Dear friends and readers,
The last few weeks I have published some pretty heavy duty articles, mostly because the world is speeding toward some pretty heavy duty stuff. Frankly, I'm sick of it and need a break. How about you? Tomorrow is another day so I think it high time to lighten the load.
This week I am posting some just good ole fashioned country humor and wisdom and I hope you can kick back and join me in a chuckle or two. I wish I could take credit for all of it as original think but the truth is I have gleaned it all from a combination of personal experience and other folks writings all the way back to 1955. ENJOY!
Country speak!
--------------------
If at first you don't succeed, try raising rabbits.
You don't miss the water till half the Alka Seltzer is hung in yer throat!
Grave marker in the country---"I TOLL YA I WAS SICK"!
A fella can't tell how happy he will be in twenty years until he meets his father in law.
A fancy title is about as useful as a curl in a pigs tail.
If wishes was horses some folks would need a lot of hay.
Life is like juggling a pitch fork---everyone knows when you mess up.
Whatever the illness, time and good coffee is the best cure.
A fella can kill himself with a fork and spoon.
Little pigs make big hogs!
Some fellas have more wishbone than backbone.
The only thing worse than finding a worm in yer apple is finding half a worm.
No jackass ever got ahead by kicking up his heals every night.
Don't even try to hold onto a barn cat against his will.
A clinging vine can choke a body.
Divorce chances the tire. A good marriage fixes the flat.
Some city folks think a square meal is a sandwich.
Country wisdom
----------------------
Don't look for a ship to come in if you never sent one out!
Tact is the knack of making a point without making an enemy.
Your only as good as your last time at bat.
Christians often keep convictions to themselves because they don't have enough heat in them to make a blaze.
Obstacles are those terrible things you see when you take your eyes off the goal.
If you are too busy to pray you are too busy.
In too many cases a home is a place to go until something important comes up.
A friend is someone who knows all about you and loves you anyway.
Co-operation solves many problems; A bunch of freckles would be a nice coat of paint if they could just get together.
The unpaid service you render to someone else only yields reward if you don't mention it.
Don't let yesterday use up too much of today.
Moderation in temper is good but moderation in principle ruins a man.
Not live and let live but live and help live.
Age gives one person wisdom another bad temper.
A man wrapped up in himself makes a pretty small package.
My enemies are my friends who don't yet know me.
The world needs people with more WILL power, not won't power.
A person cannot always be a hero but he can always be a man.
If absence makes the heart grow fonder there are a lot of folks who really love the church.
The church is full of willing people. Some are willing to work and the others willing to let them.
Prayer is not a last extremity but a first necessity.
It's not where you are but what you are that determines your happiness.
Fear always produces the very thing it is afraid of.
A man who leads without himself leading others is no leader at all.
Imagination was given to man to compensate him for what he is not; A sense of humor to console him for what he is.
Character is what you really are. A reputation is what others think you are.
A conversation without thought is mere gossip.
It's not the size of a dawg in a fight that counts, it's the size of the fight in the dawg.
The measure of a man is the size of the thing that gets his goat.
OFFICIAL The external nomenclature of a cow: 2 lookers, 2 hookers, 4 stander uppers, 4 hanger downers and 1 swishy ishy.
Have a great country afternoon folks
Pastor Rance.
Prophetic Sword Picture
Monday, September 25, 2017
Tuesday, September 19, 2017
God, is He warning America not to divide His land--ISRAEL?
Dear friends and readers,
Peace and grace to all of you in Jesus great Name!
Hot topics always elicit argument. This article is one of those so be warned in advance. I believe that God may possibly be warning the United States of America that it is unwise to continue pushing for a two state solution in the Middle east. At least if that means dividing up the land of Israel to do so.
When I first began to pray about this article I knew full well that it would be controversial. Literally as I was about to push the publish button, Hurricane Harvey was beginning to strike the Texas coast and as we all know by now, wrought a level of flooding and devastation that is heart rending to say the least. Thousands if not millions of people were effected in ways that may take years to recoup. Homes lost, family momento's that can never be replaced ruined beyond repair, animals suffering and dying and worst of all the cost in lost human life. This was obviously Not the time to publish an article of this type and I realized it would merely have come across as callous and uncaring. Then came hurricane Erma. It just seems to go on and on.
I do believe that the information contained here is worth consideration and so have opted to go ahead with publication after an appropriate time of grief and loss. Of course the term "appropriate" will I am sure be debated and rejected by some. You simply cannot please everyone.
On the upside of this catastrophe, was neighbor after neighbor helping each other, people and resources pouring in from all over the nation and even Israel sent teams to help. It was heart warming in that regard because we seem to be passing through yet another period (like we did back in the 60's and 70's) in which race relations have dropped to an all time low. Hatred seems to be everywhere.
Things like the despised KKK and Nazi thinking seem to be once again on the rise. Exactly opposite those groups are large assemblies of people who think they can resolve these issues through violence and seem to believe it is ok to loot and destroy in the process. But, what we saw during this horrible event were people of every race and color setting those issues aside and just helping out other human beings. Perhaps there is still hope for us after all!
As I stated this article will most certainly be controversial so hang on tight. The mere idea that God (for any reason) would warn or punish nations is something that is hotly debated even within Christianity. As always I will present some information and you decide for yourselves if there is any validity to it.
First a disclaimer: I have read and heard some far left and far right idiotic comments from mean spirited people who have intimated that this suffering was brought on by the victims themselves because they aligned themselves with certain political parties. What an insult. Need I say more? Victims are victims and require help from everyone, not ill thought condemnation.
Please know that I myself am not 100% confidante that there is a viable correlation between the actions of Governments and forthcoming Godly wrath. Also, I am not a prophet and cannot speak for God in this regard. It is very difficult to tell any innocent person, particularly a believer that God just destroyed their house or took life as an act of divine judgement. On the other hand, we cannot simply discount something that long years of evidence seems to point to certain realities. No matter how I word this article it will "tick" someone off. So please keep an open mind and examine the evidence and decide for yourselves.
There is a well know author by the name of William Koenig who wrote a somewhat controversial book in 2004 by the name of "EYE TO EYE". You may remember that the cover depicts a photo of President George Bush looking at a Star of David. This book was a raging success in some quarters and completely disregarded in others.
In the form of full disclosure, I am one who highly recommended this man's excellent work and still do. In essence what this book did was to trace very bad decisions by the first Bush administration, President Clinton and then 8 years of Bush the junior. In other words fully 20 years of consistent, extremely bad Presidential decisions regarding the United States policies regarding Israel. The setting is roughly 1991 through the books publishing date in 2004. And of course after that another President made exactly the same error for an additional 8 years for a total of 28 years. The question now is, are we about to embark as a nation on yet another 4 or 8 years of downhill slide into national oblivion through the hands of yet another President? I would like to add that including the current occupant of the White House, all 5 of the recent past Presidents have claimed to be Christians. While I certainly did not agree with many actions of each of these national leaders, I have no doubt that all of them acted in what they believed was the best interest of the United States and the American people.
What were these bad decisions? Unilaterally trying to force Israel into dividing up her God given land in the mistaken belief that trading land for peace would ever work. Mr. Koenig's book tracked several bad decisions by these administrations and coupled them with almost immediate catastrophic natural events that struck the United States, and other countries. These ranged from earth quakes, to fire, flood, hurricanes, volcanic disruption and other events that cost the country hundreds of billions of dollars and many lives.
I believed then that these terrible events may well portend divine warnings and still do. Those that rejected the findings of this great research book were mainly among those who did not think that a loving God would ever punish mankind for picking on His chosen people, the Jews or on His chosen land of Israel.
Tilt! I wonder how Nebuchadnezzar felt about that after he was forced to eat grass like a wild animal for 7 years until he recognized God's authority (Daniel chapter 4). Or how about his son King Belshazzar who blasphemed the name of God? During a large celebration ( Daniel chapter 5), the king saw with his own eyes, a human hand (only) suspended in space and watched as one of the fingers wrote on the plaster wall of his chamber. The words were "Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsen". That same evening the prophet Daniel was summoned to translate the message which read "God has numbered your kingdom and finished it. You have been weighed in the balances and found wanting; Your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and Persians". That very night Babylon fell and king Belshazzar was killed.
I can imagine that in everyone of these cases there were some very good people who also suffered because of bad decisions by their kings or national leaders. I suppose we could call that "collateral damage". That happens in every single war that has ever been fought including wars participated in by the United States. Innocent folks get hurt. Or as is fond of saying by many Christians, "bad stuff happens to good people".
Or how about King Herod the great of Israel? In Acts chapter 12:23 he failed to give praise to God and was immediately eaten from within by worms.
Or how about all of the following nations who were utterly destroyed or faded into oblivion because they picked on or attacked Israel or the Jewish people?
Ancient Egypt, Philistines, Assyrian Empire, Persian Empire, Greek Empire, Roman Empire, Byzantine Empire, The Crusaders, Spanish Empire, Nazi Germany, Ottoman Empire, Soviet Union, And a considerable down sizing of the British Empire.
Is the United States above all that? Is it too big to fail? Not if the U.S. Government insists upon pressuring Israel to give up land for peace.
Have you noticed one of the most asked questions about the end times??? WHY IS THERE NO MENTION OF THE UNITED STATES in the end times prophecies? Fair or unfair, this is an inconvenient truth. It is simply not there at least in name or apparently in importance
One does wonder, if the current occupant of the White House really has the large reported cadre of important pastors advising him, did all those people somehow miss approximately 35% of the Bible that is prophetic in nature? Or the absolute heart and mind of God toward His beloved Israel? This article is not about politics and you will never see me writing in that venue. Nor is it about Presidential personalities. What it is about is simple taking a hard look at the consequences of bad decision making regardless of which political party or President makes the call.
If you never had a copy of "EYE TO EYE", I highly recommend that you look up Mr. Koenig's web site and order one. I do not know him personally and receive nothing for making this recommendation. But, it is good information in a potentially devastating way. What I want to do today is a brief review of some very intriguing history and then you decide for yourselves.
Hurricane Harvey may have been an extremely good example. Called the worst disaster in Texas history although I am not certain that General Sam Houston and the (roughly 257) brave men who died at the Alamo would agree with that statement. But we can agree that it is the worst disaster to befall Texas in modern times. And in fact it is another in a long line of disasters that have struck the United States during a time when the countries leadership is trying to finagle peace between Israel and the so called Palestinian people at the cost of Israel giving up land to accomplish a two state solution.
It is interesting to note that the US National weather service described "HARVEY" as "unprecedented and beyond anything before experienced". Guess who was in Israel at the time putting more pressure on this ridiculous, ungodly plan for mankind to somehow bring peace to a region that has never known peace? Representatives of the Unites States Government. Clueless is the only epithet that comes to mind.
Some people, particularly some of our Rabbinic friends believe it is a forbidden thing to attribute divine motivations to natural disasters. Don't kid yourself folks. God will get the attention of Government leaders and nations who come against His beloved Israel.
On October 31st 1991 President George H.W. Bush signed the Oslo Accords that set in motion the idea of of a two state solution. The very next day a hurricane called "the perfect storm" struck the east coast, and among other things, completely destroyed President Bushes own personal house in Kennebunkport, Main. Coincidence?
Hurricane Andrew the worst natural disaster recorded until that time hit Florida one day after the infamous Madrid Conference of August 23, 1992. Those talks were moved at the last minute from Madrid to Washington D.C. Coincidence?
A category 4 hurricane "Georges" struck the United States gulf coast killing 604 people and costing the United States economy $10 billion in 1998 immediately after Secretary off State Madeline Albright announced an American brokered deal that would require Israel to give up 13% of Judea and Samaria in return for peace. A deal that utterly failed by the way. Coincidence?
One month later hurricane "Madeline" again struck the coast of Texas killing 31 people and costing $750 million. At that exact time Yasser Arafat was meeting the Israeli Prime Minister in the United States at the Wye River Plantation to discuss land for peace. Another failed attempt. Coincidence?
2005, hurricane "Katrina"ravaged the United States at the same time EXTREME pressure was placed on Israel to rip away it's own Jewish residents from their homes and farms in Gush Katif which was then handed over to Hamas in the Gaza strip. Coincidence?
Is this limited to the United States? Not even! There was a Paris France summit intended to lead to the two state solution that would force Israel to cede large portions of her land WITHIN THE BOARDERS OF TINY ISRAEL to the Palestinians. Once again this attempt failed but what did happen was that over the next 24 hours the River Seine rose 20 feet resulting in the worst flooding Paris had seen in several decades. Coincidence?
Other warning voices have been heard but have been ridiculed, shouted down and insulted for even suggesting such a thing as divine judgement. One such was former congresswoman Michelle Bachmann who warned in 2015 that "America's anti-Israel policy was bringing down the wrath of God in the form of natural disasters".
I know, I know, I can hear the skepticism now; How could I even intimate such a thing, after all the current American administration is very pro Israel. Really? Is the President right now still trying to force a peace deal? YES! Is the American Embassy moved from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem? NO! Has America officially recognized Jerusalem as the undivided eternal capital of Israel? NO! Are we still pandering to the Palestinians and sending money to Hamas? YES! Money that Hamas then denies it's own people and spends to dig more tunnels and purchase more ammunition, guns and rockets to attack Israel? Absolutely!
Perhaps I somehow missed those things?
How about a dose of reality folks. There are approximately 100 Biblical verses throughout the scriptures that foretell that all the nations of the world will eventually turn against Israel. They begin with a very stern Biblical warning; In Genesis 12:3 God is giving a promise to Abram (Abraham), NOTE: Abraham is the father of the Jewish people.
"I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse those who curse you". From there we visit Joel chapter 3 verse 2. NOTE: This is at a time when God is bringing the Jewish people back into Israel to posses their land. It is part of the "DRY BONES" prophecy (among others) of Ezekiel chapter 37.
"I (GOD) will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat;" (Kidron valley that runs exactly between the eastern wall of the Temple mount where the Golden gate is located and the Mount of Olives), "And I will enter into judgment with them there ON ACCOUNT OF MY PEOPLE , MY HERITAGE ISRAEL, whom they have scattered among the nations; THEY HAVE ALSO DIVIDED UP MY LAND"!
Did you happen to notice that God said "ALL NATIONS". He did not say Presidents, Prime Ministers and Kings. Like it or not, nations and the people in them pay a heavy price for decisions by their national leadership. Call me the original old grinch folks but ALL includes the United States. Joel 3:12 "Let the nations be awakened , and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; For I will sit to judge ALL the surrounding nations. Put in the sickle , for the harvest is ripe. Come, go down; For the wine press is full, the vats overflow---For their wickedness is great".
And dare I mention Zechariah 14:1-2 "BEHOLD, the day of the Lord is coming, and your spoil will be divided in your midst. For I will gather ALL THE NATIONS to battle against Jerusalem-----"!
Friends, no one likes to hear this stuff let alone dwell on it but for certain that time is coming quickly. I cannot explain why innocents or believers would also have to suffer through any kind of event that smacks of divine judgement. Perhaps that is why we have Romans 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose". Or perhaps that is why God gave us the promise of the Rapture of the church in 1st Thessalonians. Or the order of events of the Rapture in 2nd Thessalonians which I believe clearly indicates that the Rapture happens just before the revealing of the antichrist.
One of the great mystery's is this? On the one hand God the father chastising the nations for their stance against Israel and dividing up her land. On the other hand God the Son, Jesus Christ, helping His people who are going through devastating events.
If you are a person who cannot accept that God would punish a nation in response to it's position in regards to Israel, then nothing I can say will change your mind. On the other hand if you are a person like myself who sees some disturbing correlations between pressuring Israel to give up land for peace and some terrible natural disasters, then all I suggest is that you keep an open mind. Examine the evidence for yourself.
I make no absolute judgements regarding these things. But I am not blind either. The jury is out.
But, the fact remains that there is absolutely zero mention of the most powerful nation on earth during the end times. So, what does happen to Uncle Sam? And why? Hmmmm?
In other articles I have postulated that the reason the United States is not mentioned in end times scenarios is because it is the largest Christian nation on the planet and it may well be that it is devastated by the Rapture of the church. Only time will tell about that. But, could there also be another reason? A bankrupt United States who's national debt just hit 20 TRILLION dollars and clearly cannot afford many, many BILLIONS more for rebuilding after disasters?
Friends, according to scripture, the ONLY person that will ever be able to make a peace deal between Israel and her neighbors is the antichrist of Daniel chapter 9:27. And no, I do not believe the antichrist has been revealed at this time. For the United States, United Nations, any group of nations, president, foreign minister, prime minister or king to try and force Israel to give up land given to her by divine right is to invite disaster. Period!
Luke 21:28 "Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near".
Oh, and get that book @ Williamkoenig.com. Mr Koenig documents DOZENS UPON DOZENS of examples of horrible natural events that have immediately followed bad decisions by national leaders.
Probably all just coincidence, right? You decide for yourselves but please do so based upon evidence not feelings or emotions.
God bless,
Pastor Rance.
Peace and grace to all of you in Jesus great Name!
Hot topics always elicit argument. This article is one of those so be warned in advance. I believe that God may possibly be warning the United States of America that it is unwise to continue pushing for a two state solution in the Middle east. At least if that means dividing up the land of Israel to do so.
When I first began to pray about this article I knew full well that it would be controversial. Literally as I was about to push the publish button, Hurricane Harvey was beginning to strike the Texas coast and as we all know by now, wrought a level of flooding and devastation that is heart rending to say the least. Thousands if not millions of people were effected in ways that may take years to recoup. Homes lost, family momento's that can never be replaced ruined beyond repair, animals suffering and dying and worst of all the cost in lost human life. This was obviously Not the time to publish an article of this type and I realized it would merely have come across as callous and uncaring. Then came hurricane Erma. It just seems to go on and on.
I do believe that the information contained here is worth consideration and so have opted to go ahead with publication after an appropriate time of grief and loss. Of course the term "appropriate" will I am sure be debated and rejected by some. You simply cannot please everyone.
On the upside of this catastrophe, was neighbor after neighbor helping each other, people and resources pouring in from all over the nation and even Israel sent teams to help. It was heart warming in that regard because we seem to be passing through yet another period (like we did back in the 60's and 70's) in which race relations have dropped to an all time low. Hatred seems to be everywhere.
Things like the despised KKK and Nazi thinking seem to be once again on the rise. Exactly opposite those groups are large assemblies of people who think they can resolve these issues through violence and seem to believe it is ok to loot and destroy in the process. But, what we saw during this horrible event were people of every race and color setting those issues aside and just helping out other human beings. Perhaps there is still hope for us after all!
As I stated this article will most certainly be controversial so hang on tight. The mere idea that God (for any reason) would warn or punish nations is something that is hotly debated even within Christianity. As always I will present some information and you decide for yourselves if there is any validity to it.
First a disclaimer: I have read and heard some far left and far right idiotic comments from mean spirited people who have intimated that this suffering was brought on by the victims themselves because they aligned themselves with certain political parties. What an insult. Need I say more? Victims are victims and require help from everyone, not ill thought condemnation.
Please know that I myself am not 100% confidante that there is a viable correlation between the actions of Governments and forthcoming Godly wrath. Also, I am not a prophet and cannot speak for God in this regard. It is very difficult to tell any innocent person, particularly a believer that God just destroyed their house or took life as an act of divine judgement. On the other hand, we cannot simply discount something that long years of evidence seems to point to certain realities. No matter how I word this article it will "tick" someone off. So please keep an open mind and examine the evidence and decide for yourselves.
There is a well know author by the name of William Koenig who wrote a somewhat controversial book in 2004 by the name of "EYE TO EYE". You may remember that the cover depicts a photo of President George Bush looking at a Star of David. This book was a raging success in some quarters and completely disregarded in others.
In the form of full disclosure, I am one who highly recommended this man's excellent work and still do. In essence what this book did was to trace very bad decisions by the first Bush administration, President Clinton and then 8 years of Bush the junior. In other words fully 20 years of consistent, extremely bad Presidential decisions regarding the United States policies regarding Israel. The setting is roughly 1991 through the books publishing date in 2004. And of course after that another President made exactly the same error for an additional 8 years for a total of 28 years. The question now is, are we about to embark as a nation on yet another 4 or 8 years of downhill slide into national oblivion through the hands of yet another President? I would like to add that including the current occupant of the White House, all 5 of the recent past Presidents have claimed to be Christians. While I certainly did not agree with many actions of each of these national leaders, I have no doubt that all of them acted in what they believed was the best interest of the United States and the American people.
What were these bad decisions? Unilaterally trying to force Israel into dividing up her God given land in the mistaken belief that trading land for peace would ever work. Mr. Koenig's book tracked several bad decisions by these administrations and coupled them with almost immediate catastrophic natural events that struck the United States, and other countries. These ranged from earth quakes, to fire, flood, hurricanes, volcanic disruption and other events that cost the country hundreds of billions of dollars and many lives.
I believed then that these terrible events may well portend divine warnings and still do. Those that rejected the findings of this great research book were mainly among those who did not think that a loving God would ever punish mankind for picking on His chosen people, the Jews or on His chosen land of Israel.
Tilt! I wonder how Nebuchadnezzar felt about that after he was forced to eat grass like a wild animal for 7 years until he recognized God's authority (Daniel chapter 4). Or how about his son King Belshazzar who blasphemed the name of God? During a large celebration ( Daniel chapter 5), the king saw with his own eyes, a human hand (only) suspended in space and watched as one of the fingers wrote on the plaster wall of his chamber. The words were "Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsen". That same evening the prophet Daniel was summoned to translate the message which read "God has numbered your kingdom and finished it. You have been weighed in the balances and found wanting; Your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and Persians". That very night Babylon fell and king Belshazzar was killed.
I can imagine that in everyone of these cases there were some very good people who also suffered because of bad decisions by their kings or national leaders. I suppose we could call that "collateral damage". That happens in every single war that has ever been fought including wars participated in by the United States. Innocent folks get hurt. Or as is fond of saying by many Christians, "bad stuff happens to good people".
Or how about King Herod the great of Israel? In Acts chapter 12:23 he failed to give praise to God and was immediately eaten from within by worms.
Or how about all of the following nations who were utterly destroyed or faded into oblivion because they picked on or attacked Israel or the Jewish people?
Ancient Egypt, Philistines, Assyrian Empire, Persian Empire, Greek Empire, Roman Empire, Byzantine Empire, The Crusaders, Spanish Empire, Nazi Germany, Ottoman Empire, Soviet Union, And a considerable down sizing of the British Empire.
Is the United States above all that? Is it too big to fail? Not if the U.S. Government insists upon pressuring Israel to give up land for peace.
Have you noticed one of the most asked questions about the end times??? WHY IS THERE NO MENTION OF THE UNITED STATES in the end times prophecies? Fair or unfair, this is an inconvenient truth. It is simply not there at least in name or apparently in importance
One does wonder, if the current occupant of the White House really has the large reported cadre of important pastors advising him, did all those people somehow miss approximately 35% of the Bible that is prophetic in nature? Or the absolute heart and mind of God toward His beloved Israel? This article is not about politics and you will never see me writing in that venue. Nor is it about Presidential personalities. What it is about is simple taking a hard look at the consequences of bad decision making regardless of which political party or President makes the call.
If you never had a copy of "EYE TO EYE", I highly recommend that you look up Mr. Koenig's web site and order one. I do not know him personally and receive nothing for making this recommendation. But, it is good information in a potentially devastating way. What I want to do today is a brief review of some very intriguing history and then you decide for yourselves.
Hurricane Harvey may have been an extremely good example. Called the worst disaster in Texas history although I am not certain that General Sam Houston and the (roughly 257) brave men who died at the Alamo would agree with that statement. But we can agree that it is the worst disaster to befall Texas in modern times. And in fact it is another in a long line of disasters that have struck the United States during a time when the countries leadership is trying to finagle peace between Israel and the so called Palestinian people at the cost of Israel giving up land to accomplish a two state solution.
It is interesting to note that the US National weather service described "HARVEY" as "unprecedented and beyond anything before experienced". Guess who was in Israel at the time putting more pressure on this ridiculous, ungodly plan for mankind to somehow bring peace to a region that has never known peace? Representatives of the Unites States Government. Clueless is the only epithet that comes to mind.
Some people, particularly some of our Rabbinic friends believe it is a forbidden thing to attribute divine motivations to natural disasters. Don't kid yourself folks. God will get the attention of Government leaders and nations who come against His beloved Israel.
On October 31st 1991 President George H.W. Bush signed the Oslo Accords that set in motion the idea of of a two state solution. The very next day a hurricane called "the perfect storm" struck the east coast, and among other things, completely destroyed President Bushes own personal house in Kennebunkport, Main. Coincidence?
Hurricane Andrew the worst natural disaster recorded until that time hit Florida one day after the infamous Madrid Conference of August 23, 1992. Those talks were moved at the last minute from Madrid to Washington D.C. Coincidence?
A category 4 hurricane "Georges" struck the United States gulf coast killing 604 people and costing the United States economy $10 billion in 1998 immediately after Secretary off State Madeline Albright announced an American brokered deal that would require Israel to give up 13% of Judea and Samaria in return for peace. A deal that utterly failed by the way. Coincidence?
One month later hurricane "Madeline" again struck the coast of Texas killing 31 people and costing $750 million. At that exact time Yasser Arafat was meeting the Israeli Prime Minister in the United States at the Wye River Plantation to discuss land for peace. Another failed attempt. Coincidence?
2005, hurricane "Katrina"ravaged the United States at the same time EXTREME pressure was placed on Israel to rip away it's own Jewish residents from their homes and farms in Gush Katif which was then handed over to Hamas in the Gaza strip. Coincidence?
Is this limited to the United States? Not even! There was a Paris France summit intended to lead to the two state solution that would force Israel to cede large portions of her land WITHIN THE BOARDERS OF TINY ISRAEL to the Palestinians. Once again this attempt failed but what did happen was that over the next 24 hours the River Seine rose 20 feet resulting in the worst flooding Paris had seen in several decades. Coincidence?
Other warning voices have been heard but have been ridiculed, shouted down and insulted for even suggesting such a thing as divine judgement. One such was former congresswoman Michelle Bachmann who warned in 2015 that "America's anti-Israel policy was bringing down the wrath of God in the form of natural disasters".
I know, I know, I can hear the skepticism now; How could I even intimate such a thing, after all the current American administration is very pro Israel. Really? Is the President right now still trying to force a peace deal? YES! Is the American Embassy moved from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem? NO! Has America officially recognized Jerusalem as the undivided eternal capital of Israel? NO! Are we still pandering to the Palestinians and sending money to Hamas? YES! Money that Hamas then denies it's own people and spends to dig more tunnels and purchase more ammunition, guns and rockets to attack Israel? Absolutely!
Perhaps I somehow missed those things?
How about a dose of reality folks. There are approximately 100 Biblical verses throughout the scriptures that foretell that all the nations of the world will eventually turn against Israel. They begin with a very stern Biblical warning; In Genesis 12:3 God is giving a promise to Abram (Abraham), NOTE: Abraham is the father of the Jewish people.
"I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse those who curse you". From there we visit Joel chapter 3 verse 2. NOTE: This is at a time when God is bringing the Jewish people back into Israel to posses their land. It is part of the "DRY BONES" prophecy (among others) of Ezekiel chapter 37.
"I (GOD) will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat;" (Kidron valley that runs exactly between the eastern wall of the Temple mount where the Golden gate is located and the Mount of Olives), "And I will enter into judgment with them there ON ACCOUNT OF MY PEOPLE , MY HERITAGE ISRAEL, whom they have scattered among the nations; THEY HAVE ALSO DIVIDED UP MY LAND"!
Did you happen to notice that God said "ALL NATIONS". He did not say Presidents, Prime Ministers and Kings. Like it or not, nations and the people in them pay a heavy price for decisions by their national leadership. Call me the original old grinch folks but ALL includes the United States. Joel 3:12 "Let the nations be awakened , and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; For I will sit to judge ALL the surrounding nations. Put in the sickle , for the harvest is ripe. Come, go down; For the wine press is full, the vats overflow---For their wickedness is great".
And dare I mention Zechariah 14:1-2 "BEHOLD, the day of the Lord is coming, and your spoil will be divided in your midst. For I will gather ALL THE NATIONS to battle against Jerusalem-----"!
Friends, no one likes to hear this stuff let alone dwell on it but for certain that time is coming quickly. I cannot explain why innocents or believers would also have to suffer through any kind of event that smacks of divine judgement. Perhaps that is why we have Romans 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose". Or perhaps that is why God gave us the promise of the Rapture of the church in 1st Thessalonians. Or the order of events of the Rapture in 2nd Thessalonians which I believe clearly indicates that the Rapture happens just before the revealing of the antichrist.
One of the great mystery's is this? On the one hand God the father chastising the nations for their stance against Israel and dividing up her land. On the other hand God the Son, Jesus Christ, helping His people who are going through devastating events.
If you are a person who cannot accept that God would punish a nation in response to it's position in regards to Israel, then nothing I can say will change your mind. On the other hand if you are a person like myself who sees some disturbing correlations between pressuring Israel to give up land for peace and some terrible natural disasters, then all I suggest is that you keep an open mind. Examine the evidence for yourself.
I make no absolute judgements regarding these things. But I am not blind either. The jury is out.
But, the fact remains that there is absolutely zero mention of the most powerful nation on earth during the end times. So, what does happen to Uncle Sam? And why? Hmmmm?
In other articles I have postulated that the reason the United States is not mentioned in end times scenarios is because it is the largest Christian nation on the planet and it may well be that it is devastated by the Rapture of the church. Only time will tell about that. But, could there also be another reason? A bankrupt United States who's national debt just hit 20 TRILLION dollars and clearly cannot afford many, many BILLIONS more for rebuilding after disasters?
Friends, according to scripture, the ONLY person that will ever be able to make a peace deal between Israel and her neighbors is the antichrist of Daniel chapter 9:27. And no, I do not believe the antichrist has been revealed at this time. For the United States, United Nations, any group of nations, president, foreign minister, prime minister or king to try and force Israel to give up land given to her by divine right is to invite disaster. Period!
Luke 21:28 "Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near".
Oh, and get that book @ Williamkoenig.com. Mr Koenig documents DOZENS UPON DOZENS of examples of horrible natural events that have immediately followed bad decisions by national leaders.
Probably all just coincidence, right? You decide for yourselves but please do so based upon evidence not feelings or emotions.
God bless,
Pastor Rance.
Thursday, September 7, 2017
Encouragement for those feeling left behind---by the world
Dear friends and readers,
If you are anywhere near my age, you may be looking at a world that has passed you by, bye-bye ! Actually I know some much younger folks feeling the very same emotions and confusion? Would that be the right word? Maybe. What happened to our world I ask myself?
I am writing this piece from the perspective of being born an American. But I have traveled quite a lot and have seen very many really fine cultures close up. Nice folks from various parts of the planet and all of them proud to be an ??? African, Scottish, English, Mexican, Israeli, Russian, Canadian, Jordanian? Well you get my drift. What we all have in common is that we were---everyone of us created in the image of a Holy and righteous God. Now I know that some of you reading this might not share my beliefs in the Christian Bible, but we can still be friends---and who knows, maybe I will rub off on you? All I ask is that you consider what I am saying.
I was born before Israel once again became a state and raised in my early years by a father who said "don't tell me you can't, figure it out". Had my first job when I was 14, married at 18 and the only job I could get was working in a 1600 foot deep limestone mine for $2.12 per hour breaking big rocks into little rocks with a 10 pound sledge hammer. Been there and done that! I understand calluses.
It was a comfort to me knowing that I could earn my own way. Had a friend in the country high school I attended who became a rodeo "bronc rider" and was bucked off and killed his very first season. He had no regrets because he was doing what he loved. Me too and although I did in fact earn my living for some years with horses and livestock, I did other things to and everything in my world was viewed from the perspective of the American dream. Men who worked for a living, were good for their word and a hand shake was considered gold.
If I didn't open a door for a lady when I was a kid I would get my ears boxed but good. Never made that mistake again. By the way, opening that door did not mean she could not do it for herself, it was merely a sign of respect. I remember in my lifetime when NO ONE NO HOW spit on an American flag with making a trip to the emergency room. The expression and general feeling in those days was "Grandma, apple pie and Old Glory". Neighbors knew each other and all the neighborhood kids were every body's to raise. Men were men when they started working and they married their sweet lady right out of high school and started planning for the future including raising a family. It wasn't too much unlike today in that frequently in order to make ends meet both parents were working. But they were working together toward a better life for their children and had that dream of one day sitting on their front porch around 90 years old while generations of family came for Thanksgiving dinner.
That was a mere 50 years ago. What has happened to our nation (and probably yours as well) is a sincere mystery to me although I shouldn't be surprised because I know what the Bible says and exactly where we are today was foretold by the ancient prophets long before I was born. As a pastor, I taught about this end times stuff for years and yet it is still a bit shocking to see it all happening within my short lifetime.
Today, very many handshakes mean absolutely nothing. We are seeing the 4th and 5th generation of welfare recipients many of whom have never held a job. OLD GLORY is drug through the streets, burned and urinated on. People who want to speak in public are attacked by people wearing masks. Not that the speakers opinions may have been right but it is their right to speak. At least it used to be. Now in stead of "Grandma, apple pie and Old Glory", we see constant hate, neighbors are barricaded behind shuttered and barred windows and doors. Few care about the neighbors kids except child welfare services who have forbidden parents to spank an errant child.
Of course I should mention here that the Bible tells us Not to spare the rod else we spoil the child. The result? kids raised in one parent households, belligerent, in some case physically fighting with teachers, grammar school kids receiving condoms from school officials and parents are not allowed to know about it. This is now the country of POLITICAL CORRECTNESS. P.C. has ruined an entire nation and people are now in very real fear of offending someone.
Now I believe in being polite, honoring other people, respecting a man or woman regardless of color or ethnic background. But P.C. says that is no longer enough. Now it's bad for some folks to be white. Bad for others to be black, terrible for people of God to teach the scriptures exactly as written. Christians, because we do believe in God's word are called hate mongers. Everything is upside down. In 50 short years.
My only solace is reading my Bible and knowing that all the answers are there for those who want to find them. Matthew chapter 24:4-14 uses this kind of language. (Jesus speaking), Many will come in My Name. Wars and rumors of wars. Nation will rise up against nation and kingdom against kingdom. Famines, pestilence, earthquakes, BUT THE END IS NOT YET!
In these same verses there is a warning. ALL THESE THINGS ARE THE BEGINNINGS OF SORROWS.
This is only one man's opinion but I think the world has already passed through THE BEGINNINGS OF SORROWS. Why? Because look at what comes next and ask yourself if we are not already there? Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you (NOTE) Christians being martyred worldwide is on the steepest rise perhaps since the Roman Empire. You will be hated for MY NAMES SAKE. That is happening right now, right here in the good ole US of A. And many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Kind of sounds like our Congress and Senate don't you think? Or how about all those "leakers" spilling national secrets and NO ONE is doing anything about it? Or, seems to care. So much for the Red, White and Blue!
And how about false prophets? Rising up to deceive many? There is some downright bad gospel being taught on T.V. these days (although there are some good pastors teaching in that venue as well).
And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. We are there at this minute folks. No question about it. But then Jesus mercifully gives us some hope in verse 13. "But he (or she) who endures to the end will be saved". Then comes the coup de grace, "And this gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to the nations, and then the end will come". To clarify, the coup de grace part is directed toward a sinful world who will learn the hard way when the end finally does come.
The gospel being preached in all the world? THAT is happening right now. Between the internet, satellite information, T.V. and radio not to mention very many blogs like mine, the Lord is literately sending out His word to the utter most parts of the world as we speak. Then there are thousands upon thousands of missionaries working all over the planet and untold numbers of pastors, teachers and evangelists working constantly on the Great Commission. Millions of Bibles printed and being distributed in just about (perhaps All) the languages of the world. WE are seeing these things in our generation. Things that no other generation in the history of the world has ever seen.
Folks if you remember what the world and particularly the US was like just 50 years ago, the verse in Daniel chapter 12:4 will now make perfect sense to you; Daniel is told by a heavenly messenger to "seal up the book (that he was given) until the time of the end": MANY SHALL RUN TO AND FRO, AND KNOWLEDGE SHALL BE INCREASED.
Just 50 years ago it took days to fly around the earth. Today satellites do so several times each day and I can travel from Los Angeles to Israel (on the exact opposite side of the planet), in one single day. Did you know it is estimated that the sum of all human knowledge may be doubling every 12 months? My wife's cell phone is an iPhone 5 and it has more computing power than BIG computers during the golden age of putting a man on the moon. Her iPhone is now drastically out of date. It is estimated that it may not be long before human knowledge doubles every 12 hours.
This is fulfilled Biblical prophecy. Our brains today are not one whit more powerful or intelligent than was Daniels in the 6th century B.C. But for some reason VAST knowledge is rapidly increasing. Why? Because the Bible says it will happen in the end times exactly that way.
The Bible is a perfect document that really does have all the answers. The prophecies contained therein are coming true daily. In other articles I explain exactly what I mean but in the meanwhile, I for one intend to endure to the end. How about you friends?
I surely do miss the old days but guess what friends? We, you and I are blessed to see so much Biblical prophecy being fulfilled in our life times. We are seeing things happening that prior generations only dreamt of. I for one am looking back at pleasant memories but I am living for today. doing everything I can to glorify my Lord. How about you?
I want to leave you with a thought today. Before I do please know that what I am about to say is only a suggestion to think about. The question is whether or not we may actually be living in the "end times"? NO date setting here!!!
Are we possibly in the zone?
Remember that Before the flood of Noah, Methuselah lived for 969 years. Noah himself lived 950 years which included 350 years after the flood. But in Genesis 6:3 God set the lifespans of future generations of man at 120 years. That change in Psalm 90:10 in which God said "The days of our lives are 70 years: And if by reason of strength they are 80 years, yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; For it is soon cut off, and we fly away. Fly away? Hmmmm.
Obviously some men and women can live longer than 70 years (I have myself) but that is the average set by God and nothing in God's word changed that anywhere after Psalm 90:10.
Consider the following; ONLY for the purpose of determining whether or not mankind may be "in the zone" to see the end times;
In Matthew chapter 24 verses 32-35 Jesus is speaking about the end times. He speaks about the fig tree (which many consider to be Israel in this context). If Israel becoming a nation once again really is the "branch becoming tender and putting forth leaves, you know that summer is near---So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near---at the doors"! "ASSUREDLY, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till ALL THESE THINGS TAKE PLACE". Of course verse 36 says clearly that of that day and hour no one knows. That means for sure that no one knows so lets keep that straight!
So is there any Biblical evidence that Israel is EVER referred to as the fig tree? Hosea 9:10 "I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the FIRST FRUITS ON THE FIG TREE IN IT'S FIRST SEASON". There is also mention in Joel 1:7 if you understand the context.
Israel became a nation once again on May 14, 1948. Add 70 years to 1948 and what do you come up with? If your calculator is the same as mine you should have come up with the year 2018. However we may have to add another 10 years to that according to Psalm 90:10 "If by reason of strength".
Woe now: CAUTION!!! No predictions here in the slightest way. The Lord could tarry another 100 years if He so chose to do so but I for one don't think so based upon Biblical prophecy. I am only demonstrating the possibility that we could really be in the zone. And it should be noted that there are probably a gazillion scholars who would disagree with me. In reality I cannot know for certain myself so let's not have any rush of little theological footies to throw me in a pit and stone me to death. This information is merely meant for two reasons; 1). Interesting coffee klatch fodder. 2). If there is any validity here at all it should make us all sit up and know that we need to get busy and accomplish the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20).
Bottom line, this is a dangerous idea to put on paper. On the other hand truth usually is dangerous to lot's of folks. I am fully aware of that so please just keep it in the context of my intentions and then you decide for yourselves. One way or another, I do believe we are in the end times and my generation could see some fascinating things happening in the future.
God bless,
Pastor Rance.
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