President Trump issued a powerful proclamation on religious liberty Tuesday to commemorate the 850th Anniversary of the Martyrdom of Saint Thomas Becket.
Source: President Trump: Justice Cannot Prevail ‘Without the Grace of God’
As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us.—Psalm 103:12.
NOT some of them; He takes them all away. You may pile up your sins till they rise like a dark mountain, and then multiply them by ten thousand for those you cannot think of; and after you have tried to enumerate all the sins you have ever committed, just let me bring one verse in, and that mountain will melt away: “The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all sin.”[1]
[1] Moody, D. L. (1900). The D. L. Moody Year Book: A Living Daily Message from the Words of D. L. Moody. (E. M. Fitt, Ed.) (p. 233). East Northfield, MA: The Bookstore.
Source: China: Christian who saw her work as ‘God’s will’ sentenced to 4 years in prison for Wuhan reporting
Understand what the will of the Lord is.
This is Your will, Lord God, my sanctification. I acquaint myself with You, and am at peace; thereby good will come to me. This is eternal life, that I may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I know that the Son of God has come and has given me an understanding, that I may know You who are true; and I am in You who are true, in Your Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.
May I be filled with the knowledge of Your will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. May You, the God of my Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give me the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of You, the eyes of my understanding being enlightened; that I may know what is the hope of Your calling, what are the riches of the glory of Your inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of Your power toward me who believes, according to the working of Your mighty power.
Lord God, enable me—I pray—to know Your will and to do it!
Ephesians 5:17; 1 Thessalonians 4:3; Job 22:21; John 17:3; 1 John 5:20; Colossians 1:9; Ephesians 1:17–19[1]
[1] Jeremiah, D. (2007). Life-Changing Moments With God (p. 388). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.
9:15 chosen instrument … before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. Paul considered himself to be an apostle to the Gentiles (Rom. 1:13, 14) as Peter was to the Jews (Gal. 2:8), but Paul also preached many times to the Jews, particularly in their synagogues (v. 20; Rom. 1:16; 1 Cor. 9:20).[1]
9:15 chosen instrument There is irony surrounding the name of Jesus in His dialog with Ananias about Saul. Ananias objects that Saul has persecuted those who call on Jesus’ name (Acts 9:14); Jesus reveals that He has chosen and transformed Saul precisely so that he will carry that name to the Gentiles—and even suffer for it (v. 16).[2]
9:15 In the remainder of Acts, Saul (later called Paul) preaches to Gentiles and also to kings (Agrippa II, ch. 26) as well as to the children of Israel, since in each city he always goes first to Jewish synagogues.[3]
9:15 chosen instrument. Lit. “a vessel of election.” There was perfect continuity between Paul’s salvation and his service; God chose him to convey His grace to all people (Gal 1:1; cf. 1Ti 2:7; 2Ti 1:11). Paul used this same word 4 times (Ro 9:21, 23; 2Co 4:7; 2Ti 2:21). before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel. Paul began his ministry preaching to Jews (13:14; 14:1; 17:1, 10; 18:4; 19:8), but his primary calling was to Gentiles (Ro 11:13; 15:16). God also called him to minister to kings such as Agrippa (25:23–26:32) and likely Caesar (cf. 25:10–12; 2Ti 4:16, 17).[4]
9:15. The Lord calmed Ananias’s fears by identifying the former persecutor as “a chosen vessel (cf. Rom 9:11; 11:5, 28; 1 Thess 1:4; 2 Pet 1:10) of Mine” and setting forth a plan for Saul’s future ministry (reminiscent of His charge to the Eleven in 1:8). Saul’s ministry would touch every facet of their society and culture.[5]
9:15. The Lord assured Ananias … This man is My chosen instrument to carry My name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. Saul was to become Paul, the apostle to the uncircumcised (Rom. 11:13; Gal. 2:2, 7–8; Eph. 3:8), including kings (cf. Governor Felix [Acts 24:1–23], Governor Porcius Festus [24:27–25:12], King Herod Agrippa II [25:13–26:32], and possibly Emperor Nero [25:11]). The apostle, of course, also ministered to “the people of Israel” (cf. 9:20; 13:5, 14; 14:1; 17:2, 10, 17; 18:4, 19; 19:8; 26:17–20; Rom. 1:16). How amazing that the one who persecuted Christians so violently should himself be transformed into a witness of the gospel—and such a dynamic, forceful witness at that![6]
9:15 “Go” This is a PRESENT MIDDLE (deponent) IMPERATIVE. Jesus authoritatively sends the reluctant Ananias to Saul.
“for he is a chosen instrument of Mine” Oh, the greatness of the grace and election of God! Paul does not fit the evangelical model of voluntary, volitional conversion. He was dramatically drafted!
| NASB, NKJV
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“before the Gentiles”
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| NRSV, NJB
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“to bring my name before Gentiles”
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| TEV
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“to make my name known to Gentiles”
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What a startling statement for a Jew to be told (cf. Eph. 3:7)! Yet, this has always been God’s plan (cf. Gen. 12:3; Exod. 19:5–6; Eph. 2:11–3:13). Israel was only an instrument to reach the world, made in the image of God (cf. Gen. 1:26–27), but fallen (cf. Gen. 3:15).
“and kings” Paul spoke to governmental leaders, small and great, and finally to Caesar!
“and the sons of Israel” Paul’s regular missionary pattern was to preach first at the local synagogue (cf. Rom. 1:16). Then he would turn to the pagans.[7]
15. The Lord said to him, “Go, for he is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles, kings, and the people of Israel. 16. For I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
A second time Jesus tells Ananias to go to Paul. Jesus reveals three illuminating facts about the future life of Paul. In a sense, these three facts form a synopsis of the second part of Acts. They portray Paul’s life after his conversion:
Jesus removes all doubt from the mind of Ananias and instructs him to go to Paul. He says:
Doctrinal Considerations in 9:15
Paul claims to be an apostle “not from men nor through man but through Jesus Christ” (Gal. 1:1). At first glance, the evidence in Acts does not seem to support Paul’s claim to apostleship. First, the three accounts of Paul’s conversion (9:1–19; 22:6–21; 26:12–18) say nothing about Paul’s appointment to apostleship. Next, Luke only once describes Paul as an apostle, and that in a broader sense to include Barnabas (14:14). Third, Peter clearly states the requirements for apostleship when the believers meet to choose a successor to Judas Iscariot (1:21–22). That is, an apostle had to be a follower of Jesus from the time when John baptized Jesus in the Jordan to the day of his ascension. And an apostle had to be a witness of Christ’s resurrection.
Nonetheless, Paul is an apostle because Jesus himself appointed him to apostolic rank. Even though he is not numbered with the Twelve, the apostles in Jerusalem accepted him as Christ’s apostle to the Gentiles. Their reasons were five:
Paul saw the resurrected Jesus and thus became a witness of his resurrection (26:16–18; 1 Cor. 9:1). Like the other apostles, Paul possessed the power to perform signs and wonders. As the apostles received the gift of the Holy Spirit, so did Paul (9:17). Paul proclaimed the same gospel the apostles proclaimed (Gal. 2:2). And last, with the rest of the apostles Paul became an interpreter of the gospel. In short, from Paul’s own testimony in his letters and speeches we know that he fulfilled the apostolic requirements. Paul was personally called by Jesus.[8]
15–16. Ananias’s comment might have been taken as an expression of disobedience to God; he should have realized that the Lord would know better than he did! But his remarks were entirely natural, and in the present context they serve to introduce a further statement by the Lord regarding his choice of Paul to be his servant. In 22:14–16 what is in effect a parallel to the present statement appears in the form of a divine instruction given to Paul by Ananias regarding his future role. The Lord has already decided to call Paul to his service; he has chosen him as his instrument for the task of bearing his name before Gentiles, kings and the people of Israel. The thought of divine choice here corresponds with that expressed in 22:14 and 26:16 and also with Paul’s own conviction in Galatians 1:15. To carry my name is an unusual expression which signifies the bearing of witness to Jesus (cf. 9:27). The Gentiles, kings and people of Israel represent the three main groups before whom Paul will in fact bear witness later in the story, and the unusual order of the words is meant to stress the calling of Paul to go to the Gentiles. Such ‘bearing of the name’ would be no easy matter; it would involve suffering on behalf of Jesus—a sharp contrast to causing suffering for Christians (9:13). The book of Acts does not gloss over the fact that faithful witness to Jesus is a costly task in terms of the suffering that it may cause for the bearer of the good news.[9]
15. Go; because he is an elect instrument. The commandment repeated the second time, and also the promise of success added, taketh away all doubtfulness. Therefore sloth shall want an excuse, if it be never redressed after that many pricks be used; like as we see that very many, who howsoever the Lord cry unto them continually, do not only loiter during their whole life, but do also cherish their slothfulness by all means possible. If any man object that the Lord speaketh not at this day in a vision, I answer, that forasmuch as the Scripture is abundantly confirmed to us, we must hear God thence.3
A vessel of election, or, as Erasmus translateth it, an elect instrument, is taken for an excellent minister. The word instrument doth show that men can do nothing, save inasmuch as God useth their industry at his pleasure. For if we be instruments, he alone is the author; the force and power to do is in his power alone. And that which Christ speaketh in this place of Paul appertaineth to all men, both one and other. Therefore, how stoutly soever every man labour, and how carefully soever he behave himself in his duty, yet there is no cause why he should challenge to himself any part of praise. Those which dispute subtilely about the word vessel, dote through ignorance of the Hebrew tongue. Luke putteth the genitive case for the dative, and that according to the common custom of the Hebrew tongue. And he meant to express a certain excellency, as if he should have said, that this man shall be no common minister of Christ, but shall be indued with singular excellency above others. Nevertheless, we must note that if any thing be excellent, it dependeth upon the favour of God, as Paul himself teacheth elsewhere. Who is he that separateth thee? to wit, that thou shouldst excel others, (1 Cor. 4:7.) To conclude, Christ pronounceth that Paul was chosen unto great and excellent things.
To bear my name amongst the Gentiles. To him who went about before to suppress the name of Christ is the same now committed to be borne. If we please to take שנס (schenos) for a vessel, this should be a continual metaphor, because a minister of the gospel serveth instead of a vessel to publish the name of Christ; but because it signifieth rather amongst the Hebrews any instrument generally, I take these words, to carry my name, for to extol the same unto due honour. For Christ is placed after a sort in his princely throne, when as the world is brought under his power by the preaching of the gospel.
16. And because. Paul could not do this, and have Satan quiet, and the world to yield to him willingly; therefore Luke addeth, that he shall be also taught to bear the cross. For the meaning of the words is, I will accustom him to suffer troubles, to endure reproaches, and to abide all manner [of] conflicts, that nothing may terrify him, and keep him back from doing his duty. And when Christ maketh himself Paul’s teacher in this matter, he teacheth that the more every man hath profited in his school, the more able is he to bear the cross. For we strive against it, and refuse it as a thing most contrary, until he make our minds more gentle. Also this place teacheth, that no man is fit to preach the gospel, seeing the world is set against it, save only he which is armed to suffer. Therefore, if we will show ourselves faithful ministers of Christ, we must not only crave at his hands the spirit of knowledge and wisdom, but also of constancy and strength, that we may never be discouraged by labouring and toiling; which is the estate of the godly.[10]
9:15–16 Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. Saul does not hear about his role directly from the Lord but from Ananias. The Lord has singled out Saul not simply for salvation but for a special mission (cf. 13:47; 20:24; 22:14; 26:16). Paul highlights in his letters that he is the “apostle to the Gentiles” (Rom. 1:5; 11:13; Gal. 2:7–9), and that role is mentioned here first. But he will also preach to Jews in their synagogues, in the temple, and before the Sanhedrin and King Agrippa (25:23–26:29).
Saul went to Damascus to get his hands on some Christians; he ends up having a Christian lay hands on him instead. Soon, the tables will be turned. He will be on the receiving end of persecutions (cf. 2 Cor. 11:23–28). The Lord does not assure him of success in his mission, but only that he will suffer.[11]
9:15–16 / The Lord’s command to Ananias to go to Paul was repeated, and at the same time it was shown him what Paul’s destiny would be. He was “a vessel of [God’s] choice,” a metaphor drawn from the work of the potter. As the potter made vessels for various uses, so God made human beings for his own purposes (cf. Jer. 18:1–11; 22:28; Hos. 8:8; 2 Cor. 4:7; 2 Tim. 2:20, 21). In Paul’s case, it was to take up the mantle of the Suffering Servant (cf. Col. 1:24), for he would be “a light to the nations,” that Paul might “carry God’s name” (continuing the metaphor of the vessel) before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel (v. 15; cf. 26:22; Isa. 49:6. see disc. on 13:47). Notice that this service would include the Jews, but the order of words emphasizes the Gentiles. This was a striking turnabout for Paul the Pharisee (see disc. on 10:9ff. and note on 10:28). To carry out this service would entail much suffering for Paul, as for the Servant himself (but not as a punishment for the past, simply “for the Lord’s sake”). How much he would suffer would be shown him from time to time (e.g., 20:23), and we see something of this in the epistles (e.g., 1 Cor. 4:9ff.; 2 Cor. 6:4, 5; 11:23–28; Phil. 3:4ff.; Col. 1:24; 2 Tim. 4:6). All this Ananias communicated to Paul when they met (22:14f.).[12]
15 But Ananias’s protest was overruled: the risen Lord had his eye on the man of Tarsus and had a great work for him to perform. In spite of his recent record as a persecutor, Saul was a chosen instrument in the Lord’s hand, a messenger who would spread the good news in Jesus’ name more widely than anyone else. The Gentiles and their rulers, not only the people of Israel, would hear the proclamation of salvation from his lips. While Paul says that the revelation of God’s Son which he received on the Damascus road was given in order that he might “proclaim him among the Gentiles” (Gal. 1:16), Luke consistently includes Jews among the beneficiaries of his ministry, in recognition of the fact that he did preach to Jews, as he was shortly to do in the synagogues of Damascus (v. 20), and numbered Jewish believers among his converts.
16 Moreover, Ananias was assured that, if Saul himself had inflicted suffering on those who believed in Jesus, he in his turn would have much suffering to endure for the sake of Jesus’ name.[13]
[1] Sproul, R. C. (Ed.). (2005). The Reformation Study Bible: English Standard Version (p. 1574). Orlando, FL; Lake Mary, FL: Ligonier Ministries.
[2] Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Ac 9:15). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[3] Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (p. 2099). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
[4] MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Ac 9:15). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.
[5] Valdés, A. S. (2010). The Acts of the Apostles. In R. N. Wilkin (Ed.), The Grace New Testament Commentary (p. 528). Denton, TX: Grace Evangelical Society.
[6] Toussaint, S. D. (1985). Acts. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 377). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[7] Utley, R. J. (2003). Luke the Historian: The Book of Acts (Vol. Volume 3B, p. 124). Marshall, TX: Bible Lessons International.
[8] Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Acts of the Apostles (Vol. 17, pp. 340–342). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.
[9] Marshall, I. H. (1980). Acts: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 5, p. 181). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
[10] Calvin, J., & Beveridge, H. (2010). Commentary upon the Acts of the Apostles (Vol. 1, pp. 380–382). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
[11] Garland, D. E. (2017). Acts. (M. L. Strauss & J. H. Walton, Eds.) (pp. 95–96). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books: A Division of Baker Publishing Group.
[12] Williams, D. J. (2011). Acts (pp. 171–172). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.
[13] Bruce, F. F. (1988). The Book of the Acts (p. 187). Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.
In this rebroadcasted radio show from Stand to Reason’s weekly podcast, J. Warner Wallace gives tips for sharing and defending the Christian worldview, talks about changing your ministry by changing your calendar, and describes the difference between God speaking a message through someone and through Scripture. To listen to additional Stand to Reason podcasts, please visit their archive page.
You can also subscribe to the Cold-Case Christianity Weekly Podcast on iTunes, or add the podcast from our RSS Feed.
Tips for Sharing and Defending the Christian Worldview (Podcast) — Cold Case Christianity
Few and evil have the days of the years of my life been.—Genesis 47:9.
My soul! in looking back upon thy life, mayest thou not well take up the same language as the patriarch, and confess that “few and evil have thy days been?” Surely the review appears like the heath of a desert, “that knoweth not when good cometh!” Out of Jesus, and considered without an eye to him, there is not a single circumstance of real merit or of real happiness to be seen. The whole of life, from the days of childhood, through all its intermediate stages, presents but one view “of vanity and vexation of spirit!” Precious Jesus! what would the arithmetic of life have been in the now departing year, or in the departure of myself from the world, but for thee? Hadst not thou graciously sought me, when I sought not thee: hadst thou not opened to me “the good old way,” trodden by the patriarchs, and guided and held up my feet in following them; had not Jesus been my way, and truth, and life; what a sad conclusion should I now have had to make of the “few and evil days of my pilgrimage?” Blessed Lord! go before me all the remainder of the untrodden paths, and be thou to me “the pillar of cloud by day,” and “the pillar of fire by night.” Bring me, Lord, to the inns of thine ordinances, and to thine house of prayer, and cause me to drink out of “the wells of salvation.” Oh! for increasing knowledge of thee, my Lord, and for the increasing enjoyment of thee, that I may “go from strength to strength, until my pilgrimage be over, and I come to appear before my God in Zion!”[1]
[1] Hawker, R. (1845). The Poor Man’s Evening Portion (A New Edition, p. 354). Philadelphia: Thomas Wardle.
Zechariah 14:1-21
Revelation 20:1-15
Psalm 148:1-14
Proverbs 31:8-9
Zechariah 14:3 – Some think that the prophetic events were fulfilled in AD 70, but in AD 70 half the city wasn’t delivered by the LORD. According to Josephus, those who weren’t killed were enslaved (thanks to StackExchange for a great discussion). No, there’s coming a time when Jerusalem will again be under attack, and the LORD will defend them!
Zechariah 14:4 – Who will return to the mount of Olives? Acts 1:11-12 recounts the angels telling the disciples who were standing at the Mount of Olives , that Jesus who rose from the Mount, would return to the Mount!
Zechariah 14:9 – In Mark 1:14 – Jesus began His ministry preaching the gospel of the Kingdom. But not until He returns again will the King reign on earth! And when the KIng reigns – there will be no more war (Zechariah 14:11).
Zechariah 14:12 – Calvary Chapel Jonesboro notes the similarities between this verse and a Neutron Bomb.
When this bomb blows the release of the neutrons are lethal to humans and any other animal life around it. If you are within the radius of a neutron bomb you will be killed almost instantly. If you are within the blast radius what will happen to you is eerily similar to what Zechariah describes in chapter 14 of his prophecy. Any kind of flesh is destroyed by a kind of melting process as all the atoms are destroyed within it. Thus Zechariah’s description of something that rots flesh, eyes, and the tongue are often compared to what happens at the detonation of a neutron bomb.
Zechariah 14:21 – No more the Canaanite in the house of the LORD? Hermenutics/StackExchange says:
The reason there will no longer be a Canaanite in the house of the Lord is: if he be of a Canaanite heart, then his refusal to come will see him destroyed by the plagues and panic and drought of the day of the Lord. If, however, his Canaanite heart were converted and he come to Jerusalem to worship the Lord and to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles, then he would no longer be of a Canaanite heart, i.e. not a Canaanite.
Revelation 20:4 – Many people hold to amillenialism – the view that there is not a literal ‘thousand year reign’ of Christ. However, six times in this one chapter we see recorded exactly one thousand years. And as we look around, it’s hard to argue that Satan is bound today. BibleStudyTools has a great chart of the attributes of the Millennium.
Revelation 20:8 – Notice that even though the Millennium is populated by faithful Jews and Gentiles, their offspring – even with Satan bound – will not all be faithful. God will allow Satan one last attempt to organize before the last judgment.
Revelation 20:10 – Hell is not forever. It will be cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:14). God didn’t make the lake of fire to burn man in – it was made for the devil (Revelation 20:10). But if your name is not found written in the book of life (Revelation 20:15), you’ll be cast into the lake of fire.
Psalm 148:8 – Just like in Jonah, the stormy wind fulfills His Word! Why can’t we?
Psalm 148:14 – Let’s bring Glory to His Name!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ey8c8NYPAn0
Proverbs 31:8-9 – Today, there are poor and needy unborn children that are appointed to destruction. Let’s open our mouth for them!
December 29 – Zechariah prophesied what the Angel said in Acts? — VCY America
Continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught.
(Colossians 2:6–7, NIV)
Just because something sells books and tapes and draws a crowd doesn’t mean God is in it.
It may just be good marketing, but you couldn’t support it from the Word to save your life. Once I had to recall an entire series of “prophetic” teaching tapes because the Soviet Union had unraveled and the Berlin Wall had come down. I remember thinking, “There go some of my finest insights!” All of us have a tendency to think that our revelation is not only important, but that it is the final one that will usher in the coming of the Lord. Denominational graveyards are full of wonderful people who believed that.
A small-town barber was doing well until a big company moved in across the street. They blitzed the area with signs reading, “EVERYTHING FOR $6. Six-dollar Haircuts! Six-dollar Perms! Everything for $6!” The barber lost all his customers. In despair, he hired an advertising expert. “I’m finished,” he declared. “I can’t compete with them!” The expert picked up the phone and called the town’s only billboard company and told them to put a big sign on the top of the barber’s shop. “And what do you want us to put on the sign?” they asked. He replied, “In big, bold letters put the words, ‘WE FIX $6 HAIRCUTS!’ ”
Child of God, make sure that when the “new waves” come in and go back out that you are still rooted and grounded in the truth.[1]
[1] Gass, B. (1998). A Fresh Word For Today : 365 Insights For Daily Living (p. 363). Alachua, FL: Bridge-Logos Publishers.
As we shake the dust off our feet from 2020 and prepare to move through a new year, what on earth are we in for? Without faith in God, prayer, wisdom, and cultivating an eternal perspective, we would be in big trouble. I don’t know how unbelievers can face such stress and uncertainty.
First, let’s start with some good news: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever – and He has not surrendered His throne. When the world around us is in chaos and confusion, He is our stability, anchor, Cornerstone, and Rock.
One day He will rule the nations. There’s a reason we were told in Isaiah 9:7 that,
“There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace
On the throne of David and over his kingdom,
To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness
From then on and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of armies will accomplish this.”
Seven hundred years before Christ, God spoke through Isaiah about the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, and Prince of Peace, and stated that the government will rest on His shoulders.
What government? Many of Jesus’ followers were waiting for a takeover of Rome and were even expecting a political Messiah. They didn’t exactly interpret the prophecies correctly, because Jesus stated that His kingdom was not of this world.
After His resurrection, in Acts chapter 1 leading up to His ascension, the disciples asked Him an important question. These were the men who lived with Him, followed Him everywhere, watched His life, and understood His authority.
So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. Acts 1:6-7
The prophet Daniel says that God gives wisdom and from His mouth comes understanding; He removes kings and establishes kings – and that, “He changes times and seasons.” Daniel 2:21-22
What a season it has been! Most of us are longing for relief and the restoration of Christ. In the meantime, things look darker, spiritually which is why believers must be the salt and light of this world until Christ returns.
Evildoers and lawlessness are increasing all around us, but the Bible has much to say about the wicked, those who appear to be prospering now. Their days are numbered and they will not know what hit them. But the righteous have a promised inheritance! Let’s walk by faith and not by sight.
Do not fret because of evildoers,
Be not envious toward wrongdoers.
2 For they will wither quickly like the grass
And fade like the green herb.
3 Trust in the Lord and do good;
Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.…But the salvation of the righteous is from the Lord;
He is their strength in time of trouble.
40 The Lord helps them and delivers them;
He delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
Because they take refuge in Him. (Psalm 37 excerpt; 1-3, 39-40)
So be encouraged that God is in control and all powerful, and He will reign forever. The Bible says He takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked. Neither should we! Yes, we want justice, yes we want truth to prevail. But pray for the lost souls whose only hope is in this short life. Imagine the godly influence they could have if they repented and came to Christ.
In order to be prepared for the future, we must live purposefully in the present. In order to do this, we must let the past go so it stays in the past. It can only weigh us down.
The Apostle Paul writes about pressing on to take hold of what Jesus has, and states:
Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14
Forget. Reach forward. Press on.
Isaiah 43:18-19 is one of my favorite end-of-year passages I like to share.
“Do not call to mind the former things,
Or ponder things of the past.
19 “Behold, I will do something new,
Now it will spring forth;
Will you not be aware of it?
I will even make a roadway in the wilderness,
Rivers in the desert.
In Revelation 21 verse 5, Jess said, “I am making all things new.”
You must let go of the problems of the past to get to where God wants you.
One of the biggest battles this year – even for Christians – has not been a virus, employment, the election, or civil unrest. It has been the battle of the mind; fear.
We have every reason to trust a proven, powerful, faithful Savior. For unbelievers, this life is all there is, but we have assurance of eternal life! For them, death is so very – final.
But for us, death leads to life, and to live is Christ but to die is gain (Philippians 1:21). To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord! (2 Corinthians 5:8) We must never stop cultivating an eternal perspective and a biblical worldview. We’re going to need it! We must tell our little fears how big our great God and Savior is.
If there is one thing fear and the unknown can cause people to do, however, it is to cry out to God – whether they know Him or not. In 2020, God used COVID-19 to draw people to Him; to get some to fall on their knees and pray, to seek Him, or to come back to Him.
It was reported that people were going online and searching things like prayer, God, spirituality, and what happens after you die. Be encouraged, friends, that we have the answers so many are looking for! They might think it’s something else in this life; something they can do or work toward. So be ready to share the gospel of grace!
One interesting example: YouVersion Bible app engagement skyrocketed in 2020.
These are the app’s highest levels of engagement since the platform launched in 2013. Bible searches in the app increased 80% to almost 600 million.
The most popular verse in the app: for all of 2020:
“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” Isaiah 41:10
Fear not! This verse was shared, highlighted, and bookmarked more than any other verse on YouVersion in 2020. Other Bible apps likely had similar results. It’s no wonder. The world has thrown so much at America and the church this year.
We have witnessed some drastic measures being used to advance a godless, socialist agenda including attacks on religious freedoms. The left has used our health concerns and vulnerabilities to their advantage. But how far are they willing to go?
Before we answer this question, we need to be reminded to be rapture ready. The Bible says believers are not appointed to wrath, and the pre-tribulation view of Scripture says we will be taken out prior to the Great Tribulation. Most of us will not know who the antichrist is – but we should love others enough to care and to warn them about what’s coming. The spirit of antichrist is already working in this world.
You’ve most likely heard the phrase, “Never let a good crisis go to waste.” Nothing is off limits to those who wish to set up man’s kingdom on earth. But what the enemy uses for evil, God uses for good. He can work through any crisis to bring people to Him.
ABOUT THE “GREAT RESET”
The Great Reset was unveiled at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where many of the world’s most rich and powerful people go to offer solutions to the world’s problems. Leaders have said that the coronavirus pandemic is a historic opportunity to change the way the world operates. At their annual meeting, some of these global elites said they want to ‘reset capitalism.’
They aren’t joking. And they’re willing to go to any length to force change on us. But we seem to keep forgetting there are more of us than there are of them. Yes, they own the media, major institutions in the U.S. including the education system, and the deep state in government, but many of us didn’t see this coming and we have not fought back effectively. They also see that 2020 has brought on crisis fatigue.
We’re worn down, but we don’t have to accept their ‘new normal’ or surrender. Don’t give in to the sensationalism and fear-mongering of liberal media activists. We need to understand however, that the groundwork had already been laid and globalism had advanced to the point people are open to things that we never would have accepted a century ago:
Life may be changed forever due to COVID-19 but always remember this fact: our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the devil who comes to kill, steal, and destroy. He was a liar from the beginning and the father of lies!
The godless love money more than truth. They will try to gain power at any cost, but the Bible teaches us that it profits nothing to gain the whole world and lose your soul (Mark 8:36) in the process. Rest assured the God of truth has not relinquished His authority. He allows trials and intrusions in our lives for His purposes.
I believe 2020 is a wake-up call! Jesus is standing outside the door of a lukewarm and wayward church knocking! If the church does not repent, return to being the church, preaching the gospel, equipping the saints and standing for righteousness, we will just get more of the same. Lukewarm church-goers will fall away, lawlessness will increase virtually unchecked, and prophetic signs will converge setting up the return of Jesus Christ.
We are warned over and over in Scripture that the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. In Matthew 24, Jesus prophesied the destruction of the Temple, and it came to pass. His disciples were marveling at the massive stones and beautiful temple buildings as they were passing through.
But He responded and said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, not one stone here will be left upon another, which will not be torn down.” 3 And as He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” 4 And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. Matt. 24:1-4
Not one stone? It happened in A.D. 70 when the Romans surrounded Jerusalem destroying both the temple and city. But note that Jesus didn’t answer them specifically. The first thing out of His mouth was a warning not to be deceived. Stay alert! Watch and pray!
I had the privilege of interviewing author, prophecy expert, and watchman on the wall, Terry James this last week on Stand Up for the Truth. His website is Rapture Ready, and our discussion inspired me to talk about prophecy today and to reset our perspective as we head into the New Year. Remember, forget the past, reach forward, press on, and fret not. God’s got this.
In an article called, “Thoughts on Reset,” he shared part of a letter that was sent to President Trump by a Catholic archbishop. This obviously is not an endorsement of Roman Catholic doctrine, but the urgency and geopolitical importance are worth noting. He warned President Trump about a “global conspiracy against God and humanity…”
It is a pretty insightful analysis about what’s happening. First, Terry James said: “…[T]he globalist minions, both human and demonic, strive to bring about another Babel—a global order that is contrary to the God of Heaven in every way possible.” The thought here is the tower of Babel was man’s first attempt at globalism. It failed.
The archbishop warns about the “forces of Evil being aligned against the forces of Good,” and about world leaders “pandering to this suicide of Western culture and its Christian soul;” Just take this as a reminder to pray fervently.
Here are some excerpts from the October letter to the president: (link leads to Catholic Family website)
“…A global plan called the Great Reset is underway. Its architect is a global élite that wants to subdue all of humanity, imposing coercive measures with which to drastically limit individual freedoms and those of entire populations. In several nations this plan has already been approved and financed;
The purpose of the Great Reset is the imposition of a health dictatorship…and adherence to a program of vaccination against Covid-19 and Covid-21 promoted by Bill Gates with the collaboration of the main pharmaceutical groups.
Beyond the enormous economic interests that motivate the promoters of the Great Reset, the imposition of the vaccination will be accompanied by the requirement of a health passport and a digital ID, with… contact tracing of the population;
[The great reset] will be activated between the end of this year and the first trimester of 2021…
For this purpose, further lockdowns are planned, which will be officially justified by a supposed second and third wave of the pandemic…. You are well aware of the means that have been deployed to sow panic and legitimize draconian limitations on individual liberties, artfully provoking a world-wide economic crisis.
… Mr. President, you are well aware that, in this crucial hour, the United States of America is considered the defending wall against which the war declared by the advocates of globalism has been unleashed. Place your trust in the Lord, strengthened by the words of the Apostle Paul: “I can do all things in Him who strengthens me” (Phil 4:13). To be an instrument of Divine Providence is a great responsibility, for which you will certainly receive all the graces of state that you need, since they are being fervently implored for you by the many people who support you with their prayers….”
–Carlo Maria Vigano, Archbishop of Ulpiana, Open letter to the President of the United States Donald J. Trump, Sunday October 25, 2020
He makes some strong and some prophetic statements. I agree with Terry James who believes this “Reset” is a blueprint by Satan himself, and that they are doing their dead-level best to implement this hellish plan.
The plans of the globalists and push for a new world order and one world government will progress, and then will eventually be thwarted by the Lord at the return of Jesus. But if the people rise up, the Great Reset may fail sooner. Time will tell.
One thing we know is God will judge our enemies and those who practice lawlessness. We sure need wisdom, don’t we? How do we respond to those who unleash evil on innocent people? We must not only be Good Samaritans, I believe we must take some initiative and be proactive to help raise awareness about these agendas.
The days of the wicked are going to end – and their end will be a rude awakening. For those who trust in Jesus, however, we will be awakened to everlasting life when the mortal will take on immortality and death will be swallowed up in victory forever!
“Remember this, and be assured; Recall it to mind, you wrongdoers.
9 Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is no one like Me, 10 Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, ‘My plan will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’; Isaiah 46:8-10
The Word of God stands forever, and He declares the end from the beginning. It is not for us to worry, fret, or fear. Be alert, watch and pray. Forget. Reach forward. Press on. Let’s run the race marked out for us fixing our eyes on Jesus.
Perspective, Prophecy, and Pressing On through 2021 — David Fiorazo
By Elizabeth Prata
Christmas means baby Jesus. Everybody loves the baby. The swaddling clothes (so cute!) the manger (awww, really?), the Wise Man (distinguished solemnity). It is a tremendous story. It is THE story of all of history. God Himself came in flesh, incarnated solely to grow, live a perfect life, and die.
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(Natural News) Doctors, scientists and other medical experts involved with research into the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) are mysteriously turning up dead all around the world in what appears to be a mass culling of people who know too much truth about the plandemic.
One of the latest deaths was that of Alexander “Sasha” Kagansky, a Russian scientist who had been working on developing a COVID-19 vaccine when he was brutally stabbed and thrown from the window of his 14th floor apartment in St. Petersburg.
Reports indicate that Kagansky died “under strange circumstances,” an understatement considering the nature and timing of his demise.
Kagansky had recently been awarded a grant by the Russian government to investigate new ways of diagnosing and treating brain tumors. He was also a vocal advocate for natural remedies like herbs and mushrooms that are known to help kill cancer cells.
Another who died this year under similar circumstances was Frank Plummer, a world-renowned Canadian scientist who had also been working on a COVID-19 vaccine when he was apparently taken out by dark entities.
Back in January, we reported on Plummer’s connections to a communist Chinese spy ring that appears to have been responsible for stealing coronavirus strains from a Canadian lab and taking them to Wuhan.
Professor Bing Liu from the University of Pittsburgh is another relevant scientist who was murdered this year, in this case right before he could go public with a new breakthrough concerning the nature of COVID-19.
“Bing was on the verge of making very significant findings toward understanding the cellular mechanisms that underlie SARS-CoV-2 infection and the cellular basis of the following complications,” reads a statement from his colleagues within the Department of Computational and Systems Biology.
Then we have Gita Ramjee, an HIV scientist who supposedly died from COVID-19 while visiting London to deliver a lecture about HIV treatment and prevention. Upon returning to Durban, she reportedly felt unwell and went to the hospital, where she died not long thereafter.
A World Health Organization (WHO) driver named Pyae Sone Win Maung also died back in May while transporting coronavirus samples for the United Nations. He had been driving a well-marked U.N. vehicle at the time when shots were fired, killing him and injuring another passenger.
Vaccine whistleblower Brandy Vaughan, a former sales executive from Merck & Co. and founder of LearnTheRisk.org, was also found dead in her home earlier this month beside her nine-year-old son. Vaughan had been working hard to educate the public about vaccine safety risks.
On the flip side, the following people are researchers of interest who are suspected of propagating plandemic fearmongering and fraud, and who could be linked to the aforementioned deaths in some way:
• Peter Daszak, president of the EcoHealth Alliance, is responsible for orchestrating the myth that COVID-19 was a natural phenomenon. Emails obtained by U.S. Right to Know reveal that employees of EcoHealth ring-led an operation to have 27 prominent health scientists condemn “conspiracy theories suggesting that COVID-19 does not have a natural origin.”
EcoHealth, by the way, is the same “non-profit” organization that received millions of dollars in U.S. taxpayer funding to genetically manipulate coronaviruses at the Wuhan Institute of Virology.
• Dutch virologist Ron Fouchier is responsible for creating the world’s deadliest virus strain. His bioweapons experiments are widely condemned and could be responsible for the unleashing of COVID-19.
Fouchier is also responsible for isolating the SARS coronavirus that was smuggled out of Saudi Arabia and sent to Frank Plummer, who as previously mentioned turned up dead just a week after Great Game India published a report on the scandal.
More of the latest news about the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) as it breaks can be found at Pandemic.news.
Sources for this article include:
After attacking the Covid stimulus bill for five days US President Donald Trump finally signed a $2.3 trillion package proposed by lawmakers into law.
The president said he wanted Congress to increase payments to Americans from $600 per person up to $2,000 per person. Trump also asked them to remove wasteful spending from the bill.
RT’s Boom Bust talked to Jeffrey Tucker, editorial director of the American Institute for Economic Research, to discuss Trump’s sudden change of heart.
“He came to Washington to drain the swamp, and the swamp won,” the expert said. “It’s a grotesque capitulation, he knows it, he’s giving up, he’s fed up, he realizes the whole system is corrupt and there’s nothing for him to gain by fighting and fighting this.”
Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley warns socialism is becoming the default economic policy of the Democrat Party.
Pfizer’s covid vaccine has become the first to gain EU approval, with medical workers and the elderly among the first in line to get the jab. But it’s already coming across difficulties…
Big tech bias is not a trivial issue. It is the difference between a fair election and a corrupted one, between self-rule and a corrupted oligarchy.
Leftist media has skewed U.S. politics for decades, but Big Tech’s amplified influence over global discourse and governments is new. While Congress passed no legislation related to this political and national security emergency, we the people were held captive in lockdowns during a major election while crucial public information was filtered, hidden, and surveilled by unaccountable companies with no allegiance to the United States and obvious disdain for hundreds of millions of its inhabitants.
This is a huge social problem. Regaining our freedom to speak and to share and compare information may be the first task towards redressing our grievances against those who claim to govern us. For how can consent of the governed be truly granted when the people’s ability to inform their consent is manipulated? It cannot.
To regain our self-governance, then, we all need to develop new habits of information-gathering and -sharing. As a tiny part of and precursor to more of that effort, here is an accounting of Federalist work that Google, Facebook, and Twitter tried to keep people from seeing in 2020.
You will notice it fits the pattern of big tech censorship that big tech claims isn’t censorship: it all goes one way politically. All of it also comprises election-meddling by effectively promoting misinformation and disinformation on key voting issues.
Read more: What Big Tech Didn’t Want You To See On The Federalist In 2020
The head of the WHO health emergencies program Dr. Michael Ryan has warned there might be an “even more severe” pandemic in the future, as new mutant and highly infectious strains of Covid-19 spread.
Commenting during a media briefing on Monday, Dr. Ryan explained that the fatality rate of the current virus is reasonably low compared to other emerging diseases. He also admitted that the coronavirus pandemic has spread around the world extremely quickly and affected every corner of the planet.
He went on to describe the pandemic as a “wake-up call,” saying that it has given the WHO the opportunity to learn how to respond to such emergencies better.
We need to get our act together; we need to get ready for something that might be even more severe in the future.
Dr. Ryan explained that the planet is fragile and “we live in an increasingly complex global society, and these trends will continue.”
When speaking about vaccines, Dr. Ryan predicted that mass vaccination would likely reduce the virus to another low-level threat. He cited the examples of polio and measles, the diseases which were brought under control with the help of vaccines. He added, however, that a vaccine cannot guarantee that an infectious disease would be “eliminated or eradicated.”
The comments come as new mutant strains of Covid-19 were discovered earlier this month in the UK and South Africa which have already spread to more than a dozen countries.
Also on rt.com
Dr. Ryan’s words were echoed by those of WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who has warned that more problems are expected in the coming year, referring to new varieties of Covid-19. He said the WHO was working closely with scientists around the world to better understand any changes in the virus.
It’s a year this week since the WHO learned of cases of “pneumonia with unknown cause” in the Chinese city of Wuhan, which was later found to be Covid-19. The virus has already infected over 81 million people and killed over 1.7 million.
Source: Current coronavirus pandemic ‘very severe’ but ‘not necessarily the big one’ – WHO
Authored by Jeffrey Jones via Gallup.com,
Americans are most likely to name President Donald Trump and Michelle Obama as most admired man and woman in 2020.
Trump tied former President Barack Obama for the honor last year but edged out his predecessor this year. Trump’s first-place finish ends a 12-year run as most admired man for Obama, tied with Dwight Eisenhower for the most ever.
Meanwhile, Michelle Obama ranks as most admired woman for the third year in a row. Vice President-elect Kamala Harris is second.
The incumbent president is usually top of mind when Gallup asks Americans to name, without prompting, which man living anywhere in the world they admire most. In the 74 times Gallup has asked the open-ended most admired man question since 1946, the incumbent president has topped the list 60 times. Harry Truman (1946-1947 and 1950-1952), Lyndon Johnson (1967-1968), Richard Nixon (1973), Gerald Ford (1974-1975), Jimmy Carter (1980), George W. Bush (2008) and Trump (2017-2018) are the incumbent presidents who did not finish first in past years.
When the sitting president is not the top choice, it is usually because he is unpopular politically. That was the case in 2017 and 2018 when Trump had 36% and 40% approval ratings, respectively, and finished second to Obama as most admired man.
Even though Trump is similarly unpopular now — 39% approve of his performance — his dominant performance among Republicans, contrasted with Democrats splitting their choices among multiple public figures, pushes him to the top of the 2020 most admired man list.
Overall, 18% of Americans name Trump, 15% name Obama, 6% Biden and 3% Fauci. The remaining top 10 men include Pope Francis, businessman Elon Musk, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates, basketball player LeBron James, and the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists.
In addition to the public figures named by Americans, 11% name a relative or friend as the man they admire most. Twenty-one percent did not offer an opinion in response to the open-ended question.
This year marks the 10th time Trump has finished among the top 10 men, including four times before he entered party politics — 1988 through 1990 and 2011. Gates has finished in the top 10 a total of 21 times, while Obama has now done so 15 times and the Dalai Lama 11 times. Biden has been in the top 10 once before, in 2018, while Fauci and James are new to the list.
The Rev. Billy Graham, who passed away in 2018, finished among the top 10 a record 61 times during his life. Former President Jimmy Carter is the living man with the most top 10 finishes — 29 — putting him behind Graham and Ronald Reagan for third all-time. Carter finishes just outside the top 10 this year but made the 2019 list.
Pope John Paul II and Gen. Douglas MacArthur frequently made the top 10. They, along with Henry Kissinger, are the only men who were not future, current or former presidents to finish first overall in any year. MacArthur was most admired man in 1946, 1947 and 1951; Kissinger topped the list from 1973 through 1975, and Pope John Paul II did so in 1980.
Just as men who were president have dominated the most admired man list, women who were first lady have commonly been named most admired woman. Gallup has asked the public to name the woman they admire most 71 times since 1948, with either a current (18) or a former (39) first lady winning a total of 57 times. That has been the case every year since 1997, with Hillary Clinton accounting for most of those — but Michelle Obama (2018 through 2020) and Laura Bush (2001) also finished first during that time span.
This year, 10% of Americans name Obama as most admired woman, 6% name Harris, and 4% name current first lady Melania Trump. Trump has been in the top 10 each of the past four years but has never finished first, joining Bess Truman and Lady Bird Johnson as former or current first ladies not to have received the distinction.
The remainder of the top 10 most admired women this year include television personality Oprah Winfrey, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Clinton, New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Queen Elizabeth II, Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett and climate change activist Greta Thunberg.
Several other women were named by 1% of Americans, including singer Dolly Parton, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, actress Betty White and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. These women did not make the top 10 because they had fewer total mentions than Barrett and Thunberg.
Sixteen percent of Americans name a relative or friend as the woman they admire most, and 19% do not have an opinion.
Partisans tend to name public figures aligned with their own party when answering the most admired woman question. Trump leads among Republicans at 8%, followed by Barrett (4%) and Haley (4%). Democrats are about equally likely to name Obama (17%) and Harris (16%), and 5% name Ocasio-Cortez.
Obama leads among independents (11%), with Trump second at 4%.
Queen Elizabeth’s top 10 finish this year is her 52nd, far more than any other woman. Margaret Thatcher is second on the list with 34 top 10 appearances, followed by Winfrey at 33 and Clinton with 29.
Clinton, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Mamie Eisenhower, Barbara Bush, Nancy Reagan, Betty Ford and Pat Nixon are the current or former first ladies who have placed in the top 10 at least 15 times. Obama has finished among the leaders 13 times to date.
Non-first ladies who have finished first in past years include Sister Elizabeth Kenny (1951); Ethel Kennedy, the widow of Sen. Robert Kennedy (1968); former Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir (1971, 1973-1974); Mother Teresa (1980, 1986, 1995-1996); and former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher (1982-1984 and 1988-1990).
Past, present and future White House occupants, whether presidents or first ladies, have figured prominently when Gallup has asked Americans to name the man and woman they admire most. As such, Barack Obama, Donald Trump and Joe Biden are likely to remain strong contenders for the most admired man title in the coming years. Should Trump continue to dominate Republicans’ consciousnesses — currently, Republicans rarely name any other public person than him — he will have a good chance of winning in future years, especially if Democrats continue to split their choices between Obama and Biden. Still, former presidents typically have not been top of mind for Americans — only Obama and Eisenhower received 10% or more mentions in any year after they left office.
Harris’ prominent role in the forthcoming Biden administration should raise her national profile in the coming year, and possibly position her to overtake Michelle Obama as most admired woman.
Source: Donald Trump Ends Obama’s 12-Year Run As Gallup’s “Most Admired Man”
Authored by Steve Watson via Summit News,
Senator Marco Rubio slammed US health officials Sunday for assuming that the majority of Americans “don’t know what’s good for them”, and ‘tricking’ people into doing what ‘elites’ want them to do when it comes to COVID.
Rubio singled out Dr Anthony Fauci, noting that the epidemiologist has consistently misled the public.
“Dr. Fauci lied about masks in March. Dr. Fauci has been distorting the level of vaccination needed for herd immunity,” Rubio tweeted.
The Senator added that:
“It isn’t just him. Many in elite bubbles believe the American public doesn’t know ‘what’s good for them’ so they need to be tricked into ‘doing the right thing.‘”
Fauci, like many other government health officials, did a complete 180 flip on masks earlier in the year, after originally advising the public that the face coverings are not effective against the virus.
The evidence still has not emerged to support the notion that face coverings in any way mitigate the spread of the disease, yet Fauci and others have continuously urged the public to wear them, leading many countries to mandate the masks.
Senator Rubio’s remarks on Fauci misleading the public on vaccines came after the epidemiologist admitted to the New York Times that he and other public health officials engaged in “quietly shifting” the numbers of Americans they believe must take the shot in order to achieve “herd immunity.”
“When polls said only about half of all Americans would take a vaccine, I was saying herd immunity would take 70 to 75%,” Fauci said, adding “Then, when newer surveys said 60% or more would take it, I thought, ‘I can nudge this up a bit,’ so I went to 80, 85.”
“We have to have some humility here…We really don’t know what the real number is. I think the real range is somewhere between 70 to 90%. But, I’m not going to say 90%,” he added.
Fauci’s comments prompted a backlash:
Appearing on CNN, Fauci explained away the remarks by saying “I want to encourage the people of the United States and globally to get vaccinated.”
Despite criticising Fauci on his vaccine comments, Senator Rubio himself took the vaccine last week:
Fauci declared last week that he believes holiday celebrations between family members should have been canceled, warning that it’s “just one of the things you’re going to have to accept”.
Fauci also complained that the “independent spirit in the United States of people not wanting to comply with public health measures has certainly hurt us a bit.”
“There are people in various parts of the country who still believe that [COVID-19] is a hoax, that it’s fake — even when in their own state the hospitals have been overrun with patients in the hospital beds and in the intensive care unit,” Fauci said, adding “That’s very unusual to see a situation like that, but that is what is going on in this country.”
Source: Rubio: Elites “Tricking” Americans Into Taking Vaccine
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