The Prophecy Update Newsletter - 3/17/25 - Prophecy Update: Pricks, Thorns, and Vexing

News & Information for the End Times

Mar 17, 2025

ISRAEL AT WAR!!! Day 528 - 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…

*Prophecy Update: Pricks, Thorns, and Vexing

*Wars And Rumors of Wars: Now We Are at War with The Houthis, and We Are Being Told That Iran Could Be Next

*Prophecy Update Videos

*Recommended Reading & Links

*Europe’s Prophesied Power Emerging

*Jesus’ Appearing Is Not an Add-On to The Gospel; It’s A Vital Aspect of It

*Daily Jot: The lesson of the golden calf for today

*Daily Devotion: Have Mercy

*Prophecy Update News Headlines

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Prophecy Update: Pricks, Thorns, and Vexing

By Daymond Duck - https://www.raptureready.com/2025/03/15/pricks-thorns-and-vexing-by-daymond-duck/

The Bible begins, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” (Gen. 1:1).

“All things were made by him; and without him not anything was made that was made” (Jn. 1:2).

“He [Jesus] was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not” (Jn. 1:10.

“The earth is the Lord’s and its fullness; the world, and they that dwell therein. For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods (Psa. 24:1-2).

The Bible clearly teaches that this earth and everything in it, including all the people, belong to God.

It is true that Adam and Eve sinned and allowed Satan to take over, but Jesus redeemed the entire Creation (bought it back, people and all) at the cross.

Let’s go to Numbers chapter 33.

Moses has led the Hebrews out of Egypt, they have wandered in the wilderness for forty years, and they have finally arrived at the Promised Land.

God said, “When ye are passed over Jordan into the land of Canaan; ye shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their pictures, and destroy all their molten images [idols], and quite pluck down all their high places [places of pagan worship]: And ye shall dispossess the inhabitants of the land, and dwell therein: for I have given you the land to possess it (Num. 33:51-53).

“But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you: then it shall come to pass, that those which ye let remain of them, shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell” (Num. 33:55).

Was God being unfair?

No, this world belongs to Him, and He was fed up with the sins of the Canaanites.

He said, “Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my good pleasure” (Isa. 46:9-10).

God is God, and He does what He wants to do.

Anyway, if the Hebrews didn’t put all of the Canaanites off the Promised Land, the Canaanites would cause major problems for Israel in the future.

They did it in Old Testament times, and they are doing it today.

But know that Israel is not the only one that will suffer from pricks, thorns, and vexing.

What the Canaanites (and the nations) try to do to Israel will come back on them.

They will reap what they sow.

And their pricks, thorns, and vexing will be so great, no flesh would be shortened.

However, those days will be shortened for the elect’s (Israel’s) sake.

(My opinion: Notice that God didn’t say kill the Canaanites. God said drive all of them off the land. I find it interesting that Trump wants to remove the Palestinians from Gaza, but others want to force them to stay in Gaza where many of them will suffer and die.)

Here are recent events that seem to indicate that God may be getting ready to deal with the world’s treatment of Israel:

One, concerning wars and rumors of wars: after meeting with several former Hamas hostages at the White House on Mar. 5, 2025, Trump posted a message to Hamas on Truth Social:

Release all of the Hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is over for you.
Only sick and twisted people keep bodies, and you are sick and twisted!
I am sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job.
Not a single Hamas member will be safe if you don’t do as I say.
This is your last warning! For the leadership, now is the time to leave Gaza while you still have a chance.
To the People of Gaza: A beautiful future awaits, but not if you hold Hostages. If you do, you are dead! Make a smart decision.
Release the hostages now, or there will be hell to pay later!

(More: On Mar. 6, 2025, U.S. Sec. of State Rubio said, “He’s (Trump is) tired of watching videos of emaciated hostages being released.”)

(More: On Mar. 6, 2025, the head of a terror victims group in Israel said, “When you surrender to evil, evil learns that terrorism pays.”)

(More: On Mar. 6, 2025, the U.S. special envoy to the Middle East said the U.S. and Israel could take joint military action against Hamas if negotiations with the terrorist group fail.)

(More: On Mar. 7, 2025, Israel’s Prime Min. Netanyahu ordered Israel’s military to prepare for an immediate return to fighting in Gaza.)

(More: On Mar. 9, 2025, it was reported that Hamas has agreed to release more hostages for an extension of the ceasefire, but no details were available at that time.)

Two, concerning Hamas releasing more hostages: on Mar. 6, 2025, Amir Tsarfati said Hamas is demanding to stay in power in exchange for more hostages, but Israel is refusing to let Hamas stay in power.

Tsarfati asks, “So, what do we do with this stalemate?”

Tsarfati said,

If Hamas still refuses to move forward, Israel will cut the 19% of Gaza’s water that it supplies.
If Hamas still refuses, Israel will cut electricity to Gaza’s desalination plants so that they cannot purify their own water.
If Hamas still refuses, Israel will resume air attacks.
If Hamas still refuses, Israel will resume a ground war.
To this final end, Israel’s government approved a call-up of 400,000 reserves.
That’s 100,000 more than were called up after October 7.
In other words, Israel is not playing around.

In my words, Israel’s military toolbox is full of pricks, thorns, and vexing.

(More: On Mar. 9, 2025, Israel announced that it will immediately cut off the electricity it sends to Gaza. The desalination plants that receive electricity from Israel will have to shut down. Trump warned that if all the hostages were not released, there would be hell to pay, and it is beginning to look like payday has arrived.)

(More: On Mar. 9, 2025, Israel announced that it is actively working on plans to move 5,000 Gaza citizens per day to other nations and to get other nations to take them. If they can accomplish this, it will take a year to clear out Gaza.)

(More: On Mar. 10, 2025, in a meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, U.S. Sec. of State Marco Rubio said any reconstruction effort in Gaza must exclude Hamas.)

Three, concerning wars and rumors of wars: in a message to Congress on Mar. 4, 2025, Pres. Trump talked about his threats to impose tariffs on other nations.

Trump said the additional tariffs, including reciprocal tariffs and non-tariff actions, are aimed at addressing years of trade imbalances.

In addition to trade imbalances, Trump said he was imposing tariffs on China because they keep sending fentanyl into the U.S., and he wants it stopped.

China responded, “If war is what the US wants, be it a tariff war, a trade war, or any other type of war, we’re ready to fight till the end.”

(More: On Mar. 5, 2025, Pres. Trump postponed 25% tariffs on many imports from Mexico and some imports from Canada for a month amid widespread fears of the economic fallout from a broader trade war. He emphasized that the tariffs are about stopping the smuggling of fentanyl and fixing the trade deficit.)

Four, concerning wars and rumors of wars and the coming Battle of Gog and Magog, on Mar. 4, 2025, Sen. Lindsey Graham urged Pres. Trump to allow Israel to destroy Iran’s nuclear program while we can.

Graham said there is zero chance of getting a nuclear pact with Iran that would convince the Ayatollah Khamenei to abandon his ambitions to build the bomb.

He added that Khamenei wants three things:

To dominate Islam.
To kill all Jews.
To drive the U.S. out of the Middle East.

(More: On Mar. 4, 2025, 77 retired U.S. generals and admirals released a letter to Pres. Trump urging him to support Israel’s efforts to finish the war with Iran before Iran crosses the nuclear threshold. According to them, two decades of negotiations have accomplished nothing.)

(More: On Mar. 5, 2025, it was reported that Iran’s president said he would negotiate with the U.S., but Khamenei refuses.)

(More: On Mar. 5, 2025, it was reported that Iran has established a new terrorist group in Syria. Iran said the new group will represent all groups in Syria, defend Syria against occupation, and stand against falsehood. The group is demanding that Israel withdraw its forces from southern Syria and the demilitarized zone in the Golan Heights. It has claimed responsibility for several recent attacks against Israel’s military forces.)

Five, concerning wars and rumors of wars and the coming Battle of Gog and Magog: on Mar. 7, 2025, Trump said he sent a letter to Khamenei demanding that he negotiate with the U.S. because he (Trump) will not allow Khamenei to have nuclear weapons.

In an interview, Trump said,

We have a situation with Iran that something’s going to happen very soon, very, very soon.
There will be interesting days ahead.
There are two ways Iran can be handled: militarily, or you make a deal.
I’d rather see a peace deal than the other, but the other will solve the problem.
If Iran doesn’t negotiate, it will be very ugly for them.

Six, concerning wars and rumors of wars: on Mar. 5, 2025, French Pres. Macron said France and the EU should prepare for war because Russian aggression knows no borders.

He said Europe will not accept the capitulation of Ukraine to Russia under the guise of peace negotiations.

Macron added that France would use its nuclear arsenal against Putin.

(More: Germany’s Foreign Minister urged the European nations to start mobilizing now and not wait until April when there is a new government in Germany.)

Seven, concerning the ashes of a red heifer without blemish and spot: on Mar. 7, 2025, it was reported that the five calves that have been moved from Texas to Israel have all been disqualified.

According to the report, the red heifers are occasionally inspected to see if they are still unqualified, but at this time, all of them have more than one non-red hair.

Eight, concerning the Two-State Solution and Judea and Samara: on Mar. 7, 2025, I heard a prophecy teacher say that there is the possibility that the U.S. and Israel are planning to announce Israel’s annexation of all of Judea and Samaria, and the death of the Two-State Solution in about a week and one-half.

All of the land from the (Jordan) River to the (Mediterranean) Sea will be part of Israel.

(My opinion: Israel will be divided after the Rapture, but Israel will get all that land and a lot more at the Second Coming.)

Nine, concerning the Battle of Gog and Magog and Iran’s desire to destroy Israel: on Mar. 8, 2025, Iran criticized the Arab’s Gaza reconstruction plan.

Iran’s Foreign Min. said, “While we respect the views of some brotherly nations regarding the two-state solution, the Islamic Republic of Iran maintains that this approach will not fulfill the rights of the Palestinian people.”

Iran wants a one-state solution, not a Two-State Solution.

(More: The mayor of Paterson, NJ, is the son of a Syrian woman and a Lebanese father. On Mar. 10, 2025, it was reported that he has declared Paterson, NJ, the capital of Palestine in the U.S. He changed the name of Main Street to Palestinian Way, closes schools on Muslim holidays, serves Muslim food in the school cafeterias, uses loudspeakers to blast a call to Muslim prayers in the city, etc.)

Ten, concerning world government: on March 7, 2025, the U.S. rejected the UN Sustainable Development Goals (on the grounds that they would hurt America and establish a world government).

Edward Heartney, a Trump-appointed representative, told the UN General Assembly the Sustainable Development Goals (climate change, wealth redistribution, ending poverty, gender equality, etc.) “advance a program of soft global governance that is inconsistent with U.S. sovereignty and adverse to the rights and interests of Americans.”

A UN representative responded by saying the goals were approved by all the nations in the UN, and so the U.N. is holding onto its guiding principles “to advance a world of peace, prosperity and dignity for all.”

(My opinion: The Trump representative’s statement confirms that the UN Sustainable Development Goals are about world government and the surrender of national sovereignty. The UN response indicates that, at least for the time being, the UN is sticking to its goal of a world government by 2030 or sooner if possible. Also, we know that the UN must be restructured, that the Restrainer is holding the world government back, and that despite Trump’s desire to Make America Great Again, there will be a world government after the Rapture.)

(My opinion: I am not predicting a date, but “2030 or sooner if possible” means that people could have less than five years to be ready. And who knows? It could be quite a bit less.)

Eleven, concerning the new HTS-dominated government of Syria: on Mar. 8, 2025, it was reported that government troops have killed more than one thousand Syrian citizens (including women, children, and Christians).

(More: A report on Mar. 9, 2025, said women were paraded naked in the streets before being shot. There was also a report that a teenage boy was given a rifle and forced to shoot his family.)

(My opinion: This seems to deny HTS claims of moderation and confirm Israel’s suspicions of once a terrorist always a terrorist. Israel’s suspicions are why Israel has kept troops in the buffer zone on its border with Syria.)

Twelve, concerning Russia, Iran, Turkey, and others using Syria to attack Israel: on Mar.10-11, 2025, Israeli jets struck 41 targets (radar, aerial detection systems, headquarters, and weapons depots under the new regime) in southern Syria that Israel said could pose a threat to Israel and Israeli operations in the future.

Thirteen, concerning illegal immigrants in the U.S.: the Trump administration is now allowing illegal immigrants to self-deport and offering them the opportunity to apply to return legally in the future.

If they self-deport and are not criminals, terrorists, cartel members, etc., there is a good chance that they will be allowed to return legally to live the American Dream.

Fourteen, Canada has replaced Trudeau with a new Prime Min., and I am being asked what he is like. I don’t know, but Alex Newman, a man that I greatly respect, said the situation in Canada has been controlled to ensure that the globalists continue to stay in power.

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

Wars And Rumors of Wars: Now We Are at War with The Houthis, and We Are Being Told That Iran Could Be Next

by Michael Snyder - https://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/wars-and-rumors-of-wars-now-we-are-at-war-with-the-houthis-and-we-are-being-told-that-iran-could-be-next/

Did you know that we are bombing the Houthis in Yemen? If so, you are far more informed than most of the population, because most Americans would have no hope of actually finding the nation of Yemen on a blank map of the world. On Saturday, President Trump ordered a “decisive” bombing campaign to begin, and it will continue until the Houthis stop attacking U.S. targets in the Red Sea. Of course the Houthis have no intention of ending their attacks, and so now we are at war with the Houthis for the foreseeable future. On his Truth Social account, President Trump warned the Houthis that “hell will rain down upon you like nothing you have ever seen before”…

Today, I have ordered the United States Military to launch decisive and powerful Military action against the Houthi terrorists in Yemen. They have waged an unrelenting campaign of piracy, violence, and terrorism against American, and other, ships, aircraft, and drones.

Joe Biden’s response was pathetically weak, so the unrestrained Houthis just kept going. It has been over a year since a U.S. flagged commercial ship safely sailed through the Suez Canal, the Red Sea, or the Gulf of Aden. The last American Warship to go through the Red Sea, four months ago, was attacked by the Houthis over a dozen times. Funded by Iran, the Houthi thugs have fired missiles at U.S. aircraft, and targeted our Troops and Allies. These relentless assaults have cost the U.S. and World Economy many BILLIONS of Dollars while, at the same time, putting innocent lives at risk.

The Houthi attack on American vessels will not be tolerated. We will use overwhelming lethal force until we have achieved our objective. The Houthis have choked off shipping in one of the most important Waterways of the World, grinding vast swaths of Global Commerce to a halt, and attacking the core principle of Freedom of Navigation upon which International Trade and Commerce depends.

Our brave Warfighters are right now carrying out aerial attacks on the terrorists’ bases, leaders, and missile defenses to protect American shipping, air, and naval assets, and to restore Navigational Freedom. No terrorist force will stop American commercial and naval vessels from freely sailing the Waterways of the World.

To all Houthi terrorists, YOUR TIME IS UP, AND YOUR ATTACKS MUST STOP, STARTING TODAY. IF THEY DON’T, HELL WILL RAIN DOWN UPON YOU LIKE NOTHING YOU HAVE EVER SEEN BEFORE!

It certainly didn’t take long for the airstrikes to begin.

On Sunday, it was being reported that U.S. aircraft had hit “multiple locations across the country”…

U.S. airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen continued overnight Sunday with significant intensity, striking multiple locations across the country.

The Iran-backed terrorist group said at least 31 people were killed and 101 wounded, mostly women and children, though the claims could not be independently verified.

The wave of strikes follows President Donald Trump’s decision to launch a large-scale military campaign against the Houthis, marking the opening phase of a broader U.S. offensive against the rebel group, which has resumed threats against Israel and international shipping in the Red Sea.

There were times during the Biden administration when the U.S. conducted airstrikes against the Houthis.

But those airstrikes were very limited.

What we witnessed on Sunday was quite dramatic, and Mike Waltz is claiming that the airstrikes “took out” multiple Houthi leaders…

The U.S. airstrikes that bombarded Yemen on Saturday targeted and “took out” multiple leaders of the Iranian-backed Houthis, White House national security adviser Mike Waltz said Sunday.

Speaking on ABC’s “This Week,” Waltz argued to co-anchor Martha Raddatz that these latest strikes differ from the countless strikes the Biden administration launched against the rebel group, which the Trump administration has designated a foreign terrorist organization.

“These were not kind of pinprick, back and forth — what ultimately proved to be feckless attacks,” Waltz said. “This was an overwhelming response that actually targeted multiple Houthi leaders and took them out. And the difference here is, one, going after the Houthi leadership, and two, holding Iran responsible.”

Unfortunately, the Houthis are showing no signs of backing down.

Instead, they are claiming that they just attacked several U.S. warships…

Yemen’s Houthi terrorists claimed to have attacked the USS Harry Truman aircraft carrier – as well as several American warships – in the Red Sea.

The terror group said, without offering evidence, that they attacked the Truman and its warships with ballistic missiles and drones in response to the U.S. attacks.

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said on Sunday: ‘The armed forces, with the help of God Almighty, carried out a qualitative military operation targeting the American aircraft carrier USS Harry Truman and its accompanying warships in the northern Red Sea, using 18 ballistic and cruise missiles and drones in a joint operation carried out by the missile force, Drone Air Force and the naval forces.’

Unless the Houthis ultimately back down, this conflict is not going to end any time soon.

At the end of his post about the Houthis on Truth Social, President Trump also had an ominous warning for Iran…

To Iran: Support for the Houthi terrorists must end IMMEDIATELY! Do NOT threaten the American People, their President, who has received one of the largest mandates in Presidential History, or Worldwide shipping lanes. If you do, BEWARE, because America will hold you fully accountable and, we won’t be nice about it!

Since he entered the White House, President Trump has brought up the possibility of war with Iran over and over again.

But so far, the mainstream media does not seem to be taking those threats seriously.

I don’t understand why they aren’t.

I believe that Trump is very serious.

And on Sunday, Mike Waltz clearly stated that “all options are always on the table” when he was asked if direct military action against Iran is possible…

Asked by Raddatz if direct military action on Iran is a possibility, Waltz said ‘all options are always on the table with the president.’

‘Iran needs to hear him loud and clear,’ Waltz said. ‘It is completely unacceptable, and it will be stopped, the level of support that they’ve been providing the Houthis.’

He said Trump is coming in with ‘overwhelming force’ and will hold the not only the Houthis accountable but Iran as well.

Waltz said if Iranians have put in other things, like ships, trainers or intelligence, to help the Houthis attack ‘those targets will be on the table too.’

Of course the Iranians are not going to back down either.

They have made no secret of their hatred for Trump, and one of their top generals just warned that Iran is ready to deliver a “decisive and devastating response”…

“We are not a nation to live in hiding. We are a valid and legitimate system in the world. We announce it if we attack anywhere,” Salami said in a speech broadcast in Farsi.

The general did not say Iran had been threatened, but that the country would offer a “decisive and devastating response to any threat” against it.

Salami’s words echoed those of President Donald Trump, who announced on Saturday he had ordered the U.S. military to launch a “decisive and powerful” strike against the Houthis in Yemen.

Our relations with Iran have not been this bad since the Iranian hostage crisis over 40 years ago.

And it is just a matter of time before the Trump administration and the Israeli government decide that the clock has run out and that it has become necessary to bomb Iran’s nuclear program.

Unfortunately, the Chinese and the Russians have clearly chosen to side with the Iranians in this matter…

China and Russia stood by Iran on Friday after the United States demanded nuclear talks with Tehran, with senior Chinese and Russian diplomats saying dialogue should only resume based on “mutual respect” and all sanctions ought to be lifted.

In a joint statement issued after talks with Iran in Beijing, China and Russia also said they welcomed Iran’s reiteration that its nuclear programme was exclusively for peaceful purposes, and that Tehran’s right to peaceful uses of nuclear energy should be “fully” respected.

Once the bombing of Iran begins, how will the Chinese and the Russians react?

And what would Iran’s next moves be?

We really are living at a time of “wars and rumors of wars”, and we are seeing very troubling alliances form right in front of our eyes.

So let us hope for peace, but let us also prepare ourselves for global war.

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PROPHECY UPDATE VIDEOS

Europe’s Prophesied Power Emerging

Terry James - https://terryjamesprophecyline.com/2025/03/16/europes-prophesied-power-emerging/

Second only to Israel now being at the heart of the desperate search for global peace, I’m convinced that Europe being suddenly thrust to the top of the end-times quest for that world peace is a profound development. And, just as profound, I believe, is that this man—who, against all odds, is opposed by all the powers of geopolitics, and is the object of two nearly successful assassination attempts—is the force behind bringing this generation to the time when God will bring His prophecy to fulfillment.

Donald J Trump is, I believe, the man who is, unwittingly, key to the process in this matter—the world being moved toward the time God’s Word plainly says will be history’s most terrible era.

By this, I don’t mean Mr. Trump is a pawn of Satan in setting up the world for the son of perdition (Antichrist) to step onto the platform of power. Rather, I believe this unusual man (and, like him or not, who can honestly deny that he is unlike any we’ve seen?) is being used by heavenly direction—again, unwittingly—to bring all the evil of this world to its conclusion.

We’ve watched him jump without hesitation into the world’s most dangerous conflict—the one involving Israel, the number-one Bible prophecy signal of this being the end of the age. His doing so is because of another top sign of this late prophetic hour: the desire to bring peace in a region where war threatens to break into global nuclear conflict. This peculiar peace, in fact, is at the center of what Bible prophecy says will indeed bring carnage to all of humankind at some point.

But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. (1 Thessalonians 5:1–3)

And now, Mr. Trump, the American president number 47, has jumped in with everything available to him into the second-most-dangerous situation involving the very real possibility of world war being ignited. We’ve watched with almost mesmerized attention the unprecedented lack of decorum when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky tried to pull a fast one in the televised Oval Office visit.

The American president told Zelensky he was putting the world in danger of World War III by his effort to force America to guarantee troops on the ground in Ukraine to protect against Russian assault. This wasn’t part of the agreement already made before that meeting, and Zelensky was trying to make America look bad before the world through his subterfuge.

However, the confrontation, as entertaining as it was to some—me included—the greater takeaway is that the entire matter has Bible prophecy at its dark center, I have no doubt.

Here’s what I mean.

Zelensky was told to leave the White House in rather rude terms, but in terms well deserved. The Ukrainian president then returned to Europe, where he was received by the nations whose leaderships, though stunned by what had happened in the Oval Office, nonetheless embraced Zelensky, who was nursing wounds from his underestimation of Trump’s reaction.

Or was it underestimation? At the very least, it was, in total, governed by heavenly direction, in my opinion. Whatever it was, it has thrown fear into those who govern/rule Europe. It has put into fast-forward the movement toward establishing the prophesied military power for that area, which is destined to be the area out of which the world’s last and most despotic dictator will arise.

Here is a news item that somewhat enlightens, I think.

European nations are rapidly increasing defense spending in response to growing security concerns driven by the ongoing war in Ukraine and uncertainty over US commitments under Donald Trump’s presidency.

European leaders met in London on Sunday to advance plans for stronger defense cooperation, with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen warning that Europe urgently needs to “rearm.”

“We need a massive surge in defense, without any question. We want lasting peace, but lasting peace can only be built on strength,” von der Leyen said on Monday. She added that she would inform EU member states on Tuesday about plans to strengthen European defense industry and military capabilities.

The talks, which brought together 18 allies, came just days after Trump publicly berated Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House, accusing him of being “disrespectful” and ungrateful for US aid…

“We should have woken up earlier,” [French President Emmanuel] Macron said. “I’ve been saying for years that we need a more sovereign, more united, more independent Europe.”

The UK, Germany, and Denmark are also set to increase defence investments. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged last week to raise defense spending to 2.5 percent of GDP by 2027 – the largest increase since the Cold War. (“‘We should have woken up earlier’”: Europe races to rearm as old alliances falter, Explainer, Rapture Ready News, March 4, 2025)

As I wrote in a commentary of March 3, “Antichrist’s Power Base,” this president, I believe, could well be fulfilling, unknowingly, the end-times movement toward Europe’s development of a unified military power base. When the Rapture occurs, America will be in disarray perhaps more than any other nation due to Christian influence within government and the military no longer being here.

I believe the probability is strong that a greatly weakened, disunified US will have to join, at a future time, a powerfully unified European defense consortium. This coalition will then be in possession of America’s awesome nuclear arsenal, along with all of its technological war-making assets. This would certainly bring to fulfillment the prophecy, “Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?” (Revelation 13:4).

As we watch, as commanded by the Lord Jesus, it’s these two developments we should observe most diligently: 1) Israel and America’s/Trump’s involvement in the “cry for peace and safety”; and 2) America’s/Trump’s involvement in forcing Europe, through fear, to create, ultimately, the most powerful military force ever.

Of course, what all this means is that believers—all born again into God’s family through belief in Christ—will at any moment be called into the clouds of Glory in the Rapture.

Here again is how to tell everyone you know how to go to Christ when He shouts, “Come up here!”

That if you will confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and will believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:9—10)

Jesus’ Appearing Is Not an Add-On to The Gospel; It’s A Vital Aspect of It

By Jonathan Brentner - https://harbingersdaily.com/jesus-appearing-is-not-an-add-on-to-the-gospel-its-a-vital-aspect-of-it/

What kept New Testament saints on the edge of their seats? What did they yearn for with excited anticipation?

Paul gives us the answer in Philippians 3:20-21: “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.” (emphasis added)

They longed for Jesus’ appearing.

The phrase “eagerly wait” accurately translates the Greek word Paul used in verse 20, apekdechomai. New Testament writers would strengthen the meaning of a word by adding a preposition to it. With apekdechomai, the apostle added two prepositions to the word, meaning “to welcome,” resulting in our English phrase signifying great excitement for what lies ahead, that of Jesus’ appearing and our receipt of glorified bodies.

Our typical experiences with waiting are anything but enjoyable. Many years ago, I waited over an hour at my doctor’s office before a nurse led me back to an examination room where another sixty minutes passed before he walked in the door. By then, the magazines in the office had long lost their appeal.

There’s something radically different, however, about waiting for the Lord’s return to take us home. It benefits us in several ways.

Jesus’ Appearing Comforts Us

We are not waiting for a medical or dentist appointment, but rather Jesus’ appearing along with the radical transforming of our “lowly” bodies to be like His “glorious body.” Paul also wrote about this glorious change in 1 Corinthians 15:51-53: “Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.“

Our expectation is not only that of meeting Jesus in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:17), but also that of a resurrection body; one that will be a huge upgrade from our weak “flesh and blood” bodies. No matter what we experience in our current aging and disease-prone bodies, we know it’s temporary. And nothing, not even death, can change the fact that when Jesus appears, He will give us immortal bodies.

This amazing hope far exceeds any earthly expectation. This short life is not all we have; there’s a better day on the horizon that’s far superior to even the rosiest of futures here below. Regardless of what we face today, there’s amazing comfort in knowing that Jesus is coming to take us home to glory (Colossians 3:4). Such an amazing expectation comforts us even as we endure difficult days waiting to meet our Savior in the air.

Jesus’ Appearing Assures Us of a Joyous Eternity

In Romans 8:23-25, Paul uses apekdechomai two more times: “Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.” (Romans 8:24-25, emphasis added).

The phrase, “redemption of our body,” is the same transforming of “our lowly body” that Paul wrote about in Philippians 3:20-21. Both texts refer to what we will experience at Jesus’ appearing.

The Rapture is not a tertiary aspect of the Gospel, as many claim. If this were the case, why would Paul write that “we were saved in this hope,” a clear reference to what happens at the time of the Rapture? Through the apostle, the Holy Spirit added more specifics about the “eternal life” that Jesus repeatedly promised to all who would believe in Him (e.g., John 3:16). Jesus’ appearing to take us home is not an add-on to the Gospel; it’s a vital aspect of it.

The use of apekdechomai in other contexts related to Jesus’ return (1 Corinthians 1:7; Galatians 5:5; and Hebrews 9:28) indicates that it may have become a distinguishing behavior of these early saints as those who “eagerly awaited” His appearing.

The pre-Tribulation Rapture is so much more than just something we believe; it’s the heartbeat of our hope. We endure challenging times and resist fretting over current events because we know things are going to change. Someday, Jesus will dramatically intervene in our world, and nothing will be the same for us as it will mark the beginning of a joyous eternity beyond our fondest aspirations.

Jesus’ Appearing Assures Us of Deliverance from the Day of the Lord

The New Testament excited anticipation of Jesus’ imminent appearing confirms the biblically sound teaching of the pre-Tribulation Rapture. It makes sense that behind the New Testament excited anticipation of the Lord’s return was the certainty that He would come for His own before initiating the series of deadly judgments recorded for us in Revelation chapters 6-18 or in the Old Testament references to the Day of the Lord.

After reminding the Thessalonians of the sudden destruction that will mark the start of this coming period of great wrath (1 Thessalonians 5:1-3), Paul assures all believers of their deliverance before this horrific day begins: “For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:9-11)

As believers, we are “not destined” to endure the judgments that lie ahead for the world, but rather the “salvation” or deliverance that will happen when Jesus removes us from this world (see 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). The main topic of 1 Thessalonians 4 and 5 is the Rapture. Our expectation is not that of great suffering and death during the Tribulation period, but rather that of meeting Jesus in the air.

Paul expressed the possibility that he would be alive at the time of the Rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:17; 1 Corinthians 15:52), which the saints of his day caught from his example. Their death doesn’t negate the hope that we might be the ones who will experience the Rapture before we die. The myriad of signs pointing to the nearing Tribulation period tell us it’s a distinct possibility for us today.

The eager anticipation of New Testament saints was not that of death or the experience of the Lord’s wrath, but rather that of meeting Jesus in the air. Even though it didn’t occur in their lifetime, this hope comforted them in suffering, assured them of a joyous eternity, relieved them of fear that they might endure the Day of the Lord. As Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 4:8, Jesus will reward those who love “his appearing” even if they don’t experience it in their lifetime.

What are you waiting for? Are you watching for Jesus’ appearing with eager anticipation? If so, you’re in good company with the early believers.

If you have not yet put your trust in Jesus as your Savior, the question remains the same, “What are you waiting for?” If you would like to know how this joyous anticipation of eternity can be yours, please see my article, Jesus Is the Only Path to Eternal Life. There I explain how you can know that you have everlasting life and that when Jesus appears, He will transform you a way that exceeds your wildest expectations.

Daily Jot: The lesson of the golden calf for today

Bill Wilson – www.dailyjot.com

Patience. Faithfulness. Self-control. Are any of these words meaningful to you? Imagine coming from a pagan society where all you have known for generations is how to pay homage to many gods. You have been taught that the superstitions of good fortune, love, violence, protection, wealth were all dependent on the whims of various gods, who often were in conflict with one another. That’s what the Israelites were dealing with when Moses led them out of the bondage of Egypt. That’s all they had ever known. Strange though, the other day I heard a very popular preacher saying that if you gave her money, you would receive God’s blessings of good fortune, wealth, protection, and love. Sin of the golden calf repeated?

The central theme found in Exodus 30:11-34:35 is the sin of the Golden Calf. When Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the commandments from the Lord, the people became impatient since he had been gone for 40 days and nights. They coerced Aaron to make a golden calf, something God has expressly forbidden in the 2nd commandment. The Lord quickly sent Moses back down the mountain to attend to the idolatry. In his anger, Moses smashed the commandments written by the hand of God. There was a plague on those who took part in the uprising, and 3,000 people died that day either from the plague, or by the hand of the zealous Levites.

Galatians 5:22-23 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Patience, faithfulness and self-control are all attributes of the character of God and are exemplified by Christ. Herein, we see all these virtues broken in the account of the sin of the golden calf. The people lost their patience after Moses didn’t return for 40 days. Moreover, they demanded that Aaron make a golden calf as a substitute for the one true God, demonstrating a lack of faithfulness. And upon seeing this when he returned, Moses lost his self-control and became so angry he threw down and broke the tablets inscribed by the finger of God himself.

This is what happens when we get out of alignment with God. God forbid the making of idols. He didn’t want His people to worship an inanimate object in any way, shape or form. He wanted His people to have a direct relationship with him. The acceptance of Christ and the turning of our lives away from the sins of the world is the beginning of a covenant with the living God where His virtues are transferred by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. In this relationship, there is no need for calling on icons, figures, idols or anything or anyone that comes between you and God. Christ Jesus is the only mediator. The virtues of God, your relationship with Him, cannot be found living in a golden calf—whatever form that takes in your life.

Daily Devotion: Have Mercy

by Greg Laurie – www.harvest.org

Mephibosheth bowed respectfully and exclaimed, ‘Who is your servant, that you should show such kindness to a dead dog like me?’ —2 Samuel 9:8

https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/have-mercy/ - Listen

It would be an understatement to say David had a complicated relationship with King Saul and his family. David was the anointed successor to Saul. As far as Saul was concerned, that made David his enemy. In fact, he tried to kill David several times.

Yet David married Saul’s daughter Michal. And Saul’s son Jonathan was David’s best friend. Jonathan tried to intervene on David’s behalf with his father. But when he realized how deeply Saul hated David, Jonathan urged his friend to flee.

But before the two friends parted, Jonathan asked David to show kindness to his descendants when David became king. Some time later, Jonathan died with his father on a battlefield.

History teaches us that the first thing many people do when they rise to power is eliminate any potential rivals. But David chose a different approach. It’s not that he was unaware of the political landscape. Saul and Jonathan may have been dead, but Jonathan’s son Mephibosheth was still alive. He might have challenged David for the throne of Israel.

Keep in mind, too, that Mephibosheth was Saul’s grandson. David could have gotten a little payback by making him run for his life the way Saul made David run for his life. Instead, he invited Mephibosheth to his palace.

“Don’t be afraid!” David said. “I intend to show kindness to you because of my promise to your father, Jonathan. I will give you all the property that once belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will eat here with me at the king’s table!” (2 Samuel 9:7 NLT).

This wasn’t an empty promise. Four verses later, we find these words: “And from that time on, Mephibosheth ate regularly at David’s table, like one of the king’s own sons” (NLT).

David was part of the most exclusive genealogy in human history—the genealogy of Jesus Christ. Yet his attitude was inclusive. He showed loving generosity to someone who had done nothing to earn it. He showed grace to someone who might otherwise have been his enemy.

And in this story, we find a beautiful picture of God and His mercy. Mephibosheth had nothing. He deserved nothing. He could repay nothing. In fact, he was hiding from the king. That’s us. We have nothing to offer God. We’ve done nothing to deserve His favor or forgiveness. Sometimes we even try to hide from Him.

And what does He do? He seeks us out. He adopts us and invites us to eat at His table. He makes us part of His royal family. This is the relationship God wants with you.

That’s why it’s essential that you get to know Him for yourself. He loves you. He has a plan for your life that’s better than your plan for yourself. But you need to come to Him. Mephibosheth could have refused David’s offer. He might have said, “I’m not going to that palace. I’m not going to sit at his table. I don’t want any of it. I want to stay here in Lo-Debar and watch the tumbleweeds blow by.” Instead, he made a wise decision that changed his life. You can do the same, right now, simply by embracing what the Lord is offering you. Your life will never be the same.

Reflection Question: How has God shown mercy to you? Discuss this with believers like you on Harvest Discipleship!

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