"The caliphate," is "alive and growing within Europe!

For more than 30 years, Bat Ye'or, a refugee from Egypt, has been writing about Christians and Jews living under oppression in Muslim lands. She is writing new book, "Europe, Globalization and the Coming Universal Caliphate," that looks at Muslims living in lands that once were Christian but today call themselves multicultural. She predicts Europe will not remain multicultural for long. She is convinced that Europe, sooner rather than later, will be dominated by Islamic extremists and transformed into "Eurabia" — a term first used in the mid-1970s by a French publication pressing for common European-Arab policies.

Immigrants can enrich a nation. But there is a difference between immigrants and colonists. The former are eager to learn the ways of their adopted home, to integrate and perhaps assimilate — which does not require relinquishing their heritage or forgetting their roots. Colonists, by contrast, bring their culture with them and live under their own laws. Their loyalties lie elsewhere.

Ye'or contends that a concerted effort is being made not only to ensure that Muslim immigrants in Europe remain squarely in the second category but also that they become the means to transform Europe politically, culturally and religiously. Leading this effort is the Organization of the Islamic Conference, established in 1969 and which, a few months ago, no doubt upon the advice of a highly compensated public relations professional, renamed itself the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

The OIC represents 56 countries plus the Palestinian Authority. It claims also to represent Muslim immigrants — the "Diaspora" — in Europe, the Americas, Africa and Asia. It is pan-Islamic: It seeks to unify and lead the world's 1.3 billion Muslims. In a manual first published in 2001, "Strategy of Islamic Cultural Action in the West," the IOC asserts that "Muslim immigrant communities in Europe are part of the Islamic nation." It goes on to recommend, Ye'or notes, "a series of steps to prevent the integration and assimilation of Muslims into European culture."

The IOC, she argues, is nothing less than a "would-be, universal caliphate." It might look different from the caliphates of the Ottomans, Fatamids and Abbasids. It might resemble, instead, a thoroughly modern trans-national bureaucracy. But, already, the OIC exercises significant power through the United Nations, and through the European Union which has been eager to accommodate the OIC while simultaneously endowing the U.N. with increasing authority for global governance. Among the other organizations that Ye'or says are doing the OIC's bidding are the U.N. Alliance of Civilizations, the U.N. Commission on Human Rights and the European Parliamentary Association for Euro-Arab Cooperation (PAEAC).

In the eyes of OIC officials, no problem in the contemporary world is more urgent than "Islamophobia" which it calls "a crime against humanity" that the U.N. and the E.U. must officially outlaw. Even discussing why so much terrorism is carried out in the name of Islam is to be forbidden. The OIC insists, too, that international bodies ban "defamation of religion" by which it means criticism of anything Islamic. Defamation of Judaism, Christianity, Bahai, Hinduism and even heterodox Muslim sects such as the Ahmadiyya is common within the borders of many OIC countries, a fact the OIC refuses to acknowledge.

Instead, the OIC has specifically "warned" the E.U. and the "international community" of the "dangers posed by the influence of Zionism, Neo-Conservatism, aggressive Christian evangelicalism, Jewish extremism, Hindu extremism and secular extremism in international affairs and the 'War on Terrorism.'"

Though funding for terrorist groups flows generously from individuals in oil-rich OIC countries, the organization itself is not a supporter of terrorism. Neither, however, is it an opponent. Violence directed against those it views as enemies of Islam is defined as "resistance" -- even when civilians, including women and children, are the intended victims.

While the OIC expresses concern for the rights of Muslim immigrants in the West, the egregious mistreatment of foreign workers in the Gulf countries (and other Muslim countries as well) is not something OIC officials deign to discuss. Nor has the OIC ever condemned the genocide of the black Muslims of Darfur or the genocidal intentions toward Israelis openly expressed by Hamas, Hezbollah and the rulers of Iran.

European diplomats might at least insist that the OIC accept the principle of reciprocity. If there is to be a "dialogue of civilizations" shouldn't both sides get to air grievances? Shouldn't Europeans work to end the persecution of religious and ethnic minorities in OIC countries and to grant foreign workers in Muslim countries basic rights and a path to citizenship? If the Saudis want to fund and control tens of thousands of mosques around the world, is it too much to ask that they permit people of other faiths to at least worship on their soil?

Evidently it is and Ye'or offers this explanation: Committed to a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-lateral ideology that rejects patriotism and even national identity and cultural pride, afflicted by guilt over their imperial and colonial past — and ignorant about more than a thousand years of Islamic imperialism and colonialism -- Europeans have become dhimmis in their own lands: inferiors who accept their status and submit. The OIC, by contrast, rejects multi-culturalism, openly professing the superiority of the Islamic faith, civilization and laws.

"The caliphate," Bat Ye'or concludes, is "alive and growing within Europe. It has advanced through the denial of dangers and the obfuscating of history. It has moved forward on gilded carpets in the corridors of dialogue, the network of the Alliances and partnerships, in the corruption of its leaders, intellectuals and NGOs, particularly at the United Nations."

If you think that's alarmist, if you think the OIC sincerely seeks cooperation with the West or that Europeans know where lines must be drawn and have the courage to draw them, read her book. Or just wait a few years.

For more on this see this web site:http://www.JewishWorldReview.com

I Am Wondering...

With Iran on the verge of securing the latest in weapons technology with the RQ-170 Sentinel drone showing up intact - on Iranian television, Israel's leaders may be turning back to the basics. This week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he was re-establishing a weekly Bible study at the Prime Minister's official residence. 

Netanyahu explained that he intended to follow in the footsteps of former Prime Ministers David Ben-Gurion and Menachem Begin. They also conducted weekly studies of the Old Testament during their tenures. Netanyahu said that he wanted to promote a love of the Scriptures among government leaders and, through them, the rest of Israel. 

It's interesting to note that some of Israel's most influential leaders were great students of the ancient prophets and their predictions, Ben-Gurion and Begin included. It is also said that Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, though a Muslim, was a student of the Bible. I sometimes wonder if the courage shown by both Sadat and Begin to sign a peace treaty that has endured for more than three decades may have been, in some way, a result of their knowledge and appreciation of the ancient prophecies. 

Closing Church Doors on Christmas?

Since Christmas falls on Sunday this year for the first time since 2005, some churches have decided to close their doors that morning. The rationale goes something like this: Our folks are busy enough on Christmas morning. They’ll have guests in town for the holiday. Attendance will probably be low anyway. Let’s just encourage everyone to spend the morning at home with family.

It’s not that I have a problem with spending time with my family. In fact, there’s very little else I’d rather do than spend time with my wife and kids. However, I do have a problem with canceling church on Christmas morning.

Such a decision not only keeps God’s people out of church, it keeps God’s praises off their lips. Most of those who decide to stay home that morning aren’t going to be singing a rousing rendition of “Joy to the World” at 10:45. Instead, they’ll do what they do every Christmas morning. They’ll get up. They’ll peek under the tree. Dad will get some coffee. Mom will get the camera. Let the festivities begin!

Yet, when you read the biblical accounts of the first Christmas, you see that it’s all about worship. Mary worships God when she’s told the wonderful news of the impending incarnation (Luke 1:46ff). An unborn John the Baptist worships in the womb. Zechariah worships at the birth of John (Luke 1:67-79). The Magi worship. The angels worship. The shepherds worship. Simeon worships. And Anna worships. Do we see a trend here?

Deciding to stay home on Christmas morning has spiritual implications. Rather than gathering as a body of believers to worship our God and Savior, many will spend the morning doing anything but that. Let’s not, in the name of family, join our unbelieving neighbors in denying God the praise He deserves on Christmas morning.

Obama’s Muslim Brotherhood Favoritism Will Lead to War in the Middle East

I share this article with you from Walid Shoebat written by By Keith Davies.

Over the last year we have seen our government sell out Hosni Mubarak, the key leader who has brought relative peace and stability in the region. Instead, we have jumped on board with the “Arab Spring” which has led to Islamists taking power. My colleagues and I are not privy to CIA intelligence, but if we were able to predict such things based on common sense and our expertise in Middle East affairs, why could not our government see? Or maybe they can. It seems our government is infiltrated by the Muslim Brotherhood and, along with political correctness from politicians who choose reelection over common sense, has allowed the Middle East to become a powder keg ready to explode.

President Obama chose military intervention to remove Qaddafi from power yet ignores Syria, and when the Iranian people were protesting, he ignored them as well. Why? It appears that the Muslim Brotherhood pulls the strings at the State Department. Many of Obama’s key advisers are Muslim Brotherhood operatives. The Muslim Brotherhood could not allow a secular free country to arise in Iran, which would be likely if the Mullahs were overthrown. Obama did their bidding, stood silent, and provided no aid.

The situation in Syria is a little more complex, as military intervention could provoke Iran to war (being an Assad ally) as well as a major proxy war against Israel, but Turkey is ramping up pressure so the Muslim Brotherhood has already a key ally in the AKA party headed by Prime Minister Erdogan, who is part of the Muslim Brotherhood apparatus leveraging its power to undermine the Assad regime. Therefore, the Muslim Brotherhood does not need the USA to do its heavy lifting in Syria. It is only a matter of time before Assad is forced out.

The mainstream media are so stupid with regards to the Middle East that they do not even know what they don’t know. “The Arab Spring is about freedom” is ridiculous. While the spark may have been about freedom, the Muslim Brotherhood and Islamists have used this spark to achieve their goals, which is the sixth Caliphate, and have almost succeeded with the finishing line in sight.

Leon Panetta, adding to the complete folly of US policy in the Middle East, has criticized the United States’ so-called ally Israel for not reaching out to Turkey and Egypt. However, Israel is the only one that does the reaching out, and it appears the more reaching out it does, the bigger the black eye it gets. Ironically, when it was forced to use military force to defend itself in the past, the aftermath of those conflicts brought more stability and peace than when they “reached out.” Over sixty years of reaching out to the world, and still people like Leon Panetta seem to think that just one more time will make a difference and will sway world opinion. How many times have I heard that story over the last thirty years? One example for the doubters was the withdrawal from Gaza, which did not improve relations with the Arabs but instead caused thousands of rockets to rain down on Israel’s southern border.

The policy of the USA from 1979 to the present has now made the whole of the Middle East an unstable war zone with Shia Mullahs in Iran and now from Turkey, Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, and Yemen, and soon, Syria and others will come under the influence of the Nazi-style Muslim Brotherhood. We contend that Obama has deliberately brought on this because of his radical agenda and has been allowed to succeed with a combination of infiltration, naivety and political correctness.

Turkey is the key, and it will take over influence of the whole of the Sunni Middle East, using calls for peace to deceive, and when it achieves its goals of power it will then wage war against Israel. Iran will flex its muscles and will achieve its goal in gaining a nuclear weapon and will use that weapon against Saudi Arabia. After Saudi Arabia is destroyed, then all focus will be on Jerusalem.

Original Article: http://bigpeace.com/kdavies/2011/12/03/obamas-muslim-brotherhood-favoritism-will-lead-to-war-in-the-middle-east/#idc-container

CAN MUSLIMS BE GOOD AMERICANS/CANADIANS?

This came to me in an e-mail and every point is true

This is certainly 'food-for-thought' and very interesting. Maybe this is why our American Muslims are so quiet and not speaking out about any atrocities.

Can a good Muslim be a good American or Canadian?

Theologically - no. .. . . Because his allegiance is to Allah, The moon god ofArabia ......

Religiously - no.. . .. Because no other religion is accepted by His Allah except Islam ... (Quran, 2:256) (Koran)

Scripturally - no. .. .. Because his allegiance is to the five Pillars of Islam and the Quran.

Geographically - no .. Because his allegiance is to Mecca, to which he turns in prayer five times a day..

Socially - no. . . Because his allegiance to Islam forbids him to make friends with Christians or Jews ...

Politically - no... Because he must submit to the mullahs (spiritual leaders), who teach annihilation of Israel and destruction of America, the great Satan.

Domestically - no. .. . Because he is instructed to marry four Women and beat and scourge his wife when she disobeys him (Quran 4:34 )

Intellectually - no... Because he cannot accept the American Constitution since it is based on Biblical principles and he believes the Bible to be corrupt.

Philosophically - no. . . Because Islam, Muhammad, and the Quran does not allow freedom of religion and expression. Democracy and Islam cannot co-exist. Every Muslim government is either dictatorial or autocratic.

Spiritually - no... Because when we declare 'one nation under God,' The Christian's God is loving and kind, while Allah is NEVER referred to as Heavenly father, nor is he ever called love in the Quran's 99 excellent names.


Call it what you wish it's still the truth. The more who understand this, the better it will be for our country and our future. The religious war is bigger than we know or understand. ..........

Footnote: The Muslims have said they will destroy us from within. SO FREEDOM IS NOT FREE.

An Interesting Prophecy

This past week on the Hal Lindsey Report, Hal share an interesting prophecy and I want to share it with you. 

Almost 900 years ago, Pope Innocent II summoned the Bishop of Armagh, in what is now Northern Ireland, to come to Rome. While there, this Bishop purportedly experienced a vision in which he saw the popes from that time until the end of the Roman Catholic church. He recorded his impression of each of the remaining 112 popes in a series of cryptic phrases. 

Today, Saint Malachy's vision is called "The Prophecy of the Popes." Written in 1139, it was rediscovered in the Vatican's archives in 1590. 

I do not believe Saint Malachy's predictions rise to the level of the Bible's prophecies in either their detail or accuracy. However, his predictions have been remarkable in their own way and bear relevance to the times in which we live. 

You see, Saint Malachy's prophecy seems to predict that the current pope, Benedict XVI, will be the next to last pope of the Roman church. After him will come a pope called Petrus Romanus, or Peter the Roman. Malachy appears to indicate that he will be the one who cooperates with the Antichrist, then will be turned upon and destroyed by the leader of the confederacy that rises out of the old Roman Empire. 

When you consider the fact that Benedict XVI is 85 years old, the world might not have to wait very long to learn if Saint Malachy's final prediction comes true. 

And if that's not interesting enough, stir this into the mix. The European Union is virtually teetering on the edge of collapse. I'm sure you've been hearing all the talk about Greece in the news. As I write this, the G20 is meeting to discuss how to rescue Greece from total bankruptcy. Germany is leading the effort to bail out the Greeks because if they fall chances are several other EU nations will follow in short order. 

It's gotten so dodgy that some European leaders have turned to China for help. 

Alan Greenspan, former Chairman of the Federal Reserve System, recently told CNBCthat the European Union is too big (27 members) to succeed. He noted that the divide, both culturally and economically, between the northern and southern countries of the EU is just too great. He thinks that the only way divergent nations can successfully lump their currencies together is if they are culturally close, like Germany, the Netherlands, and Austria. Otherwise, he said, it just can't work. 

Wow, that means the northern nations of the EU should not be tied, currency-wise, to the southern nations of the EU. That could cause a problem since, essentially, it's the northern nations that are having to bail out the southern members. And the citizens of those northern nations are none too happy about that. 

Bottom line, of course, is that if the EU can't make it work (and the futility of previous bailouts of several of the EU nations seems to indicate it will not), then there is every chance that the European Union may collapse. Or, it may turn to someone who has the ideas and the leadership to make it work. Or, at least, make a revised form of it work. 

Now, consider, too, the fact that the Vatican just recently published a report by the Pontifical Council of Justice and Peace. It calls for the establishment of a "global authority" and a "central world bank" to rule over the world's diverse financial institutions. Although this body does not speak directly for Pope Benedict, it carries his authority because the report quotes him extensively. 

In fact, in 2009 Pope Benedict issued an encyclical called "Caritas in Veritate." In it, the Pope denounced the capitalist mentality as responsible for the global financial meltdown. He also stated that the world's nations need to transfer part of their powers to a world authority. Then he argued that "there is an urgent need for a true world political authority." 

To recap: We have an ancient prophecy -- issued by a Catholic Bishop -- that predicts Pope Benedict XVI will be the next to last pope. It also indicates that the pontiff which follows him will cooperate with the Antichrist, which, in turn will result in "the city of seven hills" being destroyed. 

Then, we have the current Pope and leadership of the Roman Catholic church advocating for a global authority to rule over the world's financial institutions. Further, the Pope suggests that there needs to be a single world political authority. 

At precisely the same time, the vaunted European Union -- which essentially springs from the residue of the old Roman Empire -- is facing the possibility of imminent collapse. If that were to happen, it would result in either it disappearing from the pages of history or finding new leadership, retooling itself, and rising again to take charge of the chaos enveloping the world in the wake of its first failure. 

Now, how can anyone look at this convergence of remarkable circumstances and say that Bible prophecy is just so much hooey? Only a spiritually blind and deaf person could conceivably argue that these are not exciting times in which to live. Especially if you're a believer! 

But Europe's not the only place in the world witnessing major movement among end-times players. In the last 10 months, the "Arab Spring" has resulted in a geopolitical shift that has brought the Bible's prophecies concerning the "King of the South" into sharp relief -- no -- into concrete reality. The nations that span northern Africa and extend down the Arabian peninsula are now formally Islamic states or soon will be. They all lie to the 'south' of Israel and, I believe, form the entity that the prophets called the "King of the South" -- referring to one of the four spheres of power that will be involved in the war of Armageddon. 

Once again, these remarkable events prove the veracity of God's Word. And that Word also says that before things get too nasty, Jesus Christ will return to receive all true believers unto Himself. And when He calls us up to join Him in the air, He'll be removing from this earth the restraining ministry of the Holy Spirit. And, friends, that's when -- literally -- all hell will break loose upon this world. You do not want to be here when that happens. 

Don't wait. If you've never believed and accepted the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ; if you've never received the pardon that He died to purchase for you, do it right now. Accept His free gift of pardon and welcome Him into your life. Trust me. You will never regret it. 

 www.hallindsey.com or www.hischannel.com. .

The Bible and Politics

The Bible is not silent about political matters. Civil government exists by God's command and not because a group of men got together and created a social contract. In Proverbs 21:1, Solomon says that God can turn a ruler's heart. In Daniel 2:20-21, Daniel declares that God both removes and sets up rulers. Ultimately, God is in charge of the institutions of human government, and He has power over them. Paul writes in Romans 13:1:

"Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God."

In fact, Paul calls civil rulers the "ministers of God," who were to be respected (Rom 13:3). Civil leaders are doing the will of God by maintaining civil order and upholding justice. That's their job.

The Bible constantly treats the position of authority as one that is given by God for His purposes. "For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: He putteth down one, and setteth up another" (Psalm 75:6-7). That does not mean that those who became leaders obeyed God or served Him well. There are plenty of kings and rulers in Israel who turned away from God and followed their own desires. Yet, God still gave them the position for His purposes. And while there were many leaders in Israel's history who made evil decisions, there was Esther, who came through for her people after she was made a wife of the king of Persia, "for such a time as this,"(Esther 4:14).

"Should Christians celebrate Halloween?"

Whether or not Christians should celebrate Halloween can be a very controversial topic. Some Christians celebrate Halloween simply by dressing up in a costume and having fun, seeing it as innocent and harmless. Other Christians are equally convinced that Halloween is a satanic holiday established to worship evil spirits and promote darkness and wickedness. So, who is right? Is it possible for Christians to celebrate Halloween without compromising their faith?

Halloween, no matter how commercialized, has almost completely pagan origins. As innocent as it may seem to some, it is not something to be taken lightly. Christians tend to have various ways to celebrate or not to celebrate Halloween. For some, it means having an “alternative” Harvest Party. For others, it is staying away from the ghosts, witches, goblins, etc., and wearing innocuous costumes, e.g., little princesses, clowns, cowboys, super-heroes, etc. Some choose not to do anything, electing to lock themselves in the house with the lights off. With our freedom as Christians, we are at liberty to decide how to act.

Scripture does not speak at all about Halloween, but it does give us some principles on which we can make a decision. In Old Testament Israel, witchcraft was a crime punishable by death (Exodus 22:18; Leviticus 19:31; 20:6, 27). The New Testament teaching about the occult is clear. Acts 8:9-24, the story of Simon, shows that occultism and Christianity don't mix. The account of Elymas the sorcerer in Acts 13:6-11 reveals that sorcery is violently opposed to Christianity. Paul called Elymas a child of the devil, an enemy of righteousness and a perverter of the ways of God. In Acts 16, at Philippi, a fortune-telling girl lost her demon powers when the evil spirit was cast out by Paul. The interesting matter here is that Paul refused to allow even good statements to come from a demon-influenced person. Acts 19 shows new converts who have abruptly broken with their former occultism by confessing, showing their evil deeds, bringing their magic paraphernalia, and burning it before everyone (Acts 19:19).

So, should a Christian celebrate Halloween? Is there anything evil about a Christian dressing up as a princess or cowboy and going around the block asking for candy? No, there is not. Are there things about Halloween that are anti-Christian and should be avoided? Absolutely! If parents are going to allow their children to participate in Halloween, they should make sure to keep them from getting involved in the darker aspects of the day. If Christians are going to take part in Halloween, their attitude, dress, and most importantly, their behavior should still reflect a redeemed life (Philippians 1:27). There are many churches that hold "harvest festivals" and incorporate costumes, but in a godly environment. There are many Christians who hand out tracts that share the Gospel along with the Halloween candy. The decision is ultimately ours to make. But as with all things, we are to incorporate the principles of Romans 14. We can’t allow our own convictions about a holiday to cause division in the body of Christ, nor can we use our freedom to cause others to stumble in their faith. We are to do all things as to the Lord.

What Is Mormonism

Often, with the up-coming presidential election, I am ask what I think about Mormonism. I am not trying to make someone mad at me deliberately, but you have to look at what the "Scriptures" say about their beliefs.

Probably a little of history need to be looked at, first. Let me "present the facts," and you make up your own mind.

The Mormon religion (Mormonism), whose followers are known as Mormons and Latter Day Saints (LDS), was founded less than two hundred years ago by a man named Joseph Smith. He claimed to have received a personal visit from God the Father and Jesus Christ who told him that all churches and their creeds were an abomination. Joseph Smith then set out to begin a brand-new religion that claims to be the “only true church on earth.” The problem with Mormonism is that it contradicts, modifies, and expands on the Bible. Christians have no reason to believe that the Bible is not true and adequate. To truly believe in and trust God means to believe in His Word, and all Scripture is inspired by God, which means it comes from Him (2 Timothy 3:16).

Mormons believe that there are in fact four sources of divinely inspired words, not just one: 

• 1) The Bible “as far as it is translated correctly.” Which verses are considered incorrectly translated is not always made clear. 
• 2) The Book of Mormon, which was “translated” by Smith and published in 1830. Smith claimed it is the “most correct book” on earth and that a person can get closer to God by following its precepts “than by any other book.” 
• 3) The Doctrine and Covenants, containing a collection of modern revelations regarding the “Church of Jesus Christ as it has been restored.” 
• 4) The Pearl of the Great Price, which is considered by Mormons to “clarify” doctrines and teachings that were lost from the Bible and adds its own information about the earth's creation.

Mormons believe the following about God: 

• He has not always been the Supreme Being of the universe, but attained that status through righteous living and persistent effort. 
• They believe God the Father has a “body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s.” 
• Though abandoned by modern Mormon leaders, Brigham Young taught that Adam actually was God and the father of Jesus Christ. 

In contrast, Christians know this about God: 

• there is only one true God (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 43:10; 44:6-8), 
• He always has existed and always will exist (Deuteronomy 33:27; Psalm 90:2; 1 Timothy 1:17), and 
• He was not created but is the Creator (Genesis 1; Psalm 24:1; Isaiah 37:16). 
• He is perfect, and no one else is equal to Him (Psalm 86:8; Isaiah 40:25).
• God the Father is not a man, nor was He ever (Numbers 23:19; 1 Samuel 15:29; Hosea 11:9). 
• He is Spirit (John 4:24), and 
• Spirit is not made of flesh and bone (Luke 24:39).

Mormons believe that there are different levels or kingdoms in the afterlife: 

• the celestial kingdom, 
• the terrestrial kingdom, 
• the telestial kingdom, and 
• outer darkness. 

Where mankind will end up depends on what they believe and do in this life. 

In contrast, the Bible tells us that after death, 

• we go to heaven or hell based on whether or not we had faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. 
• To be absent from our bodies means, as believers, we are with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:6-8). Unbelievers are sent to hell or the place of the dead (Luke 16:22-23). 
• When Jesus comes the second time, we will receive new bodies (1 Corinthians 15:50-54). 
• There will be a new heaven and new earth for believers (Revelation 21:1), and 
• unbelievers will be thrown into an everlasting lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15). 
• There is no second chance for redemption after death (Hebrews 9:27).

Mormon leaders have taught that Jesus’ incarnation was the result of a physical relationship between God the Father and Mary. Mormons believe Jesus is a god, but that any human can also become a god. Mormonism teaches that salvation can be earned by a combination of faith and good works. 

Contrary to this, Christians historically have taught that 

• no one can achieve the status of God—only He is holy (1 Samuel 2:2). 
• We can only be made holy in God's sight through faith in Him (1 Corinthians 1:2). 
• Jesus is the only begotten Son of God (John 3:16), 
• He is the only one ever to have lived a sinless, blameless life, and now has the highest place of honor in heaven (Hebrews 7:26). 
• Jesus and God are one in essence, Jesus being the only One existing before physical birth (John 1:1-8; 8:56). 
• Jesus gave Himself to us as a sacrifice, 
• God raised Him from the dead, and 
• one day everyone will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:6-11). 
• Jesus tells us it is impossible to get to heaven by our own works and that only by faith in Him is it possible (Matthew 19:26). 
• We all deserve eternal punishment for our sins, but God's infinite love and grace have allowed us a way out. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

Clearly, there is only one way to receive salvation and that is to know God and His Son, Jesus (John 17:3). It is not done by works, but by faith (Romans 1:17; 3:28). We can receive this gift no matter who we are or what we have done (Romans 3:22). “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

Mormons are deceived by a false religion that distorts the nature of God, the Person of Jesus Christ, and the means of salvation.

"What is the abomination of desolation?"

I was reading an article and wanted to share it with you from Spiros Zodhiates (1922-2009), who served as president of AMG International for over 40 years, was the founding editor of Pulpit Helps Magazine (Disciple’s predecessor), and authored dozens of exegetical books.

This article is from Exegetical Commentary on Matthew, 2006, AMG Publishers

[15] The word “therefore” (oún[3767]) connects “the end (télos[5056], terminal point)” in verse 14 with the event being introduced here. “When” (the Greek conjunction hótan[3752]), focuses on a specific event within the nation of Israel, which will be miraculously preserved. The appearance of the abomination of desolation is connected with the worldwide preaching of the gospel of the kingdom at “the end.”

This is the closest Jesus gets to answering the disciple’s question of when in verse 3. However, the “when” is eclipsed by a “what”, that is, some physical object called an “abomination of desolation” is given in place of a date. There will be a day and hour when this profane, sacrilegious idol will be erected, but the disciples were to deduce the time from the sign, not the sign from the times.

Once in this discourse, hótan is qualified only by anticipatory waiting (prosdokáō [4328]; v. 50). In three other instances, the expectation of “then” is connected with signs that are empirically observed (here the abomination of desolation, in v. 32 the branch putting forth leaves as summer approaches, and in v. 33 “all these things”). In looking at the magnificent temple, Jesus had said (v. 2) that one stone would not be left on another, but the entire structure would be “thrown down” or destroyed (from katalúō [2647]).

Jesus now spoke of “the abomination of desolation.” Abomination is the Greek noun bdélugma ([946] from the verb bdelússō [948], to emit a foul odor or to turn away through loathing or disgust). The abomination, then, whatever it is, will cause desolation. The verb translated “shall see” is ídēte (the aorist active subjunctive ofeídon from horáō [3708], to see and perceive with emphasis on perception). Believers will see or perceive this disgusting thing at the completion of the age (suntéleia toú aiōnos; v. 3). Furthermore, they will need to “mind” what was written in the book of Daniel to perceive accurately how this event fits into the general scheme.

In 1 John 2:18 we read, “Little children, it is the last hour: and as you have heard that antichrist (antíchristos[500] from antí [473], against; and christós [5547], anointed one) comes (from érchomai [2064], to come), even now there are many antichrists; so we know it is the last hour” (a.t.).

An antichrist is one who opposes Christ. “Antí” also means “in place of,” so this last Antichrist will be a supplanter; he will try to replace the true Messiah. The “little horn” on the fourth beast of Daniel 7:8 and “the beast” (thēríon [2342]) of Revelation 11:7; 13:1–8 are then both Antichrist. Three-and-a-half years into Daniel’s seventieth week, this beast will attempt to replace Christ (Dan. 9:27; 2 Thess. 2:3-10; Rev. 13:5). This ultimate Antichrist surpasses the attempts of former antichrists to replace God as the object of worship (Rev. 13:12).

Satan will energize him (Rev. 13:2, 3) and aid his cause by performing miracles through him and deceiving the world into worshiping him through “another beast” (Rev. 13:11, 12). Elsewhere the Antichrist is called “that lawless (ánomos [459]) one” (2 Thess. 2:8 NASB), the “man of sin,” and the “son of perdition” (2 Thess. 2:1–12). He will be destroyed on and by the “Day of Christ” (2 Thess. 2:2). This final Antichrist may be the “angel of the abyss,” the “king” of Hades (Rev. 9:11), whose name in Hebrew is “Abaddon” and in Greek “Apollyon” (apollúōn [623]), both names signifying “the destroyer.”

This final Antichrist is so obnoxious (bdelússō or bdéō [n.f.], to stink) that Jerusalem and the temple will be desolated as prophesied by Christ (Matt. 23:38; Luke 21:20) and earlier by Jeremiah (Jer. 22:5). This is not so much a military conquest as moral abandonment, far worse than defeat. The amazing thing is that all this was predicted so long ago in Daniel 8:13 and 9:27. Daniel 11:31 says, “And they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.”

The activities of this supreme world leader are given in historical narrative in Daniel, chapters 7–12. Satan himself empowers him according to Revelation 13:2, warring against the people of God (13:7). The conflict that ensues is unimaginable. At the end, the Messiah stops the transgression and the “wicked one” (2 Thess. 2:8; a.t.). All this centers in Jerusalem (cf. Dan. 9:26).

According to Daniel 11:36 (cf. 2 Thess. 2:4), this Antichrist magnifies himself above every god, including the almighty God, arousing His indignation. While two words in Greek (orgē [3709], wrath, in Matt. 3:7, Luke 3:7, Rom. 1:18, etc.; and thlípsis [2347], tribulation, in Mark 13:19, 24; 2 Thess. 1:6; Rev. 2:22; 7:14, etc.) are both characteristics of this time, Paul makes it clear that believers are not appointed to the wrath (from orgē; 1 Thess. 5:9) of God. The Lord, rather, “rescues us from the coming wrath” (1 Thess. 1:10 NIV).

Jesus now said parenthetically that understanding this prophecy is essential and should occupy our careful attention: “Whoso readeth (from anaginōskō [314] from aná [303], again; and ginōskō [1097], to know by experience), let him understand (noeítō from noéō [3539], to comprehend, understand).”

Each individual should read these Scriptures over and over again until he or she understands what is meant. Of course, this will take place in the middle of the Tribulation period. I believe that those who understand already will be raptured beforehand, but many will seek the truth in that day. These people must learn what Christ would have them do when the abomination of desolation approaches. This is impossible apart from a careful study of Daniel chapters 7–12 and other related portions of Scripture (2 Thess. 2:1–12; 1 John 2:18; Rev. 13).

As disciples, we all ought to read the biblical lessons given by God’s inspired prophets like Daniel. Accordingly, we should not read prophecy casually, but carefully interpret it and apply it to our own experiences.

[16] When believers recognize the identity of the Antichrist, Jesus continued, they should take certain measures. The adverb “then” (tóte [5119]) here agrees with the “then’s” of verses 9 and 10, referring to the second half of the seven-year, seventieth week of Daniel. Conditions in Jerusalem will be so bad that Jesus forewarned His disciples to leave the region of Judea and escape to the mountains. The verb “let them flee” ispheugétōsan, the present imperative of pheúgō (5343), to flee (cf. Mark 13:14; Luke 21:21).

[17, 18] Other specific instructions are worth noting. If anyone is on the roof of his house, Jesus warned, “Let him…not come down (from katabaínō [2597], to go down) to take (from aírō [142], to take away) anything out of his house. Nor let him who is in the field return (from epistréphō [1994]) back (opísō [3694]) to take (also fromaírō) his clothes” (a.t.). No material possession is worth a human life. As Judea will be surrounded by armies (Luke 21:20), panic and anarchy will set in. People will no longer find safety in status or possessions. Jesus’ clear advice here is to flee from the land.

[19] A specific exhortation is given to expectant and nursing mothers: “And woe unto them that are with child, and them that nurse (from thēlázō [2337], to breast feed a baby) in those days” (a.t.). “Those days” may extend to the full forty-two months or 1,260 days noted in other places (Dan. 7:25; 9:27; 12:10–12; Rev. 11:2, 3; 13:5; see below for further discussion).

[20] Within this period, apparently, there will be favorable times to escape: “But pray ye (from proseúchomai[4336], to pray to God) that your flight (phugē [5437]) be (from gínomai [1096], to become) not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath day.” As Paul tells us generally, we should “pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17), but this prayer has a specific content. A desperate flight out of Judea would violate the command to rest on the Sabbath, and winter is generally a time of food scarcity, even apart from the threat of an invasion. But God will be tolerant throughout the Tribulation, His grace reaching down to save souls from “all nations” from the evil one. Among these will be great numbers of Israelites.

[21] The reason for praying that the escape out of Judea is not in the winter or on a Sabbath day follows: “For then shall be great (from mégas [3173]) tribulation (thlípsis [2347]), such as was (from gínomai [1096], “to be”)not since (ap’ from apó [575], from) the beginning (from archē [746], commencement) of the world (kósmos[2889]) to this time, no, nor ever shall be.”

The words “great” and “tribulation,” occurring without definite articles, should be taken generically, introducing us to a special kind of tribulation. “Such” translates a form of the relative pronoun hoíos ([3634], such a one). The contrast that follows is between this and every other tribulation. This will be the severest.

“To this time” translates héōs (2193), until this time. The last phrase, “no, nor ever shall be,” begins with the negative oudé (3761), “but not.” This is a contrasting compound conjunction of the two negatives ou (3756) andmē (3361) combined as an intensive combination, meaning absolutely not, never at any time. The intensive negative means that this tribulation will be absolutely unprecedented.

Though dreadful and unique, the Tribulation will be under God’s full control. Satan and his demons are sometimes called world rulers (from kosmokrátōr [2888]; see Eph. 6:12), but God is the ruler of all, thepantokrátōr ([3841], the almighty, the ruler of all heaven and earth, the universe) (2 Cor. 6:18; Rev. 1:8; 4:8; etc.). Because Satan’s time will be short, he will no doubt command his malevolent ranks to carry out their evil plans efficiently. But Revelation 17:14 assures us who will be victorious: “These (the forces of evil including the Antichrist) shall make war with the Lamb (arníon [721] a living lamb), and the Lamb shall overcome them” (see also Rev. 5:6; 6:1; 7:9; etc.).

[22] The King James Version here translates the Greek conjunction ei (1487) mē (3361), “if not,” as a clause of exception: “And except (ei mē) those days be shortened, no (literally, none [from ou {3756}] of any [from pás{3956}, all, any]) flesh (sárx [4561], the emphasis is on physical preservation, not spiritual salvation) would (án[302], “then” as a potential) be saved (from sōzō [4982], to save)” (a.t.).

The contextual referent of “those days” is the Great Tribulation, the period when Gentile armies invade Jerusalem to quell the religious anarchy created by positioning the abomination of desolation in the holy place (Dan. 9:27). Such furious oppression will take place in those days that unless the time is shortened, everyone will die physically.

Will God shorten the days? Here, it would be better to think of the Greek verb translated in the King James Version as “should be shortened (from kolobóō [2856])” as “to be cut short.” Or, to put it another way, God has already determined shortened days. If He had not, the text says, the destruction would be total. Another way to translate the first part of the verse is: “If (ei, on the supposition that) those days were not shortened(ekolobōthēsan, the aorist indicative of kolobóō [2856]; the indicative—in place of the subjunctive—implies that God already shortened), then surely (an [302]) no one will escape alive” (a.t.).

Since God’s foreknowledge is absolutely accurate, it already includes shortened days, but to what extent? No doubt the original three-and-a-half years prophesied in Daniel and marked out as a unique period of oppression also in Revelation (see Dan. 7:25; Rev. 11:2-3; 12:7; etc.) have already been shortened from a longer period that would have been (see, e.g., Matt. 11:21, 23 for events that “would have been” had God determined otherwise). It is not necessary for us to know what the reduction in time is in order to know that it is.

The balance of the verse tells us for whose sake God cut the days short: “For the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened” (which means the shortening is included in God’s eternal decree. There’s no “if” about this here; they “shall be” shortened). The “elect” (from eklektós [1588], chosen one) are those saved from all nations during the Tribulation (Rev. 7:1–17; 12:17; 13:7; 15:2-3). The persecution by the Antichrist will stimulate believers of this period to pray fervently: “The effectual fervent prayer (déēsis [1162], prayer for what is needed)of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16). Many will be saved through God’s answer to these prayers.

This does not indicate a change of God’s plan and mind but the exact execution of His will as planned. The time of the severe persecution by the Antichrist will be no longer than the length of time to which God has shortened it. The time would be longer if God were not merciful, but since He is, He will shorten the period in which the Antichrist expends his fury.

Spiros Zodhiates (1922-2009) served as president of AMG International for over 40 years, was the founding editor of Pulpit Helps Magazine (Disciple’s predecessor), and authored dozens of exegetical books.

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The Man - Schaeffer

Francis A. Schaeffer (1912-1984) was “among the most influential conservative evangelical leaders in recent decades.” His 23 books were translated into more than 25 languages. He lectured throughout Europe and the U.S. at major secular and Christian universities.

His “unique gift was his ability to proclaim biblical truth and the Gospel of Jesus Christ in a way that combined spiritual and intellectual integrity with practical loving care.”

Many time I wonder what he would be saying today, with all the "stuff" that is happening in the Emergent Church movement.

Born in Philadelphia, he grew up attending a liberal Presbyterian church, but actually became an agnostic during high school. After reading widely in philosophy he turned to the Bible and discovered that it is truth “and the only adequate source for answers to life’s basic questions.”“Perhaps the most prominent theme in Francis Schaeffer’s life and work was his emphasis on ‘the Lordship of Christ in the totality of life’….If Jesus Christ is indeed Lord, He must be Lord of all, in every area.

We are missing the mark in our lives today. It is not just a Baptist "thing." It is not a church "thing." It is a Jesus "thing." it is Jesus in our lives conforming us to Himself. It is not just "giving our hearts to Jesus". It is a total emersion of ourselves into to Him. 

This is the only way that we can become "like Him."

What is your reason for not doing that? That doesn't like a good reason to me!

 

Reference: “Francis Schaeffer and L’Abri”, by David Porter, in Great Leaders of the Christian Church;

Who is the false prophet of the end times?

The false prophet of the end times is described in Revelation 13:11-15. He is also referred to as the “second beast” (Revelation 16:13, 19:20, 20:10). Together with the Antichrist and Satan, who empowers both of them, the false prophet is the third party in the unholy trinity. 

The apostle John describes this person and gives us clues to identifying him when he shows up. First, he comes out of the earth. This could mean he comes up from the pit of hell with all the demonic powers of hell at his command. It could also mean he comes from lowly circumstances, secret and unknown until he burst on the world stage at the right hand of the Antichrist. He is depicted as having horns like a lamb, while speaking like a dragon. The horns on lambs are merely small bumps on their heads until the lamb grows into a ram. Rather than having the Antichrist’s multiplicity of heads and horns, showing his power and might and fierceness, the false prophet comes like a lamb, winsomely, with persuasive words that elicit sympathy and good will from others. He may be an extraordinary preacher or orator whose demonically empowered words will deceive the multitudes. But he speaks like a dragon, which means his message is the message of a dragon. Revelation 12:9 identifies the dragon as the devil and Satan.

Verse 12 give us the false prophet’s mission on earth, which is to force humanity to worship the Antichrist. He has all the authority of the Antichrist because, like him, the false prophet is empowered by Satan. It is not clear whether people are forced to worship the Antichrist or whether they are so enamored of these powerful beings that they fall for the deception and worship him willingly. The fact that the second beast uses miraculous signs and wonders, including fire from heaven, to establish the credibility of both of them would seem to indicate that people will fall in line behind them in adoration for their power and message. Verse 14 goes on to say the deception will be so great that the people will set up an idol to the Antichrist and worship it. This is reminiscent of the huge golden image of Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 3) before which all were to bow down and pay homage. Revelation 14:9-11, however, describes the ghastly fate that awaits those who worship the image of the Antichrist.

Those who survive the terrors of the tribulation to this point will be faced with two hard choices. Those who refuse to worship the image of the beast will be subject to death (v. 15), but those who do worship him will incur the wrath of God. The image will be extraordinary in that it will be able to “speak.” This doesn’t mean it will come to life—the Greek word here is pneuma meaning “breath” or “current” of air, not the wordbios (“life”)—but it does mean that it will have some kind of ability to breathe forth the message of the Antichrist and the false prophet. Along with being the spokesman for them, the image will also be used to condemn to death those who refuse to worship the unholy pair. In our technological world, it is not hard to imagine such a scenario where a statue could be animated and appear to come to life.

Whoever and whatever the false prophet turns out to be, the final world deception and the final apostasy will be great and the whole world will be caught up in it. We must not be led astray by the small-time deceivers and false teachers we see today who are the forerunners of the Antichrist and the false prophet. These people abound, and they are moving us toward this final satanic kingdom. We have to be faithful to proclaim the saving gospel of Jesus Christ while it is still possible to do so and rescue the souls of men and women from the coming disaster.


www.gotquestions.org

Could God be Judging Our Nation

With the official repeal of "don't ask, don't tell" less than a month away, members of the military can expect to see a new gay-themed magazine available at military exchange stores on Sept. 20, the same day the repeal goes into effect. The gay-advocacy group OutServe launched the magazine last Spring and has already produced two editions that will be available for free at select Army and Air Force bases.

The new September edition will feature a photo spread of nearly 100 people who are both active duty service members and members of OutServe, and will be the first time these individuals have made their sexuality known among the military ranks.

"Our first objective with the magazine is to let all the gay, lesbian, bi, and trans members currently serving know that they are not alone," OutServe's co-director, an active-duty officer who goes by the pseudonym JD Smith said in a written release. "And we also want to communicate to all troops that there are capable gay military members serving honorably, and that accepting that and moving on will make our military stronger."

I wonder how much longer God will allow our nation to fall into debauchery before bringing judgement.

Perilous Times Ahead

Israel is in more danger today than any time in her recent history, but if you are a follower of Prophecy and the prophetic scenario for the final days of this Age, this information comes as no surprise for you. 

The threats to Israel will continue to increase until great war erupts around her. Eventually, Jesus Christ Himself will return to this earth to stop the carnage and restore the earth to its fullness. 

We are still admonished to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. . 

This month, September, the Arab League and the Palestinians plan to ask the United Nations General Assembly to recognize the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem (including the Temple Mount) as the sovereign nation of Palestine. The amazing part is that The General Assembly has no standing to make such a declaration legal

The Palestinians also want to ask the Security Council -- which in essence, is the real United Nations and does have some legal teeth -- to formally recognize Palestine. President Obama has stated that the US will veto such a resolution, but then he and his administration turn around and use the possibility of a non-veto to bludgeon Israel into following his dictates. 

One of those dictates is that Israel must apologize to Turkey for interdicting the blockade-busting "humanitarian flotilla" in June, 2010. When the Israelis boarded the Mavi Marmara, they were attacked by Turkish thugs and hired mercenaries. Though the Israeli commandos were armed mostly with non-lethal weapons, in the ensuing battle, nine members of the flotilla were killed. 


The United Nations and the West eventually confirmed that the Israeli-Egyptian naval blockade of Gaza was legal and the Israelis acted within their rights. But President Obama is siding with Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan in demanding that Israel apologize. Erdogan wants them to apologize so he can use it to further delegitimize Israel in the eyes of the world and enhance his own standing in the Arab/Muslim world. 

The American administration is publicly hinting that if Israel doesn't apologize, then, according to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the White House might suddenly "find itself unable to continue building opposition to a unilateral Palestinian declaration of statehood at the UN...." 


Is it any wonder that we are heading for "perilious times".

Are We Living In The Last Days

We have to be careful not to be guilty of what Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for—what one might call the Red Sky Syndrome. If you recall, Jesus rebuked the Pharisees because they had an ability to predict the weather. They could look at the sky, and if it was red at night, they would say, "Sailor's delight." And if it was red in the morning, they would say, "Sailors take warning." But they missed the signs of the times, and they missed the first advent of Christ. They missed the coming of the Messiah right in their midst in spite of the fact that a host of biblical prophecies heralded the appearance of Jesus on the scene—and Jesus rebuked them for it.

When somebody asks me, "Are we in the last days?" I would think that what they mean is, "Are we in the time prior to the Rapture of the Church or the second coming of Jesus Christ?" These are two distinct events.

You cannot just say yes or no. So I will say, "Yes, and I don't know."

We have been in the last days since the first advent of Christ. And so the Scriptures tell us that we are to be living in the spirit of diligence and of vigilance from the time that Jesus departed this planet in clouds of glory until he returns. But when people ask me, "Are we living in the last days?" I think they are asking if we "Are we living in the last minutes of the last hour of the last day?"

So the question is, "Do I think that the return of Jesus is close; is it on the horizon?"

When Luther went through all of the turbulent upheaval of the Christian church in the sixteenth century, he was convinced that the fragmentation of the church at that time was heralding the return of Jesus. But Luther was wrong in that respect

Jonathan Edwards, living in the middle of the eighteenth century, shortly before this nation was formed as a republic, reflected on the way in which religion had declined from 1620 to 1750. He was convinced that the world was going to the dogs and that it was running out of time, that Jesus was going to come any minute. Edwards, too, was wrong.

I can say without a doubt, however, that we're about 450 years closer to it than Luther was and 235 years closer to it than Edwards was. There is a lot of "Stuff" going on in the world todayand that tells me a couple of things.

• First, in the days that we are living as Christians, we need to spending time in God's Word develpoping our personal relationship with Him; making sure our house is in order. 
• Second, we need to be rebuilding walls that have been torn down; making sure God's House is in order. 

As Nehemiah told those rebuilding the walls, to work with a trowel in one hand and a sword in the other. That would be equal to us reading the newspaper in one hand and the Bible in the other.

Time of Jacob's Trouble

As we look around us, we realize that the times we are living are not like any other before. Could we be nearing "the time of Jacob's trouble."


"The time of Jacob's trouble" is a quote from Jeremiah 30:7 which says, "Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it" (KJV).

In verses 3 & 4 of Jeremiah 30, we find that the Lord is speaking to the prophet and  promises that one day in the future, He will bring both Judah and Israel back to the land that He had promised their forefathers. Verse 5 describes a time of great fear and trembling. Verse 6 describes this time in a way that pictures men going through the pains of childbirth, again indicating a time of fear and pain. But there is hope for Judah and Israel, for the Lord promises He will save Jacob out of this time of great distress (30:7).

In Jeremiah 30:10-11 the Lord says, “‘I will surely save you out of a distant place, your descendants from the land of their exile. Jacob will again have peace and security, and no one will make him afraid. I am with you and will save you,’ declares the LORD.”

The Lord says He will destroy the nations who held Judah and Israel in captivity, but will not destroy Jacob completely. Our Lord describes that time as a time of discipline for Jacob. He says of Jacob, “Though I completely destroy all the nations among which I scatter you, I will not completely destroy you. I will discipline you but only with justice; I will not let you go entirely unpunished.”

It also says "that day is great, so that none is like it.”  This best fits the description of the period of the tribulation. This is an unparalleled time; there will never be another like it. Jeremiah 30:6 depicts a man going through the pains of childbirth. This is paralleled by other passages that liken the tribulation to birth pains.

In Matthew 24:6-8, Jesus stated that the appearance of false christs, wars and rumors of wars, famines, and earthquakes are "the beginning of birth pains." We know this will be during the first half of the tribulation because the appearance of the beast/antichrist occurs at the midpoint of the tribulation (Matthew 24:15; Daniel 9:27; Revelation 13).

Paul also described the tribulation as birth pains in 1 Thessalonians 5:3, "While people are saying, ‘Peace and safety,’ destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape." This event follows the rapture and the removal of the Church, in 4:13-18. In 5:9, Paul reemphasizes the absence of the Church from this time period by saying, "For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ." The wrath spoken of here is God's judgment on the unbelieving world and His discipline of Israel during the tribulation.

These birth pains are described in detail in Revelation 6-12, birth pains which are the Lord's discipline designed to bring Israel back to Him.

For those who have received Christ as Savior from sin, the time of Jacob's trouble is something for which we should praise the Lord, for it is His demonstrating that He keeps His promises. Just as He has promised us eternal life through Christ our Lord, He also will fulfill His promises of land, seed, and blessing that He made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the form of covenants by giving those things to their physical descendants. But before He fulfills these promises, He will lovingly but firmly discipline the nation so that they return to Him.