Search Results

𝐈𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐒 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐍𝐒: 𝐍𝐘𝐂 𝐌𝐀𝐘𝐎𝐑 𝐌𝐀𝐌𝐃𝐀𝐍𝐈 𝐒𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐒 “𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐃 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐃” 𝐋𝐈𝐊𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐀𝐘𝐀𝐓𝐎𝐋𝐋𝐀𝐇 𝐁𝐄𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐄 𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐄𝐈𝐙𝐄𝐃 𝐏𝐎𝐖𝐄𝐑 𝐈𝐍 𝟏𝟗𝟕𝟗 “𝘐𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘴𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘢 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘴 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘔𝘢𝘮𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘪 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘕𝘦𝘸 𝘠𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘊𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘺𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘩 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘐𝘳𝘢𝘯. 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥, 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘣𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘮.” The parallels are chilling: Khomeini’s promises before 1979: 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫, 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐬. Mamdani’s 2024 campaign? The exact same playbook. This isn’t a coincidence. It’s 𝐝𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐈𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐲: — They can’t come to American cities and openly push Sharia — So they 𝐬𝐨𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐠𝐞 with Marxist economics — free everything, equity, social justice — The population buys in because the sales pitch sounds compassionate — The actual goal: 𝐠𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐞 Their own words: “If we gain the whole world but we lose America, we have failed.” America is the “Great Satan.” Israel’s the “Little Satan.” 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐀𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚.

Galatians 3 is often cited as evidence that national Israel no longer has a role in God’s purposes. Because Paul states that believers in Christ are Abraham’s seed and children through faith, some conclude that Israel’s role in the biblical storyline no longer is significant. According to this view, Abraham’s family has been redefined so that the unbelieving nation of Israel is no longer God’s people The reasoning appears straightforward. If belonging to Abraham is determined by faith in Jesus, and Israel has not believed in Him, then the nation can no longer be regarded as God’s people or as having a meaningful relationship to Abraham. But does Galatians 3 actually mean or imply this? I will argue that Paul is not excluding Israel from God’s purposes. In Galatians Paul’s concern is the inclusion of Gentiles among God’s people through faith in Jesus rather than through the Mosaic Law. Paul is explaining how Gentiles become part of Abraham’s family, not declaring that Israel’s long-standing role has ended. Paul's argument in Galatians aligns with the promises given to Abraham in Genesis 12:2–3, 17:4–6, and 22:17–18, where God declared that Abraham would become the father of many nations and that blessing would come to the nations through his seed, including a special individual seed. From the beginning, the promise of blessing to the nations existed alongside God’s purposes for the nation Israel, and nothing in Galatians suggests that Paul believed this had changed. When Galatians 3 is read alongside passages that directly address Israel’s role, especially Romans 11, it becomes evident that Gentile salvation fulfils God’s promises to Abraham through Jesus without cancelling His ongoing purposes for Israel. The Claim: Galatians 3 Ends Israel’s Status as God’s People This idea that Galatians 3 rules out an ongoing role for national Israel is drawn from statements such as: Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham (Gal. 3:7). So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer (Gal. 3:9). And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise (Gal. 3:29). Those who believe these statements redefine Abraham’s family so that Israel is no longer included typically reason as follows: Premise 1: Only those who have faith in Christ are the true seed of Abraham. Premise 2: Israel as a nation does not believe in Christ. Conclusion: Therefore, national Israel is no longer the true seed of Abraham or the people of God and has no ongoing role in God’s plan. The premises above are true. But does the conclusion follow? It does not. What Galatians Actually Addresses What issue is Paul addressing in Galatians? Answering this question is crucial for evaluating the meaning and implications of Galatians 3. First, Galatians addresses a specific controversy—whether Gentiles must be circumcised and keep the Law of Moses. Certain teachers insisted that Gentile believers must be circumcised and keep the Mosaic Law in order to be saved and live rightly before God. And some in the church were accepting this. As Paul says to them, “Tell me, you who want to be under law . . .” (Gal. 4:21a). Paul sees this threat as a gospel issue (see Gal. 1:6–8) and lets the Galatians know that being right with God is linked with faith in Jesus, not based on the Mosaic Law: nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus (Gal. 2:16a)Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, “The righteous man shall live by faith” (Gal. 3:11).Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor (Gal. 3:24–25). Second, Galatians 3 emphasizes the inclusion of Gentiles as God’s people through faith, as emphasized in the Abrahamic Covenant: The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “All the nations will be blessed in you” (Gal. 3:8).in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith (Gal. 3:14). Paul wrote Galatians to defend the gospel from the Judaizer error that Gentiles must be circumcised and keep the Law of Moses to be right with God. He insists that salvation for Gentiles—and for all people—comes through faith in Jesus alone. The Galatians must align themselves with the faith associated with the Abrahamic Covenant rather than the works of the Mosaic Covenant. Significantly, Galatians does not address Israel’s historical place in God’s purposes. Paul explains that in Romans 9–11. So Paul’s concern in Galatians is not Israel’s role but how Gentiles become related to Abraham. The salvation of Gentiles in Jesus represents an expansion of who can become related to Abraham. But Gentile inclusion does not mean the exclusion of Israel from God’s purposes. Paul's purpose involves addition, not subtraction. Galatians 3 and the Promises to Abraham The themes Paul emphasizes in Galatians 3 are found in Genesis and do not introduce a change in the Bible’s storyline. They are exactly what the first book of the Bible anticipated concerning the promises God made to Abraham. God pledged to form from Abraham a great nation—the nation later known as Israel (Gen. 12:2). Yet the promise also pointed beyond Israel. Abraham would become the father of many nations, and the blessing promised to him would extend to all the families of the earth (Gen. 12:3; 17:5). Paul even says that Scripture “preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham” when it declared, “All the nations will be blessed in you” (Gal. 3:8). Genesis further indicates that this worldwide blessing would come through Abraham’s “seed” (Gen. 22:18). While “seed” often functions collectively, the wording of Genesis 22:17–18 allows for special focus on a particular descendant from this collective seed through whom the nations would be blessed. The ESV reflects this possibility with the singular “his,” as it says, “your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.” Thus, from Abraham and his descendants will come a particular seed who will play a central role in bringing blessing to the nations. This helps explain why later biblical revelation can view Abraham’s seed both as a corporate line and as an ultimate representative descendant. In this way, the Abrahamic promise already contains a messianic trajectory. This becomes significant in Galatians 3:16, where Paul identifies the ultimate Abrahamic seed as Christ. As Paul writes, “Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, ‘And to seeds,’ as referring to many, but rather to one, ‘And to your seed,’ that is, Christ.” Many interpreters understand Paul to be drawing from Genesis 22:18 in this statement. Paul is not claiming that Abraham’s collective physical descendants never mattered or no longer matter. Rather, he shows that the promised blessing to the nations ultimately comes through Jesus, the representative descendant through whom Abrahamic blessings come to the Gentiles. Highlighting this particular seed in Galatians 3:16 does not exclude Abraham’s physical line of descendants (i.e., Israel). Instead, it explains how the promised blessing reaches the nations. As the following shows: Abraham → Israel → Messiah (Jesus) → Blessing to the Nations Thus the themes Paul highlights in Galatians—Gentile inclusion, blessing for the nations, and the central role of a particular seed—are firmly rooted in the Abrahamic promises of Genesis. Paul relies on these quite literally. Galatians 3 does not introduce a new story or revise the one that began there. Instead, it shows how the promises made to Abraham reach their intended fulfilment in Jesus. Harmonizing Galatians 3 and Romans 11 Galatians 3 emphasizes that being in Abraham’s family belongs to those who express faith. Yet Romans 11 speaks of Israel as still being God’s people and loved by Him. How do these two passages harmonize? In Romans 11 Paul directly addresses Israel’s status in God’s purposes both now and in the future. He confronts the question raised by Israel’s widespread rejection of Jesus: “God has not rejected His people, has He?” (Rom. 11:1a). His answer is emphatic: “May it never be! . . . God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew” (Rom. 11:1b–2a). Significantly, Israel—even in unbelief—is still called “His people.” Paul therefore rejects the idea that God has abandoned Israel. He further explains that Israel remains loved by God because of His prior choice and the patriarchal promises, even when Israel currently stands in opposition to the gospel: “From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God’s choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers” (Rom. 11:28). Even though Israel currently is opposed to the gospel, the nation is still "beloved" by God and His "choice" of them remains. Paul then adds, “the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable” (Rom. 11:29). By “gifts,” Paul likely refers to the covenant privileges God granted to Israel, including the promises and covenants he listed earlier in Romans 9:4. And by “calling,” he refers to God’s sovereign choice of Israel as a people for His purposes. These statements are significant because Paul is speaking of corporate Israel in its present unrepentant condition. Despite their current opposition to the gospel, Israel remains beloved because of the patriarchs, and the divine calling given to them has not been withdrawn. Israel's status as God's people has implications for the present and the future. Paul explains that Israel’s transgression in the present has brought riches to the Gentiles (Rom. 11:12). Gentile salvation, in turn, is meant to provoke Israel to jealousy and ultimately lead to Israel’s restoration. Paul also anticipates a future “fullness” and “acceptance” for Israel that will bring even greater blessings to the world (11:12, 15). This change of fortune involves a decisive turning point. Romans 11:26 declares that “all Israel will be saved.” At that time the nation will move from unbelief to faith, and Israel’s identity as God’s people will finally be joined with the kind of faith Abraham himself displayed. In that future turning to Christ, the national calling of Israel and the faith principle emphasized in Galatians 3 will come together. So how can Paul say in Galatians 3 that relationship to Abraham comes through faith, yet in Romans 11 still speak of unbelieving Israel as God’s people? The answer is that the two chapters address different issues that harmonize perfectly. Galatians 3 explains how Gentiles become related to Abraham in a redemptive sense. He explains how a person receives salvation—through faith in Christ. Those who believe are counted as Abraham’s seed and heirs according to promise. In this way believers from many nations become Abraham’s spiritual offspring. Romans 11, on the other hand, explains how Israel still fulfils its unique historical role as a nation in relation to God's purposes for blessing the nations. This national choice and purpose are not contingent on the salvation of every Israelite who has ever lived or the faithfulness of every generation in Israel's history. Thus Galatians 3 explains how individuals become Abraham’s spiritual descendants through faith, while Romans 11 explains how Israel still fits within God’s unfolding historical purposes, including the present and the future. One passage focuses on experiencing salvation, the other on God’s covenantal plan in history. When read together, they show that Gentile inclusion through faith does not cancel God’s ongoing purposes for Israel. Conclusion Two truths must be embraced together. Israel as a nation still has a place in God’s historical purposes for the world, yet participation in the blessings of the Abrahamic Covenant comes only through faith. Romans 11 emphasizes the first truth, while Galatians 3 focuses on the second. Thus, a positive statement of Gentile inclusion into Abraham's family in Galatians 3 cannot rightly be taken to mean the removal of Israel's God-given historical role as a nation. Any interpretation of Galatians 3 that disconnects national Israel from Abraham and the Abrahamic Covenant must account for Romans 11 where the connection remains firm. So we return to the argument often drawn from Galatians 3: Premise 1: Only those who have faith in Christ are the true seed of Abraham. Premise 2: Israel as a nation does not believe in Christ. Conclusion: Therefore, national Israel is no longer the true seed of Abraham or the people of God and has no ongoing role in God’s plan. This reasoning wrongly moves from soteriological premises to a national conclusion. In Galatians Paul explains how Gentiles become related to Abraham through faith. He does not address—much less remove—Israel’s historic role in God’s purposes. It also erroneously turns Paul’s positive statement about Gentile inclusion into an exclusion of national Israel. When Galatians 3 is read alongside Romans 9–11, we see that Gentiles become Abraham’s heirs through faith in the Messiah, fulfilling the promise of Genesis 22:18 that the nations would be blessed through Him. Yet Israel remains a people loved by God because of the patriarchal promises and is destined for future salvation and restoration (Rom. 11:26–29). Thus the inclusion of the Gentiles does not erase Israel’s role in God’s plan. Instead, it advances the very promise God made from the beginning—that through Abraham’s seed the nations would be blessed.

1 Corinthians 14:34-35 Amplified Bible The women should be silent in the churches, for they are not authorized to speak, but are to take a subordinate place, as the Law says. If there is anything they want to learn [that is, if they have questions about anything being said or taught], they are to ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to talk in church. This is such a hot potato in the church world, plagued by extremes from both sides. As he deals with the issue of order, Paul next says something in the above Scripture that needs clarification: This is a passage that has been misused, and it is widely misunderstood. It’s important to understand that among the Greeks, women were discouraged from speaking in public generally anyway. That was the Greek culture of the time. More importantly, first-century women were generally uneducated and illiterate. The word λαλέω - laleō - is used 244 times in the New Testament for “to speak.” It has nothing to do with public speaking or with teaching or prophesying. It appears that the Corinthian women were causing disruption by their constant talking. Remember, Paul is addressing the problem of disorder in the Corinthian church. In the first century, women generally sat on one side and men sat on the other, and women would have had to shout across the room to talk to their husbands. Paul says that if they had questions, they needed to ask their husbands at home rather than interrupting in the congregation. If you’ve ever been to Israel and watch a Jewish family talking, they sound like they’re arguing. It’s said that if you have two Jews in a room, you have three opinions. I’m kidding, but there was a reality of disorder in the Corinthian church. The Bible is clear that women will be filled with the Spirit of God to prophesy and to do the work of the ministry. Paul assumes that women will prophesy. Joel 2:28 mentions both men and women as recipients of God’s outpouring in the last days. Priscilla, the wife of Aquila, was a teacher and fellow worker with Paul. She and her husband had a church in their house, and both Priscilla and Aquila worked together to bring Apollos up to speed on doctrinal issues. She must have been a great asset to the apostles and highly respected because she is mentioned first along with her husband. We find in Acts 21:9 that Philip the evangelist had four virgin daughters who prophesied. Considering the young age at which women were married in those times, this meant that these were not adult women prophesying, but young teen or even pre-teen girls. In Philippians 4:2-3, Paul urges the church to help Euodia and Syntyche, his fellow laborers in the Gospel. Women clearly had value in the work of building and edifying the Church. In Romans 16, Paul mentions a variety of different women workers for Christ. In the first verse he says, “I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea.” In verse 7, Paul mentions Junias as his fellow prisoner and apostle. Hers is a clearly female name, and she is the only female apostle named in the New Testament. In verse12, he sends greetings to Tryphena and Tryphosa, women who work for Christ. Paul is not suggesting that women have no place for teaching or prophesying or helping in the church. In Corinth, he is dealing with obnoxious women who cause interruption and confusion. He reminds his readers that the Law says women should be subject to their husbands – ever since God told Eve that her husband would rule over her in Genesis 3:16. However, this should never be used to cloud the role of women in the ministry. When it is, it’s a tragedy. Where would the mission fields be without women? Most would be non-existent. What would the Church be without the ministry of women since the very beginning? Don’t forget, it was Mary Magdalene who first learned the Lord had risen in John 20 and went to tell the disciples in John. She was the very first person to spread the news that Jesus had risen from the dead. Sisters in Christ Romans 16:1-2 As adopted sons & daughters of God the Father, all Christians become brothers & sisters in Christ. The frequency with which Apostle Paul uses the words "brethren, brother & sister" indicates the normalcy of the practice (Rom 16;14, 1 Cor 7:15 & 99 uses of the words "brethren" in Paul's epistles). It is certainly fitting that Paul calls Phoebe "our sister". She is only one of many faithful women of influence recorded recorded in the Scripture, in biography, and in the history of the early church. An influential group of women were followers of Jesus: Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna, & others (Luke 8:2-3). They used their resources to support Him & His ministry, women intuitively responded to His teachings & then sympathized with Him in His darkest hours. Women were last to leave the cross, the first at the Tomb on Christ's resurrection day, & the first to proclaim the glorious news of His victory over the grave. Lydia was Paul's first recorded convert in Philippi, & she opened her home to Paul & his companions (Acts 16:11-15). Not only that, her home became a base of operations for Paul in Philippi. Another example of a faithful women is Dorcas (Acts 9:36). The church owes more than it realizes to the prayers, loyalty & gifts of its female members. Conclusion: My personal view as a pastor, based on the revelation & knowledge of the Scriptures I have till so far, I find it grievous when Christians take a very hard, judgemental & dogmatic stand on women in ministry. Women can operate in pastoral roles, exercise ministry gifts be on church boards, but with only one exception: it is however not Scriptural for a women married or single to be a lead-pastor or elder, but I do know of certain circumstances like war or other extreme circumstances women sometimes have to step in. At the same time (even though they were not church leaders) where would the world be without mighty women of God like Amy Carmicle or Corrie ten Boom & many others like them? Last but not least my wife is the best prayer partner, support, adviser, encourager & relieving me of many tasks including prayer ministry & ministering to women specifically. I wouldn't be where I am today in ministry without her

The above title is in relation to the recent first anniversary of the barbaric, murderous, depraved actions of the Islamic terror group Hamas toward the nation of Israel and the Jewish people on October 7, 2023. No amount of obfuscation, misdirection, political double-speak, or demonic moralizing can excuse what took place on that day. This is not how civilized people conduct their affairs. Sometimes war is inevitable, but in those instances, there is a formal declaration after efforts have been made to avoid it. Americans especially should be sensitive to this after December 7, 1941, and September 11, 2001. Yet, without warning, Iran’s terrorist proxy Hamas, in a well-planned surprise attack, murdered, raped, and assaulted civilians, taking captive hundreds of innocent people. This was not a declaration of war; this was a declaration that when uncivilized people are propagandized long enough, they become the willing tools of demonic barbarian slaughter. There was great celebration throughout the Shia Muslim world at the devastation rendered to what Shia Muslims refer to as the “little Satan,” Israel. The atrocity inflicted upon the Jewish people on October 7, 2023, was seen by a jubilant Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah, and Houthi Shia Muslims as a blessing from “Allah” and surely a sign of his granting a forthcoming victory over all Jews. At long last, “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” was within grasp. No one knows, except the ayatollah’s themselves, what the desired outcome of their barbaric invasion was. One thing is for certain: neither Iran nor any of its aforementioned proxies understood that pushing Israel to the degree that they did would result in an all-out war. We can be certain about this because, for all of their bluster and saber-rattling, Iran has been exposed as a “paper tiger” with neither the means nor the will to enter into a direct military conflict with Israel. Along the way, the “elephant in the room” conversations are now taking place. Terrorist sympathizers are being exposed at the highest levels of government in the US, UK, France, and elsewhere. Their repeated calls for restraint on Israel’s part and a continual call upon Israel to accept a cease-fire exposes them as cowards in the least and radical Islamist mouthpieces that are not worthy of office. This kind of behaviour and moral blindness by elected representatives is not a mere disagreement over policy. Their support of Iran terrorism through Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis, and every other group around the world shows a fundamental lack of understanding about what makes us all human beings. There is no scenario where rape as part of an ideology, murdering babies, infants, and toddlers in their cribs, defenceless old men and women in the streets, and taking captive hundreds of people and subjecting them to the worse imaginable treatment for over a year is acceptable. And yet, that is the argument being advanced by Islamists and their sympathizers. International organizations have attempted to stop Israel’s response through lawfare (The International Criminal Court of Justice comes to mind), or through the United Nations. Why would any nation ever support the United Nations after it has been proven that the United Nations Palestinian Refugee Agency (UNRWA) was riddled with Islamic terrorists who participated in the October 7 massacre? The latest blindness and abject lunacy come from the Nobel Peace Prize Forum which declared their complete moral bankruptcy just days ago by nominating for their highest honour the same terrorist UNRWA mentioned above, the International Criminal Court of Justice mentioned above, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who has been so openly biased against Israel that Israel’s Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, recently banned him from entering Israel. It was Guterres who demonstrated his own inability to comprehend basic morality by declaring soon after October 7, 2023, that the Hamas barbarity “did not happen in a vacuum.” What Iran does not understand is that they rolled the dice on October 7, 2023, thereby casting the die for what will soon come upon them. They cannot walk back what has already been set in motion. In their obsession to destroy Israel, the ayatollahs started the process of their own demise. My prayer is that Israel will not hesitate to strike Iran. Israel must cut off the head of the snake. What governments in the US, UK, and France did not count on was the support for Israel’s right to exist and defend itself among their citizenries. These kinds of conversations are out in the open now. The elephant has run out of the room. There is no returning to business as usual, regardless of the number of high-ranking government officials beholden to the filthy Islamic lucre given to them. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has recently taken to citing verses from the Tanakh. I remind him and all born again believers in Christ and supporters of Israel, that Psalm 21:8-11 foretells the fate of all the enemies of God and His chosen people: “Your hand will find all Your enemies; Your right hand will find those who hate You. You shall make them as a fiery oven in the time of Your anger; The Lord shall swallow them up in His wrath, And the fire shall devour them. Their offspring You shall destroy from the earth, And their descendants from among the sons of men. For they intended evil against You; They devised a plot which they are not able to perform.” Indeed, the Islamists will not succeed. Glory to God for His unwavering faithfulness toward all believers in Christ Jesus and to His people Israel, whose own redemption draws nigh. I have just seen the unedited footage of the October 7th attacks. Please read: What I saw was young men chopping off heads, shooting everything in sight, slaughtering little crying kids calling for their mummy, throwing grenades inside houses and cars and shelters, maiming bodies, playing with them, setting humans on fire, looking like it's the happiest day of their life. They call their relatives to celebrate how many they have killed. The parents back in Gaza are thrilled. They cheer and ask for more. "Bring back some heads for the people to play with" - asks a commander. The savages wilfully oblige, using flick knives to remove the skulls from slaughtered bodies like butchers carving up a carcass. "Bring some home for the people so we can crucify them in the square" the Hamas leaders order. The mangled, blood soaked bodies of hostages were paraded through the streets. The Gazan crowds cheered and filmed, celebrating or coming to spit on the terrified youngsters in the back of pick ups. The young Hamas brutes with their ecstatic grins, taking selfies, shouting Allahu Akbar, looked like so many of the young men in dinghies. Trendy clothes, modern phones. Energy and conviction. The first wave of attackers on October 7th were Hamas soldiers. The second, amateur conscripts. The third, Gazan civilians delighted to join in. What even are these monsters. I am forever changed, seeing what I have seen. And it isn't fake. It's footage Hamas shot themselves. Israel must live with that right next door. I fear we now have it, in hotels and houses around the country.

When celebrity conservatives drift into conspiracy and hatred, Christians must choose truth over tribal loyalty, heed biblical warnings, and recover discernment in an age of cultish followings. The Scandal That Shattered Conservative Discernment When popular voices abandon truth for obsession and conspiracy, Christians face a sobering test of discernment, courage, and fidelity to Christ over celebrity. Let me start by saying this: Like millions of other conservatives and Christians, I once quite liked what both Candace Owens and Tucker Carlson were saying and doing. But over the past year or two, both have gone off the deep end, big time – not least of which, their virulent and irrational Jew-hatred. So now I can no longer support them. Instead, all we can do is pray for them. I hope they come back to their senses and leave off their psychotic hatred and lying. Here, I will mostly focus on Candace, who may be the worst of the pair. It is impossible to keep up with all the bizarre, unhinged and demented claims that she is making of late. It seems every day, a new zinger is unleashed by her. And regrettably, her hordes of undiscerning fans lap it all up. Worse yet, that includes so many Christians who appear to have abandoned discernment and simply imbibe whatever she happens to say. We now almost need book-length assessments just to cover all the baseless, completely false claims she makes. One of the most recent – and one just as nuts as the others – is the claim that Calvary Chapel has actually been just a CIA plot! I kid you not. See a calm, gracious pastoral response dismantling this conspiracy here: Candace Owens and Charlie and Erika Kirk It has gotten so bad – especially with all the horrific and despicable things Candace has said about Charlie and Erika Kirk, and about Turning Point USA – that Erika finally came out and told her haters and conspiracy theorists in a quite firm manner to just stop. See her impassioned plea here. The line between reality and satire is now impossible to draw when it comes to this purveyor of lies, outlandish theories, and just plain absurd claims. I recently posted the following online, and one person actually asked if it was real – that tells you how far down the rabbit hole Candace is going (for the sake of clarity, this list is deliberate satire — yet tellingly plausible to some): And today’s latest Candace claims: The apostle Paul was a lesbian. Trump is a Jewish secret agent Jesus once worked for the CIA. Taylor Swift is really Obama in drag. Oprah is actually a Martian Bing Crosby was a Satanist. Charlie Kirk is a reincarnation of Attila the Hun. The earth is just 5 years old. The moon is made of Swiss cheese and French onion dip. America’s founding was a Communist plot. The Bible was written by intelligent gerbils. All churches (except mine) are covers for Mossad. I am your long-awaited Messiah. You will live to be 200 if you send me money – now. And all her brainless groupies say: ‘Yes Queen Candace, keep speaking truth and keep asking questions! We love, worship and adore you! You are so brave, so wise, and so perfect!’ Indeed, let’s just cut to the quick: Candace killed Charlie Kirk so she could marry Erika and take over TPUSA. If you believe any of the other nonsense she espouses, you might as well believe this. Sadly, Candace is now serving deception rather than truth. Thankfully, Frank Turek is one of many who have openly spoken out against the many things Owens has been saying. The only thing worse than cult leader Candace is the legion of her dedicated and deluded cult followers – including all the ‘Christians’ and ‘conservatives’ who cannot get enough of her and her unhinged bilge. This brings us to the deeper issue beneath the outrage: Scripture has long warned us about precisely this pattern. Biblical Warnings Against Deception Scripture does speak to all this. When you read the Pastoral Epistles especially, you see certain passages jumping out at you, especially in light of these recent events. This pair (who more or less claim to somehow be Christians) has stirred up more hatred, division and confusion in the Body of Christ and in the conservative movement than anyone else I know of. The original biblical writers like Paul may not have had Candace and Tucker in mind when they wrote these things, but they certainly seem to apply. Consider just five relevant passages – and there would be many more that could be mentioned. Here is one: When folks like Candace and Tucker and their legions of committed devotees keep saying, “We are just asking questions”, you can only shake your head and say, “Yeah, right”. I am reminded of 2 Timothy 3:7: “Always learning and listening to anybody who will teach them, but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” Paul’s warning is not about curiosity, but about a posture that resists truth while pretending humility. And given all the disunity, division and turmoil this pair is causing, the many other warnings Paul gives about these things must be taken seriously as well. Here are four more such passages: “Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels… God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil…” ~ 2 Timothy 2:23-26“For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching… and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.” ~ 2 Timothy 4:3-4“As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia… certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion… without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.” ~ 1 Timothy 1:3-7“But avoid foolish controversies… As for a person who stirs up division… have nothing more to do with him…” ~ Titus 3:9-11 Each of these passages highlights the same pattern: arrogance masquerading as insight, and division justified as courage. Bear in mind that the key signs of a cult are deception, lies, and divisiveness. An arrogant and narcissistic leader who must always be seen as being right is another hallmark of a cult. The shocking thing is how many people who claim to be Christians seem to belong to the biggest cult in America right now – the Candace and Tucker cults. I pray that they repent, get saved, and have a thorough spiritual transformation. And to be honest, those believers who are their dedicated devotees and zealous groupies also need to repent. They bring shame and scandal on the name of Christ and the cause of the kingdom. Instead of supporting these cult figures and their delusional claims, they should be rebuking their nonsense and praying that they return to reason – and return to Christ. What Tucker Carlson's EMBRACE Of Neo-Nazi Nick Fuentes Means For Israel & America: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bk-nRoqcGBw "Exposed! Tucker Associate Dinesh D’Souza Reveals The REAL Reason He Hates Israel!": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57jQiiXr_zo "Tucker Carlson Turns to the DARK SIDE & the Nick Fuentes Problem | Jonathan Cahn Prophetic": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dheN4FdDXA The Truth About the Jews & Tucker Carlson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bq2TLFyNAF8 When Tucker Carlson aired the episode “Here’s What It’s Really Like to Live as a Christian in the Holy Land” (Carlson, 2025), the optics were powerful. His guest, Mother Agapia Stephanopoulos, appeared cloaked in her black Orthodox veil, her very presence suggesting sanctity and authenticity. That she was also the sister of George Stephanopoulos, the long-time ABC political commentator, made the segment doubly compelling. The holy habit fused with the famous surname, preparing audiences to assume her words carried both religious authority and cultural weight. On the surface, she seemed to offer unfiltered truth about Christian suffering in the land of Christ’s birth. Yet behind these optics was an old distortion. Arab-world Christians have long learned to survive under Islam by deflecting blame from Muslim rulers and shifting it onto Jews, and Carlson’s stage gave this “dhimmi distortion” global reach. The Habit as Symbol, Not Substance In the Western imagination, the nun’s habit has long symbolized purity, moral authority, and spiritual integrity. Carlson framed Mother Agapia not as a political actor but as a “holy witness,” inviting viewers to hear her words with reverence rather than suspicion. This is what Barthes (1972) identified as a “mythological sign”—a symbol that communicates meaning before arguments are tested. Her veil thus became a credibility costume, giving her testimony the appearance of sacred authority. Yet symbols cannot substitute for substance, and the habit in this case became a shield for distortion. By cloaking political propaganda in religious garb, the broadcast invited audiences to confuse sanctity with truth. When distortion hides behind a veil, it desecrates the very sanctity it seeks to project. Bethlehem vs. Israel: Two Divergent Realities Mother Agapia emphasized that Christians are leaving Bethlehem because of Israel’s occupation. While the demographic collapse is undeniable, the cause she cited is misleading. In 1947, Christians comprised around 80% of Bethlehem’s population; today, they represent less than 15% (Middle East Forum, 2024). The decline stems from harassment by Islamist groups, discriminatory property laws, and economic pressures that favour Muslim families (Dalrymple, 2015). In striking contrast, the Christian population inside Israel has steadily grown since 1948. Christians in Israel enjoy legal protections, worship freely, and play prominent roles in politics, medicine, and education (Central Bureau of Statistics, 2023). Where Israel governs, Christians thrive; where Islamists dominate, Christians decline. By inverting this reality, Mother Agapia transformed a demographic tragedy into a political distortion. The Dhimmi Reflex and Historical Continuity This distortion is not a simple error but part of a long-standing survival reflex rooted in the system of dhimma. Under Islamic rule, Christians were tolerated but subordinated, and criticizing Muslims was dangerous. By contrast, scapegoating Jews was relatively safe, creating a predictable pattern in public rhetoric (Lewis, 1984). During the rise of Arab nationalism, Arab Christian leaders followed this reflex by loudly denouncing Zionism. At the 1948–49 World Council of Churches assemblies, they condemned Israel while remaining silent about Arab regimes that restricted Christian freedoms. In later decades, clerics such as Mitri Raheb and Elias Chacour gained global recognition by framing Israel as the source of Palestinian suffering while rarely confronting Islamist hostility (Raheb, 2014; Chacour, 2001). Mother Agapia’s narrative follows this same lineage, showing continuity with a reflex that prioritizes communal survival over prophetic truth. A Record of Exaggeration and Media Exploitation Mother Agapia’s credibility is further undermined by her record of exaggeration. During the 2002 Bethlehem siege, she alleged that Israeli soldiers desecrated churches and killed infants, claims that circulated widely but were later discredited (Israel365 News, 2025). Despite this record, Carlson presented her as a trustworthy witness, as if her religious title absolved her of scrutiny. The exchange illustrates the West’s appetite for “holy witnesses” who sanctify political narratives. On the left, clerics like Raheb are platformed to support anti-Israel activism. On the right, Carlson uses figures like Mother Agapia not to defend Palestinian Christians but to critique evangelicals who support Israel. In both cases, the habit becomes a theatrical prop, and the price is truth. The Tragedy of False Witness The deeper issue here is not political but theological. Scripture warns, “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour” (Exodus 20:16, English Standard Version [ESV], 2016). The prophets denounced leaders who proclaimed peace where there was none and shepherds who misled the flock (Jeremiah 23; Ezekiel 13, ESV, 2016). Jesus Himself tied truth to freedom when He declared, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32, ESV, 2016). When a nun scapegoats Israel while ignoring Islamist persecution, she participates in the same pattern of deception condemned throughout Scripture. Her testimony misleads Western audiences while reinforcing the silence that keeps Arab Christians vulnerable. In the short term, such silence may preserve survival; in the long term, it ensures decline. Conclusion: A False Prophet in a Habit Mother Agapia Stephanopoulos’s appearance on Tucker Carlson’s show was praised as bold truth-telling, but it was in fact another chapter in the dhimmi distortion. Her famous last name gave her visibility, her habit gave her credibility, and Carlson’s platform gave her amplification. Yet none of these trappings could sanctify distortion. She is not the fearless prophet she seemed to be, but a false witness in a habit—an emblem of how survival can masquerade as prophecy. The Church must learn from this spectacle. Discernment requires Christians to look past appearances and test all witness against the truth of Scripture. Where distortion is given the stage, believers are called to speak truth, even when it offends. To do otherwise is to trade the liberating freedom of the gospel for the false security of propaganda. Tucker Carlson's claims about Christians in Israel refuted Tucker Carlson’s claims about Christians in Israel are not just wrong—they invert reality. Israel is the only nation in the Middle East where Christians are growing, worship freely, and enjoy full civil rights. Meanwhile, Christian communities collapse under Hamas and struggle under the Palestinian Authority. Facts matter. Truth matters. And the truth is clear: Christians thrive in Israel, not in the territories Carlson defends. https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1333167052182860&set=pcb.1333167112182854 I noticed something in this viral Tucker Carlson video that made one of the little sirens in my head go off. I understand a lot of Christians listen to him... so this is a gentle "watch out" warning https://www.facebook.com/reel/3821600674637897

Are you also fed up with the antisemitism, changing of history, the bias, the lies & twisting of facts. Sadly even those who call themselves Christians fall for this & for the so-called "Jewish Conspiracy" to take over the world. https://www.facebook.com/reel/803811659152890 The fact is that "Palestine" never at any time owned the land of Israel 1) Before the modern state of Israel there was the British Mandate: Not a Palestinian State! 2) Before that the Ottoman Empire: Not a Palestinian State! 3) Before that the Islamic Mamluk Sultanate of Egypt: Not a Palestinian State! 4) before that Ayyubid Dynasty, which Godfrey of Bouillon conquered in 1099 AD: Not a Palestinian State! 5) Before that the Christian Kingdom of Jerusalem: Not a Palestinian State! 6) Before that the Fatimid Caliphate: Not a Palestinian State! 7) Before that the Byzantine Empire: Not a Palestinian State! 8) Before that the Roman Empire: Not a Palestinian State! 9) Before that the Hasmonean Dynasty: Not a Palestinian State! 10) Before that the Seleucid Empire: Not a Palestinian State! 11) Before that the Empire of Alexander the Great the 3d of Macedonia; Not a Palestinian State! 12) Before that the Persian Empire: Not a Palestinian State! 13) Before that the Babylonian Empire: Not a Palestinian State! 14) Before that the Kingdom of Judah: Not a Palestinian State! 15) Before that the Kingdoms of Judah & Israel: Not a Palestinian State! 16) Before that the Kingdom of Israel: Not a Palestinian State! 17) Before that a Theocracy of the 12 Tribes of Israel: Not a Palestinian State! 18) Before that there were Canaanite City States: Not a Palestinian State! Please also listen to this from Ben Shapiro “I Can’t Stay SILENT about this any longer…” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Akfv1IEJl28 Syrian activist Rawan Osman at the UN — "I testify before God: Israel is not the problem!" In just 90 seconds, she called out Qatar, Iran, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria for funding terror and hypocrisy. BRUTAL truth! https://www.facebook.com/reel/703227689055836

First I want to address 5 reasons why: They don’t understand prophecy They fear offending members of the church They sense it will scare people They fear people will stop giving They fear looking like fringe groups who take things to an extreme Fear stands out as the key motive behind the silence. Pastors also say they do not understand prophecy, but do they take the time to learn or turn to those who do understand it? Someone might ask: “Why does that matter? Does it really make a difference if preachers keep quiet on future things as long as they proclaim the Gospel with biblical clarity?” It not only matters a great deal, but it’s also dangerous to ignore a topic that the Bible emphasizes over and over again. The neglect of biblical prophecy in the pulpit results in: 1. Believers Relying Upon Social Media And The Internet For End Times Theology When pastors remain silent on biblical prophecy, believers look for information on biblical prophecy on social media and the Internet. There they find a wide array of teachings and opinions, some biblical, but most are false and misleading. Some believers possess the needed scriptural discernment to sort through the mess of various teachings. But as the lack of biblical knowledge reaches epidemic proportions among those claiming to be Christians, most churchgoers lack the necessary discernment and fall prey to the misinformation available at their fingertips. A couple questions for preachers: Do you really desire for social media and the Internet to be the primary source of information regarding prophecy for those in your church? Would it not be better for you to provide the sound biblical guidance regarding our hope that they so desperately need during these perilous times? 2. The Flourishing Of False Teaching Many pastors fear causing division in their congregation and thus remain silent on matters related to the Rapture. However, they fail to realize that it’s their refusal to preach on what the Bible says on this matter that has led to the very diversity of opinions in their churches. The potential for disunity is there even if they remain quiet. Last year, I met with a pastor who said that if he preached what I believe, half of his congregation would walk out the door. It occurred to me later that if he taught what he really believes, the other half would quickly depart. We started attending his church after seeing that it’s statement of faith said it was premillennial. The pastor, however, was most definitely not premillennial!! Pastors who ignore biblical prophecy allow false teachings to flourish or as in the case of the one I just mentioned, the church remains in the dark about he really believes. 3. Believers Looking To This Life For Their Immediate Hope Another consequence of silence in the pulpits regarding future things is that believers look for hope in things other than Jesus’ imminent appearing. A popular theology today, often referred to as “dominion theology,” teaches that the church will prevail against the evils of this word and usher in a millennial reign of its own before Jesus returns to the earth. Many Christians falsely believe the church itself is their hope for the future. Additionally, even pastors who do not adhere to “dominion theology” also make the church the object of hope for those that hear them preach. Those who allegorize the book of Revelation often, in my experience, change its message to exalt the church rather than Jesus. Still others give the impression that things will return to normal. “The world has seen difficult times at other times in history,” they say, “and the current crises are no different.” All these things point believers to this life as their hope rather than Jesus’ appearing. 4. Reduced Motivation For Godly Living The Lord intended our hope in the Rapture to be a motivation for godly living. John wrote these words in 1 John 3:2-3: 1 John‬ ‭3:2-3‬ ‭KJV‬‬ – “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” Our hope in Jesus’ imminent return has a purifying impact on our lives: *“I don’t know why more people don’t want to talk about eschatology or end-times events because Bible prophecy is not given to scare us but to prepare us.” *“And not only that, but I think it motivates us.” *“Talking about these things can be very motivating for Christians to keep us on our toes spiritually. *“Knowing Jesus could come back at any moment,” can “be a motivator to live a godly life.” Silence in the pulpits regarding our “blessed hope” leaves those in the seats assuming they have their whole lives ahead of them although Scripture tells us this may not be the case. For many, this negates the urgency to walk closely with the Lord. 5. Believers That Are Unprepared For The Dangers That Lie Ahead For This World The scarcity of preaching on biblical prophecy leaves believers unprepared and unaware of the dark and threatening storm clouds gathering on our horizon. The Bible promises that Jesus may come at any time, but we may experience tough times before that happens. The current silence in the pulpits not only shifts the hope of the saints to this life, but leaves them ill-prepared to deal with ever-present threats of nuclear war and famine. If their focus is solely on their future in this life, these things will cause anxiety. Today more than ever before, believers need the assurances of Scripture regarding their joyful and glorious future. Pastors who refuse to teach about Jesus’ imminent appearing from the pulpit deny their people critically needed assurance as the threats of war and famine increase with each passing day. 6. Believers Not Watching For The Lord’s Appearing As Jesus Instructed Us To Do Referring to His return, Jesus said this in Matthew 24:44, “Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” In the same discourse, He later said, “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour” (25:13). Jesus’ instruction led to a church that eagerly anticipated His return. In Philippians 3:20–21 Paul wrote this: Philippians‬ ‭3:20-21‬ ‭KJV‬‬ – “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.” The Greek word for “await” in verse 20 denotes to an “intense anticipation” or an “excited expectation” of a future event. In this text, Paul portrays believers as eagerly longing Jesus’ appearing with great anticipation; they expected it to happen at any moment. When we watch for Jesus’ appearing, we copy the eager expectancy of the early church to meet Jesus in the air. 7. The Convergence Of Prophetic Signs My head is spinning from all that’s happening in our world from a prophecy perspective. A few years ago, I believed that many signs of the approaching Tribulation were converging as never before, but today this reality has grown beyond what I could have imagined back then. As the shadow of the approaching Tribulation grows darker by the day, those aware of this convergence of prophetic signs recognize that Jesus’ appearing to take us home must be ever so close. The Rapture may happen soon, and I pray that it does. But if not, we will see our world rapidly deteriorate as critical food shortages develop and as the coming New World Order continues to suppress the rights of people throughout the world. Pastors, why not start preaching about biblical prophecy now rather than wait until people in your church demand that you teach on this subject, or the threatening conditions around you leave you with no choice but to talk about the details of our joyous and imminent hope? Let Jesus also be the example in what we teach and preach. He taught a great deal about His Second Coming and the signs surrounding it. We should, too. A realistic look at our world is indeed scary and grows more ominous with each passing day, but as we view current events through the lens of Scripture and what it promises us about our future, the Lord gives us strength and peace to face the joyous future that lies ahead for us.

Trump is still God's man for this time & season. Forget the way he sometimes talks, he is not your pastor or councillor. I believe he is the Cyrus of this time & the Winston Churchill combined in one person. Yes this tough business man form New York, who sometimes talks like a Construction Site Supervisor & Army Drill Sergeant is the right man for the right time. America & the World witnessed another terrifying moment as President Trump was rushed to safety after a shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. But as Christians, our first response should not be panic, hatred, or political rage. It should be prayer. Pray for President Trump and his family. Pray for the officer reportedly struck while protecting others. Pray for every leader in harm’s way. And pray for our nation, because violence is not the fruit of righteousness. The Bible says, “Blessed are the peacemakers.” This is not a moment to mock, celebrate, or divide deeper. This is a moment to remember that life is fragile, evil is real, and God’s mercy is the only reason any of us see another day. No matter where you stand politically, an attack on life should bring every believer to their knees. Tonight, we pray for protection. We pray for peace. We pray for repentance. And we pray that God turns fear into revival.

Trump’s critics keep mistaking provocation for prophecy. But the man himself has never claimed to be anything more than a sinner trying — and failing — to get into heaven. When will the progressive left learn that Donald Trump is not the Messiah… he’s just a very naughty boy. It should be obvious to anyone who has listened to the US President for more than 60 seconds — admittedly a test of endurance — that for all his bluster, he claims only to be a deeply flawed individual. Not the Messiah — Just Ask Him The US President told Fox and Friends last year that he was … “[trying] to get to heaven if possible,” but added that he was “not doing well” and was “at the bottom of the totem pole”. Doesn’t sound like a Messiah complex to me. Far from it. Back in 2021, Trump told the congregation at First Baptist Church in Dallas: “Our country needs a savior right now. And our country has a savior. And it’s not me. It’s somebody much higher up than me. Much higher.” There’s plenty more, but you get the drift. Trump is not short of confidence, but he has never pretended divinity. Not even close. In August last year, he told journalists that he hoped, maybe, ending wars around the world might help him to sneak into heaven. Parsing Memes Like Encyclicals With all that background, I was pretty surprised when otherwise intelligent people interpreted Trump’s ‘Jesus’ meme as a boast that He was equivalent to our Lord and Saviour. This is the man whose rhetorical style falls somewhere between stand-up comedy and a bar fight. And now we’re parsing his memes as if they were encyclicals. If he was depicting himself as Jesus, it was clearly a joke. Trump is actually quite well known for his jokes. Isn’t that one of the Left’s major problems with Trump? That he is baboonish and inappropriate? But it seemed pretty obvious he was depicting himself as the Pope, not Jesus. Trump v the Pope The meme came right after a very public spat with the Pope, who had criticised Trump’s war with Iran. The Pope had claimed that war is never right, which would certainly have been news to Moses, and Gideon, and Samson, and Deborah, and David. The Pope also claimed that God will never bless those who pick up the sword, which would certainly have been news to the Apostle Paul, who wrote that God gives governments the sword so that they can deal with injustice and evil. Trump shot back that the Pope should stay out of politics. And besides, Trump was doing a better job at fixing the world than the know-nothing Pope. https://www.harvestministriesnz.com/post/are-trump-israel-unwittingly-fulfilling-prophecy https://www.harvestministriesnz.com/post/trump-iran-damascus-and-isaiah-17 https://www.harvestministriesnz.com/post/this-is-deeper-than-politics-culture-or-demographics

Who are we? You might have noticed that there are no pictures of pastors & leadership & pictures of "entertainment" & activities etc. on our Website. This is for the following reasons: 1) Our website & messages on YouTube are very clear in what we believe & stand for & this should be the only reason besides the Lord leading you to Harvest why you want to come. 2) It is my view (the Lord convicted me about this a while ago) that it is irrelevant how the pastors & leadership look like. 1 Samuel 16:7b: The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 3) We are here only to glorify Jesus & not ourselves, a pastor is a servant & the church is the "vehicle" in the kingdom. They should always point to & draw attention to the Gift Giver & not the gifts, or the building & activities themselves. 4) I know we are bucking a popular trend, but a church is not a Travel agency, Car dealership or Real Estate business (with some you wonder if it is about the house or themselves) or worse an Entertainment Centre or a show: John 3:27 "A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven"​ John 3:30 "He must increase but I must decrease" https://www.harvestministriesnz.com/post/enough-with-latte-drinking-platform-polished-celebrity-christianity https://www.youtube.com/shorts/EeOW1E77b_Y https://www.youtube.com/shorts/j_cn6E5dMQs ​​ What are we? 1) ​First of all: What are we not: We are not a denomination or part of a denomination, hence you will not find any "label" besides Christian on our media pages. As a student of history I understand how they came about & this was necessary to move away from from false doctrines & move closer towards Biblical truth. 2) But looking at it objectively through a pure Biblical lens, denominations are not Biblical & as such are not according God's perfect will. 3) We do believe though in strong ties, relationships, connections, friendships, covering & accountability within the Body of Christ. 4) But Biblically speaking there are no Pentecostal, Baptist, Evangelical, Catholic, Anglican, Presbyterian, Lutheran etc Christians, only Born again Christians who are a new creation in Christ Jesus. https://www.facebook.com/reel/1633290271148062 5) I actually developed a dislike for denominations, as they are very similar to government: everything they touch slows down, and much of it ends in control, power-play, strive, competition , bureaucracy & red tape. ​

https://www.harvestministriesnz.com/post/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-rapture Because I take the Bible literally, even when some kind of poetic language is used like symbol, or metaphor, something literal is being referenced. The Apostle Paul was chosen by God to be His Apostle with delegated authority to the Gentiles. And that, For the specific purpose of revealing the mystery of Salvation by Grace alone through faith alone as stated clearly in 1st Corinthians 15:3 and 4.. INCLUDING FOR THE FIRST TIME Gentiles into the plan of God. We see this plan unfolding very rapidly RIGHT NOW. I HAVE NEVER SEEN THE BIRTH PANGS OF MAJOR END TIME EVENTS, AS ARE COMING ON THE WORLD LIKE RIGHT NOW. ISRAEL IS AT THE CENTER JUST AS PROPHESIED, BEING PRESSURED BY THE WORLD TO COMPROMISE AND BACK DOWN. THE WORLD STAGE IS BEING SET FOR THE ANTICHRIST.. and the rapture is imminent like never before.. What is a Dispensation? The Framework of God’s Dealings with Man The Meaning of a Dispensation To understand the Scriptures as a unified revelation, one must first grasp the principle by which God has ordered His dealings with mankind throughout history. That principle is the concept of a dispensation. A dispensation is a period of time during which God administers His will toward humanity under a defined set of instructions. It is not merely a measurement of time, but a divine stewardship—a structured way in which God governs, reveals, tests, and guides His creation. This concept is not the product of theological imagination; it is rooted in the very language of Scripture. The Apostle Paul writes: “For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.” (I Corinthians 9:17) The word translated “dispensation” comes from the Greek oikonomia, meaning an administration, stewardship, or household management. It conveys the idea that God, as the sovereign Lord, distributes responsibilities and revelations in an orderly manner across different periods. Paul uses this same term repeatedly: “That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ…” (Ephesians 1:10) “If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:” (Ephesians 3:2) “I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;” (Colossians 1:25) These passages establish a foundational truth: God has not dealt with humanity in the same way at all times. Instead, He has progressively revealed His will through distinct administrations. Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth The necessity of recognizing dispensations is anchored in a command: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God… rightly dividing the word of truth.” (II Timothy 2:15) To “rightly divide” is to discern distinctions where God Himself has placed them. It is to recognize that instructions given in one period may not apply in the same way in another. Without this principle, Scripture becomes a mixture of commands, promises, and expectations that appear inconsistent. But when rightly divided, the Bible reveals a coherent and unfolding plan. Consider the contrast: • Jesus instructs His disciples: “Go not into the way of the Gentiles… but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” (Matthew 10:5–6) • Later, Paul is told: “I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.” (Acts 22:21) Without dispensational understanding, this appears contradictory. With it, the distinction becomes clear: God has shifted His administration. The Language of the Ages To rightly divide Scripture, one must understand the terminology God uses concerning time and administration. Ages (Aion) The Greek word aion refers to an age—a period of time characterized by specific conditions or purposes. Scripture speaks of: • Past ages “Which in other ages was not made known…” (Ephesians 3:5) • The present age “Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world [age].” (Galatians 1:4) • The age to come “They which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world [age]…” (Luke 20:35) • Ages to come “That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace…” (Ephesians 2:7) Thus, Scripture presents time not as a single undivided line, but as a series of divinely purposed ages. World (Kosmos, Oikoumene, Aion) The English word “world” translates several different Greek and Hebrew terms, each with distinct meanings: • Kosmos — the ordered system or arrangement (John 3:16) • Oikoumene — the inhabited earth (Luke 2:1) • Aion — an age or period of time Failure to distinguish these leads to misunderstanding. For example: “Be not conformed to this world [age]…” (Romans 12:2) This speaks not of the physical planet, but of the present moral and spiritual order. Times and Seasons Scripture also distinguishes between general time and appointed moments: • Chronos — continuous time • Kairos — a fixed or appointed season “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1) God operates according to both—broad timelines and precise moments of fulfilment. The Eternal Framework Before examining human history, we must recognize the broader framework: • The Eternal Past — before recorded time (Genesis 1:1; John 1:1) • The Eternal Future — after all redemptive history is complete (Revelation 21–22) Between these two lies the entire drama of creation, fall, redemption, and restoration. Scripture also alludes to a pre-Adamic administration involving angelic beings: “For by him were all things created… whether they be thrones, or dominions…” (Colossians 1:16) “God spared not the angels that sinned…” (II Peter 2:4) This indicates that God’s dealings extend beyond humanity alone, encompassing all free moral agents in His universe. The Dispensations of Human History Between the eternal past and eternal future, Scripture reveals a series of distinct dispensations in human history. 1. Innocence — The Garden of Eden “Of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat…” (Genesis 2:17) Man was placed in a perfect environment with one command. The test was simple—obedience. Failure came swiftly (Genesis 3), and judgment followed: expulsion from the Garden. 2. Conscience — From the Fall to the Flood Man now lived with the knowledge of good and evil. “Every imagination… was only evil continually.” (Genesis 6:5) The result was universal corruption and the judgment of the Flood (Genesis 6–8). 3. Human Government — After the Flood God instituted authority: “Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed…” (Genesis 9:6) Yet rebellion continued, culminating in Babel (Genesis 11), where God scattered humanity. 4. Promise — Abraham God called one man and made covenant promises: “In thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” (Genesis 12:3) This dispensation emphasized faith in God’s promises, yet led into bondage in Egypt. 5. Law — Moses to Christ At Sinai, God gave Israel a detailed system of law: “And God spake all these words…” (Exodus 20:1) For centuries, Israel lived under this system. Yet they failed to keep it and rejected their Messiah: “He came unto his own, and his own received him not.” (John 1:11) This rejection culminated in the crucifixion and later judgment upon Jerusalem (Luke 21:24). The Present Age and the Eternal Purpose 6. — The Dispensation of Grace Following Israel’s rejection, a profound shift occurred. In Acts 9, Saul of Tarsus was converted and commissioned: “I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.” (Acts 22:21) This marked the beginning of a new dispensation: “The dispensation of the grace of God…” (Ephesians 3:2) The message of this age is clear: “How that Christ died for our sins… was buried, and… rose again…” (I Corinthians 15:3–4) The requirement is equally clear: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved…” (Acts 16:31) Salvation is by grace alone: “For by grace are ye saved through faith… not of works…” (Ephesians 2:8–9) This dispensation forms the Body of Christ, composed of both Jew and Gentile: “For he is our peace… to make in himself of twain one new man…” (Ephesians 2:14–15) The Necessity of Testing Free Moral Agents Why does God administer history through dispensations? The answer lies in the nature of His creation. God has made beings with free will. “I have set before you life and death… therefore choose life…” (Deuteronomy 30:19) Each dispensation serves as a test—an opportunity for obedience or rebellion. Through these tests, several truths are established: • That God’s authority is just (Psalm 19:9) • That sin brings judgment (Romans 6:23) • That obedience leads to blessing (Isaiah 1:19) God’s ultimate purpose is to prepare a creation that willingly submits to Him in righteousness. Future Dispensations: The Tribulation After the present age concludes: “The Lord himself shall descend… and we… shall be caught up…” (I Thessalonians 4:16–17) God resumes His dealings with Israel, fulfilling prophecy: “He shall confirm the covenant with many for one week…” (Daniel 9:27) The Kingdom — The Millennium Christ will reign on earth: “They lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.” (Revelation 20:4) Satan will be bound: “He laid hold on the dragon… and bound him a thousand years.” (Revelation 20:2) Yet he will be released: “Satan shall be loosed… to deceive the nations…” (Revelation 20:7–8) Even in a perfect environment, mankind must choose obedience. The Eternal State Finally, all things are restored: “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth…” (Revelation 21:1) God’s purpose is fulfilled: “That God may be all in all.” (I Corinthians 15:28) The redeemed inherit all things: “Heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ…” (Romans 8:17) The Wisdom of God’s Plan God’s dispensational dealings are not arbitrary—they are necessary. They ensure: • The testing of all free moral agents • The demonstration of God’s justice and mercy • The final removal of all rebellion Scripture declares: “To the intent that now… might be known… the manifold wisdom of God.” (Ephesians 3:10) Even eternal judgment serves a purpose: “They shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.” (Isaiah 66:24) A Unified Revelation From the Garden of Eden to the New Creation, God’s plan unfolds through distinct dispensations, each revealing another facet of His character. A dispensation answers the question: What has God required of mankind at a given time? When this principle is understood, Scripture is no longer a collection of disconnected teachings, but a unified revelation moving toward a glorious conclusion. God has spoken. Man must respond. And in rightly dividing the Word of truth, we do not divide Scripture—we uncover the divine order that has been there all along.

This article below is written by Jan Markell. The reason I post this one because she expresses so well the times we are living in. Yes and even though she writes about the dire situation in Amerika, this equally applies to Australia. Lord Jesus come back! Be honest. You’re seeing things every day that you didn’t think you would see in your lifetime! It must be the last days. Up is down, and black is white. Evil is good and good is evil. But some of these items listed, I never could have imagined. Here is just my latest short list of things I didn’t think I would see: 1)  Per Tucker Carlson, I have a brain virus because I support Israel. Who could have imagined such an accusation? As a self-proclaimed Christian, Tucker surely doesn’t know the Bible, which is as pro-Israel as you can get! “He that keeps Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps.” (Psalm 121:4) Nor does he understand the word “irrevocable” (Romans 11:29), which tells us God keeps His promises (to the Jews).  2)  I never thought that I would get worn out, exhausted, and depleted from warning the clueless that time is running out. This is a new level of delusional thinking that life will only get better despite all the biblical warnings. It’s all falling apart, folks, so that last day’s issues can fall into place! Happy days are only in eternity. 3) The fact that we keep celebrating evil is mind-blowing and the essence of perilous times: Israel’s October 7 and the election of a radical—Zohran Mamdani as NY City Mayor. It’s beyond our imagination. First we cheered for Hamas and now for Mamdani. Why do we keep having sympathy for the devil? I had hoped that died with the Rolling Stones. How will Mamdani honor the 25th anniversary of 9/11 next year? Does this bother anybody else? 4)  I never thought I would see, and I can’t understand, why most churches stayed silent after October 7, but those same churches were silent after Charlie Kirk was assassinated in September of this year. What gives? Why will pulpits today not take a stand? 5)  A violent school shooting—Annunciation Catholic School—transpired last August, a few miles from where I grew up in Minneapolis. The takeaway, sadly, was that no one should exercise “thoughts and prayers.” Not that blue cities like mine don’t work and that they draw criminals like a magnet. But that prayers were a worthless waste of time. Who could have imagined such a twisted conclusion? What a sign of the times! The predicted mockery is displayed. 6)  I didn’t think I would live to see antisemitism become normalized and even celebrated post-WW2. Zohran Mamdani won his mayoral election because he hated Jews. It is the new normal. Will this drive more Jews to Israel? You can count on it. Once again, they are running for their lives because there is only one safe haven for them. That is how God designed it. 7)  I couldn’t imagine the day when hundreds of thousands of Christians would be slaughtered in parts of Africa, and I would have to hunt for details. Why does no one care that over 200,000 have been killed? Since the victims weren’t Palestinians, I guess no one cared. No Jews, no news. 8)  I still can’t believe that a new study from George Barna’s Cultural Research Center reveals that millions of Americans no longer see many behaviors once considered sinful as wrong at all. In short, the very definition of sin is being rewritten. Mankind has become its own priest, pastor, prophet, and moral authority, and all are doing what is right in their own eyes. (Judges 17:6; Deut.12:8). 9) I didn’t think I would see the fulfillment of the red-green alliance—Islam and Marxism merging in my lifetime. Forget New York, my hometown, Minneapolis, barely dodged another Islamic mayoral victory. Our “Little Mogadishu” hosts almost 100,000 Muslims here in town and elects and celebrates Ilhan Omar. Twenty-four years after 9/11, the country is saying “Allah Akbar” in too many places. How about the global shia Islamic center now open in Houston? How have we allowed this?  My friend, Phil Haney, warned us but he was mysteriously bumped off right after I met with him in 2021. Did you notice Al Qaeda made it into the White House on November 10? 10) And I never thought I would see prophecy conferences across America and the world close one-by-one. Covid did terrible damage and brought mine to an end a few years ago. But they continue to fall due to lack of interest, age of attendees, and the fact that so few comprehend the lateness of the hour so attendance has been sinking!  So, these are just ten points in my latest list of things I didn’t expect to see! But one thing never changes: the fact that Jesus is coming again and we must not be silent. Somebody’s eternity depends on it. In John 16:20-24, there was chaos, and the world rejoiced at the death of Jesus, just like the world rejoices at the evil today. Yet, there will come a time when people will rejoice because of God’s glorious promises coming to pass. The world is gloriously dark now because we are being prepared for the glorious Son of God who will bring great light.