Well, we’ve got good news and bad news.

The bad news?

After more than 3 years of articles, this is BrittGillette.com’s last post.

The good news?

We’ve re-launched the site as End Times Bible Prophecy!

You can visit us here:

www.end-times-bible-prophecy.com

Hopefully, you will find the new site to be a vast improvement over BrittGillette.com.

End Times Bible Prophecy is a Site Build It! website.  Click here to learn why we used Site Build It! to create the new site…

In the meantime, if you’re currently a subscriber to the Feedblitz Email Feed for BrittGillette.com, you’ll need to sign up for the free, monthly End Times Bible Prophecy Newsletter if you want to continue being notified of new articles.

Thank you for all of your support over the last several years!  Our family looks forward to sharing God’s Word  with you on the new site as well…

Your friend in Christ,

Britt

Recently, our family decided to get serious about directing a set portion of our monthly income toward God’s purposes.  This is an idea based on the Old Testament concept of tithing:

“Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me! ‘But you ask, ‘What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you?’  ‘You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me.  You are under a curse, for your whole nation has been cheating me.  Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,’ says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, ‘I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!’”  Malachi 3:8-11 (NLT)

Old Testament law required some Israelites to give the first 10% of their crops or every tenth animal if they raised cattle to various purposes, including support of the Levites, the Temple priests, and the poor.

But tithing is an Old Testament law applicable to the Israelites.  The blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ, exempts today’s believers from Old Testament rules and regulations such as tithing.  Nevertheless, we’re still expected to have giving hearts…

“You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God.  Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror.  How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless?”  James 2:19-20 (NLT)

This doesn’t mean that faith itself is worthless, or that good deeds are a necessary component of salvation.  What it does mean is that true faith will give rise to a loving heart and a life overflowing with good works.  True love for God doesn’t manifest itself in a perceived obligation to give, but in a zealous willingness to give:

“Remember this - a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop.  You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. ‘For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.’  And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.”  2 Corinthians 9:6-8 (NLT)

For the true believer, giving in honor of God is its own reward.  It doesn’t come from a sense of obligation.

So if a believer chooses to cheerfully give to others in honor of God, where should he direct his efforts?

That’s a good question, and one I set out to find an answer for.

The bible has a lot to say on the subject, and this article is more of a starting point than a definitive study.  But here’s a few places where you might want to consider directing your gift offerings…

Giving to the Poor

Giving to the poor is one way to honor God with our gifts:

“If you help the poor, you are lending to the Lord - and he will repay you!” Proverbs 19:17 (NLT)

According to the bible, giving help to the poor is the same as giving help to God Himself and such good deeds will not be forgotten…

“As the Scriptures say, ‘They share freely and give generously to the poor.  Their good deeds will be remembered forever.”  2 Corinthians 9:9 (NLT)

Giving to the Hungry

The bible also sanctions giving to the hungry.  As this passage suggests, the early Christians were very giving in their donations to famine victims:

“During this time some prophets traveled from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them named Agabus stood up in one of the meetings and predicted by the Spirit that a great famine was coming upon the entire Roman world. (This was fulfilled during the reign of Claudius.) So the believers in Antioch decided to send relief to the brothers and sisters in Judea, everyone giving as much as they could.  This they did, entrusting their gifts to Barnabas and Saul to take to the elders of the church in Jerusalem.”  Acts 11:27-30 (NLT)

While mankind can not live off of bread alone, people still need food.  And a charitable Christian acts as God’s ambassador, bringing the Good News of Christ to the poor through the example of a personal act of generosity.

Giving to Those in Need

In addition to the poor and the hungry, we should, as a general rule, give to those in need:

“When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them.  Always be eager to practice hospitality.”  Romans 12:13 (NLT)

“Sell your possessions and give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven!”  Luke 12:33 (NLT)

As Job points out, a refusal to help those in need can be indicative of a hardened and self-consumed heart.  But God’s Judgment will be lighter on those who are empathetic and generous:

“Have I refused to help the poor, or crushed the hopes of widows?  Have I been stingy with my food and refused to share it with orphans?  No, from childhood I have cared for orphans like a father, and all my life I have cared for widows.  Whenever I saw the homeless without clothes and the needy with nothing to wear, did they not praise me for providing wool clothing to keep them warm?  If I raised my hand against an orphan, knowing the judges would take my side, then let my shoulder be wrenched out of place!  Let my arm be torn from its socket!  That would be better than facing God’s judgment.  For if the majesty of God opposes me, what hope is there?”  Job 31:16-23 (NLT)

Some early Christians willingly gave of their own possessions to help fellow Christians in need, and God’s blessing was upon them all:

“All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had.  The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all.  There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need.”  Acts 4:32-35 (NLT)

So giving to those in need, especially fellow Christians in need, is one place where you can direct your gift offerings in honor of God.

Giving to Your Own Household

Of course, all giving must start in your own household.  As Jesus points out, zero tolerance legalism is no excuse for abandoning responsibility for your own family:

“But you say it is all right for people to say to their parents, ‘Sorry, I can’t help you. For I have vowed to give to God what I would have given to you.’  In this way, you say they don’t need to honor their parents.  And so you cancel the word of God for the sake of your own tradition.  You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote, ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.  Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.’”  Matthew 15:5-9 (NLT)

And as Paul states, Christian love and compassion begins in the home:

“But those who won’t care for their relatives, especially those in their own household, have denied the true faith. Such people are worse than unbelievers.” 1 Timothy 5:8 (NLT)

And…

“If a woman who is a believer has relatives who are widows, she must take care of them and not put the responsibility on the church. Then the church can care for the widows who are truly alone.” 1 Timothy 5:16 (NLT)

So if you’re wondering where God wants you to direct your gift offerings, one place to start looking is those within your own family…

Giving to Spread the Gospel

God also wants us to give of our resources to help those who preach and teach the Gospel of our Lord.  Hard work should be adequately compensated, and being a faithful teacher and preacher of the Word of God is hard work:

“Those who are taught the word of God should provide for their teachers, sharing all good things with them.”  Galatians 6:6 (NLT)

As Paul states, those who preach the Good News of Jesus Christ should be supported just as those who worked in the Temple were supported by the Old Testament Israelites:

“Don’t you realize that those who work in the temple get their meals from the offerings brought to the temple? And those who serve at the altar get a share of the sacrificial offerings.  In the same way, the Lord ordered that those who preach the Good News should be supported by those who benefit from it.”  1 Corinthians 9:13-14 (NLT)

The Old Testament Temple workers were supported by the tithes and gift offerings of those who benefited from use of the Temple.  Likewise, those who benefit from hearing the Gospel of Jesus Christ should support those who help spread it:

“Elders who do their work well should be respected and paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching.  For the Scripture says, ‘You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain.’  And in another place, ‘Those who work deserve their pay!’”  1 Timothy 5:17-18 (NLT)

Preaching the Word of God is real work, no different than the work of a day laborer who toils in the field.  This work should be respected and supported.

Again, Paul sheds light on the subject:

“As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I first brought you the Good News and then traveled on from Macedonia. No other church did this.  Even when I was in Thessalonica you sent help more than once.  I don’t say this because I want a gift from you. Rather, I want you to receive a reward for your kindness.  At the moment I have all I need - and more! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God.  And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:15-19 (NLT)

“Was I wrong when I humbled myself and honored you by preaching God’s Good News to you without expecting anything in return?  I ‘robbed’ other churches by accepting their contributions so I could serve you at no cost.  And when I was with you and didn’t have enough to live on, I did not become a financial burden to anyone. For the brothers who came from Macedonia brought me all that I needed. I have never been a burden to you, and I never will be.”  2 Corinthians 11:7-9 (NLT)

What could be more precious and life enriching than the Word of God?  It’s more valuable than all the food and gold and silver and riches of the world.  Yet many of us will eagerly pay the merchant in full and on time, while denying champions of God adequate provision for food, clothing, and shelter.  Why?

God wants us to give in many ways, and one of the most important is giving in order to spread the Gospel.

Giving As The Holy Spirit Compels You

Does giving to spread the Gospel mean that Christians should lavish money on local church organizations, local preachers, or televangelists?

No.  Not necessarily.

There’s a great distinction between the world’s idea of “the church” and the true body of Christ.

Remember, the Apostle Paul did not preach from the pulpit of a fixed point brick-and-mortar building in 30 minute increments one day a week.  He was a man without a home - a vagabond traveler who preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all who would listen.

Supporting the spreading of the Gospel doesn’t necessarily mean we should give 10% of our weekly earnings to our local church minister (no matter how much our local church ministers would like to convince us otherwise).  There are many ways to support the Gospel of Christ through gift offerings of prayer and service and money given to missionaires, itinerant preachers, and others.  Some of the best ministries in the world are headquartered on the Internet - sites like Rapture Ready, Rapture Alert, Prophezine, and others.

We’re encouraged to give as we’re moved by the Holy Spirit…

“Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink?  Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing?  When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ ‘And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’”   Matthew 25:37-40 (NLT)

As such, giving should not be confined to the local chapter of the Red Cross or the local bricks-and-mortar church.  It’s much more personal.  Giving, as directed by the Holy Spirit, is a one-on-one experience.  Human being to human being, with God acting as the connecting presence inbetween.

The presence of the Holy Spirit produces a well-spring of love and compassion that should compel us to give to those in need, to give eagerly of our own free will…

God Wants Us To Give Of Our Own Free Will

Because God has given us so much through the gift of salvation, purchased with the blood of Jesus Christ, our joyous gratitude should produce an abundance of generosity toward others…

“Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia.  They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity.  For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will.  They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem.  They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do. So we have urged Titus, who encouraged your giving in the first place, to return to you and encourage you to finish this ministry of giving.  Since you excel in so many ways - in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us - I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving.”  2 Corinthians 8:1-7 (NLT)

If you’re blessed with great monetary riches, you should use your wealth to further God’s purposes as directed by the Holy Spirit.  Put your trust in God, not money.  Use your abundance and position of strength to help others, to be generous to those in need:

“Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment.  Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others.  By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life.”  1 Timothy 6:17-19 (NLT)

Remember always that the wealth of this world is fleeting, but the riches of God are forever.  For how you allocate your resources and where you direct your gifts in this world will determine your position in the next:

“If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.  And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven?”  Luke 16:10-11 (NLT)

And it doesn’t matter how much you give, but how much you give relative to your ability…

“Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts.  Then a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins.  Jesus called his disciples to him and said, ‘I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions.  For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.’”  Mark 12:41-44 (NLT)

That said, you should always give willingly, not out of a sense of obligation.  In the end, God will reward us all accordingly…

“Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full - pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.” Luke 6:38 (NLT)

Don’t Call Attention To Your Gift Offerings

One final note…

When giving for God’s purpose, beware of your human pride.  For many have fallen into the trap of giving in order to receive human praise for what they have done.  As Jesus says, such people have already received their reward - fleeting and worthless human praise…

“Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven.  When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do - blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.  Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.”  Matthew 6:1-4 (NLT)

So when you give, it’s best to do so in secret, if possible.  Then, only God will know your good deed, and your only motive is praise from God - a valuable and everlasting reward!

If you find this site helpful, please consider a donation to support this ministry.

When it comes to Satan, hell, and bible prophecy, a number of myths and misunderstandings have taken root over the years.

It’s important to correct these myths, because people need to know the truth.

Not only the truth about what is, but the truth about what’s going to be…

The bible has a lot to say about Satan, hell, and the future.  And knowing what the bible says helps us to develop a worldview grounded in truth and perspective.

If we want to understand the world around us, now and in the future, it’s essential to know what the bible says.

So let’s address two widespread myths which persist to this day…

Myth #1: Satan Resides in Hell

One of the most persistent cultural myths in our lifetime is the idea that Satan resides in hell.  In the images of pop culture, Satan is pictured as the undisputed ruler of hell.

But according to the bible, Satan is not in hell.  In fact, according to the bible, Satan splits his time between this world and heaven.

This concept is clearly illustrated in the Book of Job, when Satan himself comes before the Lord…

“One day the members of the heavenly court came again to present themselves before the Lord, and the Accuser, Satan, came with them.”  Job 2:1 (NLT)

It’s clear from this passage that Satan isn’t a prisoner of eternal torment in hell as conventional wisdom so often states.

On the contrary, the bible portrays him as having regular access to God.  The Book of Revelation calls him, “the one who accuses them before our God day and night.” Revelation 12:10 (NLT)

This verse paints a portrait of Satan as a heavenly figure who accuses the followers of Christ day and night before the Lord of Creation.  In its entirety, this prophetic passage also clearly states that Satan will be thrown down to earth…

“For the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down to earth – the one who accuses them before our God day and night.” Revelation 12:10 (NLT)

And that begs the question…  Thrown down from where?  The obvious implication is that Satan will be thrown down from heaven, where he currently resides.

If this is true, where do we get the idea that Satan resides in hell?

Well, we get it from the bible…  But what is often misunderstood is that hell is not Satan’s present residence; it’s his future destination.

Right now (the pre-Tribulation period), Satan is in heaven.  But his days in heaven are numbered.  God will not endure Satan’s presence forever, and the time which is marked for Satan’s permanent exile from heaven is the mid-point of the Tribulation.

As the Book of Revelation reveals…

“Then there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon and his angels. And the dragon lost the battle, and he and his angels were forced out of heaven. This great dragon – the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world – was thrown down to the earth with all his angels.” Revelation 12:7-9 (NLT)

It’s a commonly held belief that Satan and his rebellious angels were banished from heaven long ago, but that’s a myth.

Satan’s banishment is a future event, one slated for the last days.

And Satan will not become a resident of hell until after the Glorious Appearing of Jesus Christ, when he is bound and thrown into the lake of fire…

“Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven with the key to the bottomless pit and a heavy chain in his hand. He seized the dragon – that old serpent, who is the devil, Satan – and bound him in chains for a thousand years.  The angel threw him into the bottomless pit, which he then shut and locked so Satan could not deceive the nations anymore until the thousand years were finished.” Revelation 20:1-3 (NLT)

And that leads us to a second myth…

Myth #2: Satan Will Rule Over Hell

The second myth involves Satan’s ultimate role in hell.

If you buy into the conventional wisdom, Satan is the undisputed ruler of hell, a place where he wields power over fellow inhabitants, torturing them day and night.

But the bible paints a different picture…

It’s a picture of Satan as a defeated being who is mocked mercilessly and ridiculed by the very people he led astray…

“In the place of the dead there is excitement over your arrival. The spirits of world leaders and mighty kings long dead stand up to see you. With one voice they all cry out, ‘Now you are as weak as we are!  Your might and power were buried with you.  The sound of the harp in your palace has ceased.  Now maggots are your sheet, and worms your blanket.’” Isaiah 14:9-11 (NLT)

Rather than facing an eternal future as dictator of hell, Satan faces a humbling future as the lowest of the low in hell…

“How you are fallen from heaven, O shining star, son of the morning!  You have been thrown down to the earth, you who destroyed the nations of the world.  For you said to yourself, ‘I will ascend to heaven and set my throne above God’s stars.  I will preside on the mountain of the gods far away in the north.  I will climb to the highest heavens and be like the Most High.’  Instead, you will be brought down to the place of the dead, down to its lowest depths. Everyone there will stare at you and ask, ‘Can this be the one who shook the earth and made the kingdoms of the world tremble? Is this the one who destroyed the world and made it into a wasteland? Is this the king who demolished the world’s greatest cities and had no mercy on his prisoners?’” Isaiah 14:12-17 (NLT)

Despite his ambition, this is Satan’s ultimate fate.

And he knows it.  After all, Satan also studies the scriptures, as evidenced by his use of scripture in his temptation of Jesus:

“Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, ‘If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect you.  And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’” Matthew 4:5-6 (NLT)

Here, Satan exhibits full knowledge of Psalm 91:11-12, and you can be absolutely certain he knows Isaiah 14, Revelation 12, Revelation 20, and the rest of God’s Word.

That’s why, when Satan is thrown down to earth, he arrives in great anger.  Because he knows his time is short…

“Therefore, rejoice, O heavens!  And you who live in the heavens, rejoice!  But terror will come on the earth and the sea, for the devil has come down to you in great anger, knowing that he has little time.”  Revelation 12:12 (NLT)

In a last ditch effort to avoid to his fate, Satan will attempt to annihilate the Jews…

“When the dragon realized that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child.”  Revelation 12:13 (NLT)

Why is Satan trying to annihilate the Jews?

Because, if he’s successful in doing so, he wins an enormous victory over God.

After all, God made a promise to Abraham…

“The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you.  I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others.  I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.’” Genesis 12:1-3 (NLT)

And God’s promise included the land of Israel…

“Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, ‘I will give this land to your descendants.’” Genesis 12:7 (NLT)

If Satan can eliminate the physical descendants of Abraham, then he makes God a liar.  Does this help shed some light on why anti-Semitism persists and why Hitler so vehemently pursued the Holocaust?

Satan was, and is, behind it all.

But this hatred isn’t reserved exclusively for the Jews.  God’s promise to Abraham included Abraham’s spiritual descendants as well…

“Clearly, God’s promise to give the whole earth to Abraham and his descendants was based not on his obedience to God’s law, but on a right relationship with God that comes by faith.  If God’s promise is only for those who obey the law, then faith is not necessary and the promise is pointless.”  Romans 4:13-14 (NLT)

And who are Abraham’s spiritual descendants?

Those who forge “a right relationship with God that comes by faith.”

When Satan is thrown down to the earth, he will ruthlessly pursue those people too…

“And the dragon was angry at the woman and declared war against the rest of her children – all who keep God’s commandments and maintain their testimony for Jesus.”  Revelation 12:17 (NLT)

Does this help you better understand Christian persecution throughout the ages?

Satan hates Jews and Christians, because both are beneficiaries of God’s promise to Abraham…  God’s promise to give the whole earth to Abraham and his descendants.

Right now, Satan commands great influence over the inhabitants of this world…

“Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe.” 2 Corinthians 4:4 (NLT)

But Satan’s rule is destined to come to an end, and he knows it.

That’s why the Tribulation is such a terrible time in human history.  Knowing he has little time, Satan will deploy the full use of his power in a feeble attempt to prove God’s Word false and avoid his ultimate destination…  Hell.

As a result, terrible times are coming, but those with faith will avoid the great time of testing…

“Because you have obeyed my command to persevere, I will protect you from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world.  I am coming soon.  Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown. All who are victorious will become pillars in the Temple of my God, and they will never have to leave it.  And I will write on them the name of my God, and they will be citizens in the city of my God – the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from my God. And I will also write on them my new name.” Revelation 3:10-12 (NLT)

In the meantime…

We should trust in Christ.  We should obey His commandments, and use what little time we have left on this earth to bring glory to God.  We should preach His Word to those who will listen.  And we should show love for friends and enemies alike, doing unto to others as we would have them do unto us.

We should live our lives as faithful servants of Christ, and look forward to the day when we hear a loud voice shouting across the heavens…

“It has come at last – salvation and power and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ.  For the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down to earth – the one who accuses them before our God day and night.  And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony.  And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die.  Therefore, rejoice, O heavens!  And you who live in the heavens, rejoice!”  Revelation 12:10-12 (NLT)

Amen!  Come, Lord Jesus!

If you find this site helpful, please consider a donation to support this ministry.

Recently, I read a blog post and accompanying comments which addressed an article I had previously written.  Unfortunately, the post and some of the comments focused on challenging the Word of God and denigrating believers in Jesus Christ.

But this is nothing new.  We’ve seen these types of comments before.

They go something like this…

“The bible is a fairy tale.”
“God is completely made up.”
“Why won’t God show Himself?”
“Where’s the evidence of God?”
“Christians are idiots with blind faith in fairy tales.”

Some of these statements are blatantly false opinions unsubstantiated by fact, while others are legitimate questions.  The remainder of this article will attempt address these points for the non-believer.

Is God Made Up?

God is certainly not a figment of man’s imagination.  In fact, it’s the idea that God doesn’t exist that’s a concept invented by mankind, not the other way around.

As God is quick to remind us…

“Only fools say in their hearts, ‘There is no God.’” Psalm 14:1 (NLT)

It’s pure foolishness to deny the existence of God. 

Why?

Because evidence of His existence is all around us, a point which will be addressed in detail momentarily.

But right now, we should be more concerned with where this idea comes from.  Why do so many people outright reject the idea of God’s existence?  After all, even demons acknowledge God as evidenced by the following:

“As Jesus was climbing out of the boat, a man who was possessed by demons came out to meet him. For a long time he had been homeless and naked, living in a cemetery outside the town.  As soon as he saw Jesus, he shrieked and fell down in front of him. Then he screamed, ‘Why are you interfering with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Please, I beg you, don’t torture me!’  For Jesus had already commanded the evil spirit to come out of him.”  Luke 8:27-29 (NLT)

Not only do the demons acknowledge God’s existence, but also His power, because they beg for His mercy:

“The demons kept begging Jesus not to send them into the bottomless pit.” Luke 8:30 (NLT)

So if demons acknowledge God’s existence, why are so many people confused?

One reason is because the Prince of this world has successfully convinced many people that belief in God is incompatiable with rational thought and logic.

But is this really the case?

Blind Faith?

One of the favorite stand-by slanders utilized by those who deny the existence of God is the following…

“I don’t accept the truth of ancient texts with blind faith.  Our ancestors just made up the idea of God because they couldn’t explain the world.”

The insinuation is that if you accept the existence of God and God’s Word (the Bible), then you must throw all rationality and common sense out the window.  Why?  Because there’s no evidence any of this stuff is true!

Does that line of irrational thought sound familiar? 

It should.  I’ve heard it all my life, and this line of reasoning is just plain ignorant of the facts.

Why?

Because it…

1) Equates faith with a blind unquestioning acceptance
2) It assumes no evidence of God exists

Both are incorrect assumptions.

Faith is not blind acceptance, and faith is not an irrational embrace of uproven tradition.

Faith is trust.  Trust and belief that someone will hold true to their word.

And trust is built on reputation.

For instance, you might trust someone if they have a history of integrity, a track record of reliability, and an impeccable reputation of trustworthiness established over a long period of time.  In such a case, it’s reasonable and rational to expect the person’s trustworthiness will continue.

I have faith in Jesus Christ not because my ancestors did, and not because I cling to a false hope…  It’s just the opposite! 

I have faith in Jesus Christ because I trust God.  I trust Him to keep His Word.

Here’s what God had to say hundreds of years before Jesus Christ came into this world…

“I will raise up a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites. I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell the people everything I command him.”  Deuteronomy 18:18 (NLT)

God promised a prophet from among the Israelites.  He promised to put His own words in that prophet’s mouth. 

Then when God sent His prophet, He and His servant John testified on His behalf…

“Then John testified, ‘I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him. I didn’t know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the Chosen One of God.’” John 1:32-34 (NLT)

My well-reasoned, rational reason to have faith in Jesus Christ?  …Because God said to trust Him!

And given His track record, I’ll take God’s Word over the words of the world. 

Will I fall victim to false hope?

Don’t count on it…

“And anyone who believes in Him will never be disappointed.” 1 Peter 2:6 (NLT)

So why do I trust God’s Word?  What makes God so trustworthy?  What’s His track record?

And why would anyone accept anything written in the Bible as true?  Where’s the evidence?

Once I show you, you won’t equate faith in Jesus Christ with blind acceptance.   Instead, you’ll understand that faith in Jesus Christ is nothing more than trust in the Word of God.  And God has proven He deserves our trust.

The Evidence of God

One of the common arguments put forth by those who discount God’s existence is the following:

“Okay, if God exists…  Where’s the evidence?”

Unfortunately, most believers are unprepared to respond properly.  As a result, the self-righteous questioner believes he’s won his argument.

Yet nothing is farther from the truth.

There’s plenty of evidence of God’s existence.

Creation is one.  Bible prophecy is another.  And both directly testify to people who live today, and there’s no denying the reality of either.

Creation

The very existence of creation is evidence enough of God’s existence.

“The heavens proclaim the glory of God.  The skies display his craftsmanship.  Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known.  They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard.  Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world.” Psalm 19:1-4 (NLT)

Creation speaks to every person on a daily basis, literally proclaiming God’s existence to the world.  So how can anyone say there’s no evidence of God?

They can’t…

“For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.”  Romans 1:20 (NLT)

On its own, creation provides such indisputable evidence of God’s glory that people “have no excuse for not knowing God.”

So, in an effort to explain away God and creation, non-believers evolve various theories as to how creation came into existence…  Notice who’s engaged in the creative, ever-evolving storytelling here?  Hint, it’s not Bible believers.

So who’s irrational?  The man who looks at a snowflake and believes an intelligent designer created it?  Or the one who looks at the same snowflake and chalks it up to random chance?

Bible Prophecy

As if creation weren’t enough, God created a written account of His Word and gave it to the world.  He challenged mankind to test it and to live by it.

But have non-believers objectively tested God’s Word?

No.  If they did, they would be aware of hundreds and hundreds of fulfilled prophecies written in some cases thousands of years prior to their fulfillment.  They would realize the statistical improbability of 100% of these prophecies reaching fulfillment, and they would believe in God.

After all, mankind can’t even fortell the direction of tomorrow’s stock market.

Yet God regularly fortells the rise and fall of nations centuries in advance!

And throughout the Old Testament, He points to this unique ability as evidence of His existence:

“I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not give my glory to anyone else, nor share my praise with carved idols. Everything I prophesied has come true, and now I will prophesy again. I will tell you the future before it happens.” Isaiah 42:8-9 (NLT)

“‘Present the case for your idols,’ says the Lord. ‘Let them show what they can do,’ says the King of Israel. ‘Let them try to tell us what happened long ago so that we may consider the evidence. Or let them tell us what the future holds, so we can know what’s going to happen. Yes, tell us what will occur in the days ahead. Then we will know you are gods.’” Isaiah 41:21-23 (NLT)

“This is what the Lord says – Israel’s King and Redeemer, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies: ‘I am the First and the Last; there is no other God. Who is like me? Let him step forward and prove to you his power. Let him do as I have done since ancient times when I established a people and explained its future.’” Isaiah 44:6-7 (NLT)

So, how does God’s promise stand the test of time?

It stands up perfectly.  Hundreds of prophecies fulfilled, one-hundred percent accuracy.

This article doesn’t contain enough room to address every one of prophecies.  But there’s one that’s undeniable to the modern day non-believer…

The birth of Israel as a nation.

Israel

Non-believers can dismiss the messianic prophecies as unfulfilled by claiming the Gospels were written by the followers of Jesus and that Medieval historians revised history.

But you can’t make the claim of historical revisionism when a prophecy is fulfilled in your own day.

And God’s Word was fulfilled in plain sight, for all the world to see, in May 1948.  That’s when Israel became a nation for the first time in almost 2,000 years.

2,600 years ago, the prophet Isaiah spoke on behalf of God, who promised to gather Israel’s children from the four corners of the earth and bring them back to the land He promised them:

“‘Do not be afraid, for I am with you. I will gather you and your children from east and west and from north and south. I will bring my sons and daughters back to Israel from the distant corners of the earth. All who claim me as their God will come, for I have made them for my glory. It was I who created them.” Isaiah 43:5-7 (NLT)

God also promised through the prophet Jeremiah to bring the people of Israel out of exile and back into their land:

“‘But the time is coming,’ says the Lord, ‘when people who are taking an oath will no longer say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who rescued the people of Israel from the land of Egypt.’ Instead, they will say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who brought the people of Israel back to their own land from the land of the north and from all the countries to which he had exiled them.’ For I will bring them back to this land that I gave their ancestors.” Jeremiah 16:14-15 (NLT)

And, as if that weren’t enough, God reiterated His intentions through the prophet Ezekiel:

“Therefore, give the exiles this message from the Sovereign Lord: Although I have scattered you in the countries of the world, I will be a sanctuary to you during your time in exile. I, the Sovereign Lord, will gather you back from the nations where you were scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel once again.” Ezekiel 11:16-17 (NLT)

The promise to restore Israel as a nation isn’t made just once, twice, or even three times in the Bible, but numerous times.  Space constraints simply don’t allow for an exhaustive look at all of God’s prophecies concerning Israel.

Nevertheless, it’s clear that long before the Jewish people ended an almost 2,000 year exile from the land of Israel, God promised their return.

These promises weren’t “made up” by mere men…  How could they be?  Who but God could have foreseen the Jewish exile and subsequent regathering?  What other nation of people in the history of the world faced a forced exile yet retained all the elements of their cultural, religious, and social heritage?

The modern day nation of Israel is bombshell testimony of God’s existence…

“Above all, you must realize that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet’s own understanding, or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God.” 2 Peter 1:20-21 (NLT)

Which opens the door to even more evidence…

The Holy Spirit

Aside from creation and fulfilled bible prophecy, the Holy Spirit offers further evidence of God’s existence.  Those who believe and trust in Jesus Christ can testify to the existence of the Holy Spirit, which gives regular testimony of God’s existence.

As Jesus promised:

“But I will send you the Advocate – the Spirit of truth. He will come to you from the Father and will testify all about me. And you must also testify about me because you have been with me from the beginning of my ministry.” John 15:26-27 (NLT)

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere – in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8 (NLT)

As Paul points out, the Holy Spirit transforms a person.  So those people are a testimony of Christ’s existence:

“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)

Unfortunately, evidence of the Holy Spirit is hidden from the non-believer:

“But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us. When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths. But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others. For, ‘Who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to teach him?’ But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 2:10-16 (NLT)

Believers in Christ can understand these things, because they “have the mind of Christ.”  But in the eyes of non-believers, the Holy Spirit and God’s existence sounds foolish.

Why Won’t God “Show” Himself?

Another typical argument put forward by the non-believing public is this one…

“If God exists, where is He?  Why won’t God show Himself?”

This shows ignorance on two fronts…

First, God shows Himself every day through the Holy Spirit to countless believers.  But since non-believers themselves can not experience the fruits of the Holy Spirit, they make an assumption that it does not exist.

Second, it ignores creation, bible prophecy, and the historical background of God “showing Himself” to mankind.

After all, God used to regularly show Himself to mankind.  Unfortunately, the non-believers of the Old Testament era got upset and asked God to no longer reveal Himself in the same way…

“And they said to Moses, ‘You speak to us, and we will listen. But don’t let God speak directly to us, or we will die!’” Exodus 20:19 (NLT)

Why did they make this request?  Because God scared them!  He spoke with thunderous authority, and He made demands of mankind that mankind did not want to adhere to…

So what did God do?

Gentleman that He is, He honored their request.  God promised to no longer speak in thunderous tones from a mountain top.  Instead, He promised to send a prophet to speak on His behalf…

“Moses continued, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him. For this is what you yourselves requested of the Lord your God when you were assembled at Mount Sinai.  You said, ‘Don’t let us hear the voice of the Lord our God anymore or see this blazing fire, for we will die.’ Then the Lord said to me, ‘What they have said is right.  I will raise up a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites. I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell the people everything I command him. I will personally deal with anyone who will not listen to the messages the prophet proclaims on my behalf.’”  Deuteronomy 18:15-19 (NLT)

The prophet God sent is Jesus Christ.  He is the physical and human manifestation of God Almighty Himself…  the very thing the non-believers demand!  Yet, in spite of His coming and fulfillment of the Messianic prophecies, non-believers continue to insist, “God does not exist…”

They continue to proclaim…

“There’s no evidence.”

They continue to demand…

“Why doesn’t God show Himself?”

Yet, God did and does show Himself.  His name is Jesus Christ.

Conclusion

While the non-believers of this world continue to insist a belief in God is utter foolishness, the exclusive domain of irrational intellectual Neandrathals who embrace fairy tales…  God has something else in mind.

It turns out the joke is on the intellectually arrogant.  For in the eyes of God, the wisdom of this world is nothing more than mere foolishness:

“For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. As the Scriptures say, ‘He traps the wise in the snare of their own cleverness.’  And again, ‘The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise; he knows they are worthless.’” 1 Corinthians 3:19-20 (NLT)

God exists.  Evidence abounds.

And God will soon show Himself to the world through the Glorious Appearing of His Son, Jesus Christ…

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For over a year now, I’ve heard people from various walks of life speculate that Barack Obama is the Antichrist.  Why is this?  Well, there’s a number of reasons.  Unprecedented crowds of adoring fans throwing themselves at an American politician – both in the United States and abroad.  Spectators crying and fainting after hearing him speak.  Worldwide adoration and praise, with a near universal belief among supporters that Barack Obama can bring “change” which will bring about world peace…  Oh, and talk of a civilian defense force stronger than the U.S. military doesn’t help – that only adds fuel to the fire.

Throw in a few stories like the following, and it’s easy to see why some are drawing a link between Barack Obama and the bible’s most infamous world leader…

Obama Is Like Biblical Joshua

From CNSNews:

President Barack Obama is similar to the Biblical character of Joshua and Martin Luther King Jr. was like Moses, boxing promoter Don King told CNSNews.com on Tuesday.  Celebrities, including Jay-Z, Smokey Robinson, Don King, Denzel Washington, and Oprah Winfrey, spoke with CNSNews.com in the hours before the inauguration just a few feet from the rostrum where Obama was sworn-in as the nation’s 44th president. They spoke about how Obama had changed their lives and which Biblical character they think he most resembles. [More…]

While Barack Obama’s ascendancy to the office of President of United States is historical in nature, it only makes light of his accomplishment to compare him to biblical heroes of the past.  This tendency of supporters to ascribe a quasi-religious significance to Barack Obama’s career is exactly what makes so many people uneasy.  American politicians aren’t usually treated with such reverence.

I Pledge Allegiance to Obama

From WorldNetDaily:

In a new YouTube video produced by Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Productions, dozens of celebrities – television and movie actors, sports heroes, musicians and more – describe how they will pledge to “be the change” and “be a servant to our president.” [More…]

Again, the United States is unique among the world’s nations in that it was founded on the basic idea that government and government office holders should exist to serve the people – not the other way around.  In contrast, totalitarian governments are founded on the premise that the people exist to serve the state and its leaders.  The zealotry with which some people submit their lives to a mere man is what has so many people worried.

The article continues:

Actors Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher begin the closing scene by saying, “I pledge to be a servant to our president and all mankind.”

Need I comment?

World Greets Obama With Jubilation and Worry

From the Sydney Mourning Herald:

Millions followed the inauguration around the world and underscoring the huge show of faith, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said: “We are eager for him to get to work so that with him we can change the world.”  British Prime Minister Gordon Brown hailed Obama’s inauguration as a “new chapter in both American history and the world’s history.”  Obama was a “man of great vision,” Brown said. “He’s not only the first black American president but he sets out with the determination to solve the world’s problems.” [More…]

Even fellow heads of state are quick to assign messianic significance to Barack Obama.  He’s going to “change the world” and “solve the world’s problems.”  Where does this blind faith in Obama come from?  It’s no wonder that skeptics have speculated over Obama’s ultimate legacy.

So back to our original question.  Is Barack Obama the Antichrist?

As students of the bible, we can confidently say, “No.”  How can we be so confident?

Because the bible has a lot to say about the life of the Antichrist, and the life of Barack Obama simply doesn’t match the narrative.  In The Nationality of the Antichrist, I lay out the biblical case for the Antichrist’s ethnic and national background. Although much debate surrounds his national identity, the Book of Daniel clearly states that the Antichrist will come from among the people whose armies destroy the Temple:

“A ruler will arise whose armies will destroy the city and the Temple.” Daniel 9:26 (NLT)

The Romans destroyed the Temple.  Therefore, the Antichrist will arise from among the geographic and ethnic descendants of the Roman Empire.  Barack Obama doesn’t fit this profile.  Neither his ties to Kenya, Hawaii, or Illinois qualify him in this respect.

In addition, the bible outlines other aspects of the Antichrist’s life which simply don’t fit with the idea that Barack Obama is the Antichrist, but an extensive review of these is well beyond the scope of a blog post.  Needless to say, no one should lie awake at night worried that Barack Obama is the Antichrist.

However, watchful observers should note the danger of the atmosphere surrounding Obama’s rise to political stardom.  The frenzied crowds and zealous support portend a day when the real Antichrist will arrive on the scene.  The political ascendancy of Barack Obama and the aura which surrounds his image only serves to set the stage for that day.

Britt

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I continue to be dumbfounded by critics who deride the notion of Christ’s Second Coming because false prophets in years past have erroneously proclaimed the year and/or the day of His return.  Date setting certainly has no biblical basis, and the majority of Christians throughout history have had no hand in it.

In spite of this, Christians are commanded by the Lord to be alert and ready for His return at all times.  In fact, the Lord’s promise to return for His people is known as “the blessed hope” among Christians.  And those who believe in the fulfillment of this promise have been lumped by many non-believers into a general category with date setters.  This is a disastrous mistake because, although the bible condemns date setting for Christ’s return, Jesus Himself commanded His followers to be alert to the signs of the times, stating that when they appear, they will be as clear as the weather signs in the sky.

Despite the clarity of this position, many critics continue to point to failed date setters or past generations who suggested their era might witness the fulfillment of the end times prophecies as solid evidence that Christ’s Coming will never occur.  In their eyes, those who point out the fulfillment of bible prophecy in today’s headlines are no different, and therefore, only serve to confirm that “everything has remained the same since the world began.”

Little do they know that such an argument is actually confirmation of a bible prophecy recorded almost 2,000  years ago: 

“Scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. They will say, ‘What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created.’” 2 Peter 3:3-4 (NLT)

Is this true?  Has everything remained the same since the world first began?  Of course it hasn’t.

I tackled some of the reasons why in a past article as well as a radio interview, and today’s headlines only strengthen those arguments…

Gene Parents Plan More Breast Cancer-Free Babies

From the U.K. Times:

The parents of the first British baby screened to be free of a breast cancer gene have spoken publicly about their “beautiful” daughter - and revealed that they plan to have more children free of the hereditary condition.  The parents are remaining anonymous to protect the baby, who was born last week. They are pioneers of a breakthrough in the fight against “hereditary” cancer. Though the parents could conceive naturally, they underwent IVF and genetic screening because three generations of women in the husband’s family had suffered from breast cancer. The procedure ensured that a gene associated with the cancer would not be present in the baby.  [More…]

I could be wrong, but I don’t think people were undergoing this procedure 2,000 years ago.  They weren’t even performing this procedure two years ago.

This article will inevitably spark a debate as to whether or not such a procedure is a good or bad development.  I believe God has given us the tools to improve the human condition, and we should certainly do so.  People have used life-saving surgical procedures and other techniques, such as the addition of pacemakers to improve and preserve life for some time now.

However, the bible warns that one day this power to manipulate God’s creation will lead to a direct confrontation between the human race and God Almighty:

“Why do the nations rage? Why do the people waste their time with futile plans? The kings of the earth prepare for battle; the rulers plot together against the Lord and against His Anointed One. ‘Let us break their chains,’ they cry. ‘And free ourselves from this slavery.’ But the one who rules in heaven laughs. The Lord scoffs at them.” Psalm 2:1-4 (NLT)

Once human beings remove the constraints of the biological bodies which currently enslave them, will they be content with what they have accomplished?  Or is it more likely that human beings still enslaved by sin will use their enormous power in a feeble attempt to free themselves from God’s rule?

China’s Population of Web Users Hits 298 Million

From Yahoo Tech news:

China’s fast-growing population of Internet users has risen to 298 million after passing the United States last year to become the world’s largest, a government-sanctioned research group said Tuesday.  The latest figure is a 41.9 percent increase over the same period last year, the China Internet Network Information Center said in a report.  [More…]

As China’s Internet population continues to explode, the world rushes inexorably closer to the day when every human on the planet will become part of a global network.  As broadband capacity continues to expand on an exponential basis, even those who were considered the most impoverished people in the world just a decade or two ago will be sporting hand-held devices with live Internet feeds.

Could this be what enables the whole world to look upon the bodies of God’s two witnesses in Revelation 11?

“When they complete their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the bottomless pit will declare war against them. He will conquer them and kill them. And their bodies will lie in the main street of Jerusalem, the city which is called ‘Sodom’ and ‘Egypt,’ the city where their Lord was crucified. And for three and a half days, all peoples, tribes, languages, and nations will come to stare at their bodies. No one will be allowed to bury them. All the people who belong to this world will give presents to each other to celebrate the death of the two prophets who had tormented them.” Revelation 11:7-10 (NLT)

As I previously stated in The Technologies of Revelation:

The verse specifically says “all peoples, tribes, languages, and nations” will stare at their bodies, not “some of” the peoples, tribes, languages, and nations. In our day, the technology capable of bringing this event to fruition remains unavailable to much of the world’s population. However, in the very near future, the cost of this technology will significantly decrease in proportion to its power, providing much of the Third World with the media access it currently lacks. As a result of a trend toward more powerful and cost-effective technologies, human progress will ultimately lead to the ubiquitous use of high-bandwidth video feeds on cell phones, PDAs, and other handheld devices most of us probably have yet to imagine.  [More…]

Even the most casual observer has to admit that the world of today is quite different from the world of our ancestors.

The Future of Technology

The following video has been forwarded around the web, and I think it makes a great case for the nearness of Christ’s return.

Click here to see the video.

This presentation is a vivid illustration of the unique nature of the times in which we live.  Human technological development is increasing at an exponential pace.

As previously stated in The Singularity and The Second Coming:

In the near future, the technological advance of human civilization will become so rapid today’s human mind will be unable to comprehend its implications. The point in time at which this occurs is generally known as “the singularity,” and many believe it will usher in a new era for the human race. Throughout the world, many intellectuals and futurists have noted their belief in the nearness of the singularity, with quite a few predicting it will occur within our generation.  Jesus also foresaw the singularity, citing it as one of the foremost signs of the end of this age and the nearness of His Return.  [More…]

According to Daniel, an exponential increase in knowledge will take place in the last days:

“But you, Daniel, keep this prophecy a secret; seal up the book until the time of the end. Many will rush here and there, and knowledge will increase.” Daniel 12:4 (NLT)

According to this verse, two things will markedly increase in the end times:

1) Transportation
2) Knowledge

Not only will these things increase, but they will both do so exponentially.

So why do critics of Christ’s Second Coming fail to acknowledge such obvious signs?

Because they lack the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and without the Holy Spirit, the truth about where this world is headed seems like utter foolishness:

“But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means.” 1 Corinthians 2:14 (NLT)

But for those who are humble and seek the wisdom of God’s Word, the times in which we live should be very clear.

Britt

If you find this site helpful, please consider a donation to support this ministry.

The current Israeli incursion into Gaza has been a long time in coming.  Ever since Israel pulled out of Gaza, it’s been nothing but a breeding ground for Hamas and those seeking Israel’s annihilation.  But the real story in Gaza is not Hamas versus Israel, but Iran versus Israel (which is only a microcosm of Islam versus the rest of the world). 

In the end, the Gaza conflict is really a proxy war between Iran and Israel.  Why do I say this?  Because Iran has been arming Hamas, Hezbollah, and various other terrorist organizations for years for the express purpose of waging a proxy war against Israel.  Just as the United States and the Soviet Union fought proxy wars in Vietnam, Afghanistan, and elsewhere, we’re now seeing the same type of conflict erput between Iran and Israel.  Iran has too much to lose by directly confronting Israel.  War with Israel would be devastating to Iran and the power base of its radical Islamist regime.  So rather than attack Israel on its own, Iran is aiding and abetting others in their attacks – all the while, biding time for the day when Iran is strong enough to attack Israel in a more direct fashion.

As recent news reports suggest, Iran isn’t even trying to cover its tracks…

Iranian-Made Rockets Threaten 500,000 Israelis

From Bloomberg:

The Grad rocket, designed for attacking troops on the battlefield, has become the most effective means for Hamas to attack Israeli towns and cities far from the Gaza Strip.  With a top range of about 40 kilometers (25 miles) the unguided, Iranian-supplied Grad enables Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups to strike at more than a half-million Israelis, far more than the mortar shells and locally made Qassam rockets also fired from Gaza.  [More…]

By arming Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, Iran is hoping to create a multi-front threat for the state of Israel.  While Iran is feverishly working to develop its nuclear program to full capacity, they’re also working overtime to strengthen the hand of these terrorist organizations surrounding Israel.  The Iranian hope is that in the event of an Israeli airstrike on its nuclear facilities, Iran can take a publicly pacifist approach, pressing its case before the UN in the face of “unprovoked Israeli aggression,” while attacking Israel from every side via its proxy armies of Hamas and Hezbollah.

As a result, look for a multi-front war to one day develop on Israel’s borders…

Rockets From Lebanon Threaten a 2nd Front for Israel

The Associated Press reports:

Guerrillas in Lebanon rocketed northern Israel on Wednesday for the second time in a week, drawing Israeli artillery fire and threatening to drag the Jewish state into a second front as it battled Hamas in the Gaza Strip. [More…]

Already, we’re seeing signs of a possible attack on northern Israel by Hezbollah.  Following the Israeli-Hezbollah war in the Summer of 2006, Hezbollah has been preparing itself for a resumption of hostilities with Israel.  Iran has been feeding advanced weapons to the terrorist group, increasing Hezbollah’s war-making capability significantly in the past three years.

Is it possible that Iran will use Hezbollah to create a second front for Israel in the Gaza war, the hope being that Israel will be too distracted to contemplate an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities?  This is certainly a possibility.  But other possibilities exist too.

One in particular may be overlooked by most of the world.  Perhaps Israel launched the Gaza war in order to downplay the likelihood of its willingness to carry out a major operation against Iran’s nuclear facilities.  What better cover for a surprise attack?  Perhaps the Gaza war is an Israeli created diversion launched to lull Iran into a false sense of security?

Maybe.  Maybe not…

Israel Ready to Strike Iran

From NewsMax.com:

Informed sources in Washington tell Newsmax that Israel indeed will launch a strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities soon – possibly in just days as President George W. Bush prepares to leave office.  The reason: The time clock has begun to run out. Iran is close to acquiring a nuclear device under the control of its radical president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.  International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Mohamed ElBaradei said in June that Iran would have a nuclear weapon in as little as six months.  That six-month period has passed.  [More…]

Israel has been clear from day one that they will not allow a second holocaust to take place.  Iran has been equally clear in its intent to develop nuclear weapons and use them against Israel.  Sooner or later, someone has to blink.

If Israel attacks Iran’s nuclear facilities, and Iran responds by launching a proxy war, it could result in the fulfillment of bible prophecy.  Psalm 83 describes the very enemies which now surround Israel:

“They devise crafty schemes against your people, laying plans against your precious ones. ‘Come,’ they say, ‘let us wipe out Israel as a nation. We will destroy the very memory of its existence.’ This was their unanimous decision.” Psalm 83:3-5 (NLT)

It also details who those enemies are:

“Yes, this was their unanimous decision.  They signed a treaty as allies against you – these Edomites and Ishmaelites; Moabites and Hagrites; Gebalites, Ammonites, and Amalekites; and people from Philistia and Tyre.  Assyria has joined them, too, and is allied with the descendants of Lot.”  Psalm 83:5-8 (NLT)

Below is a list of those nations and their modern geographical equivalents:

Edomites = Jordan / Parts of the West Bank
Ishmaelites = The Arab people
Moabites = Jordan / Parts of the West Bank
Hagrites = Jordan / The Arab people
Gebalites = Lebanon
Ammonites = Jordan
Amalekites = Southern Israel / Gaza
Philistia = Gaza
Tyre = Lebanon
Assyria = Syria / Parts of Turkey and Iraq
The Descendants of Lot = Jordan

Notice a pattern?  Lebanon, Gaza, and parts of the West Bank – Israel’s immediate enemies, all of whom are calling for her annihilation at this very moment in time.

Like it or not, their fate has been sealed:

“O my God, scatter them like tumbleweed, like chaff before the wind!  As a fire burns a forest and as a flame sets mountains ablaze, chase them with your fierce storm; terrify them with your tempest.  Utterly disgrace them until they submit to your name, O Lord.  Let them be ashamed and terrified forever.  Let them die in disgrace.  Then they will learn that you alone are called the Lord, that you alone are the Most High, supreme over all the earth.”  Psalm 83:13-18 (NLT)

Could we be on the verge of witnessing the fulfillment of Psalm 83?  It’s possible.  It’s also possible we’re merely witnessing the stage being set for the later fulfillment of God’s Word.

Regardless of what we’re now witnessing, the writing is on the wall for those who choose to see it.  The end times are upon us. 

Jesus Christ is coming soon.

Britt

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When people reflect on The Great Depression which gripped the global economy in the 1930’s, the idea conjures a number of poignant images.  Bread and soup lines…  Factory closings…  Wall Street suicides…  The dust bowl…  Union riots…  Not to mention 25% unemployment and a near 90% drop in the stock market.  But of course we don’t have these problems today, so we can’t even compare today’s economic problems to those of The Great Depression.  Right? 

Keep in mind that the full force of The Great Depression didn’t appear overnight.  It started in 1929 and didn’t reach its worst point until at least 1933 according to most historians.  While the world kept telling itself, “thing can’t get worse” – things kept getting worse.

While the pundits continue to call the current global economic downturn a “recession,” I’ll go ahead and call it what it is: The Great Depression 2.  This is humanity’s sequel to the terrible economic collapse of 1929-1940.

Still aren’t buying in?  Try these headlines…

Depression Odds: Above 50%

Joe Weisenthal at Clusterstock points out an interesting tidbit of information:

One of the best-performing securities we’ve seen? The Intrade contract for the economy to go into a depression in 2009. Last time we checked, bettors gave just a 25% chance of the economy shrinking by at least 10% this year. Now: 52.5%. [More…]

The Intrade Prediction Market trades higher or lower based on real people’s bets on the outcome of various events, which run the gambit from political elections to Academy Award nominations.  While the site touts “the wisdom of crowds” (a phrase I find to be oxymoronic), it has a surprisingly solid track record when it comes to predicting the outcome of near future events.

So when the Intrade contract predicts a 52.5% chance of the U.S. economy contracting 10% in 2009, people should take notice.

Couple that with the following news story which only lends credence to the Intrade prediction…

Retail Sales Plummet 2.7 Percent in December

Retail sales plunged far more than expected in December, ending a dismal holiday season with a record sixth straight monthly decline, and there’s no relief in sight as consumer demand remains weak.  The Commerce Department reported Wednesday that retail sales dropped 2.7 percent last month, more than double the 1.2 percent decline that Wall Street expected.  The December plunge in sales, which followed a November drop revised downward to 2.1 percent, confirmed private sector reports that retailers had suffered their worst holiday shopping season since at least 1969.  [More…]

If you read further into the article, you’ll find that retail sales were down 0.1 percent for 2008, the worst year in the history of the 14-year measurement.  The second worst year?  2003, which witnessed a 2.4 percent increase!

As consumers reign in their spending to save for a rainy day, inventories are left in stores and warehouses.  Factories are forced to close their doors, and workers are laid off.  This causes a further contraction in consumer spending and global trade, sparking a vicious deflationary cycle which plays itself out over and over again until the economy reaches its bottom.

Also buried in this story is what should have been a page-one headline in every newspaper:

Many analysts believe the overall economy, as measured by the gross domestic product, plunged at an annual rate of 6 percent in the just-completed fourth quarter after dropping by 0.5 percent in the third quarter. [emphasis added]

While definitions of what constitutes an economic depression vary significantly, the Intrade contract defines one as a 10% contraction in GDP.  Here’s some GDP figures from the Great Depression:

1930       -8.6%
1931       -6.4%
1932       -13%
1933       -1.3%

If the fourth quarter of 2008 contracted at a rate of 6%, then it’s within striking distance of the 8.6% contraction in 1930.   In addition, the first quarter of 2009 promises to be abysmal to say the least.  A disproportionate amount of retail sales in the United States occur between October and December.  After the Christmas shopping season, most consumers are tapped out, choosing to pay off credit card debt and other bills rather than engage in discretionary spending.  Throw in some of the worst unemployment numbers in 25 years, and this is a recipe for economic disaster to begin 2009.

Welcome to The Great Depression 2.0. 

How could this be you may ask?  The experts said The Great Depression could never happen again.

Yet again, worldly wisdom has proven to be foolishness.

“I expose the false prophets as liars and make fools of fortune-tellers.  I cause the wise to give bad advice, thus proving them to be fools.”  Isaiah 44:25 (NLT)

Where are all the Wall Street wizards who predicted a quick economic turnaround?

Their voices are silent, because the wisdom of this world is foolishness.

“Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom.  All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom.”  Psalm 111:10 (NLT)

As we head into another Great Depression, what this world needs is not a quick economic turnaround, but rather a healthy and growing fear of the Lord.

If you’ve been disappointed after placing your faith in the things of this world, then don’t dispair.  I strongly encourage you to ask Jesus Christ to shower you with His loving grace.  If you do, I gaurantee He will never disappoint you.

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 (NLT)

Britt

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Some interesting updates in the world of nanotechnology and molecular manufacturing.

Nano’s Big Kick Coming Soon

Interesting blog post by Tihamer Toth-Fejel over at The Center For Responsible Nanotechnology blog:

One of the points to remember is that Moore’s Law is exponential — or even faster, if Ray Kurzweil is correct. So it’s not really a question of what kind of technology did we have 92 years ago…we should ask about 920 years ago, or even 9200 years ago.  In other words, if Freitas, Merkle, and Moriarty succeed next year, all heck will break loose. Not immediately, of course, but diamond is a very useful engineering material.  If we could use it to make cars and buildings, we would.  Everything depends on availability and cost — and both depend on technology.  [More…]

So what is it that “Freitas, Merkle, and Moriarty” could succeed at next year?  A five-year $3 million grant by the U.K. Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) to perform a series of laboratory experiments designed to investigate the possibility of diamond mechanosynthesis (DMS). 

Essentially, if such a breakthrough succeeds, it would blow open the doors to the age of molecular manufacturing.  As this site has previously stated, the development of molecular manufacturing is nothing to take lightly, and it is certain to result in a global government.

Europeans More Open To Nanotech Than Americans

Who would lead such a global government?  EurActiv.com provides one possibility:

Nanotech challenges the traditional values of Americans, while more secular Europeans are generally more supportive of the technology, reveals a new report.  People with stronger religious beliefs tend to be opposed to nanotechnology, which is said to have the potential to alter the fundamentals of nature, according to the report, published last December in the Nature Nanotechnology journal.  In the US and European countries where religion still plays a large role in everyday life, notably Italy, Austria and Ireland, nanotech is thus much less acceptable than in more secular France and Germany, found the report, which saw researchers compare attitudes to nanotechnology in 12 European countries and the US.  [More…]

I think this study fails to address the larger issue.  Do people with “stronger religious beliefs” oppose technology?  Do they refuse life saving medical treatments, avoid using cell phones and computers, or ride horses rather than drive automobiles?  In some cases, yes.  But in the majority of cases, no.  So why then are people classified as holding “stronger religious beliefs” opposing the development of nanotechnology?

I would submit that it’s not the development of nanotechnology that they oppose, but rather the unrestrained use of it.  No technology is inherently evil, and nanotechnology and molecular manufacturing are no exception.  However, technologies throughout history (especially recent history) have been used by sinful mankind to wage large-scale war, oppress individual liberty, and commit genocide on a mass scale.

The problem is not technological development.  The problem is sin.  The power of technology serves to amplify that sin.  And the solution is not a change in public attitude.  The solution is the one and only Savior, Jesus Christ.

Russia’s Crash Nano Program

From Michael Berger at Nanowerk:

This week’s successful international nanotechnology forum Rusnanotech in Moscow has put a spotlight on Russia’s ambitions to catch up with the leading nanotechnology nations.  While Russia has the money, the political will, and a well educated scientific base to be a leading player, it has completely missed the boat on developing its nanoscience programs and nanotechnology infrastructure.   In terms of gross domestic product (GDP), Russia ranks as the eleventh largest economy in the world. But while many smaller countries such as Australia or South Korea, not to mention all of the bigger nations, have invested steadily and broadly in all areas of nanosciences and nanotechnologies for years now, Russia has had no coordinated science policy, no industrial policy, and no commercial industrial base to develop its nanotechnology capabilities. Until last year, that is. In April 2007, the Russian president signed off on a public policy paper that ordered a multi-billion dollar program to develop a world-class Russian nanotechnology industry by 2015. [More…]

While the above article focuses on Russian investment in nanoscale sciences, without directly mentioning molecular manufacturing, you can be sure that Russia is one of many countries engaged in a race to develop the breakthrough technology.  The stakes are simply too high.

The country which first develops molecular manufacturing will, if it wishes, have all the nations of the world for the taking.  To my knowledge, the only man in history who turned down such an offer was Jesus Christ:

“Then the devil took him up and revealed to him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.  “I will give you the glory of these kingdoms and authority over them,” the devil said, “because they are mine to give to anyone I please.  I will give it all to you if you will worship me.”  Jesus replied, “The Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’”  Luke 4:5-8 (NLT)

My guess is that next time the world won’t be so lucky.  The next person who is offered the world will give into Satan’s temptation:

“And the dragon gave him his own power and throne and great authority.” Revelation 13:2 (NLT)

Britt

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Today begins a new era for BrittGillette.Com.  While the site has typically been home to longer, 5 to 7-page bible prophecy articles, I feel an additional need exists to provide regular analysis of news headlines which indicate the nearness of Christ’s return.  This does not mean that the longer articles will disappear, although I realize they have been rather sparse lately.  I will continue to post more lengthy articles as time allows, but in the meantime, be on the lookout for regular supplemental analysis of current events in relation to bible prophecy. 

Feel free to click on the headlines in order to read the referenced articles in their entirety.  I hope you like this new edition to the site’s content, and please feel free to email me your thoughts and comments accordingly.

So without further delay, here goes…

Forecast 2009: Deflation and Recession

Financial expert John Mauldin’s recent newsletter predicts 2009 to be a year of deflation:

For a very long time, I have been adamant that deflation is in our future. In the next few pages I outline how inflation might come back, but I doubt it will be this year. For now, deflation is the economic factor that the Fed and central banks will be battling. And believe me, it will be a very large and controversial battle…

For the three months ending last November, the compound annual rate for the CPI was a negative(!) -10.2%, reflecting the almost 70% drop in energy. Annualized core CPI for the last three months ending November was a very low 0.4%. November CPI was a flat 0.0%. It has been falling steadily for the last five months.

December is likely to be negative. There is a trend here, and if you are a central banker it is not one you like. And that trend is being manifested in every part of the developed and much of the developing world. It is a global problem.

Given how high inflation was last summer, how could I credibly maintain that deflation was in our future? For reasons that I wrote about extensively then. Briefly, we were in a recession. Recessions are almost by definition deflationary. We had two massive bubbles bursting: the very visible housing bubble which was massively destroying wealth, and the less visible but even more powerful bursting of the credit bubble, which was accompanied by profound deleveraging and the destruction of what Paul McCulley termed the Shadow Banking System.

It would be a strange, strange world indeed if inflation could get any real traction in such an environment, and it didn’t.

  [More…]

This is an excellent newsletter, but I would make one amendment.  Mr. Mauldin’s article should be titled “Forecast 2009: Deflation and Depression”.  The threat of deflation was underestimated in analyst forecasts in January 2008, and the same failures seem to be taking place in 2009.  As outlined in “Hyperinflation?,” a decades long credit bubble has burst, deflating the value of just about asset class on the planet.  Central banks are racing toward 0% interest rates, with the United States at the head of the line.

As mounting job losses take their toll, the global economy will see a monumental shift toward the frugality mindset of the Great Depression generation.  As a result, more businesses will go under as consumer spending contracts, leading to higher unemployment – and the vicious cycle will repeat itself until we hit bottom. 

Don’t believe the financial “experts” who predict a turnaround in late 2009.  Did they predict a meltdown in 2008?  Instead, prepare yourself for the following: The Great Depression 2.0

On a regional basis, look for 2009 to be a year of greater government control over private businesses and individual civil liberties.  On a global basis, look for more and more calls for greater cooperation between national governments and an overall trend toward global government.

All of this is paving the way for the Antichrist.

Is The Stock Market Cheap?

Mike Shedlock challenges the conventional wisdom:

Think the stock market is cheap? Let’s do the math. The S&P closed at 910. If those earnings estimates hold, the effective PE is 21.53. The historical average PE is about 15. At a PE of 15 the S&P would drop to 634. That is a huge drop of 30% from today’s closing price.

What happens if the stock market over shoots as it typically does in bear markets. Assume a PE of 12. At 12, one might expect to see the S&P at 507. That would be an even bigger decline of 44% from here.  [More…]

This is the perfect illustration of why the financial “experts” are wrong.  Their forecasts for 2009 and beyond are based on a reality that no longer exists.  Consumers are no longer engaged in a “borrow and spend” lifestyle.  Due to rising unemployment, a 40% drop in global stock markets, and a tanking housing market, they just can’t afford to – even if they wanted to.
As a result, watch for earnings estimates on Wall Street to be revised downward for quite sometime.  The call for a quick recovery in the stock market is well-intentioned, but severely misguided.  In similar fashion, the stock market crash in October 1929 was followed by a decent year-end rally, but 1930 led to further declines.  And so did 1931.  People said it couldn’t get worse, and it did.  People are saying the same thing now.

This is people’s Exhibit A as to why the only well-placed faith a person can have is a faith that is placed in Jesus Christ.

European Leaders Call For New Global Order

From the Associated Press:

The leaders of France and Germany appeared to put disagreements over economic policy behind them Thursday, calling on the U.S. to join global efforts to address the financial crisis…

Merkel deplored huge debts that governments are accumulating to spend their way out of the present crisis. But she said she recognized, for the moment, that “there is no other possibility.”

Sarkozy blamed financial speculators for encouraging a system fueled on debt. He called financial capitalism based on speculation “an immoral system” that has “perverted the logic of capitalism.”  “It’s a system where wealth goes to the wealthy, where work is devalued, where production is devalued, where entrepreneurial spirit is devalued,” he said.  But no more: “In capitalism of the 21st century, there is room for the state,” he said.  [More…]

This is a clear sign that world “leaders” are intending to take full advantage of the global financial downturn to consolidate ever greater power for centralized government.  I have to question Merkel’s intelligence when she says “there is no other possibility” but profligate and irresponsible government spending.  Here’s an alternative – how about people and governments stop spending money they don’t have?  Stop going into debt.  Lower the tax and regulatory burden, thus allowing individuals to enjoy their God-given freedom.  Such policies would never even occur to European “leaders” because they take the world in the opposite direction of greater government control.

Even more confounding are Sarkozy’s remarks, “In capitalism of the 21st century, there is room for the state.”  The inference is that capitalism in the 20th Century didn’t have room for the state, but it certainly did – most prominently in National Socialist Germany, and most recently, the People’s Republic of China.

This push toward global government should not be confused with a push toward global freedom.  It’s nothing more than a ploy for greater government control.

Blair Reappears on Shortlist to Head EU

From the Financial Times:

Tony Blair, the former UK prime minister, is re-emerging as a possible choice to be the European Union’s first full-time president after four momentous crises reinforced the argument for having a high-profile international personality in the job.  According to EU officials and diplomats, the impressive performance of Nicolas Sarkozy, France’s president, during his six-month spell in charge of the EU last year has strengthened the hand of those who say a big name should guide the 27-nation bloc.  [More…]

Notice that the emphasis in this article is on creating a position for a single leader of the European Union.  European politicians seem to be clamouring not for the correct person to be appointed or the correct office to be created, but for a “big name” and a “high-profile international personality” who can speak on behalf of the European Union.  The European nations, whose power and influence on the world stage has remained largely irrelevant since the end of World War II, are eager to start throwing their weight around again.

In due time, they will get their wish for a “big name” office holder, and he will speak in such a way that all the world will hear him:

“This little horn had eyes like human eyes and a mouth that was boasting arrogantly.” Daniel 7:8 (NLT)

Britt

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