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Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Prophecy Watch: December 31 2013 TUESDAY Tevet 28 5774 -Last Generation Prophecy Network

 
 
          DAILY
>World Watch Daily
>Rapture Ready News
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> more to come....
 

WORD WATCH DAILY PERSPECTIVE

 

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US deal will trade off ‘Jewish’ Israel for 1967 lines — report

 

US Secretary of State John Kerry will offer Israeli and Palestinian negotiators a political trade-off: Israeli recognition of the 1967 lines as a basis for the future Palestinian state, in return for Palestinian recognition of Israel as the state of the Jewish people, Palestinian sources told the Saudi daily Al-Watan on Sunday.

According to the sources, the mutual recognition will constitute the core of a framework agreement to be signed by the end of January, and negotiated in greater detail during the following months.

“The coming weeks will be difficult for the Palestinian and Israeli sides, since they will need to make tough decisions,” a source told Al-Watan. “On the one hand, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will need to live with a text speaking of the 1967 borders, and the Palestinians, for their part, will need to live with a text speaking of Israel’s Jewishness.”

 

 

Bennett mocks: 
Livni should make peace deal with aliens

 

Netanyahu reportedly checking with Bennett where his red lines are for remaining in the coalition following framework deal.

The leaders of two parties in Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's coalition, Hatnua and Bayit Yehudi, clashed Monday over Israel's prospective partners in a peace agreement.

Bayit Yehudi leader Naftali Bennett accused Hatnua leader Tzipi Livni of seeking a diplomatic agreement even without a partner on the Palestinian side. He quoted her saying in a speech at a conference sponsored by the economic newspaper Calcalist that "if there is no Palestinian partner we must make an agreement with the world."

Bennett mocked Livni, saying that her next step would be to decide that "if there is no Palestinian partner, we will go for an agreement with aliens."

 

 

Ya'alon: 
EU boycott preferable to rockets on Ben-Gurion Airport

 

Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon on Monday said that if compromises in peace negotiations would lead to "rockets from Nablus, Ramallah and Jenin on to Ben-Gurion Airport, then I would rather have a European boycott" on Israel.

Ya'alon also addressed Sunday's rocket attack from Lebanon. Despite Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's assigning responsibility to Lebanon and Hezbollah, the defense minister implied that preliminary information indicated that the attack was perpetrated by Sunnis fighting Hezbollah in Syria who hoped to fool Israel into retaliating against Hezbollah.

Elaborating on his comments about rockets and boycotts, he said that wide-eyed and naïve people in the West and even some Israelis constantly press the state that "peace must happen immediately" though he listed many life problems which take time to resolve and must be managed patiently.

 

 

Volgograd's second blast in 24 hours: 
New deadly explosion on trolleybus hits Russian city

 

Another deadly blast has struck the southern Russian city of Volgograd, killing at least 14 people and further highlighting Russia's security challenges as it readies to host the Winter Olympics in less than six weeks.

An explosion hit a trolleybus near a busy market during the morning rush hour Monday, a day after a blast at Volgograd's main train station killed 17 people and wounded at least 35 others.

Like Sunday's attack, the blast Monday was a terrorist act, Vladmir Markin, a spokesman for the country's federal investigation agency, told the state-run news agency RIA Novosti.

 

 

 

Official: 
Female suicide bomber kills 14 at Russian train station

 

 
CCTV footage captured the moment of the first bomb attack on Sunday

A massive explosion at a train station in the Russian city of Volgograd killed at least 14 people, including one police officer, the Investigative Committee of Russia said on its website Sunday.

The head of the committee, Vladimir Markin, said 14 people had been killed and 34 people were injured, including a 9-year-old girl.

The female suicide bomber set off the device before she could pass through a metal detector, Markin said, citing available information.

 

 

 

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Featured News 

Drones, placentas and transgender students: New laws in 2014 cover much ground 

Settler leaders: Washington under-
stands the Jordan Valley must
remain in Israeli hands
 

Dismay in Israel and joy in PA as
Palestinian prisoners released
 

World in turmoil: Seven
countries to watch in 2014
 

Iran doesn’t take Obama’s military
option seriously, says Oren
 

Netanyahu says Lebanese rocket attack constitutes 'double war crime' 

Former MK Eldad: Time to Treat the
Temple Mount Like a Holy Site
 

House Intelligence chair: Benghazi attack 'Al Qaeda-led event' 

Israel’s Christian population
continues to grow in 2013
 

Latest News 

Calif. church battling county to keep up 'Support Our Troops' billboard 

Obamacare supervisor retires, second official to leave since shaky rollout 

Franklin Graham Says God, Not Pope, Is the Judge on Homosexuality 

Population rising faster in South
and West, census data show
 

Virtual currency spawned by an Internet meme draws donations
after holiday hacking
 

Bombings fuel fears about Sochi threat by 'Emir of Caucasus' Doku Umarov 

Four killed in Christian-Muslim clashes in Central African Republic's capital 

Helicopter rescue possible for
ship stuck off Antarctica
 

Drone Testing Launches Bezos 
Vision as States See Jobs
 

Fort Hood shooter's jail requests:
Bible, cheese source
 

Lebanon, Worried About Border, Fires on Syrian Helicopters in Its Airspace 

North Dakota community evacuated after train collision and fire 

One-third of Americans 
reject human evolution
 

Court order to keep brain-dead
girl on ventilator is extended
 

Al Jazeera demands Egypt 
release 4 journalists
 

Hamas reels as Egypt dubs
its twin a terror group
 

Gunmen fire on German
ambassador's residence
in Athens, Greece
 

U.S. pending home sales up in 
November, hint at stabilization
 

Airlift may evacuate most from ship stranded in frozen Antarctic seas 

Saudi Arabia to inject $3 
billion into Lebanese army
 

Five Pastors Killed in Crash
Following post-Haiyan Outreach
 

Minimum wage to rise in 
13 states on Jan. 1
 

Massive ‘Fireball’ Over 
Iowa Likely Meteor
 

'White army' of 25,000 young men
on the march in South Sudan
 

White House News 

Ex-NSA chief calls for Obama 
to reject recommendations
 

Poll: Barack Obama, Hillary 
Clinton most admired
 

Five New Year's resolutions
for President Obama
 

Impeach Obama? DNC raises
fear in new email
 

Obama’s TV Picks: Anything
Edgy, With Hints of Reality
 

Man shot dead after bank robbery convicted of threatening Obama in 2010 

Obama's Presidency Beset by 
Fits, Starts in Year 5
 

Obama faces smattering of protests
on Hawaiian vacation
 

President Obama Didn't Go To 
Church For Christmas
 

Saudis lament, 'we have been
stabbed in the back by Obama'
 

Top Dem presses Obama on Iran sanctions after centrifuge surprise 

Even in Hawaii, Obama can't escape troubled state health insurance exchanges 

Israel News 

 

Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither
slumber nor sleep. - Psalms 121:4 (KJV) 


Israeli population surpasses
8 million
 

Rocket hits western Negev
in latest escalation
 

Israeli envoy urges UN to act 
over Lebanon attacks
 

Kerry 'Appreciates' Israel
Releasing Terrorists
 

Peres, interior minister vow anti-Christian 'price tag' vandalism
won't be tolerated
 

A third of Israeli children live
in poverty, study finds
 

World's fastest Wi-Fi
being developed in Israel
 

Peres: Impossible to Separate
Religion and State in Israel
 

Israel warns against new Iranian centrifuges ahead of new Geneva talks 

Two arrested at Jerusalem protest against Palestinian prisoner release 

Proposal on Jordan Valley:
Make It Part of Israel
 

Winter storm to hit Israel
early this week
 

‘Israel sent us dead 
insects,’ says Iran
 

London church accused of anti-Israel bias over Christmas festival 

Israel's Water Challenge 

Provocative Commentary 

Jihad in our future -
Yoav Limor
 

A judicial difference of
opinion - David Keene
 

Prisoner release: A painful, uncredited step - Herb Keinon 

Time to wake up - 
Barry Rubin
 

It’s going to get bad fast between
Israel and the US - Lazar Berman
 

Message in an artillery
shell - Yaakov Lappin
 

From these alleyways, the anger
will flow - Avi Issacharoff
 

Is the president crowding 
the Pope? - Ed Rogers
 

Team Obama has brought Americans to an all-time low -- let's come together now in faith and action - Gordon Helsel 

The Phony Peace Partner -
Dr. Phlip Brodie
 

Pope Francis: Beyond the compelling
gestures - Martin E. Marty
 

Israel's Christian Awakening -
Adi Schwartz
 

The year authority broke down -
Amotz Asa-el
 

Obama the Philosopher, Netanyahu 
the General - Dovid Efune
 

Beyonce as prototype for the Israeli-Palestinian peace process - Herb Keinon 

We need to hear it -
Zalman Shoval
 

Libertarians: Snowden Debate Foretold
50 Years Ago in 'Outer
Limits' Episode - John Gizzi
 

The Christmas effect - 
The Washington Times
 

Growing disquiet - Dan Margalit 

A Colorado Christmas Eve
Miracle - Todd Starnes
 

Six questions for 2014 -
Julian Zelizer
 

Inspired by God 

 

Christian News

"The men who have done the most for God in this world have been early on their knees. He who fritters away the early morning, its opportunity and freshness, in other pursuits than seeking God will make poor headway seeking Him the rest of the day. If God is not first in our thoughts and efforts in the morning, He will be in the last place the remainder of the day." - E. M. Bounds 


December 31: Hitherto -
Streams in the Desert
 

December 31: Yesterday - 
Oswald Chambers
 

December 31: What God Wants 
You to Know - Charles Stanley
 

A.W. Tozer's Daily Devotional 

Charles Spurgeon's 'Morning and 
Evening' Daily Devotional
 

Daily Light 'Morning and Evening' 
Devotional - Jonathan Bagster
 

Charles Stanley's Audio Messages 

McLean Bible's Internet Services - 
Pastor Lon Solomon: Services are 
"live" Sunday' at 9 am, 10:45 am, & 
12:30 pm (Eastern-US), rebroadcast 
Monday at 2 pm (Eastern-US)
 

Pastor Lon Solomon, McLean Bible
Church, McLean, Virginia - 
Sermons by Date, Series and Podcasts

 

 

RAPTURE READY NEWS PERSPECTIVE 

 31 Dec 13
 

RAPTURE READY Nearing midnight PERSPECTIVE 

 
 

Egypt Calls on Arab Countries to Blacklist the Brotherhood
Egypt, which has blacklisted the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization, on Monday urged other members of the Arab League to follow suit. AFP reported that Egypt called on Arab League members to enforce a counterterrorism treaty that would block funding and support for the Muslim Brotherhood.  

Kerry ‘deceived’ Israel over prisoner releases, TV report claims
The dramatic Channel 2 report — broadcast just a few hours before Israel’s release of a third group of 26 Palestinian prisoners, and shortly before Kerry is due back in the region with hopes to get Israel and the Palestinians to sign a “framework” peace deal — suggested a profound breakdown of trust between the secretary and Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.  

Israel completes 3rd stage of Palestinian prisoners release as Kerry heads back to region
The prisoners were the third batch of 104 detainees that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to let go in four stages when the peace talks were revived in July.  

China could defeat US in East Pacific conflict by 2020: Russian analyst
In a commentary published on Dec. 27 on the website of the Voice of Russia, the Russian government's international radio broadcasting service, Kashin says it is "highly probable" that by 2020 China could defeat the US in a local conflict in the east part of the Pacific or slow down the transportation of US forces to the region after it completes its current cycle of reforming and rearming the People's Liberation Army.  

MKs say anti-Semitism in Europe could turn violent
The meeting came as an inverted Nazi salute known as the quenelle, invented and popularized by the anti-Semitic comedian Dieudonne M’balla M’balla, was gaining popularity in France. Committee chairman MK Yoel Razbozov (Yesh Atid) called on MKs at the hearing to work to “suppress” such manifestations of hate. He also called on the nations of Europe and the European Union to promote tolerance. Without decisive action, he stated, anti-Semitic sentiment “might develop into violent action.”  

Another Damaging Wind Storm Aims United Kingdom On Wednesday, With Paris, France Affected As Well
These are not the average storms, but surface low bombs that keep on coming in, much like an airline landing pattern. Another is coming for Wednesday.  

TO AMERICA AND CONSERVATIVES IN 2014
We are in the battle of our lives for our freedom, economy, health and Judeo Christian heritage. Obama has boldly attacked and shredded them all. He has gleefully used his Saul Alinsky bag of violent and covert Jihad against us. In 2014 the attacks will grow by Obama and feel like steam rollers over our lives and communities unless America snaps out of our stupor. Hark…but America IS snapping out of her stupor and so is the lame brain media.  

DNC Sends Paranoid Email About Obama Impeachment
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) sent an email to supporters on Saturday with the subject “Impeachment.” The body of the email said, ‘What do these people have in common?” It then went on to list quotes from multiple Republican politicians such as Sen. James Inhofe, Rep. Michelle Bachmann, Rep. Kerry Bentivolio, and Rep. Blake Farenthold. So, what do all of these politicians have in common? According to the DNC, they have each pushed the possibility of Obama’s impeachment, or the “I-Word,” as the email called it.  

Russia May Implement Israeli Security Measures Against Terror
The sources explained that Israel has developed some very advanced measures that are tailored to handle this type of terror acts. “this begins with intelligence through sensors and physical barriers” one of the sources said. Russia is under a terror attack carried out by suicide terrorists. A bomb blast ripped a trolleybus apart in Volgograd on Monday, killing at least 14 people in the second deadly attack in the southern city in two days and raising fears of further violence as Russia prepares to host the Winter Olympics.  

Putin Orders Saudi Arabia “Destroyed” After Volgograd Terror Strikes
A grim memorandum circulating in the Kremlin today written by Federal Security Services (FSB) Director Alexander Bortnikov outlining the new security measures being put into place throughout Russia ordered by President Putin a few hours ago in response to the deadly Volgograd terror attacks further warns that Russia’s leader has, in effect, vowed to “destroy” Saudi Arabia as he personally is blaming them for this horrific crime against humanity.  

2 quakes jolt northern Ilocos Norte town
Two successive earthquakes jolted the northern town of Burgos in Ilocos Norte province early morning Tuesday, one registered at magnitude 4.2 while the other at magnitude 4, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.  

Southern California Earthquake Today 2013 Strikes East of Los Angeles
Officials tell news that a 3.7 magnitude Southern California earthquake today just started moments ago, a bit after 3:44 PM local time. The quake had a moderate depth. USGS indicates to news that the quake started twelve miles below ground level. As a result, its impact is limited to the immediate region.  

A 5.4-magnitude quake hits eastern Japan
A shallow 5.4-magnitude earthquake hit eastern Japan Tuesday, rocking buildings in Tokyo but there were no reports of any damage, seismologists said.  

US population growth slows to lowest rate in more than 70 years
The US population grew by just 2.26 million in the twelve months leading to July 1st 2013, according to estimated figures released by the Census Bureau. That represents a 0.72 percent year-over-year increase, which the New York Times reports is the lowest rate in "over seven decades."  

Brotherhood Supporters Advising Obama Administration
Egypt acknowledged the danger of the Muslim Brotherhood by recently labeling it a terrorist organization and banning its activities. In the United States, however, the Brotherhood seems to be alive and kicking. Some of its supporters even hold influential positions in the Obama administration. A provocative statement by one of those alleged supporters created a firestorm recently because of its contents and the author’s government role.  

PM: Murderers are not heroes
Netanyahu, speaking in Tiberias at a conference on Galilee development, also took the Palestinian Authority to task for the reception it gave the released Palestinian security prisoners overnight.  

Calif. church battling county to keep up 'Support Our Troops' billboard
A church in California's Nevada County is battling local officials to keep up a "Support Our Troops" sign. According to FOX40, the Simple Truth Church recently was told by the county Planning Department that its billboard has to come down. The message from the county came after the church touched up the run-down sign and painted the patriotic message on it.  

Settler leaders: Washington understands the Jordan Valley must remain in Israeli hands
The United States understands that the Jordan Valley must remain in Israeli hands, for security reasons, in any final status agreement with the Palestinians, and that includes its 22 settlements, David Lahiani, the area’s Regional Council head, told The Jerusalem Post on Monday night. “But the Americans cannot say this, because it would destroy the negotiations,” he said.  

World in turmoil: Seven countries to watch in 2014
The world will face countless challenges in 2014, but a few nations in flux stand out in the crowd. NBC News correspondents and writers explain how the outcome of wars, negotiations and elections in these countries could have a deep impact on their own populations and regions, and sometimes the world.  

Israel releases 26 prisoners as Kerry heads back to region
Israel on Tuesday freed 26 Palestinian prisoners under peace talks brokered by US Secretary of State John Kerry, who returns to the region this week to boost the faltering negotiations.  

 

 
 
 

 

Dec 30, 2013 

NSA Spying Is Hurting American Business

It has only been a few months since it was revealed that America has been spying on some of its closest friends. The scandal has already grabbed the title as one of the greatest diplomatic debacles in our nation’s history. It is also quickly becoming one of America’s greatest financial fiascos.

U.S. trade partners fully realize they are at risk of being spied on if they buy any communication technology made by U.S. firms. Our government passed laws requiring companies to install secret backdoors allowing the NSA to secretly gather information.

IBM, the largest computer-services provider, was one the first to report a sales drop. The firms’ China branch, reported a 22 percent drop in sales. The Chinese government is very tight-lipped about it its daily activities, so going forward, IBM would be the last company the Chinese government would chose to supply their data processing needs. A Louisiana Pension fund is suing IBM claiming the tech giant defrauded investors by concealing the sales decline after Edward Snowden leaked information that the company was cooperating with the NSA.

Cisco Systems is another company impacted by the NSA scandal. Cisco’s November sales were down 21 percent because of an instant problem with the Internet’s ability to trust its encryption products. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) told companies not to use cryptographic standards that may have been undermined by the NSA’s BULLRUN program. One of Cisco analysts admitted that cryptography was compromised: “It would be a critical blow to the trust required across the Internet and the security community.” Since Cisco is required give crypto keys to the NSA, its technology can never be trusted.

The bid by AT&T to acquire the European company, Vodafone, may be in danger due to the company’s well-documented involvement in the NSA data-collection programs. European officials are now saying the telecommunications giant will face “intense scrutiny” in the effort to purchase Vodafone. There may be so many restrictions placed on the combined company that AT&T may decide it is unprofitable to proceed with the venture.

Telenor, Norway’s largest telecom provider has reportedly halted its plans to move its customers to a U.S. based cloud provider. It will likely choose to go with a European firm.

The fallout is not just related to communication technology. Brazil has just decided to award a $4.5 billion contract to Swedish company, Saab AB, to replace its aging fleet of fighter jets. Boeing had been of the favorite to win the deal, but America’s spying voided its chances. “The NSA problem ruined it for the Americans,” a Brazilian government confirmed on condition of anonymity.

We have also damaged opportunities for foreign investments by giving everyone that comes to this nation, the Big Brother treatment. I’m sure many entrepreneurs have decided against opening a business in America because it meant being treated like a potential terrorist every time they visited our shores.

For American companies all this bad blood amounts to a huge shortfall in sales to other nations. Forrester Research, a technology and market research company says the lost trade could reach $180 billion by 2016. Since America already has a $500 billion annual trade deficit, adding tens of billions to this figure will only make matters worse.

There is very little concern in Washington about American companies losing their competitive edge due to NSA surveillance. Even when Angela Merkel called President Obama to compare the NSA to the Stasi that she faced growing up in East Germany, he offered no guarantee that the spying on her personal phone conversations would stop. I did find one U.S. Senator who understands the problem. Senator Ron Wyden recently remarked, “If a foreign enemy was doing this much damage to the economy, people would be in the streets with pitchforks.”

Before Obama left for a Christmas vacation, he had a meeting with leaders of this nation’s biggest technology firms, and they complained very “loudly” over what the NSA is doing to their business. Even if they managed to convince Obama that something needs to be done, I see only a small chance the tide will turn. Just as the military-industrial-complex has become an impossible beast to manage, the NSA has had a dozen years to become equally entrenched.

I think our spying problem will eventually fix itself. The economic base of this nation is being eroded so rapidly by incompetent policies that the day will soon come when we can no longer afford to snoop on the rest of the world. The Bible’s lack of clear reference to America in prophecy may indicate our downfall is close at hand.

--Todd


2014 Prophecy Prospectus

The upcoming year invites a look into its major prophetic potentialities, based upon the way 2013 is ending. If this was a prospectus on any number of the general matters on which a prospectus is normally issued, it would be directed only to those who have invested interests or potential investment interests in the financial possibilities presented.

In other words, the prospectus would be highly limited in scope to but a relatively few people. For example, stockholders of a publicly held company would want to know the potential economic advantages that holding stock in that company offers. The analysis within a prospectus would be to inform potential investors about products and or services, now or in the immediate future, and probable company performance before they determined whether to buy new stock being offered.

Our prophecy prospectus differs in a couple of major ways from that just described:1) Those investors potentially affected by future performance are neither limited in scope nor in numbers involved. Bible prophecy involves, literally, every person alive on planet Earth. 2) The prophecy prospectus literally involves investment potentialities--not of meager, earthly dollars and cents—but things that determine future dividends for investors throughout all of eternity.

We will try to analyze some of the primary issues and events at this year’s end and project the prophetic trends, based upon that analysis as we move into 2014 and beyond.

Admittedly, this will offer only the very slightest look at these things. We will do so, not with hubris or self-aggrandizement; only the God of Heaven knows the future. But, our Lord has indeed given us–and in many cases, in considerable detail—an overview of things to come. We are told by Him to “watch” (Mark 13:37) for those things to come that He promises us we can know, at least in general terms:

“Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me” (Isaiah 45:11).

“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come” (John 16:13).

The Holy Spirit, God in His omniscience, gives those who are in His family (all born again through belief in His Son, Jesus Christ) both the ability and the command to watch for prophetic signals in discerning the times in which we live. Therefore, let us look at the prospects for 2014, with the confidence that we can achieve at least a certain degree of understanding about things to come.

The bottom line in considering things to come at this juncture is that the time of Tribulation is no longer just a faint rumble of distant thunder on the prophetic horizon. Every major element of Bible prophecy leading up to Christ’s Second Advent can be discerned by anyone with a futurist viewpoint of biblical eschatology--that is, everyone who believes that there are major prophecies yet to be fulfilled. As the year 2013 closes, we very briefly analyze those key elements of prophecy yet future and consider the prospects for 2014 and thereafter.

Israel: Israel is at stage center for the final act of Satan’s war against God to play out. The American president has exerted his power and authority, to considerable extent, in putting the Jewish state’s prime minister on notice that Israel will be given U.S. support only if Israel complies with the stipulations Secretary of State John Kerry and the so-called Palestinian leadership contrive. Chief among these matters of compliance is, apparently, the cessation of construction within Israel’s sovereign territory. On the other hand, the Palestinians do not have to agree to even recognize Israel as a legitimate national entity. Certainly, for the immediate future, there can be no peace arrangement under this broad area of disagreement. If the dreadful peace of Isaiah 28 is to be made, there will likely have to develop even more severe potential for war in the region, with the Palestinian leadership perceiving they will lose any chance to achieve statehood, I believe. Then, that leadership–like all good Islamists—will lie to agree to some of Israel’s demands. Whether this government, led by Benjamin Netanyahu, will buy those lies is another matter. It seems to me that a much broader peace scheme must be in play for it to come up to the dimension of the Isaiah 28:15, 18 covenant, so look for the current peace efforts to limp along for quite awhile.

Iran: This nation that comprises most of ancient Persia smugly senses a weak U.S. administration, I suspect. It will play the game of Middle East chess until it is right back to doing within its mountainous underground nuclear laboratories what it has been doing since setting its sights on building a weapon that can carry out the mullahs’ designs of hegemony over the entire region and the elimination of the hated little Satan --Israel.

Russia: Russia will continue to demonstrate it is resuming superpower status in its climb back from the fall as the U.S.S.R. Prophetically, Russia’s ties to Iran can only grow stronger, even though the two nations will likely attempt to show, publicly, a marked independence from each other. I believe that Israel’s increasing capabilities in the area of natural gas production and its growing gas industry’s inroads into European and other markets greatly disturb Putin. Look for Russia to keep strengthening its military position and influence to the south.

Electronic control technologies: Electronic control technologies in the U.S. and on a global scale look to be growing ominously as the weeks roll on. Despite the NSA and other scandals, with the divulgences by Snowden and other revelations of privacy-destroying snooping by governments, the world-wide system of control is progressing geometrically and, perhaps, is already of sufficient strength and ubiquity to give Antichrist what he needs to subjugate most of the world’s populations once he takes the reins of power as indicated in Revelation 13:16-18.

These are the areas of most particular prophetic relevance while we finish this year and look into the next, in my opinion. Other areas, such as economy, religion, and cultural matters are only slightly less critical in considering prospects for 2014. We will continue to look at these aspects of life as well through the prism of God’s prophetic Word.

The most profitable investment any of us can make for the upcoming year is to pray, study God’s Word, and put our efforts and resources into His kingdom for reaching souls of men, women, and children. We at Rapture Ready solicit your help in investing in that mission in 2014. Your "heavenly bank account" will increase beyond measure.

-- Terry

 

 

 
 

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Prophecy Watch: December 25 2013 WEDNESDAY Tevet 22 5774 Vol.1 No.10

 
 
          DAILY
>World Watch Daily
>Rapture Ready News
>Nearing Midnight
> more to come....
 

WORD WATCH DAILY PERSPECTIVE

His Birth and Our New Birth - Oswald Chambers

’Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,’ which is translated, ’God with us’ —Matthew 1:23

His Birth in History. “. . . that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God (Luke 1:35). Jesus Christ was born into this world, not from it. He did not emerge out of history; He came into history from the outside. Jesus Christ is not the best human being the human race can boast of— He is a Being for whom the human race can take no credit at all. He is not man becoming God, but God Incarnate— God coming into human flesh from outside it. His life is the highest and the holiest entering through the most humble of doors. Our Lord’s birth was an advent— the appearance of God in human form.

His Birth in Me. “My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you . . .” (Galatians 4:19). Just as our Lord came into human history from outside it, He must also come into me from outside. Have I allowed my personal human life to become a “Bethlehem” for the Son of God? I cannot enter the realm of the kingdom of God unless I am born again from above by a birth totally unlike physical birth. “You must be born again” (John 3:7). This is not a command, but a fact based on the authority of God. The evidence of the new birth is that I yield myself so completely to God that “Christ is formed” in me. And once “Christ is formed” in me, His nature immediately begins to work through me.

God Evident in the Flesh. This is what is made so profoundly possible for you and for me through the redemption of man by Jesus Christ.

 

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May the Son of the God of Israel bless you with His joy!

 

 

Samaria vineyards photo by Claudia Koenig

 

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Pope’s Christmas wish: 
Israeli-Palestinian peace

 

 

Worshipers targeted at Christmas services in Baghdad, at least 26 killed

 

 

Palestinian sources: 
Gulf officials met Netanyahu in Israel

 

US offered to guard Jordan Valley, Palestinians say

 

 

White House condemns Syrian air campaign in Aleppo

 

 

Abbas said to lay out PA demands as Kerry prepares framework deal

 

 

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Featured News 

In Israel, a calculated boost
to deterrence
 

IDF Prepares for Gaza Escalation 

EU mulls delaying anti-Israel document in light of ongoing peace talks 

Confident Putin frees foes
ahead of Sochi Olympics
 

Computerizing people may be next
step in tech; Google’s Motorola
Mobility branch proposed an
"electronic skin tattoo"
 

Israel to Abbas: No, Jesus
was not a Palestinian
 

'We Respect All Individuals Right to Express Their Beliefs'; Cracker Barrel Apologizes, Returns Duck Dynasty Items to Stores After Christians Protest 

5 takeaways from Obama’s
news conference
 

American Generals: Israel
Should Keep 'West Bank'
 

Latest News 

Typhoon-Battered Philippines Celebrates Christmas Amid the Wreckage 

N.J. man who pays it forward 
believes it saved him
 

All thousands want for 
Christmas is electricity
 

Brazil president pledges aid
after deadly floods
 

South Sudan crisis: Increased
efforts to end bloodshed
 

French use Nazi-like salute
with impunity
 

Amnesty by Russians Includes
Greenpeace Case
 

U.S. court won't halt
gay marriage in Utah
 

Pope Francis celebrates first
Christmas Eve mass at Vatican
 

New Mexico Clerk Resigns After State Legalizes Gay Marriage; Would Rather Quit Than 'Be Associated With That' 

Christmas a day of terror for Christians in Iraq, say human rights groups 

International Troops Prepare as 
South Sudan Violence Worsens
 

AmEx to issue refunds for
illegal card practices
 

School Apologizes for Forcing Students to Remove Jesus and Muhammad Shirts

Man, shot in head, notices
five years later
 

Assad's secret oil lifeline:
Iraqi crude from Egypt
 

NSA leaker Edward Snowden says his
'mission's already accomplished'
 

North America storms spell cold,
dark Christmas for many
 

Melt Water Discovered Under Greenland
Ice Sheet, Reservoir Trapped
 

Youth-drug can 'reverse'
ageing in animal studies
 

Joel Osteen Talks Preaching Sin, 
Materialism, and Coming Out in
Support of Gay Marriage
 

White House News 

Larry Pressler to defend 
Obama support
 

Michelle Obama Tracks Santa's 
Sleigh Over Africa
 

White House reportedly pulls
Egypt ambassador pick under
pressure from Cairo
 

Obama signs up for Obamacare 

Obama in 'symbolic' signup for 
health insurance plan
 

Obama signs order for federal
worker pay raises in 2014
 

Republicans find filibuster alternatives
to fight Obama nominees
 

Obama mistakenly said Snowden
has been indicted
 

Obama girls get dating advice
from their watchful dad
 

Israel News 

 

Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither
slumber nor sleep. - Psalms 121:4 (KJV) 


Bennett: No quiet on the Palestinian
side if terrorism continues
 

Killing and Retaliation at Gaza-Israel Border Continue Violent Cycle 

Latest 'Trickling Terror,' 2 
Jerusalem Arabs Run Over Cop
 

Abbas, Ashton join Xmas 
festivities in Bethlehem
 

Top US schools reject
boycott of Israel
 

Treatment of Temple Mount
Artifacts ‘A Disgrace’
 

Israeli civilian, Palestinian girl
killed in Gaza flare-up
 

One Week After Storm, Parts
of Gaza Fence Still Down
 

Ancient Jewish Texts Found in
Afghanistan to Debut Next Week
 

As both sides wait for Kerry,
the refugee camps boil
 

Jews, Muslims, Christians rally in Jerusalem against price tag attacks 

King David's Tomb Vandalized 
During Snowstorm
 

Clinton: Israeli Criticism –
Good for America
 

Little Palestinian town of Bethlehem wants its tourists, Christian residents
to come back
 

Elie Wiesel Says ‘Iran Must Not Be Allowed to Remain Nuclear’ in Full Page Ads in NYT, WSJ 

Provocative Commentary 

A Colorado Christmas Eve
Miracle - Todd Starnes
 

Six questions for 2014 -
Julian Zelizer
 

Remember Pastor Saeed as he 
marks his second Christmas
imprisoned in Iran - Jay Sekulow
 

New Antisemitism 2013: A Year In Review! - Olivier Melnick 

Good Will Toward Men - Laura Hollis 

I'm a Jew who loves Christmas -
Brooke Lefferts
 

With Christmas upon us, 'tis the season to bash Israel - Herb Keinon 

From ‘Hope and Change’ to ‘I’ll
do better’ - Joseph Curl
 

Does terrorism work? -
Ariel Ben Solomon
 

Four reasons to hate the 
Jewish state - Robert Nicholson
 

The U.S. government lab behind
Beijing’s nuclear power push -
David Lague and Charlie Zhu
 

The wrong Christmas message -
Ruthie Blum
 

What Went Wrong in the World
in 2013? - Morgan Lee
 

Conservative response to Phil Robertson: Carpe Diem - Bryan Fischer, AFA 

The Emperor Exposed -
Steven Horowitz
 

War on Christmas? It's more like
'War on Christians' in many
parts of the world -
Juan Williams
 

Story of the year - Charles Krauthammer 

In embrace of ‘Duck Dynasty’ 
star, 2016 hopefuls make
bid for evangelicals -
Matea Gold
 

Nero in the White House - 
John R. Bolton
 

Jailed Pastor 'Abandoned Because He's Christian' - Michael Carl 

Arm thyself! - Ariel Harkham 

Four Things We Can Learn
from Billy Graham's Life 
and Ministry - Lee Strobel
 

No Holds Barred: The ferocious fight for Israel - Shmuley Boteach 

Temple Mount high -
Yisrael Medad
 

Inspired by God 

 

Christian News

"The men who have done the most for God in this world have been early on their knees. He who fritters away the early morning, its opportunity and freshness, in other pursuits than seeking God will make poor headway seeking Him the rest of the day. If God is not first in our thoughts and efforts in the morning, He will be in the last place the remainder of the day." - E. M. Bounds 


December 25: Christ our Consolation -
Streams in the Desert
 

December 25: His Birth and Our
New Birth - Oswald Chambers
 

December 25: The Shepherds'
Obedience - Charles Stanley
 

A.W. Tozer's Daily Devotional 

Charles Spurgeon's 'Morning and 
Evening' Daily Devotional
 

Daily Light 'Morning and Evening' 
Devotional - Jonathan Bagster
 

Charles Stanley's Audio Messages 

McLean Bible's Internet Services - 
Pastor Lon Solomon: Services are 
"live" Sunday' at 9 am, 10:45 am, & 
12:30 pm (Eastern-US), rebroadcast 
Monday at 2 pm (Eastern-US)
 

Pastor Lon Solomon, McLean Bible
Church, McLean, Virginia - 
Sermons by Date, Series and Podcasts
 

RAPTURE READY NEWS PERSPECTIVE 

 25 Dec 13

NEWS: Oklahoma Earthquakes
For the second day in a row, an earthquake shook people in central Oklahoma. A 2.7 magnitude quake rattled the area at 4:30 a.m. on Christmas Day. It was centered about five miles north of Spencer, and 11 miles northeast of Oklahoma City.  

French use Nazi-like salute with impunity
President Hollande indicates his government will do more to curb online displays of the anti-Semitic ‘quenelle’  

Egypt arrests Mursi's ex-prime minister on his way to Sudan
Egyptian security forces on Tuesday arrested the former prime minister of ousted Islamist President Mohamed Mursi who was sentenced to one year in jail for failing to implement a court ruling to renationalise a textile firm.  

Kim urges N. Korea military to bolster combat readiness
North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un has urged the country's military to bolster its combat readiness, saying a war could break out "without any prior notice", state media reported Wednesday. The call comes at a time of heightened tension on the Korean Peninsula following the execution of Kim's uncle and former mentor in an unusually public purge  

Bill promising equal tax benefits for same-sex couples irks coalition
A controversial bill promising same-sex couples equal tax benefits that has been straining the coalition managed to pass a preliminary reading in the Knesset Tuesday. The bill, proposed by a Yesh Atid MK, outraged the Habayit Hayehudi factions, and prompted dissent among coalition ranks with political negotiations going on in the Knesset plenum until seconds before the vote.  

UN sends more peacekeepers to South Sudan after thousands killed
The UN Security Council approved plans on Tuesday to almost double the number of peacekeepers in South Sudan in an effort to protect civilians as reports of...worsening of ethnic bloodletting in the world's newest state. The move came as the United Nations humanitarian coordinator in the country said the death toll from the past 10 days of violence was likely now in the thousands, rather than the hundreds the world body had previously estimated.  

US Embassy in Kabul attacked on Christmas Day
The U.S. Embassy in Kabul was hit by indirect fire before dawn on Christmas Day but no Americans were hurt, as attacks elsewhere in Afghanistan killed at least six people Wednesday, officials said. Two rounds struck the sprawling embassy compound but it was not immediately clear which part of the complex, and a U.S. Embassy official said the incident was under investigation.  

Christians targeted by Baghdad bombs
A car bomb near a church in Baghdad has killed at least 15 people and wounded 28 others, as Iraqi Christians celebrated Christmas, officials say. The device went off outside a Catholic church when worshippers were leaving a Christmas Day service. Another bomb at a nearby market in a mainly Christian area killed six more people and left 14 people hurt.  

Thousands hit by floods and power cuts at Christmas
Flooding is causing difficulties for thousands of people in southern England after stormy weather lashed the UK. Three severe flood warnings are in place in Surrey and Dorset, with many people rescued from homes overnight. And some 50,000 homes across the UK are without electricity, the Energy Networks Association has said.  

Pope Francis urges aid access to Syria in Christmas speech
Pope Francis has used his first Christmas Day address to urge access for humanitarian aid in Syria. He told thousands of pilgrims in St Peter's Square in the Vatican to pray for a peaceful end to violence in Syria and other conflict zones. The Argentine pope also said tragic incidents involving migrants trying to reach Europe should not be repeated.  

Brazil president pledges aid after deadly floods
Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has pledged millions of dollars in federal aid to two south-eastern states where floods have killed at least 30 people. After flying over the area, she said helicopters and army trucks would deliver food and medicine to the states of Minas Gerais and Espirito Santo. A number of homes, roads and bridges were destroyed and many cities were left without power and drinking water.  

Abbas, Ashton ring in Christmas at midnight mass in Bethlehem
Hundreds of worshipers attended a midnight Christmas Eve mass in the West Bank town of Bethlehem in the late hours of Tuesday. Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Archbishop Fouad Twal, led the mass in the Church of the Nativity, believed by millions of Christians to be located at the exact spot of the birth of Jesus.  

Police chief: Rise in terror anticipated after peace talks resumed
Police commissioner Yochanan Danino said on Wednesday that the security forces have noticed a disturbing uptick in “grassroots terrorism,” something which was predicted once peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority resumed. As a result of the increased tension on the security front, defense officials have beefed up army and police forces in so-called “sensitive areas,” according to Israel Radio.  

 

 

RAPTURE READY Nearing midnight PERSPECTIVE 

 
 
 
 
 

Dec 23, 2013 

Duck Dynasty Star Roasted over Gay Comments

The TV show, Duck Dynasty has become a huge hit for the A&E Network. It is about a southern family that has an empire based on duck calls, used in hunting. The show regularly draws 9 million-plus viewers. Duck Dynasty’s fourth season premiere drew 11.8 million viewers, which is an all-time-record for any non-fiction cable telecast.

The greatest financial success of Duck Dynasty has been in its merchandizing; the show has T-shirts, posters, coffee mugs, calendar, jewelry and dozens of other products. I was at Wal-Mart today and I saw more products with the Duck Dynasty name on them than I did during the Hanna Montana craze.

With so much money at stake, one would think there is almost nothing the cast could do to disrupt the show. Something has happened, and it demonstrates where we are as a nation. A&E has placed Duck Dynasty patriarch, Phil Robertson, on indefinite hiatus following anti-gay remarks he made in an interview with GQmagazine.

During a discussion about repentance and God, Robertson was asked what he finds sinful. He replied by giving a practical explanation for why homosexual sex is wrong. He said a woman’s body should naturally be more attractive and desirable to a man. “She’s got more to offer. I mean, come on, dudes! You know what I’m saying? But hey, sin: It’s not logical, my man. It’s just not logical,” said Robertson.

He then paraphrased 1 Corinthians 6:9-10: “Don’t be deceived. Neither the adulterers, the idolaters, the male prostitutes, the homosexual offenders, the greedy, the drunkards, the slanderers, the swindlers -- they won’t inherit the kingdom of God. Don’t deceive yourself. It’s not right.”

The Gay group, GLADD, climbed in on the controversy saying that Phil and his family were not true Christians because they didn’t show love for gay people. GLADD also said, “His [Bible] quote was littered with outdated stereotypes and blatant misinformation.”

Robertson released a wonderful statement in response to the flap:

I myself am a product of the ‘60s; I centered my life around sex, drugs and rock and roll until I hit rock bottom and accepted Jesus as my Savior. My mission today is to go forth and tell people about, why I follow Christ and also what the Bible teaches, and part of that teaching is that women and men are meant to be together. However, I would never treat anyone with disrespect just because they are different from me. We are all created by the Almighty and like Him, I love all of humanity. We would all be better off if we loved God and loved each other.

This is not the first time that Phil Robertson has had conflicts with the show’s producers. In 2012, he confronted them over the attempts to edit out the name of “Jesus” during their prayer at the end of each episode—by adding misleading “fake bleeps” to the program when there was no profanity spoken.

I imagine there is going to be pressure placed on Phil to get him to change his views. The worst thing he could do would be to release a statement that could be interpreted as an admission of guilt. (If you do that, the liberal media are trained to come in for the kill.)

When I heard Phil Robertson’s strong confession of faith several months ago, I knew it would eventually get him into trouble. The media has become so anti-Christian, you mention the Name of Jesus and you instantly become a target.

The same thing happened to Tim Tewbow earlier this year. Even though Tewbow was the most popular player in the NFL and has a proven draw for audiences, he was passed around from team to team because the management and sports reporters didn’t like his open-confession of faith.

The most troubling part of this controversy is the silence on the part of the church. Despite the fact that there are millions of Christians—who agree one-hundred-percent with Robertson’s view on homosexuality, few of them are willing to take a public stand to support him. The outcome I fear the most is a general rule expecting Christian celebrities to keep their faith to themselves.

Believers need to realize there is no peace with this world. The children of darkness are constantly looking for opportunities to attack those who call on the name of Jesus. Because the enemy’s hatred of us remains constant, we should never let our guard down.

“If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before [it hated] you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, the servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me. If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin. He that hateth me hateth my Father also. If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. But [this cometh to pass], that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, they hated me without a cause” (John 15:18-25).

--Todd


HeavenVision Revisited

Please indulge me just a bit in my using this week’s Nearing Midnight column as a cathartic exercise, at least in part. I believe you will find my ruminations relevant to our purpose in presenting these articles each week.

Sunday, December 15, I received a phone call. It was Brenda, wife of a life-long friend, and I do mean life-long. Her husband, Howard, and I were born one month apart--Howard in El Dorado, Arkansas, and me in Camden, Arkansas. Each city is about the same distance from Hampton, a very small town in the southern part of the state. El Dorado is thirty miles south and Camden thirty miles west. They had the hospitals; Hampton didn’t. Our parents both lived in Hampton when we were born–one block apart.

I knew the news wasn’t something I wanted to hear. Brenda and I, although friends, too, don’t talk very much.

“Howard passed away about 12:30 this morning,” she said.

Howard had, until about two years ago, been beating men in their forties in tennis, one of his passions in life. He wasn’t prideful about it; he just enjoyed quietly--with finesse, not power--beating the tennis shorts off those youngsters, as we viewed them from our lofty perch in our late sixties at the time.

Howard was on his roof one day about two years ago, sweeping pine needles to the ground, when he suddenly got weak and had trouble breathing. His weakness increased and the doctors told him he had heart arrhythmia. They put in a pacemaker, but the problems persisted and increased. Finally, he was diagnosed with a degenerative heart disease that had to be treated with chemotherapy, although, as I take it, it wasn’t cancer. The treatments were astronomical in cost and quite taxing on his body.

So, when I heard Brenda’s voice, I knew instantly, even before she said so, that my life-long pal had passed into that glorious realm he often talked about during his many, many years of teaching Sunday school at First Baptist Church.

It was a long, painful time of dying, and I was relieved for him, although I will miss him greatly.

I have related in these columns about Good Friday, April 22, 2011, when, following a brisk workout, I suffered a “widow-maker” heart attack. My heart stopped at least three times and they brought me back from clinical death with defibrillation shocks. Each time, I was in the heavenly presence of a throng of young, cheering people. The last time the heart stopped, I was among that group, and we were running as if in a victory lap–I have since come to believe—toward the very gate that was the entrance to God’s eternal abode.

I am totally blind, as many know, but could see perfectly well–even better than that—while with those young people. But then things grew dark again, and, each time, I returned to this earthly existence. On the final trip back, I returned to the catheterization lab, where they had removed the blockage to the affected artery. The interventional cardiologist who removed the blockage told my wife that I had been dead on arrival. He said that 95 percent of all who have this occurrence don’t live through it. The cardiologists were so impressed with my case that they made me the Arkansas "Cardiac Patient of the Year." This gave me opportunity to tell the cardiologists in their meetings at Little Rock about how, while I appreciated everything their profession had done for me, it was the Lord Jesus Christ who determined that I would return to fight another round or two.

My friend Howard and his wife Brenda were among the very first to show up in the cardiac ICU recovery room where I lay for the next several days. I was terribly disturbed because I didn’t have an opportunity to visit Howard, except by phone, during his time of dying. He just felt too sick to receive company, and needed constant medical assistance. Visitors would disrupt that care.

Each morning when I have awakened since that time of visitation to the cloud of witnesses of Hebrews 12:1-2, I see them in my mind’s eye. They are as clear in the deepest reaches of my spirit as if I were standing before them again.

Now, I constantly wonder if my friend Howard was met by this same group of cheering, jubilant youngsters. I’m a little envious, because I suspect he was escorted, in victory-lap fashion, through that gigantic gate of pearl and into the presence of Jesus Christ. I can see that scene, and I am blessed to have that picture as I cope with my wonderful friend’s absence.

I wish I could convey the comfort and even joy that I sense knowing that Howard is in that heavenly realm. I, of course, can only try to paint that scene in word pictures.My publisher of HeavenVision: Glimpses into Glory has just informed me that they are going to offer a special 40-percent discount on the book. It is a little hardback that I believe will uplift every believer who reads it. My coauthor and editor of many years, Angie Peters, has shaped the book in inspired fashion, as I tell of my visit to somewhere in that heavenly realm. My prayer is that the reader will get at least a glimpse of what awaits those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation.

***HeavenVision, now –40% off!***

Icon Publishing has marked HeavenVision: Glimpses into Glory down by 40 percent for those of our Rapture Ready visitors and family. I hope this generous offer puts the book in the reach of everyone who wants to get a biblical glimpse of what awaits those who love the Lord and wonders what God has prepared for us in that life that will never end...

To order, click here: HeavenVision: Glimpses into Glory by Terry James with Angie Peters.

-- Terry