CALVARY CHAPEL OF JONESBORO
  • HOME
  • Basics
    • Announcements
    • Giving
    • Who We Are
    • Just for Fun
  • Proverb a Day
  • Ministries
    • Children
    • Missions
    • Worship >
      • New Song Page
    • Youth
  • Biblical Stuff
    • Services
    • Articles
    • Apologetics Studies
    • A Call to Revival
    • Discipleship >
      • 1 - The Gospel
      • 2 - The Word
    • The Gospel
    • Links
  • Sign Up Area
  • Psalms For Life
  • Prophecy/News



​Prophecy/
​News

659 Possible Candidates for “Wormwood”

11/28/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
My guess is that you did not know that every year on June 30th there is an event called, “Asteroid Day.”  Most consider the thought that a situation like the one portrayed in the movie, “Armageddon” is highly unlikely.  Although a strike the size of the one depicted in that movie is very unlikely, one that is devastating in its effect is not.  The very date of Asteroid Day reminds us of this fact.  


Asteroid Day is celebrated on June 30th because on that date Tunguska, Siberia had an asteroid strike from an object less than 100 feet in diameter (imagine about an 7 to 8 story building as wide as it is high).  This happened in 1908.  One would think a strike like that would create damage - but when one looks at the extent of the damage, it is astounding what happened on that day. 


The Tunguska asteroid exploded before it actually hit the earth - at an altitude equal to that of commercial airliner (about 15,000 to 20,000 feet).  The explosion severely damaged an area around 800 square miles and flattened tens of millions of trees across the region.  The explosion was equal to that of a medium-sized hydrogen bomb - or several hundred times more powerful than the atomic explosion that hit Hiroshima.  The reports from this event listed no human casualties that we know - but several hundred reindeer were burned to little more than charred carcasses.  A more recent asteroid strike (much smaller than the Tunguska asteroid) hit the city of Chelyabinsk in Russia in 2013.  This event shattered windows for miles around the area and injured a thousand people or more.  


The reason all this information becomes important is because the Bible prophesies about two events that happen during the great tribulation.  In Revelation chapter 8 we read the following prophesy:  


Revelation 8:8-11 (NASB) 
8  The second angel sounded, and something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea; and a third of the sea became blood, 9  and a third of the creatures which were in the sea and had life, died; and a third of the ships were destroyed.   10  The third angel sounded, and a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of waters. 11  The name of the star is called Wormwood; and a third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the waters, because they were made bitter. 



These two events eerily sound like - and look like possible asteroid events.  Because of their close proximity to one another - some think that they could be two asteroid strikes that happen close to each other.  Both speak of astounding devastation brought to the earth - one involving the sea - and the other involving rivers and springs on the land.  Both involve descriptions of either a mountain or a star falling from the heavens - and are said to be burning with fire or like a torch.  These both follow the pattern that we know about what asteroids look like as they enter earth’s atmosphere.  For those of us who believe the Bible to be God’s inerrant revelation of Himself with a perfect record of prophetic fulfillment - these are not idle predictions.  They are eventual facts concerning what WILL happen.  What is fascinating right now, though, is the current things being done to avoid such a scenario.


Recently both NASA and FEMA had what they called a Planetary Protection Exercise that sought to simulate the earth being hit by a 330 foot asteroid hitting earth.  The exercise sought to simulate what would be needed if an asteroid strike happened in the Los Angeles area in the year 2020.  The exercise involved a simulation of a mass evacuation of the Los Angeles areas as well as dealing with casualties in the tens of thousands.  After the exercise Paul Chodas, the manager of NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., made it clear in an email that there was no significant chance of an asteroid of this size hitting earth in the next century.  The center does however, list 659 asteroids that have some probability of striking the planet. “Nevertheless,” Chodas added, “we must continue searching for asteroids in case there is one that is heading our way.”.


Although those in the Asteroid searching role state that there is little chance of a large asteroid hiding earth, some other interesting plans seem to be in motion now.  “Sentinel,” a proposed new space based B612 telescope, has been proposed.  It is intended to find asteroids about 450 feet wide, although it will also find many that are smaller. The mission would cost $450 million — $250 million to build the spacecraft and $200 million to operate it for a decade.  In another development NASA engineers and scientists detailed plans for a rocket that would seek to intercept harmful asteroids.  The rocket would be tipped with a B83 warhead that is about 75 times as powerful as the one that hit Hiroshima.  Other scientific studies suggest that a large rocket could be build to deflect off a smaller asteroid with the intended effect of causing the asteroid to veer into a different course that misses earth.   


All these things were merely fanciful science fiction thoughts until recently.  It seems the scientific and engineering communities are becoming more concerned with stopping such a situation.  One can only surmise what kind of scenarios and what kind of remedies will be added to those already suggested to protect our planet.  But if the Scriptures are true - which those of us who study the Bible believe they are - then there is a certainty that such days ARE coming in the future.  The only major difference between the scientists and engineers and Bible believing Christians is this.  Those who hold to the Bible know that there is nothing that can or will be done that will prevent Revelation 8:8-11 from happening just as God prophesies it will.  All we can do is be ready because WHEN that day comes - no one - not even Bruce Willis and all of Hollywood will be able to stop it. 

0 Comments

The Coming Persecution of the Church . . . by the church

11/3/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
            One of the interesting things that is often overlooked by those studying the decline of the true Church and the Word of God in a society is how persecution begins and grows.  The persecution that follows is often carried out by the apostate church that aligns itself with society rather than with God’s Word.  One of the things I will predict (and it is kind of unfair for me to call it a prediction - because it is more like a re-visit to what has already happened in history) is that when persecution breaks out against the true Church in the United States, it will often be carried out by the apostate church that aligns itself with our immoral culture. 
 
                A quick visit to Biblical history may be informative.  Once Israel was delivered from Egypt, the majority of the problems and difficulties for Moses and those representing the true work of God came from the religious sector of Israel.  The group led by Dathan and Abiram wanted a religion which morphed with what they did in Egypt.  They were very uncomfortable with the radical laws and ways being given by Jehovah God.  David’s problems stemmed as much from Saul who did not follow God fully than they did the ungodly nations that surrounded them.  The people who killed the prophets were the apostate Jews who had perverted the worship of Jehovah with the customs of the nations.  And who was it that eventually turned Jesus over to the Roman authorities to carry out their murderous designs - oh, that’s right, it was the Jewish religious authorities. 
 
         In Acts 22:4 Paul remembered that he had “persecuted this Way to the death, binding and putting both men and women into prison.”  Where did Paul get the authority to do this?  He got it from the Jewish religious leaders.   It is a consistent thing that the ones who hold to a form of religion, but lose it’s power and the truth of the Scriptures - will be primary persecutors of those who hold fast to these things.  Those who believe the gospel to be the power of God and the only way of salvation will soon be seen to be narrow minded.  Those who hold to the righteousness of God shown to us in the Word of God will be seen this way as well.  Cultural Christianity will reject God’s Way (the gospel) and they will also reject God’s righteousness and embrace the way culture leads them in regard to morals.  This will eventually manifest itself in a hatred of the true Church and the way they interpret Scripture.  The cultural church will be far more fond of those who see Scripture more broadly.  They will align themselves with those who favor a cultural interpretation of Christianity, rather than a Bible that instructs culture on moral issues. They do not want God’s righteousness or God’s way and those who hold to it will become seen as strange and different. They look down on them as ignorant and intolerant.  They call them backward - and whatever “ist" is in style at the moment - racist, sexist, or maybe homophobic or sexually repressed.  Whatever makes those who hold to biblical righteousness look bad. 
 
          There is a principle behind this.  It is revealed to us in the book of Galatians.  Paul says this about those in the Spirit versus those in the flesh.  “But as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also.’ Galatians 4:29 (NASB)  As it was between Issac and Ishmael - it will also be between those born according to the flesh and those born according to the Spirit.  The “cultural church,” which is not born again, will continue to make decisions to ape the culture as the pressure of the culture pushes the false church to adopt ungodly views.  The true Church, which consists only of those born according to the Spirit, will not be willing to make unbiblical compromises.  As animosity grows toward the true Church for its unpopular stands for righteousness that animosity will be held especially by those who have suppressed the truth by their unrighteousness.  Persecution - even violent persecution will follow after this rejection of the truth. 
 
            Let me give you an example of what we are seeing now - which will grow in the months and years to come.  When someone posts that they have openly identified with homosexuality the reactions and posts that follow are almost always positive.  They are congratulated for their new identification of themselves in this way.  They are often even told or affirmed that God has made them this way.  If someone has the audacity to respond otherwise, the bashing will begin - and often it will be unmerciful.  If the person identifies as a Christian and states the Bible as the place where they got their views - it will not go well for that person.  We’ve watched as it has become clear that CEO’s, sports figures, spokespersons, Chiefs of fire departments, and even down to bakers and pizza makers are going to be punished if they espouse and desire to hold such views.  Currently this is primarily cultural pressure in the form of protest and boycotts.  But in time it will wind up being codified into law - and the price for being a Biblical Christian will become much higher.
 
So what do we DO? 
 
            Saints, we have no other option than to continue to hold fast the Word of God as our standard.  We don’t do this with a hateful and vindictive attitude.  But we do speak the truth in love - which means we use wisdom as to when we speak, but if necessary,  we speak.  It is my opinion that Biblical Christianity is incompatible with sin.  Whenever someone or some group seeks to align certain lifestyles and choices of sin as being OK with God, it will become abundantly clear that God no longer aligns with them.  I am not saying that culturally they will decline.  They may expand on the cultural level.  But you will not find the Spirit or the presence of God among those who call what God calls sin - and acceptable lifestyle.  
 
            We watched a generation in the 1960’s tout “free love” which is honestly nothing more than bondage to heterosexual immorality outside marriage.  In time what the Bible calls fornication was renamed living together.  As more time passed culture embraced this - although God never has (and never will).  Culture continued to push its agenda - which meant having to deal with all the pregnancies that resulted from the cost of this so-called free love.  From that came the culture of abortion on demand.  A baby no longer was the result of sexual activity which called for responsibility to be taken by the man and woman who fornicated and now had a baby.  They were not called to be responsible for their choice to be sexual immorality.  Once again there was a choice to recast this situation into a more socially acceptable mold.  No longer a baby - now it was a blob of tissue that belonged to the woman.  It was now a part of a woman’s body, and she could do with it whatever she wanted.  She could be rid of it in the first trimester - then the second - and eventually up to the moment the “whatever it was now” was to be born - at which point if the mother wanted it - it was a baby. 
 
        The Bible warns that a society that rejects God - will reject God’s morality.  This would begin in heterosexual immorality that rejects marriage as a prerequisite to sex.  But in time things would move from heterosexual immorality toward homosexual acts.  (All this is written for us in Romans 1:18-32)  The Word of God says that all homosexual acts are sinful.  God intended for a man and a woman to be married before they engaged in sexual activity.  When it comes to two men or two women - God called all homosexual acts sinful.  But as culture pushed back eventually, as we are seeing today, the culturally accepted church began to call acceptable what God can never call acceptable.  Now there are growing numbers of people - and even theologians and Christian writers who say that God can bless homosexual marriage.  The true Church cannot go with this - because God’s Word does not. 
 
          In time the rhetoric toward those who continue to hold to Biblical righteousness will grow more and more strident.  That will one day give way to the cultural church persecuting the true Church.  They will do this first with words (which is already happening) and eventually with culturally accepted legal acts (because the laws will eventually call the Biblical standard espoused and taught to be hate speech).  From there it is only a matter of time until violence against the “haters” will be acceptable.  What is fascinating is that if we think the issue is sexual activity we are behind the times.  The best way to blur all sexual morality is to deny that gender itself is nothing more than a personal choice. You are not assigned a sex at birth by God - either male or female.  Your sexual activity is not governed by what biological sex you are.  You have the right to such radical autonomy that you can choose whatever sex you want to be - and change it as often as it suits you. 
 
        The next Supreme Court overstep will be to abolish biological gender to the ash heap of societal rejection.  This is going to be fought over what bathroom (and eventually locker rooms too) you choose to use.  Those who stand in the way will be called intolerant, gender lords who want to impose a gender on you rather than allow you to embrace your inner gender based on - well - based on whatever you want to it to be at the moment.  Complete autonomy is the goal.  Whatever a person declares to be right is right.  That is unless someone declares the Word of God to be right where it defines things like gender and sexuality.  THAT VIEW IS JUST WRONG!
 
            This is how the persecution of the real Church by the cultural church will happen - and actually is happening today.  We are watching the fact that Biblical Christianity is untenable to those who celebrate the sexual revolution (and by the way the revolt is against God and what He says is sexually moral).  Watch as this will be the path upon which persecution will travel with increasing speed.  And saints - in pains me to say that we will also watch - as generations have before us have - that the willing accomplices in that persecution will often be the culturally accepted church which rejects the clear teaching of Scripture.  I don’t want to hasten it. I don’t enjoy it - nor do I even want to see it.  Yet, my precious brothers and sisters in Christ, it is coming.  We just need to make sure that our response is one of The Truth spoken in love.  We will also need to remember that God’s kingdom will not be advanced in this hour by violent, angry, armed force.  May God give us grace to respond by holding fast to the Word of God.  May we respond, if necessary, with the proof of our very blood if that is what faithfulness to Christ requires.  And may God have mercy upon us so that our testimony would be like that of the faithful fathers who have gone before us.  

0 Comments
    Picture

    What is the Prophecy/News Update?

    At Calvary Chapel of Jonesboro, we believe that history is moving toward fulfilling God's plans and purposes.  In an effort to help us be prepared for His appearing - and also to chronicle news items you just won't see in the national media - this page is devoted to sharing those items and their possible significance to
    the return of Christ. 

     It is not our desire to cover

     the sensational - or to try to make predictions.  Instead, we will do our best to share relevant news items with biblical commentary as well.  

    May God bless you and help you to be ready to stand before Him without shame at His return.

    Picture
    Thank you for visiting our website!  Everything on this site is offered for free.  If, however, you would like to make a donation to help pay for its continued presence on the internet, you can do that by clicking here.  The only thing we ask is that you give first to the local church you attend.
    ​Thank you!


    Picture

    Archives

    July 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    August 2019
    February 2019
    December 2018
    September 2018
    April 2018
    February 2018
    August 2017
    June 2017
    April 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    May 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    April 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    September 2014
    August 2014
    March 2014
    December 2013
    September 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    January 2013
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    January 2011
    November 2010
    August 2010
    June 2010

    Picture

    Categories

    All
    1 Kings 12
    1 Kings 17
    1 Samuel 3:19-20
    1st Amendment
    1 Thessalonians 5
    1 Timothy 2:1-4
    2010 Election
    2016 Election
    2020
    2 Chronicles 6:28-31
    2 Chronicles 7:13
    2 Chronicles 7:14
    2 Peter 3
    2 Thessalonians 2:7-12
    Abomination
    Abortifacients
    Abortion
    Abortion Stats
    Acts 12:22
    Acts 21:10-11
    Acts 4
    Adversaries
    Africa
    Air Strikes
    Amal Graafstra
    Amos
    Animals
    Antibiotics
    Antichrist
    Anti Christian Views
    Anti-Christian Views
    Anxiety
    Apostasy
    Arab Spring
    Armageddon
    Arrogance
    Ashen Horse
    Asteroid
    Asteroid Day
    Atheism
    Beasts
    Beheading
    Belief
    Biblical Discernment
    Biblical Morals
    Biblical Responses
    Bio-hacking
    Biometrics
    Birth Control
    Black Horse
    Blasphemy
    Blood Moon
    Bloody Earth
    Blush
    Book Of Revelation
    Brokenness
    Calamity
    Caliphate
    Call To Payer
    Call To Prayer
    Call To Repentance
    Call To Revival
    Center For Near-Earth Object Studies
    Character
    Chelyabinsk
    China
    Chipped
    Christ
    Christianity
    Christian Thinking
    Chronology Of Revelation
    Comet Elenin
    Confederate Flag
    Confrontation
    Constitution
    Coronavisrus
    COVID19
    Crucifixion
    C S Lewis
    Cultural Christianity
    Cultural Decline
    Culture Decline
    Cyborg
    Dachau
    Damascus
    Dangerous Things
    Daniel
    Day Of Rage
    Day Of Reckoning
    Debt
    Destruction
    Deuteronmy 18:21-22
    Deuteronomy 21
    Deuteronomy 28:58-59
    Deuteronomy 31:17-18
    Dictatorships
    Disasters
    Discernment
    Discipline
    Discrimination
    Disobedience
    Division
    Donald Trump
    Doofus Of The Month
    Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
    Drought
    Duck Dynasty
    Earthquakes
    Eastern Religion
    Ebola Virus
    Ecological Disaster
    Egypt
    Election
    Electronics
    Elijah
    Embryonic Research
    EMP
    Encouragement
    Ephesians 1:8-12
    Ephesians 3:8-12
    Erotic Liberty
    Eternal Purpose
    Evolution
    Extremist Groups
    Ezekiel 38
    False Gods
    False Peace
    False Prophecies
    False Prophets
    False Religion
    False Worship
    Famine
    Favor Of God
    Fear
    Fear Of God
    Feast Of Booths
    FEMA
    Finances
    Financial Collapse
    Financial World
    Fingerprint Technology
    Focus
    Food
    Foreign Influences
    Foundations
    Freedom Of Religion
    Freedom Of Speech
    Free Speech
    Future
    Gas Prices
    Gay Marriage
    God
    God As Creator
    God Exalted
    God Is Coming
    Godlessness
    Godliness
    God's Discipline
    God's Judgment
    Gods Plans And Purpose
    God's Presence
    God's Purposes
    God's Sovereignty
    God's Word
    Gog Magog
    Gog Magog Prophecy
    Government
    Governor Romney
    Greece
    Grinding
    Gulf Oil Spill
    Gungor
    Habakkuk
    Haggai
    Harold Camping
    Harvesting Organs
    Health Wealth Prosperity Gospel
    Hearing God
    Heterosexual Immorality
    Hezekiah
    Hillary Clinton
    Homosexuality
    Homosexual Marriage
    Humanism
    Humbling Ourselves
    Hybrids
    Hypocrisy In The Church
    Idolatry
    Immorality
    Indiana Religious Liberty Bill
    Infanticide
    Information
    Injustice
    Innocent Blood
    Iran
    Iranian Drones
    Iranian Revolution
    IRS
    Isaiah 17:1
    Isaiah 2
    Isaiah 59
    ISIS
    Islam
    Islamic Eschatology
    Israel
    Jehovah
    Jeremiah 14
    Jeremiah 23
    Jeremiah 6
    Jeremiah 7
    Jeremiah 7:5-7
    Jerusalem
    Jesus
    Jihad
    Joy
    Judgement
    Judgement Of God
    Judgment
    Judgment Of God
    Killings
    Kim Jung Un
    Law Of God
    Letter From A Birmingham Jail
    Leviticus 25
    LGBT Rights
    Libya
    Living The Gospel
    Lordship Of Jesus
    Loyalty
    Lybia
    Macro Evolution
    Mahdi
    Manasseh
    Mark Of The Beast
    Mass Shootings
    Matthew 28:18 20
    Matthew 28:18-20
    Matthew 5:13
    Mercy
    Micah
    Modern Medicine
    Molcech
    Money
    Moon Turned To Blood
    Moral Revolution
    Mormonism
    Mosques
    Murder
    Muslim Brotherhood
    NASA
    National Conscience
    Natural Disasters
    Nazi Germany
    Neutron Bomb
    Non-Violent Protest
    North Korea
    November 9th
    Nuclear Weapons
    Obama Care
    Obama-care
    Obedience
    Occupy Wall Street
    October 21st
    Omniscience
    Osama Bin Laden
    Palestinian Statehood
    Paris Terrorist Attacks
    Peace Negotiations
    Perilous Times
    Persecution
    Pestilence
    Philosophy
    Phil Robertson
    Plagues
    Planetary Protection Exercise
    Planned Parenthood
    Political Unrest
    Politics
    Pope Francis
    Postmodernism
    Prayer
    Praying
    Prejudice
    President Bush
    President Obama
    Pride
    Proclaiming The Gospel
    Prophecy
    Prophecy News Update
    Prophecy Update
    Prophetic Hysteria
    Prophets
    Prosperity Doctrine
    Proverbs 6:16-18
    Psalm 106:38
    Psalm 118
    Psalm 14:1
    Psalm 2
    Psalm 54:1
    Punishment
    Purposes Of God
    QE-3
    Quantitative Easing
    Racial Issues
    Racial Reconciliation
    Racism
    Radical Islam
    Rebellion
    Redemption
    Rejoicing
    Religious Liberty
    Religious Sin
    Repentance
    Republican Party
    Return To God
    Revelation 13
    Revelation 20:11-15
    Revelation 6
    Revelation 6:7-8
    Revelation 8:8-11
    Revelation 9
    Revival
    RFID
    RFID Technology
    Richard Dawkins
    Riots
    Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes
    Romans 1
    Romans 1:18 35
    Romans 1:18-35
    Romans 13
    Rule Of Law
    Russia
    Salt
    Salvation
    Samaria
    Satellites
    Saudi Arabia
    Science
    Secession
    Selfishness
    Self-seeking
    Self-serving
    Sensuality
    Sentinel Telescope
    Separation Of Church And State
    September 28 - 2015
    Sexual Sin
    Shame
    Shar'ia Law
    Shemitah
    Shootings
    Siberia
    Sience
    Signs In The Heavens
    Sin
    Socialism
    Sovereignty Of God
    Spiritual Awakening
    Spiritual Disaster
    Spiritual Impotence
    Spiritual Influence
    Spiritual Leadership
    Standing Before God
    Suffering
    Sun Darkened
    Super Volcano
    Supreme Court
    Syria
    Technology
    Ted Talk
    Terrorism
    Terror Of The Lord
    Tetrad
    The Beast
    The Church
    The Constitution. United States
    The Gospel
    The Kingdom Of God
    Theology
    The Supreme Court
    The True God
    Tim Tebow
    Titus 2
    Totalitarianism
    Transgender Issues
    Truth
    Tunguska
    Understanding
    Ungodly Leaderrship
    United States
    United States Constitution
    USA Today
    U.S. Military
    Volcanoes
    Voting
    Walking With God
    Wealth And Riches
    Wickedness
    Witness
    Word Of God
    Words
    Worldliness
    Worldviews
    Wormwood
    Worry
    Wuhan
    Yellowstone Super Volcano
    Zechariah 14

    Picture

    RSS Feed

Join Us
Sundays: 10:45am - Morning Service
Community groups Times Vary

Wednesdays: 6:30pm - Adult Bible Study, Youth Worship and Bible Study, & Children ministry 

411 Calvary Cove
Jonesboro, AR  72401


Connect with Us
Phone: 870-277-0500
Email: [email protected]
Copyright 2024 Calvary Chapel Jonesboro | all rights reserved
Photos from @bastique, chuck4x5, Michael D Beckwith, Susan E Adams, tedeytan, .Martin., blvesboy, left-hand, GlasgowAmateur, Alaskan Dude, boegh, NIAID, Tan Cheng Joo, CoreBurn, bambe1964, Bob Jenkin
  • HOME
  • Basics
    • Announcements
    • Giving
    • Who We Are
    • Just for Fun
  • Proverb a Day
  • Ministries
    • Children
    • Missions
    • Worship >
      • New Song Page
    • Youth
  • Biblical Stuff
    • Services
    • Articles
    • Apologetics Studies
    • A Call to Revival
    • Discipleship >
      • 1 - The Gospel
      • 2 - The Word
    • The Gospel
    • Links
  • Sign Up Area
  • Psalms For Life
  • Prophecy/News