Let’s take a quick look at today’s prophecy-related headlines which point towards the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and the end of the world as we know it.
First, today, under the Sign category of THE TURMOIL IN ISRAEL & THE MIDDLE EAST — According to The Jerusalem Post, a poll published by a Palestinian research organization on Wednesday claims that nearly 90 percent of Palestinians believe that the al-Aksa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock are in imminent danger of being destroyed by the Israeli government. The poll, conducted by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, states that 86% of Palestinians believe that the structures are “in great danger,” while 77% of respondents said that the Israeli government intends to replace them with a third temple. Moreover, 21% of respondents stated that the Israeli government plans on dividing the Temple Mount into Jewish and Arab sections; and 50% believe Israel will succeed in the unsubstantiated undertaking.
Second, today, under the Sign category of WARS & RUMORS OF WARS — According to Newsmax, Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev warned that tensions between Russia and European powers over the Ukraine crisis could result in a major conflict or even nuclear war. The 1990 Nobel Peace Prize winner told a German newsmagazine, “A war of this kind would unavoidably lead to a nuclear war. We won’t survive the coming years if someone loses their nerve in this overheated situation.” Tensions between Russia and Western powers rose after pro-Russian separatists took control of large parts of eastern Ukraine and Russia annexed Crimea in early 2014. The United States, NATO and the European Union accuse Russia of sending troops and weapons to support the separatist uprising, and have imposed sanctions on Moscow.
Third, today, under the Sign category of WARS & RUMORS OF WARS — According to Tribune News Service, Hundreds of people have been killed in northeastern Nigeria in terror attacks in the last week as Boko Haram militants took control of 16 towns in a new humiliation for the country’s struggling armed forces. Boko Haram gunmen stormed the town of Bagaa on Saturday, killing about 100 people. In all, several hundred appear to have died in attacks across the region.
Fourth, today, under the Sign category of DISTRESS AMONG NATIONS — According to Reuters, facing tight budgets and a shrinking military, the United States has said that it is ending operations at an air base in Great Britain and handing it and 14 other sites in Europe back to their home governments. In the biggest move, the Pentagon said it would leave RAF Mil-den-hall northeast of London, home to tanker, reconnaissance and special operations aircraft, and withdraw 3,200 military personnel and their families. Assistant Defense Secretary Derek Chollet said the changes in half a dozen European countries would reduce support infrastructure but would not affect the U.S. military’s operational capacity in the region.
Fifth, today, under the Sign category of THE TURMOIL IN ISRAEL & THE MIDDLE EAST — According to Jerusalem Online, the Israeli military is currently preparing for a possible Hezbollah attempt to infiltrate the country by sea. Construction of an underwater barrier is being conducted under heavy security. This underwater barrier will prevent divers and sea craft from reaching the Israeli northern shore. A similar sophisticated defense system already exists in the waters off of the beaches in southern Israel.
You can read these stories in more detail and get more prophecy-related news at SecondComingHerald.com.
The prophetic passage of Scripture we are looking at today is the entire chapter of Leviticus 16. Verses 8-10 of this passage reads: “And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the Lord, and the other lot for the scapegoat. And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the Lord’s lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering. But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the Lord, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness.”
Allow me to share with you some commentary on this passage from the Popular Bible Prophecy Commentary, edited by Tim LaHaye and Ed Hindson.
After performing the standard morning sacrifice in beautiful, golden robes, the high priest sets the robes aside and, after the first of several ritual washings throughout the day, exchanges them for a simple white linen garment similar to that of an ordinary priest.
The high priest would then sacrifice a male bull for himself, his family, and his fellow priests. Prior to making atonement for the people, he first had to take care of his own sin. Placing two hands upon the bull’s head, he made confession for himself and his family. Following the bull’s sacrifice, the blood would be collected in a bowl and carried by an assistant priest into the temple, being stirred all the while so that it did not coagulate. Concurrently, the high priest filled an incense censer with burning coals from the altar of sacrifice and carried the censer into the temple, solemnly approaching the Holy of Holies.
Then came time for a special lottery, in which two fairly identical goats were brought before the high priest. The priest would put his hands into a box where there were two lots, small tablets on which were written the Hebrew words — “to the Lord” and “removal”. The high priest would pull out the lots to determine the fates of the goats. The lot on the right was assigned to the goat on the right, the one on the left to the goat on the left. The one designated as “to the Lord” was destined for sacrifice, and the one designated to “removal” commonly referred to as the scapegoat, would be driven out into the wilderness.
After the high priest sacrificed the goat designated “to the Lord” on behalf of the nation, he reentered the Holy of Holies for a third time and sprinkled the blood of the goat in the Holy of Holies. Then he picked up the bowl containing the bull’s blood and sprinkled the veil outside the Holy of Holies. He would then purify the altar of sacrifice by mixing together the blood from the sacrificed bull and goat. These rituals served to “reboot” the altar, the tabernacle or temple, and the congregation of Israel for a fresh year.
If the Lord tarries His coming and we live, we will continue looking at the prophetic passages of the Bible in our next broadcast / podcast.
Our second coming quote for today is from C.H. Spurgeon. He said, “Oh, that the Lord would come! He is coming! He is on the road and travelling quickly. The sound of his approach should be as music to our hearts!”
If you are not ready for the return of Jesus Christ, may I encourage you to get ready today by receiving Him as your Savior. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Just believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead by the power of God for you so that you can live eternally with Him. Pray and ask Him to come into your heart today, and He will. Romans 10:13 says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Keep looking up for your redemption draweth nigh. Let us join in the prayer of John the Revelator — “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” God bless you.
Daniel Whyte III has spoken in meetings across the United States and in over twenty-five foreign countries. He is the author of over forty books. He is also the president of Gospel Light Society International, a worldwide evangelistic ministry that reaches thousands with the Gospel each week, as well as president of Torch Ministries International, a Christian literature ministry which publishes a monthly magazine called The Torch Leader. He is heard by thousands each week on his radio broadcasts/podcasts, which include: The Prayer Motivator Devotional, The Prayer Motivator Minute, as well as Gospel Light Minute X, the Gospel Light Minute, the Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message, the Prophet Daniel’s Report, the Second Coming Watch Update and the Soul-Winning Motivator, among others. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology from Bethany Divinity College, a Bachelor’s degree in Religion from Texas Wesleyan University, a Master’s degree in Religion, a Master of Divinity degree, and a Master of Theology degree from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary. He has been married to the former Meriqua Althea Dixon, of Christiana, Jamaica for over twenty-seven years. God has blessed their union with seven children. Find out more at www.danielwhyte3.com. Follow Daniel Whyte III on Twitter @prophetdaniel3 or on Facebook.
BCNN1 WP 