CSN Sunday - LightWing Messages for 3/6/2022
Temple Destruction and Other Signs
As Jesus left the temple and was walking away, His disciples came up to Him to point out its buildings.
“Do you see all these things?” He replied. “Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”
While Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?”
Jesus answered, “See to it that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. These things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.
Witnessing to All Nations
Then they will deliver you over to be persecuted and killed, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. At that time many will fall away and will betray and hate one another, and many false prophets will arise and mislead many.
Because of the multiplication of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold. But the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.
And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
The Abomination of Desolation
So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination of desolation, described by the prophet Daniel (let the reader understand), 16then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let no one on the housetop come down to retrieve anything from his house. And let no one in the field return for his cloak.
How miserable those days will be for pregnant and nursing mothers! Pray that your flight will not occur in the winter or on the Sabbath. For at that time there will be great tribulation, unmatched from the beginning of the world until now, and never to be seen again. If those days had not been cut short, nobody would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, those days will be cut short.”
Matthew 26: 1-22 (Berean Study Bible)
God Is Our Refuge and Strength
God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in times of trouble.
Therefore we will not fear,
though the earth is transformed From Psalm 46 (Berean Study Bible)
Last week in Tuesday’s Citizen Voice, we posted a hard article to digest by Ray DiLorenzo. His “Wars and Rumors of War” was brutal, some truth, some conjecture, and some venom. But, in his day, Jesus spoke words hard to digest; and sadly, they played out and came to prove true.
Fortunately, the world has not witnessed a major nation launching an unprovoked full-scale invasion of a neighboring country for quite a long time. They do not usually go as planned, and they tend to be brutal, inhumane, and riddled with examples of blatant evil devastating human populations. There are usually well-designed, carefully scripted “justifications” by the invaders.
When Joseph Stalin invaded Poland in 1939 after Hitler’s Nazi troops invaded, the world began to question why Stalin did such a thing as the Russian dictator had just signed a 15-year “peace treaty” with the German dictator. But, the secret protocols of the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact was an agreement to simultaneously invade and partition Poland. World War II began in such a way.
Stalin had betrayed Hitler in not invading Poland on September 1st, as agreed, and England and France declared war on Germany. Stalin’s excuse to the world was that he needed to help protect mother Russia, at the same time as his armies were killing the Polish people. The truth suffers a great deal with the prevalence of propaganda, and both Germany and the old Soviet Union cranked out quite a bit of propaganda in their respective reigns of terror over the world.
Now is no different and the “carpet-bombing” exchanges of propaganda are rampaging across the world. Cain’s “justification” in killing his own brother was a challenge to God: “Am I my brother’s keeper?” To that fundamental question, Jesus gave the most profound answers in his time. And, ultimately, he gave the greatest gift to his brothers and sisters by laying down his life.
A profound and eternal answer to a cynical and self-centered question. Right now, in our time,
the world is witnessing a global aggressive attack – one nation pitted against another nation. Are the nations not brothers in the eyes of our Heavenly Father? Is it not possible that this is also seen and understood by the common peoples in those nations?
Right now, in our nation, political divisiveness is rampant, and when sides are taken, how does one make a justification for which ‘dog’ is being supported in the fight? Judgments are being made, but by what standard of justice? In America, several Libertarian-minded people would cry out that we need to focus on America and stop worrying about the world. Though Libertarians are considered “conservative,” there are several who have no sense of Christian values, mostly focussing upon the preservation of self-interests, with very little sense of the value of sacrifice. So, conservatives are being divided in the Divided States of America. But, “see to it that you are not alarmed. These things must happen…” because “All these are the beginning of birth pains.”
This is a time of great judgment - a time of God’s judgment. As Americans, pampered and free from the worries and tragedies of the world, we have been insulated from such suffering as we have chosen to ignore all of the ‘garbage’ in the world. But, since the days of 9/11, that garbage is much more obvious, and since the days of November 3, 2020, home-grown corruption is now more obvious to citizens. Hard stuff to digest, and as much as we would like to wish it away, it is
our trial and our days of abomination and desolation. Yet, there is no place left to run. America is being infected with so much propaganda and mental manipulation, criminal corruption, and such sexual immorality that citizens are perplexed and paralyzed to self-protection and pretend reality in such a time as this. Getting right with God should be the very first step to dealing with a reality that may be hard to digest. The cries for freedom around the world are absolutely real. Such cries echo into our time from the past – from the time of America’s birth. Who cannot sense the “beginning of birth pains?”
Today, we again have two messages for readers to contemplate. One is from Susan Schreier Clouse, a retired Methodist minister, who also provided a message last week, which was about considering the value of freedom for the entire human community. Today, her message is upon “Wars and Rumors of Wars,” as we witness the events unfolding in this turbulent world.
The second message is from Rachel Toland, with her husband the founders of Remnant Rising, a millennial foray into the spiritual turbulence of our contemporary world. Her topic is “peace and War,” but she did not write her article in the aftermath of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It was written in the summer of 2020, rooted in prayer, and prophetic for this time. It was posted in the Messages of Light on June 14, 2020 (Flag Day) - also it was posted on the Remnant Rising site:
https://remnantrising.group/2020/06/09/peace-and-war/
Please pray for the poor Ukrainian people who are being subjected to such brutality - and pray for all those people of the world who yearn to be free from war, yes; but fully free to thrive and live a more Kingdom-oriented life. It is a time in which all of God’s children can rise up to plant the seeds of freedom in their own nations and grasp the fruits of freedom, just as common folk in the Americas rose to fight for freedom in their time.
These words are being freely offered and are being sent to you as part of the “David Project.” Please receive this message as a gift from those who care. They are only words that are being offered, freely, but some contain a deep message of faith, or a deeper expression of heart that readers can hopefully receive into their hearts. As it was written: “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” Proverbs 29:18 - KJV
May we humble ourselves, seek His face, repent, and turn from wickedness - even if that may mean to become more serious about what was most important to the son of God that he urged all of those who were his followers to put into practice. May we seek to more furiously hold on to the foundation for His kingdom.
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Something to Think About: Wars and Rumors of Wars
By Susan Schrier Clouse
3/2/22
“You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.” – Matthew 24:6 (NIV)
When I started writing this devotion, Russia was building up forces along Ukraine’s border. A few days later, war is no longer a rumor. Russia invaded and the battle for Kyiv is imminent. Is this what it felt like to Americans when Germany invaded Poland? My parents were married in October 1939. Mom told me they were aware and concerned about what was going on, but hoped America would remain untouched by the conflict. We know how that turned out.
Jesus knew war, an outcome of our selfish, human nature, is a fact of life. He encourages us, however, to not be “alarmed” that there will be wars. Seriously, isn’t that the natural response?!?!?!
Here, as He often did, Jesus teaches us to develop a new perspective about the struggles we face and the evil we see. Jesus wants us to view every aspect of our lives through Him, who He is, and what He taught.
Just before his arrest and crucifixion, Jesus told his disciples: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 - NIV) And overcome the world He did.
Keep your focus on Jesus. For example, after talking about how we worry about money, food, and clothes, Jesus said, “For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:32-33 - NIV)
Seek to follow God’s take on everything, from wardrobe to war. So what is God’s Will for us in this conflict between Ukraine and Russia?
Jesus taught us to be peacemakers, to turn the other cheek, and to love one another, including our enemies. That is the primary goal. But, we are also to hunger and thirst for what is right. We are to love justice and mercy.
The peace Jesus wants us to experience is more than an absence of war or conflict. It is the inner peace that comes when we strive to do Our Heavenly Father’s Will. In some cases, that means standing up to the bully at the playground, and sometimes it means going to war.
After Constantine converted to Christianity in 312 AD, Christians were no longer the persecuted underdogs. As world leaders, they now had to struggle with how to handle political and economic power. St. Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD) developed what came to be known as “Just War Theory.” I can’t tell you if modern-day military planners think along these lines, but as another war in Europe threatens the entire world it is something to consider.
St. Augustine said, in essence, that wars can be engaged in, but only for just purposes. They must be fought with a sense of morality and proportion. Most of the western world acknowledges that Putin’s invasion of Ukraine is wrong, but I’m also concerned America and our western allies are complicit in encouraging and prolonging this conflict. Ukraine has its own of history internal strife and corruption.
What are we to do? We will only have peace in the world and in our own hearts, if we do the right thing, the God-honoring thing, both in Ukraine and in America.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, may Your will be done. Help us keep our eyes on Jesus. Give the leaders of today’s world Your wisdom in this moment. The courage shown by the people of Ukraine in the face of Russia’s naked aggression is inspiring. Comfort and support them. Inspire us to do what is good, right, and just. Inspire us to do what will bring Your peace into our lives and into the world. Amen.
“You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.” – Matthew 24:6 (NIV)
Susan Schrier Clouse is a retired Methodist minister, who served on our writing team during the Dr. Ben Carson campaign for POTUS and is a contributor to the Citizen Sentinels Network. Her messages occasionally appear in her own blog, “Preacher Girl Diaries” at https://preachergirldiaries.blogspot.com/2020/
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“PEACE and WAR”
June 9, 2020
On May 20th, the Lord woke me up at three a.m. and had me read Jeremiah 22-24. Upon reading that, the Lord gave me this…
It’s interesting to note that these protests are in the name of “peace” but there is no peace.
The days of Donald Trump are a preview of what it will be like when the Messiah comes. The enemy will rage and writhe but we must prepare our children and future generations for this: To fear not in the face of intense war. One thousand will fall at our right hand and 10,000 at our other, but it does not come near us. It will look very close, but the hedge of protection that I have placed around you is greater than how close the calamity can come. The shepherds are coming that will dispel fear, discouragement in the battle ahead, for fear and discouragement will be the downfall. You will walk through the valley of the shadow of death but you must know and be able to walk without fear and discouragement.
These shepherds will do this.
They will lead, guide, and show you the intents and purposes of My heart. The slippery way is the greed of gain, self-righteousness, and selfishness—always needing glory. No longer strengthen the hands of the evil one through slander, bitterness, and division; through resentment, fear or dismay. There will not be peace but war—but fear not, for I have overcome the world.
He has found corruption in His house: Falsehood, greedy shepherds leading His beloved flock astray. His anger has come to bring a whirlwind. Fear not you who stand in His counsel and obey His words. My Word is a refiner’s fire to purify. Prophets have prophesied and dreamed dreams for greedy gain. “No more,” says the Lord. I am separating the sheep of my pasture from the world. You will know them by their love for one another not their love for gain or glory. My Word, My identity has been stolen from My people. They no longer know who they are or Who they belong to. The love of glory is too dangerous. It separates you from Me. There are good figs who have been sent into exile for their own good and for their cleansing. And My eyes are on them for good. They go through a foreign land for their good. They will have a heart to know Me and will turn to Me with all their heart. But for the spoiled figs—They will endure the same storm, the same hardships. They will become a mockery and a curse. They will be pursued until they are destroyed, until the land is rid of them, for the land groans under them. Jeremiah 22-24
Visit our website remnantrising.group and fill in the contact information to schedule prayer.
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Onward and Upward!
From Natalie Grant - Praise You In This Storm (Official Music Video) - 9/17/20
From Dutch Sheets Ministries: The Recent State of the Union Address | Give Him 15: Daily Prayer with Dutch | March 4, 2022
From Sissel Kyrkjebø Hymn to Freedom by Hymn to Freedom by Sissel Kyrkjebø - 9/4/2020
From Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty: Thousands Detained In Anti-War Protests Across Russia - 3/6/22
From VOCES8: This Is My Song (Finlandia) - Jean Sibelius arr. Blake Morgan - 2/20/21
From Hold the Line Podcast w/ Sean Feucht: Peace isn't the Absence of Conflict - Rob McCoy - 3/2/22
From #LETUSWORSHIP & Sean Feucht: I Can't Get Past - Sean Feucht - Let Us Worship - Miami, FL - 2/28/22
From FOX News: Finnish Christians facing trial for expressing Christian beliefs: 'Faith is at stake' | On Air Video - 3/1/22
From Reba McEntire: Back To God by Reba McEntire - (Official Music Video) 1/24/2017
From Prager University: Ep. 228 — The Russian Invasion of Ukraine | PragerU - 3/3/22
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Podcast - From J P Education: Why the Sanctions against Russia don't work - Jordan Peterson and Frederick Kagan - 3/4/22
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American Minute by William J. Federer - American Minute for March 5 - The Boston Massacre took place on this day in 1770.
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Recommended Reading…
From The Christian Post: Over 280 Russian Orthodox priests call for end to Russian invasion of Ukraine - 3/6/22
From New York Post (w/ video): Ukrainian girl sings Disney song 'Let It Go' in bunker - 3/6/22
From CBN News: What Does Vladimir Putin Believe About God? Why Some Say He Thinks He's a 'Messianic Figure' - 3/2/22
From FaithWire: ‘The Bible May Not Be Taught’: Bishop on Trial for Biblical Beliefs Says Finland Has Made Secularism Its New Religion - 3/4/22
From Citizen Voice: Progressives Hate the Founders Because They Hate God - 3/3/22
Review> From the Wall Street Journal: IOC Recommends Banning Russian Athletes From International Competition as FIFA Bars Soccer Team - WSJ - 2/28/22
ICYMI> From Yahoo Finance: Russia's space chief responds to new sanctions by suggesting that the ISS could crash into the US or Europe - 2/26/22
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What affects one, can affect all!
* News From The Growing Free Union -
From Newsmax.com: 'People's Convoy' Truck Protest Drives Laps around Washington - 3/6/22
* News From Our Canadian Neighbors -
From Calgary Herald: Alberta Lifts Almost All Remaining Covid Restrictions - 3/1/22
News From California -
From California Globe: Sacramento Claims There Won't be Money to Continue Funding Existing Homeless Shelters - 3/4/22
From The Christian Post: Father who murdered 3 daughters in California church was in US illegally - 3/6/22
News From Florida -
From FaithWire (w/ video): ‘There Are No Words’: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Gives Positive Update on Wife’s Cancer Diagnosis - 3/4/22
News From Georgia -
From FOX News: Calls to boycott Coca-Cola over Russia stance - 3/6/22
News From New York -
From FaithWire (w/ video): ‘We’re Going to Die’: Teary-Eyed Mom Says ‘I Love You’ to Firefighter Who Saved ‘Miracle’ Baby During Dramatic Rescue - 3/4/22
News From Washington state -
From The Christian Post: NFL greats rally behind high school coach fired for postgame prayer amid Supreme Court battle - 3/5/22
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Recommended Resources - follow the links…
Excellent Election Education Resource: US 2020 Election Fraud at a Glance
Excellent Non-Partisan Election Resource: Election Integrity Project California
Excellent Citizen-Patriot News Resource: Steve Bannon's War Room
Excellent Citizen-Patriot News Resource: From Frank Speech - the Home of Free Speech
Excellent Citizen Comprehensive Resource: David Horowitz Freedom Center
Excellent Citizen Activist Resource: Precinct Strategy: Home
Excellent Christian Homeschool Resource:
https://ed-exit.com/
Excellent Guide to Protecting Families: A Guide to Protecting Your Family From the Coming Insurrection and Violence 1 ARE YOU SAFE?
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