* 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.]

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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

* GOD IS REAL! AND TIME IS SHORT!

God IS real!  Jesus IS real and alive right now!  The Holy Spirit IS real!  The Bible IS  true!  The devil IS real!  Demons ARE real!  Angels ARE real!

Time is short.  The failure of so many to realize the truth of the statements above has put them in a treacherous position. 

So many know nothing about God, nothing about Jesus.  And many others only know them as characters described in a book or presented in the same descriptive way in a Sunday morning sermon.

But they are more.  They truly are what they and the Bible say they are.  You can and must have a relationship with Jesus Christ.  He is the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through him.  He is the only way. 

Time is short.

Let God be true and every man a liar.  It doesn’t matter what others tell you, at least not unless what they say lines up with what God says.  What is important at this point in time is your relationship with God.

If you have never done so, repent!  That means change from what you have been doing that does not agree with God’s word.  Ask his forgiveness.  And ask him to be the Lord of your life!

Time is short.

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus!

                                                                                                                                         (August 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

A NOTE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE WELL-PUBLICIZED MONTH OF SEPTEMBER

We are about to enter the month of September.  Much has been written and said about all the extraordinary events to happen this month,  We ourselves have written at least twice on this, focusing on the specific  Jewish Holy Days scheduled long ago by God (in Leviticus, Exodus, Numbers) – Trumpets, Yom Kippur, and the Feast of Tabernacles.  And we have written about two lesser known events also from scripture that occur in September – the completion of the seven year period known as the shemitah and the beginning of the Jubilee year which occurs every 50 years.  And lastly we have written of specific astronomical events as well as major scheduled events planned by the world’s governments in September. 

That is a lot.  I do want you to know that there is even more we could have written about.  The Internet is full of rumors and accounts, and some seem to have a grain of truth and should not be entirely discounted.  But for us, let’s focus on those from the Bible, from God’s guidance, and the very concrete visible things referred to above.

What does all this mean?  It means that September is a very unusual month.  It means that a plethora of events worthy of notice are happening all in a short period.

 

I am reminded of the scripture I quote so often, Luke 21:36, Jesus’ own words to us about this time period:  “Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” (KJV)

Yes, we must be alert.  As of now I have not received any more specific guidance from the Lord, and I do not know that anyone else has either.  But as you know from all our writings of the past few years, so many prophecies of events to happen before the Lord returns have happened.  In fact, nothing has to happen before he comes to collect his believers. 

The world is clearly spinning more and more out of control.  In America the visible society continues to fall precipitously; the government in all its branches does not seem capable of acting wisely and apparently does not know what to do in many situations.  Violence is increasing rapidly in many areas, a subject generally hidden from view but impossible to conceal.  The United States has stepped off a moral cliff and fallen away from God with its actions in recent years, as we have documented in recent newsletters and other writings.

Yes, I do expect some type of awakening, or revival, before the true end of the age and the beginning of the millennium.  But when that happens or how, I do not know.  It appears from efforts and events in recent years that much of the American populace cannot so far be awakened spiritually, despite the efforts of some well-meaning and serious believers and evangelists.  So many people seem oblivious to what is happening.  In some other areas of the world there are what appear to be real revivals going on, and we should pray that happens here.

Some positive signs are that a few of the traditional churches seem to be opening up a tiny bit to the Holy Spirit, that I continue to meet born again spirit filled pastors God has called and assigned to a specific purpose, and that the so-called middle America has surely waked up to the fact they do not like what is happening in the country.  I just do not think they have waked up to where we are in God’s time and how serious the current situation is.

My thought is that whether something dramatic happens in September or shortly thereafter – whether in the economy or something of a natural nature – we are right at the end of the whole birth pains period, to use the words of the Lord.  When deception reared its head so dramatically these past few years throughout all society we had clearly stepped deeper into the end times.  I think now we are about to step again much deeper into the end times period, whatever happens.

So be alert.  Be prepared.  Those of us who live near the coast are always alert to the weather and always have in the back of the minds some thought of escape, of preparation.  You all should be like that.

Please let us go forward keeping our eyes on the Lord, trusting always in him, expecting to be guided clearly by him, by the Holy Spirit.  Listen and pay attention, every day, every hour.  Live expectantly.  Be alert to daily encounters, for the Lord will orchestrate such encounters.  Think of every encounter as a possible situation the Lord has put you in.  But also be alert that there is always the possibility of deception by the evil one.

Phew!  Though times.  Well, the Lord never said it would be easy.  There is nothing easy about being a true born-again, spirit-filled believer in Jesus Christ.  There is peace in knowing he will never lose us, that we will be with him forever.  But life on this planet is not easy.  The evil one sees to that.  You know the truths I have taught about protecting yourself and your family.  Use that.  Watch our videos on the web site about Fighting Evil.  Get our CD on that.

Be blessed, dear friends, and stay focused on the Lord.

**************

NOTE:  We have an enormous amount of material on the web and available otherwise about these subjects.  Included are these items:

Web site: 

• Watch all our television programs/ videos about the return (also on YOUTUBE).
• Request our CDs about the return or other subjects.
• Read all the monthly newsletters written about the return.  Here they are.  You can find them by clicking on the newsletter archives section in the menu column.

2015: every month

2014: November, September, August, July, May, April

2013: August, July, May, March, January

2012: November, October, September, February

2011: January

2010: December, October, August, July, April

2009: November, July, June, May, January

2008: December, November, September, August, May

2007: October, July/August

2005: July/August 

John’s blog: 

• Read articles on these subjects and others.  You can type the subject you are interested in, such as Jesus return or End Times or something else in the blank at the top of the first blog page and search for all articles on this subject.  You can even sort by date or relevance.  There are many on all aspects of the Lord’s return.  This blog also includes all of our Sign of the Times and Watchman Warning articles.  (You can get to the blog by clicking on John’s blog in the menu column on the web site home page.  Or just go directly there by going to johnnewlin.blogspot.com)

Twitter – Look through all our past Tweets.  This won’t take long.  Tweets are short!

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus!

                                                                                                                                         (August 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

* THE SLEEPING AMERICANS

On July 4 a pastor gave a rare sermon in which he bemoaned the fact that most Christians in America have not recognized the signs of the end times that have been happening and do not know we are at the very end of this age, the time of the return of the Lord.  He also was concerned the church does not preach this.

Well, let’s not waste time here.  You have heard me say over the years that Jesus’ CHURCH is the collection of people throughout the earth who truly believe in Jesus Christ.  In his own words, they have been born of water and the spirit.  That is his criteria for being in the Kingdom of God.  In the words of the missionary Paul, a person who confesses Jesus is Lord and believes in his heart that God raised him from the dead is “saved,” in other words, is in the Kingdom.  Jesus’ CHURCH is not all these brick buildings on street corners and all the varied denominations. 

I try not to use the word “Christian” because all those people who attend all these church buildings on Sundays and other days apply that word to themselves.  And the media apply that word to them.  And members of other religions in the world apply that word to them.  But a large number of those who attend those buildings do not meet Jesus’ or Paul’s criteria.  They only know Jesus intellectually, as someone described in a book, if even that.  Many attend particular church buildings because they grew up in them.  A church service on Sunday today may deal with contemporary issues or feel-good subjects, or it may be a cold and boring time people sit and endure or slumber through to get to the end and feel good for a week that they went to church.  One friend said after attending his son’s church that he never heard the word “God” mentioned.

Pastors of many of these churches do not teach about Jesus imminent return.  Not a surprise.  They probably don’t know about it.  They probably have not had any revelation of it.  For years now many pastors and thus many churches have also not taught about the Holy Spirit, have not recognized that Jesus is alive and well today and that healings and miracles happen right now, have not recognized what the disciple Peter said about the Holy Spirit - that the Holy Spirit was for every believer, those near and those far away.  Many don’t teach about the Holy Spirit because likely they don’t know the Holy Spirit themselves.

Where is the outrage against what is happening today in America?  Where is it?

The constant thumbing of the nose against God, ignoring his word and commands!  Where is the outrage?  There are still individuals here who know the Lord, who are born anew, who operate in the gifts of the spirit.  But they are few indeed.  I mean, really few.

When the Lord comes to collect his CHURCH, unless there is a giant spiritual awakening beforehand, the number going will be small indeed.

So many Americans are as if in a daze.  They have been beguiled by deception and false leadership for years in so many arenas, and they are lost.  Without being born again, without the gifts of the Spirit – including the great gift of discernment – people cannot tell good from evil.  They cannot discern the truth from lies even when a national leader speaks absolute falsehood over and over.

There is nothing that has to happen before the Lord Jesus comes in the clouds to collect his CHURCH and take them away.  We are at the threshold of the beginning of the seven year tribulation, a period of terrible wrath being poured out on the earth, a period no right minded person would want to endure.  Some believers think this period may have already begun.  I think we are at the threshold.

Many years ago one night the Lord gave me a parable.  He said if someone does a small thing and he does it over and over and I do not notice, soon I will not see it at all.  That is what has happened to the people in America.  Small untruths about what is legal, or what is moral, or what is acceptable, have been spoken and advanced.   As no one paid attention, bigger untruths and bigger lies were spoken.  And no one noticed so even bigger ones and bigger actions were taken.  And here we are.  If we look historically, we can see way back in the 1960’s how the nation began even then falling dramatically from God.  Look at the removal of prayer and God from the public school systems then.   And look at the horrors of the actions and beliefs of Americans and their government today.  Freedom as envisioned by the founding fathers never meant freedom to engage in every wanton depravity one could imagine, or freedom from individual responsibility and accountability, or freedom from God.  But that is what it means now.

Recently I wrote of how America is the Babylon the Great of Revelation 17 and 18.  What happens to Babylon the Great in the end times is not good.  But if you read and study those chapters and related ones elsewhere in the Bible, you will see no other country can meet the description given.

God is a patient God.  He is long-suffering and loving.  And he has been.  But he will not be mocked.  America mocks God by its very actions.  Imagine bathing the White House in rainbow colored lights to celebrate a Supreme Court action that totally flies in the face of God’s guidance and commands in the Bible.  Imagine using rainbow lights, for the rainbow was used by God himself after the great flood as a sign of his promise then. 

Don’t sit still in a dead, cold church that refuses to preach the return, that does not recognize the Holy Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit, that does not allow the Holy Spirit the freedom to minister to people in the church, that does not recognize the power of the gospel and that Jesus is alive and well today.  Don’t sit there!  How dare you sit there week after week!  Who and what are you!    As one national minister says, don’t let the door hit you on the way out.  Nowhere does the Bible say or advise you to go regularly to such a place!

Wake up, you essentially dead Americans!  Yes, dead.  We may as well go ahead and use the word.  You are effectively dead already by your beliefs and actions every day of your life.  Wake up.  Open your eyes to God.  Get the Bible and start reading, even if it’s hard to do so.  Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you.  If you have never done so, ask God to forgive you for your life, for your sins.  Ask Jesus to be the Lord of your life.  Lord means he is the boss.  It means you do what he says and has said in the Bible.  Do you know anyone who lives that way?

May God please forgive the people of this country.  And the people of the world who have had the opportunity to know the Lord and still are lost or who have fallen away as well.  May he have mercy on all.

Yes, I pray that, but I too recognize that nothing is stopping what is happening.  Jesus will come at the appointed time.  God’s wrath will be poured out on the earth.  The end times are here.  There is no redemption I fear for the United States, for the words of the Bible are clear.  But there is always still hope and redemption for individual people.  God as always can and does draw people to Jesus.

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus!

                                                                                                                                               (July 2015)

                                                                                                                      Copyright © 2015 by John Newlin

[NOTE:  GIVE THIS ARTICLE TO OTHERS!  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 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

* WILL THERE BE A GREAT SPIRITUAL REVIVAL IN THE UNITED STATES BEFORE JESUS' RETURN?

Will there?

What do you think?

Or will we live in a country that falls further and further into the pit, a society led by many government, media, entertainment, business and even some religious leaders who are as lost as they can be and are marching straight down the path to the Bible’s lake of fire, to hell.  Time to call it what it is.  A country that celebrates when the Supreme Court endorses legally an act that is called an abomination by God is hardly a country on the right path.  Imagine.  The White House bathed in rainbow colors to celebrate the LGBT movement and the Supreme Court decision.  Imagine.  The Episcopal Church saying they will marry same sex couples in their churches.  Imagine.  The nation has now aborted more than fifty million babies.  Imagine.  Thousands are butchered in the Middle East and elsewhere by absolute barbarians and the nation does almost nothing, except to fly over and drop a few bombs or send a drone.  It’s arm chair fighting.  Imagine.

Well, you don’t have to imagine, because that’s all true.  You don’t have to imagine.  The nation is plummeting faster than ever.

Several weeks ago the leader of the national government, Mr. Obama, announced he would commemorate the coming Sunday (May 17) as the international day against homophobia and transphobia.  In other words, an international day advancing the cause of homosexuality, the cause of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) movement.  He may as well have said he would commemorate Sunday by challenging God, by insulting God, by ignoring God, by thumbing his nose at God.

You might be interested in this – Mr. Obama is evidently planning a visit to Kenya in July, the land of his ancestors.  So when this came out a group of 700 Kenyan pastors got together and called on Mr. Obama not to preach when he comes.  This was in reference to his stance on homosexuality.

One Kenyan bishop declared that Obama has ruined America.  Ironic isn’t it.  This country in Africa and its pastors are taking a bolder stand than the people and pastors of the US.

Will there be a revival?

Where are the true believing Christians through whom God will lead such a revival?

I saw one famous television newsman say his show wanted to have religious leaders on to ask their views about the gay marriage issue but they couldn’t find any.  He says there are no strong religious leaders who can speak clearly about this.  Hmmm.  He didn’t ask me.  I would have gone.  Did he ask you?  He is talking about some bishop or priest from the Roman Catholic Church or some preacher from a mainstream denomination.  That’s who the media think are people who speak for the church.  But you and I know most of those people don’t.  For the most part, they represent man’s organizations. 

One national evangelist did speak out, Franklin Graham.  He said that the rainbow lights on the White House were "outrageous" and a "slap in the face" to millions of Americans who support real marriage.  He made the point that God gave the rainbow sign to Noah following the flood and it is an image forever "associated with His judgment" and a sign of "God's judgment to come." 

Will there be a revival?

Only if God wants it.

And only if some true believers will step out boldly.

I see a few older believers here and there getting together to pray for a revival, to pray for the US.  Nothing wrong with that.  But this is not a normal time.  This is the end times.  What you see happening in the US is the falling away Paul spoke of in Thessalonians.   The rate of fall has been increasing exponentially.   Watch what happens in coming weeks and days.  What will people decide counts as a marriage?  What pressure will come on preachers to stop preaching against homosexuality?   Already you have seen the pressure on bakers and others.  You haven’t seen anything yet.

And political correctness?  It’s been annoying for the most part until recently.  Now it is dangerous.  People speaking out for America in places are considered threatening.  Look at Donald Trump who is running for president.  Regardless of what you think of him, look at how he is being treated by NBC and Macy’s and others who make their living thriving in this lost politically correct society.

Will there be a revival?  I hope so, because if not when the Lord comes the number going with him will be very very small.

But we do need people through whom the Lord can work.  Are you one of those?  If you think so tell him.  Tell him you make yourself available.  Ask him to orchestrate your day, to bring glory to himself and his father through you.  And live that way.  If you really mean it, he will do all that.

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus!

                                                                                                                                               (July 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

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* THE LORD COLLECTS HIS BELIEVERS

In these obvious last days, so much is discussed about the time Jesus comes to collect his believers and what happens.  But what does scripture really say?  Let’s take a closer look.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (NIV)

¹⁶ For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.  

This is a key scripture on the subject.  First note that the Lord himself descends from heaven.  It seems he himself gives out a shout, although what he says we do not know.  It may be “Come up here,” which is what is said from heaven to the two witnesses in Revelation just before they ascend to heaven.  Also there is a voice of the archangel.  Again, we are not given what that voice says.  And then the trumpet call of God.  I would assume this is the sound of the shofar.

After the shout from the Lord, the voice of the archangel, and the trumpet blast, verse 16 says the dead in Christ will rise first.  So be specific now.  Look at the words.  They say that those believers who have died will rise first.  They shall come back to life.  Rise.  As Jesus did on the third day.  Please note there is no reference in verse 16 as to where these risen believers go.

Now we look at verse 17.  The verse begins with an important and overlooked phrase – “After that.”  The message is that after those who have died rise, believers who are alive on earth are caught up together with the risen dead in the clouds where we all meet the Lord in the air.  But this only happens after the phrase “After that.”  In the King James version, the phrase “after that” is rendered as “then.”    I ask you to consider this:  How much time elapses between the rising of the dead in Christ and our being caught up together with the risen dead in the clouds?  Historically I expect all of us have reasonably thought this all happens immediately.  But even simple little words in scripture are there for a purpose.  They have meaning.  The original word in scripture rendered “After that,” or “Then” surely means that nothing happens to those of us living until after the dead in Christ have risen.  It may also mean that there is time, maybe just a little bit of time, between the rising of the dead in Christ and our and their going to the clouds to meet Jesus.  If so, that would mean the risen dead would be alive on the earth.  Would they be going around appearing to various people as those from the graveyard did back after Jesus’ crucifixion?  Remember, in Matthew 27:52-53 how believers came out of their tombs and went into the city and appeared to people?  (You may not remember because those verses are seldom mentioned.).

If indeed the risen formerly deceased believers do spend some time on the earth and go about appearing to people, perhaps interacting and talking about the Lord, might this not be a big incentive and perhaps a spur God would use in bringing about an end time revival? 

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From 1 Corinthians 15:51-53 (NIV)

⁵¹ Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—⁵² in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. ⁵³ For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.

This is another key scripture on Christ’s gathering of his believers.  The big point here is how in the twinkling of an eye, at the sounding of the trumpet, living and dead believers are all changed.  The dead are raised imperishable and those still alive are changed.  The big point is in verse 53, where perishable bodies put on imperishable bodies and mortal bodies put on immortality.  In other words, this is all about our getting those glorious new bodies you have heard about. For some reason, the scripture focuses on the dead getting imperishable bodies – and surely their old earthly bodies will have deteriorated and will have proven to be perishable – and thus they get to be imperishable.  And those of us still alive but still mortal – e.g., we have bodies that cannot live forever – receive immortality (and no doubt imperishability as well.)

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Luke 17:26-30 (NIV)

²⁶ “Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. ²⁷ People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all.

²⁸ “It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. ²⁹ But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.

³⁰ “It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed.                            

In these verses in Luke Jesus describes two historical events that give a clear message concerning his coming to collect his believers.  He notes that the days of his return will be like the days of Noah.  People were just living life as normal, eating, drinking, getting married; then Noah (and his family) entered the ark, and look what happened.  The flood came and destroyed everyone else.  Just like that.

Also, as in the days of Lot people ate, drank, bought, sold, planted, built, but then Lot (and his family at God’s leading) went out of Sodom.  When Lot left, fire and brimstone from heaven came and destroyed everyone in Sodom on the same day.

Jesus concludes it will be like that when the Son of man is revealed.  This indicates of course that Jesus’ collecting his believers and taking them away will just be in the midst of normal human activities going on.  Suddenly the believers will be gone.  It also indicates that when those believers are gone, judgement comes on the earth immediately.  Why immediately?  Look again at the words.  The same day Lot went out of Sodom the fire and brimstone came down on Sodom.  And the same day Noah and his family entered the ark the springs of the great deep were opened and the floodgates of the heavens were opened (see Genesis 7:11-13).

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LOOKING STILL FURTHER AT THE ACTUAL MOMENT

Note that in the account of Noah, as presented in Genesis Chapters 6-7, Noah works for years to build the ark at God’s guidance.  Then when God tells Noah to get in the ark, he does so and takes his wife and his three sons and their wives – a total of eight.  The door is shut by God and the flood comes.  In fact, water is already coming when Noah goes into the ark.  Now Noah was ready to go.  He had had all those years to discuss with his wife and with his sons and their wives, all those years when he no doubt prayed and sought God.  They were ready. 

In the fuller account of Lot and Sodom as presented in Genesis Chapter 19, we see that the angels arrive in Sodom at night and early the next day they take Lot and his wife and two daughters by the hand and lead them out of the city.  So whatever words they used during the night, Lot was still moving slowly in leaving.  Perhaps he was trying to convince other family and friends to leave and he was having no luck.  We know from scripture he was unsuccessful in convincing the fiancées of his daughters to leave (Luke 19:14).  The angels knew he and his family would be destroyed if they stayed there, so they made them get out. 

                                 

There is a message for us here.  When the Lord sends for us when he is collecting his believers, we must be ready to go then!  Think about all we have read above concerning this moment.  We have read about how Jesus comes in the clouds and how there is a shout and a trumpet sounding and a voice of the archangel.  Elsewhere in Mark 13 and Matthew 24, Jesus describes how he sends the angels out to collect the elect.  So while we have all thought we would just somehow be taken away and then suddenly appear in the clouds with Jesus, is it not possible that an angel will suddenly appear at your home or wherever you are and tell you it is time?  And as Jesus has advised, if we are on the roof we are not to go down inside the house.  Or if we are in the field, we are not to go back for anything. 

Jesus’ own words indicate there is some decision or action required on our part.  Obviously when the angel comes to tell us or we get the word some other way, we have to be ready to go.   There will be no extra time and we must go, possibly going with the angel who has brought us the news.  Some believers have never seen an angel or perhaps never been in the presence of strong spiritual forces of God.  This may be a shock to them.  But they must be ready.  They must watch as Jesus warns.  Even if they think they are dreaming, they should go with the angel. 

Now someone might ask, how does a person know this is an angel of God and not an evil spirit?  Easy.  The Holy Spirit and the gift of discernment will enable the believer immediately to know the angel is from the Lord.  If you don’t know the Holy Spirit or have not been baptized by the Holy Spirit, ask God for that.  Find a born again spirit filled believer and ask him to pray for you to receive the Spirit and to be baptized with the Spirit.  Another possible check for you – you can apply John’s advice in 1 John 4:2.  You can ask if the angel acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh.  Any angel from God will certainly acknowledge this.

Now with all this clear and dramatic scripture describing the gathering away of the saints, of Jesus’ believers, of Jesus’ CHURCH, when does this happen?  The Bible is not specific in that, but there are several verses that point out believers were not appointed to suffer wrath, and that is what is coming on the world during the last of the last days (Revelation 3:10, Romans 5:9, 1 Thessalonians 1:10 and 5:9, and Luke 21:36).   I would expect this gathering away to happen before the seven year Tribulation begins, or at the latest before the mid-point of the Tribulation which is when the Great Tribulation begins and the anti-christ takes up residence in the temple in Jerusalem. 

The key point is that the time is near.  There is nothing that has to happen from a Biblical prophecy perspective before Jesus comes and collects his believers.  Nothing.  In Luke 21:36 (NIV), Jesus gave the key recommendation:

Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”

So I say to you watch!  Be alert!  Be ready!  And when you get the clear word it is time, then act.  Likely that will involve going with an angel.

May God bless you and protect you and hold you in the palm of his hands.

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus!

                                                                                                                                               (June 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