A Deal With Destruction

Romans 12:18 says we should aim to “live peaceably among all men.” However, that’s not always possible. Until the Lord Jesus Christ returns to set up His millennial kingdom, there will always be people influenced by demons who seek to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10).

This past Tuesday, President Obama announced a deal made with Iran that will supposedly curb their ambitions to make a nuclear weapon. Known officially as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the agreement would give Iran 24 days (not hours) to prepare for U. S.-led inspections of their nuclear facilities. This is comparable to a drug dealer given three weeks notice before the police search his home for illegal substances. Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu called the deal a “bad mistake of historic proportions.” Bible prophecy expert Perry Stone wrote on Facebook this “...may be the stupidest agreement with any nation, ever penned on paper...at least in my lifetime.”

This echoes an infamous treaty made in 1938. British prime minister Neville Chamberlain signed the Munich Agreement with Adolf Hitler and declared, “I have returned from Germany with peace for our time.” A year later, Hitler's armies triggered the start of World War II by invading Poland. Chamberlain’s successor Winston Churchill later said, “An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.”

Since their Islamic revolution in 1979, Iran has sponsored terrorist activities around the world including countless murders of American military personnel, diplomats, foreign aid workers and other civilians. Nevertheless, Iran will receive $150 billion in “sanctions relief” while they continue to hold American citizens captive.

Just as Hitler was vocal about his intentions toward European Jews and Christians, Iranian leaders have made repeated declarations to “wipe Israel off the map” and encourage their citizens to chant “Death to America!” This nuclear deal may help set the stage for an end times war prophesied in Ezekiel 38. Persia (the former name of Iran) is mentioned in verse 5 as one of the nations that will unsuccessfully attempt to conquer Israel.

Barring an Israeli airstrike or Congress blocking this deal, it will be a matter of time before Iran will be capable of exploding a nuclear missile over U. S. airspace. The resulting electromagnetic pulse could take out the nation’s power grid and disable our infrastructure. Some experts predict nine out of ten Americans would die within a year following an EMP attack. 1 Thessalonians 5:3 says, “For when they say, ‘Peace and safety!’ then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.”

Regardless of the present state of the world, protection and provision are available to God’s people. Make sure you are in right relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. You certainly don’t want to leave earth without Him!

“I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” - Psalm 4:8

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Toking the Ghost Revisited

Image
Back in February 2007, a fellow missionary I was traveling with started talking about “smoking the weed from heaven.”   He would pretend to have a joint of marijuana between his fingers and have “smoke breaks with Jesus.”   He also encouraged other believers to take “hits.”   I was a bit uncomfortable with this idea but didn't contest it. Then in October of that year, I heard John Crowder preach on “toking the Ghost” at a church in my hometown of Fargo, North Dakota.   I was inspired to make a video with John to share with my missionary friend.   During the filming, I experienced much laughter. I decided to make the video public figuring other people might enjoy it also. Two weeks later at a church in Minnesota, I heard Benjamin Dunn share testimonies of people getting healed from “toking the Ghost.”   This was just before he and John Crowder started ministering together.   I believed this was God confirming His word in the mouth of two or three witnesses.  
Read more

The Gospel Soul Winning Script

Image
During my early days with evangelism, I developed an approach called the Survey Technique . By asking short direct questions, you can maintain control of the conversation and find out quickly what a person’s spiritual beliefs are. Although the Survey Technique has helped me lead thousands to the Lord, I’m still open to utilizing new methods in reaching people with the gospel. Rodney Howard-Browne 's ministry uses a tool called the Gospel Soul-Winning Script , which originated during their Good News New York campaign in 1999. I became familiar with it a few years later during evangelism outreaches with Rodney’s church in Tampa, Florida. At first, I resisted using the script. I found it restrictive and thought sinners wouldn’t be receptive to me reading the whole thing to them. Then while taking part in a 2009 outreach with Rodney’s ministry in Washington, D.C., my team leader asked me to “stick with the script.” Wanting to maintain unity, I complied with his request. Initially it fe
Read more

A Tribute to Al Best

Image
October is Pastor Appreciation Month. This tribute is for one who went home to be with the Lord last Sunday. Al Best oversaw Light in Anoka Church in a northern suburb of Minneapolis. Originally from Florida, Al first gave his life to the Lord at 17 but then backslid. Meanwhile, he served 21 years in the Navy and worked various jobs. That included selling Rainbow vacuum cleaners. I would eventually get to know his sales manager. Eric Gonyon became an associate pastor at Rodney Howard-Browne ’s church (I usually attend services there when in Tampa).  A few years after recommitting his life to the Lord, Al became a pastor. In 2007, the Lord directed him to head north to Minnesota, where his wife Jean is from. First, they ministered in the small town of Dassel. What started as a youth mission transitioned into regular services for all ages. Then in 2016, Al and Jean moved to Anoka to take on a church originally called New Day Fellowship. To counter the city’s motto as the “Halloween Ca
Read more