Part 3 - Prophecies Will Fulfill
How is it that the world seems to have gone mad - evil abounds? Why is all this trouble happening constantly in the Middle East?
How is it that the world seems to have gone mad - evil abounds? Why is all this trouble happening constantly in the Middle East?
The
Holy Scriptures prophesied of these very events in the Middle East (as well as
in the surrounding countries) taking place, and obediently, the prophets of God
(the One, true God) wrote what the Lord spoke, thereby forewarning their people
and future generations.
Now
for all the scholars out there, humor me while I cover Bible 101 [the
elementary, basics]. Even if you are familiar
with the following scriptures, I encourage you to refresh your memory, in order
to remind you of how God is fully in control and has a perfect plan – even
though many may not understand the ‘why’
of it all.
The
‘why’ began in the Garden of Eden
when the cunning serpent twisted God’s words, planted seeds of doubt in Eve’s
mind and persuaded her to eat the fruit of the tree that had been forbidden by
God to eat (test of obedience).
We
know that Eve was indeed persuaded and then convinced Adam to disobey
also. The consequence of their
disobedience was punishment by the Creator, their heavenly Father. Sin had entered into them. From that point on, all of mankind has been
born with a sinful nature. Adam and
Eve’s bodies would die, as would and will everyone after them, for the “wages of sin is death”, just as the
Lord had forewarned.
The
war began in the heavenlies, with the rebellion of Lucifer, who deceived
one-third of the holy angels into following him because he intended (intends)
to exalt himself above the One, true living God. In his pride, he has deceived himself,
believing that he will become greater than God (Lucifer/Satan’s Creator also).
The
war was on. Lucifer and the angels that
followed him left their first estate.
They fell from heaven and the war over mankind has been going on from
the beginning. We who are alive today
live in a time that those before us only imagined witnessing.
The
war that began so long ago that no one is one hundred percent certain of exactly
how long ago is about to peak. The clash
of the kingdoms is most obvious now, as wickedness and evil boldly and proudly strut and storm over the lands and nations, to destroy as much of God’s creation as
possible. There is much, much more to it
(nephilim, giants, transhumanism etc), but only the 101 was going to be touched
upon here.
Fast-forward
to a little later in Genesis, to the time of Abraham and Sarah. When God promised a son to Abraham, it seemed
to be a long time coming. Sarah
suggested Abraham go in with her handmaiden, which was Abraham’s concubine Hagar,
in order to fulfill the promise of a son.
(Keep in mind that both Abraham and Sarah were old. The promise of a child to a couple so old
seemed surreal.)
Hagar
bore a son called Ishmael (and from him came important members of the Arab
families, which would greatly influence).
Approximately a decade later, Sarah gave birth to Isaac, who would later
marry Rebekah, daughter of a Syrian from Padan Aram named Bethuel.
The
time came when Rebekah, the wife of Isaac (son of Abraham) was pregnant. She could feel the babies inside of her
moving so strongly that it is written that “the
children struggled together within her”.
It must have been a violent struggle, as it concerned her so greatly
that she sought the Lord on the matter.
And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus (this way)? And she went to enquire of the LORD.
And the LORD said unto her, Two
nations are in thy womb,
and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than
the other people; and the elder
shall serve the younger.
And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb.
And the first came out red, all over like a hairy garment; and they
called his name Esau. And after that came his brother out, and his hand took
hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she
bare them.
And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field;
and Jacob was a plain man,
dwelling in tents. And Isaac loved Esau,
because he did eat of his
venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob. [Gen 25:22-28]
Therefore,
there is a family connection between Ishmael, Esau and Jacob (later
re-named/called Israel). The name Esau
in Hebrew means ‘hairy’; Jacob
(Yaacov) means ‘heel-holder’.
The
first event that took place between Isaac’s sons, Esau (firstborn of Isaac) and
his brother Jacob was about to direct the course of history. It may well have been why there was even a
struggle between the two whilst they were still in Rebekah’s womb.
It
began when Esau sold his birthright to
Jacob for a bowl of pottage (stew) of lentils.
The Bible says he ‘despised his
birthright’. (Gen 25:29-34) Esau was so weak after hunting that he
thought he would die quickly, unless he ate. His birthright not only included possession of
the land of Caanan, but it also spoke of the covenant that God made with
Abraham as to Christ, the promised holy seed.
And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint:
And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name
called Edom.
And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.
And Esau said, Behold, I am
at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? [Gen
25:29-32]
Esau’s
life (the lust of the eyes and the lust of the flesh) meant more than his
birthright in that moment of desperate hunger, and Jacob’s mess bowl of pottage
would satisfy his flesh. Therefore, he
agreed to give Jacob his birthright, so that he could eat and live. (For this reason, Esau was also called
‘Edom’, which means ‘red’).
When
Isaac got older, he summoned Esau and told him to go get (fresh) venison out in
the field and to prepare him a meal of some savory meat before he died. He planned to give Esau his blessing
afterward. Rebekah overheard this and
ran to tell Jacob and said that when she prepared the meat the way Isaac liked
it, Jacob was to take it to his father and receive the blessing rather than
Esau.
Jacob
protested, in fear that Isaac would discover the deception. Since Isaac could not see well, he would
stretch his hands out to touch his son.
Esau was hairy; Jacob was not.
Rebekah used the skin of goats to cover Jacob’s hands and neck.
Isaac did reach out his hands to make sure
that it was Esau that he was blessing because he recognized Jacob’s voice. When he felt the ‘hair’, he was convinced
that it was Esau, so Jacob received Isaac’s best blessing.
When
Esau discovered what had happened, he wept and begged his father for a
blessing.
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 from above;
And by your sword shall you live, and shall serve thy brother; and it
shall come to pass when you shall have the dominion, that you shall break his
yoke from off thy neck.
And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father
blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are
at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob. [Gen 27:39-41]
Esau
had told this to his mother and she arranged for Jacob to be sent away in order
to escape Esau’s anger (hatred/revenge).
Esau
(Edom) and Jacob (later called Israel) represented a constant struggle between
two nations [Gen 25:23] and the desire for Israel (Jacob) to be destroyed. Edom and the land of Petra became part of
today’s country of Jordan.
Rameses
III kept records, which reveal that the Edomites refused to allow the
Israelites to use any of their roads on the way to Canaan [Num 20:17-21]. Moses’ brother, Aaron, died on Mount Hor,
which is situated near the border of Edom.
Israel
(Jacob) and Edom (Esau) remained hostile and hateful toward one another and
warfare often occurred as a result. The
first Israelite king to conquer Edom was King David, but during King Joram’s
reign, Edom rebelled and crowned their own king.
Some
years later, Edom was once again conquered by Amaziah. It was only when Ahaz ruled that Edom was
once again independent. However, the
Babylonians conquered Edom in the sixth century.
Nomadic
tribes overran it, until the Edomites moved into the south of Judah, below
Hebron. Idumea is what the area became
called and there is controversy and studies done on that also, but again, this
very briefly encapsulates one viewpoint of history. John Hycanus conquered Idumea in 135 BC and
converted the people to Judaism.
It
is said that King Herod was of Edomite heritage, having come from Idumea.
Ezekiel and especially Obadiah, prophets of God, foretold of Edom’s
destruction.
Edom
was lost, having merged into Jordan and many of the Edomites dispersed
throughout other nations, including Turkey (Turks being considered the
‘hairest’ people), into countries surrounding Israel (Arabia, Syria, Egypt etc,
and into what is known as Europe today.
Note
also that history records that ten tribes of Israel were ‘lost’, having
dispersed in so many directions that no one is certain to this day who or where
they are, although there is much speculation and conjecture. Books have been written on the history and
genealogies of the earliest tribes/clans born into this world.
Let’s
take a look at what some of the Biblical commentators wrote, in order to
understand Edom, which is mentioned
by many of God’s ancient prophets, such as Ezekiel, Amos, Isaiah, Joel and
Obadiah.
The
comments below are in reference to ‘Edom’ (Esau) and Obadiah’s vision.
Matthew Poole: The destruction of Edom, Oba 1:1-2, for their pride, Oba 1:3-9, and for their
unnatural behaviour in Jacob's distress, Oba 1:10-16.
The salvation and victories of Jacob, Oba 1:17-21.
The vision, which the prophet Obadiah received immediately from the Lord; so prophets are called seers, 1Sa 9:9; Amo 7:12; and their prophecy is vision, Is 1:1; Joe 2:28.
The vision, which the prophet Obadiah received immediately from the Lord; so prophets are called seers, 1Sa 9:9; Amo 7:12; and their prophecy is vision, Is 1:1; Joe 2:28.
Gill’s
Exposition:
Thus saith the Lord God concerning Edom; by the mouth
of this prophet, who was divinely inspired by him; for Obadiah said not what
follows of himself but in the name of the Lord; and is a proof of the divine
authority of this book.
The subject matter of which is Edom or Idumea, as in
the Septuagint version; a neighbouring country to the Jews, and very
troublesome to them, being their implacable enemies, though their brethren; and
were a type of the enemies of the
Christian church, those false brethren, the antichristian states; and
particularly the head of them, the Romish antichrist, whose picture is here
drawn and whose destruction is prophesied of, under the name of Edom.
For what has been literally fulfilled in Idumea will;
be mystically accomplished in antichrist.
The Jews generally understand, by Edom, Rome, and the Christians in general;
which, if applied only to the antichristians [sic], is not amiss; and an ambassador is sent
among the heathen:
either by the Lord, as Jeremiah the prophet, or according to
some; an angel, as others; or an impulse upon the minds of the Chaldeans stirring them up to war against
the Edomites: or else by Nebuchadnezzar to the nations in alliance with him, to
join him in his expedition against them; or a herald sent by him to his own
people, to summon them together to this
war, and to encourage them in it:
Arise ye, and let us rise up
in battle against her; come up from all parts, join together, and invade the
land of Idumea, and give battle to the inhabitants of it, and destroy them; so the kings of the earth will stir up one
another to hate the whore of Rome, and make her desolate, Revelation 17:16.
I will leave it there, but if you would like to read
the commentaries for yourself, see biblehub.
Throughout the Bible is what is referred to as ‘types’
and ‘shadows’. Type is a word that is
taken from the Greek when Paul wrote:
These
things happened to them as examples and
were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the
ages has come. [1Cor 10:11]
‘Tupos’ (examples)
translated is literally the word ‘type’ (to model, pattern, mold, to
denote a resemblance). Many things
written in the Old Testament are types – personal (a person’s life); historical
(a historical event that foreshadows a New Testament truth) and ritual (a
ritual (a religious or solemn ceremony) prescribed by Old Testament law
illustrates a truth in the NT).
A ‘shadow’ shows the basic form of an
object, but the shadow points to the object itself. Jesus is the object upon
which many prophecies in the Old Testament point to; they are merely shadows
pointing to Jesus/Y’shua.
Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of
an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
Which are a shadow
of things to come; but the body is
of Christ.[Col2:16,17]
The story of Esau and Jacob is a shadow of things to
come, and the two men are a type. Esau
was more concerned about the world and himself (pride).
The ‘spirit of Esau/Edom’ is rampant today,
and in actuality is the ‘spirit of antichrist’.
He cared not for his inheritance when it came to the pleasing his flesh,
but he said begged to be (insisted upon being) blessed.
He had great pride, but also great hatred for Jacob.
Esau (Edom) had revenge in his heart; he plotted to murder his brother and
warred against him (stubborn, wicked, hard-heart (as a stone)– a condition of
the heart).
Jacob, although he was a trickster and deceived
(sinned), he cared about the God of his father, and he would do anything to get
his ‘blessing’ and ‘inheritance’. Later
on, he even wrestled with an angel, refusing to go until God ‘blessed’
him.
We see the ‘Edomite spirit’ or ‘spirit of antichrist’
(pride, revenge, hatred, war, murder, unforgiveness) keenly displayed in the clashes taking
place in the East, not only in Iraq, but in many countries, in various forms. Edomites (antichrists) are rampant globally. The Edomite spirit has risen up strongly,
even infiltrating the ‘church’ and seen in many who call themselves
‘Christian’, as well as in every other belief system in the world.
There is also the ‘spirit of Jezebel’, that great
Whore of Babylon. Indeed, we are
witnessing Bible prophecies being fulfilled.
It shall spread globally – we all know this, and if not, then one best
quickly learn and become aware of these things.
As stated, my Bible 101 was quick and most brief, as well as a light
skimming over of history and events. As
with anything, these subjects and topics go very deep.
Look at the excerpts from an article posted in the
News section of the Cutting Edge. The excerpts alone will astound you when you
come to understand that the article was written in 2006, when Saddam Hussein
was still alive. Please read it and consider
it for yourself. I will include the link
at the end of the excerpts, so that you may read the entire article at your
leisure.
This verse may also apply to the last judgment upon this poor land, when God brings the Medes against the land of Babylon. The modern day descendants of the Medes may be the Kurds, who are right now caught in the middle of this conflict, but who are very eager to destroy Iraq in revenge for the terrible atrocities inflicted upon them by Saddam Hussein.
Easton's Illustrated Dictionary lists the Medes as part of the Assyrian Empire, which covers the area of today's Iraq, Syria, Lebanon.
This area borders on the mountainous border of Iran (Persia). NOTE: Take a look at the map we print, below, which shows the population dispersion in this very area.
Remember, the army that destroyed Babylon in Daniel 5 was a combined army from Medo-Persia (Kurds-Iran).
If the Kurds are going to be turned at the very end of the age against the now hapless Iraqi citizens after their destruction by American-led forces, then the description of this destruction in the following verses makes a lot of sense.
Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, who have no regard for silver and do not delight in gold [and thus cannot be bribed]. Their bows will cut down the young men [of Babylon]; and they will have no pity on the fruit of the womb, their eyes will not spare children.
And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldeans' pride, shall be like Sodom and Gomorrah when God overthrew them. [Babylon] shall never be inhabited or dwelt in from generation to generation; neither shall the Arab pitch his tent there, nor shall the shepherds make their sheepfolds there.
But wild beasts of the desert will lie down there, and the people's houses will be full of dolefully howling creatures; and ostriches will dwell there, and wild goats [like demons] will dance there. And wolves and howling creatures will cry and answer in the deserted castles, and jackals in the pleasant palaces. And [Babylon's] time has nearly come, and her days will not be prolonged. [Isaiah 13:17-22]
As the world enters into the Tribulation period, the emphasis will be on Israel and Antichrist. Little attention will be paid to the annihilation of the few survivors of Iraq, as the Kurds may finish God's judgment. However, for this type of judgment to occur in Iraq today, at the hands of the Kurds (Medes), that people will have to split from the current nation of Iraq and form their own country, with their own military.”
Excerpt – “In light of this Bible prophecy in Isaiah 13, noted
above, that at the End of the Age, the Medes (Kurds) would wreak God's final
judgment upon the people of Babylon (Iraq), I find it very interesting that a
Kurdish state has arisen in Iraq -- not in Iran or Turkey -- but in Iraq
(Ancient Babylon). Now that they are an independent state, they can begin to
gain power and be in a position where they could strike southward, exacting the
kind of disastrous annihilating judgment which God pronounces in Isaiah
13:17-22.
If the Sunnis and
Shi'ites in Iraq exhaust each other in sectarian warfare, the Kurds might find
themselves in position to take revenge against Saddam's attempted genocide
against them, and the many other attempted genocides carried out against the
Kurds by Sunnis and Shi'ites in centuries past.
Once again, we see
another instance in which a prophecy about 2,500 years old is uniquely coming
true today, in a fashion one can only call "divinely miraculous". The
End of the Age is truly drawing near.” Cutting Edge Ministries – 2006 article here
Let’s return to
the current events of the day. Here's a
summary of the main developments in Iraq:
Islamist
insurgents from the Isis group have launched an attack on Iraq's main oil
refinery at Baiji. There are
unconfirmed reports that the group control 75% of the facility. Video from the
area showed black smoke billowing from the refinery and convoys of heavily
armed militants celebrating nearby.
There is
mounting concern for foreign workers caught up in the crisis, amid reports of
more kidnappings. India has
dispatched an envoy to help evacuate its nationals after reports that 40
construction workers are being held in Mosul. Turkey says it is looking into a
separate report that 60 construction workers, including 15 Turks, have been
abducted. A thousand Chinese workers are also reported to be stranded in
northern Iraq.
Iran's
president Hassan Rouhani has vowed that Tehran will not hesitate to protect
Shia shrines in Iraq after threats of attacks on the holy sites by Isis. He said Iranians had signed
up to "put the terrorists in their place."
Saudi
Arabia has warned of all-out civil war in Iraq. The comments came after Iraqi accused Saudi Arabia
of promoting "genocide" by backing Sunni militants.
Several senior Iraqi
generals have been sacked in the wake of sweeping gains by jihadist militants
from the the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. More than a week after insurgents launched their
lightning assault, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki dismissed several senior
officers, including the commander for the northern province of Nineveh, the
first to fall.
Maliki has broadcast
a joint appeal for national unity a move that may help him win US. help against
rampant Islamists threatening Baghdad. Just hours after Maliki's Shia allies had angrily
vowed to boycott any cooperation with the biggest Sunni party and his
government had accused Sunni neighbour Saudi Arabia of backing
"genocide", the premier's visibly uncomfortable televised appearance
may reflect US impatience with its Baghdad protege.
The White House has
hinted at hesitancy on US military intervention in Iraq, as senior Democrats
expressed growing caution about the risks of being sucked back in to conflict
in the country. Amid
signs that Barack Obama is treading warily over calls for air strikes against
the advance of a Sunni Muslim insurgency, administration spokesman Jay Carney
said the president would "continue to consult with his national security
team in the days to come," and said that there will also be further
consultations with members of Congress, including some closed briefings later
this week
More than 1,000 Chinese workers have been stranded in northern Iraq amid heavy fighting between Iraqi security forces and Islamic militants,Jonathan Kaiman reports from Beijing.
 |
| Iraq Special Forces evacuate refinery |
Oil
production in the south has so far remained unaffected as militant Islamists
roam the northern and central region. Nonetheless, giant oil
companies Exxon Mobil (NYSE: XOM), BP (NYSE: BP) and PetroChina have begun
evacuating staff from southern Iraq. International
Business Times-IBT
The BBC's
Paul Wood has a vivid
report from Jalula, north-east of Baghdad as it came
under fire by Isis fighters spreading panic among Kurdish peshmerga troops.
ISIL reportedly takes 60 construction workers hostage,
including 15 Turkish nationals –the number of total Turkish captives reach
nearly 100.
There is growing concern in India
about 40 missing constructions workers in Mosul, and a group of 46 nurses
working at a hospital in Tikrit, writes Maseeh Rahman in Dehli.
Sunni militants have taken control
of most of Iraq's largest oil refinery, located in Baiji in northern Iraq, an
official at the refinery told Reuters.
This video
shows supporters of ISIS, who are parading by in Iraqi army vehicles, heading
towards the oil refinery in Bajii, just north of Baghdad.
Notice in the video the number of supporters
in the cheering crowd that are wearing numbered soccer shirts, similar to those
who were seen executed in a propaganda video released by the terrorist group,
ISIS.
UPDATE:
India's foreign
ministry has confirmed that 40 Indian
citizens working for a Turkish construction company near the Iraqi town of
Mosul have been kidnapped.
Ministry spokesman Syed Akbaruddin confirmed the kidnapping and said the
Indian government has been unable to contact the workers.
Iraq's chief military spokesman, Lt. Gen. Qassim al-Moussawi, claims
government forces have repelled the attack on the Beiji oil refinery, AP
reports.
Al-Moussawi said 40 attackers were killed in fighting there overnight and on Wednesday morning.
There was no independent confirmation of his claims, AP notes.
Another military spokesman, Gen. Qassim Atta, flatly denied that the
Baiji refinery had fallen to the militants, the New York Times reports.
In a televised
statement he said: “Baiji is now under control of our security forces,
completely."
The oil company ExxonMobil has carried out a "major evacuation'' of staff from Iraq, while BP had evacuated 20% of its staff, Reuters reports citing the head of Iraq's state-run South Oil company, Dhiya Jaffar.
The Iraqi ambassador to the United States is warning of "ethnic cleansing" unless the Obama administration helps stop them.
Speaking to the Guardian ambassador Lukman Faily acknowledged that the
air strikes and other US
military support he seeks – which President Obama has yet to decide to authorise
– grow more complicated as the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Isis) digs
deeper into Iraqi cities.
Shia militias are decamping from Syria to fight in Iraq, according to the Wall Street Journal.
For the latest developments constantly being added live, see TheGuardian.com
For the latest developments constantly being added live, see TheGuardian.com
UPDATE:
(Thursday, June 19, 2014) – New
York Post
Hamas Training Youth for Terrorism
Excerpts - "The Hamas government in Gaza celebrated the graduation on Tuesday of some 13,000 high school students who spent the last six days learning how to be terrorists.
About 13,000 teens enrolled over the past week at nearly a dozen sites across the Gaza Strip for the six-day program, called Futuwwa, with trainers from Hamas‘ military wing, the Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades."
Hamas Training Youth for Terrorism
Excerpts - "The Hamas government in Gaza celebrated the graduation on Tuesday of some 13,000 high school students who spent the last six days learning how to be terrorists.
The Hamas-run training camps, for teens in grades 10-12, provide weapons training, first aid, self-defense and “security awareness” classes on identifying Israeli spies, The Times of Israel reported.
About 13,000 teens enrolled over the past week at nearly a dozen sites across the Gaza Strip for the six-day program, called Futuwwa, with trainers from Hamas‘ military wing, the Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades."
"Interior Minister Fathi Hammad said the training was in preparation for an impending war with Israel.
“This generation is a sapling from God on earth. It will harvest the enemies of God and be the pride of all nations,” he said, The Times reported."
Source: Washingtontimes
So, Hammad says that they are only training teens from grades 10-12? A picture tells a thousand words. Consider these...
 |
| Children grow up fast these days! |
 |
| These teens have just captured an Israeli soldier |
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| Anyone remember Hitler? |
Does the Training of Youth Sound Familiar to You?
It should! A couple of years ago, I wrote an article about Obama and his 'Youth Brigade'. It is actually called the "Civilian Youth Army". Here is an excerpt from the article I wrote in March, 2012.
"We have all come to see that war is at the doorstep. Back in 2008, it was not so evident. We can trust the Lord to alert us, when and if we look to Him for answers. Only Yhwh/God knows the end from the beginning.
Few people are aware of the Civilian Youth Army that is being trained. Here are two short videos (3 min or less) to reveal to you what is happening. The second video may be offensive to some viewers, as it parallels the American children being trained with the German children that were trained for Hitler.
Viewer discretion advisory has been posted on YouTube. You will have to agree by clicking Continue on second video.
Rebel’s
Seize Iraq’s Top Oil Refinery
Excerpt –
“Iraq begged for US airstrikes against the Islamist rebels
threatening to topple the government on Wednesday as rampaging jihadis at
least briefly captured the crisis-torn nation’s largest oil refinery.
“We
have a request from the Iraqi government for air power,” Gen. Martin Dempsey,
chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, told a Senate hearing.
He
stopped short of saying the United States would launch manned air or drone
strikes against the militant Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, but added, “It is
in our national-security interest to counter [ISIS] wherever we find them.”
Excerpt –
The request for military muscle came as the extremists fought
their way into the refinery in the northern city of Baiji, reportedly capturing
75 percent of the facility, which produces about half of Iraq’s domestic oil
and gasoline.
“The militants have managed to break into the refinery. Now they
are in control of the production units, administration building and four
watchtowers,” an official, speaking from inside the complex, told Reuters. “This
is 75 percent of the refinery.”
RETREAT
– But a military spokesman
claimed later that the refinery was back under government control, and that the
ISIS fighters were in retreat.
Prime
Minister Nouri al-Maliki struck an optimistic tone, vowing to teach the
attackers a “lesson’’ — even though many of his American-trained soldiers had
abandoned their posts amid the jihadis’ savage assault.”
“The Wall Street Journal reported that the
Obama administration would like to see a new government in Iraq without
al-Maliki. Such a government would include Sunnis
and Kurds in an attempt to unify the country.” NYPost
China, India, Turkey, United States are some of the countries
that had citizens working at the Bajii oil refinery, north of Baghdad.
Did you notice what the Obama administration was quoted as
saying, regarding a ‘new government’ in Iraq, which would include “Kurds” and
Sunnis?
Do you remember the Cutting Edge
article written eight (8) years ago? Cutting Edge Ministries – 2006 article here Interesting how it is all unfolding according
to scripture, isn’t it? What an
astounding, mind-boggling time we are in.
Anonymous
– Cyber Attacks Loom Over KSA, UAE, Qatar Oil Firms on Friday, June 20, 2014
Excerpts: “A Middle East-based group of
hackers has issued a threat warning of cyber attacks against oil, gas and
energy companies in the Middle East, security firm Symantec has revealed.
The threat, made by Anonymous, a politically- motivated group of
hacktivists, states that they are planning to attack before, during, and after
June 20, 2014.
This is due to Anonymous disagreeing with the US dollar being used as
the currency to buy and sell oil, Symantec said. According to the security
firm, governments that may be attacked include those in Saudi Arabia Kuwait and
Qatar.
Some of the possible company targets include Kuwait Oil Company,
Petroleum Development Oman, Qatar Petroleum, Saudi Aramco, ADNOC, ENOC and
Bahrain Petroleum Company.”
“Anonymous stated that the
countries they are going to attack are the US,
Canada, England, Israel, China, Italy, France, Russia and Germany. They are also targeting
countries like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar. All the top oil and gas
companies in the Middle East are listed by the hacktivists.”
Closing Thoughts
I will end this with what God Himself revealed (in part) about these end times, through John the Revelator. The Creator of all is calling out yet still
to those who see what is going on in this world, despise it, yet do not know
what to do or who to turn to.
“What can I
possibly do about it anyway?” you reason in protest. Others may think, “…if God is so loving, why doesn’t He put a
stop to all this murder and hatred? What kind of God lets this stuff go on for
thousands of years? It’s messed up! I
don’t want any part of a ‘god’ like that.”
Yes, it is difficult to understand something when
you only have fragments of information. You have to read the Bible, know history to understand. The other parts, the Lord Himself will help you understand, albeit, His way and not man's way. His ways are far above ours, as is His thoughts far above.
Others might think, “I know I need God, but man, I’ve messed up so much, there’s no fixing it...and besides, I still got issues, man – stuff I can’t let go of. God doesn’t need me. Besides, you don’t know what I’ve done…”
Others might think, “I know I need God, but man, I’ve messed up so much, there’s no fixing it...and besides, I still got issues, man – stuff I can’t let go of. God doesn’t need me. Besides, you don’t know what I’ve done…”
Still others: "You don't know what I've been through...if you did you wouldn't be saying 'God has a plan for your life'...yeah right...and you expect me to forgive? Why did God just stand by and watch it happen?"
Yet others think, “What do I need any God for? I’ve lived a clean life – never got in
trouble, don’t do drugs, drink or smoke.
I am intelligent, well-educated, successful, dependable, stable, trustworthy, loyal...and I'm healthy. I love my family, have a good job, law-abiding, pay my taxes, help the
poor, elderly and widowed. I don't steal, cheat, fornicate, commit adultery, gamble, lie... What do I
need to be saved from?”
If you are reading this, it’s no
coincidence. It does not matter if you
are angry at God, do not understand His ways or even if you hate God. It does not matter if you have messed up
‘royally’ in this life, or whether you have been involved in the occult,
witchcraft, murder (including abortion), lying, cheating, fornication,
adultery, abuse (either others or yourself) – name
your sin. It does not matter. Jesus Christ of Nazareth died for all of it.
If you have had tragic things happen to you or those you love, it is easy to place blame at the feet of God who you cannot see. It would seem of no comfort to you to hear that God loves you because in your mind and heart, unforgiveness, pain, hurt, confusion and anger has hardened your heart and blinded you to certain realities regarding spiritual entities that work (and have worked) in the physical realm for millenia.
It will seem foolishness to you to hear that we are in a bloody war, one that is happening around us in ways that eyes cannot see and most don't comprehend. This is magnified by a fallen world and the sin that lies hidden in our nature since the Garden of Eden. Choices - people make choices and very often the wrong ones. Consequences - many can and do often suffer the consequences of just one person's actions.
Yet, this you should know, for it is true.
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. [Eph 6:12]
It goes on to say that we must put on the armor of God, but to those who do not know God or Jesus, His only begotten Son, they are unarmed and unprotected - prey for the dark side and the 'god of forces'.
He wants to heal your broken heart, draw you close to His bosom with silent understanding to comfort you. When the time is right, He will urge you to forgive, so that you may be forgiven. Otherwise, if we do not forgive, we too shall not be forgiven, for ALL have fallen short of the glory of God...that is: A L L
You see, every one of us experience tragedy in this life, some more than others, that's true. However, pain is pain, sorrow is sorrow, grief is grief. It matters not if tragedy has happened once or a hundred times, these things will be felt and remembered by all who experience it (so, all of us).
But we have a Savior, who has been there Himself. He doesn't just sympathize or empathized with us; He LIVED it - first-hand.
He was not good-looking, so that people would be drawn by His looks - rather, those who loved Him were drawn to Him because of His Spirit (still at truth to this day).
Below is holy scripture. The emphasis on words, emboldening or underscore, are mine, as are the definitions of the words I want to bring attention to.
For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he has no form (honor, position) nor comeliness (pleasing in appearance; fair, comely, attractive) and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him (ashamed of Him); he was despised, and we esteemed him not (no admiration or regard of respect).
Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken (wounded), smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes (whipped, flogged) we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth.
He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off (crucified, slaughtered) out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. [Is 53:2-8]
Yes, He's been through it. He chose to offer up His life to pay the price for what we have done wrong, for He was sinless...the perfect Lamb. That is something that most of us have a hard time comprehending; that is, someone who walked on this earth and never sinned. Yet, it is true.
Now, for those who have lived what you believe is a sinless life, then you are deceived and only fooling yourself. Every single person on this earth has done wrong in one form or other. If you believe you are sinless, are you holier than God, our Creator? Are you holier than Jesus the Christ?
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; [Rom 3:23]
Tread carefully therefore because it is also written (and it's always in HIS way and in HIS timing).
But he gives more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resists the proud, but gives grace unto the humble. [Jam 4:6]
It will seem foolishness to you to hear that we are in a bloody war, one that is happening around us in ways that eyes cannot see and most don't comprehend. This is magnified by a fallen world and the sin that lies hidden in our nature since the Garden of Eden. Choices - people make choices and very often the wrong ones. Consequences - many can and do often suffer the consequences of just one person's actions.
Yet, this you should know, for it is true.
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. [Eph 6:12]
It goes on to say that we must put on the armor of God, but to those who do not know God or Jesus, His only begotten Son, they are unarmed and unprotected - prey for the dark side and the 'god of forces'.
He wants to heal your broken heart, draw you close to His bosom with silent understanding to comfort you. When the time is right, He will urge you to forgive, so that you may be forgiven. Otherwise, if we do not forgive, we too shall not be forgiven, for ALL have fallen short of the glory of God...that is: A L L
You see, every one of us experience tragedy in this life, some more than others, that's true. However, pain is pain, sorrow is sorrow, grief is grief. It matters not if tragedy has happened once or a hundred times, these things will be felt and remembered by all who experience it (so, all of us).
But we have a Savior, who has been there Himself. He doesn't just sympathize or empathized with us; He LIVED it - first-hand.
He was not good-looking, so that people would be drawn by His looks - rather, those who loved Him were drawn to Him because of His Spirit (still at truth to this day).
Below is holy scripture. The emphasis on words, emboldening or underscore, are mine, as are the definitions of the words I want to bring attention to.
For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he has no form (honor, position) nor comeliness (pleasing in appearance; fair, comely, attractive) and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him (ashamed of Him); he was despised, and we esteemed him not (no admiration or regard of respect).
Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken (wounded), smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes (whipped, flogged) we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth.
He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off (crucified, slaughtered) out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. [Is 53:2-8]
Now, for those who have lived what you believe is a sinless life, then you are deceived and only fooling yourself. Every single person on this earth has done wrong in one form or other. If you believe you are sinless, are you holier than God, our Creator? Are you holier than Jesus the Christ?
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; [Rom 3:23]
Tread carefully therefore because it is also written (and it's always in HIS way and in HIS timing).
But he gives more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resists the proud, but gives grace unto the humble. [Jam 4:6]
Oh, you don’t believe in a Creator? You believe in evolution? The complexity of just the body of a person,
with all its intricacies, functions, marvels and perfect order, not to mention the capabilities of the
mind that surpass the senses, would most certainly be very convincing evidence for an intellectual and
deep thinker like you, would it not?
For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith
of God without effect? God forbid: yea,
let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That you might be
justified in your sayings, and might overcome when you are judged. [Rom3:2-4]
As it is written, There is none
righteous, no, not one: There is none that understands, there is none that
seeks after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become
unprofitable; there is none that does good, no, not one.
Their throat is an
open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
Their feet are swift
to shed blood: Destruction and misery are
in their ways:
And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God
before their eyes.
Now we know that what things soever the law says, it says to them who
are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may
become guilty before God [Rom 3:11-19]
Even the righteousness of God which
is by faith of Jesus
Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no
difference:
For all have sinned, and come short of the
glory of God; (worth repeating* - bonita)
Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in
Christ Jesus:
Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past,
through the forbearance of God; [Rom3:22-25]
Every single person on
this earth has ‘messed up’ at one time and we ALL fall short of His glory
(holiness, purity, righteousness). He is
calling out to those who will listen; to those who can lay down pride; to those who are willing to hear the truth, at any cost).
Come back to the Creator (heavenly Father) through His Son Jesus Christ. Separate yourself from the unclean, the vile, the unholy and be washed clean and wrung by fuller's soap (cleansing power) of His blood, purged in hyssop, refined in fires and given a white robe of righteousness (His righteousness) and become the ‘son’ or daughter you were born to be.
Every thing that may abide the fire, ye shall make it go through the fire, and it shall be clean: nevertheless it shall be purified with the water of separation: and all that abides not the fire ye shall make go through the water.
[Num 13:23]
Yes, there's a cost to the walk - don't let anyone tell you any different. True that Jesus/Y'shua paid the price with His very life, undoubtedly and irrevocably true. But if we are going to choose to follow Him as King and Lord, it's not going to be easy, but it is so worth it. This world will hate us, but this world as we know it, is only temporary. This war of all-time wars is about to climax, as the strongest onslaught against mankind and God Himself comes down, but the victory belongs to the Lord of the battles. It was all foretold. Hallelujah.
Come back to the Creator (heavenly Father) through His Son Jesus Christ. Separate yourself from the unclean, the vile, the unholy and be washed clean and wrung by fuller's soap (cleansing power) of His blood, purged in hyssop, refined in fires and given a white robe of righteousness (His righteousness) and become the ‘son’ or daughter you were born to be.
Every thing that may abide the fire, ye shall make it go through the fire, and it shall be clean: nevertheless it shall be purified with the water of separation: and all that abides not the fire ye shall make go through the water.
[Num 13:23]
Yes, there's a cost to the walk - don't let anyone tell you any different. True that Jesus/Y'shua paid the price with His very life, undoubtedly and irrevocably true. But if we are going to choose to follow Him as King and Lord, it's not going to be easy, but it is so worth it. This world will hate us, but this world as we know it, is only temporary. This war of all-time wars is about to climax, as the strongest onslaught against mankind and God Himself comes down, but the victory belongs to the Lord of the battles. It was all foretold. Hallelujah.
There is a very real
adversary (enemy) and very real enemies of the cross (both physically and spiritually), who would like nothing better than
to drag all of mankind with them into hell and then finally, into the lake of
fire, known as the second death, where there will be weeping and gnashing of
teeth. Think about it.
If it’s real (and it is),
then you must consider and ask yourself if this temporal life and all that it
offers, is worth an eternity of such beauty and greatness that none can begin
to imagine. No material thing will be of any comfort to you once this physical body dies. It will all mean nothing. But to those of us who know Jesus Christ have much to look forward to. No more tears, no more
sorrow, no more sickness…
And if that is not real (oh,
but it is), then what have you got to lose?
I assure you that you have nothing to lose, but everything to gain! Any sincere request to God that He prove
Himself real to you will be answered.
Guaranteed! It will be answered
in a way that you will know that ‘only God’ could have…
It’s a dare – a
challenge! You shall not be
disappointed, unless of course, you’re playing.
God does see the heart. He can
handle any dare, any challenge, any thing…nothing is impossible to Him, and
nothing is impossible to those of us who believe in Him. I warn you though; there is only ONE way back
to God, our Creator and that is through His only begotten Son, who offered up
His life and poured out His blood, paying the penalty for the sins of all. There are no shortcuts!
Jesus said unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man
cometh unto the Father, but by me. [Jn 14:6]
I will end with an excerpt from the Word of God
that speaks of the end times. After
reading it, think of all the news reports and what is seen happening around
us. Then, consider the time and hour we
are in now.
And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it
were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see.
And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow;
and a crown was given unto him: and he
went forth conquering, and to conquer.
And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say,
Come and see.
And there went out another horse that was red: and power
was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that
they should kill one another: and
there was given unto him a great sword.
And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say,
Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a
pair of balances in his hand.
And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of
wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see you hurt not the oil and the
wine.
And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the
fourth beast say, Come and see.
And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him
was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth
part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and
with death, and with the beasts of the earth. [Rev 6:1-8]
And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls
of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which
they held:
And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, do You not judge and avenge our
blood on them that dwell on the earth?
And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said
unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their
fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a
great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair,
and the moon became as blood;
And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree
casts her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. [Rev 6:1-13]
It is a wake-up call for all! It is time for all of us to consider all things
carefully. It is a time of serious
choices. Choose wisely, but in order to
do so, one must seek the counsel of the wisest; that being Christ Jesus, Lord
and Savior.
For His
glory
Bonita
dovesofthevalleys4@gmail.com
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