PROPHETIC SIGNIFICANCE:
Heard any good news lately? Prophecy comprises about one-third of the Bible, and believe it or not, most of it is good news! The prophecies
of the first coming of Messiah were certainly good news. And the massive amount of Bible teaching about the Millennial age and beyond,
is unquestionably positive!
But admittedly, much of "end-time prophecy" is depressing. We should remember that Jesus called this phase of
the future "labor pains." Just as the birth of a baby is preceeded by difficult and painful labor, the birth of the Millenium, and after
that, the glorious New Heaven and Earth, is preceeded by the Tribulation.
We need to balance our study of prophecy with a reminder that God is still on His throne. He is the loving, all-powerful creator and the
designer of our incredible salvation.
The Gospel is the "Good News." The Bible is His love letter to us. The incredible Creation is His handicraft. The Family is His idea.
Israel is still His chosen people. And the Church is the greatest expression of His power and purpose during this age.
Additionally, the Bible tells us repeatedly not to be afraid! So let's check out the good news today!
Dec. 31, 2013 - Joseph Farah, editor of WND, says he is happy on this New Year's Eve. He asks himself why he is "popping the champagne corks and
throwing streamers around the house?" He asks...
Is it because things can’t get any worse?
Absolutely not.
In fact, things can get much worse.
He goes on to list many issues that could make 2014 a very bad year: the economy, corrupt government, the crisis in healthcare, instability in the world...
But Farah sees a silver lining in those dark clouds. He reminds us that "God is in control. And He has provided us with a clear prescription for turning
things around." He quotes 2 Chronicles 7:14,
“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will
I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
If believers will memorize that verse and follow its advice, he says 2014 can be a year of revival and miracles.
Oct. 22, 2013 -The creators of the successful television miniseries "The Bible" are working on a full-length feature film.
A movie adaption of "The Bible," called "Son of God" and highlighting the life of Jesus Christ, has been purchased by 20th Century Fox,
which will release it to theaters nationwide on Feb. 28.
Hollywood is reportedly in the process of making other Biblical movies as well.
Oct. 9, 2013 - Christians from all over the world gathered in Jerusalem to pray for the peace of God's Chosen People. They
were celebrating the 10th annual Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem. The event was broadcast around the world by God TV, which reaches
900 million homes.
They were cheering the Jews in the audience, singing in Hebrew, and proclaiming God’s love for the Jewish people and the Jewish state.
The writer of this article says that this scene would have been unimaginable throughout the vast majority of Jewish history. Ne noted that
"The diverse crowd was confident, joyous, articulate, and unashamed of its belief in the Bible as the literal word of God and its support
for the Jewish people and the state of Israel."
Sept. 15, 2013 - An unlikely trio of male singers from Puerto Rico, South Korea and New York shocked the judges on the "America's Got
Talent" program with their performance of a classical worship song, "Pie Jesu." The event was the first time they had sung together in person. They
had met and practiced on the Internet.
Two thousand American missionaries visited every capital city in Honduras this past Saturday to preach the Gospel and proclaim the emergence
of a new nation. . .Missions.Me organized the massive event called "One Nation One Day."
More than a million booklets were distributed with the biblical message of salvation. It is hoped that the event will help reduce poverty and
crime in the nation. Its second largest city, San Pedro Sula, is called the murder capital of the world.
President Porfirio Lobo-Sosa declared the day a national holiday.
July 12, 2013 - A law enacted in Illinois 18 years ago was finally verified as constitutional by the state supreme court in a
unanimous decision.
The state’s Parental Notice of Abortion Act was adopted in 1995, but never enforced until now. It requires a parent or guardian to be
notified at least 48 hours before a child under the age of 18 undergoes an abortion.
Tom Brejcha, president of the Thomas More Society, called it a huge victory for the rights of parents.
Jun. 4, 2013 - At a celebration of Henry Kissinger's 90th birthday, Senator John McCain thanked him sincerely for his role in
ending the captivity of American POW's in Viet Nam's "Hanoi Hilton." The Vietnamese had offered to release him early because his father was
about to be promoted to admiral, but he refused to leave the others. When Kissinger came to Hanoi to conclude the agreement that would end
America’s war in Vietnam, he was told that he could take McCain back to the U.S.
He refused the offer. 'Commander McCain will return in the same order as the others,' he told them."
McCain told the gathering, "Henry saved my reputation, my honor, my life, really. And I’ve owed him a debt ever since."
Christian broadcaster SAT-7, which transmits programs to the Middle East and North Africa, recently launched its own YouTube Live channel,
dramatically expanding its evangelistic reach by use of the latest technology, the media organization announced this week.
The ARABIC channel on YouTube (both live and videotaped) has had 10 million views since its creation in 2008. While people in Middle East countries
can receive the satellite broadcasts directly, the YouTube posts will make content available to Arabic viewers in other places like the U.S. and
Canada.
May 8, 2013 - Hannah Gay, a pediatrician and former Southern Baptist missionary to Ethiopia has apparently found a cure for a
baby born with the AIDS virus. She joins the ranks of many other current and former medical missionaries who have made breakthroughs in medicine.
Read about their work with cancer, leprosy, and other medical issues. The Southern Baptist Convention's International Mission Board reports an
all-time high of 300 medical missionaries on the field.
Apr. 25, 2013 - Join the call for a nationwide day of prayer, fasting and humility on Sept. 11, 2013.
Imagine thousands of churches opening their doors to millions of worshippers who heartily confess their sins, seek forgiveness and pray for
salvation and redemption and the restoration of our country.
Apr. 18, 2013 -
Looking out the window from my workspace at home I see an incredibly beautiful mountain view. It’s a bright and glorious day!
But when I turn on the television, everything becomes dark and gloomy. Terrorism at the Boston Marathon, Ricin-laced letters to government
officials, a horrendous explosion at a fertilizer plant in Texas, nuclear developments in Iran, threats from North Korea…
Should I leave the TV off, and just pretend that everything is the way it seems at my window? Or I should I close the shades and get my view
of the world from the TV?
Fortunately I have another source of information between the two. My Bible is open on the table, and in it I see that darkness does exist, and
it may be getting worse, but it can never overcome the light! The Gospel of John starts this way:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all
things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The
light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.– John 1:1-4 (NIV)
The global media organization Trans World Radio (TWR) said that within less than two years they will be able to deliver Christian
content to nearly 60 percent of the people in the world in their own language.
TWR is the largest media ministry in the world. For the past 60 years they have used various radio bands, including short wave, to reach people all
over the world, including countries that are closed to Christianity. They plan to integrate radio, the Internet, and smart phone technology.
They will also employ the latest automated language translation technology. At first they will use five languages – English, Spanish, Mandarin,
Arabic, and Russian. At that point they will be able to reach 28 percent of the world's population in their first language A year later they
will employ 17 languages and will potentially reach 58 percent of the world's population in their first language or heart language.
