The Prophecy Update Newsletter - 1/10/25

News & Information for the End Times

Jan 10, 2025

ISRAEL AT WAR!!! Day 462 - PRAY!!!

Pray For Israel — Psalm 122:6-8, "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces. For my brethren and companions' sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee."

Visit the Prophecy Update website, for Newsletter Archives, Headlines, Video Teachings, Recommended Links and to Support this ministry (Click Here)

In Today’s Newsletter…

*The Enemies of Israel Are in A Season of Great Disappointment

*America’s Political and Financial Capitals Were Just Hit by Lightning, and Now Our Entertainment Capital Is Being Devastated by Fire

*Prophecy Update Videos

*Recommended Reading

*AI Trojan Horse: The Infrastructure Necessary for The Antichrist’s Technology Is Being Developed and Used Today

*What Would Jesus Say?

*Daily Jot: The American Chronicles: Cold weather camping

*Daily Devotion: Familiarity Breeds Contempt

*Prophecy Update News Headlines

(Scroll Down to Read)

The Enemies of Israel Are in A Season of Great Disappointment

By Amir Tsarfati - https://harbingersdaily.com/the-eneimies-of-israel-are-in-a-season-of-great-disapointment/

There is a lot of disappointment going on in the Middle East. Some of the most disappointed are found in Hamas in Gaza.

The terrorists had hoped that their actions on October 7 would be the beginning of the end for the Israeli regime. That didn’t happen. Their Plan B focused on getting world opinion against Israel as Hamas fought hard against them. That also didn’t pan out. Sure, much of the world turned against Israel, but that was bound to happen anyway. Most of the United Nations would condemn Israel just for putting sour cream and onion chips in the Gazans’ humanitarian supplies when they had asked for barbecue. But, as a whole, the UN could never find a way to shut Israel down. And, rather than making a stand against the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Hamas might as well have exchanged their fatigues for bull’s-eye patterns.

However, it must be admitted that after 15 months Hamas still exists. But credit cannot go to them for their survival. That honor is reserved for the Biden administration in Washington, D.C. This is Israel’s disappointment in the conflict. They could have gotten back the hostages and finished off Hamas months ago, but the American government slow played everything. Biden’s cronies used the threat of an arms embargo to force Israel into fighting with only one hand, while the other hand they demanded be used to provide humanitarian supplies to the Gazans. Because all humanitarian aid goes through Hamas, Israel became the first nation in history forced to feed and supply the enemy they were fighting. Incoming president Donald Trump has promised that it will be very different with him, promising that there will be “hell to pay” if the hostages are not immediately returned. We pray that it is true.

Meanwhile, the fighting in Gaza continues. Currently, much of the battle is taking place in the northern part of the region. The IDF raided Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Hania last month, causing an international uproar. The usual international pearl-clutchers quickly condemned Israel for their policy of consistently attacking innocent places designated for healing. Obviously, these are people who understand nothing about Gaza or Hamas. More than 240 terrorists were arrested from within the hospital. Just a few days ago, one of these prisoners admitted in an interview that the Kamal Adwan Hospital was a hideout for terrorists, a stash for weapons of all types, and a base from which raids were carried out. It’s time this war is over. Hopefully, after January 20 we will be able to finish it off.

Lebanon’s Disappointment

There is disappointment in Lebanon amongst many when they look to the south of their country and still see the flag of Israel waving. People question, “Weren’t they supposed to be out?” Yes, according to the ceasefire, Israel was to move out of Lebanon. However, there was a caveat added that during the withdrawal, any enemy war materiel found that could be used against Israel would be destroyed by the IDF. Unfortunately for Hezbollah, we keep finding rockets and missiles and all sorts of weapons stashed everywhere along our path. So, the IDF must take out the Hezbollah troops who are hiding the weapons, then we must destroy the weapons themselves. But progress is taking place. The Lebanese army is moving into Naquora, just to the north of the Israeli border, even as the IDF is moving out.

But it isn’t the Israelis that the Lebanese need to be most worried about. Rather than looking south, everyday Lebanese folk should be keeping their eyes to the east in Syria. The new de facto head of Syria, Ahmed al-Sharaa, no matter how much he seeks to moderate his look and his tone, is al-Qaeda at heart. Numerous radical groups are currently having their way in the broken-down country, but they aren’t content to stay on their side of the Syria/Lebanon border. Said one radical terrorist last week, “We can take Lebanon in two hours.” Said another, “All of the coastline of Lebanon is Syrian.” With strong leadership, it’s possible to stand up against a terrorist onslaught. But Lebanon has no leader. Despite attempting to elect a president a dozen times, Lebanon’s presidency has remained vacant since 2022. Today, parliament is gathering once again to elect a president. One candidate is pro-Hezbollah, one is anti-Hezbollah, and one is a military candidate who could be a compromise between the two. Will the thirteenth vote be a charm? I’m not counting on it. As of the first vote today, no decision has been made.

Turkey’s Disappointment

If there was one person dancing the Halay at the fall of Syria, it was Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The tension between the president and Syrian President Bashir al-Assad was great, so Erdoğan had high expectations when his counterpart fled to Moscow. There were two hopes he held. First, he wanted the Syrian National Army (SNA) to be the primary military force, instead of the jumbled mess of Iranian-backed militias. Second, he wanted the new Syria to help him finish off the Kurds once and for all. Instead, Syria’s military is not the SNA, but a hodge-podge of radical extremists made up of ISIS, al-Qaeda, other terror groups, and former members of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), al-Sharaa’s radical group out of which he formed the government. And the Kurds are being left alone. Erdoğan recognizes that he is in trouble. He is Muslim brotherhood, therefore not a radical Islamist. This may open him up to conflict as ISIS and al-Qaeda establish themselves to his south. He also sees the Turkish lira dropping and the negative financial growth of his nation. Any hope he may have had of benefitting from an alliance below his border looks unlikely to pan out.

Unfortunately, this downturn for Turkey puts Israel at risk. In a report recently submitted to the Israeli government, the Nagel Committee warned that Israel must prepare for a war against Turkey. Erdoğan has always had a passionate hatred for our country, but now he also has the added pressure of financial devastation. In Israel, he sees a potential cash cow. Despite his economic struggles, he is able to scrape up enough lira to develop long-range missiles with a flight distance that can easily reach Israel. This doesn’t surprise anyone who has read Ezekiel 38. The Bible is always so much more accurate than the news.

Russia and Iran are Disappointed

When Russian President Vladimir Putin came to help Bashir al-Assad defeat the rebels in the Syrian civil war, he assumed that his nation would receive the fat contracts during the rebuilding of the country. That’s not happening. In fact, Russia is clearing out of Syria as quickly as they can. They have enough to deal with in Ukraine, and the last thing they want is to get drawn into a battle with the Islamist crazies who are setting up camp in Syria. For Russia, Syria was a huge pit that they dumped massive amounts of cash into only to now have to write it off as a loss. Iran is in the same place as far as pouring money into Syria, but they dumped their cash into building a network of radical militias. Those, too, have collapsed and Iran is left with empty hands. But Iran also understands that the time for their nuclear aspirations is very short. In-coming President Trump will not allow Iran to go nuclear. So, whether he does anything about it himself or he just takes the shackles off of the Israeli Air Force, the party is about to end for Tehran. The ayatollahs are scrambling to protect their nuclear program, recently touting new secret air defense systems around sensitive areas. They better be good, because sometime in the next few weeks they are going to get a serious workout.

The Liberal Left is Disappointed

Goodbye, Prime Minister Trudeau. We’ll consider you the first world leader casualty of the new Trump era. The near decade you have been in office has greatly changed Canada. Let’s see if the conservatives who are currently leading the polls will have the ability and alliances to change it back.

A reactionary conservative swing isn’t only taking place in Canada. In Germany, the right is leading polls. In Austria, the president has tasked a far-right leader with forming a government, while in the Netherlands the right has already taken over the government. Why is this happening? People are finally realizing what open borders, anti-police, nanny state, immigrant-favoring, soft justice, environmentally radical, word-canceling policies will get you. They know because they’re living it, and it isn’t good. The Islamists, who have made quiet immigration part of their soft invasion and takeover of Europe, are realizing that they’ve been discovered. Expect there to be a lot more Islamic violence in western Europe, Canada, and the United States in the months to come as the invaders shift tactics from quiet to loud.

America is Not Disappointed

The November elections in America created a political explosion with a blast wave that swept over the entire earth. We are in unprecedented times witnessing unprecedented events. Already, world leaders have forgotten about the Biden administration and are going to pay their respects to the president-elect at Mar-a-Lago. Putin, Xi, Khamenei, Erdoğan, Kim are all now forced to look at the timetables for their international intrigues to see if they need to speed them up, slow them down, or scrap them altogether. All of this is because this one man is coming into office.

This is also why I am praying so hard for the safety of Donald Trump. Iran is still determined to avenge the death of Qassem Soleimani. Al-Qaeda has infiltrated the United States and is undoubtedly planning something big. Abdul Rahman Al-Qaradawi, son of Sharia extremist Yusuf al-Qaradawi, visited the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus after the fall of Assad and said that the al-Aqsa flood would reach the entire world. The “al-Aqsa flood” was what Hamas called their October 7 attack. The number of terror attacks are increasing, and it is reasonable to assume they will become more coordinated as an ever-growing number of terrorist personnel infiltrate the west. We must pray for God to thwart the evil plans of these murderous beasts before they happen.

As rosy as it looks for most of America with the change in Washington, there is one area that is very disappointed right now. That is Los Angeles. Wildfires have swept through the vast metro sprawl destroying vegetation, homes, and businesses. In many areas, there is still no containment in the spread of the flames. High winds and unusually dry conditions created the perfect conditions for the devastation. However, it wasn’t all natural. The crazy policies of the liberal left seeded the ground for this inferno. Controlled burns, brush clearing, and better control of water in reservoirs all would have kept fuel low and firefighting resources high, but each area has been hugely hindered by leftist, environmental activism. In addition, money was denied to firefighting preparations that would have allowed the purchase of large planes that could have dropped massive amounts of water on the fires. Instead, the fires were fought with the limited shots of water that helicopters could spit at them, and that could only take place the second night due to the high winds. For those affected by the fires, a huge portion of them have had their wildfire insurance canceled over the last four years leaving them now dependent upon a broken state system that is going to collapse under the weight of this devastation. Lunatic leftism is a mental disease and we are seeing in California the natural results of their policies.

America’s Political and Financial Capitals Were Just Hit by Lightning, and Now Our Entertainment Capital Is Being Devastated by Fire

by Michael Snyder - https://endoftheamericandream.com/americas-political-and-financial-capitals-were-just-hit-by-lightning-and-now-our-entertainment-capital-is-being-devastated-by-fire/

The past couple of weeks have been really, really strange. On New Year’s Eve, four of the most iconic buildings in the entire country were all hit by lightning. In our political capital, the Washington Monument and the U.S. Capitol were hit. In our financial capital, the Empire State Building and One World Trade Center were hit. Subsequently, there were terror attack in New Orleans and Las Vegas on New Year’s Day. And now here we are a week later, and our entertainment capital is being absolutely devastated by fire.

In some areas of Los Angeles, it literally looks like a nuclear weapon exploded. Some of the most iconic locations in the Los Angeles area have been wiped out, and even Hollywood Boulevard is being evacuated…

Hollywood Boulevard has been evacuated with 100,000 people told to flee with six wildfires raging as the apocalyptic skies of Los Angeles continue to fill with smoke.

Two new blazes broke out overnight in the Hollywood Hills and Studio City – forcing first responders to redeploy their already-scarce resources to the burnt landscape.

The National Guard has been deployed and could send in military personnel to assist, amid revelations that heroic firefighters are ‘triaging’ homes and neighborhoods.

One of the new fires that has erupted is located just west of the world famous “Hollywood” sign…

A new fire erupted in the Hollywood Hills near the “Hollywood” sign Wednesday evening.

There is a mandatory evacuation for Runyon Canyon and the Hollywood Hills.

The new fire dubbed “The Sunset Fire” came out of nowhere and exploded.

Hopefully they will be able to get these new fires under control very quickly.

Sadly, large numbers of expensive homes have already been lost, and this includes the homes of many big names in the entertainment industry…

By the afternoon, the Santa Ana wind-fueled fire had claimed the homes of more than half a dozen A-listers in the community perched above the Pacific ocean: Billy Crystal, Anna Faris, John Goodman, Anthony Hopkins, Eugene Levy and Miles Teller all lost homes there, according to social media posts and reporting by Page Six.

The Palisades home of Adam Brody and Leighton Meester, who walked the Golden Globes carpet together on Sunday, also burned down.

People Magazine has published a list of 47 major celebrities that have lost their homes so far.

We have seen homes owned by celebrities get burned down in past fires, but we have never seen so many get burned down all at once.

Unfortunately, many of those celebrities will be joining countless others in the exact same uninsured boat. In 2024, large insurance companies ruthlessly terminated the policies of tens of thousands of California homeowners…

In 2024 Liberty Mutual and State Farm, two of the largest insurers in the country, told nearly 50,000 homeowners in the Golden State – some of whom were in high risk areas – that their fire insurance would be terminated in a bid to prevent ‘financial failure’.

At least 1,600 people in the affluent neighborhood of the Pacific Palisades – the hardest hit area of the fires – lost coverage when State Farm pulled out in April.

Furious residents are now publicly sounding off at insurance companies in the wake of the deadly blazes, with one local nurse slamming insurers for failing to renew the policy for her elderly parents.

What a nightmare.

Will the federal government come riding to the rescue?

On Thursday, it was being reported that the Biden administration has decided to cover 100 percent of the costs for “the initial disaster response”…

President Joe Biden on Thursday announced the federal government would cover 100% of costs for the initial disaster response to the Los Angeles wildfires.

Meeting with federal officials at the White House, Biden said the funds would go toward debris removal, temporary shelters, salaries for first responders and more for 180 days.

Biden said he emphasized to California officials they should “spare no expense to do what they need to do.”

As I discussed in a previous article, the total economic damage from these fires could be in the neighborhood of 50 billion dollars.

It will take years to recover, and Los Angeles will never look the same after this.

So precisely what will “rebuilding” look like in Los Angeles?

Prior to these fires, officials were planning to transform Los Angeles into a “smart city” by 2028…

Visitors for the 2028 Summer Olympics and Paralympics will find a transformational digital Olympic experience from the moment they arrive. Passing through LAX airport’s completely renovated terminals, they can use the new automated people mover to select between light rail airport connections, rideshare, or taxi transportation choices. They will be greeted by digital signage, directed by multi-lingual electronic wayfinding, and connected through their smartphone with the hotels, restaurants, and venues that they are looking for during their stay. Whether visiting Hollywood Boulevard or Venice Beach, visitors will use smartphones or easily accessible kiosks to learn in their own language about the landmarks and readily available services to enhance their experience, including blind or deaf visitors.

This vision is already becoming a reality. As a three-time United States Digital City Winner (2016-18), the City of Los Angeles has been investing and continues to invest in the infrastructure, digital services, and data tools to be a globally recognized Smart City. The SmartLA 2028 strategy is a concise summary of our vision, our approach to being a Smart City, and our roadmap to 2028.

At this stage, it is going to take an enormous mountain of money just to make the most heavily damaged areas of Los Angeles livable again.

And the destruction is far from over.

Since I began writing this article, even more new fires have erupted.

That is not good news at all.

The region continues to be under a “red flag” fire weather warning, and there is no rain in the forecast for the next week.

Hopefully the winds will at least die down in the days ahead, because that is what firefighters need more than anything else.

Of course once this disaster is finally over, it won’t be too long before more major disasters come rolling along.

We have entered a period of unprecedented global chaos, and I have a feeling that 2025 is going to be filled with lots of unpleasant surprises.

PROPHECY UPDATE VIDEOS

AI Trojan Horse: The Infrastructure Necessary for The Antichrist’s Technology Is Being Developed and Used Today

By David Bowen - https://harbingersdaily.com/ai-tojan-horse-the-infastructure-necessary-for-the-anti-christs-technology-is-being-developed-and-used-today/

Greek mythology tells the story of the Trojan horse. The people of Troy—the Trojans—were defeated by the Greeks after they left behind a large, hollow wooden horse and pretended to sail for home. The Greeks persuaded the Trojans that the horse was an offering to Athena (the goddess of war), and believing the horse would protect the city of Troy, the Trojans brought the horse inside the city walls as they were unaware the wooden horse was filled with Greek warriors. At night, these Greek warriors emerged from their hiding place and opened the gates to the city of Troy, letting the Greek army into the city, leading to the defeat of the city of Troy.

Transitioning from Greek mythology to modern-day technology, we may have another Trojan horse, and it may be embraced and welcomed into our homes and lives just as that ancient wooden horse once was. This trojan horse is called Open AI, especially Open AI o.3.

General Intelligence or AGI

OpenAI is far and away the market leader in generative AI. ChatGPT is a term most people are familiar with. ChatGPT is general intelligence or AGI. ChatGPT has over 250 million users, and over 10 million are paying subscribers. The New York Times recently reported that it estimates the annual revenue for Open AI to be over 3 billion dollars. That may seem impressive. However, it’s nothing compared to what they just raised in capital. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has confirmed that Open AI has just raised 6.6 billion dollars. They have plans to continue introducing more technological advancements.

We need to realize that it’s NOT about where we are right now; it’s about where we are heading. AI, virtual reality, drone warfare, genetic engineering, nanotechnology—all of this is the Fourth Industrial Revolution! I believe 2019 and 2020 were NOT about disease or plague; they were about the jab. They were about what could be injected into our bodies.

Seekr, an AI-powered Wearable Device

The Consumer Electronics Show, known as CES, is about to take place in Las Vegas. Each year, this show is considered a global event because it brings together tech companies focused on solving humanity’s greatest problems.

One piece of technology about to be revealed is Seekr, an AI-powered wearable device designed to empower the visually impaired. Seekr uses real-time machine algorithms to process visual data and send audio feed to the users’ bluetooth earpieces. This device is designed to help the visually impaired identify objects, navigate obstacles, and even read signs.

I admit that technology has some amazing abilities; it could allow some people to have their sight restored. It has the hopes of helping the lame walk, the blind see, and the deaf hear. Now, I use that reference on purpose because in Scripture, a sign of the Messiah, according to Jesus, is the lame walking, the blind seeing, and the deaf hearing. Let me be clear on what I am saying here. I am NOT saying that technology is God; I am saying that companies designing this technology tend to think they are god-like in their abilities.

DeepSeek V3

For example, a Chinese lab has created what appears to be one of the most powerful “open” AI models to date. The model is called DeepSeek V3, which was developed in China by the AI company DeepSeek. This technology is designed for coding, translating, and collecting data. This is where the danger comes in. If this technology isn’t dangerous, why in 2023 did the U.S. Department of Commerce prevent the sale of more advanced artificial intelligence chips to China?

The dictionary defines technology as: “machinery and equipment developed from the application of scientific knowledge.” It seems AI goes far beyond that definition. Some will say AI improves the quality of everyday life by doing routine and even complicated tasks better than humans can, which ultimately makes life simpler, safer, and more efficient. Yet, others will argue that AI poses dangers such as privacy risks.

Zechariah 14:12

Centuries ago, many theologians writing commentaries on the minor prophet Zechariah, were unable to finish. Why? Because they could not explain or even imagine how chapter 14 would ever come to pass: “Their flesh will rot while they are still standing on their feet, their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths” (Zechariah 14:12).

We now have technology used in warfare that, unlike many theologians in the past, the modern-day believer knows could fulfill that passage of Scripture. Many people are aware that someday the Mark of the Beast will be implemented. We are NOT there yet, which will occur during the Tribulation. However, the infrastructure for the technology needed for the Mark of the Beast to function is being developed and used today.

Open AI o.3

Just three months ago, Open AI announced the launch of a generative AI model with the code name “Strawberry” but officially called OpenAI o.1. That was just three months ago. They are now ready to announce the launch of Open AI o.3. This new Open AI has the ability to “think” before it responds to questions. The desire to create a machine that can think for itself is not new. The ability to possess that technology is.

The Turing Test

The Turing test, proposed by English mathematician Alan Turing in 1950, was an artificial intelligence test designed to determine whether it was possible for a computer to actually “think.” Later, in 1957, at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, Frank Rosenblatt created a prototype of an artificial network designed to see if Turing’s test was realistic. Rosenblatt’s work was called “Perceptrons”.

For years, Hollywood has portrayed machines as taking over the human race. I see technology launching the elites into a place where they can accomplish their goals. They now have technology that can, as they say, hack the human mind and body.

We are living in a day where we have another Trojan horse in our midst. This is not from Greek mythology but from the world of technology. It is a Trojan horse because, as the people of Troy did, the general population is welcoming this technology into their homes and lives with open arms. Like the hidden Greek warriors, this technology is designed to come out and capture our data and control our lives.

Let’s remember what the apostle Paul warned us about in Galatians 6:7, “Do not be deceived; God is not mocked.”

What Would Jesus Say?

Jonathan Brentner - https://www.jonathanbrentner.com/https/jonathan-brentner-g8fgsquarespacecom/config/2025/1/7/what-would-jesus-say

If the first nine days of 2025 are any indication of what lies ahead, we are in for a wild ride. It was popular at the start of this century to ask, "What would Jesus do?" As we view pictures of the devastation left by the fires in Southern California, perhaps it might better to ask, "What would Jesus say?" about our day.

I believe we already have the key points of what the Lord might say today to His redeemed; we find them in His letters to seven churches, which John recorded late in the first century AD. Even though the substance of each letter varies widely, striking similarities exist in all of them.

In chapters 2 and 3 of Revelation, we have His specific messages to seven churches that existed late in the late first century AD.

Though His content varies with each letter, there’s one common theme among all of them:

Jesus concludes each one with a reminder of the glories of eternity that await all believers.

Is it not more than a little significant that regardless of the state of each body of believers, the Lord encourages faithfulness by providing the redeemed with a glimpse of the glory that awaits them in eternity?

Paradise

The Lord concludes His message to the church in Ephesus with this comforting assurance:

To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. (Revelation 2:7)

The phrase, “to the one who conquers,” occurs at the end of all His letters to the churches. This doesn’t refer to a higher level of spirituality, but rather applies to all believers without exception. 1 John 5:4 provides us with the needed context for the Jesus’ words:

For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

The promise to the saints at Ephesus is that of spending forever in “paradise,” which John describes with much detail at the end of the apocalypse. He records seeing the “tree of life” in his vision of the New Jerusalem (22:1), our eternal dwelling.

As with all the promises Jesus makes to the seven churches, the last chapters of Revelation provide us with a more comprehensive understanding of the reassuring words of hope that He gives us in each letter.

Eternal Life

Jesus’ ends His note to the church in Smyrna ends with these comforting words:

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death. (Revelation 2:11)

As He does at the end of all His letters, the Lord applies His message to all believers. To the saints at Smyrna who faced the prospect of martyrdom, Jesus reminded them of His promise of eternal life. They wouldn’t “be hurt by the second death,” which John later describes as the White Throne Judgment in Revelation 20:11-15. Instead, they will be among the redeemed who would spend eternity enjoying life to its fullest in paradise.

Regardless of the level of persecution we might face, as believers we know we will never by judged for our sins, but we will someday experience all the wonders of eternal life.

Invitation to a Feast

Perhaps the most unusual guarantee in all the seven letters is the one that Jesus gave to the church in Pergamum:

To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it. (Revelation 2:17).

Pastor and Bible commentator John MacArthur provides us with this understanding of the white stone’s significance:

It seems best, however, to understand the white stone in light of the Roman custom of awarding white stones to the victors in athletic contests. A white stone, inscribed with the athlete’s name, served as his ticket to a special awards banquet.[1]

Might this “white stone” be our formal invitation to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb? I think so. We read about a great celebration later in the book of Revelation:

And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.” (Revelation 19:9)

All believers will stand before Jesus at His Bema Seat and after that, we will joyously celebrate with the Savior at a special banquet in our honor. As to confirm the wonder of this occasion, the angel stats that “these are the true words of God.” John’s eyewitness account of the end time events are not just his thoughts, but indeed God’s words to us.

Reigning with Jesus

Notice the exceptional assurance Jesus gave to His saints at Thyatira:

The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father. (Revelation 2:26-27)

The promise in these verses is that of ruling with Jesus in His kingdom. The reference to Jesus ruling with a “rod of iron,” first recorded in Psalm 2:7, occurs again in John’s magnificent account of Jesus’ spectacular return to earth:

From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. (Revelation 19:15)

When Jesus comes to claim His inheritance of the nations (please read Psalm 2:7-9), we will not only be with Him, but we will later reign alongside Him in His kingdom. Wonder of wonders, Jesus will share His authority over the nations with us. In our immortal and sinless state, we will act as judges (1 Corinthians 6:2) in His realm.

Might this “white stone” be our formal invitation to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb? I think so. We read about a great celebration later in the book of Revelation.

White Garments

In Revelation 3:5, at the end of the letter to the church in Sardis, we read another one of Jesus’ amazing promises to all who belong to Him:

The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.

It’s then that we will experience the very “righteousness of God,” which is ours now through faith (2 Corinthians 5:21).

The full significance of our “white garments” comes to life later in the book of Revelation. They not only depict the wedding clothes we will wear at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:8), but they also place us with the Lord as He rides triumphantly back to Jerusalem to establish His kingdom:

He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. (Revelation 19:13-14)

We will be with Jesus as He rides back to earth in the most dazzling display of power and glory ever seen upon the earth. Our “fine linen, white and pure” marks our participation in the most prophesied and glorious event in all of Scripture and the what will be the most dramatic event in all of human history. It’s mind boggling to imagine that Jesus would bless us in such a way!

A Forever Home in the New Jerusalem

Jesus assurance to the faithful in Philadelphia might seem a bit unusual at first glance:

The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. (Revelation 3:12)

Of course, He’s not saying that we will become inanimate marble columns; Christ’s words here depict our future stability and permanence. Not only will He come for us before the Tribulation (3:10-11a), but He also assures us of a forever home in the New Jerusalem. The writing of His name on us signifies an intimate relationship that will never end.

We read about the wonder of the New Jerusalem later in the book of Revelation (21:9-22:5). It’s the city where Jesus is now preparing a place for us (John 14:2-3). This will be our forever home in a glorious city whose beauty lies far beyond any mental image we might have of its splendor. And no one will be able to take it away from us; we will forever reside amid beauty beyond what we can only faintly imagine.

Authority

To the church in Laodicea, Jesus again alludes to the fact that we will reign with Him in His kingdom:

The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. (Revelation 3:21)

For the true saints in this church for which Jesus offers no commendation, we read of His remarkable promise of sharing in His authority over the nations. Amazing!

The popular teachings of our day deny the Lord’s rule over the nations. However, those who say there is no such thing as a physical Millennium fail to believe what Jesus clearly says is our destiny. We will share His throne at a time with sin is possible, as well as in eternity (1 Corinthians 6:2; Revelation 3:21; 5:10, 20:6).

What Jesus Says to His Church Today?

It’s not so much a matter of what Jesus would say to His church today, but rather one of what He continues to reveal to us as recorded in the New Testament and particularly in the book of Revelation.

In Revelation 19:10, we read these insightful words, “For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” When teachers reinterpret the words of Bible prophecy, and in particular the book of Revelation, as history, symbolism, or fulfilled prophecy, they do a great disservice to the body of Christ and contradict the Lords own testimony concerning regarding His last message to His church.

I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star. (Revelation 22:16)

My prayer is that this brief glimpse into the promises of Revelation 2-3 fortifies your courage to stand up for Bible prophecy in a day when most pastors tell that it’s one of lessor importance that other scriptural truths. I also pray that Jesus’ words regarding our future glory encourage your hearts during these perilous times.

The One who verifies the testimony of John recording future things left us with this unfailing promise:

He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” (Revelation 22:20)

Note: In Hereafter, It’s Far Better Than You Can Imagine, Terry James and I describe the future glory that awaits us as believers beginning with Jesus’ appearing to take us home. From beginning to end, we emphasize the jubilant joy that awaits us in Heaven. The last chapter contains twenty-seven frequently asked questions and answers pertaining to Heaven and our experience there.

Note: Please consider signing up for my newsletter on the home page of my website at https://www.jonathanbrentner.com/. Thanks!

[1] John MacArthur, Revelation 1-11 (Chicago: Moody Press, 1999), p. 91.

Daily Jot: The American Chronicles: Cold weather camping

Bill Wilson – www.dailyjot.com

There are a lot of articles about cold weather camping. Some talk about how to keep your RV pipes from freezing up. Others discuss all the equipment you need if you are going to brave the cold weather. There are a lot of articles about the 15 or 10 best camping tips for winter camping. For me, I think they are all over-thinking the cold weather. It’s really all a state of mind. If you think the cold weather is cold and uncomfortable, it will be cold and uncomfortable. Winter camping. It’s a like every other time of the year. It’s all in the head.

Those articles are right on about some things. You need to take extra stuff to keep warm. An extra sleeping bag or covers is a good start. Every RV should be equipped with an extra space heater just in case you run out of propane or actually need a little more warmth to take the chill out of the evening artic air. Maybe some long-johns and flannel shirts are a good idea. Oh, yeah, and ear muffs and gloves. But in reality, all that is just window dressing when you have the right mindset. If you can just visualize sitting on the beach and the warm tropical breeze you can sort of forget about the 26 degrees that feels like 7 degrees chilling you to the bone.

Chris and Service Dog Charlie don’t really share my enthusiasm for cold weather camping. But they both are enthused about modeling the latest in cold camping fashion. Notice Chris has her wool hat, down-lined long coat, flannel leggings and cute little snow boots. Charlie is decked out in his snow-sweater. He’s not the happiest when hiking through the snow.

And, I’ve got to say, after sitting out for a while, maybe I just can’t stop my visualization from preferring the thought of a nice warm inside fireplace. Winter camping is certainly a mixture of preparedness both mentally and physically. It’s not so much a state of mind when reality sets in—It’s freaking cold out here!

Daily Devotion: Familiarity Breeds Contempt

by Greg Laurie – www.harvest.org

Others said, ‘He is the Messiah.’ Still others said, ‘But he can’t be! Will the Messiah come from Galilee?’ —John 7:41

https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/familiarity-breeds-contempt/ - Listen

The Jewish Festival of Shelters, also known as the Feast of Tabernacles, was a weeklong celebration of God’s faithfulness to the Israelites during their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. As part of the celebration, Jewish families traveled to Jerusalem in Judea, where they stayed in temporary shelters made of branches and leaves.

Jesus didn’t want to draw attention to Himself in Judea because He knew the religious leaders there were plotting to kill Him. He wasn’t afraid of them. He was simply following God’s timeline. It wasn’t time for Him to die yet.

His brothers, the children of Joseph and Mary, thought that was a mistake. One of the reasons the “important” Jewish leaders rejected Jesus is that He did most of His miracles and teaching in Galilee, a region they considered unsophisticated. His brothers wanted Him to show what He could do on the big stage of Jerusalem.

His brothers saw that He could work miracles, but they didn’t believe He was the Messiah. Maybe their sibling rivalry was too strong. It wasn’t until after Jesus’ resurrection that His brothers became His disciples.

Jesus traveled to the festival alone to avoid making a big entrance. But He didn’t avoid making His message known. He went to the temple and began to preach—boldly and with authority.

When the Jewish leaders heard Him, they were amazed and confused. He taught like a highly educated rabbi, but He had no formal training. They were more concerned about His credentials than His message. Jesus explained, “My message is not my own; it comes from God who sent me” (verse 16 NLT). In other words, “If you reject it, you reject God.”

Jesus questioned why the religious leaders, who were guilty of sin, wanted to kill Him, who was sinless. He pointed out their hypocrisy. They performed circumcisions on the Sabbath, but they condemned Him for healing people on the Sabbath.

Jesus’ bold confrontation left many people confused. If the religious leaders wanted Him dead, why didn’t they arrest Him? He was challenging them to their faces. Did that mean they believed He was the Messiah?

On the other hand, many of these people knew who Jesus was. They knew His family. They knew where He’d come from and what He’d done for the first three decades of His life. He was one of them. They were waiting for a Messiah who was mysterious and heroic—not a local guy. And especially not a local guy from an insignificant place like Galilee.

The people wanted a Messiah who checked off very specific boxes of their own making. Since Jesus didn’t check off all those boxes, they refused to believe in Him. They chose to overlook the miracles He performed and the powerful truth of His teaching. And they continued their fruitless search for their type of Messiah—one that God never promised.

If we want to understand the truth about Jesus—who He is, what He did, and what He wants from and for us—we have to go straight to the source, God’s Word. We can’t rely on our own ideas or the educated guesses of others.

PROPHECY UPDATE NEWS HEADLINES

Yesterday's Prophecies - Today's Headlines

HEADLINES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TRACKING BIBLE PROPHECY

1/10/25

http://trackingbibleprophecy.org/birthpangs.php

FROM THE HEART

Let Us Make the Short Time We Have Left,Count for ALL of Eternity!

IF YOU HAVE BEEN BLESSED THROUGH THIS MINISTRY, THEN WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE REMEMBER PROPHECY UPDATE IN YOUR GIVING - WE ARE TRULY, TRULY, THANKFUL FOR YOUR SUPPORT

WORTHY OF YOUR SUPPORT?

One of the most reliable ways to determine if a ministry is worthy of your financial support is to examine its fruits. If Prophecy Update is keeping you informed, and if that information inspires you, and causes you to draw closer to the Lord, if Prophecy Update equips you with valuable information and knowledge to share with and encourage other believers, and open the eyes of non-believers, and if Prophecy Update keeps you connected to current events relating to Bible Prophecy, then you are partaking of the fruit produced through this ministry. None of this would be possible without the Lords blessings and your support. I believe where the Lord guides, the Lord provides, and most of the time He provides through the willing and generous hearts of believers just like you and me.

Humbly Seek Your Support

Prophecy Update has no corporate sponsors. This ministry is paid for and prayed for by readers and supporters. Without your support, there would be no Prophecy Update, Please pray about becoming a monthly supporter - thanks!

If ever there was a time to invest in God's Kingdom, it's now!

What on earth are you doing for Heaven's Sake?

"Share in the Blessings and Rewards that will last Forever!"

"Folks, it's all beginning to unravel. America is in more danger of falling than at any time in its history. But I believe Bible prophecy predicts this very decline. From this point on, we believers have to get serious. We are going to face discouragement, disillusionment and, most certainly, persecution in the time between now and the Rapture. But don't be discouraged or disillusioned. The coming turmoil will provide us unrivaled opportunities to share the good news of the Gospel. So be ready to share your faith and your hope with those who need Christ. We still have time to reap a great harvest of souls for God's kingdom!" - Hal Lindsey

1) We need your prayers!- We proclaim the Truth of the Word of God and we are under constant spiritual and sometimes even physical attack.

2) We need your encouragement!- We need to hear from you, let us know how the Lord is blessing you through this ministry so that we can share it with others.

3) We need your input! - If you have a prophetic article or story or if there is a news related item we missed, let us know.

4) We need your financial support!- To put it quite simply, without your support, there would be no Prophecy Update.

I ask that you would prayerfully consider partnering with us to get the Word out and keep the world informed. Remember, your gift, no matter how small, does make a difference! You will be helping to touch lives, around the world, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, thanks to the internet your generosity carries a global impact! - Thanks!

Our Prayer for You- "Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else." 2 Corinthians 9:10-13

If you have been blessed by Prophecy Update and would like to help support this ministry financially. You can make a secure donation online by going to:

DONATE NOW

Or write us at:

Prophecy Update

P.O. Box 40516

Bakersfield, CA 93384-0516