Do not let your heart be troubled

A Word for you today from the Lord Jesus Himself.

“Do not let your heart be troubled”

D.P. Weary

February 2011

            Today we find ourselves living in a world of turmoil, lawlessness, wars and rumor of wars, evil being called good and good being called evil, corruption, deceit, hard economic times, persecution, plagues, and hunger. It is easy in these days to become depressed, hopeless, even despairing. Many hearts are troubled these days. Even if you are coping OK then I know that you have relatives, friends, neighbors or coworkers that are having a hard time dealing with life right now. But there is a God who knows where you are, and where they are. He knows your pain, your anxieties, your fears, and your troubled heart. Read these scriptures as a personal letter to you and share then with others you know who are having a hard time right now. This is a Word of the Lord for you today!     

<< John 14 >> New Living Translation Jesus, the Way to the Father 1“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 2There is more than enough room in my Father’s home.a If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?b 3When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. 4And you know the way to where I am going.”      Jesus is coming very soon to take all true believers to our home in heaven where we will be with Him forever. 5“No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?” 6Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. 7If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is.c From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”      Knowing and trusting in Jesus is the only way to get to The Father’s House. The only way to get to heaven.  8Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” 9Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you? 10Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me. 11Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do.       The man Jesus is the revealer of God the Father to mankind. To be saved is to believe that Jesus is God in the flesh (The Son of God). The fullness of the God Head bodily dwells in our Lord Jesus (Col. 2:9). 12“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. 13You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. 14Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!      Believing in Jesus and making Him the Lord of our lives gives us the right to approach the very Throne of God in heaven. We have been given the authority to ask the Father anything in Jesus’ name and He promises to do it. Anything that is that Jesus would ask for. Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit 15“If you love me, obeyd my commandments. 16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate,e who will never leave you. 17He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.f 18No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you. 19Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live. 20When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”      We prove our love for Jesus by accepting and obeying His commandments. If we do this Jesus will come to us, not in bodily form to live with us, but as the Holy Spirit to live in us. And He promises to love us and reveal himself to us. 22Judas (not Judas Iscariot, but the other disciple with that name) said to him, “Lord, why are you going to reveal yourself only to us and not to the world at large?” 23Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them. 24Anyone who doesn’t love me will not obey me. And remember, my words are not my own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent me. 25I am telling you these things now while I am still with you. 26But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.      The Holy Spirit living in us is our advocate, our teacher, our comforter, our counselor, helper, intercessor, and our strengthener. He is the power by which we exercise our authority as sons and daughters of God to be what God wants us to be and to do what He asks us to do. To not receive this gift of the Holy Spirit is to have a form of godliness, but deny the power thereof (2 Tim. 3:5). 27“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. 28Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again. If you really loved me, you would be happy that I am going to the Father, who is greater than I am. 29I have told you these things before they happen so that when they do happen, you will believe.      We are not to be troubled or afraid because Jesus has given us a gift. A gift of peace of mind and heart. This peace does not depend on worldly circumstances; it is a supernatural gift of His presence with us, and His promises to us. Note that He tells us things before they happen (the prophetic Word) so that when they do happen, we will believe, trust Him, know that He is in control, and know that they are all a part of His great plan to take all true believers to be with Him in heaven and to establish His Kingdom on earth. 30“I don’t have much more time to talk to you, because the ruler of this world approaches. He has no power over me, 31but I will do what the Father requires of me, so that the world will know that I love the Father. Come, let’s be going.      Never before have these words be so true. The evil ruler of the world, Satan and his bodily manifestation on earth the Antichrist, approaches. The signs are everywhere. We are to do what Jesus did. He was obedient to the Father. Let us also be obedient to God in these last days, doing what He asks of us for His Glory! Come; let us be going about the Father’s business! Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007.

The Last Empire

THE LAST CHAPTER

-Of the Greatest Story Ever Told-

D.P. Weary

February 2011

          After several years of studying the prophets and prophecies of the Bible, and now watching the events of the day in the nations of the earth, especially in the Middle East, I have developed a scenario for the days ahead of us. This scenario is an outline for a story or novel, not unlike those of Joel Rosenberg. A good title for this story would be “Apocalypse Now” or “How the World Turns” except these have already been used.

          The story begins with today’s headlines: Tunisia government falls. Egyptian government falls. Sudan votes to divide itself in half, the northern half falling under radical Islamic control. Lebanese government falls. Protests arise in the streets against the government in Jordan. In Azerbaijan there are terrorist threats targeting Americans. Turkey strengthens ties with Iran and forsakes Israel. Political trouble arises in Syria. Iran could have nuclear weapons by 2012. Pakistan doubles its nuclear arsenal. Iran declares an Islamic Middle East Empire is arising.

          What is going on? Radical changes are occurring in the Middle East and Israel finds itself without any friends in the Middle East and very few friends around the world. The U.N. and even the U.S.A. are turning their backs on Israel. My story is all about what is going on. It is a story based on the prophecies of the Bible as I see them. It is a story of the rising of an empire in the Middle East that will be in place at the time that Jesus returns to establish His Kingdom on earth. It is a story about the last chapter of The Greatest Story Ever Told.

Here is the outline of the story:

1. The story begins with revolutions as radical Islamic leaders take control of northern Africa including Libya, Egypt, and northern Sudan.
2. Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan all come under the control of Islamic fanatics as radical Muslims move to establish an Islamic Middle East.
3. These nations form a loose federation of ten nations under the control of a revived Caliphate. This federation is very similar to the Islamic Empire that overcame Rome in 1453 A.D. Geographically these nations will occupy the same territory, as did the Babylonian, Medo-Persian, Macedonian, and old Roman Empires.
4. This confederacy is a loose federation in that the people within these nations are often found fighting and killing each other over a variety of issues. Like iron and clay, they do not mix well together. The commonality that does bind these nations together is Allah, Islamic Sharia law and a hatred of Israel and Jews. All openly declare their desire to wipe Israel off the map and kill all Jews. We note that all of these nations at one time or another were a part of historical empires that invaded and controlled the land of Israel and Jerusalem.
5. From among these ten nations, a leader arises who will galvanize them into an international force. He uses flatteries, intrigues, deception, briberies, terrorism and brute force to become the leader of the federation. He comes from the nations that were once known as the Seleucid Empire. This empire included the eastern part of Turkey, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Iran and the western part of Pakistan.
6. After this leader establishes control of the coalition he orchestrates an attack on Israel. There is much devastation and death, not only in Israel, but also in Damascus, Ammon, Egypt and in other places in the Middle East.  As the forces of these ten nations near Jerusalem, they are defeated and retreat back into their respective nations. The primary reasons for their defeat are unusual weather phenomena, a massive earthquake, and what seem to be supernaturally empowered Israeli military forces.
7. During the earthquake and turmoil, all true believers in Jesus around the world suddenly disappear from the face of the earth. These events occur during the September/October time of year.
8. At this turn of events, the leader of the ten nations negotiates a limited cease fire or treaty. It is an agreement to cease hostilities for seven years. The treaty is signed ten days after the earthquake and the retreat of the ten nation’s forces. This signing occurs on the Day of Atonement in Jerusalem.
9. Part of this treaty allows the religious Jews to begin rebuilding their Temple in Jerusalem. The altar of sacrifice is the first stage of the construction and it is completed in 295 days. The sacrificial system of worship is reinstated at this time. The Temple itself is not completed for another 965 days.
10. During the 31/2 years following the signing of the treaty there are a series of world wide natural disasters including meteor strikes, volcanoes, earthquakes and unusual storms. There is much devastation and hardship throughout the entire world. Also during these 31/2 years, a large group of Messianic Jews who are dedicated to serve Jesus and who are great evangelists begin proclaiming the Christian Gospel, leading many to know Jesus.
11. Oppressive activity including terrorism, intimidation, military force and economic power is used to drive the other nations of the earth to come under the control of the leader of the ten-nation confederacy and under Sharia Law. This stirs up great resistance in many parts of the world, especially in the Far East.  Because of this, towards the end of these 3½ years a large military force from the Far East attacks the ten-nation federation now headquartered in Israel. There is great destruction and bloodshed during the ensuing battles. But in the end the Far Eastern armies are repelled. But, after several years they will try again.
12. At the defeat of this great army the leader of the federation becomes known as invincible and undefeatable, even supernaturally empowered. With this fame and his classic narcissistic nature, 1230 days after he negotiates the peace treaty, he stands in the Holy of Holies in the recently completed Temple in Jerusalem and declares himself to be God.
13. During the next 30 days, another leader arises who is a religious figure and a great supporter of the leader of the ten-nation federation. This man places a statue of the first leader in the Holy of Holies in the Temple. He demands that everyone worship this leader and take a mark on their hand or forehead identifying them as worshippers of the leader. Without this mark people are unable to buy and sell in the marketplace.
14. As a result of this desecration of the Temple, the Jews now know that this great leader has deceived them. At Passover, 1260 days after the signing of the peace treaty this leader formally breaks the treaty. As the now infamous leader stands in the Temple during the Feast of Passover, someone who has the ability to get physically close him strikes him on the neck or head with a dagger, apparently killing him.
15. What happens next astounds the world. Three days after being stabbed, he apparently comes back to life. At this point he turns his fury upon the Jews and begins a relentless and vicious persecution of all Jews and in fact, on all who will not worship him. Incarnate Evil now enters the world.
16. During the next 31/2 years there are a series of great natural disasters and plagues. There is great pollution of the waters of the earth. Diseases and cancerous sores are epidemic. Even the atmosphere is changed such that the sun’s rays scorch human flesh. For the Jews and Israel it is a time of trouble as has never been before.
17. During these 31/2 years many killed for their faith in God and Jesus and their unwillingness to worship the evil leader of the ten-nation federation.
18. Also during this time two unusual men there appear in Jerusalem. They are voices for God during these times. They have unusual powers to control weather, cause plagues, and pollute the waters of the earth. The leader and his forces are not able to kill or stop them from their works or their prophesying.    
19. Near the end of these second 31/2 years a rebellion arises in North Africa. The forces of the federation are sent to quell the rebellion. But before they are successful, intelligence reveals that a large military force from the Far East is once again approaching Israel over a dried up Euphrates River. Then another military force is detected approaching from the far north. The federation forces retreat back to Israel to deal with these approaching armies and as they do, the forces from Egypt and North Africa pursue them. The final clash between the forces from the north, east, and south and the 10-nation federation begins 10 days before the Day of Atonement.
20. Three days before this Day of Atonement, forces of the leader of the federation are finally able to kill the two men who have been tormenting them for the past 31/2 years.
21. The carnage from the battles going on in Israel is very great, so much so that it colors the waters in Israel red with blood. As the battles in Israel rage, they turn nuclear and the devastation spreads to other parts of the world.
22. Then, on the Day of Atonement, exactly seven years after the aborted peace treaty was signed, as the whole world is about to self-destruct, first the two special witness are resurrected in Jerusalem before the eyes of the world. Then the King of kings (Jesus the Christ, Jesus the Messiah) comes streaking into the battles from the sky with His holy angels and His saints, (His Bride, the true church) with Him.
23. The battles end on the Day of Atonement in the Jezreel Valley with a word from the Lord. The leader of the last empire (the 10-nation federation) and his associates are then destroyed along with all the enemies of God.
24. Five days later there is a great celebration in Jerusalem. It is a wedding banquet for the Lord Jesus and His Bride, the true church.
25. By 75 days after the Lord’s return, the Temple has been cleansed, purified and set right for the resumption of Temple worship. Temple worship begins with a great celebration during the Feast of Hanukkah in December.
26. The story ends as Jesus establishes His Throne in Jerusalem and with His Bride at His side begins a 1000-year rule on earth as King of kings and Lord of lords.