Observers of end-times events who believe there is an advancing power grab by the globalists elite look with interest at Steve Bannon’s exit as President Trump’s chief strategist. National politics that make up part of the intrigues going on in the White House are secondary at most, so the thinking goes. Matters involving the long-sought changed world order is all-important in considering the most recent developments in Washington, D.C.

On the secular side, many–perhaps most–media pundits speculate that the Republican establishment types have succeeded in convincing Trump to get rid of the ultranationalist Bannon (as they view him), so Congress will work with Trump in achieving a more rational legislative agenda. These, of course, have no concept that there is a much deeper meaning to all of this.

I take that back to some extent. They do have a strangely twisted thought process that touches on Bible prophecy yet to unfold.

Bannon, it seems, according to a number of these pundits, has an apocalyptic view of the world. He believes that Trump and America somehow are destined to be involved in world history as it winds up.

The media types who purport this to be the case don’t go far into this accusation. That is, they don’t give us details about how Mr. Bannon’s end-times view might  possibly have affected any outcome he personally desired to achieve while advising the president.

It is indeed strange…the secular media types sensing and commenting that there is some weird connection to apocalyptic matters in all of these goings-on.

There is such visceral hatred for this president that when anything bad happens, his enemies in media and everyone else find ways to link Trump to the evil involved. For example, this was the case in the recent white supremacist activities and the clashes over confederate statues in Charlottesville. Trump’s statements on the matters involved were made to look by mainstream news types like the president took the side of the KKK and the neo Nazis. Anyone who actually heard the president’s remarks knows the opposite is true. He plainly called out the evil. But, he made the mistake of saying there was evil on both sides. That gave the haters all the fodder needed to link him directly to the skinheads and all the rest. In the same sense, Steve Bannon is linked by the mainstream news types to a mindset like the Ayatollahs who want to bring on their version of the apocalypse. That is as deeply into Bannon’s “apocalyptic” worldview of geopolitics as they wish to delve. If they can make that linkage in the mind of the American voters–the evil of Steve Bannon to the Iranian religious madmen–their mission is achieved. Evil that lurks within the mainstream media as it currently exist, in my view, is the real linkage to the chaos now being perpetrated. It is luciferian. It is part of the Saul Alinsky blueprint–being utilized by the George Soros-globalist types–to bring America down so her power to influence is diminished. So her wealth can be redistributed to the have-nots in order to secure power bases for the globalists constructing the changed world order they desire.

There seems to me something boiling beneath the obvious–Bannon’s being dismissed from Trump’s advisory team in the White House. I have no idea of what that might be. Steve Bannon made the following statement shortly after leaving his post: “The Trump presidency that we fought for, and won, is over.” Bannon said further, “We still have a huge movement, and we will make something of this Trump presidency. But that presidency is over. It’ll be something else. And there’ll be all kinds of fights, and there’ll be good days and bad days, but that presidency is over.”

He said also, his statement unfortunately laced with profanity, that he was going to fight the globalists every step of the way. Well, you had better have the Lord at your side in that effort, Mr. Bannon. The globalists–knowingly or unknowingly–have the most powerful being ever to be created as their leader. Lucifer the fallen is determined to prepare the planet for the coming of his man of sin. 

There is no political strategy–even by a top strategist like yourself–that can alter Satan’s plan for his Antichrist regime.

But the Lord did so–and with ease–in this last presidential election. He is still in complete control. Trump is God’s man for this troubled hour as we move swiftly toward the Rapture of the church.

Meantime, it is much prayer by God’s people that is the primary Tool that must lead the fight against the globalists. Prophetically speaking, the battle is already won!

He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel. (Psalms 2:4-9)

I prefer to move on from writing about the enragement and turmoil within the American political milieu. Prophetic implications wrought by that process, however, keep imposing upon my inclination to move on. White House goings-on recently beg analysis in light of God’s prophetic Word, and I must dwell a bit longer in that arena.

The particular prophecy involved, I believe, is one we have looked at many times in overview fashion. I would like to focus on a peculiar area of that over all prophecy. I’m referencing Paul’s perilous times prophecy of 2 Timothy 3:1-5. The parts of this prophecy I would like to look at specifically  in regard to current White House intrigues are the following.

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be… trucebreakers,…traitors, heady, high-minded. (2 Timothy 3: 1-2, 3, 4)

The term “leakers” is at the top of the news. Attorney General of the United States Jeff Sessions, as we know, has put “leakers” on notice. They will be found, and if they have broken the law, they will be prosecuted.

Sessions pointed out recently that leaks are part of every government–and of every White House administration. With the Trump White House, though, the leaks far surpass the number, intensity, and possible harm to the nation than those of any previous administration of recent memory.

“Leaks,” of course, is information divulged by those within positions of knowledge of things being discussed, planned, and implemented within government. Here, we are talking specifically about leaks within the White House. They are being done, it is generally acknowledged, to do harm to Donald J. Trump’s presidency.

This presidency is under unparalleled attack from every quarter. It is particularly the news media that has been the recipient of these leaks. The leaks are used by those extremely antagonistic to the Trump presidency to try to bring public opinion of this president  to as low a point as possible–thus to see to it that 1) he is so ineffectual as to not get his agenda accomplished; 2) he is impeached; or 3) that he will be voted out of office next presidential election.

The assault is unrelenting and more ferocious than any I have witnessed during my now 75 years on the scene. The voraciousness of many of those who hate this president is so virulent that those carrying out the “silent coup-d’état,” as it is called by some, totally cast aside any thought of the damage it is doing to national security. They apparently couldn’t care less that they are exposing things that should be kept secret for security purposes to enemies who wish us only destruction. It means nothing to these leakers that they have taken an oath to guard carefully such essential secrets. They are “trucebreakers” in the parlance of the apostle Paul’s prophecy.

A report/analysis from one source not friendly to this president says the following:

Government employees are growing increasingly willing to criticize or defy the White House and President Trump’s top appointees…

The growing opposition in the executive branch comes as the White House’s legislative agenda has stalled in Congress and Trump turns to his Cabinet agencies to change course in several policy areas. It also is emanating from career staffers or political holdovers whose resistance to Trump has, at times, been rooted in deep opposition to the president’s agenda…

Trump’s allies have often cast the president as the victim of the “deep state,” an entrenched liberal bureaucracy bent on damaging his agenda through leaks and resistance.

They argue the deep state extends from agencies such as the EPA, where employees could be angered with Trump’s decision to pull out of the Paris climate deal, to career service intelligence agency staff who leak damaging information about the president.

Former Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) on Friday even accused special counsel Robert Mueller, the former FBI director now investigating Russia’s involvement in last year’s election, as representing the “deep state at its worse.” (“Federal employees step up defiance of Trump,” By Devin Henry, www.thehill.com, 08/05/17)

The report, while couched in terms intended in my view to make those of us who understand the assault underway seem paranoid, the assertion within the above report is nonetheless true. There is a deep state–which includes mainstream media, entrenched government bureaucrats, and globalist elitists.

As an observer of Bible prophecy, laying that Holy template over the issues and events of our times, I go further. It is an assault directed and fueled by none other than the grand deceiver of all–Lucifer the fallen one.

The apostle Paul prophesied that there will come a time when people will be observably traitorous–like those leakers within the Trump administration. They will be heady–meaning they will demand their own way no matter who is hurt or destroyed. They will be high-minded–meaning they will consider themselves the sole determiners of what is best for everybody else. They will, like in the case of climate change/global warming types like Al Gore, say: “Do what I say, not what I do.” (Gore, it was reported a week or so ago, has a home that uses 21 times more electricity than the average home. He dispenses a huge carbon emissions footprint as he jets about the world in his private jets.) This is, in my analysis, the epitome of headiness and high-mindedness.

Paul’s perilous times are upon us, to be sure.

There continues to be much turbulence stirred within the American government and America in general. I’ve written a number of times here that I believe God Himself intervened in the 2016 presidential election. He, I’m convinced, answered the prayers of the people called by His name–Christians. He turned the American ship of state around–or at least began that process of steering in a better direction.

Donald J. Trump, a man who was and continues to be far from a godly man, in my view, was nonetheless chosen by the Almighty to head the project to at least slow if not completely halt globalism’s takeover of the United States.

Globalism, I believe, is the conveyance Satan intends to use to take America down the pathway to the eventual installation of his man of sin, Antichrist. That intention has been greatly slowed with the election of Mr. Trump, and the fallen one isn’t happy. The uproar amongst his many minions, both demonic and human, is witness that gives testimony to Lucifer’s enragement.

Donald Trump is God’s man of the hour, even though not a godly man. In that regard, I support God’s decision totally, as anyone who reads these commentaries knows. I continue to believe that if the other candidate had won the election, the effects, especially for those of us who value American ideals as founded and who believe that God’s Word, the Bible, is truth, would have been terrible.

One day, perhaps soon, the U.S. and the world will experience those feared results of losing such elections. For now, however, there is a Heaven-sent reprieve and we must support godliness and a movement back toward God’s way, rather than continue on the path to destruction.

This is why I–we as Christians–must call out ungodliness when it pops up its ugly head, no matter where it does so.

That brings me to the title of this article “Mr. President–Cursing or Blessing?”

The turbulence I mentioned at the outset was full-blown in the White House the week of July 14. It was no doubt stirred and fanned by the breath of the old serpent, the devil. The winds of inter-White House turf war continued this week just past.

President Trump, always one to keep the mainstream media–and the rest of us as well–off-balance with his actions and tweets, did so in his own inimitable fashion. He removed his chief of staff, Reince Priebus, and replaced him with Ret. General John Kelly. But, it wasn’t that cut and dried.

Mixed in with the shake-up of White House staff was the matter of the desire–the absolute necessity, in my view–to get rid of the so-called leakers. These holdover personnel from the previous administration were wreaking havoc on the president’s efforts to move forward with his agenda.

Sean Spicer, the communications director was also let go. In his place came one Anthony Scaramucci. We know now that this mouthpiece seems to have no boundaries on usage of language. And that is what inspired this commentary.

Mr. Scaramucci, chosen by the president to clean out the leakers, began his new job by talking with a reporter of The New Yorker–the hip New York City magazine that looks down on the rest of us as most generally just not with it.

The president’s new man in the communication director’s seat indeed began to communicate. He did so in a cursing rant he thought was, but in actuality was not, “off the record.” It was so bad that it apparently caused Chris Wallace of Fox News to blush when he read it.

Wallace said, “I’m no choirboy, but his [Scaramucci’s] language took even me aback.”

It was anger, framed in sewer language, whether real or feigned for impact, that to this point we hadn’t had a close associate of a sitting president use. I’m no choirboy, either, having grown up amongst my male peers as a youngster in junior high school, high school, university, and even the U.S. military. The report of Scaramucci’s vulgar tirade made me feel uneasy. I don’t like one so closely associated with my president using such ungodly language. It somehow dirties–sullies the office.

Of course, I realize that this president sometimes uses less than godly language himself. I don’t like that, either. This I say for those of you who were about to ask “Well, how about Trump’s language?”

When I first heard the report of Anthony Scaramucci spewing forth as he did, my mind began searching for words I once heard reported as spoken by our first president on use of vile language.

I soon found the quote. It was George Washington, then the head general of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, issuing a written command. That command said the following:

The General is sorry to be informed —, that the foolish and wicked practice of profane cursing and swearing, a vice heretofore little known in an American army, is growing into a fashion; — he hopes the officers will, by example as well as influence, endeavor to check it, and that both they and the men will reflect that we can have little hope of the blessing of Heaven on our arms, if we insult it by impiety and folly; added to this, it is a vice so mean and low, without any temptation, that every man of sense and character detests and despises it.  (Source: George Washington, Extract from the Orderly Book of the army under command of Washington, dated at Head Quarters, in the city of New York [3 August 1770]; reported in American Masonic Register and Literary Companion, Volume 1 [1829])

We have, of course, become a profane nation in ways that would make our first president wonder, no doubt, how the Lord of Heaven could let us proceed farther as a country. As much as I back Donald J. Trump and his much-beleaguered presidency, I must ask the question: Mr. President–cursing or blessing?

How can we expect the continued blessings of the Almighty when we allow such cesspool thinking and expression as Mr. Scaramucci used, representing a president of the United States, therefore representing us?

Anthony Scaramucci might be a tough, New York guy who uses street language to get things done. He did not have the right to use such while in an office that represents the rest of us, many of whom still prefer a more godly means of expression.

It is good that another general of excellent reputation, General John Kelly, evidently, according to reports, feels the same way. Scaramucci’s vulgar tirade to the New Yorker, in concert with his demand to be allowed to bypass the new chief of staff, General Kelly, was asked to leave the communications position he had occupied for only ten days.

Wise decision, Mr. President. Please consider the following in regard to your own language.

God’s Word says the following in use of language for the Christian–a tremendous number of those who voted for you:

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. (Ephesians 4: 29)

Even more to the point, James put it this way:

But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. (James 4: 8-15)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Explosive confrontations were spawned by an Israeli crackdown because of the murder of two Jewish policeman guarding a Temple Mount entranceway.

If there is one word that can define the tumult surrounding the Temple Mount in Jerusalem at this late hour of this dispensation, that word is hate. Hatred against the Jewish race and against Israel has again come to the boiling point. It is coming from, in addition to the usual suspects, a source considered by a large part of the world’s population to be a bastion of not hatred, but love.

Since this source is supposedly Christian–the Catholic pope–there is reason, from my point of view, to analyze the matters involved through troubled cogitation. I say this because much of the Christian world–the world to which I belong–believe the Jewish race and the nation Israel to be under satanic attack.

My view is that those who are outraged at the Jews and at Israel come not from a godly perspective, but from undiluted hatred. It is profoundly disconcerting, to say the least, that all of this vitriol comes from those claiming the Christian religion as their own.

Pope Francis is joined in his mild-mannered but sub-surface rage against Israel by the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. The Christian conglomerate, consisting of 13 religious bodies within the Jerusalem community, issued a joint statement condemning the violence surrounding the Temple Mount.

Although it was a condemnation of violence in general, the language reflects that of Pope Francis which, in tenor, was slanted toward support of the Muslim side. For example, the communiqué addressed all references to the sites of the area in Arabic terms rather than in Jewish or Christian terms. The statement clearly disregarded any connection of the Temple Mount area to the Jewish or Christian religions.

The statement read:

We, the Heads of Churches in Jerusalem, express our serious concern regarding recent escalation in violent developments around Haram ash-Sharif and our grief for the loss of human life and strongly condemn any act of violence.

The statement, like the Pope, placed the blame for the ongoing violence on the metal detectors and cameras Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has placed in key areas to prevent further terroristic acts. Netanyahu, it is reported, has agreed to remove the metal detectors at some point, but not all safeguards. He will keep cameras and other devices in place in spite of the tremendous criticism of governments around the world and of threats of further attacks from the Arab-Muslim troublemakers.

The 13-member Latin Patriarchate stated in its declaration:

We are worried about any change to historical (Status Quo) situation in al-Aqsa Mosque (Haram ash-Sharif) and its courtyard, and in the holy city of Jerusalem. Any threat to its continuity and integrity could easily lead to serious and unpredictable consequences, which would be most unwelcome in the present tense religious climate.

We value the continued custody of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan on Al-Aqsa Mosque and the holy places in Jerusalem and the Holy Land which guarantees the right for all Muslims to free access and worship to al Aqsa Mosque according to the prevailing Status Quo.

The following news item frames the “Christian” community’s condemning tone, directed toward Israel.

The statement made no mention of the Muslim terror attack that led to Israel placing the metal detectors at the entrances to the site. Nor did it refer to the horrific Palestinian terror attack on Friday.

Bishop Munib Younan, head of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Jordan and the Holy Land, said on Vatican radio that the metal detectors are a form of “collective punishment” which should not be permitted “because of an attack by two persons.”

The bishop claimed that thousands of Muslims pray at the site during Ramadan and “everything goes smoothly”. He did not mention the murder of IDF Border Policewoman Hadas Malkah, which took place during Ramadan.

“It’s essential to find a political solution to end the Israeli occupation, which is considered illegal,” the bishop concluded. (Catholic Churches in Jerusalem Blame Israel for Muslim Violence, Deny Biblical Roots of Temple Mount, By Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz, Israel News, July 23, 2017)

Though couched in high-sounding phraseology of religion-diplomatic speak, the hatred for the Jewish state is there. It is even more hateful in its thrust than such vitriol issued by other sources. This is because these are those who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ.

It is hate-speech of the most troubling sort, in my opinion.

Jesus, who is God, and, incidentally, is Israel’s Messiah, loves the Jewish people. To hate them and falsely accuse them, even though they certainly have erred greatly as have all other peoples, is to show hatred for Jesus.

The issuance of such condemnation, falling in line with all other hate-filled antagonists of God’s chosen people, invites, ultimately, the curse of God (Genesis 12:1-3).

Claiming to be “Christians”–if they are indeed so–these have no excuse for their deliberate denial that the Temple Mount as well as all the contested territory and far beyond was given to Israel in perpetuity by God, Himself.

Those who claim Christianity as their faith base should take into consideration what it means to hate that which the Lord loves. About hate and hatred, the Lord–who here was addressing Jews first, as the Church wasn’t born until Pentecost–said the following.

If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me…

They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.” (Jn 15: 18-21; 16: 2-3)

Rapture Ready News headlines tell the story. Things are shaking on and around Moriah, the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. It is the  geographical area most central to Bible prophecy yet future.

Those headlines are:

Muslim authority protests Temple Mount security measures, blocks entrance; Ministers approve bill aiming to take Jerusalem off the negotiating table Arab-Israeli lawmaker warns of third intifada after Friday attack

Closing the Aksa Mosque;

Jordan’s King Abdullah calls for calm after Temple Mount attack.. 

No doubt about it, things are moving and shaking on and around the Temple Mount. Considering all the other signals taking place in the world today, the import of this activity should alert the student of Bible prophecy to the lateness of the hour.

The Temple Mount is not only the nucleus problem of the historical, Arab/Israeli ages-long conflict. That place where once sat the Holy of Holies in the midst of the Temple, housing the Shekinah glory of God within the Ark of the Covenant, is at the heart of the spiritual warfare that began with man’s Fall in the Garden.

It is where the ram was provided for the sacrifice God required, sparing Abraham’s son Isaac from serving that purpose. It is very near where God’s own Son hung suspended between Heaven and Hell as sacrifice for the sin of mankind in order to provide eternal salvation.

Mount Moriah is where the Tribulation Temple will be built and where Satan’s evil one, the son of perdition, will claim himself to be God.  

There is coming a great, planetary spiritual earthquake, and its epicenter is this very spot that is smack in the middle of our headlines today.

The rumblings from that spiritual seismic area is growing daily.

When three terrorists murdered two Israeli police officers, the latest quivering of Moriah began.

The officers were killed near the gates to the Temple Mount and the Israeli prime minister took action that infuriated the Muslims of the region and around the world.

Netanyahu closed the Temple Mount to Muslim worship at the religion’s sites on the Mount. This brought immediate anger and threats of a third intifada, or violent uprising.

The Israeli prime minister eventually agreed to gradually open some areas for worship on the Temple Mount. (Only Muslims are allowed to worship there; the Jews are forbidden to do so.)

Netanyahu, however, placed detection devices–metal detectors and specially placed surveillance cameras–to restrict possible terrorist activity.

King Abdullah phoned the Israeli prime minister to lobby for the gates to be fully opened, thus access to the worship places restored.

Before leaving on his trip to France and Hungary, Netanyahu dismissed the oft-repeated charge that the Israeli government was “disrupting  the status quo” in Jerusalem and at the Temple unt. This is a charge that has brought on violent rampages from the Arabs in the past.

“I decided that as of tomorrow, in the framework of our policy of maintaining the status-quo, we will gradually open the Temple Mount, but with increased security measures,” Netanyahu said.

“This evening, I held a discussion with the top security leadership and I instructed that metal detectors be placed at the entrance gates to the Temple Mount. We will also install security cameras on poles outside the Temple Mount… which give almost complete control over what goes on there,” the prime minister added.

The action threw the Muslim element into a frenzy of threatened violence. The crowds could be heard shouting: “Disgrace, enough with that, you are suffocating us! Al-Aksa belongs to Muslims!”

The anger is directed at the new safeguards against terrorists bringing weapons into the Temple Mount area. Apparently, the safeguards Netanyahu installed are doing a good job of keeping out those tools of the Muslim militants who plan for future such actions as took the lives of the policemen.

Tremors spawned from the rage that continues to build in and around this most critical promontory on the map of prophecy yet future are scheduled to grow stronger, not weaker. We know that it is all moving toward the time Jesus Himself prophesied nearly 2 millennia ago.

“When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” (Matthew 24:15-21)

Christians could suddenly be called before Jesus Christ in any given moment of time.

Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (1 Corinthians 15:51-52) 

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)

We have for years in our Nearing Midnight commentaries been chronicling how close the world is to that spectacular moment. We have, using God’s Word, shown over and over that the lost of the world–all who have not accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior–will be left behind to go through suffering of unimaginable horror.

It doesn’t have to be that way for anyone. God tells all who will listen that He is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. God gives His plan of salvation for escaping eternity in hell and the way to escape this terrible time that is about to begin on earth once the Rapture occurs. The apostle Paul writes under divine inspiration the following:

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10: 9-10)

Acceptance of Christ for salvation must be made before, not after, the Rapture in order to escape the Tribulation. Now is the day of accepting Christ for salvation, the Bible says. Few who have rejected Christ before the Rapture will come to salvation after the Rapture, is how I believe the Scriptures have it.

I’m going to, prayerfully, presume you don’t want to go to that place of torment called the lake of fire, or go through the hell on planet earth called Tribulation–the last seven years leading up to Christ’s Second Coming. I’m presuming–again, prayerfully–that you will accept God’s plan of salvation as given above.

Now we will look at what God’s Word tells us is wrapped up in His plans for all who have been wise enough to humble themselves and accept His Son, Jesus the Christ, for the salvation of their eternal souls–that is, we will look at what I will term here as Heaven’s Awards Ceremony.

The great promises for Christians that follow have been put together by many astute Bible scholars and students over many years. I have long ago forgotten the sources in particular. I will just say here that mixed in with my own thoughts is the scholarship of many folks much elevated above my own. I do know that many of these thoughts on the bema are from Dr. Harold Wilmington of Liberty University.

Immediately upon the Church–all born-again believers (John 3:3)–being called into Heaven in the Rapture, all will stand before the bema (judgment seat of Christ). Jesus Christ will judge each person–not for punishment, but for eternal rewards. This judgment will be for giving awards for the ways in which the individual Christian has contributed to God’s glorious kingdom while living on planet earth.

Things on which Christians will be judged at the judgment seat of Christ:

1. How we treat other believers.

Hebrews 6:10

Matthew 10:41-42

2. How we exercise our authority over others.

Hebrews 13:17

James 3:1

3. How we employ our God-given abilities.

1 Corinthians 12: 4, 12

2 Timothy 1:6

1 Peter 4:10

Add to these Scriptures Jesus’ teaching of the parables of the ten pounds (Luke 19:11-26) and the talents (Matthew 25:14-29).

Each believer has at least one talent:

1 Corinthians 7:7; 12:7-11

Ephesians 4:7

1 Peter 4: 10

 

There are 18 of these gifts:

Romans 12

1 Corinthians 12

Ephesians 4

 

It’s up to each believer to find/discern his or her gifts.

4. How we use our money.

1 Corinthians 60: 2

2 Corinthians 9:6-7

1 Timothy 6:17-19

 

All belongs to God:

1 Peter 18-19

5. How we spend our time.

Psalms 90:12

Ephesians 5:16

Colossians 4:5

1 Peter 1: 17

6. How much we suffer for Jesus.

Matthew 5:11-12

Mark 10:29-30

Romans 8:18

2 Corinthians 4: 17

1 Peter 4:12-13

7. How we run that particular race God has chosen for us.

1 Corinthians 9:24

Philippians 2:16

Philippians 3:13-14

Hebrews 12:1

8. How effectively we control the old nature.

1 Corinthians 9:25-27

Greek word adokimos, “castaway,” means “disapproved.”

It means self is disapproved. Paul wanted to keep his old nature in check–seen in:

2 Timothy 2:15

1 Corinthians 16:3

Philippians 1:10

1 Thessalonians 2:4

9. How many souls we witness to and win to Christ.

Proverbs 11:30

Daniel 12:3

1 Thessalonians 2:19-20

10. How we react to temptation.

James 1:2-3

Revelation 3:10

11. How much the doctrine of the Rapture means to us.

2 Timothy 4:8

12. How faithful we are to the Word of God and the flock of God.

Acts 20:26-28

2 Timothy 4:1-2

1 Peter 5:2-4

What will be the results of the judgment seat of Christ?

Some will receive rewards.

1 Corinthians 3:14

Bible mentions at least 5 rewards:

1. The incorruptible crown, given to those who master the old nature.

1 Corinthians 9:25-27

2. The crown of rejoicing given to soul-winners.

Proverbs 11:30

Daniel 12:31 Thessalonians 2:19-20

3. The crown of life, given to those who successfully endure temptation.

James 1:2-3

Revelation 2:10

4. The crown of righteousness for those who especially love the doctrine of the Rapture.

2 Timothy 4:8

5. The crown of glory, given to faithful preachers and teachers.

Acts 20:26-28

2 Timothy 4:1-2

1 Peter 5:2-4

If Heaven’s Awards Ceremony sounds just a bit intimidating, it doesn’t have to be so. God’s holy view of what constitutes acceptable, even superior, service as His royal ambassadors is almost assuredly different to the way awards are given out by award-givers of the human variety here on earth.

Jesus told us that the last shall be first, and the first shall be last:

And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all. (Mark 9: 35)  

A truly humble spirit in serving the Lord through serving others–putting others first and ourselves last–will bring the believer to front and center of the bema seat–in Heaven’s Awards Ceremony.

Setting the stage for prophetic fulfillment continues at a quickening pace. Progression related to end times matters spread across the eschatological horizon, making choosing which particular topic to write about somewhat of an exertion—but a not unwelcome exercise.

News of the hour presents some fascinating directions in which to aim our attention. I’ve chosen three items for consideration in this commentary.

The first area of possible, even probable prophetic relevance is China’s increasingly hegemonic activity. Sino-expansionism is among the most blatant signals of stage setting for prophetic fulfillment.

Chinese leadership is projecting two-faced influence and manipulation through its new-found power as king of the kings of the east. They are employing their usual, inscrutable methodologies to convince the world community they are reliable partners with which to do business. On the other hand, the leadership—communists all—are not only building an enormous military capability, but making moves to intimidate their neighbors through provocative bullying encounters upon the high seas.

This bullying even includes flying military aircraft from the China Sea island bases they are creating in deliberate, near-miss incidents with American aircraft. China’s increasingly powerful navy more and more moves near the point to ramming some of our naval ships in the region. Thus, as the U.S. military challenges China’s obvious intention to claim increasingly territorial waters that are not theirs.

The following gives a flavor of China’s dangerous activity as of late:

The expansion of China’s military is no secret. Beijing raised the People’s Liberation Army budget by 7% this year, typical of its annual increases…

On Wednesday, the PLA Navy announced it had finished work on a destroyer warship that can displace 10,000 tons, according to the state-run China Daily News website. This is a particularly major advance. The extra-hardy, domestically built destroyer not only helps Beijing double down on its disputed claims in the East and South China Seas but also gives it new deterrent weight against its most powerful Asian rivals such as Japan and India. ***[Source: New Chinese Navy Destroyer Can Best Japan, India And Maybe the United States, Rapture Ready News, July 2, 2017]***

Chinese leader Xi Jinping, despite meetings with American President Donald Trump while smiling, promising to make an effort to corral the North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un, is presenting his own dictatorial propensities these days. Chinese President Xi Jinping has warned against “impermissible” challenges to Beijing’s authority over Hong Kong.

Mr. Xi was speaking at the swearing-in of the territory’s new leader Carrie Lam, as Hong Kong marked 20 years since its handover to China from Britain. In a speech, he said that Hong Kong needed to “improve its systems to uphold national sovereignty, security and development interests.”

“Any attempt to endanger China’s sovereignty and security, challenge the power of the central government… or use Hong Kong to carry out infiltration and sabotage activities against the mainland is an act that crosses the red line and is absolutely impermissible,” he said.

There is growing concern that the Chinese central government is undermining Hong Kong’s more politically liberal traditions, despite its promise to give it a high degree of autonomy. ***[Source: Xi Jinping warns Hong Kong over sovereignty ‘red line’ – BBC News]***

Secondly, in the matter of end times trending, we look briefly at the coalescing, Turkey-Iran relationship. It is a most fascinating element of the prophetic, stage-setting development in these closing days of this dispensation.

It is more than of curious interest to me that the new American president appears to have been, wittingly or unwittingly, again a catalyst for development of key Biblically prophetic preparation.

Donald Trump’s recent visit to Saudi during his Middle East trip, and his more-or-less pledge to come down on the side of the Saudi Kingdom as they face increasing threats from the likes of Iran, has set in motion a closer tie of two key Gog-Magog partners.

The newly forming closeness between Turkey and Iran is in view as they deal with the controversy over Qatar.

The following excerpt enlightens a bit:

The latest Iranian comments, as well as Turkey’s decision to send troops to Qatar amid a dispute with Saudi Arabia represent the creation of a new Qatar-Turkey-Iranian sphere of influence that has potential to influence the region and Israel. Qatar and Turkey have both had close relations with Hamas over the last decade. The creation of a warmer relationship between Doha, Ankara and Tehran could threaten Israel and could bring Jerusalem closer to Riyadh and Cairo. ***[Source: Turkey’s power-play in Qatar leads to warmer relations with Iran, By Seth J. Frantzman, Jerusalem Post]***

Turkey, under the almost overnight dictatorship formed by Tayyip Erdogan, seems headed in the direction of becoming at some point the entity Ezekiel the Prophet called Torgomah. His regime is embraced, apparently, by the Ayatollahs of Iran (Persia). It is a most interesting development that presents even more interesting possibilities.

The third and last item I would like to look at with you in considering end times trending is the matter of the slap-down it looks as if President Trump is in process of giving the globalists within his administration. This, if it has legs—as they say—is, in my opinion, key to stage-setting for the days of Noah, days of Lot prophecy by the Lord Jesus. Again, that prophecy is found in Christ’s Olivet discourse in Matthew 24: 36-42 and in Luke 17: 26-30.

In brief, I continue to believe that America—and much of the world—is about to experience not an economic melt-down, but an economic boom, based upon Jesus’ words in that prophecy.

The globalists, I sense, were feeling as if they about had Mr. Trump pulled over to their sides in the matter of America’s trade relations. It looked very much like the president would put their agenda, rather than America first—continuing to let America’s wealth drift out without quid pro quo. Now, because of the president’s recent action, the Wall Street types are fearing a global trade war that would end their grasp on U.S. wealth in particular.

The news excerpt informs.

While one of Trump’s recurring campaign promises was that he would “punish” China and other key US trade counterparties if elected, for taking advantage of free-trade by imposing steep tariffs and duties on foreign imports to “level the playing field,” the president’s stance changed drastically after the election, U-turning following his amicable meeting with China’s President Xi Jinping in March, but mostly as a result of pressure by his ex-Goldman advisors to keep existing trade arrangements in place and not “rock the boat.”

Now, all that may be about to fall apart.

And what may be even more striking is that Trump overruled his cabinet, as “the sentiment in the room was 22 against, and 3 in favor — but since one of the three is named Donald Trump, it was case closed.” Axios adds that while “no decision has been made, the President is leaning towards imposing tariffs, despite opposition from nearly all his Cabinet.” ***[Source: Trump “Overrules” Cabinet, Prepares To Unleash Global Trade War, Zero Hedge]***

Needless to say, if Trump follows through, the outcome would have a profound effect on U.S. economic and foreign policy; Trump will formalize his decision in the coming days.

Donald J. Trump might just be president at this moment for the end times buying, selling, building, etc., prophesied by the Lord Himself. It is at just such a time Jesus tells us the following: “Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.” (Lk 17: 28-30)

 

 

First I must preface this week’s commentary. Those who have read my articles and books over many years–I prayerfully hope–know that I am not one who speculates wildly on what God’s Word has to say on any matter. The Lord knows that my overwhelming desire is to say no more and no less than what He wants me to say in any given instance.

Likewise, discernment is among the most important things that must be possessed by as well as employed by any writer who endeavors to put forth what the Holy Spirit urges him or her to write. More specifically, it is imperative that truth from the mind of God be at the center of each and every biblical examination and analysis exploring the issues and events of our times. My prayer is that I never violate this rubric.

With that said, I want to consider a most unusual matter involving the all but totally unexpected rise to presidential power of Donald J. Trump. I say “all but totally unexpected” because there were hundreds of thousands of us–if not millions–who knew the 2016 presidential election could well go in the direction opposite of what the politicos and pundits were saying. We knew that 2 Chronicles 7:14 was still in effect. The Lord could, if it was within His holy will, turn America in a different direction in answer to His people’s prayers.

Those prayers were answered in a spectacular way. In that regard, now is time to continue praying that the Lord will restrain the evil that is attempting at every level of culture, society, and government to undo that election.

The effort of the combined, globalist cabal to bring down the Trump presidency should be obvious even to the casual observer, it seems to me.

It is equally obvious that Mr. Trump is not president of the United States because he is a godly man. But that he is God’s man for this critical hour cannot, in my estimation, be denied. He is in that position, the most powerful in the world, because the God of Heaven put him there. He is in office for some divine purpose. I believe we are about to be witness to that purpose over the coming weeks, months, and perhaps years.

Now to get to the factor that caused me to ask that you remember my fidelity to handling God’s Word with great care over my years of writing commentaries and books. This isn’t meant to simply convince you of how faithful Terry James is. It is to remind you that I’m not one with a history of kooky dissection of our times by using God’s Word to create sensationalism in any form–i.e., the things I’m about to consider here will take the reader’s sense of credulity perhaps to its limits. Please bear with me, nonetheless.

It was July of 2016. Someone with whom I’m an occasional email correspondent sent me a link to a website. It was a link to a cybercast program of True News.

I rarely ever listen to programs, unless they are recommended by trusted friends and associates. This is partly because my time to do so is limited, and, admittedly, I have listened to some that are speculative beyond the pale.

I listened to this particular program. It was, at that time in July, almost four months until the presidential election of November 8, 2016. The program host and cohost were interviewing a retired fireman named Mark Taylor. Mr. Taylor went through a most fascinating story of a “vision” he said the Lord had given him. He said he could think of no other word to call it than a “vision.”

Taylor laid out his “vision” that gave details of how Donald Trump would become president. The details included the fact that the very foundations of hell would come against him. This force include the mainstream news media, entertainment media, and the entire globalist cabal, as I recall.

I filed that cybercast program, thinking I would be checking back to see how wrong this “visionary” had been. I subconsciously hoped he was right, but could not, of course, bring myself to believe in such sensationalism.

Here is a brief excerpt of what I wrote to my emailer-friend upon receiving the link to Mr. Taylor’s “vision”:

Sondra,

I’m sorry, but I just can’t put credence in these kinds of predictions based upon dreams. Sorry if that disappoints you, and if it seems hypocritical based upon my own reports of the visit to the periphery of Heaven when my heart stopped those three times on good Friday of 2011.

I’m for Trump over Hillary. There’s no way this nation can survive such a government as she would bring upon us, with Obama having already set in motion our spiral downward. So, I certainly want him to win the election. (Although, I’m, sadly, very skeptical that the nation will turn around regardless of who becomes president.)

Here is the link my friend sent at the time: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axhClQmJMHw

Regardless of my note of reply, Mark Taylor’s story of his “vision” stuck deeply in my mind. In telling the story, he gave proof that he had been given this “vision” years before–in the year 2011–before Donald Trump ever announced as candidate for president. His is such a vivid and detailed picture of just how things turned out and continue to unfold that I had to contact him. He proved to be a man I now call friend and brother in Christ. He has a book coming out soon detailing the scope of the vision he believes he has been given. Here is the link to that book. It’s title is The Trump Prophecies: The Astonishing True Story of the Man Who Saw Tomorrow… 

https://www.amazon.com/Trump-Prophecies-Astonishing-Tomorrow-Coming/dp/

You can get more information about Mark Taylor and the book at the following.

http://www.skywatchtvstore.com/SupernaturalAwakeningsCollection-p/tp-rad-aaa.htm

As those who follow our “Nearing Midnight” commentaries each week know, we have dwelt on the ongoing details of the political season and things that have unfolded since. There are, I believe, deep, spiritual intrigues taking place with each day that passes. It is a certainty in my view that Donald Trump’s election and the tremendous resistance to his being put into office is testimony to the reality that we are in prophetic times very near the end of the Age of Grace.

Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him. (Daniel 2:20-22)

Truth about what God promises those who are “saved” continues to be mistaught and misunderstood. Nothing is more important to lost humanity than truth regarding the disposition of the soul in relationship to Jesus Christ and to God the Father.

Religionists of the world teach a variety of pathways through life. These propagate many false teachings about how to attain their various ideas of life after death.

Most such ministers advocate conducting one’s life in a way that displays good works. A social gospel of works is perhaps the most common thread found throughout this sort of religiosity.

Good works, however, like is said of beauty, are in the eye of the beholder. Good works are one thing to someone who is a Hari Krishna devotee. Good works mean something quite different to a follower of Allah who holds strictly to Sharia Law. One might hold out flowers to another person in his or her version of peace and love in an attempt to evangelize. The other too often whips out a scimitar and threatens decapitation if the one being witnessed to doesn’t bow the knee to Allah. Point is, each effort to make new converts is, in that religion’s view, considered “good works.

But it is the erroneous teaching on the topic of salvation within Christianity that is the most problematic to the true believer in Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, as I see it.

Most of God’s children–those who are truly saved–can recognize the cults and isms of the world’s religions as false. Christians who fail to study and pray over the Holy Scripture, however, are, sadly, all too often easily misled about doctrinal truth found in the Bible. Even otherwise solid teachers of biblical truth are sometimes egregiously wrong when teaching on salvation and the security of the believer.

Again: Nothing is more important than our soul’s relationship to Jesus Christ and to God the Father. While one who teaches conditional security of the believer isn’t necessarily in the same classification as the false religionists of the world who preach and teach “another gospel” than Jesus Christ and Him crucified, their error is very serious.

Theirs is serious error because it, like the false religions of the world, holds up works as necessary for salvation.

They teach that believers, after accepting Christ, as given in Romans 10: 9-10, must then work to maintain their salvation. They must live holy lives throughout their remaining time in this flesh. They must, through their own devices–assisted by constantly being filled with the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost–hold on to the salvation or else risk losing it. Thus their salvation–in this system of teaching–is conditional upon the work of the believer.

Living a life of being holy and of being filled with the Holy Spirit is, of course, ideal. We must all aspire to live such a life as Christians. But, we all sin, and we are told in 1 John 1:6-8 that if we say we don’t sin we are liars. The truth is not in us.

We certainly should constantly repent of wrong in order to be cleansed of all unrighteousness, we are told in 1 John 1:9. But nowhere in Scripture are we told that, once saved, we can lose our salvation through sin and then be reborn again.

Rapture Not Conditional

Like in the matter of salvation, the believer is unconditionally secure, in that he or she will go to be with Christ in the Rapture. This is true no matter the Christian’s walk with the Lord at the time of that great event.

Some years ago, I wrote the following in this regard.

Going to Christ when He calls as Paul outlines in 1 Corinthians 15:51-55 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, and given by John in Revelation 4:1-2, is a salvation matter. We know that from the overall gospel message and from the total context of God’s dealing with His family. Remember when Jesus prayed that beautiful prayer to His Father, as the Lord faced the cross (John 17)? Read it again, and you will see that it is absolutely clear that born-again believers are forever secure in the Father’s hand, based upon what Jesus did on the cross.

We know with absolute certainty that we are once and forever in God’s family because of the words of the One who created all that exists: “My Father, which gave [them] me, is greater than all; and no [man] is able to pluck [them] out of my Father’s hand” (John 10:29).

Paul confirms that the Rapture is a salvation matter as follows: “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do” (1 Thessalonians 5:9-11).

The Rapture will be Christ keeping us from the hour of temptation or Tribulation (read Revelation 3:10). The Tribulation is the time of God’s wrath–to which Paul tells us we are “not appointed.” However, there are many who insist that Christians who haven’t properly confessed their sins will go through that time of God’s wrath (and the entire seven years of the Tribulation will be God’s judgment and wrath). These use the following verse to make their case: “Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man” (Luke 21:36).

The key word they hold forth as relevant here is the word “worthy.” Does this word not mean that we as born-again believers must be good enough to stand before Jesus in that raptured throng? Does this word not mean, therefore, that if we fail to live up to God’s standards while on this Earth, we will (at some point in God’s holy view of what it takes to fall from being Rapture ready) lose our ticket in that translation moment, thus not be taken when the shout is heard, “Come up hither!”?

Like in examining the issue of salvation itself, we now look at the word “worthy.” What does it mean to be “worthy,” as given in this Rapture example? Again, the answer is wrapped up in the same name as before: “Jesus.” Jesus is the only person “worthy,” in God’s holy eyes, to be in the heavenly realm.

Remember what Jesus said to a man who addressed Him as “Good Master”? “And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God” (Luke 18:18).

Jesus, the second Person of the Godhead, was not seeking to chastise the man for addressing Him in this way. The Lord was confirming through this question that He is indeed God, the only good, the only righteousness. Righteousness is the only ticket to Heaven–either through the portal of death, or through the Rapture. Only through Jesus–being born again into God’s family through belief in Him–can a person enter the heavenly realm.

Jesus spoke to this all-important matter by addressing Nicodemus: “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).

God’s Word says about fallen mankind: “As it is written, There is none righteous no not one” (Romans 8:10) and, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

So, Jesus is the only person “worthy” to enter Heaven. It is through Him that any of us are worthy to stand before Him in that heavenly realm. That is the truth found in the Scripture in question.

On a less magnificent scale, the word “worthy” in this passage means that we should be in a constant mindset of prayerful repentance. We should always want to be found “worthy”—

cleansed of all unrighteousness, as stated in 1 John 1: 9, so that we will hear our Lord say to us on that day, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:23).

That said, if you have in your heart (deepest reaches of your spirit/soul) believed in the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ and have confessed with your mouth that He is your Savior, your salvation is sure. You’re going to be with Him when He calls–either through death or in the Rapture. That is certain.

 

U.S. presidential candidate Donald J. Trump’s declaration was loud and clear: “We will move the American Embassy from Tel Aviv to Israel’s capital, Jerusalem!”

This was the candidate’s core promise involving Israel throughout the long, disputatious, campaign season. It was at least a part of why many within the religious right supported the Trump candidacy.

So it was that when President Trump made the announcement after his trip to the Middle East and to Jerusalem a cry of betrayal went up from his base of support. His administration will not for the foreseeable future move the American Embassy from Tel Aviv to Israel’s capital.

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump signed a temporary order on Thursday to keep the U.S. embassy in Israel in Tel Aviv instead of relocating it to Jerusalem, despite his campaign pledge to go ahead with the controversial move.

After months of fierce debate within his administration, Trump chose to continue his predecessors’ policy of signing a six-month waiver overriding a 1995 law requiring that the embassy be transferred to Jerusalem, an action that would have complicated his efforts to restart Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. (“Trump delays moving U.S embassy to Jerusalem despite campaign pledge,” Reuters, By Matt Spetalnick)

The White House was quick to report that the president was by no means lessening his support for Israel. Also, they made clear that the move of the embassy is only delayed. It will still be moved to Jerusalem is the word that continues to come from the administration–thus, though there has been no time table set for such a move.

White House sources said: “The question is not if that move happens, but only when.”

The statement further said that the president’s decision to defer the move for now was made “to maximize the chances of successfully negotiating a deal between Israel and the Palestinians, fulfilling his solemn obligation to defend America’s national security interests.”

President Trump said at the 2016 AIPAC conference in Washington DC, “We will move the American embassy to the eternal capital of the Jewish people, Jerusalem.” He remained silent about his pledge to make the move, however, following his November 8 election.

There are many within the Christian community who supported him who are worried that this means Trump is a wolf in sheep’s clothing, as the saying goes. I am even getting emails, as I wrote last week, from those who are beginning to say he has Antichrist characteristics. Some especially look at his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, with suspicion in that regard.

Some believe that the entire matter involving Trump’s decision to remove the United States from the Paris Accords on climate change was to create a diversion from the supposed fact that he was betraying his campaign promise regarding the embassy move to Jerusalem.

I harbor no such suspicions–at least not to this point in observing this president’s actions and activities. He has proven a man of his word to this point. He hasn’t not moved the embassy–only delayed that move.

Considering the current climate of distrust and animus between the Jews and their enemy Muslim neighbors, it is, in my opinion, wise to proceed cautiously, while intending fully to move the embassy at the best possible diplomatic moment.

At the same time, I urge the president to move the embassy. It will be an act that shows the desire to bless Israel–never the wrong thing to do.

He has, in my estimation, been very forthright in stating why he made the decision to delay. We will see if he follows through on his White House promise: “The question is not if that move happens, but only when.”

One thing is absolutely certain. God’s touchstone city to the entire world will one day be the capital of the millennial earth. God has reserved great things for this place He calls “the apple of my eye.”

Again the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I was jealous for her with great fury. Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain…And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness. (Zechariah 8:1-4, 8)