"A Day of Destruction" ✡ Today is Holocaust Remembrance Day - ISRAEL365

A day of destruction and desolation, a day of blackness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness. Zephaniah 1:15 (The Israel Bible™)   יוֹם שֹׁאָה וּמְשׁוֹאָה יוֹם חֹשֶׁךְ וַאֲפֵלָה יוֹם עָנָן וַעֲרָפֶל צפניה א:ט’’ו yom sho-a u-mi-sho-a yom kho-shekh va-a-fay la yom a-nan va-a-ra-fel

Yom HaShoah Today marks Holocaust Remembrance Day, which in Hebrew is called "Yom HaShoah" and comes from our verse in Zephaniah describing the devastating destruction of Jerusalem. Yom HaShoah was established by the Knesset and coincides with the anniversary of the Warsaw ghetto uprising, remembering not only the destruction of European Jewry, but recalling the heroic revolt. This summer, join Rabbi Tuly Weisz on a Tour of Remembrance to Poland, as we memorialize the six million who perished, and strengthen our commitment to God.   Learn more about our Tour of Remembrance » IDF Shares Stories of Survivors  To commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day, the IDF shares stories of the survivors and remembers the fallen.   Watch here » Reinstating the Mitzvah That Brings The Third Temple Down From Heaven [PHOTOS] At Passover's end, a group of Jews went out to a field in southern Israel and harvested a small quantity of barley for a purely Biblical purpose rarely fulfilled these days: to offer up the omer, or the wave offering, to God.   Read more » Provide Hot Meals for a Holocaust Survivor Those who survived the Holocaust are inarguably some of the most resilient and inspiring people this world has ever known. Unfortunately, today, many elderly survivors do not receive enough provisions or the financial assistance required to meet their daily needs. Help sustain them in in their need. Donate $50 today and you can provide a week's worth of hot meals for one survivor. Donate Today » Today's Israel Photo Photo of the archaeological ruins on Mount Gerizim near Shechem/Nablus by David Rabkin.   See more photos by David Rabkin » Thank You Today's Scenes and Inspiration is sponsored by Robin Sussman in memory of her parents Sigmund and Barbara Beer.   Sponsor a day and receive a free devotional book » “So Grateful for Technology!” It’s great to hear from so many of you - stay in touch and let us know where in the world you are enjoying Israel365!   Stay in Touch » Dear friends, I live in the Far North of New Zealand which must be as far away from Israel as you can get so learning Hebrew is unusual. So grateful for technology! -Jacqui Malcolm May God bless Israel , may His peace be upon the land and the people of Israel for ever. I visited the country 13 times, I learned the language to a good degree, all because God has put love in my heart for Israel and the Jewish people. I am originally from Serbia, but live in Canada. Am yisrael hi. Sarah Crnak Shalom, Rabbi Tuly Weisz RabbiTuly@Israel365.com

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'The Armageddon Code': Is the Fulfillment of Prophecy of the Second Coming Imminent? - STEVE STRANG CHARISMA MAGAZINE

'The Armageddon Code': Is the Fulfillment of Prophecy of the Second Coming Imminent?

5/4/2016 STEVE STRANG  charisma magazine

The Armageddon Code deals with the controversial subject of the Rapture. (YouTube)

With impactful events taking place in the world these days, there seems to be a sense among many that something big is about to happen. The Middle East especially continues to be hotbed of activity, dating back to nearly 70 years ago when Israel became a nation. The last couple of years have seen the significant rise of the terrorist group ISIS in Syria.

Is it possible that these events are a setup for the prophecies spoken about in the Bible that we refer to as the "Second Coming?"

I grew up in the church with the teaching that the church would be raptured before the Second Coming. As teenager, I began to learn that many other Christians believed other theories about the Second Coming. It seems that, as time has passed, things have become more confused, especially when theologians and pastors talk about events and entities such as the Great Tribulation, the Millennium, the Antichrist, the mark of the Beast and the rapture itself—whether or not it is going to happen before or after the tribulation, or perhaps midway through.

To grapple with these topics, Charisma House released a new book this week called The Armageddon Code by New York City journalist Billy Hallowell, the faith and religion editor for The Blaze. He takes an arm's-length view of the various views of the Second Coming. He tries to explain these views to people who are usually confused by all the contradictions. The book also presents some research showing what Protestant ministers believe about the Second Coming. The results were surprising.

I had the privilege of interviewing Billy Hallowell on The Strang Report podcast, which will be online in a few days. We talked about how the book is being released this week in what they call "a thunder clap," in which 136 people sent out information about the book at the same time to a combined total of more than 2 million people. It helps to draw attention to this important book.

We also talked about the study conducted by Lifeway Research in which 1,000 pastors, drawn randomly from the population, revealed what they believe. The greatest group—36 percent—believe in a pre-tribulation rapture. The next largest group—25 percent—believe that the rapture is not be taken literally. Most of these pastors come from what we would call more liberal segments of the church. Interestingly, 73 percent of Pentecostal pastors believe in a pre-tribulation rapture. Yet I remember when I was a child nearly all Pentecostals would have believed it.

One chapter of the book deals with questions surrounding the Antichrist:

• Exactly who is he and what will his personality be like?
• Where will he come from?
• When will he arrive on the scene?:

Interest in the end times is at an all-time high. But what does the Bible really say about what will happen and when? Why are there so many different viewpoints among Christians, and are any of them right? With questions like these, it's no wonder that the subject of the end times creates confusion, doubt and anxiety for many people today.

I encourage you to pick up a copy of The Armageddon Code wherever Christian books are sold or online. There is so much more information that I can go into in this short newsletter, but click here to order the book or find out more information about it.

Hallowell also interviews "experts" on end-time prophecy and what they believe. He conducted interviews with Greg Laurie, Tim LaHaye, Joel C. Rosenberg and even Hank Hanegraaff on what they believe. He lays it all out for the readers and allows the readers to decide for themselves.

I am finding the book fascinating reading, the topic is fascinating, and I encourage you to let me know what you think about end-time prophecy by leaving your comments below. 

Steve Strang is the founder of Charisma and CEO of Charisma Media. Follow him onTwitter and Facebook. Click here to subscribe to the Strang Report podcast, and hereto sign up for the Strang Report newsletter.

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Dare to go deeper in your faith. Our "Life in the Spirit" devotional takes you on a journey to explore who the Holy Spirit is, how to interact with Him, and how He works in your life. Are you ready to go deeper?

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Joel C. Rosenberg's Blog: Never Again, Never Forget: On Holocaust Remembrance Day, here are four true heroes to remember.

New post on Joel C. Rosenberg's Blog Never Again, Never Forget: On Holocaust Remembrance Day, here are four true heroes to remember. Who will be the heroes of our time, standing against evil & genocide? by joelcrosenberg Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it. -- Santayana Today is Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day. Here in Israel, the sirens will sound at precisely 10am. Every car, truck, bus and taxi cab will pull to a stop. Every worker will lay down his tools. Every classroom will fall silent. Every Jewish Israeli, regardless of what he or she is doing, will stand at attention, listen to the wail of the sirens, and remember those who were ruthless sent to the gas chamber, simply because they were Jews. How will you remember the Holocaust today? How will you teach your children about the most horrific attempt to exterminate a single people group in the history of mankind? I encourage you to make time today to remember the six million Jews -- including 1.5 million children -- were systematically murdered by Adolf Hitler and the Third Reich. Read the stories below. Share them on social media. Visit a Holocaust Museum. Watch Schindler's List or one of the other great films about what happened. Read Elie Wiesel's Night. Better yet, find a survivor -- or the son or daughter of a survivor -- and ask them to share their story with you and your family. Let us honor their memories, and pledge ourselves never to forget them. In so doing, let us pledge to never allow such evil to happen again. This is not just a time for Jews to remember, or the world to remember the Jews. This is a day for all of mankind to take a decisive stand against evil and against genocide in our time. This is especially critical in the face of the continuing Iranian nuclear threat and the apocalyptic regime in Tehran's repeated vows to annihilate the U.S. and the State of Israel. It is also critical in the light of the genocidal rampage against Muslims, Christians and Yazidis that the apocalyptic leaders of the Islamic State are engaged. My hope and prayer this year is that in addition to remembering those who died in the “Shoah” (the Holocaust), we will also remember those who lived -- especially four extraordinary heroes who actually escaped from Auschwitz in the spring of 1944 not only to save their own lives but to tell the world the truth about what the Nazis were doing. I first learned about these men and their extraordinary courage and selflessness upon visiting the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp in Poland in 2011. Their stories intrigued me. Indeed, they inspired me to write the novel, The Auschwitz Escape. Their names are: Rudolf Vrba Alfred Wetzler Arnost Rosin Czeslaw Mordowicz In 2014, I wrote a column specifically sketching out their dramatic saga, based on the research I did for the book, including meeting with some of the world's leading Holocaust scholars at Yad Vashem here in Israel. I hope you’ll take a moment to read the whole column, and then share it with others. They are worth remembering. They are worth emulating. Indeed, as darkness falls once again in the epicenter and around the world, may their tribe increase. Here's my written and video report from Auschwitz-Birkenau in December 2011. The Auschwitz Escape -- audio edition ————————– Read The First Hostage today — the new political thriller about ISIS plotting to capture and behead the President of the United States — is available in hardcover, e-book and audio formats. Read THE THIRD TARGET today , the first in this new series — now out in paperback — the New York Times best-selling novel about ISIS capturing chemical weapons in Syria and plotting genocidal attacks. ——————- Subscribe (free) to the RSS feed (click here) and receive every new posting on this blog directly via email. Make an investment in The Joshua Fund (www.joshuafund.net), our non-profit organization to help Christians care for Syrian refugees, educate and mobilize Christians to bless Israel and her neighbors in the name of Jesus, care for the poor and needy in Israel (both Jews and Arabs) with food and other humanitarian relief, care for Holocaust survivors, and strengthen the Church in the epicenter. Read our latest Donor Report, and make a tax deductible, secure, on-line contribution. Follow on Twitter — @joelcrosenberg joelcrosenberg | May 5, 2016 at 5:51 am | Categories: Uncategorized | URL: http://wp.me/piWZ7-4C2

Rail Traffic Depression: 292 Union Pacific Engines Are Sitting In The Arizona Desert Doing Nothing - Michael Snyder THE ECONOMIC COLLAPSE BLOG

Rail Traffic Depression: 292 Union Pacific Engines Are Sitting In The Arizona Desert Doing Nothing

Posted: 04 May 2016  Michael Snyder  THE ECONOMIC COLLAPSE BLOG

We continue to get more evidence that the U.S. economy has entered a major downturn.  Just last week, I wrote about how U.S. GDP growth numbers have been declining for three quarters in a row, and previously I wrote about how corporate defaults have surged to their highest level since the last financial crisis. 

Well, now we are getting some very depressing numbers from the rail industry.  As you will see below, U.S. rail traffic was down more than 11 percent from a year ago in April.  That is an absolutely catastrophic number, and the U.S. rail industry is feeling an enormous amount of pain right now.  This also tells us that “the real economy” is really slowing down, because less stuff is being shipped by rail all over the nation.

One of the economic commentators that I have really come to respect is Wolf Richter of WolfStreet.com.  He has a really sharp eye for what is really going on in the economy and in the financial world, and I find myself quoting him more and more as time goes by.  If you have not checked out his site yet, I very much encourage you to do so.

On Wednesday, he posted a very alarming article about what is happening to our rail industry.  The kinds of numbers that we have been seeing recently are the kinds of numbers that we would expect if an economic depression was starting.  The following is an excerpt from that article…

Total US rail traffic in April plunged 11.8% from a year ago, the Association of American Railroads reported today. Carloads of bulk commodities such as coal, oil, grains, and chemicals plummeted 16.1% to 944,339 units.
The coal industry is in a horrible condition and cannot compete with US natural gas at current prices. Coal-fired power plants are being retired. Demand for steam coal is plunging. Major US coal miners – even the largest one – are now bankrupt. So in April, carloads of coal plummeted 40% from the already beaten-down levels a year ago.

Because rail traffic is down so dramatically, many operators have large numbers of engines that are just sitting around collecting dust.  In his article, Wolf Richter shared photographs from Google Earth that show some of the 292 Union Pacific engines that are sitting in the middle of the Arizona desert doing absolutely nothing.  The following is one of those photographs…

As Wolf Richter pointed out, it costs a lot of money for these engines to just sit there doing nothing…

These engines are expensive pieces of equipment. When they just sit there, not pulling trains, they become “overcapacity,” and they get very expensive. Then there are engineers and other personnel who suddenly become unproductive. Some of them have already been laid off or are getting laid off.

All over the world, similar numbers are coming in.  For example, the Baltic Dry Index fell 30 more points on Wednesday after falling 21 on Tuesday.  Global trade is really, really slowing down during the early portion of 2016.  What this means on a practical level is that a lot less stuff is being bought, sold and shipped around the planet.

It is becoming increasingly difficult for authorities to deny that a new global recession has begun, and at this moment we are only in the very early chapters of this new crisis.
Another thing that I watch very closely is the velocity of money.  When an economy is healthy, people feel pretty good about things and money tends to circulate fairly rapidly.  For example, I may buy something from you, then you may buy something from someone else, etc.

But when times get tough, people tend to hold on to their money more tightly, and that is why the velocity of money goes down when recessions hit.  In the chart below, the shaded areas represent recessions, and you can see that the velocity of money has declined during every single recession in the post-World War II era…

During the last recession, the velocity of money declined precipitously, and that makes perfect sense.  But then a funny thing happened.  There was a slight bump up once the recession was over, but then it turned down again and it has kept going down ever since.
In fact, the velocity of money has now dropped to an all-time low.  The velocity of M2 just recently dipped below 1.5 for the first time ever.

This is not a sign of an “economic recovery”.  What this tells us is that our economy is very, very sick.

And we can see evidence of this sickness all around us.  For instance, the Los Angeles Times is reporting that homelessness in Los Angeles increased by 11 percent last year, and this marked the fourth year in a row that homelessness in the city has increased…

Homelessness rose 11% in the city of Los Angeles and 5.7% in the county last year despite an intensive federal push that slashed the county ranks of homeless veterans by nearly a third, according to a report released Wednesday.
The increase marks the fourth consecutive year of rising homelessness in L.A., as local officials struggle to identify funding for billion-dollar plans they approved to solve the nation’s most intractable homeless problem.

Let us also not forget that about half the country is basically flat broke at this point.
Just recently, the Federal Reserve found that 47 percent of all Americans could not pay an unexpected $400 emergency room bill without selling something or borrowing the money from somewhere.

With numbers such as these being reported, how in the world can anyone possibly claim that the U.S. economy is in good shape?

It boggles the mind, and yet there are people out there that would actually have you believe that everything is just fine.

The current occupant of the White House is one of them.

With each passing month, the real economy is getting even worse.  We may not have slipped into a full-blown economic depression just yet, but it is coming.

For now, let us be thankful for whatever remains of our debt-fueled prosperity, because we don’t deserve the massively inflated standard of living that we have been enjoying.
We have been consuming far more than we produce for decades, but it won’t last for much longer.  And when those days are gone for good, we will mourn them bitterly.

Soon-to-Be GOP Nominee Trump to Israel: Keep Building in Judea and Samaria by Abra Forman BREAKING ISRAEL NEWS

Soon-to-Be GOP Nominee Trump to Israel: Keep Building in Judea and Samaria

By Abra Forman May 4, 2016   BREAKING ISRAEL NEWS

“Build ye houses, and dwell in them, and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them.” Jeremiah 29:5 (The Israel Bible™)

View of Ma’ale Adumim, an Israeli community in Judea and Samaria, on May 26, 2014. (Photo: Serge Attal/Flash90)

Donald Trump, who is all but guaranteed to nab the Republican presidential nomination, declared his support on Tuesday for Israeli construction in the Judea and Samaria regions. The view represents a sea change from the current administration, which has repeatedly called for a cessation of building over the Green Line and accused Israel of harming peace efforts through its building programs.

“[The settlements] really have to keep going, have to keep moving forward,” Trump told Britain’s Dailymail.com when asked if he believed there should be a freeze on settlement building. “I don’t think there should be a pause.”

On the premise of urging both sides to the negotiating table, President Barack Obama insisted in 2009 that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government cease all new settlement construction. Netanyahu agreed, freezing settlements for 10 months while talks were underway. However, when the period expired with no progression towards a peace agreement, the freeze was lifted, angering the US.

Trump’s stance would be a total break with the Obama administration’s Israel policy, which is widely regarded as having contributed to a considerable cooling of ties between the two allies.

“Look, missiles were launched into Israel, and Israel, I think, never was properly treated by our country,” the real estate mogul continued, referring to 2014’s Operation Protective Edge, which Israel initiated in response to a barrage of rocket fire from the Gaza Strip. Israel was condemned on all sides for what the international community deemed to be a “disproportionate” reaction to Hamas’s indiscriminate rocket attack.

“I mean, do you know what that is, how devastating that is?” Trump asked in defense of Israel’s actions. “You have hundreds and, I guess, thousands of missiles being launched into Israel, who would put up with that? Who would stand for it?”

He added that, in spite of his support for the settlements, he would “love to negotiate peace” between Israel and the Palestinians, calling it “the all-time negotiation”.

Of Netanyahu, Trump said that while he didn’t know the Israeli premier that well, “I think I’d have a very good relationship with him.”

“I think that President Obama has been extremely bad to Israel,” he added.

Israel has built hundreds of Jewish communities in the Judea and Samaria regions, from large, organized cities to tiny, brand-new settlements, reestablishing the Jewish presence which the Bible describes at length and which has been proven, over and over, by archeological finds in the ancient hills and deserts. Many of today’s communities have been built directly on the sites of Biblical cities and towns, bringing the eternal connection of the Jewish people to the land of Israel to life once more.

A Piece of the 'City of God' ✡ "Adorned You With Ornaments" - ISRAEL365

And I adorned you with ornaments, and I put bracelets on your hands and a necklace on your neck. Ezekiel 16:11 (The Israel Bible™)   וָאֶעְדֵּךְ עֶדִי וָאֶתְּנָה צְמִידִים עַל יָדַיִךְ וְרָבִיד עַל גְּרוֹנֵךְ יחזקאל טז:יא va-e-daykh e-dee va-et-na tz'-mee-deem al ya-dai-yikh v'-ra-veed al g'-ro-naykh

Jerusalem Inspiration Listen to the words of poet Neil Zier in his work entitled "Jerusalem, City of David, City of Gold". 'From the great Temple in Heaven, an awesome Voice was heard, "Oh Jerusalem, oh Jerusalem, no longer shall I wait; Now, stand back and see what I shall do! I am bringing your children Home, they shall again possess their land;  Watch them build Your cities strong, Taste their new sweet wine, Listen to their voices shouting My Song,  'This is the City of G‑d.'  There is nothing more meaningful than visiting the ancient, holy city and reveling in the spirituality that surrounds you.  Now, with each piece of 'City of David Jewelry' you can surround yourself with these inspiring emotions daily. Take home a piece of Jerusalem with 'City of David Jewelry' » City of David Rebuilt In this short clip check out what the City of David rebuilt would look like!   Watch here » Nowhere Safe From Potential Threats An FBI sting operation was orchestrated to thwart a terrorist attack at the Aventura Turnberry Jewish Center on Friday.  Community members grieve over the loss of feelings of security.   Read more » Nano Style Ten Commandments Pendant and Chain This exquisite necklace displays the Ten Commandments with Hebrew letters and English writing, inscribed in 24 karat gold. The finely detailed miniature writing is legible and can be seen with the special magnifying glass which is included with purchase. The golden Ten Commandments are mounted on an Onyx gemstone and encircled in a 15 x 21 mm .925 sterling silver frame. Also included is an 18 inch (45 cm) .925 sterling silver necklace. It comes in a gift box and is a perfect and unique gift for any special occasion. Key ring magnifying glass included!   Get this Great Deal » Jerusalem Daily Photo A ceramics stand at the Bezalel Pedestrian Mall in Jerusalem, by Uri Baruch. This street fair takes place everyFriday, offering the tastes, smells and inspirations of Jerusalem.   See more photos by Uri Baruch » Yesterday's Photo Trivia Yesterday's photo featured a fantastic Jerusalem sky, with the capital city's various hotels dotting the tips of the skyline.  Come pay a visit to the holiest city in the world.     Thank You Please help us continue to spread the beauty and significance of the Land of Israel! Sponsor a day in honor of a loved one » “I Appreciate and Love the Pictures and the Scriptures” It’s great to hear from you and make new friends from all over the world. Please send mean email and let me know how you are enjoying Jerusalem365 (don’t forget to say where you are from!).   Stay in Touch »   Shalom Rabbi Tuly! Thank you for Jerusalem365. I appreciate and love the pictures and the Scriptures that go with them; and the music and stories. I am a Christian from Australia who absolutely loves Israel and her people! I have been blessed to have travelled to Israel four times, and would so love to visit again! I pray for Israel every day. I speak out for Israel and have taught about Israel to many. I support an orphanage in Israel and when I can, others as well. Once again, yes, I enjoy Jerusalem365 very much. Blessings in His Name, Julie Cornish Blessing from Jerusalem, Rabbi Tuly Weisz RabbiTuly@Israel365.com

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