This is Daniel Whyte III with the Second Coming Watch Update. This is update #900. Let’s take a quick look at today’s prophecy-related headlines which point towards the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and the end of the world as we know it.

First, today, under the Sign category of THE RISE OF GOG & MAGOG AND THE KINGS OF THE EAST — According to The Jerusalem Post, China’s defense ministry said, China, Iran and Russia will hold joint naval drills starting in the Indian Ocean and Sea of Oman amid heightened tension in the region between Iran and the United States. China will send the Xining [SHE-NING], a guided missile destroyer, to the drills, which are meant to deepen cooperation between the three countries’ navies. Ministry spokesman Wu Qian [WOO CHEE-AHN] said the drill was a “normal military exchange” between the three armed forces and was in line with international law and practices. The Sea of Oman is a particularly sensitive waterway as it connects to the Strait of Hormuz [HOR-MUZ] – through which about a fifth of the world’s oil passes – which in turn connects to the Arabian Gulf. The drills are also coming at a time of fraught tensions between the United States and Iran. Friction has increased since 2018 when U.S. President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal with six nations and re-imposed sanctions on it, crippling its economy.

Second, today, under the Sign category of THE MARK OF THE BEAST — According to The Verge, Tesla’s Model 3 doesn’t come with a physical key. Instead, it can be unlocked and turned on with a smartphone, a car-shaped key fob, or a keycard that comes in handy if you don’t have a fob or your phone dies. One driver figured out a way to make sure that she can always unlock and start her Model 3: she implanted the RFID tag from the keycard into her forearm. Amie DD is a software engineer and self-described “maker of things.” In a video, she explained that she had implanted an RFID tag in her arm years ago, which she had used to open her home’s front door and to send a smartphone’s browser to her personal website. When she preordered her Model 3, she realized that she could probably do something similar with the keycard. She didn’t have any luck transferring the software to her existing chip, so she decided to extract the card’s chip and implant that into her arm. To do that, she dissolved the card using acetone, and had it encased in a biopolymer. From there, she went to a body-modification studio to have the chip (about the size of a Lego mini-figure) implanted into her forearm.

Third, today, under the Sign category of WARS & RUMOURS OF WARS — According to The Jerusalem Post, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Aviv Kochavi [AH-VEEV KOH-CHA-VEE] warned that the IDF is preparing for a limited confrontation with the Islamic Republic as Israel continues to act against Iranian entrenchment. Kochavi [KOH-CHA-VEE] said: “There is a possibility that we will face a limited confrontation with Iran and we are preparing for it. We will continue to act and responsibly.” He added it would have been better had Israel not been the only one engaged in the effort to stop Iran. The IDF is carrying out operations both publicly and below-the-radar to prevent the enemy from obtaining precision missiles, even if those operations bring about a confrontation. Publicly acknowledging for the first time the Israel Air Force has attacked against Iranian targets in Iraq, Kochavi [KOH-CHA-VEE] said, “We will not allow Iran to entrench itself in Syria, or in Iraq. Iraq is undergoing a civil war, when the Quds [KUDS] Force is operating there on a daily basis, when the country itself has turned into an ungoverned area. Advanced weapons are being smuggled by the Quds [KUDS] Force in Iraq on a monthly basis and we can’t allow that.” According to Kochavi [KOH-CHA-VEE], there’s been a change in threats, with all fronts active in trying to carry out terror or rocket attacks against Israel.

Fourth, today, under the Sign category of EARTHQUAKES IN DIVERS PLACES — According to The Sentinel, A massive earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale struck Afghanistan and Pakistan, with casualties and property damage feared. Tremors of the quake, whose epicenter was in the Hindu Kush region in Afghanistan with a depth of 210 km, were also felt across north India as far as the Delhi-NCR region. An official of the meteorological office in Chandigarh [CHAN-DEE-GAR] said tremors were felt for several seconds in various parts of Punjab [PUHN-JAHB], Haryana [HUHR-YAA-NAA] and Himachal Pradesh [HIH-MAA-CHAL PRAH-DESH]. The earthquake was felt in several parts of Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa [KHY-BUHR PAHK-TUHN-KWAA] and eastern Punjab [PUHN-JAHB] provinces and other northern areas of Pakistan. No loss of life or property was immediately reported, but the quake created panic among the people who scrambled out of buildings and compounds.

Fifth, today, under the Sign category of TURMOIL IN THE MIDDLE EAST — According to SpaceDaily.com, Syrian air defences on Sunday fired on Israeli missiles, shooting down one that fell outside Damascus. Syrian news agency Sana [SUH-NAA] reported that the ‘hostile missiles came from the Occupied Territories,’ referring to Israel, adding that one missile came down in Aqraba [AHK-RAA-BAA], a suburb southeast of Damascus. An Israeli army spokeswoman contacted by AFP said Israel does not comment on reports in foreign media. According to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, there were three explosions in the Damascus suburbs after the missiles targeted ‘Syrian regime and Iranian positions’. It said at least two missiles came down near Aqraba [AHK-RAA-BAA]. The Observatory added that ambulances were observed heading towards where the missiles hit.

——–

The prophetic passage of Scripture that we are looking at today is Jeremiah 50-51. Jeremiah 51:59-64 reads: “The word which Jeremiah the prophet commanded Seraiah [SER-RUH-RY-UH] the son of Neriah [NUH-RY-UH], the son of Maaseiah [MAH-UH-SY-UH], when he went with Zedekiah the king of Judah into Babylon in the fourth year of his reign. And this Seraiah [SER-RUH-RY-UH] was a quiet prince. So Jeremiah wrote in a book all the evil that should come upon Babylon, even all these words that are written against Babylon. And Jeremiah said to Seraiah [SER-RUH-RY-UH], When thou comest to Babylon, and shalt see, and shalt read all these words; Then shalt thou say, O Lord, thou hast spoken against this place, to cut it off, that none shall remain in it, neither man nor beast, but that it shall be desolate for ever. And it shall be, when thou hast made an end of reading this book, that thou shalt bind a stone to it, and cast it into the midst of Euphrates: And thou shalt say, Thus shall Babylon sink, and shall not rise from the evil that I will bring upon her: and they shall be weary. Thus far are the words of Jeremiah.”

Allow me to share with you some commentary on this passage from Exploring Bible Prophecy from Genesis to Revelation, by Tim LaHaye and Ed Hindson.

Jeremiah then repeats that the reason for Babylon’s fall is its mistreatment of the Jewish people. On behalf of Israel, God will judge Babylon and, indeed, Jeremiah declares that Babylon will be recompensed to the full. The chapter then concludes with the tenth symbolic action within the book of Jeremiah, the sinking of the scroll in 51:59-64. The symbolic action itself takes place in verses 59-60.

In verse 59, the word of God came to Jeremiah, and he commanded a man named Seraiah to do something. Seraiah [SER-RUH-RY-UH] was the son of Neriah [NUH-RY-UH] and the brother of Baruch [BUH-ROOKH], Jeremiah’s scribe or secretary. Seraiah [SER-RUH-RY-UH] was the chief chamberlain, meaning “the quartermaster,” the one responsible for the supplies for the trip that King Zedekiah made to Babylon. The occasion for the symbolic action was Seraiah’s [SER-RUH-RY-UH’s] trip “with Zedekiah the king of Judah to Babylon in the fourth year of his reign.” Verse 60 tells us Jeremiah wrote out a scroll detailing all the disaster that will come upon Babylon. What Jeremiah wrote in this scroll is recorded in Jeremiah 50:1-58.

Then in verses 61-64, Jeremiah gives Seraiah [SER-RUH-RY-UH] some specific instructions, and four things should be noted. First, when Seraiah [SER-RUH-RY-UH] came to Babylon, he was to read publicly all the words that Jeremiah had written. Second, he was to make his first declaration, which is a summary of the prophecies of Jeremiah concerning Babylon: It was to be cut off so totally and destroyed so totally that no one will survive, “whether man or beast.” It will be desolate forever, including during the entire 1,000-year kingdom. Neither man nor beast will live there, although it is known from other passages that demons will reside there during the kingdom period. Third, when Seraiah [SER-RUH-RY-UH] is finished reading the scroll, he is then to tie a stone to the scroll and throw the scroll into the Euphrates River. The weight of the stone would pull the scroll down to the bottom of the river. And fourth, once that happened, Seraiah [SER-RUH-RY-UH] was to make a second declaration: “Just so shall Babylon sink down and not rise again because of the calamity that I am going to bring upon her; and they shall become exhausted.”

If the Lord tarries His Coming and we live, we will continue looking at the prophetic passages of the Bible in our next broadcast / podcast.

Our Second Coming quote for today is from C.S. Lewis. He said, “The idea which here shuts out the Second Coming from our minds, the idea of the world slowly ripening to perfection, is a myth, not a generalization from experience. And it is a myth which distracts us from our real duties and our real interest. It is our attempt to guess the plot of a drama in which we are the characters. But how can the characters in a play guess the plot? We are not the playwright, we are not the producer, we are not even the audience. We are on the stage. The doctrine of the Second Coming teaches us that we do not and cannot know when the world drama will end. The curtain may be rung down at any moment: say, before you have finished reading this paragraph. This seems to some people intolerably frustrating. So many things would be interrupted. Perhaps you were going to get married next month, perhaps you were going to get a raise next week: you may be on the verge of a great scientific discovery; you may be maturing great social and political reforms. Surely no good and wise God would be so very unreasonable as to cut all this short? Not now, of all moments! But we think thus because we keep on assuming that we know the play. We do not know the play. We do not even know whether we are in Act One or Act Five. We do not know who are the major and who the minor characters. The Author knows.”

Let’s Pray

***

If you are not ready for the return of Jesus Christ, may I encourage you to get ready today by receiving Him as your Savior. Here is how.

First, accept the fact that you are a sinner, and that you have broken God’s law. The Bible says in Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”

Second, accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death…”

Third, accept the fact that you are on the road to hell. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 10:28: “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Also, the Bible states in Revelation 21:8: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

Now that is bad news, but here is the good news. Jesus Christ said in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Just believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead by the power of God for you so that you can live eternally with Him. Pray and ask Him to come into your heart today, and He will. Romans 10:13 says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Keep looking up for your redemption draweth nigh. Let us join in the prayer of John the Revelator — “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” God bless you.

This is Daniel Whyte III with the Second Coming Watch Update. This is update #899. Let’s take a quick look at today’s prophecy-related headlines which point towards the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and the end of the world as we know it.

First, today, under the Sign category of TURMOIL IN THE MIDDLE EAST — According to The Jerusalem Post, Several Palestinians were lightly injured after IDF fighter jets attacked a Hamas weapons production site in the northern Gaza Strip. In addition, the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, Maj.-Gen. Kamil Abu Rukun [KAH-MEEL UH-BUU RUH-KUHN], announced, the Gaza fishing range was reduced to 10 nautical miles. The IDF fire and the reduction of the fishing range came in response to a rocket fired from Gaza toward Israel overnight on Wednesday. The rocket was intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome. The IDF Spokespersons Unit stressed that Israel holds Hamas responsible for all actions in and from the Gaza Strip and that the terrorist group will suffer the consequences of any action against Israeli citizens. Deputy Defense Minister Avi Dichter [AH-VEE DIHK-TER] said: “I think we know fairly well how to analyze who’s behind things and to act accordingly. All the tools aren’t taken out in every [situation]. The agreement [between Hamas and Israel] is a tactical issue that connects our interests and Hamas’ interests, not in order to solve the root issue in Gaza.” This latest round of rocket-retaliation comes after last month’s larger scale escalation, which resulted from Israel’s assassination of senior Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist, Baha Abu al-Ata [BA-HA UH-BUU AL-AH-TA].

Second, today, under the Sign category of FAMINES — According to Stock Daily Dish, the UNHCR has warned that the risk of mass starvation in four countries – Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen – is rapidly rising due to drought and conflict. About 20 million people live in hard-hit areas where harvests have failed and malnutrition rates are increasing, particularly among young children. Adrian Edwards, UNHCR spokesperson, said, in South Sudan alone, “a further one million people are now on the brink of famine”. “We are raising our alarm level further by today warning that the risk of mass deaths from starvation among populations in the Horn of Africa, Yemen and Nigeria is growing.” Later, speaking to Al Jazeera from Geneva, Edwards said that lives will be lost if help does not arrive.

Third, today, under the Sign category of WARS & RUMOURS OF WARS — According to The Jerusalem Post, Palestinian Islamic Jihad Secretary-General Ziyad al-Nakhalah [ZIH-YAAD AL-NAHK-AH-LAH] said they will join forces with Hamas in the next round of fighting with Israel. During the last flare-up between PIJ and Israel, Hamas mostly stayed out of the fighting in a move that drew criticism from several Palestinian factions and some PIJ officials. The violence erupted after Israel assassinated senior PIJ military commander Baha Abu al-Ata [BA-HA UH-BUU AL-AH-TA] on November 12. Nakhalah [NAHK-AH-LAH], who is based in Lebanon, said that his group has reached agreement with Hamas “to jointly respond to any [Israeli] aggression.” He warned that any Israeli military strike against the Gaza Strip won’t pass without a response. Nakhalah [NAHK-AH-LAH] repeated PIJ’s commitment to the “path of jihad (holy war) notwithstanding the challenges and sacrifices.” Hamas and PIJ leaders met in Cairo recently as part of Egypt’s effort to secure a long-term ceasefire between the Gaza-based factions and Israel. During the discussions, Hamas and PIJ agreed to defuse tensions between them in the aftermath of the last round of fighting with Israel. The tensions erupted after some PIJ officials and members accused Hamas of failing to join the fighting by launching rockets at Israel.

Fourth, today, under the Sign category of PESTILENCES & FATAL EPIDEMIC DISEASES — According to BBC News, Indonesia has become the latest Asian country to face an outbreak of African swine fever, a deadly pig virus devastating farmers across the region. The country’s agriculture ministry said nearly 30,000 pigs have died from the disease in North Sumatra [SOO-MAH-TRAH]. The virus is expected to wipe out more than half of China’s pig herd this year. Australia has grown increasingly concerned, stepping up biosecurity measures to keep swine fever out. According to the World Organisation for Animal Health, although it’s harmless to humans, the disease can kill pigs within a few days, and the fatality rate can be up to 100%. The virus is particularly robust, and is able to survive for seven days without a host, and for months in frozen pork products.

Fifth, today, under the Sign category of RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF ISRAEL — According to Ynet News, the Central Bureau of Statistics said in a report that Israel has welcomed some 3.3 million immigrants since its creation in 1948. Of that number, 43.7% have immigrated since 1990, when Jews in Soviet states were finally allowed to leave with the collapse of the USSR. The report was published by CBS ahead of International Migrants Day, which is on December 18. In 2018, Israel welcomed 37,200 new migrants, out of the 28,100 were olim hadashim [O-LIM HAH-DAH-SHIM] (Jewish new immigrants who made aliyah [AH-LEE-YAH] – moved to Israel – under the Law of Return), a rise of 6.6% from 2017. The countries from which most olim arrived in 2018 were Russia (10,500 people), Ukraine (6,400 people), the U.S. (2,400 people) and France (2,400 people).

——–

The prophetic passage of Scripture that we are looking at today is Jeremiah 50-51. Jeremiah 51:1-4 reads: “Thus saith the Lord; Behold, I will raise up against Babylon, and against them that dwell in the midst of them that rise up against me, a destroying wind; And will send unto Babylon fanners, that shall fan her, and shall empty her land: for in the day of trouble they shall be against her round about. Against him that bendeth let the archer bend his bow, and against him that lifteth himself up in his brigandine: and spare ye not her young men; destroy ye utterly all her host. Thus the slain shall fall in the land of the Chaldeans, and they that are thrust through in her streets.”

Allow me to share with you some commentary on this passage from Exploring Bible Prophecy from Genesis to Revelation, by Tim LaHaye and Ed Hindson.

In 51:1-4, Babylon is viewed as having been winnowed by the enemy, resulting in the defenders being totally slain. Once again Babylon’s destruction is contrasted with Israel’s survival, and while Babylon falls, Israel will rise again. According to 51:7-10, Babylon has been a golden cup in God’s hands, a cup of the wrath of God that the nations had to drink. Now Babylon itself will drink of the divine wrath of God. The people of Israel will conclude that Babylon has fallen primarily because of Israel’s turning back to the Lord.

The key power God will use to lead the conquest against Babylon will be the Medes–a fact that does not fit the previous capture of Babylon, which was done by Cyrus, who was a Persian. While the Medes were allied with the Persians in that earlier incident, the Persians were the greatest power and the actual leaders of that conquest.

Babylon’s total collapse is then contrasted with the idolatry of Babylon. While previously Babylon had been the shattering hammer of God used to crush the armies of other nations, now the shattering hammer itseld will be crushed. The reason for this is Babylon’s anti-Semitism and evil against Zion. Thus Babylon, once a destroying mountain, will now be a mountain destroyed. Earlier, Jeremiah pictured Babylon as being winnowed, and now he pictures Babylon as becoming a major threshing floor only to be threshed. This is the result of Israel’s complaint to God against Babylon, and thus God judges Babylon for its crimes against the Jewish people. This is in keeping with the cursing facet of the Abrahamic Covenant: “I will curse them that curse you.” For that reason more than any other, Babylon will become desolate and the city will fall, never to rise again.

If the Lord tarries His Coming and we live, we will continue looking at the prophetic passages of the Bible in our next broadcast / podcast.

Our Second Coming quote for today is from Charles Spurgeon. He said, “To be despised and rejected of men is the Christian’s lot. Even among his fellow Christians, he will not always stand in good repute. It is not unqualified kindness or total love that we receive, even from the saints. If you look to Christ’s bride herself for your reward, you will miss it. If you expect to receive your crown from the hand of your brothers in the ministry who know your labors and who ought to sympathize with your trials, you will be mistaken. “When the Son of man shall come in his glory” is your time of recompense— not today, tomorrow, or at any time in this world. Reckon nothing that you acquire, no honor that you gain, to be the reward of your service to your Master; that dividend is reserved for the time “when the Son of man shall come in his glory.””

Let’s Pray

***

If you are not ready for the return of Jesus Christ, may I encourage you to get ready today by receiving Him as your Savior. Here is how.

First, accept the fact that you are a sinner, and that you have broken God’s law. The Bible says in Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”

Second, accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death…”

Third, accept the fact that you are on the road to hell. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 10:28: “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Also, the Bible states in Revelation 21:8: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

Now that is bad news, but here is the good news. Jesus Christ said in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Just believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead by the power of God for you so that you can live eternally with Him. Pray and ask Him to come into your heart today, and He will. Romans 10:13 says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Keep looking up for your redemption draweth nigh. Let us join in the prayer of John the Revelator — “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” God bless you.

This is Daniel Whyte III with the Second Coming Watch Update. This is update #898. Let’s take a quick look at today’s prophecy-related headlines which point towards the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and the end of the world as we know it.

First, today, under the Sign category of TURMOIL IN THE MIDDLE EAST — According to Jewish News Syndicate, Israel will not allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons and will take military action to prevent it from doing so should all other options fail, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said on Tuesday. His remarks came in response to an Iranian threat on Monday to “level Tel Aviv from Lebanon.” Katz said: “Israel is not the helpless protesters being slaughtered by the ayatollah regime in Iran and Iraq. We will be able to respond forcefully to any threat or attack.” On Monday evening, senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps adviser Morteza Ghorbani [MOR-TEH-ZAH GOR-BAH-NEE] said that if Israel made even the smallest error when it came to Iran, Tehran would “level Tel Aviv from Lebanon.” Ghorbani [GOR-BAH-NEE] claimed that Iran had no intention of acquiring nuclear weapons, and said that if Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei were to issue instructions to attack Israel, the latter would raise its hands in surrender. His remarks came in response to an interview that Katz gave, in which he said Iran must face the threat of military action in addition to sanctions. Katz said: “The Iranians have no idea who they’re dealing with. If they realized that 1,000 Tomahawk missiles could be fired at them, they would behave differently.”

Second, today, under the Sign category of EARTHQUAKES IN DIVERS PLACES — According to Newsweek, The Cascadia and San Andreas Faults may be linked, with earthquakes on one triggering events in the other “with minimal or no separation in time.” Chris Goldfinger and Joel Gutierrez, from Oregon State University, say their evidence showing a relationship between the two goes back almost 3,000 years. The San Andreas Fault forms part of the tectonic boundary between the Pacific and North American Plate. It stretches about 750 miles along the east coast and has the potential to produce major earthquakes. It is one of the most dangerous faults in the U.S. as it is lined by heavily populated areas, including the cities of Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego. Because there has not been a large earthquake at San Andreas for over 100 years, experts are concerned it could be due one relatively soon. Meanwhile, the Cascadia Subduction Zone, which stretches from northern California to Canada, is known as a “megathrust” fault that can produce some of the biggest earthquakes in the world. In 1700 it produced an earthquake estimated to be between magnitude 8.7 and 9.2. Further findings show that on multiple occasions, an earthquake at Cascadia would be followed by one at the northern part of the San Andreas Fault. The research abstract said: “In one instance, a separation of [about] 100 years is observed, but in all other cases, time separation between the pairs is not observed.”

Third, today, under the Sign category of THE MARK OF THE BEAST — According to The Washinton Times, China is developing a new high-tech system of mass surveillance and coercion aimed at suppressing political dissent among its 1.4 billion people, while forcing American and Western businesses to conform to the government’s communist policies if they want to operate there. The system that critics call an Orwellian national-level control system has been dubbed the Social Credit System and was set for launch in the coming year, although recent reports from China now say the rollout could be delayed until 2021. The massive system has been tested in several major Chinese cities and uses millions of surveillance cameras linked to supercomputers containing massive databases. Face and voice recognition technology then identifies and monitors people with the goal of controlling behaviors that range from dissident political activity to jaywalking, ostensibly as part of a financial credit monitoring system similar to those used in the West. U.S. Vice President Mike Pence called out the program in a recent speech, warning, “By 2020, China’s rulers aim to implement an Orwellian system premised on controlling virtually every facet of human life — the so-called social credit score. In the words of that program’s official blueprint, it will ‘allow the trustworthy to roam everywhere under heaven, while making it hard for the discredited to take a single step.’”

Fourth, today, under the Sign category of RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF ISRAEL — According to Breaking Israel News, President Trump announced that he will be signing an executive order on Wednesday intended to withhold federal funding as a means of forcing universities to cope with growing anti-Semitism on campus. First reported in the New York Times, the order will effectively define Judaism as a race or nationality and not just a religion. The order empowers the Education Department as described in Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which allows the department to withhold funding from any college or educational program that discriminates “on the ground of race, color, or national origin.” Religion was not included among the protected categories, so Mr. Trump’s order will have the effect of embracing an argument that Jews are a people or a race with a collective national origin in the Middle East.

Fifth, today, under the Sign category of WARS & RUMOURS OF WARS — According to Israel National News, Iran is stockpiling short-range ballistic missiles in Iraq that can reach Israel, according to a New York Times report that cited American intelligence and military officials. The hidden rockets are part of a larger effort by Iran to intimidate countries in the region and assert its power. Short-range missiles generally have a range of just over 600 miles, so one fired from just outside of Baghdad could reach Jerusalem. Iran’s effort to build up its arsenal comes as the United States has sent thousands of troops to the region with plans to send more. The arms in Iraq are reportedly intended to dissuade the United States, Israel and Saudi Arabia from attacking Iran.

——–

The prophetic passage of Scripture that we are looking at today is Jeremiah 50-51. Jeremiah 50:17-20 reads: “Israel is a scattered sheep; the lions have driven him away: first the king of Assyria hath devoured him; and last this Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath broken his bones. Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will punish the king of Babylon and his land, as I have punished the king of Assyria. And I will bring Israel again to his habitation, and he shall feed on Carmel and Bashan, and his soul shall be satisfied upon mount Ephraim and Gilead. In those days, and in that time, saith the Lord, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found: for I will pardon them whom I reserve.”

Allow me to share with you some commentary on this passage from Exploring Bible Prophecy from Genesis to Revelation, by Tim LaHaye and Ed Hindson.

In Jeremiah 50:17-20, Babylon’s destruction is again contrasted to Israel’s final regeneration and restoration. At the time of Babylon’s final destruction, the iniquity of Israel will be sought, but there will be none. The sins of the people of Israel will not be found.

In 50:21-28, Jeremiah points out that Babylon, the hammer of power, will be destroyed and thus will cease to exercise strict authority over other nations. In this manner the pride of Babylon will be humbled. At the same time that God destroys the hammer of Babylon, He will be Israel’s redeemer.

In 50:35-40, after Jeremiah records the sword song, he explains that sword will now fall upon Babylon, which will become a habitation of demons. In 50:41-46, Jeremiah again points out that while the armies come from various directions, the attack itself comes from the north. Here he implies that the king of Babylon is not within the city when the city is destroyed. Furthermore, the armies that come against Babylon are empowered by God, and therefore their success is not of their own making. The destruction of Babylon will be so complete that there will be a great cry of mourning among the city’s supporters worldwide.

If the Lord tarries His Coming and we live, we will continue looking at the prophetic passages of the Bible in our next broadcast / podcast.

Our Second Coming quote for today is from R.C. Sproul. He said, “The rapture will not be secret but open and manifest. Its purpose will not be to whisk the elect away from the earth for a while until Christ returns for a ‘second’ Second Coming. The purpose of the rapture is to allow the saints to meet Jesus in the air as He returns and be included in His entourage during His triumphal descent from Heaven. His coming in this manner will be attended by the general resurrection, the final judgment, and the end of the world.”

Let’s Pray

***

If you are not ready for the return of Jesus Christ, may I encourage you to get ready today by receiving Him as your Savior. Here is how.

First, accept the fact that you are a sinner, and that you have broken God’s law. The Bible says in Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”

Second, accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death…”

Third, accept the fact that you are on the road to hell. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 10:28: “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Also, the Bible states in Revelation 21:8: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

Now that is bad news, but here is the good news. Jesus Christ said in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Just believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead by the power of God for you so that you can live eternally with Him. Pray and ask Him to come into your heart today, and He will. Romans 10:13 says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Keep looking up for your redemption draweth nigh. Let us join in the prayer of John the Revelator — “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” God bless you.

This is Daniel Whyte III with the Second Coming Watch Update. This is update #897. Let’s take a quick look at today’s prophecy-related headlines which point towards the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and the end of the world as we know it.

First, today, under the Sign category of WARS & RUMOURS OF WARS — According to The Jerusalem Post, an unnamed former senior officer from the Israeli Air Force said, a war against Iran and Hezbollah will see Israel pounded by over a thousand rockets per day, causing never-before-seen images in the Jewish State. He said: “It’s a severe threat to the homeland, and there will be images that have never ever been seen in the past.” According to the anonymous source, if the population remains in shelters, the main damage will be to infrastructure that will be targeted by the barrages of dumb rockets and missiles fired toward Israel. While the thousands of missiles are a real threat, it’s not an existential threat like the precision missiles that Hezbollah is trying to obtain. “It’s a severe threat, but people tend to think in extremes. Israel will not be [at] zero at the end of the conflict. We have to put it in perspective – people think Tel Aviv will be leveled. Iran and Hezbollah can create damage, and for sure there will [be] strikes in many locations and the damage will probably be greater than in the past, but we have to put it in perspective. All of us should be prepared for the day after, which will be different in terms of what we see, but the State of Israel won’t be gone. We have to protect life and strategic sites and that can be done. Infrastructure can be rebuilt.” Despite crippling sanctions, Iran has the largest missile force in the Middle East, with a substantial inventory of close-range ballistic missiles, short-range ballistic missiles, and medium-range ballistic missiles that can strike targets throughout the region as far as 2,000 km. from Iran’s borders.

Second, today, under the Sign category of PESTILENCES & FATAL EPIDEMIC DISEASES — According to Breaking Israel News, Despite advances in modern medicine, China is setting up roadblocks to cope with an outbreak of an ancient plague that once wiped out one-third of the world’s population and may have been one of the plagues that God used to strike Egypt. Chinese officials installed temperature scanners at airports and checkpoints on main roads in an attempt to stop the spread of Bubonic plague as a fourth case was discovered in less than three weeks. A program to exterminate rats and fleas, which carry the disease, was also launched in Inner Mongolia where the disease seems to be originating. The latest victim was an unidentified farmer in south Inner Mongolia and was said to be in a stable condition. Those who came into contact with the herder were quarantined. All of the cases so far have been the pneumonic strain of the disease. According to the World Health Organisation, the pneumonic plague can be fatal if left untreated and is extremely contagious.

Third, today, under the Sign category of WARS & RUMOURS OF WARS — According to The Wall Street Journal, U.S. officials said the Trump administration is considering a significant expansion of the U.S. military footprint in the Middle East to counter Iran, including dozens more ships, other military hardware and as many as 14,000 additional troops. The deployment could double the number of U.S. military personnel who have been sent to the region since the start of a troop buildup in May. President Trump is expected to make a decision on the new deployments as soon as this month. Trump, facing an election next year, has long sought to exit foreign entanglements and avoid new conflicts. But on Iran—and partly at the behest of Israel—he is convinced of the need to counter the threat his aides say Tehran poses. He also could approve a smaller U.S. deployment. Officials said, there is growing fear among U.S. military and other administration officials that an attack on U.S. interests and forces could leave the U.S. with few options in the region. By sending additional military resources to the region, the administration would be presenting a more credible deterrent to Tehran, which has been blamed for a series of attacks, including one in September against oil facilities in Saudi Arabia.

Fourth, today, under the Sign category of THE RISE OF GOG & MAGOG — According to Breaking Israel News, Iran announced last week that they will, for the first time, hold joint war drills with China, and Russia. Rear Admiral Hossein Khanzadi [HOH-SZAHN KAHN-ZAH-DEE] announced last week that the maneuvers will be held in the northern Indian Ocean from December 22 to January 20. Khanzadi [KAHN-ZAH-DEE] said to Iran’s Tasnim [TASS-NIHM] news agency: “When we talk about joint wargames, we are talking about two or more countries with a high level of relations in various political, economic and social fields, which culminate in cooperation in the military sector, with wargames usually being the highest level of such cooperation. A joint wargame between several countries, whether on land, at sea, or in the air, indicates a remarkable expansion of cooperation among them.” One rabbi believes that this will bring together all the elements “to end all of history.” Rabbi Pinchas [PIN-HAAS] Winston, an expert in Jewish eschatology and author of many books on the subject, noted that this military exercise will bring together many elements that are predicted to be part of the final pre-Messiah War of Gog and Magog. Winston said: “All these events need to be considered because no one knows what will be the final events that spark off the inevitable. This certainly has the elements and the potential. Not only because it is politically and militarily charged but even more so since it involves several nations that have the pedigree that makes them candidates for having an active role in the Gog and Magog War.”

Fifth, today, under the Sign category of EARTHQUAKES IN DIVERS PLACES — According to GovTech, California is famous for its catastrophic earthquakes and wildfires, but they are not the state’s only natural hazards. As head of the observatory, or CalVO, Margaret Mangan has drawn attention to the state’s more overlooked threats: a dozen restive volcanoes that stretch from Medicine Lake near the Oregon border to the Salton Buttes in the Coachella Valley. Mangan said: “We are pretty much on 24-7 vigilance.” Kari Cooper, a geologist at the University of California, Davis, said: “Most people are surprised that there are any volcanoes in California. It’s just really not on people’s radar.” It should be. According to a report Mangan and her colleagues released this year, the risk of a small-to-moderate eruption somewhere in the state over the next 30 years is 16% — about the same as for a magnitude 6.7 or greater earthquake along the San Andreas Fault. Those odds are “not something to ignore.”

——–

The prophetic passage of Scripture that we are looking at today is Jeremiah 50-51. Jeremiah 50:1-3 reads: “The word that the Lord spake against Babylon and against the land of the Chaldeans [KAHL-DEE-AHNS] by Jeremiah the prophet. Declare ye among the nations, and publish, and set up a standard; publish, and conceal not: say, Babylon is taken, Bel is confounded, Merodach [MEHR-OH-DACK] is broken in pieces; her idols are confounded, her images are broken in pieces. For out of the north there cometh up a nation against her, which shall make her land desolate, and none shall dwell therein: they shall remove, they shall depart, both man and beast.”

Allow me to share with you some commentary on this passage from Exploring Bible Prophecy from Genesis to Revelation, by Tim LaHaye and Ed Hindson.

Jeremiah’s most extensive prophecies are against Babylon. As with Isaiah 13-14, some commentators view Jeremiah 50-51 as having been fulfilled against ancient Babylon, but the details simply do not fit the Babylon of the past. The passage can only be true of the Babylon of the future, which will be the capital of the world under the authority of the Anti-christ. The description Jeremiah gives here fits that of a destruction of Babylon in the course of the war of Armageddon.

After introducing his topic, Jeremiah goes on to describe Babylon’s fall and Israel’s deliverance. The coming future destruction of Babylon will show the failure of the gods of Babylon. They will be unable to help Babylon in the invasion from the north. The final destruction of the Babylon of the future is often connected with Israel’s final restoration, as is the case here.

Jeremiah specifies that at the time of Babylon’s fall there will come the final restoration because of the national regeneration of Israel, which in turn will lead to the final migration back to Israel. This is contrasted with Israel’s past condition, which included their lostness and their becoming a prey. Now comes a call for the Jews to leave Babylonia in light of her coming destruction. The destroyers are described as being a company of great nations. Babylon will become a prey to armies from different parts of the world. The desolation of Babylon is due primarily to Babylon’s treatment of the Jews, and for this reason, the nations are called to come together and destroy the city.

If the Lord tarries His Coming and we live, we will continue looking at the prophetic passages of the Bible in our next broadcast / podcast.

Our Second Coming quote for today is from Billy Sunday. He said, “The Lord does not come to the world at the time of the Rapture, but only reveals himself to the members of His Body. At the time of his resurrection He was only seen by those who believed on Him. Pilate and the High Priest, and those who crucified Him, did not know that He was risen. So it will be at the time of the Rapture. The world will not know that He has been here, and will have no knowledge of Him until He comes with the members of His Body, at the close of the Tribulation.”

Let’s Pray

***

If you are not ready for the return of Jesus Christ, may I encourage you to get ready today by receiving Him as your Savior. Here is how.

First, accept the fact that you are a sinner, and that you have broken God’s law. The Bible says in Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”

Second, accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death…”

Third, accept the fact that you are on the road to hell. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 10:28: “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Also, the Bible states in Revelation 21:8: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

Now that is bad news, but here is the good news. Jesus Christ said in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Just believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead by the power of God for you so that you can live eternally with Him. Pray and ask Him to come into your heart today, and He will. Romans 10:13 says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Keep looking up for your redemption draweth nigh. Let us join in the prayer of John the Revelator — “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” God bless you.

This is Daniel Whyte III with the Second Coming Watch Update. This is update #896. Let’s take a quick look at today’s prophecy-related headlines which point towards the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and the end of the world as we know it.

First, today, under the Sign category of TURMOIL IN THE MIDDLE EAST — According to The Times of Israel, The Israel Defense Forces launched airstrikes on Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip late Tuesday night and early Wednesday in response to a rocket attack from the coastal enclave earlier in the evening. Fighter jets hit a number of targets in southern Gaza, including one site “for the production of arms.” The IDF said “the strikes were carried out in response to the rockets that were fired from the Strip toward Israel. The Hamas terror group is responsible for all violence emanating from the Strip.” Before dawn Wednesday, the IDF said it carried out a second wave of strikes, targeting an underground facility in northern Gaza. Shortly after the air raids reportedly began, sirens sounded in the city of Ashkelon [ASH-KEH-LON], sending tens of thousands of residents rushing to bomb shelters. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage. Moments before the strikes began, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned terror groups in Gaza they were making a “serious mistake” by firing the two rockets at Israel.

Second, today, under the Sign category of WARS & RUMOURS OF WARS — According to The Times of Israel, Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie, the head of the US military’s Central Command, said in an interview that Iran is unlikely to have been undeterred by increased US troop deployment in the Middle East and remains on track to carry out a large-scale attack in the region. McKenzie said: “My judgment is that it is very possible they will attack again.” Over the past summer Iran shot down an American drone with no retaliation from Washington. It has subsequently been blamed for — and denied — attacking international oil tankers and destroying large portions of a major Saudi petroleum facility. The lack of serious consequences has led Israeli officials to warn an emboldened Tehran could seek a major attack on the Jewish state soon. McKenzie himself did not address such a possibility but did warn that Gulf nations were in danger. He stated: “It’s the trajectory and the direction that they’re on. The attack on the oil fields in Saudi was stunning in the depth of its audaciousness. I wouldn’t rule that out going forward.”

Third, today, under the Sign category of EARTHQUAKES IN DIVERS PLACES — According to Al Jazeera, A 6.4-magnitude earthquake has hit Albania, north of the capital, Tirana [TIH-RAA-NAH]. The defence ministry says at least 30 people have been killed. Several aftershocks were felt and authorities have called on people to stay out of their homes. The quake was centred 19 miles west of Tirana [TIH-RAA-NAH], the US Geological Survey said, and was also felt in several neighbouring countries and beyond, including in the southern Italian region of Puglia [PU-LEE-AH] across the Adriatic Sea from Albania. Hours later, a magnitude-5.4 earthquake rattled Bosnia, with an epicentre 45 miles south of the capital, Sarajevo [SAA-RUH-YAI-VOH], monitors said. There were no reports of injuries. The Balkan Peninsula lies near the fault line of two large tectonic plates – the African and Eurasian – and earthquakes are frequent.

Fourth, today, under the Sign category of THE RISE OF GOG AND MAGOG — According to SpaceWar.com, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday voiced alarm over Turkey’s testing of its Russian missile defense system but said the NATO ally could still return to Washington’s good graces. Pompeo told reporters: “It’s concerning. We are hopeful. We’re still talking to the Turks. We’re still trying to figure our way through this thing. We have made very clear to the Turkish government our desire to see them move away from the putting into full operationalization of the S-400 weapons system.” Turkey defied US warnings to buy the weapons system from Russia, which culminated in Ankara’s expulsion from the F-35 fighter-jet program. US officials fear that Turkey’s purchase will let Russia fine-tune the S-400’s ability to counter Western jets and missiles.

Fifth, today, under the Sign category of WARS & RUMOURS OF WARS — According to Israel National News, General Hossein Salami [HOH-SZAHN SAA-LAH-MEE], the head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, threatened that Iran would “destroy” the US, Israel and Saudi Arabia if they cross its “red lines”. Speaking at a pro-government demonstration in Tehran, Salami [SAA-LAH-MEE] accused the US, Britain, Israel and Saudi Arabia of stoking last week’s protests over a fuel price hike. Salami [SAA-LAH-MEE] said: “If you cross our red line, we will destroy you… We will not leave any move unanswered.” The unrest erupted on November 15, hours after it was announced that the price of gas would rise to 15,000 rials [REE-AALZ] per liter from 10,000 for the first 60 liters, and to 30,000 rials [REE-AALZ] for any extra fuel bought after that each month. Iran has blamed “thugs” linked to exiles and foreign foes – the United States, Israel and Saudi Arabia – for stirring up unrest following hikes in gasoline prices. Iranian Vice-President Eshaq Jahangiri [EYE-SHAK JAH-HAN-GEH-RIH] also warned regional countries of “dire consequences” if it is proven that they meddled to stoke unrest in Iran.

——–

The prophetic passage of Scripture that we are looking at today is Jeremiah 49:34-39, which reads: “The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet against Elam [EE-LUHM] in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Behold, I will break the bow of Elam [EE-LUHM], the chief of their might. And upon Elam [EE-LUHM] will I bring the four winds from the four quarters of heaven, and will scatter them toward all those winds; and there shall be no nation whither the outcasts of Elam [EE-LUHM] shall not come. For I will cause Elam [EE-LUHM] to be dismayed before their enemies, and before them that seek their life: and I will bring evil upon them, even my fierce anger, saith the Lord; and I will send the sword after them, till I have consumed them: And I will set my throne in Elam [EE-LUHM], and will destroy from thence the king and the princes, saith the Lord. But it shall come to pass in the latter days, that I will bring again the captivity of Elam [EE-LUHM], saith the Lord.”

Allow me to share with you some commentary on this passage from Exploring Bible Prophecy from Genesis to Revelation, by Tim LaHaye and Ed Hindson.

Elam [EE-LUHM] is an area now known as Iran. That which is true of Egypt, Ammon, and Moab will also be true of Elam [EE-LUHM]. There will be a partial destruction that will result in the survivors coming to faith and will lead to the restoration of Elam [EE-LUHM] in “the last days”. Thus, there will be a saved nation called Elam [EE-LUHM] in the messianic kingdom.

If the Lord tarries His Coming and we live, we will continue looking at the prophetic passages of the Bible in our next broadcast / podcast.

Our Second Coming quote for today is from Billy Sunday. He said, “The Lord does not come to the world at the time of the Rapture, but only reveals himself to the members of His Body. At the time of his resurrection He was only seen by those who believed on Him. Pilate and the High Priest, and those who crucified Him, did not know that He was risen. So it will be at the time of the Rapture. The world will not know that He has been here, and will have no knowledge of Him until He comes with the members of His Body, at the close of the Tribulation.”

Let’s Pray

***

If you are not ready for the return of Jesus Christ, may I encourage you to get ready today by receiving Him as your Savior. Here is how.

First, accept the fact that you are a sinner, and that you have broken God’s law. The Bible says in Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”

Second, accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death…”

Third, accept the fact that you are on the road to hell. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 10:28: “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Also, the Bible states in Revelation 21:8: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

Now that is bad news, but here is the good news. Jesus Christ said in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Just believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead by the power of God for you so that you can live eternally with Him. Pray and ask Him to come into your heart today, and He will. Romans 10:13 says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Keep looking up for your redemption draweth nigh. Let us join in the prayer of John the Revelator — “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” God bless you.

This is Daniel Whyte III with the Second Coming Watch Update. This is update #895. Let’s take a quick look at today’s prophecy-related headlines which point towards the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and the end of the world as we know it.

First, today, under the Sign category of THE RISE OF GOG AND MAGOG — According to SpaceDaily.com, Britain’s top military adviser accused Russia on Sunday of “reckless” behaviour that violated international norms and risked sparking a war. Chief of Defence Staff General Nick Carter said Moscow was operating in a “grey zone” that weaponised information and used unattributable proxies in conflicts. He pointed to covert operations by the Wagner Group — a private army the Kremlin denies funding — in Syria and Africa as well as disinformation campaigns as two types of new threats. Carter told BBC television: “Russia is much more assertive than it was 10 years ago. It’s got some self-confidence now as it reasserts itself as a global power. Cyber is part of that, what happens in space is part of that, disinformation, subversion, manipulation, assassinations, and of course the use of mercenaries, which are very easily undeclared and non-attributable. Reckless behaviour and the lack of respect for international law relating to these new types of ‘weapons’ risks escalation that could easily lead to inadvertent miscalculation.”

Second, today, under the Sign category of TURMOIL IN THE MIDDLE EAST — According to Israel National News, Iran and Russia inaugurated a new phase of construction for a second reactor at Iran’s sole nuclear power plant in Bushehr [BUS-HAIR]. Ali Akbar Salehi [AH-LI AK-BAHR SAH-LEH-HEE], head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, and deputy chief of Russia’s nuclear agency Rosatom [ROSE-AH-TOM], Alexander Lokshin [LAK-SHIN], launched the new stage at a ceremony where concrete was poured for the reactor base. Iran’s first Russian-built nuclear power plant in Bushehr [BUS-HAIR] started operating in Iran in 2011 and reached full capacity the following year. In 2014, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani announced that his country would build a second nuclear power plant in Bushehr [BUS-HAIR]. Several months later, Iran and Russia signed a deal for Russia to build two more nuclear power plants in Bushehr [BUS-HAIR]. At the ceremony, Salehi [SAH-LEH-HEE] said: “In a long term vision until 2027-2028, when these projects are finished, we will have 3,000 megawatts of nuclear plant-generated electricity.”

Third, today, under the Sign category of TURMOIL IN THE MIDDLE EAST — According to Israel National News, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took part in a Knesset [KAH-NESS-ET] meeting marking the 25th anniversary of Israel’s peace treaty with the Kingdom of Jordan. During the gathering, Netanyahu argued that there is a direct link between a resolution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict, and the larger conflict between Israel and the Arab world. Netanyahu said: “There are two paths to advance peace. If we solve the debate with the Palestinians, we can break through to the Arab world. If we are able to achieve normalization with the Arab world, then the conflict with the Palestinians will be solved. I think that we need to do both.” Despite the signing of peace treaties with Egypt and Jordan, Israel “never really achieved reconciliation with Jordan or Egypt, because of the Palestinian issue.” Turning to the failure to achieve a final status agreement with the Palestinian Authority, Netanyahu said the Palestinian Arab population was too internally divided, as well as hostile towards Israel.Why isn’t there peace with the Palestinians? I look at Mahmoud Abbas and ask: ‘What about you?’ They aren’t ready to accept us. Half of the [Palestinian] people back Hamas and want to annihilate us, and the other half don’t want to fight with the first half, while itself suffering from internal conflicts.”

Fourth, today, under the Sign category of WARS & RUMOURS OF WARS — According to SpaceDaily.com, North Korea slammed Washington for plans to conduct a joint military exercise with Seoul [SO-UHL] in December, as negotiations over Pyongyang’s [PYAW-NG-YUNG] nuclear arsenal remain deadlocked. The allies cancelled the combined air exercise known as Vigilant Ace along with several other joint drills last year amid a rapid diplomatic thaw with the North, which considers them a rehearsal for invasion. But Pentagon spokesman David Eastburn said that the US had “no plans to skip upcoming combined exercises” this year. A senior North Korean official said that the announcement was equivalent to a “declaration for confrontation” that could jeopardise the diplomatic process.

Fifth, today, under the Sign category of WARS & RUMOURS OF WARS — According to Israel National News, Israeli intelligence sources expressed concern that “Iran can achieve a nuclear bomb within less than a year, if they decide to act quickly in that direction.” The sources said that Israel continues to pass materials to the International Atomic Energy Agency, but that due to bureaucracy, the agency checks the materials very slowly. Last week, Iran arrested an IAEA inspector and seized his travel documents. The inspector was released shortly afterwards. IAEA’s top inspector told diplomats in a closed-door meeting in Vienna that Iran is evading attempts to discover the source of man-made and natural uranium particles detected at the warehouse earlier this year. The site in question is the one that was identified by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his address before the UN General Assembly last year.

——–

The prophetic passage of Scripture that we are looking at today is Jeremiah 49:28-33, which reads: “All these are the twelve tribes of Israel: and this is it that their father spake unto them, and blessed them; every one according to his blessing he blessed them. And he charged them, and said unto them, I am to be gathered unto my people: bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron [EEF-RON] the Hittite, In the cave that is in the field of Machpelah [MAK-PEE-LAH], which is before Mamre [MAM-REE], in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field of Ephron [EEF-RON] the Hittite for a possession of a buryingplace. There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah. The purchase of the field and of the cave that is therein was from the children of Heth. And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people.”

Allow me to share with you some commentary on this passage from Exploring Bible Prophecy from Genesis to Revelation, by Tim LaHaye and Ed Hindson.

Ancient Kedar [KAH-DAR] and Hazor [HAY-ZOR], two Arab tribes located in what is now Saudi Arabia, are prophesied to be totally destroyed with no inhabitants left. Their lands will remain desolate throughout the messianic kingdom, with no restoration to take place.

If the Lord tarries His Coming and we live, we will continue looking at the prophetic passages of the Bible in our next broadcast / podcast.

Our Second Coming quote for today is from A.W. Tozer. He said, “Let us be alert to the season in which we are living. It is the season of the Blessed Hope, calling for us to cut our ties with the world and build ourselves on this One who will soon appear. He is our hope—a Blessed Hope enabling us to rise above our times and fix our gaze upon Him.”

Let’s Pray

***

If you are not ready for the return of Jesus Christ, may I encourage you to get ready today by receiving Him as your Savior. Here is how.

First, accept the fact that you are a sinner, and that you have broken God’s law. The Bible says in Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”

Second, accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death…”

Third, accept the fact that you are on the road to hell. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 10:28: “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Also, the Bible states in Revelation 21:8: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

Now that is bad news, but here is the good news. Jesus Christ said in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Just believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead by the power of God for you so that you can live eternally with Him. Pray and ask Him to come into your heart today, and He will. Romans 10:13 says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Keep looking up for your redemption draweth nigh. Let us join in the prayer of John the Revelator — “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” God bless you.

This is Daniel Whyte III with the Second Coming Watch Update. This is update #894. Let’s take a quick look at today’s prophecy-related headlines which point towards the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and the end of the world as we know it.

First, today, under the Sign category of TURMOIL IN THE MIDDLE EAST — According to Israel National News, Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar [YAA-YAA SIN-WAHR] threatened to bomb Tel Aviv if Israel takes military action against the terrorist organization in Gaza. “We have a very large military force in the Gaza Strip and hundreds of miles of tunnels. If the enemy thinks about entering Gaza, our men will have it underground,” Sinwar [SIN-WAHR] threatened. “If we come to the conclusion that the situation in Gaza will be worsened, we will bomb Tel Aviv and cause red alert alarms for six months,” he added. He claimed that even in the past Hamas knew how to handle Israel well. “We did not hesitate to confront the enemy and knew how to do it without being drawn into the war. Since we are convinced that the confrontation should continue, and that it cannot take place fully – we set up the fence demonstrations, which achieved their purpose.”

Second, today, under the Sign category of TURMOIL IN THE MIDDLE EAST — According to Israel National News, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned Iran’s recent moves to increase its uranium enrichment efforts, and vowed that Israel would prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. “Iran is intensifying its aggression. It wants to hurt Israel. I reiterate: we will never allow Iran to develop nuclear weapons.” said Netanyahu. Netanyahu spoke out a day after Iranian President Hassan Rouhani declared that Iran would move forward quickly with gas injection at the Fordow [FOR-DOH] Fuel Enrichment plant outside of the city of Qom [KOHM]. A total of 1,044 centrifuges will be injected with uranium gas. Iran also announced that it would enrich uranium to 5% at the Fordow [FOR-DOH] nuclear facility, in a further violation of the 2015 nuclear deal it signed with world powers.

Third, today, under the Sign category of THE RISE OF GOG & MAGOG — According to SpaceDaily.com, Russian and Egyptian air forces are involved in a joint training exercise in Egypt, a sign of growing Russian involvement on the African continent. The 13-day “Arrow of Friendship 1,” held in Egypt and ending on Nov. 7, is the first bilateral military exercise by the two countries, and involves large-scale air defense drills, and combat training. The Egyptian Ministry of Defense called the exercise a “joint cooperation between the Egyptian and Russian armed forces, which reflects the depth of partnership relations and strategic cooperation of both friendly countries in many fields,” in a statement at the start of the event. Over 100 Russian personnel are involved, the Russian defense ministry said. The two counties held a similar exercise in Russia in 2018, involving 400 military personnel, 15 aircraft and several airports.

Fourth, today, under the Sign category of INCREASED PERSECUTION OF BELIEVERS — According to Breitbart, A number of the Chinese Catholic faithful have expressed regret over the Vatican agreement with the Chinese Communist government, saying it has emboldened officials in their persecution of Christians. While the Chinese-Vatican agreement is not the direct cause of this persecution, the accord emboldens government authorities, who claim that “the Vatican supports us,” local Catholics of the diocese of Handang [HAN-DAHN] told AsiaNews. The agency also reported that the government has decreed that it will demolish another 40 Christian churches. Since the middle of the last century, the Catholic Church in China was split between the state-controlled “Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association” and the underground Church that was faithful to Rome. Following the Sino [SY-NO] -Vatican “provisional” agreement on the naming of bishops, signed between the two parties in September 2018, the crackdown on unofficial Christian communities has reportedly escalated as the government has amped up pressure for all believers to enlist in the party-approved association.

Fifth, today, under the Sign category of TURMOIL IN THE MIDDLE EAST — According to Israel National News, Iran will resume uranium enrichment at the Fordow [FOR-DOH] nuclear plant on Wednesday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani announced. Speaking live on Iranian state television, Rouhani declared that Iran would move forward quickly with gas injection at the Fordow [FOR-DOH] Fuel Enrichment plant outside of the city of Qom [KOHM]. A total of 1,044 centrifuges will be injected with uranium gas, according to Rouhani’s televised statement. The Iranian leader added, however, that such moves were reversible, and that Tehran would return to compliance with the 2015 Iran nuclear deal if the remaining signatories do the same. Rouhani’s statement comes a day after Iran announced further violations of the nuclear deal. Since the Trump administration pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal more than a year ago and reimposed economic sanctions, Iran has begun to arrogate parts of the deal.

——–

The prophetic passage of Scripture that we are looking at today is Jeremiah 49:7-22. Jeremiah 49:7-10 read: “Concerning Edom, thus saith the Lord of hosts; Is wisdom no more in Teman [TEE-MAN]? is counsel perished from the prudent? is their wisdom vanished? Flee ye, turn back, dwell deep, O inhabitants of Dedan [DEE-DAHN]; for I will bring the calamity of Esau upon him, the time that I will visit him. If grapegatherers come to thee, would they not leave some gleaning grapes? if thieves by night, they will destroy till they have enough. But I have made Esau bare, I have uncovered his secret places, and he shall not be able to hide himself: his seed is spoiled, and his brethren, and his neighbours, and he is not.”

Allow me to share with you some commentary on this passage from Exploring Bible Prophecy from Genesis to Revelation, by Tim LaHaye and Ed Hindson.

The future of Edom or southern Jordan is quite different from the future of the aforementioned nations. In keeping with other prophecies about Edom, the picture is that of total destruction–to the point that Esau has no descendants left in Edom whatsoever. Edom is in the well-protected rugged mountains of Mount Seir [SEER], nevertheless, in spite of her strong defense, she will fall. By the time the judgment has run its course, there will be no Edomites left anywhere. Thus, there will be no country called Edom in the messianic kingdom.

When God judges the nations surrounding Israel, He will do two things: One, He will consider how closely the nation is related to Israel by blood. The closer the relation, the greater the discipline. Edom was a descendant of Esau, the twin brother of Jacob. This means that Israel and Edom have the closest blood relationship and, therefore, God holds Edom to a higher standard. For that reason, Edom’s descendants will be totally wiped out.

Two, God will consider a nation’s degree of past anti-Semitism. Egypt was the first anti-Semitic nation, and while Egypt will undergo a national salvation, its history of anti-Semitism cannot be easily ignored. According to Ezekiel 29:8-14, for the first 40 years of the messianic kingdom, the Egyptians will be scattered and dispersed throughout the world, and the land of Egypt will lie desolate and empty. Only after the 40 years of dispersion will the Egyptians be brought back into the kingdom. It is then that Egypt will observe the Feast of Tabernacles, according to Zechariah 14:16-21.

If the Lord tarries His Coming and we live, we will continue looking at the prophetic passages of the Bible in our next broadcast / podcast.

Our Second Coming quote for today is from G. Campbell Morgan. He said, “To me the second coming is the perpetual light on the path which makes the present bearable. I never lay my head on the pillow without thinking that perhaps before the morning breaks, the final morning may have dawned. I never begin my work without thinking that He may interrupt my work and begin His own. This is now His word to all believing souls, ‘Till I come.’ We are not looking for death, we are looking for Him.”

Let’s Pray

***

If you are not ready for the return of Jesus Christ, may I encourage you to get ready today by receiving Him as your Savior. Here is how.

First, accept the fact that you are a sinner, and that you have broken God’s law. The Bible says in Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”

Second, accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death…”

Third, accept the fact that you are on the road to hell. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 10:28: “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Also, the Bible states in Revelation 21:8: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

Now that is bad news, but here is the good news. Jesus Christ said in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Just believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead by the power of God for you so that you can live eternally with Him. Pray and ask Him to come into your heart today, and He will. Romans 10:13 says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Keep looking up for your redemption draweth nigh. Let us join in the prayer of John the Revelator — “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” God bless you.

This is Daniel Whyte III with the Second Coming Watch Update. This is update #893. Let’s take a quick look at today’s prophecy-related headlines which point towards the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and the end of the world as we know it.

First, today, under the Sign category of TURMOIL IN THE MIDDLE EAST — According to Israel National News, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Iran of wanting to strike Israel with precision-guided missiles from Yemen. Speaking during a meeting with US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin in Jerusalem, Netanyahu called for “a lot more” sanctions against Iran. “Iran is seeking to develop now precision-guided munitions, missiles that can hit any target in the Middle East with a circumference of five to ten meters. They are developing this in Iran. They want to place them in Iraq and in Syria, and to convert Lebanon’s arsenal of 130,000 statistical rockets to precision-guided munitions. They seek also to develop that, and have already begun to put that in Yemen, with the goal of reaching Israel from there too,” warned the Prime Minister. Israel views Iran “as the greatest threat to peace, stability and our security, and the security of many others,” he continued. “They fired into Saudi Arabia. They’ve interfered with international shipping lanes. They’ve attacked Americans and they’ve killed Americans throughout the last ten years in Afghanistan and elsewhere. Iran is the single greatest threat to stability and peace in the Middle East. That doesn’t mean that there are no others. There are. We are, the Middle East is rich with several things, and one of them is terrorist-exporting nations and groups.”

Second, today, under the Sign category of INTEREST IN THE REBUILDING OF THE TEMPLE IN JERUSALEM — According to Breaking Israel News, At a Parliament meeting in the Gaza Strip, Hamas MP Ahmed Abu Khaliya [AH-MED AH-BHU KAA-LEE-YAH] decried the “disturbances” of “Zionists” in the al-Aqsa mosque and their “desecration” of it. Achmad Abu Khalbiah [AK-MED AH-BHU KAL-BEE-AH], who heads the Al-Quds [AL-KUDS] and Al-Aqsa Commission in the Palestinian parliament, categorized permitting Jews to practice freedom of worship on the Temple Mount “a blatant provocation” and warned that Israeli officials seek to demolish the Al-Aqsa mosque and build the temple on its ruins. He added that the “disturbances” of Jews at the Al-Aqsa Mosque took place during the Jewish holidays, during which almost 5,000 people entered the compound as part of their mission to change facts on the ground and alter Jerusalem’s historical status. Abu Khalbiah [AH-BHU KAA-LEE-YAH] called on Muslim clerics to take a leading role in mobilizing the masses to assist Muslims in Jerusalem. He also called on Palestinian organizations to wage an armed struggle against the “Zionist occupation” in Jerusalem, as they “understand only the language of power.”

Third, today, under the Sign category of TURMOIL IN THE MIDDLE EAST — According to The Jerusalem Post, Hamas’ violence against its own people and Israel is despicable and remains one of the larger stumbling blocks to resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, US Ambassador to the UN Kelly Craft told the United Nations Security Council at its monthly debate on the Middle East. “Can you imagine the fears of Israeli mothers who know their children may spend recess running from the playground to the bomb shelter, or of Palestinian fathers who know unguided rockets fly over the roofs under which their children sleep? I condemn these indiscriminate attacks. We all should,” said Craft. The US Ambassador chastised the UN for its biased approach to Israel, noting, that it’s stance was “unfairly negative and one-sided.” She added that in the past two years, “there have been some 20 resolutions in the General Assembly either implicitly or explicitly criticizing Israel.” Craft called on the Council to scrutinize Hamas, which she said, is “one of the largest obstacles to real peace and prosperity for Palestinians, and to the resolution of this conflict. So, if this institution is genuinely concerned with peace, we should be eager to examine Hamas’ behavior more closely. Hamas,” Craft told the UNSC, is “a terrorist organization that oppresses the Palestinian people in Gaza through intimidation and outright violence, while inciting violence against Israel.” Craft’s predecessor, Nikki Haley, had tried repeatedly without success to sway UN bodies to condemn Hamas, which has forcibly ruled Gaza since 2007.

Fourth, today, under the Sign category of WARS & RUMOURS OF WARS — According to Voice of America News, Russia said a division of its S-400 missile defense system would take part in a military drill in Serbia, underlining Moscow’s wish to keep a traditional ally on side even as Belgrade pursues links with NATO and the European Union. It will be the first time that the sophisticated S-400s, together with a Pantsir missile battery, will be participating in military exercises abroad, Moscow’s Defense Ministry said in a statement. For its part, Serbia’s Defense Ministry said the exercises — dubbed Slavic Shield 2019, aimed to simulate the “use of a joint (combat) group … in defending … against enemy reconnaissance and offensive actions. Apart from anti-aircraft missile systems in use in the Serbian army, missile systems that are in use by the Russian Air Force will also be used” in the live-fire exercise, it said in a statement.

Fifth, today, under the Sign category of THE RISE OF THE “KINGS OF THE EAST”– According to Space Daily, China said it aims to become a “great power” in the online world and took a swipe at Washington on trade, kicking off its annual conference promoting the Communist Party’s controlled and censored version of the internet. US-China rivalry is increasingly playing out in the digital sphere, as Beijing pursues dominance in next-generation technology while Washington takes measures to cripple Chinese tech firms like Huawei [WAH-WAY]. China heavily monitors and censors its internet, with US titans Facebook, Twitter and Google all hidden behind a so-called “Great Firewall” that also blocks politically sensitive content. At the yearly World Internet Conference, Chinese officials talked up the country’s tech prowess. “We have become a cyberspace power of 800 million netizens,” the head of the Communist Party’s propaganda department, Huang Kunming [HWAN KUN-MING], said in a keynote address. Huang [HWAN] added that in the future, China “will unceasingly expand the fruits of internet development and forge ahead from a cyberspace ‘big power’ to a cyberspace ‘great power'”.

——–

The prophetic passage of Scripture that we are looking at today is Jeremiah 46-51. Jeremiah 48:47 reads: “Yet will I bring again the captivity of Moab in the latter days, saith the Lord. Thus far is the judgment of Moab.”

Allow me to share with you some commentary on this passage from Exploring Bible Prophecy from Genesis to Revelation, by Tim LaHaye and Ed Hindson.

Moab is present-day central Jordan. Jeremiah 48:1-46 describes a divine judgment upon Moab that results in a partial destruction but also results in the people coming to faith. Then, in verse 47, God promises to restore the fortunes of Moab. This means there will be a saved nation called Moab in the messianic kingdom.

Ammon comprises northern Jordan. The prophecy here is similar to that against Moab in that verses 1-5 speak of a judgment that causes partial destruction and results in the survivors coming to faith. In verse 6, God promises the restoration of Ammon, and there will be a saved nation called Ammon in the messianic kingdom.

If the Lord tarries His Coming and we live, we will continue looking at the prophetic passages of the Bible in our next broadcast / podcast.

Our Second Coming quote for today is from Billy Graham. He said, “The second coming of Christ will be so revolutionary that it will change every aspect of life on this planet. Christ will reign in righteousness. Disease will be arrested. Death will be modified. War will be abolished. Nature will be changed. Man will live as it was originally intended he should live.”

Let’s Pray

***

If you are not ready for the return of Jesus Christ, may I encourage you to get ready today by receiving Him as your Savior. Here is how.

First, accept the fact that you are a sinner, and that you have broken God’s law. The Bible says in Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”

Second, accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death…”

Third, accept the fact that you are on the road to hell. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 10:28: “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Also, the Bible states in Revelation 21:8: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

Now that is bad news, but here is the good news. Jesus Christ said in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Just believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead by the power of God for you so that you can live eternally with Him. Pray and ask Him to come into your heart today, and He will. Romans 10:13 says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Keep looking up for your redemption draweth nigh. Let us join in the prayer of John the Revelator — “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” God bless you.

This is Daniel Whyte III with the Second Coming Watch Update. This is update #893. Let’s take a quick look at today’s prophecy-related headlines which point towards the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and the end of the world as we know it.

First, today, under the Sign category of TURMOIL IN THE MIDDLE EAST — According to Israel National News, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Iran of wanting to strike Israel with precision-guided missiles from Yemen. Speaking during a meeting with US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin in Jerusalem, Netanyahu called for “a lot more” sanctions against Iran. “Iran is seeking to develop now precision-guided munitions, missiles that can hit any target in the Middle East with a circumference of five to ten meters. They are developing this in Iran. They want to place them in Iraq and in Syria, and to convert Lebanon’s arsenal of 130,000 statistical rockets to precision-guided munitions. They seek also to develop that, and have already begun to put that in Yemen, with the goal of reaching Israel from there too,” warned the Prime Minister. Israel views Iran “as the greatest threat to peace, stability and our security, and the security of many others,” he continued. “They fired into Saudi Arabia. They’ve interfered with international shipping lanes. They’ve attacked Americans and they’ve killed Americans throughout the last ten years in Afghanistan and elsewhere. Iran is the single greatest threat to stability and peace in the Middle East. That doesn’t mean that there are no others. There are. We are, the Middle East is rich with several things, and one of them is terrorist-exporting nations and groups.”

Second, today, under the Sign category of INTEREST IN THE REBUILDING OF THE TEMPLE IN JERUSALEM — According to Breaking Israel News, At a Parliament meeting in the Gaza Strip, Hamas MP Ahmed Abu Khaliya [AH-MED AH-BHU KAA-LEE-YAH] decried the “disturbances” of “Zionists” in the al-Aqsa mosque and their “desecration” of it. Achmad Abu Khalbiah [AK-MED AH-BHU KAL-BEE-AH], who heads the Al-Quds [AL-KUDS] and Al-Aqsa Commission in the Palestinian parliament, categorized permitting Jews to practice freedom of worship on the Temple Mount “a blatant provocation” and warned that Israeli officials seek to demolish the Al-Aqsa mosque and build the temple on its ruins. He added that the “disturbances” of Jews at the Al-Aqsa Mosque took place during the Jewish holidays, during which almost 5,000 people entered the compound as part of their mission to change facts on the ground and alter Jerusalem’s historical status. Abu Khalbiah [AH-BHU KAA-LEE-YAH] called on Muslim clerics to take a leading role in mobilizing the masses to assist Muslims in Jerusalem. He also called on Palestinian organizations to wage an armed struggle against the “Zionist occupation” in Jerusalem, as they “understand only the language of power.”

Third, today, under the Sign category of TURMOIL IN THE MIDDLE EAST — According to The Jerusalem Post, Hamas’ violence against its own people and Israel is despicable and remains one of the larger stumbling blocks to resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, US Ambassador to the UN Kelly Craft told the United Nations Security Council at its monthly debate on the Middle East. “Can you imagine the fears of Israeli mothers who know their children may spend recess running from the playground to the bomb shelter, or of Palestinian fathers who know unguided rockets fly over the roofs under which their children sleep? I condemn these indiscriminate attacks. We all should,” said Craft. The US Ambassador chastised the UN for its biased approach to Israel, noting, that it’s stance was “unfairly negative and one-sided.” She added that in the past two years, “there have been some 20 resolutions in the General Assembly either implicitly or explicitly criticizing Israel.” Craft called on the Council to scrutinize Hamas, which she said, is “one of the largest obstacles to real peace and prosperity for Palestinians, and to the resolution of this conflict. So, if this institution is genuinely concerned with peace, we should be eager to examine Hamas’ behavior more closely. Hamas,” Craft told the UNSC, is “a terrorist organization that oppresses the Palestinian people in Gaza through intimidation and outright violence, while inciting violence against Israel.” Craft’s predecessor, Nikki Haley, had tried repeatedly without success to sway UN bodies to condemn Hamas, which has forcibly ruled Gaza since 2007.

Fourth, today, under the Sign category of WARS & RUMOURS OF WARS — According to Voice of America News, Russia said a division of its S-400 missile defense system would take part in a military drill in Serbia, underlining Moscow’s wish to keep a traditional ally on side even as Belgrade pursues links with NATO and the European Union. It will be the first time that the sophisticated S-400s, together with a Pantsir missile battery, will be participating in military exercises abroad, Moscow’s Defense Ministry said in a statement. For its part, Serbia’s Defense Ministry said the exercises — dubbed Slavic Shield 2019, aimed to simulate the “use of a joint (combat) group … in defending … against enemy reconnaissance and offensive actions. Apart from anti-aircraft missile systems in use in the Serbian army, missile systems that are in use by the Russian Air Force will also be used” in the live-fire exercise, it said in a statement.

Fifth, today, under the Sign category of THE RISE OF THE “KINGS OF THE EAST”– According to Space Daily, China said it aims to become a “great power” in the online world and took a swipe at Washington on trade, kicking off its annual conference promoting the Communist Party’s controlled and censored version of the internet. US-China rivalry is increasingly playing out in the digital sphere, as Beijing pursues dominance in next-generation technology while Washington takes measures to cripple Chinese tech firms like Huawei [WAH-WAY]. China heavily monitors and censors its internet, with US titans Facebook, Twitter and Google all hidden behind a so-called “Great Firewall” that also blocks politically sensitive content. At the yearly World Internet Conference, Chinese officials talked up the country’s tech prowess. “We have become a cyberspace power of 800 million netizens,” the head of the Communist Party’s propaganda department, Huang Kunming [HWAN KUN-MING], said in a keynote address. Huang [HWAN] added that in the future, China “will unceasingly expand the fruits of internet development and forge ahead from a cyberspace ‘big power’ to a cyberspace ‘great power'”.

——–

The prophetic passage of Scripture that we are looking at today is Jeremiah 46-51. Jeremiah 48:47 reads: “Yet will I bring again the captivity of Moab in the latter days, saith the Lord. Thus far is the judgment of Moab.”

Allow me to share with you some commentary on this passage from Exploring Bible Prophecy from Genesis to Revelation, by Tim LaHaye and Ed Hindson.

Moab is present-day central Jordan. Jeremiah 48:1-46 describes a divine judgment upon Moab that results in a partial destruction but also results in the people coming to faith. Then, in verse 47, God promises to restore the fortunes of Moab. This means there will be a saved nation called Moab in the messianic kingdom.

Ammon comprises northern Jordan. The prophecy here is similar to that against Moab in that verses 1-5 speak of a judgment that causes partial destruction and results in the survivors coming to faith. In verse 6, God promises the restoration of Ammon, and there will be a saved nation called Ammon in the messianic kingdom.

If the Lord tarries His Coming and we live, we will continue looking at the prophetic passages of the Bible in our next broadcast / podcast.

Our Second Coming quote for today is from Billy Graham. He said, “The second coming of Christ will be so revolutionary that it will change every aspect of life on this planet. Christ will reign in righteousness. Disease will be arrested. Death will be modified. War will be abolished. Nature will be changed. Man will live as it was originally intended he should live.”

Let’s Pray

***

If you are not ready for the return of Jesus Christ, may I encourage you to get ready today by receiving Him as your Savior. Here is how.

First, accept the fact that you are a sinner, and that you have broken God’s law. The Bible says in Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”

Second, accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death…”

Third, accept the fact that you are on the road to hell. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 10:28: “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Also, the Bible states in Revelation 21:8: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

Now that is bad news, but here is the good news. Jesus Christ said in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Just believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead by the power of God for you so that you can live eternally with Him. Pray and ask Him to come into your heart today, and He will. Romans 10:13 says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Keep looking up for your redemption draweth nigh. Let us join in the prayer of John the Revelator — “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” God bless you.

This is Daniel Whyte III with the Second Coming Watch Update. This is update #892. Let’s take a quick look at today’s prophecy-related headlines which point towards the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and the end of the world as we know it.

First, today, under the Sign category of TURMOIL IN THE MIDDLE EAST — According to NBC News, After failing to form a government for the second time in two consecutive elections, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister will now watch as for the first time in a decade someone not named Benjamin Netanyahu attempts to form a government. Israeli President Reuven Rivlin [ROO-VIHN RIHV-LIN] will pass the political torch to Netanyahu’s chief rival, former military chief of staff Benny Gantz, who will have 28 days to form a government, after which if there is still no government a complex process could lead to an unprecedented third election in the span of a year. And while it is astonishing for a leader like Netanyahu to fail twice at forming a government — a first in Israeli history — anyone celebrating Gantz’s victory may be doing so prematurely. After all, the obstacles Netanyahu faced will be no less a challenge for Gantz, a three-star general with no political experience prior to his entry into politics ahead of the April election, which also ended in stalemate. Analysts say the era of “King Bibi” the invincible leader may be coming to an end. “Netanyahu’s image as a magician, as the man who always wins elections, and who controls Israeli politics, is severely wounded,” Gayil Talshir [GALE TAL-SHEER], a political science professor at Jerusalem’s Hebrew University said. “It’s clear that this is the end of the Netanyahu era. The question is how soon it’s going to come.”

Second, today, under the Sign category of THE RISE OF “GOG AND MAGOG” — According to The Times of Israel, US President Donald Trump’s withdrawal of nearly all US troops from northern Syria has cemented Russia’s status as the predominant global military power actively engaged in the Middle East. Russian troops arrived at military bases in northern Syria that the American army had hastily left just days earlier, in what can be regarded as both a literal and figurative handover of regional hegemony. Many officials in Jerusalem are deeply worried about being abandoned by their superpower ally, as the American decision to gradually disengage from this part of the world — which started under former US president Barack Obama — threatens to embolden Israel’s enemies: Iran and its allies and proxies in Lebanon, Syria, Gaza and elsewhere. Some analysts are deeply concerned about what Russia’s takeover means for Israel, fretting about the possibility that Moscow could use surface-to-air missiles against Israeli jets attacking Iranian targets in Syria, which would effectively end Jerusalem’s campaign against Tehran’s establishment of a military foothold near Israel’s border.

Third, today, under the Sign category of TURMOIL IN THE MIDDLE EAST — According to Israel National News, Iran will reduce more of its nuclear commitments if the remaining parties to the 2015 nuclear deal fail to help the country reap economic benefits from the accord, the Iranian President’s Chief of Staff Mahmoud Vaezi [MAH-MOOD VAY-ZEE] warned. Vaezi [VAY-ZEE] referred to what he called Europe’s “inaction” concerning its obligations under the nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, saying “if Europe does not fulfill its commitments, Iran will take the fourth step in due time.” Iran has scaled back its compliance with the 2015 deal signed with world powers in retaliation for US President Donald Trump’s withdrawal from the agreement. Senior Iranian MPs warned that the Islamic Republic will further reduce its commitment to the nuclear deal signed with world powers by limiting international inspectors’ access to its nuclear sites. The chief of Iran’s atomic agency recently blamed Europe for his country scaling back its commitments under the deal, saying their broken promises gave the Islamic Republic little choice.

Fourth, today, under the Sign category of EARTHQUAKES IN DIVERS PLACES — According to The Los Angeles Times, A major California fault capable of producing a magnitude 8 earthquake has begun moving for the first time on record, a result of this year’s Ridgecrest earthquake sequence destabilizing nearby faults, Caltech scientists say in a new study released in the journal Science. In the modern historical record, the 160-mile-long Garlock fault on the northern edge of the Mojave Desert has never been observed to produce either a strong earthquake or even to creep. But new satellite radar images now show that the fault has started to move, causing a bulging of land that can be viewed from space. “This is surprising, because we’ve never seen the Garlock fault do anything. Here, all of a sudden, it changed its behavior,” said the lead author of the study, Zachary Ross, assistant professor of geophysics at Caltech. “We don’t know what it means.” The creeping illustrates how the Ridgecrest quakes — the largest in Southern California in two decades — have destabilized this remote desert region of California between the state’s greatest mountain range, the Sierra Nevada, and its lowest point, Death Valley. Whether the destabilization will result in a major quake soon cannot be predicted.

Fifth, today, under the Sign category of THE RISE OF THE “KINGS OF THE EAST”– According to Space Daily, China said it aims to become a “great power” in the online world and took a swipe at Washington on trade, kicking off its annual conference promoting the Communist Party’s controlled and censored version of the internet. US-China rivalry is increasingly playing out in the digital sphere, as Beijing pursues dominance in next-generation technology while Washington takes measures to cripple Chinese tech firms like Huawei [WAH-WAY]. China heavily monitors and censors its internet, with US titans Facebook, Twitter and Google all hidden behind a so-called “Great Firewall” that also blocks politically sensitive content. At the yearly World Internet Conference, Chinese officials talked up the country’s tech prowess. “We have become a cyberspace power of 800 million netizens,” the head of the Communist Party’s propaganda department, Huang Kunming [HWAN KUN-MING], said in a keynote address. Huang [HWAN] added that in the future, China “will unceasingly expand the fruits of internet development and forge ahead from a cyberspace ‘big power’ to a cyberspace ‘great power'”.

——–

The prophetic passage of Scripture that we are looking at today is Jeremiah 46-51. Jeremiah 46:26-28 reads: “And I will deliver them into the hand of those that seek their lives, and into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of his servants: and afterward it shall be inhabited, as in the days of old, saith the Lord. But fear not thou, O my servant Jacob, and be not dismayed, O Israel: for, behold, I will save thee from afar off, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and be in rest and at ease, and none shall make him afraid. Fear thou not, O Jacob my servant, saith the Lord: for I am with thee; for I will make a full end of all the nations whither I have driven thee: but I will not make a full end of thee, but correct thee in measure; yet will I not leave thee wholly unpunished.”

Allow me to share with you some commentary on this passage from Exploring Bible Prophecy from Genesis to Revelation, by Tim LaHaye and Ed Hindson.

In chapters 46-51, Jeremiah spells out prophesies against the surrounding Gentile nations. A good number of these prophecies were fulfilled in the course of the history following Jeremiah; however, there are other prophecies that speak of a future judgment against these nations, and it is this future portion of the prophecies with which we will be concerned in this section.

In Jeremiah 46 God describes a massive destruction of Egypt, a massive discipline, but He will not bring total destruction. By the end of verse 26, God promises a future restoration of Egypt and, according to other passages, Egypt will have a positive future in the messianic kingdom. In verses 27-28, after an extensive prophecy against Egypt, God concludes with words of comfort for Israel.

If the Lord tarries His Coming and we live, we will continue looking at the prophetic passages of the Bible in our next broadcast / podcast.

Our Second Coming quote for today is from Samuel Rutherford. He said, “The figure of the passing-away world is like an old man’s face, full of wrinkles, and foul with weeping: we are waiting when Jesus shall be revealed from heaven, and shall come and wipe the old man’s face.”

Let’s Pray

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If you are not ready for the return of Jesus Christ, may I encourage you to get ready today by receiving Him as your Savior. Here is how.

First, accept the fact that you are a sinner, and that you have broken God’s law. The Bible says in Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”

Second, accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death…”

Third, accept the fact that you are on the road to hell. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 10:28: “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Also, the Bible states in Revelation 21:8: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

Now that is bad news, but here is the good news. Jesus Christ said in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Just believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead by the power of God for you so that you can live eternally with Him. Pray and ask Him to come into your heart today, and He will. Romans 10:13 says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Keep looking up for your redemption draweth nigh. Let us join in the prayer of John the Revelator — “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” God bless you.