Is Political, Religious, and Cultural Revival Here?
Friday, February 28, 2025
Thursday, February 27, 2025
A Lista de Vigilância de Perseguição da Portas Abertas
De acordo com a Lista de Vigilância de Perseguição daPortas Abertas, mais de 380 milhões de cristãos sofrem um elevado nível de perseguição pela sua fé, enquanto 310 milhões deles sofrem um nível muito elevado ou extremo de perseguição. Eis um excerto da Watch List:
Coreia do Norte 1 A pontuação de
violência aumentou ainda mais este ano, uma vez que a Coreia do Norte
restabeleceu a sua posição no primeiro lugar. Há uma ênfase ainda maior na
pureza ideológica e qualquer ameaça externa percebida ou real é cruelmente
expurgada.
A China também intensificou os seus esforços para prender
e repatriar norte-coreanos, todos considerados imigrantes ilegais.
Iémen 3 O Iémen subiu para o terceiro lugar na
Lista Mundial de Observação devido ao aumento da violência anticristã. A
pressão sobre os cristãos também se manteve no máximo. No contexto da guerra
civil, os rebeldes Houthis apoiados pelo Irão expandiram o seu poder, tornando
o país cada vez mais perigoso para os cristãos. Somado à maior radicalização
islâmica, isto significava que até as igrejas secretas já não se podiam reunir
em segurança.
Quirguistão 47 Um dos dois únicos
recém-chegados ao top 50 deste ano, o Quirguistão teve o maior aumento de
pontuação na lista, fazendo a sua primeira aparição desde 2013. Houve um
aumento acentuado da violência contra a igreja, muitas igrejas registadas e
instituições cristãs foram forçadas a fechar, e a pressão sobre os cristãos
aumentou em quase todas as esferas da vida.
Guerras civis e insurreição: o caos violento continua a
ser uma cobertura para a perseguição. Em países como Myanmar, Iémen e Sudão, as
guerras civis tornaram-se criadouros de ataques dirigidos contra os cristãos.
Noutros locais, como a República Centro-Africana, a República Democrática do
Congo, o Mali, o Burkina Faso e o Níger, as insurreições islâmicas criaram
ambientes onde os cristãos podem ser alvos impunes e onde os militantes podem
atacar e expulsar comunidades do povo de Deus.
4.476 cristãos mortos Embora menos cristãos tenham sido
mortos pela sua fé na Nigéria em comparação com o ano passado, a morte continua
a ser desproporcionalmente mortal para os cristãos, com 3.100 a pagarem o preço
máximo pela sua fé. Infelizmente, mais cristãos foram mortos fora da Nigéria,
muitos em países da África Subsariana, como a RDC, o Burkina Faso, os Camarões
e o Níger.
4.744 cristãos detidos ou presos Os cristãos continuam a
ser detidos sem julgamento, presos, sentenciados e presos por seguirem Jesus.
Só na Índia, 1.629 cristãos foram detidos sem julgamento e outros 547 foram
condenados a penas de prisão. Crentes foram presos pela sua fé na Eritreia,
Bangladesh, Irão, entre outros.
Tendências: A violência ganha forma em todo o
mundo. Vários países da Lista Mundial de Observação registaram um aumento da
violência anticristã. Embora os contextos fossem diferentes, quer estados
autocráticos rigidamente controlados, quer países instáveis devido a governos
fracos ou guerra civil, o resultado foi o mesmo: ataques a comunidades cristãs,
destruição de vidas, lares e igrejas, e imensa pressão sobre os fiéis.
Violência contínua em toda a África Subsariana. Vários
países da África Subsariana têm registado um aumento da violência contra os
cristãos. Atualmente, 8 dos 10 locais mais mortíferos para os cristãos estão na
África Subsariana — e todos eles (exceto a Nigéria) têm mais assassinatos
baseados na fé do que durante o período de relatório da Lista Mundial de
Vigilância de 2024.
A instabilidade crónica do governo criou um ambiente onde
os cristãos podem ser alvos, e onde os militantes islâmicos podem usar o caos
como cobertura para os seus ataques aos cristãos. Muitos cristãos foram
obrigados a abandonar as suas casas. Dos 34,5 milhões de deslocados na África
Subsariana, cerca de 16,2 milhões são cristãos.
A campanha Portas Abertas Arise África é uma resposta de
vários anos à violência avassaladora contra os cristãos na região. Conta com as
orações e o apoio dos cristãos de todo o mundo para apoiar a igreja africana e
ajudá-la a ser sal e luz no meio da perseguição extrema.
A igreja está a ser expulsa ou levada para a
clandestinidade. Os cristãos no Médio Oriente e noutros países da Lista Mundial
de Vigilância estão a ser levados para a clandestinidade. O isolamento cristão
e o declínio das igrejas foram um padrão recorrente em vários países: Após mais
de uma década de guerra, desastre e crise sem tréguas, a igreja na Síria
diminuiu significativamente. A emigração está a mudar ativamente a aparência da
igreja — de uma antiga e grande população minoritária para uma comunidade cristã
muito mais pequena e mais ameaçada.
Após a guerra entre Israel e o Hamas, que começou em
outubro de 2023, as comunidades cristãs de Gaza e da Cisjordânia chegaram à
beira da extinção. Embora não tenha sido devido à perseguição, em Gaza, pelo
menos 33 cristãos foram mortos e a maioria das casas foi destruída durante a
violência. Muitas famílias cristãs mudaram-se para o estrangeiro ou estão a
tentar sair.
A igreja no Afeganistão é profundamente clandestina e,
como há menos expressões visíveis do cristianismo, as autoridades talibãs não
têm nada a reprimir. Todas as igrejas protestantes na Argélia foram forçadas a
fechar, não restando nenhuma que possa ser alvo de encerramento.
Na China, as igrejas não registadas, anteriormente
toleradas pelo governo, são agora consideradas ilegais, uma vez que as
autoridades aplicam regulamentos. As igrejas aprovadas pelo Estado estão sob
maior pressão ideológica e novas leis enviam os pastores para sessões de
doutrinação, onde são instados a pregar adequadamente. As congregações mais
pequenas são forçadas a fundir-se numa igreja maior, mais fácil de controlar,
ou a levar as suas irmandades para a clandestinidade, em grupos domésticos
isolados.
2025 World Watch List: Will we pay attention when our family suffers?
According
to Open
Doors’ Persecution Watch List, more than 380 million Christians suffer from
a high level of persecution for their faith, while 310 million of those suffer a
very high or extreme level of persecution. Here is an exert from the Watch List:
North Korea 1The violence score increased even more this
year as North Korea re-established its hold on
No. 1. Several groups of Christians were arrested and brought to labour camps.
There is an even greater emphasis on ideological purity and any perceived or
real outside threat is viciously purged.
China also stepped up its efforts to arrest and repatriate North Koreans, all
of whom are regarded as illegal immigrants.
Yemen 3Yemen moved up to third place on the
World Watch List due to an increase in anti-Christian violence. Pressure on
Christians also remained at the maximum. Within the context of civil war,
Iran-backed Houthi rebels expanded their power, making more of the country
increasingly dangerous for Christians. Coupled with further Islamic
radicalization, this meant even secret house churches could no longer meet
safely.
Kyrgyzstan 47One of only two newcomers to this year’s top
50, Kyrgyzstan had the highest score increase
on the list, making its first appearance since 2013. There was a sharp increase
in violence against the church, many registered churches and Christian
institutions were forced to close, and pressure on Christians increased in
almost all spheres of life.
Civil wars and insurrection: Violent chaos continues to be a cover for persecution. In countries
like Myanmar, Yemen and Sudan, civil wars have become breeding grounds
for targeted attacks against Christians. In other places like Central Africa Republic, Democratic Republic Congo, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, Islamist insurrections have created
environments where Christians can be targeted with impunity, and where
militants can attack and chase out communities of God’s people.
4,476 Christians killed Though fewer Christians were killed for their faith in Nigeria compared to last year, it remains
disproportionately deadly for Christians, with 3,100 paying the ultimate price
for their faith. Sadly, more Christians were killed outside Nigeria, many in
sub-Saharan Africa countries like DRC, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Niger.
4,744 Christians detained or imprisoned Christians continue to be detained without trial, arrested, sentenced
and imprisoned for following Jesus. In India alone, 1,629 Christians were
detained without trial and another 547 were sentenced to prison. Believers were
incarcerated for their faith in Eritrea, Bangladesh, Iran amongst others.
Trends:
Violence takes shape around the world. Several countries on the World Watch List saw an
increase in anti-Christian violence. While the contexts were different, either
tightly controlled autocratic states, or countries that are unstable due to
weak government or civil war, the result was the same: targeting of Christian
communities, destruction of lives, homes and churches, and immense pressure on
believers.
Continued violence across
Sub-Saharan Africa. Multiple
countries in Sub-Saharan Africa have seen a rise in violence against
Christians. Currently, 8 of the top 10 deadliest places for Christians are in
Sub-Saharan Africa—and all of them (except Nigeria) have more faith-based
killings than they did during the 2024 World Watch List reporting period.
Chronic government
instability has created an environment where Christians can be targeted, and
where Islamic militants can use the chaos as cover for their attacks on
Christians. Many Christians
have been forced from their homes. Of 34.5 million displaced people across
Sub-Saharan Africa, around 16.2 million are Christians.
The Open Doors Arise Africa campaign is a multi-year
response to the overwhelming violence against Christians in the region. It
relies on the prayers and support of Christians around the world to stand with
the African church, to help it be salt and light amid extreme persecution.
The church is being driven
out, or driven underground. Christians
in the Middle East and more countries on the World Watch List, are being driven
underground. Christian isolation and the decline of churches was a recurring
pattern in several countries:
After more than a decade of
war, disaster and relentless crisis, the church in Syria has diminished
significantly. Emigration is actively changing what the church looks like—from
an ancient, large minority population, to a much smaller, more endangered Christian
community.
Following the Israeli-Hamas
war that began in October 2023, Christian communities in Gaza and the West Bank
have come to the brink of extinction. Though not due to persecution, in Gaza,
at least 33 Christians were killed, and most houses destroyed during the
violence. Many Christian families have moved abroad or are trying to leave.
The church in Afghanistan is
deeply underground, and since there are fewer visible expressions of
Christianity, the Taliban authorities have nothing to crack down on. All Protestant churches in Algeria have
been forced to close, leaving none that can be targeted for closure.
In China,
unregistered churches, once tolerated by the government, are now considered
illegal as authorities enforce regulations. State-approved churches are under
stronger ideological pressure and new laws send pastors into indoctrination
sessions, where they are urged to preach accordingly. Smaller congregations are
either forced to merge into a larger church that is easier to control, or to
take their fellowships underground, into isolated home groups.
Wednesday, February 26, 2025
Prophecies of Consequences - Chapter 19
Prophecies of Consequences
In the book of Joshua we find Joshua’s last words to the children of Israel,
Not one thing has failed of all the good things which the Lord God spoke concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing has failed thereof.[1]
Joshua was confirming to the children of Israel how God had fulfilled His promises unto Abraham and Moses, had brought them into the Promised Land and had defeated their enemies. He goes on to say,
Therefore it shall come to pass, that as all the good things are come upon you, which the Lord your God promised you; so shall the Lord bring upon you all evil things, until he have destroyed you from off this good land which the Lord your God has given you. When you have transgressed the covenant of the Lord your God, which he commanded you, and have gone and served other gods, and bowed yourselves to them; then shall the anger of the Lord be kindled against you, and you shall perish quickly from off the good land which he has given unto you.[2]
Israel’s time in the Promised Land was short as an independent nation. They soon disobeyed the Lord, were brought into bondage by other nations and finally destroyed and sent into captivity by both the Assyrian and the Babylonian empires, as Joshua and Moses had foretold. The warning prophecy God gave them was fulfilled. Later, the Jews were allowed to return and rebuild the city and the Temple because of the edit decreed by Cyrus (above), King of Persia around 535 BC, following his conquest of Babylon.
In Isaiah, we find a prophecy about Cyrus the King of Persia who would defeat the Babylonian Empire. The prophecy also stated he would give the captive children of Israel permission to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the walls of the city and the Temple. These had been destroyed seventy years earlier by Nebuchadnezzar and his Babylonian army. It is interesting to note that Daniel, who counselled Nebuchadnezzar, continued to be king’s counsellor under the Medes and Persians who had conquered the Babylonian kingdom. Daniel may have been able to share with both Darius and Cyrus what the Scriptures had predicted.
So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius (the Mede), and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.[3]
Let’s look at the prophecy of Isaiah about Cyrus (pictured above) which was received some time after 740 BC.
That says of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shall be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.[4]
The prophecy continues,
For Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou has not known me.[5] I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways: he shall build my city, and he shall let go my captives, not for price nor reward, says the Lord of hosts.[6]
The above prophecy was fulfilled about 200 years later. In the book of Ezra we read that in the first year of Cyrus or in 535 BC, according to historical records, the following took place:
Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, The Lord God of Heaven has given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and He has charged me to build Him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all His people? His God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel, (He is the God) which is in Jerusalem.[7]
The Scripture from Ezra mentions a prophecy by Jeremiah. Jeremiah lived some eighty years after Isaiah. Isaiah was prophet from the time of King Uzziah, around 740 BC, through the reign of King Hezekiah. According to Jewish tradition, Isaiah was sawed in half during the reign of Manasseh, around 680 BC.[8]
Jeremiah began prophesying in Judah around 626 BC, or 54 years after Isaiah’s death and halfway through the reign of Josiah (640-609 BC), the son of Manasseh. Jeremiah continued prophesying throughout the reigns of Jehoahaz (609), Jehoiakim (609–598), Jehoiachin (598–597) and Zedekiah (597–586). He ended his prophesying sometime after 586 BC, at the time of the fall of Jerusalem to Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians, just as he had prophesied by the Word of the Lord.
According to Jewish tradition, Jeremiah was put to death by stoning while living in Egypt.[9] He had been taken captive there by some of the Jewish people after the murder of the Governor appointed by Nebuchadnezzar. Earlier in his career, he had prophesied that the captives of Israel would suffer seventy years in Babylonian captivity before God’s mercy allowed them to return to their homeland.
For thus says the Lord, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform My good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place (Jerusalem). And I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all places whither I have driven you, says the Lord; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.[10]
These are amazing prophecies which were fulfilled just as God stated them.
Seek ye out of the book of the Lord, and read: no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate: for My mouth it hath commanded.[11]
Not one prophecy would lack its mate or lack in fulfilment, just as God said.
Notes: Written March 2016, Published Aug 31, 2020, Republished February 26, 2025.
[1] Joshua 23:14
[2] Joshua 23:15-16
[3] Daniel 6:28
[4] Isaiah 44:28
[5] Isaiah 45:4
[6] Isaiah 45:13
[7] Ezra 1:1-3
[8] http://www.biblica.com/en-us/bible/online-bible/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/intro-to-isaiah/ (accessed 03/2016)
[9] http://www.biblica.com/en-us/bible/online-bible/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/intro-to-jeremiah/ (accessed 03/2016)
[10] Jeremiah 29:10-14
[11] Isaiah 34:16
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Tuesday, February 25, 2025
Monday, February 24, 2025
Isaac’s Prophecy - Chapter 18
Isaac’s Prophecy
Another interesting prophecy by one of the patriarchs is Isaac’s prophecy over his sons Jacob and Esau. Isaac was Abraham’s son. Jacob and Esau were Abraham’s grandchildren. Similar to Ishmael and Isaac, the blessing does not go to the older child, Esau, but rather to the younger, Jacob. It’s a fascinating story which I do not have time to retell here. But get your Bible out and read it in the book of Genesis. Isaac ends up giving the blessing to Jacob. Esau comes seeking for a blessing, also. Isaac responds,
Behold I have made him thy Lord, and all his brethren have I given him for servants; and with corn and wine have I sustained him: and what shall I do now unto thee, my son?[1]
But Esau insists,
Hast thou but one blessing, my father? Bless me, even me also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his voice and wept. And Isaac his father answered and said unto him, Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven above; And by thy sword shall thou live, and shall serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shall have the dominion, that thou shall break his yoke from off thy neck.[2]
Afterwards, Esau realizes that his wives from the Canaanite women displease his father.
And Esau seeing that the daughters of Canaan pleased not Isaac his father; Then went Esau unto Ishmael, and took unto the wives which he had Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael Abraham’s son, the sister of Nebajoth, to be his wife.[3]
Jacob becomes the father of the twelve tribes of Israel which today we know as the Jewish people. Isaac prophesied “corn and wine,” or in other words, wealth. Another part of Isaac’s prophecy said that Jacob’s brother and his brother’s descendants would be Jacob’s servants. Jacob, therefore, would have power. No one would deny that the descendants of Jacob, the Jewish people, have both wealth and through wealth they have power, as money often equals power.
Esau descendants intermarry with the children of Ishmael and with the children of Canaan and so become part of the Arab peoples. Similar to the prophecy over Ishmael, who
was a wild man and his hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him,[4]
Esau would live by the sword and yet his brother Jacob would have power over him, because he would serve his brother.
It is interesting how throughout history the Arabs have lived by the sword and have been expert swordsmen. We even see ISIS in Iraq and Syria cutting the throats of foreigners with a knife or small sword! Some Bible scholars believe that
the fatness of the earth and of the dew of heaven above
refers to Arab petroleum, which is not something they obtained through hard work but rather as the dew of heaven, they have just been blessed with its richness. Another part of the prophecy says,
And it shall come to pass when thou shall have the dominion, that thou shall break his yoke from off thy neck.[5]
Some believe that sometime in the future the Arabs may break off the yoke of Jewish world control. Some scholars believe that the yoke was broken back in 1973 when the Arabs raised the price of oil and started to amassing huge sums of money through their sales. In any event, the fact that nearly three thousand years ago a rich shepherd in the land of Canaan prophesied the events above is not only very interesting, but surely miraculous.
Notes: Written 2016, First Published August 2020. Republished February 2025.
[1] Genesis 27:37
[2] Genesis 27:38-40
[3] Genesis 28:8-9
[4] Genesis 16:12
[5] Genesis 27:40
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Sunday, February 23, 2025
The Wild Man Prophecy - Chapter 17
The Wild Man Prophecy!
Dennis Edwards
Most everyone knows that Abraham is the father of both the Jewish and Arab nations. However, most people do not realize that both Jews and Arabs are descendants of Shem. In fact, according to Biblical chronology, Shem and Abraham’s lives overlap by about 100 years. So Abraham could have known Shem. Some Bible scholars believe that Melchizedek to whom Abraham gave tithes after the battle of Chedorlaomer was in fact Shem.
Genesis 14:18-20 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. And he (Melchizedek) blessed him (Abraham), and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: and blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he (Abraham) gave him (Melchizedek) tithes of all.
The point I am trying to make here is that both Jews and Arabs are “Shemites” or Semites, that is, descendants of Shem. The word anti-Semitism comes from Shem’s name. Since both Arabs and Jews are “Shemites” or Semites, the word anti-Semitism should mean those who are prejudice to both Arabs and Jews. Instead it is used exclusively to designate hatred or prejudice toward the Jewish people.
According to Wikipedia, the word anti-Semitism was first used
in the late 19th century in Germany as a more scientific-sounding term for Judenhass or Jew-hatred.[1]
In any event, Abraham is the father of the Jewish people through Isaac, the son of Abraham’s wife Sarah. But Abraham is also the father of the Arab nations through Ishmael, his son through his wife’s handmaiden Hagar. Ishmael was actually older than Isaac. Because of the jealousy which was arising between Hagar and Sarah, and ultimately between their descendants, Sarah asks Abraham to put away both Hagar and her son Ishmael. Abraham laments, but God tells him to yield to his wife’s request.
Hagar and her son are put out of the camp and wander in the desert. In her desperation Hagar calls out to the Lord for help and He helps her. The angel responsible for her rescue prophesizes over Ishmael saying,
And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.[Genesis 16:12]
The Lord also says,
For I will make him a great nation.[Genesis 21:18]
And later:
These are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names, by their towns, and by their castles (or encampments); twelve princes according to their nations.[Genesis 25:16]
Have the Arab nations been traditionally “a wild man?” Surely their manner of spreading their Islam faith during the time of Mohammed was by violence. Also, since they are a tribal people, each tribe tends to keep to themselves and have strong tribal preferences. Therefore, even though they are brothers, they find it hard to agree and have throughout history been in constant squabbles among themselves, which we even see today in the Sunni-Shiite division. We see it in the “liberated” nations of Iraq and Libya. Without a strong man dictator to force the different tribal areas to work together, the country soon falls into chaos, with every man’s hand against each other.
The Israelis, realizing that the Arabs are often against each other, have used the fact to their advantage in the Middle East conflict. Because of their knowledge of the Arab weakness, they have been able to prevent some attempted unions by Arab leaders which could have proved dangerous to Israel’s national security. Secret documents have shown that the Mossad, the Israeli equivalent to the CIA, have used the philosophy of divide-and-conquer as their foreign policy using their expert intelligence to foment division among the Arab nations. As long as the Arab nations are fighting among themselves, Israel’s security is safe and Israel becomes the most dominant military power in the area.
On June 25, 2014, blogger Brandon Martinez wrote the following on his website commenting on the fighting in Iraq between the different Muslim groups, confirming Israel’s policy:
On the June 22 edition of NBC’s Meet the Press, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu let slip his government’s intention to divide and conquer the Middle East. Remarking on the latest ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) incursions into Iraq, Netanyahu expressed the desire of his regime to promote internal strife in Israel’s neighboring states.
“We must weaken both [Sunni and Shia Muslims],”
Netanyahu said, implying that it is in Israel’s interests to have Muslims fighting and squabbling among themselves.
“When your enemies are fighting each other, don’t strengthen either one of them, weaken both,” said the Israeli leader.
Martinez continues,
That is what ISIS was created to do. The terrorist militia’s American, Israeli and Saudi backers are content to see these roving bands of malcontents and marauders behead their way to Damascus and Baghdad. What better way to solidify Israel’s position as the sole hegemony in the region? Fragmenting, weakening and Balkanizing the Middle East has been part-and-parcel of the Israeli impulse from the very beginnings of the Jewish state.[2]
Martinez brings to our attention that oddly enough, back in 1982, Israeli military strategist Oded Yinon had written a paper called, A Strategy for Israel in the 1980s.[3] At the time Iraq was Israel’s most powerful and potential adversary and Israel’s greatest threat. Yinon, therefore, advocated the territorial dissection of Iraq into three states. Each state would be based on ethnic and confessional roots, namely Kurds, Shiites and Sunnis. Yinon promoted the same scenario for the other Arab/Muslim states surrounding Israel, including Syria, Egypt, Lebanon and Iran.
Some experts claim the idea of a Middle East divided along Arab tribal lines goes back as far as the 1920s. According to Martinez, Yinon believed that fractured and divided Arab/Muslim countries could not pose any challenge to Israeli dominance. He insisted,
Every kind of inter-Arab confrontation will assist us in the short run and will shorten the way to the more important aim of breaking up Iraq into denominations as in Syria and in Lebanon.[4]
Martinez concludes,
Yinon’s geopolitical blueprint is still very relevant today. His vision of a crippled and prostrate Arab/Muslim world is playing out before our very eyes.[5]
Will Iraq be redrawn into three parts in the near future in fulfillment to Yinon’s suggested strategy? And what about the 5 Israelis arrested for filming and celebrating the destruction of the Twin Towers from New Jersey? Were they agents from the Israeli Secret Service, the Mossad? Did they have beforehand information about the event, as some believe? Were they involved in causing the buildings to implode using explosives on the foundations? Will we ever know the truth? (See article about the 5 Israelis here) [6]
[Since the Mossad are so smart and able to infiltrate the enemies most secret organizations and cause havoc like we have seen in Iran, and Lebanon, is it not possible that the Mossad could have orchestrated through its power to infiltrate the 9/11 attack? What nation benefitted from the 9/11 attack? The only nation that benefitted was Israel as she manipulated America to fight her wars and eliminate her enemies in Iraq, Libya, and almost in Syria had not Putin intervened at that time. Other articles on the 5 Israelis have seem to have shown that these men had rented a floor on one of the towers that was destroyed and would work at nights in the building transporting "Art" material in their rented truck. Some have speculated that they were responsible for planting the explosive devices that would later be used to bring down the buildings as fires are not on their own capable of destroying reinforced steel structures. The articles I have read were once available on Google now seem not to be.
If the Mossad did not orchestrate the attacks, they at least knew of them and did not inform American intelligence. They may still have been used to plant the explosive devices aimed at bringing down the buildings. However, I am more inclined to believe the Mossad was manipulating the terrorists, and or, controlling the planes in some way, and in some form responsible for the whole thing!]
See the following link: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DMWp1YTTh-h/
[2] http://martinezperspective.wordpress.com/2014/06/25/isis-insurrection-serves-israels-interests/ (accessed 03/2016)
[3] http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/pdf/The%20Zionist%20Plan%20for%20the%20Middle%20East.pdf (accessed 03/2016)
[4] Ibid
[5] https://martinezperspective.wordpress.com/2014/06/25/isis-insurrection-serves-israels-interests/ (accessed 03/2016)
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SALMO 40 - Esperei com paciência pelo Senhor, e ele se inclinou para mim e ouviu o meu clamor!
Salmo 40 Um Salmo de David com comentários de Dennis Edwards
Salmo 40:1-2 Esperei
com paciência pelo Senhor, e ele se inclinou para mim e ouviu o meu clamor.
Também me tirou duma cova de destruição, dum charco de lodo; pôs
os meus pés sobre uma rocha, firmou os meus passos.
Se esperarmos no
Senhor, isto é, se O procurarmos em oração e súplica com ações de graças, Ele
ouvir-nos-á e responderá. Ele tirar-nos-á de qualquer poço horrível em que
caímos; seja emocional, financeiro, relacional ou relacionado com a saúde.
Jesus é a Rocha sobre a qual os nossos pés precisam de estar firmados. Ele é a
pedra que os construtores rejeitaram e que se tornou a pedra angular. Se
construirmos sobre Ele a casa das nossas vidas, obedecendo e seguindo a Sua
palavra, os nossos caminhos serão estabelecidos e a nossa casa não será
inundada pelas tempestades da vida, sejam elas quais forem.
Salmo 40:3 Pôs na minha boca um cântico novo, um hino ao
nosso Deus; muitos verão isso e temerão, e confiarão no Senhor.
Mesmo que no momento se
sinta abatido e desanimado, se levar o seu problema a Deus em oração, se
firmar os seus pés em Jesus, a Rocha, se decidir obedecer e seguir a Sua
palavra, encontrará novamente alegria. Deus irá tirá-lo desta situação
aparentemente impossível, deste poço horrível pelo qual está a passar, e você
cantará de alegria mais uma vez. Ele restaurará a alegria da sua salvação. Não
desista. Lute a luta da fé com louvor. “Em tudo dai graças, porque esta é a
vontade de Deus em Cristo Jesus para convosco”, 1 Tessalonicenses 5:18.
Salmo 40:4 Bem-aventurado o homem que faz do Senhor a sua
confiança, e que não atenta para os soberbos nem para os apóstatas mentirosos.
Ajudai-nos a não
desejar ser como os ricos e os orgulhosos que amam o mundo. Desejam as coisas
do mundo; as concupiscências dos olhos, a concupiscência da carne e a soberba
da vida, que não vem do Pai, mas sim do mundo. E o mundo passa, e a sua
concupiscência. Mas aquele que faz a vontade de Deus permanece para sempre, 1
João 2:16-17. Afastam-se da boa palavra de Deus para as mentiras dos
homens; “filosofias e vãs subtilezas, segundo a tradição dos homens, segundo os
rudimentos do mundo, e não segundo Cristo”, Colossenses 2:8. Voltam-se
para as mentiras do pai da mentira, o próprio Satanás, e as suas “mentes
corrompem-se e afastam-se da simplicidade que há em Cristo”, 2 Coríntios
11:3. Senhor, afastai-nos da tentação.
Salmo 40:5 Muitas são, Senhor, Deus meu, as maravilhas que
tens operado e os teus pensamentos para conosco; ninguém há que se possa
comparar a ti; eu quisera anunciá-los, e manifestá-los, mas são mais do que se
podem contar.
Ajuda-nos, Senhor, a
chegar à Tua presença com louvor e acção de graças pelas inúmeras bênçãos que
nos concedeste. Se contarmos as nossas bênçãos e as nomearmos uma a uma,
ficaremos surpreendidos com o que o Senhor fez. O louvor é a voz da fé.
Salmo 40:6-8 Sacrifício e oferta não desejas; abriste-me os
ouvidos; holocausto e oferta de expiação pelo pecado não reclamaste. Então disse eu: Eis aqui venho; no rolo do livro está escrito a meu
respeito: Deleito-me em fazer a tua vontade, ó Deus meu;
sim, a tua lei está dentro do meu coração.
O autor da Epístola aos Hebreus
cita a secção acima tal como está escrita na Septuaginta grega da seguinte
forma: “Sacrifício e oferta não desejaste; um corpo me preparaste.” O autor
defende que os sacrifícios e as ofertas eram apenas um prenúncio do próprio
sacrifício de Cristo na cruz pelos pecados da humanidade. Defende que o salmo é
profético de Jesus, do novo e vivo caminho para entrar na presença de Deus
através da fé no sangue de Jesus, que foi morto desde a fundação do mundo.
Jesus veio como foi profetizado e teve prazer em fazer a vontade de Deus, e não
a Sua própria. Sigamos os Seus passos.
Sobre o motivo pelo qual o texto
hebraico massorético é traduzido de forma diferente do texto da Septuaginta
grega, os primeiros padres da igreja acusaram as autoridades religiosas
judaicas nos séculos I e II de adulterar o texto do Antigo Testamento
para esconder os sinais proféticos do Messias encontrados nele, os quais Jesus
cumpriu. Onde o texto massorético hebraico diz: “Os meus ouvidos Tu abriste”, o
texto da Septuaginta grega diz: “Um corpo Tu preparaste”. Como a língua
hebraica não utiliza vogais quando escrita, dependendo das vogais que utiliza,
pode chegar a diferentes significados. O autor de Hebreus no Novo
Testamento está a citar o texto da Septuaginta grega e a afirmar que se
cumpriu em Jesus. Ele era o corpo que Deus tinha preparado como sacrifício
final pelos pecados dos homens.
Salmo 40:9-10 Tenho proclamado boas-novas de justiça na grande congregação; eis
que não retive os meus lábios; Não ocultei dentro do meu
coração a tua justiça; apregoei a tua fidelidade e a tua salvação; não escondi
da grande congregação a tua benignidade e a tua verdade.
Sejamos fiéis em não
esconder Deus dentro de nós, mas em partilhar o amor e a verdade do Evangelho
com todos aqueles que Deus coloca nos nossos caminhos. “Porque a lei foi dada
por Moisés, mas a graça e a verdade vieram por Jesus Cristo”, João 1:17.
“Ide por todo o mundo e pregai o evangelho a toda a criatura”, Marcos 16:15.
“E o que de minha parte ouviste através de muitas testemunhas, isso mesmo
transmite a homens fiéis e idôneos para também ensinarem os outros, 2
Timóteo 2:2.
Salmo 40:11-12 Não detenhas para comigo, Senhor a tua compaixão;
a tua benignidade e a tua fidelidade sempre me guardem. Pois
males sem número me têm rodeado; as minhas iniquidades me têm alcançado, de
modo que não posso ver; são mais numerosas do que os cabelos da minha cabeça,
pelo que desfalece o meu coração.
Muitas vezes podemos
cair no desânimo por causa das nossas próprias falhas em superar os nossos
pecados mais persistentes, ou falhas de personalidade, os nossos maus hábitos.
Mas, tal como David faz aqui, precisamos de clamar a Deus para que Ele nos preserve,
nos perdoe e nos estenda as Suas ternas misericórdias.
Salmo 40:13-15 Digna-te, Senhor, livra-me; Senhor, apressa-te em
meu auxílio. Sejam envergonhados e confundidos os que
buscam a minha vida para destruí-la; tornem atrás e confundam-se os que me
desejam o mal. Desolados sejam em razão da sua afronta os
que me dizem: Ah! Ah!
David ora contra os seus inimigos, e sem
dúvida Cristo orou contra os Seus inimigos espirituais. Também nós devemos
repreender os poderes espirituais que nos atacam e tentam frustrar os nossos
esforços. Devemos travar uma guerra espiritual em oração contra os principados,
potestades e forças espirituais das trevas nas regiões celestiais que procuram
destruir e impedir o nosso importante trabalho para o Senhor. Devemos vestir
toda a armadura de Deus e resistir ao Diabo. “Revesti-vos de toda a armadura de
Deus, para que possais permanecer firmes contra as ciladas do diabo!” Efésios
6:11.
Salmo 40:16-17 Regozijem-se e alegrem-se em ti todos os que te buscam. Digam
continuamente os que amam a tua salvação: Engrandecido seja o Senhor. Eu, na verdade, sou pobre e necessitado, mas o Senhor cuida de mim.
Tu és o meu auxílio e o meu libertador; não te detenhas, ó Deus meu.
Que as ovelhas perdidas
e cansadas em busca de Deus O encontrem. Que Deus envie mais trabalhadores para
a seara, que está branca e pronta para a colheita, mas os trabalhadores são
poucos. Senhor, Tu estás perto daqueles que têm o coração quebrantado e salvas
aqueles que têm o espírito contrito. Embora muitas sejam as nossas aflições e
problemas, Senhor, Tu prometeste livrar-nos de todos eles, Salmo 34:18-19.
Salvai-nos, Senhor. Livra-nos das mãos dos homens e dos que se levantam contra
nós. Ó Senhor, não te demores, “vem depressa. “Vem, Senhor Jesus”, Apocalipse
22:20.
Oração: Senhor, vemos o
mundo de hoje como uma massa enlouquecedora de confusão. Os homens maus vão de
mal a pior, enganando e sendo enganados. Em breve o Maligno surgirá e o dilúvio
da iniquidade irromperá sobre a terra. Obrigado, pois parece que nos deu um
alívio através do novo governo americano. Alguns homens aparentemente bons
levantaram-se e a onda de iniquidade parece ter sido temporariamente
interrompida ou abrandada. Continue a fazer o que deseja, Senhor. Continue a
fortalecer e a iluminar as pessoas que criou. Ajude-os a receber e a seguir a
verdade, aconteça o que acontecer. Como disse Martin Luther King Jr, ajude-os a
seguir a verdade que Você lhes está a mostrar, porque esse é o objetivo final
da vida. Proteja-os dos ataques do inimigo. Fortaleça esses líderes. Levante-se
mais para se juntar a eles. Remova aqueles que estão a atrapalhar os seus
planos e a propagação do evangelho. Senhor, prepara-nos para as batalhas que
temos pela frente. Ajuda-nos a não nos cansarmos de fazer o bem. Seja a nossa
torre forte e luz nos dias que se avizinham. Em nome de Jesus, oramos. Amém
Saturday, February 22, 2025
The Noah Prophecy - Chapter 16
The Noah Prophecy
The Lord said through Isaiah,
Later the Lord says,
Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read: no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate: for my mouth it hath commanded, and his spirit it hath gathered them.[1]
Later the Lord says,
I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.[2] 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 pleasure.[3]
I would like to give some examples of a few of the hundreds of amazing fulfilled prophecies found in the Bible. It will strengthen your faith and help you to believe He will fulfill the remaining prophecies.
The book of Genesis has some of the most interesting prophecies made about the descendants of the great fore-fathers of faith. We will look at one which Noah prophesized over his three sons, Shem, Ham and Japheth. Looking through the genealogies of these men, we find that Shem was the father of both the Jewish and Arab nations and all their mixtures. Ham was the father of Black African nations, the word “Ham” meaning black, while Japheth was the father of all the northern European nations or Caucasian “Gentile” nations.
Let’s look at the prophecy which took place after the flood:
And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren. And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant. God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.[4]
Canaan, the son of Ham, is cursed for what some believe may have been a sexual act by Ham upon his father Noah, or by Ham with his mother, Noah's wife. The uncovering of his father's nakedness could be referring to his mother as seen in Leviticus 18:7. Shem is blessed, while Canaan is made his servant. Japheth’s dwelling place or dominion would be enlarged, yet he would still live in housing owned by Shem. Still, Canaan would be Japheth’s servant, also.
Has this prophecy been fulfilled? Yes, with 100% accuracy. Shem’s descendants are the Jewish and Arab peoples. The Black Africans are found in many of the Arab nations working at menial jobs. The Black Africans also work in menial jobs in many Western nations, where Jewish money and expertise has given the Jewish people unprecedented power. In fact, the Jewish people have dominated every area of human enterprise that they have put their hand to, especially finances and banking. No one would dispute that the Black African nations are the servants of international banks who are largely owned by Jewish money.
So, Canaan, the Black African people, is definitely servant to Shem in the Arab and Jewish peoples and to Japheth in the Gentile people who are largely the Caucasian people. In the third part of the prophecy, we see that Japheth, the father of the northern European nations, has become very large in land area, including North America and Australia. Nevertheless, his brother Shem or Jewish money still controls his housing and financing situation, just like the prophecies predicted: “he shall dwell in the tents of Shem.” Canaan’s descendants, the peoples of Black Africa, have also traditionally been the servants of the Caucasian peoples, the descendants of Japheth, just like they have been servants to the descendants of Shem, the Jewish and Arab peoples. 
I have even seen an interesting study from the book Abraham’s Children: Race, Identity and the DNA of the Chosen People by Dr. Jon Entine.[5] He claims that DNA tests of important Black African leaders seem to indicate that many if not most have Jewish DNA. The Black Africans who become important leaders in Africa are almost always those with significant amounts of Jewish DNA. Entine also puts forth the possibility of Jewish descendants being the architects of the famous Great Zimbabwe; an archaeological ruin in Zimbabwe built around 1100 AD. The origins and architectures of the Great Zimbabwe have been a controversy over the years, which some politically-correct archaeologists have credited to the Black Africans. Entine thinks otherwise and gives the credit to Jewish ingenuity.[6]
I have even seen an interesting study from the book Abraham’s Children: Race, Identity and the DNA of the Chosen People by Dr. Jon Entine.[5] He claims that DNA tests of important Black African leaders seem to indicate that many if not most have Jewish DNA. The Black Africans who become important leaders in Africa are almost always those with significant amounts of Jewish DNA. Entine also puts forth the possibility of Jewish descendants being the architects of the famous Great Zimbabwe; an archaeological ruin in Zimbabwe built around 1100 AD. The origins and architectures of the Great Zimbabwe have been a controversy over the years, which some politically-correct archaeologists have credited to the Black Africans. Entine thinks otherwise and gives the credit to Jewish ingenuity.[6][1] Isaiah 34:16
[2] Isaiah 42:8-9
[3] Isaiah 46:10
[3] Genesis 9:25-27
[4] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioYAjdDALqk (accessed 03/2016)[5] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Lgk9LHqCjA (accessed 03/2016)
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