(Updated 2X) Have you forgotten about Debby already? Fires, Derechos and heat make Debby seem like old news

Update #2: In an ironic twist to the fulfillment of what I said below regarding media's use of ever-topping superlatives to try and explain the outsized events occurring almost daily now, the derechos that occurred yesterday and reported on this morning, are by this afternoon called SUPER-derecho. From Accuweather: "Deadly Super Derecho Strikes Midwest, Mid-Atlantic"

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UPDATE #1 from the Weather Channel summarizing last night's storms:

We are awakening to reports of some severe weather here in the eastern US overnight.
"As storm reports continue to come in from the severe storms, meteorologists say the storm reports from this event are the 2nd highest reported in a single day in 2012. Millions are without power and travel has been impacted. AMTRAK service has been suspended from Washington D.C. to Philadelphia and Washington D.C to Baltimore due to downed trees and signal power. At least two have died from storm related injuries as of early Saturday morning."
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Original post:

Meteorologist Heather Brinkmann wrote, "Check out this radar composite of the derecho that went thru the Ohio Valley today"

NOAA defines derecho as "a widespread, long-lived wind storm that is associated with a band of rapidly moving showers or thunderstorms. Although a derecho can produce destruction similar to that of tornadoes, the damage typically is directed in one direction along a relatively straight swath."

This is what a derecho looks like in real life:

source

Source NOAA

Definitely a scary looking storm.

Although derechos are not unheard of, they are not an everyday occurrence, either. See this frequency map from NOAA. Yesterday's derecho occurred in exactly the place they most likely occur, "along the "Corn Belt" from the upper Mississippi Valley southeast into the Ohio Valley, and the other from the southern Plains northeast into the mid Mississippi Valley."

Source NOAA

Yesterday's storms were damaging, especially to the people in Washington DC. This morning millions are without power, and in some cases, it will take multiple days to get them hooked up again. This is bad news, because the extreme heat is supposed to continue. Today's temps are predicted to be triple digit again. A dangerous situation for sure.

The weather has continually been outsized. I often talk about the language newscasters and meterologists use to describe what they are seeing. Increasingly since 2009 they use superlatives such as "greatest," "biggest", "most damaging". But even those top superlatives don't describe what is happening any more. The events keep topping themselves. They now say "Apocalyptic," "epic", "biblical," and "record breaking" or "historic."

The power of words diminishes the more you use one, and the term 'record-breaking', after a while doesn't mean much if records are being broken every day. And they are. Even the Guardian UK asked what is going on:

America in grip of fire and floods
"Natural disasters are wreaking havoc across the US, with the entire state of Florida on emergency flood watch - while, in Colorado, half of the country's entire firefighting force is battling massive blazes that have displaced thousands."

Floods? What floods? Tropical Storm Debby. Oh yes, that's right. Forgotten in the face of the Colorado wildfires, and then immediately after that, the extreme heat and then the derechos. Four disasters in one week, and the brain tries to maintain a sense of perspective, but it can't. Something has to give. Debby's devastating flooding is now relegated to the dustbin of old news, even though it happened just 5 days ago.

I wonder how quickly the plagues of Egypt happened, how long in between them they occurred. Maybe the first few started slowly but by the time the 7th, 8th, 9th plagues came they were overlapping.

Though these are not eschatalogical (end times) judgments per se, like the biblical plagues were, they seem pretty bad as it is. In reading newspaper articles about them, people often refer to the bible. Here is a quote from the Guardian article:

"Local Amanda Rice said: "It was just this God-awful orange glow. It was surreal. It honestly looked like hell was opening up."

This is from the Colorado Springs Gazette:

WALDO CANYON FIRE: Hell in the rearview mirror

"And there I sat in traffic. It’s a memory I’ll never forget. I teared up as I scanned the surrounding cars. Everywhere were children, scared and crying, their parents looking deathly afraid and, in my rearview mirror, a view of the gates of hell."

I want you to think about the heat wave. Here in North GA we had actual temps of 111 yesterday, though the predictions were for 105. Today the predictions are for 109 but I wonder how high the actual temps will be. They are saying that heat indexes (real feel) will be over 114. Yet it will get worse.

During the tribulation, one of the bowl judgments will be to heat up the earth so that people are literally scorched. "The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was allowed to scorch people with fire. They were scorched by the fierce heat, and they cursed the name of God who had power over these plagues. They did not repent and give him glory." (Revelation 16:8-9).

Bu that time they know and understand that it is God making the crazy weather, not "mother Nature" or "global warning", because the verse says they curse Him. I wonder if it will be that He makes it so hot that asphalt and wood spontaneously combust...or if solar flares actually singe the earth itself...I don't know. But you can imagine the havoc in DC this morning with no electricity yet all this heat. People are going to die today if they can't get cool, it is just a fact. The elderly and the infants and sick will succumb in hot apartments where no air stirs and they can't seem to catch a breath. And yet the bible shows us how much worse it will get.

One thing is better. All this crazy weather activity seems to be making people whose hearts are not closed to Him think of Him. Twitter is the current iteration of vox populi, a Latin term literally meaning 'voice of the people.' Broadcasters use it, a man on the street kind of thing. What are the people saying? Well, this morning I woke up to find on the trending list, "Zechariah 14:9." I can't tell you how rare it is for biblical things to be trending. That means enough people have to be talking about a certain thing over all the world's twitter users, to make the subject one of the top ten of all the things that vox populi could be talking about. Almost always the trends list  is stuffed with celebrity news, sports, and meaningless jokes.

Zechariah 14:9 says:

"And the LORD will be king over all the earth. On that day the LORD will be one and his name one."

The saints know Jesus is coming soon. We are excited to see what He is doing in the world. Not that people are in pain, obviously, but that His name is on the lips of many, His glory and power are noticed, and that His word is repeated online between and among believers and non-believers alike. This 'crazy weather' isn't crazy. It is a controlled series of events from the Creator of weather, the Creator of the earth and all that is in it. He is telling us something. How many warnings will there be? Not many more, I fear. He has been patient with us, kind and generous. That period of warning will end and after the rapture, the judgments will begin.

I pray you are among the blessed who have already made Jesus your Lord and King. Repentance is the key. Repenting of your sins and appealing to the One Sacrifice who has the ability to forgive them is the way to heaven. The only way. For as the verse in Zechariah says, the LORD will be King over all the earth. Will you face Him as friend, or enemy? Repentence is the key.

Flipping off Reagan in the White House and the judgment of the wrath of abandonment

Is there any one picture that can illustrate better that the LORD of the Universe has given over the nation of America and has abandoned us to our reprobate mind??

Image source: Facebook

The photo is of homosexual activists who had been invited to the White House. They chose to demonstrate their decorum and manners by raising their middle fingers to the portrait of a former President who had served 30 years ago.

Who's dead.

Yeah, those lesbians sure showed Reagan. Sigh.

The main issue isn't even of homosexuality primarily. When one is invited to the People's House, the national seat of power, and arguably the most powerful location on the planet, choosing to demonstrate your sexuality in the White House living room instead of your private bedroom is beyond juvenile. Raising your middle finger in public, especially that place of honor and distinction, is beyond immature and profane. Stay classy, ladies. Oops, too late.

Homosexuals insist they are not defined by their sexual orientation but the photo below and their actions like this and others make it clear they are led by their lust. They claim that they just want to live an 'out' life being "who they are" but they prove over and over that who they are, are people who are led by perverted lust with an inability and unwillingness to control themselves. Certainly they are not led by reasonable decision making as mature adults living a lifestyle of respectful civil discourse and behavior...

Image source: zoestrauss.blogspot.com

Strauss posted a second photo on her blog with the comment: “Me and LB making out under a portrait of Reagan at the White House. That was amazing.” (source)

Romans 1:18-31 describes the progression of "God’s Wrath Against Mankind." That is what the section of verse is called. It outlines what happens when individuals and a nation decide to overthrow the sovereignty of God and pursue their own lusts. In an interview this week with Brannon Howse of WorldView Weekend, Dr. John MacArthur explained this wrath, which he called the Wrath of Abandonment:

"I believe America is under Divine judgment, and I'm not saying that just as a whim. Romans 1 says, Romans 1:18 says, the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all unrighteousness of men who hold the truth in unrighteousness. Okay, if we took America and asked, did we have the truth? We had the truth, yes. But we have held the truth in unrighteousness, getting increasingly unrighteous."

"So what is the wrath of God against us? Well, it defines it in verses 24, 26 and 28. "He gave them over," "He gave them over," "He gave them over." This is not eschatalogical wrath, this is not eternal wrath, this is not sort of consequential wrath (sowing and reaping), this is not cataclysmic wrath, like the flood or like a tidal wave, this is the wrath of abandonment. God gave them over, gave them over, gave them over. And you see a sequence."

"When this wrath acts - and according to Acts 14 He allows all the nations to go their own way, so this is the cycle of human history - when this wrath is in action, the first thing he says is, God gave them over to fornication. The first thing that happens, you will notice a sexual revolution, you will notice that sexual behavior will begin to be accepted outside of marriage. Then he says in verse 26, He gave them over to homosexuality, women with women doing that which is unacceptable, men with men, and it even talks about getting the due results of their sin, which would be something like AIDS."

"So you can tell when a society has been turned over by God, abandoned: first, there's the sexual revolution, that's the 60's, the whole Playboy sexual deal, the hippie culture, then you get a homosexual revolution. Then verse 28, God gives them over to a reprobate mind. Now nobody can think straight, and all the stuff that follows out of that. I think that's what we're seeing in America. You're not gonna overpower God's judgment on this country at that level." (HT for transcription to Sola Sisters)

The word reprobate in the verse 'reprobate mind' is actually depraved, and it is defined in the Greek as "rejected, fail the test". Mind is translated, "the God-given capacity of each person to think (reason); the mind; mental capacity to exercise reflective thinking. For the believer, is the organ of receiving God's thoughts, through faith."

So back to the beginning when I asked "Is there any one picture that can illustrate better that the LORD of the Universe has given over the nation of America and has abandoned us to our reprobate mind?" I believe, NO. I believe that it is the picture of God's judgment of Wrath of Abandonment and an example of the National Reprobate Mind.

Is America under judgment?

One question Christians are asking frequently these days is whether America is under a judgment. We know we are at the end of the end of days. We know that God's wrath will pour down upon the rebellious world after the rapture (Rev 6:16). But with all that is going on, are we under a judgment of God now, before the rapture?

The answer is yes.

Here is a transcript from a Q&A held between the pastor of Castle View Baptist Church in Indianapolis, IN and Dr. John MacArthur. At 21:50 the question was asked about the then recent news that Obama had declared his support for homosexual marriage. Dr. MacArthur answered in this way:

"I’d go so far to say that what America is experiencing now is divine judgment. You ask me why do I say that, and I say that because of Romans 1. It says 'The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness...' verse 18.

"If there has ever been a nation that has suppressed the truth in unrighteousness, it's America. We’ve had the truth, we’ve had the gospel truth, we were founded on that ... there was a Judeo-Christian approach to law, life, and social behavior."

"The gospel flourished in America and we have suppressed that at this point so the judgment of God falls."

"How do you know that? Well, Paul goes on in that same chapter, this is what it will look like, “God gave them over. We go to the verse in Romans 24-26-28, 'God gave them over','God gave them over...' Here is the sequence,"

"Verse 24, God gave them over to sexual immorality. You know the judgment of God falls on a society is when it is consumed by sexual immorality."

"Verse 26 says, “and women did that which is unseemly with women, and men with men.” Subsequent to heterosexual revolution is homosexual revolution. When you see that, you know the wrath of God is at work. ‘He gave them over’ that’s a legal term for a sentence. You’re turning someone over to the punishment prescribed for the crime."

"Verse 28, That's when God gave them over to reprobate mind. That is when the mind is so far gone you can’t find your way back. That is when the president of the nation declares that he supports homosexual marriage. You know that not only is the behavior corrupt but the thinking is corrupt."

"The thinking is SO corrupt that the man with the most responsibility in the country advocates immorality at a base, perverse level as normal behavior. So when you ask where America is, America is living in the very chapter of Romans 1. We are watching Romans 1 unfold."

"In connection with Acts 14, God has allowed all the nations to go their own way. This is the cycle of history, the cycle with Romans 1 is repeated again and again."

In another question asked of Dr. MacArthur about culture, he responded,

"The generation of young people growing up is learning to see homosexuality as normal, because the most lovable, affable, endearing funny person on every sitcom is a homosexual. Or many of them. So they have a completely different view of these people. They are not outraged by it. They think it’s funny, they’re winsome kinds of people, they are overexposed to these kinds of people, they drive the fashion world, they drive the media world, and so this generation is seriously softened up on this. And it is going to be a challenge for parents to embed in their children what a terribly perverse and tragic kind of life this is. And it is tragic, because they have no future."

When he said that television is saturated with presentations of homosexuality as a normal lifestyle and that the homosexual characters are presented as engaging and winsome, it made me think of not only the scripted shows, but the reality television shows. I enjoy watching cooking shows and competitions, and also the HGTV design shows. Even a few years ago, it seems, there were not as many homosexual and lesbian competitors who stated up front that they were "out." One supposes that in the design shows as with fashion, there would be many people who have chosen that lifestyle. But few remarked on it. Now, they do, and right away too.

When Dr. MacArthur said the media invariably shows the homosexual characters as winsome, cuddly, lovable, I thought of the kid on Masterchef, Michael. The very first competitor in Masterchef by Gordon Ramsay was a 19 year old boy named Michael. He is Asian, and completely cute. He really was a winsome kid. The show is a reality show so it is not scripted, but the boy is cuddly and engaging! He's a total doll. This is part of the conversation he and the judges had as Michael was contesting for a spot in the show:

Got a girlfriend? No. I'm gay, actually.
Got a boyfriend?
No, I am 19 and I don't believe in dating before high school.
You're very proper aren't you?
I try to follow the rules most of the time.
Did you tell your dad on the same day I want to be a chef and by the way I'm gay?
I came out to my dad right before I came to Masterchef. I don't want to hide my true self.
Embrace it!
You've got no reason to, either.

It is this relentless message that the homosexual lobby promotes. The contestant Michael went on to win a spot in the competition/show. The same goes for Hell's Kitchen and Chopped, Top Chef and Food Network Star. These cooking shows all have contestants who are bold in proclaiming their homosexuality, in introducing their partners, or in mentioning their sexual preference. Since when do we need to know who a person sleeps with in order to learn to make soup?

Dr. MacArthur is right. This generation is de-sensitized to the hopelessness and emptiness of the homosexual lifestyle. They think it is OK.

We are under judgment. The utter depravity in our morals these days from the highest levels, to media, to personal spheres is indicative of how far we have fallen. And God is judging that. Read Romans 1.

As much as He judges, he forgives. He died on the cross as the sacrifice to satisfy God's wrath for all sins, including homosexuality. The Corinthians were a pagan orgiastic culture, and Paul said some of the worshipers there were greedy, drunkards, thieves, slanderers, swindlers, etc, and some were formerly homosexuals (1 Corinthians 6:9-11) but now all were forgiven:

"But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."

Allow the Lord to forgive you of your sins, no matter what they are. America is under judgment and we know that there is not a lot of time left. Do not delay. Repent. He is willing to forgive whatever lifestyle you have adopted. Do not remain in it, for it has no future. Jesus is your future!

Earthquakes in diverse places

With half the year gone, I decided to update my earthquake data. My last update was Dec. 31, 2011. With the many prophetic references to the coming earthquakes both as signs (Mark 13:8) and judgment (Is 29:6; Zech 14:5; Rev 6:12), I decided to check the United States Geological Survey data and see how the quake numbers are running. Click to enlarge.

Source

The KIND of quakes have been more worrisome than the sheer number of them. For example:

Mayo (Ireland) quake surprises seismologists
"A leading seismologist has said yesterday’s earthquake off the west coast was “unexpected” and poses “very interesting questions for geologists”. The earthquake, which registered a magnitude of four on the Richter scale, was recorded as 60km west of Belmullet, Co Mayo, at a depth of 3km, at 8.58am. It was the largest local seismic event ever recorded, according to Tom Blake of the Irish National Seismic Network (INSN) and the Dublin Institute of Advanced Studies. It was also the second-largest local earthquake on record in either Britain or Ireland, he said – the first being of 5.4 magnitude on July 19th, 1984..."

Remember the Northern Italy quake two weeks ago that was a thrust quake (which is two plates thrusting one over the other) but the location of the quake was hundreds of miles from the plate boundaries? Seismologists could not figure that one out either. They called it "weird".

Another earthquake in a diverse place, (Mark 13:8) occurred yesterday in Tamworth Australia

Quakes shake up townships in state's north 
"The centre's director Kevin McCue said these were the first earthquakes greater than magnitude 4 to strike inland northern NSW since December 1969, when a magnitude 5 quake struck near Coonabarabran. "It's unusual to have an earthquake of this size." (They both were 4.2 mag).

How about THIS weird happening? June 4, Lake Erie:

Freak wave sweeps three off beach
"A sudden wave that swept several people off the beach on Sunday, was likely an edge wave, or seiche. The National Weather Service confirms the rare event which almost took the lives of three Lake County teenagers. "It came up on us so fast we didn't have time to react," said Connor Bachmann, 15, of Madison, who was standing on the beach with a number of other people Sunday evening about 6 o'clock. "It started pulling on us and when I turned my back it completely covered us and started pulling us out." Bachman, Molly McGill, and Rachel Pridemore were swept out almost half a mile onto the lake, almost instantly. "I'm a strong swimmer and I never felt that helpless in my life," Bachmann admitted. "I thought I was going to die." Jim Channell of Kirtland Hills witnessed the whole thing. He just happened to be on his jet ski, heading for shore, when he saw the seiche crash onto the beach. "It took out the whole beach," he told WKYC, with amazement still in voice. "I didn't believe what I was seeing. Then it hit a second time."

The seiche has happened before, just not frequently. The last one was 1942 and one before that in 1882. It looks like water sloshing around in a goldfish bowl and is thought to occur either when a far off quake happens, or wind and air pressure makes the wave pounce. This one was 7 feet. In but a moment it swept the three teens half a mile out.

"Throughout history, God has used earthquakes in many ways for various reasons. The Bible shows that God used earthquakes in history to show His presence, His deliverance, His wrath and His power. God will also use earthquakes yet in the future to announce Christ’s Return, accompany prophetic events, and reshape the earth’s surface. In Matthew 24, Christ told His disciples of the signs that would precede His Second Coming. In verse 7, He stated, “and there shall be…earthquakes, in diverse places.” This meant earthquakes would take place in various places—scattered throughout the world—and would increase in frequency as the time of His Return drew near (see Mark 13:8 and Luke 21:11). Had earthquakes been as prolific throughout history as they are today, then they would not indicate that the end of the age was near. They are much more common now than at any other time in history. " (source)

So that is the quick and dirty on quakes lately!

Stuck with Pharaoh, we long for Solomon

I notice a pattern in the news stories about American politics. At the risk of being too America-centric with respect to applying prophetic indicators, let me say for the record that though the news excerpts below are about the American President, this by no stretch means that these indicators are absent from other global rulers.

Indeed, we have seen what fury the people participating in the Arab Spring/Days Of Rage wrought on Libya's Qaddafi, Egypt's Mubarak, and other rulers in Africa and the Middle East. We saw how nervous the kings of Bahrain and Jordan became during that revolutionary time. The Bahraini king even gave a large sum of money to each family in his kingdom to calm them down and to buy time. We see the population's discontent with the (sexual) excesses of Italy's Berlusconi, and that France's Sarkozy, while apparently not as excessive or oppressive, will possibly lose his runoff election this weekend due to the faltering economy.

That said, I have noticed, as you no doubt have noticed, the US leadership veering drunkenly toward excess of spending, of regulation, and of uncaring attitude toward the people. You have heard, no doubt, of the unfortunate plethora of stories where bureaucrats close down lemonade stands, rip up front yard gardens, stop garage sales. Yet those in power like Michele Obama take 17 vacations in three years and seems to have forgotten the concept of public service. But they sure do remember how to have date night. Rep. Pelosi co-opts military airplanes for trips back home. Obama parties like it's no tomorrow.

The bible has much to say about leaders who fail to honor God and help the people. The bible is replete with events, warnings, and punishments of kings and rulers who oppress the people they are supposed to govern wisely.

Verses like this one in Leviticus 19:13 are echoed throughout the pages of the Scriptures: “You shall not oppress your neighbor or rob him. The wages of a hired servant shall not remain with you all night until the morning."

But the leaders, kings, and rulers of today continue to seemingly prosper, while pressing their thumb of power ever deeper into our lives and ripping out what valuables they can to continue to support their lavish and wanton spending. Though it is bad now, this kind of power abuse will be rampant in the Tribulation because the restraining influence of the Holy Spirit will cease His restraint of sin, and it will blossom like mold on a gushy banana. (Revelation 18:3- "For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury.")

James 5:4 says "Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts." Revelation 6 shows the poor working all day for a loaf of bread but in Revelation 18 the ultra rich continued their trade in ivory, spices, furniture, even the souls of men throughout the Tribulation.

The gap between the rich and poor continues to grow even now, the rulers increasingly deaf to the cries to stop spending, and the love of many even in the faith waxes cold for the brother. (Matthew 24:12). Our governments are increasingly interested in the peons like us rather than solving the problems we elected them to solve. They regulate us to death and scurry off to enjoy a sexcapade or a luxurious vacation and have forgotten how to govern righteously. We are plagued with Pharaohs and enduring a famine of Solomons.

"A leader who is a great oppressor lacks understanding, But he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days." (Proverbs 28:16).

Take this example of unhealthy governmental interest in a person's private life:

Blogger faces jail time over nutrition blog
"It’s the sort of story you expect to come from a third world superstitious kleptopcracy – yet it happened here on American soil, in North Carolina, thanks to good old fashioned state-level bureaucracy. Reason Magazine brings us the bizarre and senseless story of a Steve Cooksey, a former diabetic who put himself on the popular “Paleo” diet and decided to tell the world about his experiences, only to have the North Carolina Board of Dietetics and Nutrition (yes, that exists) come down on him: This past January the state diatetics and nutrition board decided Cooksey’s blog — Diabetes-Warrior.net — violated state law. The nutritional advice Cooksey provides on the site amounts to “practicing nutrition,” the board’s director says, and in North Carolina that’s something you need a license to do. Unless Cooksey completely rewrites his 3-year-old blog, he could be sued by the licensing board. If he loses the lawsuit and refuses to take down the blog, he could face up to 120 days in jail. The board’s director says Cooksey has a First Amendment right to blog about his diet, but he can’t encourage others to adopt it unless the state has certified him as a dietitian or nutritionist."

Government is protecting us from our opinions. How thoughtful. Or this terrible example:

Barack Obama attempts to intimidate contributors to Mitt Romney's campaign
"Try this thought experiment: You decide to donate money to Mitt Romney. You want change in the Oval Office, so you engage in your democratic right to send a check. Several days later, President Barack Obama, the most powerful man on the planet, singles you out by name. His campaign brands you a Romney donor, shames you for "betting against America," and accuses you of having a "less-than-reputable" record. The message from the man who controls the Justice Department (which can indict you), the SEC (which can fine you), and the IRS (which can audit you), is clear: You made a mistake donating that money. Are you worried?"

"Richard Nixon's "enemies list" appalled the country for the simple reason that presidents hold a unique trust. Unlike senators or congressmen, presidents alone represent all Americans. Their powers—to jail, to fine, to bankrupt—are also so vast as to require restraint. Any president who targets a private citizen for his politics is de facto engaged in government intimidation and threats. This is why presidents since Nixon have carefully avoided the practice. Save Mr. Obama, who acknowledges no rules. This past week, one of his campaign websites posted an item entitled "Behind the curtain: A brief history of Romney's donors." In the post, the Obama campaign named and shamed eight private citizens who had donated to his opponent. Describing the givers as all having "less-than-reputable records," the post went on to make the extraordinary accusations that "quite a few" have also been "on the wrong side of the law" and profiting at "the expense of so many Americans."

Rather than knowing that they exist to lead, to govern, to inspire, to serve, the President and other rulers today oppress, indict, and steal. Nice, Obama. Nice. Yet is his own house in order? No.

Secret Service scandal: 'Party's over, boys'"
The Secret Service scandal involving prostitutes in Colombia has brought new orders about personal behavior – no more carousing. On some trips, agents will even have chaperones."

Now think about this for a second. The Secret Service men who are trained to devote their life to the highest official in the land, who define self-sacrifice by committing to hurl themselves in front of a bullet, have to be chaperoned like two year olds in a candy store so they won't hurl themselves in front of a prostitute? Whatever happened to self-possession?

"For a prostitute is a deep pit; an adulteress is a narrow well." Proverbs 23:27
"For lack of guidance a nation falls, but many advisers make victory sure." Proverbs 11:14
"Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross." Proverbs 26:23

Blue-collar voter resentment building over Obama vacations?
"Blue collar Democratic voters, stuck taking depressing “staycations” because they can’t afford gas and hotels, are resentful of the first family’s 17 lavish vacations around the world and don’t want their tax dollars paying for the Obamas’ holidays, according to a new analysis of swing voters. …McLaughlin handled blue collar and Catholic voters in Pittsburgh on April 3 and Cleveland on March 20. He found that they are very depressed about the economy and feel that their tax dollars are being sucked up by both the rich and those living on government assistance."

The bible says of kings, "But he shall not multiply horses for himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses, for the LORD has said to you, ‘You shall not return that way again.’ Neither shall he multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away; nor shall he greatly multiply silver and gold for himself." (Deut 17:16-17).

The Deuteronomy verse expressly forbids kings to excess. Barnes Notes says "Excess is forbidden. Vast accumulation of treasure could hardly be effected without oppression; nor when effected fail to produce pride and a "trust in uncertain riches" 1 Timothy 6:17." Kings were forbidden to use their office to heap up riches for themselves.

In the bible, there are hapless kings, apathetic kings, and kings who not only do not believe and who are sinful through and through, but who actively campaign against God. Pharaoh was such a one. Jezebel was such a one. Ahab was one too. The progression of evil kings always got worse. The next generation was worse than the one before, and so it is today. We started with Washington, Jefferson, Adams. We end up with Nixon, Clinton, Obama...

"Again I looked and saw all the oppression that was taking place under the sun: I saw the tears of the oppressed--and they have no comforter; power was on the side of their oppressors--and they have no comforter." Ecclesiastes 4:1

So what shall become of them? Amos 5 & 6 speaks to the Day of the Lord when He deals with the unrighteous rulers who oppressed the people. They "... trample on the poor and force him to give you grain. Therefore, though you have built stone mansions, you will not live in them; though you have planted lush vineyards, you will not drink their wine." (Amos 5:11).

"You put off the evil day and bring near a reign of terror. You lie on beds inlaid with ivory and lounge on your couches. You dine on choice lambsand fattened calves. You strum away on your harps like David and improvise on musical instruments. You drink wine by the bowlful and use the finest lotions, but you do not grieve over the ruin of Joseph. Therefore you will be among the first to go into exile; your feasting and lounging will end." (Amos 6:3-7)

Of these Amos versesJohn MacArthur teaches, "God really indicts the rich, not because just they're rich, but because they have become rich at the expense of the poor."

As for us brethren, especially those in either civic or ecclesiastical positions of leadership, "So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober." (1 Thessalonians 5:6). The word sober there in Greek is nepho, "to be sober, unintoxicated" refers to having presence of mind & clear judgment, enabling someone to be self-controlled.

Apparently at the highest levels of power self-control is a thing of the past. That is what makes the Christian stand out as light and salt. (Mt 5:13-16)

The Lord is coming soon

The Lord is coming soon. He will call His bride (the believers) up to Him. After that He will begin judgment on the remaining unbelieving world.

The Lord is coming soon.

“Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” (2 Peter 3:4)

In Noah's day, they didn't believe they would be held individually accountable to a Holy God for their sins and were doing and thinking evil continually. (Gen 6:5-7). The LORD prepared judgment, and told Noah to build the ark because He was going to wipe out mankind. He said He would do it, and He did it.

How long did the world have to prepare? "When Noah is first mentioned in Genesis 5:32, he is 500 years old. When Noah enters the ark, he is 600 years old. The time it took to build the ark would depend on how much time had passed between Genesis 5:32 and the time that God commanded Noah to build the ark (Genesis 6:14-21). At the absolute most, it took 100 years." (source). Knowing God's patience and longsuffering, (Numbers 14:18) we can surmise that the Lord used Noah's righteous life among all who lived at the time (Genesis 6:9) as an example. We can surmise that the ark building activity itself was an example, too. Just as Christians today are an example to the ungodly. "We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God." (2 Corinthians 5:20)

We can think of the conversations at Noah's place that went a little something like this:

Artist-Attributed to Francesco Bassano

Building year 1:
Noah! What are you doing?
Building a boat because the LORD is angry at the sin in the world and will destroy it.
HA HA HA Noah, you're nuts. Everyone's going to heaven, didn't you know that? Love wins.

Building year 25:
Noah! Are you still building that thing?
Yes. The LORD is patient but righteous and He will judge sin and sinners.
HA HA HA Noah, there is no God! He would have shown up by now. Think for yourself!

Building year 75:
Noah! You should be ashamed. Your whole family is involved with this thing now.
Yes, we follow the LORD. The LORD is angry with sinners and will judge the world. Repent.

DORÉ, Gustave

HA HA HA I'm fine, I'm a good person. YOU'RE the one who's nuts. Come to the market with us, get your mind off this ark thing.

"First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires." (2 Peter 3:3)

Building Year 99 and 360 days:
Noah! Aren't you tired of that by now? Give it up, man. Come to Joe and Pete's wedding. There's free booze.
The LORD is holy and wants all to be righteous. Repent.
HA HA HA No wonder no one wants to be around you, Noah, you're so intolerant.

100 years after the command to build the ark: DEATH

I say the Lord is coming soon. I do not think it is early in the call to repent. I do not think it is in the middle of the time set aside for His longsuffering to call sinners to His bosom. I do not think it is late in the Age of Grace. I think it is VERY LATE.

BOURGEOIS, Léon Pierre Urbain

One of the times in one of the years, one of the months the mockers who mocked and the scoffers who scoffed mocked once too often, and scoffed once too many, and the Day came.

"For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. “For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be." (Mt 24:38-39)

The Lord is coming soon. It won't be 100 years from now. It could be tomorrow. Are you ready?

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Back to Basics: What is the Rapture?

In this Back to Basics series, I strive to ask and answer common questions of a more basic nature, rather than do what I normally do, which is to study the nuances of scripture in light of current events. I do the latter because we seem to be very far along on God's timeline in advancing toward the end of the Church Age, and I want bible believing Christians to be aware of the fact of the Church Age's end, and to be aware of their responsibilities in light of this end. However, because we are so close to the end of the Church Age, that means when we are raptured, billions will be left behind, and a few of those will turn to Christian websites looking for answers. These people will not care about the nuances of prophecy, because a great deal of it will have already come to pass and as for the rest, they will need catching up on, FAST. It is these people for whom I write the Back to Basics series.

The rapture is not mentioned explicitly in much of the bible, though it is hinted at throughout, such as this from Isaiah 26:19: "But your dead will live; their bodies will rise. You who dwell in the dust, wake up and shout for joy. Your dew is like the dew of the morning; the earth will give birth to her dead." The most explicit verses are in:

--1 Thessalonians 4:16-18, “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.”

--1 Corinthians 15:20-23, “But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. 21 For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming.”

--1 Cor. 15:51-52, “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.”

The rapture will be a supernatural event taking place at a date and time no one knows. The 1 Thessalonians verse mentions a trumpet and a shout, but these noises will not be heard by those who are not being called. For these, they will simply be going about their day, perhaps talking directly to a bible-believing Christian, and the believer will simply go 'poof' and disappear.

That is the rapture. What the rapture is NOT is Jesus's Second Coming. In that supernatural event which takes place at the end of the Tribulation (7-year period of judgment on earth), He will physically arrive on earth at the end of the Tribulation to finish the transgression and put an end to sin Himself. In the rapture, Jesus comes to meet us in the air, He does not touch down to earth. He isn't seen by all, only the believers who are dead and alive.

Where did we go? We were called to heaven by Jesus to be sequestered during the coming Tribulation, another supernatural time in which earth dwellers will experience hell on earth as judgment for their sins. (Isaiah 26:20, Daniel 9:24, John 14:3).

Why did we go? We were called by Jesus to the place He has been preparing for us (John 14:3). We get to go there because of our of belief in the Gospel (that Jesus came to earth to live a sinless life, die on the cross as the sacrificial lamb taking the penalty for our sins, and was resurrected on the third day proving He is God). He has rewarded us for this faith by removing us out of harm's way before the judgments on sinners begins. Because the Tribulation time after the rapture is a period of judgment of sins, and our sins were forgiven because we believed on Jesus and Gospel, then it stands to reason we would not be here when the wrath begins. He isn't angry at us. Indeed, we are told told we are not appointed to wrath (1 Thessalonians 5:9). The people who were left behind are the ones who refused to believe on Jesus despite all the evidence, and thus remained in their sins, an enemy of God. He will now judge those people and their sins.

You may be surprised by who is left behind. Not all people who went to church, or seemed devout, or had a big position in church such as deacon, or pastor, or bishop, or even pope, are true believers. Actually the bible tells us there will be few real believers. That is because we can only see the outside of a person but Jesus sees the inside. He knows who has truly repented. Many have only made an outward show if it, and that is why they were left behind, They were not really believers in Jesus's eyes.

The rapture marks the end of the Church Age's invisible supernatural and the beginning of the visible supernatural. For millennia, the powers, principalities, and princes of the air (demons and their kingdom Ephesians 2:2, Ephesians 6:12), the good angels (Hebrews 13:2), and also Jesus glorified, remained behind the veil invisible to human eyes. Jesus was in heaven and we were on earth and for the most part, the two remained mingled but invisible- but very active! In one case, the Lord in the Old Testament showed Elisha's servant just how potent and vigorous the activity behind the veil is:

"Now when the attendant of the man of God had risen early and gone out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was circling the city. And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Then Elisha prayed and said, “O LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” And the LORD opened the servant’s eyes and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha." (2 Kings 6:15-17).

In the Old Testament there were occasional eruptions of the supernatural, the Flood, miracles such as the parting of the Red Sea, the ten plagues of Egypt, Elijah and the Widow at Zarephath where the wheat never ran out, and other examples. We also see the supernatural in Jesus's ministry on earth for three and a half years and His resurrection, then the Apostles' miracles. After that, for 2000 years the miraculous and the demonic have largely been invisible from human eyes. But make no mistake, just because they have been invisible, it doesn't mean they have not been active. At the rapture, the supernatural becomes visible in the form of millions who have instantly disappeared, likely leaving behind their clothes, their vehicles, their glasses, their teeth filings, etc. The remaining 7 years the supernatural will be visible, and in an horrific way, too.

For example, the coming of the antichrist is in full power of false signs and wonders, (21 Thessalonians 2:9), in Revelation 9 demons are let out of the bottomless pit to plague the people on earth, 144,000 Jews are supernaturally sealed and thus protected during this time so they can continue the work of spreading the Gospel (Revelation 7:3-4), rivers and streams will turn to blood, (Revelation 16:4) the sun will go dark (Matthew 24:29-30)...etc. These supernatural events will be seen by one and all.

If you are reading this and are left behind, wondering what happened, you have made an excellent start by turning to a Christian site. However, do not delay in deciding whether what is written here is true or false. The Lord will send a great delusion upon the whole world, "The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness." (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12).

No one knows exactly what that delusion is, but you can see from the verse that it is bad. "Those who perish' means people who don't believe in Jesus. It is phrased that way because unforgiven sin in a person means they are spiritually dead and destined for hell. Perishing. This delusion will cause a person to be unable to turn to Jesus in belief for salvation. Since it is so complete and final, and since no on knows exactly when God will send this delusion, don't wait! The biggest sign that you could receive is the fact that millions are inexplicably missing!! The best and only explanation that fills the bill are the scriptures that foretell this event's occurrence. What other proof does a person need?

Here are further resources for your study:
GotQuestions.org: What is the rapture of the church?
Bible.org: When Christ comes for His church

Bibles online:
Bible Gateway
Online Parallel Bible

Dictionary of biblical terms. If you want to know what 'salvation; means, or 'repent', or 'sin', go to that link for short explanations.

I wrote this because it seems the rapture may be close. How can I know this if the event is signless and imminent (dependent on nothing else for it to occur?) because the prophesies we know will occur during the Tribulation are nearing readiness for fulfillment. On Friday, Dec 30, 2011, I wrote that "The Prophetic Infrastructure is Almost Complete." In that essay I'd written,

"The infrastructure is being laid. Remember, the Tribulation is only 7 years long. In that time, the global economy is completely changed. The global political structure is completely changed. The temple will be rebuilt and sacrifices ongoing. Old hatreds must be ignited and hot for war. We see that now. Seven years is a short period. In my opinion the infrastructure is being laid now so that when the rapture happens it all will be put together almost instantly."

In his January 1 sermon and prophecy video, Pastor JD Farag said,referring to the Tribulation judgments on the near-horizon and the current prophetic acceleration, "Everything that is happening, is happening swiftly and even simultaneously. And if you think about it, it really has to happen this fast. Because, there is no way that the antichrist would have enough time during the 7-year tribulation to get everything, to set everything in place. It has to already be in place and ready to go by the time he comes on the scene." [min 2:35-3:10 approx)

And later in the video at 13:40,

"I think this is about to come to pass. And if we see this now, at this stage, as we reach the end of the age, and it ultimately finds its fulfillment in the 7-year Tribulation, how close are we?" Luke 21:28 says, after listing the signs and the judgments, "Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near."

When these things begin to happen... do not put off deciding on eternity. Jesus is real, He is alive, and He wants to forgive your sins. It is your sin that makes you an enemy of our Holy God.

The website at Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry says "Sin is anything that is contrary to the law or will of God. For example: if you lie, you have sinned. Why? Because God has said not to lie (Exodus 20:16). If you do what God has forbidden, then you have sinned. In addition, if you do not do what God has commanded, you sin (James 4:17). Either way, the result is eternal separation from God (Isaiah 59:2). Sin is lawlessness (1 John 1:3) and unrighteousness (1 John 5:17). Sin leads to bondage (Rom. 6:14-20) and death (Rom. 6:23). Paul, in the book of Romans, discusses sin. He shows that everyone, both Jew and Greek, is under sin (Rom. 3:9). He shows that sin is not simply something that is done, but a condition of the heart (Rom. 3:10-12). In Ephesians Paul says that we are "by nature children of wrath" (Eph. 2:3). Yet, "while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly," (Rom. 5:6)."

What do you need to do to get saved, preferably NOW before the rapture happens? Here is an explanation

What do I need to do to get saved?
What is salvation?

The best New Year's resolution you can make is to pray to the Holy Spirit for understanding and conviction of your sins. Conviction just means you consciously know your sins and you feel really bad about them because you know they are crimes against Holy Jesus. Do not delay. Things are happening fast now.

Please feel free to share this essay liberally, and even go to the links I provided because they are better written and sourced. Jesus is the answer. He always has been. Please do not delay so long that you come to understand this after the rapture, or worse, after you die. After the rapture it will be harder to be saved and you likely will die before you're saved anyway, because the second judgment is war everywhere in the world, and the fourth judgment is death to 1/4 of people in the world. And if you wait so long deciding that you die without having repented, your position is fixed eternally. Join us NOW in salvation, and then join us in looking up, for our Redemption draws nigh!
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"Kiss heard 'round the world: Lesbians chosen for Navy tradition"

This news from the LA Times last night:
"A public embrace between two female sailors from California is being hailed as "the kiss heard 'round the world" by activists who fought for a repeal of the ban on gays and lesbians serving openly in the military. Navy officials said it was the first time a same-sex couple was chosen to have the first kiss. The first-kiss is a Navy tradition for ships returning to port. Petty Officer 2nd Class Marissa Gaeta from Placerville shared a kiss with partner Petty Officer 3rd Class Citlalic Snell of Los Angeles on Wednesday as Gaeta's ship, the amphibious landing ship Oak Hill, returned to base at Virginia Beach, Va., after an 80-day deployment to Central America."

Homosexuality is a sin.

"and if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction by reducing them to ashes, having made them an example to those who would live ungodly lives thereafter;" (2 Peter 2:6).

More than that, it its own judgment.

"Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen. Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones." (Romans 1:24-26).

When unrepented individuals sin, they are or will be judged. The progression of judgment of sin in the verse above actually begins in verse 18. It says that people suppress the truth by their wickedness, therefore God is wrathful. The truth that they are suppressing is the knowledge of the Creator in His creation. He has made it plain to them! But because they were wicked, they suppressed it, and in their suppression, they failed to give Him glory or thanks.

The next part in the progression is that He then darkens their foolish hearts. Then, though they claim to be wise, them become as fools, and they squander the glory of God by exchanging the "glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles." (v. 23)

Then our verse picks up. Therefore He then gives them over to their sinful desires. And still progressing down the pipeline, next He gives them over to their degrading lusts. See, it goes from bad to worse. Last, "Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones." Not just the men, but the women too.

It is one thing for individuals to be sinful. But when an entire nation is sinful it seems to me to be the end of the line. How is the entire nation being sinful, you may wonder? Because the Navy is a part of the US Government. The US government being the Navy chose, promoted, and sanctioned "their women exchanging natural sexual relations for unnatural ones." The Navy didn't just allow this, it didn't happen accidentally, they actively chose this and worse, they did so knowing that the kiss is emblematic of the cementing of family relations after separation in military duty upon return to port.

An Army Chaplain said the following in his essay about porn,
"Sex is like a living parable: when we engage in sex within a different context, we are creating a picture or image that stands in opposition to the one instituted by God. In short, when we engage in sex outside the covenantal relationship of marriage, we present a picture of a torn humanity seeking to replace closeness with God with the creativity of his own mind. This is why the language of Romans 1:24-26 is so shocking in the Greek: Paul is essentially saying that homosexuality is, itself, a judgment from God to depict in physical terms the spiritual counterfeit of mankind’s idolatry. But unnatural heterosexual relationships are just as vile in their depiction of man’s rebellion and defection from a right Creator/creature relationship with God."
(source Ben, Chaplain, US Army Bowie, MD Potomac Presbytery, PCA)

When 'even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones', we are surely a nation under judgment.
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Jesus opens the door and He shuts the door

Do you take the Lord's power and grace for granted? Have you diminished His Holiness in your mind? Many people in this day and age have. How do I know? They think the Lord will somehow relent, and allow everyone into heaven after all. Or that His mercy is go great and so wide that they will be forgiven, even if they do not know Jesus. Jesus will not relent. His decision is final, and His decrees are sure. If you do not know Jesus on the day you die, you will be cast into hell. If you do not know Jesus on His day of wrath, you will die and be cast into hell.

Even saying such a thing in this day and age seems like a revolutionary act. People chide us Christians who flatly declare the truth from the Word, that He will not relent. "Our God is a loving God," they exclaim. "He would never do that!" Well,  Remember rebellious Korah who was swallowed by the earth? Remember Uzzah who touched the ark? Remember Ananias and Sapphira, who blasphemed the Spirit by lying to the Apostle? Jesus will not relent, because He is the door.

"I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture." (John 10:9).

He is the only One who opens the door.

"I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name." (Revelation 3:8).

He is the One who shuts the door.

"And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in. (Genesis 7:16).

When the ark was filled He shut the door and the rest of the world was judged. And so it will be again, for the unaware.

"But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. “Later the others also came. ‘Sir! Sir!’ they said. ‘Open the door for us!’ “But he replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.’ (Matthew 25:10-12)

He is the King of the Kingdom and it is He who says who enters and who doesn't. He is the Door. Right now the door is open to all who would repent. It will be shut at the rapture. Not that anyone cannot be saved after the rapture, but with the door shut, you are in the cold, hard world and exposed to believing the lie.

"and with all the deceit of unrighteousness in those who perish, because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie," (2 Thessalonians 2:10-11)

Enter now while the door is open. Repent and believe the truth: that Jesus is resurrected Lord and He is the only way to enter the Kingdom. He speaks the truth, and when He says that judgment is coming, believe it. The time will come when the door will be shut. As it says in Isaiah 26:20- "Come, my people, enter you into your chambers, and shut your doors about you: hide yourself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation is past."

While the door was open, they did not listen and believe in Noah's day:

Sinners before the Flood, 1594 Cornelis Cornelisz. van Haarlem

After the Flood , Circa 1588 Cornelis Cornelisz. van Haarlem

This is what Judgment looks like:

Deluge, The COMERRE, Léon François Musée des Beaux-Arts, Nantes  

This is what grace looks like:

Noah's flood KAULBACH, Wilhelm von (1805-1874)

How so? you ask. How is this grace? The serpents are writhing, the people are dying! Well, don't focus on the serpents and the people. It is one way we diminish His holiness and His mercy. Focus on Him and His protected righteous and the fact that His promises of salvation are sure. The angels ministering, the ark itself was a lengthy warning to the same people who are now crying for the door to be opened. "Come, my people, enter you into your chambers, and shut your doors about you: hide yourself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation is past."

Please answer His call, and repent!

"Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, 'Sir, open the door for us.' "But he will answer, 'I don't know you or where you come from.'" (Luke 13:25)

"Don't grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!" (James 5:9)
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Americans leaving US in record numbers

Dissatisfaction breeds movement. A dissatisfied person is always on the move. The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence, and all. Isaiah 17:12 likens the sinful and the restless to tides and seas and rushing waters. "Alas, the uproar of many peoples Who roar like the roaring of the seas, And the rumbling of nations Who rush on like the rumbling of mighty waters!" He is even more succinct in verse 57:20: "But the wicked are like the tossing sea, For it cannot be quiet, And its waters toss up refuse and mud."

In the ten years before I was saved, I spent it traveling over a large part of the world. I traveled in every kind of conveyance; car, Volkswagen camper, ice breaker ferry, yacht, plane, train, motorcycle. I went to nations in the north and south and east and west. I was looking for something, because my spirit was not quite settled. That is because I didn't have Jesus.

One of the ideas I'd had while traveling was to look for another place to live. Maine wasn't cutting it anymore. It was expensive, it was cold, it was unfriendly. To quote an old ballad, I wanted to be where the weather suited my clothes. Florida of course, was a possibility, as well as Texas. I also went to Canada, Mexico, Ecuador, Italy, France, England, Scotland, Bahamas, Monaco, and San Marino. I was looking, looking, searching for a place to call home. Ecuador offered possibilities, as well as the Bahamas and Italy. For a long time, the grass was greener.

In times of severe economic hardship, the tendency to search out another country to call home is compelling. The more people are dissatisfied here they want to go there. To and fro. ( "But as for you, Daniel, conceal these words and seal up the book until the end of time; many will go back and forth, and knowledge will increase." Daniel 12:4) People looking to escape government intrusion, or for a better exchange rate, or a rural or seaside peacefulness they don't find in America are all quoted reasons I've heard to ditch America. Since times have been sooooo hard, the number of people looking to become expatriates, or expats for short, has increased tremendously, according to this news article:

Americans leaving US in record numbers
"Ever dream of leaving it all behind and heading out of America? You’re not the only one. A new study shows that more US citizens than ever before are living outside of the country. According to statistics from the US State Department, around 6.4 million Americans are either working or studying overseas, which Gallup says is the largest number ever for such statistic. The polling organization came across the number after conducting surveys in 135 outside nations and the information behind the numbers reveal that this isn’t exactly a longtime coming either — numbers have skyrocketed only in recent years."

Apparently choosing to become an expatriate is on a lot of peoples' minds. Michael T. Snyder asked the following question on his Economic blog:

What Is The Best Country In The World For Americans To Relocate To In Order To Avoid The Coming Economic Collapse?
"Millions of American citizens have already left the United States in search of a better life. As the economy continues to crumble and as our society slowly falls apart, millions of others are thinking about it. [T]hings have gone downhill so dramatically in the United States that picking up and moving to a foreign nation is being increasingly viewed as a viable alternative by millions of Americans. A lot of people have decided that they simply do not want to be in the United States when the excrement hits the fan. So what is the best country in the world for Americans to relocate to in order to avoid the coming economic collapse?"

The internet forums are abuzz with queries like these. Not just the conspiracy forums, but the vacation boards, and the financial forums are all talking about bug out bags, stocking up, and relocating. In normal times, these are valid bases from which to make a life change. But these are not normal times. Nor will they ever be again.

We are on the downward slide to decidedly NOT normal, but the people seeking relocation and expatriation don't know that. A person can stock up, move, and hunker down all they want, but the times ahead are times where God will be directly intervening in the world. His eye misses nothing and no matter where you hide, He will find you, and His tribulation will find you. Amos 8:12 comes to mind also. "Men will stagger from sea to sea and wander from north to east, searching for the word of the LORD, but they will not find it." Right now they are looking for a better exchange rate, but when the rubber really hits the road, they will finally wake up to the fact that they need the Word of the Lord. They will search everywhere but not be able to find it.

In Revelation 6:15-17 we read of the reaction of the peoples after the world's greatest earthquake.

"Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and every free man hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”

They know it is the LORD. The understand that it is His wrath. The perceive that there is nowhere they can hide, not even the deepest cave or under the rocks. There will be no bank account, no currency exchange, no stocked up basement that will save them. His wrath will fall on America, and Ecuador, Italy, Canada, Mexico, everywhere. There is no fleeing from the justice of God.

In Amos 9:2-3 we have a wrathful God pronouncing judgment on Israel, promising its destruction (but as always, not without blessing by the end).

"Though they dig down to the depths of the grave, from there my hand will take them. Though they climb up to the heavens, from there I will bring them down. And though they hide themselves in the top of Carmel, I will search and take them out thence; and though they be hid from my sight in the bottom of the sea, thence will I command the serpent, and he shall bite them:"

In Carmel there is a series of caves. These are the ones referred to by Amos. Barnes Notes explains, "Through its caves (some say 1,000, some 2,000) with which it is perforated, whose entrance sometimes scarcely admits a single man; so close to each other, that a pursuer would not discern into which the fugitive had vanished; so serpentine within, that, "10 steps apart," says a traveler, "we could hear each others' voices, but could not see each other."  "Carmel is perforated by a hundredfold greater or lesser clefts. Even in the garb of loveliness and richness, the majestic Mount, by its clefts, caves, and rocky battlements, excites in the wanderer who sees them for the first time, a feeling of mingled wonder and fear. A whole army of enemies, as of nature's terrors, could hide themselves in these rock-clefts." (photo source)

The caves have long been known to be a preferred location for robbers and fugitives.  Perhaps it is these very caves the Revelation verse is alluding. In the time of the Tribulation, after the church is raptured, every person on earth until or unless they are saved, is a fugitive. They will be hunted by Jesus in His great wrath and zeal for punishment. No cave, no matter how serpentine or deep, will allow any fugitive to escape.

In the Tribulation, there will be no such thing as an expatriate.
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Sexual sin of a culture is illustrative of nearness of judgment

Homosexuality. Boy, oh boy, is that a loaded topic these days. But it shouldn't be. It is clear from the bible that it is a sin, just as greediness, covetousness, lying, or stealing are sins. Jesus came to seek and save the lost from ANY sin, His power and love transcends them all. Any repentant appeal to Jesus will result in deliverance from sins and forgiveness of them, accompanied by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit to resist further sin as a growing Christian.

However, it is also clear from the bible that a society's decline will be parallel to its sexual sins. Morality begins with the body (1 Cor. 6:19-20). Promiscuity, adultery, homosexuality, pedophilia and finally bestiality is a progression that clearly illustrates the sinfulness at root of any culture.

I wrote this week of a situation of rampant and accepted pedophilia reported in Hollywood child acting circles. In that article, I referenced Dr. David Reagan's article on homosexuality being an end times sign. He outlined a progression in the bible of a decline of a culture related to its sexual sins, which in a moment I'll take further, into the end time.

Dr. Reagan wrote: "The description of Noah's society is found in chapter one of Romans. Paul writes that the society was characterized first of all by the rejection of God and the worship of Man (Romans 1:18-25). Because of this stubborn and foolish rejection of their Creator, God "gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity," and there was an outbreak of sexual immorality (Romans 1:24). When they still refused to repent, God "gave them over to degrading passions," and there followed an epidemic of homosexuality in which "women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural" and men likewise "abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another" (Romans 1:26-27). Notice the progression here. Man begins to worship himself, his own knowledge, and cleverness. As Man begins to worship himself, God is set aside, together with His moral laws. The result is an outbreak of sexual immorality. This leads ultimately to an epidemic of homosexuality, one of the final signs of the moral collapse of any society."

I agree with his interpretation of Paul's warnings in Romans.  A sign of the soon coming of Jesus is the level of perversion and immorality in the world. How do I know this? Jesus said that the end time will be like the Days of Noah. (Matthew 24:37; Genesis 6:5). Jesus also said that it will be like the Days of Lot. (Luke 17:28). We have this reminder from Peter from 2 Peter 2:6: "he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men..." and Jude 1:7 repeats the same warning: "In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire."

The progression is clear. First there is a rejection of God, then immorality, then adultery, then perversion. Because sin never has an end, a bottom, a final disposition, but simply keeps going, perversion will continue to get worse and worse. I'll show you that in a moment. God does not like perversion, and homosexuality is a perversion.

Today I found a page on GotQuestions.org site of the 20 Most Frequently Asked Questions. I think it is interesting that 4 of the 20 are related to sex. They also have a site where the 20 most frequently visited articles are listed. On both lists, the 'frequently asked questions' and 'most visited articles', the question asking if homosexuality is a sin appears on both.

Now, earlier I mentioned the deepening of perversion. Satan can take anything good, like sexual union within marriage, and cheapen and deepen the perversion of it to incredible lengths and depths. Adultery is bad enough. Homosexuality is worse. Pedophilia is a scourge that barely bears thinking on. So what does it say when our American culture repeals the law against sodomy in the military, AND at the same time legalizes bestiality? It happened this week.

"The White House is dodging questions about why a Senate defense authorization bill not only quietly overturned sanctions on sodomy between consenting adults (so as to allow gays to serve openly) but also dropped another provision in the U.S. military's criminal code: prohibitions against bestiality among military personnel."

Of course, the implications of homosexuality's damage to individuals within our culture isn't a problem for organizations like People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, but PETA is "Bugged over Bestiality". After all, a camel can't give consent like a gay man could.

I truly do not like writing about unsavory topics like earlier this week of the Hollywood pedophilia or today over the bestiality brouhaha. But I feel it is important to remember the warnings from Jesus, Paul, Peter, and Jude about the progression of sexual sin and what it reflects about a culture ... and what that reflection means in terms of imminent judgment.

"Family Research Council President Tony Perkins told CNSNews.com that the move is "all about using the military to advance this administration's radical social agenda." As Genesis 6:5-8 and Gen 6:11-12 shows us it doesn't matter who is promoting a radical agenda, if it is contrary to God's word and it is saturated far enough into the culture and the hearts of men, God will put a stop to it.

Now, the saturation of perversion into society hasn't reached its full expression. It feels like it to mature Christians when we read things in today's news like this, but it hasn't. After the rapture the Holy Spirit will be removed from His restraining ministry (2 Thessalonians 2:6-8) and sin will reach its fullest expression. (Daniel 9:24). At that time, people won't just be reading about it in newspapers. They will be seeing it on the street.

His longsuffering and patience is so beyond our capability to understand it! The Lord is holy most of all, and He will see to it that the ungodly are judged, but even at that, He waits...waits... waits for those whom He has elected to come to repentance, even tolerating the most base and disgusting sin for a time. We serve an amazing God.
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Babylon: The Spiritual and Economic Harlot, Part 3

Babylon: The Spiritual & Economic Harlot, Part 1
Babylon: The Spiritual & Economic Harlot, Part 2

Is the USA in end times prophecy? Perhaps the most asked question after, 'are we in the end times now?' I admit I go back and forth on the answer. I cannot dogmatically say one way or the other because as far as I can tell from my limited studies, the bible doesn't say one way or the other.

For a long time I believed that the US was not a specific player in end times prophecy, any more or less than any other nation that is on the earth, except for the biblically identified nations in last times prophecy in the Middle East. After all, Iraq is home to Babylon, Israel is the navel of the world, Egypt is ancient, Damascus is 4000 years old. America as Americans know it is less than 300 years old. Why should we of all places have any part in this ancient drama?

But then there are some things that trouble me in attempting to resolve. Babylon is the focus of Revelation 17 and 18. Rev 17 Babylon is the fall of Spiritual Babylon and Rev 18 is fall of Economic Babylon. The city itself is also mentioned. Revelation 18:9b mentions it twice as a city, as does verse 16, 18, 19 and 21. It is said seven times to be a city in Revelation 18. So Babylon is not just a spiritual false religion and not just an economic system, it is an actual city, too.

Babylon in Iraq exists. It is partly abandoned but before Saddam Hussein was killed he was rebuilding it. He actually thought of himself as a modern king Nebuchadnezzar and had bricks made that one one side had the name Hussein and on the other side had the name Nebuchadnezzar imprinted. Some have speculated, including myself, that after the Iraq war ends the investments and money flowing to the city would propel it to prominence.

However there are some details that do not make sense in thinking of the Iraq Babylon as the prophesied city. In Revelation 18 there is much mention of ships seafaring cargoes and sailors and captains. Babylon Iraq is 375 miles from the Persian Gulf. Merchants are mentioned, commodities, but why sailors and seafaring cargoes? The verse says:

"For in one hour such great riches came to nothing.’ Every shipmaster, all who travel by ship, sailors, and as many as trade on the sea, stood at a distance and cried out when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, ‘What is like this great city?’ “They threw dust on their heads and cried out, weeping and wailing, and saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city, in which all who had ships on the sea became rich by her wealth! For in one hour she is made desolate.’ (Rev 18:17-19).

So the sailors stand off at sea watching the demise of Babylon the city... The verse goes on with this title punctuating the story:

"Finality of Babylon’s Fall"
"Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, “Thus with violence the great city Babylon shall be thrown down, and shall not be found anymore." (Rev 18:21).

So the finality of Babylon's demise comes from the sea. How can this be if Babylon is the desert Babylon? Just because we can't picture it now does not mean it won't come to pass the way described. The Tribulation is full of devastating earthquakes and perhaps one of them cracks the land enough so that Babylon becomes waterfront property.

But another notion comes to mind. I am speculating here. Perhaps Babylon is New York City.

Revelation 18 is all about the fall of the evil economic system. The world's current economic woes began when Lehman Brothers fell, sparking an economic panic and decline that continues to this day. Wall Street is home to the brokerage houses that caused the economic panic and global decline. The world's reserve currency is the US Dollar, and NYC is home to all currency at one point or another. NYC drives the world's economy.

NYC is also home to the United Nations, thought to be a progenitor of the home to the one world government prophesied to come in Revelation 13. NYC is a busy port. Within one generation, the US has been both the strongest ally to the new nation of Israel and its biggest betrayer. Islam calls us two the Great Satan and the Little Satan. Here, Patrick Heron makes a case for Babylon the city being NYC.



The first rule of biblical understanding is to take the bible literally where it is obvious it should be taken literally. Babylon was and is a city in Iraq. I'm still inclined to believe the prophecy will culminate in the literal place the bible tells us it will, but I am throwing out this a possibility to chew on.

Read for yourself in the bible, and read widely. Revelation is not the only place that the final judgment of Babylon is discussed. Jeremiah 50 & 51, and Isaiah 13 are but a few examples. The idea is to read and pray for understanding with open mind. We can't be dogmatic about the details when the details are not given.

True believers in the church will not be on earth when the final judgments occur, and certainly not be here to witness Babylon's fall. However, we will praise the Lord for its death! Revelation 18 shows the earthly lament for Babylon's fall, but Revelation 19:1-6 shows the heavenly praise for the Lord's final sweeping away of the curse that Babylon is! There is a "Fourfold Hallelujah"!!

"After these things I heard something like a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying,
“Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God; BECAUSE HIS JUDGMENTS ARE TRUE AND RIGHTEOUS; for He has judged the great harlot who was corrupting the earth with her immorality, and HE HAS AVENGED THE BLOOD OF HIS BOND-SERVANTS ON HER.” And a second time they said, “Hallelujah! HER SMOKE RISES UP FOREVER AND EVER.” And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sits on the throne saying, “Amen. Hallelujah!” And a voice came from the throne, saying,

“Give praise to our God, all you His bond-servants, you who fear Him, the small and the great.” Then I heard something like the voice of a great multitude and like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying,

“Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns."

Babylon: The Spiritual and Economic Harlot, Part 1, here
Babylon: The Spiritual and Economic Harlot, Part 2 here
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