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Book Update, Prayer for the Persecuted, and the Second Coming

Just a quick update to let you know that "The Sifted Generation" has now been published!!

This book is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble
Thomas Nelson - WestBow Press, and your favorite online bookstore.

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I am asking that you make a commitment to pray for those who are being severely persecuted around the world. Christians cannot turn a blind eye to the atrocities that are happening. My heart weeps continually for these modern day Christian martyrs who continue to stand strong for Christ. In Luke 4 Jesus made an interesting revelation. He said:

Luke 4:18-19 (NASB) 18  "THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED,

19  TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD."

Just as He fulfilled that prophecy to the letter so the time is soon coming that the last part of the prophecy (the part that Jesus did not quote) will be fulfilled as well. You can find it in Isa. 61, the very location He was quoting from. In bold text below is the continuation of the passage:

To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, 

  
To grant those who mourn in Zion, Giving them a garland instead of ashes, The oil of gladness instead of mourning, The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified (Isaiah 61:2-3)

I highlighted what is next because very soon the vengeance of God will be meted out on all of those godless Christ hating and bloodthirsty murderers who are taking lives by the thousands in the Middle East and Africa. Once the vengeance has ceased then He will return and complete the job at Armageddon and then the oil of gladness will be given out and all who mourned will be comforted. At that day praise to God will ring out and all of the plantings of the Lord will be blessed beyond measure. To wit, all believers who have trusted Jesus with their lives.

In Luke again, this time chapter 18, Jesus tells the story of the unjust judge. This judge was heartless in his disgust for the things of God and did not concern himself with the cares of mankind. Yet in the parable he finally gives in to the relentless cries of a widow who was asking for justice. This parable has been preached all around the world for centuries on end yet so often the meaning for why Christ told it is left out. See for yourself:

Luke 18:1-8 (NASB) 1
 Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart,
2  saying, "In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not respect man.
3  "There was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, 'Give me legal protection from my opponent.'
4  "For a while he was unwilling; but afterward he said to himself, 'Even though I do not fear God nor respect man,
5  yet because this widow bothers me, I will give her legal protection, otherwise by continually coming she will wear me out.'"
6  And the Lord said, "Hear what the unrighteous judge *said;
7  now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them?
8  "I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?"

Note the final verse. "When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?" Like the widow who persistently waited for the judge as he delayed her answer so it is with the coming of Christ. Jesus is plainly telling us there will be a delay but we are not to lose hope. Soon He will return and all the pain and misery we see in the world will end. Truly it will be a glorious day!

God Bless

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