A Good Crisis Wasted

The spring robins are out and warbling. Around the world, policymakers and politicians are congratulating themselves on a crisis well averted.

Last month, US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner was already prattling: “[…] major policy intervention (including Emergency Economy Stabilization Act — EESA) was, in the end, successful in achieving the vital but narrow objective of preventing a systemic financial meltdown.”1 “We continue to expect economic activity to bottom out, then to turn up later this year;” opined Ben Bernanke of the Federal Reserve.2 He is also forecasting that the worst is behind. Internationally, the same sentiment prevailed. "We are, as far as growth is concerned, around the inflection point in the cycle." said Jean-Claude Trichet, President of the European Central Bank. 3

For good measure, President Obama, too, is constructive recently saying, "When you look at the economy right now, I think it's safe to say we have stepped back from the brink, that there is some calm that didn't exist before." (Reuters, May 26, 2009) This is the same Obama that has also been telling China that their investments in the US treasury bonds are safe. Another fact to remember is that none of the above-quoted soothers, saw the crisis coming in the first place..

All of this newfound euphoria should have been well anticipated, though the short-timing of such swings are hazardous at best. Stock markets around the world have soared massively from their early March lows … some emerging markets and oil prices nearly doubling from their lows. The question that begs now: Is it a false dawn or the start of a long-term recovery?

There are a few problems with the rosy perspective now being adopted. For one, it doesn’t fully align with economic and financial realities over the longer-term, nor the cosmological timeline.

Crisis Wasted

If the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) is really already receding into history, the humanists and global reconstructionists will have wasted a good crisis … in fact, one of the biggest in almost a century. According to the Rahm Doctrine (named after Emanuel Rahm, the profane Chief of Staff of the Obama Administration who was quoted as saying “Never let a good crisis to waste”) it is times of crisis that can be counted on to break inertia and force irreversible change. In this view, if the GFC is indeed over, then it has been an unsuccessful one.

There has been a lot of talk about reforming regulations, new global initiatives and so on. However, to date none of it has yet been enacted as new policy. Without a continuing crisis, these proposed changes will likely be abandoned just as occurred following the Asian Crisis of 1997-1999. Early financial recoveries quickly dissipated the sincerity of previous commitments.

There is little chance that the ramifications of the GFC are over. As mentioned, the real question centers now on the prospects for false dawns … how many, whether long or short … etc. Through all of these highs and lows — no matter yet how grim or euphoric — we still maintain that the financial system will not be allowed to collapse. Taking a prophetic perspective, we can know that the future 10-king alliance and Antichrist will not be able to effectively rule nor establish their prophesied financial interventions without the benefit of such a system.

Actually, the very essence of this argument is on clear display right now. This is the very card that financial executives are playing to extract billions and trillions from the pockets of ordinary citizens. Effectively, they are saying this: “You can’t recover without us. If you don’t rescue the financial industry first, there is no future.” This has been the winning slogan of all the lobbyists crawling around Washington D.C. during the past 18 months.

The Extent of False Dawns

All major crises have false dawns … at least one or more. Whatever the nature of the “false dawns” that are yet to be expected, we can say without reservation that the GFC and its implications for the Western world, specifically America, are far from over. To quote, Ronald Reagan, “You ain’t seen nothing yet.”

That is the easiest of conclusions to draw. The most difficult answer concerns queries about the nature and specific manifestation of the next stages of the GFC’s fall-out. There is more than one scenario to consider. I wish I could provide an answer that had 100% certainty. However, given the complexity of the many global crosscurrents, the wild-card policy actions, massive wealth skews, fear and greed … etc., it simply is not possible.

Of two things you can be sure: There is a massive amount of capital that is likewise waiting for a sure answer. Whichever way it sloshes, there are bound to big waves and troughs. Lately, there has emerged a wave of money from the bunkers, which is now running scared that it may be missing out on potential gains. The time for that strategy is already probably near over … and too late for now. But then again, desperate times can lead to desperate actions.

The other certainty is that the vast majority of people (ordinary households, in other words) will continue to be caught unawares and bewildered. The average citizen is being herded from one disaster to another. It reminds of the Bible prophecy to Israel describing the experience of the future “day of the Lord.” “It will be as though a man fled from a lion only to meet a bear, as though he entered his house and rested his hand on the wall only to have a snake bite him.” (Amos 5:19)

An aspect of this is playing out right now. No sooner do people think that they are safely invested in government bonds, than these bite them in the hand. (Bond markets literally melted down in recent weeks.) No sooner have they fled from the bear of falling stock markets, a lion is chasing manic people back in.

Can we at least try to get a better fix on the future? Consider this perspective excerpted from our upcoming book, Global Financial Apocalypse Prophesied: Preserving True Riches in an Age of Deception and Trouble.

“What will happen next? Will there be another bubble? Can there be a sustainable economic recovery? The correct answers here are related to two other questions that we must first ask. They will confirm the likely prognosis.

Firstly, will policymakers choose to continue to try to outrun consequences of past mistakes or will they face up to them? The answer is eminently clear by now. Governments and central banks around the world have chosen to try escape the results of past folly. In so doing, they are now setting up the conditions for a much greater economic collapse in the future. However, this need not necessarily happen right away. First, a major recovery period may occur — at least in some parts of the world — before this eventuality again looms.

To date, many countries are aggressively raising national debt levels by boosting government spending and bailing out various industries, above all companies in the financial sector. For example, Britain, itself home to the second largest financial center in the world, has now breeched government debt levels greater than 100% of GDP (annual gross domestic product of the economy) and is risking a downgrading of its credit rating. Incredibly, this former world empire has finally come to this shameful point. It is now recklessly pursuing inflationary monetary policies.

The U.S. government at the time of this writing had already committed to over $12 trillion in expenditures, bail-outs and contingent guarantees in its effort to forestall further financial collapse. This is an almost unfathomably large amount, equating to almost $40,000 for every man, woman and child in America. According to estimates, this is 10 times the intervention of any other post-war recession period. Such policy responses can surely not lead to sustainable prosperity. It leads to even higher debt … ever higher burdens for future generations.

Without a doubt, policymakers — both in America and around the world — are choosing to outrun their problems with monetary manipulation. That must lead us to conclude that any economic and financial recoveries must be considered temporary and will certainly not be sustainable. The options chosen are monetary manipulation, deception and cronyism. It will lead to even greater impoverishment for America and certain other nations relative to the rest of the world.”

This overview clearly alerts readers to future realities. Let’s next discuss a current issue that continues to act as “ball & chain” to North American households and starkly illustrates the trap into which much of the middle class… indeed the entire nation … has fallen.

Deep Destruction and Desperation

The biggest “cement shoes” for the financial system and a factor that still suppresses economic growth these years later, is sinking real estate values. This remains the primary real asset that collaterizes the asset side of the balance sheet for the entire financial system. Residential and commercial real estate values continue to fall. That means that the balance sheets of financial institutions will continue to be under pressure. If house prices do not soon stop falling, you can be sure that there will be another round of government bail-outs.

The S&P/Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price Index – which covers all nine U.S. census divisions – recorded a 19.1% decline in the 1st quarter of 2009 versus the 1st quarter of 2008, the largest decline in the series 21-year history. (See graph below.) To date, from its recorded peak level of July 2006, the median house price has declined 32%. Futures markets as well as some forecasters anticipate further housing price declines (for a total of 40% to 50% and more from the previous high).

It goes without saying that this is a disastrous slump, having represented “ground zero" of the GFC from the beginning. It is already over 5 years ago that we wrote our first warning of an impending real estate bust and its potential impact upon America (and Israel) (A Warning That Hits Home – May 2004). Whether or not real estate values fall further, the true reality of this disaster to date is not yet fully acknowledged. A quick review of the facts reveals a possibly mortal blow to America … to its very core foundation, the family and home.
A record 12% of homeowners with a mortgage are behind on their payments or in foreclosure as the housing crisis now spreads to prime mortgage borrowers. According to the Mortgage Bankers Association (who, by the way, have no incentive to exaggerate this statistic) do not expect this wave to crest until the end of next year, nearer 15% of all mortgages. (2/3 of all homeowners have a mortgage.)

These statistics, stunning as they are, still do not provide a sense of true scope of the crushing reality of falling real estate prices. Consider these facts: Residential mortgages total $10.6 trillion in the U.S. The total value of all homes peaked at $21.7 trillion in 2006, and has now fallen to an estimated level of $15 trillion. To illustrate, should house prices fall further as some expect, overall housing value will sink further … say to $12-$13 trillion. That would mean that the average home equity portion would fall to 12% - 18% (the other 88% to 82% being debt). This the implications of such a situation would likely be so disastrous, no wonder many commentators use apocalyptic language describing it.

But, even this is not yet the worst of it. Remember that one-third of all households do not have a mortgage. That implies in this scenario that the average home with a mortgage would be worth only 75% of the mortgage outstanding! As long as housing prices continue to deflate, the financial system is not yet in the clear by a country mile. Of course, policymakers are aware of this scenario and are desperately wanting to engineer an upside trend.

However, we still have yet to broach the worst situation of all. A study by the Center for Economic Policy Research surveyed the wealth effect of the GFC for older American households.4 It included the effects of the declines in real estate values as well as financial markets to the end of 2008. The results are chilling as they reveal the potential for severe desperation.

Many people between the ages of 45 and 64 have not yet paid off their houses. In fact, though perhaps owning their residences for more than two decades, a large number of households do not have positive net equity in their homes. Imagine: “Nearly 30% of the households headed by someone between the ages of 45 and 54 will need to bring money to their closing (to cover their mortgage and transactions costs) if they were to sell their home. Technically, they have negative equity in their home. For people between the ages of 55 and 64 the percentage is 15%.” The authors of this report state that the median household between the ages of 55 and 64 experienced a drop in wealth of 50% since 2004.

Consider that these estimates do not include the effects of price declines in real estate and financial assets since the end of 2008. Quoting further from the study, “The baby boom generation for the most part has insufficient time remaining before retirement to accumulate substantial savings. Therefore, they will be largely dependent on social insurance programs to support them in retirement.”

The most worrisome aspect of the massive declines in household net worth is that it has impacted the middle class disproportionately and comes at a time that many baby boomers are approaching retirement years. As such, the disaster that has befallen American households couldn’t have come at a worse moment domestically. Also geopolitically.

A Demographic Bomb On Top

Viewing the high debt levels in America and other nations, some people may well ask: “Debt levels have been high before in America’s history, and yet in these instances the nation has recovered to even higher levels of prosperity. Can’t this happen again?”

No, this is not likely this time. High debt levels indeed occurred in the early 1930s and then again in the late 1940s. However, the prognosis in these cases was entirely different, as the causality was not the same. The 1940’s debt obligations were the result of a world war. As such, it was government debt that soared (to over 100% of GDP), in turn driving real spending in the production economy. This was then followed by a post-war population boom, helping to boost economic growth.

In a very short period of time, government debt levels fell to low levels as new households saved, raised families, paid their houses off and invested. Household debt throughout this entire period remained relatively low.

In the early 1930s, high debt-to-GDP levels also occurred. However, at the start, the main cause of this rise was not government debt, but rather in the private sector (businesses and households). Then as the economy collapsed in the 1930s, government debt soared. Here the denominator (the economy) shrunk as debt continued to rise after the onset of economic crisis. To think that today’s debt levels in the U.S. are far higher than at any other time, already even before an economic depression, is a sobering realization. And now, we have slowing population growth and a “baby boom” cohort that will soon retire.

There can be no doubt: The legacy of the current GFC will be radically higher government debt levels. As mentioned, non-financial debt-to-GDP was already at an all-time high before the crisis period began. Indeed, this itself was an important enabler and catalyst to the crisis in the first place. But as the choice has been to outrun problems, the U.S. government is now plunging into even more debt. It would not be an outrageous forecast that U.S. government debt will triple relative to GDP over the next 7 years to 10 years.

Quoting Frederich Hayek, a well-known Austrian School economist, “[…] to combat the depression by a forced credit expansion is to attempt to cure the evil by the very means which brought it about; because we are suffering from a misdirection of production, we want to create further misdirection — a procedure which can only lead to a much more severe crisis as soon as the credit expansion comes to an end.” 5

In a desperate attempt to restart the previous asset price manias, to again inflate up stock markets and real estate so to forestall the devastation of the net worth suffered by the average middle-class family, the solution is more debt. It is a response similar to that of a drug addict. Progressively, an addict requires ever increasing doses to maintain a similar level of euphoria, until finally the veins do collapse.

While globalists might think the current crisis wasted, this need not be true for Christians. We should not abandon the chastenings of the GFC so quickly. Our riches are elsewhere.

Notes:

1. Timothy F. Geithner, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury. Statement to the Senate Banking Committee, May 20, 2009.

2. Chairman Ben S. Bernanke, The economic outlook:Testimony Before the Joint Economic Committee, U.S. Congress, Washington, D.C., May 5, 2009.
3. Jean-Claude Trichet, President of the European Central Bank, Wall Street Journal, May 11, 2009.

4. David Rosnick and Dean Baker, The Wealth of the Baby Boom Cohorts After the Collapse of the Housing Bubble, Center of Economic and Policy Research (CEPR), February 2009.

5. Friedrich Hayek, "Monetary Theory and the Trade Cycle", London,1933.

Joy Unspeakable and Full of Glory

Do you have joy in your life? Do you have a joy unspeakable and full of glory? I look around me and see church members who are depressed about the situation in our world here at home and abroad. We in the church are concerned about our country and the path our leaders have taken us, and know judgment could be just over the horizon. But I’m reminded of the good Boy Scouts and their motto, "Be prepared." Disaster, either natural or man-made, can occur at any moment. A good Boy Scout--or, more importantly, an awake Christian—prepares for the unexpected, the natural disaster, or yes, even a terrorist attack. But should we be anxious, looking over our shoulders for impending disaster and wringing our hands in worrisome fretting over the end of all things? Should we be obsessed with thoughts of the end of the world? I think not.

I have held onto the promises of Psalm 91 since I was a boy. Whenever danger has been about, I have always read and claimed the promises in this inspiring passage written by King David so long ago. And in this psalm asking the protection of Almighty God, there’s a catch, per se: The verse states that we have to stay right up close to God to be assured of His protection against the everyday challenges that come our way. We can’t try to serve our Lord haphazardly. If we are diligently serving Him and being ever watchful, then we’re promised we have nothing to fear. God is in charge and is watching over each person who is diligently trying to serve Him in faith and who is watching for the blessed hope--the soon return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

I get excited about the signs of the times that are all around us. As one of the “children of the day” who is “not blinded by being in darkness,” I know that the Rapture could be close--even right at the door. So I fear not, and neither should you. We should be longing for the blessed promises that God made for His children.

I just love the words the Holy Spirit prompted the apostle Paul to record in the eighth chapter of his book to the Romans:

"The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God And if children, then heirs; and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:16-18).

Yes, we have aches, pains, financial problems and loved ones who die sooner than we expect. Sometimes, the cares of this life weigh us down. But we are given a glorious promise as we read on in this passage:

“For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it” (Romans 8:19-25).

Notice how Paul lays the foundation by turning our attention to our hope. He reminds us that God purposefully made life subject to futility. Futility is a frustrating quality that wears away at one’s confidence. It can produce a sense of hopelessness that leads to us to think that nothing will work out. Sometimes our pilgrimage seems so long and arduous that we take our eyes from our Savior. Hopelessness builds. However, Paul reminds us that God does everything in love and wisdom, and for our good. He uses the futility we perceive, and allows it to point us to Him as the source of our strength. This builds our faith in spite of our circumstances.

“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren” (Romans 8:26).

We have been called. We have been chosen to be conformed to the image of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ our Lord, through the will of the Father. Again, “All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according His purpose.” Repeat that when troubles come your way and it will increase your faith.

Now let’s contemplate just for a moment the implication of a verse we quoted. “We are heirs and joint heirs with Jesus Christ” (verse 17). What a glorious promise!!! What He is and what is His will be ours as well. We will be like Him in Spirit and in relationships to family fortunes. Whatever belongs to the Son, we will be given a portion of that inheritance. That is mind-boggling! We will be kings and priests who will rule over portions of this universe and who will do whatever pleases the Father. We will have unlimited access to His throne room and audience with our Him and our Savior Jesus Christ. We will be in the same family, as adopted sons and daughters of the Ruler of the entire universe, We will live forever, even as they live. Now that should get anyone excited!

To end the eighth chapter of Romans, Paul gives us another promise that cannot be broken:

“Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 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 (Romans 8:30-39).

Nothing can come between us and our eternal home. Nothing in this life, and nothing in this mixed-up world that we see self destructing can take away that promise. All He asks for is our love, our unwavering faith in Him, our obedience, and our willingness to put Him first, ahead of everything else. He gave us a way….the only way.

Now turn to John 14:

“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:1-6).

Even as we speak, Jesus, our Savior and soon-coming King, is preparing a place for us. Where? In His Father’s house. When? Right now. His Father’s house is somewhere out there in the place some call heaven. It’s where the Father and Son are right now. What will that mean, and how will it be accomplished? I have believed in the Rapture all my life and still do. The timing is what gets people all in an uproar. But from Scripture, we know that He is close, very close—even right at the door. When it comes right down to it, brethren, the timing doesn’t matter--even though I believe in a Pretrib Rapture. What matters is just that we get there. And how do we get there? Jesus gives the answer in John 6:28-29: “Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.”

We get there by believing in faith and following the commands of the one God sent to die for our sins.

1 Peter chapter 1 states:

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.v6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 3-9).

That is our destiny; that is our goal. That is why we were born. That is why we struggle with daily living, and that is why, as Christians, we will win—to the glory of the Father.

In these times of uncertainty, we should be in glorious expectation, waiting for the blessed hope, that hope that is in Jesus Christ our Lord. We must be prepared, be good stewards of the talents He has given us, use His Word to reach others, and do the will of the Father by striving to become the image of His Son. We must put on the “whole armor of God,” as Ephesians 6:13-17 admonishes us to do:

“Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

Do you know this Jesus? Are you expecting His soon return? Have you made that the most important part of your life? Have you asked Him to come into your heart and cleanse you from all unrighteousness? He said “I am the way, the truth and the life. No man cometh unto the Father, but by Me” (John 14:6). Do you believe Him? Is the Holy Spirit calling you right now? Pray these simple words with heartfelt conviction” “Lord, I ask you to come into my heart. Cleanse me from my sins. I believe that you lived and died on a cruel cross for my sins. I believe you rose from the dead on the third day after you were buried, and that you live and sit now at the right hand of God the Father. Soon you will come back, and I want to go with you onto glory. In Jesus’ name, I confess my wish to be saved. Amen.”

May God bless you and keep you. Remember, Paul said in Philippians 4:13, “ I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.“ Let us go on with joy unspeakable and full of glory.”

Silence of the Lambs

As we’re reading and studying our Bibles and hopefully taking God’s word seriously, we become empowered by the Holy Spirit to pass on our knowledge to others. As we learn our purpose in God’s plan we should become bolder with His message. And this new boldness of ours is contagious as we reach out to the lost. We teach others what we really believe about Jesus and we help them to see the truth, the truth about the transforming power of God. But along with our new God given purpose comes a not so pleasant consequence.

Believers, true believers that is, become a target for the enemy. Satan places a huge bull’s eye on those who are actually upholding God’s inerrant word and preaching the Gospel, and then directs his followers to attack and destroy those targets. This satanic attack will not diminish until Jesus removes His Church from planet earth. If you are one of those who actively follow Jesus’ command to spread the Gospel, you are currently wearing that target everywhere you go.

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:” John 10:27. Many times in the Bible believers are referred to as sheep or lambs. Jesus referred to those who follow Him as His sheep. “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” John 10:11. Even though Jesus refers to Himself as the good shepherd He still sends His flock out among the wolves. “...behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.” Luke 10:3.

Who are the wolves Jesus speaks about? Satan’s followers, all unbelievers. You may think I’m crass in my assessment of unbelievers, but you must understand what Jesus Himself tells us about unbelievers. In the book of Matthew Jesus said, “He that is not with me is against me...” Matthew 12:30. Who is against Jesus? Satan. So if you’re not with Jesus then you’re with Satan. If you have a problem with this Biblical assessment of all unbelievers, your problem is actually with the author and finisher of my faith, not me.

Recently in the news there’s been talk of pro-life adherents and those who are opposed to same sex marriages, as well as prophecy buffs and people who don’t care for the current government administration, as being considered potential rightwing terrorists. Many of the folks in this category are born again believers in Christ. As our government moves even further into a posture of enacting new legislation designed for the eventual elimination of all opposition to the current regime more and more of these kinds of verbal attacks will occur to the ultimate goal of the silencing of the lambs.

This is just one more attempt by Satan to accomplish his agenda. His strategy is to eradicate all opposition to his lies. If Satan can keep believers quiet when it comes to witnessing it cuts down on his loses. By loses I mean when believers witness to someone and the Holy Spirit moves in that person’s life and they become born again, Satan loses one more soul. That fact ultimately results in even more pressure coming to bear on Satan’s followers consequently they will press in even harder on the lambs of Christ.

In all the history of the Church, Satan’s attacks have not stopped. His maligning and horrible attacks on Christ’s church are recorded throughout history. We must remember that even though there have been numerous endeavors to silence the lambs of Christ all those satanic attempts have ended up as dismal failures. That’s because Satan is a dismal failure. He’s not god, he’s not even a god, he’s a fallen angel bent on destroying humankind.

“All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.” John 10:8. We belong to Jesus Christ not Satan, and we don’t listen to Satan or his minions of evil. “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.” John 10:14. Believers in Christ are attentive only to our Lords voice and we follow Him and Him alone. Satan has no authority or power over believers; we became the property of Jesus Christ at our conversion. Satan still wields all authority over nonbelievers and they foolishly continue to follow him. That’s a truth that’s quite evident in our society today.

The freedoms we once enjoyed are eroding quickly. Whether it began on President Bush’s watch or President Clinton’s or even prior administrations isn’t really the question. It was bound to happen because this world is under Satan’s watch. Many people email me saying the Republicans are just as responsible for the current situation as Democrats. No argument here. Many believe Bush was the instigator of all we see that has recently changed the world for the worse. Was Bush responsible for all the immorality currently being promoted from within this country and distributed worldwide? Hardly, that is Satan’s accomplishment. I’m not disagreeing with anyone about when it started only by whom it was started. Here’s a clue, it wasn’t a man. Understand, though, that men propagate this supernatural being’s agenda to their own ends – for their own selfish lusts and desires and to their own demise.

Who’s currently pushing for the total collapse of our present way of life here in America ? We know Satan’s agenda is to silence the body of Christ, to force us into submission, and to cause a change in us that will mold us into zombies such as the unbelievers who currently follow him. Without men who are under his control, Satan could not move even one inch forward. Satan places evil thoughts in men’s minds but men act on those evils because men’s hearts are wicked. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Jeremiah 17:9.

A born again believer, born from God, in Christ, will never go so far as to disparage God’s word, and be so ashamed of his or her salvation that they would have nothing at all to do with the cross of Christ. Just because someone claims to be a Christian doesn’t mean they are born again. Many so called Christians don’t even know what it means to be born again. We must look at their fruit, the fruit of their lives in Christ. “Therefore by their fruits you will know them.” Matthew 7:20. If their fruit points to silencing the lambs of Christ that would be a good indication that that person isn’t concerned with bearing good fruit and the love of God is not in him. “He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” 1 John 2:4.

The silencing of the lambs of God is currently well underway by our current President. No one can legitimately dispute that claim. Especially, in light of the statements made by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano referring to all those individuals who oppose even one aspect of the current administrations agenda as being possible rightwing terrorist. Can there be any doubt that there is a push on to silence Jesus’ lambs? Believers have the truth but those who are perishing can’t stand to hear the truth so they will stop at nothing to silence the lambs. They will even create laws to force Christ’s lambs into submission. It’s happening even as you’re reading this commentary. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; ...” Psalm 23:4.

Some say I spend too much time lambasting our current government administration and not enough time promoting the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I’ve written hundreds of commentaries over the past three years with the intent of spreading the Gospel, and yet less than 5% of which have had anything whatsoever to do with confronting the evil behind our current or past government leadership. I believe it is the calling of all those who have the gift of discernment to get the truth out as watchmen on the wall.

Everyone who has the eyes of discernment can see what’s happening in our land. There is a supernatural force at work here moving at seemingly breakneck speed to force the lambs of Christ into silence. If you are one of those with this God given ability you should be shouting this travesty from the rooftops. This is not just a US phenomenon. All of you that email me from outside the US, from South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Germany, Spain, South America, and Canada, wherever you’re from, this satanic agenda of silencing the lambs of Christ is either coming your way or you’re already well aware of it. “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4.

Just by writing about the truth of the Gospel has the distinct possibility of positioning Christians on a US government list of rightwing extremism, and therefore a potential threat to the stability of our government. Mark my words it won’t be long before all preaching of the truth will be outlawed because it is currently being perceived as “hate speech”. Thus we see a continual satanic drive on for the silencing of the lambs.

Paul said, “Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.” Philippians 4:9. How much clearer could it be? We are to preach the Gospel as Paul did in his lifetime but there will be consequences associated with that preaching. Paul faced numerous attempts on his life yet persevered until the end. God’s peace shall be with us as we proclaim His message unabashed. This boldness will no doubt infuriate our enemies and cause a great amount of scorn from those who follow Satan. Indeed our well being may be in jeopardy as we continue in God’s will.

My desire is not to come off as arrogant or prideful or even condescending, but to help block the onslaught of determined foes attempting to silence the lambs of Christ. As I read about the various scenarios currently being promoted by the current administration to accomplish their satanic task I must continue to try and build a wall of faith among the believers that won’t be breached by the enemy’s fear mongers. As the new laws in this land are passed to silence the lambs – fear will be the biggest factor.

Lies abound and the enemy has many on his side to help him achieve his desired goals. We believers will continue to be pressed from every side as we remain faithful in our Christian walk. These fear mongers are quite wrong when they say we conspire to overthrow our own government. We do not need to overthrow any of earth’s governments because One is coming who will sit on the throne of David. He shall rule and reign with power and great glory and the entire world will worship Him. There’s nothing this current group of foolish followers of Satan can accomplish which will have any lasting results on silencing the lambs. Jesus Christ will overthrow all this world’s evil governments at His very appearing. “For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” Romans 14:11.

We do preach, though, that a new government is on the way who’s King will not take sides as to who is His favorite but He will be King over all inhabitants of earth and there will be no opposition to His Kingship. Satan knows this as fact and is working feverishly to accomplish his goal before his time is up. Praise be to God, for we know Satan has already been defeated. Defeated at the cross of Christ.

These simple words that I’ve typed here could, without a doubt, get me placed on my governments list of subversives, those of a rightwing terrorist persuasion. If so, so be it. My King is and always will be King and I need not fear those who are perishing. My voice shall not be quenched nor shall that of my true brethren. We will hold fast to the faith and occupy ‘til He comes. My fellow lambs, be ye not silenced.

Christians, Conspiracies, Faith and Love

“...but the just shall live by his faith.” Habakkuk 2:4.

Conspiracy theories abound and are being thrown at us from every angle. Recently I was provided with a link to a two hour video that if true would probably scare the most hardened atheist. The video begins by proclaiming that all our past presidents had been puppets clear back to, but excluding, John F. Kennedy. This recent conspiracy points to multi-billionaires, the bankers of the world, as the ones holding the puppet strings of our government leaders. It seems, according to this theory, these greedy fiends are the ones behind the push to a one world government. These theorists say there are concentration camps being built all over the US to imprison those who know the truth. They are constructed and will be utilized to keep the nonconformist silent while these evil and maniacal men and women pour out their treachery on the rest of unsuspecting mankind. Is this truth or fiction?

Conspiracy theorists have been around forever it seems, and they always appear when times get tough. Our economy is in the tank and our government leaders seem bent on replacing the US Constitution with some other form of government; no one really seems to be able to put their finger on just what form of government that’s going to be, whether it’s new designation will be that of a socialistic or communistic form of government is yet to be seen. To the theorists, the American republic we once knew and loved is all but washed up.

Certainly we can clearly see there’s a movement afoot to eliminate our US Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. We see them both being trampled and trashed more and more every day. Worst of all, in my mind, is what’s happening to the Christian Church in America . The signs are so painfully obvious yet biblical. Clearly, the apostasy of the Church is nigh at hand. Yes, absolutely something evil this way comes. Those who have no faith in God have no hope for anything better. But the true born again believer, those who are “in Christ” are justified and thus living in faith, right?

My brethren, do yourselves a huge favor and stop listening to men or women who have their own agendas apart from God’s. Whether they be our government leaders or conspiracy theorists, or even some of our church leaders, stop this lunacy and let’s remember what God told Habakkuk “The Just shall live by his faith”. Our faith is in Jesus Christ and also our trust. Many of these conspiracy theories seem to be in line with Bible prophecy, so where better to turn than to God and His word for the details? I’m not saying that these conspiracies can’t be true, but that we should approach each new theory through the lens of scripture always remembering in whom we’ve placed our faith and trust.

God gave us His word to study, to immerse ourselves in, and to obtain the truth. God is truth and He puts more emphases on the truth of His word than on His very name. That’s why it is so important that we live by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. “...that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.” Deuteronomy 8:3. Even when our Lord was being tempted in the wilderness for forty days it was God’s word that He always fell back on as He rebuked the Devil.

Aren’t Christians being tempted each day? Where should we turn if not to the Lord? Will we see the times we live in worsen? Probably. If we are worrying and fretting now while we are still living in abundance, what’s going to happen to our faith and our witness as we see the US crumble around us? The Just shall live by faith. Who are the just? If you are a born again believer you are justified and you now live by faith.

The Bible is a history lesson, and it has taught us plenty about mankind’s past history, and interestingly we are also given a look at the future history of all mankind. We call the future history prophecy. Prophecy is all through the Bible; God uses prophecy to authenticate His word. Whether we are inundated with conspiracy theories or evil ungodly people pushing to realign this planet as a one world government everything has been written down for us before hand so we wouldn’t be surprised. My point is, God will not allow anything to happen in this world that doesn’t conform to His plan, His will for the future of mankind.

Sincerely studying the Bible will probably become the national pastime of most born again believers as we traverse these last of days on planet earth. Staying in fellowship and prayer are basics that should never be neglected. Building strong relationships with our brethren will bring huge blessings and benefits to both us and them. God wants us to come together as His children and unite in our common faith. That faith is in Jesus Christ His Son.

There are going to be many aspects of the end times that we disagree on, this is painfully evident, but those disagreements don’t need to tear us apart. Satan loves to get Christians bickering amongst ourselves. My brethren this should not be so. The just are living by faith in Christ and that fact alone becomes our uniting tie that binds us together. We are going to need that binding more and more as we watch these last days drawing to a close.

When will the Church be raptured? No one knows. The heat of persecution is already upon us though, and most believers are already feeling it. What am I speaking about? Take a look at how the ungodly have infiltrated our government and its programs. These people are now pushing their evil attitudes and agendas to replace what was once a free country with new radical socialism. The left and centrist of this country are the antagonists that will stop at nothing to eradicate Christians and our beliefs from being a part of their new enlightened society.

Our faith and our God given rights to oppose anything that is contrary to God’s laws are being systematically discouraged and even eliminated from the American scene. Oh, and of course our newly elected president has some wonderful new agendas that he’s seeing fit to push down the throats of the spiritually blind populace. Please consider that anyone who is opposed to God’s laws will be the ones ratcheting up the heat of persecution upon the Christian community. Again we turn to the book of Habakkuk for God’s response to all this evil. “The just shall live by his faith”. God makes it easy to understand, we are His and we are justified in His sight. Therefore, we shall live out our lives here on earth by faith.

Will America take her place among the trash heaps of discarded past civilizations that refused to humble themselves or to show any respect or reverence for their Creator God? Time will tell. I’ve heard it said that if God doesn’t judge America , He’ll have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah . Wow, God really let Sodom and Gomorrah have it. Just what kind of judgment might He have in store for a country that began so strong in the Christian faith and yet has now done a 180 degree turn and is currently engulfed in unholy, godless, evil, activities, so perverse that even Sodom would blush? Since God knows the future of all events, there’s no doubt His plan for America ’s judgment is already set. Christians need not fear God’s fierce wrath, many other Americans should.

My brethren, we have a wonderful Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. He came into this world to save us from our sin and to give us life more abundantly. That said, why do we worry so about the future? If we believe that God is in control then whatever happens to America , or the world for that matter, is up to God. All our faithless worries are an abomination since believers are the just who shall live by faith.

First and foremost our focus in these last days, as always, should be on our Lord Jesus and secondly on the lost, not on conspiracy theories. Believers know the final outcome of all this evil that abounds, but what of those who are still living without Jesus? What must be going through their minds as they witness the systematic destruction of our once favored way of life? Some, when they hear the truth, will turn from their wicked ways, but what if no one tells them the truth? When a family member or even a friend dies the last thing any of us will want to hear ourselves saying is, “Why didn’t I tell you, before it was too late”?

Are you one of the just that shall live by his faith? I know there are many road blocks impeding our movements as we try to adhere to our Saviour’s will. By faith we don’t allow Satan to instill fear in us. By faith we won’t allow him to establish a wall of separation between us and the lost. By faith we will allow the Holy Spirit to lead us in all our endeavors. Worrying about what kind of evil reaction might follow our presentation of the Gospel will be nonexistent to those who are justified and living by faith. God will take care of the evil things of this world as long as we are presenting the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

There’s a song that I really enjoy singing, and the chorus goes like this, “And they will know we are Christians by our love, by our love. Yes they’ll know we are Christians by our love”. How many lost people have seen your love today Christian?

Surprise!

“And God said... let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” Genesis 1:26. What happened? When did man lose this God ordained dominion over all the earth? When and where did Satan advance to the position of ruler having gained all the power and dominion over all this earth?

At one time, Adam had in his possession the title deed to planet earth. God gave it to him. He held title to some of the nicest property in the universe. Initially Adam was sole owner, but all mankind would have eventually enjoyed an equal share in planet earth if not for Adam’s one little slip up. By rebelling against God, Adam and Eve signed over that title deed to Satan and Satan would hold title (dominion) to planet earth for literally thousands of years. As a matter of fact it’s still in his possession.

“And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it,” Luke 4:5, 6. In the above verses, Satan claimed that authority over the earth’s kingdoms was delivered to him, and Jesus didn’t challenge that statement. Here’s a guarantee, Satan will never give even a portion of that power to anyone who won’t worship him. Jesus would never worship Satan, but ungodly men who are hungry for power will sell their souls for a chance to gain that power, and they have.

Satan is the ruler of this world and the prince of the power of the air and has been so, by popular election of mankind, since the days of Adam. “Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:” Ephesians 2:2. Planet earth is a property currently governed by Satan’s supernatural minions of evil and they hate mankind. Most of mankind has been blinded to this truth since the first rebellion against God.

Since Satan possesses the glory of the kingdoms of this world, and can give it to whomsoever he wills, it should not surprise us to see the ungodly in positions of power in every nation. Is there any wonder that Americans have elected a man completely opposed to God to represent them? Most people follow Satan, not God, and that’s a sad fact.

Should we then be shocked and surprised when ungodly men are thrust into the public eye, men without any governing experience to speak of, and then to be elected by a majority vote to hold the highest office of our land? Can there be any doubt as to the supernatural force behind such a phenomena? Take a trip around the globe and try and find men of godly stature upholding God’s truths while running their countries. How many did you find? Are you surprised yet?

As believers we are in a daily battle with Satan and his minions of evil. Before we became a new creation in Christ there was no battle, no stumbling blocks, Satan owned us and that was that. After becoming born again this life became much tougher. What really makes this life difficult for believers to deal with is that we aren’t blind to God’s truth anymore. It has now become our responsibility to pass on this truth – the truth of the Gospel – to those who are still wearing blinders. But the opposition is fierce.

In our previous existence as unbelievers we couldn’t see Satan’s handiwork. Now that we are believers we see his evil in everything from the men and women running our federal government to even the small city government officials. Those who are deceived can’t see what’s happening in this country and the majority in this country are themselves satanically deceived. True believers, those who actually live a life devoted to Christ, have no doubt about what’s going on. Satan is ruler of this age, and has been for the last six thousand years, although, time’s running out and Satan knows it.

Satan’s lie remains unchanged, although presented differently in today’s vernacular. There really is no difference in what Eve heard from the serpent in the Garden of Eden, “Did God really say” and “Thou shalt not surely die” or the lie that is heard today all over the world. “Is there really a God, and if there is, would a loving God really send good people to Hell just because they aren’t Christians?” Satan never changes his tired old lies; it’s just that he always has a new parade of people traveling through this world that he can corrupt with those lies, always working at expanding his base of followers.

Speaking of followers, only through supernatural power is a man able to achieve what Obama has achieved in so short a span of time. For the most part this man was unheard of a short while ago and now reigns as quasi-king of the world. That’s scary folks. Many people see me as a racist and a bigot because I’m not following Obama. They can call me what they will, it won’t change the fact of who Obama is and who’s behind him. Nor will it change my mind about how the majority of folks in this country, as well as other nations around the world, are so completely deceived that the truth has become a lie, right has become wrong, good has become bad, up has become down, and light has become dark. Evil is evil folks, no matter how we dress it up.

At this point the emails will come flooding in telling me “Well Bush was just as bad” or “McCain would have been worse”. Those folks, having been motivated by satanic deceptions, now see a need to deflect any perception of evil from Obama and lay it at the doorstep of someone else. Have you ever noticed that nothing that is perceived to be evil ever sticks to this man?

Obama, through his proclamation of change has done what the devil is so good at doing; he’s tempted the masses with something better, a better life, and a more prosperous future. His idea of change is to do a makeover on the face of America. The jury is still out on what face he’s trying to put on America, but it’s beginning to look a lot like a Muslim face. Here’s a quote from that dressed up occupier of the office of President of the United States. “The Islamic faith has done so much over the centuries to make my country better.” That is a quote from your president America. Are you surprised yet?

Politicians come and go, and at this point in time in this country we are strapped with some of the most ungodly politicians ever to walk the halls of congress or sit in the office of the President. Personally, I’m not surprised.

“And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.” 1 Samuel 8:7. Something we would all do well to remember is how much Israel wanted a King. Even after Samuel told them all the evil things a king would demand of them they refused to listen. “Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us; 1 Samuel 8:19. Israel demanded from God a king and because God wouldn’t violate the national will of the people He gave them what they wanted. They were attracted to Saul because of his outside appearance. But inside, Saul was not near as attractive, not so godly a man. Israel made a huge mistake in seeking Saul as king. God wanted to be their King but He was out voted.

A few thousand years later history repeats itself. America was once a nation where God was King, but He has now been voted out. America is now looking to a man and his outside appearance and listening to his articulate speech for their deliverance. America has voted into office a new king who is as poor of a king as Israel’s Saul ever was. If we can’t learn from history we are doomed to repeat it, so the old adage goes. So, now that America has made her choice, God will not violate her national will. We are now strapped with a man for at least the next four years who will be the vehicle in which America rides out her final assent into oblivion. Surprised yet?

It’s painfully obvious that godly leaders aren’t going to surface any time soon. All we can do to fight the scourge on the land is to be in continual prayer and remember who wins in the end. At any rate, this world shouldn’t be all that attractive to us. The word of God sufficed for Jesus to fend off Satan in the wilderness, and that same word of God is completely sufficient for us as well.
Satan may be the prince of this world but true believers in Christ are not of this world and we have a King who is God and He rules and reigns over us with love and compassion. Knowing we have a Heavenly home waiting for us should keep us going even in the face of such evil adversity.

I pray that God will extract His Church before we undergo many more surprises, such as an excessive amount of persecution. I fear for the brethren that we will all see and feel a hefty dose of isolation from the Obama government before the caught up. Brethren, keep looking up for your redemption draweth nigh.

He Is Risen

The passion of our Savior and Lord is at the heart of our redemption. Yet, that passion quickly becomes mute if we forget the resurrection. After Jesus was crucified, the disciples were locked behind closed doors. Their lives were in danger; their families were in danger. They, no doubt, saw themselves as the laughingstock of Israel. Jerusalem was still in an uproar and guards were standing watch over the Savior’s tomb. I understand there was a rumor in Jerusalem that friends tried to convince Joseph of Arimathaea not to give his tomb for the burial of this confessed Messiah. He is reported to have said, “Why not, He only wants to borrow it for three days.”

His disciples had lost one of their number to suicide; Judas’ death was horrible. It was so violent that all his bowels gushed out. As they contemplated the loss of their Lord, one out of their number, and their future, Godly women were carrying burial ointments to the tomb to add embalming spices to a hastily buried Jesus. I can imagine that after they found Jesus’ body gone and were rushing to the location of the eleven, the disciples heard them coming down the alleyway. They must have been screaming, “He’s alive, He’s alive; His grave clothes are there but He is gone.” The disciples’ fear was immediately broken and they openly ran to the graveyard. The immobilizing powers of fear and sorrow were gone because they had heard the tomb was empty. There is not one word of fear ever named again among His disciple s. Hope arose in their hearts like sunrise at midnight.

Thank God that we do not worship before a victim on a cross. There is no hope in such a sense. Apostle Paul settled this great truth in his discourse on the resurrection. He said, “And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept” (1 Corinthians 15:17-20).

Our hope is not in contemplating His wounds but rejoicing in His completed victory. The risen Lord they saw was so glorious in resurrection victory that they never talked about His mutilated body again. When they spoke of sharing His death, they spoke not of a lacerated body, but they spoke of death to their plans and dreams and a total surrender to His will. They turned the world “upside down” because His resurrection became their resurrection. “Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day (after the resurrection) ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you” (John 14:19-20).

What glorious truth! Living a life delivered from sin by His death but raised in His resurrection is the New Testament standard. Apostle Paul did not see Him before He ascended to Heaven but He did see Him shortly thereafter. In his testimony before the Jews in Jerusalem he said, “And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus” (Acts 22:11). Later he testified to King Agrippa, “At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me” (Acts 26:13).

This victory of a glorified Jesus totally arrested Paul (then called Saul of Tarsus). It was so heavenly that he wrote to the Philippians of his new life and our hope and spoke of this glorious body that Jesus now possessed. Apostle Paul said, “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself” (Philippians 3:20-21).

The early churches were powerful in ministry because they served a risen and glorified Lord. His “Glorious Body” was their assurance of their future “Glorified Body.” They never gloried in the lacerated and wounded earthly body that He offered on the cross; they gloried in the “Glorified Body” that reflects the absolute victory of the cross and the Resurrection.

“Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed” (Hebrews 12:12-13). The “Gospel of Jesus Christ” is the “good news” that He is not in a tomb or on a cross, but He is alive and at the Father’s right hand and soon to appear. Serve Him with great joy and unfailing hope.

Mass Rodent Surge in United Kingdom

According to a survey by the National Pest Technician Association (NPTA), the United Kingdom’s rat and mouse population is spreading across the nation, reaching its highest level since the pest control organization’s first survey nine years ago.

In the NPTA report, survey coordinator Barrie Sheard stated, “In total, the councils reported over 378,000 rat treatments. That’s fully 44% up on the previous year. At the same time, mouse treatments—at over 147,000—were 39% higher than 2006-07, bringing overall treatment levels to well above those seen in our previous record year of 2005-06.”

Flamborough, in East Yorkshire, is one of the nation’s most affected areas. Local residents say they have seen hundreds of rodents running in from fields and scurrying through the streets.

Authorities estimate the region’s rodent population to be 60 to 100 million and growing—at least one rodent for every person.

Mr. Sheard said that rodents in the UK “have recently tested positive for Ljungam virus, first isolated in Northern Sweden several years ago and implicated in a number of human health problems, including diabetes, still births and sudden infant deaths” (ibid.).

He added, “This is even more essential as recessionary pressures bite and growing financial pressures on households, businesses and local authorities reduce the incentive for professional pest control services to be used as early or effectively enough as they need to be to stop rodent problems escalating even further.”

End-of-the-Age Atrocity

Why is everyone so upset a baby was killed at an abortion clinic? What do you think happens in an abortion clinic?



Babies are slaughtered! This horrific evil is proof we are at the end of the age. The Apostle Paul’s “perilous times” prophesied characteristics –“fierce” and “without natural affection” (1 Timothy 3)—are front and center every day. Proof is the most recent such atrocity about a baby being thrown in a garbage can immediately after birth because the abortionist did not quite make it in time to do the deed.



The funny thing is, the baby-killing doctor had his medical license revoked by the state of Florida for "malpractice." Even more ironic are those in the pro-death movement who are denouncing the death of this baby as a horrible tragedy. Give me a break! The pro-death movement, led by our new President Barack Hussein Obama, supports 4,000 horrible tragedies in this

nation every 24 hours!!!!



Back in 2006, a teenager who was 23 weeks pregnant went to a Miami-area abortion clinic.She was given drugs to dilate her cervix, and waited hours for the abortion doctor to arrive. During that time, she actually gave birth to her baby. With the doctor still not around, a clinic worker cut the umbilical cord, put the baby (a living human being) in a bag, and threw it

in the garbage. I challenge you the next time you take out your garbage to remember that in this nation we put no more value on a human life than we do on a sack of trash!!!



I am grateful this story has come to the light of day. It shows clearly what happens in these abortion mills. Babies are murdered in these places. What happened that day in Miami is no different than want happens 4,000 times a day across this nation. This pathetic excuse for a doctor should not have had his license to practice medicine revoked, he should be

in prison for murder, along with every other "doctor" who kills babies.



The reality is, in the United States, the life of a dog is worth more than the life of a human being. In the United States in the year 2009, it is illegal to kill a dog, but legal to kill a baby. Let me say that one more time, since I want this fact to really sink in: In the United States in the year 2009, it is illegal to kill a dog, but legal to kill a baby. Wow! Does that fact show just how spiritually bankrupt we are as a nation? Want more? The ex- quarterback of the Atlanta Falcons, Michael Vick, went to prison for killing dogs, yet every single day all over this nation, "doctors" are slaughtering 4,000 babies and going home to their families at the end of the day.



Why Abortion IS a Big Deal



I am getting sick and tired of people telling me to stop talking about abortion. I am getting even more sick and tired of

people like Rick Warren and others on the "religious left" who say talking about abortion is too divisive and that we need to stick to issues most people agree on, like poverty and AIDS in Africa. I fully understand why people don't want to talk about abortion. Infanticide is not a pleasant subject. But we can't just be silent and act like it doesn't exist, especially when every 24 hours another 4,000 innocent babies are being slaughtered in this nation.



I would love to stop talking about abortion. Let's get the U.S. government out of the baby-killing business and let each state decide whether it wants to kill babies in its state. This will not end abortion, but it will at least prevent men and women from treating it like nothing more than a trip to the dentist to have a cavity filled. It will also cause the adoption industry to be

reformed so adopting a child doesn't require five lawyers, six years, and enough money to buy a small home. It will also cause the church to start taking responsibility for putting together programs to help deal with babies who need to be cared for and placed in homes with loving mothers and fathers.



However, until we get to that place, I refuse to be silent; it is a subject that must be discussed. Every time some sort of natural disaster causes people to die, the news media jumps all over the story. Any death is sad, but I always wonder why so much is made of 5, 10, or 50 people tragically losing their lives while nobody even thinks about the fact that every 24 hours we murder approximately 4,000 innocent babies in this nation. I am virtually certain that only a handful of people out of the several million who will read these words today will even stop for a second to reflect that in the last day, we killed 4,000 babies in this

country. We have become so desensitized, we have come to accept abortion to the point that we don't even think about it any longer.



Here is why abortion IS a big deal: Did you ever wonder if there is a correlation between the fact we started to legally kill babies in this nation in 1973, about the same time we began to see a massive spiritual decline in America? Coincidence? I think not. Just like in our individual lives, our nation's blessings are tied to our obedience to God. Legally killing babies is a big deal, because how can we ever expect God to bless a land that is flooded with the blood of innocent babies?



I know that it is not politically correct to talk about abortion any longer. Sadly, very few nationally known pastors ever talk about this issue. It is bad for their business. Those who now make up this growing group known as the religious left who fill their churches with the seeker/purpose-driven/emerging church/watered-down message don't like this issue since it

hurts their marketing efforts for warm bodies. Except for a handful of brave Catholic bishops and priests, we hear virtually nobody in the marketplace taking a stand against this blatant act of murder.



I have been saying for years that this one issue alone is enough to bring down God's wrath and judgment on this nation. Sadly, President Bush squandered our last real opportunity we may ever have to deal with this issue politically. President Obama is a staunch defender of the practice of infanticide. He is a hero to those in the pro-death movement. The business of killing babies around the world will flourish under Obama.



Those who defend him state that it is the law, and that he is only upholding the law. The fact is, he has voted 100 percent of the time during his political career to uphold the legalized killing of babies. If he truly believed in life, he could have voted to make abortion illegal and work towards that end. I contend that any politician who votes to uphold abortion has the blood of

innocent babies on his or her hands, and is truly an evil person.



As a side note: For those in the pro-death movement who want to make believe this is about women's health rights, that is a bunch of garbage. This is about the live of human beings. I agree a woman has the right to do whatever she wants with her body, but not with the body of someone else. That baby may be inside her, but it is still a separate human life created by

God.



I refuse to be bullied into silence on what is by far the most critical spiritual issue there is. You simply can't close your eyes and act like this brutal act of murder doesn't exist. I see the Hollywood crowd and people who normally spit in the face of God

get so upset about the atrocities in Darfur and other places on the globe. Why aren't these same people as upset with the fact that every 24 hours we slaughter 4,000 innocent babies? Where is their outrage about that?



On the Liveprayer.com homepage, we have a special 55-second video clip of an actual abortion being performed. If you have not watched it, you must. This is what happens to over 4,000 innocent babies every day in this nation. Since God led me to get this footage and put it on the website nearly two years ago, we have received more than 3,000 emails from women who were contemplating having an abortion, but who watched the video and changed their minds. (Watch the incredible testimony of baby Delilah on that same link.)



Despite the several death threats and scathing emails I get every month for having that video on my website, I want the world to see what really happens to millions of babies here in the United States and around the world every year. Abortion is a big deal since it not only kills 1.5 million babies in this nation alone. And it is already bringing down the wrath and judgment of God on this nation for practicing infanticide, unless you are as spiritually blind as our leaders in Washington who think they can fix the problem. The only way to fix the problem is to stop killing babies and turn back to God and His truth!

Endtime Shoe: Fitting the World for Ten Toes – Part I

The New World Order—known also as the One World Order—attracts much speculative comment. It is best to stay clear of the extremism that is attracted to this topic … for example, refraining from pointless attempts to identify or “tar and feather” the mythical “globalists” or “international bankers” or Jews who are supposedly scheming up diabolical plans for the world. But there definitely is a great conspiracy at work. Soon, there will be 10 kings that will give their support to the ultimate conspirator—the Beast, the “in-the-flesh” Antichrist. But a few things have to happen before this can occur. And, at least one of these things will involve America.

But first, a few comments about conspiracy theories are in order. The Bible clearly equates conspiracy schemes with the antichrist spirit. Said Apostle John, “This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world” (1 John 4:3). Everyone is vulnerable to playing a role, whether small or large. There can be any number of antichrists in this sense, the Bible indicating that there would be many. “Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour” (1 John 2:18). Simply complying with the world’s values and its humanist agenda makes one a conspirator … a mini antichrist. The spirit of the antichrist really aligns all individuals, groups and nations who betray a spirit of rebellion against God, whether elites or not.

But this should not make any complicit people our enemies or the target of our condemnation. We are reminded that “[…] 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” (Ephesians 6:12). This is not a single spirit, but a hierarchy of demons led by the “kosmokrator,” the chief angel, Satan. It is against this conspiracy that we wrestle—not deceived, mortal human beings.

Our time is therefore better spent praying for conspirators and antichrists, whoever they are, and pursuing a Biblical faith life. Elitists, globalists or whatever other “one-world-order” villains there might be, are no different or worse than the vast humanity that has been either misled or blinded by this world’s “prince of the air.” All other conspiracy theories, such as mentioned, are really unnecessary distractions to Christians.

Lately, however, at the behest of many antichrists and the Antichrist spirit himself, the great cosmic conspiracy is being advanced rapidly. And, as has often been the case throughout history, great financial crises have proven to be very effective catalysts for the advance of humanism on earth.

World Order Delayed or a Diversion?

A new world order? Lately, it would hardly seem that way. The globe has appeared rather disorderly. Panic and desperate actions better define the times, not order rank and file. It even seems as if that prophesied day has arrived where people will throw their silver into the streets (Isaiah 2:20, Ezekiel 7:19). Recently, even gold and silver prices have plunged. However, that prophesied time is also not yet. Ezekiel and Isaiah’s prophecies refer to conditions that will occur in the later stages of the Tribulation … likely nearer the time of the 6th seal.

Yet, many observers—Bible-readers or not—do think that the world is now rapidly caught in something like the Great Tribulation. In fact, it is surprising how many observers use apocalyptic language in describing the recent economic and financial meltdowns. Apparently, a “financial Armageddon” is more fearsome than the real Armageddon. Indeed, a very steep global economic recession, perhaps even a depression, is in the works for some countries.

That America and the world’s financial systems were vulnerable to shattering meltdowns had long been obvious. Yet, now that calamitous events have occurred and difficult times are obvious to everyone, most of the world still remains asleep as to what really is underfoot behind the scenes. What yet lies in the future?

We need not speculate. We know where this global rebellion against God is headed, because the Bible tells us the future in advance. Yes, we cannot know the exact timing and the minute details of future events. All the same, reading the Bible we do know what the general world order will look like nearer the time that the Tribulation period begins. Doing so, we can discern that developments today are fulfilling a rapid progression towards that prophesied time.

Unlike the Rapture, which is signless, the Tribulation is not. Therefore, we can today know that the Tribulation period has not yet begun and is yet future. This conclusion can be deduced a number of ways. One of the most persuasive reasons for knowing that time is not yet is that the “endtime shoe” does not yet fit the time of the 10 kings.

The 10 kings must exist before the Antichrist is revealed. Daniel makes this clear. “The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings” (Daniel 7:24). Here we see only “after” the 10 kings are on the scene, that “another king”—the Antichrist—will arise.

Because of this, we can know that the world is yet to experience some great geopolitical and economic power shifts. This must occur before the final endtime events described in the Bible can occur.

Ultimate Doom and Gloom Deferred

Prospects now look so grim to some analysts that they predict the world will soon return to the “Dark Ages.” They reason that during difficult times, individual sovereign countries will resort to protecting their own narrow interests. They will therefore no longer comply with global organizations and institutions, abandoning multilateral relationships and retreating to the principle of “every man for himself.” As such, globalism will be abandoned.

Also, global merchandise trade will now experience a steep setback. The Baltic Dry Shipping Index (a statistical barometer that economists use to track world transportation rates for ocean-going ships) has shockingly collapsed 90% in less than a year. When this index soared, as it did in recent years when the Asian manufacturing hub anchored by China flooded the world with exports galore, it indicated rising demand for ships. Its unprecedented collapse now signifies to some that global commerce is doomed. They therefore conclude that globalization must therefore be dead.

Yet, though the globe may be facing unprecedented and calamitous times, a total collapse is not imminent. No doubt, difficult economic conditions are upon the world … certainly for a time. However, predictions of terminal doom occurring now are wrong. In fact, the Bible expressly indicates otherwise. For one, we know that the world will have many sea captains at that future time when Babylon is yet to be judged (Revelation 18:17). How otherwise would it be possible for “all who had ships on the sea [to become] rich through her [the great city Babylon’s] wealth” (Revelation 18:19)? As such, shipping captains must yet experience a time of prosperity in the future.

Also, we know that ocean going traffic will still exist in the early Millennial period, as this must be the case in order to fulfill prophecies promised to Israel. For example: “Then you will look and be radiant, your heart will throb and swell with joy; the wealth on the seas will be brought to you, to you the riches of the nations will come” (Isaiah 60:5). Ships will be bringing cargo and people to Israel at that future time. “Surely the islands look to me; in the lead are the ships of Tarshish, bringing your sons from afar, with their silver and gold [...]” (Isaiah 60:9).

As mentioned, views that the world will face a reversal with respect to globalism are also wrong. It is much too late for this to occur in any case, as the world is already too interconnected upon global trade with other nations. The fortunes of every country are too mutually dependent, so that very few, if any, can risk being recklessly independent. In this sense, the road back from globalism is more horrible to policymakers than the one forward.

Said differently, ever more sovereignty will be bartered for the sake of grain, just as was foreshadowed by the Bible’s account of Joseph’s policies in that time of crisis in Egypt thousands of years ago. “And all the countries came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe in all the world” (Genesis 41:57). The world is resolute upon achieving prosperity and its popular comforts its own way, without first seeking the Kingdom of God and salvation through the Son, Jesus Christ.

Road to Armageddon Uninterrupted

For these reasons and others, we can know that the steep downturn in global trade at present is only a stage of the world’s endtime “birth pains,” not yet the end. We must sadly conclude that the world’s progression towards the prophesied global conditions of the last days will continue. As for what happens after the Rapture … that may be of little interest to Christians who are focused upon the Lord, looking only to His return. Yet, this realization does quicken our gaze upward, as His appearing seems ever more imminent.

Just what are some of these prophesied conditions? Among many are these: apostasy, false christs, wealth extremes, hoarding, dissipation, indulgence, globalism and globalization. All of these are far advanced. But there is one that does not yet exist— global multipolarism. What is meant by multipolarism? It is a condition of inter-relationships where the world’s key nations are relatively balanced in terms of power and influence. Let’s examine this condition more closely, as it is very significant and also connects to the question of America’s fate.

Peer Steinbrück (the German finance minister) recently said that the world’s financial crisis prefigures the end of Wall Street’s (and, by extension, America’s) hegemony and the emergence of a multi-polar world. He now sees a world where power is distributed a little more evenly.

If he is right that this will happen soon, it meets an endtime condition that the Bible prophesies.

Purpose of the Latest Crisis: A Shoe Horn

Scripture clearly indicates that a 10-king power coalition will take form near the start of the Tribulation period. At least five separate visions depict these 10 kings. (Daniel 2:41-42 [in the form of ten toes]; 7:20, 24; Revelation 12:3; 13:1; 17:3, 12, 16).

Many characteristics are revealed about this group of 10 world leaders.10 kings. Please see the Midnight Call 3-part article series, “The Emerging Global Power Coalition”— October to December 2006—which details 13 sets of factors that apply to this future grouping of kings.

In fact, this 10-nation coalition is one of the most important and early signs of the times. While the world will not know the exact configuration of these 10 kings until the Antichrist achieves an accord with Israel (this being widely agreed to be the signal event of the start of the Tribulation period) this general trend toward world governance will be evident well before. That is what is playing out before our eyes today.

It is essential to understand the uniqueness of the arrangement, where 10 kings will pool their power together and then agree to put it at the disposal of the Antichrist. There are two reasons.

Firstly, the general pattern throughout history has been that only one nation would dominate the known world or its regions. Even in our modern age this has been the case. It has been a long, long time since the world has not been dominated by one prominent and powerful country. Secondly, it has never occurred before that the entire world has been ruled by a voluntary coalition of countries. That is still not the case today, though there may be a European Union, NATO, the United Nations and many other international agencies. Why? Because there are at least one or more geopolitical nation-states that are too powerful or independent. Therefore, we can know that the prophetic “glass slipper” has not yet found the 10-king Cinderella.

"The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast. They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast” (Revelation 17:12-13). Effectively, this power configuration comes into existence for a very short period of time, and gives rise to the world’s 8th kingdom. In Revelation 17 the beast with seven heads and crowns is again shown. These seven heads portray the past Gentile kingdoms that have suppressed Israel—from Egypt to the second, revived Roman one at the time of Israel’s re-emergence. The Antichrist’s rule at first is borne on the strength of 10 kings, and then becomes the 8th.

Critically, there are clear changes now underway that make way for the 10-king coalition … shortly thereafter, the 8th king

Behold the Christ Child

Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14



For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6



But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, [though] thou be little among the thousands of Judah, [yet] out of thee shall he come forth unto me [that is] to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth [have been] from of old, from everlasting. Micah 5:2



“And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw [him], she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” Luke 1:26-33.



The birth of our Lord is celebrated among Christians all over the world. It is a wonderful time of year. Here in America we observe a Christian tradition of the celebration of our Lord’s birth on the 25th of December. At one time, in the not so distant past, we made it a real Christ centered celebration, but in recent years it has become more of a pagan day of partying instead of giving thanks. It’s a day in which we look forward to getting up on Christmas day and opening presents with our families and then we have a big meal cooked and everyone gets stuffed.



Many people involve themselves in celebrating but never even give a second thought to Who they should be celebrating. Think of it this way, without the birth of Jesus Christ there would be no Christmas Day celebration, just another day, no free day from work, no presents given or received, no joining together with family and friends, and of course most importantly of all, no free gift of salvation.



What should we be thinking about as this special day approaches? Maybe we should give some thought to what Joseph and Mary went through as they traveled to and stayed in Bethlehem. “And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.” Luke 2:1. To be counted and taxed everyone had to go to his birth city. Joseph’s hometown was Bethlehem, so he and Mary, his espoused wife, traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem. This journey amounted to approximately eighty miles, a far piece to travel on the back of an ass especially with the imminent birth of Mary’s child on the way.



When they arrived in Bethlehem Mary was very close to giving birth, so Joseph tried to find suitable lodging, a peaceful and private place where Mary could deliver her child. All that was available was a stable with farm animals already taking up much of the room. There she gave birth to baby Jesus. “And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn,” Luke 2:7. No room for God at the Inn. Kind of reminds us of the U.S. nowadays, there’s no room for God in our public arena not to mention in many of our personal lives. Soon there will be no room for God in the U.S. That’s funny considering everything, that’s everything belongs to God.



Or perhaps we should think about those shepherds who were tending their flocks that night when the angel appeared to them. Maybe give some thought to being in their shoes, or sandals as it were, and just sitting around the campfire enjoying the peacefulness of the evening when suddenly out of nowhere there stood an angel from God. Just imagine, the shepherds being the lowest of the low in that society and the angel of God appeared to them, not to kings and queens or other dignitaries, but to shepherds. Wow. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this [shall be] a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. Luke 2:9-12. Here’s the part that really floors me. “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” Luke 2:13, 14. These were angels wishing us lowly humans peace and good will. Wow, if that doesn’t bring chills to your body nothing will.



After they heard the proclamation by the angel and the singing of all the Heavenly hosts, the shepherds set out to find the manger where baby Jesus and Mary and Joseph had taken up residence. When they arrived they saw baby Jesus lying in the manger and shortly thereafter they set out once again to make known to everyone the strange events of that evening and about the wonderful savior of the world lying in a manger.



Jesus received His first distinguished quests:



The Magi came for a visit. These were men from a far off country who had studied a prophecy written hundreds of years earlier about the coming King to be born in Israel. The prophecy (probably given by Daniel) had been passed down from generation to generation and finally it was about to come true. They made the long journey by following a strange light in the sky. This guiding light was all they had and by it they found the Christ child. By this time He, Joseph and Mary were no longer living in a manger but in a house in the Bethlehem. Jesus was about two years old at this time.



By this time the censes had been completed so that the Roman soldiers and most of the people had left Bethlehem and gone back to their homes. This left plenty of room for Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus to find more comfortable accommodations. When the Magi, or wise men, arrived in Bethlehem thy found the child Jesus and offered Him presents. We aren’t told how many Magi had actually made the journey, all we are told is that they brought gifts. The gifts included gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Church tradition tells us there were three wise men but that isn’t substantiated by the scriptures.



So this is the story of the birth of Christ as it is portrayed in the Bible. This is what we should be celebrating on the 25th of December. We would do so much better by recognizing the day for what it was meant to be, a celebration of the birth of the Savior of the world. Never mind if it was the exact date of His birth or not, that’s a mute point. It’s the reason behind the celebration that is important.



From an infant Jesus the Christ grew into a man. Jesus Christ was fully man and fully God. As He walked the shores of Galilee and the hills of Judea He taught folks how they should live, He performed many miracles. He was despised and rejected, beaten and put to death on a cross of wood, and yet He owned the hill on which it stood. But the grave couldn’t hold Him. He rose on the third day according to scriptures. This little baby of whose birth we celebrate on Christmas day is now seated at the right hand of the Majesty on High.



God bless you all and Merry Christ-mas.

The Rapture - The Triumph of Patience

It’s amazing to listen to the cheap theology of our apostate generation. Cheap grace that covers lacy religion is the order of this last generation. Grace has become an excuse to live self-centered lives and yet claim discipleship with Christ. The Bible makes no such room for careless living. Grace does not cover for sin but breaks the power of sin. Patience is ceaseless surrender in the face of many difficulties to that power of grace at work in the believer’s heart. The rapture of each of us to His presence will be the triumph of patience.

Listen to the Apostle of grace as he instructs us to patience. “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin” (Hebrews 12:1-4). The world will never be fair to the saints. There is no unity between us and a world under the sway of sin. We are the ones that must show them t he pure life and never expect them to understand the conflict until they are converted. We win others to Christ by patience.

“Let us run with patience the race that is set before us.” It is a race, a contest and an arena of spiritual sport. There is a world full of dark spirits, wickedness in high places, and we are the opponents to be defeated. Day by day we must see ourselves in this race and learn to deal with each conflict patiently.

The other person may treat you wrongly, but our Father says, “Love your enemies.” They may even hate you, but remember they hated Him first. Our struggle is never to be in a personal battle with individuals. “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. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints” (Ephesians 6:12-18) This is a struggle to the end. There is no coasting if you would win the prize. “In your patience, possess ye your soul” (Luke 21:19). The triumph of patience is the rapture of His saints.

The Rapture: Triumph of Holiness
Jesus plainly said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8).You will never find one scripture in the Holy Bible that even suggests that those living in sin will inherit the eternal kingdom. The opposite is always declared without compromise. The glory of the rapture will be the triumph of Holiness. Pure, Godly, separated saints will be caught up to meet Jesus in the air. The true church from Pentecost until this hour has been badgered over Holiness above every other thought. Theology is important but it never causes the attack that Holiness does. People will divide over denominations, ideas of church government, and other ecclesiastical matters but nothing causes more disputes than right and wrong. What is the lifestyle acceptable to be called a Bible Christian is t he ultimate place for church war.

Sometimes the problem is mainly the argument over man-made standards. The church has often been deeply divided over Holiness issues that are not Holiness at all. It would be impossible to name or describe all the man-made standards imposed on believers. Good people with impure spirits have developed man-made ideas about right and wrong that reflect nothing but self-righteousness. There are a lot of Scriptures that can be twisted to support many different man-made convictions. They always do more harm than good.

Bible Holiness is not only right but the only way into the Kingdom. The Gospel said, “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14). His church is a Holiness church. “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good wor ks, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation” (I Peter 2:9-12). Search the history of every great awakening—Waldensians, Anabaptists, Huguenots, Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists, or Pentecostals—in every case Holiness, separation from the world, was the character and culture. There is no such idea in Scripture of discipleship without Holiness.

I am not talking about man-made standards but a Biblical culture. Every human individual was created in the image of God. Our entire person was created in the Father’s likeness. As He is triune, in three persons, we are triune in spirit, soul, and body. There are three that bear witness in Heaven—Father, Son, and Holy Ghost—three that bear witness on earth—blood, water, and the spirit—and there is a three-fold witness in every human person. We were created “a little lower than the angels, but crowned with glory” (Psalm 8:5). Because of our creation in the image of God, the ultimate sin is to mar and defile that image which is ourselves.

Every commandment and restriction in Holy Scripture is based on our likeness to God. Sin is anything that reduces my life from the image of my Father. The commandments, both in the First and New Testaments are never given to restrict our liberties or to place bondage on our lives. They are given to protect His likeness in men, to keep us in His image and in His glory. That’s the culture of Holiness that will fill heaven and the New Earth and no one will inherit the Heavenly future without the Heavenly culture and lifestyle. The Bible teaches this culture and clearly makes it the only acceptable life in His family.

The Rapture will be the final triumph of Holiness over sin and worldly living. One church put the following on their outdoor sign, “The Rapture: Separation of Church & State.”