Deception: A False Rapture

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On September 25, 2016, I had this dream which is playing out in my mind again.

Someone was telling me that she was trying to look in the eye every man she met because she thought the Messiah had probably returned and was among us. I told her she was wrong to assume that the Lord had returned. Looking out and pointing up to the sky I told her that no one would miss His return for He would come in the clouds with great signs. While still speaking and looking up, I saw clouds forming like chariots and coming down so fast that I exclaimed, “Just like that!”

I realized that the Lord could be coming already as I also saw people going up into the sky. I thought I had to go with them. Excitedly, I ran towards the direction of those people going up in the clouds. As I reached the platform, I got confused especially when I lined up with others on the wooden and narrow steps. But I climbed the stairs somehow. I was waiting for my turn while I wondered why the rapture was taking so long for others including me. As I got to the third and final step, I looked ahead; adjusting my eyes in the dark I saw that those who went before me were being lifted on what looked like the tip of a wooden ship that tilted up. Then I realized it was not what I expected. I turned around and tried to tell everyone that it was not real but nobody seemed to hear me. I was concerned, more so because I saw a woman directing the whole incident. She told someone to send me away for I was disrupting their plan. I stepped aside trying to understand what was going on. I looked to my right and noticed straight ahead something like a wide tunnel that was dimly lit. I looked intently and realized that those people I saw going up to the clouds earlier were actually sent there and others were still going. I felt so bad that they were oblivious and seemed to not notice at all. They were like walking dead, hypnotized, and I knew that this was a deception recalling how they could have created those cloud formations that I saw and made it appear from a distance that people were actually going up into the sky only to be sent down to the long tunnel.

What concerns me about this dream is the condition of those people I saw in the platform and in the tunnel. It’s like the Holy Spirit made sure that I saw that they were helplessly deceived.

There is no doubt about the second coming of the Lord, in fact, I am excited that I pray daily for His return. But this dream is certainly a warning of a false catching away.

I believe that when the Lord returns the saints will meet Him in the air but I do not believe in a rapture other than and apart from His glorious appearing to reign as King. Consider the message of Paul as he describes the coming of the Messiah and the saints meeting Him in the air:

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

In his second letter to the Thessalonians, Paul mentioned again the coming of the Lord and the saints gathering together to Him, further describing the signs that precede the event:

2 Thessalonians 2:1-12

Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ[a] had come. 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin[b] is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God[c] in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6 And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He[d] who now restrains will do so until He[e] is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Will there be a false rapture, a false alarm for the believers? I do not know but we must take note of Yeshua’s warning about false christs and false prophets who will use signs and wonders to deceive even the elect if it be possible. He also describes in plain language the manner in which He will return:

Matthew 24:23-31

23 “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand.

26 “Therefore if they say to you, ‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out; or ‘Look, He is in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it. 27 For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 28 For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.

29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

John also spoke of the lawless one, the beast who will perform great signs to deceive those who dwell on the earth.

Revelation 13:13

13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men.

The second coming of the Messiah is a glorious event that no one on earth will ever miss it. If this dream is indeed prophetic, then the Lord is warning us about watching for a rapture that is not also about His coming back to reign as King.

Fix your eyes on the Messiah, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Get to know Him intimately and learn to recognize His voice so that you will not be deceived. The way to recognize the fake is to be so familiar with the genuine. And as the Lord admonished us, let us watch and pray.

Love in Yeshua,

Cynthia

The Palestinian Narrative is Alive: Clashes Over the Temple Mount

I was looking at this particular photo when the Holy Spirit spoke gently, “The Palestinian narrative is alive.”

Three Palestinians Killed in Clashes with Israel as Thousands Protest Over Temple Mount

To anyone who does not know anything about Israel and the Jews, history or present, stories and photos like this can easily evoke sympathy towards the Palestinians and rage towards the Jews. The news story featured here is written from the never-ending “victim” state perspective of the Palestinians while giving no consideration to the underlying cause of their self-inflicted suffering.

A more accurate news is this one:

This is a War for Sovereign Control of Temple Mount

Excerpt:

“The Palestinians are consistent in their tactics: First shed Israeli blood, then tell the world they are victims and as martyrs are justified in seeking revenge – especially against “the sons of apes and pigs who defile Al Aqsa.” This was how the Halamish killer Omar al-Abed, 19, a Hamas sympathizer, described the Jews in the “will” he posted on Facebook three hours before the murders. Except that instead of dying with a martyr’s halo, he survived.

The whole week, it was dinned into Palestinian and Israeli Muslims by their leaders, including elected members of the Israeli parliament, that the Al Aqsa compound, an artificial mountaintop platform built as the site of the Jewish Temple more than 2,000 years ago, is exclusive Muslim property and no Jew has the right to set foot in the “Noble Sanctuary.” This claim also applies to Jerusalem, known in Arabic as Al Quds.
The most notorious metal detectors in Middle East history became emblems that objectified their rage over Israeli sovereignty in Temple Mount and the holy city. This has exposed the dispute as being a national rather than a religious dispute.
For Israel, sovereignty over its capital and the site of the Jewish temples, which was won at great cost in a war of defense after millennia of exile, is not in question. The government’s reiterated pledge to preserve the status quo on Temple Mount and the cities holy places is solidly backed up. But it cuts no ice with the Palestinians since the pledge is offered by an entity they consider a usurper.”

—-o—-o—-o—-o—-o—-

The Palestinian narrative is truly alive in this situation. But as Christians who are supposed to know the Word of God, we must not be carried away emotionally but rather see with spiritual eyes, the events that are taking place in Israel. We must pray for the peace of Jerusalem. We must pray for both Jews and Palestinians who are both victims of Satan’s manipulation. The devil wants the Jews annihilated and the other group is being deceived to carry it out; and the world that does not know any better is supporting the false narrative that has its origin from the pit of hell.

On the other hand, this conflict over the Temple Mount is a prophetic event that leads to many possibilities. We must keep an eye on the time clock which is Israel, for the return of Yeshua/Jesus the Messiah is hinged on the Jews crying out to Yahweh in their time of desperation and distress. Read Zechariah 12. Remember also the words of Yeshua in Matthew 23:37-39:

³⁷ “Yerushalayim! Yerushalayim! You kill the prophets! You stone those who are sent to you! How often I wanted to gather your children, just as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, but you refused! ³⁸ Look! God is abandoning your house to you, leaving it desolate.^{[a] 39} For I tell you, from now on, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of Adonai.’”

Zechariah 12, Isaiah 62 and many other prophecies will be fulfilled because His Word never fails.

As gentile believers in the Jewish Messiah Yeshua, let us not forget that salvation is for the Jews first then for the gentiles. Let us not be selfish as to minding only our own business, paying no attention to the troubles that beset Israel and most importantly, not praying for them. Paul’s reminder to the Roman church is also a reminder to us, the present generation of gentile believers. This truth must be inculcated in us.

Romans 11

1 “In that case, I say, isn’t it that God has repudiated his people?” Heaven forbid! For I myself am a son of Isra’el, from the seed of Avraham,^[a] of the tribe of Binyamin. ² God has not repudiated his people,^[b] whom he chose in advance. Or don’t you know what the Tanakh says about Eliyahu? He pleads with God against Isra’el, ³ “Adonai, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars, and I’m the only one left, and now they want to kill me too!”^{[c] 4} But what is God’s answer to him? “I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not knelt down to Ba‘al.”^{[d] 5} It’s the same way in the present age: there is a remnant, chosen by grace. ⁶ (Now if it is by grace, it is accordingly not based on legalistic works; if it were otherwise, grace would no longer be grace.) ⁷ What follows is that Isra’el has not attained the goal for which she is striving. The ones chosen have obtained it, but the rest have been made stonelike, ⁸ just as the Tanakh says,

“God has given them a spirit of dullness —
eyes that do not see
and ears that do not hear,
right down to the present day.”^[e]

⁹ And David says,

“Let their dining table become for them
a snare and a trap, a pitfall and a punishment.
¹⁰ Let their eyes be darkened, so that they can’t see,
with their backs bent continually.”^[f]

¹¹ “In that case, I say, isn’t it that they have stumbled with the result that they have permanently fallen away?” Heaven forbid! Quite the contrary, it is by means of their stumbling that the deliverance has come to the Gentiles, in order to provoke them to jealousy.^{[g] 12} Moreover, if their stumbling is bringing riches to the world — that is, if Isra’el’s being placed temporarily in a condition less favored than that of the Gentiles is bringing riches to the latter — how much greater riches will Isra’el in its fullness bring them!

¹³ However, to those of you who are Gentiles I say this: since I myself am an emissary sent to the Gentiles, I make known the importance of my work ¹⁴ in the hope that somehow I may provoke some of my own people to jealousy and save some of them! ¹⁵ For if their casting Yeshua aside means reconciliation for the world, what will their accepting him mean? It will be life from the dead!

¹⁶ Now if the hallah offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole loaf. And if the root is holy, so are the branches. ¹⁷ But if some of the branches were broken off, and you — a wild olive — were grafted in among them and have become equal sharers in the rich root of the olive tree, ¹⁸ then don’t boast as if you were better than the branches! However, if you do boast, remember that you are not supporting the root, the root is supporting you. ¹⁹ So you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” ²⁰ True, but so what? They were broken off because of their lack of trust. However, you keep your place only because of your trust. So don’t be arrogant; on the contrary, be terrified! ²¹ For if God did not spare the natural branches, he certainly won’t spare you! ²² So take a good look at God’s kindness and his severity: on the one hand, severity toward those who fell off; but, on the other hand, God’s kindness toward you — provided you maintain yourself in that kindness! Otherwise, you too will be cut off! ²³ Moreover, the others, if they do not persist in their lack of trust, will be grafted in; because God is able to graft them back in. ²⁴ For if you were cut out of what is by nature a wild olive tree and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these natural branches be grafted back into their own olive tree!

²⁵ For, brothers, I want you to understand this truth which God formerly concealed but has now revealed, so that you won’t imagine you know more than you actually do. It is that stoniness, to a degree, has come upon Isra’el, until the Gentile world enters in its fullness; ²⁶ and that it is in this way that all Isra’el will be saved. As the Tanakh says,

“Out of Tziyon will come the Redeemer;
he will turn away ungodliness from Ya‘akov
²⁷ and this will be my covenant with them, . . .
when I take away their sins.”^[h]

²⁸ With respect to the Good News they are hated for your sake. But with respect to being chosen they are loved for the Patriarchs’ sake, ²⁹ for God’s free gifts and his calling are irrevocable. ³⁰ Just as you yourselves were disobedient to God before but have received mercy now because of Isra’el’s disobedience; ³¹ so also Isra’el has been disobedient now, so that by your showing them the same mercy that God has shown you, they too may now receive God’s mercy. ³² For God has shut up all mankind together in disobedience, in order that he might show mercy to all.

³³ O the depth of the riches
    and the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How inscrutable are his judgments!
    How unsearchable are his ways!

³⁴ For, ‘Who has known the mind of the Lord?
    Who has been his counselor?’^[i]
35 Or, ‘Who has given him anything
    and made him pay it back?’^[j]

³⁶ For from him and through him
    and to him are all things.
To him be the glory forever!
    Amen.

The Temple Mount issue is only one of the many excuses to the more sinister plot to destroy the people whom Yahweh called the “apple of His eye.” Pray, pray, pray!

Psalm 122:6

⁶ Pray for shalom in Yerushalayim;
may those who love you prosper.

Isaiah 62:1

For Tziyon’s sake I will not be silent,
for Yerushalayim’s sake I will not rest,
until her vindication shines out brightly
and her salvation like a blazing torch.

Love in Yeshua,

Cynthia

 

Homosexuality- Where is it going?

Two days ago this question cut short my nap. The answer was also quick: “Sodom and Gomorrah. Judgment!”

Before I took a break from my routine I was actually reading this article, Same-Sex Marriage Support Rises, Even Among Republicans and White Evangelicals.

The article is only one of the many coming out across the internet and on television on a daily basis. Even the local media is not without a story to tell of celebrities coming out “bravely” into the open. The latest is Charice Pempengco.

Charice’s journey to becoming a transman Jake Zyrus

I got sick and tired of the world celebrating and rejoicing over perversion that my response to almost every story was to snub it. But Yahweh would not let me. As He woke me up with the message, I had to get up and pray and pray fervently.

The trend has shifted dramatically from what we used to know as normal. We are being fed everyday with all sorts of disgusting news on homosexuality like these ones:

Gender Fluidity Invades Men”s Fashion with Dresses, Skirts and 8 Inch Heels

Indoctrinating the Young Into LGBTQ

The day’s highlight was the news about one of our lawmakers planning to write a bill allowing same-sex marriage in the Philippines- and unfortunately, that is right after I heard the question which is the title of this post.

Alvarez to file bill on same-sex union

Not too long ago, the LGBT community was strengthened and encouraged to fully assert its supposed rights when the former POTUS Obama declared his support for same-sex union. As it became a hot issue at that time, the Holy Spirit gave me a prophetic message which I wrote on this blog. Here’s a portion of the article:

As the world’s most powerful leader, Obama’s word has set the tone for ultimate sexual perversion. The world may not necessarily give in to legalizing same-sex marriage today, yet in time it will stand at a crossroad and have to decide on the issue. It will be the final test to the extent of the world’s acceptance of homosexuality as merely another harmless preferred lifestyle. So far, the fuss that Obama’s remark has created already provoked many to examine their personal conviction openly or quietly.

Sadly, the message has become a reality today. The world has made its choice. What about us? What about the Church? What about your church?

Can this be reversed? If you are watching and praying, you know that the world is truly covered with darkness. I saw this darkness in a vision about 6 years ago and I knew it was spiritual darkness. The world we live in is in the hands of the beast and the coming of the Messiah Yeshua is the only hope of redemption we have. That’s not saying there is no hope for these people anymore for Yahweh God is still in the business of snatching sinners from the clutches of the enemy until His return; and many are being set from the bondage of homosexuality. As Christians we must continue vigilantly in prayer and intercession in behalf of the lost, in behalf of our nations. Specifically, our stand against sexual perversion should not falter even if the rest of the world lauds it and turns it into the new normal. This gross wickedness is utter darkness and our firm stand against it makes us the light that shines in the dark.

Judgment is coming because our Holy God will not tolerate wickedness forever. There is a time of reckoning and it is not going to be very long. As in the days of Noah, as in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah, so our days have become. Evil is now good and good is called evil. The signs are unfolding before us. Let’s wake up from our slumber and prepare for the coming of the Lord.

Maranatha!

Romans 1:16-31

The Just Shall Live by Faith

¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ,^a]”>[a] for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. ¹⁷ For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”^b]”>[b]

God’s Wrath on Unrighteousness

¹⁸ For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, ¹⁹ because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. ²⁰ For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, ²¹ because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. ²² Professing to be wise, they became fools, ²³ and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.

²⁴ Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, ²⁵ who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

²⁶ For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. ²⁷ Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

²⁸ And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; ²⁹ being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality,^c]”>[c] wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, ³⁰ backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, ³¹ undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving,^d]”>[d] unmerciful; ³² who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

Matthew 4:17

¹⁷ From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Praying Against Terrorism

I was not surprised when the Maute-ISIS terror group attacked Marawi City because I have dreamed about Islamic terrorism in the country since early 2010 or 2011. It will take time for me to go through all of my notes on these but I can remember that there is not a year that I didn’t have at least one dream of this sort that I can tell a few without the help of my journal. In most of my dreams, I was either hunted down or held captive by terrorists. The latest which was sometime last year was that I was one of the hostages as the whole place was invaded by the Islamic jihadists.

The most unusual of all was my encounter with a man in full black garb just like these terrorists in this photo.

Clarion Project: End of Times Prophecies Justify Beheading of Copts

It was around 8:00 o’clock in the evening of July 1, 2015, while I was walking home from the supermarket that I met a man in this black outfit. That part of the road was empty except for the two of us and the cars passing by. The lights were dim but I could see clearly as we were just a few steps away from each other when I noticed his unusual appearance. He probably saw me staring at him so he pulled down his big black umbrella to hide his face. That was also very unusual for him to have an umbrella at night since there was no rain, not even a drizzle. He turned to the side towards the perimeter fence pretending to fix something, but I knew he just avoided bumping on me. I also saw the black backpack on his back as I followed him with my eyes. I could not get my eyes off the unusual sight and so I kept turning back as I walked on until I reached the subdivision’s gate. I reported the incident to the guard on duty. For the last time I turned to look at the man but I could no longer see him.

I could not imagine where the man could be going as the direction he was taking was towards the commercial area which was about a hundred meters away. If he went there he would certainly attract everybody’s attention. But where could have he gone?

I called up my Father-in-law to report what I saw and asked if ISIS were already in Metro Manila. He brushed the story aside, telling me it was impossible and somehow lectured me why it was so. He was with the intelligence and so I supposed he would know. But like most of the leaders said in those days and until the incident in Marawi, there is no ISIS in the country.

I did not talk much about the things I saw because I thought, except for my kids and my Mom-in-law who was so concerned that she might be a target because of her Israel connection, nobody would believe me. However, deep in my heart I knew it was only a matter of time that violent jihad would rise its ugly head in this country.

I followed the news on this extremely violent and barbaric jihadists since they started attacking in 2014. I heard how our leaders dismissed the idea that the Abu Sayyaf had pledged allegiance to the terror group which prides itself as the new Islamic caliphate. I believed they had good reason to downplay the possibility- they didn’t want to raise an alarm and cause panic.

The article that bears the above image was in my inbox for the past two years. I marked it because of its relevance to what I have seen in the spirit, and, the above encounter which probably was a vision. Whether the man was for real or not, I believe the Lord made me see him to confirm what I have been dreaming and sensing for the past four or five years.

The article captured ISIS’ tweet that says, “Until Andalusia to Philippines returns to the hands of Muslims, defensive will go on. Only after that can it be labelled offensive.”

As one who grew up in Mindanao, the idea that the Philippines must one day return to the hands of Muslims is not unusual to me, although I used to think that the Muslims only claim Mindanao as originally belonging to them, and so the government’s never-ending negotiation with one Muslim militant group to another. Who could have thought that ISIS would come in the picture and vow to get the Philippines?

In my time with the Father earlier today, I asked Him how He wanted me and other believers to pray about the situation especially with the on-going conflict in Marawi. Our human tendency is to pray for the immediate end of the war; for the terrorists to be finished off with no one left as much as possible. Our sympathy is for the displaced innocent civilians and for the soldiers who fight with their lives these misguided and lost individuals. And most likely, that is how the Christians are praying which I am not saying is wrong. But the question is, how does Yahweh really want us to pray?

We see only the problem as they are and our praying is responsive to our natural instincts, but if we seek Him who knows everything, we will see that there is more to just praying for the end of a conflict.

As I prayed earlier today, the Holy Spirit showed me what is in His heart. He wants to see us, the believers, on our knees, praying for the lost. Many are dying in Marawi and they are dying without hope. While we weep for the innocent and the soldiers, the Lord weeps even for the terrorists. We hail the heroes of Marawi but we forgot that the soldiers and civilians who died along with the terrorists have the same fate in eternity without Christ. And this is true in every nation fighting with terrorism and all kinds of conflicts.

Our nation and the nations of the world are crumbling yet the people of God are unconcerned. We need to start praying earnestly for the lost. When need to get serious with our call to be the light and salt of the world. Most importantly, we, His people, need individually and corporately to humble ourselves, seek His face, pray and turn from our wicked ways so that He will hear from heaven, forgive our sin and heal our land. If we will do this, how quickly can He put an end to the conflict and stop the spread of terrorism.

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, but can we truly say that our nation’s God is He? The task of praying for the nation and the world sounds overwhelming but it actually just begins with us humbling before Him and seeking His face. The prayer of a righteous man avails much; and we know that when we pray according to His will we will have what we ask for.

The Messiah is coming soon. May He find us faithful. May He find us praying and watching.

Love in Yeshua,

Cynthia

John 3:16-17

¹⁶ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. ¹⁷ For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

2 Peter 3:9

⁹ The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us,^[a] not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

Ezekiel 33:11

¹¹ Say to them: ‘As I live,’ says the Lord God, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?’

Matthew 28:18-20

¹⁸ And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. ¹⁹ Go therefore^[a] and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.^[b]

2 Chronicles 7:14

¹⁴ if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

The Palestinian Narrative

Google Images

Three nights ago, June 27, I had a dream. I was in a small village which seems like one of the villages in the Palestinian territory of the West Bank. It was a school setting and I was in a classroom of Palestinian kids, listening and observing. The teacher was telling a story, reading it from a text book. It was a story about one of Israel’s heroes in the Bible but it was presented like the Palestinians own the story, that the hero was one of their own and that it was from the Quran. I said, “That’s not correct, that’s twisting the Bible. So, that’s how they make Israel look like the villain; that’s why they call Israel an occupier.” Then I heard, “That’s the Palestinian narrative.”

This dream is another lesson straight from the heart of the Father concerning Israel. I have been a recipient of messages like this since He walked me through the role of a watchman for Israel. I have not bothered to understand what “Palestinian Narrative” means albeit encountering the phrase a few times in the media. So, what I have is a general idea, but the dream had me researching what it really is, just as I did with the BDS movement and Intifada. What I learned is an eye-opener because it seems that all the negative stories that the mainstream media, the UN and all anti-Israel advocates tell the world hinge on this so-called “Palestinian Narrative.”

Please note that I am neither writing as a political expert nor for a political purpose although to the average man, this topic is primarily political. For intercessors like me, however, the heart of the matter is spiritual.

Israel is not like any other nation. It is the Land that Yahweh called His own. Proof is all over the Scriptures unless you don’t believe that His Word has not changed. This dream is His confirmation that Israel today is the same Israel that we read in our Bibles. The conflict has existed for thousands of years since the first time Israel became a nation in the land that Yahweh promised to give to Abraham’s descendants, was destroyed and the people scattered, and in our generation, re-established and the people re-gathered. Until the return of the Messiah, Israel will continue to be at the heart of world-conflict.

Again, the purpose of this message is not to advocate politically although I understand that taking a political side is a normal consequence for standing with the truth since Israel is a grand political issue in the world stage. But more than telling you which political side you take (thought sincerely I am not), my desire is for you to see in the spirit because beyond politics, there is a real spiritual resistance against Yahweh’s plans and purposes for Israel. What we see in the physical is only a manifestation of what is going on in the spiritual realm. I believe that the principalities that opposed the Archangel from giving Daniel the answer to his prayer were the same powers behind everything that opposes Israel’s right to exist in this generation. The Palestinian Narrative is but a strategy that carries out the enemy’s goal to defy, disrupt and abort Yahweh’s plans and purposes for the tiny nation that bears His name. Israel is pivotal to Yahweh’s plans for the Church and the nations. If you still have not grasped His heart, you need to read the Bible and be open to the Holy Spirit who teaches us into all truths.

I will not explain what a “Palestinian Narrative” is because as a non-political expert, I will not be able to give it justice; and there are so many articles in the internet that anyone can read. But here’s an excerpt of what I think explains it well.

Founding National Myths
Fabricating Palestinian History

The vast literature proving the historic Jewish connection to the Land of Israel has been extensively manipulated and distorted as part of the Palestinian politics of nationalism. Propaganda, indoctrination, and socialization, both domestically and internationally, are essential parts of the strategy and tactics of asserting Palestinian nationhood and statehood. By appropriating to themselves the values, traditions, and historical facts that belong to the Jews, Palestinians have managed to fabricate a “legitimate” history and political traditions out of nothing while denying those of Israel.

The Palestinian Nation-building Strategy

Nation-building often involves the invention of foundation myths although these normally require a certain relationship to historic facts, however tenuous. Palestinian leaders, under the leadership of Yasser Arafat and his successors, adopted a different tack: stealing the enemy’s heritage, history, and values, and denying its legitimacy as a people and a state. The Palestinian objectives are to disqualify Israel’s historical standing and to inherit its belongings by delegitimizing and even dehumanizing its national identity and personality (emphasis added) .

Palestinian tactics are simple yet sophisticated: preaching and dispersing lies and distortions of reality. History proves that the bigger the lie and the more common its reiteration, the more it is accepted as authentic and genuine. Moreover, most people are unwilling to accept the idea that an entire national leadership would dare to totally distort and fabricate history in full. Part of the Palestinians’ success in doing so is also due to the fact that most people do not know the history of the Land of Israel and of Jerusalem.

Usurping the Jewish, Biblical and Christian Past

Rewriting the history of the Land of Israel by erasing Jewish history and replacing it with a fabricated Palestinian history is a central goal of the Palestinian Authority (PA) and something that the early generations of Palestinian leaders, including the notorious Hajj Amin Husseini, who led the Palestinian Arabs to their 1948 defeat, dared not do. This fictitious history, which ignores all historical documentation and established historical methods, is based on systematic distortions of both ancient and modern history with the aim of denying Israel’s right to exist.

The Palestinian leaders claim lineage from ancient history, describing the Canaanites as their direct ancestors.[1] In the words of the PA president Mahmoud Abbas: “We said to him [Netanyahu], when he claimed the Jews have a historical right dating back to 3000 years B.C.E., we say that the nation of Palestine upon the land of Canaan had a 7,000-year history. This is the truth that must be said: Netanyahu, you are incidental in history. We are the people of history. We are the owners of history.”[2]

According to Palestinian Authority historians, the Palestinian people has been living in Palestine for over seven thousand years.[3] Another claim states that Palestinians were in the land since the beginning of creation.[4] According to Sheikh Ikrima Sabri, chairman of the Supreme Islamic Council of the Palestinian Authority, Palestinians have roots in this land originating from earlier than 7500 B.C.E.[5] Arab villages have allegedly existed since the days of the Canaanites.[6] The “Arab” Canaanites supposedly established ports on the coast of Canaan, known today as Palestine, and Jaffa is said to have been one of the cities whose Canaanite origins later invaders failed to erase.[7] Overall, the Palestinian people claim to be rooted in the region for thousands of years and long before Israel.[8]

Throughout Palestinian media and education, all Israeli cities and areas are featured as Palestinian in origin, including Haifa, Acre, Ashkelon, Jaffa, Safed, Tiberias, Tel Aviv, Nazareth, the Sea of Galilee, Kiryat Shmonah, and the Negev. These are the “Palestinian homeland” or “occupied Palestine.”[30] Instilling these assertions and psychological worldview as facts among youth and in the political arena requires a multilevel process of socialization and indoctrination, beginning with the education system. Reinforcement is constant and all-pervasive: Palestine is continually represented as an area of 27,000 sq km, and an overwhelming Palestinian majority believes this is the truth.[31]

….

Israelis are described as religious groups of imposters who were never Jews but part of a Zionist plot to occupy Palestinian lands and steal the Palestinian identity and cultural heritage. This is derided as the greatest crime ever committed against humanity with the aim of the Judaization of Palestine.[34] Even the Hebrew language is said to be stolen from Palestinian Aramaic.[35] The Israeli state creates “false names” for sites to “erase the Palestinian facts.” It steals everything it lays its hands on “by means of terror,” including music, food, clothing, and folk traditions, even falafel and humus.[36] All the territory held by the state of Israel is occupied, and the Palestinians will not compromise on it.[37]

In the light of this, Palestinian commentators demand that Zionists must acknowledge publicly before the world that Jews have no connection to Palestinian Arab land. Zionist history is nothing more than invention and falsification, constituting a crude form of colonialism.[38] Zionists are trying to create a fake history at the expense of a real Palestinian history so as to steal the history and the culture of the Palestinians.[39]

For better appreciation, read the rest of the article here.

Related articles:

Modern Jewish History: Traditional Narratives of Israeli and Palestinian History

The dream is spot-on. But bear in mind that our purpose for understanding the events affecting Israel is not to advocate for the nation against another. As followers of Yeshua, our calling is to preach the Good News to the world without prejudice; that includes the Palestinians and all anti-Israel, anti-Semitic individuals and nations. The Palestinians are not the real enemies but the unseen forces behind the propaganda. As we pray for Israel, we must also pray for the Palestinians. We must pray for their salvation, that both Jews and Palestinians come to the saving knowledge of Yeshua. It is only by being united in the Messiah, the Prince of Peace, that both people groups will be able to live peacefully, side by side with one another. The two-state solution will not solve the conflict and  expulsion of the Jews from the land and renaming it does not sit well with Yahweh and His Word.

Amos 9:14-15

¹⁴ I will bring back the captives of My people Israel;
They shall build the waste cities and inhabit them;
They shall plant vineyards and drink wine from them;
They shall also make gardens and eat fruit from them.
¹⁵ I will plant them in their land,
And no longer shall they be pulled up
From the land I have given them,”
Says the Lord your God.

Isaiah 62:6-7

⁶ I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem;
They shall never hold their peace day or night.
You who make mention of the Lord, do not keep silent,
⁷ And give Him no rest till He establishes
And till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth.

Psalm 122:6

⁶ Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
“May they prosper who love you.

 

Blessings,

Cynthia

 

 

 

 

 

A Testimony of Healing

Ocean Jet

It was 7:09 in the morning today, Philippines time, that I was on board the Ocean Jet, seated beside my 72-year old mother. We were on our way to Cebu from Tagbilaran to apply for a passport for her. It’s her long time dream to travel overseas and this trip to Singapore is the first time. Yahweh is great for giving Mama not only the opportunity to travel abroad but also for the privilege of witnessing my brother’s first solo exhibit outside of the country come September this year.

We went to Cebu last Monday but the passport application was unsuccessful because of some lacking documents. Yesterday, the last important document that we were waiting for was finally delivered, just in time for today, Friday, the last working day of the week.

I was praying for the document to arrive because had it not been delivered on time, I cannot anymore accompany Mama since my kids and I will be leaving for Dumaguete on Sunday, ending our month-long vacation in Bohol. And Yahweh willing, we will be flying back to Manila towards the end of the month in time for the opening of classes for this school year 2017-2018.

Yesterday, everything was set and we were ready for the trip this morning. Mama went to bed early while I finished my laundry. I went to bed around 10 o’clock but Mama was up again, said she was hungry. She had tea and a piece of pancake which my daughter prepared for her. I was already falling asleep when she said that her blood pressure was slightly high. I didn’t mind as I thought it would normalize in a few minutes. Moments later I heard her calling my nephew to wake up as she might need a trip to the hospital because her blood pressure kept going up even after taking her medicine. I got up, found her sitting on her bed already feeling bad and getting pale. I took her hands; they were very cold even after the aircon was off. I held them tight while praying. I rubbed and massaged her cold feet as well with liniment. She took another reading of her blood pressure. It went down from 180/100 to 160/100, still above normal.

Some minutes later Mama was still not relieved. It was 12:00 midnight. While observing her, I kept praying and asking the Lord if He would hear me and heal her. Papa was already up and by his looks, I knew he was very concerned. He rubbed Mama’s hands and back. Her breath was short and rapid as along with the high blood pressure she was also complaining of heartburn. She wanted to see the doctor. I had to make up my mind and obey the prompting of the Holy Spirit to pray once again, to take authority and to rebuke everything that’s attacking her, otherwise, the hospital trip would ensue that could likely lead to the cancellation of the trip to Cebu in the morning.

I sat down in front of her on the bed. Holding both her hands I praised and thanked the Lord for listening and answering my prayer. I heard both Papa and Mama agreeing with me as I prayed by the leading of the Spirit. The prayer lasted about 10 minutes which I ended by reciting Psalm 23.

I told my parents that it’s okay to go back to sleep as everything would be alright. Mama checked her blood pressure right after our prayer. It read 133/100. Praise Yahweh God! Mama exclaimed, “The power of prayer!” I answered, “The power of God because He is real!”

Mama was observing herself for a little while. I heard her told Papa softly that if she won’t feel total relief, they would go to the hospital. I stood in the gap quietly and as the Lord led, I prayed in the Spirit. Finally, I saw her relaxed. She removed the pile of pillows she used to lean on and slept normally. I could hear Papa softly snoring. They were both asleep. I went back to bed praising Yahweh for another miracle. I looked up the time and it read 1:30. I could not tell how long before I finally fell asleep but I didn’t really care because I was just happy and grateful watching both my parents sleeping soundly.

Mama woke up very early as usual. I woke up a quarter before 5:00 o’clock. My first question to her was, “Are we going to Cebu as planned?” She said, “Yes, because now I’m feeling fine, not sensing anything wrong!”

In two hours we got to our destination safe and sound. Since Mama is a senior citizen, she was privileged to not go through the long line and so was done in less than an hour. Before the day ended, we were already back here in Bohol. All through the day until this moment that she’s already asleep, my dear Mama has not complained of anything unusual.

Thank You, Father, for healing Mama and for the successful trip to Cebu earlier today. Thank you, for being our present help in times of need. Thank you that even if I do not always sense Your nearness, You truly are just a prayer away. Thank You, that once again You showed me that You are always with me and I can rest assured that when I pray, You listen and answer. Forgive me for the times I doubted about hearing Your voice. And thank you for not condemning me for being slow of understanding. Most of all, thank You for loving me unconditionally. I love You so much, my Father and my God!

Love in Yeshua,
Cynthia

The Ministry of Obedience

As a break from my earlier post today, I am finishing this long standing message because the reminder to finish this keeps popping up on my tablet. I believe the reminder comes from the Lord Himself because this is the only one among the many drafts, that has been showing up in the notification for 3 weeks now.

The ministry of obedience is unheard of in any Christian congregation. Rightly so because there is no such ministry. We all know of the praise and worship ministry, healing ministry, prayer and intercession, youth ministry and so on, but not the ministry of obedience.

Christians are encouraged to be involved in church ministries, to find their place in God’s kingdom through the local church. This was the topic we were discussing in a group meeting. Spiritual gifts came into the forefront and most of the ladies talk about the gift of healing; naturally, because the church is known for healing and deliverance. But when someone expressed disappointment for not getting results when praying for the sick, I got concerned. I was concerned not because she didn’t get the result she wanted but because of her reaction. She wondered why God seemed to deprive her when she’s eager to be used in the healing ministry.

When I got home, I pondered the above incident in my heart then I heard in my spirit, “My children are concerned about church ministries but not the ministry of obedience.”

Our Father is more interested in us getting involved in the ministry of obedience than in any other. In other words, He wants His children to obey Him than to do great things for Him. Before He can effectively use us, we must first have an obedient heart- a heart that is fully devoted to Him.

For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him... (2 Chronicles 16:9).

… Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice. (1 Samuel 15:22).

Love in Yeshua,

Cynthia

 

 

 

Don’t Quit

During a very difficult time in 2010 I said to God in desperation that unless He intervened I would certainly quit. I said I would not do anything good or bad but definitely I would stop hoping and believing. I slept with a heavy heart because I meant everything I said and contemplated; because I felt truly hopeless and helpless. But as faithful and good as He is, He didn’t let go of me. He gave me a message in a very vivid dream.

In the dream I was down on the floor, no strength nor wish to get up. Then I heard a voice calling aloud, “Where are now those who are willing to stand in His name?; who will defend Him now?”

As I heard it I realized that everyone seemed to turn away, and I did not want to. I mustered all my will and stood on my feet; and raising my arms high I shouted on top of my voice, “JESUS IS LORD! JESUS IS LORD! JESUS IS MY LORD!”

Suddenly, two women turned and looked at me angrily. They raised their hands to slap me but they hit an invisible wall and hit it hard. In shock and amazement they walked away from me.

I woke up and cried as it dawned on me how foolish I was to tell God I was quitting. He showed me in the dream that I could not and really would not want to run away from Him. He also clearly showed me that those who wished me harm, those who wanted to see me fall would be disappointed for He is protecting me. He is my shield and those who will attack me will find themselves attacking and hitting Him instead. Hallelujah!!!

If you feel like quitting, thinking that God does not care or is not concerned about you and your situation, you are definitely wrong. He loves you more than you ever know. Hold on and wait upon the Lord for He is doing something good out of your troubles. He is molding you into the person that He wants you to be; that you will be perfectly fit for the calling that He has for you. The process is painful but when you come out of it, when you see yourself transformed in His expert hands you will certainly thank and praise Him that He let you go through the fire.

Psalm 91

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
    will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
² I will say^[a] to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,
    my God, in whom I trust.”

³ For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
    and from the deadly pestilence.
⁴ He will cover you with his pinions,
    and under his wings you will find refuge;
    his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
⁵ You will not fear the terror of the night,
    nor the arrow that flies by day,
⁶ nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
    nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.

⁷ A thousand may fall at your side,
    ten thousand at your right hand,
    but it will not come near you.
⁸ You will only look with your eyes
    and see the recompense of the wicked.

⁹ Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place—
    the Most High, who is my refuge^[b]—
¹⁰ no evil shall be allowed to befall you,
    no plague come near your tent.

¹¹ For he will command his angels concerning you
    to guard you in all your ways.
¹² On their hands they will bear you up,
    lest you strike your foot against a stone.
¹³ You will tread on the lion and the adder;
    the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.

¹⁴ “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;
    I will protect him, because he knows my name.
¹⁵ When he calls to me, I will answer him;
    I will be with him in trouble;
    I will rescue him and honor him.
¹⁶ With long life I will satisfy him
    and show him my salvation.”

Cynthia

A Quick Note and Testimony

It has been close to six months since the last time I published on this blog; and getting back is not easy. I lost my momentum although not the desire to write and share the things I learned from the Lord. Praise Yahweh for not giving up on me.

I want to thank all of you, brothers and sisters, who took the time to contact me through this blog or email and would like to ask your forgiveness for not giving you answers as I thought I would be able to write on this blog soon. But, obviously, it took me such a long time to sit down and write.

Anyway, I got sick last year and that’s the primary reason for my absence. It started off as  an unusual fatigue in the early part of June last year and gradually itensified as the days went by. Without detailing the symptoms, I was hospitalized in August and was diagnosed with Grave’s disease that caused hyperthyroidism. I was still sick when I posted the last article about the “Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem;” and praise the Lord, I was still able to attend and do my part in the event last October.

Although the medicines worked, I remained physically weak and didn’t regain the weight I lost which was about 10kgs because I would not take those medicines dutifully. In my last visit to the doctor over two months ago, he said that I would need to undergo radioactive iodine treatment to stop my thyroid from producing excessive iodine. He explained that it was safe though it meant causing the thyroid in the long run to stop working altogether thus creating the opposite situation of a hypo thyroid; safe in the sense that the lack of iodine is not harmful and can easily be supplemented compared to a hyper thyroid that could affect the other organs adversely when not treated. Both cases didn’t sound good to me and I thought I could pray and ask the Father to heal me.

Well, I returned to taking the prescribed medicine which was really effective. But as very typical of me, I rebelled against depending on pills to keep me in shape so I acted on my conviction that the Father could heal me. I went to the Lord in prayer, desperately asking Him to restore my thyroid to its normal function. Filled with the Spirit, my faith soared and by His leading I opened my Bible to see what He would tell me; and alas! I looked straight to the highlighted word in 2 Kings 20:5 that says, “… ‘I have heard your prayer and seen your tears and I will heal you.’…”

Yahweh gave me the word He gave Hezekiah after he desperately prayed for healing. I thanked and praised Him and told Him that I would just finish off the medicines for the next three days and won’t buy anymore but trust that He already healed me. From that day forward, about two months now, I never suffered from any symptom. I don’t look sick and feel sick anymore. I am physically normal and that’s all because of His faithfulness. Praise and glory to Yahweh!

I will end this note for now but will be back soon. Thank you for all your prayers and for remembering me during my absence. The Lord bless and keep you all.

Love in Yeshua,

Cynthia

 

 

The Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem

What is the Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem?

On the first Sunday of every October, hundreds of millions of people around the world join together to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. In just a few years, this event has quickly become the largest Israel-focused prayer event in history. But why set aside this day each year to pray for Jerusalem?

Purpose

We set aside this one day each year to raise global awareness and intercession for G-d’s purposes in Israel, knowing that this hour in history is critical and our authority in prayer is great. Though we pray every day for Israel, we seek on this day to unite believers around the world in raising a cry to Heaven on behalf of this troubled, but strategic land and its people. We believe in G-d’s promises for His beloved nation and fervently pray to hasten the day when He brings fulfillment to His word. (Read more).

Isaiah 62:6-7

⁶ I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence,

⁷ And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.

Why Stand with Israel?

Israel is a land about which G-d says – uniquely, prophetically, redemptively, and repeatedly in the Bible – “This is Mine.” G-d refers to Israel as He does to no other land on Earth. Israel was raised up to be a light to the Gentiles.

The Church at its inception was virtually entirely Jewish, and it remained so until the Gospel began to spread. Ultimately, the Gospel spread to Antioch – where the first Gentile congregation began – the base from which the Gospel spread into all the world.

In the book of Romans, chapters 9 through 11, the Apostle Paul deals with the question of the Jews in G-d’s providence and purpose. These three chapters virtually stand alone, within the whole of the Bible, as an elaboration of the theology of G-d’s dealing with Jews. The Jews were the “first fruit” … the “first people” (through Abraham) to understand a covenant G-d. They then relayed the riches of that truth to the world, and through their agency, the Messiah came into the world. The Word of G-d calls Jews the “root” and Gentiles the “branches.” We’re reminded that while “because of unbelief, some of them were broken off and you stand by faith,” we are not to become haughty but to fear: “For if G-d did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either.” When the fullness of the Gentiles is completed, “all Israel will be saved.” (ch. 11:16-27) (Read more)

Psalm 122:6

⁶ Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.

Love in Yeshua,

 

Cynthia