Standing in support of Israel, Jews, and believers in all the nations, in the name of Jesus (Yeshua). Sharing biblical truth, encouragement, news and prophecy.
The photo to the left is of a young Christian girl whose family fled Syria ahead of invading jihadist hordes and today lives as beggars on the streets of northern Turkey. She is just one of a great many in a similar situation, and they are the lucky ones. Countless other Christians have been brutalized and massacred in the Middle East in recent years.
The photo was shared on Facebook by the Israeli Christian Lobby, a group of Arabic-speaking Christians that both lobbies for Christian issues in Israel and publicizes the fact that the Jewish state is the one safe place for Christians in this volatile region.
Considering the deafening silence of the Christian West in regards to Syrian and Iraqi Christians like this little girl, the Israeli Christian Lobby appealed to “our Jewish brothers to request that the government of Israel open its borders to these Christian refugees.”
While Israel is ill-equipped to handle a flood of refugees, the response from average Israelis, at least on Facebook, was overwhelmingly positive.
“We must give them shelter in Israel,” wrote one Jewish commenter. “Bring them to the Land [of Israel]!!!” insisted another.
“Who better than our people knows this [suffering]?” noted one Israeli Jewess. “She should seek refuge in Israel,” recommended a respondent.
Others were outraged at the plight of these Christians and the lack of response by the global Christian leadership.
“The Pope is mute and deaf,” concluded one Israeli, while another pointed out that Christian leaders like the Pope “only pay attention when Jews and Israel are involved.”
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God will use our dreams to warn us. (Flickr/Creative Commons)
I had four warning dreams over two days that we would do well to respond to.
I've been talking to God recently about my desire to hear more clearly from him. It seems that I've been in one of those seasons where I'm left to respond to the revelation that has been communicated to me over the previous months and years instead of fresh, hot off the press news.
I've learned over the years that some seasons are ripe for prophetic revelation while others are meant to steward what has already been given. I've also learned that I'll develop a yearning for the voice of God in a fairly intense way just prior to being given the pictures, words, mandates, dreams and visions that will propel me into the coming months.
That yearning resulted in a set of dreams I had over the past two nights.
At first glance, the dreams I had weren't something I was going to share, but after careful, prayerful review I felt it was important to get the message out there.
Jeremiah 23:28: "Let the prophet who has a dream tell the dream, but let him who has my word speak my word faithfully" (ESV).
As you read, keep in mind that God will often use family members and friends in my prophetic dreams to represent a certain type of person. Their roles in these particular dreams seem to be more significant than usual.
Dream #1—The Tour
My dad, who went on to be with Jesus several years ago, was the key player in my first dream. I believe my dad represented someone we all desire to trust deeply. My dad certainly was that type of person, and in real life, he was the one to lead many right into the presence of Jesus. He lived a remarkable life and there are countless people in relationship with Jesus today because of him.
In the dream, my dad represented a trusted fatherly figure who was leading a tour, or a journey, into a very dangerous Islamic region. I was terribly unsettled and concerned for all of our lives, but there was absolutely no concern whatsoever from my dad or any of the others who were on the tour with us. Nobody realized we were being led as curious, careless tourists to the slaughter.
The atmosphere was dark and foreboding, yet I was the only one who was alerted and discerning. I was struggling significantly to understand why nobody else saw the clear and present danger. Could someone I trusted so completely like my dad actually be deceived? Yes.
Fathers, leaders of our nation are doing this very thing right now. They don't understand the death that will result from an alliance with terrorists. The current Iran debacle is an excellent example.
Also, don't be surprised when people very close to us follow our nations leaders right into trouble. How many Christians are supporting politicians who are pro-homosexual, pro-abortion? They are being led by fathers into deception.
This truth applies to local situations as well. People we admire and consider to be fathers in the faith can fall. Will that devastate us? Will we follow them into destruction? When pastors fall into sin, many people become disillusioned and fall away. This is a very real risk and something we must consider. Love and honor people, but understand they are fallible. God alone is truly our Father and we must learn to follow his leadership. He can always be trusted.
Matthew 23:9 "And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven" (ESV).
Dream #2—The Accusation
My wonderful, amazing wife was the key figure in my second dream. It's a bit difficult to include my family members (especially my wife!) in a negative scenario because I know in reality they are nothing like the person they represent in the dream. I do have to trust God's wisdom, and it does make sense to me why He chose to communicate this way.
In my second dream, I was contending for revival and was investing passionately in the prayer movement and a resulting massive outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
My wife had a very casual, natural disposition as she was going about her daily duties at home. She looked at me and said, "You're just a Gnostic. You'er into Gnosticism."
I was heartbroken. I wept as I was dismayed at my wife's dismissal of legitimate encounters with Jesus as illegitimate whims. I cried out to her and said, "I know I can feel God! I know God. What about the peace that passes understanding? What about joy unspeakable and full of glory?"
The accusation was clear: I was being led astray by intuition and feelings and that I needed to come back to the real, natural world. I was wrecked. My heart longed for my wife to understand the wonder and awe of encountering God in a very real way. I earnestly desired her affirmation. Her rejection of my most passionate pursuit was heart wrenching.
However, I knew that I couldn't force my views on her. I could only pray. No amount of discussion or teaching would suffice. She needed an encounter and a revelation of God's tangible working.
Prepare your heart. Don't be surprised when your passion for Jesus is rebuked or dismissed by even your most valued family and friends.
1 Samuel 1:14-15 (ESV) "And Eli said to her, 'How long will you go on being drunk? Put your wine away from you.' But Hannah answered, 'No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the LORD'" (ESV).
Dream #3—The Betrayal
A very good, lifelong friend was the key player in this dream. My friend is a legitimate servant of Christ and has given his entire life to powerful, impactful ministry. In fact, he was a key, early mentor for me in my walk with the Lord.
In the dream, he and I and a few of his friends were hanging out. Everything seemed to be quite normal until there was an incident (that I wasn't a witness of). My friend immediately rose up and started violently beating someone nearby. The remaining friends joined in and aggressively attacked.
I was suddenly confused and disoriented. Why was such a good friend and such a godly man doing this?
The threat of assault and even death was all around. I crouched low and made my way to safety.
My friend started tracking me as I fled. After some time, we ultimately met and he was a different person. He turned on me and rejected me as a friend because I didn't join in his battle. He hurled insults and accusations my direction. His betrayal was fierce, hurtful and shocking.
Will the betrayals and failures of those we admire and consider to be mentors and close friends be enough to derail us?
Psalm 55:12-14 "For it is not an enemy who taunts me—then I could bear it; it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me—then I could hide from him. But it is you, a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend. We used to take sweet counsel together; within God's house we walked in the throng" (ESV).
Dream #4—The Capture
Family and friends were in this dream as well, but they were minor participants. I was the primary focus this time.
We were in a large house when terrorists invaded and were capturing people as they went from room to room.
I had a high powered gun and I felt strong and empowered to move from room to room myself and take out the terrorists one by one. I felt as if I had ventured into a divine assignment and the grace to complete it was very powerful.
I somehow knew that the terrorists would be easy targets. My weapon was so precise and powerful that it had no match.
As I began moving through the house I entered the kitchen. Nobody was in there and I was very hungry. I saw the most delicious yellow cake with yellow frosting on the table. My cravings were intense!
I knew that I absolutely should not stop to eat. I also knew somehow that eating the cake would enrage the terrorist. I didn't know why, but I knew.
I was so confident in my gun however that I decided to grab a piece of cake and continue moving through the house.
Then, all of a sudden, with a messy piece of cake in my right hand a terrorist came around the corner. I struggled to get the gun back into my right hand and my cake into my left hand. It was too late. I was captured. All hope was lost.
Isaiah 47:8-9 "Now therefore hear this, you lover of pleasures, who sit securely, who say in your heart, 'I am, and there is no one besides me; I shall not sit as a widow or know the loss of children': These two things shall come to you in a moment, in one day; the loss of children and widowhood shall come upon you in full measure ... " (ESV).
The Interpretations
The theme throughout the four dreams is improper trust.
The pressure to follow those we consider to be faithful fathers into unrighteous, dangerous spiritual situations will be intense.
Those we consider to be very close to us very well may choose not to affirm the callings on our lives. Some may betray us. Many will accuse us.
Even an overreaching trust in the power and grace of God can lead us into a casual, carefree state that gives the enemy a foothold. God will give us the assignment, the gun and the firepower but we must be alert and ready to pull the trigger. In the fourth dream I wasn't ready. God did all he needed to do and I was casual, focused on worldly desires.
There will be a great falling away and it's very hard to consider that many who fall away may be fathers, spouses, friends or even ourselves.
The pressure to follow those who are close to us, to follow comforts, to be casual will be extreme. What will you do when those you hold dear bow at the feet of the idol? Will you value your relationship with them more than your relationship and devotion to God?
Micah 7:5-7 "Put no trust in a neighbor; have no confidence in a friend; guard the doors of your mouth from her who lies in your arms; for the son treats the father with contempt, the daughter rises up against her mother, the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; a man's enemies are the men of his own house. But as for me, I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me" (ESV).
John Burton has been developing and leading ministries for over 20 years and is a sought-after teacher, prophetic messenger and revivalist. He has authored nine books, has appeared on Christian television and radio and directed one of the primary internships at the International House of Prayer (IHOP) in Kansas City. Additionally, he planted two churches, has initiated two city prayer movements and is currently directing a prayer- and revival-focused ministry school in Detroit called theLab University. John also has a web- and graphic-design business and is continually developing new and exciting ventures. He and his beautiful wife, Amy, have five children and live in the Detroit area. He can be reached via his website at johnburton.net.
For All, Here is God's Redemptive Plan in the Feasts of Israel
Rosh HaShanah, Yom Kippur and the Feast of Tabernacles should be celebrated by Jews and Gentiles alike.
In preparation for the fall feasts of Israel, let's take a step back and look at the feasts as a whole. Are they merely fascinating historical occurrences, or do they hold deeper relevance for believers in Yeshua (Jesus) today, whether you're Jewish or Gentile?
Throughout the ages, God has sought after the people of Israel, in order to bless them and to make them a blessing to many peoples (Gen. 12:2-3). He also gave Israel a sacred trust—to bear His Name and to be the nation from which His redemptive plan for the world would go forth (John 4:22). This plan is illustrated in the feasts He ordained.
These annual feasts are called "moedim" in Hebrew, meaning, "appointments." In a sense, these "appointed times of the Lord" (Lev. 23:4) constitute God's agenda with His redeemed people. Ultimately, they provide a Biblical and historical foundation for faith in Yeshua.
Messiah Yeshua was to be the fulfillment of the feasts; indeed, He is the purpose for their existence. "These (Feasts, Sabbath day ...) are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Messiah" (Col. 2:17). Even as all Scripture is inspired and profitable, these "shadows" are relevant for followers of Messiah today because they never stop pointing to Him! (2 Tim. 3:16).
So, what are these feasts and how do they outline God's redemptive program? God's seven annual appointed times are laid out in Leviticus 23. The first three feasts—Passover, Feast of Unleavened Bread, and Firstfruits—are celebrated in the springtime. These feasts illustrate the redemption accomplished in Yeshua's first coming, when He became the "Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world," (John 1:29) and through His resurrection, our "Firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep" (1 Cor. 15:20).
The fourth feast, Pentecost (or "Feast of Weeks"), speaks of the establishment of the Body of Messiah when the Holy Spirit was poured out at this feast's fulfillment (Acts 2:1).
The final three feasts come in the fall, during the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar. As the biblically significant number seven indicates, the fall feasts point to a time of completion and paint a prophetic picture of the coming fulfillment of God's redemptive program.
The Feast of Trumpets (Lev. 23:23-25) is commonly called Rosh HaShanah or the Jewish New Year. When the Jewish people came out of Babylonian captivity, they adopted the Babylonian civil New Year as their own.
Even though it falls on the first day of the seventh month, it is called New Year's Day. Because there is very little biblical information on this mysterious feast, Jewish tradition teaches that the blowing of trumpets, or shofars, during this feast recalls the ram's horns Joshua and the Israelites used at Jericho, and of the ram that Abraham sacrificed in place of Isaac.
Scripture notes a time when Israel is gathered back to the land by the "blowing of a great ram's horn" (Is. 27:13), and in the New Covenant, Paul explains this mystery as a time when all believers will be gathered to Messiah (1 Cor. 15:51,52; 1 Thess. 4:16-18). And because none of us know the exact time of this future "blowing of the trumpet," the Feast of Trumpets should motivate us to readiness and service.
The next fall feast is the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). In Jewish tradition, this day is for Jewish individuals to "get right" with God. Biblically, it was a day for Israel to be restored to God as a servant nation (Lev 16, 23:26-32). Prophetically, it points to the time when Israel as a nation will be gathered to Messiah Yeshua.
At the end of the coming tribulation period, Israel as a nation will "look on Me (Messiah) whom they have pierced and mourn for Him as one mourns for a firstborn son" (Zech. 12:10). In that day, Israel will receive "cleansing from sin and impurity" (Zech 13:1), be grafted back into "their own olive tree," and "thus all Israel will be saved!" (Rom. 11:23-26). The Day of Atonement reminds us that this national gathering of Israel is coming, motivating us to share the Good News of Messiah "to the Jew first and also to the Gentile" (Rom. 1:16).
Finally comes the Feast of Tabernacles (or the "Feast of Booths"). This harvest festival is called "Booths" because God commanded Israel to live in booths each year during this feast, to remember the time in the wilderness and how the Lord alone is our protection and security. This feast is also called the "Feast of Ingathering" (Ex. 23:16).
Today it is celebrated as a final harvest festival, accompanied by great joy in the provision of God for His people. Zechariah prophesied that the nations will one day be "ingathered" to Messiah. One day all surviving nations which had once attacked Israel will honor the King of Kings, the Messiah of Israel, by celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem each year (Zech. 14:16-18).
We see the seventh month as pointing to the time when God will complete His redemptive plan, by gathering the Body of Messiah (the Feast of Trumpets), gathering the nation of Israel (the Day of Atonement), and gathering all nations (the Feast of Tabernacles) to Himself.
I hope that this article has given you a clearer picture of the amazing, incomprehensible love of God as you consider His redemptive plan in the context of His appointed times.
The Feasts of Israel are special times for all who trust in the One that they speak of, as we remember the great salvation He has provided for us, anticipate His glorious coming, and use them to share His great love and plan with Jewish and non-Jewish people who don't yet know Him!
Dr. Sam Nadleris a Jewish believer in Jesus and has been in Messianic Jewish ministry for over 40 years. Sam is the president of Word of Messiah Ministries, which is bringing the Good News to the Jew first but not to the Jew only, and planting Messianic Congregations in Jewish communities worldwide. To equip the Body of Messiah in our shared calling, Sam has written multiple books on Jewish evangelism, discipleship, and the Feasts of Israel. Sam mentors Messianic leaders around the world, and regularly holds leadership conferences to train and encourage congregation planters in their vital ministry. For more information and resources, visit: www.wordofmessiah.org.
JERUSALEM, Israel -- While the Obama administration presses Congress to back the Iranian nuclear deal in September's vote, Russia and Iran are announcing all kinds of joint ventures, evidence of the increasingly close ties between them.
On Wednesday, two Russian space companies announced a joint venture with an Iranian corporation to build a satellite observation system.
The "earth remote sensing system" will reportedly help Iran gather information about the earth's surface, its oceans and atmosphere. One observer said, "Believe that and I have some oceanfront property to sell you in Kansas."
Within weeks after world powers signed a nuclear deal with Iran in July, Russian and Iranian navies conducted a three-day joint exercise near the Caspian Sea.
According to Iran's semi-official FARS news agency Iranian naval commanders welcomed the Russian fleet carrying a message of "peace and friendship."
Meanwhile, Russia says it will help Iran build several more nuclear plants, while the long-awaited delivery of an undisclosed number of S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems would take place by year's end.
The $800 million sale has been in limbo since its signing eight years ago, but the $150 billion sanctions-lifting windfall took care of that.
The S-300 can track and intercept multiple aircraft simultaneously, making an Israeli pre-emptive strike on Iran's nuclear facilities that more difficult.
Earlier this month, former Pentagon advisor Michael Rubin said the joint naval exercises are part and parcel of the tight military alliance taking shape between Russia and Iran, which may also include North Korea.
"The Russian warship visit, combined with North Korea scoping out war game sites in Russia, suggest a new Axis of Evil is taking shape with Russia, the lynchpin between Iran and North Korea," the Free Beaconquoted Rubin.
It's no wonder Iran has no qualms about threatening the United States and Israel. With plenty of money in its coffers, the military cooperation deal signed with Russia last January is taking shape beautifully.
It’s still early to say who will be the Republican candidate to become American’s next president come next year’s election, but already the topic of Israel is getting major play in the nomination process, and Israelis are taking notice.
Frontrunner Donald Trump and crowd favorite Dr. Ben Carson have been particularly vocal in their support of Israel, and in their harsh criticism of current President Barack Obama over his handling of relations with the Jewish state.
Carson in an interview with Fox News charged that Obama’s nuclear deal with Iran was evidence of his disdain for the Jews and the survival of their national homeland.
“All you have to do,” said Carson, “is, like I have, go to Israel, and talk to average people, on all ends of that spectrum. And I couldn’t find a single person there who didn’t feel that this administration had turned their back on Israel.”
When challenged over whether or not that made Obama anti-Semitic, as Carson suggested, he replied: “I think anything is anti-Semitic that is against the survival of a state that is surrounded by enemies, and by people who want to destroy them. And to sort of ignore that, and to act like everything is normal there, and that these people are paranoid, I think that’s anti-Semitic.”
Carson spoke out strongly against the Iran nuclear deal in July, warning that it puts the “whole country in jeopardy” and represents “a complete lack of common sense.”
In a separate interview with NBC’s Meet the Press, Trump warned that “Israel is in big trouble. Obama has really let Israel down.”
Implementation of the Obama-brokered nuclear deal, according to Trump, means that Iran is “going to be such a wealthy, such a powerful nation. They are going to have nuclear weapons. They are going to take over parts of the world that you wouldn’t believe. And I think it’s going to lead to nuclear holocaust.”
Unfortunately, Trump explained, it will be almost impossible for the next president to just “rip up” the nuclear deal signed by Obama.
Still, if elected, the real estate mogul vowed he would “police that contract so tough that they [the Iranians] don’t have a chance. As bad as the contract is, I will be so tough on that contract.”
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The undercover video scandal exposing the sale of baby body parts caused pro-life groups across the nation to take the streets last weekend to protest Planned Parenthood. But did the protests make a difference?
National Director of Priests for Life Father Frank Pavone believes they did. He took time to thank and encourage the tens of thousands of people in hundreds of cities across America who took a stand against the abortion giant in a national day of protest.
"I just wanted to take a moment to thank each and every one of you who took part in this nationwide series of protests," he told participants.
"There's a voice of protest inside of us against the atrocities of abortion and Planned Parenthood. And I want to thank you for having let that voice inside of you come outside to the public," he said.
"And we are having these rallies, brothers and sisters, because there is an evil in our midst. There's an evil in our midst that must be exposed, that has been exposed, that is being exposed, and that will be exposed further," he said.
Pro-life groups hope the latest undercover videos released by the Center for Medical Progress exposing the harvesting of baby body parts and the recent nationwide protests will influence Congress when lawmakers return in September.
"We know that this is the body of a child," Father Pavone continued. "We know that this is the body of a person, and you don't kill the person, nor do you sell the body. And that's why we're here, and that's why we're in some 330 locations this morning because we are exposing the evil to the light of day. So many of our fellow citizens -- they haven't even heard about this yet."
The protesters, along with many others across the country, want to see Planned Parenthood investigated. Their immediate request, however, is for Congress to stop sending the organization half a billion dollars a year in taxpayer money.
Pavone believes the protests were a success.
"You're an encouragement to the entire pro-life movement, all those who are following these, these news stories but could not go out themselves," he said. "They have heard and will continue to hear of the great results, and you were part of that. You encouraged the movement."
It Is Time to Kick Prepping Into Overdrive, Because This Stock Market Crash Is Just the Beginning
As I have discussed repeatedly, I have more of a sense of urgency about the last six months of 2015 than I have ever had about any other specific period of time. (Reuters)
If you have not been preparing for what is coming, you need to get off your sofa and you need to start prepping right now. Just remember what happened back in 2008. That crisis took most people totally by surprise. Millions of Americans lost their jobs.
Most of them were living paycheck to paycheck. So all of a sudden, most of them couldn't pay the rent or the mortgage. Large numbers of families who once lived a comfortable middle-class lifestyle suddenly found themselves destitute. Well, this coming crisis is going to be even worse by the time it is all said and done, and it is not just going to be economic in nature.
Over the past two trading days, the Dow has gone down more than 1,000 points. The shaking that so many have warned about has begun. As this shaking plays out, you and your family will need cash, food, supplies and a whole bunch of other things. If you do not already have everything prepared, then you need to kick your prepping into overdrive, because we are on a very compressed time frame now.
But don't just take my word for it. A top adviser to former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown named Damian McBride is saying the same thing:
"A former adviser to Gordon Brown has urged people to stock up on canned goods and bottled water as stock markets around the world slide."
"Advice on the looming crash, No. 1: Get hard cash in a safe place now; don't assume banks and cashpoints will be open, or bank cards will work," he tweeted.
"Crash advice No. 2: Do you have enough bottled water, tinned goods and other essentials at home to live a month indoors? If not, get shopping.
"Crash advice No. 3: Agree a rally point with your loved ones in case transport and communication gets cut off; somewhere you can all head to."
All of that is great advice. But I wonder why he is so concerned about people being able to live a month indoors. Does he know something that the rest of us do not?
Others are issuing similar ominous warnings. The following is an excerpt from a recent article by Chuck Baldwin that seemed to be written with an unusual sense of urgency:
I suggest you have a supply of food and water to last at least three months. Many survival experts insist that a six-month supply is the minimum. Personally, I can live a long time on tuna fish or peanut butter. You can purchase MREs from a variety of sources, as well as camp-style packaged food from many sporting goods stores. Of course, bottled water is available everywhere during normal times. Stock up! Distilled water will store longer than spring water. Plus, I suggest you have some water purification tablets or a Katadyn water filter on hand. And if you are able, prepare to grow your own food. In cold weather climates such as we have here in Montana, people quickly learn how to construct and utilize greenhouses in which to grow food. Canning food is another very helpful hedge against deprivation. If your parents and grandparents lived through the Great Depression as mine did, this was standard operating procedure.
Get a generator. Keep a supply of fuel on hand. Stay stocked up on batteries, candles, portable lights, first aid supplies, and toiletries—especially toilet paper and toothpaste. I also suggest you never run out of lighters or matches. You never know when you'll need to build a fire. If you live in a cold weather climate, you probably already have some sort of wood stove or fireplace.
You can read the rest of that outstanding article right here.
Similar sentiments were expressed in a recent piece by prepper extraordinaire Daisy Luther:
Take your money out of the bank ASAP. If you still keep your money in the bank, go there and remove as much as you can while leaving in enough to pay your bills. Although it wasn't a market collapse in Greece recently, the banks did close and limit ATM withdrawals. People went for quite some time without being able to access their money, but were able to have a sense of normalcy by transferring money online to pay bills or using their debit cards to make purchases. Get your cash out. You don't want to be at the mercy of the banks.
Load up on fuel. Fill up your gas tank and fill your extra cans also. Quite often, fuel prices skyrocket in the wake of a market crash.
Be prepared for the potential of civil unrest. If the banks put a limit on withdrawals (or close like they did in Greece), you can look for some panic to occur. If the stores dramatically increase prices or close, (there will be) more panic. Be armed and be prepared to stay safely at home. (Although this article was written during the Ferguson race riots, civil unrest follows a similar pattern regardless of the cause.)
Every family is facing a different set of circumstances, so "prepping" is not going to look the same for everyone. What may make sense for you may not make sense for me. But the truth is that we all need to get prepared for what is coming, because time is running out.
As I have discussed repeatedly, I have more of a sense of urgency about the last six months of 2015 than I have ever had about any other specific period of time. That is why the book that I recently co-authored with survivalist expert Barbara Fix is titledGet Prepared NOW. The word "NOW" is in larger print than everything else on the front cover because I really wanted to emphasize the urgency of what we are facing.
If you think that you can wait until next year to start getting prepared, you are going to be too late.
This stock market crash is just the beginning. Next month we are witnessing a convergence of events that is pretty much unprecedented. If you would like to learn more, here are some places to get started:
The relative stability of the past few years has lulled millions of Americans into a state of complacency.
And even our politicians are displaying a stunning level of complacency. For example, even though our nation is rapidly going down the toilet, Barack Obama has played more than 1,100 hours of golf while he has been in the White House.
It is time for all of us to awaken from our slumber, because life in America is about to dramatically change.
Do you have some specific tips to share with those that are trying to get prepared for what is coming? Please feel free to join the discussion by posting a comment below.
The Ottoman Imperial Archives continues to release amazing pictures, photos and documents from the rich Ottoman history. The painting below is the latest example. We thank the archivists for their wonderful work which can be seen on Twitter @OttomanArchiveas well as the archives' website. The modern-day caption says "More than 150,000 Spanish Jews Fled the Spanish Inquisition and Brought to the Ottoman Empire in 1492." The painting shows Jews who escaped the Spanish expulsion and rabbis getting off their ship and meeting dignitaries.
The online reproduction is of low resolution and we cannot read writing on the bottom left of the painting. We have unsuccessfully searched for other copies or details that would indicate when the painting was drawn and the artist.
