To prepare or not to prepare (Brad Scott)
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Sent: Tuesday, January 20, 2009 5:22 PM
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Subject: Waytozion NewsShalom,
When I went to see Brad Scott in Denver last month he had a special message he wanted to talk about at the end. It regarded end-time thoughts and preparing. I asked him if he would record his thoughts special for the site since I thought his take was a bit different in that it hit on both sides of the camp - to prepare or not to prepare and trust.
I just got the CD today that Brad made and got it uploaded. It is on the audio page and at the top of the preparation page. Please share the link or file with others and get the message out.
Direct link: http://www.waytozion.org/teachings/Brad%20-%20Preparation%201-11-09.mp3
Dumb-rod
www.waytozion.org
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VIDEO: Israel and Islam: Confessions of a Former PLO Terrorist | Walid Shoebat
The following quotes by Walid Shoebat were taken from the Walid Shoebat Foundation website:
The Holocaust never ended but the victims have decided to defend themselves.
The occupation is in the minds of Children who are taught hatred.
Israel was the solution for the world’s greatest refugee problem that went on for two thousand years.
Why is it that on June 4th 1967 I was a Jordanian and overnight I became a Palestinian?
When I finally realized the lies and myths I was taught, it is my duty as a righteous person to speak out.
The Israeli Arab Conflict is not about geography but about Jew hatred; Throughout the Islamic as well as Christendom's history Jews have been persecuted, the persecution of Israel is just the same as the old antisemitism.
The Arab refugees are being used as pawns' to create a terror breeding ground, as a form of aggression against Israel.
The Arab refugee problem was caused by Arab aggression and not Israel. Why should Israel be responsible for their fate?
No one (Arab or Jew) has a "right of return". Jews who fled Arab persecution from 1948 to 1956 should have no right of return to Arab lands, and Arabs who ran away in 1948 and 1967 should have no right of return either. This should end all argument. Yet the Jews accept this judgment, while the Arabs reject EVERYTHING.
For people who doubt what I am saying about anti Semitism in the Middle East - People must view this video and understand that the dispute about Israel is not a war of land or geography but anti-semitism of the worst kind but it is now more dangerous than Nazi Germany because it has a religious twist.
This video should shock you and the world to recognize the real problem.
- Walid Shoebat
What really happened in the Middle East? (1948)
"What really happened in the Middle East?", a production of the David Horowitz Freedom Center, gives a somewhat quick synopsis on what happened after the defeat of the Ottoman Empire (1553-1922) in regards to land that later became known as Israel and Jordan.
A better quality video can be found here at: Terrorism Awareness Project.
The World Without US (film review)
The World Without US, a documentary by Niall Ferguson (watch it here), will certainly give most everyone a greater appreciation for the role of the United States of America as a force for good in the world (especially as the "Hammer" or Global Policeman-Jeremiah 50:23). He gave a fairly even handed view of the world's perspective of the USA as it evolved over the last 100 years. Though it was not Ferguson's intended goal, he further convinced me that the USA is indeed "Mystery Babylon", or rather, Daughter Babylon (see Traits of End-Time Babylon). She has brought much good into the world, but also great wickedness. For the latter (i.e. moral liberalism), Ferguson seems to be innocently or willfully ignorant... for the promotion of democracy nor individual human liberties provoke the Muslim world to hate America. It is instead the "immoral liberties" that the USA pipes to the entire world for consumption which infuriates many Muslim fundamentalists.
Furthermore, Ferguson incompletely depicts the negative side of capitalism / corporatism beyond just America's Oil consumption (for that side of the story, I suggest the film "The Corporation"). It would have been more intellectually honest if he could have shown how much America's elite profited from WWI, WWII, and the industrial war machine that President Eisenhower cautiously predicted and feared (see some of his statements below). Quotes like the following would have certainly been helpful in depicting a more balanced view of the delicate nature of being the world's sole superpower and world policeman.
We now stand ten years past the midpoint of a century that has witnessed four major wars among great nations. Three of these involved our own country. Despite these holocausts America is today the strongest, the most influential and most productive nation in the world. Understandably proud of this pre-eminence, we yet realize that America's leadership and prestige depend, not merely upon our unmatched material progress, riches and military strength, but on how we use our power in the interests of world peace and human betterment.
Eisenhower continues...
Until the latest of our world conflicts, the United States had no armaments industry. American makers of plowshares could, with time and as required, make swords as well. But now we can no longer risk emergency improvisation of national defense; we have been compelled to create a permanent armaments industry of vast proportions. Added to this, three and a half million men and women are directly engaged in the defense establishment. We annually spend on military security more than the net income of all United States corporations.
This conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry is new in the American experience. The total influence -- economic, political, even spiritual -- is felt in every city, every State house, every office of the Federal government. We recognize the imperative need for this development. Yet we must not fail to comprehend its grave implications. Our toil, resources and livelihood are all involved; so is the very structure of our society.
In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.
We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals, so that security and liberty may prosper together. - Public Papers of the Presidents, Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1960, p. 1035-1040
Maybe such statements could be added if there is ever a second edition of the film.
In spite of some of my frustrations, I still recommend people watch if they get a chance. If you're not sure if you want to spend the time or money, view a couple trailers here for a taste: The World Without US. Or go ahead and start the full film here.
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Hamas: How dare Israel blow up our women and children! (Cartoons)
Go here for more Political and Editorial Cartoons by Glenn McCoy.
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Go here for more Political and Editorial Cartoons by Lisa Benson.
Go here for more Political and Editorial Cartoons by Gary Varvel.
The End is Not Yet (Norman Willis)
We may be near the End, but of course the End is not yet. Norman Willis (aka, Yosef ben Ruach), from Nazarene Israel, has some interesting and compelling insights in his post below (Note: Willis does see America as Mystery Babylon, but also sees it as a land inhabited by a very large Ephraimite and Jewish population).
The End is Not Yet
By servant@nazareneisrael.orgMatthew 24:6
6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.Shalom, Nazarenes.
Lately I have been receiving a number of troubled inquiries from readers as to whether we should sell everything we have and move to Israel, even though we are not legally allowed to do so at this point. The short answer is "No," but after the fourth or fifth query I began to investigate why so many people had these questions. What I learned is that there are two messianic teachers (whose work I otherwise respect) who are teaching that the present economic crisis will lead to a complete and total meltdown of the U.S. economy, and that this will spell the end of America as we know it. They recommend selling everything, and moving immediately to Israel. They also advocate living illegally on the Israeli economy in anticipation of Yeshua's soon return.
With all due respect to these other teachers, I am unable to agree with their analysis, or with their recommendations. The paper I saw was not supported by even one single Scripture quotation. Instead, it made its appeal based completely upon emotion, and common Christian assumptions.
I do not read an 'economic meltdown' for America in Scripture. Instead, what I read is that America and Israel still have to fight a war together in the Middle East.
Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 11:14
14 But they shall fly down upon the shoulder of the Philistines toward the west;
Together they shall plunder the people of the East;
They shall lay their hand on Edom and Moab;
And the people of Ammon shall obey them.Then, when the Ephraimites return to the land, it will be such a big Exodus that the first Exodus will no longer even be mentioned.
Yirmeyahu (Jeremiah) 16:14-15
14 "Therefore behold, the days are coming," says YHWH, "that it shall no more be said, 'YHWH lives who brought up the children of Israel from the land of Egypt ,'
15 but, 'YHWH lives who brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north and from all the lands where He had driven them.' For I will bring them back into their land which I gave to their fathers.After the war, when we are finally gathered into the land, we will be gathered into Lebanon and into the regions surrounding the Galilee (here called 'Gilead').
Zechariah 10:10
10 I will also bring them back from the land of Egypt,
And gather them from Assyria.
I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon,
Until no more room is found for them.If we cannot legally settle into these regions right now, how can this be the time for the Ingathering? Therefore, if we relocate illegally to the Land of Israel right now, are we in YHWH's will?
We are told that when the Ingathering comes, we shall not go out in haste, nor go by flight, for YHWH will go before us, and the Elohim of Israel will be our rear guard. This speaks of a somewhat orderly event.
Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 52:12
12 For you shall not go out with haste,
Nor go by flight;
For YHWH will go before you,
And the Elohim of Israel will be your rear guard.This speaks of an at-least-somewhat orderly Second Exodus, and an orderly Ingathering. Does it speak of living illegally on the Israeli economy? Or does it speak of living in defiance of the law, which we are commanded in Romans Thirteen (and in other places) to keep?
Romim (Romans) 13:1-7
1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from Elohim, and the authorities that exist are appointed by Elohim.
2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of Elohim, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.
3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.
4 For he is Elohim's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is Elohim's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.
5 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience' sake.
6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are Elohim's ministers attending continually to this very thing.
7 Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.From what I read, America still has many vital Scripture prophecies to fulfill; and if America still has to take part in many important prophetic events, then how can her history 'end' at this point in time?
That said, we are told we can expect significant economic turmoil in the year ahead. We are also told that the Muslim nations will attack us sometime in the foreseeable future.
B'reisheet (Genesis) 49:23-24
23 The archers have bitterly grieved him,
Shot at him and hated him.
24 But his bow remained in strength,
And the arms of his hands were made strong
By the hands of the Mighty Elohim of Jacob
(From there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel)....While America cannot 'end' or 'melt-down' at this time, it is always wise to be prepared for emergencies, and to keep basic emergency-preparedness supplies on hand.
I pray this will help to clarify the situation for those who are concerned about current economic and global events.
In His service,
Norman
www.nazareneisrael.org
According to Yeshua (Matthew 24:15), the End is definitely not yet, for there is no "Holy Place" for the Abomination of Desolation to be setup in--YET. That will be a major precursor for us all to watch keenly for, but it may be something that could manifest in Jerusalem rather quickly. The Temple Institute has been very active for many years.
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“Israel will soon be completely on their own… or worse”
Many have wondered what could encourage the Psalm 83 alliance of nations to lay siege to "Judah" and "Jerusalem"... then provoking Judah to become a "firepot" that consumes that alliance as both Zechariah 12:1-6 and Psalm 83 predicts. The following news recently released by the Northeast Intelligence Network may be one of the keys to unraveling this mystery.
U.S. Intelligence official "breaks silence" on Israel situation
31 December 2008: Northeast Intelligence Network director Doug Hagmann interviewed a highly-placed U.S. intelligence official late yesterday who not only confirmed rumors about escalated and more intensive Israeli military operations against the Muslim terrorists in Gaza, warned of the increasing probability of abandonment of Israel by the U.S. and other Western countries based on what he termed “malicious intelligence.”
The anonymous official's most alarming statement:
“I have every reason to believe, based on what I’ve seen at my level of [security] clearance especially over the last several years, that Israel will soon be completely on their own… or worse.” When asked what could be worse than losing the support of the United States, he stated: “when our administration provides more support to Arab countries [with] financial and military aid, undercutting Israel’s defense efforts all while pushing Israel to succumb to the pressure of unreasonable demands designed to end with their political annihilation as a nation.”
Currently, even a large combined national force (Arab/Muslim or otherwise) would be foolish or insane to attack Israel and lay siege to Jerusalem, largely because that force would have to first confront the United States of America, but if that protective force is removed, Judah (the Jews) are going to be forced to deal with the Muslim extremist problems on their own, which will likely be a hook that draws the Arab/Muslim nations to lay siege to Judah and Jerusalem, which will then force Judah to consider the Nuclear option, otherwise called the Samson Option. Be not deceived, if faced with another Jewish Holocaust, they will not hesitate to use this option.
READ THE FULL NEWS RELEASE HERE.
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Update: Earthquake swarm at Yellowstone’s Supervolcano
Released: December 29, 2008 05:00 PM MST
The University of Utah Seismograph Stations reports that a notable swarm of earthquakes has been underway since December 26 beneath Yellowstone Lake in Yellowstone National Park, three to six miles south-southeast of Fishing Bridge, Wyoming. This energetic sequence of events was most intense on December 27, when the largest number of events of magnitude 3 and larger occurred.
The largest of the earthquakes was a magnitude 3.9 (revised from magnitude 3.8) at 10:15 pm MST on Dec. 27. The sequence has included nine events of magnitude 3 to 3.9 and approximately 24 of magnitude 2 to 3 at the time of this release. A total of more than 250 events large enough to be located have occurred in this swarm. Reliable depths of the larger events are up to a few miles. Visitors and National Park Service (NPS) employees in the Yellowstone Lake area reported feeling the largest of these earthquakes. - READ FULL REPORT by the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory
- Multiple tiny earthquakes rattle Yellowstone. Could the big one be far behind?
- Response to 'Yellowstone Supervolcano - When should we start to worry?'
- Earthquake swarm beneath Yellowstone Lake continues :YVO
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Why God Allows Pain and Suffering (Lee Strobel)
"LOVE MUST INVOLVE A CHOICE', where we can chose to love the Master יהוה and others, or chose to hurt יהוה and others.
"In the real world of pain, how could one worship a God who was immune to it? I have entered many Buddhist temples in different Asian countries and stood respectfully before the statue of the Buddha, his legs crossed, arms folded, eyes closed, the ghost of a smile playing round his mouth, a remote look on his face, detached from the agonies of the world. But each time, after a while I have had to look away. And in imagination I have turned instead to the lonely, twisted, tortured figure on the cross, nails through hands and feet, back lacerated, limbs wrenched, brow bleeding from thorn pricks, mouth dry and intolerably thirsty, plunged in God-forsaken darkness. That is the God for me! He laid aside His immunity to pain. He entered our world of flesh and blood, tears and death. He suffered for us. Our sufferings become more manageable in the light of His. There is still a question mark against human suffering, but over it we stamp another mark, the cross which symbolizes divine suffering."
—John R.W. Stott in "The Cross of Christ"
Festival Observance: “Is Shabbat not a Moed too? Should we not observe it as well?” (Pt.2)
This is a follow-up post to Festival Observance: “a law forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings”? and is largely in response to the natural question it generates (see below).
"If Shabbat (Sabbath) is a 'Moed' like the other Moedim (Festivals/Appointments), then why do we endeavor to observe it if we are not to observe the others while in exile?"
I’ve often asked myself this and similar questions, especially since Hosea 2:11 includes Shabbat as one of the observances יהוה said He would stop. I wonder, did Pharaoh allow the Israelites to stop working on Shabbat? And did the Assyrian kings allow 10-Israel not to work on Shabbat? And did Nebuchadnezzar allow Judah not to work on Shabbat? And did Hitler allow Judah to guard the Shabbat? I ask myself these questions rhetorically, for I see Shabbat as something we were never guaranteed outside the United Kingdom of Israel and/or Judah. Of course, there have been times where exiled Jews and Ephraimites were free to keep Shabbat if they so wished, like this semi-brief interlude some of us enjoy now. On another note, it is important to remember that in the Diasporas of antiquity and in modern times, Shabbat was/is certainly not a “complete” rest, even on the days we try to guard it. Shabbat seems to be designed for the individual and the nation, but it can’t be fully experienced as “a people” unless the entire nation embraces it as a sign of covenant between that nation/people and the Master יהוה. Hence, enjoy it while and if you can!
It is true that Shabbat is included in Leviticus 23 as a "moed" (Strong's H4150), but it differs and is actually distinguished in the passage (verse 23:4) as not being a seasonal and pilgrimage moed, all of which requires an altar and offerings to be brought to the Place of the Great Name (יהוה). So… my current stance… is this: we should try to observe Shabbat in exile if we can (for our own benefit, which was the original purpose), but it is not a national commandment that we are currently “required” to observe. Look at the Exodus 31:14, where the punishment of not observing Shabbat is “to be cut off from your people”. Well, the last I looked, 10-Israel remains in a “not a people” state (Hosea 2:14-23 not yet fulfilled), so how is a person to be cut off from "a people" that does not even exist currently. For clarification, the “people” of Ephraim have not re-formed into a national identity YET, with a body of elders to enforce the actual punishment of non-observance. Having the national identity removed 2700 years ago was Ephraim's punishment, which had many ramifications (such as the stopping of moed observance). That was a punishment set into place for Ephraim which I think we have to complete. Even so, I do think 2008/2009 may be the end of that punishment, but I’m not completely certain when 10-Israel will re-form into a cohesive, united people IN THE LAND (as Hosea 2 and Ezekiel 37 depict). Many Messianic and non-Messianic Two-House teachers have varying views and estimations, but regardless, “true” freedom to observe the moedim (even Shabbat) is yet before us, in my view.
Thoughts on how Shabbat is different from the other Moedim
- Shabbat was observed by יהוה and His Righteous long before the Pilgrimage Moedim were given to the People of Israel for observance (Exodus 31:17).
- Shabbat does not require an altar or sacrificial system (for the individual) and there is no requirement for it to be observed (by the individual) at "THE" place of the Great Name Leviticus 23. However, the priests of "the Kingdom" did offer Shabbat sacrifices (Leviticus 24:8), but the common people were simply not required to journey to Jerusalem, but were actually told to stay in their place or town (Exodus 16:29) for Shabbat.
My view is contrary to that of many friends, family, and teachers who I greatly respect and honor. I simply try not to get too worked up about the details because I know… or well… I hope the basis for the argument is going to change and become a moot discussion very soon. See my article 2730 Year Punishment Coming to an End for 10-Israel for some wishful thinking and calculations.
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