GOG of MAGOG?

Good morning, blog readers, from clear and cool (37 degrees) Wisconsin where, on my morning walk, I saw: 6 deer, a plane, a police officer and the heavens declaring the glory of God (Psalm 19:1)! Thank You, Jesus!

This headline, from the AP (Associated Press), got my attention this morning: “Putin warns again that Russia is ready to use nuclear weapons if its sovereignty is threatened.”

In the article, the AP staff reported: “President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that Russia is ready to use nuclear weapons if it’s sovereignty or independence is threatened, issuing another blunt warning to the West just days ahead of an election in which he’s all but certain to win another six-year term.

The Russian leader has repeatedly talked about his readiness to use nuclear weapons since invading Ukraine in February 2022. The most recent such threat came in his ‘state-of-the-nation address last month when he warned the West that deepening its involvement in the fighting in Ukraine would risk a nuclear war.

Asked if he has ever considered using battlefield nuclear weapons in Ukraine, Putin responded that there has been no need for that. Still, the remarks appeared to be a message to the West that he is prepared to use all means to protect his gains there. In an apparent reference to NATO allies, he also declared that ‘the nations that say they have no red lines regarding Russia should realize that Russia won’t have any red lines regarding them either.”

Let me remind you that the prophecy of Ezekiel 38-39 is about a Russian leader (Gog of Magog) who leaves a war (Ukraine?) and, along with Iran (Persia), Libya (Put), Turkey (Togarmah), Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia, and possibly Germany (Gomer) and other Jew-haters, invade an unsuspecting Israel at a time when she is living in peace (certainly not today or anytime soon) “to capture spoil and to seize plunder” from the Israelis (Ezekiel 38:8-12). The result: The Lord God Himself comes to Israel’s defense, destroys her enemies and restores Israel (Ezekiel 38:18-39:29). So, stay tuned, dearly beloved in Christ, and keep watching, waiting, working, witnessing for, walking with and worshiping Jesus until He comes. And, if you are not a believer in Jesus, why not become one today by agreeing with God you are a sinner who needs a Savior Who is Jesus (Romans 3:23, 24) and believe He died on a cross for your sins, was buried and raised from the dead (I Corinthians 15:1-4) to forgive all your sins and give you eternal life (John 3:16). Blessings with love, Doug (3/13/24)

WHOSE TELLING the TRUTH?

Good morning, blog readers, from sunny and mild (46 degrees) Wisconsin where, on my morning walk, I saw: 2 deer! Thank You, Jesus! Here are some recent and, perhaps prophetical, headlines from Bill Koenig:

#1. “US criticism of Israel encourages Hamas,” Netanyahu says in Fox News Interview.

#2. Sharpening criticism, Biden says, “Netanyahu hurting Israel more than he’s helping.”

#3. Israeli Defense Minister Gallant to troops: “Iran smuggling arms into West Bank, gird for Ramadan terror.”

#4. Hezbollah fires over 60 rockets at Israel; IDF holds drills to prepare for approaching Lebanon War.

#5. “He’s wrong”: Netanyahu bluntly rejects Biden critique, says most Israelis back his policies.”

#6. Mossad: “Hamas toughening demands for hostage deal, seeks Ramadan escalation.”

These headlines reminded me of Psalm 122 where King David wrote: “I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord. Our feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem. Jerusalem that is built as a city that is compact together; to which the tribes go up, even the tribes of the Lord – an ordinance for Israel – to give thanks to the name of the Lord. For there thrones were set for judgment, the thrones of the house of David. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love You. May peace be within your walls, and prosperity within your palaces. For the sake of my brothers and my friends, I will now say, “May peace be within you.” For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your good.”

Sadly, we read in the Bible, there will be no peace in Jerusalem or anywhere else in the world until the “Prince of Peace,” the Lord Jesus Christ, returns to the earth to defeat His enemies and set up His kingdom. In the meantime, Jesus said there will be “wars and rumors of war” and “an increase of “lawlessness” (Matthew 24:12) which we are already seeing big time all over the world, all of which would indicate that Jesus’ coming will be sooner than later. Are you ready? Let me remind you: Jesus will either be your Savior or Judge and take you to heaven or send you to hell for eternity. So, please, I beg you, while you still have time, agree with God you are a sinner who needs a Savior Who is Jesus (Romans 3:23, 24) and believe He died on a cross for your sins, was buried and raised from the dead (I Corinthians 15:1-4) to forgive all your sins and give you eternal life (John 3:16). Then, watch, wait, work, witness for, walk with and worship Jesus until He comes. Love, Doug (3/12/24)

RESURGENCE: YES or NO?

Good morning, blog readers, from clear and cool (30 degrees) Wisconsin where, on my morning walk, I saw: 3 deer and a dog. Thank You, Jesus!

This headline, from the March 9, 2024, Christian Today, caught my eye this morning: “Are we seeing a resurgence of belief in God?”

In the article, Anita Laryea wrote: “Premier Christian Radio Host Justin Brierley is optimistic about a steady resurgence of belief in God, while historian Tom Holland believes the confident atheism by the likes of Richard Dawkins in the 2000s has ‘crumbled and collapsed.'”

They were joined in Westminster Chapel by Paul Wooley and Grace Fielding of The London Institute for Contemporary Christianity (LICC) for a conversation inspired by Brierley’s book, ‘The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God, published last year. “The moment I published the book cover on social media, I was deluged with skeptics asking, ‘what surprising rebirth?’ because all of the data suggests the opposite,’ said Brierley. We are all quite familiar with the statistic that tells us that we have increased in church decline in the West”

He continued: “I didn’t have the data to say that ‘X’ number of secular intellectuals are now talking publicly about Christianity and I certainly didn’t have any data saying there’s an influx into the pews. However, I did sense that the conversations that were naturally opening up did seem to reflect a difference in the atmosphere.”

Brierley, who has hosted conversations between Christians and atheists for over 15 years on his radio show ‘Unbelievable,’ says he has seen a change in the thinking of atheists. “More of the atheists coming on the show are saying, ‘I’m not a Richard Dawkins kind of atheist’ and distancing themselves from this New Atheist movement,” he said. Holland echoed these sentiments, saying, “I completely agree with Justin that this kind of confident evangelical atheism has crumbled and collapsed. I think it has so many contradictions within it that it hasn’t been really able to put down roots.” He continued: “I think certainly in Britain, and less so in the United States, what we have now is a situation where most people simply do not know enough about Christianity or the Bible even to be against it. Justin’s book is about the rebirth of the belief in God. I think there is a slight degree of optimism in thinking that this idea of Christian civilization in the West remains as vital as it has ever done,” he said.”

So, you might ask: “What do I think?” Well, my answer is based on whether or not you believe Christ’s coming is imminent. Why? Because Jesus said, in Matthew 24:10, that, one of the signs leading up to His return would be that “many will fall away (from the true faith in Christ) and, in verse 24, be deceived by “false Christs, false prophets, great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect (the believers in Jesus).” By the way, the apostle Paul also said the same thing in II Thessalonians 2:3, 4 which will ultimately lead to the coming of the antichrist. Question: “Do you know and believe in the real Jesus? Have you agreed with God you are a sinner who needs a Savior Who is Jesus (Romans 3:23, 24) and believed He died on a cross for your sins, was buried and raised from the dead (I Corinthians 15:1-4) to forgive all your sins and give you eternal life (John 3:16)? If you have, I’ll see you in heaven. Glory to God! Blessings with love, Doug (3/11/24)

OOOOPS!

Good morning, blog readers, from clear and cold (27 degrees) Wisconsin where, on my morning walk, I saw the heavens declaring the glory of God (Psalm 19:1) and two planes! Thank You, Jesus!

This 3/4/24 headline, from the Jerusalem Post, came as no surprise to me: “IAEA chief: We have lost track of Iran nuke progress.”

In the article, Yonah Jeremy Bob wrote: IAEA Chief Rafael Grossi on Monday told the IAEA Board of Governors, concerning Iran’s nuclear advancement, that “the agency has lost continuity of knowledge about the production and inventory of centrifuges, rotors and bellows, heavy water and uranium ore concentrate. It is three years since Iran stopped provisionally applying its additional protocol and therefore it is also three years since the agency was able to conduct complementary access in Iran,” Grossi said, describing large gaps in nuclear inspections.”

No surprise to me there. And, no big deal, as far as the Lord is concerned because, according to the prophecies of Ezekiel 38-39, the Lord will not only take care of Iran (Persia in Ezekiel 38:5), but also her allies which include Russia, Ethiopia, Libya, Turkey and possibly Germany. And, as I have said before, we could actually be alive to see this happen. But, let me remind you that, when Russia and her allies invade Israel to “capture great spoil” (Ezekiel 38:13), Israel is living in prosperity, at rest and in a land of unwalled villages (verses11-23) which is certainly not happening now. So, stay tuned! As someone once told me: “God said it; I believe it; that settles it; let’s get on with it!”

The bottom line is that Jesus is coming to take His own (His bride, the church) out of this worldly mess to our heavenly home (John 14:1-3). So, let’s be ready by watching, waiting, working, witnessing for, walking with and worshiping Jesus until He comes. And, if you are not a believer in Jesus, you can become one right now by agreeing with God you are a sinner who needs a Savior Who is Jesus (Romans 3:23, 24) and believe He died on a cross for your sins, was buried and raised from the dead (I Corinthians 15:1-4) to forgive all your sins and give you eternal life (John 3:16). Off to worship and fellowship with our church family. Blessings with love, Doug (3/10/24).

UFOS: TRUE or FALSE?

Good morning, blog readers, from sunny, clear and cool (30 degrees) Wisconsin where, on my morning walk, I saw: another robin which makes two over the last two days! Thank You, Jesus!

My wife and I are fans of NewsNation and its reporters who are not afraid to give us all the news, including reports of UFOs/UAPs which none of the other news channels seem to care about. So, the question is: “Are they (UFOs/UAPs for real?”

Please know, I am not a scientist or fighter pilot and have never seen a UFO/UAP, but I do believe they are real. Personally, I believe they may just be part of the demonic world which the apostle Paul warned us about in Ephesus 6:10-12, writing, “Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

Then, in Ephesians 2:1-2, Paul also wrote: “And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air (Satan/the devil), of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.” Now, back to the UFOs/UAPs and three of the most recent headlines about them from NewsNation:

#1. Journalist Ross Coulthart reported: “Pentagon UFO report ‘feeble’ attempt at coverup.” #2. “The Pentagon report denies any evidence of UFOs or aliens.” #3. Whistleblower claims there was a secret UFO retrieval program.”

Personally, I believe UFOs and UAPs are real, demonic and a force to be reckoned with in the present and the future. Whether you realize it or not, we are in a spiritual battle between the forces of evil (the devil and his demons) and the forces of good (Jesus and His angels) who will ultimately be victorious which you can read about in Revelation 19:11-21.

Here’s the bottom line: Jesus is coming! And, you need to make a choice about Him: You can agree with God you are a sinner who needs a Savior Who is Jesus (Romans 3:23, 24) and believe He died on a cross for your sins, was buried and raised from the dead (I Corinthians 15:1-4) to forgive all your sins and give you eternal life (John 3:16). Or, you can chose to follow the devil and spend your eternity with him and all the unbelievers in hell. My prayer is that you will choose Jesus to save you from your sins and give you eternal life in heaven. P.S. Thank you, Leland and the News Nation team for what you do and know we love you and are praying for you. Doug & Judy (3/9/24)

HOODSPORT!

Good morning, blog readers, from cloudy, windy and cool (39 degrees) Wisconsin where, on my morning walk, I saw: 3 deer, a bunny and a robin for the first time! Thank You, Jesus!

Yesterday, I wrote of a “very minor” (2.6) earthquake in Queets, Washington (population: 174, as of 2010). Today, I noticed there was another “very minor” (2.6) quake in Hoodsport, Washington (population: 376, as of 2010) which is about 42 miles SW of Seattle (population: 737,015, as of 2010). As I have said numerous times before, “You just never know where these quakes are going to occur.” Remember, Jesus said, in Matthew 24:7 and Mark 13:8, that, before His return, “there will be earthquakes in various places,” like Queets and Hoodsport, Washington.

Personally, I believe (and I could be wrong) that, since Jesus equated the “signs” leading up to His return to “birth pangs (pains),” I also believe these and the others “signs” Jesus gave us in Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21 will increase in frequency and intensity as we get closer to His return. As a result, we should heed Jesus’ words in Mark 13:33, 35, 37 and “keep and be on the alert.”

And, if you are not a believer in Jesus, please, I beg you, agree with God you are a sinner who needs a Savior Who is Jesus (Romans 3:23, 24) and believe He died on a cross for your sins, was buried and raised from the dead (I Corinthians 15:1-4) to forgive all your sins and give you eternal life (John 3:16). And, if you do, I’ll see you on heaven. Glory to God! Love in Christ, Doug (3/8/24)

QUETTS!

Good morning, blog readers, from cloudy and cool (32 degrees) Wisconsin where, on my morning walk, I saw: 4 deer and a dog! Thank You, Jesus!

As most of you who have been following my blog for sometime know, I love to chart and write about earthquakes because Jesus said, in Matthew 24: 7, Mark 13:8 and Luke 21:11, that, before His return, there will be “earthquakes in various places.”

Case in point, over the last 24 hours, there was a “very minor” (2.6) earthquake, 26 km, NNE of Quetts, Washington (population: 174, as of 2010) which is about 60 miles south of Vancouver Island and bears watching.

You might like to know that the so-called “Richter Scale” which measures earthquakes was invented by Charles Richter in 1934. Here are the different categories he listed:

Great (8.0+), Major (7.0-7.9), Strong (6.0-6.9), Moderate (5.0-5.9, Light (4.0-4.9), Minor (3.0-3.9), Very Minor (2.0-2.9). And, here’s another “nugget” I believe Dr. Luke added in his gospel: “there will be great earthquakes” before Jesus returns to the earth. And, if you want to see what these look like, check out Revelation 6:12-17, 11:13 and 16:18.

I believe (and I could be wrong) we are still in what I like to call the “first trimester of the birth pains” (Matthew 24:8) which will increase in frequency and intensity as we get closer to the Lord’s return. So, dearly beloved in Christ, stay “on the alert” (Mark 13:33, 35, 37) and watch, wait, work, witness for, walk with and worship Jesus until He comes. And, if you are not a believer in Jesus, please agree with God you are a sinner who needs a Savior Who is Jesus (Romans 3:23, 24) and believe He died on a cross for your sins, was buried and raised from the dead (I Corinthians 15:1-4) to forgive all your sins and give you eternal life (John 3:16). Blessings with love, Doug (3/7/24)

QUAKES in the STATES & CANADA!

Good morning, blog readers, from mostly sunny and cool (33 degrees) Wisconsin where, on my morning walk, I saw: one deer! Thank You, Jesus!

Over the last 24 hours, according to the USGS, there were some interesting places in the States and Canada where there were earthquakes. For instance, there was a “light” (4.5) quake, 259 km WSW of Tofino, Canada in the Vancouver Island Region, a “very minor” (2.6) quake in the Denali National Park of Alaska and a “very minor” (2.5) quake, 6 km, ENE of Pinkneyville, IL which is about 20 miles east of the Mississippi River and near the New Madrid Fault Line.

According to Wikipedia, “The New Madrid Seismic Zone, sometimes called the New Madrid Fault Line, is a major seismic zone and a prolific source of intraplate earthquakes in the Southern and Midwestern United States, stretching to the southwest from New Madrid, Missouri. The New Madrid fault system was responsible for the 1811-12 New Madrid earthquakes and has the potential to produce large earthquakes in the future. Since 1812, frequent smaller earthquakes have been in the area.

Earthquakes that occur in the New Madrid Seismic Zone potentially threaten parts of seven American states: Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, and to a lesser extent, Mississippi and Indiana.”

So, stay tuned and remember, Jesus said, in Matthew 24:7, Mark 13:8 and Luke 21:11, that, one of the “signs” leading up to His return, would be “earthquakes in various places. And, He also said, in Matthew 24:8, that the “signs” would come like “birth pains,” increasing in frequency and intensity, as we get closer to His return.

Yes, dearly beloved in Christ, He is coming! Are you ready? Are you excited? You and I should be. And, we also should be watching, waiting, working, witnessing for, walking with and worshiping Jesus until He comes. And, if you are not a believer in Jesus, you can become one right now by agreeing with God you are a sinner who needs a Savior Who is Jesus (Romans 3:23, 24) and believe He died on a cross for your sins, was buried and raised from the dead (I Corinthians 15:1-4) to forgive all your sins and give you eternal life (John 3:16). That’s it! Blessings, Doug (3/6/24)

WHAT IS BIBLICAL ZIONISM?

Good morning, blog readers, from cloudy and cool (40 degrees) Wisconsin where, on my morning walk, I saw: 2 deer and a baby bunny! Thank You, Jesus!

This morning, I read this most interesting article by Olivier Melnick on “Biblical Zionism.” Olivier wrote: “There are many different ways to look at Zionism. It can be cultural, political, historical, and even Christian. Yet, the safest way to define Zionism is biblical if, of course, it can be done. If Zionism could be defined biblically, it would supersede all other definitions as long as those looking at that definition would believe that the Bible is the inspired, inerrant word of God.

Let’s first look at the words themselves. The terms ‘Zionism’ and ‘Zionist’ were coined in 1890 by Jewish activist Nathan Birnbaum (1864-1937) who also played an important part in the first Zionist Congress held in 1897 (renamed the World Zionist Organization in 1960) alongside its first president Theodore Hetzl. The word ‘Zion’ comes from the Hebrew tzion, a reference to Jerusalem and often, by extension, to the Land of Israel itself (first mentioned in II Samuel 5:7) which reads: ‘Nevertheless, David captured the stronghold of Zion, that is the city of David.’ According to scholar Mitchell Bard, Zionism is: ‘The national movement for the return of the Jewish people to their homeland and the resumption of Jewish sovereignty in the Land of Israel.’

Many followers of Yeshua (Jesus) look at the Bible and clearly see that God is NOT done with Israel. They see a glorious future to the people and the Land. They understand that the promises of Genesis 12:3 still stand, and they want to be in the center of God’s will by blessing the people that He calls ‘the apple of His eye’ (Zechariah 2:8). Believers in Yeshua who recognize Israel’s biblical and historical right to the Land are often called Christian Zionists. God Himself declared this plan in His Word; thus, Christian Zionism is a noble cause and is part of what every Bible-believing Christian should promote.

Unfortunately, for those of us who are Bible-believing. modern-day disciples of Yeshua of Nazareth, the term Christian doesn’t help our cause. It has been overused and abused by friends and foes, and its etymology is now quite different from the simple definition it once carried. Not all people called ‘Christians’ have truly placed their trust in the finished work of Yeshua of Nazareth on their behalf. Additionally, among those who are Christian, not all of them espouse a positive, biblical view of Israel, its land and its people.” Just watch the news and you will see that is true.

So, the question is: “Is God done with Israel and the Jewish people?” Here’s what the apostle Paul had to say in Romans 11:1-5; “I say then, God has not rejected His people, has He? May it never be! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel? ‘Lord, they have killed Thy prophets, they have torn down Thine altars, and I alone am left, and they are seeking my life.’ But what is the divine response to him? ‘I have kept for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.’ In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God’s gracious choice.”

Yes, God is not done with Israel. However, she is now and will also in the future, go through more tragedy when she signs a “peace treaty” with the so-called “antichrist” for 7 years (Daniel 9:27), then breaks it halfway through, goes into the rebuilt temple in Jerusalem, stops the sacrifices and declares to the world that he alone is God to be worshiped with the death penalty for those who oppose him. And yet, according to Zechariah 13:7-9, a third of the Jews will enter the kingdom and worship Jesus as their Messiah and Savior Who is coming. And so, let us watch, wait, work, witness for, walk with and worship Jesus until He comes. And, if you are not a believer in Jesus, please agree with God you are a sinner who needs a Savior Who is Jesus (Romans 3:23, 24) and believe He died on a cross for your sins, was buried and raised from the dead (I Corinthians 15:1-4) to forgive all your sins and give you eternal life (John 3:16). Blessings with love, Doug (3/5/24)

OH DEER!

Good morning, blog readers, from clear and cool (39 degrees) Wisconsin where, on my morning walk, I saw 2 deer running on the sidewalk in front of me getting ready to run onto the highway. So, I summoned my “deer-scolding” voice which has worked before and told them to run back into the woods which they did! Thank You, Jesus, for keeping them safe!

Jesus told us, in Matthew 24:7, Mark 13:8 and Luke 21:11 that, one of the “signs” leading up to His return, would be: “earthquakes in various places.” For instance, over the last 24 hours, according to the USGS, there were: 2 “moderate” (5.0 ) earthquakes in or near Easter Island and the Southwest Indian Island region, a “moderate” (5.1) quake in or near Pagar Alam, Indonesia, a “moderate” (5.3) quake in or near the Cholpon-Ata region of Kyrgystan, a “moderate” (5.5) quake in or near Bengkulu, Indonesia and a “strong” (6.7) quake in or near the MacQuarie Island Region. Now, I don’t know about you, but some of these places I had never heard of before. So, stay tuned and watch for there to be more “quakes in various places,” including different parts of the U.S., as Jesus predicted before His return.

And, let me remind you that, in order for you to escape the Lord’s judgment, you need to agree with God you are a sinner who needs a Savior Who is Jesus (Romans 3:23, 24) and believe He died on a cross for your sins, was buried and raised from the dead (I Corinthians 15:1-4) to forgive all your sins and give you eternal life (John 3:16). Then, watch, wait, work, witness for, walk with and worship Jesus until He comes. Blessings with love, Doug (3/4/24)