Crackdown on churches is "spreading" in Southern Laos. According to Worthy News, a government crackdown on churches in southern Laos is spreading to a new district with the brief detention of two "prominent pastors" for alleged unauthorized worship and their involvement in evangelism and an order to take down crosses. Officials reportedly said they suspect the leaders are holding illegal church services with outside support. Additionally, police and district officials accused the two men of "proselytizing" and ordered them to stop spreading the Christian message to the Lao people "because due to their witness a large number of people have come to believe in the Christian faith." 

The Bible says in Matthew 5:10: "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

Iran begins new round of talks with IAEA. According to the Associated Press, a senior U.N. nuclear agency official urged Iran to allow access to sites, people and documents it seeks in its probe of suspicions that Tehran conducted secret research into nuclear weapons development. The appeal came as International Atomic Energy Agency officials renewed talks with Iranian envoys aimed at persuading Tehran to allow IAEA experts to visit a suspect site at the Parchin military complex. The agency believes that site was used by Iran to test multipoint explosives of the type used to set off a nuclear charge. Iran denies such experiments and insists it has no plans to turn its civilian nuclear program to making weapons.

Sudanese authorities close down Christian offices in South Darfur. According to Compass Direct News, security agents in Sudan's South Darfur state have closed down the Nyala offices of the Sudan Council of Churches (SCC) and relief group Sudan Aid. Three staff members from Sudan Aid were arrested in the course of the closure and were taken to an undisclosed location. The actions came as Christianity is increasingly regarded as a foreign faith to be excised from Sudan, which has begun transporting ethnic South Sudanese to South Sudan following the latter's secession last year.

You can read these stories in-depth and get more prophecy-related news at www.secondcomingherald.com.

In closing, remember the words of the Lord in Matthew 24:42: "Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come." Matthew 24:44 says, "Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh."

If you are not ready, John 3:16 says "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." May I encourage you to accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour today so that you can be ready for Jesus Christ's return.

Signs of His Coming: The world braces for a possible split of the eurozone | 58 Percent Of Americans Believe Economic Conditions In The United States Will Be Good A Year From Now | Mexican volcano is spewing huge clouds of ash and flaming rocks

Prophecy Bootcamp: Our topic for today is titled "Why Jesus Must Return to Earth (Part 3)" from John MacArthur's book "The Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ." 

Action Point: God wants us to be active and engaged in spiritual warfare in the last days. In light of that, please listen to what Dr. David Jeremiah writes in his book titled "I Never Thought I'd See the Day". The title of this section is "When Christian's Wouldn't Know They Were in a War (Part 5) -- Satan is the Great Deceiver".

+ Plus, listen to Kari Jobe singing "Revelation Song"

Nigerian churches are still under attacked by suspected militants. According to Persecution.org, at least two churches were attacked by suspected Islamic militants in northern Nigeria in recent days, following several other incidents that killed some 20 Christians. Evangelist Paul Jongas was returning from a tour in Niger when he found out that an Evangelical Church of West Africa in Yobe state was attacked and burned to ashes. He said, "No deaths were reported. However, last night some armed men attacked St. Michael's Catholic church in Borno state. There was no immediate known claim of responsibility, but the Nigerian Islamic group Boko Haram was suspected to be behind the attacks.

The Bible says in Romans 8:37-38: "As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us."

Iran may have conducted nuclear explosives testing . According to The Inquisitr, an image has emerged and found itself into the hands of the Associated Press that shows Iran may have already conducted explosives testing to develop nuclear weapons.  The drawing of the explosives chamber was given to the AP by an insider to the IAEA inspections program.  The explosives testing chamber is supposedly located at the military site at Parchin Military complex, deep within Iran. IAEA officials have acknowledged that the drawing was given to them by someone within the Iranian nuclear program and that is why they have failed to elaborate on any other details about the drawing or its specifics for fear it could endanger the informant's life

Italy boosts security amid fears of anarchy. According to the AFP, Italy's government has raised the alert level at sensitive sites nationwide after an anarchist group shot and wounded the head of a nuclear energy company. Interior minister, Anna Maria Can-cell-ieri told Italian newspapers, "The risk of an escalation of anarchist terrorism is real," adding that soldiers could be deployed to guard some sites. Relevant agencies had been ordered "to raise the alert level around sensitive targets throughout the country."

You can read these stories in-depth and get more prophecy-related news at www.secondcomingherald.com.

In closing, remember the words of the Lord in Matthew 24:42: "Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come." Matthew 24:44 says, "Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh."

If you are not ready, John 3:16 says "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." May I encourage you to accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour today so that you can be ready for Jesus Christ's return.

Signs of His Coming: Israel says Iran could order Hezbollah to strike Israel | Iran is boasting that the United States has abandoned Israel | More young people are rejecting traditional religious beliefs

Prophecy Bootcamp: Our topic for today is titled "Why Jesus Must Return to Earth (Part 2)" from John MacArthur's book "The Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ."

Action Point: God wants us to be active and engaged in spiritual warfare in the last days. In light of that, please listen to what Dr. David Jeremiah writes in his book titled "I Never Thought I'd See the Day". The title of this section is "When Christian's Wouldn't Know They Were in a War (Part 4) -- Knowing Our Enemy".

Israel aims to become the region's undisputed naval power. According to Gulf News, with the acquisition this month of a sixth German-made submarine, Israel is seeking to position itself as the region's undisputed naval powerhouse. From spying on enemies to intercepting illegal arms shipments to blockading the Gaza Strip, Israel's naval capabilities are playing a more prominent role in the nation's security. The latest advanced German sub, with a price tag of more than $500 million, is Israel's most expensive piece of military equipment. Defence Minister Ehud Barak recently said the subs could also play a role in attacking Iranian nuclear development facilities.

Egyptian presidential candidate threatens Israel with Iranian alliance. According to Israel National News, Israel may face a new Iranian-Egyptian threat if presidential candidate Hish-am El-Bas-ta-wi-si wins his bid to succeed Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Backed by the left-wing Ta-gam-mu party, El-Bas-ta-wi-si said on Saturday that building good relations with Iran would be one of his highest priorities. Israel already faces a northern "axis of evil" by the alliance between Iran, Syria and Lebanon. El-Bas-ta-wi-si also promised to revise the Camp David Accords to allow the army to increase an armed presence in the Sinai Peninsula.

Thousands of people march against economic gloom in Spain and the UK. According to Reuters, thousands of Spaniards fed up with economic misery and waving banners against bankers marched on Saturday to mark the first anniversary of the grassroots "Indignados" movement that has sparked similar protests around the world. Up to 600 people denouncing the Bank of England rallied in London and a Reuters witness said scuffles broke out between some demonstrators and police, with at least 12 arrests. The Indignados and the offshoot Occupy and Take the Square movements had called for a global day of action against anti-debt austerity policies and the widening gap between rich and poor.

You can read these stories in-depth and get more prophecy-related news at www.secondcomingherald.com.

In closing, remember the words of the Lord in Matthew 24:42: "Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come." Matthew 24:44 says, "Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh."

If you are not ready, John 3:16 says "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." May I encourage you to accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour today so that you can be ready for Jesus Christ's return.

Signs of His Coming: An Iranian opposition group says Tehran is accelerating its nuclear program | Hezbollah now says it has the ability to strike anywhere in Israel | Experts say events in Damascus are pushing Syria ever closer to war

Prophecy Bootcamp: Our topic for today is titled "Why Jesus Must Return to Earth (Part 1)" from John MacArthur's book "The Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ."

Action Point: God wants us to be active and engaged in spiritual warfare in the last days. In light of that, please listen to what Dr. David Jeremiah writes in his book titled "I Never Thought I'd See the Day". The title of this section is "When Christian's Wouldn't Know They Were in a War (Part 3) -- Knowing Our Enemy".

+ Plus, listen to Crystal Lewis singing "People Get Ready"

Mothers are a very special part of God's creation. The world would not be what it is today without mothers, especially those mothers who have faithfully and successfully raised their children with love, care, nurture, discipline, and in the ways of the Lord. A mother's world is filled with the awesome responsibility to train up the next generation of young men and women to be servants and citizens of good moral character and integrity. Mothers take special pride in their children reaching their goals and accomplishing great things. We often see football players and basketball players thank two people after a major victory - God and their mother. Statistics show that nearly 50% of people consider their mothers to be the single most important influence in their lives. 

Mothers are there to comfort, guide, and nurture; to love us unconditionally; to encourage us and support us; and to help create a positive environment for us to grow up in. Mothers also help to shape their children's worldview of God, themselves, and other people. Motherhood is the single most important contribution that a woman can make to society. When God Himself sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to earth as a baby, God made sure He had a mother to take care of Him. Above and beyond all of the cooking, cleaning, playing, story-telling, and all the things that many mothers do, the most important thing a mother can do for her children is pray for them. Many children have turned out to be great servants of the Lord because their mothers made it her business to pray for them. 

Susannah Wesley, the mother of the great preachers John and Charles Wesley is said to have prayed two hours each day for her children. St. Augustine's mother, Monica, prayed that her son would serve God and he later become bishop of Hippo in North Africa. Hudson Taylor's mother prayed that God would use her son one day and he turned out to be the greatest missionary to China. We could go on, but down through hundreds of years, mothers have taken to their prayer closets to pray for their children. These Godly mothers prayed earnestly for their children, God heard them and answered their prayers. These mothers had a deep and abiding relationship with God. They knew God for themselves and they made sure that their children knew Him as well. 

If you are a mother and you do not know Jesus Christ for yourself, why not get to know Him on this Mother's Day? It is the best thing you can do for yourself and your children. Allow me to show you how.

She is the president and founder of the Gloucester Institute which is an organization that trains and nurtures leaders in the African American community. She was the director for the United States Office of Personnel Management. She was nominated by George W. Bush in 2001 and served in that position until 2005. Prior to that appointment, she served as Virginia Secretary of Health and Human Resources under then-Governor George Allen and as Senior Vice President of the Family Research Council. She was also the dean of Regent University's government school. She is a current member of the NASA Advisory Council. 

She is a graduate of Hampton University and is the recipient of numerous honorary degrees, including the Doctor of Laws Degree from Pepperdine University. In 2003, she was named the 2003 Distinguished Christian Statesman by Dr. D. James Kennedy, in which she was described as a Christian statesman who "makes it clear that the only way to transform any culture is from the inside out and that 'the children of God will be called upon to lead the way.'" She is a wife, mother of three children, and grandmother of five.

She committed her life to following Jesus Christ while watching Billy Graham on television before entering college. She said that it was while sitting with other students at an InterVarsity Fall Conference in Virginia, that she heard the conference speaker describe the sacrificial death of Christ on the cross and realized that God had a calling for her life. She said it was then that she told God, 'God, I am available to be used by you. Here I am.' She said, "I did not have a plan beyond ‘What is the next opportunity to serve?’ I will tell others, if you're willing to do that and really mean it, hold on, because you don't have a clue as to where your life is going.” Her name is Kay Coles James. 

Ahmadinejad says there is no need for war to 'destroy' Israel. According to the AFP, Iran's state news agency reported that President Mah-moud Ah-ma-din-e-jad said, "The destruction of the Zionist regime does not necessitate making war." During a tour of northeast Iran, the hardline leader stated, "If countries of the region cut ties with the Zionists and give them dirty looks, it will spell the end of this puppet regime." The president on Saturday also mocked Saudi Arabia and other oil-rich Arab states of the Gulf over their huge oil contracts with the West, especially Israel's US ally. 

5.3 Magnitude Earthquake Rocks Israel. According to Israel National News, an earthquake rocked Israel this weekend and was felt in areas from northern Israel to central Israel. According to a Channel 10 News report, the police in the Northern, Central and Tel Aviv Districts said they received hundreds of phone calls from citizens who felt the earthquake. Local residents reported feeling objects and buildings move for about 15 to 20 seconds. There were no reports of injuries or damages. 

Three teenagers arrested for burning Bibles and using satanic symbols to defile churches in India. According to Christian Persecution Update, three boys confessed to burning Bibles and using Satanic symbols in a series of church defilements. Sources said the kids, aged 14, 15 and 18, sneaked out of a hostel at night and committed the sinister activities. They collected Bibles and hymn books from different churches and burnt them on the dance floor on top of a Satanic sign. The youths have defiled at least three churches of different denominations recently. 

You can read these stories in-depth and get more prophecy-related news at www.secondcomingherald.com. 

In closing, remember the words of the Lord in Matthew 24:42: "Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come." Matthew 24:44 says, "Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh." 

If you are not ready, John 3:16 says "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." May I encourage you to accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour today so that you can be ready for Jesus Christ's return.

Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #60

Matthew 7:7-11: "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?"

There is no doubt about it, but we are indeed living in troubling times. Just this past week, our president publicly stated that he supports homosexual marriage. This month, we have college students graduating and they don't even know whether or not they will be able to find work. Many people are still struggling financially. The financial system of Europe is on the verge of collapse. We think we have it bad in America with an 8.1% unemployment rate, but in Spain the unemployment rate is 24%

Perhaps, you have heard people make these statements: "Because of the economic downturn I lost my job. I don't know what I'll do for income."

"I've lost my investments in the stock market, so now I don't have any savings for the future."

"We don't have money to continue our mortgage payments, so we had to foreclose on our house."

"Our hearts are grieving because of the loss of a loved one."

"I had surgery to remove a cancerous tumor. Now the cancer has returned."

We live in difficult days. These and other problems abound, hitting us on all sides.  You may be facing the most devastating time of your life and you don't know what to do. But there is something you can do. You can take your problem to God through prayer. God always hears our prayers and answers according to His will -- even though they may not be answered the way we anticipated.

Many people in the Bible faced terrible problems, too. When they prayed, God answered and resolved their dilemmas. For example Hezekiah, king of Judah, was deathly ill, and when he prayed God healed him and extended his life. Others in dire circumstances -- such as Peter in prison, David being pursued by enemies, and Paul being persecuted -- prayed and God answered.

+ Plus, listen to Jesse Dixon singing "I Know What Prayer Can Do" and CeCe Winans singing "Anybody Wanna Pray".