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 A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. Home About Us Archives Free email subscription  Listen to these messages  Text only for printing Follow Daily Encouragement on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn     See here for more info. <Previous Message · Archive edition Tuesday, January 27, 2015  A female cardinal Photo by Georgia "If It Goes Down, I’m Going Up!" Listen to this message on your audio player."Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon" (Revelation 16:16). “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns" (Revelation 19:6). Many readers are aware that here in the Northeast a major snowstorm is underway. We have received a number of calls and emails from family and friends expressing concern but actually we are a bit west of the major storm impact. We got snow overnight and this morning light snow has fallen. As the weather reports are updated less than a foot is projected for our area over the next couple days. As of our writing this message the news also reported, "blizzard largely spares New York but pounds New England." So we're thinking of our many friends in New England where we resided for nearly eight years. Over the last couple days the news and weather people have made this winter weather front a major News topic as they used terms like "monster storm", "epic" and "a top five storm of history" (although I noticed on the accompanying graphs "history" goes back 25 years!) But one term especially caught my attention, "snowmageddon". Of course this got me to thinking about Armageddon so today let's consider this future event, which is mentioned only once by that name in the entire Bible. Armageddon is the Biblical hill of Megiddo, an archaeological site on the plain of Esdraelon, south of present-day Haifa in Israel. It is the place where the last battle between good and evil will be fought. "Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon." Walter A. Elwell in the Baker's Bible Dictionary writes concerning Armageddon, "John sees the final triumph of God at Armageddon and offers that to the persecuted Christians as a word of comfort and hope that evil will not win, but is doomed to ultimate destruction." Consider this heartening word of comfort, hope and bright assurance for those enduring persecution day after day, year after year. A few chapters later John wrote, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns." One blogger writes, "Armageddon is the final accumulated manifestation of the godless rebellious heart of mankind throughout the centuries expressed at its pinnacle and zenith."* Like many I find prophecy interesting but all through my ministry I have been careful about being overly dogmatic on specifics. All through my life (and it has been true in previous generations) I have seen those who predict an event with certainty that never came to pass. (Older readers may recall the "88 Reasons" book predicting the rapture in 1988. But I do believe the Scriptures and, although I do not understand or predict all that is involved with Armageddon, I do believe! Last night I watched a news program that featured a spot with Franklin Graham stuck on an elevator in a 34 floor office building in Hanoi, Vietnam. Several people were trapped for ten minutes. That might not sound like a long time but in that small setting when you're not at the controls a very unsettling feeling can quickly mushroom into full-blown panic. Uncertain as to the outcome of their dilemma Franklin spontaneously declared seven faith-filled words to the troubled group, “If it goes down, I’m going up.” (link to video below) As we consider events within our own country or those around the world it sure seems like the world is going down. In fact it seems there is a hastening of the slide into decadence but let us like Franklin Graham on the dysfunctional elevator have this growing and confident assurance due to our faith in Christ. “If it goes down, I’m going up.” Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber  Daily prayer: Father, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ, we want to do our part in standing firm against the growing tide of evil. So we go on the offensive by applying the Sword of the Spirit which helps us understand, interpret and spiritually prepare for that which we were not subjected to in the past. We go on the defensive by suiting up in our spiritual armor; the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, gospel of peace, shield of faith, and helmet of salvation. Like a blanket we cover all these weapons of spiritual warfare in prayer, asking You to prepare us for the daily challenges of living for Christ. We also pray that we will remain faithful and uncompromising to Your Holy Word should we face any cataclysmic event in our lifetime. In the holy name of Jesus we pray. Amen. Brooksyne and I both enjoy feeding and watching the birds. We have 12 feeders we can see from our home office window and many times most of them have a group of birds feeding. Our newest view is three tube feeders I have directly in front of the window where I am only about three feet from the birds. Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources “The King Is Coming" Video GVB "Glorious Day (Living He Loved Me)" Video Casting Crowns "I'll Fly Away" Video Homecoming Friends "It Won't Be Long" Video Andrae' Crouch and the Disciples This song came out in 1972 when I was in high school and had just become a Christian. Many years have passed and several weeks ago Andrae' Crouch died. Yet we still can sing "It Won't Be Long"! See 2 Peter 3 Here's the video of Franklin Graham stuck in the elevator in Hanoi. * For some reason this blogger is not identified by name but attends a Bible Church in Connecticut. Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne  Stephen and Brooksyne Weber (Click on photo to enlarge) About Us "We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!" Personal Ministry Update (Revised 12/10/14) Are our daily encouragement messages a blessing to you? Each weekday morning Brooksyne and I prepare these messages and distribute them at no cost to you and many others all over the world. We ask you to consider an offering to Daily Encouragement Net so that we can continue to prepare and provide this daily resource which is accessed by believers and seekers all over the world. Daily Encouragement Net relies solely on the generosity and financial support of its readers and podcast listeners. See here for more information on supporting this ministry. Gifts are tax deductible. Click here to donate online.2015 YTD offerings to Daily Encouragement Net: $1,025.00 We express thanks to all who support our ministry! SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION  If this email was forwarded to you, you can subscribe here.These messages are never sent by us unsolicited. It was sent to you because you either signed up to receive it OR it was forwarded to you. 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"Hymns of Hope" - Brooksyne along with two friends made a CD using classic hymns. Brooksyne tells the background story of the 11 hymns. All of these songs are also available for download on the site. Personal Mission Statement "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."  How to become a child of God Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version. Other versions are also occasionally used. © Copyright 2015 Stephen C. 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