Christian Zionism - A Road Map to Armageddon?
Thursday, January 25, 2018
Pay by fingerprint? Visa’s new card makes it possible
Millions of consumers already use biometrics technology, like thumbprint scans, to unlock their phones and confirm in-app purchases. Now, similar technology is moving from phones to plastic. With Visa’s new fingerprint card, consumers will be able to avoid four-digit pins and signatures when making in-store purchases. Instead, they will place their finger on a small scanner embedded, like an EMV chip, into the front of their credit or debit card. If the scan is a match, the scanner will activate a small green light. “It’s fast, it’s seamless,” says Visa SVP Mark Nelsen. “It validates me in a fraction of a second.”
Dennis Edwards: Are we moving toward the famous mark of the beast technology? The Apostle John prophesied that in the time of the end an evil world leader would arise on the scene with great popularity. During the last three and a half years before Christ's return, he would implement an obligatory "mark of the beast" in other for any one to buy or sell.
Many Bible students have speculated about what the mark could be. One current idea is that it will be some sort of bio-metric system of identification. Modern technology makes the prophecies more probable. We read from the book of Revelation: "And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six."[1]
[1] Revelation 13:16-18
Wednesday, January 24, 2018
Jordan’s king delivers pointed remarks to Pence on Jerusalem
By Jenna Johnson and Loveday Morris, Washington Post, January 21, 2018
AMMAN–In pointed public remarks, Jordan’s King Abdullah II told Vice President Pence on Sunday that he had repeatedly warned Washington about the risks of recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and that he hoped the United States would now “reach out” and find the right way to move forward.
At a meeting at his palace in the Jordanian capital, Amman, Abdullah said that he had been encouraged by President Trump’s commitment to bringing a solution to decades of conflict between Israelis and Palestinians–but that Jerusalem is key to achieving peace.
“I had continuously voiced over the past year, in my meetings with Washington, my concerns regarding the U.S. decision on Jerusalem that does not come as a result of a comprehensive settlement to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict,” he said, addressing Pence and his delegation from across a dining table laid out for lunch. “Today we have a major challenge to overcome, especially with some of the rising frustrations.”
He added that it is “very important” to find a way to move forward with a two-state solution, with East Jerusalem as the capital of a Palestinian state formed on pre-1967 borders, living side by side with a “secure and recognized” Israel. “Your visit here, I am sure, is to rebuild the trust and confidence,” he said.
Pence described the conversation as “candid but cordial” and said that “friends occasionally have disagreements.”
Pence’s regional tour is aimed partly at smoothing over relations with U.S. allies in the wake of Trump’s controversial decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
Before he left Washington for Egypt, the first stop on the trip, the vice president said that he hoped the U.S. decision on Jerusalem would help rather than hinder a peace deal between Israelis and Palestinians. He reiterated Sunday that he hoped that the Palestinians “will soon reengage.” But the Palestinian leadership has reacted with anger to the decision and has refused to meet with Pence, and other regional allies have spoken out against the move.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has said that Trump’s decision marks the end to the United States being a sole broker for the peace process. Israeli Arab members of Israel’s parliament said they would boycott Pence’s visit to the country this week.
Speaking to Abdullah on Sunday, Pence said that the Jerusalem decision was “historic.” He said that the United States is committed to continuing to respect Jordan’s role as the custodian of the city’s holy sites and that Washington has made no decision on boundaries or the final status of the city, which are subject to negotiations.
Trump, however, said in a tweet earlier this month that Jerusalem was “off the table” for negotiations, drawing further ire from Palestinians.
Trump’s son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner and Middle East envoy Jason Greenblatt are expected to present a peace plan this year, although the Jerusalem announcement has complicated the process.
Last week, Abbas expressed anger that the Palestinians were offered the suburb of Abu Dis as their capital instead of East Jerusalem, and he slammed the U.S. decision to cut aid to the Palestinians. Abbas said he would escalate efforts to have a Palestinian state recognized internationally while holding Israel accountable at the International Criminal Court. He is due to meet European Union foreign ministers Monday.
The U.S. decision on Jerusalem was seen in part as a political move to satisfy Trump’s base of white evangelical voters. Pence has gone further than Trump in his own declarations on Jerusalem, describing it as “the eternal undivided capital of the Jewish people and the Jewish state.”
Pence’s stay in Israel, where he landed Sunday night, will include visits to the Western Wall in Jerusalem’s Old City and Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust museum.
“We welcome him with warmth and pride,” Netanyahu said, adding that he had a message for Abbas: “There is no alternative for American leadership in the diplomatic process.”
Dennis Edwards:
The problem in the Middle East between Israel and the Palestinian just won't go away. Whether the USA is in a position to offer a viable solution is questionable. Recent news articles have suggested that Trump's announcement of moving the US Embassy to Jerusalem has nullified the possibility of America being the coordinator of peace between Israel and the Palestinians.
How does the situation fit in with Bible prophecy? Some Bible scholars believe that in the last days an evil world leader will arise on the scene as a shrewd political leader. He will come in peaceably and manage to gain popularity worldwide. This leader will be responsible for a "Holy Covenant." The covenant will be confirmed by many nations. It will be a seven year agreement and will permit the reestablishment of sacrificial worship in Jerusalem.
In order to have sacrificial worship, a place of sacrifice must be established. For many years the Temple Institute in Jerusalem has been coordinating efforts towards the rebuilding of a Third Jewish Temple on the Temple mount. Plans for construction have been made and there are some who believe stones have been selected and are in storage somewhere in Jerusalem or close by. The Institute has also been involved in recreating all the sacrificial garb and ornaments, tools etc., needed by the priests for the sacrifice. They are preparing specially trained rabbis in the ceremonial rituals which accompany the sacrifice.
Many American Christians have been helpful in donating toward the rebuilding of the Temple and the efforts of the Temple Institute. But prophecy reveals that it will not be America who initiates the peace process and the Holy Covenant, but the Antichrist himself. Other prophecies seem to indicate that he will be a personality from the Middle East or from, or connected to, a strong northern nation in the Scriptures referred to as Gog or Magog. Many prophecy analyst believe Russia could be the present day fulfillment of Gog and Magog.
It remains to be seen if we are seeing the rise of the Antichrist to power by the way Russia's Putin is gaining in world influence and popularity through his recent successful military operation in Syria. Whether Putin could be the Antichrist, we do not know. Many believe his leadership in Moscow has been a good thing for world peace. He's openly promoted faith and Christian values. Perhaps, the Antichrist figure is still in waiting and will arise sometime after Putin's term of leadership.
That's what we learn from Bible prophecy. But we could have it all wrong. Maybe we are not seeing things correctly and or understanding the Scripture properly. Maybe we are interpreting in all wrong, as some believe. In truth, we are speculating on much of these events. But if our speculations, our interpretations are correct, we should see a peace agreement sometime in the future allowing Israel to rebuild a Third Temple someplace near or on the Temple mount.
So, if we are right, watch for the Holy Covenant, a seven year agreement on the Middle East situation involving Israel and the Palestinians. Remember, the placing of the abomination of desolation in the Temple is the sign Jesus gave us for the beginning of the Great Tribulation. Bible prophecy puts the placing of the abomination of desolation together with the breaking of the seven year Holy Covenant by the Antichrist. This includes some sort of invasion of Israel.
Together from prophecies in both Daniel and Ezekiel we learn that the ultimate invasion force of Israel will involve both Turkey and Iran. Both these nations are presently strongly allied with Russia. Turkey's alliance to Russia is a relatively new fact. Just a few years ago Turkey was a full member of the NATO force under America's control. However, recent developments during the Syrian war, and the Kurdish situation in Syria has pushed Turkey towards Russia and away from the Israeli and American position.
These are all interesting developments and things we should keep our eyes on if we want to understand what's happening and why in the Middle East. Christ will return. The world will march toward Armageddon and Armageddon will occur. If we don't want it to happen in our life time then we need a sudden repentance, which means change or revolution. We need a return to Godly values, and Godly lifestyles. We need to return to an more agrarian society. But this is not going to happen.
So prepare for the worse. But most importantly, open your life to Christ. He is our only hope in time of trouble. He has promised to be with us and keep us in His care. He is pleading with us as individuals and as the world to receive Him personally in our hearts today. His love is still the answer. Won't you take His love right now and then share it with others? Do it! You need it and the world needs it. Together we can still make a difference.
Tuesday, January 23, 2018
Pence tells Egypt’s Sisi that U.S. would back two-state solution
CAIRO (Reuters) - Vice President Mike Pence told Egypt’s leader on Saturday the United States would support a two-state solution for Israelis and Palestinians if the two sides agreed to it, seeking to reassure a key Arab ally over President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (R) shakes hands with with U.S. Vice President Mike Pence during their meeting at the Presidential Palace in Cairo, Egypt January 20, 2018. REUTERS/ Khaled Desouki/Pool
Pence was in Egypt on the first leg of a three-country tour that includes stops in Jordan and Israel.
It is the highest-level visit by a U.S. official to the region since December, when Trump upended decades of U.S. policy on Jerusalem in a move opposed by Arab leaders including Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
“We heard President al-Sisi out,” Pence told reporters after their meeting, saying the Egyptian leader described his objection to Trump’s decision as a “disagreement between friends.”
Pence said he assured Sisi that the United States was committed to preserving the status quo of holy sites in Jerusalem and had come to no final resolution on boundaries for the two parties.
“My perception was that he was encouraged by that message,” Pence said.
The Egyptian presidency said in a statement that Sisi noted that only negotiations based on a two-state solution could bring an end to the conflict, “and Egypt would spare no effort to support this.”
Pence said he also pressed Sisi about two Americans who have been imprisoned in Egypt since 2013, as well as for reform of Egypt’s restrictive laws on non-governmental organizations.
In his meeting with Egypt’s president, Pence pledged firm U.S. backing in the nation’s fight against Islamist militants and said ties between the two countries had never been stronger after a period of “drifting apart.”
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi meets with with U.S. Vice President Mike Pence at the Presidential Palace in Cairo, Egypt January 20, 2018. REUTERS/ Khaled Desouki/Pool
“We stand shoulder to shoulder with you in Egypt in the fight against terrorism,” Pence told Sisi.
Egypt has faced security problems, including attacks by Islamic State militants in the North Sinai region. Trump has made the fight against Islamic State a top priority.
Though Pence intends to discuss counterterrorism issues throughout the trip, the Jerusalem decision remains a hot topic. Trump’s announcement, which also set in motion the process of moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv, prompted Palestinians to reject the United States as a peace broker.
From Cairo, Pence headed to Jordan, where he will meet with King Abdullah, a close U.S. ally. Abdullah warned against declaring Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, saying it would have a dangerous impact on regional stability and obstruct U.S. efforts to resume peace talks.
Many people in Jordan are descendants of Palestinian refugees whose families left after the creation of Israel in 1948.
Pence will end his trip in Israel, where he will be warmly welcomed following Trump’s designation. He plans to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, address the Israeli legislature and visit the Western Wall.
Pence is not scheduled to meet Palestinian leaders. They were incensed by Trump’s decision on Jerusalem, which upended the longstanding U.S. position that negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians must determine the city’s status.
“The United States of America is deeply committed to restarting the peace process in the Middle East,” Pence told reporters.
The Trump administration’s announcement on Thursday that it was withholding about half the aid it was set to give a United Nations relief agency that serves the Palestinians raised questions about fledgling U.S. efforts to revive peace talks and further undermined Arabs’ faith that the United States can act as an impartial arbitrator.
Pence also plans to visit U.S. troops while he is in the region.
Monday, January 22, 2018
Leader, full of grace
Fireside chats can generally yield surprising depth and insights. When the chat leader is a CEO and the audience include high-potential leaders at an executive training retreat, it can be doubly poignant and powerful. Fireside chats afford a crucible for candor and a forum for authenticity.
Ten years ago, I was a trainer at the retreat and a guest at the after-dinner fireside chat.
“What are the most crucial qualities of a great leader?” was the question from an armchair participant, shot point-blank at her charismatic CEO. The CEO catalogued the typical top-10 leader features you might expect would accompany such an answer. Then, after a long pause, he added, “and, grace.”
It provoked silence. Everyone in the room waited on the edge of their armchairs to learn more about this unexpected addition.
“Grace is about acceptance, the opposite of judgment. It is the building block of a culture that nurtures innovation and invention. It is ironically the same word we use for elegance with a sense of purity,” he explained.
No one in the conference center living room expected this tough, results-oriented leader to suddenly turn philosophical. But he did. And they were clearly moved.
He briefly highlighted a tragic story many in the room had heard on the news. I later Googled the story for the facts, and this is what I learned.
But what followed the tragedy was the centerpiece of the CEO’s point about the power of grace. The Amish community visited the widow of the murderer to offer their heartfelt condolences. The day of the funeral, the same week after burying five of their children, the Amish community attended the funeral of the murderer. There were nearly as many Amish at the funeral as non-Amish. On the one-year anniversary of the massacre, the Amish community quietly made a cash donation to the widow of the man who had slain five of their children.
I never forgot the example and the way he tied it to leadership.
We live in an era when disruptors thrive, and marketplace followers struggle just to keep up. Incremental improvement, once the standard for progressive leadership, has been replaced with, “If it ain’t broke, break it.” Warp speed to market has become a table stake. And those in constant pursuit of innovation are the only ones likely to end the race in the winner’s circle. It means leaders must foster inventiveness as well as its “fail fast, learn fast” corollary as their keystones of success.
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos said in a Business Insider interview: “I’ve made billions of dollars of failures at Amazon. None of those things are fun. But they also don’t matter. What really matters is, companies that don’t continue to experiment, companies that don’t embrace failure, they eventually get in a desperate position where the only thing they can do is a ‘Hail Mary’ bet at the very end of their corporate existence.”
Leaders with grace lead with deep confidence. They exhibit no need to resort to creating fear or relying on authority as the mantle for their influence. They imbed the spirit of encouragement in their pronouncements meant to challenge. They know that humility is more powerful than vanity, concern is more influential than command.
And the leader with grace can release the finest from employees ensuring the perseverance of their brand.
Sunday, January 21, 2018
U.S. Presses to Relocate Embassy to Jerusalem by 2019
The Trump administration is moving faster than expected to transfer the American Embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv by 2019, senior officials said Thursday, despite insisting last month that the move would not happen until the end of President Trump’s term.
The administration’s plans, following Mr. Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, suggest it no longer cares about cushioning the blow of the new policy, which has drawn angry protests from Palestinians and other Arabs and cast Mr. Trump’s peacemaking ambitions into doubt.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel first broached the prospect of a faster move on Wednesday, telling reporters that the embassy would be moved “in the course of the year.” That put him at odds with Mr. Trump, who hours later said, “We’re not really looking at that.”
It was not clear whether Mr. Trump’s advisers had briefed him on the new timetable until Thursday. Officials said he was referring to the construction of an entirely new embassy compound in Jerusalem, which Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson predicted would be completed “probably no earlier than three years out, and that’s pretty ambitious.”
But the State Department has since settled on a more modest plan to convert an existing consular building in Arnona, a neighborhood in West Jerusalem. That will reduce the cost of the project and allow Ambassador David M. Friedman and his staff to move there as early as next year.
Since Mr. Trump’s announcement, relations between the United States and the Palestinians have curdled. The Palestinian Authority president, Mahmoud Abbas, vowed never again to take part in peace negotiations brokered by the United States. In a recent speech to Palestinian officials, he said of Mr. Trump, “May your house be destroyed.”
The administration, in turn, said it would withhold $65 million–or more than half the funding that the United States generally provides–to a United Nations agency that aids Palestinian refugees.
The decision was a rebuke to the United Nations, whose members voted by a lopsided margin last month to condemn the United States for its Jerusalem decision. It also reflected the view of some in the White House that the organization, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, needed to be overhauled and was impeding, rather than aiding, the peace process.
Moving the embassy quickly, officials said, could also be a political boon for Mr. Trump in a midterm election year, given the popularity of his decision to recognize Jerusalem with evangelical voters and hard-line pro-Israel Americans like the casino magnate Sheldon G. Adelson.
Dennis Edwards: Again we see these decisions by Trump seem to fit in nicely with Bible prophecy. The Bible tells us in the book of Daniel that in the last days the world will confirm a Holy Covenant broached by the Antichrist.[1]
Could the fact that the USA seems to have isolated itself away from being involved in organizing the peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians open the way for the Antichrist to do the job?
The Scriptures, if we are understanding them properly, seem to indicate that the Antichrist is the author of the seven-year Holy Covenant which is confirmed by many.[2] As troubles continue in the Middle East even with the covenant, the Antichrist breaks the agreement half way through and places the famous abomination of desolation spoken of by Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew.[3][4]
Jesus gave the placing of the abomination of desolation in the Temple as the sign of the beginning of the Great Tribulation, a period in world history so horrible that Jesus says there was nothing like it before, or after.[5]
The Great Tribulation lasts for three and a half years, or forty-two months, or one thousand two hundred and sixty days.[6][7][8][9][10] It is immediately after the tribulation that Christ returns in the skies to rescue His children in the famous rapture event.[11][12] A short time afterwards as the nations gather together for the Battle of Armageddon, Christ must stop the carnage or mankind would destroy itself.[13][14] It is at that time that He implements a Godly One-World 1,000 year government which He will oversee Himself the details of which we have little information.[15]
Notes
[1] Daniel 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week. (seven year period) [2] Daniel 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week.
[3] Daniel 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week (half way through the seven year period or at the three an a half years mark) he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
[4] Daniel 11:31 And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that makes desolate.
[5] Matthew 24:15-21 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
[6] Revelation 11:3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
[7] Revelation 12:14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. ( "a time" equals 1 year, "times" equals 2 years, and "half a time" equals half a year.)
[8] Daniel 12:1, 7 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.(This could be referring to the Rapture at the end of the tribulation period.) And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.
[9] Daniel 7:25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
[8] Daniel 12:1, 7 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.(This could be referring to the Rapture at the end of the tribulation period.) And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.
[9] Daniel 7:25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
[10]Revelation 13:5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
[11] Matthew 24:29-31 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
[12] 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
[12] 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
[13] Revelation 16:14-16 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.
[14] Revelation 19:11-21 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords. And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.
[15] Revelation 20:4-6 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Friday, January 19, 2018
How to Defeat Depression!
It is a sad day when one of God's creations decides that life is not worth the living, that things are just too difficult. God's heart weeps for any of His sons or daughters who make such a decision. The sorrow is that it is indeed the wrong decision. We murmur and complain and fall into depression because we have believed the lie that things are not going to get better. They are going to continue as they are now forever, so what’s the use of living? But the truth is, things do change. Situations do change. Even your attitude towards the situation you find yourself in changes.
How then can we tell when that little voice of conscience is of God or of the enemy? Here’s the answer: when the voice is positive, encouraging, faith building; then it is of the Lord. When the voice is critical, negative, or causes you to be discontent, bitter, or discouraged; that voice is not of God and we must reject it and resist it with all our heart, mind and spirit. Life is what we make of it. Even an aged Pope suffering with Alzheimer can be a good example of suffering graciously.
Life is sacred. But people do not want to hear that in today’s secular, materialistic world. They want the freedom to act as they wish, pushing my old traditional guidelines to the wind. The want the power of choice. They just want to just Do It! But life is not something you should take for granted and each life affects many more. We are just passing through this life. It is indeed very short and will soon be gone. Therefore, enjoy it! Instead of thinking and worrying about your own personal situation, get busy helping others. That's the therapy. Forget your own dam self, of course, you have problems and are a hell of a mess. Everyone is.
Put your eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith.[1] He has promised to be with you through all your tribulations. Even the one you are going through now. You can make it, if you call upon Him. Like He said to His disciples, “Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest,” or as in the Spanish translation, “make you rest.” “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly of heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”[2]
God has promised that all things that happen unto us, He will convert to good, if we will only love Him with all our hearts.[3] Nothing can separate us from God. Paul wrote,
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?...Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."[4]
In the Psalms we read,
"Whither shall I go from thy spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there thy hand leads me, and thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hides not from thee; but the night shines as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee. For thou has possessed my reins: thou has covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knows right well."[5]
Therefore, when the enemy of your soul tempts you to get down and discouraged and you hear that little voice telling you to end it all, call upon the Lord with all your heart and He promises He will come running and He will be with you.[6] Your future is as bright as the promises of God. Comfort yourself by reading God's word. Strengthen yourself by listening to encouraging music that is positive, uplifting and reminds you of God's promises. There are many good Christian hymns or positive secular songs that can bring you the encouragement that you need.
Be positive. Speak positively. Sing, praise and shout the victory and it will be yours as you draw nigh to God. Don’t just sit there and be inactive. Do something. You won't be sorry if you keep on keeping on. Anything wonderful can happen in that little moment of time when you don't give up, when you don’t quit. Keep on believing. You’ll be glad you trusted God tomorrow and so will your loved ones. Keep your eyes on Jesus, not the pit of discouragement. He promises you that He will not fail you nor forsake you.[7] Nothing can or will be able to separate you from the love God.[8] He loves you. Meditate on that truth and that alone should help you to fight to live another day. You are needed, right where you are. Don't quit. You will be glad you trusted in God, tomorrow! You can remember the inspiring words made famous by Charlie Chaplin in the song “Smile.”
Smile though your heart is aching
Smile even though it's breaking.
When there are clouds in the sky
you'll get by.
If you smile through your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You'll see the sun come shining through
For you.
Light up your face with gladness,
Hide every trace of sadness.
Although a tear may be ever so near
That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying.
You'll find that life is still worthwhile-
If you just smile.
That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying.
You'll find that life is still worthwhile-
If you just smile.[8]
Smile by Charlie Chaplin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHPDrInbybw
Some other songs you could listen to are listed below:
Josh Groban, “You Raise Me Up!” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oni0tO_HN30
Celine Dion & Josh Groban, “The Prayer” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idtNxZYnxIw
The Gaither Vocal Band, "Because He Lives" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spa7WkwjwGw
Celtic Woman, “You'll Never Walk Alone” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7du-RHGrJrA
Don Quixote, “The Impossible Dream” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfHnzYEHAow
The Gaither Vocal band, “The Love of God” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6B_jYtjvME
Simon & Garfunkle, “Bridge Over Troubled Waters” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjNgn4r6SOA
“One Day at a Time” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzAUuX5g6KY
Andrae Crouch, “Through it All” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFzdFzzBqTc
Carrie Underwood, “How Great Thou Art” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLLMzr3PFgk
Notes
[5] Psalm 139:7-14
[6] Jeremiah 33:3
[7] Hebrews 13:5
[8] Romans 8:38,39
[9] http://www.metrolyrics.com/smile-lyrics-charlie-chaplin.html
[7] Hebrews 13:5
[8] Romans 8:38,39
[9] http://www.metrolyrics.com/smile-lyrics-charlie-chaplin.html
