Prayer for the World Crisis
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Praise and Prayer for Peace |
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From the first session of Rev. Peter Shimada's
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Peter: Let me read scriptures,
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In the year that King Uzzi'ah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a
throne, high and ifted up; and his train filled the temple. Above
him stood the seraphim; each had six wings: with two he covered
his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.
And one called to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the
LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory." (Isaiah 6:1-3)
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And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send,
and who will go for us?" Then I said, "Here am I! Send me." And
he said, "Go, and say to this people: `Hear and hear, but do not
understand; see and see, but do not perceive. (Isaiah 8-9)
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Then I said, "How long, O Lord?" And he said: Until cities lie
waste without inhabitant, and houses without men, and the land
is utterly desolate, and the LORD removes men far away, and
the forsaken places are many in the midst of the land.
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Prayer:
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Lord, our God, we never imagined that we would witness the dreadful
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destruction in America, which happened on September 11, 2001. The whole world
community is stunned and nations are trembling and shaken. People, the old and the
young, do not know what to do now.
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What an awful time this is! Lord, is this the time that You have spoken in the
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Bible as the day of the Lord? The End Time has come?
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At our Retreat in Tsumagoi, Shizuoka (August 29-31, 2001), we felt the Spirit
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indicating, "The time of Seraphim has come." Oh, the hour has come. As You said, the
day of the Lord, the time of Seraphim has come on the earth. From collapse to ruin,
from ravage to destruction, cities are laid waste and no inhabitant. Such a dreadful
time has come on the earth.
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Who wants to see the earth desolate? We want to see only things good and
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pleasant. But Your glory as it descends on the earth brings forth hideous destruction
and calamity upon the earth. Oh, Lord, is this the way You judge us, humankind?
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True that be, the tragic calamity and destruction have been more than we
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And yet, Your word indicates this is the beginning of birth pain.
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O Lord, we call upon Your holy Name now. We have no hiding place but You,
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living God Christ Jesus.Holy, holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty. The whole earth
is full of His glory.
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In the last days, God says, I will pour out My Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see
visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on My servants,
both men and women, I will pour out My Spirit in those days, and
they will prophesy. I will show wonders in the heaven above and
signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke.
The sun will be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood,
before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. And
everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'
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The prophesy of Joel is fulfilled. The day of Pentecost was the beginning of
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fulfillment and the prophecy is reaching to its final fulfillment. The Holy Spirit has been
poured out like the last days. I believe that we are witnessing the final fulfillment of
the prophecy.
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Today we have the first session of New Bible Study. I don't think this is
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a coincident. I believe that we are entering into a new age. I feel as if the Lord has
opened the curtain on the stage where a great and probably the last drama are going
to be performed.
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Did you think what I said was exaggeration? The world is aflame and rapidly
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approaching to the End Time. I will no longer try to restrain my words. Do you think
this is the mere tragic disaster that happened in the US? No, no, we have arrived to
the point of human history to which no past incident can be compared: none in parallel.
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This is like the catastrophe at the Great Hanshin Earthquake. Right after the
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disaster happened, even the dwellers of the land did not know how big the calamity
was. Today is right next day of the tragic catastrophe in the US. And people here are
not aware of the impact of the disaster.
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I am not a student of economics and have very little knowledge of it, but I can
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tell you that the economic panic may hit the world soon. Before the US disaster, the
world economy had been bad enough, but aftermath of the disaster might be far
worse than ever. I can see only chaos and chaos in worldwide scope.
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The environmental destruction has already started. Mass media informs us
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that the mad cow disease is found in Japan as well. It is a dreadful time now. It is the
result of the sin of mankind. It was caused by the dreadful sin of mankind that made
cows eat other cows that normally eat grass only.Foolish mankind has turned man's
best friend into hideous monster.
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Behold, mankind is trying to destroy him with his own hand.
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Global warming is progressed at a fierce speed, and the earth may not be
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sustained for a few decades. Yet, the very foolish mankind does not stop it.
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Why don't you wake up now?
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Finally the time is up. I sincerely do not want to see it. I am the last person who
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would like to see this beautiful earth wrecked, contaminated and ablaze.
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At Tsumagoi Retreat, I said the time of Seraphim came here on the earth.
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Believe me, I did not want to speak out and write about this dreadful time.
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The subject was the most remote from my concern. But the heavy burden has come
upon me. I cry like prophet Jeremiah.
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My bowels, my bowels! I convulse in pain. O walls of my heart!
My heart is restless within me; I cannot be silent because you
have heard, O my soul, the sound of the ram's horn, the alarm
of war. (Jeremiah 4:19)
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The time of Seraphim is the special time of God's visitation. We shall see the
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glorious presence of the Lord even as prophet Isaiah saw. Seraphim flied and cried
each other:
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Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of
His glory.
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And this magnificent presence of the Lord brought force the harsh judgment on
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the earth. The prophet heard the Lord's stern warning. The prophet had to declare
God's pronouncement: "until cities lie waste without inhabitant, and houses without
men, and the land is utterly desolate."
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I see the exact prediction for the present world.
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The presence of the Lord is ever close down now, and at the same time it
means that the chaotic natural phenomena will prevail. Destructions one after
another, we are getting into the days of great chaos and dreadful destruction,
which men have never seen.
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I am delivering you the most important message, for we do not have time left.
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Return to the Lord our God.
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Can you say sincerely, Only Christ Jesus is all and all for me? Do you make up
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your mind to stand still on the foundation of your faith in the Lord alone?
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Even now if there is anyone who insists on his/her own way, I will warn you:
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soon you will be removed far away by the judgment blow of the Lord.
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As I forecasted that our earth might not sustain until the days of our
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grandchildren, we are surely in the midst of the fearful days. The destined time of our
earth is close to countdown of one minute before midnight, or it may be less than one
minute. To the great fearful things, countries antagonize one another, nations battle
against one another; wars may be taken place in everywhere. Yet, the totally different
type of wars from what we have known would take place. This war is against the
invisible enemy.America, the most powerful nation on the earth, got lost and cannot
find the effective means against the terrorists. They say it evoked the Pearl Harbor
Attack over 50 years ago, but this one is much more than that. At that time they
could clearly see the enemy, Japan, and it was easy to assail. However, this time is
different. America has decided to strike back the invisible enemy. Insanity and
fanaticism are driving the whole world crazy. Japan and many other nations shall be
involved.
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No time to waste. If you do not return to God right now, if you do not pray for
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the earth, our earth will be destroyed in ruins.
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Oh, I wish what I am saying were my pure imagination and delusion. But I am
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The time of Seraphim is the time of the Holy Spirit. Yes, it is. It is the great
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pouring of the Holy Spirit just like the Pentecost.
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On the day of the Pentecost God poured out fiercely His Spirit for the first
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time on the earth. The new history started at that point now is approaching toward
the end. The Biblical prophesy is just like throwing a stone into a pond, which cause
the first ripple and continually cause the ripple after ripple. Finally the ripples reach
the rim of the pond, which will end the ripples.
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On the day of the Pentecost, God poured out the Holy Spirit. Peter stood up
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and preached, In the last days, God says, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. This
was the beginning of the Last Days. This was the first ripple.
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On the day of the Pentecost there was no convulsion of nature. Only the Spirit
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of God was fiercely poured out on the earth. However, this time not only the great
pouring of the Holy Spirit, but also a convulsion of nature is taken place just like the
Joels prophesy. Do you think it is a small thing that the Lord has abundantly poured
out His life and the Spirit upon little and nameless people like us?
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In the last days, God says, I will pour out My Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see
visions, your old men will dream dreams. (Acts 2:17)
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The Spirit of God was poured out. We have seen the amazing things for ten
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years. But the Lord has said, "Do you think you've seen great and amazing things
enough? You have just arrived at the threshold of My glorious Kingdom. If you see
everything, you will surely die, overwhelmed with splendor of My glory."
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To me, the publication of "White Dove" is a heavenly sign. We rejoice that the
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book has finally come to the eyes of the public.
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But another sign does not look good. The earth is in blood and fire, when the
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Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in Manhattan collapsed with a great crash,
the solid cloud of smoke was like hell's agony.
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I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth
below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned
to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the
great and glorious day of the Lord. (Acts 2:19-20)
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Last night, I spent a sleepless night until the break of dawn. I now realize that
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the dreadful time has finally come. When I watched on TV the Twin Towers of the
World Trade Center collapsed, I saw the civilization we had built up collapsed with a
great crash. People including you and me have run the show as if we could fool God. I
want to have this." "I want to have that," I want to make more money."I want...""I
want..." Look, the symbols of our desires have gone like smoke.
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As we mentioned a little at this Summer Retreat, Mitsuko and I acknowledged
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that it should not be just another annual retreat. In a sense,we went to Tsumagoi with
the final preparation, of which meaning we did not understand, though. God tells us
that He will protect the people of praise even by sending the Seraphim.
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I tell you my sincere conviction: the praise God has given to Kohitsuji no Mure is
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the last hope for the world and for the earth. The Lord God has prepared for us
heavenly weapons for us to combat with destructive forces on the earth. As we
praise the Lord with heavenly hosts, God not only protects His people but also heals
the wounded earth.
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Since the tragedies last night, we have already received a few faxes from
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the United States. This outbreak of disaster is not only the tragedy of the United
States. Yasuko Noguchi who participated in this Tsumagoi Retreat works near the
World Trade Center in New York, and she had a narrow escape from the death at the
time of outbreak. God protected her. This is the sign of His promise: the Lord
promised that He protects His people. God protected her just as He promised.
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He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the
shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge
and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust." Surely He will
deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly
pestilence. He will cover you with His feathers, and under His
wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and
buckler. You will not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the
arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in
darkness, nor of the plague that destroy at midday.
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Listen to the Word of God!
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A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right
hand; but it will not come near you. You will only observe with
your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. Because you
have made the Lord, who is my refuge,even the Most High, your
dwelling place, no harm will befall you, no disaster willcome near
your tent. For He will command His angels concerning you to
guard you in all your ways. They will lift you up in their hands, so
that you will not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread
upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample underfoot the
young lion and the serpent. "Because he has set his love upon
Me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he
acknowledges My name. He will call upon Me, and I will answer
him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life will I satisfy him, and show him My salvation."
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This is God's promise as well as His message to you. A thousand may fall at
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your left side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but don't be afraid. Take refuge
under the wings of the Lord and praise the holy God. Know that it is not only you that
will be saved when you call upon the holy name of the Lord, the Lamb of God who
was slain.
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We don't pray and praise for the sake of ourselves to be saved and placed in a
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safe place. At the end time, the Lord will protect His people. It is because God hopes
no one will perish but everyone will have the eternal life. He hopes that a s many
people as possible will be saved. Our praise is for the sake of His salvation of the earth.
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The time has come. The Lord turned the last page to mankind and the earth. It
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is the time of the Book of Revelation. The light of Christ Jesus now came into the
earth with the last sparkle. Walk in the light while you have the light. The darkness will
surely come soon. Even if you search for the light after the darkness comes, you will
never find it. No time to wait. Now is the urgent time. Pray now. Pray for the earth
now. Pray for the United States, pray for Japan, pray for Russia, pray for Africa, and
pray for other countries. How can we allow them to destroy the earth God created
with His love? Make apologies to the Lord for the sins of our mankind. We want to
praise and pray for His healing the earth.
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Praise: The Ones You Love I, II
Mitsuko:
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Let me read an E-mail from Shoko O’neil who works in Manhattan:
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I cannot grasp what is really going on out there right now, for there is no
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TV in our office. I feel like crying. I was so worried about my husband who works
right near the World Trade Center that I immediately prayed the Lord. Then I've
got assurance that he was definitely all right, and my worries diminished and
went away from me. It was around 10:30pm that I finally could get a contact
with my husband. He told me that the authority ordered everybody to evacuate
from the vicinity areas of the World Trade Center in downtown. The subway
services have been stopped. I heard that those who lived in Brooklyn tried to
run away through the Brooklyn Bridge, which was overflowed by thousands of
people. And when they turned around, they saw that the Twin Towers of the
World Trade Center collapsed, that reminded me of the fall story of Gomorrah
in the Bible.
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I have no idea what would happen to us next. I do not think I can go home
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in Brooklyn; I will stay with my friends in Manhattan. I am worried about the
sequential disasters, which will make people panicky. Please pray for us. I will
keep on praying, too. Lord, protect the ones you love, pray for them. Kyrie
eleison. Shoko Oneal
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Lord, the terrifying time has come upon us. Not only the United States,but also
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the whole world, no, the whole earth is in crisis now. I believe this time, which is filled
with anxiety and fear on the earth, is the time of the Lord. We sang the praise, Return
to our God and prayed at the Summer Retreat the other day that this praise would
fill the earth and that all people on earth would return to God. Salvation is in Jesus
Christ alone. Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. His name can save
the earth.Lord, the Bible tells the following:
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The sun will be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood,
before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. And
everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. "Men
of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth is a Man accredited
by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did
through Him in your midst, as you yourselves know. This man
was handed over to you by God's setting purpose and
foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put Him to
death by nailing Him to the Cross. But God raised Him from the
dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was
impossible for death to keep its hold on Him. David said about
Him: “`I saw the Lord always before me. Because He is at my
right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and
my tongue rejoices; my body also will live in hope, because you
will not leave my soul in Hades, nor will you let your Holy One
see decay. You have made known to me the paths of life; You
will fill me with joy in Your presence. ( Acts2:20-28� )
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Lord, just as David did, we want to see You always before us. “He is at my
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right hand, that I may not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and my tongue
rejoices; my body also will live in hope. The praise you have given to us is our hope,
yes, hope for all mankind and hope for the whole earth. Lord, You have given us Your
praises, and leave them on our earth. The Lord our God, no matter what will happen
to us, we sing Your praises to exalt Jesus Christ the Son of God for the rest of our
life and forever. The Lord our God, who has made His name known to us, may Your
will be done. The Lord our God, who has sent Your Only Son, Jesus Christ to the
earth to save Your beloved ones, again we thank You and pray to You. Please protect
and heal the ones You love. Kyrie eleison. In the name of Jesus I pray, amen.
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Peter:
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And I believe that our praises and prayers to Jesus Christ will permeate
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the earth. Heavenly praises will heal the earth. They slow down decay of the earth, for
we people of praise are the salt of the earth. Nobody knows when the last day will
come. Of course I do not know when it will come. Jesus Himself said, “Even the Son of
Man does not know when the last day will be, only the heavenly Father knows it.” But
at the same time, Jesus said, Watch, for the time has drawn near.This is not to make
you panicky. Nothing but just one thing is essential. We shall return to the Lord our
God and hold on to His mercy. Jesus said that the heavens and the earth will pass
away, but there is just one thing that will never pass. It is the everlasting Word of
God, Eternal Love of Jesus Christ. The hour has come, even the time of Seraphim.
Let us praise and worship the Lord God in Spirit and in truth. Amen.
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