In listening to the news coming out of the Middle East this month, I can’t help but wonder how long until everything finally erupts. I do know this, the sense of possible easing up of tensions that many in the west may feel, is a false sense of peace. Those that are in the middle of what is building up there are not fooled, nor do they feel any relief. I won’t go into all the news as it has been unfolding because this is not the purpose of this update. I will however remind us that the Bible says that when men say, “Peace, peace”, sudden destruction will come. That is the reality of the Middle East as it stands today.
I received another call from R*, founder of the “House of Blessing”, City Of Jesus Ministry”, Jerusalem, this past Friday. Most readers have some idea of the continuing story, as it has been unfolding since late March 2012, when my wife Anne and I went to Jerusalem. If you have not read the story, please go back in the archives, and read the story behind these updates.
I asked R* how he was doing physically, and he answered as he always does, “I’m praising Jesus every day and thank him for the opportunity to open my mouth and share His love with the very many people God has placed me in the middle of. I have no complaints; He meets all of my needs, Praise God!” If I want to find out if R* is still confined to his wheelchair due to his injuries, I have to ask him, because that is not something that is his main concern. I have much that I can learn from this humble God-follower!
He was very excited due to another $15,000 made available to purchase another 1,000 Bibles from an underground printer who makes them available in Arabic. At the time of receiving the money, about 620 Bibles were still needing to be paid for from an earlier order, and another 2300 had been ordered, printed, and ready for pick-up. R* said that the people were down to not having any Bibles left to give the new converts. As you might remember, each Bible is being shared by whole family units of about 60 or so people.
When this last load of 1,000 Bibles were delivered, R* said the people celebrated once again as if they were at a wedding! They jumped up and down, sang, danced, and expressed their thanks to God in heaven as well as to all of you who have helped to make this possible. I also want to share my thanks. I have also received four more checks in the last two or three days and am making a deposit for another $1700 later this morning. That will pay for another 113 Bibles, which will be shared amongst about 6,000-7,000 people or so!
The story of the explosion of evangelism that has come about in the last 17-18 months is nothing less than miraculous. A great multitude of people have been reached in Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and of course Syria, where R* has been the last few months. The huge amount of refugees is beyond imagining. What was already a mass of near ½ million refugees on the Syrian side of the border has nearly doubled. These people have been displaced from their homes, not being able to take anything with them except for what they could carry on their backs. The UN has been supplying assistance, but covering such a huge need is beyond what we can imagine. As I shared before, one of the higher ranking UN officials was reached and is now a Christ-follower. As a result, this person has been able to get some of the ship containers to House Of Blessing pastors and volunteers, who have been able to take the badly needed supplies and food to the people they are in contact with. This last week H.O.B. was able to give out a whole container of food to the people at the same time that the 1,000 Bibles were given out. By the way, the Bibles are very carefully given out so that not one of them is wasted or lost.
H.O.B. was blessed with great results during Ramadan, which just recently came to a close. The Muslim people were already fasting and praying, and as it turns out, Jesus Himself interrupted their prayers which were directed towards Allah, appearing to many of them in dreams and visions. They were also very receptive to God’s Word being shared with them. Much of this is due to the hopelessness that most of them feel. This has only become more intense due to the war drums beating incessantly. The people there know that war will not be averted. It is not a question of “if” there will be war, but “when”. Millions are fleeing Syria, just as the Old Testament prophets said would happen right at the end of days, just before the complete destruction of Damascus and surrounding area.
For those of you who are paying attention to Biblical prophecy, you have some idea of what is happening and what is imminent. For those of you who may have not paid attention to these unfolding events foretold in the Bible, there has never been a more important time to read, study, and understand what the Bible has to say about the days we live in. Our generation is the one that the prophet Daniel was told about that would understand prophecy which was sealed up in his day. This reminds me of what Isaac Newton predicted nearly 300 years ago when he said,
“About the time of the end, a group of men will be raised up who will turn their minds to the Prophecies, and insist upon their literal interpretation, in the midst of much clamor and opposition.”
That certainly describes today! Those that insist on taking a look at prophecies imbedded in the Holy Scriptures pertaining to our day and time, often experience much opposition and grief. I hope and pray that you, the reader, are a person that realizes that our God has not put anything into His Word that is meant to be avoided; to the contrary, as history is unfolding, we MUST understand what God gave us for our day, so that we can truly “Watch and Pray” as we should. Jesus made it clear that the world around us chooses to be blinded to what is coming, but followers of Jesus are NOT caught off guard. It is not enough to just live and let things happen as they happen. That is part of our trust in the Almighty, but another part of our relationship with Him is that we see the absolute Sovereignty of God and His Word. As His Word unfolds, it presents the greatest opportunity for evangelizing the masses ever seen.
The world around us is fearful and full of questions. Too many believers are asleep, have not studied God’s Word for themselves, have been fed sugar and frosting in church, and know almost NOTHING. As a result, we have nothing to give in answer to those around us that are looking to us for answers. God will hold us accountable for this. God’s Word says so.
Please keep R*, H.O.B., and the many volunteer missionaries that have been raised up in serious, earnest effectual prayer. They need guidance, protection, openings to people who need Jesus, and of course, much financial help. H.O.B. does not have overhead costs. All monies are put directly into Bibles, and all contributions are also tax-deductible. H.O.B. is a legal charity listed with the IRS.
Thank you, one and all for all of your donations, whether small or large. Billy Graham always said, “Little is much when God is in it!” The immediate need is for another $25,000 or so in order to be able to get the present order fully picked up. Please take this need to the Lord and ask HIM what you should do. God’s time clock for the times of the Gentiles is now literally at 11:59. This is not being said to be sensational. It is fact. Because of this, I have a post coming out next titled, “A Letter To My Friends and Family”. What we have coming is beyond imagination for most of us. I have been contemplating this for a long time, but God has said it must be written and put on line now. So, please watch for this.
For donations, please send to:
H.O.B. CITY OF JESUS MINISTRY; 3206 SW 45th Street; Redmond, OR. 97756
Thank You in the Name of our KING, JESUS CHRIST, THE MESSIAH
Please! KEEP LOOKING UP! WE’RE GOING HOME VERY, VERY SOON!
Jake
Franklin Graham’s Warning !
Franklin’s warning of coming persecution of Christians echoes what his mother Ruth and father Billy have clearly stated. Re Ruth, see search engines including Google for “Letter from Mrs. Billy Graham.” To see what Billy has written, Google “Famous Rapture Watchers – Addendum.”
Since Franklin blamed the Obama administration for his own National Day of Prayer snub and persecution, and since he accused “Christian” Obama of “giving Islam a pass,” readers can get some rare insights into Obama and his fellow travelers by Yahooing “Obama Supports Public Depravity,” “Obama Avoids Bible Verses,” “Separation of Raunch and State,” and “The Background Obama Can’t Cover Up.”
To see some exceptional in-depth studies of coming persecution, see two unique books by media figure Joe Ortiz entitled “The End Times Passover” and “Why Christians Will Suffer ‘Great Tribulation’ ” – both published in the US and UK by AuthorHouse. Also Google “Margaret Macdonald’s Rapture Chart,” “The Unoriginal John Darby,” “Pretrib Rapture Secrecy,” “Pretrib Rapture Dishonesty,” “Pretrib Rapture Pride,” “Pretrib Rapture Politics,” and “Pretrib Rapture Stealth” – most by the author of “The Rapture Plot” (the most accurate and comprehensive history of the 183-year-old pretrib rapture view) available by calling 800.643.4645.
[Thanks, Jake. You may enjoy the preceding which I spotted on the web. Lord bless.]
Many believe that Darby brought the “pre-tribulation” rapture theory into the church. This is however not true. Writings from back to the early church have been found that confirm beyond the shadow of any doubt that it was taught by the early church from the beginning. Not only that, the Old Testament is loaded with confirmations of the Rapture, even though the word itself does not appear in Scripture. The word “Rapture” does not appear in English but does in Greek. The definition of “harpazo” is very clear. I don’t spend much time debating the issue, and I certainly don’t condemn anyone who disagrees, but the scriptural backing is overwhelming.