An Honest and Heartfelt Assessment of Piper and Warren

Rick Warren to have pulpit at Desiring God 2010

March 31, 2010 by pastorboy

 When I heard that John Piper was inviting Rick Warren to his Desiring God Conference 2010, I thought it had to be some sort of cruel April Fools Joke. There is no way, I thought, that a man like John Piper, a man who promotes the true Gospel, a man who I look up to as a model of discernment, and a very theologically and studious individual, how could he? No way, I thought to myself.

But the reports kept pouring in.

I have to question some of Piper’s decisions of late, with inviting the cussing Pastors and all, but I cannot under any circumstances accuse him of anything deceptive or devious regarding his decisions about bringing people in, so when he says that he wants to ask tough questions about his apparent pragmatism, I must take John Piper at his word. Here is the announcement, right from his own lips:


About 35 minutes in…. John Piper’s confirmation that Rick Warren will be at Desiring God:

Well I put my cards totally on the table here, um I have invited Rick Warren to come to the Desiring God National Conference this fall. And he’s coming. Now I will get a lot of criticism for this from my Reformed brothers, because… not because Rick Warren is openly non calvinistic or non reformed. I don’t think he wears his theological distinctives on his sleeve, but would be probably theologically more at home with where I am than where an arminian is. I believe that. What makes Warren a problem, and I’m gonna… well, when I wrote him, here’s what I said. And he’ll probably watch this video too. I said the conference is called “THINK: The life of the Mind and the Love of God.” I want you to come. You are the most well known pragmatist pastor in the world. I don’t think you are a pragmatist at root. Come and tell us why thinking Biblically matters to you in your amazingly pragmatic approach to ministry.” …

“I want him to lay his cards on the table. I want him to tell us what makes him tick. Because he does come across in much of what he says and does as very results-oriented and pragmatic and not theologically driven, and yet, I met him for the first time last year at Ralph Winter’s funeral in Pasadena. And we sat beside each other on the platform for three hours. I like him because he sings. He sings badly. And anybody who’s willing to sing when they sing badly, I like em. And we were talking beforehand and he said to me ‘I’m reading all the works of Jonathan Edwards this year. I pick a great theologian every year and I read all of his collected works. I’m on volume 17 of the Yale series of Jonathan Edwards’ works.’”

“‘You’ve gotta be kidding me. Nothing you’ve ever said would incline me to think …’ (laughter)
“So these guys are gonna go interview him tomorrow I think so you can quote some of these things. I do think he’s deeply theological. He’s a brilliant man. He wouldn’t have the church he does or the Peace Plan, or all the influence he does and of course the greatest sentence in the Purpose Driven life is the first one isn’t it? It’s not about you, it’s about God. The Glory of God. So I don’t think he’s emergent. At root I think he is theological and doctrinal and sound. And what makes him tick? Actively and doing church? I intend to find out. So. I like him and I’m frustrated by some of his stuff.”

I have to question some of Piper’s decisions of late, but I cannot under any circumstances accuse him of anything deceptive or devious regarding his decisions about bringing people in, so when he says that he wants to ask tough questions about his apparent pragmatism, I must take John Piper at his word.

But I have to question it, simply because of what John Piper says later on the same tape:

“What are the boundaries of ecumenical involvement and interaction?…The principle that I work with is this: To the degree that hanging out with, or interacting with, or praying with, or walking with a person that holds a defective view of the Gospel would appear reasonable to endorse that defect- to that degree you shouldn’t do it.

So I have to question why is he joining together with the king of eccumenicals Rick Warren, and giving him your pulpit for a time during the conference, are you not in some measure endorsing him?
I think we are right to criticize, but only because we care and we love and support Dr. Piper, and his fruitful ministry. But I will criticize, and I believe rightly so, if Rick Warren is not seriously questioned about his pragmatic approach to the faith. Questions should include:

• What is the Gospel? Be as complete as possible with your answer.
• How do you feel now that health care has been passed, and thus abortion is supported by tax dollars, your inaugural prayer and thus tacit approval of the President?
• Do you believe that Muslims really worship the same Jesus? (Praying in the name of Isa is praying to the name of the Muslim Jesus, who was not God, and did not die on the cross for our sins)?
• Do you feel that God could not accomplish through Christians your PEACE plan, or do you just join hands with others because it is your vision and you don’t see any other human way possible of accomplishing it?
• Do you really believe that practicing Catholics are Christians and worship the same Jesus?
• Do you really believe that the way God intended to build the Church was through relevant entertainment, good music, media to get a bunch of people through the door, and then watering down the gospel to keep them there?
• What is your view on church discipline? Are you really Rupert Murdoch’s pastor? Is he really a member of your church?
• What do you really believe about homosexuality?
• Why do you present Purpose and PEACE at conferences like Davos and Ted, and not the Biblical Gospel?

This is not an exhaustive list, but if the questions cover pragmatism, the true Gospel, and ecumenism, I think I will be happy and satisfied as to why he was invited. If they are not, I think that those who hold to the Doctrines of Grace will have every right to be upset, and critical of this decision.

Here’s praying that the works of Jonathan Edwards expose Pastor Warren to the doctrines of grace, and he repents of his man-centered pragmatic ways and turns to Jesus, and begins to use his HUGE pulpit to preach a Christ-centered Gospel. Only God can save anybody; and I pray that is Pastor Warren is not saved that he comes to a knowledge of the truth and turns to Christ.

By the way, Dr. Piper, I am praying for you on this sabbatical. I do love you, and your ministry, and I pray that you are refreshed and restored in only ways that God can do it.

John Piper on the Theological Soundness of Rick Warren

John Piper – Quote of the Day

Posted by Ingrid Schlueter 

 

“.. I do think he’s deeply theological. He’s a brilliant man. He wouldn’t have the church he does or the Peace Plan, or all the influence he does and of course the greatest sentence in the Purpose Driven Life is the first one isn’t it? It’s not about you, it’s about God. The Glory of God. So I don’t think he’s emergent. At root I think he is theological and doctrinal and sound.”

~John Piper, speaking here 35 minutes in on Rick Warren and his invitation to Warren to attend his Desiring God Conference 2010 

Note: Please see Pastor Bob DeWaay’s Berean Tool for the Purpose Driven Life to learn how Rick Warren’s opening sentence referred to by Piper is denied by everything in the rest of the Purpose Driven Life. John Piper has neglected to check the teachings of the book with the Scriptures which is just wrong.

More Depth into John Piper and Rick Warren

Rick Warren to Speak at John Piper’s Desiring God Conference

Posted by Ingrid Schlueter 

 

It has been confirmed that Rick Warren will be a speaker at the prominent Desiring God 2010 Conference. According to Jonathan Parnell at the offices of the conference, John Piper reportedly met Rick Warren at the funeral for Ralph Winter, and that is how the invitation came about.

Jonathan Parnell was quick to tell me that Dr. R.C. Sproul and Dr. Al Mohler would also be speakers, as if to assure me that things couldn’t get too out of hand with them there. It appears that Rick Warren is going to be given the opportunity to respond to charges that he is non-doctrinal in his messages. Parnell told me that Rick Warren is “more doctrinal” than he appears. That would be news to untold numbers of Christians who have seen their churches abandon the biblical Gospel by jumping on the Purpose-Driven bandwagon.

Additionally, one wonders exactly what doctrine undergirds Mr. Warren’s latest outrage, his involvement with Tony Blair’s Faith Foundation and its “North American offensive”, as Blair put it, with a purpose of “Uniting all faiths.” That would be the doctrine of anti-christ.

Whatever Piper’s thinking is, it is plain that inviting Rick Warren to speak at his conference, giving him prime time to manipulate hearers and present himself as just another misunderstood leader, is a serious mistake. Piper’s years of credibility as a trustworthy minister of Gospel truth are being undermined by this decision. I was one of several who were personally invited to Saddleback by Mr. Warren to speak with him in a private meeting last year. The PR offensive was clever, but it failed. Warren rests not, day or night, in his attempts to bring his critics on board and end the troublesome dissent that always plagues him. To win over Piper and his followers would be a victory indeed.

Piper has also announced that he will be leaving on sabbatical on May 1. Hopefully, he will have time before he leaves to address the likely fallout from this decision. It is not a small thing.

Everywhere we see signs of the falling away talked about in Scripture. It is a warning to all of us to be sober and vigilant, because our adversary walks around, seeking whom he can devour. We need the full armor of God daily and to use our shield of faith and our Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God. We also need to pray for discernment in this hour when so many, including leaders, are losing theirs.

More on John Piper and Rick Warren

OVERSTATEMENT ABOUT RICK WARREN APPEARING AT DESIRING GOD 2010

By Ken Silva pastor-teacher on Mar 31, 2010 in AM Missives

Following up on an earlier tip from my friend John Chisham, last night Apprising Ministries told you that Leadership Network’s propped-up Purpose Driven Pope Rick Warren is apparently slated to be among the speakers for the Desiring God 2010 National Conference. Interestingly enough Phil Johnson would tweet:

Sounds like an early April Fools joke: http://bit.ly/9nSwdZ (Online source)

Even though I don’t know him personally, I have quite a bit of respect for Phil, who works closely with Dr. John MacArthur; and from what I’ve heard, MacArthur is good friends with Dr. Piper. So, I didn’t approach this subject lightly; however, when I followed the link over to Sharper Iron I saw this short post was done by Greg Linscott:

SharperIron has confirmed with Jonathan at Desiring God in Minneapolis that Rick Warren is among the speakers for the 2010 Desiring God National Conference. There will be more details explaining the invitation from DesiringGod.org in the near future… (Online source)

Now I’ve had the chance throught the years to speak with pastor Linscott a few times via email and have known him to be very credible; and so, I decided to go with this story. Later as I monitored Intel along the Net I would be led to the In Defense of the Gospel blog of Lou Martuneac, whom I don’t know, who informed us:

Earlier this month I requested and have now received written confirmation from Bethlehem Baptist Church (BBC) that John Piper invited and will host Rick Warren as a keynote speaker at his (Piper’s) 2010 Desiring God conference.

The source from BBC said Desiring God will, “…eventually be posting registration instructions and conference details, including a video from John Piper on why he invited this year’s speakers,” including Rick Warren. (Online source)

This would be corroboration, with both sources reporting as eyewitnesses, that DG and BBC had personally conveyed this information to Linscott and Martuneac respectively. Hardly reporting this in anger, or outrage, because after five years of rather prominent online apologetics and discernment ministry very little upsets, or surprises, me anymore.

As a former Roman Catholic and as an ordained Southern Baptist pastor I simply brought out a couple of my concerns about Rick Warren. He’s unquestionably a product of Leadership Network, itself a cancerous outgrowth of the semi-pelagian (at best), and highly ecumenical, Church Growth Movement that is already at odds with much of Reformation theology.

Rick Warren, as arguably the most prominent minister in the largest allegedly Protestant denomination in the US, actually has taken a stand against the Reformers in his openly welcoming the Roman Catholic Church; and this despite their own—never repduiated—anathema of the very Gospel of Jesus Christ itself.

I also mentioned that Warren is openly recommending the corrupt Contemplative Spirituality/Mysticism perpetrated as so-called Spiritual Formation (SF) by Living Spiritual Teacher and Quaker mystic Richard Foster, along with his spiritual twin SBC minister Dallas Willard, that’s now slithering deeper into also pretending to be Protestant mainstream evangelicalism.

Those are facts I report rather dispassionately concerning Warren because the main thrust of my labors in the Lord along the Internet Front of this spiritual Vietnam Truth War is focused on the sinfully ecumenical Emerging Church, also launched by Leadership Network, and which continues developing into a full-blown cult of a new version of Progressive Christianity.

I happen to think Leadership Network’s a spiritual toilet bowl and to paraphrase one of its up-and-comers Dr. Ed Stetzer: I’m not going to argue with full-of-themselve$, think they know-it-all, church “experts” propped up by man-pleasing entities like Leadership Network. It’s like wresting with a pig– you both get dirty, but the pig likes it.

Which brings me to Outrage over Rick Warren and John Piper on the Same Stage by LN’s Todd Rhodes, where he opines:

As Dan Rather would say, some people are ‘madder than a rattlesnake trying to bite a fencepost’ that John Piper has been invited Rick Warren to speak at the annual Desiring God Conference. In fact, Ken Silva even gives Leadership Network (whom I work with) a shout out in the process:

It seems that Leadership Network’s propped-up Purpose Driven Pope Rick Warren, who teaches the apostate Roman Catholic Church is part of the Body of Christ and openly promotes anti-sola Scriptura Contemplative Spirtuality/Mysticism, will be a featured speaker at Piper’s Desiring God conference this year.

It’s not enough that Ken doesn’t like Rick Warren… he pulls Leadership Network into the fray as well.  Oh well… (Online source)

But as I explained in the combox of Rhodes’ screed:

“Ken doesn’t like Rick Warren”

Oops, should read: Ken doesn’t like what Rick Warren teaches. I don’t know Rick, so I have no way to know if I’d like him personally.

Now, just maybe my friend and fellow Christian Research Net contributor Steven Macacil is right in what he says in his post Rick Warren To Speak At John Piper’s Desiring God Conference at his Biblical Thought.com blog here:

John Piper’s video about why he chose to have Douglas Wilson at last year’s conference stirred up some good discussions on whether the Federal Vision theology Wilson promotes is biblical or not. Perhaps John Piper will keep with tradition and do another series of videos about why he chose this year’s panel, including Rick Warren.

If so, then perhaps it too will stir up discussion of whether or not Rick Warren’s theology and overall vision is biblical. (Online source)

Now that would be a discussion worth revisting.

Why, John Piper, Why? Piper to Host Rick Warren at Desiring God 2010

By Justin Edwards

It alarms me to see John Piper inviting seeker-sensitive, ecumenical, social gospel, ear-tickling pastor Rick Warren to his Desiring God 2010 conference. Where is the discernment Dr. Piper? I am looking forward to the explanation of why it is considered wise to invite Mr. Warren.

*UPDATE* RICK WARREN TO BE FEATURED AT DESIRING GOD 2010

By Ken Silva pastor-teacher  

Apprising Ministries points you to a short post at Sharper Iron by Greg Linscott who gives us some information that concerns the Desiring God ministry of John Piper.

It seems that Leadership Network’s propped-up Purpose Driven Pope Rick Warren, who teaches the apostate Roman Catholic Church is part of the Body of Christ and openly promotes anti-sola Scriptura Contemplative Spirituality/Mysticism, will be a featured speaker at Piper’s Desiring God conference this year:

SharperIron has confirmed with Jonathan at Desiring God in Minneapolis that Rick Warren is among the speakers for the 2010 Desiring God National Conference. There will be more details explaining the invitation from DesiringGod.org in the near future… (Online source)

You can see this post, which contains some supplemental information as well, right here.

*UPDATE* We now have further corroboration of this breaking story as not long ago over at his In Defense of the Gospel blog Lou Martuneac informs us:

Earlier this month I requested and have now received written confirmation from Bethlehem Baptist Church (BBC) that John Piper invited and will host Rick Warren as a keynote speaker at his (Piper’s) 2010 Desiring God conference.

The source from BBC said Desiring God will, “…eventually be posting registration instructions and conference details, including a video from John Piper on why he invited this year’s speakers,” including Rick Warren. (Online source)

Calls for 3rd Temple Construction

As Jews Around the World Celebrate Passover, There Is a Call for the Temple to Be Built in Jerusalem

 

By Jimmy DeYoung
Prophecy Today

The eight day feast of Passover and Unleavened Bread begin at sundown today and Jewish families around the world will sit at a Passover meal to rehearse the story of the first Passover some 3500 years ago as the Jews led by Moses were able to leave the bondage of Egypt for the Promised Land in Israel.

Meanwhile, there is an advertising campaign underway in Jerusalem with posters on over 200 public buses calling for removal of the Dome of the Rock, a Moslem building on the Temple Mount to be replaced by the Jewish temple and those calling for the temple want it to be built in the very near future.

Jimmy's Prophetic Prospective on the News

The advertising campaign in Jerusalem calling for the Jewish temple to be rebuilt as Jews celebrate Passover is a precursor to the fulfillment of Bible prophecy.

The celebration of the Jewish feast day of Passover marks the exodus of over 2 million Jews from the Egyptian bondage some 3500 years ago as Moses led the Israelites toward the Promised Land. This year the Passover will include as it has for centuries the prayer forthe Jewish temple to be rebuilt in Jerusalem on the Temple Mount. However, this year a major advertising campaign is going on in Jerusalem calling for the Dome of the Rock to be removed and the third Jewish temple to be rebuilt on the Temple Mount. These religious Jews that are behind this campaign say that the Israel Supreme Court's decision to not allow the Passover sacrifice and the presence of a Moslem building on Judaism's holiest site must be changed by next year's Passover.

Bible prophecy does call for the Passover sacrifice to take place once again at the Temple Mount in Jerusalem (Ezekiel 45:21-22). That passage is referring to the temple that the Messiah Jesus Christ will build when He returns to the earth. However, let me remind you that before Messiah's temple will be on the Temple Mount, there will be a temple in Jerusalem (Daniel 9:27, Matthew 24:15, II Thessalonians 2:4, and Revelation 11:1). All the preparations for that next temple have been made and its ready to be built on the Temple Mount.

The call by Jewish worshipers for a temple in Jerusalem on this Passover is indeed a precursor to the fulfillment of Bible prophecy.

The New Life in Christ

By Justin Edwards

Spring - my absolute favorite time of year! This past year we have been blessed with an abundance of rain and it is certainly showing the brilliance of God's creation. Flowers are accenting the landscape, the grass is emerald green, and the Yoshino Cherry trees are ablaze with glory. And my favorite part is there's 2 months left of this beauty!

It reminds me of new beginnings, namely the newness of life within every born again believer in Jesus Christ. The moment we surrendered ourselves at the foot of the cross, God began a marvelous work in us that He will see to perfection. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says,

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" 

When we crucify our flesh with its passions and desires (Galatians 5:24), we are no longer controlled by our sinful nature, but are made alive in Christ (Romans 8:1-17).

Just like the new growth beset upon the limbs of the trees, so to is the Christian beset with fruit of the Spirit of God. Jesus tells us in John 15:16 that we are chosen to bear fruit - fruit that will last. And those who are in Him, who abide in Him, will be pruned so we can bear more fruit. Bearing fruit is the result of Christ residing in the heart of the born again believer. We are His workmanship, and the good works we were created to do in Christ Jesus were prepared for us before the foundations of time! (Ephesians 2:10)

But there are many in the Church (not the Body of Christ mind you, but what we know as the "Church" today in America) who profess to be believers but are on the pathway to destruction. They believe with their heads but not with their hearts, and they will reap the same consequence as the demons who also have this intellectual knowledge of God (James 2:19). These go through the motions of churchianity without any devotion or personal relationship with the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. They pay great lip service to the King of kings, but do not follow Him in their hearts. They justify their sins as they mingle with the world and its ways. They do not sorrow over their sins, but rather they make excuses for why they choose to walk according to their sinfulness rather than looking into the Word of God to find how they should walk according to the Spirit.

What does Scripture say about this? We cannot look at our hearts and let it convince us that we are saved simply because we said a prayer years ago. The Word of God is to be our mirror to examine whether we are in the faith. It is imperative to understand that the Bible is our gauge of truth to shed light on our lives, and if darkness is revealed, we must repent and confess these sins unto God. 1 John 1:5-7,

5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

Verse 6 is clear - those who practice lawlessness, who walk in darkness, who profess to be Christians but carry a lifestyle of sinfulness are liars and the truth is not in them. Galatians 5:19-21 reveals more about walking in this darkness:

19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Then in Verse 24 we are told that born again Christians have "crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." The Apostle Paul further says in 1 Corinthians 6:11 that we used to be these things, but now we are washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Spirit of God. And because of this, the believer is sensitive to the works of the flesh. Not only do they no longer control us because we have become new creatures in Christ, but when these works flare up in our flesh, when our old nature seeks to tempt us to sin, we are sensitive to this. If we should fall to the temptation, we come back to God in godly sorrow. 1 John 1:8 says,

"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." 

That's another test! What happens when we sin? Do we justify it and continue in willful disobedience? Or are we sensitive to our transgressions and convicted unto repentance?

Another test the Lord gives us is in 1 John 2:3-6,

3 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. 6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

What happens when you learn the truth of God's Word? Do you reject it? Do you continue to disobey even though it is abundantly clear that you should no longer do the things you are doing? Do you strive for excellence in Christ or do you justify your actions? James 1:22 tells us to be doers of the Word, and not mere hearers. How does your life compare? Are you a hearer or a doer?

We have yet another test in 1 John 3:4-9 that can be tied to the works of the flesh and walking in darkness. When one practices sin - that is, when sin is obvious in the daily life, it is a part of the individual, it is who they are, they justify it, wallow in it, have no conviction over it - they are called children of the devil. This is what it says:

4 Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. 5 And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. 6 Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.

7 Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. 8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.

The one who professes to be a Christian must take serious inventory to see whether they be in the faith. These who live in a lifestyle of sin, who practice lawlessness, who love the world and the things of the world including the works of the flesh as mentioned above, cannot also love Jesus Christ. No man can serve two masters as Jesus said in Matthew 6:24. You cannot be loyal and despise something at the same time, neither can you love or hate something simultaneously. For indeed, if we love the world, the love of the Father is not in him as it says in 1 John 2:15-17,

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

So what does it all mean? Do you find yourself convicted of the lifestyle you have been living? Is there a clear contradiction in what you say you believe and what your life says about your belief? This article was not written to condemn you - it was written to challenge you to examine yourself. God's Word is true and it gives us the means to test ourselves. It gives us a blueprint to superimpose over our life to see if we are truly born again, for if we are there will be evidence of a changed life. There will be evidence of fruit in the life of a believer. There is no such thing as a schizophrenic Christian. There is no such thing as a Sunday Christian who lives differently during the week. A born again believer is submitted to Jesus Christ every day - not just one day a week to pay your tithes, sing songs of praise, and make you feel holy because you went to church.

The born again believer bears fruit, fruit that will last. If they should slip into sin, the Holy Spirit will bring them to repentance. If you find yourself struggling with sin, confess it and lay it down at the foot of the cross today! As a born again believer, this may be the final call for you to repent of this area of your life so that God can use you for His glory! If you find yourself convicted of your lifestyle, realizing you may have never been saved at all, then submit your life to Jesus Christ and let Him wash your sins away! Let go of your pride that is condemning you and become a child of God! There is no sin too great, there is no amount of sin that will keep you from the love of Jesus Christ. Come to Him - cry out to Him. Believe in His name and His finished work on the cross and be saved! Be saved, and be changed!

So who will you be? Will you be the branch who God prunes in order to bear more fruit? Or will you be among the dead branches in the Vine who God cuts off and cast into the fire? Abide in Him and He will abide in you. For this is the assurance we who belong to Christ may have (1 John 5:1-5):

1 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. 4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our[a] faith. 5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

As Spring has revealed new life to us, be sure you are the blossom on the Cherry Tree - be washed, be sanctified, be justified, be saved, and be changed!

Your Efforts (VLOG)

By Justin Edwards

Do you ever feel like you're doing ALL YOU CAN to change something in your life but despite your many efforts, it DOESN'T CHANGE? There may be a good reason for that...   

America Becoming an Enemy of Israel

America Becoming an Enemy of Israel

 

By Nathan Jones

American-Israeli relations are at a 35 year all-time low, according the Israeli ambassador to the United States, Michael Oren.

The relationship between the United States and Israel has not been this battered since Gerald Ford was president, sparring with Israel after their refusal to withdraw from Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, which Israel eventually did. There were some rocky moments since then between President Ronald Reagan and Israel over Israel invading Lebanon and bombing Iraq's nuclear reactor, as well as American actions over the U.S. selling air defenses to Saudi Arabia. Again in 1991, President George Bush Senior's government denied loan guarantees to Israel over disagreements on West Bank settlements. Those past disputes were merely disagreements among committed friends, though. Today the tone has become far, far worse.

The United States and Israel began to see rapid deterioration in their relationship as soon as President Barack Obama took the reigns in January 2009. President Obama began his term of office by reaching out to Muslims in a speech in Cairo, and since then has repeatedly given his ear to Israel's enemies while publicly berating Israel at every opportunity. With world public opinion set hostilely against Israel over the fallacious Goldstone Report which accuses Israel of war crimes in Gaza during Operation Cast Lead, Israel needs a real friend that doesn't talk like an enemy.

Mr. Obama next began calling for something no previous administration has insisted on. He demanded that Israel completely halt all "settlement" activity in the West Bank and in East Jerusalem.

For Israel supposedly being one of America's closest ally, Mr. Obama has yet to visit Jerusalem as president. Politically such a disregard is considered a snub.

How has the United States responded to Israel's threat to their very existence?

Israel now faces a crisis of epic proportions as Iranian Muslim clerics and their President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad are hell-bent on developing a nuclear weapon and arming terrorist regimes like Hamas and Hezbollah to follow through on their threat to "wipe Israel off the map." The world has tried every diplomatic means possible to curtail Iran's development, but every effort has been met with a slap in the face by Ahmadinejad. All attempts at placing serious sanctions on Iran have been vetoed due to the gas interests Russia and China have in Iran.

American support of Israel in their dealings with Iran has ironically only been friendly to Iran. The World Tribune reports: "Since taking office, Obama has refused to approve any major Israeli requests for U.S. weapons platforms or advanced systems. Officials said this included proposed Israeli procurement of AH-64D Apache attack helicopters, refueling systems, advanced munitions and data on a stealth variant of the F-15E."

And the latest, President Obama has blocked a 2008 deal to deliver to Israel bunker-buster bombs capable of destroying underground facilities such as the Iranian nuclear weapons sites. The bunker-buster bomb is a "2,000-pound bomb, produced by Boeing and coupled with a laser guidance kit" that "was designed to penetrate concrete bunkers and other underground hardened sites." While en route, the U.S. military was ordered to divert the shipment of 387 bunker-buster bombs from Israel to a military base in Diego Garcia.

What the Obama administration is effectively doing, according to the World Tribune's congressional source, is to place an embargo on Israel. This makes good on U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's threat to reduce military aid to Israel because of its construction policy.

With Iran just a year away from having two atomic bombs and already proving they have the delivery missile system capable of delivering a warhead to anywhere in Israel, Washington's timing couldn't have been worse. 

The Obama administration believes that once the Palestinians have their own country Iran will back down, naiveté at its best considering Iran is willing to irradiate the very land they say belongs to the Palestinians. The Palestinians are a pawn to Iran and nothing more; a pawn that Washington is too focused on, missing Iran's larger and often announced ambitions to bring Shiite Islam to the whole world.

What is the source of the breakdown in relations between America and Israel?

On the surface, the degradation of relations is over the Israeli right to build homes in Jerusalem.

Having proven historic ownership of Jerusalem since King David 3,000 years ago, only since the Six Day War of 1967 has Israel again regained control over Jerusalem, having lost it when the Babylonians conquered it in the sixth century B.C. Though contested by some Muslim nations, by all legal rights Israel owns Jerusalem and has the right to build on their own land. As Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu confirmed in a March speech to the pro-Israel lobby group, Aipac, "Jerusalem is not a settlement, it's our capital" and Israel has a "right to build."

The Obama administration sides with Israel's enemies, declaring the left-over Syrian invaders now called Palestinians have the right to the eastern portion of Jerusalem and all the West Bank lands in the very heart of Israel. President Obama has made the freezing of all Jewish construction the paramount factor in Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations. His eventual goal is to forcibly make Israel cede East Jerusalem to the Palestinians as their capital, rather than Ramallah, and set up an independent Palestinian nation.

Below the surface of the souring American-Israeli relations is President Obama's well known ego. The continuation of Israel building apartment complexes and businesses on their own land against President Obama's wishes has been taken by the President as a personal insult — ultimately as an act of disobedience.

BBC News reports that U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has expressed Mr. Obama's anger by calling Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's continued defiance of Obama's will by continuing construction "insulting." David Axelrod, an aide to President Obama, has dubbed Netanyahu's persistence "an affront" and a "calculated attempt to undermine the expected launch of indirect talks." Vice President Joe Biden in his March visit to Jerusalem displayed Mr. Obama's contempt by showing up hours late to all of his meetings and publicly berating Israeli officials on their own soil.

The bedrock reason for Americas' continued distancing from Israel is the fulfillment of Bible prophecy.

Israel is in the processes of regathering from the four corners of the world back into their own land, which is a fulfillment of Isaiah 11:11-12. Israel becoming a nation again as it did in May 14, 1948, was a fulfillment of Isaiah 66:7-8 and Ezekiel 37:21-22. The Jews reoccupying the city of Jerusalem found its fulfillment on June 7, 1967, as Zechariah 8:4-8 said they would. The Jews restored the barren land making it fertile again, just as Ezekiel 36:34-35 said would happen. And finally, the reason for America's increasing hostility towards Israel, the fulfillment this very day that all the nations of the world will come together against Israel over the issue of the control of Jerusalem, as written in Zechariah 12:1-3.

The United States is unwittingly playing its role in Bible prophecy, coming against Israel over its ownership of Jerusalem. It will ultimately fulfill its role along with every other nation by invading Israel and having its armies destroyed by Jesus Himself in the final battle of the upcoming 7-year Tribulation — Armageddon (Rev. 19:11-21).

The United States has been soured by Satan's hatred of the Jews. Satan hates the Jews with a passion because through them God brought the world the Messiah and His salvation, the Bible, and the promises of future restoration. Israel fulfilling Bible prophecy today proves that God's destiny for Satan — the Lake of Fire — is unalterable and conclusive (Rev. 20:7-10).

Is God today warning us ahead of judgment?

God never brings about judgment without forewarning, for He is a just and loving God. The Bible says that God will bless those who bless Israel, and He will curse those who curse Israel (Gen. 12:3). The Bible also says that he who touches Israel touches "the apple of God's eye" (Zech. 2:8).

The current administration has been poking God in the eye tremendously as of late. When Vice President Biden was in Israel, God responded with a freak storm in the Northeast that flooded New Jersey and left half a million without power. God then held His restraining hand back, and now Americans have been straight-jacketed into socialized healthcare, suffocating under even more governmental control and losing hard won freedoms.

In the Bible, whenever a leader disobeyed God (such as King David did when making the census), the people also paid the penalty. God's method of operation has not changed, and the American people have paid the price for our elected leaders' sins against God. We have injured ourselves by trying to divide Israel, just as Zechariah 12:3 warned. We will continue to pay the price for our leadership's stand against Israel and God Himself, ultimately being destroyed as a nation when we side with the Antichrist against Israel in the last days.

Christians should prepare for God's warnings through natural disasters and economic chaos by humbly calling out to God to forgive us, holding back His anger against the United States, at least until after the Rapture. During hardship we should continue doing as we've always done — pulling close to God in prayer and Bible reading, living holy lives, and using the time we have to share the Gospel with others.

In these tumultuous and terrifying times, as our leaders rocket us to our own nation's destruction, we should heed what Psalm 56:3 teaches us concerning God, "When I am afraid, I will trust in you."

What Matters Most and the Rapture of the Church

By Justin Edwards

My friends at Rapture Ready Radio (RRR) put this video together to show that while there are great troubles all around the world, there is joy, hope, and peace in Jesus. Calamity is guaranteed to increase globally, but salvation through Jesus Christ gives us peace that passes all understanding. Trust in Him to be your Savior today, and escape the Wrath to come! He is coming - get ready!

America's Spiraling Crisis with Israel

EXCLUSIVE: WHAT’S HAPPENING BEHIND CLOSED DOORS IN THE OBAMA-NETANYAHU MEETINGS? IT’S NOT GOOD.

-Joel Rosenberg

(Washington, D.C, 9:35pm eastern) — What in the world is going on behind the scenes of the Obama-Netanyahu meetings? Why are the talks so tense, and so shrouded in secrecy? Tonight, I have been able to gain some clues. It’s not good.


The Obama administration is apparently applying intense and unprecedented pressure on the Netanyahu government to make huge unilateral concessions to the Palestinians even before direct peace talks begin. Says an advisor who has been briefed on the talks:

“President Obama is insisting that Israel sign a document that specifies Israel’s commitment to a peace deal with the Palestinians that will be based on 1967 lines. This means no building in Jerusalem, and a time table to address other core issues, like the ‘right of return.’”

The source, one that I trust a great deal, also notes that President Obama spoke by phone in the last 24 hours with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown to make sure each of them are on board with pressuring the Israelis to make such unprecedented unilateral concessions.

The Netanyahu team delayed their departure out of Washington Wednesday afternoon to continue meeting together at the Israeli Embassy, and later with special Mideast envoy George Mitchell and other key administration officials. The team is expected to leave back to Israel tonight.

A virtual news blackout has been imposed on President Obama’s meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. The two leaders met twice at the White House on Tuesday night for a total of about two hours, from 5:30pm to around 7pm, and then again from about 8:30pm to 9pm. Senior aides to both leaders then stayed up until nearly 1am Wednesday morning continuing their talks. The White House, however, has refused to treat Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak, along on the trip, with the dignity and respect afforded other world leaders. No joint press conferences. No photo ops. No still shots released of the two leaders meeting. Pretty much ”no comment” to any of the substance.


The Netanyahu team, apparently following the request of the White House and trying to be sensitive to the desire of its host, isn’t talking either. On Wednesday morning, the Israelis canceled all interviews. Several news outlets have noted the silence related to the talks is “deafening,” and I agree. It’s hard to remember the last time a world leader of Netanyahu’s caliber — particularly a strong friend and ally of the United States — was subject to such treatment from an administration that claims to be hitting the “reset” button to improve relations between the two countries. Except for last year when Netanyahu came to Washington and also met with Obama without a photo op, press conference, or any of the diplomatic trappings of mutual respect and true friendship.

Health Care Boondoggle - the Most Evident Concerns

The Health Care Overhaul

 

By Chuck Missler
Koinonia House

The pro-life House Democrats capitulated on Sunday night and joined on a party line vote to pass the health care bill, to the dismay of large numbers of American voters. Any compassionate person wants to make sure that all people, whether rich or poor, can get help when they are ill or injured. However, this step deeper into the arms of socialism may have unintended consequences that leave us worse off than before.

The US House voted to pass the Senate version of the health care bill on Sunday night by a 219-212 vote. Every Republican and 34 Democrats voted against it. President Obama cheerfully signed the bill into law on Tuesday, pleased to be ensuring health insurance for 32 million additional Americans, widening the social safety net to offer nearly universal medical coverage.

Heart wrenching stories abound about people who have been swamped in medical bills, unable to make their payments, or worse yet, who have been refused medical care because they lack insurance. Rising medical costs make getting sick a serious financial issue. The government hopes that this sweeping new legislation will fix some major problems. Yet, many Americans believe the nation'shealth care troubles could be addressed without resorting to massive government spending and intrusion into American lives and businesses.

"We have now just enshrined the core principle that everybody should have some basic security when it comes to their health," the president said at the bill’s signing on Tuesday.

What Will It Do?

Effective right away, insurance companies will no longer be allowed to deny coverage to children with pre-existing medical conditions and by 2014 insurance companies will be required to insure anybody with pre-existing conditions. Starting this year, insurance companies will not be allowed to put lifetime caps on the amount of coverage any family receives and will be required to allow parents to keep their children on theirinsurance until the kids reach 26-years-old. By 2014, Americans will be required to carry health insurance either privately or through their employer or through a government program. Also by 2014, those who make less than 400 percent of the poverty level (about $43,000) will be able to receive Medicaid and federal subsidies to help pay forinsurance premiums through a health insurance exchange program. People who fail to get some form of coverage and employers who fail to cover their employees will be fined. The legislation does not provide for a "public option."

Who Will Pay for It?

Individuals who make more than $200,000 per year and couples filing jointly who make over $250,000 will find their taxes on capital gains, dividends, interest, rents and royalties notched up several percentage points, along with an increase in their contributions to Medicare.

Roberton Williams, an economist at the Tax Policy Center noted, "It’s very clear that taxes are levied on the wealthy and the benefits will spread across the entire income distribution, with a lot going to expanded Medicaid distribution and expanding health insurance. One couldn’t claim [Obama] didn’t keep that promise" to "spread the wealth around."

In the next few weeks, Congress will work to pass the reconciliation bill that House Democrats are pushing, one that will add $100 billion more in spending and delay the tax on "Cadillac" health plans.

Unconstitutional?

If some millionaires aren’t bothered by their new burden, plenty of other people are upset by the legislation. Attorneys general from 14 states filed suit minutes after the President signed the bill, arguing that the Federal Government was overstepping its constitutional bounds. Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum contends that the bill violates the Constitution’s commerce clause by forcing Americans to buy health insurance.

"It forces people to do something - in the sense of buying a health care policy or paying a penalty, a tax or a fine - that simply the constitution does not allow Congress to do," McCollum said at a news conference in Tallahassee.

Subsidizing Abortion?

Pro Life groups also believe the bill will open the door for federal funding of abortions. The pro-life Democrats in the House were the last major wall against the bill, but Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Mich., leader of this pro-life bloc, agreed to support the bill after President Obama issued an executive order to maintain all prohibitions against taxes paying for abortions. However, organizations like The National Right to Life Committee argue that the bill is "riddled with provisions that predictably will result in federal subsidies for privateinsurance plans that cover abortion" and that the executive order will have no real effect. In a statement, the NRLC said, "The executive order promised by President Obama was issued for political effect. It changes nothing. It does not correct any of the serious pro-abortion provisions in the bill. The president cannot amend a bill by issuing an order, and the federal courts will enforce what the law says."

Other Concerns

While the health care legislation makes it possible for more people to get on Medicaid, there is concern that there won't be enough doctors to take on the number of patients out there. Christopher Conover, director of the Health Policy Scholars Program at Duke, commented on the health bill, saying, "We already have a primary care system that's pretty overburdened; now we're adding tens of millions to the Medicare rolls and not significantly expanded the capacity of the system to absorb them. I think that's going to create real problems. Everyone is going to feel the impact of adding so many morepeople to the system without fundamentally altering the supply side, the number of providers."

People with insurance tend to go to the doctor more often, which is beneficial since problems are caught in their early stages rather than later on when treatment might be more difficult and costly. However, adding millions ofpeople to doctors' waiting rooms means the wait time for an appointment will be that much longer. There is already a shortage of physicians, and especially those willing to accept Medicaid patients. Having either privateinsurance or Medicaid may not guarantee that an ill person will get to see a doctor when needed.

Businesses are also concerned about what the costs of insuring their employees will mean, even with tax breaks for small companies of 25people or less. Larry Keller, CEO of the Asheville-based company Visual Intelligence & Analysis said, "My business – I have no intention of addingpeople and will use 1099 contract folks to do my work. I had envisioned becoming a real corporation one day employing people with excellent compensation and benefits but there is no way I would consider that now."

Americans have had a wide variety of responses to the health care legislation, with progressives arguing that it does not go nearly far enough and conservatives regretting the deeper plunge into socialism. Some are upset that it slashes Medicare, and others that it raises taxes and will be very expensive in the long run. One CNN reader commented sarcastically, "This is cool. I'm just going to drop myinsurance now, pay the $700 yearly fine, and then pickup insurance when I get sick since insurance companies can't deny me. I'll save a bundle of money every year."

The Big Picture of Global Affairs

 

What Does It All Mean?

 

By Jan Markell
Olive Tree Ministries

I believe I have studied under the best of the best teachers when it comes to what the Bible lays out for us in the last days. Many are dazed at the rapid decline of America. The passage of health care wasn't about health care; rather, the socialization of America. America just came under the power of Saul Alinsky. But some of us, while grieved, look at the broader picture. So, this is how I see it.

Revelation, chapters 13 and 17, lays out a coming one-world political system, one-world leader, one-world religion, and a one-world financial system (cashless). We don't know when this will all be implemented, but we do know the biggest factor holding up the one-world order has been America, the superpower like no other.

In the coming system, all nations will likely be "equal." That is, there will be no superpower other than, perhaps, the European Union - a consortium of powerful European nations. Even some individual nations in Europe are crumbling as I write this so some of those nations will band together and become the end-time power. Economic chaos is likely to level the playing field of all the world's players on this strange chessboard.

Economic chaos will also bring down China and Russia, although both seem to have major roles in the last days as they invade Israel, one in the Gog/Magog war and one in the Battle of Armageddon. Their empires and land mass are enormous. But the number one superpower has been America and now we see her imploding due to corrupt politics, greed, love of self, love of power, and the personification of theBible verse that says, "The heart is more deceitful than all else and desperately wicked; who can understand it?" ( Jeremiah 17:9)

So the bottom line is that America has been the primary obstacle to the one-world system. We see the decline of the dollar which has been one of the major currencies for decades, yet it stands in the way of a one-world economic/financial system.

Barack Obama and others say we are not a Christian nation, but that is nonsense because the church in America, in spite of its weaknesses today, stands in the way of the coming one-world religion. On the other hand, we have the apostate church in the U.S. which will go along with a one-world religion. As this is being written, there is an assault on everything Christian in America. It is to strip us of our godly heritage and rid the U.S. of as much Christianity as possible.

This scenario is scripted in the Bible by the inference that as America didn't exist in Bible times: America has to diminish and Europe must rise. The man who could best bring this about promised America and the world "hope and change" and the uninformed bought it hook, line, and sinker. But Barack Obama is just one player in this global chess game. Nonetheless, he gave the world an image that he was the new "world leader" during the 2008 campaign. This is what the world longs for: A "man with a plan." There needs to be a one-world leader but it is not him.

Capitalism must go and must be replaced by a socialized world. You say this will take decades. Look at what has happened in just over a year! So not only are we threatened from without by radical Islam, we are threatened from without and within by a group of intelligent globalists who are convincing America and the nations of the world that the only way to lasting world peace is the establishment of global government. And all nations will have to be equal for this to work efficiently.

Globalists have no respect for the people who elected them; no respect for their office; no respect for the American Constitution; no respect for what it means to be entrusted by the people of any nation to serve in a high capacity. Their only maniacal goal is the consolidation of more money and power into the hands of the few in order to control and manipulate the entire world.

This coming system is not some prophetically speculative or futuristic fairy tale, but a real world reality outlined in the Bible. It is not some whacko conspiracy theory being advanced by the fringe society. It's an orchestrated agenda which God had planned for before the foundations of the earth.

But America has not made it possible for the globalists to get their agenda through until now. We see that through the corrupt-to-the-core Obama administration, they are pressing forward to the prize - a one-world system with America subservient tothe European Union. We just don't know the timing, nor the timing of the return of our "blessed hope" Who remains our only hope.

Because so many feel a foolish one-world system is the answer for global unity, I feel the words of Isaiah 66:4 have been in play for several years: "I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spoke, they did not hear, but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not."

God sent delusion and this is the result. He sent the delusion to fulfill His Word. It is strong delusion that is causing some Americans to stand behind globalists who will bring about a system outlined in the book of Revelation.

Where one gets in trouble with this kind of theology and opinion is when it leads to an "I give up" mentality. Good people stop fighting evil. Some just roll over. Some go into complete apathy and escapism. Remember the profound statement by Edmund Burke: "All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing." Just keep expectations realistic andBible-focused.

Now, what is the good news? We can only change the world by changing the spirituality of a culture. In the meantime, we can contend for the faith, preach the gospel, and be salt and light to a frightened world. And since all of the above are scripted, the final act is as well. We can know with certainty that the King of kings is coming back very soon. Right now some are wailing and calling this "escapist theology." Go ahead and wail.

God is in control. See a moving portrayal of that here.

I close with a statement by Randy Alcorn: "In Wall Street terms, Christ is bearish when it comes to investing on earth. His financial forecast for the world is ultimately bleak. But He's unreservedly bullish about investing in Heaven where every market indicator is eternally positive!"

What is happening is in the "all these things must come to pass" (Matthew 24:6) category. We cannot stop such events. We cannot alter the way it is outlined in the Bible. If you have the proper eschatology, all that is happening makes perfect sense. If you follow the Pied Pipers of Amillennialism, Preterism, Replacement Theology, Latter Rain, Kingdom Now, and more, you will be lost in the maze of bizarre current events.

Stations of the Cross and the Emerging Church

By Justin Edwards

As we near Resurrection Sunday in remembrance of the price paid by the Savior to atone for our sins and His glorious resurrection from the grave, it is important to recognize the trappings of ancient rituals of which many are entering evangelical churches through Emergence Christianity. One of such religious traditions are Catholocism's Stations of the Cross, which seek to engage the senses in order to draw closer to God.

This religious experience is subjective and holds no biblical support for its practice. Born-again Christians do not need such mystical props of candles, incense, static, and tangible "things" to "experience God. We are to "encounter" God through worship, His Word, and prayer - all of which are found in Scripture - not man-made traditions.

The material found at this  Lighthouse Trails Research link gives a brief description of this practice and some examples to follow. The most dangerous aspect of this ritual is that a non-believer can go through these stations and come away with an "experience from God", and falling into deception that this subjective experience was a genuine encounter God and one that gives them a false hope. There is no salvation in these mystical methods of "worship". Salvation comes by grace alone, through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone - and absolutely everything we need to come to saving faith comes from the Word of God ALONE.

Are You a Defensive Person?

By Justin Edwards

Proverbs 18:12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty,
         But humility goes before honor. 

Proverbs 15:33 The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom,
      And before honor is humility. 
 
When someone, specifically another Christian, approaches you about something they are concerned about in your behavior, do you find yourself being defensive and immediately throwing up your guard? This is a result of pride that is keeping you from becoming more Christ-like. If you are not open to correction, how can you possibly mature in your walk with Christ? The truth is, you cannot. Use this 4-minute video to examine yourself and determine if you need to submit this area of your life to the Lord. That is - IF you want to grow in maturity in Christ.

Scripture on a Taco Bell Sauce Packet? (VLOG)

By Justin Edwards

Taco Bell has many different messages on their sauce packs. Would you believe that Matt found one with a SCRIPTURE VERSE on it!?  

Possible Match to the Middle East Powder Keg?

The Israeli Government Warns that a Jewish Passover Sacrifice on the Temple Mount Would Provoke the Moslems

 

By Jimmy DeYoung
Prophecy Today

The state of Israel has petitioned the Israeli Supreme Court to forbid Jews bringing sacrifices to the Temple Mount for the historic Biblical sacrifice for the Passover lambs because such and activity would provoke the Moslem world. Thestate of Israel says that the Passover sacrifice would be a dangerous provocation of Moslem sensitivities and deal a severe blow to public safety and security in the city of Jerusalem.

Jimmy's Prophetic Prospective on the News

The Israeli government calling for no Passover sacrifices on the Temple Mount today will have no effect on the Passover sacrifice to take place in Jerusalem in the future that is according to Bible prophecy.

The fear of provoking the Moslem world with allowing Jews to perform a Passover sacrifice on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem is evidence that the Israeli government doesn't really believe in freedom of religion for the Jewish people in their own nation. The Temple Mount Institute, the organization that petitioned the Israeli Supreme Court for permission to simply keep the Biblical law for Jews to sacrifice a lamb at the Temple Mount before Passover says that Israel must obey God and then allow Him to take care of any Moslem violence.

This report is evidence that the Gentile world is today controlling the religious activities and the political activities as well of the Jewish people and thecity of Jerusalem as Jesus said that they would ( Luke 21:24). When Jesus returns to the earth to build His temple (Zechariah 6:12) there will be sacrifices restored to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem in Messiah's Temple as foretold in Ezekiel 40-46. In fact, the Passover sacrifice will be one of the three sacrifices in the temple that Jesus builds (Ezekiel 45:21-22). The sacrificial activities in Messiah's future temple will be done in memorial for what Jesus Christ did as the Sacrificial Lamb when He was crucified in Jerusalem.

The Supreme Court petition aside, sacrifices will take place on the Temple Mount in the future. Bible prophecy will be fulfilled.

Bullseye on Jerusalem - Woe to United States and the Nations

President Pokes God in the Eye

By Terry James
Rapture Ready

I thought about writing on something other than this news item that almost certainly involves Bible prophecy. Many, no doubt, will make this the focus of their commentaries this week, thus further consideration might just be duplication. But it is just too profound a matter not to address the things encompassed by the story.

Jerusalem - the city about which Jesus prophesied while sitting atop the Mount of Olives, giving the many signs that comprised the end of the age and His Second Advent - is directly in the news bull's-eye with this story. Jerusalem is the most important city on the planet, in God's holy eyes. And it is in this regard that this news item takes on such gravity, particularly for the United States of America.

The Scripture to consider is this:

Thus saith the LORD of hosts: "After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye. For, behold, I will shake mine hand upon them, and they shall be a spoil to their servants: and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me." (Zech. 8-9)

This is a chilling pronouncement on anyone who would cause Jerusalem to come under any control other than the Lord God of heaven. Just previous to these verses, Jerusalem is measured by God Himself. There is no doubt: Jerusalem is His, and it is for His people alone - the house of Israel.

The news story in question - the one that no doubt will be analyzed and dissected by those who study Bible prophecy from a literal perspective - is excerpted here:

A widely predicted crisis between Israel and the United States upon Benjamin Netanyahu taking office as prime minister finally erupted this weekend.

U.S. President Barack Obama did not hold back in condemning the humiliation caused to Joe Biden with the Israeli announcement of 1,600 new housing units in East Jerusalem during what was supposed to be the vice president's friendly visit to Israel.

Instead of accepting Netanyahu's partial apology and letting bygones be bygones, Obama issued a stern warning to the Israeli prime minister and is now demanding that he take "specific actions" to show he is "committed" to the U.S.-Israel relationship and to the peace process itself. (My sincere thanks to John Stettin for providing the articles excerpted in this commentary: "Netanyahu Must Choose between Ideology and U.S. Support," Haaretz - Israel News, http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1156251.html).

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton relayed a message to the Israeli prime minister in a lengthy phone conversation, during which, it was reported, Netanyahu scarcely got in a word edgewise. And the castigation of the Israeli leader continued from those within the U.S. presidential administration. It is clear - to me, at least - that the Obama administration has been waiting for just the right moment to manufacture a crisis in the matter of Israel constructing housing in east Jerusalem. The leverage the American government can bring against Netanyahu and the Israeli government is obvious.

There is no one, in terms of national entities, to stand with Israel against the threat from Iran, other than the United States. America alone supplies fuel and spare parts for Israel's air force, as well as the warning signals for any missiles that might be headed Israel's way. So, Prime Minister Netanyahu is confronted by a dilemma: Either go along with the American presidential administration and accept whatever Mr. Obama dictates to appease Israel's enemies, or suffer loss of American support regarding Iran. He is expected by the world powers-that-be to embrace whatever the international community - led by Barack Obama - thinks might be good for the "Roadmap to Peace."

Mainstream U.S. and world news media seemingly always come down against Israel's right to determine the disposition of Jerusalem, and solidly for the Palestinians' right to east Jerusalem as a future Palestinian state's capital.

Always, the news, it seems, is written in a way that is against Netanyahu and Israel. Most frequently, the stories are framed as derogatory opinion pieces rather than written in the style of true news journalism. An example is the following report about the current America/Israel "crisis" from an AP reporter:

Israel does not stand to benefit from antagonizing its most important ally, but Netanyahu has historically taken a hard line against territorial concessions to the Palestinians, and a curb on east Jerusalem construction would threaten to fracture his hawkish coalition. ( "US Wants Israel to Cancel Building Plan," Associated Press, 3/15/10)

So, the American president, the international community of leaders, and the world news media combine to continue to try to force Israel into their own mold for world peace, which they obviously believe must begin at Jerusalem. They aren't far wrong in that opinion. The peace of Jerusalem is something for which God's people are told to pray:

"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee," (Ps. 122:6).

However, the "peace" that will eventuate from the humanistic efforts will be a "peace" that will destroy many (Dan. 8:25). It will be peace "made with death and hell" (Isa. 28:15, 18).

All nations who consort to bring this false peace against God's holy city will suffer the fate of being cut in pieces by the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Zech. 12:1-3). Every one of them will be brought to account at Armageddon for trying to deal treacherously with God's chosen nation and people (Joel 3:2). Mr. Prime Minister, it is Israel's God - the Only God that exists - to Whom you should bow, and upon Whom you can depend for Israel's ultimate defense.

No matter if it's prelates, potentates, or presidents - any nation whose leaders poke their fingers in God's eye by dealing harshly with Jerusalem will be brought to account when the Prince of Peace sits on His throne atop Mt. Zion in Jerusalem.

When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left... Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels... And these shall go away into everlasting punishment." (Matt. 25: 31-33, 41, 46a)

Rick Warren's Role to Unite World's Religions

Tony Blair Taps Rick Warren to Help Unite Faiths

Posted by Ingrid Schlueter 

 

Tony Blair thinks that Rick Warren can help him achieve his goal of uniting all religious faiths. Blair is engaging in a religious “offensive” in North America. It is indeed offensive when someone like Blair, a disobedient Catholic who thinks the pope should support abortion and gay marriage, decides that his agenda for world religion should be everyone’s.

Blair and his grasping wife, Cherie, travel the globe in search of the respect that has eluded them in their own country. They find it here in America where people don’t mind at all about Blair’s track record in Britain. (After all, Americans don’t care about anyone’s track record. They elected Barack Obama for President, a man who had never even run a Dairy Queen.) Here’s the story about Rick Warren’s new opportunity for celebrity as he works with heretics and pagans to unite world religions.

The Burden of Jerusalem

By Todd Strandberg

Why All the Fuss Over Jerusalem?

U.S.-Israel relations have reached their worst point in 35 years. The rift was triggered by the Israeli Interior Ministry approving the construction of 1600 new homes in east Jerusalem - even though the U.S. had sought a freeze on all such building in areas conquered by Israel in 1967.


The announcement came as Vice President Joe Biden was visiting Israel. Because the VP wasn't warned in advance, the move was seen as a slap in the face. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted that stupidity, not malice, was at fault. The planning committee had made the decision on its own. Biden responded by turning up 90 minutes late for dinner with Netanyahu and his wife and then delivering a sharp statement of condemnation.

That would have been the end of it if Hillary hadn't picked up the phone. She called Netanyahu and chewed him out for 45 minutes, saying his plans to build new settler homes in east Jerusalem sent a "deeply negative signal."


The last time Israel and America came to similar blows was in March of 1975. Then U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger demanded a partial withdrawal from the Sinai Peninsula, and Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin refused. Because of his refusal, Kissinger left a meeting with Rabin in anger and accused Israel of "shattering the cause of peace."


If you were thinking the reason of the objection was that Israel was building on Arab lands, you would be wrong. The project is within an area the Palestinians already ceded to the Jews in previous talks. The outrage is all about symbolism. Going ahead with the project shows Israel 's lack of concern for the peace process.

When did we get the option of having veto power over what goes on in Israel? I don't know of any other example of one nation telling another how to manage the affairs of its city construction projects. If we objected to Great Britain planning new apartments in London, the British government would be baffled first - and then it would tell us to mind our own business.

The dispute over Jerusalem must be one of the longest stand-offs in human history. Jerusalem has been the Jewish capital for 3,000 years. If the Palestinians had any common sense, they would go pick some other city as their capital. After all, their connection to Jerusalem is based on a series of lies. There never was a Palestinian people, nation, language, culture, or religion.

Back on March 31, 1977, the Dutch newspaper Trouw published an interview it had with Palestine Liberation Organization executive committee member Zahir Muhsein. This is what he had to say:

The Palestinian people does not exist. The creation of a Palestinian state is only a means for continuing our struggle against the state of Israel for our Arab unity. In reality today, there is no difference between Jordanians, Palestinians, Syrians, and Lebanese. Only for political and tactical reasons do we speak today about the existence of a Palestinian people, since Arab national interests demand that we posit the existence of a distinct "Palestinian people" to oppose Zionism.

For tactical reasons, Jordan , which is a sovereign state with defined borders, cannot raise claims to Haifa and Jaffa, while as a Palestinian, I can undoubtedly demand Haifa , Jaffa , Beer-Sheva and Jerusalem . However, the moment we reclaim our right to all of Palestine , we will not wait even a minute to unite Palestine and Jordan.

The reason there is a fuss over Jerusalem is that God has claimed this city as His eternal capital. Satan is doing everything he can to wrestle control away from the Jews. The diplomatic struggle we see now will eventually lead to open warfare against all of Israel.

Bible prophecy promises calamity for any nation that comes against Jerusalem. I believe a key reason America's economy has stumbled in recent years is the pressure we’ve been placing on Israel. Now that the Obama administration has decided to increase the pressure, I would expect to see greater trembling in the land.

Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it. (Zech. 12:2-3)