When Greta Van Susteren suggests there is nothing the United States can do for the Iranian Pastor, the Rev. Franklin Graham responds that there is something … the president could call for a prayer meeting at the White House.
Is that too much to ask of a president who publicly claims to be of the Christian faith?
The Rev. Graham also discusses Sharia law....saying the Quran demands if a person leaves Islam, they are to be killed.. This is the law of Sharia and it is a scary system.... Sharia law governs all of life for a muslim... it's political, it's military, it's economic [system]. Sharia law governs everything, and no western law is recognized. It's only Sharia Law.
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Friends, this is the first I have heard of any Christian pastor mention on a secular public forum what can be done for Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, the Iranian pastor sentenced to death for denouncing Islam and retaining his faith is Jesus Christ, the Son of God to save him. The Rev. Graham is absolutely correct when he suggests calling a prayer meeting. Together, we all must pray for Pastor Nadarkhani. As Bible believing Christians, we know that the battle is not a physical one, but of a spiritual nature.
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the LORD, and in the power of his might.
Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints. Ephesians 6:10-18
Related Story: Persecution Of Christians Soars In Iran
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Hello Daniel:
ReplyDeleteIt would be naive to think that the Lord would go against His own prophesied word. Persia and Elam comprise modern day Iran. Elam includes west central Iran and Persia makes up most of the outer surrounding areas. A dreadful and ominous prophecy awaits Iran. The evil leadership in Iran will be destroyed. (Persia and Elam) See Ezekiel's War-Gog MaGog Ezekiel 38 and 39. Jeremiah 49:34-39. God's declared word will come to pass. We will see it happen in our time. Islam will be destroyed. Let's not forget that while God is a merciful Lord, He is also a just God and He will do just as He said He would in His Word.
However, the good news is Iranians are already and have been coverting to Christianity in droves.
Hear’s a tidbit from the great website The Joshua Fund about the growth of Christianity in the Middle East. Click the link and go read the rest of the story:
Despite unprecedented press coverage of Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Middle East since September 11, 2001, one big story is generally not being told by the mainstream media. Hundreds of thousands of Muslims are converting to evangelical Christianity and will be celebrating their first Easter this year, even amidst widespread persecution and the very real threat of death.
I first began reporting this story in 2005 after interviewing some three dozen Arab and Iranian pastors and evangelical Christian leaders in the U.S. and the Middle East. Over the last three years, however, I have had the privilege of traveling to Iraq, Jordan, Egypt, the West Bank, Turkey, and Morocco. What’s more, I have had the honor of meeting with and interviewing more than 200 Arab, Iranian, Kurdish, Sudanese and other pastors and Christian leaders. With more data, the trend lines are becoming even more clear and the story is even more exciting.
The God of the Bible is moving powerfully in the Middle East to draw men, women and children to His heart and adopt them into His family in record numbers. More Muslims have come to faith in Jesus Christ over the last thirty years — and specifically over the last seven to ten years — than at any other time in human history. There is a revival going on among the ancient Catholic, Coptic, and Chaldean churches. Today, the Church is being truly resurrected in the lands of its birth.
Read the rest here:
http://www.mcculloughsite.net/stingray/2008/04/04/muslims-converting-to-christianity-in-droves.php
Blessings,
-Toni
Feb. 26, 2012
Hi Toni,
ReplyDeleteWill pray for Pastor Nadarkhani.
In Christ
Daniel M
Daniel said:
ReplyDeleteToni,
God bless and grow you in Him.
The news that so many Muslims are converting to Christianity is a blessing to me. Back in the 1980s God touched me and called me (and at that time I believe other Christians around the world) to pray for the conversion of Arab and Muslim people in the Middle East and around the world. During this time God filled my heart with a great love for Muslim people and which resulted a time of much prayer on my knees with tears (as I am sure happened with other prayer warriors).
Today, God has again concentrated my attention to the Arab and Muslim people in the Middle East and around the world and filled my heart with a deep love and longing for each individuals salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ. Why God is doing this to me I have no idea because I am neither a Jew nor an Arab.
My prayer for the Iranian leaders is based on the following:
1. Salvation is offered to everyone (Jn 3 v 16), Gods invitation is to all (Rev 22 v 17), and Jesus atoning sacrifice is for the sins of the whole world (1John 2 v 2).
2. We are still living in the days of Grace, the Rapture has not yet occurred and the door to Salvation is yet open for all.
3. It is the will of God that none should perish but that all would come to repentance. 2Peter 3 v 9.
4. Jesus was still reaching out to Judas Iscariot (also known as the Son of Perdition)right up to the moment he made the tragic decision to betray th Lord (ie., Jesus called Judas "Friend")
5. The Holy Spirit has not yet been "taken out of the way" (2Thess 2 v 7). Therefore, Satan is restricted in what he can do.
6. The Word of God encourages us to pray for impossible things.
7. Cyrus the Great, said to be the greatest ruler of the Persian Empire was raised by God to liberate the Jews. He was also attributed with respecting the customs and religeons of the lands he conquered and for his adherence to and implementation of human rights for all of his subjects. I am of the persuasion that if we pray for the present leader/s of Iran (modern day Persia), God is able to soften their hearts so that Christians now living in Iran may be afforded the same rights and respect as the Jews did under Cyrus the Great.
8. This point is a reflection on point 5. Does the Israel/Iran war occur before or after the Rapture? If before then I remain compelled to pray for everyone to be saved, including the Iranian leadership. If after, then Gods will for Iran will be fulfilled as all opportunity for repentence is withdrawn and there is nothing to stand in the way of Gods judgement.
One question I have. What will happen to the Christians living in the Middle East during this war? Will they flee to other countries? Will they be killed along with the unsaved? If they remain in the war zone will God physically protect them from the weapons used by Israel?
Whatever is the will of God I submit to.
Remaining in Unity
In Christ
Daniel M
Hello, Daniel:
ReplyDeleteCould you please site a specific scripture that confirms your statement below:
Jesus was still reaching out to Judas Iscariot (also known as the Son of Perdition right up to the moment he made the tragic decision to betray the Lord, as the scripture does not seem to indicate what you have written.
Jesus, being God, predicted Judas would betray him. Does not God know all things? 1 John 3:20 from the beginning to the end? Judas had to betray our Lord to fulfill the OT scripture . Matthew 26::54, which Jesus taught from. And yet He still chose Judas do be one of the 12. He still loved Judas, still taught him the ways of the kingdom, still broke bread with him. If he had he lived, Judas may have been reconciled with Jesus, like Peter had been after his denial. But despite the unanswered questions, the truth still stands: Judas' betrayal of Jesus fulfilled the prophetic message that David had written more than 1,000 years before. Psalm 4. As with Jesus, betrayal was not foreign to David. Likewise, as in Isaiah 53:3, Jesus was fully aware of his need to fulfill the whole scripture to strengthen His apostles.
Also see what Jesus wrote about the betrayer in Matthew 26:24.
God's Word does not contradict itself. God has already said the wicked will be destroyed in his word.
You wrote:
The Holy Spirit has not yet been "taken out of the way" (2Thess 2 v 7).
Here is what this scripture says, Daniel:
For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only "he" who not letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
The scripture does not mention "he" as being the Holy Spirit. Moreover, the Holy Spirit is never taken "out of the way". Matthew 28:20.
However, I do know that the pre-trib false doctrine teachers use this verse to promote the unbiblical pre-trib rapture theory, (which is not promoted here, nor debated) It is merely an assumption and an extrabiblical theory that the scripture does not say. I would recommend you read the several article I have up here that gives the entire scripture presentation of the catching of of the saints located in the right side bar under the Rapture articles.
You wrote:
The Word of God encourages us to pray for impossible things.
Of course, but we cannot pray for things that go against the Word of God that have already been prophesied to occur among the nations and rulers. That would make God out to be a liar, which He is not, and His Word to be not trustworthy.
You wrote:
What will happen to the Christians living in the Middle East during this war? Will they flee to other countries? Will they be killed along with the unsaved? If they remain in the war zone will God physically protect them from the weapons used by Israel?
Many Christians from these Middle East countries have and are continuing to flee, and are being slaughtered by antichrist forces.
Jeremiah 49-34-39, which I put up already in my previous comment answers much of your above question:
The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet against pElam in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, saying,
35 Thus saith the Lord of hosts;
Behold, I will break qthe bow of Elam,
The chief of their might.
36 And upon Elam will I bring the four winds
From the four quarters of heaven,
And lwill scatter them toward all those winds;
And there shall be no nation
Whither rthe outcasts of Elam shall not come.
37 For I will scause Elam to be dismayed before their enemies,
And before them that seek their life:
And I will bring evil upon them,
Even tmy fierce anger, saith the Lord;
And uI will send the sword after them,
Till I have consumed them:
38 And vI will set my throne in Elam,
And will destroy from thence the king and the princes,
Saith the Lord.
39 But it shall come to pass wxin the latter days,
wThat I will bring again the captivity of Elam,
Saith the Lord.
Take special notice that the kings and princes (leaders of Iran) will be destroyed.
-continues-
Daniel:
ReplyDeleteYou asked:
Does the Israel/Iran war occur before or after the Rapture.
The catching away of the saints does not occur until the last day, and after the resurrection of the dead at the last trump.
Scriptural references are included in my articles I have posted on the right side bar concerning "The Rapture." Here are two I think will answer your questions:
http://filesfromtoni.blogspot.com/2007/06/pre-tribulation-rapture.html#links
http://filesfromtoni.blogspot.com/2007/12/pre-tribulation-rapture.html
Hope this answers your questions.
Many blessings to you,
-Toni
Feb. 27, 2012
Hello Daniel:
ReplyDeleteThere was a typing error for scriptural references in my previous post.
Instead of Psalm 4, the Scripture should read Psalm 40.
Another correction should read Jeremiah 49:34-39
Sometimes I get to typing too fast and some numbers and letters get skipped over. I apologize for that.
I am inclined to believe that the Iran-Israel war will come before the catching away of the saints. Then there is still Ezekiel's War, or Gog-MaGog War outlined in Ezekiel 38 and 39 still to come. But these wars could occur as a dominal effect, one after another, with little time in between. Contrary to what the pre-trib false teachers tell you, the church of Christ will be on earth enduring and proclaiming the Gospel of Christ, right up until the end before Jesus comes for us.
-Toni
Feb. 27, 2012