thank you lord in jesus name would you bow with your heads with me as we pray lord i thank you thank you for the old testament lord thank you for our time in the week that we get to faith in your word lord Let us not forget, Lord, where our victory lies. As so often the Israelites have done. For our victory lies in You, in You alone, Lord. So we thank You for this time of worship where we declare that You are the Sovereign God, Ruler above all. There is none like You, Lord. And we need You, Lord. these times especially. So would You empower us through Your Word, Lord. Open our eyes that we may see and our ears that we may hear. Lord, may we receive what it is that You have for us this day that You have made. We give You all the praise and glory, Lord. We ask this in Your name alone, Jesus we say, Amen. Amen. And Amen. And good morning and welcome. You can be seated. So glad you're here today. Welcome. Those of you online, we're glad that you're joining with us. This, as I'm sure most of you know, is the first of our two Sunday morning services, which we devote to Bible prophecy with these weekly updates. Second service, which will be at 11 15 a.m. Hawaii time. For those of you online, it will be live streamed at that time. That's actually the sermon, which is a verse by verse study through the Word of God. We're in the last book of the Bible. We made it all the way to Revelation. I don't know if we'll make it through Revelation before the rapture, but that's okay. So, but we did make it to end. We're actually now going to commence with chapter 12, one of the most fascinating and largely misunderstood chapters in the entirety of the book. But we're going to take and tackle the first five verses in a sermon that I've titled, Why Satan Can't Stop God's Plan for You. And what we're going to do is connect the prophetic information with the personal application concerning how it is and why it is that Satan will never, and I mean never, thwart God's plan, though he try. Try as he may. For those of you that are watching by way of YouTube and or Facebook, we would just by way of a reminder, encourage you to go to the website JDFarag.org. And with that we're just going to get right to it. I want to talk to you today about that which could now, now happen very soon, given how fast everything is moving and how fast everything is changing on the geopolitical landscape. I suppose in some way you could say that this is a prophetic scenario that has become even more plausible now, almost seemingly overnight, specifically concerning the nation of Israel, what's happening in Israel, and the relentless attacks against Israel, all of which are the central focal point of Bible prophecy. And I want to begin with a simple explanation of this prophetic scenario. Then after, I want to get into some of the details as it relates to the reality of its plausibility. First, here's the scenario. Saudi Arabia, in the news a lot lately, have you noticed? For good reasons, for biblical reasons, for prophetic reasons actually. They're, for lack of a better way of saying it, chomping at the bit to join the Abraham Accords. But something's standing in the way. Heretofore they have refused to do so citing the precondition that first there must be a two state solution included in any and all agreements. Now, of course, you know what the problem with that is, right? The problem with this precondition of a two state solution is that it would require that Jerusalem be divided so as to have, you'll forgive my accent, Jews and Palestinians living side by side together in peace and security. That didn't come off as well as I had hoped. I should add so called Palestinians. And for the benefit of those who maybe are new, by the way, we are, we love it that you're here and that you come and even more so that you come back. That's amazing. You know, praise the Lord. So we just hope that you'll make yourself at home here and If God is calling you here, I want you to know that you're going to be loved on here. And what we're all about here is, you probably noticed already, is the Word of God and the God of the Word. That's all. We don't have, if you're looking for programs and bells and whistles and skinny jeans and lattes, you got the wrong address. I'm just wanting you to know that ahead of time. I know that was maybe too much, but you got the point. The reason I say so called Palestinians for the benefit of those who are new is because I grew up all my life thinking I was a Palestinian. My mother taught me that she was Palestinian and I was Palestinian. My dad was Egyptian. So I was half Egyptian and half Palestinian. And at age 19, I got saved, got a Bible, couldn't put it down, read it all the way through. started reading things like, oh, David got rid of all of the Philistines, which is a transliteration for Palestinian, under his reign. So there's actually no such thing as a Palestinian. Well, then if they're not Palestinians, who are they? They're Arabs. What are Arabs? Well, you're looking at one. Sorry. Arabs are a mixture of different people groups from the Middle East. Interesting, by the way, Egyptians are not technically Arabs. And actually I learned that if you call an Egyptian an Arab, it's almost insulting. And the best analogy that I've come up with, and if you've got a better one, I'd be more than happy to consider it. But you know how you have, for those of you dog lovers and dog owners, you have pure breeds, you know, German Shepherds. You even get papers, right? If you didn't, you got ripped off. But anyway, you got, so you got the pure breed German Shepherd, you know, Australian Shepherd. These are pure breeds. Okay. And then you have, and I don't know, I forgot the Hawaiian name. Kapono will know it. See Kapono after, he'll tell you. But you have mutts. You know what a mutt is, right? It's a mixture of all different breeds. Well, that's, I'm a mutt. Your pastor's a mutt. I'm a mixture of Egyptian and Moabite and Edomite and all the heights and probably some flashlights in there too. But I'm just, it's a mixture of Arab people groups that make up what we know today as the Arab people. In fact, some Arabs I know, in fact, I have a huge family on the mainland. They actually don't even want to be referred to as Arabs because of the association. So they prefer to be called Middle Eastern, which I mean, either way, it's kind of like when people ask, well, what is your nationality? Well, I'm Middle Eastern, you know. So, but this is an invention, a manufacturing of a people group that does not exist. Well, then why did they call it Palestine? Oh, because that's what the Romans named it. They started off with Ara Lina Capitalina, Ara Yala Capitalina, pardon me. They eventually changed it to Syria Philistia. They dropped Syria and then they just called it Philistia, translated Philistine or Palestine. And this was in the second century A.D. after Jerusalem was destroyed. So the land is called or was called Palestine, not because there's any Palestinians. You won't find a language. I didn't mean to go this far, but maybe this is for somebody here to set the groundwork for what we're about to see. Because this is a lie from the father of lies, and it comes quite frankly, you'll forgive my bluntness, from the pit of hell. There's no such thing as a Palestinian, and there's no such thing as a Palestinian state. I'm glad to have gotten that off my chest and thrown that on you. Now, so you've got Saudi Arabia. They want to join the Abraham Accords. Everybody wants them to join the Abraham Accords. Saudi Arabia, what's taking you so long? What's up? What's the deal? Well, we have no deal until there's a two state solution deal. Well, That's been on the table for quite a while, as we'll see. But we have another problem, and that other problem is that the only possible way that Israel would ever even consider agreeing to anything of the sorts is if said agreement included in it the allowance for the rebuilding of their third temple. Boom. Some of you already know where I'm going with it. Well, not where I'm going, where the Bible tells us this is going. Now, in order for all of this to happen, there has to be in place a binding peace and prosperity plan, which, by the way, is already in place and has been in place since January 2020. Well, then what's the hold up? Well, the hold up is we need to make it better. We need to sweeten the deal and make it stronger. It could be in the Hebrew, in my native tongue of Arabic. Now the common denominator with, and this is an abbreviated scenario, believe it or is that all of the pieces, I'm going to use this metaphor, are already on the prophetic board and in play as it were. Everything's in place. And it should be noted that once the game begins, to continue with this metaphor, the timer must have already been started in order to establish when it is that the game is over, the end of the game. And this is precisely what Bible prophecy tells us will happen at the time of the end, which is why this could happen very soon now. I am personally of the belief that the game's already started. Let the games begin. You're too late. They already began. And one need look no further than to specific prophecies in the Bible and how they correspond with exactly what's now happening with all the posturing of all the nations in all the earth. I'll go through these quickly. I know they're familiar to most, but there's a couple things I want to point out and highlight. Let's start with Zechariah 12, the first three verses. The burden or prophecy of the Word of the Lord concerning Israel, against Israel. Thus says the Lord, who stretches out the heavens, lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him. Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples when they lay siege against Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall happen in that day, that day is today, that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy burdensome boundary stone For all peoples, all who would heave it away, give it away, divide it away, will surely be cut in pieces though. And listen, all nations of the earth, that includes America, are gathered against it. Oh, come on, Pastor J.D. haven't, don't you stay up with the latest news? Actually, yes, I in fact do. Which brings prophecies like this and the subsequent prophecies I'm about to share with you. I mean, they're, how do I say it? They're jumping off the pages of your Bible or devices because they're in play today. This is what this prophecy is summed up. You want to cut up my land, Jerusalem, I'm going to cut you up. That's my land. Out of all of the tribes in Israel, I chose Jerusalem to put my name of ownership on. literally, by the way, in the form of a sheen, which looks like our English W. We've talked about that before. Joel 3.2. We just finished Joel on Thursday nights. We're in Amos now. But the prophet Joel writes, by the Spirit, God's declaration concerning this dividing of His land, He says, I will also gather, notice this is going to keep coming up, all nations. I want that to sink in, all nations. And bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat, and I will enter into judgment with them there on account of My people, My heritage, Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations. They have also, listen, divided up my land. That's my land. Imagine someday you wake up in the morning, you're having your coffee and your devotions, assuming you have devotions, you're sitting out there on your front porch and hopefully there's no mynah birds, and they're just the doves, you know. And somebody just walks up into your yard and in your front door and starts taking measurements. What are you doing? Who are you? Oh, we're going to make some corrections that we're going to split up your land, you know, your parcel, your... Oh, really? Oh, you are, are you? Ezekiel 38, again, very well known, 39 with it, two chapters yet future. By the way, in your Bibles, you could technically take you don't have to, but you could take a pen and just write on all the chapters up to 38, the word fulfilled. When you get to 38, you can't write fulfilled yet. But chapter 38 is yet future. Many believe it will happen either at the beginning of the seven year tribulation, simultaneous with the pre tribulation rapture, or has to be sometime maybe early on in the seven year tribulation. Others even suggest, and I see how they get there, that Ezekiel 38, which is, by the way, again, for those that are new, to Bible prophecy. It's a prophecy about an alliance of nations with Russia, Iran and Turkey at the helm, all of which are at the ready in Syria, who invade Israel from the north. They're already there now. This whole thing that's happening right now with Lebanon, my birthplace, this is all Bible prophecy, exactly as we were told it would be. These are trigger points. But there's a very curious verse and prophecy specific to Saudi Arabia found in verse 13 of Ezekiel 38. And they're referred to by their ancient name of Sheba and Dedan. And I'm just going to read the gist of it. They will not be part of this alliance of nations that invades Israel. Rather, they will protest this alliance of nations that invades Israel. And they will question them. What are you doing? Why are you invading Israel? Are you going to take their prosperity because Israel is very prosperous, living very confidently? This is a question we get asked very often. Well, I thought Israel had to dwell in security. They're anything but secure. No, no, wait, wait, wait. In the original language, it's not that they're dwelling in peace and security or secure. There's peace and calm. No, it's at a time when Israel is confident. They're living in self confidence. I have yet to hear any Israelite or any leadership or prime minister ever, or IDF ever mention God. You know what they say instead? We, we're going to kill them. Wait, where's God in all this? You know what's curious about the end of this chapter? Read it when you get home. Not now. I'm still teaching. At the very end of this, God says why He's going to do what He's going to do. And some believe this will take place within the span of about 24 hours. It's going to be that quick, that fast, that decisive. He's going to deal that this alliance of nations, a devastating blow, the likes of which have never been seen. And you've got to consider the odds of a very small nation and all of these huge nations with their armies coming against Israel. There's no way. But God intervenes on their behalf and defeats this alliance of nations. Why? We're told at the end of chapter 38, so that all the nations will know that I am God. I did that. You think Israel did that? Against all odds, it had to be God. There's no other explanation. And that's the whole point. I don't want to get too far off here, but this means, I've been doing this for a lot of years, and I used to teach verse 13 is equal to 38 this way. At some point, Saudi Arabia and Israel are going to have good foreign relations. And I was speaking, you know, in the future tense. Now, present tense, present tense. It's not at some point. No, we've reached that point where Saudi Arabia, and there's a lot of debate about who the merchants of Tarshish and their young lions are. I won't get into that. No need. But Saudi Arabia will not be a part of this alliance. And not only would they not be a part, they will protest it. They will question it. That sounds an awful lot to me, like the peace and prosperity plan already on the table. And it also sounds more like the Abraham Accords already on the table. First Thessalonians 5.3, this is again familiar to most, but for the benefit of those who are maybe new to Bible prophecy, which is great, by the way. The Apostle Paul, by the Spirit says, while people are saying two specific words, peace and security, destruction will come on them suddenly as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. There's a lot of details here we've talked about in prior updates, but I just want to draw your attention to one particular aspect of this well known prophecy. It has to do with the suddenness of the destruction and the analogy of a woman in labor as Paul echoes the Savior. Why? Because what do we know to be true about a woman in labor? The labor pains come with greater frequency and greater intensity. And one more thing, once the labor pains start, you can't push pause. I was there for all four of the births of our Children, three of which are still living. It was very painful for me. I want you to know as I watched my wife go through those birth pains. But I mean, you know, I learned more about the whole female anatomy than any man should ever know. We were 10 years infertile. We had what they diagnosed as unexplained infertility. So I asked the doctor, what is unexplained infertility? And he said, it's infertility that's unexplained. So thank you so much. That's so helpful. For 10 years, I couldn't have children. I made a vow to God if He would give me a biological son that I would sell my company and serve him all the days of my life. And one year to the day my son was born, he's 26 now, I sold my business and started my first church. This is my second church. I hope you don't take that personally. Actually, Pastor Chuck Smith said every pastor owes his first church an apology. So you should take heart. I don't owe you an apology. I owe my first church an apology. And I have, by the way, as many years ago. What's your point, Pastor? Here's my point. Uh, I know this might seem absurd, but I think you'll get the point across. Can you imagine if the doctor came in and said, you know what? I got a staff meeting. You're dilated at a seven. Let's call it an eight. I got a staff meeting. Can you just hold on until after my staff meeting? No, no, that baby's coming. Now in this context, it's sudden destruction that's coming. And once the birth pains start, there's no stopping it. Jesus in Matthew 24 likens, uses the same analogy to His coming. Once the birth pains start, there's no stopping it. You can't push pause. In fact, not only is there no stopping it, The birth pains come in greater frequency and greater intensity. I watched with great admiration and respect my wife who did not, they were natural, no epidural, tough woman that she has to be to be married to me all these 36 years, but no epidural. And I mean when those pains got, more intense. I mean, she was just, and she has a high pain tolerance. I get a hangnail. I'm praying in my prayer language. Oh God. I have, anyway, my dentist hates my guts because he has to order more Novacaine whenever I go in. So let's go to Daniel 8.25. This is an often overlooked prophecy that is with detailed information applicable to exactly what's happening today. Daniel 8 25, listen to this, and through his policy, oh, we got a political word here. His policy? Yeah, through his policy, he shall cause craft. Now in the original language, that word craft can be deceit, fraud. bait and switch, trickery. He shall cause deceit to prosper in his hand, and he shall magnify himself in his heart. And, and this is the part that I really want you to pay attention to, by peace, which in the original can carry with it the idea of prosperity, peace and prosperity. He will destroy many. He shall also stand up against the prince of princes, but he shall be broken without hand. That means when he comes up against Jesus, Jesus is just going to go and he's done. There's no battle here. But back to this. See, this is not how we think, or maybe even in all fairness what we've been taught over the years that the Antichrist is this evil, and he is evil, but he's going to destroy wonderfully as some translations render it. But it's going to be done in a very evil way. No, he's going to use peace and prosperity to destroy. by his peace and prosperity. Oh, interesting. That sounds to me like the name of the, what's been dubbed the deal of the century. You go check me on this. The peace and prosperity plan. Daniel 9 27, again, packed full. Most are familiar with this. It's very specific, time specific. Uh, it's got prophetic time stamps all over it. So it says he, speaking of the Antichrist, will confirm, it could be or strengthen, sweeten, make stronger a covenant, implying that there's already one there. It just has, we just have to sweeten the deal. Oh, enforce it. Make it stronger. Confirm it. So everybody will sign it and agree to it. The implication being that it's already on the table. It just needs to be made to be confirmed, sweeter, stronger, better, greater. And don't miss this. It's a covenant with the many. Some people miss this and think this is many nations. No, the many is an idiom for Israel. Well, how long is this going to be for? One seventh, that's the seven year tribulation, seven years. In the middle of the seven, the 3.5 year mark, He, speaking of the Antichrist, will put an end to sacrifice and offering, and on a wing of the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation until the end that is decreed is poured out on him. In other words, at the midpoint of the seven year tribulation, that temple has got to already be there in order for him to desecrate it and commit the abomination in it that causes the desolation because of it. Do you know that the Savior Himself quoted the verse I just read you? It's in Matthew 24. Let me read verses 15 and 16. So, Jesus speaking, when you see standing, He's speaking to the Jews, warning them. When you see standing in the holy place, the abomination that causes desolation, spoken of through the prophet Daniel, Let the reader understand, and let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Petra, modern day Jordan. By the way, second service, just the first five verses, but Lord willing, the following Sunday. So you have to come next Sunday. We're going to see this in chapter 12. What Jesus is talking about here, at the midpoint of the seven year tribulation. What happens? The Jews are going to flee to the place that was prepared for them. Ah, we're going to see that a little bit today too, in second service. Last one. Doesn't that give you hope when you hear the word last one. Second Thessalonians, of course, chapter two, the entirety of the chapter. But allow me to just read verses two and three. Let No one deceive you. I'm not going to take the time, but the key word there is let, meaning that we let ourselves be deceived. Let no one deceive you by any means for that day, what day? The day of the Lord. What's that? The seven year tribulation, judgment day. That day, judgment day will not come unless the departure slash rapture comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition. In other words, just in verse three, before we get to verse four, the Antichrist cannot be revealed until the church is raptured. Now, what's he going to do, this son of perdition, this man of sin? Oh, he's going to, verse four, oppose and exalt himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. That's Daniel 9 27, at the midpoint. That temple's already got to be there. We've already talked about that. They can build it. This is conservatively. Worst case scenario, they can have that temple. They've already got everything. They've even got the Levites, the priestly tribe at the ready through the DNA to determine who they are so they can serve the priestly duties in the newly rebuilt temple. And some believe they could have it up in 90 days. That's three months. So the Antichrist is going to exalt himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. Now, these are just a handful of the main Bible prophecies that foretell with precision accuracy. All that we're seeing began to come to pass even now as we speak in real time and at breakneck speed. For those of you who know me, you know that I try, I don't know how successful I am at this, but I really try not to come off sensational. But this is pretty sensational. truth be known, this is as exciting for born again Christians as it is terrifying and rightfully so for those who are not. And if that's you here today or watching online, you need to stay with us until the end, because that can get changed right here and right now. If you'll kindly allow me to, I'd like to share with you just, again, these are just some of the developments on this aforementioned geopolitical landscape that point to these exact prophecies. What prophecies? The ones that I just read to you. It speaks to how they're in play today. Here's the first one. It's from last Sunday, November 7th. Very telling. It's from World Israel News bearing the title of, quote, U.S. officials suggest Trump will revive 2020 Israel-Palestinian peace plan. Daniel 927, Couple of quotes. A special envoy in the previous Trump administration suggested that an Israel-Palestinian peace plan considered in 2020, known as the deal of the century, may be revived, strengthened, confirmed, sweetened, may be greater. Brian Hook, a special envoy for Iran during Trump's previous administration, now serves as Trump's senior aide and is expected to lead President-elect's transition team in the State Department. When asked about the potential normalization of, listen very carefully now, when asked about the potential normalization of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, Hook said, that the 2020 Palestinian-Israeli peace plan would satisfy Saudi Arabia's demands for normalization, namely the establishment of a Palestinian state while preserving Israel's security. Oh my goodness. Daniel 9 27, Ezekiel 38 13, Zechariah 12. Need I go on? Are you, are you with me? Is this, Are you guys tracking? I shouldn't use that word. Sorry, got to go over the new one. I'm being tracked. The pastor is tracking me. The second one from last Tuesday, November 12th, comes from Newsmax with this headline. Saudi hosted summit says, Mid East peace requires, this is the prerequisite, And to Israeli occupation. Oh, they're the occupiers. Excuse me. They should be the occupiers. They should take possession and occupy the land that God gave them. Here's a quote. A summit meeting in the Saudi capital gave the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperations, 57 nations, a chance to speak with one voice on turmoil unfolding across the region. Translated, things are really revving up here. Things are really heating up here. We better have an emergency meeting. Because things are moving really fast. Turmoil unfolding. That's an understatement. Turmoil? You call that turmoil? Still quoting. The statement mentioned UN resolutions which have called on Israel to withdraw from these areas And the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative, in which Arab nations offered Israel, oh, it's so nice of you to offer us this, normalized ties in return, here comes the strings attached, for a two state agreement with the Palestinians along the 1967 lines. For those of you that are into the geography and are savvy, when it comes to geography, I'm not. I get lost in a parking garage at Ala Moana. You know, I forget where I have to use my key fob and then I'm on the wrong floor if I don't hear it. Has that happened to you? Just humor me and say, yes, it happens to me all the time. I'll feel a lot better about myself. But for those of you that are savvy when it comes to the geography of this, you cut up and divide the land along the 1967 lines. Israel's defenseless. And Israel's small to begin with. You have just cannibalized the nation of Israel in dividing those dividing lines. if the 1967 lines are the dividing lines. Again, this is all Bible prophecy. This one comes from Arab News and kind of fills in some of the blanks with the headline reading Riyadh, which is Saudi Arabia, hosts first high level global alliance meeting on, wait for it, two state solution. Two quick quotes. Foreign Affairs Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan urged the international community to come together to increase joint efforts in finding a two-state solution for the return of, watch this, security and stability and anchoring peace, first Thessalonians 5.3, in the region. and translate this determination into a tangible reality through working steps and a definitive timeline. In other words, we better get on the ball. Things are moving really fast here. Still quoting, also at the meeting, which focused on access to, listen to this, how they couch it, humanitarian aid. considering Israel's recent ban on UNRWA operations, was Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. Lazzarini warned of the implications of the bill on regional stability and international peace and security. Would to God that the Christians had as much urgency as the non-Christians do in this regard. Because you see, this is a warning. This is an urgent warning. riddled throughout everything that I've read. And I've got one last one. I saved the worst for last. I'm reluctant to put it on the screen because I know I'm going to get, I'm going to get it. But whatever. What comes screaming out of all of this is, this is getting serious. This is getting real, as we would say. We're doing this. we're doing this. And we better get our act together because it's happening. Okay, here's the last one again. This is from the Associated Press. The title, Trump promises to bring lasting peace to a tumultuous Middle East, but fixing it won't be easy. Turmoil, tumultuous. Huh, lasting peace. Um, there will never be lasting peace until the Prince of Peace, Jesus the Christ rules in the New Jerusalem. You know what the name Jerusalem means, Yerushalom? Possession of peace. Okay, there's one more thing that by the looks of things may also happen very soon. Like we need more things to be happening very soon. But this is going to be in concert with all that's already happening right now. I hope you don't leave here today with the impression that I'm up here talking about stuff that's probably going to happen or at some point in the not too distant future is going to happen. I hope you leave here today with the understanding that it's already happening. It's already happening. I want to briefly expound on this for the remainder of our time. I won't take long. We will at this point in the live stream on YouTube and Facebook and hopefully you're at the website JDFarag.org. Doubtless, many of you know that the so called vaccines have been front and center again as of late, which I hope you know is very significant prophetically. I'm going to share with you an article that is arguably, I have to confess, I'll just be very open and even blunt in saying this, this stunned me. And it takes, I'm not easily stunned, but this, this was stunning. It was from Wednesday, November 6, when NBC News interviewed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Do you see the headline? After Trump win, RFK Jr. says he won't take away anybody's vaccines. What? Wait, wait, we're talking about the same guy here? I'll just let the article speak for itself. Here's just one quote from this, I mean, breathtaking interview. Quoting, asked in an interview with NBC News whether there are specific vaccines that he would remove from the market. Kennedy rejected the idea that he's anti-vaccine despite his repeated claims about vaccines being linked to autism. and his involvement with Children's Health Defense, a leading anti-vaccine group. He reiterated that he wouldn't take them away from Americans. You won't? Please take them away? Is this the same guy? What happened? This, I have to address this, this whole anti-vaccine, I don't use that verbiage. I'll tell you why. The connotation, the, it, you're shooting yourself in the foot. I've replaced it with this. I'm not anti-vax, I'm former vax, former vax. See that takes a little bit. Now, now they're not going to shut down, at least not as fast as they would. Because if I say I'm anti-vax, boom, that's it. That's the end of the conversation. We'll talk more about that in just a moment. There's one more thing that I think I'd be grossly remiss were I not to also include, and it's this op-ed piece which was published last Sunday, November 7th by the Brownstone Institute titled, The CDC Planned Quarantine Camps Nationwide. Now we've talked about this and I've talked with visitors from particularly Canada and Australia. These quote unquote quarantine camps. It's particularly Melbourne, Australia. This is pretty recent. I asked them about it because I want to, I want to hear firsthand. And they said, yeah, they called them quarantine camps. They were concentration camps and you could not leave. In fact, they even had lines where you could not cross. If you cross that line, I mean, you were penalized, tortured, even threatened with death. This is Australia. Australia and Canada were probably the two worst countries in 2020 to live in. Now, pastor, why are you including this? Because I read the article in its entirety. It's not for the faint at heart. That's not to say that you shouldn't also read it. In fact, I'm going to encourage you in a moment to read it in its entirety. It's not an easy read, but after reading it in its entirety, this elaborate plan, and I mean elaborate plan, was and still is not just plausible nationwide. It was and still is also plausible worldwide. Now, I already know what you're thinking. Remember, I can read your minds. There will be those that might be quick to accuse me of reading too much into this. But may I just humbly ask of you one request and share with you one related quote. May I? That wasn't very convincing, but I'm going to do it anyway. First, the one request I would humbly ask is that you search the Scriptures for yourself. And don't take my word for it. And do the research for yourself as well. And start with reading this chilling article from the Brownstone Institute. It's not just, when I say op-ed piece, opinion, you know, editorial, it's not just somebody's opinion. No, he's got documentation. He's just not pulling it out of thin air. And I do want to give you the fine print on this, just so that you understand Study to show yourself a workman, rightly dividing the word of truth so that you will not be ashamed or embarrassed when you don't know where to go or turn in the Bible. You don't, you don't, you don't have a, what one referred to as a working knowledge of God's Word. In fact, the Word of God is foreign to you. Uh, the key word in all of that was workmen. In other words, it takes work and time to search the Scriptures. And by the way, here's what's going to happen. And this is a good thing. When you search the Scriptures, you know what's happening? The Scriptures are searching you. They're searching your heart. And when you get into the Word, you know what else is happening? The Word is getting into you. And we're told this is how faith comes, comes by hearing and hearing of the Word of God. For Christians who are spiritually weak, I think they need look no further than to being malnourished spiritually, not eating the bread of life. And I feel sorry. I didn't mean to go this far into it, but I'll just make one more comment from the heart. And it's heartbreaking. I feel so sorry for Christians that are being fed only cotton candy Christianity. Because when, not if, when life hits and life hits, You had better be grounded in the Word of God or you're not going to make it through it. When our daughter died, had it not been for my wife and I, and how's this one? They tell you, you know, and they are, there's no shortage of experts with their statistics. Did you know that couples who experienced the death of a child, 98% of them end up in divorce? Thank you. I mean, because the grief is so painful. And that statistic is true. But it didn't have that effect on my wife and I. Why? Because we were grounded in the Word of God. And instead of pulling us apart, it drew us closer together, made us stronger. Again, I feel so sorry for Christians who are sitting under the teaching of cotton candy Christianity. You're malnourished. You're not being fed the meat of God's Word. And you can't grow. And you will not be strong. You will be spiritually weak. Okay, that's the request. And before I get to the quote, I just want to reiterate, would you please, the Scripture commands it, that you search the Scriptures yourself in the Book of Acts. Don't take my word for any of this. And just the process of doing the work yourself and searching the Scriptures yourself, Your only regret will be that you didn't do it sooner once you realize the impact that it will have on your life. Okay, here's the quote. I shared it a couple few weeks back. It's from Albert Einstein, who aptly said, Condemnation before investigation is the highest form of ignorance. Now please, I am not calling you ignorant. Mark Twain is. Why do I share this quote again? Because I think it is so apropos and well said in the context of today's update. Let me explain. The tendency is to dismiss this. Dismiss what? Everything I just talked about. Please don't do that. Please do not dismiss this under the banner of ignorance, which by the way is birthed from cognitive dissonance. What's cognitive dissonance? Cognitive dissonance means That's too comfortable, uncomfortable, and conflicts with my long held beliefs. Therefore, I reject it. Cognitive dissonance. Sadly, many have closed their minds and hardened their hearts, or as the Old Testament would say, stiffen their necks. refusing to do any research or investigation of their own. And might I just say in love that to not do so is to do so to your own peril. I know that was probably not the right way to structure that, but you got the point. By not doing it, it's to your own peril. Maybe this will help explain why I say this with such a sanctified strength. The prophetic significance of this cannot be overstated by virtue of just one prophecy in Revelation about this. You see it on the screen. It's the second part of Revelation 18 23. We talk about it often. It's in the context of the fall of Babylon during the seven year tribulation. And tucked within this prophecy, in the second part of this verse, is something that is easily missed at first read in the English language. We're told, for your merchants, speaking of Babylon, were the great men of the earth, for by your sorcery That word sorcery in English is the Greek word pharmakia, where we get our English word for pharmaceuticals or pharmacy. It's a potion that had its connection with the worship and idolatry of witchcraft and sorcery. And then here it is again. This pharmaceutical whatever it is, was so deceptive that all the nations on earth were deceived. All the nations were deceived. Here's the bottom line. And just hear me out and we're almost done. There seems to be what I'll call this component of the simultaneous. Meaning that everything I've shared and the many more things I could have shared, but I would have probably had to keep you here until the rapture to share them. There's a simultaneous nature to it. It's not like, well that happened, now this is happening. No, that's happening while this is happening. And the reason I share this and say this is because if anything, it should create, I'm going to use a word here that I haven't used for a while. It should create an unprecedented urgency in this last hour, like never before. Unmatched, unequaled, unprecedented, because of the simultaneous nature, coupled with the swiftness with which everything is happening. all the nations on earth are even taking note and calling meetings and making agreements and plans. And you know, this is the purpose of these prophecy updates, right? The year was 2006. I sensed one day in my time with the Lord, just a really strong impression upon my heart that we were entering into a period of human history the likes of which we had never seen before. It was 2006. So I started doing these 10 minute updates, 10 minutes, in 2006. And the purpose for doing it was to bring back to everyone's attention the lateness of the hour, because it seemed like the Christian church had been lullabied into a spiritual slumber. I almost fear that that's happened again just recently, for different reasons. But that's the purpose of these updates. You know how many people have come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ because of Bible prophecy? It's also why we end with the gospel and we explain it childlike simple by way of the ABC's of salvation, which is just a simple way to share the gospel. And it's not just ABC simple, it's actually be simple. Because the A is just the first part of acknowledging or admitting that you have sinned against God. You've transgressed His law. You've broken His law. Now you're a lawbreaker and you need a Savior. Because if you're not a sinner, you don't need a Savior. If you are a sinner, you need a Savior. Well, you are a sinner. Romans 3 10 says you're a sinner. There is no one righteous, not even one. So stop with this whole thing. Well, I'm a good person. You might be a good person. You're probably gooder than me. I know gooder is not a word. Don't email me. You probably are a good person. You hear people say, oh, they have a good heart. Actually, Jeremiah would beg to differ. The heart is deceitfully wicked. Who can know it? You might think you have a good heart. How about this one? Follow your heart. Don't do that. don't, it will lead you astray and deceive you. There is no one good. You might be a good person, you'll never be good enough. Why Romans 3 23? Because all have sinned. We were all born sinners, which is why we must be born again to enter the kingdom of heaven, Jesus said. We've all sinned and fall short, missed the mark. of the glory of God. In fact, the word sin is an archery term. It means you missed the bullseye. Yeah, but I hit it nine times out of 10. It doesn't matter. You break one of the 10 commandments, you've broken the whole law. You're a sinner. Well, I don't have to say it like that, but... See, unless and until there's an acknowledging of the fact that you've sinned against God, then you really can't go anywhere. See, once you come to the realization that you are a sinner, then you have to enter the sentencing phase, to borrow a court metaphor. And the sentence is the death sentence, for the wages of sin is death. And that's the bad news. But here's the good news, the gospel, which the word gospel means good news. Your death penalty has been paid by another. You're free to go. That's what the word gospel means. The gift of God, by the way, He purchased it, cost Him everything, His life. The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Now the B, the reason I say it's simpler than ABC and it's just as simple as B is because the B is central. Believe in your heart and it's not Just why believe in God? No, it's to believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord. And as Romans 10, 9 and 10 says that God raised Him from the dead. It's putting your trust in Him for the forgiveness of the sins that you just acknowledge that you've sinned. You're not going to stand before God in your own righteousness. I don't want to be anywhere around you if you try. No, to believe in Jesus Christ is to say I'm putting all my trust on Him. I'm relying on Him and His imputed righteousness and forgiveness so that I have access and am granted access into heaven. And then the C lastly is for call. upon the name of the Lord, or confess with your mouth, which is again Romans 10, 9. You know, every knee will bow, every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. But when that time comes, it's for damnation. Now, when we confess with our mouths that Jesus Christ is Lord, it's not for damnation, it's for salvation. And wait, do I need to do this? No, this isn't a formula. I had someone ask me one time, well, what about people who are mute? They can't talk. Oh, come on. It's like God's getting up. Sorry, you didn't, you didn't say it. So no deal. Give me a break. I'm sorry if I'm being, it's, listen, my sarcasm as a pastor is sanctified sarcasm, just so you know. No, this is, this is what comes out of the heart. Jesus said out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. So if I put my trust in Jesus and believe in my heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, then what's going to come out of my mouth? Jesus Christ is Lord. And all who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved. I realize there are those who say, well, this is specific to Israel. But listen, all Scripture is inspired. If I've got to dissect the Word of God and determine what's for me and what's not for me. I shouldn't have even opened up that bottle, but I did. For me, it was over 42 years ago. I just simply called upon Jesus because, and I slurred. I was very, I'm not proud of this. I was very intoxicated, high, all the above. I just, here's how I got saved. I just prayed, I believed, I acknowledged, man, I'm one bad dude. I need Jesus. I just got done hearing the gospel explained very simply, very clearly. And God had me. And I had roommates at the time, went into my room. I prayed myself to sleep. And my prayer was like this, God, effects, emphasis added, God, I don't want to go to hell. Because CACDC said I'm on the highway to hell. I want to go to heaven. And I fell asleep praying like that. I woke up the next morning. I'm a new creation in Christ. Old things had passed away. All things had become new. I never looked back. 1982. Don't do the math. I was five. That's how simple it is. I chose today's but God testimony, which is unique for a couple of reasons, not the least of which is that over the years we've received many testimonies like this and about this. But this particular one included photos along with a brief explanation of how this God's church is reaching far beyond these walls. Did you know that if this is your church home, and I'm your pastor, which is my profound privilege to be, that you are part of a church that literally reaches the uttermost parts of the earth, beyond these four walls. You know, we have visitors, and if you're visiting here today, I would love to meet you after, and I'm almost done. But we have visitors that are stunned when they walk in, they go, You look at the sanctuary and you go, this is a small church. I said, no, small church, far reach. And not because of anything. Well, how did, how did you, how did you do it? Here's the thing, we didn't. God did. I love getting asked the question. It comes in a variety of forms. I won't tarry on this, but I do want to share this. This is important. Please just tear my heart. I love when people ask me this question. It comes in different ways, but this is the gist of it. What's the secret to your success? I'm like, what? What's your mission statement? I think it's in here somewhere. Acts 2 42 would be one. What's your ministry strategy? Ask our staff. Actually don't ask the staff. We don't have policy, employee manuals. We don't have none of that. And look what God's done. We don't receive an offering. How do you pay the bills? This is God's church. What, He's not going to provide? And I don't have the right. to dictate to God. It's His church. So I just stay out of His way. And that's what I say. And it blows people away, in a good way. It's kind of like the secret. Here's the secret. You ready? You know, I build it up. Sometimes I just have a little fun with it, because might as well. I'll say it like this. Okay. I'm glad you asked. You ready for it? Wait for it. Here's the secret. we stay out of God's way. That's the secret. It's His church. We just show up, stay faithful to what He's called us to. What I do up here cannot be done up here were it not for the amazing people behind the scenes that you never see, especially those of you online. All we do is stay true to what God's called us to. And God just says, all right, Finally, I got a church that I can actually bless now. Because churches dictate to God. Here's what they do. They have their plans, their strategies, their mission statements, their agendas, their committees, they're all of the above. And they submit them to God and say, God bless this. And God goes, no, I have a better idea. Imagine that, God's ways being higher than our ways and better than our ways, His thoughts. So, okay God, just lead us and guide us in the way that You would have us to go. This is good between us and the Holy Spirit. This is the way walking in it, and we'll be faithful to it, and we'll keep our hands to the plow, and we'll stay out of Your way. So as the timeless classic hymn of old says, Have thine own way, Lord. Have thine own way. Thou art the potter, I am the clay. Can you imagine the clay arguing with the potter? You know, I don't really like the way you're doing this. You're clay. You're dirt. I'm God. I'm the potter. What, the clay tells the potter what to do? No. Thy will be done. Have thine own way. Because God, your way is so much infinitely better in any way I or anyone else could have ever come up with. Have you ever had that? Will you, for those that keep a prayer list or prayer journal, have you ever gone back over those? Sometimes I do, and then I have to walk away because I'm like, I can't believe I prayed that. Thank you God for not answering that, because it's like he answered that prayer this way And had he answered that prayer my way, it would have been catastrophic. And I just kind of crumpled the thing up, throw it away and go, thank you God. I'm sorry. I find myself asking God to forgive me. I'll never pray something so stupid again like that, because your ways are just so much better. Okay, This comes from Brian Mortimer, who writes, greetings from Canada. This next week marks the third anniversary of our home church, which we started during the lockdowns here in Canada. We started with about 15 believers and are now regularly between 25 and 35 each week. This is a photo, maybe that you can show it online. I think we should get them a bigger widescreen TV to fit me in on that. Well, it's really like a small TV. I'm just glad it doesn't say America's Most Wanted at the bottom right hand corner. This is their home church in Canada. Just this past year, we have had seven baptisms and I've become quite a community. Either Terry or I lead each week and the core of our messages are given by you each week. We are part of your online church, so I thought you might like to see the faces of the lives you have been touching for the past three years. How's that? Only God could do that. Who knew? God knew. And we get this, we get many of these. from all over the world, because they don't have a church. We take so for granted, and I don't mean to beat up on anybody, but I do this. I'll speak for myself. I take for granted that I can drive 22 minutes, the speed limit, from my house to get to this church, of which I'm privileged to pastor. they don't have anything like this for miles. And we take it for granted. They go on to say, we love your teaching and simply wanted to bless and encourage you and your church. That's you guys. Thank you for your faithful work in the Lord. You are such a blessing. Loving Christ, Brian Mortimer. Praise the Lord. That's all I can say. Praise the Lord. Capone, come on up. You guys stand up. We can, again, thank you for your patience so close. Prayer and then Capone will close the song. Father, thank You. We're, I mean, that just seems so hollow. But we have all eternity to praise You and thank You and glorify You and magnify You. Lord, just all that You've done, and You choose the foolish things of this world to do it, in order to confound the wise, so that You alone are the recipient of all the glory due Your holy name. So that even if we wanted to, we could never take credit for that which You alone have done and are doing, and I believe will continue to do. Lord, we just, the vessels that want to be set apart for You, usable, sanctified. Use us, Lord. And thank You for what You're doing, God, through this church on the windward side of Oahu. Only You could do that. Lord, would You take now this update that I poured my heart into, broken bread, poured out wine. And take it from here as only You can by the Holy Spirit, so that we're not leaving it here. That we would not only take it with us, but take it to heart and take heed. Lord, we know Your return is so nigh. So Lord, come quickly, Lord Jesus. Maranatha we pray, in Jesus' name, Amen. Oh soul, are you weary and troubled? No light in the darkness you see. There's light for a look at the Savior And life more abundant and free Turn your eyes upon Jesus Look full in His wonderful face of His glory and grace. Turn your eyes, turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face, and the things And the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.