The Prophecy Update Newsletter - 11/18/24

News & Information for the End Times

Nov 18, 2024

ISRAEL AT WAR!!! Day 409 - 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."

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In Today’s Newsletter…

The Curtain Is Rising
Is Joe Biden Trying to Start World War 3 Before He Leaves Office? The Decision to Use Long-Range Missiles to Strike Targets Deep Inside Russia Is Insane
Prophecy Update Videos
Recommended Reading
The Global Intifada is in Progress, Now What?
As We Rapidly Approach the End of The Church Age, Christians Must Be Resolute In Our Position
Daily Jot: Negotiating with God
Daily Devotion: Understanding Angels
Prophecy Update News Headlines

(Scroll Down to Read)

The Curtain Is Rising

By Daymond Duck - https://www.raptureready.com/2024/11/16/the-curtain-is-rising-by-daymond-duck/

On Nov. 3, 2024, it was reported that Joel Rosenberg (speaker, author, founder of The Joshua Fund, and editor-in-chief of All Israel News) told a Podcast audience at Dallas Theological Seminary:

The veil is coming off,
The scales are coming off,
The curtain is rising as we get closer to the tribulation, to the Second Coming.
More and more Jews are coming to faith in Jesus.

Rosenberg believes God is shaking Israel to its core.

I agree, and God is shaking the nations too, especially the Arab nations, Iran, Syria, and Lebanon (He is revealing Himself to get them saved).

I believe the blinding of Israel will cease, and all Israel will be saved at the Second Coming (Luke 19:42; 21:24; Rom. 11:26).

I believe the gospel will go all over the world, and a multitude too great to number will be saved during the Tribulation Period (Matt. 24:14; Rev. 7:3-16; 11:3-6; 14:6-7).

The understanding of Bible prophecy is increasing (Dan. 12:4).

Here is a link to Rosenberg’s article and podcast. (HERE)

The Church will soon be caught up to heaven, the curtain is rising as we approach the Tribulation Period, and multitudes from Israel and all nations will soon be saved.

Here are recent events that seem to indicate that the end of the age is near:

One, concerning America’s future relationship with Israel: on Nov. 7, 2024, it was reported that Israeli Pres. Netanyahu sent Pres. Trump a message of congratulations on his election victory.

When Trump delivered his victory speech on Nov. 6, 2024, he said he wants to end all wars.

A few pundits took that to mean that Trump was telling Israel to pull its troops out of Gaza and Lebanon.

The next day, Trump’s spokeswoman, Elizabeth Pipko, quickly corrected that.

Pipko said,

Trump did not give Israel an ultimatum.
Trump promised to ensure that Israel wins.
Trump supports an end to the fighting through decisive Israeli victories.

(More: On Nov. 7, 2024, it was reported that the Biden administration will push for a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon during the remainder of its time in office. A spokesman for the State Dept. said We have no shortage of work to do over the next 74 days, and we are determined to make the most of the time left.)

(More: On Nov. 10, 2024, Netanyahu said he had spoken to Trump 3 times since he got elected (3 times in the last 5 days), and they see eye-to-eye on the Iranian threat and the expansion of peace in other realms.)

(More: I have also seen speculation that those that are running the Biden administration may try to tie Trump’s hands on several issues before he is inaugurated on Jan. 20, 2025.)

(More: I have seen speculation that the Biden administration may try to get a UN resolution to force the Two-State Solution on Israel and a withdrawal of Israel from Gaza and Lebanon. An Israeli withdrawal would prevent Israel from winning the war and allow Hamas and Hezbollah to rebuild their terrorist organization.)

(FYI: If you want a blessing, go to the following link and watch what happened when Trump finished his victory speech; about 1 ½ minutes.)

Two, concerning antisemitism, the world turning against Israel and the Jews returning to the Promised Land at the end of the age: on Nov. 8, 2024, it was reported that Israeli Prime Min. Netanyahu was dispatching rescue planes to Amsterdam following a very violent incident against Israeli citizens.

Masked protestors attacked hundreds of Jews leaving a soccer game; some were chased and beaten, one was knocked unconscious, one was run over by a car, and more.

Video of the attack have been posted on social media.

(More: On Nov. 8-9, 2024, Israeli emergency planes flew 2,000 Jews from Amsterdam to Israel, and there may be more in the near future.)

(More: On Nov. 11, 2024, it was reported that the violent attacks on Jews in Amsterdam was organized by a former employee of the UN Relief and Works Agency. According to the Bible, the entire world will be against Israel at the end of the age, and repeatedly, UN employees or former UN employees have been caught attacking or killing Jews. Most recently, Israel provided irrefutable evidence that some were involved in the Oct. 7, 2023 attack that started the Israel-Hamas war.)

(My opinion: People need to wake up to the fact that Islam is not a religion of peace. As I understand it, they are at war with all non-Muslims until they have converted the entire world to Islam. Then they think there will be peace on earth.)

Three, concerning world leaders wanting Israel to withdraw from Gaza (which will let Hamas rebuild its military there): Israel has captured computers with thousands of hours of videos of Hamas terrorists torturing Palestinian citizens.

Many victims are chained to a torture area with a sack over their head, and they are crying and begging while a Hamas terrorist is beating them.

Some human rights activists have warned that this was happening, but the UN, EU, U.S., Arabs, and others ignored it.

(My opinion: It is not hard for me to believe that terrorists that would burn Jews alive, kill babies, rape women, and take hostages – as they did on Oct. 7, 2023 – would torture Palestinians to control them.)

Four, concerning the Battle of Gog and Magog: on Nov. 8, 2024, it was reported that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khomeini, posted the following message on X (Twitter).

The world will certainly see the day when the Zionists (Israel) are defeated in a resounding defeat by the resistance (Iran and its allies).

Iran will try to destroy Israel, but they will fail (Ezek. 38:18-23; Amos 9:15).

Five, concerning Iran: on Nov. 11, 2024, Joel Rosenberg (author, speaker, Editor-in-Chief of All Israel News) speculated that Trump’s election means that if Iran attacks Israel, Israel’s response will be much greater than it would have been under Harris.

The Ayatollah is now facing a great dilemma (just a couple of months to act before U.S. military support for Israel greatly increases), and he must back down on his threats to attack Israel or risk losing his oil wells, nuclear reactor, and a lot more.

(More: On Nov. 11, 2024, it was reported that the prospects for a ceasefire in Lebanon before Trump takes office look good. It is beginning to look like Israel will withdraw from Lebanon, Hezbollah will pull back across the Litani River, and Israel will retain the right to go back in if Hezbollah does not keep the agreement.)

(My opinion: Israel will eventually have to go back in because Muslims do not keep ceasefires and peace treaties. The claim that Islam is a religion of peace is false. The goal of Islam is to gain control of every nation on earth and force all people to worship Allah. To Islam, peace means everyone on earth must worship their god.)

(More: On Nov. 13, 2024, it was reported that Iran is postponing its promised third attack on Israel in the hope of reaching a deal with President-elect Donald Trump, who has taken a hard line on Iran.)

Six, concerning an increase in the frequency and intensity of natural disasters at the end of the age, on Nov. 9, 2024, it was reported that some parts of Colorado received more than 4 ft. of snow.

Over a 3-day period, San Isabel (in the southeast area of the state) received 54.9 inches (probably a record).

Seven, concerning a peace treaty and the expansion of Israel’s borders at the end of the age: on Nov. 12, 2024, it was reported that Israeli Prime Min. Benjamin Netanyahu is planning to declare Israeli sovereignty over all the Jewish settlements and settlement blocks in Judea and Samaria after former Pres. Trump takes office.

It was also reported that Trump may not support it, but he probably wouldn’t oppose it either.

It appears that Trump wants it to be part of a normalization agreement.

We could know soon after Trump takes office.

Eight, concerning God’s promise to bless those that bless Israel and to curse those that curse Israel: on Nov. 12, 2024, Worthy News reported that Trump’s incoming U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, said:

There is no such thing as the West Bank – it’s Judea and Samaria.
There is no such thing as settlements – they’re communities, they’re neighborhoods, they’re cities.
There is no such thing as an occupation.

Nine, concerning Huckabee’s appointment, Joel Rosenberg of All Israel News said:

Mike is a dear friend, a devout Evangelical follower of Jesus Christ, and one of the most influential pro-Israel voices in the Christian world.
His appointment is an unmistakable sign of just how seriously Trump regards the enormous influence of the tens of millions of Evangelical Christians in the United States who love Israel and the Jewish people.
This is the first time in history that an American president has chosen an ambassador to Israel who is so openly and unashamedly committed to his love for Jesus Christ and the Bible.

Here is my daily update on the Israel-Hamas war:

Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024 (Day 397) The three hundred and forty-second day of the resumed war. Day 175 of the attack on Rafah.

Hezbollah fired more than 150 rockets and about 20 drones at Israel.
Israel struck several targets in Lebanon in civilian centers south of the Litani River.

Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024 (Day 398) The three hundred and forty-third day of the resumed war. Day 176 of the attack on Rafah.

Israel struck 20 sites in Lebanon north of the Litani River, killing at least 60 Hezbollah terrorists.
Hezbollah fired 120 rockets and several drones at Israel.

Friday, Nov. 8, 2024 (Day 399) The three hundred and forty-fourth day of the resumed war. Day 177 of the attack on Rafah.

Biden’s Defense Sec. (Lloyd Austin) warned Israel that it is at risk of losing access to some U.S. weapons if it does not produce credible evidence that it has improved the supply and distribution of aid to Gazan noncombatants.
Israel has captured or killed about 2,000 terrorists in Gaza in the last 3 weeks. The U.S. and UK struck 9 Houthi weapons facilities in Yemen.

Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024 (Day 400) The three hundred and forty-fifth day of the resumed war. Day 178 of the attack on Rafah.

The U.S. and UK struck 9 Houthi weapons facilities in Yemen.

Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 (Day 401) The three hundred and forty-sixth day of the resumed war. Day 179 of the attack on Rafah.

The U.S. and UK struck 9 Houthi weapons facilities in Yemen.
Israel said it found a terror compound (command rooms, living quarters, weapon storage facilities, weapons, and combat equipment) under a cemetery in Lebanon and sent in hundreds of trucks and concrete mixers to fill it with about 159,000 cubic feet of concrete.
Israel assassinated a Hezbollah commander that killed the Prime Min. of Lebanon in 2005.

Monday, Nov. 11, 2024 (Day 402) The three hundred and forty-seventh day of the resumed war. Day 180 of the attack on Rafah.

Hezbollah in Lebanon fired about 175 rockets at Israel.

Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024 (Day 403) The three hundred and forty-eighth day of the resumed war. Day 181 of the attack on Rafah.

The U.S. announced that Israel has improved the humanitarian aid shipments to Gaza, so the U.S. will not withhold the shipment of weapons to Israel.

FYI: God does not send anyone to Hell (all of us are born with a sin nature and destined to go to Hell because we sin), but God has provided a way (Jesus) for everyone to go to Heaven (and He is the only way to get there; John 14:6).

Finally, are you Rapture Ready?

If you want to be rapture ready and go to heaven, you must be born again (John 3:3). God loves you, and if you have not done so, sincerely admit that you are a sinner; believe that Jesus is the virgin-born, sinless Son of God who died for the sins of the world, was buried, and raised from the dead; ask Him to forgive your sins, cleanse you, come into your heart and be your Saviour; then tell someone that you have done this.

duck_daymond@yahoo.com

Is Joe Biden Trying to Start World War 3 Before He Leaves Office? The Decision to Use Long-Range Missiles to Strike Targets Deep Inside Russia Is Insane

by Michael Snyder - https://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/is-joe-biden-trying-to-start-world-war-3-before-he-leaves-office-the-decision-to-use-long-range-missiles-to-strike-targets-deep-inside-russia-is-insane/

As if everything that Joe Biden has done so far was not enough, now he has decided to push us to the brink of nuclear war. On Sunday, Joe Biden decided to allow Ukraine to use long-range missiles provided by the United States to hit targets deep inside of Russia. This is a bombshell. I don’t know how else to put it. The Russians have already warned us how they will respond if long-range missiles provided by the United States and other NATO countries start raining down on their cities. Sadly, most Americans have no idea what a direct conflict with Russia would mean.

When I first heard what Joe Biden had done, I reacted very emotionally.

I am still feeling very emotional at this moment.

Everyone needs to clearly understand what just happened, because this is a major turning point…

President Biden has given the OK to lift restrictions that will allow Ukraine to use U.S.-provided long-range weapons to strike deep into Russian territory, a U.S. official confirmed to CBS News on Sunday. The move is a significant change to U.S. policy in the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict.

The easing of restrictions would allow Kyiv to use the Army Tactical Missile System, or ATACMS, to hit targets inside Russia. The move also comes as some 10,000 North Korean troops were sent to Kursk near Ukraine’s northern border to help Russian forces retake territory.

One of the reasons why I am so upset is because this wasn’t his decision to make.

We just had an election and his side lost.

The American people elected a leader that wants to bring the war in Ukraine to an end, but now Joe Biden is trying to make sure that nobody is going to be able to end this war.

According to CBS News, one of the reasons why this decision was made was to “put Kyiv in a better negotiating position when and if peace talks happen”…

The U.S. decision could help Ukraine at a moment when Russian forces appear to be making gains and could put Kyiv in a better negotiating position when and if peace talks happen.

It also comes as Mr. Biden is about to leave office and President-elect Trump has pledged to limit American support for Ukraine and ending the war as soon as possible.

Are you kidding me?

That is nonsense.

Donald Trump needs to come forward immediately and denounce this move, because we could be facing a scenario where events spiral out of control before he even has the opportunity to take office.

When Vladimir Putin was asked about the possibility that long-range missiles provided by the U.S. could soon be used to hit targets deep inside Russia, he responded by warning that such a move would mean that “U.S. and European countries are at war with Russia”…

“We are not talking about allowing or not allowing the Ukrainian regime to strike Russia with these weapons,” Putin said Thursday in comments to propagandist Pavel Zarubin. “We are talking about deciding whether NATO countries are directly involved in the military conflict or not.”

“This will mean that NATO countries, the U.S. and European countries are at war with Russia,” Putin said. “And if this is so, then, bearing in mind the change in the very essence of this conflict, we will make appropriate decisions based on the threats that will be created for us.”

Joe Biden just called Putin’s bluff.

We just crossed that red line, and there is no going back.

Now we will see if Putin was bluffing or not.

Later in September, Vladimir Putin explained that a “joint attack on the Russian Federation” could trigger the use of nuclear weapons…

A new nuclear doctrine would “clearly set the conditions for Russia to transition to using nuclear weapons,” he warned – and said such scenarios included conventional missile strikes against Moscow.

He said that Russia would consider such a “possibility” of using nuclear weapons if it detected the start of a massive launch of missiles, aircraft and drones into its territory, which presented a “critical threat” to the country’s sovereignty.

He added: “It is proposed that aggression against Russia by any non-nuclear state, but with the participation or support of a nuclear state, be considered as their joint attack on the Russian Federation.”

The Russians have told us that allowing Ukraine to fire long-range missiles deep into their territory could cause a nuclear war.

But Joe Biden did it anyway.

Just imagine how we would feel if some foreign power was firing long-range missiles into Washington D.C. and New York City.

If someone did that to us, we would nuke them.

I want everyone out there to understand the gravity of the scenario that we are facing.

Of course the Russians have been escalating matters as well.

In fact, they just hit targets all over Ukraine using “120 missiles and almost 100 drones”…

Ukraine said it would introduce nationwide emergency power restrictions Monday after a “massive” Russian attack further damaged its already fragile energy grid ahead of a much-feared winter, with nine civilians also killed across the country on Sunday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Moscow launched 120 missiles and almost 100 drones, targeting Kyiv as well as southern, central and far-western corners of the country.

Civilians were killed in the Mykolaiv, Lviv, Kherson, Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions in what officials in the capital called one of the biggest barrages in the almost three-year Russian invasion.

Meanwhile, the war in the Middle East threatens to spiral completely out of control.

On Sunday, Zero Hedge was reporting that Israeli troops were seen fighting at a location that is 3 miles north of the Lebanese border…

The Israeli military has reached the deepest point in Lebanon since the ground offensive began about six weeks ago. This has been reported by both Lebanese and Israeli media, amid raging battles with Hezbollah on Saturday.

“The state-run National News Agency reported that Israeli troops temporarily captured a strategic hill in the southern Lebanese village of Shamaa, about five kilometers (3 miles) from the border early Saturday, before later being pushed back,” Israeli media reports. “The outlet claimed soldiers detonated several buildings including a shrine before they withdrew.”

The IDF has also been bombing Syria on an almost daily basis, and we are waiting for the next Iranian attack on Israel which could literally occur at any moment.

Even though we could see these wars coming way in advance, nobody has been able to stop them.

Now Joe Biden has brought us to the brink of nuclear war with Russia even though he has very little time remaining in the White House.

It was not his decision to make, but he made it anyway, and it could end up having very serious implications for every man, woman and child on the entire planet.

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PROPHECY UPDATE VIDEOS

The Global Intifada is in Progress, Now What?

by Olivier Melnick - https://www.shalominmessiah.com/2024/11/16/the-global-intifada-is-in-progress-now-what/

On November 7, 2024, the world reached a new level of ugly with the advent of the Amsterdam/Tel Aviv soccer game pogrom—yes, you read it correctly—a pogrom! It happened because a global Intifada might be in progress. Let's start by defining both terms: Pogorm and Intifada.

A pogrom is a government-organized and/or sponsored riot, generally against the Jews. A somewhat "romanticized" version of a pogrom is the story of "Fiddler on the Roof." My great-grandmother Rachel Schimkowitz left Russia in the late 1880s to escape the pogroms. Back then, it was already a matter of life and death, and as a result, Jews left Eastern Europe for Western Europe, Canada, and America. My family settled down in Paris.

An intifada is a non-military uprising. Some people might call it a civil uprising, but since there is nothing "civil" about an intifada, I prefer the term non-military. There have been two official intifadas in Israel to date. The First Intifada lasted from 1987 to 1993, and the Second from 2000 to 2005. The word means "uprising," with the implied meaning of rebellion and resistance. It has been linked to the Palestinian cause for the last thirty-five years, pretty much since the First Intifada. It was initially meant to describe a bold but non-violent resistance but has unfortunately morphed over the last few decades to become more aggressive and very violent.

Today's youth identify with the resistance and social justice aspect of the word's original meaning but ignore that its etymology has shifted to describe a more violent protest. Additionally, many college students are ignorant of the geo-political situation of the Middle East. They are often being used as pawns by the radical left or radical Islamic organizations to promote their agenda of hatred of Israel and the Jews.

Since October 8, 2023, we have heard the chants "globalize the Intifada. " To be sure, that motto wasn't born after Hamas invaded Israel and murdered 1,200 innocent Israelis, but it indeed became more popular. College students all over America and other parts of the world are rallying under the banner of a global intifada. Ignoring the implications, many gather and brandish signs with "From the River to the Sea, Palestine Shall be Free!" Again, ignorance makes the actions very toxic. The motto being chanted is a call for the complete destruction of Israel, something that many youngsters have no clue about. Unfortunately, they end up being used by the real antisemites who are ready to kill Jews in 2024.

On November 7, 2024, the world witnessed what could be the launching of the Global Intifada. The Amsterdam/Tel Aviv soccer game became a stage for the display of violent Jew hatred. One wonders if the planning was purposefully done to coincide with the 86th anniversary of Kristallnacht.

To be sure, the Maccabi Tel Aviv fans were not innocent. They were chanting insulting phrases aimed at the pro-Palestinian side, and they even climbed the facade of a building to tear down a Palestinian flag. This being said, there is absolutely no moral equivalence between these acts of vandalism and the chasing and beating down of people on the streets of Amsterdam simply because they are Jews. In some cases, people were asked to show their passports to see if they were from Israel. Some media outlets were quick to claim that the attacks were a response to the Israeli fan base insulting the pro-Palestinian fan base, but the attacks were way too organized and structured to have been impromptu. This was carefully planned!

The events of November 7 would have been a tragedy if they were a "one-and-done." Unfortunately, they appear to have opened the door to more violence as the perpetrators repeated their actions on the streets of Amsterdam only days later. It is also encouraging more acts of violence against Jews, as in the city of Antwerp in Belgium, where shouts of "Jew Hunt" were heard on the streets.

There was also another soccer game between France and Israel in Paris, and according to my local contact who was at the game, security was extremely tight. One man had hidden Palestinian flags ahead of the game and pulled them out during the play, which led to a minor altercation but nothing serious. The stadium holds 80,000 people but was only filled with 20,000 plus 4,000 police officers and some military personnel. The streets of Paris did see some protests against Israel that night, but again, nothing as violent as Amsterdam.

Rachel O'Donoghue was spot one in her Algemeiner article, "The attacks in Amsterdam last Thursday night, reminiscent of Nazi-era pogroms, are the direct result of the “Globalize the Intifada” movement that anti-Israel protesters have been championing for over a year. This slogan isn’t just a catchy chant; it’s a blatant call for violence against Jews, mirroring the atrocities of the First and Second Palestinian Intifadas."

There will undoubtedly be more attacks on Jews, and many will choose to become bystanders, and, in a sense, that makes them co-perpetrators. Still, just like in Amsterdam, some will open their homes to rescue and shelter endangered Jewish people. The global Intifada has started and is coming to a town near you. Is our door open or closed to Jews? I believe this largely depends on the condition of our hearts. Are they open or closed to the Jewish people?

Will we be sheep, or will we be goats? (Matthew 25:31-46) In the words of Yeshua (Jesus), "And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me." (Matthew 31:40) This parable speaks of a future time during the Great Tribulation, but the principle needs to be applied TODAY! I know the Shepherd, and I want to be seen as a sheep of His flock.

As We Rapidly Approach the End of The Church Age, Christians Must Be Resolute In Our Position

By Dean Dwyer - https://harbingersdaily.com/as-we-rapidly-approach-the-end-of-the-church-age-christians-must-be-resolute-in-our-position/

As we rapidly approach the end of the church age, the spiritual battle we are engaged in appears to be growing in intensity. As any soldier would tell you, the fiercer the fight, the quicker they become exhausted. With that in mind, many Christians I speak with all make the same comment – they cannot wait to get home because they are all exhausted. Trust me, I feel the same! But, until that glorious day, allow me to encourage you to keep up the fight as good soldiers of Christ. After all, without encouragement and hope, many view suffering as meaningless. However, because of our position in Christ, we may be resolute. A little saying I like to use is this: we can face the opposition when we are resolute in our position.

When speaking about fighting the good fight, I often like to use four simple words: duty, discipline, detachment and desire. Let’s examine each one independently:-

1. Soldiers have a duty. 2 Timothy 2:3 makes it clear: You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. This simple verse tells us two things. Firstly, it affirms the fact that Christ is Captain of our salvation and, as such, He is the One who issues the orders. If we were giving the orders, we would be inclined to hand out more blessings than battles, but we must recognize that this age is a battleground, not a playground. That leads to my next point – hardship. Many Christians would love to avoid the hardship part of faith but as was once said, a Christian without affliction is only like a soldier on parade. Just as the Roman soldiers suffered temporal hardship for temporal gain in the service of the Emperor, how much more should the Christian soldier be prepared to suffer temporal hardship for eternal gain in service of the King of kings and Lord of lords!

2. Soldiers must learn discipline. This is not simply an attitude but an activity. As somebody once said: “Discipline yourself to prayer. Discipline yourself to the systematic reading of Scripture from Genesis to Revelation over and over and over again. Discipline yourself in your speech. Discipline yourself in the company you keep. Discipline yourself when you go to bed and when you rise up. This is war. Discipline yourself!” Sadly, however, discipline is what lukewarm Christians need the most but want the least! But when learning discipline, be careful not to invite self-righteousness. We desire to become disciplined Christians, not for the glory of self, but for the glory of God.

3. Soldiers must learn detachment. 2 Timothy 2:4 says: No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. Soldiers who tend to entangle themselves with the affairs of this world have the tendency to go AWOL. However, for the Christian soldier, service involves self-sacrifice, endurance, discipline, vigilance, obedience, enthusiasm and loyalty. In short, to be a good soldier means total commitment! In light of eternity and its rewards, we should be careful not to be entangled with temporal matters which will have relative unimportance to our eternal state.

At this point, it is important to distinguish between “involved” and “entangled”. Naturally, as we live in this world we need to become involved in some aspects of this world. The Greek word for “entangle” (empleko) was often used of a sheep whose wool was caught in thorns. This picture helps to illustrate the difference between being involved and entangled. One is entangled when he is not free to get himself loose! That becomes a problem when we cannot get ourselves loose to fulfil our Captain’s commands.

4. Soldiers must have desire. Our desire should be to fulfil our duty to such an extent that it pleases our Captain. As 2 Corinthians 5:9 says: Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. But what will please Him most in this battle? Having our armor on (Ephesians 6); obeying His commands; displaying loyalty; exercising faith.

The life of a Christian soldier is not easy. As a soldier of faith, it is likely to be long and very trying. The warfare I am called to engage in may seem relentless at times. But I am strengthened by knowing that He who is in me is greater than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4). Christ, the Captain of my salvation, has gone before me and it is incumbent upon me to follow Him to the end. I dare not set any conditions to my obedience, but simply trust Him to provide the necessary guidance and strength to bring me through the battle.

Daily Jot: Negotiating with God

Bill Wilson – www.dailyjot.com

How many times have you caught yourself negotiating with God? “Lord, I will do this, never do that again, whatever, if you just…” Sound familiar? It happens. Humans have a tendency to negotiate over things they have done or want in life. But do we make requests of God based on His will or ours? There seems to be a difference between asking God for something within his will and trying to get something from God outside of His will. David, for example, fasted and prayed that the Lord would spare his newborn son because of what David did to Uriah. The Lord held accountability, but eventually provided another son, Solomon, as the line of Christ. Another example is Abraham and Sodom.

As the two angels set out for Sodom, the LORD said in Genesis 18:17, “should I hide from Abraham what I am about to do; in as much as Abraham is sure to become a great and strong nation, and all of the nations of the earth will be blessed by him?” The LORD says that the outcry against Sodom and Gomorra was so great that He was going to see if their deeds would warrant their destruction. Abraham approached the LORD and said, ”Will you actually sweep away the righteous with the wicked? (18:23).” Then Abraham continued to plea bargain, “Maybe there are fifty righteous…Far be it from you to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the wicked are treated alike! Far be it from you! Shouldn’t the judge of all the earth do what is just?” (18:25).

He continues to plea, forty-five…thirty…ten, and the LORD says He will not destroy Sodom for the sake of ten righteous. The two angels came to Sodom and found it to be as wicked as reported. The men of the city came to Lot’s house and demanded he let them molest the two angels. The angels told Lot to warn his family to get out of the city and flee to the mountains. The angels had to physically take Lot and his wife by the hands to take them out of Sodom, and Lot’s wife turns back and is turned to a pillar of salt. Thinking that they are all that is left of the human race—Lot’s daughters decide that it is their duty to bear descendants for their father. Out of these two incestuous relations, the sons Moab and Ammon become fathers of two nations that later become mortal enemies of Israel.

God’s answer to Abraham’s intercession and His promise to Abraham came through the salvation of Lot and his daughters. A descendant of Moab would be Ruth, who would be the great grandmother of King David, and from David’s line came the Messiah—fulfilling the promise to Abraham, that through him all of the families of the earth would be blessed (Genesis 12:3). This story is similar to Moses interceding for his people after the sin of the golden calf. God doesn’t prohibit His people from interceding and holding Him accountable to His promises. Yes, we can negotiate with God, ask and receive, but purity of heart and alignment with God’s will is extremely important.

Daily Devotion: Understanding Angels

by Greg Laurie – www.harvest.org

Praise the Lord, you angels, you mighty ones who carry out his plans, listening for each of his commands. —Psalm 103:20

https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/understanding-angels/ - Listen

We live in the natural world, but we coexist with the supernatural world. Our realm is visible, but there’s another realm that’s invisible. And it’s just as real as ours. We have physical bodies, but there are other beings who have spiritual bodies. The Bible refers to them as angels. In fact, it mentions angels more than three hundred times. Angels are real. They move back and forth between Heaven and Earth. They do vital work. And they’re actively involved in the lives of the followers of Jesus Christ.

Angels appear frequently in popular culture, which has led to some misconceptions about their nature and work. Here are a few things we need to understand about these important servants of God.

Some people believe that when you die, you become an angel. They comfort grieving loved ones by saying things like, “God needed another angel in Heaven” or “Now you have an angel looking over your family.” And while that may sound comforting, it’s not true. People do not become angels when they die.

Angels are created beings, completely separate from humans. Colossians 1:15–16 says, “Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see—such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him” (NLT). Other passages of Scripture suggest that angels are eternal; they never die. Angels are divided into different categories, including the cherubim and the seraphim. But none of them are former humans.

Angels appear as men in Scripture. When I told that to my granddaughters, they weren’t happy. They said, “That’s not fair, Papa.” We often think of angels as feminine. We say, “She’s as pretty as an angel.” We don’t often say, “He’s as handsome as an angel.” But the reality is that when angels show up in the Bible, they appear as men.

When some female followers of Jesus went to Jesus’ tomb after His resurrection, “two men suddenly appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes” (Luke 24:4 NLT)—these “men” were angels. And after Jesus’ disciples saw Jesus ascending to Heaven, “two white-robed men suddenly stood among them” (Acts 1:10 NLT). These angels told Jesus’ disciples that Jesus had been taken to Heaven but that He would return.

Angels fulfill specific God-given responsibilities. They “carry out his plans” (Psalm 103:20 NLT). They could be described as God’s secret agents. Or His SEAL Team 6. They do their job, but they don’t draw attention to themselves.

We probably would be amazed to discover how many times angels have stopped us from doing something we’d regret, gotten us out of tight situations, protected us from harm, or spoken directly to us. Hebrews 1:14 sums up their role this way: “Angels are only servants—spirits sent to care for people who will inherit salvation” (NLT).

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