"Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever." - Daniel 12 V3

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." - Romans 8 V18

Dear friend, rejoice in the Lord for we are here for a short while and there-after we shall ever be with our Lord. We may have to face tough times and sufferings in our present time but all these are very feeble compared to the glory which awaits us. Because we have received Christ, we receive from God the free gift of salvation and life everlasting. If you have not received Christ into your heart then I urge you not to miss this opportunity to get right with God. The invitation is open to everyone and God will receive you if you shall come to Jesus Christ His Son with repentance and a sincere heart. Praise the Lord!

"For surely there is a hereafter, and your hope will not be cut off." - Proverbs 23 V18

"looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works." - Titus 2 V13

We who love Jesus Christ and have accepted Him as our Lord and Savior have a blessed hope for which we all eagerly wait. We wait for the glorious appearing of our Lord and there-after we shall ever be with our Lord. Our hope will not be cut off because we know even if we die, the very next moment we will be present with the Lord, and remember, the dead in Christ shall rise first. Until our Lord returns, we need to be zealous in our service and keep away from every evil temptation. Keep your eyes upon the hope hereafter and don't let Satan rob you of the joy we find in our Lord.

Apologies for few news updates this past month or so. I haven't felt inspired to write about anything that's happening in the world, and I can't write unless I am inspired.

The EuroMed Parliamentary Assembly has called for the immediate resumption of the peace process, and the realisation of a 'two-state solution' in the Middle East within a two year timeframe, as the body concluded its sixth plenary session on Sunday. The negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority ceased after the Hamas truce expired in December 2008. US politicking has largely hindered the resumption of those talks, with the new American administration seeking to curry favour with the Arab world by taking a tougher stance on Israel. The decision to call on Israel to halt all settlement activity, even in Jerusalem, in turn encouraged the Palestinian Authority to harden their position. The US and the EU have all demanded the Israel halt construction in the territories, and called for the establishment of a Palestinian state within two years time, whether an agreement can be reached or not. The Palestinian Authority have effectively been offered Jerusalem on a silver platter, and all they need to do is sit tight for two years. Israel will then get the blame for the failure in the peace process, Jerusalem will be divided by the international community, and the Palestinian terrorist organizations will have succeeded in establishing a state from which to destroy Israel. And now the EuroMed parliament, which passes legislation for the new Union for the Mediterranean, is demanding that Israel and the Palestinians return to the negotiating table, and that a Palestinian state be created within a two year timeframe.

Quote: "It noted that this should lead, "within an agreed time frame possibly of two years, to the implementation of the two-state solution consisting of an independent, democratic, viable and contiguous Palestine state, compromising Gaza and the West Bank including East Jerusalem, living side by side with the State of Israel in peace and security within the 1967 borders, with Jerusalem as capital of the two states". Euro-Med MPs also called on Israel to freeze all settlement activities, lift the blockade of Gaza in accordance with international law and implement all suggestions in the Goldstone report.

As you can see, the political situation that the Bible predicted would exist in the Middle East during the last days is now unfolding before our eyes. The European Union, and the Union for the Mediterranean - a political organization that spans the geographical area once occupied by the old Roman Empire, is becoming more deeply involved in the region. And the city of Jerusalem, which the prophet Zechariah predicted would become a burdensome stone for all peoples (Zechariah 12:2-3), is fast becoming the focal point for all Middle East problems. It's all happening just like the Bible said it would. Because it is all happening according to the will of God (Revelation 17:17). The Lord is bringing all of this to pass for purpose, so that He can bring man to the end of himself, and make mankind realize that its only hope is found in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. As the Lord said of Himself in Luke 20:17, "The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner". The Stone of Israel (Genesis 49:24) was rejected by the religious and political leaders of the nation in His day. They put Him on a cross. But God raised Him from the dead, a Prince and a Saviour (Acts 5:31). And by His sacrifice, He has provided a way whereby we can know our sins forgiven, and have peace with God. Do you know your sins forgiven? Have you trusted in Jesus Christ for salvation? If not, do it right now. Your soul's salvation is too important a matter to put off for another day. Tell God that you are a sinner, and that you are sorry for your sins. Thank Him for sending His Son Jesus Christ to bear the punishment for your sins when He died upon the cross. As the Scripture says, "He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life", John 5:24. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved (Acts 16:31).

Source MENAFN

"And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself." - John 12 V32

"who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we having died to sins, might live for righteousness - by whose stripes you were healed." - 1 Peter 2 V24

Just like Moses lifted the serpent in the wilderness so was Jesus lifted up on the cross and all those who call upon the name of Jesus are now redeemed from their sins. Jesus Christ paid the price for our sins with His own death that we may be healed from our sinful nature and not taste the eternal separation from God.

"...So the priest shall make atonement for his sin that he has committed, and it shall be forgiven him." - Leviticus 4 V35

"Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God." - Romans 8 V27

In the early days, before Christ died for our sins, the priest in Israel was required to make atonement for the sins of men. Men were required to bring a sacrifice to the altar and the priest sprinkled the blood of the sacrifice before the Lord, in front of the veil. The animal  sacrifice that was made was a temporary remedy for the forgiveness of sins and it would have never reconciled us with God. Jesus Christ came into this world to pay for our sins once and for all. He was sinless and only He was worthy to pay the sacrifice with His own death on the cross and thus we need not make any more animal sacrifices for now Christ intercedes for us before the Father. Christ intercedes for all who have accepted Him and received Him in their hearts. Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins and praise God our salvation is paid in full and all we now need to do is trust in our Saviour and serve Him alone. Praise the Lord.