Brian is a well known Bible teacher with a particular emphasis on Biblical end time events. Believing that these events are already underway, he believes that the Rapture of the Church to glory is imminent. Brian and Gilly (pic here with Bethan)travel throughout the UK and he also teaches in Europe and the USA. Although they are regularly in fellowships and churches who know them well, they are most happy to visit new venues to bring the message of the Gospel and the nearness of Christs return.
A new computer virus being described as the most sophisticated cyber-weapon in history has begun tearing through government and other computers in Iran, Syria, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the Palestinian-controlled territories.
Dubbed "Flame," the new virus contains 20 times more code than the Stuxnet virus that infected Iran's nuclear program two years ago, according to Internet security company Kapersky. Stuxnet was previously marveled over for its incredible ability to adapt and alter its attacks, and it was concluded that only a national government would have the resources to develop such a program.
Flame is said to contain some of the code for Stuxnet, creating a clear link between the two viruses. Flame may also have been introduced into the region at the same time as Stuxnet, but has remained dormant until now. All of this again points to Israel, which hinted in the past that it was behind Stuxnet.
Speaking to Army Radio on Tuesday, Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs Moshe Yaalon would not give a definitive response as to whether or not Israel was behind Flame, but did say, "Israel has been blessed with a prolific hi-tech sector that opens possibilities in both the business and security fields."
Currently, Flame is believed to be conducting targeted attacks on specific data. The virus collects its target data and then deletes it. To date, most of the infected computer systems are in Iran.
The virus was discovered by Kapersky analysts, who were shocked that Flame remained hidden for so long despite its enormous 20 gigabyte size.
"It’s pretty fantastic and incredible in complexity," Kapersky's chief security expert, Alexander Gostev, told Wired magazine. "It will take us 10 years to fully understand everything."
At the same time Flame was discovered and made public, Israel announced that it would invest an additional $13 million in national cyber defenses. Much of those funds will be awarded to private Israeli companies that can demonstrate innovative methods for dealing with new cyber threats.
Netanyahu deputy hints at Israeli involvement in Iran cyber attack
In Israel's first official comment on Flame worm, which was revealed on Monday to have infected computers in Iran and various Arab countries, Vice PM Ya'alon says such steps 'reasonable' in face of Iranian threat.
Vice Prime Minister and Strategic Affairs Minister Moshe Ya’alon hinted on Monday at possible Israeli involvement in the Flame bug, which was revealed to have targeted computers in Iran and the West Bank on Monday.
"Anyone who sees the Iranian threat as a significant threat – it's reasonable [to assume] that he will take various steps, including these, to harm it," Ya’alon said Tuesday morning in an interview with Army Radio.
"Israel was blessed as being a country rich with high-tech, these tools that we take pride in open up all kinds of opportunities for us," he added.
According to experts at internet security company Kaspersky who first detected the virus, Flame was most likely created by a state actor, and is capable of transferring files, screenshots, audio recordings and keystrokes from infected computers.
Ilan Proimovich, Kaspersky's representative in Israel, told Army Radio that the worm "does not operate independently, but is controlled by a remote computer, and thus only when it receives an order does it start working. For this reason, it is difficult to detect, because it is not always active."
Calling it a "masterpiece of programming," he said it was sophisticated enough to change its characteristics and develop according to orders.
Kaspersky said on Monday that Flame shared certain characteristics with Stuxnet, the bug that attacked Iranian centrifuges and was discovered in 2010. Unlike Stuxnet, however, which was designed to cause damage to computerized equipment, Flame is meant to collect information. The source of the bug is as yet unknown.
Here is an "Update From Israel" from my very good friend and colleague in the Lord's Work, David Hoyle, who has organised something like eighty tours to Israel over his gifted and anointed lifetime:
"All around the world anti-Semitism is on the rise and in many countries Jewish people are living in fear.
A headline in the Jewish telegraph read “Greek Jewry fearful after election…. But for French Jews its wait and see.”
Greece – Jewish leaders expressed concern and disappointment after the neo Nazi “Golden Dawn party” won 21 seats in the Greek Parliament.When their leader won a seat on Athens City Council in 2010 he said “we are coming” and gave a Nazi salute.During the election the party’s supporters shave their heads and wore black shirts!The party said it would tolerate religious freedom “except in cases that affect national interest and undermine Hellenism.”
However the party displays Mien Kampf and works on Greek racial superiority at its headquarters.The party has plans to landmine Greece’s borders!The party’s banner has a swastika like motif.
Whilst the neo Nazi’s are not in power the right wing is strengthening and anti-Semitism is on the rise.
France – There was a mixed reaction in Jewish circles to the election of the left wing François Hollande as France’s president.Fears are that despite soothing noises Mr Hollande election would lead to a rise in the anti-Israel left.It is estimated that 92% of the Jews living in Israel cast their votes at the French Embassy in Tel Aviv in favour of Nicholas Sarkozy who was linked to the release of Gilad Shalit and has also strong links with the Jewish Community.Anti Semitism has been rising in France for years and a holocaust survivor who left there 3 years ago told me whilst I was speaking at their association in Leedsthat parts of France were like Berlin, where she was in 1938.She escaped Berlin, went to Paris, and left for England only to find that there is anti – Semitism here!Only a few years ago swastikas were painted on Jewish peoples doors in Harrogate! Shortly before Ariel Sharon went into a coma (he is still alive) he caused outrage whilst on a visit to France by calling on French Jewry to make aliyah and live in Israel; such was the vilification of Jews at that time.
Someone has said recently “there is only one safe place for Jews – Israel!”
Jordan– Israeli and U.S. flags were recently burned in Amman and calls were made for that cancellation of the Jordan- Israel peace agreement.However their PM said, ‘Given a second chance I would sign again’. Jordan has of course gained immensely in Israeli technology, farming techniques and not least… water from their peace treaty.
Aliyah- All around the world there is a movement of Jewish people back to their homeland. Recently 5,000 queued to attend an aliyah fair in Paris – an unprecedented number! It raised memories of the tens of thousands (ultimately over 1,000,000) who left Russia at the time of Mr. Gorbachev. Natan Sharansky was in Paris for the event. I met him 2 years ago and he asked me, ‘Ask your Christian friends to keep praying for us, God answers prayer’.
U.K. – An Israeli invited to speak at a conference on mental health had his visit cancelled at the behest of the UNISON union.
The Co-op has severed its connections with Israeli exporters and will ban all imports from so-called Jewish settlements. Stop buying from the Co-op, embargos can work two ways. Support Morrison’s and Waitrose, who both promote Israeli goods.
Israeli Election – One day after Israel was set to call an early election on September 4th the move was cancelled as the main opposition party Kadima agreed to join the coalition. Shaul Mofez, their leader, had previously said he would keep them in opposition, but as they faced possible annihilation in an election he changed his position.
The government will now have one of the biggest majorities in its history, 94. Friction may well be on the horizon as Mr. Mofez has stated he will give the Palestinians all they want! This is diametrically opposed to Mr. Netanyahu’s position. Additionally Mr Netanyahu has consistently stated that he might bomb Iran, Mr. Mofez is against any such move.
Mr. Netanyahu has often reiterated that Jerusalem would remain the undivided capital of Israel; Mr. Mofez takes the opposite view.
Orthodox – The new unity government has stated it will make, ‘Equality of military service a priority’. Currently more than 60,000 orthodox men of military age are exempt from army service.
Olympic Games – An online petition is calling for the International Olympic Committee to honour the 11 Israeli athletes who were murdered at the Munich games in 1972. Petition organisers hope for 1,000,000 signatories.
Lebanese Border – Israel is to build a mile long wall to protect the town of Metulla from rockets. During the second Lebanese war in 2006 160 of its residents were killed.
Iran– Iranian Jews are reported to be living in fear as talk of an attack on Iran continues. A Tel Aviv spice seller who imports through a third country said, ‘The people there need food, not a bomb’, nevertheless if they get a bomb they will use it. Israeli Iranian Jews fear for their families in Iran should war break out.
Gaza – Speaking at the UN Israel’s Ambassador Ron Prosor (formerly Ambassador to the UK) addressed myths surrounding the Middle East.
He went on,’ There is no humanitarian crisis in Gaza’. Numerous international organisations including the Red Cross confirm this. Exports are expanding and there are no civilian goods that cannot enter the country. “Yet” he said, ‘as aid flows in, the missiles fly out, that is the problem not aid’.
Jerusalem – Mr. Prosor, again speaking at the UN said, ‘Across the Arab world we are accused of Judaising Jerusalem, this accusation is 3,000 years too late’! He went on, ‘We are accused of the ethnic cleansing of Jerusalem even though the Arab population has risen from 26% to 35%.’
Refugees – Mr. Prosor pointed out that, ‘No one talks about 850,000 Jews uprooted from Arab countries in our 64 year history they are of course busy talking about Arab refugees.’
Good News – 7,000 visitors descended on Tel Aviv from 115 countries for “Agritech Israel” to study new approaches to growing better crops, flowers and even fish and dairy cows. Israel has solved problems of irrigation, recycling, crop storage, drought, disease resistant pest control and purification of waste water for its thirsty agriculture.
A 7 man medical crew visited Ethiopia to provide free cataract surgery. Hundreds of adults and children were waiting and one young girl with a protruding eye was flown to Israel for a very special gift ‘A life-changing operation’. Another 10 year old girl had a tumour behind her eye removed.
Undoubtedly Jewish people are specially gifted by God.
Finally – Congratulations to Israel on her 64th birthday!
"Remember the former things of old, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me,Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure."
The two Scriptures quoted above clearly show us that our sovereign God knows, plans and declares His works from before the time Creation began.The greatest work of God is that which he accomplished through the Lord Jesus Christ; His death, burial and resurrection on the third day according to the Scriptures (1 Cor 15:3-4).Addressing His Father inJohn the Lord Jesus reveals a deep truth when He says, ‘… for You loved Me before the foundation of the world’.
The relationship between the Father and the Son, the denial of which reveals the spirit of Anti-Christ (1 John ),is the core relationship in the whole universe and serves to demonstrate to us the character and nature of God and His love.From the beginning of Genesis the nature of the relationship between the Father and the Son is demonstrated to us.Romans tells us that Adam ‘is a type of Him who was to come’, meaning the Lord Jesus.
A type is a representation of a future person, event or series of events in the Bible which acts as prophecy and gives additional insight into the future when it occurs. The primary objective of types is to reveal the Lord Jesus and his relationship within the Godhead, His work of Redemption and His glory at both the First and Second Advents.Adam is a type of Christ and this sets a pattern throughout the Old Testament where Godly servants of the Lord prefigure Jesus Himself and aspects of His life and work.
Not only the persons of Scripture, but animals, plants, materials, events and the very facts of the history of the people of Israel all serve to display the Lord Jesus and His ministry, revealed in the verses of God's Word centuries and millennia before Christ came1 ..
The Father delights to honour His Son and, combined, the ‘Types’ of the Old Testament declare the Words of the New:“This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.Hear Him!” Matt 3:17 & Luke 9:35.
Our study over the few next weeks will focus on the relationships of Isaac with Abraham, Sarah, Ishmael and Rebecca, in addition to other persons and events which reflect and prefigure the Lord Jesus, His walk amongst us and His coming again.We will discover that Abraham is a type of God the Father Himself, Sarah, a type of His people Israeland Isaac is one of the most beautiful figures of the Lord Jesus to be found in the Word of God.
1Examples of types can be found in:
Genesis The substitutionary sacrifice of Christ seen in God's provision of tunics of skin
Genesis The Rapture of the New TestamentChurch
Genesis 37 to 50The life of Joseph reflecting that of Jesus
Exodus 12:31-51The Passover as a picture of Calvary
Exodus 30:22-33The Holy oil prefigures the Holy Spirit
..... and so on throughout every page of the Old Testament where, literally, thousands ofaccurate and enlightening types are to be found.
“The capital of the United States of the Arabs will be Jerusalem," preacher tells thousands at Brotherhood rally.
Photo: YouTube
Egypt’s Islamists aim to install a global Islamic caliphate with its capital in Jerusalem, a radical Muslim preacher told thousands of Muslim Brotherhood supporters in a clip released Monday. “We can see how the dream of the Islamic caliphate is being realized, God willing, by Dr. Mohamed Mursi,” Safwat Higazi told thousands of Brotherhood supporters at a Cairo soccer stadium as Mursi – the movement’s presidential candidate – and other Brotherhood officials nodded in agreement.
“The capital of the caliphate – the capital of the United States of the Arabs – will be Jerusalem, God willing,” Higazi said. “Our capital shall not be in Cairo, Mecca or Medina,” he said, before leading the crowd in chants of “Millions of martyrs march toward Jerusalem.” Higazi is an unaffiliated Islamist who is barred from the United Kingdom for making statements endorsing terror attacks against Israelis. The clip, from Egypt’s Islamist-oriented Al-Nas television station, was aired last week and uploaded to YouTube on Monday by the Middle East Media Research Institute.
Members of the crowd carried banners emblazoned with slogans related to next week’s “Nakba Day,” when Palestinians and other Arabs mourn Israel’s creation in 1948. “Tomorrow, Mursi will liberate Gaza,” an unidentified man cheers in the video before leading the crowd in chants of “Allah Akbar.”
“Banish the sleep from the eyes of all Jews,” the man repeats, accompanied by drumming. “Come on, you lovers of martyrdom, you are all Hamas… Forget about the whole world, forget about conferences. Brandish your weapons, say your prayers and pray to the Lord.”
Returning to the stage, Mursi vowed to pray in Jerusalem. “Yes, Jerusalem is our goal. We shall pray in Jerusalem, or die as martyrs on its threshold.”
Raymond Stock, an American translator and academic who spent two decades in Egypt, said the clip should come as a surprise to no one.
“This is what the Muslim Brotherhood really stands for: the extermination of Israel – and Jews everywhere – as well as the spread and control of radical Islam over the world,” he told The Jerusalem Post.
“How anyone can fail to see this boggles the mind – yet its denial is virtual dogma in the global mainstream media, US government and Western academia today,” said Stock, who has translated a number of books by the Nobel Prize-winning Egyptian novelist Naguib Mahfouz.
The Brotherhood won about half of Egypt’s parliamentary seats, but its main candidate Khairat al-Shater was disqualified last month from running for president and Mursi has struggled to win wide support.
Hard-line Salafi Islamists were parliamentary elections’ biggest surprise, taking around 25% of seats. Instead, the two front-runners are Abdel Moneim Abol Fotouh – a former Brotherhood figure who has won the backing of a broad range of voters from liberals to Salafis – and Amr Moussa, a former foreign minister and Arab League chief.
A presidential election, which starts on May 23-24, will choose a replacement for Hosni Mubarak, who was toppled in February last year.
Poll numbers released Monday by the state-run Al-Ahram Center show Moussa leading the field with 39%, followed by Abol Fotouh with 24%, former Mubarak premier Ahmed Shafiq with 17% and Mursi in fourth with just 7%.
Stock said Amr Moussa has a significant chance of replacing Mubarak.
“Many people want Islamist values but are afraid that Islamist control of the presidency in addition to parliament could be bad for tourism and foreign investment. Others simply like Moussa,” he said. “He is a radical nationalist with a pragmatic streak, and from a Western point of view is the best we can hope for now that Omar Suleiman has been excluded.”
“But we can’t rule out Mohamed Mursi yet – the Brotherhood machine is extremely formidable, and nearly everyone has underestimated them before,” he said, adding that “the Salafis remain wild cards, as ever.”
In the previous article on Babel and Globalism we drew attention to the relationship between God's division of humanity by dividing the language and the wickedness that is to be found in cities.Psalm 55:9-11 seems to suggestthatDavidhadanappreciationofthistoo. Verse 9reads’Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues (speech). For I have seen violence and strife in the city’.
David'scontemplationconnectsresistancetocorporateandorganised wickedness with Divine intervention in the form of division of language. This resulted in confusion within the counsel of his enemies—thereby inhibiting their success against him.Verse 16 goes on to say ‘As for me I will call upon God and YHWH will save me’,showing the singular voice of the believer in union with the Lord Himself.
In contrast to the many divided voices of man, believers the world over speak with a single united spiritual language that is heard, understood and answered in Heaven itself.What a glorious privilege we have....we can speak to the Sovereign, Almighty Creator, YHWH....and He listens!!!
Verse 22‘Cast your burden on YHWH and He shall sustain you; he shall never permit the righteous to be moved (or shaken)’.
WHAT GILLY AND BRIAN HAVE BEEN DOING FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS.
Gilly and I are away now in America for the whole month of May visiting family and friends, but I thought it was necessary to write a newsletter to keep you informed of what has happened to us in the recent weeks and months.
Those of you who visit my Blog will have been aware that there has been a scarcity of new material over the last few months and I want you to know that it is not due to a lack of concern for the Lords work but the result of an extremely busy season in our lives. The Springtime is always a bit hectic with Conference work in addition to the usual preaching and teaching, and 2012 was particularly so.
Much new study material was, and is, in the course of preparation, including the production of the last Blog study on globalism from Babel onwards, which we converted into a little booklet titled "The Mystery of Iniquity Revealed" [this booklet is available from me on my return to the UK in June, for three pounds including P&P; just email and I'll send you my home address]. These things and a continually filling email inbox would have been enough to keep me fully occupied but a series of domestic matters compounded our difficulties, workload and stress.
From a hole in the bath to a failed hot water/central heating boiler, numerous run of the mill problems proved inexplicably difficult to resolve but all were overshadowed by one major event. In late January Gilly's step-father had a serious collapse and remained on the floor at home undetected for almost 3 days. He was immediately hospitalised remaining in York District and St Helens Rehabilitation Centre for a little over 3 months. Social Services, rightly, assessed that he was no longer able to look after himself safely and that the NHS could only discharge him into Care. Step-father strongly disagreed and a battle royal ensued!!!!!
We were left holding the cat, minding his house and all his affairs against much resistance, argument and hostility. But, at last, he has been convinced that his only viable option is to be in a residential Care home and we have found a very nice location in Upper Poppleton, just outside the York city boundary and fairly close to our home. We moved him their 3 days before our departure to visit our daughters and their families in the USA. As we did not visit in 2011 our current "grandparent time" is extra special.
Despite lots of fun time currently with 4 bouncy grandsons aged from 7 months to five and a half years, I have been studying the typology of Isaac and Rebecca again and also re-examining the significance of the role of John the Immerser, studies which will feature in blog form in the next weeks. I had never noticed previously that the Pharisees etc are convicted of refusing the "will of God" by declining or refusing the ministry of John.
Again this highlights the fact that John was the primary vessel through whom the Holy Spirit was working immediately prior to the ministry of the Lord Jesus Himself.[ Luke 7: 29-30] This, and much more coming your way in the weeks ahead! And please do not forget the BIBLE PROPHECY FOUNDATION TEACHING WEEK we are holding in June when we get back to the UK. Please try and come if possible (see larger advert further down this blog).
Please read this heart-wrenching letter from a young Pastor and his wife in London, via the excellent website of my good friends Alan and Pat Franklin. It can be found at http://www.thefreepressonline.co.uk/.
It is quite a shocking letter, for it not only depicts the path many people are taking in our country these days, but many of the people he refers to are Christians and born again belivers! Quite alarming!
***********************************
Alan writes:
This message came in from a young Christian friend:
“Greetings in the name of the Lord Jesus! ….“Since we spoke I have become a student pastor at an independent Baptist church in London. The teaching and ethos of the church are great but I am really struggling with all that is going on in this country and I feel that there is nobody with whom I can share my views without being called a racist/bigot/fascist.
“The borough I live in is extremely liberal and 'tolerant' and to openly admit to views like mine could land me in a lot of trouble. My wife understands me and shares all my views but we are feeling very isolated and lonely here. Even Christian friends whom we regarded as 'sound' believers seem to becoming more 'tolerant' towards things which they previously stood firm on.
“A good example of this is the Baptist church which I grew up in which is shortly to have a vote on allowing women to be pastors. My wife and I are in our early thirties but we realize that this is a direct contradiction of the Bible's clear teaching. We fear for the church that we love and are dismayed that so many people seem to be wavering in their opinions and are becoming more 'open minded' when it comes to issues such as homosexuality, other religions, Israel etc.
“I know that all these things are hallmarks of the end times and that we should lift up our heads and wait for our Lord's return. However, I cannot tell you how grieved I am to see people I love and respect gradually departing from the truth whilst all along thinking that they are genuinely honoring God in doing so. I hate the way that this country is going, yet what makes it harder is that so many 'Christians' do not understand what is going on. I honestly believe that we are being sucked into a totalitarian state (as you describe in your books) but one which is made all the more sinister in that it wears the smiley face of 'tolerance.'
“I hate to see the way that the way of life that I love is being destroyed and that our country is being meekly handed over to others who care nothing for its culture and Christian heritage. I find the way that London and other places is changing is oppressive and also the way that English people constantly have our identity mocked and derided by the elite.
“I imagine that you can identify with much of this. I know that I can be quite negative and depressive and that I should live in the joy of the Lord, not in fear of the future. All the same, I am struggling to cope at the moment.
“I hope that you don't mind me sharing all this with you. It has actually made me feel better already to be able to 'unload' in this way. I would just ask that you and Pat remember us in your prayers. We are coming to the end of our placement and are looking for a biblical church where we can serve the Lord as pastor and wife. At the moment life in London seems intolerable and it is exacerbated by the fact that whilst many Christians sail on by in blissful ignorance, we know something of what is going on in this country today and what some of the agendas are.
“May the Lord continue to bless you in your life and ministry, Regards…. Alan adds: If any church wants a fine young pastor I will pass his name and contact number on!
As for my friend’s worry about women preachers, he is right. If those pushing the feminist agenda in churches read the Bible the SHEologians might find a few scriptures not to their liking. They think women can do anything men can do, but the Bible says: “Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.” 1 Timothy 2:11,12.
As Pat writes in our book Goodbye America, Goodbye Britain (which you can buy from this website if you haven’t got a copy!): “These scriptures teach that women are not to have a public leadership ministry in the church, but there is still plenty we can do. Jesus loves us and a woman (Mary Magdalene) was privileged to be the first person on earth to see Him after He rose from the dead. Mary was on a mission of mercy, to take care of a practical need, and what divine favor she found! There certainly is scope for merciful acts today.”
The signs of the times are all around - money meltdown, (Spain, Greece etc) a great push for homosexuality to be accepted as just another lifestyle choice, the destruction of the family, the sewage-like surge of permissiveness and so on. Time is short. Men have no solutions but are just postponing the inevitable.
Paul wrote to Timothy about the moral collapse the End Times would bring: “But know this, that in the last days difficult times will come: for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; and avoid such men as these.” 2 Timothy 3: 1-5.
Just as before the Flood and before Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed, life will carry on, with eating, drinking, marrying and money making until the rapture suddenly takes us out of the increasing chaos (Luke 17: 26- 37).
In Luke 21: 34;36 The Lord warns believers to be careful of our priorities immediately prior to the rapture: “Be on guard, that your hearts may not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day cone on you suddenly like a trap; For it will come upon all those who dwell on the face of the earth. But keep on the alert at all times, praying in order that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
The signs –as in the time of Noah - clearly indicate that we are on the threshold of what is going to be the most terrible time in human history — a time of unprecedented horror, the Great Tribulation. A one-world government will soon be established with total control over all commerce. During this time a dictator referred to in the Scriptures as 'the man of lawlessness’ , ‘The Man Of Sin’ etc will be responsible for killing around half the world's population during the first half of the Tribulation. And during the second half, he will murder two-thirds of the Jewish people. My estimate is that around three quarters of the world’s population will die in those seven years.
The Second Psalm speaks of the end times world of rebellion against God and this is what we are now seeing, plus Satanically-inspired worldwide anti-Semitism. But God laughs at their antics….verse 4:
The threat against Israel looms large and has immense prophetic significance. Israel’s Chief of Staff has pointed out that Israel is the only country in the world that another nation – Iran – has said must be destroyed, and which is building nuclear weapons to do just that. Will Israel make a pre-emptive strike on Iran’s numerous nuclear sites? If so, when? It could be this year, which could lead to a sequence of prophecies being rapidly fulfilled.
In his first letter the Apostle John wrote these words to the true believers: (I John 2:18) “ Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have arisen; from this we know that it is the last hour.”
John wrote that over 1900 years ago yet it is significant how accurately they capture the spirit of these last days. If there is a peaceful interlude now it is an uneasy peace, just as Israel is even now awaiting the next onslaught, attacks which will continue and intensify. Jets are flying practice runs over northern Israel as I speak.
The Apostle Paul warned that we must take heed when people babble about peace and safety. Their peace is an illusion, as Israel’s is. In Ist Thessalonians 5;3 he tells us: “While they are saying ‘Peace and Safety’ then destruction will come upon them suddenly like birth pangs upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.”
Paul is speaking of the return of our Lord and was telling the church to be prepared – not to be lulled to sleep in the expectation of the rapture. The time of the antichrist is almost upon us and this is no time for us to rest. But there is good news in the midst of all this trouble, for the message of the Bible is that we who are believers are going to win in the end. The Tribulation will be cut short at the end of seven years with the triumphant return of Jesus. He will destroy the Antichrist and will replace him as the ruler of this world, bringing peace, righteousness and justice. And that's not all the good news. The Bible teaches that believers are going to be taken out of this world before before the Tribulation begins. Christians will not have to face the Antichrist and his horrors.
The world is getting darker ands the antichrist spirit is abroad…in December the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution about combating intolerance, discrimination and violence on the grounds of religious belief. So far so good. But this was sponsored by the 57 nations of the Organization of Islamic Co-operation and is aimed at preventing slander of Islam- which means outlawing making statements any Muslim would dislike.
Later this year the EU is hosting a meeting to follow up on the Islamics’ bid to impose “blasphemy legislation” on all the EU to criminalize “defamation of Islam.” Yet Christianity is defamed every day on TV, radio and so on. Perhaps ten per cent of the EU population is now Islamic- and it is a young ten per cent. Yet the good news is- Islam will not rule the world!
The Lord and his faithful church will do that for 1000 years! The church of Jesus Christ in these End Times is a “remnant church,” which should not surprise or dismay us. Luke 18 verse 8: quotes Jesus asking: “However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” The way the question is put suggests the answer is “not much.” When many of those who love their success-driven churches go broke and lose their jobs, when serious trouble comes, will they still have faith? It depends on what their faith is placed in.
These are people who give the impression they are on the side of Jesus but they do not act in accordance with His words, which is precisely how the antichrist spirit will be manifest. Antichrist will give the impression to many that he is Christ, by being a benefactor and bringing peace, before his true nature as a son of the devil emerges.
There are many people who call themselves “Christians” but some have believed another gospel, the wrong gospel, which is no gospel at all and which will not save anyone. Some worship another Jesus, not the real Jesus. Only those who have believed the simple, true gospel and been born again of the Holy Spirit are Christians.
All the others are impostors who have rejected the narrow way of salvation and gone some other way. If they have added anything at all (like sacraments or church membership) to the simple gospel, they are believing another gospel. Our salvation depends solely on our faith in Jesus, with nothing added and nothing subtracted. If they are worshiping a communion wafer, they are worshiping another Jesus, not the real Jesus.
The wheat and the tares grow together and look pretty much alike at first glance, but they are not alike. The wheat, representing those who have believed the true gospel, has useful “fruit.” (the spiritual fruits of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance – Galatians 5:22,23). The tares (weeds), representing false Christians, look a lot like wheat, but they have no fruit. They might have charm, but charm is deceptive, and that charming exterior will vanish when times of stress come. They might do some good works, but good works are like filthy rags in God’s sight unless they are filtered through faith in Jesus – the real Jesus. Only then will our good works count for anything in Heaven.
Around the world real Christians are under persecution. In Britain we are mainly just mocked at present. Our troubles are never greater than our Helper.Jesus said: (John ) “In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” The victor of Calvary is with us as John says in his first epistle (1 John 4:4) “You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.”The world is getting darker, closer to its destruction. It’s a few seconds to and we must learn to trust the Lord completely. God is still on the throne and prayer changes things.
In John 6: 16-20 we read of the disciples in grave danger.“Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea. And after getting into a boat, they started to cross the sea at Capernaum. And it had already become dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. And the sea began to be stirred up, because a strong wind was blowing. When therefore they had rowed three or four miles, they beheld Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near to the boat; and they were frightened. But He said to them, ‘it is I, do not be afraid.’ ”
Sometimes storms blow up, but Jesus’ disciples on the Sea of Galilee rowed into the dark. The storm scared them, but they a glorious destination, Capernaum – Jesus’ home during his time on earth.
Matthew 9:1 calls it “His own city.”
Fear and uncertainty will grow as it becomes more and more obvious that the world is out of man’s control.
Jesus spoke of his coming again in great power and glory but he said something else had to happen first (Luke )… “Men fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming on the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken”.
However, Romans says that in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.
Time and again Christians in the End Times will turn to the Lord in prayer and be helped. Jesus is there at crisis points. The people of the world are often full of fear but have no comforter to turn to. The children of God can overcome fear in the name of Jesus.
However, Jesus did not promise us a small patch of heaven on earth, to quietly till until His return. This is actually an appealing prospect for me, as I look out on the garden. It is tempting to spend time there and while away the day.
However, we are given gifts to use. Jesus placed us- all of you- in this demon influenced world to spread the Gospel in word and deed to those who are not yet believers. Evil is increasing alarmingly in the world and ignorance and propaganda is promoted by our government, in the guise of learning. But we who are His are on our way to the Lord’s house, His home. On the broad path almost anything is tolerated. The only thing the world won’t tolerate is the Gospel Truth.The broad way, the world’s way, leads to destruction. It is based on lies. The narrow way is the Jesus way – He is the Truth. Absolute truth.
The Lord is preparing the believers for His soon coming. He is taking the true church out of the apostate church. Why? Because the spirit of Laodicea is at work in the nominal church.
Paul wrote to Timothy, in his first letter- (1 Timothy 4:1-3) “But the Spirit explicitly says that in latter times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, By means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience with a branding iron, Men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth.”
Here we see, among others, the Catholic church, a major part of the GreatWhoreChurch of the last days – forbidding marriage, banning meat on Fridays and so on. God calls their ideas “doctrines of demons,” yet most of the church in Britain today will happily join with them in ecumenical events. If you disagree you will probably be called a bigot or worse. Look on our website for the Table of Truth, or get our book Cults and Isms: True or False? From our web shop. It examines and dismisses, with full scriptural references, the claims of cults and false religions.
The church at Laodicea was smug, self satisfied – a very purpose driven place. Revelation describes it like this: “Because you say I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing, and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.
There are churches today which have big numbers. Some are even good churches. Some are following business-like formulas for success, which means people in pews. But these established churches can be lonely places. And how good is the teaching? What do even the ministers really know about the Bible? True life and warmth can only be found with a personal relationship with Jesus. Trends like The Emerging Church bring the New Age and mysticism into what passes for Christianity today. We are warned to take heed that no man deceives us- deception is the hallmark of the End Times church.
Those who like labyrinths and mysticism should read Leviticus 10: 1-2: “Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took their respective firepans, and after putting fire in them, placed incense on it and offered strange fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them. And fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord.”
This is how God judged two sons of the high priest! Yet there is strange fire in churches today. Fake blessings, fake revelations, fake prophecies, false manifestations of the spirit. We need to watch for it and beware. No church is safe from it.
The Lord made this offer to Laodicea: “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him and will sup with him and he with Me.” (Revelation 3:20.)
Although we seem small and unimportant, we are not alone. The Creator of the universe is with us, in us and watching over us. If we trust in Him we will have an eternal reward. Remember that the grass withers, the flower fades but the word of God shall stand forever, according to Isaiah 40:8.
Writing to the Corinthian church, Paul had this to say: “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
Visible reality all around us is often bad or just disappointing. But this world is not our home. We are in it but not of it. In the pages of the Bible we read of “evidence of things not seen.”
In 2 Kings Elisha was in the city of Dothan and the King of Syria was surrounding the city with a great force of horsemen and chariots. Elisha’s servant is afraid, but Elisha tells him that there are more on the Israelites’ side than are against them. Elisha asks God to open the man’s spiritual eyes and he sees a mountain full of the chariots of fire and horses of Israel. When Syria, Iran or any other country next attacks Israel it will discover this all over again.
Our five senses will die with us- they are temporary. The invisible is what counts – this is what the Bible is all about. Spiritual realities are a very different story to what we see in the world and right now, in Heaven, Jesus is preparing for His return in triumph. He is also preparing a place for us.
