Tag: Bible

The Unsettled Middle East

~ Randy Harris ~ Leave a comment

As always it seems the chaos of the Middle East leads my concerns for the upcoming weeks. Israel is still trying to consolidate their victories, U.S. still seems to be reaching toward the Arabs, Muslim etc. for deals and investments. Not sure I would want to get in bed with radicals. Trump seems not to notice their bad behavior. Deals made, but no money yet? All eyes will continue to be on Jerusalem that, as Bible prophecy indicates, is a stone of stumbling for the nations. Iran’s still a threat, Hezbollah still not disarmed, and Hamas still playing the same old games. Will we never learn? No, I don’t think so. Deals with deceit will never work. Time to unleash the firepower and finish the job. We are almost back where we started. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Content below taken from http://www.billkoenig.com

Trump, Netanyahu, the UN, and Iran: A High-Risk Week for Israel

This was one of the most geopolitically consequential weeks of the year for Israel, marked by unusual U.S. messaging, UN momentum against Israeli sovereignty, and large-scale military posturing by Iran. As the region reconfigures itself politically and militarily, Israel faces a tightening strategic environment that will require clarity, resolve, and decisive policy judgment.

Trump Pushes for Netanyahu Pardon — While Warning Israel on Syria

Former U.S. President Donald Trump continued publicly calling for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to be pardoned of all charges related to his ongoing corruption trials in Israel. Trump framed the cases as politically motivated, urging closure for the sake of Israeli stability and unity.

However, the tonal contrast of the week was unmistakable.

Even as Trump advocated for Netanyahu’s legal relief, he personally warned Israel not to intervene militarily inside Syria, signaling that Washington does not want Israeli action disrupting sensitive regional balances — particularly where Russian, Iranian, and Syrian forces intersect.

This dual posture — unconditional rhetorical support for Netanyahu as an individual, paired with caution toward Israeli military activity — reflects Trump’s realpolitik approach: transactional, flexible, and often unscripted. For Israel, it presents both opportunity and risk.

Strong backing for Netanyahu is politically valuable, but a U.S. administration urging operational restraint in Syria could create strategic handcuffs precisely when Iran is embedding itself deeper across the northern theater.

UN Empowered Through Gaza Deal — and Moves Against Golan Heights

Trump’s Gaza stabilization plan has effectively re-elevated the United Nations into a central role in Gaza administration and long-term conflict architecture. The UN, after years of diminished influence, is suddenly positioned again as a gatekeeper for post-conflict arrangements.

The consequences were immediate.

This week, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution calling for Israel’s withdrawal from the Golan Heights — one of the most strategically vital security buffers Israel possesses. The timing could not be more significant:

• A UN empowered by the Gaza framework

• A UN resolution targeting sovereignty over the Golan

• An international system once again conditioned to pressure Israel

For decades, the Golan Heights has been Israel’s northern shield — the high ground preventing Syrian and Iranian forces from threatening Galilee. A UN-backed withdrawal demand signals that international campaigns to erode Israel’s territorial legitimacy are escalating again.

Trump’s deal may have been designed for stabilization, but its practical outcome is that the UN now possesses renewed authority to define territorial questions, which historically has not favored Israel.

The Strategic Danger of Non-Ideological Foreign Policy

Unlike administrations with clearly defined pro-Israel ideological foundations, Trump’s foreign policy operates on pragmatic deal-flow, not doctrinal alignment. That flexibility can generate agreements — Abraham Accords proved that — but it also risks exposing Israel to rapid shifts in U.S. posture.

Non-ideological diplomacy means alliances are fluid, conditional, and transactional.

This week demonstrated that fluidity. Support for Netanyahu’s pardon suggests closeness. Warnings on Syria and a UN-empowering Gaza framework signal distance. Together, these create uncertainty — and uncertainty is a battlefield advantage for Iran, Hezbollah, and the UN diplomatic bloc.

Israel is entering a moment where the greatest threat may not be military — but diplomatic isolation combined with strategic ambiguity from its closest ally.

Iran Simulates War — and Threatens 2,000-Missile Barrage

Iran, sensing the moment, staged large-scale military exercises in the Gulf of Oman, firing ballistic and cruise missiles at simulated targets designed to reflect wartime conditions.

Just weeks ago, Iranian officials warned that if war with Israel erupts, Tehran would unleash 2,000 missiles at the same time — a saturation attack intended to overwhelm Iron Dome, David’s Sling, Arrow, and the multilayer missile defense grid.

The 12-day war already demonstrated what smaller barrages can achieve. Two thousand simultaneous launches would represent a magnitude beyond anything Israel has ever faced.

Iran is signaling capability, intent, and confidence.

Northern Front — Israel vs. Hezbollah

In the shadow of Iran’s drills, Israel continued striking Hezbollah infrastructure inside Lebanon, targeting launch sites, weapons depots, and command channels. Hezbollah is relentlessly working to reconstitute its arsenal and precision-missile capacity, seeking parity or superiority in a future war.

Israel, fully aware of this trajectory, is racing to degrade Hezbollah faster than Hezbollah can rebuild.

This is a detention-attrition cycle — but one inch away from a regional ignition point.

Prophetic News Updates

~ Randy Harris ~ Leave a comment

Below are a few articles of interest. I hope you enjoy and have a wonderful blessed day in the Lord. Remember you were born for such a time as this. Maranatha!

White House

Fox News Host Laura Ingraham Clashes With Trump in Fiery Interview

November 11, 2025

Source: Daily Beast

Host Laura Ingraham repeatedly butted heads with President Donald Trump in a fiery interview on Fox News.

Trump, 79, appeared on Fox’s The Ingraham Angle on Monday, but did not get the usual easy ride he might expect on the conservative network. Before the interview had even aired, it wasn’t looking good for the president.

Ingraham previewed the episode with a video posted on her Facebook page at 5 p.m. Monday, filmed with Trump in the Oval Office. Referring to his beloved gold embellishments, the host asked, “So these aren’t from Home Depot?”

For full article: Daily Beast

Turkey issues ‘genocide’ arrest warrants against Netanyahu and other Israeli officials

November 7, 2025

Source: CNN

Turkey on Friday issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and dozens of other Israeli officials on “genocide” charges.

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office said it has issued warrants against 37 people. Besides Netanyahu, warrants target Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and military chief Eyal Zamir, among others.

The warrants charge the Israeli officials with “crimes against humanity” and “genocide” committed in Gaza and against the flotilla carrying aid to the enclave, according to the prosecutor’s office. That flotilla was intercepted by Israeli authorities last month.

For full article: CNN

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Ukraine

Major corruption scandal engulfs top Zelensky allies

November 12, 2025

Source: BBC

Ukraine’s energy and justice ministers have resigned in the wake of a major investigation into corruption in the country’s energy sector.

President Volodymyr Zelensky called for Energy Minister Svitlana Grynchuk and Justice Minister Herman Halushchenko’s removal on Wednesday.

On Monday anti-corruption bodies accused several people of orchestrating a embezzlement scheme in the energy sector worth about $100m (£76m), including at the national nuclear operator Enerhoatom.

Some of those implicated in the scandal are – or have been – close associates of Zelensky’s.

For full article: BBC

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Random Thoughts 9/24/25

~ Randy Harris ~ Leave a comment

For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy: The true spirit of prophecy always shows itself in bearing witness to Jesus. “Any teaching of prophecy that takes our minds and hearts away from Him is not being properly communicated.” (Hocking)

i. “This means that prophecy at its very heart is designed to unfold the beauty and loveliness of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” (Valvoord). Never receive a word or believe a word without it being based on the Word of God. Too many wannabe’s out there. Be careful, and be not deceived. Rh

Revelation 19:15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword: The idea isn’t that Jesus holds a sword in his mouth like a buccaneer, or that He is “spitting swords.” This is a dramatic way of referring to the power of His Word. “Christ conquers by the power of His Word” (Johnson). Five times in the Book Revelation, John emphasizes that Jesus’ sword comes out of His mouth. Once against it’s all about the Word, Psa. 138:2, John 1:1 Rh

Revelation 16:6-9 And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.” I long for that day to sit in a Heavenly feast with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Rh

Moral Values

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Righteousness exalts a nation, 

But sin is a disgrace to any people. Proverbs 14:3

The founding of America was based on Judeo-Christian values.  Morality, acknowledgment of an Almighty God.  Our founders thought morally, with a Biblical worldview.  Edmund Burke (1729-1797) put the matter well in his famous statement: ”All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.”  Most Christians understand that America is in a serious state of moral, social, cultural, and especially political decline.  This implies that America has fallen from a better situation to a worse situation.  As Christians we recognize a connection between a country’s religious faith and its adherence to the Word of God.  We have fallen because we have turned our back as a nation from Almighty God to a god of our own making. Let me share a warning before I go further, “The wicked will return to Sheol; Even all the nations who forget God” (Psalms 9:17).

Previously I stated we have made our own gods, (small g) which are not gods at all but we place them just as Israel did, before our worship and recognition of the Lord.  We have chosen the god of self.  We do as we please, following “our heart”, except the Bible says our “heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Jeremiah 17:9.  We worship the god of prosperity and pride.  We worship the god of pleasure, if it feels good we do it.  Morality is not an absolute, but just merely a suggestion on how to live.  Today we aren’t even sure if the Bible is true, or If it even matters since many don’t believe in the Lord, except the one that gives them freedom to live as they wish.

Climate change is also a religion that puts the creation above the creator.  Mankind destroying the environment is not settled fact, however we must tax and buy carbon credits (penance) to escape our doom.  I could go on forever.  Let’s not forget evolution, a baby is a fetus etc.  

We can look back on our history and realize that we have been greatly influenced by our Christian faith.  We have never officially been a Christian Republic, but those roots run deep in our past prosperity.  Unfortunately, our national situation is much different today.  Barack Obama (while Senator and later as President) has repeatedly sought to distance America from its Christian heritage.  In 2006, he stated that “whatever we once were, we are no longer a Christian nation.”  In 2007 in Turkey of all places, he stated ”we do not consider ourselves a Christian nation.”  This might be the only statement BHO ever said that I could agree with, sadly.

We are in trouble until we accept the truth that we have sinned and turned our back on Jesus Christ.  Repentance and a turning away from sin is mandatory to renew morality in America.  God be merciful to us.

Laugh All You Want, The Rapture Is Not Escapism Or Fantasy… It’s Biblical

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ByGreg Laurie

August 21, 2025

Let’s start with the obvious: the Rapture sounds crazy. Jesus descends from Heaven, dead people rise from their graves, and living believers are suddenly caught up into the sky—like the world’s strangest episode of “Stranger Things.” Sounds like the stuff your uncle mutters about after three cups of church coffee. Except—it’s right there in Scripture. Paul says it. John says it. Jesus says it. The only ones who don’t are usually the skeptics writing editorials dismissing the very faith that gives us hope.

Opposing Views on the Rapture

Now, critics like to pounce: “But the word Rapture isn’t even in the Bible!” Congratulations, Sherlock. Neither are the words Trinity or even Bible. And yet, here we are, still believing in all three. The word comes from the Latin rapturus, which translates the Greek word harpazo—meaning “to snatch up, grab by force.” Imagine a parent reaching out and pulling their child away from danger just in time. That’s the picture Scripture gives us of the Rapture.

Some say, “Oh, the Rapture is just a modern invention, some 19th-century gimmick.” Nonsense. Yes, J.N. Darby helped popularize it in more recent times, but long before him, the early Church Fathers like Irenaeus and Cyprian wrote about believers being “snatched up” before judgment. It’s not new—it’s biblical. We also hear about the Rapture straight from Paul, Peter, James, and most importantly, Jesus Himself: “I will come again and receive you to myself.”

The most familiar passage on the Rapture is 1 Thessalonians 4:16–18: “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together (Greek word: harpazo, meaning ‘snatched up’) with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”

And if that sounds far-fetched, remember Enoch—who literally walked off the face of the earth into God’s presence—and Elijah, who rode to Heaven in a fiery chariot. The prototypes are already in the Old Testament.

Why This Matters

Here’s why this isn’t just a fun theological parlor game: the Rapture gives hope. Paul calls it the “blessed hope.” When you’ve buried a loved one, you don’t need vague talk about them being “in a better place.” You need the solid promise that in one split second, you’ll be with them again. Parents reunited with children. Husbands with wives. Brothers and sisters together again. And at the center of it all—Jesus Christ Himself.

And it does more than comfort grief. It motivates godliness. If you really believe Jesus could return at any moment, maybe don’t binge sin like it’s Netflix. You wouldn’t invite your best friend into a house piled with dirty laundry and Taco Bell wrappers. Don’t greet your Savior that way either. You want to be ready—walking with Him, keeping your spiritual house in order.

Of course, there’s always the circus clowns with their calendars: “88 Reasons Jesus Will Return in 1988!” They were wrong, just like every other date-setter before or since. Jesus made it pretty clear: “No one knows the day or the hour.” Which, funnily enough, includes you, me, and that guy on YouTube with the chart and the whiteboard. The Rapture isn’t about prediction—it’s about preparation.

The Takeaway

So, what do we do with all this? We wake up. We stay alert. We stop living like the world is a Vegas buffet that never closes. Paul said: “The night is almost gone, the day of salvation is soon here.” Translation: time is short. Knock it off. If you’re a believer, live clean, live holy, live hopeful. If you’re not—well, get right or get left.

Because one day, maybe in our lifetime, maybe tonight—in a blink, in the twinkling of an eye—everything changes. Loved ones raised. The Church caught up. Judgment delayed until after the Bride has been rescued.

It’s not escapism. It’s not fantasy. As C.S. Lewis reminded us, looking forward to the eternal world is one of the things a Christian is meant to do.

So, laugh if you want. Roll your eyes. Write your snarky post. But when it happens—when the shout comes, when the trumpet blows—mockery won’t matter. Only hope will.

AI Jesus; Have It Your Way

~ Randy Harris ~ Leave a comment

Jesus told us, Paul told us, and now we are witnessing a new phenomenon that is a fore shadow of the time of the end.  You don’t have to be a doomsday preacher or an end times Prophet to know we are headed for grave times.  Confusion and a compromised Gospel along with your personal Jesus.  Ask him anything, this false Jesus will tell you what you want to hear, soften sin, and make you feel special.  AI generated Jesus is all the rage.

In a recent article by “Study Finds,” the number of AI generated programs that are claiming to be Jesus are only continuing to grow. As Study Finds noted, these artificial intelligent impersonators of Jesus are chatbots that are acting as though they are “…the Son of God, offering spiritual guidance, answering prayers and even taking confessions from believers.”

Some of the AI bots included Virtual Jesus, AI Jesus, Ask Jesus, Jesus AI and Text with Jesus.  The scary part is that their algorithms are used to gauge reaction so as to make sure and soften hard and critical responses to make them more appealing to the questioners.  It’s a have it your way kind of gospel that is being presented.  

These growing platforms have not been introduced to the public through churches or Christian organizations, but rather from for profit businesses. It gives you a “popular theology,” not one based on the true Word of God.  It’s the personal God attitude that is present in our society today.  We want love and acceptance to make us feel good in our beliefs and actions, not the hard truth of scriptures.

Counterfeit voices leading lukewarm Christians down a path of destruction.  Have it your war, but the outcome won’t be what you imagine.  

Jesus said ““Enter at the narrow gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who are going through it, because small is the gate and narrow is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭MEV‬‬

Faith without Works

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Faith without work cannot be called faith.  Faith that works is dead” (James 2:26), and a dead faith is worse than no faith at all. Faith must work; it must produce; it must be visible. Verbal faith is not enough; mental faith is insufficient. Faith must be there, but it must be more. It must inspire action. Throughout his epistle to Jewish believers, James integrates true faith and every day practical experience by stressing that true faith must manifest itself in works of faith.

Faith endurance trials. Trials come and go, but a strong faith will face them head on and develop endurance. Faith understands temptations. It will not allow us to consent to our list and slide into sin. Faith obeys the word. It will not merely hear and not do. Faith produces doers. Faith harbors no prejudice. For James, faith and favoritism cannot coexist. Faith displays itself and works. Faith is more than words; it is more than knowledge; it is demonstrated by obedience; and it overtly responds to the promises of God. Faith controls the tongue. This small, but immensely powerful part of the body must be held in check. Faith can do that. Faith acts wisely. It gives us the ability to choose wisdom that is heavenly and to shun wisdom that is earthly. Faith produces separation from the world and submission to God. It provides us with the ability to resist the devil and humbly draw near to God. Finally, faith waits patiently for the coming of the Lord. Through trouble and trial it stifles complaining.

Let us strive for the faith that James describes in his short book. James is the blue jeans theology of the Bible. Put your jeans on to strive for Godly faith. 

Memorial Day Weekend

~ Randy Harris ~ Leave a comment

Sitting here on a peaceful Saturday morning thinking of the upcoming weekend.  Let us not forget those who sacrificed all they had to serve our country.  Not only those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, but also those who because of injury are still suffering through a living hell.  My great appreciation for those who have a special dedication and calling to defend and protect the United States of America.  They deserve our highest honor and respect.  Praying for the family members who lost loved ones.  How difficult that must be.

As a young boy getting out of high school I was torn about the military.  The VietNam war was not only winding down, but a peace deal was in place.  Having heard the horrors of that undeclared war and the suffering it caused probably shaped me more than I knew at the time. My best friend and I almost joined the Air Force.  We definitely thought long and hard about it.  In the long run we decided it was not our life choice.  Looking back I wonder how different I would have been if that decision had been made to sign up.  We just never know….

The old adage is correct that they are only two people who would die for others, Jesus Christ and the American soldier.  The Bible says “that scarcely for a righteous man will one die, yet perhaps for a good man some would even dare to die.”  Jesus did that for us, He died even for those who hated Him and despised Him. One brought us everlasting life and the other paid a price they did not owe.  Thank you!  We are safer today and have a country that even with it’s problems is still the greatest country in the world. Our freedoms and liberties are safe guarded by those who today serve and defend those who really don’t deserve such dedication. 

For all those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, we salute you and honor your memory.  May the Lord bring comfort and peace to all families who lost a loved one.  Your sacrifice is not forgotten.  Rh