Looking for His glorious appearing! Titus 2:13

Yet Wilt Thou Plunge Me in the Ditch, and Mine Own Clothes Shall Abhor Me. Job 9:31
Sep 14th, 2020
Morning MeditationF.B. Meyer
Categories: Commentary;Inspirational;Book Study

WE shall never get beyond the need of using daily the Lord's prayer. He has bound by the conjunction and the prayer for forgiveness with that for daily bread, as though to teach us that we shall need the one as long as we need the other. At the end of the best day that we ever spent, when we are not aware of having consciously sinned in act, or speech, or thought, we shall still have need of the precious blood. We may know nothing against ourselves, yet we shall not be thereby justified; because He that judgeth us is our holy Lord, and the standard by which we are judged is his own perfect character. A piece of cambric looks extremely fine to the eye, but how coarse to the microscope! Sheep look white against the dark ground of the early spring; but how dark if there should be a fall of snow! Our characters seem stainless, only because we compare ourselves with ourselves, or with others.

But, when our eyes are opened to see God, to behold the whiteness of the great white throne, and we stand in the searching light of heaven, we are as those who have just emerged from a ditch. I heard the other day of a woman being proud of having lived without sin for ten years! So we deceive ourselves. No, at the best we are sinful men and women, needing constant cleansing; even though we may be kept from known sin by the grace of Christ. It was at an advanced period in the life of the great Apostle, and when he lived nearest God, that he realized himself to be the chief of sinners.

    "I know not what I am, but only know

       I have had glimpses tongue may never speak:

     No more I balance human joy and woe,

       But think of my transgressions, and am meek."

Turkey's Desire for Ottoman - Era Glory Endangers Israel
Sep 14th, 2020
CommentaryISRAEL KASNETT/JNS.ORG
Categories: The Nation Of Israel

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has high ambitions. He wants to take his country back to what he perceives as the glory days of the Ottoman Empire, but the leader, who has been described as "pugnacious" and has been at the pinnacle of power since 2002, appears to be leading the country down the wrong path as he quashes secularism, supports radical Islamism, suppresses democratic reforms and adopts a forceful foreign-policy approach that aims to assert Turkish hegemony in the region.

With an eye on his party's conservative and religious support base as his popularity dips amid an economic downturn, Erdoğan recently converted two Istanbul landmarks operating as museums--the Hagia Sophia and the Church of St. Saviour in Chora--into mosques in a bid to flex his Islamist muscles.
And now, with his attention turned to Greece and Libya, Erdoğan seems to be looking for regional dominance. The question is how all this bodes for Israel.

Gallia Lindenstrauss, a senior research fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies who specializes in Turkish foreign policy, told JNS that Erdoğan's actions are influenced by the "transformation of the international system from a unipolar system to a multipolar one."

The perception that the United States is planning to significantly reduce its military presence in the Middle East--announced by U.S. President Donald Trump this week--and the power vacuums that have emerged as one of the consequences of the Arab upheavals "are causing several actors, including Turkey, to act in a more assertive manner," she said.

Lindenstrauss noted that Turkey's bellicose behavior stems from its perception that "in the current international context, acting aggressively doesn't necessarily incur major costs from the global powers and hence the temptation to act this way is greater," she said.

With Erdoğan's Islamist identity and close ties with Muslim Brotherhood, Qatar and Hamas, this triangle seems dangerous for Israel. Is it a real threat?

"After the fall of [former Egyptian President] Mohammed Morsi, Turkey became the leader of the Muslim brotherhood axis in the Middle East," she said. "This is a cause of concern in Israel, and there is now greater awareness of Hamas military activity on Turkish soil."

"Likewise, there is greater suspicion with regard to Turkey's government agencies and NGO activities in Israel and in the Palestinian territories, and Israel is less open to Turkish initiatives to assist the Palestinians," she said. "The fact that Turkey is seen as the leader of the Muslim Brotherhood axis is even a greater problem in the eyes of the pragmatic Sunni states Israel is cooperating with."

Lindenstrauss suggested that one of the reasons Israel and the United Arab Emirates have worked out a normalization agreement between them is related to "the growing concerns from Turkey's greater role in the region."

'A fusion of nationalism and Islamism'

Efraim Inbar, president of the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security, told JNS that as an Islamist, Erdoğan "has no great love for Jews and for Israel."

According to Inbar, "Erdoğan believes that Turkey has a great destiny and should be a world power. The fact that the U.S. is slowly reducing its footprint in the Middle East adds to even greater freedom of action for Turkey in regional affairs."

He noted that Erdoğan is not only a leader with an Islamist ideology, but a realpolitik player. Turkey is in Iraq and Syria, and has a military base in Qatar and in Somalia. Erdoğan tried to build a base in Sudan, and now he is busy in Libya. As part of this new Turkish nationalism, he is challenging the border with Greece, essentially seeking to reverse the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne, which officially ended the Ottoman Empire.

"There is a fusion here of nationalism and Islamism between Turkish nationalism with its roots in Islam, the Caliphate and the Ottoman Empire," said Inbar. "There is a clear alliance between Turkey and Qatar, which both support the Muslim Brotherhood."

He also noted that Turkey provides Hamas members with passports, which gives them greater freedom of movement.

"Erdoğan is a very successful politician, a good speaker and charismatic," he said. "Going after Israel gets him votes and makes him popular in the Muslim world, which he wants to lead, so Israel is a good target for him."

With all of Erdoğan's saber-rattling over Israel, it's business as usual, however, as most Turkish exports to the Arab world are shipped through the port of Haifa.

"Erdoğan has "a pragmatic streak," said Inbar. "He didn't completely sever diplomatic relations with Israel."

Still, he cautioned, Israel must tread carefully.

Revelation 12:1 Pt.1 - Exploring Revelation
Sep 14th, 2020
Exploring RevelationArt Sadlier
Categories: Commentary;Prophecy;Book Study

We have here in Chapter 12, Satan's conflict with Christ and Israel. The book of Genesis speaks about origins and the book of Revelation speaks about consummation. In order to have a good understanding of Revelation we need to be able to track each subject of prophecy from the first reference to its consummation. This will take the confusion out of prophecy and bring it into a proper focus. This chapter does not involve a lot of the sequence of the book. It is rather an insert providing necessary information about the past, present and future events concerning Christ, Israel and Satan.

We cannot understand the entire book of Revelation without an understanding of chapter 12. The truth made known in this chapter reaches back to Abraham and on to the end of the tribulation period.

I believe that the killing of the two witnesses in chapter 11, marks the mid point of the tribulation period. As we come to the mid-tribulation point we see Israel coming into greater prominence. Many of the Old Testament prophecies concerning Israel are still unfulfilled. This special information helps us to unravel the mystery concerning Israel. Why they are in the land today and how they can be sustained against such overwhelming power and determination to destroy them. 

A proper understanding of Revelation 12 is a key to understanding whole book and the entire Bible, it presents the history and future of the nation of Israel.

Revelation 12 reveals the conflict of the ages, a conflict that involves Israel, Christ and Satan. This chapter presents to us the great conflict of the past as well as the great conflict of the future. Understand that the present church age is not included in Revelation 12. This chapter only deals with the nation of Israel.

Some Bible scholars have entitled Revelation 12 with one word, "War".  Because it involves war on earth, war in heaven, and war on earth again.

Another good outline is -"The conflict of the woman (Israel) with the dragon in the past;" - "The conflict of the woman with the dragon in the heavens;" - "The conflict of the woman with the dragon in the future."

We will spend much time in this chapter, we believe it will give you great insight into prophecy concerning the days in which we now live.

We have here in Chapter 12, Satan's conflict with Christ and Israel. The book of Genesis speaks about origins and the book of Revelation speaks about consummation. In order to have a good understanding of Revelation we need to be able to track each subject of prophecy from the first reference to its consummation. This will take the confusion out of prophecy and bring it into a proper focus. This chapter does not involve a lot of the sequence of the book. It is rather an insert providing necessary information about the past, present and future events concerning Christ, Israel and Satan.

We cannot understand the entire book of Revelation without an understanding of chapter 12. The truth made known in this chapter reaches back to Abraham and on to the end of the tribulation period.

I believe that the killing of the two witnesses in chapter 11, marks the mid point of the tribulation period. As we come to the mid-tribulation point we see Israel coming into greater prominence. Many of the Old Testament prophecies concerning Israel are still unfulfilled. This special information helps us to unravel the mystery concerning Israel. Why they are in the land today and how they can be sustained against such overwhelming power and determination to destroy them. 

A proper understanding of Revelation 12 is a key to understanding whole book and the entire Bible, it presents the history and future of the nation of Israel.

Revelation 12 reveals the conflict of the ages, a conflict that involves Israel, Christ and Satan. This chapter presents to us the great conflict of the past as well as the great conflict of the future. Understand that the present church age is not included in Revelation 12. This chapter only deals with the nation of Israel.

Some Bible scholars have entitled Revelation 12 with one word, "War".  Because it involves war on earth, war in heaven, and war on earth again.

Another good outline is -"The conflict of the woman with the dragon in the past;" - "The conflict of the woman with the dragon in the heavens;" - "The conflict of the woman with the dragon in the future."

We will spend much time in this chapter, we believe it will give you great insight into prophecy concerning the days in which we now live.

Let the Headlines Speak
Sep 14th, 2020
Daily NewsFrom the Internet
Categories: Today's Headlines

BLM - Leaders & Media Silent After Protest Supporting Attempted Murder of Sherrifs
Sep 14th, 2020
Comm entaryMICHAEL BROWN/ASKDRBROWN.ORG
Categories: Contemporary Issues

As of this writing, two young Los Angeles sheriffs are fighting for their lives after being shot in the head and face. One is just 31 years-old and a married mother; the other is only 24.

They were ambushed and shot in cold blood by a single suspect last night, but as of now, there has been no official statement from BLM leaders condemning the shooting. Why?

We have no idea who the shooter was. But we do know that when word got out that ambulances were racing the downed officers to an LA hospital that protesters showed up to block the emergency room exits and entrances.

We do know they reportedly shouted, "We hope they die." And, "Death to the police." And, "Kill the police." And, "I hope they [expletive] die." And, "Y'all gonna die one by one.'"

A witness told ABC news that some had even tried to break into the hospital's emergency room.  For what purpose can anyone justify this?

This is evil, sick, and demented. And at this moment, these sentiments are being associated with BLM.

Now is the time for BLM leaders, both nationally and locally, to issue clear and unequivocal statements declaring, "We deplore the coldblooded shooting of these two officers of the law. We condemn this without qualification. This is antithetical to our values or our goals, and our cause is not advanced by the attempted murder of these two police officers."

In the past, when misguided anti-abortion activists have shot and killed abortion doctors, pro-life leaders around the nation immediately said, "We denounce this killing. We are pro-life. We are not murderers. We condemn this act of violence without equivocation or caveat."

At such times, you don't dance around the issue. You don't even talk about the horror of abortion at that moment. You simply say, "This killing was wrong, and it does not reflect our values or goals."

That's what BLM leaders and their supporters need to do right now, especially when the main picture we are getting is the one of alleged BLM supporters hoping these officers die.

That is the headline story on conservative news outlets all over the Internet today. And tweets like this are going viral: "This video shows 2 police in Compton being ambushed and shot while they sat in their car. BLM activists then blocked the ambulance entrance of the Hospital ER shouting 'We hope they die'.

"If you're an undecided voter, I hope you just made your decision."

BLM leaders, where are you? Prominent BLM supporters, where are you? Where are your voices now?

As a nation, we were sickened by the video of death of George Floyd to the point that staunchly conservative, pro-police voices like Dan Bongino spoke out against the actions of Derek Chauvin.

Yet I don't believe for a second that Chauvin set out that day to kill a Black man. And I don't believe that the vast majority of police officers are looking for opportunities to engage in acts of brutality against unarmed Black suspects.

Even so, when we see something horrible like the death of George Floyd or the death of Ahmaud Arbery (which I wrote about immediately upon seeing the video), we raise our voices and say, "This is terribly wrong, and those involved must face justice."

Even President Trump called for an immediate investigation into Floyd's death, while around the nation, we were saying Floyd's name.

Yet, to repeat, as reprehensible as Chauvin's actions were, I don't believe he saw George Floyd that day and said, "I want to kill him." In contrast, last night's shooter clearly had one goal: to murder those two officers as they sat in their car.

Where is the condemnation? Where is the acknowledgement that the life of a young mother and a young man also matter?

I'm looking right now at headlines on CNN and MSNBC and Huffington Post. None of them mention the protesters outside the hospital trying to block the doors or shouting for the death of the wounded officers. In fact, none of the stories mention this at all.

Over at the New York Times homepage, I do not see a single headline about the shooting, let alone about the ugly, death-desiring protests. Not one. Why?

Back in June, the heartbroken 16-year-old daughter of a slain cop - also ambushed and murdered - posted this moving tribute to her dad: "Words cannot describe the pain I'm in, but I'm glad my dad is at peace. You were an amazing man and anyone who ever came across you knew that. I'm going to miss you so much. you died doing what you loved most, you died a hero. i love you daddy, see you soon. #bluelivesmatter."

In response, she was savaged by critics and mockers on social media. "Multiple users declared that 'blue lives don't matter,' while others posted laughing emojis and messages such as, '[expletive] you and your dead daddy.'"

It got so bad that this grieving teen deleted the tribute to her dad. What kind of sick world are we living in?

The fact is, by condemning the attempted murder of these two officers, the BLM movement can show its humanity, its concern for justice, its desire for equal treatment for all under the law.

And by condemning this horrible, cowardly act, the leaders can reiterate that saying "Black Lives Matter" does not mean that other lives do not matter.

Right now, however, many of us honestly do not know where the radical leaders of this radical group stand. (For those unfamiliar with my viewpoints, I absolutely affirm that Black lives do matter and call for equal treatment of all in our society. But I reject the BLM movement.)

BLM leaders and major supporters, where are you? Or is there so much hatred for the police that you cannot bring yourselves to condemn this murderous attack on these officers of the law? Your responses (or lack thereof) will be very telling.

For the moment though, let us not forget the victims. May God grant them a complete recovery, and may the shooter be brought to justice.