Ted’s Remarks About Stuff
January thru March, 2024


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Mar. 18, 2024
Stock Market

Russia’s presidential election took place yesterday.  Vladimir Putin had no plausible competitors.  As expected, he won the election in a landslide.

He is the longest-serving Russian or Soviet leader in over 200 years, since Joseph Stalin.  Now his term will continue for at least six more years until 2030, when he will be 77.

Putin extends one man-rule in Russia
after stage-managed election
devoid of credible opposition
    Putin wins
landslide in
Russian election

Mar. 17, 2024
Stock Market

       
13-second slideshow

Shamrock TrinityHappy St. Patrick’s Day to my Catholic friends and acquaintances.  Today is a celebration of St. Patrick.  He was a Romano-British Christian missionary who became the primary patron saint of Ireland in the 5th Century.

Supposedly, March 17 is the date of St. Patrick’s death.  It is observed both inside and outside of Ireland as a religious and cultural holiday.

I like how St. Patrick used the three-leaf shamrock as an illustration of the Holy Trinity or Triune God.  Indeed, God is One and Three at the same time.  More about this can be found in my singular and multiple section.


Mar. 16, 2024

At Olive Tree Ministries this weekend, Jan Markell spent the hour with Ken Mikle, Pastor Josh Schwartz, and David Fiorazo.  The set-up for the conclusion of the Church Age is in process.

Apostasy is taking place in many churches, which are conceding to mainstream culture.  Soon to come is a global government and a global economic system, where everything that everybody does will be tracked.

Artificial intelligence demands to be worshipped.  Theology matters!  Satan is trying to dismantle humanity.  The consequences of removing God from society are staggering.

We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia.  We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life.  Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death.  But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.  He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us.  On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. (2 Corinthians 1:8-10)

My times are in your hands; deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me.  Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love.  Let me not be put to shame, O Lord, for I have cried out to you; but let the wicked be put to shame and lie silent in the grave.  Let their lying lips be silenced, for with pride and contempt they speak arrogantly against the righteous. (Psalm 31:15-18)

         

         

30-second slideshow

Today’s program, lasting 54 minutes, can be heard here:

The Set-Up Is in Process! — Audio | Video
Mar. 15, 2024
Stock Market

Picture differences

Click on this link: Differences Between the Carpenter Pictures.

Mar. 14, 2024
Stock Market

Circle with circumference, diameter, and radiusPi or π is a mathematical constant used to calculate the area or the circumference of a circle.  π is an irrational number, meaning that it has an infinite number of decimal places.  Here is the value of π to 40 decimal places:

π = 3.1415926535897932384626433832795028841971...

Pi pieYou can see the value of π to 1,000,000 decimal places on the following page, although it might take you about a week trying to scroll to the bottom of the page:

One Million Digits of Pi

So today is Pi Day.  Some people are eating “pi pies,” while others are wearing π T-shirts.  This is because if you take the value of π to two decimal places, it is 3.14 or today’s date in month/day format: 3/14.

Pi t-shirtBack in 2016, Pi Day was particularly applicable, in month/day/year format, if π was rounded up to four decimal places:

3.1416 —> 3/14/16

I have used the value of π in countless mathematical and optics calculations over the decades. 
SnailRound fish
I always have found it interesting that all of those calculations are only as exact as the number of decimal places of π that are used.  For virtually all of the scientific calculations that we make, using only a few decimal places of π will yield results that are close enough.

Presumably though, in the creation of the universe, God—who generated the value of π in His limitless mind—utilized the infinitely exact value of π to fine-tune all of the galaxies, solar systems, stars, planets, and even snails and round fish precisely.  Thinking about all of that blows my mind.  I think I need a slice of pi pie to recharge my brain.


Mar. 13, 2024
Stock Market

Yesterday, primaries and caucuses took place in Georgia, Mississippi, Washington and Hawaii.  In all of these states, Donald Trump won the vast majority of the Republican votes and Joe Biden won the vast majority of the Democratic votes.  Furthermore, Trump has clinched the Republican nomination and Biden has secured the Democratic nomination for the 2024 presidential election.

High-Stakes Rematch Is
Set as Biden, Trump
Clinch Party Nominations
    Biden and Trump become
2024's presumptive nominees
as rematch kicks off

Mar. 12, 2024
Stock Market

Here are 3 tips to protect yourself from Medicare fraud and scams:

  1. If you get a call, text or email asking for your Medicare Number, do not respond.  Don’t give your Medicare card or Medicare Number to anyone except your doctor or to people you know should have it.
  2. Check your Medicare Summary Notices (MSNs) or claims statements carefully.  If you see a charge for a service you did not get or a product you did not order, it may be fraud.  If you suspect fraud, report it at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
  3. Guard your Medicare card like it is a credit card.
If you want to report Medicare fraud and abuse, go here:

Reporting Medicare
fraud & abuse

Mar. 11, 2024
Stock Market

The 96th Academy Awards ceremony took place last night at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood.  I did not watch the Oscars program myself.  However, I will list a few of the Oscar winners below.

  • Best Picture: Oppenheimer
  • Best Actor: Cillian Murphy in Oppenheimer
  • Best Actress: Emma Stone in Poor Things
  • Best Supporting Actor: Robert Downey Jr. in Oppenheimer
  • Best Supporting Actress: Da’Vine Joy Randolph in The Holdovers
  • Best Director: Christopher Nolan for Oppenheimer

Here are the 2024
Oscar Winners

Mar. 10, 2024

In most of the United States (except Hawaii and most of Arizona), and in some other parts of the world, time has “sprung forward” an hour today.  These regions observe Daylight Saving Time, where the sun will rise an hour later in the mornings and set an hour later in the evenings.

Daylight Saving Time begins

1:59 a.m. PST 3:00 a.m. PDT

Yesterday morning, I set my watch and all of my clocks (including in my car) ahead one hour.  That helped me to adjust to the time change a day in advance.  Then I went to bed an hour earlier than usual last night, so I did not lose an hour of sleep.  I’ve done that every Spring for decades, and it really works for me. 


Mar. 9, 2024

At Olive Tree Ministries this weekend, Jan Markell spent the hour with author Curtis Bowers.  The globalists are rushing towards 2030 with their diabolical agenda.  Bowers warns of tactics they will employ along the way that we see even today.

Of particular concern is Bill Gates’ “Contagion 2025”—the next potential global pandemic.  Bowers warns that chaos is coming.

The world’s global elites laid out an agenda decades ago that would reduce freedom, sink America, install a global government and force us to own nothing and be happy by 2030.  They are winning, but only temporarily.

Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing?  The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying,  “Let us break their bonds in pieces and cast away their cords from us.”  He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord shall hold them in derision.  Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, and distress them in His deep displeasure:  “Yet I have set My King on My holy hill of Zion.”  “I will declare the decree: The Lord has said to Me, ‘You are My Son, today I have begotten You.  Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession.  You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’” (Psalms 2:1-9)

         

         

30-second slideshow

Today’s program, lasting 54 minutes, can be heard here:

Be Prepared for Contagion 2025 — Audio | Video
Mar. 8, 2024
Stock Market

President Joe Biden gave his 2024 State of the Union Address last night.  His actual speech lasted about 1 hour and 10 minutes.  In the video below, his speech begins a little after the 48-minute point.

Senator Katie Britt (R-AL) delivered the Republican response to Biden’s speech.  Her speech lasted about 17.5 minutes.



Mar. 7, 2023
Stock Market

Today is National Slam the Scam Day.  Recognize the four basic signs of a scam:

  1. Scammers pretend to be from a familiar organization or agency, like the Social Security Administration.  They may email attachments with official-looking logos, seals, signatures, or pictures of employee credentials.
  2. Scammers mention a problem or a prize.  They may say your Social Security number was involved in a crime or ask for personal information to process a benefit increase.
  3. Scammers pressure you to act immediately.  They may threaten you with arrest or legal action.
  4. Scammers tell you to pay using a gift card, prepaid debit card, cryptocurrency, wire or money transfer, or by mailing cash.  They may also tell you to transfer your money to a “safe” account.
Ignore scammers and report criminal behavior.  Social Security-related scams can be reported here:

Office of the Inspector General:
SSA Scam Reporting Form

Mar. 6, 2024
Stock Market

Yesterday was Super Tuesday.  In the 2024 sequence of primaries and caucuses, it was the day with the most number of Americans voting for presidential nominees on a single day.

Voting took place in the following 16 states and 1 territory (in alphabetical order): Alabama, Alaska, American Samoa, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Iowa, Maine, Minnesota, Texas, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia.

Joe Biden won all of the Democratic primary and caucus elections.  Dean Phillips did not win any Democratic primary contest and has ended his presidential campaign.  Donald Trump won all but one of the Republican primaries and caucuses.  Nikki Haley won the Vermont Republican primary.  Haley has announced that she is suspending her presidential campaign.


Mar. 5, 2024
Stock Market

Super TuesdayToday is Super Tuesday.  It is the busiest and most consequential day in the U.S. presidential primary and caucus season.  Over a dozen states and one U.S. territory will be holding races today to vote for Democratic and Republican presidential nominees.

The phrase “Super Tuesday” dates back to the 1980s.  Several southern states moved their primaries and caucuses forward to increase their importance in the race.  This was to counteract the dominance of Iowa’s and New Hampshire’s early voting dates.

In 2024, there are an estimated 2,470 delegates, around 2,365 of whom are pledged delegates and 104 of whom are unpledged delegates.  To win the nomination, a candidate must receive support from a majority of delegates—an estimated 1,236.

Some states will announce their results by early tomorrow morning.  However, other states, like California, may take some time to announce their results.

Trump gave a victory speech from Mar-a-Lago tonight.  It lasted a little over 19 minutes.


Mar. 4, 2024
Stock Market

U.S. Supreme CourtOn Dec. 19, 2023, Colorado’s Supreme Court ruled that Donald Trump could not appear on the state’s 2024 presidential ballot.  The seven-member court voted 4 to 3 in favor of this ruling.

Trump’s campaign made an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the Colorado court’s ruling.  Today, one day before the busy Super Tuesday voting day, the Supreme Court announced their ruling.  They unanimously voted 9 to 0 not only that Trump could not be excluded from the Colorado ballot but also that he could not be excluded from any other state ballot.

The Court stated, “Without action first from Congress, states cannot invoke a post-Civil War constitutional provision to keep presidential candidates from appearing on ballots.”  It also stated, “The ‘patchwork’ that would likely result from state enforcement would ‘sever the direct link that the Framers found so critical between the National Government and the people of the United States’ as a whole.”  The High Court’s move ends efforts in Colorado, Maine, Illinois and elsewhere to kick Trump off of their state ballots.

Takeaways from Trump’s big
win at the Supreme Court in
the 14th Amendment case
    The Supreme Court
rules Trump is eligible
to run for office again

Mar. 3, 2024

The Missouri Republican presidential county caucuses and the Idaho Republican presidential caucus were held yesterday.  The Missouri Democratic presidential primary will be held on March 23, and the Idaho Democratic presidential caucus will be held on May 23.

In Missouri, with 100% of the precincts reporting, the percent of votes was 100% for Donald Trump.  In Idaho, with 100% of the precincts reporting, the percent of votes was 84.9% for Donald Trump and 13.2% for Nikki Haley.

Today, the District of Columbia Republican primary took place.  With 100% of the votes counted, the percent of votes was 62.8% for Nikki Haley and 33.3% for Donald Trump.

MO Republicans choose Donald
Trump as presidential candidate
in county level caucuses
    Donald Trump or Nikki Haley?
How Idaho Republicans voted
in the presidential caucus

Mar. 2, 2024

At Olive Tree Ministries this weekend, Jan Markell spent the hour with Jeff Kinley.  Noah’s Ark saved the righteous and is a type of Christ and the Rapture.  How do our days reflect the days of Noah?  The story of Noah is like a shadow of what is going to happen in the last days.

The last days will be like the days of Noah.  Most people will be living their normal lives without one concern about God or eternity.  The motto of this world is “eat, drink, and be merry” without a single thought about the judgment of the Lord.

There are consequences to the gravity of depravity.  What are the consequences if warnings are ignored?  God is getting ready to judge again in the Tribulation outlined in Revelation.

But mark this:  There will be terrible times in the last days.  People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power.  Have nothing to do with them.  They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth. (2 Timothy 3:1-7)

Jan: You are the light of the world.  A city on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.  Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:13,14)

         

         

30-second slideshow

Today’s program, lasting 54 minutes, can be heard here:

The Approaching Global Storm — Audio | Video
Mar. 1, 2024
Stock Market

This is the day after February’s “leap day” and is the first day of March.  The 10 months from today until the last day of December will exactly match the final 10 months of the year 2013, which was eleven years ago.  (Click on the calendars to see larger views.)

 

Furthermore, the entire calendar years of 2025 and 2026 will exactly match the entire calendar years of 2014 and 2015.


Feb. 29, 2024
Stock Market

Today is “leap day,” which occurs every four years during a “leap year.”  Also, in a leap year, the summer olympics and a U.S. presidential election take place.

       
13-second slideshow

Earth orbitThe earth takes almost 365.25 days, rather than 365 days, to orbit the sun.  Thus, an extra day needs to be added to the calendar every four years.

However, more precisely, the earth’s orbit around the sun is 365.24219 days, which is 0.00781 day or about 11.25 minutes short of 365.25 days.  As a result, if an extra day were added every four years, over time that would add too much time to the calendar.

Therefore, a century year must be evenly divisible by 400 to qualify as a leap year.  For instance, 1600 and 2000 were leap years, but 1800 and 1900 were not.

The Julian calendar did not compensate for the 4-year discrepancies.  However, for the most part, the Gregorian calendar does.


Feb. 28, 2024
Stock Market

The Michigan presidential primary took place yesterday.  In the Republican race, with 98.7% of precincts reporting, the percent of votes was 68.2% for Donald Trump, 26.6% for Nikki Haley and 3.0% for Uncommitted.

In the Democratic race, with 98.6% of precincts reporting, the percent of votes was 81.1% for Joe Biden, 13.3% for Uncommitted and 2.7% for Dean Phillips.

How many people
voted in the 2024
Michigan primary?
    ‘Uncommitted’ Michigan primary
vote results: What happens
next for Biden, campaign

Feb. 27, 2024
Stock Market

Near the bottom of my homepage at tedmontgomery.com, there is a Composite Weather Map of North America.  I like to check it at least once or twice a day to see if any weather pattern is headed in my direction.  If you click on the weather map on my homepage, you can watch a 5-second video, played repeatedly, of the weather patterns over the past 12 hours.

After a recent period of lots of wind, thick clouds and rain in California, today the state appears mostly clear, other than some thin clouds in a few places.  The image below was captured this afternoon at 2:00 p.m. PST (you can click on it to view a larger image):

North America weather Feb. 27, 2024
Feb. 26, 2024
Stock Market

Plants That Repel Bugs
Feb. 25, 2024

The South Carolina presidential primary took place yesterday.  In the Republican race, with 98.8% of precincts reporting, the percent of votes was 59.8% for Donald Trump, 39.5% for Nikki Haley and 0.4% for Ron DeSantis (who has dropped out of the race).

In the Democratic race, with 99.0% of precincts reporting, the percent of votes was 96.2% for Joe Biden, 2.1% for Marianne Williamson (who has dropped out of the race) and 1.7% for Dean Phillips.

Donald Trump
Wins South Carolina
Republican Primary
    Top highlights from South Carolina’s
GOP primary where Trump won big,
Haley vowed to press on

Feb. 24, 2024

At Olive Tree Ministries this weekend, Jan Markell spent the hour with Pastor Jack Hibbs.  Our generation is saturated by deception and strong delusion, but it is preparing for the Antichrist, the ultimate deceiver.

The world and the church are crying for unity.  What is the strong delusion that causes people to believe a lie?

For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine.  Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.  But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship.... (2 Timothy 4:3-5a)

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. (Ephesians 6:12,13)

Because of the signs he was given power to do on behalf of the first beast, he deceived the inhabitants of the earth.  He ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. (Revelation 13:14)

         

         

30-second slideshow

Today’s program, lasting 58 minutes, can be heard here:

Preparing for the Ultimate Deceiver — Audio | Video
Feb. 23, 2024
Stock Market

X6.3 solar flareIn the past couple of days, there were three X-class solar flares, which are intense bursts of radiation from sunspots.  It is highly unlikely that they were the cause of the AT&T cellphone outage yesterday.  On a classification scale of A, B, C, M and X, X-class flares are by far the strongest.

Initially, there was an X1.8-class flare and then an X1.7-class flare.  They were followed, late yesterday afternoon, by a much stronger X6.3-class flare.  All of these flares were emitted from sunspot AR3590.  Fortunately, none of them launched any coronal mass ejections (CMEs). 

The X6.3 flare is the most powerful sun explosion of the current solar cycle, which began in 2019.  It also is the most powerful flare since September of 2017, when two even stronger flares exploded from the sun’s surface.

As noted on June 30, 2023, it had been anticipated in 2019, when our present solar cycle began, that the maximum activity of this solar cycle would occur in 2025.  However, observations in 2022 and 2023 tentatively changed the expectation of peak activity to 2023 or 2024.  In case any of the X-class flares this year launch CMEs toward the earth, there could be some serious consequences.

The sun just launched
three huge solar flares
in 24 hours. What it means.
    Explosive sun: What are solar
flares? How they affect us and
why we could see more soon

Feb. 22, 2024
Stock Market

Today’s date is 2/22/2024.  Five of the seven digits are 2s.  Of course, 4 = 2x2.  So the date could be seen as 2/22/2022x2, which has seven 2s. 

A century ago, on 2/22/1924, only four of the 7 digits were 2s.  There aren’t quite as many 2s as there were 2 years ago, on Feb. 22, 2022 (2/22/2022), when six of the seven digits were 2s.  That was during the week that Russia began its attack on Ukraine.

A good friend is in Arkansas, a state that is on Central Standard Time (CST).  For many years, he and I have had this “thing” about various sequences of numbers containing a repeat of the numeral 2.  Since today is 2/22 (or, in many parts of the world, 22/2), I sent him a screen shot of the https://time.gov page, showing 2:22:22 P.M. CST:


Feb. 21, 2024
Stock Market

John 8:32
Feb. 20, 2024
Stock Market

In 2022, the United Nations General Assembly requested that the International Court of Justice conduct a hearing pertaining to the claim, by Palestinians, that Israel is occupying their territory.  Yesterday in The Hague, Netherlands, representatives from 52 countries gathered to participate in a hearing for several days, until Feb. 26.

The court consists of 15 judges.  It has been stated that they will consider “the legal consequences arising from the ongoing violation by Israel of the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, from its prolonged occupation, settlement and annexation of the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967.

Benjamin Netanyahu, prime minister of Israel, said in a press conference yesterday that Israel does not recognize the legitimacy of the hearnings.  He also stated, “The discussion at The Hague is part of the Palestinian attempt to dictate the results of the political agreement without negotiations.

International court hears
arguments over Israeli
occupation of Gaza and West Bank
    U.N.’s top court begins
second day of hearings
on Israel occupation

Feb. 19, 2021

Today, the third Monday of February, is Presidents (or Presidents’) Day in the U.S.  It is a federal holiday.

       
13-second slideshow

George Washington’s farewell address in 1796 was not delivered publicly.  It first appeared in the Philadelphia Daily American Advertiser and then in papers around the country.  For those with an interest in reading it, it is here:

Washington’s Farewell Address

Many have heard the tale that George Washington, as a young boy, chopped down a cherry tree and then told his father, “I cannot tell a lie.  I did it with my little hatchet.”  This possibly was a myth written by Mason Locke Weems, one of Washington’s biographers.


Feb. 18, 2024

Sin is a breaking of God’s eternal Law.  Thus, sin equates with lawlessness, which is rampant throughout the world today and continues to increase in every nation.

Most of the world does not know the one, true God.  Even for those who do, it is human nature to do things the ways that we want to do them, even when we know they are wrong.  Even the apostle Paul struggled with sin (Romans 7:7-25).

Sin has its penalties, and the ultimate penalty is death.  Therefore, it is advantageous to do the following:

  • recognize the sin in our lives and get serious about eliminating as much of it as we can, and
  • realize that sin is a “thief” and robs us of many things that are beneficial to us.

 

All of us sin, and all of us will die (unless we are removed first by the Rapture), since the ultimate penalty of sin is death.  But Jesus, the only person who was sinless, came to atone for our sins and remove their penalty of eternal death so that, in Him, we may have eternal life.

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:8,9)

My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin.  But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.  He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 2:1,2)

Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness.  But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins.  And in him is no sin. (1 John 3:4,5)

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.  Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. (1 John 4:10,11)

Feb. 17, 2024

At Olive Tree Ministries this weekend, Jan Markell spent the hour with Pastor Mark Henry and Mondo Gonzales.

Those who long for the Lord’s return are accused of belonging to a Rapture rescue cult.  They are said to be okay with a Holy Land holocaust and to care less about the world, which will all just burn up.

We wonder why there is all of this nonsense when we want to occupy until He comes.  Everyone should be excited that the King is coming.  We are living in the generation that the prophets of old longed to see, yet very few people seem to care.

         

         

30-second slideshow

Today’s program, lasting 58 minutes, can be heard here:

Is There a Rapture Rescue Cult? — Audio | Video

I am convinced that not all of the final 7 years of this age will be a period of God’s wrath.  Not even all of the final 3.5 years is filled with God’s wrath.  Most of the six seals in the book of Revelation are not God’s wrath.

The word “wrath” does not even appear until Revelation 6:16,17, after the opening of the Sixth Seal.  Because Jesus is opening the scroll with the seven seals (Revelation 5:6-9, 6:1) does not mean that He is dispensing God’s wrath on the earth simply by opening each seal.  It is the Seventh Seal, composed of the Trumpet Judgments and the Bowl Judgments, during which the fearful wrath and vengeance of God will come upon the whole earth.  Believers will be caught up to heaven in a Pre-Wrath Rapture, which will take place prior to God’s wrath and vengeance after the Seventh Seal is opened.

Many believe that the Bible points to the construction of a third Jewish temple in Jerusalem at the beginning of the final 7 years of this age, often referred to as the “tribulation.”  (The second temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 A.D.)  Everything has been collected in Jerusalem to construct the third temple.  This includes the five red heifers, with no blemishes, which were transferred from Texas to Israel in mid-September of 2022.

However, the word translated as “temple” in 2 Thessalonians 2:4 and in Revelation 11:1,2 are incorrect translations of that Greek term.  The exact and literal translation is “shrine.”  Indeed, there is a shrine on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.  That shrine is the Islamic Dome of the Rock, which stands where the first and second Jewish temples stood in ancient times.  More details can be found in the Third Temple section of this commentary:

Third Temple, Rapture & Gog/Magog

The spokesman for the military wing of Hamas, Abu Ubaydah, recently revealed the primary reason for the Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which began the ongoing Israel–Hamas war.  He indicated that, after sacrificing the first red heifer, increasing numbers of Jews are likely to begin coming onto the Temple Mount.  Also, Israel is likely to attempt construction of the third temple, which could lead to the demolition of the Al-Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount.

Hamas Spokesman Abu Ubaydah
Reveals: We Attacked after the
Jews Imported Red Heifers

(written Jan. 26, 2024)
    Red heifer sacrifice
could take place in
one year in Jerusalem

(written Sep. 27, 2022)

In case Orthodox Jews decide to make a sacrifice on the Temple Mount this year on Passover (a little over two months from now on April 22-23), there might be a gigantic and violent pushback by Muslims against Jews.  If so, that could begin the fulfillment of Jesus’ end-time prophecies that He stated in Matthew 24:15-21, Mark 13:14-19, and Luke 21:20-27 and the onset of the Great Tribulation.  If that happens, it would be a good idea to stock up on food and other necessities:

Adversity Supplies
Basic Check List
    Adversity Preparation
What to Prepare

Feb. 16, 2024
Stock Market

Today in Russia, it was reported that Alexei Navalny, age 47, has died.  He had been one of Russia’s most prominent opposition leaders for decades and was serving a lengthy jail term after his most recent imprisonment.  He was in isolation at a maximum-security prison north of the Artic Circle.

In 2021, Navalny suffered poisoning by a nerve agent while in Siberia.  He traveled to Germany to undergo treatment for the poison.  After that, he returned to Russia.  A film about his poisoning and imprisonment, called Navalny, won an Oscar award in 2023.

While in prison, he was able to continue his activism.  In blogs, he exposed what he said was vast corruption across the Russian elite.  He described Russia as being ruled by “crooks and thieves.”  Vladimir Putin is expected to win the next presidential election in mid-March.

Alexei Navalny, long a thorn
in Russian leader Vladimir
Putin’s side, dies in prison
    Who was Alexei Navalny
and what did he say of
Russia, Putin and death?

Feb. 15, 2024
Stock Market

This morning, I went to Walmart and bought 46.41 oz. (2.90 lb.) of 50%-off Valentine’s candy.  Unlike the past few years, today there was a good selection of candy on the shelves that had not been cleared off yet.  I was able to get some of my favorites, especially bags of peanut butter cups and dark chocolate hearts.

 
5-second slideshow

Feb. 14, 2021
Stock Market

To those who like this day and all that it brings: Happy Valentine’s Day! 

       
13-second slideshow
For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. (1 Peter 4:8)

Feb. 13, 2024
Stock Market

After meeting together the entire night, the U.S. Senate passed a $95.3 bill early this morning.  The bill is an aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan.

The majority of the aid amount, $60 billion, is for Ukraine.  Some Republicans, who were opposed to this, argued for hours that the priority of the U.S. should be focusing mainly on its own problems rather than on those of nations overseas.

At some point, the bill will have a vote in the House, where passage is questionable.  If it does pass, it could take weeks or months for that to happen.

Senate passes $95B aid package
for Ukraine and Israel, but
fate in House is uncertain
    US Senate approves
Ukraine aid package, but
fate unclear in House

Feb. 12, 2024
Stock Market

I listened quite a bit to American Family Radio (https://afr.net) this weekend, as I often do.  One program that I often find interesting is “I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist” with Dr. Frank Turek.  Sunday’s program was a repeat of one of his programs from a few days ago.

Turek interviewed Eric Metaxas, author of the book Letter to the American Church.  A documentary film has been made of the book.  A 1.5-minute preview of the documentary can be viewed on Epoch TV here: Letter to the American Church.

Is America headed down a dark path similar to that of Nazi Germany?  If history has shown us anything, it’s that bad things happen when Christians don’t collectively speak out against evil.  The German Church of the 1930s is a great example of what NOT to do in a tumultuous time of political crisis.  Has the American Church fallen into the same passive trap of doing nothing while evil slowly tightens its grip on our country?

The podcast of this program can be heard below.  It is a little over 48 minutes in length.

Is America Headed For Disaster?” from February 9:

Feb. 11, 2024

Super Bowl LVIII (58) was played today at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, NV.  The two teams were the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers.  At halftime, the 49ers were ahead 10-0.  Yet, at the end of the fourth quarter, the game was tied at 19-19; so the game went into overtime.  It was only the second time in Super Bowl history that an overtime period was played.

The overtime portion of the game was rather lengthy.  The 49ers were ahead 22-19 for awhile.  Eventually, there were only a few seconds remaining.  The Chiefs could have kicked a field goal to tie the game again, sending the game into double-overtime.

However, the Chiefs were able to score a touchdown, winning the game.  The final score was Chiefs 25, 49ers 22.

These two teams played each other in Super Bowl LIV (54) on Feb. 2, 2020.  The Chiefs were the winners of that game.  The Chiefs also won Super Bowl LVII last year, against the Philadelphia Eagles, on Feb. 12, 2023.

Super Bowl LVIII scores

Who won the Super Bowl 2024? Final score,
results as Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs
defeat 49ers in OT for repeat title
    Super Bowl 2024 score,
highlights: Chiefs top 49ers
in OT to repeat as champions

Feb. 10, 2024

At Olive Tree Ministries this weekend, Jan Markell spent the hour with Pastor Gary Hamrick.  Atomic scientists say it is the closest to Midnight ever and the most dangerous time in history.  Believers are not looking for doomsday but, rather, departure day.  On God’s prophetic calendar, pages are quickly turning.

Jesus told us that we should know the signs of the times.  When we look at what is happening right now in Israel, these are all part of the labor pains leading up to the ultimate return of Jesus.  So the church needs to be aware of this, and our hearts should be stirred.  We should be living in the expectation of the imminent return of Jesus.

Jan: “The Lord is exalted, for He dwells on high.  He has filled Zion with justice and righteousness.  Wisdom and knowledge will be the stability of your times, and the strength of salvation; the fear of the Lord is His treasure.” (Isaiah 33:5,6)

         

         

30-second slideshow

Today’s program, lasting 55 minutes, can be heard here:

The Most Dangerous Time in History — Audio | Video
Feb. 9, 2024
Stock Market

An unusual comparison has been made by WalletHub.  They say that they compared the 50 states in the U.S. regarding 55 key indicators of immoral or illicit behavior.

Overall, they have rated Nevada as the most sinful state.  Interestingly, its largest city is Las Vegas, which often is referred to as “sin city.”  That is where Super Bowl LVIII will be played in two days. 

Click here to see a lengthy chart showing all of their data.  Their web page, with many details, is here: The Most Sinful States in America.


Feb. 8, 2024
Stock Market

The National debt of the United States (the U.S. National Debt) on Jan. 4 was a little over $34.004 trillion.  Today, exactly 5 weeks later, it has increased by over $200 billion to over $34.214 trillion.

If that rate of increase continues, it will surge by about $2.5 trillion over the next year.  Clearly, the U.S. debt is escalating rapidly, and there is no indication that it will decrease at all.  There is little doubt that this will be a major factor leading to the worst economic collapse in this nation’s history.

 
Feb. 7, 2024
Stock Market

As we enter tax season in the U.S., there are questions that taxpayers may have about various topics.  This page at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has a list of links that might be helpful in answering numerous questions:

Tax topics
Feb. 6, 2024
Stock Market

Recently, I attended a get-together with some friends.  They have a bunch of hens (which is where they get all of their eggs) and several cats.  All of the animals are treated well, so they are very comfortable around people.

I don’t eat meat very often, but I liked the hot dogs for a change.  I also liked the hot green peppers, which I’ve enjoyed eating since I was a kid.  It was a fun time. 

         
15-second slideshow

Feb. 5, 2024
Stock Market

Atmospheric river in California Flooding in southern California
Two powerful atmospheric rivers have blown into California during the weekend.  As large-scale flows of warm moist air, they are examples of intense Pineapple Express water vapor.  Originating in the ocean northeast of Hawaii, they pushed across the Pacific Ocean and crashed into the long coast of California.

There were hundreds of thousands of power outages yesterday, and that is increasing today.  About 40 million people have been under flood, winter storm and high wind advisories.  Persistent wind speeds in some areas have approached hurricane force, and there have been wind gusts exceeding 100 mph.

Residents in southern California cities have been warned of extremely dangerous conditions, including life-threatening landslides and additional flash-flooding.  Today, this will include the Hollywood Hills in Los Angeles and the Santa Monica Mountains.

One report yesterday said that 4.1 inches of rain had fallen in downtown Los Angeles.  It was the most rain there in a single day in almost 20 years.  Parts of southern California, including the Los Angeles area, could get as much as 8 inches of rain today.

More than 800,000 without
power in California as intense
atmospheric river brings threat
of mudslides and flooding
    Atmospheric river parks
over Southern California,
posing potentially deadly
flood threat for millions

In San Diego, my favorite city in the world, the stongest and wettest part of the storm is expected to be hitting later today and tomorrow.  There is a flood watch until tomorrow night.  I am listening to updates on one of my favorite radio stations, which can be heard here: KOGO AM 600.


Feb. 4, 2024

Colossians 3:1
Feb. 3, 2024

At Olive Tree Ministries this weekend, Jan Markell spent the hour with Gary Kah.  The world’s governments are rushing toward a one-world system that will be short lived.

They may employ “polycrises”—multiple global crises such as the new “Disease X.”  This year’s global summit at Davos revealed many of their plans.  They see the world as one.

There will be a global world order.  The stage is being set.

         

         

         

45-second slideshow

Today’s program, lasting 54 minutes, can be heard here:

The End Game: The World As One — Audio | Video
Feb. 2, 2024
Stock Market

Today is Groundhog DayPunxsutawney Phil came out and did not see his shadow, which allegedly is an indication that there will be an early spring.  So the world’s most famous weather-prognosticating groundhog has spoken, probably in “Groundhogese.”

         
15-second slideshow

There have been several snow storms and freezing weather in the east and northeast this winter.  So those living there may be thrilled that this weather may not continue for much longer.

However, according to the Stormfax Weather Almanac, Phil has gotten it right only about 39% of the time since the first prediction in 1887.  Time will tell if he was correct or not this year.

Did the groundhog see his shadow?
See results of Punxsutawney
Phil's 2024 winter forecast
    Stormfax
Weather Almanac
Groundhog Day

Feb. 1, 2024
Stock Market

I began making entries in the Ted’s Remarks section of my website on Feb. 1, 2006.  It sure has been a LONG 18 years. 

I started this section of my website way back then mainly so I could reference and keep track of events that I have found interesting and/or noteworthy over the years.  Other information about this can be found here:

Reasons for Ted’s Remarks
Jan. 31, 2024
Stock Market

Immanuel, God with us

It would seem that the majority of humanity does not acknowledge that Jesus was God in human flesh when He walked on the earth.  Yet, while Mary was still a virgin and before she was married to Joseph, an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream.

The angel told Joseph not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife because that which was conceived in Mary was from the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:20).  Furthermore, the angel told Joseph that Mary’s son would be named Jesus, because He would save His people from their sins (1:21).

The angel also told Joseph what had been prophesied by Isaiah in the distant past:

“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” (Matthew 1:23)
This is what had been stated by the prophet Isaiah:
“Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14)
His literal name would be Jesus, the Greek form of the name Joshua, which means “the Lord saves.”  Joseph and Mary also would refer to Him as Immanuel, which means “God with us.”  Indeed, Jesus was both God and the Son of God.

Jan. 30, 2024
Stock Market

My vegetables and fruits

I cannot think of a vegetable or a fruit that I do not like.  I eat them raw virtually everyday; it’s a lot easier than cooking.  Typically, I’ll eat a plate of chopped raw vegetables from mid-to-late morning.  Then I’ll eat a bowl of chopped fruits (plus unsalted peanut butter spread on a crispy tostada and/or whole wheat toast).  I’ll also drink one cup of coffee.

I often snack on mixed nuts while I’m eating my vegetables and fruits.  I eat while I’m doing other things, so it takes me quite awhile to eat everything.  Usually, I don’t eat anything else until dinner (which usually will include some meat), although occasionally I’ll just skip that meal.

The vegetables and fruits that I eat can vary from day to day, as well as the amount that I eat.  Today it is somewhat less than usual.  My plate of raw vegetables consists of chopped broccoli, celery, green bell pepper and cherry tomatoes.  My plate of fruits consists of chopped apple, banana, pear and mandarin orange.

Decades ago, I saw my mom eating an orange peel.  I tried it and liked it, as I like almost everything.  Since then, I’ve eaten orange peels; I think they’ve been good for my digestion. 


Jan. 29, 2024
Stock Market

The NFL’s final two games, prior to Super Bowl LVIII on Feb. 11, took place yesterday.  In the AFC Championship game, the Kansas City Chiefs played the Baltimore Ravens in Baltimore.  In the NFC Championship game, the Detroit Lions played the San Francisco 49ers in San Francisco.

The Chiefs defeated the Ravens with a final score of 17-10.  The 49ers defeated the Lions with a final score of 34-31.

Chiefs vs. Ravens 
Lions vs. 49ers

Super Bowl LVIII Set: Kansas
City Chiefs & San Francisco
49ers To Face Off In Las Vegas
    Super Bowl 2024 schedule, odds: San
Francisco 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs set
for Super Bowl battle in Las Vegas

The Chiefs and the 49ers will meet in Super Bowl LVIII (58).  That game will take place at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, NV, on Sunday, Feb. 11.  It is scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m. PST (local time).

These two teams played each other in Super Bowl LIV (54) on Feb. 2, 2020.  The Chiefs were the winners of that game.  The Chiefs also won Super Bowl LVII last year on Feb. 12, 2023.


Jan. 28, 2024

Last night, an Iran-backed militia group conducted a drone strike at Tower 22 in Jordan, which is near the Syrian border.  The attack killed three U.S. service members and injured at least 25 more.  Iran has denied involvement.

These are the first American troops to be killed since the beginning of the 2023 Israel–Hamas war, which began on Oct. 7, 2023.  This shows that an escalation in fighting is taking place in the region.

Pertaining to the American troops that were attacked, President Biden stated, “We will carry on their commitment to fight terrorism.  And have no doubt—we will hold all those responsible to account at a time and in a manner [of] our choosing.”  He also stated, “While we are still gathering the facts of this attack, we know it was carried out by radical Iran-backed militant groups operating in Syria and Iraq.

Three U.S. Troops
Killed in Drone
Attack in Jordan
    Three US troops killed and
25 injured in drone strike by
Iranian-backed militia in Jordan

Jan. 27, 2024

At Olive Tree Ministries this weekend, Jan Markell spent the hour with Tom Hughes and Brandon Holthaus.  The world is being conditioned for things to come.  An entire post-Rapture system is being built now.  What’s ahead is both dark and glorious.

We are seeing things aligning like never before.  The spirit of the Antichrist is active today.  In 2024, expect numerous crises to get the globalists’ agenda in place, with the intent of controlling everyone in the world.

Most people will be identified by the mark of the beast placed on their right hands or foreheads (Revelation 13:16,17).  Choosing to take or not to take the mark will be choosing, respectively, to die or to live.  There will be no escape from the system.

Jan: “Why don’t you always look back and thank Him, look around and serve Him, look ahead and trust Him, but always look up and expect Him.  He’s coming again.

         

         

30-second slideshow

Today’s program, lasting 57 minutes, can be heard here:

When They Control Everyone — Audio | Video
Jan. 26, 2024
Stock Market


Jan. 25, 2024
Stock Market

I suspect that the majority of people on earth do not believe in the devil, that is Satan.  Here is a brief description of him in the Bible:

He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him.  When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. (John 8:44)

Originally, Satan was created as Lucifer, a wise and enlightened angel.  Now, he only masquerades as an “angel of light” (2 Corinthians 1:14).  My explanation of how I feel he made the transition from Lucifer to Satan is summarized in this email response:


Jan. 24, 2024
Stock Market

The New Hampshire presidential primary took place yesterday.  In the Republican race, with 88.2% of precincts reporting, the percent of votes was 54.6% for Donald Trump and 43.2% for Nikki Haley.  They are the only two GOP candidates remaining in the race following the Iowa caucuses on Jan. 16.

The Democratic race was not sanctioned by the Democratic National Convention.  The DNC had wanted South Carolina to hold the nation’s first primary.  However, New Hampshire refused to change its primary date.  Therefore, NH held a write-in campaign for the Democrats.  The percent of votes was 67% for Joe Biden, 20% for Dean Phillips and 4% for Marianne Williamson.

Trump defeats Haley in New
Hampshire primary, bringing him
closer to rematch with Biden
    Biden wins the New Hampshire
Democratic primary as a
write-in candidate

Jan. 23, 2024
Stock Market

Doomsday clockThe Doomsday Clock has been around since June of 1947.  According to the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, the clock is a metaphor for threats to humanity from unchecked scientific and technological advances.  It was intended as a way of tracking catastrophic risks to humanity and the world.

On this clock, midnight marks the theoretical point of ultimate global cataclysm and annihilation.  The original setting, over 76 years ago, was 7 minutes before midnight.  Each year after that, in January, a decision was made to reset or not to reset the clock.  In 2020, the clock was reset to 100 seconds until midnight, where it remained in 2021 and in 2022.

On Jan. 24, 2023, the clock was reset to 90 seconds until midnight, which is the closest it’s ever been.  The main factor in the clock’s 10-second movement a year ago was the attack by Russia (a nuclear nation) on Ukraine in February 2022.  That ongoing war, along with nuclear expansions in China, North Korea, Iran and India in 2022, revived fears of nuclear war.

Those and other negative factors continued throughout 2023, and the ominous and destructive Israel–Hamas war began on Oct. 7, 2023.  However, today the decision was made not to move the hypothetical time on the Doomsday Clock closer than 90 seconds until midnight.  If the violence in the Middle East and in the world escalates this year, it would seem that there will be another movement, closer to midnight, of the Doomsday Clock clock in January 2025.

Doomsday clock time
for 2024 remains at
90 seconds to midnight
    Doomsday Clock 2024 time update
has dire warnings of nuclear
war, climate change and AI

Jan. 22, 2024
Stock Market

The Republican party is now down to two candidates in the presidential primary: Donald Trump and Nikki Haley.  Yesterday, Ron DeSantis, governor of Florida, announced that he is suspending his campaign for president.

One of the main reasons DeSantis is dropping out of the race appears to be that his campaign funding has dried up quite a bit.  Also, in the Iowa caucuses a week ago, he placed a distant second to Trump.

DeSantis has stated that he now is endorsing Trump for president.  Trump indicated that he is honored by the endorsement.  Some feel that DeSantis’s endorsement potentially could lead to his becoming Trump’s selection for his vice-presidential running mate.

The New Hampshire primary will take place tomorrow.

Ron DeSantis Drops Out
of the 2024 Presidential
Race, Endorses Trump
    Inside the final hours
of Ron DeSantis'
ill-fated campaign

Jan. 21, 2024

This is National Sanctity of Human Life Day in the U.S.  On January 22, 1984 (which was a Sunday), President Ronald Reagan issued a presidential proclamation designating the third Sunday of January (or close to that) as National Sanctity of Human Life Day.

Pastors, churches and life organizations across the United States use this day to bring awareness to the attacks that are waged daily against human life through the abortion industry.  One of the best ways to protect unborn lives is by bringing into the light the darkness of abortion, as well as by supporting local pregnancy help organizations who reach women and families daily with messages of hope and life.


Jan. 20, 2024

At Olive Tree Ministries this weekend, Jan Markell spent the hour with Pastor Barry Stagner and former White House correspondent and journalist Bill Koenig.  The new year promises to be a bumpy ride.  It appears that 2024 will be a year of global instability, so we need to hang on.

There are many who have a desire to kill the Jews and are chanting the mantra, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”  They are against the God of the Bible, and most of them are for Allah of Islam.

Jesus is the King of the Jews, the Holy One of Israel, the God of His chosen people, the root of David, the bright and morning Star, and the King of kings and Lord of lords.  He still is coming back to Jerusalem, He will stand on the Mount of Olives and He will rule and reign from Jerusalem.

After Jesus returns, all of the nations of the earth who have come against Jerusalem will be cut in pieces (Zechariah 12:3).  Those in Israel will look upon Him whom they pierced and mourn for Him as one mourns for an only son (12:10).  The Lord (Jesus) will be King over the whole earth (14:9). On that day there will be one Lord, and his name the only name.  Then, those who are left of all the nations that came against Jerusalem will go annually to Jerusalem to worship the King (Jesus), the Lord of Hosts, on the Feast of Tabernacles (14:16).

The 2024 presidential election in the U.S. has begun.  Some states are attemtping to keep Donald Trump off of their Rapublican primary ballots.  Many feel that Trump was an effective president, and he was one of the best friends in the White House that Israel has ever had.  Secretary of State Blinken, under Joe Biden, has urged Israel to go down the path of agreeing to the formstion of a Palestinian state.  The European Union and the International Criminal Court also are pressuring Israel.  It seems quite possible that this may be a disastrous year for Israel.

God will be the stability of your times, a wealth of salvation, wisdom and knowledge. (Isaiah 33:6)

         

         

30-second slideshow

Today’s program, lasting 55 minutes, can be heard here:

Instability Ahead: Hang On! — Audio | Video
Jan. 19, 2024
Stock Market

House vote on stopgap funding billYesterday, the U.S. Congress passed a stopgap funding bill to prevent a federal government shutdown until March.  This was the third stopgap bill since September.

The Senate passed the bill by a vote of 77 to 18.  The bill was sent to the House, where it was passed 314 to 108. 

The bill will provide funding for the following through March 1: the Transportation Department, the Energy Department, the Agriculture Department, the Food and Drug Administration, and Veterans Affairs and military construction.  The remainder of the government will be funded through March 8.

The short-term spending bill has been sent to President Biden’s desk.  The bill requires his signature before midnight tonight to go into effect.

Congress Passes Bill Keeping
Government Open as Border,
Spending Fights Rage
    Congress passes stopgap
bill to prevent a shutdown
until March, sending it to Biden

Jan. 18, 2024
Stock Market

Along with military attacks between Israel and two of its enemies, Hamas and Hezbollah, it appears that violence in the Middle East is spreading.  Two days ago, Iran made an attack on its border neighbor, Pakistan.  At least 7 people were killed.

Early today, in response, Pakistan’s air force launched retaliatory air strikes into Iran.  At least 9 people were killed.  Both Iran and Pakistan claim to have targeted Baluch militant groups on either side of the Iran-Pakistan border.

Iran is about to begin an annual air defense drill.  The drill includes live fire from aircraft, drones and air defense systems.  There is a fear that all of this could result in an increase in attacks between the two countries and even a continuing escalation in regional violence.

Pakistan launches airstrikes
in Iran, killing 9, after an
earlier attack by Tehran
    Could the Pakistan-Iran
airstrikes be the start
of regional escalation?

Jan. 17, 2024
Stock Market

I received an email from someone asking about something that Jesus said to the thief on the cross, as well as something Jesus said to Mary Magdalene after His resurrection from death:

Jesus' responses

Here is my response that I emailed back to her:

Pertaining to what Jesus told the thief as they both were about to die, there are a couple of possibilities to consider:

1. When translating from other languages to English, some punctuation may change.  This could be the case with the comma in Jesus' statement, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”  A more accurate translation might be, “Truly I tell you today, you will be with me in paradise.”  If the word “paradise” refers to heaven, it could be that Jesus was telling the thief that they eventually would be together in heaven, but it might not be on that exact day.

2. Paul seemed to indicate that Jesus descended to the location of the departed spirits/souls and took them to heaven when He ascended there (Ephesians 4:8,9).  I cannot say, with absolute certainty, when or how this took place, although it seems plausible to me that it did.  After their deaths, these believers in the Messiah (Jesus), including Lazarus and Abraham, went to a place of “safe-keeping” or “paradise,” other than heaven, until Jesus had been crucified and resurrected.  Once He entered heaven a few weeks following His resurrection (Acts 1:3,9), presumably their spirits/souls also entered heaven with Him.

There are several biblical topics that we cannot fully understand and comprehend because they are outside of our realm of experience.  However, I do look forward to the time, when we are in heaven, that Jesus/God will explain these things to us in great detail.  So, there are many things that I am fine with not being able to grasp until I get to heaven.


Jan. 16, 2024
Stock Market

Republican caucuses took place last evening in Iowa.  This was the first state to vote for presidential candidates in 2024.

After 84% of the votes were counted last night, Donald Trump was ahead at 51.0%.  Ron DeSantis was second at 21.3%, Nikki Haley was third at 19.0%, and Vivek Ramaswamey was fourth at 7.7%.  Later, Ramaswamey withdrew from the presidential race, giving his support to Trump.

Iowa caucus results

Iowa Democrats will be using a mail-in system to cast their presidential preferences.  They can request absentee presidential preference cards on or before February 19, which will function like ballots.  They can fill out the cards and return them to the state party until March 5, when the results are scheduled to be announced.

The next state vote will be a primary in New Hampshire.  That will take place on Jan. 23, a week from today.

Trump wins historic landslide
in Iowa caucuses as DeSantis
edges Haley for second
    Iowa Republicans focused on
the economy and the border.
Trump dominated on both issues.

Jan. 15, 2024

Today is a federal holiday honoring Martin Luther King, Jr.  He would have been 95 years old today.

       
13-second slideshow

He was born Michael King, Jr.  In 1934, his father, Michael King, Sr., visited sites in Berlin associated with the Protestant reformation leader, Martin Luther.  After that, he began referring to himself as Martin Luther King, Sr., and his son as Martin Luther King, Jr.  In 1957, when Michael King, Jr., was 28 years old, his birth certificate was changed to read “Martin Luther King, Jr.”

MLK, Jr., was a strong Christian.  At age 5, he memorized and sang hymns and stated verses from the Bible.  One of his main messages as an adult was that people should be judged by the content of their character, not by the color of their skin.


Jan. 14, 2024

Over the years, I have received emails from people trying to convince me that God is not a Trinity and that Jesus was/is not God.  Of course, it would be impossible to persuade me to believe these things, since I am absolutely convinced otherwise.

Others simply do not understand how God can be a triune Being and how Jesus, a man, could be the Son of God.  These email responses that I wrote to two people address these issues:


Jan. 13, 2024

At Olive Tree Ministries this weekend, Jan Markell spent the hour with Tim Moore and Nathan Jones.  from Lamb & Lion Ministries.  They talked about how the nations are in a rage as the Church Age winds down.

God is sovereignly moving the chess pieces and is orchestrating final day events.  The church is yawning, rather than yearning, in spite of frequent wake-up calls and daily prophetic milestones.  Adrian Rogers said that it is getting gloriously dark.

Jesus told His disciples that as the end of the age approaches, there would be wars and rumors of wars and that nation would rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom (Matthew 24:6,7; Mark 13:7,8).  That will happen worldwide; however, when it happens in and around Israel—the center of God’s endtime plan—that nation will be an accentuated focus of attention for the whole world.  It appears that 2024 may be filled with Middle-East madness, potential world war, decline in society, and technology smarter than the human mind.

About 31% of the Bible is prophecy.  Briefly, here are Ten Reasons Why God Gave Bible Prophecy (written by Nathan Jones):

  1. It shows that God speaks the truth.
  2. It proves that the Bible is God’s word.
  3. It shows that God is in control.
  4. It demonstrates God’s love.
  5. It describes God’s plan.
  6. It demonstrates God’s might.
  7. It proves that God is worthy.
  8. It proves that evil will be punished.
  9. It prepares us to get right with God.
  10. It gives us hope.

The blessed hope of believers in Jesus/Yeshua is that we will dwell with Him, in peace and in our perfect glorified bodies, forevermore and for all eternity.  It’s all about God filling heaven with people who want and choose to be with Him.  We presently are in the testing ground, but the testing will come to an end when Jesus returns.  The sheep (the saved) will be separated from the goats (the unsaved).  Those who love Jesus Christ will rule forever with Him in heaven.  We will get through this present darkness, and there is a bright future for those who put their faith and trust in Jesus.

         

         

30-second slideshow

Today’s program, lasting 55 minutes, can be heard here:

It’s Getting Gloriously Dark — Audio | Video
Jan. 12, 2024
Stock Market

Early this morning (Middle-East time), the United States and Britain, with support from Australia, Canada, the Netherlands and Bahrain, carried out a series of air strikes on Houthi military locations in Yemen.  Houthis are followers of Shia Islam.  They are backed by the Islamic Republic of Iran.

For weeks, Houthi militants in Yemen have been increasing their attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea.  The attacks have been going on since November.  They have stated that it is a protest against Israel’s war in Gaza.

Last week, the U.S. and thirteen other countries issued a joint statement saying, “The Houthis will bear the responsibility for the consequences should they continue to threaten lives, the global economy, or the free flow of commerce in the region’s critical waterways.”  This week, John Kirby, the White House national security spokesperson, warned the Houthis to stop their attacks.  He said that a failure to do so would result in the terrorist group’s bearing the consequences for their actions.

Yesterday, in their 27th attack since November 19, Houthis fired an anti-ship ballistic missile into international shipping lanes in the Gulf of Aden.  Also, Iranian forces seized an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman.

US, allies attack Houthi targets
in Yemen in response to missile
barrages in the Red Sea
    US-UK coalition strike Iran-backed
Houthi targets in Yemen after
spate of ship attacks in Red Sea

Jan. 11, 2024
Stock Market

Yesterday was the 33rd anniversary of my last day of work in 1991.  I had worked as an optometrist and optometric physician at FHP in Fountan Valley, CA, for many years.  Then I left the eye-care profession to pursue other interests, although I have included an extensive section about the human eye at my website.

Officially, Jan. 11 was supposed to be my final workday.  However, I called in “sick” that morning and went to Long Beach for a really enjoyable day.  I just couldn’t wait one more day to gain my freedom, which I have enjoyed having every single day since then, thanks to God’s provisions for all of my needs. 


Jan. 10, 2024
Stock Market

It has been more than three months since the 2023 Israel–Hamas war began on Oct. 7, 2023.  Today, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) reported that since the beginning of that war, there have been at least 3,283 antisemitic incidents in the U.S.

Also, there are fears that the ongoing Israel-Hamas war and related conflicts could lead to a larger war in the Middle East.  Here are four example of this:

• Who are the Houthis, and why are they attacking ships in the Red Sea?
• U.S. bases in the Middle East under attack
• The Hezbollah factor
• ISIS attacks Iran, Israel gets the blame

ADL records more than 3,200
antisemitic incidents since
start of Israel-Hamas war
    Four flashpoints in Israel-
Hamas conflict that could spark
wider war in the Middle East

Jan. 9, 2024
Stock Market

In ancient Israel, the prophet Isaiah lived during the 8th century B.C.  He was the greatest prophet of all.  For instance, he correctly predicted both the destruction of Israel by Assyria and the destruction of Judah by Babylon (Isaiah 7:17-25, 39:5-7).

Isaiah also made numerous prophecies about the coming Messiah, who would be a suffering servant (at His first coming) and a ruling king (at His second coming).  One of the greatest chapters in the entire Bible is Isaiah 53.

Traditional Judaism most often identifies the entity in Isaiah 53 as the nation of Israel, which has suffered greatly throughout history.  Christians see this entity as describing aspects of the suffering Yeshua/Jesus, whose affliction brought healing, hope, and deliverance to the world.  Here is one passage:

He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.  Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.  Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.  But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.  We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.   He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. (Isaiah 53:3-7)

Jan. 8, 2024
Stock Market

The NFL post-season playoffs and Superbowl LVIII are approaching.  There will be three weekends of playoff games, followed by a gap of two weeks, and finally this year’s Superbowl game:

• Super Wild Card Weekend: Saturday, Jan. 13 | Sunday, Jan. 14 | Monday, Jan. 15
• Divisional Round: Saturday, Jan. 20 | Sunday, Jan. 21
• Championship Sunday: Sunday, Jan. 28
• Super Bowl LVIII: Sunday, Feb. 11

 

2024 NFL playoff schedule, bracket:
Dates, times and TV for every
round of AFC and NFC postseason
    2024 NFL payoff bracket: Picks,
predictions, best bets for AFC,
NFC schedule from proven model

Jan. 7, 2024

King the only God
Jan. 6, 2024

At Olive Tree Ministries this weekend, Jan Markell spent the first part of the hour with Dr. James De Young and John Balch.  They discussed life after the Rapture for those left behind.  The word “rapture” comes from a Latin word “rapio” meaning “to snatch away” and move from one place to another.

At some point, God will snatch away those who have put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.  At that time, multiple millions will be taken up and away, but multiple billions will be left behind.

Jan spent the second half of the program with Todd Hampson.  They talked about the book of Daniel.  It is more important today than ever before, as much of it fortells our day.  Many of the prophecies in the book of Daniel connect with many of the prophecies in the book of Revelation.

         

         

30-second slideshow

Today’s program, lasting 55 minutes, can be heard here:

Where Did Everyone Go? — Audio | Video

Personally, I definitely do believe in a main Rapture event, which I am convinced will be a Pre-Wrath Rapture.  Reasons why I disagree with the Pre-tribulation view of the Rapture and embrace the Pre-wrath view of the Rapture are explained in the first six email responses that I have written in Rapture Questions & Responses.

Those who believe in a Pre-tribulation Rapture feel that the whole “tribulation” period (final 7 years of this age) will consist of the wrath of God.  Yet, in the book of Revelation the word “wrath” does not appear until Revelation 6:16,17, following the Sixth Seal disturbances.

The impending wrath will be a response by God to a plea from the souls of those who had been killed following the opening of the Fifth Seal.  Their appeal is for God to avenge their blood (Revelation 6:9,10).  This will result in God’s day of vengeance, which will consist of God’s wrath and will be preceded by a Pre-Wrath Rapture.

Also, I believe that, in 2 Thessalonians 2:6-8, the one holding back the “secret power of lawlessness” and the “lawless one” (that is, the Antichrist) is the archangel Michael, not Christian believers or the Holy Spirit of God.  My explanation for this is in the restrainer section.

I do leave open the possibility for a Mid-tribulation Rapture to take place at or near the middle of the 70th WeekIf that possibly should happen to occur this year, it seemingly would be appropriate for it to take place on the Feast of Firstfruits, the day that Jesus rose from the dead as the “firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20).  That will be during the week following Passover (the last week of April this year).  In case that happens, it will be followed immediately by the beginning of the dreaded Great Tribulation.


Jan. 5, 2024
Stock Market

We should be loyal to others, but our primary loyalty needs to be to God.  We can do this by thanking Him regularly for our numerous blessings, doing things we know He would want us to do, refraining from doing things we know He dislikes, and revering Him more highly than anyone and anything else in our lives.

Also, loyalty is more than words; true loyalty will result in actions.  Being loyal is committing our thoughts and actions to God first.  He values loyalty in His followers and is strong in showing His appreciation for it.

2024 may be a year with many trials and troubles.  It will be an essential time to make God our primary focus and strive to be constantly loyal to Him.


Jan. 4, 2024
Stock Market

The National debt of the United States (the U.S. National Debt) has surpassed another milestone high.  It now is above $34 trillion.

Just over a year ago, in December of 2022, the debt was about $31.5 trillion.  Therefore, it has risen an unfathomable $2.5 trillion in barely over a year.

There is no end in sight to the debt escalation.  Most likely, this eventually will lead to the worst economic collapse that this nation ever has experienced.

 
Jan. 3, 2024
Stock Market

Yesterday in Lebanon, Israel killed Saleh al-Arouri in a strike outside of Beirut.  He was a senior Hamas official and is the highest-ranked member killed in the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.

In response, Hassan Nasrallah, leader of Iran-backed Hezbollah, said that the strike was “a serious attack on Lebanon, its people, its security, sovereignty and resistance.  We affirm that this crime will never pass without response and punishment.”

Hezbollah has an arsenal of about 150,000 missiles, pointed at Israel, hidden in the hills of southern Lebanon.  Fears are growing of a widening regional conflict, involving Israel and its enemies.

The danger of this war expanding
remains real after Israeli
strike on Hezbollah stronghold
    Israel's Mossad chief vows to
hunt down Hamas members day after
senior figure killed in strike

Jan. 2, 2024
Stock Market

Japan road damaged by major 7.6 earthquakeYesterday, on New Year’s Day, Japan was rocked by a powerful earthquake.  It is being referred to as the 2024 Sea of Japan earthquake.  Tens of thousands of homes and other buildings were destroyed.

The magnitude of the quake on the Richter Scale was 7.6, which is rated as a major quake.  There have been at least 200 aftershocks following the main shock.  More shaking is expected over the next few days and weeks.

The initial temblor took place in the Ishikawa Prefecture.  It is located on Japan’s west coast, about 180 miles west of Tokyo.

So far, the death toll from the quake is 55, with that number likely to rise.  Most of the deaths were in the cities of Wajima and Suzu.

Japan racing to find
survivors after 'catastrophic'
earthquake; at least 55 dead
    Japan Quake Death Toll Rises
to 55 With Search On for
Those Still Trapped

Jan. 1, 2024

Happy New Year!  I hope that 2024 is a good, favorable and prosperous year for you and yours.  Hopefully, none of your kids or grandkids went out into space on a fireworks rocket

       
15-second slideshow

Below is a link to my 2024 calendar in pdf format.  You might want to download it and tape it to a wall nearby.  I have one on a wall near my desk.

This calendar is not meant to substitute for a 12-page, calendar on which scheduled reminders can be written.  Mine always is in plain view, and I frequently use it as a quick reference for future dates, as well as phases of the moon each month.

2024 Calendar

Also, here is a small copy of the 2024 calendar (with no monthly moon phases), as well as a list of notable dates throughout 2024:

Calendar 2024 | Notable Dates 2024


If you’ve never read the Bible straight through, from cover to cover, you might want to do it in 2024.  Go to the following page, print out the pages in PDF, HTML, DOCX or DOC format, and check off the passages as you read them:

Chronological List of Bible Passages

Another option is a daily reading schedule that skips around the Bible.  I now prefer reading it this way myself.  Samaritan’s Purse has a yearly reading list, which I like, that does this.  You can download these four pages in pdf format and print them out:

Bible Reading 2024

The Holy Bible is God’s Law and Instruction Manual for life.  Don’t worry if you are unable to understand everything you read; eventually, God will give us answers to everything we wonder about.  One of the main things you will come to understand is God’s everlasting covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—see God’s Covenant: with Israel or the Church?

So in case you’ve never read the Bible all the way through, do it!  If you’ve done it before, do it again; you never can get too much of God’s written Word!  Since 1990, I have read all of it more than 25 times.

You can read one of a number of Bible versions at Bible Study Tools or at BibleGateway.com.  If you read it for an average of 15 minutes a night before bed, you will sleep better for a whole year. 

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