Birth pangs

[stephen583]

"But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; And shall begin to smite his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth" Matthew 24:48-51, KJV).

This passage not only represents a general warning to Christians not to persecute one another, which has occurred historically in the past, but is also clearly a prophecy relating to the circumstances which surround the End Time. Verse 50 warns the evil servant his lord shall come in a "day and a hour" he is not expected, an obvious reference to Matthew 24:36 and prophecies describing the Second Advent coming as a "thief in the night", (1 Thessalonians 5:2, Revelation 16:15).

"So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. Therefore if you do not wake up. I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you" (Revelation 3:3).

The religious persecution in Russia is an obvious fulfillment of the warning in Matthew 24:48-51, but there is also the issue of Arab Christians left languishing in refugee camps stretching from Jordan to Hungary, and Italy. Those Arab Christians who do manage to reach European countries, often paying as much as 5,000 euro's each to smugglers, are systematically placed in Muslim ghettos by the state and segregated into hostile communities, where they again face even more persecution by their Islamic neighbors. So the persecution never really ends.

Why are (Christian ?) European countries lumping Arab/Christians (who face death and persecution) in with Arab/Muslims (many of whom are no more than economic refugees) ? A good question, with no answers.

Is it because the problem is just too complex to deal with in a just manner ? Hardly. Not in Iceland anyway. Iceland does not segregate Arab refugees into ghettos, but integrates them into Icelandic society, helping them find independent housing among Icelanders. There are no Arab refugee ghettos like those in France, and unlike Germany where Arab refugees are discriminated against by government agencies and businesses, in Iceland, refugees are assisted by NGO's that help them learn the language and assist them in finding work in their chosen trades and professions.

When is the last time you heard about an act of radical Islamic terrorism occurring in Iceland ? I'll help you out, the correct answer is Never !... No wonder in a country where 70 % of crime is attributed to traffic violations. Iceland should be a model for the rest of the world, and yet it remains the exception. Why ?

 

[Handmaid for Jesus]

Those are indeed good questions Stephen583. I sure don't have an answer. Did you hear about the assassination attempt on Angela Merkel in Prague?
http://metro.co.uk/2016/08/25/assassination-attempt-on-angela-merkel-foiled-6091349/

 

[stephen583]

Did you hear about the assassination attempt on Angela Merkel in Prague?

No ! I didn't. Apparently it's another story being buried and receiving little attention in the U.S. media. It probably doesn't serve Washington's narrative that "everything is o.k. geopolitically in this election year, the E.U. is not coming unraveled, and the situation in Germany isn't growing worse by the minute". Lol. How did you hear about it ?

I did see Secretary of State Kerry's (got it right this time) ridiculous announcement that "CLARITY" has been achieved between the U.S. and Russia on Syria. Kerry went on to say, all the details about how to bring the Syrian War to an end have basically been worked out between Russia and the United States.

Given the fact no agreement on anything was decided in the meeting, and no details were revealed afterwards, I had to choke back my laughter at that absurd "characterization" of a failed diplomatic mission. The "CLARITY" achievement pretty much sucked all the air out of the network news tonight. Lol.

 

[stephen583]

Why haven't more Arab Christian refugees in the Middle East been helped by Western religious organizations to escape the refugee camps in Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon, Libya and Tunisia, where they face robbery, rape and beatings from Islamists ?

Several months ago after the New York Times released the story entitled "Is This The End of Christianity in the Middle East ?" (2015), I watched a PBS program that addressed that topic and the special plight of Arab/Christian refugees in the Middle East. It was very informative. BTW That New York Times article should be required reading for all Christians everywhere.

Long story short, it all boils down to indifference and greed. Arab/Christians are not even nominally recognized as Christians by most of the Western Christian world. The Vatican has always maintained (and still does) that the RCC is the only True Church. In fact, when the Pope made a big show of vacating his papal residence and offering it to a Syrian refugee family in 2015, he chose a Muslim family, not an Arab/Christian family. No one gave it a second thought.

(Call The Number On Your Screen and Make a Pledge Now)

Christian refugee aide organizations typically do not differentiate between Arab/Christian and Muslim refugees, even though the Christians face far worse persecution. Why ? Because they don't want to appear biased to their contributors, which would effect their bottom line and shrink donations. It's that simple. It's also important they show they are delivering the "biggest bang" for the buck, so everybody gets crayons and powdered milk instead of them fully sponsoring a smaller number of Arab/Christian refugees. It's all about image and money.

Don't kid yourself for a second, refugee aide is a Big Business, and many religious organizations operate with little, or no transparency. In fact, the Vatican has never, and probably will never release their financial secrets. Many (Christian?) aide organizations are not exactly as "Non-Profit" as they claim. The CEO's and middle managers of these organizations often pull down hefty salaries (because of their special business expertise) and are banking away hundreds of thousands of dollars. It would be scandalous were it to be reported. You might also be interested what the salaries are of those tele-evangalists who are pleading for your donations to "Save the Refugees, because they too are paying themselves millions of dollars a year and living like kings.

Yes "Handmaid for Jesus" it's a messed up situation.. but as I posted earlier, the master of the house is about to return unexpectedly, and put his house back in order.

Hallelujah !

 

[stephen583]

Frankly, with the U.S. backed kurds crossing over the border into Turkey and bombing police stations, the Turks invading northern Syria and attacking the U.S. backed kurds, bombarding them with artillery, with over a thousand Iranian Guard and Hezbollah fighters embedded in Southern Syria while amassing missiles to fire at our ally Israel, Assad using chlorine gas to attack Aleppo, while the U.S. holds to it's policy of no regime change, and the Chinese flying combat air missions in Syria (what are the Chinese doing in Syria anyway ?), It's pretty difficult for me to see any "CLARITY" in any of that.

"For in the last days, men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud".. (1 Timothy 3:2).

Believe me, I'm no Trump supporter, but that certainly does sound like a description of U.S. Secretary of State Kerry giving his "Clarity" speech on Syria and claiming "everything has been worked out to end the Syrian War, except for the broad strokes"... Personally, I'll believe that when I see it.

 

[Handmaid for Jesus]

No ! I didn't. Apparently it's another story being buried and receiving little attention in the U.S. media. It probably doesn't serve Washington's narrative that "everything is o.k. geopolitically in this election year, the E.U. is not coming unraveled, and the situation in Germany isn't growing worse by the minute". Lol. How did you hear about it ?

Hi Stephen583. I stumbled across a youtube reference and searched the not so almighty google for it. That is where I found the article.

I had long since figured out the scam by the so called "Christian" charities.If you look at the million dollar advertisements anyone can figure it out. I call them legal thieves.

I did see Secretary of State Kerry's (got it right this time) ridiculous announcement that "CLARITY" has been achieved between the U.S. and Russia on Syria. Kerry went on to say, all the details about how to bring the Syrian War to an end have basically been worked out between Russia and the United States.

Given the fact no agreement on anything was decided in the meeting, and no details were revealed afterwards, I had to choke back my laughter at that absurd "characterization" of a failed diplomatic mission. The "CLARITY" achievement pretty much sucked all the air out of the network news tonight. Lol.

I have not read anything on this, but will catch up today. Of course they will not tell the truth about this mission. People are waking up to the propaganda purported for truth from the government. As I observe the machinations of governments and leaders, I am reminded more and more of Orwells 1984.

 

[Handmaid for Jesus]

Yes "Handmaid for Jesus" it's a messed up situation.. but as I posted earlier, the master of the house is about to return unexpectedly, and put his house back in order.

Hallelujah !

The sooner the better. Even so come Lord Jesus. Hallelujah!

 

[stephen583]

Latest News Bulletin relating to Bible Prophecy.

WASHINGTON HOPPING MAD !

Turkish military forces continue their march south and have nearly surrounded the Syrian town of Masriya north of Aleppo. The Turkish plan is to trap the U.S. backed YPK Kurdish forces there and destroy them completely. Washington is infuriated, but Erdogan is ignoring the noise. The situation underscores the continued erosion of U.S. influence in the quagmire the Middle East has become.

In Bible prophecy, Turkey (Togarmah) aligns itself with the nations that attack Israel. As Israel is an ally of the United States, it's inconceivable how Turkey could remain an ally of the United States while this prophecy is fulfilled. The growing rift between Turkey and the United States is moving the geopolitical picture in the Middle East in the direction of Bible prophecy fulfillment.

 

[Straightshot]

No question about the above posting

The current quagmire Middle East is the vortex for the visions of the prophets for the time of the end

This region will produce the little horn of Daniel's visions who will rise and confederate the Muslim divides into his kingdom [Psalms 83; Ezekiel 38; Daniel 11:36-45; 12:7]

This one is the same beast of Revelation who will destroy astonishingly .... nations that oppose him will feel his wrath

His ending will come when he invades and occupies Israel, Jerusalem, and the temple mount

The Lord will draw him to Armageddon and he will get fired .... literally [Revelation 19:19-21]

And his mentor will be imprisoned in the abyss for 1000 years .... then this one will be obliterated [Revelation 20:1-3; 20:10]

 

[Handmaid for Jesus]

America at this time is in a strange position. It is lame duck season, election season, and we have two Presidential candidates from the two dominant political parties that the people are not keen on.

 

[stephen583]

America at this time is in a strange position. It is lame duck season, election season, and we have two Presidential candidates from the two dominant political parties that the people are not keen on.

I agree, and yet one of them is going to be elected. Considering Trumps political missteps, departure from traditional campaigning and fund raising in particular, it appears like it's going to be Hillary Clinton by a decisive margin, a "landslide" decision. I doubt anyone is going to be staying up late come election night.

I'll be surprised if the election isn't called very early in the evening. The way the electoral process has been rigged now, it's just a matter of adding up the electoral votes of each state, and the popular vote doesn't even count.

From a historic perspective, the dangers of a "landslide" victory are very apparent. Johnson's decisive victory led us into the Vietnam War. The Bush victory brought us the first Iraq War, and Bush II brought us the "War on Terror" campaign, which has left America fighting in quagmire wars in both Afghanistan and Iraq for more than fifteen years, the longest ongoing war in U.S. history. Unfettered and unlimited power can be a very dangerous thing. That's exactly what a "landslide" decision represents, a political mandate to do the unthinkable.

For America these are perilous times indeed, and even greater peril (we can't even imagine now), is likely after the November election.

 

[dysert]

While the last several posts have been interesting, I think they're off topic for this thread. The political problems of the US are, imo, not among the "birth pangs" that will occur before the Second Coming.

 

[stephen583]

While the last several posts have been interesting, I think they're off topic for this thread. The political problems of the US are, imo, not among the "birth pangs" that will occur before the Second Coming.

I disagree, (obviously). "Birth pangs" refers to any and all of the various prophesied "signs", which point toward the coming Apocalyptic cataclysm which takes place at the Time of the End. From Bible prophecy, we can deduce some of these signs will be worsening environmental disasters, astronomical occurrences, religious apostasies, ascensions, alignments and alliances between certain nations, and yes... political upheavals and the general moral decline evidenced in our culture, (2 Timothy 3:2, 3:13, Psalm 28:3, 83).

"The Spirit clearly says that in the latter times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons" (1 Timothy 4:1, NIV).

I don't know about you, but for me, the aforementioned passage conjures up images of the Donald holding up a Bible declaring he's a Christian while using racist hate speech, the Pope denouncing the Donald as not being a Christian, and Vladimir Putin claiming he never removes his baptismal cross, even when he bathes.. while resurrecting Stalinism and Communism in Russia.

BTW. WELCOME TO THE APOCALYPSE.

 

[Handmaid for Jesus]

While the last several posts have been interesting, I think they're off topic for this thread. The political problems of the US are, imo, not among the "birth pangs" that will occur before the Second Coming.

Well, the birth pangs are not just natural disasters. They also include wars and rumors of wars and distress of nations.

 

[stephen583]

Well, the birth pangs are not just natural disasters. They also include wars and rumors of wars and distress of nations.

"Those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music" Friedrich Nietzsche.

If you'd prefer the Scriptural version, it goes like this... "For prophecy never had it's origin in the human will, but prophets though human, spoke from God as they were moved by the Holy Spirit", (2 Peter 1:21, NIV). The Holy "Spirit" is the music.

So if our testimony is seen by others as being "off base", or "crazy"... It's simply because they can not hear the music.

 

[Handmaid for Jesus]

7.1 magnitude earthquake biggest to hit New Zealand's North Island in 20 years
New Zealand earthquake: it was rocking my whole bed Play! 00:56

• Our Foreign Staff

2 September 2016 • 6:21am
A strong magnitude-7.1 earthquake rattled the coast of New Zealand's North Island on Friday morning, triggering a small tsunami but not causing any major damage or injuries.

The earthquake is the biggest to hit the North Island of New Zealand since 1995 when a magnitude 7.2 quake struck in a similar spot.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/201...magnitude-quake-hits-off-coast-of-new-zealan/

 

[stephen583]

A strong magnitude-7.1 earthquake rattled the coast of New Zealand's North Island on Friday morning, triggering a small tsunami but not causing any major damage or injuries.

Glad to hear no one got hurt or lost their homes. I remember being caught in an earthquake in California back in 1991. Like the one you described, it came early in the morning, rocked the bed and turned over the lamp on the night stand. Even so, with no major damage or injury, it remains one of the most frightening experiences in my entire life. You never know if a quake is going to subside, or get worse and kill you. I got out of California fast and never returned.

 

[Handmaid for Jesus]

Glad to hear no one got hurt or lost their homes. I remember being caught in an earthquake in California back in 1991. Like the one you described, it came early in the morning, rocked the bed and turned over the lamp on the night stand. Even so, with no major damage or injury, it remains one of the most frightening experiences in my entire life. You never know if a quake is going to subside, or get worse and kill you. I got out of California fast and never returned.

LOL!! I would have done the same. .They reported 11 aftershocks with this one. Now that would be nerve wracking. And it generated a small tsunami

 

[stephen583]

New Zealand is known for it's earthquakes and tsunami though. The price of living in paradise where you can go snow skiing in the morning and surfing in the afternoon, I suppose. I heard once the climate in New Zealand is so temperate, most people don't even use air conditioning to cool their homes, or central heating in the winter.. is that right ? Sounds wonderful.

Of course we are actually getting off topic right now discussing New Zealand's climate, but maybe not entirely. In the birth process, there is generally a lull between contractions. However, I don't think we'll be waiting very long for the contractions to begin anew.

As you know from my posts, I'm anticipating a September 2016 surprise. That's based on what I've learned about Bible numerology. Nine is the number of completion. The end of one thing and the beginning of another.

 

[stephen583]

BTW. I watched a program on PBS World View a couple of days ago, that said the global economy and trade has reached the previous recession levels of 2009. China and Russia in particular are feeling the pinch. Even Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States are having to in act severe austerity measures. Greece and Italy are also in deep economic trouble. The question is, will the global recession turn around as it has in the past, or will it deepen ?

Also covered by PBS World News... Putin has just concluded a meeting with Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, in which Japan hopes to resolve the territorial dispute over the Sakhalin Islands dating back to the Second World War. On Friday, Japan pledged greater economic co-operation with Russia and economic assistance. Also contingent on the agreement, Japan is to drop all economic sanctions imposed against Russia for invading and occupying Crimea. Of course, the meeting didn't garner much news time in the U.S. mainstream media. Ouch !

Once again, Putin has demonstrated his incredible ability to undermine Washington's hegemony in the geopolitical arena and weaken it's alliances with other nations, such as Turkey. Double Ouch !