UPDATE: Russia Officially Drawing Closer to Iran

Take a look at this update form Joel Rosenberg’s Blog -

http://flashtrafficblog.wordpress.com/2012/02/22/russia-warns-israel-not-to-attack-iran-if-putin-wins-march-4-election-would-he-threaten-military-action-against-israel/

To Clarify (from Sunday Feb. 5)

On Sunday, February 5^th during the sermon on Isaiah 55:6, I mentioned something the US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said the previous week. On Friday, February 3^rd, several news sources ran articles citing Panetta as saying there was a high probability Israel would strike Iran’s nuclear facilities in the Spring of this year, April, May, or June.

http://articles.nydailynews.com/2012-02-03/news/31022983_1_nuclear-program-iranian-nuclear-scientists-nuclear-weapons

http://security.blogs.cnn.com/2012/02/02/panetta-believes-israel-could-strike-iran-this-spring/

I went on to say that IF Israel did stage such a strike, Iran would most certainly retaliate by attacking Israel within a few months. Such a retaliatory strike would in all likelihood be the fulfillment of Ezekiel 38 & 39. I went on to say that many Bible students, myself among them, believe that the Rapture of the Church will be concurrent with the events of Ezekiel 38.  Following the Rapture is the Tribulation, which no one wants to be around for. All of this was meant to be illustrative of what Isaiah 55:6 says; “Seek the Lord while He may be found; call on Him while He is near.”

I need to clarify my remarks.

Leon Panetta is not someone given to wild or fanciful remarks. As a former director of the CIA and now the Secretary of Defense, his remarks are measured and careful. When he says something in public, we’re hearing the official position of the US Administration. So when Panetta says there’s a high probability Israel will strike Iran’s nuclear facilities in the Spring—there’s a high probability Israel will make a move against Iran’s nuclear facilities soon. And Panetta is saying so for some military or political advantage. What that is isn’t clear; but that is certainly the reason for the announcement.

Interesting that the Supreme Leader of Iran, the Ayatollah Khamenei, also gave a speech last week. He renewed his oft stated threats against Israel. The speech was aimed at countering the sanctions the US has installed on Iran in an attempt to halt their nuclear program. In a typically fiery speech, Khamenei said all the sanctions would do was teach Iran self-reliance and renew their commitment to their nuclear program. During the speech, the Ayatollah repeated the call to remove the “cancerous tumor” of Israel and vowed to assist all those who worked to do so.

http://www.smh.com.au/world/khamenei-vows-to-fight-cancerous-tumour-israel-20120204-1qymh.html

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/iran-supreme-leader-u-s-israel-will-suffer-for-threats-on-nuclear-program-1.410875

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2012/02/03/khamenei-iran-will-aid-anyone-confronting-israel/

While world events are highly fluid and no one can predict with certainty what will occur or when, Panetta’s remarks, along with recent comments by political and military leaders in Israel, and Iran’s nuclear posturing present a pattern for how Ezekiel 38 could unfold.

That an Iran-Russia coalition attacks Israel in the end times is a certainty because Ezekiel 38 says so. Would retaliation for an Israeli strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities necessarily BE that foretold invasion? No. What if Russia joined Iran in that retaliation? Even then, there’s the possibility that it wasn’t THE fulfillment of  Ezekiel 38.  But, is that likely? Hardly. Here’s why …

 

Ezekiel 38 and 39 are all a set-piece prophetic picture that begins in chapter 36. The prophet foretells Israel’s being regathered out of the nations back into her land and rising to amazing prosperity out of crushing poverty.  The Iran-Russia led coalition described in Ezekiel 38 is said to attack that Israel; the one that’s been brought back from being dispersed among the nations and has turned the wilderness into lush fields. The time of all this is described as being “after many days … in the latter years.” (Ezekiel 38:7-9)

The current political scene is the first time in recorded history when Iran and Russia have been politically close. Until the last few decades, they were hostile toward  each other. But now the alignments are poised for the nations listed in Ezekiel 38 that form the coalition that attacks Israel to do so. Turkey is the last hold-out and is swiftly moving toward an alignment with Iran.

The point is this—Is it possible the fulfillment of Ezekiel 38 and 39 could yet be decades out? Yes. But in light of the current world political situation, is that likely? No. If Iran retaliates for an Israeli attack on their nuclear facilities and Russia joins them, does that have to mean it’s a fulfillment of Ezekiel 38? No. But holding to a literal interpretation of Scripture, and understanding prophecy is a “normal” sense, is it reasonable to assume that such a retaliation by a Iran-Russia alliance is indeed the fulfillment of Ezekiel’s prophecy? Certainly!

In my opinion, the more significant issue is if the Rapture and Ezekiel 38 are concurrent. That is where far more potential for getting it wrong lies.

Here’s why some Bible students see the Rapture as taking place at the same times as the Iranian-Russian led coalition attacks Israel.

1) God’s redemptive focus is now on the Church. But according to Daniel 9, we understand God will shift that focus back to the geopolitical nation of Israel at some point for a final 7 year period. Since God has promised to never leave nor forsake the Church, He will Rapture them before turning His redemptive focus back to the Jews and Israel. Part of what happens in Ezekiel 38 and 39 is that when the invaders are miraculously wiped out, Israel is dramatically confronted with the realization God is real and they begin to turn to Him. It makes sense that this is the point His redemptive focus turns back to them; so the Rapture.

2) The Rapture is going to be a global phenomenon that sees millions of people disappear. If it were to occur right now while everything else was normal, it would deal a serious blow to the global consciousness. But if it occurred during a limited nuclear war in the Middle East that involved Russia and say, the United States – the world would be reeling from the political, military and economic fallout, to say nothing of the radioactive fallout. The Middle East Oil supplies would grind to a halt. The chaos would be global. The Rapture, as devastating as it was, would be just part of the blow to the Planet, and seemingly minor compared to the war in the Middle East. In 38:21, God says in judging the invaders of Israel, that He “calls for a sword against” them. This phrase is used in the Bible for when God uses one nation to judge another. What nation, an ally of Israel, has the capacity to oppose the massive coalition Ezekiel describes that attacks Israel in the end times? The US.

Going with this as the potential play out of Ezekiel 38, Russia, the US, and the radical Muslim states of the Middle East are removed from the scene as the Tribulation begins. The world is reeling, which provides the perfect stage for someone with amazing answers & and solutions to step forward with his agenda. Let me introduce to you the Antichrist. Out of the ashes and chaos he proposes a new political, economic, and religious system—all seen by what’s left of the world as necessary to keep such a disaster from happening again. And so we see what the Bible says constitute the 3 final power centers who move toward Armageddon; Europe, China, and Africa.

Just sayin’ …

Marriage Q & A

MARRIAGE QUESTIONS & ANSWERS (Hopefully)

The following are the questions we had submitted during the 2011 Mid-Week Marriage Series at Calvary Chapel Oxnard. We were only had enough time to answer  a few in the time allotted for them at the conclusion of the last session.

1)                  It is our understanding that as men and women age and their hormone production slows down to zero, their sex drive may also disappear.  We believe that is God’s design as they have long passed their ‘reproduction’ years.  Our question is this: should a senior married couple resort to medicine or medical device to prolong their sex life, or simply follow the rhythm of nature and live a loving and caring married life without sexual intimacy?   We think God wants us to follow his natural design, but we would appreciate your interpretation of His Word.

Two becoming one is a life-long process. As we age, we change; in body, soul & spirit. This is why we must keep communication going – checking in with each other to make sure we’re still knowing our mate. Talking about your sex-life is part of that intimacy. As the years pass, expect your sex-life to change. Don’t buy the world’s lie that only the young enjoy life.  And don’t fall into the trap of thinking that if you’re “normal” you’re sexual encounters have to be so many times a week or month. Talk to each other as the years pass about what you enjoy & desire, then blend; Compromise. Move together.

2)                  How can single believers court the right way?

This question requires a long answer. We have done courtship seminars in the past. The whole issue of Christians & dating is something a lot of people are considering. Let me suggest a couple of books instead –

• I Kissed Dating Goodbye – by Josh Harris. Then the sequel – Boy Meets Girl.  (These can both be idealistic but are still hold some good ideas.)
• Passion & Purity by Elizabeth Elliot.
  • When God Writes Your Love Story by Eric & Leslie Ludy

3)                  How are finances supposed to be managed? Are accounts supposed to be joint? Are funds to be managed by the husband?

Money & possessions ought to be managed by the principles we find in God’s Word. Compass & Crown are both excellent resources to use for that.

Since marriage is about two becoming one, in everything, that includes finances. This doesn’t mean a husband & wife  can’t agree to have minor accounts set up for things like vacations or special projects. But their main account ought to be one.

4)                  How can the wife encourage her husband’s spiritual growth as well as the spiritual growth of the marriage in a positive way, without “pushing” too much?

Mostly through prayer & by being a good example. Read 1 Peter 3:1-6.

It is certainly proper for a wife to occasionally ask her husband to pray with her, if he doesn’t initiate. But this ought to be infrequent, so that he doesn’t see her as nagging. Here’s how this works – don’t say, “I wish you’d pray with me more. I wish you’d take the initiative & be the spiritual leader around here.” You’re communicating by saying this that he’s deficient. The word “more” implies dissatisfaction and is heard as critical.

Instead, ask, “There are a couple quick things I want to pray about, honey. Can I pray with you about them?”

5)                  How much spiritual leadership should a wife/mom take on if the husband/father is not?

n  In an unequally yoked marriage?

None. No spiritual leadership. Be a believer & growth as a follower of Jesus. But a wife can’t “take” leadership because it isn’t hers; it’s her husband’s. If she assume leadership, it will back-fire. He’ll get resentful, shamed, and probably set himself in opposition to her. All of that won’t encourage him toward the Lord but away.

Read 1 Peter 3:1–4 • ¹ Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, ² when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. ³ Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— ⁴ rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.

n  In an equally yoked marriage, where wife is stronger in faith or Word? Is there a point where she can be enabling his lack of leadership responsibility?

6)                  Will we know our spouse in heaven and will we be married to each other in heaven?  At what age will be appear to each other?

Yes, we’ll know our spouse in heaven but we won’t be married.

Luke 20:34–35 • ³⁴ Jesus answered and said to them, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage. ³⁵ But those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage.

7)                  What happens if a spouse becomes seriously injured and no longer holds much mental capacity?  Is the healthy spouse granted the ability to divorce

The only basis for dissolving a marriage in God’s eyes are adultery & abandonment. Age, diminished mental capacity, Alzheimer’s, etc. are not grounds for divorce. What they are, are grounds for showing the love promised when years before they stood at the altar & said, “In sickness & in health., till death us do part.

8)                  Does a woman, in marriage, have the right to withhold sex from her husband, not because of meanness, but because she does not feel like it?

1 Cor. 7 says specifically that a man or woman is not to do this.

9)                  According to the Sermon on the Mount, if a man looks at a woman to commit adultery, does the wife have basis to divorce on the basis of adultery?

10)              The Bible says, “out of the abundance of your heart, the mouth speaks” & “the heart is deceitful and desperately wicked, who can know it?”  What do you say?

11)              A friend, who is a new believer, doesn’t seem to understand the Biblical principle that sex is reserved for married couples only.  This person believes in not practicing adultery, but fornication doesn’t make sense to him.  Could you please address this? 

Sexual abstinence doesn’t make sense to this person for one reason – they want to have sex before marriage. Yet 1 Corinthians 6:9  says • Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites …

Galatians 5:19 • Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, …

Ephesians 5:3 • But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints

Ephesians 5:5 • For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

Colossians 3:5 • Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

12)              How do you deal with in-laws and husband’s family when they constantly call for issues they are having at home?  They expect husband to take care of all their problems.  They drop in unexpected, controlling my husband.  They are not believers.

13)              I believe in God, my husband does not.  We have 4 boys, 2 are his, the 2 that are not his, he does not get along with.  We are currently separated; he is trying to work it out. It is an unhealthy and unsafe relationship and he has been abusive to me and the children.  He is not willing to get marriage counseling (he laughs about it).  He talks down on me and the boys that are not his.  QUESTION:  Am I being punished for going back to him so many times when he was abusive?

If by punished, you mean by the Lord, I would have to say, that isn’t consistent with God’s character. Are you experiencing the result of some poor choices? Probably.

There’s a lot you’re asking here but let me try to cut to the core – if he’s being physically abusive toward you, that’s a crime, report him.

There are good men of God who’ll disagree with me on this, & others who also see things this way è His neglect & abuse of you, is a form of abandonment. Remember in 1 Cor. 7 Paul allows divorce in the case of abandonment by an unbeliever. What if an unbeliever doesn’t physically remove him/herself, but makes it EVEN WORSE by staying, is abusive, dangerous by engaging in criminal behavior that imperils the spouse & kids, or neglects all his/her real duties toward their spouse? How is that really any different than abandonment? BY Abandonment, does Paul mean only a physical departure, or might he also mean abandonment of the covenantal requirements of the marriage? It’s my opinion that while we need to be cautious that we don’t over-extend ‘abandonment’ to mean anything we want it to (as some do with the term “abuse”)  it can mean this kind of neglect or endangerment. This is where asking trusted spiritual counsel can be helpful.

Another Piece of Furniture to Set the Stage

The premier scholar of Oriental Studies Bernard Lewis, is widely regarded as the world’s foremost expert on Islam. Even many Muslims regard him as such and look to his writings to understand how the West views Islam.

In his excellent primer on the current challenge presented by fundamentalist groups like Al Qaeda, The Crisis of Islam, Lewis issues several prescient warnings. One of them is that it is the stated objective of Al Qaeda, working with other jihadist groups, to accomplish their Allah-ordained task of world domination through global jihad, by first removing the current ‘corrupt and secular leadership’ of Muslim nations.[1] For Al Qaeda, the majority of Middle Eastern and Muslim-dominant countries had governments that failed to implement Sharia and mobilize their resources to accomplish the task of global jihad, which ought to have been their primary concern. Instead, they were led by regimes and dictators who held position only to amass a personal fortune. They were corrupt and secular, in bed with the Great Satan (United States) and unwilling to annihilate the Little Satan (Israel) which continuing existence was a terrible affront to the glory of Allah.

Bin Laden made his strategy for Al Qaeda clear: First, replace the corrupt and secular leaders of Muslim and Arabic nations with fundamentalist regimes that would install Sharia, then mobilizing those nations’ resources to conduct global jihad to subjugate the entire world to Allah. Al Qaeda sought to follow this route early in its history when it based itself in Sudan. Bin Laden’s goal was to assist the northern Muslim government in its war against the Christian south where the bulk of Sudan’s mineral and petroleum wealth lies. Failing in Sudan, Al Qaeda moved and attempted to garner more support for its cause by major attacks like the USS Cole, embassy bombings and 9/11.

Al Qaeda has now returned to its first goal of regime-change in Muslim nations. That is what is behind the civil unrest that’s spread across the Middle East. While those who protest and riot are doing so for various reasons, some of them being highly personal, the radical jihadists stoke the flames of unrest and arm the protesters because it serves their agenda of destabilizing these governments. In the aftermath of the regimes’ fall, they have positioned themselves to take power. They know they cannot seize control of Tunisia, Egypt (the ideological-twin to Al Qaeda there is the Muslim Brotherhood), Syria, and Libya under the banner and label of Al Qaeda because the West would react swiftly, so they’re coming forward as “freedom-fighters” who want to install a culturally-relevant form of democracy. It’s all a façade, a lie calculated to assuage the West of concern that radicals are replacing what had been steady regimes. Once the rebels have taken control and are ensconced firmly in power, it will be seen that they are ideologically jihadists of the most virulent sort.

Especially troubling is what’s taking place in Libya. Kaddafi is/was a brutal tyrant, a corrupt dictator who ought to have been replaced long ago. What’s distressing is the “ruling council” of rebels positioned to replace him. Just who are they? The few reports that have identified them consistently mention the presence of Al Qaeda operatives. Early reports made it clear that many of fighters attacking Kaddafi’s forces were foreigners; trained combatants from other countries. Why were they there? What would motivate them to risk their lives in a political struggle not their own? Unless it is. And NATO is supporting the rebels in their attempt at regime change in Libya – a country, like Sudan, rich in petroleum resources and unlike Sudan, strategically positioned in the Mediterranean.

Libya is one of the nations in Ezekiel 38 that will be a part of the end-time collation that attacks Israel. Could we be witnessing the leadership-shift that will install the leadership that will join that coalition?

What of Syria? Egypt? Turkey? The world is a chessboard where the pieces are moving at a frantic pace.

Tragedy in Tucson

The shooting at a Safeway supermarket in Tucson last Saturday has dominated national news for the last several days. Jared Lee Loughner, the gunman, left 6 dead and 14 wounded, including Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. Initial investigations indicate Loughner planned the shooting in advance.

The motive behind the shooting has become the subject of intense scrutiny and the genesis of much discussion. Media and political pundits have turned the shooting into a debate over political rancor. There is a growing number of people who seem bent on turning this event into a referendum on divergent civil discourse.

Of concern is the growing evidence Loughner was not motivated by political concerns. He is a mentally disturbed individual who apparently had an obsession with Rep. Giffords. Though the investigation into moves the motive for the shooting into a different realm, commentators have turned the shooting into a ‘cause celeb’ to urge a review of laws regarding acceptable public speech.  Their conclusion is this: Problem—Conservative leaders and speakers are rabble-rousers who stir up lunatics like Loughner then send them out to commit violence against liberals. Solution—Make it illegal to criticize or say anything negative about the other side.

What lends weight to their agenda is the utterly obscene actions of the Westboro Baptist church. You may have heard of these folk. They are the people who for a while now have been going to the funerals of US military killed in action in Iraq and Afghanistan to protest! Yes, you read that right; these fools protest at funerals. They claim that every US soldier killed in action is an act of God Who is judging our country for its wickedness. They hold placard & signs at the funerals for soldiers expressing a sort of glee that our men are being killed.

These imbeciles from Westboro Baptist Church said they intended to show up at the funeral for Christina Green, the 9 year old girl who was one of Loughner’s victims.  A statement from the church said, “God sent the shooter to deal with idolatrous America.” When informed of Westboro’s plans to picket Thursday’s funeral, lawmakers in Arizona passed a unanimous resolution prohibiting such protests near funerals.

Take careful note of that. As utterly reprehensible as Westboro’s actions are, lawmakers unanimously passed a law gutting the right to free speech.

PLEASE don’t get me wrong. I’m outraged by the misrepresentation of God Westboro Baptist Church is giving. They couldn’t be more wrong. God may indeed be judging our nation. But the God of the Bible doesn’t send mentally-deranged killers to gun down 9 year old girls! To say He does suggests to me the requirement of intense divine displeasure. Just ask Moses what happens when you misrepresent God as a petty and angry judge. God is a righteous Judge who judges in righteousness. He doesn’t “send” the insane to murder the innocent.

But Westboro’s idiocy pushes forward the agenda of those who want to silence “the other side.” Just as millions of Americans assumed most Muslims shared a similar mindset as the terrorists who flew plans into buildings on 9/11, so millions will assume many Christians share a mindset similar to the fools from Westboro Baptist Church. Today, it’s illegal to protest at a funeral. (Common sense should prohibit such foolishness, not a civil code) What will be prohibited by law tomorrow?

Caution: Angels Crossing

Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.
Hebrews 13:2

Many students of the Bible are convinced we are living in the very last of the End Times. They have come to this conclusion by comparing world events to Bible prophecy. Previous generations had to interpret prophecy as highly symbolic in order to fit contemporary events into Scripture. Our generation does not need to do so. We see a literal fulfillment of these things.

From Israel being a modern nation, dwelling peacefully in their historical borders with hostile nations surrounding her, to buying and selling with numbers as opposed to cash and new technologies moving rapidly to connecting personal identification to the individual’s body. While the Bible foretold these things, previous generations had to interpret them symbolically in order to make their generation the one that would see the Return of Christ. Not only do we not need to interpret these things symbolically, to NOT see them as literally fulfilled in our time is to embrace a willful ignorance akin to the proverbial ostrich with its head in the sand.

The Bible foretells that prior to the Second Coming of Christ, the world will be plunged into a time of global chaos the likes of which have never been seen. This seven year period is known as the Tribulation and will be a combination of God’s wrath expressed both passively and actively. His wrath will be passively seen in that He lets the consequences of man’s rebellion manifest themselves.[1] As the Holy Spirit withdraws His restraint of evil, in response to humanity’s desire, evil will flourish and the satanic agenda will advance under the reign of the antichrist.[2] This passive expression of God’s wrath will unfold during the first half of the Tribulation. Then, at the mid-point of the last seven years, the antichrist will exposed for who he really is. [3] His benevolent mask will come off and his wicked intention will become clear. It is at that point that God’s wrath will move from passive to active as He begins to bring overt judgment on Earth. The plagues and environmental distress that ensues is spelled out in the judgments described in the Book of Revelation.[4]

The stage has been well set for all of this to begin. The geo-political scene is ready. The technology is in place for it to commence. All we’re waiting for is the Rapture of the Saints. God will remove His people before His wrath begins.[5]

That’s what God did before His wrath fell on Sodom. And there is an important lesson to be learned from what happened at Sodom this generation needs to heed.

In Genesis 18, Abraham encounters three strangers travelling by his camp. Being the hospitable person he is, he urges them to stop for refreshment. The strangers turn out to be God and two angels on a kind of mission of discovery. Abraham’s hospitality becomes the opening by which God confirms His promise to give the aged Abraham and his wife the son they have longed for, for years. That revelation complete, the strangers indicate it is time to continue their journey. God then informs Abraham of the rest of their agenda. They are on their way to Sodom.

¹⁶ Then the men rose from there and looked toward Sodom, and Abraham went with them to send them on the way. ¹⁷ And the Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing, ¹⁸ since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? ¹⁹ For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and justice, that the Lord may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him.” ²⁰ And the Lord said, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grave, ²¹ I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry against it that has come to Me; and if not, I will know.”[6]

Reading on we find Abraham’s intercession with God to withhold judgment if as few as ten righteous people can be found living in Sodom. Then the two angels travel on and visit the city where they are hideously mistreated by the residents. Only Lot is found to be righteous. Even his family members have been severely tainted by Sodom’s moral corruption.

In His omniscience, God knew precisely what was happening in Sodom and its nearby cities. The angels went there to experience firsthand what God knew. Verifying the report seems to be part of the process necessary for the just administration of God’s judgment. And before the fire could fall, believing Lot had to be removed.

Let me say that again because it’s central to what I am feeling compelled by the Spirit to share: Though God knew precisely what was going on in Sodom and the other wicked cities of that region, He sent angels to investigate personally; to experience themselves the evil that was being done. If the angels were agents God used to affect His wrath, it makes sense they would experience personally the wickedness they were judging. The abuse of heaven’s agents would also justify a requirement of wrath. No one could accuse God of being too harsh if angels were ill-treated.

Combine this idea with the injunction of Hebrews 13:2 that we be careful to treat strangers hospitably, because they might in fact be angels. Why would it matter that they were angles unless their treatment counts for something more. Is there more moral weight in serving an angel than a human? No. But there may be more consequence if how the angles are treated is being used to evaluate the moral condition of a city, nation, or society.

Throughout the Mosaic Law, God called His covenant people to be careful about how they treated the strangers living among them. Strangers were to be treated with dignity and respect. There was to be no judicial variance in dealing with them. This principle of impartial justice was repeated again and again. Strangers were included with widows and orphans as those God protected and defended. Abuses suffered by them were treated as though they were delivered to God Himself.[7] Deuteronomy 10 contains a passage where this idea is made explicit.

¹⁸ He administers justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the stranger, giving him food and clothing. ¹⁹ Therefore love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.

I had an encounter in a store yesterday I’m convinced was angelic. When I returned to the car to meet my wife and shared it with her, she immediately shared a similar encounter she had last week. Both of us sensed at the time these things occurred there was more going on than what appearances would suggest. While difficult to describe, there was a sense of spiritual gravity that attended our interaction with people we’re now convinced were angels. Both encounters were challenges, a test of how we would treat them, either with kind concern or rude indifference. Both individuals presented themselves in forms that many would despise or purposely overlook.

As Lynn shared her encounter, mine having happened only a few minutes before, I sensed the Holy Spirit quickening something within and several passages came to mind. The need to share my thoughts became urgent.

Since these certainly are the End Times, and God’s wrath is about to be poured out like never before, it makes sense we can expect the angels to be visiting the world to see firsthand what the conditions are. The angels went to Sodom and specifically to Lot’s home.  While the Sodomites intended to do them great harm, Lot showed them hospitality. He and his alone were delivered from the wrath of God.

Be careful how you treat others, specially strangers; specifically those who come in a form you would overlook or avoid. Be hospitable and cautious, exercising care in treating others respectfully. It may be an angel. And how you treat it could determine much both for yourself and for others.

---

[1] Romans 1:18

[2] 2 Thess. 2:1-12

[3] Daniel 9:20-27

[4] Revelation 6-19

[5] 1 Thess 5:9

[6] Genesis 18:16-21

[7] Exodus 22:21; Leviticus 19:33, 23:22, 25:35; Deuteronomy 24:17–22, 27:19; Psalm 146:9; Jeremiah 7:5–7, 22:3; 1 Timothy 5:9–10; 3 John 5

Why I Am a Single Issue Voter

Over twenty years ago, I was in a discussion with someone about an upcoming election. Then, as now, there was the feeling among many the election was a turning point, a defining moment when the future of our nation would be decided. That same sentiment has been expressed at every election since.

It’s an appropriate sentiment. Because every election IS a turning point. It’s the way the Founders of our great Republic designed it. It’s in our electoral process that the American people have the opportunity to install those candidates into office whom they believe best embody their position on the important issues of the day. Our future is determined in the voting booth. Every time we go to the polls.

In that conversation twenty years ago, I expressed my belief that a candidate’s position on abortion was the most critical factor in determining whether or not to vote for him/her. The person I was speaking with disparaged my single-issue perspective. He said that abortion was just one of many important issues and that to vote for a candidate on that alone position alone was short-sighted.

Since I’d always seen abortion as much larger than “one of many important political issues” I was taken aback by this response and failed to respond. Both wisdom and tact demanded that I reply in a measured and reasonable manner. And to that point, I’d not formulated an eloquent response.

Several years ago, I had the opportunity to hear Dr. Lawrence White, a Luther minister, address this issue. He articulated perfectly why ending abortion ought to rise as the single-issue that defines what we look for in those candidates who stand for election.

Contrary to what a recent president said, it’s NOT “the economy , stupid.” It’s not national defense, as important as that issue is. It’s not pensions and public safety or the home mortgage and banking crisis. Neither global climate change nor Iran provide the challenge most determinative of our future. The single issue that rises above all these is the murder of millions of innocent pre-born children.

Just as Abel’s blood cried out of the ground to God, so buckets of it scream for justice from the abortion clinics across America.

A nation that slaughters its most innocent and vulnerable, its powerless and defenseless, all in the name of convenience, doesn’t deserve economic prosperity or safe borders. What it deserves is the wrath of a Holy God Who has pledged Himself to the poor and weak.

I AM a single-issue voter because THIS issue – the life of the unborn, is THE watershed reality of our time. Once I know a candidate’s position on abortion, I know their position on virtually every other issue. If they are staunchly pro-life, I know they will be politically conservative and classically faithful to the Founder’s on the rest of the issues. If a candidate is pro-abortion, they deny the image of God in humanity and can’t be trusted to be right on ANY issue, regardless of how they campaign. How can you trust a man or woman who is for the murder of infants?

Make no mistake, that is exactly what pro-abortion advocates are for. They aren’t for ‘choice.’ They are for the murder of the innocent.

So, I am a single issue voter. I will vote for real pro-life. By ‘real’ I mean those whose pro-life position isn’t adopted just because it is part of the party platform. I mean people whose pro-life position is rooted in a consistent worldview that understands government’s role to protect the innocent and to prosecute the guilty in accordance with what the Apostle Paul says in Romans 13.

Yes, I understand the appeal of the pragmatic view that voting for an unelectable pro-life candidate may take away a vote from another major party candidate who as a pro-abortion candidate would be “the lesser of two evils.” As recent elections have demonstrated, a so-called fiscal conservative-social liberal ends up being a fiscal weasel. But of course; how can someone who is wrong on THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE of the day be right or consistent on ANYTHING ELSE?

I will not “throw my vote away” on any candidate who lacks the moral wisdom and strength to take a stand for what is patently good and right and campaign as pro-life and will use their office to bring an end to the holocaust of abortion.

Really? Synthetic Life?

It didn’t get the press one might expect from such a dramatic announcement. Scientists at the J. Craig Venter Institute announced in May that they had produced  the first synthetic life form. Since this has been the holy grail for evolutionists, why wasn’t the press more awash in euphoria?

Maybe because even a cursory reading beyond the initial announcement revealed that they hadn’t, in truth produced synthetic life. Reporters realized the publicists at the Venter Institute were playing them. Big announcements of major breakthroughs equal donations. Reporters have been bitten by this donation-seeking tactic before and decided to not get suckered again. So they dutifully reported the event but refused to climb on the ‘gaga train.’

So, what did the scientists at the Institute actually accomplish? Researchers started with a digital DNA catalogue of a bacterium for a goat disease. They had a production facility make some sections of the DNA which they then knit together to make DNA strands.

Far from proving that random chemical reactions are capable of producing life, what they did is prove that it takes $40 million and 15 years’ worth of experiments by highly educated & brilliant scientists to produce a goat germ. Oh, and they didn’t start form scratch; they had to begin by resorting to a complex formula for life that was given to them by an even higher intelligence.

Bottom Line: In their attempt to prove life arose by chance, they proved it takes tremendous intelligence to produce even the simplest form of life. Thank you science for once again proving what we’ve been saying all along – In the beginning, God created . . .

LANCE IS BACK FROM AFRICA

Hey, this is the webmaster, bringing you Lance’s journey to Africa, Enjoy!

Lance is back from his amazing trip to Africa and has lots to tell us about. He has put together a document summarizing his trip.

Click Here to Download (~12MB)

 

To listen to Lance’s experience traveling to Africe
Click Here