Latest News For General Discussion

Why Christians Stopped Talking About Jesus’ Second Coming

This Sunday kicked off the beginning of Advent. While the season is generally seen as a time of preparing to celebrate Christ’s birth on Christmas, the focus historically was a time to focus on Jesus’ Second Coming. The doctrine of Jesus’ Second Coming has traditionally been a major focus of Christian theology: it has been a driving force for missions, it was a source of hope for suffering Christians, it helped to frame Christian worship. American evangelicals in particular have been shaped by discussion…

Pandemic, economy worsen situation for Syria’s minority Christians

People gather at the site of an explosion in al-Bab, Syria Nov. 24, 202,0 in this picture obtained from social media. Religious workers say worsening coronavirus pandemic and economic conditions in Syria are further deepening poverty and hardship. (Credit: CNS photo/MMC/Sharif Al Halabi.) AMMAN, Jordan — The worsening coronavirus pandemic and economic conditions in Syria are further deepening poverty and hardship for Christians, who find themselves trapped in a political stalemate, religious freedom advocates say. “The situation is becoming worse, people are calling me…

I prophesied Trump would win. I got it wrong. But I am NOT a false prophet

You are a prophet. You were convinced God told you Trump would win. You got it wrong. What do you do next? Looking around, the most likely outcome is that you could just keep on doing whatever you did before. Stay prophesying. Act like it’s no big deal. That is how – perhaps – many of those Americans who assert they are prophets may be thinking. Because we are getting to the point where proclaiming that President Trump will win a second term is…

Suspected militants kill four Christians in remote Indonesian village

Police in Indonesia were on Saturday hunting suspected militants accused of killing four people said by rights groups to be Christians, beheading one and burning down their homes. Ten militants linked to a “terrorist” group beheaded one victim and slit the throats of the others on the island of Sulawesi on Friday, national police spokesman Awi Setiyono quoted a witness as saying. Indonesia, the world’s biggest Muslim-majority country, has grappled with intermittent militant attacks recently. “This attack is another serious escalation against the Christian…

African apologetics event asks if Christianity is the faith for Africa

By Jackson Elliott, Contributor Follow | Friday, November 27, 2020 Left to right: Felix Sumba, Kevin Muriithi and Bill Dindi of Apologetics Kenya | Apologetics Kenya The first Annual African Apologetics Conference is engaging with postmodern and traditional African worldviews by asking if Christianity is Africa’s faith. Hosted by Christian group Apologetics Kenya, the Nov. 27 to Nov. 29 event is featuring over 26 lectures, public apologetics debates, panels and workshops online. The speakers include prominent African theologians, church leaders and Christian activists, according to…

Missionary renewal to celebrate 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines

A pastoral letter from the bishops. We ask “our two canonized ‘foreign’ missionary saints, Lorenzo Ruiz and Pedro Calungsod, to intercede for us so that our loving God will always abundantly bless our Church in the Philippines and all her many missionary endeavors!”. Nov 27, 2020 MANILA: The “missionary renewal” of the Philippine Church is what the country’s Bishops’ Conference (CBCP) auger 500 years after the arrival of Christianity, carried by ” thousands of men and women missionaries”. This is the hope contained in…

At one Houston church, prophecy replaces turkey for Thanksgiving

LaCricia Hlavinka hasn’t had a Thanksgiving meal in a quarter-century. Nor does she plan to this year, again opting to spend the holiday with an empty stomach and, maybe, bellowing into a microphone the latest prophecy revealed to her by God. While millions of Americans nestle into couches for their post-dinner naps on Thursday, Hlavinka and other members of Reigning Glory Church will begin a three-day fast. They believe their faithfulness to God will spare them the worst of COVID-19. “It’s the hardest to…

Opinion: Progressives, not Christians, bolster anti-Semitism

The investigative journalists over at the Daily Beast report that Madison Cawthorn, the North Carolina Republican who will soon become the youngest member of Congress in American history, “has admitted he tried to convert Jews and Muslims to Christianity.” So what? As a Jew, I’ve had several Christian friends try to turn me toward Jesus — Lutherans, Catholics and Evangelicals. Though denominations seem to adopt different philosophies on how best to proselytize in a secular world, they have all been exceptionally polite about it.…

The 2020 election and untethered prophets (pt 1)

By Wallace B. Henley, Exclusive Columnist Follow | Wednesday, November 25, 2020 Fake news and false prophecies boiled around the 2020 presidential race like tempests stoking a hurricane. Wallace Henley, former Senior Associate Pastor of 2nd Baptist Church in Houston, Texas. | Photo by Scott Belin From the perspective of Donald Trump and his associates, establishment media pumped hefty currents of disinformation and misinformation into the political cyclone through fake news. Many observers on both sides noted the “failed prophecies” that Trump would be…

Evangelical Christians once were saved. After Trump, they’re lost.

(RNS) — For reasons that have to do with our reading of the Bible, the both of us moved as adults from our middle-class white worlds to poor Black communities: Michael and his family from all-white small towns of Minnesota to the largest African American area of Minneapolis, and Joel from a white suburb of Houston to that city’s poorest neighborhood. We were then and are now both white Christians. Our faith and our faith communities were and are our lives. Little prepared us…

Letter: Calling on Christians to abate ‘devilish’ ways

About a year ago a senior pastor at a local church told me the biblical passages about the poor were directed at the spiritually deprived, versus the undeniable comprehension of the word to define those of meager means. They lied. Perhaps six years ago I was seeking help for those without a roof from a pastor at a local church. They said they had tried “that” with Black people and it doesn’t work. What followed was a condescending conversation so disturbing: that I changed…

Pro-Trump Christian evangelical ‘prophets’ apologise for getting election result wrong

Californian pastor Kris Vallotton apologised to Mr Biden directly on Instagram, stating that “you’re my president” similar to the way Mr Trump and Barack Obama were “his presidents”. “I want to sincerely apologise for missing the prophecy about Donald Trump. It doesn’t make me a false prophet. I prophesied he would become president four days after he declared his candidacy [in 2015]. And I prophesied Trump would not be impeached [and removed from office]. I’m very sorry to everyone who put their trust in…

Iraqi priest doubles down on Christianity’s survival in the Middle East

Iraqi Christians in Baghdad leave Christmas Mass at St. George Chaldean Church Dec. 25, 2019. (Credit: Khalid al Mousily/Reuters via CNS.) ROSARIO, Argentina – Ever since the rise of the Islamic State (ISIS), there’s been rising alarm regarding the future for Christians in the Middle East. A Catholic priest who recently returned to his village in northern Iraq after six years in Rome described what he found as “shocking,” but doubled down on the need for Christians to survive. Father Karam Shamasha left the…

The ‘prophets’ who said that Trump would win blame demons

If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously, so do not be alarmed. Deuteronomy 18:22 There will be many Christians disappointed with the likely result of the US presidential election, given the high level of support for President Donald Trump from White Evangelicals (76 per cent) and Catholics (46 per cent), according to the National Exit Poll. But one group…

‘The Earth was dying. Killed by the pursuit of money’ — rereading Ben Elton’s Stark as prophecy

In a year that began during one of the worst bushfire seasons in living memory and then saw a global pandemic take hold, rereading Ben Elton’s Stark offers an eerily prescient window into 2020 as the end of the world. First published in 1989, Elton’s debut novel offered a doubly prophetic vision. First, his depiction of environmental destruction. Second, his vision of high-stakes private space exploration. The world of Elton’s Stark is ruled by a shadowy ultra-rich cabal (akin to the Bilderberg Group), known…

QAnon Believes the Trump Prophecies Are Almost Here

This article is part of Election 2020: America Votes, FP’s round-the-clock coverage of the U.S. election results as they come in, with short dispatches from correspondents and analysts around the world. The America Votes page is free for all readers. The QAnon conspiracy theory has a lot on the line today, as followers wait and see whether their trust in “the plan” was well placed. For years, the supposedly anonymous Q has promised that even the most chaotic happenings around U.S. President Donald Trump…

Christians: Trump pushed some young Christians away from churches

President Donald Trump has been closely associated with Christians throughout his presidency, earning a majority of votes from Catholics, Protestants, and evangelicals in 2016. But for some Christians, Trump has shaken their relationship to their religion so much so that they have broken ties with family, friends, and even their churches. “You’re either a Christian who’s conservative and supportive of Trump or a Christian that’s really confused and hates the situation you’re in,” Maria Felix told Business Insider. Felix is still looking for a…

Trump Becomes the First President Since Eisenhower to Change Faiths

More than 180,000 people have stopped identifying with the Presbyterian Church (USA) in the past four years, according to official church numbers. Now there’s one more: President Donald Trump. Trump told Religion News Service last week in a written interview mediated by spiritual advisor Paula White-Cain that he doesn’t consider himself to be Presbyterian. He was confirmed in the church and has called himself Presbyterian numerous times over the years. But no more. “I now consider myself to be a non-denominational Christian,” Trump said…

QAnon’s Predictions Haven’t Come True; So How Does the Movement Survive the Failure of Prophecy?

FacebookTweet John F. Kennedy Jr. is dead and has been dead for some time. In July 1999, the small plane he was traveling in crashed off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard, killing him and two others. The bodies of Kennedy and his fellow passengers were found five days later in the Atlantic Ocean. This is the version of events most people know to be true. But, in the world of QAnon, things happened a bit differently: JFK Jr. survived an attempt on his life…

Ancient church found where Jesus said to tell Peter to establish Christianity

One of the earliest churches in Israel has been unearthed at the foot of breathtaking waterfalls in the scenic Banias Nature Reserve in Israel’s north. The rare circa 400 CE Byzantine church was build on top of a Roman-era temple to Pan, the Greek god from whom the park takes its name. The 4th-5th century Christian builders adapted the Roman pagan temple to fit the needs of the relatively new religion, said University of Haifa Prof. Adi Erlich in a brief Hebrew-language video announcing…

Donald Trump is hardly the ‘Republican Jesus’

It’s yet unknown how U.S. President Donald Trump’s attempts to position himself as the Christian candidate of choice will influence Christian voters in the United States — and how Democrats’ attempts to speak to Christians may sway previous Trump voters or those not publicly declaring their intentions. ‘Republican Jesus: How the Right has Rewritten the Gospels’ (University of California Press) “Dems want to shut your churches down, permanently,” Trump tweeted in early October. A few days earlier, his son, Eric Trump, declared that his…

It’s not the end of the world, even if it feels like it

Faith moves us from feelings of despair into trusting God’s goodness. Reading, learning and practicing spiritual strategies helps us find hope and strength to continue working through stressful times. Spiritual tools help us see our stressful world, yet position our conscious minds to know something better is coming. Positive thinking spiritually lifts us from a perspective of hurtful defeat. At this time in history, fear of the unknown, isolation and worry can make us feel overwhelmed. If you use social media, chances are you…

Look at Israel for the prophetic time clock

Karen Stevens If you’re anything like my husband and I, we can’t stand all the lying that is being said on the campaign trail.  The debates were so hard to watch because of all the lies.  I told my husband if my candidate doesn’t win, I will be upset, but I will not be worried. I know that God is in control of all things, and He will orchestrate what the end will be.  God has already written the end, and He gives us…

Amy Coney Barrett’s People of Praise ties highlight charismatic Christianity

What sets charismatic Christians apart from other kinds of Christians is that they often adopt practices described in the New Testament of the Bible, including speaking in tongues, the use of prophecy and faith healing. Charismatic Catholics might also adopt more modern types of praise and worship band music with enthusiastic singing, clapping and outstretched arms. Barrett would be the first Supreme Court justice from a charismatic background, according to John Fea, who teaches history at Messiah College in Mechanicsburg, Pa. And for some…

Eric Trump says his dad ‘literally saved Christianity’ in a ‘full-out war on faith’

Eric Trump said in an interview with the North Dakota radio station WZFG-AM last week that his father, President Donald Trump, “literally saved Christianity.”  He claimed Democrats have launched a “full-out war on faith in this country” and said “they want to close churches.” His comments were likely in reference to local and state governments closing churches in the midst of the novel coronavirus pandemic as a way to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.  Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories. Eric Trump…

Donald Trump prophecy: The unbelievable link President Trump has to the Bible exposed

President Donald Trump is going head-to-head with Democrat rival Joe Biden in the 2020 US election race. Ther incumbent President is fighting to keep his seat in the White House, rallying his supporters behind his stronghanded approach to foreign policy and domestic affairs. And with pressures mounting before the US heads to the polls on November 3, President Trump will rely on the support of Christian evangelists to secure a second term in office. Just last month, evangelist John Hagee told his followers to…

The Terrifying Alliance Between End Times Christian Zionists and Donald Trump

On Sep­tem­ber 13, evan­gel­i­cal pas­tor John Hagee stood before San Antonio’s Cor­ner­stone Church — which seats 5,400 peo­ple and is tele­vised to mil­lions more — and told con­gre­gants how to vote on Novem­ber 3. ​“In the forth­com­ing pres­i­den­tial elec­tion let every bible-believ­ing Chris­t­ian go vote the bible,” he said, to the cheer­ing and applause of a tight­ly packed crowd of mask-less wor­shipers (On Octo­ber 4, news broke that Hagee has been diag­nosed with Covid-19). He con­tin­ued, ​“Take Amer­i­ca back from the god of social­ism that now threat­ens the very…

How to Survive the Upcoming Election, and Other Answers in Prophecy

October 5, 2020 It Is Written’s new online series is slated to begin on October 9. By Cassie Matchim Hernandez, It Is Written, and Adventist Review  Are you worried about the upcoming elections in the U.S. or other countries? How can we make sense of what is coming? Who will determine the future? Who really controls the world? These are some of the questions that a new series by It Is Written will answer with the Bible. The series, titled Answers in Prophecy, is…

Who Has the Power to Define Christianity in the US?

A pro-Trump sign sits on the side of a road in March 2020 in Charlotte, N.C. (worthavisual / Shutterstock) EDITOR’S NOTE: This article originally appeared at TomDispatch.com. To stay on top of important articles like these, sign up to receive the latest updates from TomDispatch. Thank you for signing up. For more from The Nation, check out our latest issue. Subscribe now for as little as $2 a month! Support Progressive Journalism The Nation is reader supported: Chip in $10 or more to help us…

End of the world: Doomsday preacher says ‘Earth will explode’ in Bible prophecy claim

Pastor Begley said: “Are you serious, guys? End of the world in fiery flames. “The Earth will explode, according to the Bible, but the precursors to that, and you can find that in 2 Peter 3, it tells you in 2 Peter 3, it gives you the description of the Earth melting with fervent heat. Even the air will burn up. “But before we get there, there’s a lot of prophecy that has to take place, including first humanity being scorched with intense heat,…

On abortion, Amy Coney Barrett doesn’t speak for American Christians

Conservative Christians are thrilled about Barrett’s nomination and the prospect it raises for them of overturning Roe v. Wade, but their views don’t align with the reality of what many American Christians believe. Barrett has called abortion “always immoral” and voted against abortion rights as a federal appeals court judge. She has cast doubt on stare decisis — the principle that justices should follow legal precedents set by previous decisions. So far, the public debate about faith and Barrett’s nomination has focused on her…

Kevin Dickerson’s newly released “Jesus, Revelations, the End Times, and Me” is a perspicacious read that opens the mind to the truth of the biblical end times

MEADVILLE, Pa., Sept. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — “Jesus, Revelations, the End Times, and Me”: a spiritual narrative that lets individuals discern the coming end of days as prophesied in the Word of God. “Jesus, Revelations, the End Times, and Me” is the creation of published author Kevin Dickerson, a writer and decorated combat veteran who attends the House of Prayer in Memphis, Tennessee. Dickerson shares, “This book is written for the sole purpose of showing people the signs of the times—the end times. It…

Psalm 83 Prophecy

Recent events point to peace in the Middle East, but one Bible prophecy guarantees the opposite. You can know the specific alliances of the coming war in the Middle East. There has been much celebration at the White House lately because of President Donald Trump’s efforts to bring peace to the Middle East. He facilitated peace deals between the United Arab Emirates and Israel, and Bahrain and Israel. Israel lit up a wall in Jerusalem with images of these nations’ flags, plus America’s and…

Israel peace deal: ‘Jesus will return soon’ claims Bible follower in prophecy analysis

“This is intriguing given the prophecy of Daniel the Prophet who saw a time far in the future when a covenant of many would be confirmed by a future global world leader, (who Christians know as the Antichrist).” This so-called covenant with many is described in the Book of Daniel, Chapter Nine. According to some interpretations of scripture, the covenant describes a temporary peace deal between Israel and its adversaries. The peace will last until Israel clashes with its neighbours over the Third Temple…

Pandemic Prophecy Not on the Rosy Side

K. Lloyd Billingsley  •  Monday September 21, 2020 2:46 PM PDT  •  Actress Jennifer Garner (13 Going on 30) recently asked Dr. Anthony Fauci, “When are we going to be able to sit in a theater and watch our favorite performers up on stage again?” Dr. Fauci, a member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, replied, “I think it’s going to be a combination of a vaccine that has been around for almost a year and good public-health measures,” adding that a vaccine…

Socialism a philosophy rooted in Christianity

What’s this “socialism,” anyway? It started with Christian Utopian Socialists such as the Hutterites, an Anabaptist branch that lived on communes. They felt that living in a communal manner, rather than seeking financial profit from each other, emulated Christ and his disciples. (I’m not saying Jesus was a socialist; but He did say, “You cannot serve both God and Money … Be on guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist of the abundance of his possessions!” Between pure socialism…

White Christians in the US helped build, sustain white supremacist nation, author says

People sing during Mass at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Alexandria, Virginia, in 2011. (CNS/Nancy Phelan Wiechec) White Christians — including Catholics — in the U.S. have actively built and sustained white supremacy since before the nation’s founding, constructing institutions and theologies that uphold racism to this day. That’s the central claim of Robert P. Jones’ new book, White Too Long: The Legacy of White Supremacy in American Christianity, published in July. Jones is the CEO and founder of the Public Religion Research Institute…

End of the world: Preacher warns Blue Moon ‘omen of prophetic revelation’ will soon appear

The supposed end times sign will arrive in the form of a rare Blue Moon on October 31. And although Blue Moons are a perfectly natural phenomenon, this one will arrive just three days before the US Presidential election. The eerie coincidence has left some US evangelists believing it is a prophetic sign from the heavens. In particular, Pastor Paul Begley from West Lafayette in Indiana has stoked end of the world fears, by dubbing the Moon an “omen of prophetic revelation”. Pastor Begley…

Tennessee school district will stop promoting Christianity

By Associated Press | September 16, 2020 at 10:32 AM EDT – Updated September 16 at 9:07 PM NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – A Tennessee school district that was sued last year by two atheist families for promoting Christianity has agreed to stop the practice. In a consent decree filed in federal court in Nashville on Monday, the Smith County School District admitted that Christian prayers were delivered over the school address system, Bibles were distributed to fifth graders, and Bible verses were posted in…

Robert C. Hagan’s newly released “A Mighty Shield: Prophecy Woven with International Intrigue” tells of a biblical prophecy’s fruition that greatly changes the world

MEADVILLE, Pa. (PRWEB) September 17, 2020 “A Mighty Shield: Prophecy Woven with International Intrigue”: a riveting tome filled with the biblical circumstances of Laura and Ben during a crisis of nuclear proportions. “A Mighty Shield: Prophecy Woven with International Intrigue” is the creation of published author Robert C. Hagan, an officer under Admiral Rickover in the Nuclear Navy, a vice president of Quality and Engineering at a Kansas utility, and a member of the Lutheran church. Hagan shares, “Opposing spiritual forces collide as Ezekiel’s…

End of the world: ‘Biblical’ Israel peace deal is one step closer to Armageddon – claim

According to Paul Begley, an Indiana-based TV evangelist who hosts The Coming Apocalypse, the covenant with many is a prophetic peace deal between Israel and its adversaries that will lead to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Pastor Begley believes more Arab nations will join the Abraham Accord in due time, before turning on Israel over access to Jerusalem’s Temple Mount. In his opinion, the construction of a Third Temple on the sacred Temple Mount will be a major point of contention for Israel…

Daily chart – Protestant Christianity is booming in China

TEARING DOWN crosses from church spires may not sound the best way to win a promotion. But in Xi Jinping’s China, it might do the trick. In 2014 Xia Baolong, the Communist Party chief in Zhejiang, a coastal province, oversaw a campaign to remove more than 1,500 crosses from places of worship in the province. Bibles were confiscated; pastors were locked up. It certainly did Mr Xia’s career no harm. A long-time ally of the president, he was promoted first to a plum job…

The 2020 election is a moment of truth for white Christianity

September 15, 2020 (RNS) — In nearly every presidential election cycle, a narrow set of so-called religious issues comes to the fore. In recent decades that set has been abortion, LGBTQ rights and religious liberty. Candidates fall on one side or the other, and predictable controversies erupt. It’s exhausting to see people of faith lumped into a media narrative that largely only follows white Christians. But I believe that tired and oversimplified narrative is changing — and the crises of 2020 are making that…

Constable: Are the End Times here? Well, no, says biblical scholar

A fridge-sized asteroid hurtles toward Earth as we cope with a pandemic, horrific storms, racial atrocities, wildfires, violence and political pandemonium. “We are at the end of time,” warns a flyer left on our front porch. It proclaims the Earth will come to an end in 2020 with chaos, war, famine, natural disasters and a presidential election “like nothing you have ever witnessed before.” Granted, it does seem as if we’re headed in that direction. But Lombard native Tom Meyer, 44, a biblical scholar…

End of the world: Bible expert warns ‘Devil’s back is breaking’ as Second Coming nears

Christian scripture is clear about one thing: the Second Coming of Christ will happen. But there is no widely accepted belief on when this will happen or how the Second Coming will unfold. Conspiracy theorists and doomsday prophets believe the end days will see cataclysmic events wreak havoc across the surface of the planet. “Look, I don’t know where it’s at, but there’s no doubt about it. Something’s shaking things up there.” But what exactly does the Bible have to say about the Second…

End of the world: ‘Fire’s going to fall’ warns TV evangelist in doomsday prophecy alert

He said: “When I tell you that the fire’s going to fall in the last days, I’m not playing.” According to scripture, a number of apocalyptic events will unfold before the end of the world. Pastor Begley believes the world will be ravaged by war, plagues, political unrest and natural cataclysms. In many cases, he claims these events are already unfolding, such as the record-breaking California fires. He also believes asteroids will strike the planet, earthquakes will split the ground open and Christians and…

Christianity hasn’t failed in India. Conversion isn’t its only goal

Representational | St Thomas Church, Palayoor | Wikimedia Commons Text Size: A- A+ Periodically, experts of mainstream media come up with theories on why Christianity is a “failed project” in India. Recently, senior journalist and author Dilip Mandal put forth the argument that Christianity has no future in India and, therefore, there is no reason for the Rashtriya Swayamevak Sangh or the Vishva Hindu Parishad to spread false alarm or panic about the proselytising capacity of Christian missionaries. Mandal also points out that the Christian population in India is either static or dwindling. Mandal…

End of the world: Third Temple of Jerusalem prophecy sparks claim ‘time is very short’

Jerusalem’s Third Temple plays a major role in Bible prophecy and its construction is believed to be a precursor to the end of the world. Although the Jewish temple does not yet exist and there is no guarantee it ever will, some scholars believe it is a matter of time before it is built on Jerusalem’s Temple Mount. And if this happens, many Christian conspiracy theorists believe it will open the doors for the Antichrist to falsely declare himself God. According to the blog Bible…

US Evangelicals: From Prophecy to Policy

Key Points:  – In the coming decade, the positions, demands and worldviews of evangelicals and other Christians will continue to shape the US stance on global issues. – Under the Trump administration, white evangelicals have had unprecedented access to the White House. The presidency has made Biblical references part of its political language. – Many evangelicals interpret current events as divine signs fulfilling Biblical prophecies about the end times. When such worldviews are politically elevated, they shape US policies on a range of issues such as the…

This 19th-century argument over federal support for Christianity still resonates

Since taking office, President Trump and his administration have strongly championed religious liberty, but only of a particular kind. At this week’s White House dinner for evangelical leaders, Trump emphasized that the U.S. is a “nation of believers” and promised to protect religious liberty. Trump’s proposed policies reflect the political goals of conservative evangelicals. At a 2018 summit, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced a new “Religious Liberty Task Force” in the Justice Department to protect “people of faith” from “unjust discrimination” in all areas…

End of the world: Bible expert warns ‘eerie’ OMEN of end times will appear on Halloween

Pastor Begley is the host of the weekly TV series The Coming Apocalypse, where he links Bible scripture to modern-day events. In particular, he expects prophecies regarding the rise of the Antichrist and the construction of Jerusalem’s Third Temple to come to fruition. And on an almost daily basis, he posts videos to his YouTube channel where has amassed more than 338,000 subscribers. In his most recent broadcast, he linked the Blue Moon to the US election, to Israel’s peace deal with the United…

End of the world: Third Temple of Jerusalem prophecy sparks claim ‘time is very short’

According to the blog Bible Prophecy – Signposts of the Times, evidence of this is found on the pages of the New Testament. For instance, 2 Thessalonians warns: “Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. “He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshipped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming…

End of the world: Armageddon prophecy ‘unfolds’ as Bible preacher claims Israel connection

Pastor Begley is a prominent purveyor of doomsday predictions and unfounded conspiracy theories, who hosts the weekly TV show The Coming Apocalypse. During his broadcasts, he links modern-day events to their supposed biblical counterparts. He also hosts a popular YouTube channel where he tells his more than 338,000 subscribers on a near-daily basis to prepare for the coming of Christ. In a recently published video, he said: “If you don’t believe that the current nation of Israel, founded in 1948, is God’s chosen people…

This 19th-century argument over federal support for Christianity still resonates

Washington Gladden. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA Among them was Washington Gladden. He was a minister who had grown up in a very devout family. Though he would become a leading religious liberal, Gladden was well within the mainstream of American Protestantism at the height of debates about the constitutional amendment. In the 1870s, Gladden had great influence as religious editor of the New York Independent, one of the most read U.S. periodicals of the day. The paper…

White Christians Grapple With Their Faith’s Racist Past And Present : 1A

In “Guidelines for a Constructive Church,” Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote: “Some churches aren’t concerned about freeing anybody. Some white churches face the fact Sunday after Sunday that their members are slaves to prejudice, slaves to fear. You got a third of them, or a half of them or more, slaves to their prejudices. And the preacher does nothing to free them from their prejudice so often. Then you have another group sitting up there who would really like to do something…

End of the world: Bible preacher says watch for the ‘prophetic signs of HIS coming’

The Christian Bible makes a strong statement against prophesying the date of Jesus Christ’s Second Coming. And yet, according to Pastor Paul Begley of West Lafayette in Indiana, US, prominent preachers and ministers have made more than 240 such predictions throughout history. These predictions included very specific dates of Jesus’ return, such as claims the Messiah would appear on March 21, 1843. Pastor Begley, who hosts the weekly show The Coming Apocalypse, has warned against setting such dates. Jesus himself is quoted in the…

Bible prophecy fulfilled: Discovery of ‘Jerusalem’s Third Temple’ sparks apocalypse fears

This week a large hole was uncovered in Temple Mount, a site which has been venerated as a holy site in Judaism, Christianity and Islam, and is widely considered one of the most holy areas in the world. The pit was uncovered after a floor tile collapsed on it, leading many experts to say it could reveal bombshell finds from “thousands of years of Jewish history”. But the discovery could show that the end of the world is near, as it could be evidence…

The end times is revealed in the book of Revelation

From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham Dear Dr. Graham: Because of the recent troubles of the world people have been taking a closer look at the last book of the Bible — Revelation. Is this mystery yet to be fulfilled? Dear R.S.: The mystery of the end times is revealed in the book of Revelation. The Bible tells us that the study of this book will bring great blessing to those who read its message about this present world and a new…

AI Jesus: Bible-inspired machine makes eerie doomsday ‘prophecies’ of the ‘end of days’

The artificial messiah has penned about 60,000 words of prophecy that are eerily reminiscent of the real deal. AI Jesus is the creation of engineer George Davila Durendal, who has dubbed the algorithm a “clone of Jesus”. The artificial intelligence was instructed to read the King James Version of the Bible, learning in the process how to construct convincing scripture-like prophecies. Mr Durendal likened it to “locking a baby in a room with nothing but a Bible for 15 years.” He said: “You then…

Why Prophecies Are So Common in Sci-Fi and Fantasy

Prophecies are nearly as old as human communication. Whether they take the form of a sage’s wisdom, a dark omen or the search for a “chosen one,” prophecies have long shaped the way we tell legends of our own making. Classics, from Macbeth to Star Wars, just wouldn’t be the same without them. But, while they can be an effective literary device, they can also turn into a lazy trope. They’re common because they serve several purposes, but they aren’t powerful enough to save a…

American Christianity’s White-Supremacy Problem

Early on in “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass,” the first of three autobiographies Douglass wrote over his lifetime, he recounts what happened—or, perhaps more accurately, what didn’t happen—after his master, Thomas Auld, became a Christian believer at a Methodist camp meeting. Douglass had harbored the hope that Auld’s conversion, in August, 1832, might lead him to emancipate his slaves, or at least “make him more kind and humane.” Instead, Douglass writes, “If it had any effect on his character, it made him…

Half of U.S. Christians say casual sex between consenting adults is sometimes or always acceptable

(franckreporter via Getty Images) Many Christian traditions disapprove of premarital sex. And even though Christians in the United States hold less permissive views than religiously unaffiliated Americans about dating and sex, most say it’s acceptable in at least some circumstances for consenting adults to have sex outside of marriage, according to a recent Pew Research Center survey. Half of Christians say casual sex – defined in the survey as sex between consenting adults who are not in a committed romantic relationship – is sometimes…

Christianity Confronted with New Ideas of Identity

Reformation historian Carl Trueman says traditional Christianity and the very idea of being made in the image of God is besieged today in the West. In his new book, The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self, Cultural Amnesia, Expressive Individualism, and the Road to Sexual Revolution (Crossway, November), he writes, “The framework for identity in wider society is deep rooted, powerful, and fundamentally antithetical to the kind of identity promoted as basic in the Bible… Any return to a society built on a…

We are evangelical Christians not voting for Donald Trump this time

It is no secret that most white evangelical Christians in the country voted for Donald Trump in 2016. But one recent survey finds that, if the election were tomorrow, his margin of victory with white evangelical voters would be just 38 points, dramatically down from his advantage of 61 points over Hillary Clinton. Evangelical voters are having second thoughts. We are a white evangelical married couple living in Georgia. We have both worked on evangelical missions across various cultural contexts, and are absolutely committed…

Christians, others warn Turkey is ‘weaponizing water’ in northeast Syria

Fawza Umri helps her son put on clothes after being bathed inside their tent at Atmeh camp, near the Turkish border in Syria, June 13, 2020. Humanitarian groups have accused Turkey of “weaponing water” in the northeast region of Syria. (Credit: Khalil Ashawi/Reuters via CNS.) AMMAN, Jordan — Parts of Syria’s north where Kurds, Christians and Yazidis have practiced religious freedom in recent years are reportedly again under attack by mainly Turkish military and their allied Syrian Islamist fighters. The Syrian Democratic Council, which…

Engineer creates ‘AI Jesus’ that makes doomsday ‘prophecies’

An artificially intelligent algorithm that has been trained in biblical scripture has been coming up with its own “prophecies.” The creation is called AI Jesus and it’s already spoken about a “plague” and “the end of days.” The algorithm was created by engineer and quantum researcher George Davila Durendal. He explained in a blogpost: “I present to you A.I. Jesus. An artificial intelligence of my invention created from the King James Bible and nothing else. “This A.I. learned human language from reading the bible…

Peace and Prophecy: Israel’s Mainstream Media Considers UAE Deal

The announced normalization between Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was a major breakthrough in the Middle East conflict, and as such sparked wide debate regarding the prophetic ramifications of this diplomatic development. Right there one might well assume that I’m speaking of debate among Bible-believing Christians, especially those of the Evangelical persuasion. But make no mistake, Bible-believing Jews are every bit as much attuned to the potential prophetic significance of what happens in this land. In fact, some might be surprised to…

AI Trained on the Bible Spits Out Bleak Religious Prophecies

Jesus of SuburbAI An artificial intelligence algorithm that churns out scripture is putting an interesting new twist on the Bible. The project, aptly dubbed AI Jesus by engineer and quantum researcher George Davila Durendal, is a language-processing algorithm that was trained exclusively on the King James Bible, according to Durendal’s blog post. Needless to say, the 30,000-word algorithmic text includes some real Old Testament-style brutality. Code Unto Caesar Durendal’s algorithm wrote scripture about three topics: “the plague,” “Caesar,” and “the end of days.” So…

End of the world: Antichrist prophecy unfolds with Israel peace deal, evangelist claims

According to pastor Begley, who hosts the weekly show The Coming Apocalypse, prophecy is unfolding and that can only mean one thing – the end times are coming. He said: “The covenant of many will ultimately breakdown, ok? “And it will all, because of the Temple Mount. “Even after they’re getting along fine for three-and-a-half years, even after the temple gets built, and millions of people are coming to see it, and everything looks like it’s going to work out, the Antichrist, the Antisemitic,…

History Is a Path to Understand Bible Prophecy

For decades, history has been under attack. Our schools stopped emphasizing it; many colleges stopped teaching it. Now people are actively tearing it down and radically revising it. This is deeply disturbing. We are ruining one of mankind’s most effective teachers! Hal Brands and Francis J. Gavin wrote an article for WarontheRocks.com titled “The Historical Profession Is Committing Slow-Motion Suicide” (Dec. 10, 2018). It described how today’s historians write in a scholarly way for each other rather than for the benefit of their nation…

End of the world: Red heifer prophecy unfolds in big Third Temple update, claims preacher

The red heifers form part of an elaborate plan to reclaim Jerusalem’s former glory through the construction of a third Holy Temple. The efforts are being led by the Temple Institue, a religious organisation dedicated to the restoration of Judaism’s holiest seat of worship. The return of the Temple plays a critical role in doomsday prophecies in Jewish and Christian prophecies alike. Many believe the Third Temple’s construction will precede the arrival of the Messiah. And the sacrifice of a red heifer in the…

Belief that demons have sex with humans runs deep in Christianity, Judaism

THE CONVERSATION via AP — Houston physician and pastor Stella Immanuel – described as “spectacular” by Donald Trump for her promotion of unsubstantiated claims about anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine as a “cure” for COVID-19 – has some other, very unconventional views. As well as believing that scientists are working on a vaccine to make people less religious and that the US government is run by reptilian creatures, Immanuel, the leader of a Christian ministry called Fire Power Ministries, also believes sex with demons causes miscarriages,…

‘The End Times’ part 10: The Judgment Day

Posted: Jul. 25, 2020 5:40 am Editor’s note: This column is part 10 in a series about the biblical end of days and the book of Revelation. Much is said about the judgment day, but not all is understood. The Bible tells us, “it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). However, death will not be experienced by those who are alive at Jesus’ second coming. Who will be the judge? There will be two judges —…

‘We curse Christianity three times a day’: Can Jews and Christians truly reconcile?

After many years during which Esau hated Jacob, the brothers meet. Esau rushes to Jacob, embraces him, falls on his neck, kisses him, the two burst into tears. What a thrilling reconciliation. But the Jewish Sages, according to Midrash Bereshit Rabbah 78, were not enamored of this reconciliation. They placed dots above the Hebrew word vayeshakehu (“he kissed him,” Genesis 33:4), signifying deletion. But deletion was not a real option – it was, after all, a word in the Torah – so they did a “pretend”…

End of the world: ‘We are living on borrowed time’ latest apocalypse prediction claims

Several signs are merging to show that the end of the world is near, according to certain conspiracy theorists. The signs have been there since Israel was established in 1948 following the Second World War. Israel is considered to be the Holy Land, and once it was re-established following WW2 to act as a safe space for Jewish people, it was only a matter of time before the apocalypse began, according to a crackpot conspiracy theory. Website End Times Prophecy Watch said: “The first…

The Beirut Blast and Bible Prophecy

Demonstrators clash with Lebanese riot police as riot police intervene them with tear gas canisters during a protest against government at the Martyrs’ Square after the deadly explosion at the Port of Beirut led to massive blasts on 4th August in Beirut, Lebanon on August 08, 2020. Houssam Shbaro/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images For over a decade Watch Jerusalem editor in chief Gerald Flurry has said that Europe will replace Iran as the dominant force inside Lebanon. He made this forecast a time when…

Letter | Christianity must change or die

Things aren’t always black and white. Sin is not a word that has only one specific meaning. Sin can mean simply to miss the mark, where one may have a good heart but not
 understanding. Or, as in the Christian community, it most often means one does not just sin, but
 one is born to sin — a miserable sinner. To have a good heart and simply miss the mark is not possible to those who think only in 
black and white; there is…

BreakPoint: The Bible, Christianity and liberty

Is there a place for God’s Word in our unstable day? For a lot of folks, as they see troublesome times in our streets and unsettled ideologies in our hearts, they don’t view the Scriptures as a place of hope. They look at the Bible as an antiquated alternative to our compelling narratives, if not an overtly oppressive document and the source of our troubles. What they miss is that the peace and freedom they so long for can only be found in its…

‘The End Times’ part 12: A look into heaven

Editor’s note: This column is part 12 in a series about the biblical end of days and the book of Revelation. Saving the best until last, this week in our end times study we look at heaven. We know it will be a good place, but why? What will it be like? It will be a new, physical universe, made of material matter. Jesus’ glorified resurrection body, the one he has now in the angelic heaven is an example of what our new bodies…

End of the world: Third Temple prophecy is ‘unintentionally’ unfolding, Bible expert warns

Tom Meyer, a professor in Bible and theology at Shasta Bible College and Graduate School in California, US, told Express.co.uk groups like the Temple Institute are unwittingly paving the way for the Second Coming of Christ. According to some interpretations of the Bible, the Third Temple will rise in the final days to welcome the arrival of the Messiah, who according to the Jewish faith is yet to make an appearance. Biblical prophecy also states the Antichrist will attempt to proclaim himself the true…

End of the world: ‘Heavens will be on fire’ as preacher bizarrely warns of the ‘end times’

However, despite the prophetic doomsday claims, there is absolutely no evidence our home planet is about to be bombarded by a flurry of space rocks. According to the world’s leading space agencies, no known asteroid or comet poses any threat to Earth’s safety, now or in the next few hundred years. NASA said: “If astronomers find such an object, there would be plenty of time to track it, measure its orbit precisely, and plan a system for deflecting it from its current orbital path.…

End of the world: Preacher’s bizzare claim of Jesus Christ’s return and rise of Antichrist

The end of the world will be preceded by the rise of the Antichrist, the return of Jesus Christ and a heavenly war upon Earth. These are some of the beliefs held by niche Christian groups and conspiracy theorists who follow literal interpretations of biblical prophecies. A chief evangelist among them is pastor Paul Begley of West Lafayette in Indiana, US, who has prophesied the end of the world on numerous past occasions. Most recently, the preacher took to YouTube where he told his…

Sudan Drops Death Penalty for Apostasy, Alcohol Ban for Christians

In one of a wide-ranging series of legislative reforms, apostates from Islam no longer face the death penalty in Sudan. “We [will] drop all the laws violating the human rights in Sudan,” Justice Minister Nasredeen Abdulbari said Sunday during an interview on state television. “We are keen to demolish any kind of discrimination that was enacted by the old regime, and to move toward equality of citizenship and a democratic transformation.” In April 2019, following weeks of massive revolutionary demonstrations, Christians joined in cheering…

Jana Riess: Reading Bible prophecy in a time of pandemic

Years ago, when I worked at Publishers Weekly and regularly made the rounds of publishing trade shows, I found myself sort-of-not-quite having breakfast with Hal Lindsey, the author of “The Late Great Planet Earth.” The tables in the hotel buffet were close together, and he was eating at the table right next to mine. We didn’t speak, but I took the opportunity to spy on him. (Do not judge me. You would have done the same.) Mostly I noted that he seemed to be…

‘The End Times’ part 8: The rapture

Editor’s note: This column is part seven in a series about the biblical end of days and the book of Revelation. Left behind” is the name of a book series that was read by millions. The series consisted of 16 novels. Four movies have been made based on the theme. Who was “left behind” in the books? According to the series, all who are not believers. Those unbelievers will have to go through a horrible battle of armageddon and the great tribulation. No wonder…

Of prophecies and the word of God

‘Thus saith the Lord…’ has become a reoccurring fabric in our lives, globally but at a more rampant rate in Nigeria. There are several worship centres (not just churches) in Nigeria, each having one or many leaders prophesying as often as daily in some of them what God had seemingly sent through them. In this write up, Christian worship centres will be focused. For a proper understanding, let us start by defining the terms ‘Prophecy’ and ‘The Word of God.’ A prophecy is a…

Why Black Christians are bracing for a ‘whitelash’

Newbell, who is Black, had spoken about imago Dei — the idea that all humans, of all races, are made in the image and likeness of God. The man disagreed. “He explained that I was subhuman, that I was a different species,” recalled Newbell. “And he was trying to use Scripture as proof.” Newbell, 41, chooses her words carefully. But the Knoxville native is candid about the racism she’s faced during her ministry, including the past seven years as a community outreach director for…

Evangelical Christians and Trump: Is the partnership a surprise?

In early June, President Trump had federal officers use tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse a peaceful protest so he could stage a photo op outside St. John’s Church, which sits across from the White House. The image, now infamous, shows Trump awkwardly holding up the Bible as though he’s never held a book in his life. It’s a surreal shot that somehow captures the performative dimension of his entire presidency. But why the Bible? And why go through all that trouble to…

Reading Bible prophecy in a time of pandemic

Years ago when I worked at Publishers Weekly and regularly made the rounds of publishing trade shows, I found myself sort-of-not-quite having breakfast with Hal Lindsey, the author of The Late Great Planet Earth. The tables in the hotel buffet were very close together, and he was eating at the table right next to mine. We didn’t speak, but I took the opportunity to spy on him. (Do not judge me. You would have done the same.) Mostly I noted that he seemed to…

How biblical prophecy predicted today’s technology

By Jimmy Evans, Op-Ed Contributor | Monday, July 06, 2020 Jimmy Evans is the Founder and CEO of MarriageToday, a ministry and nationally syndicated television program devoted to helping couples thrive in strong and fulfilling marriages and families. He is Senior Pastor of Gateway Church, one of the largest churches in the nation. | (Courtesy of Jimmy Evans) After U.S. Senator John McCain passed away in August of 2018, the long-serving Arizona politician was given the honor of lying in state in the U.S. Capitol building.…

God on trial and Fr Scanlan’s Prophecy

Francisco Colaço As the world watches helplessly the havoc caused by Covid-19, two articles impressed me, 1) “Perplexing questions from mysterious Covid-19”, by Dr Nandkumar Kamat (“NT” June 14) and 2) “God on Trial”, by Fr. Nelson Lobo  (“Renewal”, April 1). “A tiny virus, just a nano particle, is holding eight billion intelligent humans to ransom.” Coronaviruses are RNA viruses, their evolution is very complex and nobody knows from where the first coronavirus originated. There are seven infectious coronaviruses and among these Covid-19 is…

Sussman: Christians have become their own worst enemy in America

Mike Sussman, Guest Columnist Published 11:22 a.m. ET July 5, 2020 As a faithful, committed Christian, I am saddened by the decline of Christianity in America. Christians often point to R rated movies, trashy television, the removal of the Bible from schools, and abortion, as the major reasons for decline. Though it is possible that those items may have had a small part in the decline of Christianity, it is likely that the biggest culprit is the attitudes of Christians in America. I recently…

‘The End Times’ part 7: How will the resurrection happen?

Posted: Jul. 4, 2020 12:01 am Editor’s note: This column is part seven in a series about the biblical end of days and the book of Revelation. How will the resurrection take place? Here we are talking about only those who are saved. Just before Jesus’ second coming, there will be two groups of saved people: those who have died — bodiless souls already in the presence of Christ in the angelic-heaven — and believers still living on Earth. When Christ comes the second…

Blood Moon: ‘Prophecies of the last days’ are before us claims preacher in bizarre warning

“If you know what you’re watching for. Oh no, people need to know what’s going on.” The Bible’s Book of Joel 2 reads: “I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke. “The Sun will be turned to darkness and the Moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.” The Moon similarly turns red in the Book of Revelation: “And I beheld when he had opened the sixth…

Christianity crackdown: Mob destroys cross in violent attack on church

The church in Dhanbad city, Jharkhand, was still under construction when the mob attacked on June 22 and destroyed the cross. The church has a congregation of 16 families mainly from Belagadia. Two teachers, Kaina Pansal and Sushant Predhan, teach in the premises but they were accused of having converting some local families. Police arrested and interrogated the two teachers on charges of forced conversion. Their arrests sparked outrage and anti-Christian militants destroyed and vandalised the church. In Jharkhand, religious proselytism – the attempt…

‘The End Times’ part 3: The millennium

Editor’s note: This column is part three in a series about the biblical end of days and the book of Revelation. Some people do not distinguish between things that happen on a physical level and things that happen on a spiritual level. This includes the things people wrongly associate with the second coming of Christ. They expect to see these events happen on a physical level. Some people think Jesus has yet to establish his kingdom and will do so when he comes the…

‘The End Times’ part 6: Life after death

Editor’s note: This column is part six in a series about the biblical end of days and the book of Revelation. What happens to Christians following their death? Many Christians want to know if they go to heaven immediately after death. One sense of heaven as the Christian tends to use the term refers to the “final heaven.” This is the place the saved person goes to live eternally. The Bible refers to it as “the new heaven and the new earth” (2 Peter…

End of the world: ‘Mayans made a mistake’ Bible expert predicts end on December 21, 2020

There is also no evidence to support the bizarre idea the Mayan civilisation knew anything about when the world was going to end. After the original Mayan calendar scare in 2012, NASA said: “News flash: the world didn’t end on Dec. 21, 2012. You’ve probably already figured that out for yourself. “Despite reports of an ancient Maya prophecy, a mysterious planet on a collision course with Earth, or a reverse in Earth’s rotation, we’re still here.” Astronomer Edwin Charles Krupp, the former director of…

Jesus Was Divisive: A Black Pastor’s Message To White Christians

Enlarge this image The Rev. Lenny Duncan, here in May 2019, at the Metropolitan New York Synod Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Courtesy of Lenny Duncan hide caption toggle caption Courtesy of Lenny Duncan More than 90% of U.S. churches were closed at the height of the coronavirus pandemic. But since mid-April, mostly white faith leaders have pushed to fill their pews again, suing governors over bans on large gatherings and joining “reopen” protests at state capitols. President Trump threatened to…

‘The End Times’ part 4: We are in our first resurrection now

Posted: Jun. 13, 2020 12:01 am Updated: Jun. 15, 2020 6:20 am Editor’s note: This column is part four in a series about the biblical end of days and the book of Revelation. A great blessing happens during the 1,000 years mentioned in Revelation 20. It is the “first resurrection.” In Revelation 20:4-6, John says he sees two groups of people. First, he sees the souls of Christian martyrs — that is, those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus. Then,…