* WHAT IS HAPPENING? - YOU SHOULD KNOW

Our society is in a type of free fall as far as relationship to God is concerned.  Morality and civility and even basic decency are falling like a stone.  And if you are alert, you can see a great decline even in wisdom among many people.   Many seem to be operating with blinders on.  Decisions and concepts such as these inane political correctness issues that threaten to destroy freedom of speech and the ability of people to use their minds are now rampant.  Minority groups, some even very small groups, are ever more seeking not only freedom and more rights for themselves but also to impose their beliefs on the society as a whole.  Selfishness and narcissism is at an all-time high.

And then we have the presidential election campaign this year, which is so very deflating to anyone who knows the Lord and who knows the history and basis of the United States.  I have spoken so often about the deception Jesus warned us of – “Watch that you are not deceived.”  It was his first warning of events of the end times.  He later warned of false prophets as well.  The political world and the media world, along with all other elements of society seem full of this deception today.  Many Americans throughout the country are highly upset and angry.  Most likely do not know what we write on in these recent publications, but they know something is horribly wrong in our society.  They are right.  Much of America has forgotten God. 

I along with you have seen some of the candidates for office debate.  Such atrocious behavior.  Maybe some are just panicked by the apparent failure of their message to get through.  But consider what is going on.  Initially many were seeking to run, and there was a general feeling that not in recent memory had so many qualified candidates run for office.  But their message just did not resonate as in recent years, and they have fallen away.  Now we have candidates that are bizarre to say the least in both major political parties.  And behavior we have not seen in candidates for the highest position in the secular world.

I looked back recently at past debates among the candidates for president.  I saw some remarkable political lines that won debates uttered by Ronald Reagan in his debate with Jimmy Carter, by Jimmy Carter in his debate with Gerald Ford, by George W Bush in his debate with Al Gore, and so on.  I even looked at a picture of Jack Kennedy with Richard Nixon together, and they were really smiling together.  None of these exhibited the gutter level behavior and mouths we have seen this year, although surely there were real differences and some sharp criticism.

Are any of these candidates for president today really believers in the Lord?  Any?  For that matter, will the country even get to an election?  Time will tell, and if it does, you have to decide for yourself who to vote for.  I suggest you ask God for guidance, ask the Holy Spirit to show you.  Try to apply all you have learned from the Lord to the election and to the present time.

Jesus spoke so many words that apply now.  “When the son of man comes, will he find faith on earth?”  Well, will he?  In you and your family?  In the leaders of the country?  “Whoever disowns me before others I will disown before my father in heaven.”  How do you act around others when they are disparaging Jesus or demonstrating outrageous ungodly behavior? 

Once again, we are living in the last of the last days, the time of the Lord’s return.  Remember, two will be together.  One will be taken and the other not.  He said that.  I didn’t make it up.  Many like to ignore all this or pretend it doesn’t happen.  Some like to say there is no rapture in the Bible.  They just ignore the scriptures.  The word rapture may not be there, but the events certainly are.  Soon the Lord will gather his believers.  Soon the horrible seven year tribulation will unfold.  Soon he and his holy ones will be back to win Armageddon and establish his kingdom rule from Jerusalem.  Soon.  Soon.  Soon.  Like everything else in the Bible, it is all real.  And it is happening now.  You are among the most blessed people of all time to be living to see this play out.  A great deal around you is highly unpleasant to be sure, but if you know the Lord and his word you know what is happening, you can protect yourself and your family, you know what to expect. 

Seek the Lord and his guidance at all times.  Don’t get out of bed or go out the door without putting on the Lord’s armor and thanking him for his angels’ protection (God sends his angels to serve all those who will inherit salvation.  That serving surely includes protection.). And use the mind and intelligence God has given you together with the guidance of the Holy Spirit to make the best decisions.  You need to be open eyed as you look forward.  And you need to prepare as you should, physically and spiritually.

Remember, no matter what happens on the secular front, in God’s overall plan what has been determined must take place and the time of the end will still come at the appointed time.  You cannot change that and neither can I.  Neither can any of the candidates for president or any of the news media or any of the political parties.

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus!

                                                                                                                        (February 2016)

                                                                                                                      Copyright © 2016 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

* NO OTHER GODS

THOU SHALT HAVE NO OTHER GODS BEFORE ME

Americans have not done a good job of following this first of the Ten Commandments, have they?  Not just unbelievers, of course, but not even many believers, I would suggest.

No gods before God.  Our focus must be on him first and always.  Family, jobs, friends, hobbies, sports, whatever, even worthwhile causes, cannot come before God.

Jesus again made the same point when asked what was the greatest commandment.  He said to love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.  Again, God is first.  Jesus in his statement went on to make loving our neighbor – i.e., all other people – in second place.  A close second he pointed out, but still second.  Notice again no job mentioned anywhere.  No work assignment.  Don’t think anyone will ever get any praise in heaven regarding how hard they worked at the office or store or plant or factory.

So no gods before God.

Look at America today.  How many gods can you name that Americans worship more than God?  Or put before God in their actions.  Remember, you can judge what a person believes or thinks by looking at his actions.  What he says means little, but what he does tells all.

How about money.  Income.

 

How about work.  Jobs.  Easy to see in some people’s lives that their jobs are the god of their life.  They sacrifice everything to getting ahead in that job (There really is a difference between having income as a god and having work as a god.  Some people just want money, they want more income, they focus on income in life.  And some others really do just focus on a particular type of work – their job really is them—they revel and live in that job.).

How about sports.  Watching sports, especially pro football.  Or playing golf.

How about good times – vacations, etc.

How about a spouse or love.  Putting a person higher than God.  Suppose you are having great difficulty in your marriage.   Suppose you go to all sorts of experts for help – spiritual experts as well as secular counselors, and nothing seems to work.  And you just keep at it and keep trying to adjust your own life, yet nothing you seem to do ever pleases this spouse.  You have made that spouse and your relationship with the spouse your top priority.  You have put that spouse above God.  You need to stop, repent, and put God back at the top of the list.

How about children?  Strange sounding, isn’t it.  We are all supposed to love our children, and I expect overwhelmingly most do.  But I suggest a strange thing has happened in recent decades.  For some reason young parents have become more devoted than ever to being sure their children have everything possible, experience everything possible.  And to being sure they are safe, protected.  Not only do they work tirelessly to do that, but they adjust their entire life schedules and activities to do that.  The children are the center of their lives…and I would suggest their god.  Not the way it was supposed to be.  Children are wonderful, but they are just part of the family.  Life most assuredly is not just about the children, although I expect if you are alert you know some young parents who live that way.

Still having trouble seeing this?  Just look at time – how much time you or others spend on various subjects.  Write it down.  Look at the time spent in work, in watching television for relaxation or vegging out, in driving about and going shopping or out to restaurants, in working on the yard or house, in going to school events, in going to social occasions.  You can do this for yourself and those you know closely.  You likely will be shocked.  Looking at where you spend your time is another indication of your priorities in life.

What if people put God first?  What would happen?  They would realize all the other blessings and promises of God, that’s what. Putting God first surely means you believe him and his words.  It means that you live and act according to his words.  If you don’t you are surely not putting him first.  That’s just like Paul’s famous words about confessing that Jesus is Lord of your life.  If he is your Lord, then you by definition obey and do whatever he says.

Never too late to start.  At least while you are still living and still on planet earth.  But it will be too late soon.

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus!

                                                                                                                        (February 2016)

                                                                                                                      Copyright © 2016 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

* NEW WINESKINS NEEDED!

Several weeks ago early in the morning my wife Cathy came into the room.  What about wineskins, she said.  She had been getting ready for the day when God led her to think about the passage about wineskins. It was a message for both of us.

One of the more difficult to understand of Jesus’ parables is his warning about not putting new wine into old wineskins (Luke 5:36-39; Matthew 9:17).  Simply stated, old wineskins have already been used, already been stretched to their maximum extent possible.  If newly made wine is poured into an old wineskin, the ensuing fermentation process will burst the old wineskin.  The old wineskin cannot contain the new wine.

Jesus brought truth and grace into the world.  He brought the gospel message.  He brought forgiveness, the new life in Christ, and all the many blessings attendant to that.

His wonderful new message could not be contained in the religious organization at that time, the organization run by the Pharisees, dominated by thousands of rules and regulations, by form and procedure over substance.

The message for us today?  The same as Jesus’ day.  His message, his gospel is one of new life, of hope and a future, of manifold blessings in him, of the imminent coming of the Kingdom of God to earth, of miracles and healings.  That message cannot be contained in many of the established churches of today with all their rules and regulations, their carefully scripted services which allow little or no time for God, some of them with a contemporary approach focusing on entertainment and current events.  As some of you well know, a large number of our churches today do not even believe healings and miracles are for today, thinking erroneously that all that ended in the first century with the death of the disciples.  Similarly, many do not truly teach and preach the Holy Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit.  There is no time or openness for the Spirit to minister there.  Even further, today many do not teach the imminent return of the Lord.  And far too many falsely believe that the modern church organization replaced the nation of Israel in importance to God! 

Today?  Pour new wine into these old wineskins?  Hardly!  The old wineskins can’t handle it.

But how are we going to wake up all the sleeping people of our age, those so oblivious to the truths of Jesus and his imminent return.  Or more accurately, how is God going to do it, using us as he needs us?

It seems apparent that any significant spiritual revival, or awakening, will likely not happen in the “religious” church structure of today laden down with man’s rules and regulations.  Any large scale awakening will have to happen by using new wineskins.  But what are those new wineskins?  Where are they?  How do we find them?

                         

Consider this:  The only thing that is important now in our time is Jesus Christ and each person’s relationship with him, and the fact that he is coming soon.  It is all about Jesus.  The Father’s design was to send his son that the world might be saved through him.  That is still the design.  Jesus is the King of the Kingdom.  He is coming soon.  When he comes he will not come as the teacher and preacher and healer he came as initially.  He will come as the King of everything.  The ruler.  The commander in chief.  The government will be on his shoulders.   

In the past several years we have seen serious believers leave traditional churches and form small groups, usually meeting in the homes of members.  Well, that is a form of a new wineskin, but it’s not reaching nearly enough lost people.   Basically it is just providing a safe place for people already serious about God to meet with some freedom and peace.

We need a new wineskin that will reach the world!  One that people will pay attention to in this difficult time.  I send this message now so you can be praying about that.  I do have some thoughts on how we might proceed, but right now I ask you to join me in praying for exactly what is the new wineskin God would have us use for him to awaken the sleeping population of our day to the fact that the Lord of all creation is coming and that unless they wake up they will miss him. 

One thought for sure: we need people who truly know the Lord to be in leadership in all areas of life – in the government, in the media, in the entertainment arena, in the business world, in the education world.  We have turned so many key positions over to lost individuals who are leading society over the cliff.  Maybe you are one of those persons who should be out there in a leadership role.  Certainly, in this election year in America do your best to support and vote for those who you believe truly know the Lord, who will stand up for Jesus and the gospel.  And do not stay home from voting because you can find no candidate who perfectly expresses what you are looking for.  There has only been one perfect human to ever walk the earth.

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus!

                                                                                                                        (February 2016)

                                                                                                                      Copyright © 2016 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

* JESUS' RETURN: WHAT WE CAN DO - COMING TO GRIPS WITH THE REALITY OF OUR TIME

All the excitement and hope of the upcoming elections in America notwithstanding, the Lord is coming at the appointed time.  That is just the truth.  Period.

The inescapable facts

For years I have written, spoken, appeared on television and in person to deal with all the aspects of the imminent return of Jesus.  You can follow much of what I’ve said on our CDs or television programs, all of which you can get to through our web site.   After almost nineteen hundred years of nothing of note happening, suddenly early in the last century and continuing up to today the many prophecies of things to happen before the Lord’s return began happening.  Some obviously, some not so obviously.  If you want to read a list of these go to our newsletter of August 2013.

 

Jesus referred to many of these prophesied happenings as birth pains.  We have moved past the birth pains now into the deeper of the prophecies and warnings.  Jesus’ primary warning to the disciples and all of us regarding these times was to watch that we are not deceived.  I know of no time in American history when there has been such deception among the leaders and key players in government, media, entertainment, business, and more.  And Paul gave the great statement that the Day of the Lord would not happen until the apostasy, the falling away from God took place.  Well?  What kind of a country and world do you live in?  The American population and culture is falling away from God faster than an Olympic downhill skier moves.  Europe is way ahead of us in this.  Some other nations that really haven’t been strong Christian nations are seeing breakthroughs and revivals, fulfillment of the wheat and tares comment by Jesus.

And then there is the troubling warning of Jesus that his coming will be like a thief in the night.  It will just happen.  Boom.  Two people will be together – one will be taken and the other not.  I’m speaking of his gathering his true church here, of course.  Those who are alert, as he has also warned us to be, will not be so surprised.

When is this going to happen?  While he was on earth he noted he did not know the specific day.  I expect now that he is with his father and is no doubt preparing to come, he surely knows.  My warning to all of you is that it is soon, real soon.  When I say that some people think I mean in the next day or two.   That could be, but remember we are talking about God’s timing.  Everything will be just right for the return.  I just mean in the next few months up to a very few years.

The world we live in 

None of us have lived in a world so confused and violent and full of evil as the current one.  The level of the evil coming out of the violent groups like ISIS, AL QUEDA, BOKO HARAN, and others is beyond the comprehension ability of most Americans.  I saw an interview of someone recently in which the interviewer asked what should be done about ISIS.  The person replied we should go talk to them.  No concept at all of the evil we are dealing with.  Talking is not what ISIS does.

Americans are so secularized that many in this once strong Christian nation cannot even conceive of absolute evil.  That is what we believers are up against.  It is the devil and his assistants operating through these horrible groups.  The American churches have become so watered down and so removed from the full gospel and the entire Bible.  Many of the traditional churches just like to focus on God’s love and forgiveness.  Yes, those are wonderful.  But God is also truth and justice.  He cannot stand evil.  At times in the early days of Israel God ordered the Israelites to kill everyone in an enemy group of people, including the children and the animals.  Hard to understand for Americans who are not spiritual, who do not understand the Bible and the spiritual side of life.  Why kill the animals?  Because God knew the evil demonic spirits guiding those evil people could inhabit animals too.  Remember when Jesus cast demons from a man to a herd of pigs?  God did not want any evil spirits coming to his people.

Americans have not realized just how bad all this evil is.  Most truly do not have a clue.  They will find out, unless Jesus comes first.

We have an election going on in the US, and people are getting all excited about the candidates.  Some declare they are going to deal with the areas in which the country has fallen so in recent years – with building up the military, with protecting the homeland, with rebuilding the economy, and more – and people seem to be really excited about some of the candidates.  But I ask you this:  Will any of their behavior affect the date of Jesus’ return?  Quick answer – no.

Have you heard any of the candidates saying or doing anything that will turn around the spiritual fall of America, the rebellion against God?  Quick answer – no.

Recently I listed just three enormous areas of behavior of the nation that are totally opposed to God.  We know his views on these because the Bible is clear about them.  Here they are again:

-          A country that endorses a homosexual lifestyle is far outside the plan of God.  The Bible is clear: that behavior is abominable.

-          Abortion – in America over fifty million babies have been aborted.  Murdered.  Yes, I know that some individuals who have had abortions have repented, and yes surely the Lord has forgiven them if their repentance was serious.  But the USA has a legal national policy of abortion on demand.  That is a policy of murder, and murder is not acceptable to God.  See the Ten Commandments.

-          And then there is Israel and the relationship and support and protection of this country by America.  Historically, the USA has been a great protector of Israel.  In fact, the very recognition of the nation of Israel in 1948 as a legitimate member of the community of nations was accomplished by a bold personal step by President Harry Truman even when advisers were pressing him not to act.  But in recent presidential administrations the support has waned.  The US has pressed Israel to give back land.  The US has pressed Israel in so many ways and has even not put the American embassy in Jerusalem.  Remember, God will bless those who bless Israel.  And curse those who curse Israel.

Do you see any of the candidates correcting any of this?  Only in the relationship to Israel do I see any hope for change.  Nothing these candidates from either party do will affect the appointed time of the return of the Lord.

And there are many more issues of course, specifically in the individual lives and behavior of Americans.  The increasing lack of interest in God.  The wide open sexual life style.  The profligate drug culture.  The wide open availability on television and in movies and elsewhere of occult images, music, behavior.  The complete lack of understanding that it is God first and everyone and everything else second.  The widespread pervasive use of deception in society.  I dare say that most Americans, even many who think they are Christians, cannot recognize occult behavior or actions.  Many so-called Christians do not even think the devil is real (50% according to one survey not long ago). 

So…

The Bible talks about a remnant.  That is what we have today, a remnant.  When Jesus comes to collect his true CHURCH, how many will he be taking?  Percentage wise, not a large number unless there is some awakening before his coming.

How many people do you know who even in your own knowledge meet the criteria Jesus or Paul set down for being in the Kingdom of God?

It is time to get in a right relationship with the Lord.  Time to be ready. 

As for the coming election, to the extent possible vote for those who you believe truly know the Lord, who will stand up for Jesus and the gospel.  Shouldn’t we all be doing as much as possible for the Lord even right up to his coming?  And certainly do not stay home from voting because no candidate perfectly expresses what you are looking for.  There never has been a perfect person on earth….other than the Lord.  Throughout the Bible we see examples of God’s using unbelievers to further his plans.

Lastly, keep your eyes on Jesus, stay focused, don’t lose your joy despite all the attacks of the evil one and all you see in the world.  Jesus overcame the world, and in him you do too.

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus!

                                                                                                                        (February, 2016)

                                                                                                                      Copyright © 2016 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:  johnnewlinblogspot.com

* COME ON NOW, WAKE UP!

          

Just how rotten are things in the world today?  Really, really rotten – corrupt governments, outrageous evil, large truly evil groups popularly called terrorist organizations, societies falling rapidly away from God.  Not a good time in that sense to be on earth.

In another sense, I think being here at the time of the last days is amazing – many on earth will get to see the Lord’s return to collect his believers.  And then those who are not his believers will get to experience an extraordinary version of hell on earth beyond horrors we can imagine.

It is extraordinary how short-sighted people are.  Maybe that is just a condition of the human mind, or maybe it is a condition of life in the US and the West today.  Certainly the increasing focus in the past twenty years on instant news, instant communications, all sorts of technical devices such as the smart phone that give instant information of a sort.  Many people today have trouble I expect in sitting still and quietly focusing on anything, unless they have a game or phone in their hands.

We have seen and read about all sorts of bad things in the past several months, including recent terrors in California and Paris that directly bring modern horrors to the western countries in a big way.  Yet a few days of calm and people are back to the normal life.

Have things been calm worldwide?  Of course not.  In just the past few days there have been terrible terrorist attacks in four different countries – Burkina Faso, Indonesia, Turkey, and Iraq.

And these attacks are on people just like you and me; in these cases some of those attacked were really good people out there trying to help the world.

Read these few words from today’s NY Times about the victims:

A family of Canadian volunteers dedicated to alleviating poverty in Africa. A group of intrepid German retirees on a tour of Turkey and the Middle East. An Iraqi who had gone to Baghdad seeking refuge from the jihadist violence of his hometown. A Canadian audiologist who had fallen in love with Indonesia.

They were among the scores of people slaughtered by Islamic extremists in four countries last week in spasms of bloodshed that left loved ones stunned at the randomness of the killings.

“They did things like fix roofs and repaint blackboards,” the mother of Maude Carrier, one of the Canadians killed in Burkina Faso, told The Globe and Mail, a Toronto newspaper. “Who would want to kill people fixing blackboards?”

The settings for the attacks were the softest of soft targets: a shopping mall in Iraq; a hotel and a cafe in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso; a popular shopping area in Jakarta, Indonesia; and Sultanahmet Square, the historic and cultural heart of Istanbul.*

Americans don’t think so much about these attacks because they are in far distant lands.  Americans have a custom of focusing on one spot, the US.  But these things could have just as easily happened here in the US. 

In these end times, things do get increasingly worse.  We have written about Bible prophesy so much I seldom pull that out anymore, other than to focus on where we are just now.  You can read about all the prophesies already fulfilled in our previous writings or hear about that in our videos or CDs. 

Now we are in the last of the last days.  The devil knows all that.  He knows the Bible.  He knows what is up.  His time is up.  So he is pulling out all the stops.  Throwing in the kitchen sink.  And terrible things are happening,

Deception is everywhere in the top ranks of government, media, entertainment, education, business, and plain old everyday life (as anyone with an ounce of discernment should be able to realize).  Remember, the Lord’s first response to those disciples asking about our day was to watch so as not to be deceived!  So many non-believers occupy key positions of leadership in various fields, and they are leading society over the cliff.  These are people whose minds have been blinded by the evil one (2 Corinthians 4:4).  They really can’t see the truth right now.  Neither can other non-believers. 

The old machinery of our society continues to chug along, and there is hope among many that a change in government or some other new change can turn everything around.  Well, maybe change can bring some momentary modification to what is going one.  But we are living in the last days.  The Lord will return at the appointed time.  It will happen.  Nothing we do can change that.  And as we go through these days the evil one with his minions will attack in diverse ways in families and nations and societies in all the evil ways he can conceive.

Our focus now has to be on doing what we can to get the truth out about the Lord’s return and about the Lord.  None of God’s elect chosen before the creation of the world should miss out on who he is.  That is the reason for evangelism, to get the word out to all that God intends to be with him (and pray God draws them to Jesus – see  John 6:44).   Will there be some type of an end-time awakening?  Yes, although I do not know how large or how many will be reached.  Even now there is awakening in some countries, such as Brazil.

I know most really do not want to hear about all this and they are trying to hunker down and hope for a brighter future in our existing society.  Well, there will be a brighter future---for believers in Jesus.

In all things today at all times, remember to  

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus!

* (From NYTimes January 19  by Andrew Jacobs – “Week of Attacks, Scores of Civilian Deaths and a Question: Why Them?”)

                                                                                                                        (January 19, 2016)

                                                                                                                      Copyright © 2016 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:  johnnewlinblogspot.com

* 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.]

P O Box 15797, Wilmington, NC 28408       910 395 1465      www.johnnewlinministries.org

          

Email: info@johnnewlinministries.org       Twitter.com/johnnewlinmin     
Blog:  johnnewlinblogspot.com