For many watching events in Israel unfold, there is confusion over the red heifer, the building of the Third Temple and what role these elements play in biblical prophecy. The Bible describes the red heifer as part of purification rites in Numbers 19, while Jewish tradition holds that its ashes are necessary for restoring full ritual purity in Temple service. Many Christians are watching closely, seeking to understand what is happening from a biblical perspective.

The Temple Institute, which has been preparing vessels, garments and other requirements for the rebuilding of the Temple, addressed growing questions about whether the ashes of the red heifer are required before construction or offerings can begin.

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“Many people have been asking questions concerning the necessity of acquiring the ashes of the red heifer as a prerequisite for the building of the Holy Temple, or for the performing of offerings on the Temple Mount,” the Temple Institute wrote.

According to their statement, the absence of red heifer ashes is not an obstacle to public offerings or even Temple construction. “Time oriented offerings can be made even when Israel is in a state of impurity (tamei met—the impurity of contact with a corpse that only the ashes of the red heifer can purify),” the Institute explained. These include the daily Tamid offering, festival offerings, and the Passover sacrifice, which “take precedence over the issue of tum’at met.”

Personal sacrifices, however, remain restricted until purification is possible. “Personal offerings (sin offerings, thanksgiving offerings, etc.) cannot be made in a state of impurity, as they are not time bound,” the post stated.

The Temple Institute further noted that the lack of ashes does not prevent construction. “Construction of the Temple can also take place even in the absence of the ashes of the red heifer, when there is no other option. This actually took place during the building of the second Temple,” the statement said. Even repairs can be performed by artisans who are ritually impure if no pure workers are available.

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At the same time, they emphasized the importance of eventually obtaining the ashes. “While the ashes of the red heifer are, indeed, a necessary prerequisite for a fully functioning Temple service, and while the efforts to achieve the ashes are moving steadily forward, a lack of the ashes does not present an impediment to the building of the Holy Temple or the renewal of the public, time oriented offerings.”

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As excitement and speculation continue to build, Christians are reminded to approach these developments with wisdom. The Bible warns that deception will be a hallmark of the last days. Now more than ever, believers are called to prayer, discernment and a firm rooting in the Word of God so “the deception of the devil does not lead us astray.”

James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.

The Vatican is preparing to host a series of events for the LGBTQ community in Rome next week, including a Mass, prayer vigils and a procession to St. Peter’s Basilica. But the nature of these events raises a troubling question: is Pope Leo allowing apostasy to enter the Vatican for the whole world to see?

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On Sept. 5, the international meeting “Listening to the Experiences of LGBTQ Catholics” will take place inside the Vatican, organized by Outreach, a U.S. organization founded by Jesuit Father James Martin. According to the announcement, “LGBTQ Catholics from various countries will share their experiences.”

A Rainbow Crucifix in the Church

Later that evening, a prayer vigil will be held in Rome’s Church of the Gesù with LGBTQ Christians, their parents, and other participants. The Vatican noted that “during the vigil, a rainbow cross will be presented, which was brought to Rome by a group of LGBTQ pilgrims and their parents.”

The use of a rainbow crucifix, a clear distortion of the sacred image of Christ’s sacrifice, is nothing less than heresy. To fuse the cross of Jesus with the symbol of pride that affirms lifestyles the Bible calls sinful (Lev. 18:22; Rom. 1:26–27) is to present before the world a false gospel.

Affirmation or Apostasy?

On Sept. 6, Bishop Francesco Savino, Vice President of the Italian Episcopal Conference, will preside over a Mass at the same church, followed by a Jubilee Pilgrimage to the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica with more than 1,000 participants. Finally, pilgrims will join the Pope for the Angelus prayer in St. Peter’s Square.

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The previous pope, Francis, made several statements indicating openness to the LGBTQ community. Asked whether there was room in the Church for transgender, non-binary or LGBT people, he responded: “Every person is a child of God, everyone. God rejects no one—and clergy in the Catholic Church should not do so either.” He added, “I have no right to expel anyone from the Church. The Church must not close its doors to anyone.”

Loving those who are trapped in sin is one thing. Jesus Himself showed compassion to sinners, but He always called them to “go and sin no more” (John 8:11). What we are witnessing in Rome looks less like an invitation to repentance and more like an affirmation of lifestyles that God has declared abominable.

A Pattern in Mainline Denominations

What is taking place in the Vatican is not happening in isolation. Many mainline Protestant denominations, such as the United Methodist Church, embraced this same road years ago, affirming rather than lovingly correcting sin. Today, those denominations have largely abandoned biblical authority, replacing the gospel with cultural accommodation. This is the fruit of apostasy, the great falling away Scripture foretells (2 Thess. 2:3).

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Should Pope Leo choose to affirm these lifestyles, he risks leading millions into deception. The acceptance of a rainbow cross at the heart of the Vatican illustrates how far the visible church can drift when it places cultural approval above biblical truth.

The End-Times Falling Away

The apostle Paul warned that in the last days people would not endure sound doctrine, but would gather teachers to affirm their desires (2 Tim. 4:3). The events planned at the Vatican bear striking resemblance to this falling away, pointing to a church that prefers applause from the world over obedience to God.

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This moment is not just about the Catholic Church, it is a warning to the global body of Christ. What happens in Rome will reverberate throughout the world, shaping how many perceive Christianity itself.

A Call to Prayer

Christians must pray fervently in this hour. Pray for those who have yielded to their fleshly desires, that they would have a radical encounter with the Holy Spirit, repent of their sin and live a life pleasing to the Lord. Pray for courage among church leaders to stand firm on Scripture, even when it is unpopular. And pray that the true gospel of Jesus Christ, one of love, forgiveness and transformation, will shine through the darkness of compromise and confusion.

James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.

Amazing developments are taking place on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, events that have not been seen in nearly 2,000 years and are now happening in rapid succession.

The Temple Institute recently announced that the shofar has been sounded on the Temple Mount. The group described the moment as “the sound of Israel returning to Hashem and the sound of the coming redemption,” citing Isaiah 27:13, which foretells of a great shofar blast that will gather the exiles back to Jerusalem.

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Their emphatic declaration—“Do not despair. It is happening”—has captured attention across Israel and around the world. Reports and video footage show a growing hunger among Jewish people to worship on the Temple Mount, fueling renewed discussions about the possibility of a rebuilt temple.

The Prophetic Significance

For Christians, these events carry profound prophetic meaning. While the Jewish people do not recognize Jesus as the Messiah and continue to follow the old covenant, Scripture makes it clear that one day their eyes will be opened. Revelation speaks of a future temple that will be desecrated by the Antichrist, an event known as the abomination of desolation.

Though believers understand the body as the temple of the Holy Spirit, the Jewish people do not accept this truth. Yet, prophecy points to a rebuilt temple in Jerusalem that will play a central role in end-times events. Many believe God may use that time of tribulation to open the eyes of His people so they will see that Jesus is truly the Messiah.

Signs Aligning with Scripture

The world stage is aligning with biblical prophecy at an unprecedented pace. Israel is becoming a “heavy stone” to the nations, with global hostility toward the Jewish state increasing. Wars and rumors of wars rage across the globe. Freedoms are being stripped away, replaced by systems of government control that echo Revelation’s warnings about a one-world system regulating commerce.

Other signs Jesus warned of—lawlessness, earthquakes, pestilence, famine and widespread deception—are evident today. The West has largely abandoned its Christian foundation, while Israel remains the central focus of end-times prophecy.

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The Temple Mount, the epicenter of biblical prophecy, has now witnessed both the blowing of silver trumpets in 2024 and the shofar being sounded twice in recent memory. The first took place in secret during Rosh Hashanah 2024 before police intervened. The second, more recent instance, happened openly in daylight without interference.

Israeli leaders such as Itamar Ben-Gvir are voicing strong support for Jewish prayer rights on the Temple Mount. Thousands ascended the mount during Tisha B’Av, while tens of thousands more gathered at the Western Wall to mourn the destruction of the first and second temples. These moments reveal a growing hunger for a renewed temple—a development that would send shockwaves across the globe.

Prophecy in Motion

Skeptics often dismiss Revelation as allegory, but modern history continues to echo biblical prophecy. From Israel’s miraculous rebirth in 1948 to the return of the red heifer for ritual purification, the trajectory is showing that momentum is building toward the restoration of the temple.

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Believers are urged to view these developments through the lens of Scripture, recognizing both the hand of God and the schemes of the enemy. The call is urgent: Do not be deceived about the times in which we live.

A Call to Readiness

Now is the time for Christians to remain steadfast. Believers are called to renew themselves in the Word of God, remain in prayer and fasting, put on the full armor of God and engage in spiritual warfare. Above all, they must boldly share the truth of Jesus Christ.

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The signs are all around us. And one day soon, Christ will return in power and glory.

James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.

The Democratic National Committee is once again drawing outrage after one of its members claimed that the modern political doctrine of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) is the very principle upon which the church of Jesus Christ was built.

During the DNC’s annual summer meeting in Minneapolis, Minnesota, former Tennessee state senator Bill Owen told the Resolutions Committee, “These are American values. This is what America was built on.” He then went further, stating, “And to my Republican friends and fellow citizens who profess to be active Christians, I remind them that DEI is the very foundation of the Christian Church.”

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As reported by The Christian Post, Owen became emotional while defending the resolution, even quoting a children’s Sunday school chorus: “Jesus loves little children, all the children of the world. Red and yellow, black and white.” The resolution in favor of DEI passed unanimously.

But such statements fly in the face of both history and Scripture. The Christian church was not founded on political ideologies, but on Christ Himself, as the apostle Paul wrote: “For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 3:11). Jesus declared, “I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Matt. 16:18).

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To equate DEI with the cornerstone of the church is to replace Jesus with man-made philosophies, something the Bible strongly warns against.

The DNC has a long track record of distancing itself from biblical truth. In 2012, the party removed all mention of God and Jerusalem from its official platform, prompting boos from delegates when a vote was taken to restore the language. By openly rejecting God and His covenant city, the party aligned itself against His Word. And Scripture makes clear there is no middle ground: “He who is not with Me is against Me” (Matt. 12:30).

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While Owen sought to rebuke conservative Christians for opposing DEI, the Bible teaches that truth is not determined by political resolutions or popular applause. Isaiah 5:20 warns, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness.”

For decades, the DNC has championed policies in direct opposition to God’s design for life, family and morality. To then turn and invoke Jesus’ name to justify their agenda is the very definition of hypocrisy.

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God is not a respecter of politics or parties. He alone sets the standard of righteousness, and His Word does not bend to human ideologies. When a political party consistently positions itself against His ways, any attempt to lecture Christians on what the church should stand for is an insult to both God and His people.

James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.

For those of us watching the Middle East with biblical lenses, the unfolding events are not simply political maneuvers but prophetic signposts. The Bible repeatedly warns that in the last days nations will rage against Israel and turmoil will swirl around Damascus.

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Today, reports from Jerusalem confirm that what the prophets spoke of is lining up before our very eyes.

Turkey’s Rising Influence in Syria

Middle East analyst Jonathan Spire highlighted the troubling role Turkey is playing in shaping the future of Damascus on a special edition of The Watchman Newscast with Erick Stakelbeck. “The victory of Hayatam and Ahmed Ashara in Damascus back in December of last year was, of course, their victory, but it was also the victory of Turkey,” Spire said. He explained that the new regime “owes everything to Turkey,” and with Ankara now pledging to build an airport, military, and police structure, “what you will have is a fully fledged client state of Turkey, a Sunni Islamist client state of the Islamist regime in Ankara down there in Damascus.”

For Israel, the implications are chilling. As Stakelbeck noted, this means “a dangerous thing at Israel’s doorstep. A regime in Turkey that is hostile to the Jewish state for sure.”

Damascus and the Prophetic Pattern

The city of Damascus has always carried spiritual weight in biblical prophecy. The prophet Isaiah declared, “Damascus will cease from being a city” (Isa. 17:1). With Turkey entrenching itself, the specter of Damascus becoming a launching point for hostile Islamist forces against Israel brings that prophecy into sharper focus. Spire warned that despite Western optimism, “this is not the first time that we have had the experience of Sunni Islamists in government … and up until now, we have a 100% rate of complete catastrophe as a result of that.”

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From Egypt’s brief Muslim Brotherhood rule to Hamas in Gaza and ISIS in Iraq and Syria, the pattern has always ended in destruction and violence. Yet, as Spire added, “some people in the West think, ‘No, no, this time it’s all going to be different.’ Well, I have news for them. It generally isn’t going to be all that different.”

Israel’s Vigilance and Iran’s Weakness

Israel, aware of what is taking shape across its northern border, has already mobilized. Stakelbeck explained that Israel “has acted militarily recently, just as recently as July, to prevent Shah’s new Syrian army from coming down there into Suwayda province.” These moves show a determination to keep hostile forces from pressing too close.

At the same time, Iran, long the patron of chaos in the region, has been weakened. “The Iranian regime is in a very low point domestically,” Spire said, citing widespread shortages in water and electricity. Still, he warned that “Iran is determined to begin the long process of rebuilding both its own military capacities and indeed the capacities of its proxies. It wants to get back in the game.”

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A Global Spiritual Picture

Chris Mitchell of CBN News added a sobering reminder about the spiritual battle at the heart of all this. “After Oct. 7th when the world is turning against the Jewish people, the world is turning against Israel, when lies are being told, when deception is really spreading globally … anti-Semitism has just exploded globally. So totally irrational.”

What Scripture prophesied is unfolding, nations aligning, Israel standing alone and the city of Damascus becoming a flashpoint once again.

A Call to Prayer and Readiness

As Christians look at these events, the call is not to fear but to discern and act. Jesus said when these things begin to happen, “look up, for your redemption draws near” (Luke 21:28). Now is the time to pray for Jerusalem, stand with Israel and prepare our hearts.

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May believers everywhere commit themselves to prayer, discernment and action—becoming true watchmen on the wall, preparing the way of the Lord as the days of fulfillment draw ever closer.

James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.

As wars, disasters and rumors of global turmoil continue to capture attention, another sign of the end times is quietly spreading, one that targets the very heart of the church. Scripture warns that in the last days, hatred and accusation will rise, even among believers, threatening unity and peace within the body of Christ. This spiritual climate of division, fueled by judgment and anger, may prove to be one of the most destructive forces Christians will face.

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Rabbi Kirt Schneider, in a recent message shared on Daystar, called attention to this overlooked aspect of prophecy. “In addition to the wars and the rumors of wars and the earthquakes and the natural disasters and the plagues, there’s something else that Jesus spoke of in relationship to the last days,” he said. “And he spoke, friends, about the spirit of hatred and accusation in Matthew 24 and Luke 21, even about Christians turning on Christians.”

A Neglected Sign of the Last Days

According to Schneider, this spirit is not theoretical but already active in the church. “Satan has come to steal and kill and destroy,” he explained. “What’s the end result of hatred? Does hatred produce life? Does accusation bring life about?”

Personal Struggles With Judgment

Schneider acknowledged his own struggles with these spiritual battles. “Here I am walking with the Lord now close to 45 years, and I still deal with the spirit of accusation and hatred in my own heart, even with those closest to me. You get frustrated, we all do, and I have to check my heart.”

He shared how he responds in those moments: “Whenever there’s something that comes up in my heart, frustration or anger or accusation or hatred, you know what I do? I lift it up to the Lord. I say, ‘Lord deliver me from this. Cleanse me of this. This isn’t of You.’”

Preparing Hearts, Not Debating Charts

Schneider cautioned believers against reducing prophecy to debates and timelines. “So many of us are focused on the time charts, when will the Rapture come, pre-trib, post-trib, mid-trib, and we even argue with everybody about our point of view,” he said. “But yet at the same time that we’re talking about all these things out there, we don’t recognize the deception that’s going on in our own heart when we’re not treating our own husband or wife or neighbor rightly.”

Instead, he urged Christians to remember the true purpose of prophecy: readiness. “The purpose of knowing about the end times isn’t so that we can argue with people to prove that our end time theology is right,” he said. “Jesus taught us about the end times so we could get ready to meet Him.”

Living With Urgency and Love

Pointing to Israel’s rebirth in 1948 as a prophetic milestone, Schneider said believers must live as though Christ could return at any moment. “We are living, beloved, in a time of great expectation that we have not seen the likes of since the apostles were on earth,” he said. “The truth is we don’t know the day of His return, it could be at any moment.”

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That reality, he added, should drive Christians to daily self-examination: “It’s not what did somebody else do wrong; it’s how did I mishandle that situation? Jesus didn’t come into the world to judge the world but to save the world. There is no condemnation for those that are in Christ Jesus. Don’t be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

A Call to Unity

The antidote to the spirit of hatred is love and humility. “Blessed are the peacemakers, Jesus said,” Schneider reminded. “We need to come together. Jesus said to the church, ‘All men will know you by your love.’ We’re all part of the same body, members one of another. So I want to encourage you today, if you need to, say, ‘Father God, attune my heart to Jesus’ heart. Let me walk in You, in unity, in love, and in grace for all men.’”

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Schneider’s message is both a warning and a call to transformation. He continued, “Love is a bridge builder … let’s walk in peace, beloved.”

James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.

A transgender gunman who carried out a deadly attack at a Catholic school in Minneapolis left behind a manifesto filled with antisemitic hate, Holocaust references and messages directly targeting Jesus Christ — evidence of a spiritual darkness fueling such violence.

Authorities identified the shooter as 23-year-old Robin Westman, who killed two children and wounded 17 others before dying of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The FBI has classified the massacre as domestic terrorism and a hate crime against Catholics.

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In journals translated from Cyrillic script, Westman wrote that if he carried out a racially motivated attack, it would be “against filthy Zionist Jews.” He scrawled “6 million wasn’t enough” on ammunition magazines, while another bore the words “Destroy HIAS,” naming a Jewish refugee aid group. A firearm was marked with “Israel must fall, release the files.”

Video later recovered from a deleted YouTube channel showed a diagram of a church stabbed with a knife and a cardboard target with an image of Christ taped to the head. One magazine was emblazoned with the phrase, “Where is your God?”

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For Pastor Greg Locke, the demons behind the shooter’s writings reflect a spirit that has fueled antisemitism for generations.

“Although it is politically driven and media-driven, I think it’s a deep spiritual issue,” Locke said in a recent podcast addressing antisemitism. “I would say it’s very demonic because it’s the same spirit that’s been around since, you know, Pharaoh trying to eradicate the Jews, Haman trying to eradicate the Jews, Nebuchadnezzar trying to eradicate the Jews, Hitler. It’s the same spirit. It’s just upon a different person in a different generation.”

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He added that the deception at the heart of antisemitism contradicts the witness of Scripture. “Oh, everything wrong in the world is a Jew’s fault. It’s Israel’s fault. And so people just say that with no facts whatsoever. And it makes them sleep better at night. They feel better and say, ‘Oh yeah, that’s what the world believes.’ No, it’s not what the world believes. And it’s certainly not what the God of the Bible believes because 202 times He’s called the God of Israel. He’s never called the God of America. He’s never called the God of Africa, the God of Iran. He’s called the God of Israel. And so to take that away from the Jewish people, I think is a heresy.”

Westman, who had legally changed his name in 2020, wrote that he had been suicidal but wanted to take others with him. “I don’t want to [do] it to spread a message. I do it to please myself. I do it because I am sick,” he wrote.

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The targeting of both Jewish people, Jesus Himself and those who follow Him in this attack illustrates that antisemitism and hatred of Christ are not simply social or political issues but manifestations of spiritual warfare. These acts are demonic at their core because they oppose God’s truth, His covenant people and His Son.

As Scripture warns, the last days will be marked by lawlessness and deception. Attacks like the one in Minneapolis reveal a growing hostility toward the things of God, but they also remind us that Jesus’ return is drawing near.

James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.

For the Jewish people, few sounds carry as much weight as the blast of the shofar. When the ram’s horn was sounded on the Temple Mount, it was more than just a note of tradition: it was a moment filled with history, longing and deep biblical meaning. For millennia, the shofar has symbolized God’s kingship, repentance and the hope for redemption.

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Christians looking on should recognize that this moment is profoundly significant for the Jewish people. While we believe the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promises is found in Jesus Christ, the shofar still speaks to the covenant God made with Israel and the prophetic future we read about in Scripture.

The Roots of the Tradition

The Temple Institute recently highlighted on Facebook the ancient reasons why the shofar is blown, drawing from the teachings of Saadia Gaon, a rabbi from the 10th century. His list of 10 explanations provides insight into why the shofar has remained such a powerful part of Jewish worship, especially around Rosh Hashanah and the Days of Awe leading up to Yom Kippur.

Here’s a closer look at what those 10 reasons are and what they mean:

1. Recognizing God as King

The shofar is sounded the way trumpets once were at the crowning of earthly kings. On Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish people proclaim God as Creator and King of the universe.

2. A Call to Repentance

Its blast begins the 10 Days of Repentance, a season when people are reminded that, by turning from sin, their future can be reshaped.

3. Remembering Mount Sinai

The horn recalls the thunderous sound that accompanied the giving of the Law at Sinai. It serves as a reminder that God’s standards are not man-made but divine.

4. The Prophetic Call

Just as prophets called Israel to turn from sin, the shofar echoes their warnings and their hope that God seeks to refine, not simply to punish.

5. Longing for the Temple

The sound also stirs prayer for the rebuilding of the Temple, where trumpets and shofars once accompanied worship and God’s presence was uniquely revealed.

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6. The Faith of Abraham

Using a ram’s horn ties back to Abraham’s willingness to offer Isaac. Instead, God provided a ram, showing His covenant love.

7. Stirring Awe of God

The piercing note is meant to jolt the heart, first with fear of judgment, then with reverence for God Himself.

8. Anticipating the Day of Judgment

The shofar points forward to a time when God will bring justice to the world, inspiring hope for a restored creation and the coming Messianic age.

9. The Ingathering of Israel

It symbolizes the promised day when the scattered people of Israel will be brought back to their land in unity and strength.

10. Resurrection of the Dead

Finally, the horn reminds hearers of the future resurrection, when even death will be overturned by God’s power.

The Christian Connection

As #1 New York Times best-selling author Jonathan Cahn describes in his new book The Avatar, “I held up a shofar, the ancient biblical trumpet, the ram’s horn, before the multitude….I explained that the sound of the trumpet was the sound of freedom and a representation of the power of God.”

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For believers in Jesus, these blasts are not just part of Jewish tradition, they resonate with the hope we hold in Christ. Paul himself wrote that at “the last trumpet…the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (1 Cor. 15:52).

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The blast of the shofar on the Temple Mount is a living sign of God’s ongoing plan for His people. It is both a reminder of God’s covenant faithfulness and a foreshadowing of the day when the trumpet of God will announce the return of Christ.

James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.

The Bible teaches that serving others is central to the Christian life. Jesus Himself declared in Mark 10:45 that He came “not to be served, but to serve.” That same spirit of compassion was on display as Regent University’s incoming freshman class joined Operation Blessing for its third annual service project.

Excitement filled the air as hundreds of students packed hunger relief bags, hygiene kits and disaster relief supplies to bless those in need. “Very excited. I am very grateful to be here,” one student said as they worked alongside classmates.

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Operation Blessing and Regent University partnered to combine their missions of service and leadership. “They have a passion to raise up Christian leaders to change the world. And we have a passion to help provide help and hope to a hurting world in tangible acts of love in times of crisis,” Dan Moore of Operation Blessing explained.

Some 500 students prepared 1,100 hunger relief bags for local residents, while also assembling nearly 3,000 hygiene kits and 2,000 disaster relief kits for Operation Blessing’s response teams. The timing was significant, as hurricane season is predicted to be active this year. “It makes a huge difference,” one staff member said. “They’re going to be packing these hygiene kits, these disaster relief kits full of cleaning supplies that will go into communities that are impacted by disasters.”

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Students said the effort not only gave them a sense of purpose but also showed them how serving can be a powerful witness. “We don’t just seek to provide physical help, but through that physical help, we can then extend spiritual help and show these people the love of Christ,” one volunteer said. Another added, “It just shows you that your purpose is more than just yourself.”

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As Regent celebrates the largest freshman class in its history, leaders noted how service is built into the school’s mission. “Giving of yourself is actually the best thing you can do. And that emulates the life of Christ, which we’re trying to do here as we create Christian leaders to change the world,” a Regent representative said.

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Service like this echoes the heart of Christ’s teaching. For believers everywhere, it is a reminder that when we lend a hand to those in need, we reflect His love to a hurting world. May we all seek opportunities to serve others in the name of Jesus.

James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.

Scripture tells us that “all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Tim. 3:12). Around the world, countless believers endure trials for their faith, standing firm in the midst of danger. In the war-torn city of El-Fasher, Sudan, one pastor is living this reality daily, embodying courage and faith under fire.

A Pastor Who Refuses to Leave

As two militias battle for control of the region, the Rev. Daramali Abudigin has chosen to remain when many others fled, reports Religion News Service. The 44-year-old priest of St. Mathew, Anglican Church of Sudan, continues to minister in a city besieged by hunger, bombs and stray bullets. “I didn’t leave the church,” Abudigin told Religion News Service. “In a while, I considered leaving, but I changed my mind. I am still staying with my flock. Whenever we lose a person, it makes me very sad.”

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In May, he lost five church members who were living with him after armed men randomly fired into the church compound. Despite the personal grief, Abudigin’s resolve only deepened. He lives in the city with his wife and three sons, refusing to abandon the Christians left in El-Fasher.

Standing Alone Amid Devastation

El-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, has been under siege since April of last year. The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces have carried out relentless assaults, shelling homes, markets and refugee camps. At least 57 people were killed in one August attack, with many more dying from hunger and disease. “The bombs and the bullets strike homes,” Abudigin said. “The markets are very dangerous. One can lose their life anywhere and any time.”

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When his fellow pastor, the Rev. Luka Jomo, was struck by a stray bullet in June, Abudigin rushed him to the hospital, but it was too late. Two young men staying with him were also killed. Even in tragedy, he continued to open the doors of his church to any who would come. “There are no other pastors in Darfur in general,” he explained. “I am the only one in El-Fasher, and I usually combine worshippers in one church to save them from random bombings and shootings.”

Hunger and Hardship

Beyond the gunfire, starvation is claiming lives. “Many children have malnutrition, and we are going to see many of them dying if they do not get help urgently,” Abudigin said. Though food can be found in the markets, few can afford it. The priest himself struggles to survive, as what little the church sends for his upkeep is “not enough. They used to send me 200,000 Sudanese pounds (USD 330) per month, but now this cannot feed me for two days,” he admitted.

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Despite his own need, Abudigin’s heart is fixed on the community. “Food is urgently needed because hunger is killing people every day. As I am talking to you about hunger, we have lost a child because of it, and another two because of disease, since there are no medicines,” he said.

A Call to Prayer

The Rev. Daramali Abudigin stands as a light in one of the darkest places on earth, serving God’s people with courage few could imagine. His example reminds us of the early church, where believers risked everything to remain faithful.

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As brothers and sisters in Christ, we are called to remember them in prayer. Let us pray for Pastor Abudigin and all Christians in Sudan who are enduring persecution, hunger and danger. May God grant them strength, peace and endurance, and may His comfort cover all who suffer for the sake of His name around the world.

James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.