Update 39

In light of explosive current events, Norbert Link will be continuing his series on prophecy. Services will begin at 2:30pm CT.

The services can be heard at www.cognetservices.org at the appropriate time, just click on “Connect to Live Stream”.
 

When Christ admonished us to “pray that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things” it should be understood in the larger context of our responsibilities as Christians to “preach and publish the Gospel as a witness ” and “grow in grace and knowledge”. To the shepherds you can also add, “feed my sheep”.

We all have a responsibility in the areas God has assigned to us. We in the ministry are to feed the flock. Members are to pray for and support the work of getting the Gospel out. One should never underestimate the power of prayer in this regard. One thing to consider in the larger context is making sure everything we do and pray for is according to God’s will and not our own. It is nice to pray that we escape future trials and go to the place of safety for what I believe is final training and also to get the spots and wrinkles out but this should not be a means unto itself, that is, it must always be according to God’s will. I am sure Stephen was not looking forward to being stoned to death so early in his walk as a deacon in the church but history shows us it was God’s will and God gave him the strength to say what was needed at the time prior to his death.

Therefore our focus should not be to pray that our hides be spared but rather pray that God’s will be done in our lives. If our lives are spared in the future that is good — if not, that is good also. Whether we live or die at the end we all want to stand before our Lord and Savior at His return to rule the earth.
 

WORLD NEWS HEADLINES

Judah in the End Times

The nation of Israel that now resides in the Middle East is more appropriately identified as the descendants of Judah, and there are specific prophecies in the book of Zechariah that indicate a fiery, pugnacious role for this tribe of Israel.

In line with end-time prophecies found in Zechariah 12:1-9 a recent opinion column in the Denver Post revealed some surprising statistics about this tiny nation:

“…The Israeli Defense Force, as it is called, is now the world’s fourth-strongest military machine.
“Besides an awesome array of American-supplied weapons, it has the largest and most sophisticated nuclear arsenal outside the five declared nuclear powers-the United States, Russia, China, France and Britain–estimated at up to 2,000 warheads.”

Israel’s Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has successfully withstood America’s dictation of its security policy. But this will not come without a price. More and more, this area of the world will be the focus of events culminating in the return of Jesus Christ. However, this time, Judah will recognize their Messiah (Zech 12:10-14). At that future time, Jews will find themselves on the brink of destruction–along with a rebellious world inspired and dominated by Satan and his evil followers.

As never before, prophecy is cascading into dramatic fulfillment. Let us continue to WATCH and prepare for these fearful times!

Catholic Church

Although some within the Catholic Church are hoping to gain some positive interest from all of the negative press, Rome has finally had to step up to the issue of pedophilia and the Pope has called for a meeting with key American Church leaders.

Coupled with declining Church interest, huge monetary expenditures for lost court cases and an alarming lack of new candidates for the priesthood, there is a grudging admission growing that Catholicism is facing an embarrassing crisis.

Considering Biblical prophecies picturing the dominant role of this end time religion, we can expect this current debacle to be displaced with a very positive international presence. The current Pope’s ill health has left him unable to aggressively confront issues. In light of the irrepressible geo-political events now flooding onto the world stage, the Catholic Church will soon be allowed to step forward in a much more dynamic, policy setting presence. The most obvious path in this direction will be fostered by a NEW POPE coming to power!

Terrorist Attack

German officials are now convinced that the explosion of a synagogue in Djerba, Tunisia, on April 11, was another terror attack, that was carried out by a group close to Isama Bin Laden. Eleven German tourists were killed during the attack.

Update on the Middle East

The Los Angeles Times ran an insightful article on April 18, 2002, regarding Mr. Powell’s unsuccessful mission in the Middle East. When reading this analysis, one should clearly see that there will be more bloodshed and violence in the Middle East. Although some are hopeful for a peaceful solution, there really seems to be “no peace” in sight. Given the failure of the United States’ mission, voices are already becoming louder for a European intervention. Although at this point, Europe is not willing to get directly involved, it might not have the luxury to stand at the sidelines for much longer.

“The Blame Game Goes On” (L.A. Times)

“JERUSALEM — There is no evidence on the ground here that Secretary of State Colin L. Powell’s shuttle diplomacy between Israelis and Palestinians did anything to defuse the conflict he left seething behind him Wednesday. And it is far from clear that either Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat or Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is entirely unhappy with Powell’s failure. Powell secured neither an Israeli military withdrawal from Palestinian areas nor a clear statement from Arafat that he was renouncing violence and recommitting himself to negotiations. In Bethlehem, Israeli tanks remain pointed at the Church of the Nativity, where more than 100 Palestinian gunmen are holed up. In Ramallah, Israeli soldiers are still bunking down on the grounds of Arafat’s battered and increasingly fetid headquarters…

“…during his final, stormy meeting with Powell on Wednesday, the Palestinian leader refused to meet Israel’s demand that he hand over the alleged killers of an Israeli Cabinet minister or accept an Israeli proposal that the gunmen in the Church of the Nativity surrender and face trial in Israel or go into exile…

“In his defiance, Arafat gains points with both his own increasingly embittered people and across an Arab world appalled by the scenes of destruction in the West Bank that they see on their television screens each night.

“Arafat’s insistence that he will offer no concessions until Israel ends its incursion has put moderate Arab regimes on the hot seat, hard-pressed to explain to their angry citizens why neither the Arabs nor the United States is forcing Israel to pull back…

“Israeli commentators said Powell’s failure to achieve a cease-fire offered certain political advantages for Sharon, who has declared Arafat an enemy of Israel and appears bent on dismantling not only armed militias in Palestinian areas but also the infrastructure of the Palestinian Authority that Arafat leads.

“Powell said Sharon promised that Israel will pull out of all areas except Bethlehem and Ramallah in the coming week. Sharon, commentators here say, will spend that week inflicting greater damage on Arafat’s administration. And in comments to reporters after Powell’s departure, Sharon said Israeli tanks and troops will continue to ring Palestinian cities, poised to reenter whenever Israel feels it needs to…

“Arab moderates warned that the Bush administration’s prestige was damaged by its failure to compel Israel’s withdrawal from recaptured Palestinian areas…

“POWELL NEEDS TO ENLIST THE HELP OF MODERATE ARAB STATES AND THE EUROPEAN UNION to pressure Arafat by threatening to cut off funding and end diplomatic support, [Israeli strategic analyst Joseph] Alpher said. The Secretary also needs to lean on Israel by holding up funding for some projects and publicly criticizing Sharon’s politics.”

UN Considers Military Intervention in Middle East
(excerpted from News Corp article “Sharon a man of peace”)

 

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan asked the UN security council to consider sending an armed multi-national force to help end violence. Annan’s Middle East envoy said the devastation was “horrific beyond belief” as he toured ruins in the West Bank, still mostly in the grip of Israeli troops despite Bush’s calls for an immediate withdrawal.

UN chief Annan said: “I believe the deployment of a multi-national force deserves serious consideration. The situation is so dangerous that the international community has an obligation to provide this assistance.”

But Israel quickly rejected his call. “We do not want it and I think also the United States do not want it,” government spokesman Avi Pazner said.

Erakat said: “This idea is the only right way to start fighting Israeli aggression.”

Annan’s special envoy to the Middle East, Terje Roed-Larsen, toured the remains of the shattered Jenin refugee camp, site of the fiercest battles in Israel’s West Bank campaign, and denounced the horror he saw. “It is totally unacceptable and horrific beyond belief,” he said. “The stench of death is horrible. We have expert people here who have been in war zones and earthquakes and they say they have never seen anything like it.”