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-For our prophecy update today, I would like to talk about something I believe confirms that we are closer to the rapture than any of us may think. -What I’m speaking of is the movement afoot to utterly destroy, not only the Jews, as God’s chosen people, but also the church His chosen bride. -At the close of last week’s prophecy update, we revisited Revelation 12:12, and in so doing, saw why it is, who it is, and how it is that it happens.

Revelation 12:12 NIV Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short."

-This verse along with a host of others in God’s Word, inform us and warn us that Satan will turn up the heat of his fury knowing his time is short. -It’s not so much that the devil is filled with fury, or anger, if you prefer, it’s more an issue of “why” he’s so furious, and “who” he’s so furious with. -I would suggest that the very fact Israel and the church have been the object of Satan’s wrath validates and authenticates the Jesus of the Bible.

-The reason I say that is because of what the Bible gives us as a litmus test by which to not be ignorant of Satan’s weapons of mass destruction. -Satan has three weapons in this arsenal, which are, the weapon of accusing, the weapon of confusing, and the worst one, the weapon of lying. -These three will be the big three in the last days, and we’re seeing him launch these weapons of mass destruction against Israel and the church.

-It’s for this reason that much of our time related to Bible Prophecy is focused one the nation of Israel whom we see as God’s prophetic clock. -However, if you really think about it, Satan’s strategy as it relates to the church is more time driven in that he has seven years less to attack it. -In other words, it stands to reason that his primary focus, in concert with the destruction of Israel, would chiefly be the destruction of the church.

Well, it appears that Satan is right on schedule in his attempt to destroy the church, and it’s evidenced by articles like the one published a couple of weeks ago on April 2nd in Newsweek’s cover story by Andrew Sullivan titled; “Forget the Church – Follow Jesus,” in which the writer says: “Christianity has been destroyed by politics, priests, and get-rich evangelists. Ignore them … and embrace Him [Jesus].” http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2012/04/01/andrew-sullivan-christianity-in-crisis.html

Brian Broderson of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa says it best in his blog writing that; “At first glance, it seems that Sullivan is hitting the nail on the head. For who among us wouldn’t agree that the church needs to avoid the entanglements of power, corruption, and greed and focus on Jesus? But as the article continues, you quickly begin to realize that the Jesus Sullivan is calling people to focus on is not the Jesus of the Bible, but the Jesus of Jefferson, that is, Thomas Jefferson. http://calvarychapel.com/blog/forget-the-church-

Quoting again from the Newsweek Article beneath a photo, he says; “Jefferson cut the “diamonds” of Christ’s teaching out of the “dunghill” of the New Testament.” http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2012/04/01/andrew-sullivan-christianity-in-crisis.html

Again, as Brian Broderson so aptly put it: “Jefferson greatly admired the moral and ethical teachings of Jesus, but he rejected the doctrines of the Trinity, the Deity of Christ, the Atonement, and the Resurrection. So in reality Jefferson invented his own version of the Christian faith, one free from things like miracles, substitutionary deaths, and bodily resurrections, and then claimed to be a real Christian. Thomas Jefferson was a one-man “Jesus Seminar.” … The Jesus who Andrew Sullivan wants people to follow is a figment of his own imagination. Although Sullivan says he believes in both the divinity and the resurrection of Christ, the picture he paints of Christ bears more resemblance to Buddha, Gandhi, or the Dalai Lama than to Jesus of Nazareth. …Simply stated, this is a different Jesus and a different gospel than the one we find in the pages of Scripture.” http://calvarychapel.com/blog/forget-the-church-

I got a kick out of Barry York’s blog in which he writes; “Forget Newsweek. Follow Jesus.” Here are a couple of excerpts from his article: “Like the perennial dandelions that pop up on lawns each spring, when Easter week rolls around you can expect Newsweek to put some form of Jesus being blasphemed on their cover. …if one wants to follow Jesus he cannot “forget the church.” Jesus shed His blood for the church. He was raised to give life to the church. … The church where Christ alone is preached and faith alone is practiced is a place where spiritual life is imparted and nurtured. Where the church is imparting spiritual life, she is a true mother to and of the people of God.” http://genref.wordpress.com/2012/04/04/forgetnewsweek-followjesus/

-At the beginning of the update I mentioned that the satanic attack on the Jews and the church is that which actually proves the Bible is the truth. -Here’s how I get there, Satan isn’t attacking Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, or any other religions because he counterfeits only what is genuine. -It’s for this reason that there’s no assault on the Qur’an, and it also explains why nobody has cut verses out of it or any other religious writings. -I have yet to hear anyone take the name name of Mohammed, or Buddah or anyone else in vain when they curse. It’s only the name of Jesus!

-I’ll take it a step further and suggest, this also explains why the Jews and Christian’s as Israel and the Church are being attacked so viciously. -Satan will accuse, so as to confuse in order to deceive the world to believe his lies as the father of lies, thus people won’t know what the truth is. -I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it’s only going to get worse, as the rapture draws close because Satan knows he’s running out of time.

-Let me hasten to say, as Jesus in Matthew 16:18 told Peter that He will not allow the gates of hell to prevail against the church that He has built. -However, just because Satan won’t prevail against the church doesn’t mean that there won’t be a battle against the church, or within the church. -While our battle is not against flesh and blood, it is against rulers, authorities, powers, and forces of evil, which we do well to not be ignorant of.

2 Corinthians 2:11 NKJV (11) lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.

Acts 20:28-31 NIV Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. (29) I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. (30) Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. (31) So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.