* DISTURBING WORDS FROM GIANT WORLD LEADERS

In the last few days we have received highly disturbing and perplexing messages from two giants of world culture, Pope Francis and Queen Elizabeth.  With all the hubbub of the season and the general joy that accompanies Christmas, most have probably not heard or seen these.  But they cannot be ignored, and I send them out now for you to keep in mind as we approach 2016.

You all know that the Lord has charged me with the message of his return, and mostly I communicate on Bible scripture, Bible prophecies now fulfilled or being fulfilled, and events in our world that tie to Bible prophecy.  But this report is a bit different.  Nevertheless, you really need to see it.  When people of this stature say something this dramatic, you need to pay attention.

Pope Francis

In recent remarks a few days prior to Christmas, the Pope called Christmas a charade.  Subsequently he said just before Christmas that while the world starves, burns, and descends further into chaos, we should realize that this year’s Christmas celebrations for those who choose to celebrate it may be their last.     

This Pope has been a great enigma.  At times personable and relating directly with the people, he has in recent months said some things obviously wrong such as Christians and Muslims are all brothers (not true unless he means all are human beings).  Once he confused many no doubt by indicating that he would not be surprised to see atheists in Heaven.  On a darker note, he has more than once indicated he does not expect to be living much longer and that he evidently expects to be killed in office.  (The only comment I would add is that the Pope is surely able to see all the papers in the Vatican archives, including past prophecies.  What he knows or thinks he knows we do not know.).

Here are some of his words on this latter point:

I have the feeling that my pontificate will be brief, 4 or 5 years; I do not know, even 2 or 3… Two have already passed. It’s a somewhat strange sensation… I feel that the Lord has placed me here for a short time, and nothing more.

I have said to the Lord: take care of me. But if your will is that I should die or that they do something to me, I ask you one favour: that they don’t hurt me… I’m a real scaredy cat when it comes to physical pain  [this said evidently in response to a question concerning all the death threats he is receiving from ISIS]

Queen Elizabeth

The Queen just before Christmas prepared her Christmas message.  In the recording it has been reported through numerous sources that she said some shocking things that caused the BBC under guidance from the palace to shut down the taping of the program.  The junior staff were sent home.  What happened next we don’t know, but some time later a new taping was made that has been shown and is the usual largely harmless fluff of Christmas wishes. 

But!  And this is a big but!  Many various organizations got the information from the original taping and posted it on the web.  I first got wind of this the day after Christmas, when I saw many reports through various search mechanisms -  through Google, at least one through Yahoo and one through MSN, and many through Bing.  That was when I stopped searching.  If the original was ever posted, it has been taken down.

The key message for most of us, I think, is that she said “I hope you enjoy your final Christmas.”

That is amazing, in essence emphasizing and even going further than the Pope’s remarks.  One source says she also said that malevolent forces, much stronger than her own, are stalking across Europe, gaining ground every day.

OBSERVATIONS/ANALYSIS

I expect these words and even my Watchman Warning here will have some people up in arms.  But this all actually happened.  And you cannot ignore it.  There aren’t many people more widely known in the world than these two, if any.

Now I surely do not believe they know the time of Jesus’ return nor do I believe they were talking about that.  My sense is that they are speaking from their positions, from what they see of the world, and from what they know is coming down the pike.  That last phrase is key.  Both of these are in a position to know what is happening behind the scenes in all those world groups working toward a one-world government.  I have written about them a bit in the past but do not focus on them.

Their warning about not celebrating Christmas next year I expect does not mean they think we are all not here but that from their insight times will be very difficult then indeed.

Regarding the Pope’s almost constant mentioning that he expects to be killed, I have no more to say than what I said earlier.

We are living in desperate times.  We just celebrated such a wonderful time, Christmas.  But each of you need to be alert, to pray for the lost, and to seek the Lord with all your heart.  Seek to be guided by him in all things.  Ask the Father to draw those who do not know Jesus to Jesus.  Be specific in your prayers!  Name the people you are praying for if you can.

Some years ago the Lord told me that the times were coming when many would not want to hear my words.  That time has been here for a while.  Some have gone far from us, some have behaved bizarrely, and some of course are anxious and interested to receive our messages and to send them on to others.  If you know the Lord and are serious about following him, you want to know the truth and to see and understand as much as possible. 

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus!

                                                                                                                                      (December 2015)

                                                                                                                      Copyright © 2015 by John Newlin

[NOTE:  This article may and should be copied, printed, or forwarded by email to others so long as it is copied, printed, or forwarded in its entirety with the appropriate attributions included.  We in fact encourage you to do so and especially to give printed copies to those who you know would benefit and do not have access to computers.]

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AMERICA'S REAL PROBLEM

You’ve heard many government, political, and media leaders declare we have a gun control problem in the United States.  Also that we have a race relations problem.  And a tolerance problem.  And there are even those I would call extremists who think we have a political correctness problem, that the very way we all speak in the land of free speech needs to be controlled.

I will tell you the problem we have.

We have a sin problem.  Sin in its deepest definition is separation from God.  We have a falling away from God problem.  The mass of people do not truly know God, as you no doubt know.  So many of those out there celebrating the Christmas season now do not know God. 

Those who do know the Lord Jesus Christ truly do not rush out to kill other people just because they are different.  They do not hate others because of their race or culture.  And they are more than willing to listen to other ideas and discuss and present the Lord and what he said to anyone given the opportunity.

But when people do not know God they are lost, lost, lost.  They do not know how to defend themselves against attacks of the evil one.  How does he attack?  In all sorts of ways, especially deception!  And people who do not know the Lord, who do not have the gifts of the Spirit – especially discernment – cannot tell truth from falsehood.  They are easily misled ---e.g., witness so many Americans today who do not have a clue of what is really going on in our society and the world.

It is a sin problem.  Said another way – it is an absence of God problem.  That is the problem the whole world suffers from.

All of us who know the Lord are called by God to do all we can to take his word and truth to others.  That is in the Great Commission verses at the end of Matthew.   It is in the verses at the end of Mark.  It is fundamental.  Each of us have unique gifts and unique callings from God, but the inescapable truth is we are all called to represent God on this earth, to demonstrate Jesus to others in our own lives, the way we live, if in nothing else!

Be open to the leading of the Holy Spirit.  Be open to the opportunities around you.  Pray and ask for guidance regarding any specific person or group you may find yourself around.  Ask the Lord to orchestrate your circumstances.  And in all things as you are led, go forward to represent the Lord.  That may be in small conversations with a neighbor, or it may be in bigger things.  Just be open to the Lord.

These are terrible times we are living in.  But of course God himself is bigger than all this.  He can and will bring about all he wishes to happen.  People in certain areas of the world are coming to Christ in large numbers.  Pray that God would orchestrate events so that will happen in your town or city, your state, your country, other countries.  And of course be sure to protect yourself and your family always with all that God has given us (see our recent newsletters).

This is the season of celebrating the Lord, God’s great gift to humankind.  Why don’t we all celebrate the Lord every day, every moment?  I expect many of you already do.  After all, it (everything that matters) is all about him. 

And always, keep your eyes on Jesus.  Remember, he really, really is coming soon.

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus!

                                                                                            (December 2015)

                                                                                            Copyright © 2015 by John Newlin

[NOTE:  This article may and should be copied, printed, or forwarded by email to others so long as it is copied, printed, or forwarded in its entirety with the appropriate attributions included.  We in fact encourage you to do so and especially to give printed copies to those who you know would benefit and do not have access to computers.]

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A CHRISTMAS GIFT

[This true, wonderful, and amazing demonstration of God's love for each of us occurred in my life in December 2007.  I am reprinting this for all who have not seen it.] 

God loves us. He really, really does. That’s a key part of the Christmas message. Why else would He ever have sent His son here to go through what he went through? And why else would Jesus ever have willingly gone to the cross? 

I was reminded of that this past weekend in a way only God can arrange. Sunday afternoon a friend was coming to visit us at home. Late in the afternoon the doorbell rang, and I opened the door. There stood our friend, holding out a box of clementines. For those of you who do not know, clementines are small citrus fruit, like small oranges, and they seem to make an appearance in grocery stores about this time of year. They come in small but clearly distinct boxes. 

Our friend handed me this box of clementines. “God told me to get this for you,” she said. And she went on, exclaiming that God was very specific and strong about it. “So I went into a grocery store and I couldn’t find them. I thought that I would just get a poinsettia, but well, God said to get clementines.” So she stuck with her search, and she found them. Later in the kitchen she spoke with Cathy and asked if clementines were my favorite. Our friend couldn’t get over how insistent God had been. 

Later I thought more about this. I remembered how as my children grew up we would always get a box of clementines sometime around Christmas. It was a regular feature in our house. The box could always be found sitting somewhere in the kitchen. Everyone liked them. To this day when I see a display of clementines in a store, I want to buy a box. 

And I thought some more. Here we are in the ministry involved in our usual activities and praying for guidance from God on key issues, like where and how to proceed in the expensive television ministry, where and what meetings to arrange, whether to begin another regular meeting in southeastern NC, and more. For months, even years, we have been going steadily forward, always fighting and overcoming attacks of the evil one which do come whenever anyone steps out for God. Into the midst of all that God sent an obedient woman friend to bring a box of clementines. Even when I write this the Holy Spirit is so strong in the office I keep stopping and reflecting. Is that love? Yes! And much more. That is God saying - John, even in the midst of all this, I’m still here, and I love you, and look, I even know little things about you, like how you like a box of clementines and what that means to you. 

So I've been feeling really warm every since. God sent me a box of clementines for Christmas. God knows where you are and what you’re going through. He knows every hair on your head. Every day, if we’ll just look around and take time to see with spiritual eyes, we’ll see God directing our paths. 

What a heavenly Father we have! 

                                                                                                         Copyright © 2007 John Newlin 

                                                                                                          (December 7, 2007)

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus!

                                                                                                                                      (December 2015)

                                                                                                                      Copyright © 2015 by John Newlin

[NOTE:  This article may and should be copied, printed, or forwarded by email to others so long as it is copied, printed, or forwarded in its entirety with the appropriate attributions included.  We in fact encourage you to do so and especially to give printed copies to those who you know would benefit and do not have access to computers.]

P O Box 15797, Wilmington, NC 28408 * 910 395 1465

www.johnnewlinministries.org           Email: info@johnnewlinministries.org      

Twitter.com/johnnewlinmin         Blog:    johnnewlin.blogspot.com

* THINGS TO THANK GOD FOR

Tomorrow in the USA is the holiday of Thanksgiving.  

With that in mind, and realizing that giving thanks is certainly an ongoing role for all believers in all countries, here are just some of the many things all of you might want to thank God for:

• Thank God that you know Jesus.
• Thank God that Jesus is returning soon and that you will go with him when he collects his believers.
• Thank God for his great protection, that he has kept you and your family well in this rapidly disintegrating secular world.
• Thank God for giving you the inner strength and wisdom and peace to live and survive in this difficult world and to deal with all the bad things that do occur – to those you know, to those nearby, to those close to you.
• Thank God that you are able to keep your eyes on Jesus, to keep your focus on him even when others ridicule or disparage or repudiate or just ignore you because of your faith.
• Thank God for the great spiritual gift of discernment, that you are able to discern truth from falsehood, good from evil, in a world that can do neither.
• Thank God for those you pray for who do not yet know the Lord but whom you pray God the Father will draw to Jesus.
• Thank God for all the manifold blessings he has poured on you this year that only you know about (and for those blessings that you don't know about).
• Thank God for the people he has brought into your life – to encourage you, to teach you, to be a friend and companion, to help you, and for you to do the same for them.
• That God that you are a citizen of the Kingdom of God.
• Thank God that he loves you and that he reveals more and more of himself to you.

Cathy and I are thankful for all of you.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus!

JOHN NEWLIN MINISTRIES 
P O BOX 15797 
WILMINGTON, NC 28408 

www.johnnewlinministries.org 
email: john@johnnewlinministries.org 
Twitter.com/johnnewlinmin 
Blog: johnnewlin.blogspot.com 
tel 910 395 1465 

* A WATCHMAN WARNING: BRAINDEAD!

Tough title.  Tough subject.

Recently I wrote of how there are only two groups of people on earth – those who truly believe in Jesus Christ and everyone else.  Reality.  I’m not the first or only person to recognize this.  Years ago Derek Prince spoke about how as we move through the prophecies of the end times and near the return of Jesus, those who say they are Christians will split into two groups – those who truly stay with Jesus and those who drop away (and thus join those who never pretended to believe).  And just last week I read Jonathan Cahn writing about how the grey is disappearing in our world, the grey being that vast middle group of people who tolerate all sorts of things but still try to cling to the Christian label .  That grey group is disappearing as it is all coming down to Jesus’ sheep and everyone else.

The everyone else, which is as of now by far the largest group of people on earth, fall into the category of people I would refer to as braindead.  Those are the people who cannot see what is happening on earth, who cannot come to grips with the fact that the modern civilized world is at war with significant groups of muslims some call radical islam.  These groups include ISIS and also Al Qaeda and others.

An organization that occupies and governs a piece of land the size of Indiana and which in short order brings down a Russian passenger jet leaving Egypt followed by numerous attacks in Paris, France, all the while waging war against its neighbors in the Middle East and fighting against all attackers coming against it is not just a terrorist group.  It is a rogue nation, a horrible nation with medieval and evil beliefs and ideas.  The evil it pushes far surpasses that of Nazi Germany.  ISIS clearly is very willing to exterminate and torture anyone who does not think or believe exactly as it does, which means most of the people on earth.

Now in the midst of this horror, we have thousands upon thousands of refugees from Syria and elsewhere in the Middle East seeking to escape the hell that is their homeland.  It is a natural response to be sure.  Get away.  And they are heading for the modern western nations.  Why?  Because those are the places that typically have a heart to help such refugees.  So some European leaders have declared they will take in large numbers, even hundreds of thousands.  One of the problems with this is how does any country know who is coming in?  Aside from the real economic and cultural impact, how can anyone be sure which refugees might or might not be members of ISIS?  Or Al Qaeda?  They can’t of course.  And the USA itself is led by a government that expects to take in thousands of these refugees and send them to different cities.  But who are they?  Can they be vetted, be reliably checked out?  No they can’t. 

If I told you there was a group of people that wanted to come visit in your home and that possibly some of these would like to kill you, would you willingly open your front door and invite them in?

Braindead.

Just yesterday I read a comment by one of America’s well-known political comedians/commentators.  He asked the question “Why do they hate us?” and then continued with maybe we should just get out of their land.  He obviously has no idea or understanding of the spiritual nature of this jihad, this religious war.  To ISIS, everyone who does not think like them is an infidel – Christians, Jews, members of other religions, even other muslims who do not think as they.

It is a spiritual war.  It is part of the ushering in of the last of the last days before Jesus’ return.

And Europe and the US are saddled with leaders who do not have a clue.  One article I read yesterday referred to the leaders of Europe – Cameron, Merkel, and Hollande – as infantile.  Fits the US too, where the top leaders in Washington refuse even to identify the foe as radical islam.  Either these leaders and their staffs are spiritually blind or they are intellectually ignorant or just plain evil themselves.  I think the spiritually blind part fits.

Remember, the Bible warned us about all this.  2 Corinthians 4:4 says the god of this world (the devil) has blinded the minds of unbelievers.  That is what we have here.  These people and so many others can’t see the truth.  As I wrote some time ago about people like this, they don’t know because they really don’t know.  It is as if someone is speaking another language to them, one they cannot understand.  Sadly, obviously, in America that is the majority of people.  And they elect the leaders of the country.  (Note:  Jesus also warned us in Matthew 24, Luke 21, and Mark 13 to watch that we are not deceived in these last days!  All these people who just can’t see what is happening are either unbelievers or they are massively deceived.). 

The American government and those of Western Europe intend to continue to admit refugees and thus possibly terrorists to their homeland.  They will continue to think some weak bombing sorties flown over certain areas will eventually stop a determined foe.  There is no recognition this foe is zealous in the extreme, that this is a spiritual war.  Yes, the foe is following a false religion, but they think it is the real religion.  They think their allah is the real and true god, and they surely and obviously are willing to die for him.  And they are dying for him, and they will.  All the while Americans watch weekend football and pay attention to meaningless music and entertainment stars and fashions and the latest technical fads.  Reminds you of Nero, doesn’t it?  Let’s see these next few days just how far anyone in European leadership has waked up after the Paris attacks.  Or will they continue with their self-destructive policies.  As of now there are signs Hollande of France intends to do something more.  And in the USA as I write this state governors are rising up to declare no Syrian refugees now. 

Don’t ever stop praying for a spiritual awakening for your leaders and for all people, especially those you know personally.  Pray for God to draw them to a true knowledge of Jesus.  And whenever  possible, if you can find him or her, support a born again, spirit filled Christian who is seeking public office.

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus!

                                                                                                                                      (November 2015)

                                                                                                                      Copyright © 2015 by John Newlin

[NOTE:  This article may and should be copied, printed, or forwarded by email to others so long as it is copied, printed, or forwarded in its entirety with the appropriate attributions included.  We in fact encourage you to do so and especially to give printed copies to those who you know would benefit and do not have access to computers.]

P O Box 15797, Wilmington, NC 28408 * 910 395 1465

www.johnnewlinministries.org           Email: info@johnnewlinministries.org      

Twitter.com/johnnewlinmin         Blog:    johnnewlin.blogspot.com

* KEEP YOU EYES ON JESUS! STAY FIRM AND STRONG IN YOUR FAITH, IN YOUR BELIEF! LET NOTHING TURN YOU TO THE RIGHT OR THE LEFT. STAY FOCUSED AND STAY ON THE NARROW PATH THAT LEADS TO LIFE.

So many are so easily distracted.  It was thus with the ancient Israelites.

Do you remember how about 3500 years ago Moses led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt and into their long trek to the Promised Land, to Israel?  Of course, it was really God who was leading them out through Moses.  God did great wonders right in front of their faces on this journey.  Remember the parting of the sea so they could escape from pharaoh and his chariots and soldiers?  Remember the water that came out of the rock?  The food, the manna, from heaven?  Remember the encounter with God on the mountain, where Moses received the law?

All these Israelites saw this great escape, these great wonders.  Yet when they soon came to the Promised Land, their faith, their belief, evaporated.  Moses picked one man from each tribe, and these went as spies into the Promised Land.  When they returned ten of these brought reports filled with fear, reports of how the Israelites couldn’t overcome the giants of the land.  And the Israelites were filled with fear.  They moaned and complained about being there, about their state.  Only Joshua and Caleb had faith and knew God would make it all happen, that they could be victorious in the new land.

And because of the disbelief and fear of the ten and then the entire population, God sent the Israelites back to roam in the desert for forty years until all the adults who had been present at that time of the terrible behavior and disbelief had died out (all except Joshua and Caleb).  Only then could Joshua lead the now grown children and their children back into the Promised Land, into the physical place of rest.  Only then.

And now we are here, at the very time so long talked about and wondered about by all those great believers and prophets and writers and preachers who have preceded us.  We are living in the days of the return of the Lord.  Now.  Of course we do not know the specific day or hour, but we surely can recognize the season and we know it is now.  Jesus told us signs to look for, and we have seen them.  We have seen the fulfillment of so many Biblical prophecies, that fulfillment only beginning in earnest really in the last century and continuing up to today. 

Now we are confronted with a multitude of disturbing things in our home areas and in the world at large.  Terrible violence.  Frightening “monsters” of evil operating.  Deception in so many places.  An abundance of people who cannot discern truth from falsehood.  And all of us who are born anew, who have been filled with and baptized with the Holy Spirit, look with shock and anguish at all of this.  We are so distressed by the multitude of those who call good evil and evil good, who in fact cannot tell the difference between truth and falsehood, who obviously cannot distinguish when people are lying to them.  We watch with shock as those around us at work or in the family or neighborhood or wherever, readily believe words and ideas and plans spoken on television or written on the Internet that we immediately see are false.  How do we so recognize that?  Because we have the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the gift of discernment.  People who do not cannot see.

The Bible clearly says the god of this world (the devil) has blinded the minds of unbelievers (2 Corinthians 4:4).  They cannot see the truths of the gospel.  And in fact it has become abundantly clear, they cannot see and recognize truth from falsehood in any walk of life.  They are lost.  And they are the majority of people in our society and on earth today.  So many.  What is especially disturbing is that this group not only is made up of total nonbelievers but also includes many who attend church on a regular basis but have never been born of water and the spirit, as Jesus said to Nicodemus.  They can’t see either.

But you, you can.  And because you can, it is essential you continue to keep your eyes on Jesus.  Stay focused spiritually.  Certainly take whatever steps are wise to protect yourself and your family in this world.  But at all times keep your eyes on the Lord.  He is coming soon.  The prophesied events of the end times have been unfolding right before our eyes.  We see that right now in the rearrangement of alliances among the world’s countries, in the coming together of nations who are involved in end times wars, in the atrocious behavior of certain radical groups and individuals, and in the gigantic moral fall of the people in the country. 

Years ago God told me a parable.  He said that when a person does a small thing, and he does it over and over, and I do not pay attention, soon I will not notice it at all.  That is what has happened in America.  Individuals and groups who surely are not believers have chipped away on so many fronts against the moral and constitutional structure of the country, and as this chipping persisted, people just didn’t pay serious attention.  And now, kaboom.  The moral structure of society, even the basic concept of government and the constitution, has been horribly damaged.

But again, you know the truth, you know the Lord.  His return to collect his followers is imminent. And then the terrible tribulation period will begin for those left behind.  In these final days, months, and possibly even years before that happens we will find living here increasingly difficult, as recent months have already shown.

Every day pray that God will orchestrate your day.  Ask the Holy Spirit to arrange whatever encounters the Lord would have you have, that he would soften the hearts of those you might speak with about the Lord.  Ask the Lord to bring glory to himself and the Father through you.  And go forward, having put on the full armor of God and having prepared yourself for the day.  Believers must step out, must be out there professing the Lord and standing up for Jesus wherever the Holy Spirit leads.  There are still people God would lead to Jesus.  He never stops, and we cannot either.

1 Peter 4:7 

Luke 21:8                 

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus!

                                          

                                                                                                                                   (October 2015)

                                                                                           Copyright © 2015 by John Newlin Ministries, Inc.

[NOTE:  This article may and should be copied, printed, or forwarded by email to others so long as it is copied, printed, or forwarded in its entirety with the appropriate attributions included.  We in fact encourage you to do so and especially to give printed copies to those who you know would benefit and do not have access to computers.]

P O Box 15797, Wilmington, NC 28408 * 910 395 1465

www.johnnewlinministries.org           Email: info@johnnewlinministries.org       

Twitter.com/johnnewlinmin         Blog:    johnnewlin.blogspot.com

* SOMETIMES LIFE DOESN'T TURN OUT THE WAY WE THOUGHT IT WOULD

One very early morning not long ago Cathy and I were in the house of a young man who had died surprisingly in the wee hours of that morning.  He was a vibrant, active, bright, charming, seemingly in-shape man who was well liked by all, and his shocking death was devastating to the family and all who knew him.

So very early that morning, as I comforted his wife, suddenly I found myself saying to her a really strange phrase:  “Sometimes life doesn’t turn out the way we thought it would.”  I hadn’t planned that sentence.  It wasn’t a thought I had pondered.  It just came out.  I have to believe it was the Holy Spirit speaking through me.

 

The truth of that sentence is overwhelming.  Here was a young family with friends and plans and good jobs and a bright future.  And all of a sudden in the middle of the night, life was changed drastically forever for those left alive.  The words I heard neighbors say who came that morning were “terrible,” and “this is terrible.”  The deceased man’s boss was there, and he said he had an office full of crying people.  I don’t doubt it.  We tried to comfort.  We wondered what more to do.  And in the end of course we all could do little.  A surprising death is like that.

Now, yesterday we were in a funeral service for a young woman and mother of three.  Cathy and I had gone to her wedding not too many years before.  Her husband and his parents had lived near us.  She had been in a car accident and had suffered a broken leg.  But then, two days later in the hospital, suddenly she had died.  Devastating.  The church was overflowing with people who had come.  An enormous number of family had come, because it was such a shock, perhaps also because just two weeks prior they had had a funeral for the woman’s father in the same place. 

So we sat there and heard some music and some words from the pastor, who correctly stressed he had no answers for what had happened.  Some spoke personally about the woman in short eulogies.  There were pictures shown.  I looked over all the heads, all the people.  And I thought here now we have a young husband left with three young children, and a larger family and group of friends and co-workers whose life has been changed drastically forever. 

“Sometimes life doesn’t turn out the way we thought it would.”  I remembered that sentence.

And as I looked over all the people, all the mourning people, I thought about how little people know of what is going on here.  How little we all know, even those of us who are so blessed to know the Lord.  And many of those there certainly did.  I thought about how people really are sheep.  As Jesus said to me once in a service, they really are sheep, aren’t they, John?”  The answer is yes, they are.  Yes, we all are (Sheep are animals that very much need a shepherd to thrive and even survive.).

If we ever get deep enough in our contemplations to think about life and where we are and what is happening, goodness, yes, people are sheep.  Thank God for those who believe and know the Lord.  We have the peace of knowing where our loved deceased are and where we will eventually be – with the Lord!  Thank God for that peace.

But why these surprising deaths of such apparently good people at the prime of their lives, deaths that so hurt so many?  Oh, certainly, yes, God will and does use their deaths to work in the lives of those impacted.  But doesn’t the Bible say why die before your time?  Yes, it does.  In Ecclesiastes 7:17.  It also says over in Isaiah 57:1 that God may take a good man away early to spare him from what is coming.  Difficult thoughts to fully grasp. 

Imagine the terror of those who do not know God at all when they confront something like these two deaths!  Imagine their horror.  And anger.  And fear.  And panic.  And pathos. 

This is a strange strange world in which we live, dear friends.  I have said that more than once, and as the years go by and I see and experience more and more, I see that is so more and more.  We have a wonderful God – Father, Son, Holy Spirit – and we know all he reveals to us and all we are open to receive.  And even with all that, we know so little. 

In recent months I have been pressed somehow to consider more and more just how beyond our comprehension God truly is.  Imagine if you can (you really can’t fully) just how and who this God is.  Imagine a being who can construct a world, planets, people, a universe, a solar system, a galaxy.  The mind reels just thinking about it.  And this Jesus is his son, his first son, his only son.  We too are adopted in as sons of God.  How wonderful is that.  But imagine who and what we are talking about.

If we spend much time reflecting on that, speaking about that, praying about that, we will be staggered.  We just don’t know.  What is truly going on?  Well, we do have some knowledge, the guidance that there is a mammoth battle between good and evil that is soon coming to a culmination.  We are indeed even living in the last of the days before that time.  We do understand there is a huge spiritual world out there that we really don’t see or comprehend.  Only once in a while, those who are truly in touch with God, with the Holy Spirit, sense some depth of that.  Sometimes people see an angel or two.  And yes, sometimes real believers see God’s miraculous work right in front of their eyes.  We do.  I hope you do.  We certainly also see marvelous divine healings of people with serious problems.

But the fullness of God?  Wow.  Remember Paul’s great prayer that we would comprehend the length and width and height and depth of the love of Christ?  God.  Jesus Christ.  The Holy Spirit.  Even our most serious churches sometimes speak too flippantly in referring to them.  Awe is the word.  Awe is the feeling.

One famous pastor of old, Oswald Chambers, says that the closer we get to God the more we realize how little we know.

 

Well.  One thing we do know – that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28). 

We put ourselves in Jesus’s hands.  He is our shepherd and we his sheep.  We keep our eyes on him.  He is our hope.  Our only hope.  Without him, no hope.  Thank God he came two thousand years ago and went through with the plan his father and he had to redeem humankind.  And thank God he is coming back soon! 

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus!

                                                                                                                                      (October 2015)

                                                                                                                      Copyright © 2015 by John Newlin

[NOTE:  This article may and should be copied, printed, or forwarded by email to others so long as it is copied, printed, or forwarded in its entirety with the appropriate attributions included.  We in fact encourage you to do so and especially to give printed copies to those who you know would benefit and do not have access to computers.]

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www.johnnewlinministries.org           Email: info@johnnewlinministries.org      

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* SPEEDING THROUGH THE LAST DAYS: WATCHING THE PIECES MOVE INTO PLACE

Signs and their implications are everywhere.  Even many non-believers see them now, and they are frightened, terrified of how things are breaking down.  But they don’t know what is happening.  You do.  Or at least you should. 

From their very narrow political perspective, even former secretaries of state Henry Kissinger, Madeline Albright, and George Schultz warned before Congress in January this year that the world has eroded more in the past 15 years than any time since WWII.  And that was back in January.  The situation is far more than they recognized then.   

Here are some dramatic signs that are right before our eyes, events of perilous times and steps moving us all more and more into position for the playing out of the final events of the final days.  I’ve written so often elsewhere of the prophecies fulfilled.  Here let us just look at what is happening right now.  I’ve included a few scripture references.

Just look:

HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF REFUGEES FROM THE MIDDLE EAST FLEEING TO EUROPE

Who can blame them?  Most at present are fleeing from Syria and areas around there, seeking to escape the horrors of the Syrian government and of ISIS, seeking to keep from being killed.  Still others this year have fled from Libya and surrounding areas.  I saw a news article that said 350,000 refugees have come into Europe this year just through August.  Many hundreds of thousands more are expected this year.  It is a shock to the small European countries into which they initially enter.  They are encouraged to go elsewhere, and they are, to Germany and others.

Initially with good hearts the Europeans accepted these refugees.  The German leader even announced Germany would take in half a million.  But then calmer heads noted what was happening.  One warned they needed to think, that what was happening would change the culture of the country forever!  And that warning is correct.

Now step back and think.  What is going on?  For years now muslims have immigrated to Europe.  Once there they have settled and had children at a much higher rate than the native population.  And now there is already a great muslim impact on the countries.  The French are alarmed.  There has been pressure to administer Sharia law in places there. 

What do you think is really going on with this massive exodus from the Middle East into Europe?  Yes, I know the people are fleeing evil.  That is surely true.  But then, instantly, this brings hundreds of thousands of muslims into European countries.  Instantly the population zooms up.  Once settled there will likely be the same high birth rate as has been seen already.  Remember, islam is a false religion.   Who do you think is really behind all this move of hundreds of thousands of muslims?  You should be able to answer that question.

RUSSIA SENDING MILITARY EQUIPMENT AND PERSONNEL TO SYRIA AND ITS CLOSE INVOLVEMENT WITH IRAN

Yes, it really is.  Clearly in opposition to the US, to the West.  Russia is a strong ally of Syria.  And it has a close relationship with Iran.  I would remind you of the Ezekiel 38-39 war, in which Israel is attacked by a nation to the north (Russia likely, maybe Turkey), in coalition with Iran, Libya, and The Sudan.  Looks like things are moving into place for that.  I personally have expected that war to happen in the first half of the Tribulation.  This is a war that I think God will use to wake up the Jewish people, for he wins the war, he stops the attack in a very visible and undeniable manner.

DESTRUCTION OF DAMASCUS

Speaking of Syria, do not forget the prophecies in the Bible about the destruction of Damascus in   Isaiah 17:1, Jeremiah 49:23-25, and Amos 1:3-5.  Things look pretty ripe for that, don’t they?

MASSIVE AND NUMEROUS DEVASTATING FIRES IN CALIFORNIA

Almost every day we can read about this if we choose.  Fires have destroyed thousands of homes.  Look at a map of all the fires.  Amazing.  On top of that is the great puzzling drought of this year in California.

PERIODIC AND DAILY REPORTS OF KILLINGS OF POLICE OR OTHER RANDOM SHOOTINGS

This has become a regular feature of America today.  This is horrible and unacceptable to any sane and civilized society.  Another sign of perilous times (II Timothy 3:1-5).

THE IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL

In the US today the people object to this deal by a two to one majority.  Yet it is going forward.  I recently read before that never in the history of the country has the country moved forward on an issue while such a large portion of the populace was in opposition.  In my earlier career I was involved in negotiations throughout the world and a great deal in the Middle East.  The muslims are strong negotiators and to succeed the Americans or others negotiating have to be strong too.  That has not been the case here.  Any thinking person can see this is an atrocious deal.  Why is the government insistent on going forward?  This deal is insane.  But then, we live in an insane world.  Listen to  leaders of the country speak in support of this deal. That is calling evil good (Isaiah 5:20).   And woe is what comes to people who do that.

THE SUPREME COURT STEPPING OFF THE CLIFF AND LEADING THE COUNTRY WITH IT

Back on June 26 the United States Supreme Court in its ruling in favor of homosexual marriage took the country over a cliff.  This formal ruling is directly in conflict with God’s prescribed definition of marriage.  (See Genesis 1:24, Leviticus 18:22 and 20:23, Romans 1:18-27.)  It opposes God, and there is no other way to look at it.  That position of course means nothing to those who do not know God, who do not know the Bible, who do not believe that the words of the Bible are true.  But they are.  And there will be repercussions.  God is a patient God, but he also will not be patient forever in the face of massive sin.  And that is where the US is today.  Over the cliff.

THE POPE MEETING AT THE WHITE HOUSE (AND CONGRESS)

Last week an extraordinary meeting occurred at the White House involving two key people on earth:

• The pope, identified as the last pope by a centuries old prophecy from a catholic archbishop in the thirteenth century.
• The secular leader of the world’s historically greatest nation. 

Much has been written about these two, some by me.  For now I just point out that who these two apparently mesmerizing people (mesmerizing for some) are in these last days is still debatable and not fully known.  They obviously are playing major roles even now.  

AND HERE WE ARE

Look at the things above.  Look at all that is accepted by the government in Washington even though the people are in opposition. Step by step, forward and downward, the country has been led the wrong way and the American people, who really don’t like to get involved, have let it happen.

Only God can help this situation.  True serious believers – born again, spirit-filled believers – should stand up for God, stand up for the Lord whenever possible.  They should clearly oppose wrong, incorrect, immoral decisions and actions.  As long as there is time, they should seek to elect into office born again, spirit-filled believers who will approach their position and life from a believer’s perspective.

Will there be a revival of the people?  Will there?  Yes, sometime.  Maybe not until into the days of the seven-year Tribulation period.  Back after the horror of 9/11 many went back to their churches for a few weeks.  And that was that.  There was no revival.  If there cannot be a revival after such a horror and the wanton murder of 3000 innocent Americans, there can be no revival just by people hoping for it.  Or I think now, not just by serious people praying for it, although they surely should do so as they are led to.

We need – the world needs – an end time revival!  We need, or at least we hope for, more people to realize and accept Jesus Christ as their Lord.  But I think a true end time revival will only come about when God brings it about in some new way we cannot now comprehend.  And according to his timetable.  I think that is the only way it will happen.  I’m of course more than willing to speak out and to do all he calls me to in this area.  But ultimately God has to do it.

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus!

                                                                                                                                      (September 2015)

                                                                                                                      Copyright © 2015 by John Newlin

[NOTE:  This article may and should be copied, printed, or forwarded by email to others so long as it is copied, printed, or forwarded in its entirety with the appropriate attributions included.  We in fact encourage you to do so and especially to give printed copies to those who you know would benefit and do not have access to computers.]

P O Box 15797, Wilmington, NC 28408 * 910 395 1465

www.johnnewlinministries.org           Email: info@johnnewlinministries.org      

Twitter.com/johnnewlinmin         Blog:    johnnewlin.blogspot.com

* THE BIG PICTURE - FOCUSING ON THE FOREST AND NOT THE TREES

Amazing and troubling days we are living in.  You are well aware of many happenings in the last days of the end times period.   But I ask, looking beyond all these many things, from an overall perspective what is really going on during the last of the last days, the seven year period called the Tribulation?

Let’s step back a moment, take a deep breath, and look at the big picture.

Just before the beginning of this period, or perhaps even right at the beginning, the Lord Jesus comes in the clouds to gather his believers.  This is in line with the several scriptures that declare believers were not appointed to suffer wrath.  From the time of Jesus up to now, the true spiritual world of God on earth has moved in what might be called the church age.  It has been a time of God’s drawing people to Jesus, often working through people.  Missionaries.  Evangelistic efforts of all types.  From time to time the pouring of the Holy Spirit on a particular area or group.  After Jesus’ time on earth two thousand years ago, it is apparent that the evangelistic focus on earth shifted to the gentiles, the non-Jews (Paul writes about all this in Romans chapters 9-11.  See also Isaiah 65:1).  But now in the Tribulation period that focus shifts back to the Jews, to Jacob, to Israel.  I will come back to this later. 

So the seven year Tribulation begins.  This is a time of God pouring out his judgement on the world.  That is what most of Revelation chapters 6 – 19 are about.  The opening of the seven seals, the blowing of the seven trumpets, and the pouring out of the seven bowls bring terrible things on the earth and terrible suffering for those living here.  God’s judgement.  These seals, trumpets, and bowls are all from God.  Make sure you understand that.  They are from God.

At the same time this is happening, as described in Revelation 13 and elsewhere, two dreadful individuals are active - the beast from the sea and the beast from the earth.  To put this in more popular terminology, the anti-christ – or man of lawlessness as Paul referred to him - and the false prophet.  In the midst of God’s pouring out his judgment on the world, they undertake to build what some have called a one-world government.  As described in Revelation 13, the anti-christ is set up as the big ruler, and the false prophet does all sorts of things to support him and that view of him.  He is like the prime minister under the anti-christ.  And he is a religious leader.  This is when the requirement is established that people must have the mark of the beast on their right hand or forehead in order to engage in commercial activities. 

The activities of this dreadful pair are guided by the devil, by satan.  In fact this evil one is referred to specifically at the beginning of Revelation 13.  So while the judgements of God on the earth are being poured out, the evil one, the anti-christ, and the false prophet seek to capitalize on the terrible situation and put together their own world empire.  When the Lord leads his Holy Ones down to the battle at the end of Revelation 19, the battle at Armageddon, he vanquishes this evil trio.  The anti-christ and the false prophet are thrown in the lake of fire and early in chapter 20 the devil is imprisoned in a deep pit.

As mentioned, the Tribulation period is also a time of God focusing on the Jews.  Time for their restoration, for them to wake up.  Over all the hundreds of years since Christ was on earth the first time, only a tiny number of Jews have realized who he was and is.  The overwhelming majority have lived in the dark waiting still for their messiah.  During this Tribulation period God will work to restore the Jews.  That will no doubt utilize the suffering brought about by his pouring out his judgement on the earth as well as his working through the 144,000 specific Jewish individuals called into his service during this period (see Revelation chapters 7 and 14).  Again see Romans chapters 9 – 11, in particular Romans 11:25-27.

One last observation:  It seems we are entering in September into a Jubilee year, that year that comes along only once every fiftieth year.  The Jubilee year as established by God is a year of restoration.  In light of what I’ve written above, this timing now leads to all sorts of possibilities, doesn’t it?

In closing, please be sure that you can say with ease and truth that you are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.  That is who you are in Christ.  And do not overlook the Lord’s great warning in Luke 21:36 spoken by him after giving his comments on the times we are living in.

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus!

                                                                                                                                      (September 2015)

                                                                                                                      Copyright © 2015 by John Newlin

PS – Please do be alert in September to the many happenings discussed in last month’s newsletter.

[NOTE:  This article may and should be copied, printed, or forwarded by email to others so long as it is copied, printed, or forwarded in its entirety with the appropriate attributions included.  We in fact encourage you to do so and especially to give printed copies to those who you know would benefit and do not have access to computers.]

P O Box 15797, Wilmington, NC 28408 * 910 395 1465

www.johnnewlinministries.org           Email: info@johnnewlinministries.org      

Twitter.com/johnnewlinmin         Blog:    johnnewlin.blogspot.com