Pricks, Thorns, and Vexing :: By Daymond Duck

The Bible begins, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” (Gen. 1:1).

“All things were made by him; and without him not anything was made that was made” (Jn. 1:2).

“He [Jesus] was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not” (Jn. 1:10.

“The earth is the Lord’s and its fullness; the world, and they that dwell therein. For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods (Psa. 24:1-2).

The Bible clearly teaches that this earth and everything in it, including all the people, belong to God.

It is true that Adam and Eve sinned and allowed Satan to take over, but Jesus redeemed the entire Creation (bought it back, people and all) at the cross.

Let’s go to Numbers chapter 33.

Moses has led the Hebrews out of Egypt, they have wandered in the wilderness for forty years, and they have finally arrived at the Promised Land.

God said, “When ye are passed over Jordan into the land of Canaan; ye shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their pictures, and destroy all their molten images [idols], and quite pluck down all their high places [places of pagan worship]: And ye shall dispossess the inhabitants of the land, and dwell therein: for I have given you the land to possess it (Num. 33:51-53).

“But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you: then it shall come to pass, that those which ye let remain of them, shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell” (Num. 33:55).

Was God being unfair?

No, this world belongs to Him, and He was fed up with the sins of the Canaanites.

He said, “Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my good pleasure” (Isa. 46:9-10).

God is God, and He does what He wants to do.

Anyway, if the Hebrews didn’t put all of the Canaanites off the Promised Land, the Canaanites would cause major problems for Israel in the future.

They did it in Old Testament times, and they are doing it today.

But know that Israel is not the only one that will suffer from pricks, thorns, and vexing.

What the Canaanites (and the nations) try to do to Israel will come back on them.

They will reap what they sow.

And their pricks, thorns, and vexing will be so great, no flesh would be shortened.

However, those days will be shortened for the elect’s (Israel’s) sake.

(My opinion: Notice that God didn’t say kill the Canaanites. God said drive all of them off the land. I find it interesting that Trump wants to remove the Palestinians from Gaza, but others want to force them to stay in Gaza where many of them will suffer and die.)

Here are recent events that seem to indicate that God may be getting ready to deal with the world’s treatment of Israel.

One, concerning wars and rumors of wars: after meeting with several former Hamas hostages at the White House on Mar. 5, 2025, Trump posted a message to Hamas on Truth Social:

  • Release all of the Hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is over for you.
  • Only sick and twisted people keep bodies, and you are sick and twisted!
  • I am sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job.
  • Not a single Hamas member will be safe if you don’t do as I say.
  • This is your last warning! For the leadership, now is the time to leave Gaza while you still have a chance.
  • To the People of Gaza: A beautiful future awaits, but not if you hold Hostages. If you do, you are dead! Make a smart decision.
  • Release the hostages now, or there will be hell to pay later!

(More: On Mar. 6, 2025, U.S. Sec. of State Rubio said, “He’s (Trump is) tired of watching videos of emaciated hostages being released.”)

(More: On Mar. 6, 2025, the head of a terror victims group in Israel said, “When you surrender to evil, evil learns that terrorism pays.”)

(More: On Mar. 6, 2025, the U.S. special envoy to the Middle East said the U.S. and Israel could take joint military action against Hamas if negotiations with the terrorist group fail.)

(More: On Mar. 7, 2025, Israel’s Prime Min. Netanyahu ordered Israel’s military to prepare for an immediate return to fighting in Gaza.)

(More: On Mar. 9, 2025, it was reported that Hamas has agreed to release more hostages for an extension of the ceasefire, but no details were available at that time.)

Two, concerning Hamas releasing more hostages: on Mar. 6, 2025, Amir Tsarfati said Hamas is demanding to stay in power in exchange for more hostages, but Israel is refusing to let Hamas stay in power.

Tsarfati asks, “So, what do we do with this stalemate?”

Tsarfati said,

  • If Hamas still refuses to move forward, Israel will cut the 19% of Gaza’s water that it supplies.
  • If Hamas still refuses, Israel will cut electricity to Gaza’s desalination plants so that they cannot purify their own water.
  • If Hamas still refuses, Israel will resume air attacks.
  • If Hamas still refuses, Israel will resume a ground war.
  • To this final end, Israel’s government approved a call-up of 400,000 reserves.
  • That’s 100,000 more than were called up after October 7.
  • In other words, Israel is not playing around.

In my words, Israel’s military toolbox is full of pricks, thorns, and vexing.

(More: On Mar. 9, 2025, Israel announced that it will immediately cut off the electricity it sends to Gaza. The desalination plants that receive electricity from Israel will have to shut down. Trump warned that if all the hostages were not released, there would be hell to pay, and it is beginning to look like payday has arrived.)

(More: On Mar. 9, 2025, Israel announced that it is actively working on plans to move 5,000 Gaza citizens per day to other nations and to get other nations to take them. If they can accomplish this, it will take a year to clear out Gaza.)

(More: On Mar. 10, 2025, in a meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, U.S. Sec. of State Marco Rubio said any reconstruction effort in Gaza must exclude Hamas.)

Three, concerning wars and rumors of wars: in a message to Congress on Mar. 4, 2025, Pres. Trump talked about his threats to impose tariffs on other nations.

Trump said the additional tariffs, including reciprocal tariffs and non-tariff actions, are aimed at addressing years of trade imbalances.

In addition to trade imbalances, Trump said he was imposing tariffs on China because they keep sending fentanyl into the U.S., and he wants it stopped.

China responded, “If war is what the US wants, be it a tariff war, a trade war, or any other type of war, we’re ready to fight till the end.”

(More: On Mar. 5, 2025, Pres. Trump postponed 25% tariffs on many imports from Mexico and some imports from Canada for a month amid widespread fears of the economic fallout from a broader trade war. He emphasized that the tariffs are about stopping the smuggling of fentanyl and fixing the trade deficit.)

Four, concerning wars and rumors of wars and the coming Battle of Gog and Magog, on Mar. 4, 2025, Sen. Lindsey Graham urged Pres. Trump to allow Israel to destroy Iran’s nuclear program while we can.

Graham said there is zero chance of getting a nuclear pact with Iran that would convince the Ayatollah Khamenei to abandon his ambitions to build the bomb.

He added that Khamenei wants three things:

  • To dominate Islam.
  • To kill all Jews.
  • To drive the U.S. out of the Middle East.

(More: On Mar. 4, 2025, 77 retired U.S. generals and admirals released a letter to Pres. Trump urging him to support Israel’s efforts to finish the war with Iran before Iran crosses the nuclear threshold. According to them, two decades of negotiations have accomplished nothing.)

(More: On Mar. 5, 2025, it was reported that Iran’s president said he would negotiate with the U.S., but Khamenei refuses.)

(More: On Mar. 5, 2025, it was reported that Iran has established a new terrorist group in Syria. Iran said the new group will represent all groups in Syria, defend Syria against occupation, and stand against falsehood. The group is demanding that Israel withdraw its forces from southern Syria and the demilitarized zone in the Golan Heights. It has claimed responsibility for several recent attacks against Israel’s military forces.)

Five, concerning wars and rumors of wars and the coming Battle of Gog and Magog: on Mar. 7, 2025, Trump said he sent a letter to Khamenei demanding that he negotiate with the U.S. because he (Trump) will not allow Khamenei to have nuclear weapons.

In an interview, Trump said,

  • We have a situation with Iran that something’s going to happen very soon, very, very soon.
  • There will be interesting days ahead.
  • There are two ways Iran can be handled: militarily, or you make a deal.
  • I’d rather see a peace deal than the other, but the other will solve the problem.
  • If Iran doesn’t negotiate, it will be very ugly for them.

Six, concerning wars and rumors of wars: on Mar. 5, 2025, French Pres. Macron said France and the EU should prepare for war because Russian aggression knows no borders.

He said Europe will not accept the capitulation of Ukraine to Russia under the guise of peace negotiations.

Macron added that France would use its nuclear arsenal against Putin.

(More: Germany’s Foreign Minister urged the European nations to start mobilizing now and not wait until April when there is a new government in Germany.)

Seven, concerning the ashes of a red heifer without blemish and spot: on Mar. 7, 2025, it was reported that the five calves that have been moved from Texas to Israel have all been disqualified.

According to the report, the red heifers are occasionally inspected to see if they are still unqualified, but at this time, all of them have more than one non-red hair.

Eight, concerning the Two-State Solution and Judea and Samara: on Mar. 7, 2025, I heard a prophecy teacher say that there is the possibility that the U.S. and Israel are planning to announce Israel’s annexation of all of Judea and Samaria, and the death of the Two-State Solution in about a week and one-half.

All of the land from the (Jordan) River to the (Mediterranean) Sea will be part of Israel.

(My opinion: Israel will be divided after the Rapture, but Israel will get all that land and a lot more at the Second Coming.)

Nine, concerning the Battle of Gog and Magog and Iran’s desire to destroy Israel: on Mar. 8, 2025, Iran criticized the Arab’s Gaza reconstruction plan.

Iran’s Foreign Min. said, “While we respect the views of some brotherly nations regarding the two-state solution, the Islamic Republic of Iran maintains that this approach will not fulfill the rights of the Palestinian people.”

Iran wants a one-state solution, not a Two-State Solution.

(More: The mayor of Paterson, NJ, is the son of a Syrian woman and a Lebanese father. On Mar. 10, 2025, it was reported that he has declared Paterson, NJ, the capital of Palestine in the U.S. He changed the name of Main Street to Palestinian Way, closes schools on Muslim holidays, serves Muslim food in the school cafeterias, uses loudspeakers to blast a call to Muslim prayers in the city, etc.)

Ten, concerning world government: on March 7, 2025, the U.S. rejected the UN Sustainable Development Goals (on the grounds that they would hurt America and establish a world government).

Edward Heartney, a Trump-appointed representative, told the UN General Assembly the Sustainable Development Goals (climate change, wealth redistribution, ending poverty, gender equality, etc.) “advance a program of soft global governance that is inconsistent with U.S. sovereignty and adverse to the rights and interests of Americans.”

A UN representative responded by saying the goals were approved by all the nations in the UN, and so the U.N. is holding onto its guiding principles “to advance a world of peace, prosperity and dignity for all.”

(My opinion: The Trump representative’s statement confirms that the UN Sustainable Development Goals are about world government and the surrender of national sovereignty. The UN response indicates that, at least for the time being, the UN is sticking to its goal of a world government by 2030 or sooner if possible. Also, we know that the UN must be restructured, that the Restrainer is holding the world government back, and that despite Trump’s desire to Make America Great Again, there will be a world government after the Rapture.)

(My opinion: I am not predicting a date, but “2030 or sooner if possible” means that people could have less than five years to be ready. And who knows? It could be quite a bit less.)

Eleven, concerning the new HTS-dominated government of Syria: on Mar. 8, 2025, it was reported that government troops have killed more than one thousand Syrian citizens (including women, children, and Christians).

(More: A report on Mar. 9, 2025, said women were paraded naked in the streets before being shot. There was also a report that a teenage boy was given a rifle and forced to shoot his family.)

(My opinion: This seems to deny HTS claims of moderation and confirm Israel’s suspicions of once a terrorist always a terrorist. Israel’s suspicions are why Israel has kept troops in the buffer zone on its border with Syria.)

Twelve, concerning Russia, Iran, Turkey, and others using Syria to attack Israel: on Mar.10-11, 2025, Israeli jets struck 41 targets (radar, aerial detection systems, headquarters, and weapons depots under the new regime) in southern Syria that Israel said could pose a threat to Israel and Israeli operations in the future.

Thirteen, concerning illegal immigrants in the U.S.: the Trump administration is now allowing illegal immigrants to self-deport and offering them the opportunity to apply to return legally in the future.

If they self-deport and are not criminals, terrorists, cartel members, etc., there is a good chance that they will be allowed to return legally to live the American Dream.

Fourteen, Canada has replaced Trudeau with a new Prime Min., and I am being asked what he is like. I don’t know, but Alex Newman, a man that I greatly respect, said the situation in Canada has been controlled to ensure that the globalists continue to stay in power.

FYI: God does not send anyone to Hell (all of us are born with a sin nature and destined to go to Hell because we sin), but God has provided a way (Jesus) for everyone to go to Heaven (and He is the only way to get there; John 14:6).

Finally, are you Rapture Ready?

If you want to be rapture ready and go to heaven, you must be born again (John 3:3). God loves you, and if you have not done so, sincerely admit that you are a sinner; believe that Jesus is the virgin-born, sinless Son of God who died for the sins of the world, was buried, and raised from the dead; ask Him to forgive your sins, cleanse you, come into your heart and be your Saviour; then tell someone that you have done this.

duck_daymond@yahoo.com

 

It Starts In The Bible :: By Daymond Duck

On Feb. 26, 2025, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz addressed the Sovereignty Conference 2025 in Jerusalem.

Cruz said:

  • Israel has an absolute right to determine what happens in Judea and Samaria.
  • Israel’s right starts in the Bible and extends through modern times.
  • As for your enemies, who are also the enemies of America, we know that they seek to weaken you and to weaken us. And then to destroy you. And then to destroy us.

God clearly made an everlasting covenant to give all the land of Canaan to Abraham and his descendants after him in their generation and to be Israel’s God (Gen. 17:7-8).

God clearly said He would bless the descendants of Ishmael, but His everlasting covenant would go through Isaac (Gen. 17:18-21) who had not even been born yet.

Abraham had twin sons (Esau and Jacob). Esau had the birthright as the firstborn, and the covenant should have gone through him, but he sold his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of pottage (Gen. 25:29-34), and God accepted the deal.

Then, the covenant went through Jacob (Gen. 28:13; 35:10-12) whose name was changed to Israel and whose 12 headed up the 12 tribes of Israel.

The Jews wound up as slaves in Egypt; God remembered His covenant (Deut. 7:7-8), sent the Ten Plagues, Pharaoh let them go, and Moses led them to the Promised Land.

The story continues, but Cruz rightly stated that Israel’s right to the land (which includes all of Judea and Samaria and more) begins in the Bible.

It begins with God; it is an everlasting right. God cannot lie, and it will not be fully realized until the Second Coming of Jesus at the end of the Tribulation Period.

The Islamic obsession with destroying Israel and seizing the land is Satanic, and it will not end until Satan is bound and chained (Rev. 20:1).

In the meantime, because the Jews have rejected Jesus as their Messiah, they will not have peace, they will be beset with war, fear, and hardship, many will die, and more, but God cannot lie, God will not forsake Israel (Jer. 31:35-37), and all Israel will eventually be saved.

Here are some related current events.

One, on Feb. 26, 2025, Pres. Trump held the first cabinet meeting of his second term.

18 Cabinet secretaries, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, DOGE head Elon Musk, and Trump’s nominee for UN ambassador were in the room.

Trump opened the meeting by asking HUD Sec. Scott Turner to pray.

Randy DeSoto reported that Turner prayed:

  • Father, we thank you for this awesome privilege, Father, to be in your presence.
  • God, thank you that you’ve allowed us to see this day.
  • The Bible says that ‘your mercies are new every morning,’ and Father God, we give you the glory and the honor.
  • Turner thanked God for allowing them to serve and anointing them to do the job.
  • He asked God to give Trump and them the wisdom they will need to lead the country.
  • I pray for all of my colleagues that are here around the table and in this room.
  • Lord God, we pray that we would lead with a righteous clarity.
  • The Bible says, ‘Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD.’
  • Thank you for giving us this opportunity to restore faith in this country and be a blessing to the people of America.
  • Lord God, today in our meeting, we pray that you would be gloried in our conversation, in Jesus’ name, amen.

Trump congratulated Turner for doing a very good job.

(My opinion: I am not sure how this fits in with Bible prophecy, but praying in Jesus’ name is Biblical. I am delighted to know that the first Cabinet meeting was opened with prayer in Jesus’ name, and I hope all of the Cabinet meetings are opened that way.)

Two, concerning the U.S.: on Feb. 28, 2025, Rev. Franklin Graham said:

  • There is one area that no president has control over—that’s the ever-growing moral decadence that seems to have gripped so much of our nation, especially among young people.
  • It’s a spiritual degeneracy that can only be cured by repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
  • There is no other remedy or hope.
  • As Scripture states, “And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold” (Matthew 24:12).

Graham added that the U.S. needs the redeeming grace of God and urged people to pray that it will happen.

(My opinion: Graham is saying Pres. Trump can’t save the U.S., but God can and will if America’s citizens will give up their sins and truly accept the death of Jesus on the cross as a propitiation for their sins. Prayer can change things.)

Three, on Jan. 24, 2025, Pres. Trump pardoned 23 pro-lifers (some were elderly, some were just praying, etc.) who had been sentenced to long terms in prison for peacefully protesting at abortion clinics.

At that time, Trump said they should not have been prosecuted.

On Feb. 25, 2025, a group of pro-life advocates urged the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Oversite to repeal the laws that were used to jail these people.

(My opinion: I believe abortion is wrong, and my belief comes from the Bible.)

Four, concerning Israel having a powerful army at the end of the age: on Feb. 27, 2025, in a special service with prayers and religious blessings and songs, dozens of ultra-Orthodox (religiously observant) Jews were sworn in as the first members of a religious combat unit in the Israeli military.

This unique group of religious soldiers (males and females) will also serve their nation as fighters.

(My opinion: The idea of religious soldiers is in the Bible; Samson, Gideon, etc.)

Five, concerning the Battle of Gog and Magog: following Iran’s third threat in a week to destroy Israel and the U.S., on Feb. 25, 2025,

  • Israel’s Defense Min. said, “We are ready.”
  • S. Senator Lindsey Graham said, “Don’t get overly attached to your nuclear weapons program.”

At some point, Iran will try to destroy Israel, but God will intervene, and Iran will fail.

(More: On Feb. 26, 2025, the International Atomic Energy Agency warned that Iran has accelerated its production of near-weapons-grade uranium amid mounting tensions between Iran and the U.S.)

(More: On Feb. 25, 2025, Iran rejected talks about stopping its efforts to produce nuclear weapons as long as the U.S. is imposing sanctions on Iran’s oil industry. Iran said we will not negotiate under pressure.)

Six, I am not suggesting that Pres. Trump is the Antichrist, and I don’t think he is, but for years Bible prophecy teachers have said the world will get in a big mess at the end of the age and world leaders will welcome a man with a plan (the Antichrist) to deal with the problems.

On Feb. 27, 2027, it was reported that U.S. Sec. of State Marco Rubio told Breitbart News:

  • His conversations with leaders across the Middle East suggest a strong desire in the region to see expansion of the historic Abraham Accords.
  • The worldwide planet is thrilled that Pres. Donald Trump is back in the White House.
  • The world has been dying for Trump’s kind of leadership again in Washington.

(My opinion: There is no doubt that Trump is a very powerful man with a lot of big plans, but the Bible clearly teaches that the Antichrist cannot be identified while the Church is on earth. Some pundits say the Antichrist will be gay. I don’t know about that, but if it is true, it is more likely to be Obama than Trump. As far as I am concerned, those that are here when the Antichrist appears have been left behind.)

Seven, concerning wars and rumors of wars: on Feb. 28, 2025, it was reported that Israel is planning to resume its war with Hamas within four to six weeks with a significantly changed strategy.

According to the report, Israel is currently working on a plan:

  • To deploy a large number of troops,
  • To move the Palestinians into humanitarian areas,
  • To take control of all aid,
  • To provide aid only to those in the humanitarian areas, and
  • To defeat Hamas and take over the entire Gaza Strip.

(More: On Mar. 3, 2025, it was reported that Israel will not allow Hamas to continue the ceasefire without releasing hostages. Israel intends to cut off all humanitarian aid, electricity, and water to Gaza – no food, water, or electricity – to encourage people to leave before it unleashes the Gates of Hell with an overwhelming attack on Hamas. Trump has already said if Hamas doesn’t release the hostages, he will support whatever Israel decides to do.)

Eight, concerning Trump’s suggestion that the U.S. take over Gaza: on Feb. 26, 2025, Glen Beck suggested that it is a bad idea Biblically.

Beck said,

  • That’s sacred land.
  • I think this would be so bad in the spiritual sense for the United States to take that land.
  • That belongs to Israel.

(My opinion: Beck is right. The Bible clearly teaches that God gave that land and a lot more to Israel as an everlasting possession. America should not even think about taking one square inch of it.)

(More: On Mar. 2, 2025, it was reported that a recent poll found that only 6% of Gaza’s citizens want Hamas to remain in power in Gaza. Many Palestinians blame Hamas for starting the Oct. 7, 2023 war, preventing them from getting aid, etc.)

(More: On Mar. 4, 2025, the Arab League approved a plan by Egypt to rebuild and govern Gaza. The UN, EU, and PA Chairman Abbas endorsed the plan, but the U.S. and Israel rejected it. A U.S. official said the U.S. is still open to talks, but Hamas cannot have a future role in the government of Gaza. Israel added the plan continues to rely on the PA and UNRWA, and both are corrupt.)

Nine, concerning Israel having a great army at the end of the age:

  • On Feb. 28, 2025, the U.S. Defense Dept. authorized a $2.04 billion sale of bombs to Israel starting in 2026 to meet future threats.
  • On Mar. 1, 2025, the U.S. Sec. of State Marco Rubio signed a document to expedite $4 billion of military aid to Israel to meet present needs.

The Trump administration has approved nearly $12 billion in military sales to Israel since Trump took office on Jan. 20, 2025.

Ten, concerning Europe having a great army at the end of the age, on Mar. 3, 2025, the Prophecy News Watch (PNW) staff posted an interesting article.

They said, “The abrupt fallout between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has not only shaken diplomatic relations but has also sparked renewed calls for Europe to establish its own army—one independent of the United States.”

They asked:

  • Could this be the fulfillment of a prophetic moment leading toward the rise of a European superstate?
  • And could this pave the way for the prophesied leader who will unite Europe under a single banner?

They said, “While we cannot predict exact timelines, the convergence of global events suggests that we may be witnessing the early stages of a prophetic fulfillment.”

Here is a link to the entire article: https://www.prophecynewswatch.com/article.cfm?recent_news_id=7967

(More: On Mar. 4, 2024, it was reported that the EU will free up $840 billion to quickly spend on defense.)

(My comment: They have been talking about doing this for years, but it has been all talk and no action. In less than two months, Trump has got them scrambling to do it immediately.)

FYI: God does not send anyone to Hell (all of us are born with a sin nature and destined to go to Hell because we sin), but God has provided a way (Jesus) for everyone to go to Heaven (and He is the only way to get there; John 14:6).

Finally, are you Rapture Ready?

If you want to be rapture ready and go to heaven, you must be born again (John 3:3). God loves you, and if you have not done so, sincerely admit that you are a sinner; believe that Jesus is the virgin-born, sinless Son of God who died for the sins of the world, was buried, and raised from the dead; ask Him to forgive your sins, cleanse you, come into your heart and be your Saviour; then tell someone that you have done this.

duck_daymond@yahoo.com