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 preceded by difficult and painful labor, the birth of the Millennium, and after
that, the glorious New Heaven and Earth, is preceded 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. 29, 2016 - The Washington Post and other news sources reveal that prayer will be an important part of the presidential inauguration
on Jan. 20th.
Evangelical leaders Franklin Graham and Samuel Rodriguez will take the stage alongside Donald Trump at his presidential inauguration next month.
The pair are among a half dozen clergy who will participate in the Trump administration’s kickoff in Washington.
Dec. 26, 2016 - Republican Chairman Reince Priebus issued a brief statement about Christmas. He said that new hope was born into the
world more than two thousand years ago...
"... a Savior who would offer the promise of salvation to all mankind. Just as the three wise men did on that night, this Christmas heralds a
time to celebrate the good news of a new King."
The comment was criticized on social media, thinking that he was suggesting that President-elect Trump will be a new king. However, RNC spokesman
Sean Spicer said that the reference was not about Trump, but about Christ. He told CNN, “Christ is the King in the Christian faith.”
Dec. 21, 2016 - In recent years "Happy Holidays" has been the generally accepted greeting of the season, but Donald Trump's campaign had an impact on the issue.
In June he began to encourage people to return to the traditional greeting. He said, “Boy, do I mean it—we’re going to be saying ‘Merry Christmas,’ ”
The Public Religion Research Institute found 67 percent of Republicans don’t think it’s necessary for businesses to ditch a Christmas greeting for “happy holidays.”
The Islamic Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has switched from the lunar-based Islamic calendar, which starts with the emigration of Muhammad from Mecca to Medina, to the
"Western" Gregorian calendar, named after Pope Gregory XIII and based on Jesus Christ's birth.
Dec. 18, 2016 - Many of the most-loved Christmas Carols, full of inspiring theological truth, came from the early days of America and
the Great Awakening.
“Hark! the Herald Angels Sing” was first published in 1739, and then published in George Whitefield’s “Collection of Hymns for Social Worship” in 1754.
Other examples are "Joy to the World," and "O Come, All Ye Faithful."
Dec. 16, 2016 - In the wake of the news that approximately one-quarter of the users of Facebook have posted "fake news"-- stories that
have false content, but appear to be legitimate-- the website will begin efforts to check the truth of stories and deal with offenders. They will
enlist the help of fact-checking organizations like Snopes.
If a story is categorized as from a news source, Facebook says, it will be eligible to be sent to third-party fact-checking
organizations. “This is still early days for these tests, and we’ll continue to learn."
Dec. 9,, 2016 - Dedra Shannon, a student at Texas' Patterson Middle School, put her Christmas poster up, featuring Linus, a scrawny tree and a
statement about the true meaning of Christmas from "A Charlie Brown Christmas":
“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a savior which is Christ the Lord. That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown,” Linus said.
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Dedra's fellow-students and teachers appreciated the poster, but the principal told her to take it down or remove the religious content. At that point, the state's
Attorney General stepped in, reminding the administration of a 2013 “Merry Christmas” law that says no school official in Texas can silence a Biblical reference to Christmas.
Nov. 6, 2016 - The Chicago Cubs player who drove home the winning run in the last inning of the World Series says that winning isn't the most important thing.
Ben Zobrist was awarded the World Series Most Valuable Player Award and a new Chevrolet Camaro convertible, but he says that his true prize
comes through his faith and sharing the love of Jesus Christ.
Oct. 23, 2016 - Movie critic Luke Y. Thompson gives a balanced assessment of the latest offering from Pure-Flix.
I’m Not Ashamed is a faith-based movie worthy of some praise, and based on the sobbing sniffles surrounding me in that mall theater,
works like a charm with the audience it’s meant for.
Oct. 21, 2016 - Atheists object to the portrayal of a conversation between Rachel Scott and the two perpetrators of the Columbine massacre
in the new movie about the columbine shooting.
Sadie Robertson, who portrays Scott in "I'm Not Ashamed," - "Many people worry so much about what people will say about them so they refuse to stand up for their beliefs."
Speaking in Latin, Francis said that "after due deliberation and frequent prayer for divine assistance, and having sought the
counsel of many of our brother bishops, we declare and define Blessed Teresa of Calcutta to be a saint.
Source: CNN
How Mother Teresa Changed Missions - Christianity Today
Every outreach-oriented believer should know the secret of the 'Saint of Calcutta.' - Rebecca Samuel Shah - Christianity Today
Editor's note: "Saint" means "sanctified, "or "set apart." As such, the Bible declares that all true Christians are saints, and are often addressed in this way
by the Apostle Paul in the introduction to his Epistles to various churches. However, we do wish to honor the life and work of Mother Teresa, and agree that she is a wonderful example of
Christian virtue and esceptional service to the poor. My sister, Joan Clucas wrote a children's book about her exceptional life story. And my wife Barbara and I stopped by the
Scripps Hospital in San Diego when she was very ill to pray for her recovery. She sent a thank-you note to us, and undoubtedly the others who prayed for her there.
Harvest Crusade, the Southern California evangelical Christian institution that has drawn more than 5 million people
around the world, is expected to attract huge crowds to Angel Stadium again this week.
Aug. 12 2016 - A new version of the epic movie "Ben Hur" opens this Friday.
It’s hard to top the birth of Christ, the Roman empire, the Holy Land, galleys at ramming speed, the most famous chariot race in
movie history, the Valley of the Lepers, and, yes, Christ’s crucifixion.
June 7, 2016 - "Life Just Got Real," a new fiction book by outspoken Christian teenager Sadie Robertson, will hopefully help other
girls through the struggles that they face.
Sadie Robertson was 14-years-old when her family was plunged into the spotlight with their hit A&E reality show "Duck Dynasty."
May 25, 2016 - From July 7 to 9, The Bridge Conference will focus on the persecuted Church.
Jeff King, president of International Christian Concern says that God is moving in the Middle East.
While it seems like the Church is disappearing because of persecution by radical Islam, King says God is moving in the
Middle East and the gospel "is on fire."
Maybe it’s harder to observe from a land of ecclesiastical decline like the United States, but globally, the church is growing—and has been, in fact, since its foundation.
Muslims all over the region are coming to faith in Christ. What’s more, they’re willing to suffer persecution for the Lord Jesus Christ
in part because they see a great harvest of other Muslims.
May 18, 2016 - A new six-year study by the American Bible Society (ABS) and Barna Group reveals good news and bad news
about "Millennials" (born between 1984 and 1998- current ages 18 to 32).
Unfortunately, more than half (55%) are “Bible-neutral” or “Bible-skeptical.” However, Millennials who go to church regularly
tend to know the Bible better than older Christians.
Practicing Millennials are more likely to believe the Bible came from God and read it multiple times a week than any other generation (87%).
May 18, 2016 - A life-sized replica of Noah's Ark is being built in Kentucky. Creationist Ken Ham says
that it will be the biggest timber-frame structure in the U.S.
Ham said he hopes Ark Encounter, which will operate as a nonprofit subsidiary of Answers in Genesis, will
encourage "people to actually talk about the Bible and the message of Christianity."
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things
are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy-meditate on these things.
- Philippians 4:8
Unfortunately, most of the headlines here at Prophecy Central are negative. That is inevitable since our purpose is to track the progress
toward God's ultimate plans for the earth. Those plans are clearly revealed in Bible prophecies that certainly appear to be coming to pass right
before our eyes.
The wonderful reality about God's revealed plans is that Jesus Christ is coming back to earth to establish His Kingdom. He will rule in
righteousness over an indescribably fabulous age. The problem is that before He returns as King of Kings, the Earth must go through a dreadful
period of disasters known as "The Tribulation" (Matthew 24:9-28). And Jesus, who taught us about these coming trials, said there would even be
big problems in the generation leading up to the Tribulation. He called this period of time, "The beginning of sorrows [birth pains]" (Matthew 24:4-8).
This could very well be a reference to our own troubled times.
Looking for the good in every situation is not a denial of reality. It is the proper way for a Child of God to respond to the serious problems
we face. (Be sure you are a born-again member of God's family.)
Every shock, and every new installment of bad news, should cause us to consciously focus our attention on what God is allowing or doing in human
history. Things that look bad have a divine purpose (Romans 8:28). And God has given us supernatural resources to employ at times like these. He has
promised that believers will have supernatural wisdom (James 1:4), the peace that passes understanding (Philippians 4:6-7), His own love flowing
through them (Romans 5:5-8; 1 John 4:19), joy and the other qualities listed as the "Fruit of the Spirit." (Galatians 5:22-23)
Looking for the good in whatever is happening is not just positive thinking or self-help religion. We can recognize what is bad in this sinful
world, but by faith, we should remember that God is good, and He is in control.
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." - Romans 8:28
This is the Thanksgiving season. It would be a great time for each of us to see every personal or world-wide problem in the light of this command to look for the truth and goodness that can result from everything that happens.
After teaching about the Rapture of the Church and the destructive Tribulation (Philippians 4:13-5:11) the Apostle Paul wrote:
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
