Signs of the End Times - 2022 Biblical End Time Prophecy

When Noah and Lot warned their respective people of God's coming judgment and destruction, the people would not listen. Instead they treated Noah and Lot as "extremists". Then the destruction that DID come found the people unprepared. Thus it will be when Jesus Christ returns. As in the days of Noah and Lot, the soon return of our Lord Jesus will be a snare unto the people who do not heed the warning and surrender their lives to Him who knows all. (Luke 17:26-30)

This world is hearing and seeing the last warning message from God. Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision; for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision! (Joel 3:14)

Read more at: Signs of the End Times - 2022 Biblical End Time Prophecy

USA: Mike Pence altered a Biblical quote to cut Jesus out of it for RNC speech - by Sarah K. Burris

Jesus didn’t take the wheel Wednesday night as Vice President Mike Pence addressed the Republican Convention. In fact, Jesus was removed entirely, according to a Washington Post report.

Pence said, “Let’s run the race marked out for us. Let’s fix our eyes on Old Glory and all she represents. Let’s fix our eyes on this land of heroes and let their courage inspire. And let’s fix our eyes on the author and perfecter of our faith and freedom and never forget that where the spirit of the Lord is there is freedom — and that means freedom always wins.”

For Christians who read their Bible, this may seem somewhat familiar. He was loosely citing two different verses in the speech.

For Christians who read their Bible, this may seem somewhat familiar. He was loosely citing two different verses in the speech

The other was, 12:1-2, reading, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Instead of saying, “let us fix our eyes on Jesus,” Pence changed it to say, “let us fix our eyes on Old Glory.” 

He also described Jesus (Old Glory in his text) as “the author and perfecter of our faith and freedom.” Freedom doesn’t appear in the Hebrew text.

Read more at:
Mike Pence altered a Biblical quote to cut Jesus out of it for RNC speech – Raw Story

Prophecy or Hoax: Mercury Transit Could Spell ‘The End Of The World’

Mercury will make a rare move across the sun on Monday – an important celestial event for stargazers and a portent of doom for some religious conspiracists.

The smallest planet in the solar system will appear as a tiny black dot on the face of the sun during a passage that will last for about 7.5 hours.

The last time it happened was 2006 and it will happen again three years from now, but then not until 2032. According to Nasa, the event occurs only around 13 times a century.

Writing online, he opines: “These conclusions force us to hypothesise about what this could mean to the observer. Will Mercury transit the sun in the wrong position?

“Will it’s parallax be off causing it to appear too large or too small?

“If not now could we witness a massive impact that knocks it out of orbit altogether?

“If not now will this happen whenever the ‘end times’ are upon us? These hypotheses surely demand further research and development.”

Happily the claims have been put to Asteroid Watch, which works with Nasa’s official efforts to detect, track and characterize potentially hazardous asteroids and comets that could approach Earth.

And their response? The decidedly unruffled remark: “Sounds like another hoax.”

Note EU-Digest: in answering this question we prefer to hang our hat on Mark 13 verse 32 in the Bible which states:  "But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father".

Mercury Transit Could Spell ‘The End Of The World’

Morality begins at home: There Is no justification for killing, terrorism, collateral damage, torture or murder in any way or form

The Bible, Koran, and the Torah all explicitly mention : THOU SHALL NOT KILL

RE:. ISLAM: "Terrorism or hirabah is forbidden in Islamic law, which groups it with brigandage, highway robbery and extortion rackets– any illicit use of fear and coercion in public spaces for money or power. The principle of forbidding the spreading of terror in the land is based on the Qur’an (Surah al-Ma’ida 5:33–34).

‘Anyone who disturbs free passage in the streets and renders them unsafe to travel, striving to spread corruption in the land by taking money, killing people or violating what God has made it unlawful to violate is guilty of hirabah .

RE: JUDAISM : ” murder is "not the way of the Torah," declared Rabbi Lau in sharp condemnation of the murder, which is thought to have been an act of "revenge" for the murder of three Israeli teens Eyal Yifrah, Naftali Frenkel and Gilad Sha'ar by Hamas terrorists on June 12 this year.

RE CHRISTIANITY: "Even before the codification of the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai the murder of other human beings was wrong (Genesis 4:8-12; 4:23-24; 9:4-6; Exodus 1:16-17). While on earth, Jesus spoke out against murder (Matthew 5:21-26; Mark 10:17-19).

We also see in the writings of Paul (Romans 1:18, 29-32; 13:8-10; Galatians 5:19-21), James (James 2:8-11; 4:1-3), Peter (1 Peter 4:15-16) and John (Revelation 9:20-21; 21:7-8; 22:14-15) that murder is wrong".

BOTTOM LINE:  there is no moral justification for murder, killing, terrorism, capital punishment, military "collateral damage",  or even for that matter euthanasia.

The pictures below are only a tip of the iceberg.

Unfortunately man is his own worst enemy and it only seems to be getting worse.

Ryan Lanza who shot  and killed 20 elementary school children and his mother at Sandy Hook CT, USA

Palestine victims after deadly Israeli Gaza bombing:

ISIS mass executionsions 

US Airforce "collateral damage: "Drs without borders" hospital Afghanistan

Turkey, Ankara more than 130 casualties bomb explosions

 EU-Digest

Europe - Sales of books on Islam soar in France after Paris attacks

A special magazine supplement focused on the Koran has flown off the shelves, and shops are selling more books on Islam than ever after the Paris attacks in January that left 17 dead.

"The French are asking more and more questions, and they feel less satisfied than ever by the answers they're getting from the media," said Fabrice Gerschel, director of Philosophie magazine, which published the supplement.

Sales of books on Islam were three times higher in the first quarter of 2015 than this time last year, according to the French National Union of Bookshops.

Mathilde Mahieux, of La Procure chain of bookshops that specialises in religion, said people want a better understanding of the religion that the brutal Islamic State (IS) group claims to represent, so that they can make up their own minds.

The jihadist attacks against the Charlie Hebdo satirical magazine and a Jewish supermarket have left many non-Muslims looking for answers.

"A very Catholic lady came to buy a copy of the Koran, because she wanted to understand for herself whether or not (Islam) is a violent religion," said Yvon Gilabert, who runs a bookshop in Nantes, western France.

Others want to see past extremist interpretations of Islam.

"I think we have to know how to see past the fundamentalism, in order to see what religions have to offer," said Patrice Besnard, a regular at a Paris bookshop specialising in religions.

French academics too are becoming more curious, with a chair in the study of the Koran inaugurated on Thursday at the prestigious College de France in Paris.

Jean Rony, who teaches at the nearby Sorbonne university, began studying the Muslim holy book for himself this year.

Note EU-Digest: Maybe this will create a better understanding between Islam and Christianity, if or when, the Bible is also offered for sale in all Muslim countries?
 
Read more: Europe - Sales of books on Islam soar in France after Paris attacks - France 24

Christianity: German Protestants to revise landmark Luther Bible

Martin Luther ignited the Reformation of the Church and impacted the German language. Now, Germany's Protestant Church plans to revise the Luther Bible, making it even closer to the reformer's original translation.

Martin Luther, the man who sparked the Reformation in the early 16th century, was not only an astute theologian but also a clever wordsmith. In addition to shaking up Europe's religious thinking by preaching salvation based on faith rather than works, he also helped shaped the German language.

Luther's German translation of the New Testament was first published in 1522, while the entire Bible was printed in 1534. The text helped streamline the German language of the time and included expressions that continue to be used to this day - such as "casting pearls before swine" and "separating the wheat from the chaff."

The standardization of the German language led in turn to a stronger sense of common identity among German speakers, which would not be united into a nation-state until much later in 1871.
Luther's translation of the Bible was not the very first into German, but is still considered to be the definitive edition in the language.

Read more: German Protestants to revise landmark Luther Bible | Culture | DW.DE | 06.01.2015

The Moon: Does Tuesday's 'blood' eclipse signal the End Times?

"Blood Moon"

Tuesday's first of four lunar "blood moon" eclipses mark one of two earth-shaking events, depending on your viewpoint: Either a critical moment in the unfolding prophecy of the End Times, or Tax Day.

It could also be just a spectacularly beautiful astronomical event over the next two years.

The tetrad — or four consecutive and complete lunar eclipses occurring at approximately six-month intervals — will all be visible over the United States this year and next, according to NASA lunar eclipse expert Fred Espenak.

While Espenak sees it as a frequent and naturally occurring event, best-selling author and Texas televangelist pastor John Hagee sees the four blood moons as evidence of a future "world-shaking event" that begins to fulfill End Times prophecy.

The controversial 73-year-old founder of Texas' Cornerstone Church says he has been preparing for this tetrad for years. The preparation includes a book — Blood Moons: Something is About to Change and an online TV special Tuesday.

"What is the prophetic significance (of the four blood moons)? Is this the end of the age?" Hagee asked his congregation during a sermon shortly after his book was released, Christian Today reports.

He cites Acts 2:19-20 as a sign: "And I will show wonders in Heaven above and signs in the Earth beneath, the sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord."

In extensive remarks available online on his interpretation of the Blood Moons, Hagee says, "I believe that the heavens are God's billboard, that He has been sending signals to planet Earth, and we just haven't been picking them up."

He adds: "God is literally screaming at the world: 'I'm coming soon.'"
A spokesman for the televangelist said tells USA TODAY on Monday that Hagee "has not associated the blood moons with the end of days."

Read more: Does Tuesday's 'blood' eclipse signal the End Times?

Religion - Catholics: In rare public split, as bishops differ sharply on anti-gay and abortion laws - by David Gibson

The Roman Catholic hierarchy has generally been viewed as a unified bloc in opposition to gay rights, but the emergence of especially punitive measures against gays in various countries has opened unusually stark and public fissures among bishops in different nations.

The divisions are also raising questions about whether Pope Francis, who has struck a charitable tone toward gays and lesbians, needs to take action.

Note EU-Digest: Christianity does not imply uniformity.  It is about open hearts, open minds, open doors. It certainly does not mean “empty” minds. As the Bible says: "Come near to God, and He will come near to you.” (James 4: 8)

Read more: In rare public split, Catholic bishops differ sharply on anti-gay laws - The Washington Post

One body, Many Parts - European Union Should take Biblical statement about unity at heart

Maybe if European Union Citizens and Governments had taken "1 Corinthians 12, verse 12 to 26" in the Bible a bit more serious, or at least studied  it, there probably would not have been any financial crises.

It's all about creating unity among a wide variety of people and countries in Europe.

In 1 Corinthians 12 , verse 26 we read : "If one part suffers, every other part suffers with it and if one part is honored, other parts  rejoices."    Could be applied right to the EU....

Christianity: A Search For The Top Ten

 BibleGateway, an online Bible resource, looked at the viewing habits of some of their 8 million monthly visitors. They found that John 3:16 was the most-searched-for verse in 2010.

It tells us that God loved us so much that He sent His Son to rescue us from our sin and give us everlasting life. Number 10 on the list is Jesus’ commission to His followers to spread that good news: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations” (Matt. 28:19). Also in the top 10 are Jeremiah 29:11 and Romans 8:28 about God’s good plans and purposes for His people.

For more: A Search For The Top Ten | Our Daily Bread

Religion: Visions of Apocalypse: Artist paints the entire book of Revelation - by James D. Davis

Peter Olsen's life changed in 1974 with a book.

He read a striking, surreal description of a muscular angel in the Book of Revelation — robed with the sun, standing on land and sea, haloed with a rainbow, shouting a divine message. He got a vivid mental picture of the being and had to paint it.

Since then, the Fort Lauderdale artist has produced more than a thousand paintings, inks and collages about the joys, hopes and horrors of the book of Revelation. He recently finished pictures of all 404 verses in the book illustrating Earth's last days — just in time for those who think the Maya calendar predicts the world's end this year (though he says he didn't plan it that way).

"I went 'Wow,' and I started reading the Bible and doing research," says Olsen, who turns 72 in March. "When people look at my work, I want them to have a visual insight into the Bible."

Visions of Apocalypse: Artist paints the entire book of Revelation - South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com

The Netherlands: "Wall-street, the Financial Community and the Apostle James"

Watching the troubled worlds financial community these days and the fierce resistance to necessary change by corporations, extremely rich individuals and many politicians is an alarming experience to many people. It seems that a large number of people, for one reason or the other, never seem to learn from past mistakes.

Their motto is that its all about "the trickle down effect of capital". In other words, they say that if they make more profits, become richer,  everyone else will be better off.  On the other hand they also advocate that in case a financial institution collapses, even due to their own mismanagement, the taxpayer should bear the consequences. This group also opposes any kind of regulation that will avoid this to happen again.  

Does their theory make any sense, or for that matter has it ever worked? Unfortunately the answer must be, "absolutely not"..

Has mankind been warned about this excessive greed before? Oh yes they have. The response to this question, apart from continuously being discussed in the press, and aired on radio and TV, also came today, of all places, to Church goers at the New Day International Church, (NDIC) in the modern new Dutch City of Almere,  

In a sermon by NDIC Pastor Peter van der Meijden, entitled "Made to Last", he quoted to his congregation from James 5, verses 1-6 in the Bible, when James said: 

"Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. 

Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were not opposing you." 

More than 2000 years ago Apostle James wrote, and stated the above warning, as he talked about the need to close the gap between the enormous wealth of the rich and the heart wrenching poverty of the poor

Where do we stand today on this issue?  Not much has changed. It probably has even gotten worse because of the hypocrisy (even within religious circles) that has surrounded every financial crises the world has faced so far ,

Note: James, along with his brother John, is portrayed in the gospels as perhaps being more important than most of the other apostles. He was present at the resurrection of Jarius’ daughter, at Jesus’ transfiguration, and at the Garden of Gethsemane before Jesus was arrested. According to Acts, James was beheaded by Herod Agrippa I who ruled over Palestine from 41- 44 CE . The painting of James in this report is a copy of a painting by Rembrandt ( July 6 , 1606 - Oct 4, 1669) , one of the Netherlands most famous painters.

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BBC NEWS: Christianity - Historic Bible pages put online

For the complete report from BBC NEWS click on this link

Historic Bible pages put online

About 800 pages of the earliest surviving Christian Bible have been recovered and put on the internet. Visitors to the website www.codexsinaiticus.org can now see images of more than half the 1,600-year-old Codex Sinaiticus manuscript. Fragments of the 4th Century document - written in Greek on parchment leaves - have been worked on by institutions in the UK, Germany, Egypt and Russia.Experts say it is "a window into the development of early Christianity".

For 1,500 years, the Codex Sinaiticus lay undisturbed in a Sinai monastery until it was found in 1844 and split between Egypt, Russia, Germany and Britain. It is thought to have survived because the desert air was ideal for preservation and because the monastery, on a Christian island in a Muslim sea, remained untouched, its walls unconquered.

AP: Creationists Seek Foothold in Europe - by Gregry Katz

For the complete report from The Associated Press click on this link

Creationists Seek Foothold in Europe - by Gregry Katz

Europeans have long viewed the conflict between evolutionists and creationists as primarily an American phenomenon, but it has recently jumped the Atlantic Ocean with skirmishes in Italy, Germany, Poland and, notably, Britain, where Darwin was born and where he published his 1859 classic. Darwin's defenders are fighting back. In October, the 47-nation Council of Europe, a human rights watchdog, condemned all attempts to bring creationism into Europe's schools. Bible-based theories and "religious dogma" threaten to undercut sound educational practices, it charged. Schools are increasingly a focal point in this battle for hearts and minds. A British branch of Answers in Genesis, which shares a Web site with its American counterpart, has managed to introduce its creationist point of view into science classes at a number of state-supported schools in Britain, said Monty White, the group's chief executive. Creationism is still a marginal issue here compared with its impact on cultural and political debate in the United States. But the budding fervor is part of a growing embrace of evangelical worship throughout much of Europe. Evangelicals say their ranks are swelling as attendance at traditional churches declines because of revulsion with the hedonism and materialism of modern society.

Monty White chief executive of Answers in Genesis said in an interview at his office in Leicester, 90 miles north of London, "People are looking for spirituality, I think they are fed up with not finding true happiness. They find having a bigger car doesn't make them happy. They get drunk and the next morning they have a hangover. They take drugs but the drugs wear off. But what they find with Christianity is lasting." The true history of the Earth is told in the Bible, not Darwin's "The Origin of Species".