MARANATHA!

“Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments, and His paths beyond tracing out! Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor? Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them? For from Him and through Him and for Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen.” Romans 11:33-36

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. He spoke into darkness, and light appeared; and there was day and night, the first day. The second day, God spoke and the sky appeared. The third day, God spoke and dry land appeared; then God spoke and all kinds of seed-bearing vegetation appeared. The fourth day, God spoke and the sun, moon and stars appeared. The fifth day, God spoke and all kinds of winged creatures appeared in the sky, and all kinds of living creatures appeared in the seas.

On the sixth day, God spoke and all kinds of livestock, creatures and wild animals appeared on the earth. Then the three persons of God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over all the living creatures on earth. That day, the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into His nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

On that sixth day, God took the man and put him into the Garden of Eden to take care of it. He gave the man one command: he was not to eat of a certain tree in the midst of the garden. Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper for him.” The Lord God put the man into a deep sleep, took one of his ribs, and from that rib made a woman. God saw that all He had done was good, very good, and so, on the seventh day, the LORD God rested from all His work.

Here’s the questions: In the beginning, other than God Himself, who was there to know what He was thinking? Who was there to tell Him what to do, or how to do it? Who was there to contribute anything to His creation? The creation of all things was born from the mind, the wisdom and the knowledge of God alone, for His good pleasure and purpose alone.

Fast forward from creation approximately 4000 years, and we see the LORD God’s handiwork again. In the town of Nazareth, Israel, there was a virgin named Mary, who was betrothed to a man named Joseph. One day, the LORD God sent the angel Gabriel to Mary to tell her she was going to conceive and give birth to a son. He further told her that she would conceive by the power of the Holy Spirit, so that the Son would be the begotten Son of God. The LORD God gave His Son the name Jesus, for He was going to save His people from their sins.

In Isaiah 53 we find that it was the Father’s will that His Son should bear the sin and iniquity of the world; that when Jesus was on the cross, the LORD laid on Him the iniquity of us all. Jesus Christ not only bore our sins in His body, but took our place in judgment. Jesus became sin for us so we could be righteous before God. This was all of God’s predetermined plan to save those who would believe in His Son, to give them forgiveness of sin and grant them eternal life. How does God work in bringing men to believe in His Son?

“…It pleased God, through the foolishness of what was preached, to save those who believe.” 1 Corinthians 1:21

“…The Lord of all richly blesses all who call on Him, for, everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:12-13

God’s mind, His counsel, His way to salvation is simple: it’s in His Son Jesus Christ alone;  if you would live with Him forever, come to Jesus!

Brother Bill is a Bible teacher and can be contacted at bboldham@sbcglobal.net

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From raptureready.com

On Jan. 6, 2024, Israel used precise munitions to kill nine known terrorists inside 3 rooms at a United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) school.

The Hamas-controlled Palestinian media quickly suggested that Israel killed about 45 civilians.

The international media and global leaders quickly jumped all over Israel.

An Israeli spokesperson said:

• We delayed our strike twice because we identified civilians in the area. We had aerial surveillance that had been monitoring the Hamas compound for a few days. We conducted the strike once our intelligence and surveillance indicated that there were no women or children inside the Hamas compound, inside those classrooms.
• This is the fifth time we have had to target Hamas and PIJ terrorists operating from inside UNRWA facilities… in the last month alone.
• Hamas wages war from schools and hospitals. Hamas hopes that international law and public sympathy will provide a shield for their military activities, which is why they systematically operate from schools, UN facilities, hospitals, and mosques.

As I understand it, the Hamas terrorists are violating international law by operating out of schools and hospitals, but the international media and many global leaders are deliberately turning a blind eye to that fact.

It is an established fact that Hamas and their Palestinian supporters have been exaggerating the number of citizens killed in this war, but the international media and many global leaders are deliberately disregarding that unpleasant truth.

Israel seems to be taking great pains to try to avoid killing innocent people, something the international media and most global leaders are bound to know (because they are not stupid), but they choose to ignore it.

Two days later, on June 8, 2024, Israel rescued 4 hostages that were being held in a civilian neighborhood; several people were killed, and, once again, the international media and several global leaders went bonkers.

The EU Minister of Foreign Affairs criticized Israel for “another massacre of civilians” and said, “We condemn this in the strongest terms. The bloodbath must end.”

Following Norway’s criticism of Israel, the Israeli ambassador to Norway said:

• Hostages shouldn’t be kept in densely populated areas; Families shouldn’t be locking up hostages in their homes on behalf of terror organizations; Civilians shouldn’t be kidnapped.
• Israel has not only the right to rescue its kidnapped citizens but the obligation to do so. Those who kidnapped civilians and paid families to keep them as hostages in their homes in the middle of a populated residential area are responsible for each and every casualty.

Once again, the Hamas terrorists were violating international law, but the international media and many global leaders continued to turn a blind eye.

They know what Hamas is doing, but they are intentionally blind or willfully avoiding the real problem (and that is why some problems never get solved).

Here are some recent events that seem to indicate that we are close to the end of the age.

One, on June 10, 2024, Israel announced that Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad have launched more than 19,000 missiles at Israel since the Oct. 7, 2023 Israeli-Hamas war began.

Most of the financing for these missiles was provided by Iran.

What have the international media and global leaders done about it?

My answer: other than jumping all over Israel for defending itself, they appear to be intentionally blind to why Israel is striking back.

On June 16, 2024, an Israeli spokesman said:

• When we say that we will not let October 7th happen again on any one of our borders – we mean it.
• Because of Hezbollah’s refusal to comply with UN Security Council Resolution 1701 — because of Hezbollah’s military infrastructure, weapons, and fire at Israel from the area south of the Litani River in southern Lebanon — and because of Lebanon’s failure to enforce 1701 on Hezbollah — Israel will take the necessary measures to protect its civilians — until security along our border with Lebanon is restored.
• One way or another – we will ensure the safe and secure return of Israelis to their homes in Northern Israel. That is not up for negotiation.

(My opinion: If Hezbollah doesn’t stop attacking Israel – and I don’t think they will – this will soon turn into an all-out war, spread, and involve other nations.).

Two, concerning wars and rumors of wars, including the Battle of Gog and Magog: on June 14, 2024: CBN reported that:

• The possibility of a war between Israel and Hezbollah is growing.
• Iran warned Israel not to launch a war and notified the U.S. that Iran will join the war if one breaks out.
• Israel’s military leaders are recommending that the government allow them to bring a quick end to the Rafah operation so they can focus on a wider war with Hezbollah in Lebanon.

(More: In a different article, it was reported that Israel intends to conclude its attacks in Rafah in the next 2 weeks.)

(More: In another article, it was reported that anonymous officials said the Biden administration is concerned that the war could get out of hand and the U.S. could be drug into it to prevent the defeat of Israel. The U.S. will send another diplomat to Israel on June 17, 2024, to try to calm the situation.).

(More: On June 17, 2024, Gatestone Institute posted an article by Carolyn Glick (author and columnist, that said, “Hezbollah is burning a swathe through northern Israel. The nature reserves, grazing land, fields, and orchards are burning to the ground. Military bases, including several strategic assets, are incurring major damage. More than 1,000 homes have been destroyed. Businesses are bankrupt. And some 80,000 displaced Israelis are living in hotels with no sense of when they may be able to go home.”)

(Update: On June 18, 2024, it was reported that the Israeli military has approved plans for an all-out war against Hezbollah and is preparing for it in case the government orders it. Israel’s foreign minister said, “We are very close to the moment when we will decide to change the rules of the game against Hezbollah and Lebanon,” Katz said in a statement. . .. In a total war, Hezbollah will be destroyed, and Lebanon will be hit hard.” For whatever it is worth, the U.S. is urging Israel not to get into another war.)

(My opinion: If this war breaks out and Iran gets involved, Russia, Turkey, and other Islamic nations and groups could be dragged in. It will provoke God’s wrath, He will get involved, and it will be a sure sign that the latter days and latter years have arrived.)

(My question: Pres. Biden has threatened to cut off U.S. support for Israel if Netanyahu doesn’t do what Biden says. How has Biden threatened Iran, Hezbollah, Hamas, or the Palestinians if they don’t do what he says?)

Three, concerning wars and rumors of wars: on June 15, 2024, it was reported that Israel’s enemies are using newer, more powerful drones, to drop small bombs on Israeli tanks, observation towers, armored personnel carriers, groups of troops, etc.

Israel needs to find a better way to deal with this new kind of warfare.

Four, concerning wars and rumors of wars and the government tracking people: on June 14, 2024, the U.S. House of Representatives passed an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that uses existing government data to automatically register all draft-age (18-26 years old) male and female U.S. residents with the Selective Service for a possible military draft.

Put another way, freedom of choice for military duty is over.

The U.S. military will soon be able to draft males and females who are 18-26 years old.

Five, concerning the use of nuclear weapons: a reader sent me a report dated June 17, 2024, that says Israel is significantly upgrading its nuclear capabilities.

(More: On June 17, 2024, it was reported that Israel has 90 nuclear warheads that can be launched from the air, land, or sea.)

(My opinion: This could explain how Damascus, Syria, could be destroyed in one night.)

(More: On June 17, 2024, it was reported that North Korea probably has about 50 nuclear weapons.)

(More: On June 18, 2024, a nuclear-armed Chinese submarine surfaced off the coast of Taiwan, sat still for several minutes, then joined several other Chinese ships and moved on.)

(My opinion: Because of Russia’s threats and naval maneuvers near Florida, several people have asked me if I believe the U.S. and Russia will get into a nuclear war. I doubt it. If it happened, I believe NATO would get involved, the EU and Russia would strike each other, and that doesn’t align with Bible prophecy. I believe Russia must exist to attack Israel in the Battle of Gog and Magog, and the EU must be a powerhouse to produce the Antichrist and head up the New World Order.)

Six, concerning a global economic collapse early in the Tribulation Period (rider on the black horse): on June 13, 2024, it was reported that Saudi Arabia has notified the U.S. that the dollar will no longer be the only currency that Saudi Arabia accepts from nations that want to buy oil.

This will be a major step in the global use of other currencies, and it will likely have a negative impact on the U.S. economy.

Seven, concerning a global economic collapse early in the Tribulation Period and a one-world economic system at the middle of the Tribulation Period: on June 17, 2024, it was reported that a UN report says the world’s debt is approaching 100 trillion dollars, and it is threatening the global economy.

According to the UN report, the global financial system needs to be overhauled.

Eight, concerning the U.S. and a digital ID: on June 14, 2024, Leo Hohmann (author and speaker) said the U.S. has secretly adopted a digital ID program.

Hohmann believes the program will begin in the U.S. as a voluntary program and ultimately become a required program.

He believes the first group that will be coerced into accepting it will be citizens who get benefits from the federal government (veterans, people drawing social security, on welfare, etc.).

(My opinion: Christians won’t be here when the Mark of the Beast is implemented globally, but a digital ID is a big step in that direction. Also, the Mark of the Beast is not every person having a different digital ID. It is every person taking the name, number, or Mark of the Beast.)

Nine, concerning who will govern the Gaza Strip if Biden can force Israel to withdraw: on June 18, 2024, it was reported that Hamas has instructed 2 battalions of troops to stay out of the war with Israel and to maintain their fighting abilities so they will have the military strength to become a governing force when Israel leaves.

(Note: Recent polls show that if a new election were held in Gaza, 67% of the Palestinians would vote for Hamas. It is likely that the terrorists would continue to be in power and continue to fire rockets into Israel. This is one reason Israel is determined to defeat Hamas no matter how hard Biden tries to protect them.)

Ten, concerning the possibility of corruption in the Pharmaceutical industry: on June 17, 2024, Kansas announced that it is suing Pfizer for misleading Kansans about the safety and efficacy of its COVID-19 vaccine.

Here is my daily update on the Israel-Hamas war.

Wednesday, June 12, 2024 (Day 251): The one hundred ninety-fifth day of the resumed war. Day 37 of the attack on Rafah.

• S. Sec. of State Blinken said Hamas’ response to Biden’s ceasefire proposal includes changes that are unworkable.
• The father of one of the 4 rescued hostages said his son was tortured by Hamas.
• Hezbollah fired about 250 rockets into northern Israel.

Thursday, June 13, 2024 (Day 252): The one hundred ninety-sixth day of the resumed war. Day 38 of the attack on Rafah.

• Two Israelis were slightly wounded by rockets that Hezbollah fired at the Golan Heights from Lebanon.
• Hamas said they have no idea how many of the Israeli hostages are still alive.

Friday, June 14, 2024 (Day 253): The one hundred ninety-seventh day of the resumed war. Day 39 of the attack on Rafah.

• It was reported that Hezbollah launched 16 drones toward Israel in the last 72 hours, and Israel shot down 11 (69%) of them.
• Israel rejected a French mediation effort to negotiate a ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel on the grounds that France has adopted hostile policies toward Israel and ignored the atrocities of Hamas in Gaza. Macron has accused Israel of killing women and babies in Gaza and said nothing about the fact that Hamas has killed Israeli women, children, and men.

Saturday, June 15, 2024 (Day 254): The one hundred ninety-eighth day of the resumed war. Day 40 of the attack on Rafah.

• There is fierce fighting in Rafah, Israel is using artillery and helicopters, there are loud explosions, and several people have been killed.
• 8 Israeli soldiers were killed when their vehicle was hit by an explosion.
• The U.S. said it destroyed seven radars, one drone, and two un-crewed surface vessels belonging to the Houthis.

Sunday, June 16, 2024 (Day 255): The one hundred ninety-ninth day of the resumed war. Day 41 of the attack on Rafah.

• In response to the resignation of Benny Gantz, Netanyahu dissolved his war cabinet, said he will not need a war cabinet anymore, and said he will meet with his security cabinet more often to discuss the war.
• Israel said it has defeated 2 out of the 4 Hamas divisions in Rafah, and the Israeli military now controls 60% of Rafah.

Monday, June 17, 2024 (Day 256): The two-hundredth day of the resumed war. Day 42 of the attack on Rafah.

• Israel has destroyed about 200 tunnel shafts and half of Hamas’ forces in Rafah.
• Israel has located at least 25 tunnels that go to the Egyptian border, and some may go into Egypt.
• Israel said dozens of hostages are still alive, and Israel cannot halt the war until all of them are released.
• Hamas released a short video that says Hamas will continue to attack Israel until they have destroyed the Jewish nation.

Tuesday, June 18, 2024 (Day 257): The two-hundred-first day of the resumed war. Day 43 of the attack on Rafah.

• An Israeli official said after the war is over, Israeli troops will stay in Gaza until there is a negotiated agreement and there are mechanisms in place to ensure compliance with that agreement.

Wednesday, June 19, 2024 (Day 258): The two-hundred-and-second day of the resumed war. Day 44 of the attack on Rafah.

• Hamas said no part of Israel will be safe if a full-fledged war breaks out.

FYI: God does not send anyone to Hell (all of us are born with a sin nature and destined to go to Hell because we sin), but God has provided a way (Jesus) for everyone to go to Heaven (and He is the only way to get there; John 14:6).

Finally, are you Rapture Ready?

If you want to be rapture ready and go to heaven, you must be born again (John 3:3). God loves you, and if you have not done so, sincerely admit that you are a sinner; believe that Jesus is the virgin-born, sinless Son of God who died for the sins of the world, was buried, and raised from the dead; ask Him to forgive your sins, cleanse you, come into your heart and be your Saviour; then tell someone that you have done this.

duck_daymond@yahoo.com

From nypost.com

A Jewish mom and her husband were attacked and beaten at a Brooklyn elementary school graduation by an Arabic-speaking family — who taunted them with shouts of “Free Palestine!” “Gaza is Ours!” and “Death to Israel!” she told The Post.

The mayhem erupted at PS 682 in Gravesend just after the school’s fifth-grade graduation — which was themed, ironically, “All you need is love.”

Instead, the Jewish woman’s husband was thrown to the ground by members of the other family. One man put him in a chokehold, he said. Others grabbed his legs as they kicked and punched him. One woman repeatedly whacked him with the sharp heel of a black stiletto, the mom told police.

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“They targeted my family because we are Jewish,” said the mother, whose 10-year-old twins witnessed the assaults.

“A graduation event that was supposed to be joyous and memorable turned into a violent and traumatizing one.”

It was one of the worst outbursts of antisemitism in NYC public schools since the Oct. 7 Hamas terror attack in Israel and war in Gaza, because it escalated beyond words, said Tova Plaut, a city educator and advocate for Jewish peers.

“We consistently warned that tolerating overtly antisemitic views would create a toxic environment for Jewish students and families, inevitably leading to physical violence,” Plaut said. “This has now occurred.”

The Jewish mom, Lana, and her husband Johan, a Dominican who is Catholic, recounted their horrific experience to The Post in frustration because the NYPD did not classify the incident as a hate crime.

But after the couple urged the NYPD to reconsider, a spokesperson said Saturday, “The Hate Crimes Task Force is investigating the incident.”

The Post is withholding the couple’s last names to protect their children’s privacy and safety.

The graduation ceremony itself was uneventful, but Lana’s mother was upset when one student marched across the stage wearing his graduate cap marked  “Free Palestine” and waving a small Palestinian flag. The grandma walked out.

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A school administrator told another parent that the city Department of Education’s legal staff had okayed the display as an expression of free speech.

After the event concluded, Lana and Johan started to take pictures with their two kids in front of a PS 682 banner and balloons when relatives of the boy with the flag tried to push them out of the way, she said.

“We told them there was space for both families,” Lana said. “An older man turned to us and said ‘Free Palestine!’ for no reason. My husband told him this was not the time or place for that but the man cursed at him in Arabic, and shouted, “Free Palestine, Gaza is Ours, Death to Israel.”

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While Johan argued with the older man and told him to back off, another man “just came out of nowhere, punched me in the head and it was a scuffle,” he said. “From there, I don’t remember, because there was so much going on and so many people on top of me. Then I was put on a chokehold. Somebody was holding my leg. It was chaotic.”

Their 16-year- old son tried to help his dad, but he was punched in the face.

Lana walked toward her son and managed to record a glimpse of the scene with her cell phone — capturing a group holding her husband down, jostling and loud shrieks — before she, too, was assaulted. 

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“A woman from the group came up from behind me, pulled me by the hair, and knocked me down on the ground, shouting, ‘I will kill you,’” she said.

Lana screamed, “Call the cops! Call the cops!”

No security was on site. Two male teachers rushed over to break up the attack. 

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Johan was taken to Maimonides Medical Center with scrapes, bruises and swelling on his head, face and body, photos show. Lana suffered a gash on her leg. Their teen son had a bloody nose. 

Cops made one arrest:  Ez-Al Dean Bazar, 26, who punched and dragged Johan, according to a criminal complaint filed by the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office. The complaint makes no mention of his motive.

Bazar was released on his own recognizance. He and his lawyer did not return messages seeking comment.

The NYPD did not call the assault a hate crime, telling Lana “nothing on my body says I am Jewish,” she said. 

But she and her kids are well-known in the school as Jewish. The twins proudly displayed their Jewish – and Dominican – roots on self-portraits displayed at a recent art show. Lana did not know the other family, but her son was in a class with their son last year.

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DOE spokesman Nathaniel Styer refused to say how school officials classified the fracas.

“Graduations should be times of celebration and joy, and we strongly denounce anyone who acts in a violent or aggressive way during such events,” he said.

But he shifted blame to Lana and Johan as well: “Initial reports we have received from multiple witnesses indicate that both families engaged in aggressive behavior, but we are still investigating the matter and are simultaneously engaging with families as we work towards a resolution.”

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Lana disputed the statement, insisting no one in her family provoked the attack, and that school staff told the arresting officer that members of the other family were the aggressors.

“My husband was trying to de-escalate the situation,” she said. “The DOE is trying to sweep it under the rug to avoid further scrutiny of this heinous antisemitic act.” source

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GOD PLEASE HELP US ALL!