This is Daniel Whyte III with the Second Coming Watch Update. This is update #937. 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, the Palestinian Authority foreign minister said on Tuesday the Palestinian Authority has quit its current chairmanship of Arab League meetings, condemning as dishonorable any Arab agreement to establish formal relations with Israel. Palestinians see the accords that the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain signed with Israel in Washington a week ago as a betrayal of their cause and a blow to their quest for an independent state in Israeli-occupied territory. Earlier this month, the Palestinians failed to persuade the Arab League to condemn member nations breaking ranks and normalizing ties with Israel. The Palestinian Authority was supposed to chair Arab League meetings for the next six months, but Palestinian Authority Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki [REE-YAHD AL-MAH-LEE-KEE] told a news conference in the West Bank city of Ramallah that it no longer wanted the position. Maliki [MAH-LEE-KEE] said, “Palestine has decided to concede its right to chair the League’s council (of foreign ministers) at its current session. There is no honor in seeing Arabs rush towards normalization during its presidency.”

Second, today, under the Sign category of HOSTILITY TOWARDS THE JEWISH PEOPLE — According to The Associated Press, in a report released Tuesday, the Department for Research and Information on Anti-Semitism Berlin, or RIAS, documented 410 incidents — more than two a day — during the first half of 2020 in Germany. The group’s count of anti-Semitic acts included six physical attacks, 25 cases of property damage, 20 threats, 58 examples of anti-Semitic propaganda and 301 examples of malicious behavior such as giving the stiff-armed Nazi salute. The report’s publication comes amid nationwide concerns that intensified in October 2019 after an armed man tried to force his way into a synagogue in central German city of Halle [HAL-LUH] on Judaism’s holiest day, Yom Kippur, then fatally shot two people nearby. The suspect posted an anti-Jewish screed online before the attack. German Chancellor Angela Merkel last week decried how anti-Semitism had become “more visible and uninhibited. It is a disgrace, and it shames me deeply.” A national report issued in May showed anti-Semitic crimes in Germany last year reached their highest level since the country started keeping records.

Third, today, under the Sign category of TURMOIL IN THE MIDDLE EAST — According to The Jerusalem Post, An arms depot of the Iran-backed Shi’ite Muslim group Hezbollah exploded in southern Lebanon on Tuesday, injuring several people and sending a new shockwave across a nation grappling with its deepest crisis in three decades. A security source said the arms depot blast, which sent a huge column of black smoke into the sky, was caused by a “technical error.” The al-Manar television station run by Lebanon’s Hezbollah said the cause of an explosion in southern Lebanon on Tuesday was not yet clear. The explosion rocked the village of Ain Qana [AIN KA-NA] in south Lebanon, a political stronghold of the heavily armed and politically powerful group which has fought wars with neighboring Israel. The blast has further rattled a nation grappling with its worst crisis since the 1975-1990 civil war and still reeling from a devastating explosion at Beirut [BAY-ROOT] port that ripped through the capital, killing at least 190 people.

Fourth, today, under the Sign category of RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF ISRAEL — According to Israel National News, Sudanese sources claim in a report that Sudan is likely to normalize relations with Israel in the near future. The report, which was published Wednesday afternoon, cited multiple unnamed Sudanese officials who said that the recent high-level talks between the US and the Sudanese government were “very positive”, and indicated that it is increasingly likely Sudan will establish normal relations with Israel – most likely in the “very near future”. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has pushed in recent weeks for a breakthrough with Sudan which would end the country’s pariah status in the West and lead to closer relations between Sudan and Israel. According to Wednesday’s report, Sudan is prepared to normalize relations with Israel, if an agreement can be worked on with the US on economic aid and the compensation package.

Fifth, today, under the Sign category of THE RISE OF GOG & MAGOG — According to SpaceWar.com, Russia unveiled half a dozen cutting edge strategic weapons systems, including the Kinzhal air-launched hypersonic missile and the ICBM-launched Avangard hypersonic glide vehicle, in 2018, in response to US efforts to build a missile shield, and the general beefing up of NATO forces on Russia’s western borders. President Vladimir Putin has said Russia had no choice but to pursue the development of nuclear-capable hypersonic weapons systems in the aftermath of the Bush administration’s decision in 2002 to tear up the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Treaty, which prohibited the creation of missile defences. Putin said, “America’s withdrawal from the ABM Treaty in 2002 forced Russia to start developing hypersonic weapons. We had to create these weapons in response to the deployment of the US strategic missile defence system, which would have been able to neutralise and render obsolete our entire nuclear potential. I have said many times that for decades, we constantly had to play catch-up. This concerned nuclear weapons, and then long-range strategic aviation and intercontinental ballistic missile technology.” Putin added, however, that today Russia possesses strategic systems which surpass any existing weaponry of any potential adversaries. Putin stressed, “For the first time in modern Russia’s history, the country possesses the most modern types of weapons, which are far superior in terms of their force, power, speed and, very importantly, in terms of accuracy compared to all which existed before them and exist today.”

——–

The prophetic passage of Scripture that we are looking at today is Ezekiel 36:22-32.

Ezekiel 36:22 reads: “Therefore say unto the house of Israel, thus saith the Lord God; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name’s sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went.”

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.

Before the restoration of national Israel can be declared (verses 33-38), the problem of divine profanation must be resolved by divine sanctification (verses 22-23) through Israel’s future salvation under the New Covenant (verses 24-32). However, the divine motive for restoring Israel physically and spiritually must be understood so that a proper theological foundation might undergird this future act of sovereign grace. This is given in verses 22-23, where the tone changes from explanation (verses 17-21) to declaration. This new section uses the introductory formula “thus says the Lord GOD,” and the purpose is to introduce specific authoritative declarations of judgment or salvation.

God’s concern for His reputation is expanded by way of declaration in verse 22 with the statement, “Not for your sake, O house of Israel, am I about to act but only for My holy name.” This self-assertion removes all grounds of human arrogance and appeal, and maintains God’s freedom to act sovereignly for Himself. This assertion of sovereign resolve is made through the force of the verb “act” (Hebrew, ‘asah, “do, make”) in the Qal active participle functioning absolutely (without an object). The sense is “I am about to do what I do,” denoting the certainty and effectiveness of the action. The phrase “not for your sake” strengthens this act of self-interest by excluding Israel from any part in resolving the divine dilemma created by the nation’s exile. The people did not send themselves into exile, though they were responsible for the sin that required God’s judgment by exile. Israel cannot merit its restoration, and therefore it must be done by God alone. God’s motive here is not Israel’s need, but rather the need to vindicate His holy character before the nations.

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, “We are to wait for the coming of Christ with patience. We are to watch with anticipation. We are to work with Zeal. We are to prepare with urgency. Scripture says Christ is coming when you’re least expecting him. Coming as a thief. He said, ‘Be prepared. Get Ready. Prepare to meet thy God.’ Are you prepared?”

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 #936. 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 RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF ISRAEL — According to Reuters, The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain signed agreements on Tuesday to establish formal ties with Israel, becoming the first Arab states in a quarter century to break a longstanding taboo, in a strategic realignment of Middle East countries against Iran. U.S. President Donald Trump hosted the White House ceremony, capping a dramatic month when first the UAE and then Bahrain agreed to reverse decades of ill will without a resolution of Israel’s dispute with the Palestinians. The deals, denounced by the Palestinians, make them the third and fourth Arab states to take such steps toward normalizing relations since Israel signed peace treaties with Egypt in 1979 and Jordan in 1994. Meeting Netanyahu earlier in the Oval Office, Trump said, “We’ll have at least five or six countries coming along very quickly” to forge their own accords with Israel. Later Trump told reporters a third Gulf Arab state, Saudi Arabia, would strike an agreement with Israel “at the right time.” The Saudi cabinet stressed in a statement the need for a “just and comprehensive solution” to the Palestinian issue. Saudi Arabia is the biggest Gulf Arab power. Its king is custodian of Islam’s holiest sites and rules the world’s largest oil exporter. Despite its own reluctance, the kingdom’s quiet acquiescence to the agreements was seen as crucial.

Second, today, under the Sign category of PESTILENCES & FATAL EPIDEMIC DISEASES — According to The Daily Star, A sharp spike in cases of the deadly West Nile virus has added to the problems facing Spanish healthcare workers already stretched to breaking point by the coronavirus pandemic. In the past month, 52 new cases of the disease have been reported – mainly in the province of Andalusia [AN-DUH-LUU-SHUH]. Prior to this latest outbreak there had been just seven cases reported over the past 10 years. At least four people have died of the virus in the province of Sevilla [SEH-VEE-YAA]. The virus, like coronavirus, produces no symptoms in around 80% of the people it infects – enabling it to spread very easily. A minority of victims, though, will suffer from flu-like symptoms including headaches and a fever. Even mild cases can take a while to recover from and about one in 10 of people who contract the severe form of the disease are likely to die. The disease, which has no vaccine or known cure, is spread by mosquito bites – and the insects are breeding in record numbers across southern Spain.

Third, today, under the Sign category of TURMOIL IN THE MIDDLE EAST — According to The Jerusalem Post, Israeli aircraft attacked targets in the Gaza Strip early on Wednesday morning, the IDF spokesperson’s unit said, as another barrage of rockets from the coastal enclave landed in southern Israel. Hours earlier, a rocket fired by Palestinian terrorists in Gaza struck the coastal Israeli city of Ashdod, wounding two people, at the same time as Israel and two Gulf Arab states signed agreements in Washington to establish formal relations. The IDF said on Wednesday morning that IAF aircraft attacked ten Hamas targets, including a training base and a munitions factory. The airstrikes came in retaliation after 13 rocket launches from the Gaza Strip into Israeli territory were identified earlier in the morning, eight of which were intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defense system.

Fourth, today, under the Sign category of RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF ISRAEL — According to Ynet News, There are today some 9,246,000 residents of Israel, the Central Bureau of Statistics said Wednesday, as it released its annual population report on the eve of Rosh Hashanah, which begins on Friday. The CBS also predicted that Israel’s population was set to reach 10 million people by the end of 2024, 15 million by the end of 2048, and 20 million by 2065. According to the CBS, since September 1, 2019 approximately 170,000 babies have been born in Israel, 44,000 people have died, and 20,000 people have made aliyah [AA-LEE-YAA]. All in all, Israel’s population has grown by 150,000 people since Rosh Hashanah 2019. About 6,841,000 of the residents of Israel are Jews, constituting 74% of the population. About 1,946,000 (21%) are Arab and some 459,000 people are non-Arab Christians, members of other religions and people without a religious affiliation.

Fifth, today, under the Sign category of FAMINES — According to Zero Hedge, China recently launched the “Clean Plate Campaign,” which targets people wasting food, as speculation of a worldwide food shortage mounts. President Xi Jinping [SHEE JIN-PING] has pushed new measures to curb food waste following the virus pandemic, calling those who live stream their eating experiences on social media as “shocking and distressing.” Jinping [JIN-PING] said China had to “maintain a sense of crisis about food security” amid the virus pandemic. The warning comes as the world’s second-largest economy could soon face food shortages. Besides the virus-induced economic downturn disrupting food supply chains, there’s been droughts, floods, and pests that are likely to result in poor harvests this year. Some restaurants in China have limited the number of dishes served to diners, while others have weighed customers before ordering. According to a study published by the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the World Wildlife Fund in China, estimates show China wastes enough food to feed 30 to 50 million people per year. The government’s abrupt crackdown on food waste suggests a shortage could be nearing.

——–

The prophetic passage of Scripture that we are looking at today is Ezekiel 36:16-21.

Ezekiel 36:20-21 reads: “And when they entered unto the heathen, whither they went, they profaned my holy name, when they said to them, These are the people of the Lord, and are gone forth out of his land. But I had pity for mine holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the heathen, whither they went.”

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 seriousness of this offense can be seen in the meaning of the verb “profane” (Hebrew, chalal [KHAW-LAL]), which means “to pollute, defile, profane, violate, desecrate, make common.” Of the 75 occurrences of the term in the Old Testament, 31 are found in Ezekiel. Of these uses by the prophet, 21 refer to treating as common those things that are consecrated as holy–such as “holy things,” “holy places,” “the sanctuary,” “holy occasions” (usually Sabbaths), and “holy position.” The remaining ten occurrences all refer to a profanation of the Lord’s holy name, the highest form of profanation.

Verse 21 explains God’s intent to vindicate His holy name. While no scheme is yet revealed for the recovery of the divine honor, there is introduced the general motive that underlies the specific action displayed in verses 23-32. The pivotal phrase “but I had concern for My holy name” contrasts the attitude of the nations who professed no concern for it. The word translated as “concern,” “pity,” or “compassion” (Hebrew, chamal [KHAW-MAL]) is used in Ezekiel 16:5 (in a passage describing Israel’s contemptible state at the time of her election) to indicate an attitude of active, condescending responsibility. Here it indicates God’s zealous restoration of His own honor, which will require divine intervention in the future restoration of Israel. So assured is this future action that the verb appears as a prophetic preterite indicating that the basis of Israel’s restoration has already been settled.

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 John Chrysostom. He said, “There are two advents of Christ: that which has been, and that which is to be. And the two are not for the same purpose; the first came to pass not that He might search into our actions, but that He might pardon; the object of the second will be not to pardon, but to judge.”

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 #935. 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, Iran’s stockpile of low-enriched uranium is more than 10 times the limit set by the nuclear deal, according to an International Atomic Energy Agency quarterly report. The IAEA data released Friday showed that Tehran had violated the terms of the 2015 agreement, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, but its stockpile of low-enriched uranium was still lower than it had been prior to the deal. Iran had let the UN nuclear watchdog inspect one of the two sites it agreed last week to grant access to after a protracted standoff. During the inspection, the agency took environmental samples, one of the two reports obtained by Reuters said, referring to samples aimed at detecting traces of nuclear material that may have been present. The report said the inspectors will visit the other site “later in September 2020 on a date already agreed with Iran, to take environmental samples.”

Second, today, under the Sign category of HOSTILITY TOWARD ISRAEL — According to the Associated Press, The European Union warned Serbia and Kosovo on Monday that they could undermine their EU membership hopes by moving their Israeli embassies to Jerusalem, as U.S. President Donald Trump’s surprise announcement about the change left officials in Belgrade and Pristina scrambling to limit the political fallout. In an unexpected move last week, Trump said that Serbia and Kosovo had agreed to normalize economic ties as part of U.S.-brokered talks that include Belgrade moving its embassy to Jerusalem, and mutual recognition between Israel and Kosovo. It surprised the Europeans, who are leading complex talks between Serbia and its former territory of Kosovo on improving their long-strained relations, while Serbian officials appeared to be watering down their commitment to Trump, and Kosovo sought to allay concerns among Muslim countries. The 27-nation EU’s long-held policy is that Jerusalem’s status should be worked out between Israel and the Palestinians as part of broader peace negotiations, and that Serbia — as a candidate to join the bloc — should respect that. European Commission spokesman Peter Stano said, “There is no EU member state with an embassy in Jerusalem. Any diplomatic steps that could call into question the EU’s common position on Jerusalem are a matter of serious concern and regret.”

Third, today, under the Sign category of TURMOIL IN THE MIDDLE EAST — According to Israel Hayom, A high ranking official in the Dubai police department said on Tuesday that the UAE’s newly brokered peace deal with Israel was a positive step “for regional stability and security” and that Hamas can “go to hell.” Lt. Gen. Dhahi Khalfan Tamim [DAH-HEE KAL-FAHM TAH-MEEM], deputy chief of the Dubai police, told Kuwaiti media outlet Diwan al-Mullah [DUH-WAAN AL-MUH-LUH], “Israel never threatened us. [Turkish President Recep Tayyip] Erdogan has. Iran is threatening us. The Turkish leader’s claims that he was the champion of the Palestinians is a sham.” Tamim [TAH-MEEM] also questioned why it was necessary for a government to receive approval from the Palestinians before signing a peace treaty with Israel. Tamim [TAH-MEEM] asked during the interview, “Is it conceivable that the decision of heads of state whether or not to sign an agreement with a certain country depends on the approval [of the head of the Palestinian Authority] Mahmoud Abbas? Is it conceivable that a president or a Prime Minister is basing his [decision] on the advice of [Palestinian Authority President] Mahmoud Abbas? Abbas himself is unable to make a decision to resolve the [Palestinian] problem. If Abbas had been a worthy leader, he would have solved the Palestinian problem or would have already resigned. How can we expect public opinion in the Gulf states to favor the Palestinians when they pray in their mosques for the destruction of … countries?” According to the lieutenant, Iran has three choices: it can die economically, or it can sign a peace agreement with Israel and coexist with the region. “The third option is the fall of the mullahs’ regime,” he concluded.

Fourth, today, under the Sign category of RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF ISRAEL — According to The Jerusalem Post, A senior delegation from Chad arrived in Israel on Tuesday to promote ties between the countries. The delegation is led by Deputy Director of Chad’s civil cabinet Abdelkerim Idriss Déby [AB-DEL-KAH-REEM EE-DRIS DEH-BEE], who is also the son of Chad’s President Idriss Déby [EE-DRIS DEH-BEE]. He is set to meet with his Israeli counterpart, National Security Adviser Meir [MEHR] Ben-Shabbat. Déby [DEH-BEE] is also expected to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi [GAH-BEE AHSH-KAH-NAH-ZEE], Intelligence Minister Eli Cohen and others. Israel and Chad broke off relations in 1973, following the Yom Kippur War, when 30 African states cut ties with Israel. The countries renewed relations in 2018, and Chad’s president visited Israel later that year. Netanyahu went to Chad the following year. Chad, which has been engaged in a yearslong battle with the Boko Haram terrorist group, seeks Israeli arms and security and intelligence expertise, as well as water-use technology and better ties with the US. For Israel, ties with Chad reinforces the message sent by normalizing relations with the UAE and Kosovo, that Muslim states can cooperate with Israel even when there is not peace with the Palestinians.

Fifth, today, under the Sign category of PESTILENCES & FATAL EPIDEMIC DISEASES — According to Daily Mail, Fears have arisen that bubonic plague could spread into China after its bordering country Mongolia reports its third victim who died of the Black Death this year. A 38-year-old man had died from the plague on Monday in Mongolia’s western Zavkhan [ZAV-KHAN] province after eating marmot meat last month, said the local authorities. It comes as China’s Inner Mongolia region, near the Chinese border with Mongolia, has recorded two deaths caused by the plague in August, prompting the authorities to impose partial lockdowns and quarantine residents. Mongolian authorities have also declared at least 17 out of all 21 provinces in the country are at risk of bubonic plague, raising fears that the disease could spread into neighbouring China.

——–

The prophetic passage of Scripture that we are looking at today is Ezekiel 36:16-21.

Ezekiel 36:18-19 reads: “Wherefore I poured my fury upon them for the blood that they had shed upon the land, and for their idols wherewith they had polluted it: And I scattered them among the heathen, and they were dispersed through the countries: according to their way and according to their doings I judged them.”

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.

Ezekiel 36:18-21 explains that Israel had defiled itself and its land by idolatry, which resulted in the judgment of exile. It also resulted in the profanation of the Lord’s holy name by the nations because Israel belongs to God. Verse 17 recounts Israel’s moral defection, and verse 18 presents the consequence: defilement of the land, including idolatry. Ezekiel therefore reviews God’s retributive judgment against Israel, the same form of judgment previously announced against the nations.

The prophet goes on in verse 19 to specify the nature of the judicial sentence of exile through the synonyms “scattering” and “dispersing.” These particular terms are coupled in Ezekiel that corresponds in thought and rhyme to the promise of return and restoration. One example of a doublet involving both judgment and restoration appears in verses 19 and 24:

I scattered them among the nations they were dispersed throughout the lands (verse 19)

I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands (verse 24)…

This correspondence presents the divine intervention of Yahweh in the sovereign exercise of exile and return. It also prepares us for the remaining chapters of the book. However, it is necessary to first understand the theological reason the restoration must take place. Verses 20-21 show God’s inseparable relationship to the people and land of Israel. From the perspective of Israel, the exile threatened the prophetic fulfillment of the historical covenants, including Israel’s possession of the land. Yet a greater threat is that God’s holy reputation was being profaned by Israel’s behavior in the midst of the surrounding nations.

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 William Barclay. He said, “The best way to prepare for the coming of Christ is never to forget the presence of Christ.”

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 #934. 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 APOSTASY IN THE CHURCH — According to Newsweek, a slight majority of American adults say Jesus was a great teacher and nothing more during his lifetime, which several Christian leaders say is evidence today’s faithful are “drifting away” from traditional evangelist teachings. The 2020 survey conducted by Ligonier Ministries, a Florida-based Reform Church nonprofit, found 52 percent of U.S. adults say they believe Jesus Christ is not God — a belief that contradicts traditional teachings of the Bible through the Christian church, which state Jesus was both man and God. Nearly one-third of evangelicals in the survey agreed that Jesus isn’t God, compared to 65 percent who said “Jesus is the first and greatest being created by God.” The findings of the survey were collected from 3,000 Americans, including 630 self-described evangelicals, and has prompted a call for more arduous modern study of Scripture. Stephen Nichols, chief academic officer of Ligonier Ministries and president of Reformation Bible College, said in a statement, “Statistics like these from the State of Theology survey can give us quite a shock, but they also shed light on the concerns that many American Christians and churches have expressed for decades. As the culture around us increasingly abandons its moral compass, professing evangelicals are sadly drifting away from God’s absolute standard in Scripture.”

Second, today, under the Sign category of RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF ISRAEL — According to Ynet News, an Israeli official told Kan public broadcaster Wednesday that Bahrain is expected to become the next Gulf kingdom to formally normalize ties with Israel. According to the report, the kingdom is expected to announce the move after an accord between Israel and the United Arab Emirates is signed. The official is cited as saying that Washington seeks to host Israeli and UAE officials at the signing ceremony at the White House in mid-September before the Jewish New Year. Bahrain was one of the countries that US State Secretary Mike Pompeo visited during his recent Middle East tour centered on the Israeli-UAE normalization. Bahrain leaders reportedly told Pompeo that it was committed to the creation of a Palestinian state in talks, implicitly rejecting the U.S. top diplomat’s push for Arab countries to swiftly normalize ties with Israel.

Third, today, under the Sign category of PESTILENCES & FATAL EPIDEMIC DISEASES — According to The Associated Press, The World Health Organization says a new polio outbreak in Sudan is linked to an ongoing vaccine-sparked epidemic in Chad — a week after the U.N. health agency declared the African continent free of the wild polio virus. In a statement this week, WHO said two children in Sudan — one from South Darfur state and the other from Gedarif [GEE-DER-REF] state, close to the border with Ethiopia and Eritrea — were paralyzed in March and April. Both had been recently vaccinated against polio. WHO said initial outbreak investigations show the cases are linked to an ongoing vaccine-derived outbreak in Chad that was first detected last year and is now spreading in Chad and Cameroon. The U.N. agency said, “There is local circulation in Sudan and continued sharing of transmission with Chad,” adding that genetic sequencing confirmed numerous introductions of the virus into Sudan from Chad. WHO said it had found 11 additional vaccine-derived polio cases in Sudan and that the virus had also been identified in environmental samples. There are typically many more unreported cases for every confirmed polio patient. The highly infectious disease can spread quickly in contaminated water and most often strikes children under 5.

Fourth, today, under the Sign category of THE MARK OF THE BEAST — According to BBC News, Elon Musk has unveiled a pig called Gertrude with a coin-sized computer chip in her brain to demonstrate his ambitious plans to create a working brain-to-machine interface. Musk said, “I think it’s going to blow your minds. It’s like a Fitbit in your skull with tiny wires.” His start-up Neuralink applied to launch human trials last year. The interface could allow people with neurological conditions to control phones or computers with their mind. Musk argues such chips could eventually be used to help cure conditions such as dementia, Parkinson’s disease and spinal cord injuries. But the long-term ambition is to usher in an age of what Musk calls “superhuman cognition”, in part to combat artificial intelligence so powerful he says it could destroy the human race. Musk said the original Neuralink device, revealed just over a year ago, had been simplified and made smaller. “It actually fits quite nicely in your skull. It could be under your hair and you wouldn’t know.” The device the company is developing consists of a tiny probe containing more than 3,000 electrodes attached to flexible threads thinner than a human hair, which can monitor the activity of 1,000 brain neurons.

Fifth, today, under the Sign category of WARS & RUMOURS OF WARS — According to BBC News, India has accused China of violating the border consensus reached between them during recent peace talks. It said Chinese troops carried out “provocative military movements” to change the status quo in Ladakh [LAD-AHK]. At least 20 Indian soldiers died in clashes with Chinese troops in the region in June. China has not said if its soldiers also died. The two nuclear powers accused each other of crossing the poorly demarcated border and provoking the fight. China has denied that its troops violated the status quo. China’s foreign ministry spokesman said, “Chinese border troops have always strictly observed the Line of Actual Control and have never crossed the line. The border troops of the two countries have been in communication over territory issues.” But Delhi said that Indian troops “pre-empted” Chinese activity on “the Southern Bank of Pangong Tso [PAN-GONG SO] Lake” on the night of 29 August. A statement from the Indian government said, “We undertook measures to strengthen our positions and thwart Chinese intentions to unilaterally change facts on ground.”

——–

The prophetic passage of Scripture that we are looking at today is Ezekiel 36:16-21.

Ezekiel 36:16-17 reads: “Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, when the house of Israel dwelt in their own land, they defiled it by their own way and by their doings: their way was before me as the uncleanness of a removed woman.”

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 prophetic message (“the word of the Lord”) of divine vindication begins in verse 17 with a retrospective summary of the moral and spiritual history of the house of Israel’s faithfulness to its covenantal relationship with God. The prophet had previously recounted the heathen origin of Israel and its moral defection. This review of Israel’s past not only exonerates God for His judgment against the exiles but also underscores that their future restoration is based solely on God’s sovereign grace. The particular word used in verse 17 to characterize the condition of the people is “defilement” (Hebrew, tame’ [TAW-MAY]). This term, found twice in this verse and again in verses 18 and 29, means “to render ceremonially unclean.” In the Old Testament this word is associated with sin that defiles or pollutes by contact.

In Leviticus, for example, tame’ [TAW-MAY] describes illicit sexual activity that has defiled the land and its inhabitants and ritually unclean animals that will render unclean whatever touches their carcasses. As a result, “the land has become defiled, therefore I have visited its punishment upon it, and so the land has spewed out its inhabitants.” The simile of a “menstruous [unclean] woman” depicts the “unapproachableness” of Israel. This condition has been incurred by bad “moral conduct” and “reckless deeds.” Therefore, just as the ceremonial impurity of the menstruous woman separates her from that which is considered holy, so Israel’s conduct has caused her to be removed from the Holy Land.

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 Jonathan Edwards. He said, “This world is a dark place without Christ, and therefore is dark till he comes, and until his kingdom of glory is set up.”

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 #933. 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, The president of the UN Security Council on Tuesday rejected the Trump administration’s demand to restore all UN sanctions on Iran. Indonesia’s ambassador to the UN, whose country currently holds the rotating council presidency, made the announcement in response to requests from Russia and China to disclose results of his polling of the views of all 15 council members on the US action. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced on Thursday that Washington started the process to restore all pre-2015 UN sanctions against Iran. The move to activate the “snapback” came after the UN Security Council rejected the US resolution to extend the arms embargo on Iran, which is due to expire in October. All the council members, except the Dominican Republic, had informed the council president that the US administration’s action was illegal because President Donald Trump withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action in 2018. The US Mission to the UN later issued a statement saying the U.S. “is on firm legal ground to initiate the restoration of sanctions” under the Security Council resolution that endorsed the 2015 nuclear deal.

Second, today, under the Sign category of THE RISE OF GOG & MAGOG — According to The Jerusalem Post, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to continue coordinating to allow for Israeli airstrikes in Syria, in a phone conversation on Monday. Netanyahu said soon after, “I talked to [Putin] about Syria and ensuring the air force’s freedom to act in that area. It’s very important for Israeli security.” The Kremlin readout of Monday’s call states the leaders “noted a mutual interest in continuing coordination in the Syrian sector to counter international terrorism.” Israel has maintained a policy of airstrikes on Iranian targets in Syria, to prevent their entrenchment along Israel’s northern border. Israeli and Russian officials have been in continual contact about the situation in Syria, where Russia has a significant military presence. Neither side mentioned Iran in their statements. Russia voted against extending the UN arms embargo in Iran in the UN Security Council this month, and opposed the US attempt to “snapback” those sanctions.

Third, today, under the Sign category of THE MARK OF THE BEAST — According to Teslarati, Elon Musk’s brain-machine interface company, Neuralink, has an event scheduled for later this week to update the public on its progress since last year’s presentation. While the agenda is speculative for the most part, one expectation is a live demonstration of neuron activity. As its name implies, the roles of neuron activities are very important to Neuralink’s technology. The venture’s long-term goal of obtaining human symbiosis with artificial intelligence begins by connecting electrodes throughout the brain and reading its neuron signals en masse. Gathering huge amounts of data from the signals gradually teaches Neuralink’s software how they are used by the brain to communicate with the rest of the body, ultimately leading to a certain amount of replication and direction. The possibilities of such a capability seem endless. Musk has hinted at some of the health-focused capabilities Neuralink’s technology could develop, specifically in individuals who are neurologically compromised. Installation of a chip replacing a small portion of the human skull, for instance, could restore limb function, improve human movement, resolve issues with eyesight and hearing, and help with diseases like Parkinson’s. There is also the possibility that the implementation of a Neuralink device into a brain could pave the way for hindering brain issues like epilepsy, Alzheimer’s disease, and strokes.

Fourth, today, under the Sign category of TURMOIL IN THE MIDDLE EAST — According to Reuters, The Syrian government said an explosion on a main gas pipeline traversing the Middle East on Monday was the result of a terrorist attack, and the United States said it suspected ISIS militants of carrying out the sabotage. The blast caused a blackout across Syria, but power was gradually being restored. It took place on the Arab Gas Pipeline between the towns of Ad Dumayr [DU-MIHR] and Adra, northwest of the capital Damascus. Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Ali Ghanem said, “Assessments show that the explosion…was the result of a terrorist attack.” In Geneva, the US envoy for Syria, James Jeffrey, said there had been an upsurge in ISIS activity in the southeast of the Syrian desert. ISIS lost its last territory in Syria in March 2019 but pockets of fighters remain. Jeffrey told reporters at the start of UN-sponsored talks on the Syria conflict, “We are still looking into (the explosion). But it was almost certainly a strike by ISIS.”

Fifth, today, under the Sign category of WARS & RUMOURS OF WARS — According to The Jerusalem Post, Israeli attack helicopters and fighter jets struck posts belonging to Hezbollah along the Lebanese border early Wednesday morning after IDF troops were fired upon near Kibbutz Menara [KIH-BUTZ MEH-NAH-RAH] in the Upper Galilee. The strikes against Hezbollah targets came hours after the IDF said that a security incident was taking place near the kibbutz [KIH-BUTZ] and ordered residents in surrounding communities to remain in their homes and lock their doors. Roads had also been blocked, and all outdoor activities were prohibited, including agricultural work. The army said in a statement, “Regarding the security incident that took place last night at 10:40 p.m. in the area of [the Menara community], during operational activity, IDF troops were fired upon from Lebanese territory.” According to a source who spoke to The Jerusalem Post, the troops were in the field when they heard gunfire directed toward them. The military then fired dozens of smoke shells and light flares in order to stop the gunfire and in an attempt to identify those who fired on the troops.

——–

The prophetic passage of Scripture that we are looking at today is Ezekiel 36:8-15.

Ezekiel 36:8 reads: “But ye, O mountains of Israel, ye shall shoot forth your branches, and yield your fruit to my people of Israel; for they are at hand to come.”

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.

Ezekiel 36:8 addresses the mountains of Israel once again, but this time with an oracle of salvation. With the removal of Israel’s foes will come the reversal of the nation’s fortune. In verses 8-12 the Lord announces that the remnant of Israel (“My people”) will soon be regathered and returned to its land. In advance of the restoration of the people of Israel will come the restoration of the land of Israel complete with revived agricultural endeavors, the multiplication of men and animals, and the rebuilding of cities and even desolated areas. Such a restoration of the land will require time, which agrees with the concept of a regathering and return to the land before the final regathering and restoration in the millennial kingdom.

The language of this portion of Ezekiel parallels that found in the next portion, which is about the millennial restoration and the reversal of Israel’s fortune. The statements I “will treat you better than at the first” and “never again bereave them of children” argue for the time of the second regathering in the millennial kingdom. This interpretation also agrees with Ezekiel’s conclusion in verses 13-15, which restates the Lord’s commitment to deliver Israel permanently from the consequences of its violation of God’s covenants. The threefold promise that God will no longer let Israel be depopulated, disgraced, or decadent reveals the irreversible change in status and nature that accompanies the establishment of the New Covenant for Israel in the millennial age.

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 Jonathan Edwards. He said, “This world is a dark place without Christ, and therefore is dark till he comes, and until his kingdom of glory is set up.”

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 #932. 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 RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF ISRAEL — According to Reuters, Israel’s intelligence minister said on Sunday that Bahrain and Oman could be the next Gulf countries to follow the United Arab Emirates in formalising ties with Israel. Israel and the UAE announced on Thursday that they will normalise diplomatic relations, reshaping Middle East politics from the Palestinian issue to the fight against Iran. Intelligence Minister Eli Cohen told Army Radio, “In the wake of this agreement will come additional agreements, both with more Gulf countries and with Muslim countries in Africa. I think that Bahrain and Oman are definitely on the agenda. In addition, in my assessment, there is a chance that already in the coming year there will be a peace deal with additional countries in Africa, chief among them, Sudan.” Both Bahrain and Oman praised the U.S.-sponsored accord, but neither have commented on their own prospects for normalised relations or responded to requests for comment on the subject.

Second, today, under the Sign category of EARTHQUAKES IN DIVERS PLACES — According to Reuters, A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck the Philippines on Tuesday, killing at least one person and damaging roads and buildings including a hospital and a sports complex being used as a novel coronavirus quarantine centre. It was the strongest earthquake in eight months in the Philippines, which lies on the “Ring of Fire,” a seismically active belt of volcanoes circling the Pacific Ocean. The European Mediterranean Seismological Centre said the quake struck at sea at a depth of 18.64 miles. The Philippine seismology agency said there was no risk of a tsunami but warned of aftershocks.

Third, today, under the Sign category of FAMINES — According to Watchers News, A devastating derecho ripped through several Midwest states on August 10, 2020, leaving a path of destruction, more than 1.5 million customers without power, and more than 1 million acres of destroyed or damaged crops. Northern Illinois University meteorology professor Victor Gensini described the event as one of the worst weather events of 2020 in the United States. The storm ripped through the heart of the Corn Belt – a region of the Midwestern United States that has dominated corn production in the country since the 1850s, with winds gusts up to 112 mph, causing huge economic impact which is expected to be widespread across the farming community. WeatherNation reports, “The price of corn is going for about 3 dollars and 25 cents a bushel. So the overall economic impact could be 3.2 billion dollars if we can’t salvage some of the crop that was damaged.” Ty Higgins from the Ohio Farm Bureau said consumers nationwide could be in store for higher meat prices and increased fuel prices toward the end of the year.

Fourth, today, under the Sign category of TURMOIL IN THE MIDDLE EAST — According to Reuters, The United Arab Emirates has made a “huge mistake” in reaching a deal toward normalising ties with Israel, Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani said on Saturday in a speech furiously condemning what he called a betrayal by the Gulf state. The Iranian hardline daily Kay-han, whose editor-in-chief is appointed by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said “the UAE has turned itself into a legitimate target for the resistance”. The UAE-Israel agreement announced on Thursday, which U.S. President Donald Trump helped to broker, is seen as aimed at bolstering opposition to regional power Iran. In his televised speech, Rouhani warned the UAE against allowing Israel a “foothold in the region”. Iran often refers to militant forces and regional countries opposed to Israel and the United States as a “resistance” front. Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guards Corps said in a statement the UAE-Israel deal would “accelerate the process of the destruction of the child-killing Zionist regime (Israel)”.

Fifth, today, under the Sign category of WARS & RUMOURS OF WARS — According to AFP, Israel warned Hamas Tuesday it was risking “war” by failing to stop incendiary balloon attacks from Gaza, as fuel shortages in the Palestinian enclave caused by Israel’s blockade caused widespread blackouts. Earlier, Israel’s army said its fighter jets had hit underground Hamas infrastructure, and linked the strikes to “explosive and arson balloons launched” from Gaza. Israel’s President Reuven Rivlin issued a warning to Hamas during a visit to communities near the Gaza border hit by the unrest. Rivlin said in a statement, “Terrorism using incendiary kites and balloons is terrorism just like any other. Hamas should know that this is not a game. The time will come when they have to decide… if they want war they will get war.” Israeli defence minister and alternate prime minister Benny Gantz said, “Hamas is playing with fire,” and vowed to “make certain the fire is turned back on them.”

——–

The prophetic passage of Scripture that we are looking at today is Ezekiel 36:1-7. Ezekiel 36:4-7 reads: “Therefore, ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord God; Thus saith the Lord God to the mountains, and to the hills, to the rivers, and to the valleys, to the desolate wastes, and to the cities that are forsaken, which became a prey and derision to the residue of the heathen that are round about; Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Surely in the fire of my jealousy have I spoken against the residue of the heathen, and against all Idumea, which have appointed my land into their possession with the joy of all their heart, with despiteful minds, to cast it out for a prey. Prophesy therefore concerning the land of Israel, and say unto the mountains, and to the hills, to the rivers, and to the valleys, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I have spoken in my jealousy and in my fury, because ye have borne the shame of the heathen: Therefore thus saith the Lord God; I have lifted up mine hand, Surely the heathen that are about you, they shall bear their shame.”

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 Ezekiel 36:1-3 the mountains of Israel are addressed as the place against which Israel’s enemies have often launched invasions and arrogantly boasted they could desolate Israel and make her “the possession of the rest of the nations.” Indeed “the mountains of Israel” will soon be revealed as the place that Gog and his allied nations will invade and be destroyed by divine intervention. For Israel to possess the mountains within its borders it not only vital to its military defense but also essential to its continued existence in the land. The mountains are a major source of Israel’s water and fertile land for grazing animals and raising crops.

Throughout Israel’s history, Assyrians, Babylonians, Medo-Persians, Greeks, Egyptians, Syrians, Romans, Turks, and “Palestinians” all have fought to possess Israel’s land. However, the greater reality is that the land belongs to Israel’s God, and the nations have in fact been warring against God. Their taunts and insults against Israel have in fact offended God, and therefore He swears (takes an oath) that He will act in retributive judgment against the nations, bringing them to the same fate they intended for His people. All the great empires that occupied the land of Israel in the past have vanished in the dust of conquest, and today their remnants occupy only museum shelves.

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 #931. 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 Haaretz, Israel announced it would stop all import of fuel into the Gaza Strip on Thursday following a week of escalating confrontations between Israel and Gaza-based groups. The decision was taken by Defense Minister Benny Gantz, following consultations with security officials, “in light of the continued spate of incendiary balloons launched from the Gaza Strip into the territory of the State of Israel, and the undermining of security and stability.” This comes after IDF fighter jets, fighter helicopters and tanks attacked a number of Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday night. During the attack, a Hamas naval force compound, underground infrastructure and observation posts were targeted. The IDF said the attack was also carried out in direct response to the launch of explosive and incendiary balloons from the Gaza Strip into Israel over the past week.

Second, today, under the Sign category of PESTILENCES & FATAL EPIDEMIC DISEASES — According to ABC News, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a call to action to warn of a potential outbreak between the end of this summer and winter of a rare, but potentially lethal disease that affects young children, where seeking medical attention right away could make all the difference. On a conference call with the media, CDC director Robert Redfield said acute flaccid myelitis [FLAK-SID MY-EH-LY-TIS] “is a medical emergency that requires immediate recognition and care.” AFM is a rare, rapid onset neurological disease affecting the spinal cord leading to paralysis. Symptoms of AFM include sudden arm or leg weakness, difficulty walking, limb pain, back pain or neck pain. AFM can cause paralysis over the course of hours to days, which may require a ventilator for breathing. It most commonly affects young children. Parents are being asked to seek medical care immediately if a child develops a sudden arm or leg weakness. Most children with AFM will have a fever or respiratory illness about six days before weakness occurs. For this reason, AFM has been associated with viruses, and specifically one called Enterovirus D68. But why some children get AFM and some don’t isn’t yet clear.

Third, today, under the Sign category of EARTHQUAKES IN DIVERS PLACES — According to CBS News, A 5.1 magnitude earthquake struck North Carolina near the Virginia border on Sunday, with shaking felt as far away as Tennessee and South Carolina. The National Weather Service said it’s the largest quake to hit the state since 1916. The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake’s epicenter was 2.5 miles southeast of Sparta, North Carolina, at a depth of about 2.3 miles. It hit just after 8 a.m., and could be felt throughout North Carolina, as well as in Virginia, Tennessee and South Carolina.

Fourth, today, under the Sign category of PESTILENCES & FATAL EPIDEMIC DISEASES — According to CNN, A New Mexico man has died of septicemic plague, marking the second plague case in the state this year. The New Mexico Department of Health said in a news release the Rio Arriba [AH-REE-BUH] County man was in his 20s and was hospitalized before he died. Department of Health Secretary Kathy Kunkel said, “Plague activity in New Mexico is usually highest during the summer months, so it is especially important now to take precautions to avoid rodents and their fleas which can expose you to plague.” This is the second case of plague reported in New Mexico this year. The state health department reported July 27 a case of Bubonic plague was diagnosed in a Santa Fe County man in his 60s.

Fifth, today, under the Sign category of WARS & RUMOURS OF WARS — According to Reuters, At least two explosions have hit convoys supplying U.S.-led coalition forces in Iraq in the last 24 hours, the first on Monday evening near the southern border with Kuwait and the second on Tuesday north of Baghdad. The explosions, which caused no casualties but did some material damage, are the latest in a string of such incidents in recent weeks. The military said an attack in southern Iraq on Sunday hit a convoy carrying supplies to coalition forces. Several thousand U.S. forces are still based in Iraq, leading a coalition whose mission is to fight Sunni Muslim Islamic State militants. Those forces are also a target for Iran-backed Shi’ite militias, which the United States blames for regular rocket attacks on bases hosting the coalition, and on other U.S. targets such as Washington’s embassy in Baghdad.

——–

The prophetic passage of Scripture that we are looking at today is Ezekiel 36:1-7. Ezekiel 36:1-3 reads: “Also, thou son of man, prophesy unto the mountains of Israel, and say, Ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord: Thus saith the Lord God; Because the enemy hath said against you, Aha, even the ancient high places are ours in possession: Therefore prophesy and say, Thus saith the Lord God; Because they have made you desolate, and swallowed you up on every side, that ye might be a possession unto the residue of the heathen, and ye are taken up in the lips of talkers, and are an infamy of the 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.

Having prophesied the ultimate destruction of one of Israel’s historic enemies on Mount Seir in chapter 35, the prophet now prefaces his theological explanation of Israel’s national regathering, regeneration, and restoration with a promise to remove all Israel’s enemies from the mountains of Israel in preparation for its restoration under the New Covenant in the millennial kingdom. The past subjugation and humiliation imposed by the threat of foreign nations surrounding Israel is contrasted with the productive future that will follow the fulfillment of national restoration physically and spiritually. However, the primary focus of this chapter is the restoration of God’s reputation through the reversal of Israel’s condition (physically and spiritually) under the New Covenant in the millennial 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 Jonathan Edwards. He said, “This world is a dark place without Christ, and therefore is dark till he comes, and until his kingdom of glory is set up.”

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 #930. 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, A source quoted in a cache of leaked diplomatic cables and other reports noted that Hezbollah’s supply of some explosive material had been cut off over the last decade. Hezbollah allegedly sought to get ammonium nitrate via Syria, bringing in thousands of tons of it from Homs. Hezbollah sought to dominate the agriculture ministry in Lebanon since 2009 to get a hold of the material. In February 16, 2016, Nasrallah also said that ammonia is stored in Haifa [HAY-FAH] and that there are 15,000 tonnes of gas in Haifa [HAY-FAH] and that explosions there might cause the deaths of tens of thousands of people. He said, “The expert added that this is exactly like a nuclear bomb. In other words Lebanon has a nuclear bomb. This is not an exaggeration.” Nasrallah laughs as he says this in the video, noting that Hezbollah refrained from striking the ammonia in the 2006 war. The archival footage has been circulating in the wake of the massive explosion in Lebanon that killed more than 100 and injured 4,000 and has left hundreds missing. It illustrates Hezbollah’s terrorist strategy of targeting civilians for mass murder, despite the organization’s claim that it is “resisting” Israel by defending Lebanon.

Second, today, under the Sign category of FAMINES — According to Chosun News, The number of people fleeing from North Korea is increasing again and homeless children begging for money are seen even near Pyongyang amid protracted sanctions and the coronavirus lockdown. According to a source on Monday, North Koreans are gripped by fears of a severer famine than in the 1990s. The source, who has been to Pyongyang recently, said many homeless children can be seen at Kalli [KAH-LEE] railway station, a gateway to the capital. Homeless people are sporadically rounded up and forced into labor at a makeshift facility nearby, and when homeless children are discharged from the facility they hang out near the station. The regime seems increasingly worried about social unrest. In July, it gave out rations of 10 to 30 kilograms. of newly harvested potatoes to each home in Pyongyang, but that was not enough to solve the shortage. Department stores in Pyongyang are running out of imported goods, and open-air markets are short on commodities as a stricter lockdown was imposed again in July. Many drug stores have closed down as they have no medicines to sell.

Third, today, under the Sign category of TURMOIL IN THE MIDDLE EAST — According to The Times of Israel, After Israel projected the Lebanese flag on the side of the Tel Aviv municipality, many Lebanese took to social media on Wednesday to express their ire over the attempted gesture of solidarity with the victims of the previous night’s Beirut [BAY-ROOT] port explosion. The blast, which was apparently caused by the ignition of 2,750 metric tons of ammonium nitrate, has claimed at least 135 lives, and left over 5,000 injured and 300,000 homeless. One Twitter user wrote, “Sure, they’re raising our flag now, but soon enough they’ll destroy our country and violate our country’s sovereignty.” Israel announced Tuesday night that it had reached out to offer humanitarian aid to Lebanon after the massive blast rocked Beirut [BAY-ROOT]. The disaster has pushed Lebanon, already laboring under an unprecedented economic crisis, to the brink, and hospitals have struggled to cope with the influx of injured. Using the hashtag “We don’t want it,” many Lebanese expressed their rejection of both Israeli solidarity and offers of medical aid. Some users — especially those supportive of Hezbollah — said that they hoped for violence, with one person writing, “We will be the ones to light up Tel Aviv — with our rockets.”

Fourth, today, under the Sign category of EARTHQUAKES IN DIVERS PLACES — According to Reuters, the Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute said a magnitude 5.7 earthquake shook southeast Turkey’s Malatya [MAH-LAH-TEE-YAH] province on Tuesday. It said that the quake struck at a depth of about 5 kilometres. Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Directorate said the quake was magnitude 5.2. The mayor of Puturge [PUH-TUR-GHEY], at the epicentre of the quake, told broadcaster CNNTurk it had caused some damage, but there were no immediate reports of casualties.

Fifth, today, under the Sign category of INCREASE IN KNOWLEDGE — According to Daily Mail, Elon Musk plans to link human brains to computers using tiny implants, but a new report warns the implants could leave us vulnerable to hackers. Speaking with Zdnet, Experts said cybercriminals can access these brain-computer interfaces to erase your skills and read thoughts or memories – a breach worse than any other system. To make the technology secure, systems need to ‘ensure that no unauthorized person can modify their functionality.’ This could mean using similar security protocols found in smartphones such as encryption to antivirus software. Musk has been working on his startup Neuralink since 2016, which he says will one day allow human brains to interface with computers – in order to avoid our species from being outpaced by artificial intelligence. The billionaire has claimed the brain-computer interface would help cure injuries, depression and other ailments that plague the human body.

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The prophetic passage of Scripture that we are looking at today is Ezekiel 36-37. Ezekiel 36:20 reads: “And when they entered unto the heathen, whither they went, they profaned my holy name, when they said to them, These are the people of the Lord, and are gone forth out of his land.”

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.

However, it was the postexilic generation returning to Judah in 535 BC that faced the greatest theological challenge. God had brought back a remnant to rebuild Jerusalem and the temple, yet the majority of Israelites remained in exile (and continue to do so today). Were they meant to literally inherit the promises made by the former prophets? How could their experience of a meager return to a land still under foreign domination, while the majority of their fellow Jews remained outside the land, be considered a restoration? How could the temple they rebuilt, which was financed by a foreign government and erected under duress over an insufferable number of years, and which was pitiable by comparison to the temple of the past, fulfill the great vision they had been given? When would Messiah arrive to regather the Jews in the Diaspora, conquer Israel’s enemies, and restore Jerusalem?

These were the theological questions Ezekiel’s prophecies needed to address while encouraging the nation to seek the Lord and not lose heart over their present circumstances. In answer to these concerns, chapter 36 outlines the promise, purpose, procedure, and performance of the New Covenant to reverse the condition of divine profanation and vindicate the holiness of Israel’s God before the world. Chapter 37 complements the theological explanation of spiritual regeneration presented in 36:25-27 with its anatomical analogy of national physical and spiritual rebirth in 37:1-14. Whereas chapter 36 is primarily concerned with the theological dilemma of restoring God’s reputation through Israel despite its scandalous history, the last section of chapter 37 is concerned with the resolution of two great theological crises in Israel’s history: the division of the 12 tribes into two kingdoms (Judah and Israel/Ephraim) in verses 15-25 and the loss of God’s presence from the temple with the departure of the Shekinah glory in verses 26-28.

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 John Piper. He said, “The center of Christianity is the coming of the Son of God into the world as a real man to destroy the works of the devil and create a new people for His own glory. The very heart of our faith is that He did this by obeying the law of God, dying for the sins of His people, rising victorious over death, ascending to God’s right hand with all His enemies under his feet. The second coming of Christ is the completion of His saving work. If you take it away, the whole fabric of His saving work unravels.”

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.