog stated,
"Is Obama the Messiah? People are asking these days and it's not so hard to understand why: the desperate throngs, the tears, the great awakening of a slumbering demographic.The Messiah question is a loud one coming from all corners."
He began his presidency with one of the grandest outpourings of adulation of any president in recent history. Chris Matthews said that the Obama phenomenon was as big as the New Testament. He wrote in the New York Observer in 2008,
"I've been following politics since I was about 5.. I've never seen anything like this. This is bigger than Kennedy. [Obama] comes along, and he seems to have the answers. This is the New Testament. This is surprising."
In 2009, Howard Fineman joked about Obama becoming president of the planet in Newsweek,
"In the rose garden last Friday, Barack Obama, with a deep sense of humility and in the name of all mankind, reluctantly accepted the Nobel Peace Prize committee's decision proclaiming him president of planet Earth.OK, I'm joking. Obama isn't going to be sworn in as planetary president. But it doesn't matter; in his mind, he already is."
When Dallas Pastor Jeffress was promoting his newest book, Perfect Ending, he said, "Although President Obama is certainly not the Antichrist, his policies are paving the way for the Antichrist." He later explained that, "President Barack Obama's policies have 'paved the way' for the coming usurpation of religious liberties and moral law by the Antichrist."

President Obama is distressing to many evangelicals, considering the controversies about his birthplace, his globalist tendencies, his measured support for Israel, his attack on personal privacy and that he has been recognized internationally as a "man of peace". According to the Bible, he does not qualify to hold the title, "The Man of Sin", a.k.a. the Antichrist, but he is certainly one of many antichrists. He operates in the spirit of the Antichrist. He is part of the Antichrist program. The change that he said we could count on has become, according to his detractors, a betrayal of his oath to uphold the US Constitution.

Daniel chapter 9 is generally seen as a reference to the destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem that was built by Solomon.
"And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof [shall be] with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined." (Daniel 9:26)
Thus, the future Antichrist will be the "prince of the people who destroyed the Temple and the City." History bears out that the Romans were the people who destroyed the temple and the city in 70AD. In other words, the Antichrist must come from the region that was the home base of the Romans. Obama claims that he was born in Hawaii.

Although Barack Obama has a very liberal, socialist and anti-God agenda, perhaps his primary role in prophecy is to bring down America, the last bastion of Messianic hope, from the status of superpower to the same level as the other nations of the world. Perhaps, in the same manner that John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus, Barack Obama could be a forerunner of the Antichrist, ready to step aside as a Russian-led Islamic coalition advances against Israel.

Someone Else

It is likely that the Antichrist is on the earth today and could be someone else than those named here? The rapid rise from relative obscurity of such public figures as John F. Kennedy and Barack Obama illustrates that world leaders can be catapulted into the public spotlight in a very short time. Add to this political support, the powerful funding and supernatural evil prevailing in the last days, and we have a disastrous recipe for the fabrication of the final fuehrer of the world.

Jesus came to do the will of God (Hebrews 10:9), but of the Antichrist the Bible says, "And the king shall do according to his will." (Daniel 11:36) In direct opposition to both divine and human authority, he arrives in his own name to do his own will, promising freedom but bringing bondage. Posing as a meek servant, he uses his wealth and power to accomplish his wishes through flattery, bribery, blackmail and coercion.

There is such a lack of spiritual discernment, even among Christians, that the world seems to be ready to be betrayed by a false Christ. When he steps onto the world stage, the Antichrist may attempt to mimic everything that Jesus did while He walked on earth. This ultimate imposter will deceive many, but those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life do not need to be afraid of the Antichrist's delusions. Children of Light, as the Bible calls genuine believers (1 Thessalonians 5:5), will watch soberly for the appearing of the true Savior of the world.
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What If Jesus Came to Your Home?

What If Jesus Came to Your Home? -  Dan Delzell - http://www.christianpost.com/news/what-if-jesus-came-to-your-home-126819/ 

 
You hear a knock on your door. You go to see who it is only to discover the Lord Jesus Christ standing there. Would you open the door? Would you let Him in? Or would you pretend you're not home? (as if the Lord didn't know better)
 
Christianity involves more than doctrine. At the center of the whole thing is a Person. And not just any person, but the very One who created the earth and created man. (see Col. 1:15-17)
 
So if the Creator desired to meet with you, would you do it? You say, "But I don't believe Jesus is the Creator." OK. But say you did. Would you let Him inside?
 
And even if you don't believe Jesus is the Creator, what about the facts of His life, death, resurrection, and millions of followers over the past 2000 years? Wouldn't that make you at least a little interested in talking with Him?
 
You say, "But I don't believe Jesus rose from the dead." OK. But say you did. Would you then want to have a conversation with the Lord?
 
Imagine living on earth 2000 years ago. There were plenty of people who walked right next to the Messiah. They touched Him, and ate with Him, and conversed with Him. And He healed many of them, and inspired His disciples to spread His message to the world.
 
If Jesus had not risen from the dead, it would have been very easy for His opponents to produce His body. No ragtag team of Christ followers would have been able to pull off such a hoax and get away with it. And even if they could have done it, do you honestly believe they would have then gone on to die as martyrs for a faith which they knew was a lie? Not a chance.
 
Jesus lived, died and rose again. That's history. Those are the facts. And it's also a fact that the Lord has been coming to the "door of man's heart" ever since. He does this because only He can forgive man's sin and only He can bring man into a right relationship with the Father in heaven. This is why Jesus is called "the mediator of a new covenant." (Hebrews 12:24)
 
And this mediator is interested in meeting with you in your real home. That is to say, the home that extends far beyond anything man can make. Your real home is your heart. The real you is eternal. And the greatest need of your soul is to have eternal security in Christ.
 
I saw a photograph the other day of some homes in Malibu, California, which are close to being washed out to sea. The headline read, "Malibu Billionaires Helpless as Million Dollar Homes Erode into Ocean." You see, every house on earth will eventually be destroyed. And no one wants to be in a house when it gets destroyed. There is no security in that sort of thing.
 
And as much as people do to make their earthly home a "dream home," the fact remains that it won't last. It won't provide satisfaction forever. Things in this world wear out and break down. But not your soul. It will never "wear out." It will exist forever. You will exist forever. And the day is quickly approaching when you will know why Jesus knocked on the door of your heart.
 
Don't you think your Creator can see clearly into your future? Don't you think He knows what you need not only today, but also 25 years from now? How about 100 years from now? Where do you plan to be at that time?
 
Sin has a way of eroding man's desire to connect with Jesus. Like those homes on the beach in Malibu, the heart of man is being constantly threatened by the waves of sin and death all around us. Oh we can do a decent job of ignoring the obvious. At least until it's staring us right in the face. And by that time, there is no getting around the fact that structures in this world which seemed so stable are beginning to collapse. It happens with homes, and with all possessions, but most of all, with a person's physical body. These bodies eventually wear out and die. Then what?
 
Jesus saw the end from the beginning. He sees that your greatest need is to have your sins forgiven. Only then can you truthfully say, "It is well with my soul." Only Christ can give a person eternal security and a beautiful eternal home in paradise.
 
This is why Jesus is at the door of your heart today. And it's why He is knocking. He desires to come inside and talk with you. He wants to forgive your sins, and He wants to be the leader of your soul. Your Lord, your God, your everything.
 
Will you open the door? Will you invite Him inside? Or will you pretend you're not home?
 
The Lord who created the world can see through buildings. And He can see through the motives of man. The Lord sees exactly why you and I do what we do and why we choose to receive Him, or reject Him.
 
Those who turn away from Christ are left to exist all alone inside the home of their soul. Meanwhile, the waves keep pounding. The erosion continues. And the clock is ticking.
 
If that's not enough to get you to open the door of your heart to Jesus, you might be one of those who never do so. You know, one of those who "stick it out to the end" as their home collapses into the ocean of eternity.
 
So do you want to go through life on earth with Jesus, and then into eternity with Him? Or would you rather go it alone? That's the million dollar question for every soul. And it's why Jesus is knocking on the door of your heart at this very hour.
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What are we going to do about it? -

What are we going to do about it? - Bill Wilson - www.dailyjot.com 
 
Many times a week, I am asked what we as Christian Americans should do about the situation our country is in. Certainly, when The Daily Jot was started in January of 2002, it was because of the burden the Lord laid on my heart about equipping and encouraging people to evangelize. Our concept is to analyze current events, especially those that are related to prophecy, to assist those with an ear to hear and a heart to receive in relating with others about the Lord. Each day, we seek to inform our readers of what is happening and how it may relate to God's word. Every day, we give you a verse, an event, and what is revealed to me as a truth relating to that event. Once it is given, it is up to you how to use it.
 
Many people often strike back because they disagree with what is written. You may not believe the many things I am accused of being, even my salvation is often challenged. I think the Lord knew what was going to happen. So to prevent me from being offended, he gave me Ezekiel 3:17-21. Verses 20-21 say, "Again, When a righteous man turns from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die: because you have not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at your hand. Nevertheless if you warn the righteous man, that the righteous sins not, and he does not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also you have delivered your soul."
 
In other words, "you better tell them what I tell you to tell them and it is up to them to do with it what they will. But if you don't tell them, its on you." My role is to warn and encourage. Afterwards, there is personal responsibility to do something with it--talk it over with family, friends, strangers. Turn it into action of some kind. Use this analysis, whether you agree with it or not, to do something that advances God's Word. If The Daily Jot stirs you in some way, it has served its purpose. Many people are so frustrated they are not sure what to do. Others are so apathetic they don't think any action will have an impact. Some are stymied by fear, others by foolishness or paranoia. Many think prayer is the only needed action.
 
Prayer is wonderful if that is all you can do. James 5:16 says, "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." But as James wrote even before that in 2:17: "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone." The Lord wants you to act. Pray and act. If you are not hearing from the Lord on what to do, pray more fervently. It is not up to me to tell you what to do. The Lord will tell you by his Holy Spirit. You must hear and take action. The Lord will not tell you to do anything that does not align with his Holy Scripture IN ITS CONTEXT--that is how you confirm if you are hearing from the Lord. Righteous people must be more vocal and active about what is just and right. Move beyond your walls.
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Warning: "Wearable Technology" Is 1 Step Away From Occupying You!

Warning: "Wearable Technology" Is 1 Step Away From Occupying You! - Belle Ringer - http://www.salvationandsurvival.com/2014/09/warning-wearable-technology-is-1-step.html 

 
     Well, Apple has done it again ... the opening weekend sales of its newest iPhone 6 model topped 10,000,000 units.  People who cannot wait to become more integrated with the latest "smart device", swamped the tech giant with online sales; some even slept on the cold, hard ground in front of Apple stores to be the first in line.

 
      Me, I have never been one to jump into a trend because it's "the latest and greatest".  Perhaps it's the nonconformist in me, or that I simply detest the marketing scheme that makes your latest expensive purchase obsolete within months of its acquisition.  In fact, you can call me old-fashioned and out-of-touch, but I actually loathe the intrusion in my life that the cell phone represents.  I am not one of those zombies that you see with a cell phone in their hand 24/7.  I have opted for the least expensive and less invasive model I can find.  I don't update the Google maps application, or the GPS, or any of the social media apps that constantly try to upload to my phone.  I don't need to be that "connected", and I can gain access to that information whenever I decide.  (However, I am not naive enough to think I can avoid detection from the information-seekers).
 
But enough of my personal rant, I really want to make you aware that with each new "innovation" of your can't-do-without mobile device, technology is taking you one step closer to truly "becoming one" with it.  Let me explain ...
 
     The NowTheEndBegins (NTEB) website ran a series of articles on our culture's rapid descent into "wearable technology."  The site points out that it has been a mere 20 years since the personal computer came on the scene, and the three-fold sales pitch of this new technology is in full swing.  STEP ONE:  Get computers in front of us and create an addiction for them; an "I can't live without them" mentality.  We've gone from clunky desk models to laptops to iPads and iPhones... Mission Accomplished. 
 
     STEP TWO:  Shift the location of computers from being in front of us to being on us.... "wearable technology".  With the advent of Apple Watch (coming to a location near you in early 2015), you will never need to be away from your "smart device".  You can wear it as a watch or a nano-shirt; it will be an experience that "blurs the boundaries between the physical object and the software that powers it" --- those are Apple's words, not mine.  Mission On Target. 
 
     STEP THREE:  That takes us to the next and final step; the last boundary to be crossed ... "Smart" technology that will live inside us.   NTEB points out, "Your pulse and venous system will act as the active recharging elements, and all functions now carried out with mouse and keyboard will be done via eye motions and voice commands."  Ultimate Goal of the Mission.  Does that creep you out like it does me?
 
      As the site points out, this kind of device, as in the Apple Watch, is a paradox ... it will give you control by letting you know not only what time it is, but when the inevitable apps begin surfacing, you will be able to tell how many miles you walked that day, how many calories you absorbed, and your heart rate during exercise.  But here's the conundrum ... you will also have to give up some personal control. 
 
      These same amazing apps will be designed so that your phone will "start telling you what you should and shouldn't eat and how far you should run...  Wearables will make your physical self visible to the virtual world in the form of information, an indelible digital body-print, and that information is going to behave like any other information behaves these days. It will be copied and circulated. It will go places you don't expect. People will use that information to track you and market to you. It will be bought and sold."
 
      As NTEB notes, with this new technology development, we will have changed the dynamics of the human-computer interface.  Our physical bodies will no longer be in a separate place from our computers; that line is being erased.
 
      In reality, that line has already been crossed with the news that Ben Slater, of Brisbane, Australia had a microchip implanted under his skin so he can control electronic devices with just a wave of his hand.  As the NTEB site disclosed, "He hopes the new generation of Apple's smart phone will have the capability to read the microchip implanted in the webbing between his thumb and forefinger."  This is just the inescapable evolution of technology ... in 2004, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration gave the green light for its use to carry information about people's medical conditions.  Why are we surprised that it is being interfaced with smart technology?
 
Apple Pay is just one of the new apps that will be available on the iPhone 6.  Here is Apple's marketing ploy:  Apple Pay will change how you pay with breakthrough contactless payment technology and unique security features built right into the devices you have with you each day.  So you can use your iPhone 6 or Apple Watch to pay in an easy, secure, and private way.  This technology is called "Touch ID" and registers your unique fingerprint with your credit card information.  Whether you use this app on your iPhone or your Apple Watch, you receive a gentle vibration against your skin and a beep to let you know your payment was received.
 
      But how long will our dependent culture be satisfied with this?  How long before they are clamoring for an even easier application?  I can hear it now ... "I don't want to be bothered with carrying a device ... just chip me and let me handle my payment transactions with a show of my hand."  Hmmm, where have I heard that before?
 
Revelation 13:16-17    "And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name."
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Warming Society Up For the Mark of the Beast: DARPA's Tiny Implants Promise To Give Humans DNA-Altering Superpowers

Warming Society Up For the Mark of the Beast: DARPA's Tiny Implants Promise To Give Humans DNA-Altering Superpowers - Elizabeth Palermo - http://www.livescience.com/47890-self-healing-implants-darpa.html 
 
Wolverine, Ghost Rider, the Incredible Hulk - all of these characters have at least one awesome trait in common: the ability to heal themselves. And now, the Pentagon wants to give ordinary people this superhuman capability.
 
A new military-sponsored program aims to develop a tiny device that can be implanted in the body, where it will use electrical impulses to monitor the body's organs, healing these crucial parts when they become infected or injured.
 
Known as Electrical Prescriptions, or ElectRx, the program could reduce dependence on pharmaceutical drugs and offer a new way to treat illnesses, according to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the branch of the U.S. Department of Defense responsible for developing the program.
 
"The technology DARPA plans to develop through the ElectRx program could fundamentally change the manner in which doctors diagnose, monitor and treat injury and illness," Doug Weber, program manager for DARPA's biological technologies office, said in a statement.
 
The implant that DARPA hopes to develop is something akin to a tiny, intelligent pacemaker, Weber said. The device would be implanted into the body, where it would continually assess a person's condition and provide any necessary stimulus to the nerves to help maintain healthy organ function, he added.
 
The idea for the technology is based on a biological process known as neuromodulation, in which the peripheral nervous system (the nerves that connect every other part of the body to the brain and spinal cord) monitors the status of internal organs and regulate the body's responses to infection and disease. When a person is sick or injured, this natural process can sometimes be thrown off, according to DARPA. Instead of making a person feel better, neuromodulation can actually exacerbate a condition, causing pain, inflammation and a weakened immune system.
 
But with the help of an electrically charged implant, DARPA says it can keep neuromodulation under control. Electric impulses from the device will stimulate the nerve patterns that help the body heal itself and keep the out-of-whack nerve stimulus patterns that cause a sick person even greater harm from doing damage.
 
DARPA hopes to develop a device so tiny that it can be implanted using only a needle. Such a small implant would be a huge improvement over similar neuromodulation devices already in use today, most of which are about the size of a deck of cards and require invasive surgery to implant, according to DARPA.
 
And the miniature size of the device has another advantage: It can be placed exactly where it is needed at nerve endings. An implant as small as a nerve fiber could minimize the side effects caused by implants whose electric impulses aren't sent directly into nerve channels, DARPA officials said.
 
The device could help treat a host of painful, inflammatory conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic inflammatory response syndrome (a condition that causes inflammation throughout the body) and inflammatory bowel disease. And if the ElectRx program is a success, it could also lead to the development of implants that help treat brain and mental-health disorders, such as epilepsy, traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression, according to DARPA.
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Trusting in the Dark Times -

Trusting in the Dark Times - Greg Laurie - www.harvest.org           
 
When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth.
-Ephesians 3:14-15
 
Why does God even allow Satan to exist? Have you ever wondered that? As the Evil One says in his own words, he is restlessly going back and forth across the earth (see Job 1:7), looking for trouble . . . looking for lives to ruin . . . looking for saints to stumble. Why does God allow him to carry on? Why doesn't the Lord just take him out, as He could in a nanosecond?
 
You might be surprised to know that Satan, in his own twisted way, serves the purposes of God. You ask, How in the world could that be?
 
Just consider this. Satan unwittingly played a major role in the cross of Christ. In his enduring hatred for God's Son, the Devil thought it would be a great idea to have Jesus betrayed, arrested, beaten within an inch of His life, and then crucified and put to death on a Roman cross.
 
Everything went according to Satan's plan. As Jesus told the mob who came to apprehend him, "This is your moment, the time when the power of darkness reigns" (Luke 22:53, NLT).
 
The power of darkness did indeed reign that day, and Satan's plan succeeded. But so did the plan of God. What the Evil One didn't realize was that it was the Father's plan all along that the Messiah would die for the sins of the world. In the prophecy of Isaiah, we're told, "It was the Lord's will to crush him and cause him to suffer" (Isaiah 53:10, NIV). Unaware that he was making the biggest blunder since his rebellion against God, Satan played into the plan and purpose of God when, in his rage and hatred, he inspired Judas Iscariot to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver (see Zechariah 11:12-13).
 
Satan's "best shot" against God and the people of God was the crucifixion of the God-man, Jesus Christ. And in that act he not only unwittingly sealed his own doom, but he opened the door for Jesus to offer redemption and salvation to the whole world.
 
Remember then, if you hold on to God and trust Him through the dark times, that Satan's best shots against you also will end up working for your good . . . and God's glory.
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Treasure in Heaven -

 Treasure in Heaven - Ron & Nathele Graham - www.straitandnarrowministry.com 
 
"For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" Matthew 6:21. We hear a lot of talk these days about wars and rumors of war, strong earthquakes everywhere, famine, pestilence, and more. Obviously we are in the last days and the Rapture is on our near horizon.  There are many commentaries written about these end days and websites abound on the subject; some people can hardly wait for the Rapture but others give this prophecy stuff little mind. Whether you are one eagerly awaiting the Rapture or are not interested in prophecy at all you need to ask yourself where your treasure is.

 
Believers and non-believers alike have lived on planet earth for the last six thousand years or so and this has been the only home we've known. We work to buy a home, a car, education, etc., but where exactly is our treasure? Good or bad, happy or sad, angry or glad this world is where we have grown and flourished and we are used to the idea of working for our retirement or to put food on the table. As Christians we need to be sure that our own efforts to gather treasures on earth don't get in the way of our devotion to our God and Saviour Jesus Christ. Our treasure needs to be in heaven, not on the earth.
 
Believers should not look to the earthly treasure of this world for assurance. It is temporary and will one day blow away. Our focus needs to be on Heavenly treasures and eternal rewards. "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Matthew 6:19-21. If we read, study, and believe the Scriptures we are fully aware of something greater existing on our horizon. God does not require believers to be poor, but He does want us to understand that earthly riches pale in comparison to Heavenly treasure. Heaven is where eternal treasure is stored.
 
Most people would love to see the end to war, famine, hatred, all forms of evil, and have everything opposed to our well being eliminated from our environment. For Christians, one day that will be reality. All evil, malice, strife, hatred, envy, sickness, sadness, wealth and poverty will be completely forgotten the moment we enter that Heavenly realm. So why do so many Christians hold onto this earthly existence as though Heaven doesn't exist? Could it be that the riches of this life are so controlling that even believers can't resist their attraction? "But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition." 1 Timothy 6:9. Pursuing worldly treasure can become more important to a person than pursuing heavenly treasure, and that is when we need to stop and take a good look at what our motivation in life is. Do we serve God and know that there awaits us many rewards in Heaven, or do we serve the god of this world?
 
"No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon." Matthew 6:24. The word "mammon" comes from the Greek word "mamonas" and simply means treasures and riches. Many Christians love to say "I'm living in the world but I'm not of the world." Sadly we see that many Christians today have the same mindset as their worldly counterparts. Greed often controls the actions of Christians and non-Christians alike, so they aren't just in the world but are also of the world and love mammon more than God. "Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter." James 5:5. Christian, where is your treasure? Is it in this world serving mammon or have you stored your treasure in Heaven by serving God?
 
How does one store treasure in heaven? It's simple really. We serve Jesus. By putting Him first in our life we will be awarded crowns. Not a royal crown but a crown of victory...a "stephanos". One such crown is for temperance. "And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible."  1 Corinthians 9:25. In other words, control yourself. You will earn a crown in Heaven if you control your urges to follow lusts of the flesh. Learn temperance in all matters and gain control over your flesh. Another crown is for those who win souls to Christ "Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved." Philippians 4:1. Not only did Paul see the believers in Philippi as his joy and "stephanos", but he encouraged them to stand fast in their faith. A crown of rejoicing is mentioned in 1 Thessalonians 2:19, a crown of righteousness is mentioned in 2 Timothy 4:8. "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him." James 1:12. Do you love Him? James says when you are tried and endure you will receive a crown of life. There is a crown for being faithful unto death described in Revelation 2:10. Peter encourages his readers to feed the flock of God. Not for riches on earth but to serve the Lord and to be an example to others. "And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away." 1 Peter 5:4. These crowns are the treasure in heaven that every Christian should strive for, but keep your motive pure...not for personal gain but for His glory. "Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire." 1 Corinthians 3:12-15. Move away from worldly lusts and serve Jesus and your reward will be "stephanos" of victory!
 
God is not opposed to Christians having money to spare. There were wealthy people among Jesus' earliest followers. Zacchaeus, Joseph of Arimathea, Lazarus, and Barnabas are just a few, but after they met Jesus they were not ruled by earthly wealth. In fact, after meeting Jesus, Zacchaeus, a publican, returned to the people four times what he had overcharged them. Barnabas sold his property to help support those first Christians who were turned out of the Temple. Many Christians today have obtained great wealth and that is no sin, but earthly treasures are temporary in the life of the rich, and all Christians should use what they have to serve Jesus. Sin can and will take over when a person, Christian or non-Christian, becomes consumed with attaining wealth. The key word here is consumed. "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." 1 Timothy 6:10. Wealth can create a significant obstacle to the Kingdom of God, but it doesn't have to. "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God." Matthew 19:23-24.  Rich or poor, ask yourself where your treasure is. I hope you see it as being in heaven.
 
If tomorrow comes and you've lost everything you have, will you trust God to supply your needs? It's easy to say I'll trust God when we haven't really lost anything, but what if you lose your home, your car, your bank account, your family, and all your earthly possessions? That sounds like Job's situation, doesn't it? He was wealthy but lost all he had, including his health. What did Job do? He trusted God. "For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth" Job 19:25. Even before God entered His creation to redeem us, Job knew Him and trusted Him. How did God reward Job? He was restored to health, he had more children, and his herds grew again. His real treasure was in Heaven, and he knew it.
 
We hold onto worldly treasures way too tightly. We need things like food and shelter, but too often our wants cause us to seek after earthly treasure rather than treasures in Heaven. I wonder how many Christians really look forward to His appearing or yearn to win souls for the Lord more than they want a new car. Remember Jesus' admonition to the young wealthy man who wanted to gain eternal life? "Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me." Matthew 19:21. That young man's treasure was not in Heaven. "But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions." Matthew 19:22. His treasure was on earth and he was unable to see any benefit in knowing and following Jesus Christ.
 
Pride, greed, fear, covetousness, lust are ever recurring themes of trouble throughout the Bible. These sins take our focus off of Jesus and turn hearts to a materialistic world view. The more we have the more we want. Instead of seeing Heaven as our real home where we will spend eternity with Jesus Christ, like the rich young man we become enamored with all we can accumulate and our treasure is in earthly desires. Gaining more earthly treasure becomes our god. There is a direct correlation between where your treasure is and where your heart is. If you regard your material possessions as your treasure then your heart is set here on this earth, and that my friend is a far shot from Heaven. 
 
Where is your treasure, Christian? Is it in the First National Bank of Anywhere, or is it in Heaven?
 
God bless you all,
 
Ron & Nathele Graham
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