For Such a Time as This
As you read these prayer concerns, some of which are quite disturbing, remember that these perilous times were prophesied for the last days. But take heart; this “convergence” of signs tell us that Christ’s return is near.
Increasing Extreme Weather and Natural Disasters
In Indonesia, the Anak Kracatoa volcano eruption is believed to have caused an undersea landslide that triggered a tsunami. At the time of this writing, there are 168 people known dead with many still missing, and over 700 hundred injured. Several hundred homes were damaged, plus a number of hotels and vessels. There were no significant seismic tremors to indicate a tsunami was coming.
In the US this week, flood watches were issued for the entire East Coast, and rainfall records were shattered. This has been one of the wettest years on record for the East Coast, and the wettest year ever in some places including the Washington DC area.
70 homes were damaged from possible tornadoes as severe weather ripped through Central Florida. Orlando shattered a 107-year-old record for rainfall.
On the West Coast, waves exceeded 50 feet in California. The National Weather Service tweeted in all caps: STAY WELL BACK FROM THE OCEAN OR RISK CERTAIN DEATH.
An extremely rare tornado that touched down west of Seattle and caused a lot of damage was the strongest to hit Washington State since 1986. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
The UK experienced strong winds, heavy rains and flooding this week, including Friday as the Christmas travelers took to the roads. Britons travelling around the country have been warned to be prepared as another huge band of rain prepares to barrel through the country. Government officials across England and Wales have issued 31 flood warnings as many streams already at capacity threaten to overflow because of the new onslaught of rain.
In Sydney, Australia, after days of severe thunderstorm warnings indicating the risk of “giant” hail, an intense downpour delivered hailstones the size and shape of “poached eggs” as a succession of severe storms hit the city. The SES urged people to stay inside to avoid being hit by the massive hailstones, and move their cars under cover or away from trees. The warning came too late as many cars were damaged. Hail also smashed through skylights of homes. Reports say the super cell of storms left a trail of destruction.
A 7.4 earthquake struck off the coast of Russia. There were 149 quakes over 4.0 worldwide in the last seven days which includes dozens over 5.0.
Zero Hedge is not a religious site, but in a recent article it speaks of earthquakes happening where they usually don’t, and other events combined, all increasing in intensity and frequency, historic records broken left and right, and things happening so fast we can hardly keep up with them.
Plague/Disease
Somewhere among all the recalls issued, an avocado warning was missed. The FDA says it is now crucial to wash avocados before slicing and eating them. A portion of avocado skins tested are positive for bacteria such as salmonella and listeria.
The Congo’s outbreak of Ebola has become a nightmare. As of December 20, over 512 cases have been confirmed and 288 people have died, making it the second-largest outbreak in history. 20% of new cases have been reported in the past month alone. The upcoming election and holiday travel are mobilizing the population, making this already tough situation even harder to control.
They Worshiped Created Things Rather Than the Creator (see Romans 1:18-32).
As they assume control of the House, Democrats are pushing a carbon tax as part of a “Green New Deal” – another way of saying “new taxes.” This nature-worship and ruse for total government control will increase the cost of everything. Yellow Vest protestors are in the streets of France for the sixth weekend in a row over the high cost of everything the globalists have caused – exactly what the globalist Democrats in the US intend to do. Anti-globalist protests also have occurred in Germany and are now going on in Belgium, Netherlands, Sweden, Portugal, Ireland, and Taiwan.
Clemson University’s Todd May, a philosophy professor (in writing for the New York Times) contemplated whether extinction of the human race would be a positive thing for the earth. May wrote that human beings are destroying animals’ ecosystems and the planet with their population growth and contributions to climate change.
In Australia, the green Grinch is stealing the joy of Christmas, but it’s not the one you’re thinking of. A group of eco-radicals (aka Mother Earth Gaia worshipers) is politicizing Christmas. They’re changing the lyrics of cherished Christian Christmas carols into “climate change” Christmas carols such as Silent Night, Smoky Night; Away in a Coal Mine, etc.
Pagan nature worshipers celebrated the Dec. 21 winter solstice.
Days of Noah and Lot Returned
Teen Vogue, which also appeals to pre-teens, has an online article: “Winter Solstice 2018: Witches Offer a Look Into Their Yule Rituals.” The sub-header says, “See what rituals these witches are practicing to welcome longer days and bid 2018 goodbye.” Besides nature worship, the article strongly promotes all things dark as if they are light.
Police are warning parents about the Momo Challenge. Watch the warning video here if you can bear the disturbing Momo image), and be aware of this evil “game” on apps and social media that warns children to do what it says or it will kill them. It has even caused some children to commit suicide out of fear when they didn’t do what it told them to do.
Mattel is currently in discussions to make same-sex “wedding” dolls.
The company (nununu) behind Celine Dion’s gender-neutral clothing line for children is sinister to say the least. And their website is full of photos of celebrities with their children in these outfits with the all-seeing eye, skulls, and ones emblazoned with “New Order.” On her FB page, Dion says, “I’ve always loved nununu and what they represent…Celinununu unites two forces by one voice: fashion has the power to shape people’s minds.”
Sacha Baron Cohen said that, while taping Who Is America, he stumbled upon a possible pedophile ring for wealthy men in Las Vegas. Cohen turned the footage over to the FBI, but the FBI decided not to pursue it.
The liberal-left media darling, 11-year-old Desmond Napoles from New York, who sashayed on Good Morning America in drag to thunderous applause, recently danced at a gay bar in drag where men tossed dollar bills at him. He, with full support of his parents, is setting up several ventures mentioned at this link. Napoles’ mother says he became interested in drag performances when he was two and watched RuPauls Drag Race. She says Desmond is on the autism spectrum, as if that’s an excuse for him claiming to be “gender fluid” and all the rest. In a recent report, a teacher from the UK said autistic children are being groomed into believing they’re transgender by older peers. Sounds like that’s exactly what Desmond’s parents have done to him.
36 people have been convicted in a massive international sex trafficking organization based out of Thailand, which sold women in a variety of US cities. This is the largest sex trafficking ring ever dismantled by the federal government. There were hundreds of victims and thousands of men who purchased these women.
State officials in Colorado won’t let Christian baker Jack Phillips alone even after the State Supreme Court ruled in his favor. They’re now going after him for refusing on religious grounds to bake a transgender celebration cake. Phillips says he’s been harassed, received death threats, and his shop was vandalized while the first LGBT wedding cake case went through the courts.
San Francisco, California, is using taxpayer money to create the world’s first transgender district called Compton’s Transgender Cultural District.
A mother whose daughter died while traveling in Mexico says her daughter’s body was returned to her with her eyes and all the organs missing except her lower bowel, having been taken by organ traffickers.
Both Planned Parenthood and the UN believe abortion is a “basic human right.” President Trump signed a bill defunding 50 to 60 million dollars that previously went to Planned Parenthood (abortion pushers and baby parts sellers). Instead he will give it to pro-life pregnancy centers.
Evildoers and Seducers Will Wax Worse and Worse, Deceiving and Being Deceived
Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey bans conservatives who want to protect people from ISIS with things like border security, stronger vetting and discussions about Islam. He apparently believed he had a better solution: witchcraft. He sent his hair to rapper and witch, Azealia Banks, to protect him from ISIS. There is currently a dispute going on over his alleged failure to promote her on Twitter. In the meantime, she sent a photo of her bloody room full of dead chickens she has sacrificed.
Apostasy and Doctrines of Demons
The Church of Sweden has voted against the ban on the Islamic call to prayer so that “more people could encounter the love of Allah.” Love? The worshiped prophet and god of Islam (who is not the God of the Bible) commands Muslims to harshly treat and kill Jews and Christians and subdue all nations by migrating, populating, dominating and subjugating by any means necessary.
England’s Norwich Cathedral is adding a labyrinth, yoga mats, and a carnival slide called “Helter Skelter” to attract visitors. The supposed holy site will transform into a kind of amusement park from August 7-18 in a project called “Seeing It Differently.”
The number of Catholic priests accused of sexual abuse against children in Illinois is much higher than previously acknowledged. Accusations have been leveled against 690 priests.
Jesus said in the very last days there would be those claiming to be Christ. A cult calling itself the Church of Almighty God (aka Eastern Lightning), begun in China in 1991 by former physics teacher Zhao Weishan, claims that Yang Xiangbin (aka Lightning Deng) is the female reincarnation of Jesus and has returned to Earth to guide her followers. It is increasing its presence in the age of social media and has established its so-called “churches” in countries around the world, including the US where both of the above-named cult leaders moved. This cult is considered notoriously physically dangerous to life and limb of those who want to leave its membership.
Last Days False Accusers and Traitors
From an article in the Washington Times titled Trickery and Deceit as Legal Tools: Why the special counsel investigation must end immediately: “For too long, the Department of Justice and the FBI have pursued high profile investigations with virtually unlimited power. They often intimidate and humiliate subjects and terrorize their family, friends and associates. And the courts have even allowed them to use trickery and deceit as a legal tool during interrogation. But as the saying goes, “power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
Former FBI Director James Comey is back on the Hill for an encore, after a controversial appearance over a week ago in which he told lawmakers seeking answers over the FBI’s handling of the (obvious by now bogus) Trump-Russia collusion probe some version of “I don’t know” at least 245 times.
A writer touted by CNN as ‘Journalist of the Year’ was forced to resign. The German magazine Der Spiegel revealed that Claas Relotius, one of its top award-winning journalists, fabricated many of his articles, inventing characters, sources, and their quotes “on a grand scale” for many years.
The Leftist Global Agenda and its Consequences
The border wall: Despite no Democrats supporting it and eight Republican RINOs voting against it, a majority in the House voted on Friday to fund the border wall. But there is a wrench in the works in this “nightmare before Christmas,” hence the government shutdown. You can read about that here.
A Florida military veteran and triple amputee launched a GoFundMe campaign this week titled “We The People Will Fund The Wall,” with a $1 billion goal. After only a few days, donations are already nearing $16 million (as of this writing).
A transgender army veteran, Charlotte Clymer, who describes he/she-self as a “liberal feminist woman” and “proudly queer,” set up a gofundme in reaction to the above one in order to buy ladders to get over the border wall. That one has only raised $130 thousand so far.
The US pledged a total of $10.6 billion in aid for Central America and southern Mexico in an attempt to promote better security conditions and job opportunities as part of a plan to allow Central Americans and Mexicans to remain in their countries. However, since the globalists use these people as part of their agenda to take down the US, one is left to wonder if this aid will do any good and how much will go into pockets of the corrupt.
The Financial Times announced that its 2018 person of the year is George Soros. The newspaper called him “father of the hedge fund industry and one of the world’s most prominent philanthropists,” who has “tirelessly supported” a liberal democratic order around the globe. [He supports a demonic order around the globe]. The article noted that the selection of Soros is a reflection of his achievements and also “about the values he represents.” [He has no values. He puts money into causes that further his agenda and deliberately incites chaos. And this atheist and hater of his own people has stated that he feels no guilt whatsoever for everything he has done and continues to do.
The Scottish parliament has banned calling the gingerbread man a man. He must now be called a gingerbread person.
Liberals need to wake up to this global agenda also: Socialism (as well as Marxism) always leads to Communist dictatorship. Venezuela’s citizens who voted for free goodies for all have had their lives ripped apart by displacement, starvation, disease, desperation and torment. Without passports or work permits, the Venezuelans – many with university degrees or decent jobs in what was once the wealthiest nation in Latin America – are now resorting to whatever it takes to survive. The situation is heartbreaking.
Other Consequences of the Global Agenda: Terrorism and Islamization of the Nations
Due to globalist leaders and leftists in the education system indoctrinating the public and students to believe we should have open borders and that Islam is a peaceful religion, two Scandinavian young women (Louisa Vesterager Jespersen, 24, from Denmark, and Maren Ueland, 28, from Norway) were stabbed and beheaded on camera by Muslim terrorists while on a camping vacation in Morocco (which is 99% Muslim). The terrorists shared the video online and spammed one of the victims’ mother’s Facebook page with hundreds of the gruesome images. Moroccan authorities have arrested several of the terrorists.
In Texas, police in Winnsboro said they’d received FBI info that there may be attacks on Texas churches from lone wolf ISIS members. The threat came from a social media post. Twitter declined to provide records (citing lack of threat specificity and imminence) but was ultimately served with a grand jury subpoena. The IP address was a dark web exit relay. The e-mail account belongs to a ten-minute e-mail service which provides discrete disposable e-mail accounts. Authorities are asking churches to have security teams on alert for the next few weeks, and the WPD says their officers will be on alert as well.
ISIS has issued a new threat to plague the US and the EU with drone attacks.
Four Nigerian stowaways on the Italian ship Grande Tema threatened its crew and demanded to be taken to the English coast. The ship’s crew locked themselves in the ship’s bridge for safety. The men have now been taken into custody, but the incident is not being treated as a hostage, piracy or terror-related incident.
Professor emeritus of the University of Louvain, Felice Dassetto, says that the number of secular Muslims in Europe is in steep decline and more are becoming radicalized. But this is exactly how it goes. The more the population increases, the worse the trouble gets. As I said before, the percentage where the trouble starts is low, and it keeps escalating as the population increases.
Hatred of Christianity
The management at Providence Place, a senior residence in Washington State, has banned saying “Merry Christmas,” Christmas decorations, Christmas carols that mention Jesus, etc., – claiming the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development requires the ban. However, there is no such legal requirement.
MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow, in criticizing a graduate from Liberty University becoming a Justice Dept. spokesperson, said Liberty is not a real university since it was founded by a televangelist. Jerry Falwell Jr. responded that Liberty is fully accredited and that “she needs to study her history.” He said, “Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Brown, most of the Ivy League schools were founded by preachers and evangelists, and that’s a long tradition in this country, and she just shows her ignorance and religious bigotry by making comments like that.”
On Tuesday, President Trump signed a law combatting genocide of Christians in the Middle East. Christians are literally being wiped out in Iraq and Syria.
In Pakistan, two Christian brothers, Qaiser and Amoon Ayub, have been sentenced to death under questionable circumstances, as was the case with Asia Bibi.
In India, villagers tried to stop Pastor Sojan from showing a film about Jesus and wanted him removed from the village, so they accused him of attempted force conversions. False accusations against Christian pastors/evangelists are common in India, used to justify physical assaults or stop them from presenting the Gospel. Anti-conversion laws are abused in countries like India (majority Hindu), Pakistan (majority Muslim), Nepal (majority Hindu) and Sri Lanka (majority Buddhists) in order to curtail religious freedom and prevent anyone leaving the majority religion.
The Chinese Communist Party continues to step up its crackdown on Christianity. Police in China have been given quotas for arrest of Christian citizens in order to keep their jobs, and all Christmas displays have been banned.
Hatred of the Jewish People
8,000 Gazans gathered at various spots along the Israeli border on Friday, burning tires and launching incendiary devices at soldiers, resulting in the deaths of four Gazans.
In Israel, a bill that would allow Israel to deport family members of terrorists passed its first reading in the Knesset. It would allow removing them from their town or city, or demarcating an area in which they’re not allowed to enter. It would apply to cases in which the family knew of the terrorist’s plans and encouraged them. The terrorist would have had to have killed or attempted to kill someone. This should be done, but is of course enraging those who hate Israel.
Muslim cleric Sheikh Osama Al-Tibi said in a sermon last Friday, which aired on “Palestinian” TV, that “Allah had turned Jews into apes and pigs.” Anyone who believes Allah and God are the same is just as willfully deceived as they are. God lets us know in Romans 1 that all are without excuse, for He has shown Himself to the world.
A chant first used in 2015 about literally burning Jews has spread in the Netherlands and Belgium in recent years, even being chanted at soccer games – even at a high school graduation party near Amsterdam.
Surveillance Society
New research is making Amazon’s Alexa device better mimic the human response, Reuters reported. However, this sometimes results in creepiness. According to one surprised user, Alexa said: “Kill your foster parents.” It’s not an isolated incident according to Reuters. There are instances of Alexa chatting with users about graphic sex acts. The report also showed sources noting that a hack of Amazon traced to China likely exposed some customers’ data.
One World Government and One-World Religion
Pope Francis spoke against nationalism Tuesday and harshly criticized political leaders who speak about the many societal problems caused by en masse migration. He instead promoted the brotherhood of a “globalized world.” In another push for globalism, he compares Mary and Joseph’s visit to Bethlehem where Jesus was born to the ‘migrants’ of today. However, Joseph and Mary weren’t immigrants in Bethlehem. It was Joseph’s hometown where they had to return to be counted and taxed as Roman subjects. And they weren’t unwelcome there; the dwelling places were full. One Italian priest who disagreed with the pope’s statement said, “He is more like persecuted Pakistani Christian Asia Bibi.”
The “Peace” Plan
The EU and Russia say the two-state solution is the only way to peace. The resigning US ambassador to the UN, Nicky Haley, said she’s read the plan and told the UN Security Council that “both sides would benefit greatly from a peace agreement, but the ‘Palestinians’ would benefit more and the Israelis would risk more.” She said that moving forward to negotiations and peace “will need leaders with real vision to do it.” She declared: “The world will be watching.” As we know, there will be no ultimate deal until after the rapture. And the European Antichrist will be the one to bring it on.
Wars and Rumors of Wars
The US found Russia in “material breach” of the arms control treaty earlier this month and will suspend its treaty obligations in 60 days if Russia does not return to compliance. Putin denies being in breach of the treaty (of course he would) and blames the US for putting the world at risk of nuclear war. Meanwhile, Putin intends to strengthen his arsenal, which he was already doing anyway.
The US State Dept, in an attempt to stop Turkey from buying the missile system from Russia, agreed to sell Patriot missiles to Turkey “for their defense.” Turkey should be kicked out of NATO because Erdogan is a power-hungry dictator who believes he’s going to recreate the Ottoman Empire. These missiles will not be used for defense of Turkey; instead Erdogan will use them for his nefarious purposes, which also includes against Israel.
A US aircraft carrier sailed into the Persian Gulf on Friday, becoming the first since America’s withdrawal from the bogus Iran nuclear deal and breaking the longest carrier absence in the volatile region since at least the September 11 terror attacks. This comes as Iranian officials again keep threatening to close off the Strait of Hormuz through which a third of all oil traded by sea passes. Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps vessels shadowed the carrier, at one point launching rockets away from it and flying a drone nearby.
The president said he is pulling US troops out of Syria. He said our job of defeating ISIS was done there. Sec. of State Pompeo said, “We’ve made the Caliphate in Syria go away.” The president said the pullout should come as “no surprise” given his 2016 campaign promises and arguing that America’s role as “Policeman of the Middle East” is not worth the sacrifice. Critics say a US withdrawal would allow Iran to consolidate a “land bridge” to the Mediterranean. The leaders of Iran and Turkey wasted no time consorting together after the US decision to leave Syria.
The US leaving Syria is very concerning to the Kurds who sided with the US and have been brave fighters against ISIS, suffering much loss of life in the process. Now Turkey’s Erdogan says he’ll take over the fight against any remaining ISIS pockets in Syria and will continue to go after the Kurds in northern Syria. The Kurds are mostly Muslim but their long suffering at the hands of their Islamic brothers has made them tolerant of other religions. Also a minority practice a variety of other religions. Pray for their safety and for them to turn to Christ, the only One who can save their eternal souls.
A US official speaking anonymously said the US is considering putting special forces in Iraq to respond to events in Syria.
The president also directed the Pentagon to withdraw thousands of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, heading towards a possible ending of the 17-year deployment of American forces there. Over 7,000 service members will begin returning from Afghanistan in the coming weeks.
Israel’s PM Netanyahu, in response to the US announcement of troop withdrawal from Syria, said, “We will continue to act very aggressively against Iran’s efforts to entrench in Syria. We do not intend to reduce our efforts. We will intensify them, and I know that we do so with the full support and backing of the United States.”
The coming months should be “interesting” as the movement towards the fulfillment of Isaiah 17 and Ezekiel 38-39 ramp up.
God is in Control
As we look forward to our soon redemption, let us celebrate this holiday season remembering the reason.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not…
“…He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (John 1:1-5, 10-14).