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Worthy Brief - 8/1/2024

Friend, understand the times!

1 Chronicles 12:32 And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment.

Luke 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

Among the mighty men of David were those of the tribe of Issachar whose special gift was their understanding of the times, a gift of prophetic insight; and this was such a precious gift because included in their discernment was the ability to know how to apply it. In our time prophecy is everywhere. Yeshua (Jesus) warned us that there would be false prophets in the last days, especially approaching His second coming, and He said the prophecy would be so subtle and the false signs so powerful that even the elect might be deceived if that were possible; [Mt. 24:24] While it's clear to many of us that we're living in prophetic days, there are also millions who have no clue of the current times and seasons.

So we're faced with a challenge and a profound, multi-faceted responsibility: to acknowledge the significance of our times, to awaken others to this reality, to rightly discern true from false prophecy, and to know what to do about the things we rightly discern. Wow! Not an easy task. How do we even begin?

I believe that we have a prophetic "anchor"...a fundamental sign, missing throughout all of Church history, until our day. This sign is the rebirth of Israel as a nation. Many of the OT prophets foresaw the in-gathering of the Jewish people to their ancient homeland in the latter days. [Jeremiah 30; Isaiah 43:5-6; Amos 9:14-15; and many others]. Isaiah prophesied the nation's rebirth in a single rhetorical question, "Can a nation be born in a day?" [Isaiah 66:8]. One hundred years ago Israel, (then called "Palestine" by the Romans, as an insult to the Jews), was a barren, sparsely inhabited province in the Ottoman empire, and Jerusalem was hardly ever mentioned in conversation unless someone was reading scripture. Today, Israel is a thriving resurrected nation, reclaimed from desolation, established in one single day, (May 14, 1948), and Jerusalem is in virtually every daily newspaper, the subject of intense controversy throughout the civilized world. This one sign assures me, personally, that we are really and truly living at the end of the age.

I believe we must acknowledge this, share it, WATCH very carefully, and PRAY as the developments in the Middle East conform themselves to the Word of God. The prophetic clock is ticking toward the final hours of this age when the Lord Yeshua will return in power and great glory to judge the entire world of men.

Friend, the sons of Issachar understood their times, and knew what to do. Watching and praying, we can too. Preparing ourselves with holy living for the Lord's return, we must also warn those who live in ignorance of these amazing days by showing them the prophetic sign of Israel's resurrection, and warning them to repent, believe the gospel, and be accounted worthy to escape all these things and to stand before the Son of Man!

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Obadiah and Elianna (Missouri)
(Jacksonsville, Florida)

Editor's Note: During this war, we have been live blogging throughout the day -- sometimes minute by minute on our Telegram channel. Be sure to check it out!

Editor's Note: We are planning our summer Tour so if you would like us to minister at your congregation, home fellowship, or Israel focused event, be sure to let us know ASAP. You can send an email to george [ @ ] worthyministries.com for more information.

Around the World
France: Jews Experience 100 Antisemitic Incidents a Month Since Oct. 7
France’s Jews have been targeted with some 100 antisemitic incidents a month since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel triggered an outpouring of Jew-hatred, and this trend is likely to continue, the Jewish Community Protection Service (SPCJ) in France told the Jerusalem Post. Founded in the wake of the 1980 Paris synagogue bombing, the SPCJ works covertly to protect France’s Jews from antisemitic attacks.
Police Injured After Knife Attack Kills Children In England
More than 50 police officers have been injured in clashes outside a mosque in the seaside town of Southport in England after authorities confirmed that three young girls were killed in a knife attack that shocked the nation.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Iranian Leader Khamenei Declares Tehran’s Duty to Avenge Hamas’ Haniyeh, Promises Severe Retribution Against Israel
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei promises “harsh punishment” for Israel following the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on Wednesday.
US Will Help Israel Defend Itself Against Hezbollah, Pentagon Chief Says
United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said Monday (July 30) that the US will help Israel to defend itself against the Iran-backed Hezbollah terror group in Lebanon should the increasingly deadly cross-border attacks develop into all-out war, the Jerusalem Post reports.

Inside the United States
Trump Sparks Controversy Responding to Harris Race Question From Black Journalists
Former President Donald Trump on Wednesday told a group of Black journalists that he didn't know Vice President Kamala Harris was Black.
U.S. Military Cuts Pre-Trial Deal with 9-11 Attack Planners
Military officials cut a pre-trial deal with three men accused of helping plan the Sept. 11 terror attacks, including alleged mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed.
Biden Admin Title IX Rule blocked in Four More States, Bringing Total to 26
A federal appeals court has ruled that the Biden administration can’t implement its Title IX rules in an additional four states, bringing the total number of statewide injunctions to 26.
US Senate Overwhelmingly Passes Bipartisan “Kids Online Safety Act”
The United States Senate on Tuesday (July 30) voted overwhelmingly to approve bipartisan legislation intended to protect children from dangerous online content and hold tech companies to better account for harm suffered by minors on the internet, CBS News reports.

Christian News
Iran’s New President Not Expected to Relieve Christian Persecution
Christians in Iran are not expecting the country’s new president to improve the harsh persecution they face at the hands of the Iranian Islamic extremist regime, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
India: Kerala State High Court Rules in Favor of Christians
In a rare move of encouragement for Christians in India, the High Court of the south Indian state of Kerala ruled that two young adults can have the religion cited on their official documents changed from Hindu to Christian, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.