In December dictionary.com and The Cambridge Dictionary chose the word ‘hallucinate‘ for the 2023 word of the year. They specifically referred to the definition associated with artificial intelligence meaning: ‘to produce false information contrary to the intent of the user and present is as if true and factual.’ Of course they are referring to the artificial intelligence of computers, but humans have been presenting false information ‘as if it is true and factual’ for millennia.
Case in point, the December holiday season focuses on Christmas as a celebration of the birth of Jesus, when in reality this ‘Holy’ day has nothing to do with Jesus or his birth. God’s Word speaks of those who ‘lead his people astray’ and have ‘traditions that make void the Words of God.’ Christmas is a fulfillment of those very prophecies.
The following map is a summary of current events related to prophecy. Below the map you will find the event details and relevant Scriptural references. Many people have been taught God’s Word in the past tense. This is incorrect. The teachings and scenarios in the Bible and God’s Word are all prophetic, pointing to a future time, and that time is now.
Traditions of Men
Christmas
“Thus saith the Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people are vain: for one cuts a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.”
Jeremiah 10:2-4
The month of December is all about Christmas. From putting up an idolatree, parties and of course shopping, this time of year people are consumed by Christmas! 2023 was no exception for much of the world. The origins of Christmas, as can be seen from the above verses out of Jeremiah, stem from before the time of Christ. The Firmament has put together a series of podcasts on the very subject, starting with Episode 14 ‘What About Christmas.’
There is a lot of talk about Jesus during this time of year, much of it coming from the religious leaders! But once you learn the origins of this holiday, Jesus’s quote from Isaiah below will ring true.
“This people draw near to me with their mouth, and honor me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”
Matthew 15:8-9, Isaiah 29:13
“My people have been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray…”
Jeremiah 50:6
014 What about Christmas
015 More about Christmas
016 Christmas, Epiphany and Hanukkah
017 Hanukkah, New Years and Carnival
Feast days into Mourning
Christmas is touted as a time of ‘joy and goodwill to men’ but this year that has not been the case. The town of Bethlehem, a city central to the Christmas story, cancelled Christmas festivities due to the Israel-Hamas War.
Outside of the Middle East, Christmas has been marked by many tragedies. In the Czech republic a day of mourning was called for mass-shooting victims in Prague, ten people died from severe storms in Australia, a fire in Arizona killed five children and a Christmas tree fell and killed a woman in Belgium. Food banks are having their ‘busiest’ Christmas from ‘cost-of living’ increases caused by inflation. Domestic violence cases also increase this time of year.
Hanukkah was no different. It was ‘marked by mourning for Jews’ and on the last day of the ‘holy’ day, three Israeli hostages were shot by the Israel military. Many cancelled the typical Hanukkah parties and one grandmother of a hostage spent the time protesting outside Israeli leaders homes.
“And I will turn your feasts into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation; and I will bring up sackcloth upon all loins, and baldness upon every head; and I will make it as the mourning of an only son, and the end thereof as a bitter day.”
Amos 8:10
Christmas in Bethlehem canceled due to Israel-Hamas war
In a troubled world, Christians strive to put aside earthly worries on Christmas Eve
Czechs remember victims of mass shooting as nation holds day of mourning
‘A very tragic Christmas’: 10 people dead after spate of severe storms across eastern Australia
Arizona house fire tragedy: 5 kids dead after dad left to shop for Christmas gifts, food
Woman killed by falling Christmas tree in Belgian market square
‘Busiest Christmas I have seen’: Families turn to food banks in Australia’s cost-of-living crisis
How inflation stole Christmas across Europe
Domestic violence incidents tend to increase during holidays, experts say
Hanukkah is marked by mourning for Jews across UK
Parties canceled. Celebrations toned down. Hanukkah won’t be the same this year.
Israeli Grandmother of Gaza Hostage Spends Hanukkah Outside Leaders’ Homes
IDF admits shooting deaths of three Hamas hostages ‘could have been prevented’
Hypocrisy
‘Democratic’ Elections
As 2023 came to a close, many are looking to the upcoming presidential election in 2024. A new strategy has emerged to shape the 2024 vote, just remove candidates! Trump has been removed from the Colorado and Maine ballot, with several more states looking to follow suit. Meanwhile, in Florida the democratic party has chosen to eliminate their primary and only submit Biden for the 2024 ballot. There are several democratic candidates in an uproar over this move and one has brought the case to a Federal judge.
There are many issue with the election process of the United States and we can now add the outright removal of candidates as an example of the hypocrisy surrounding this supposedly ‘democratic process.’
Why did Maine and Colorado disqualify Trump from their ballots?
No presidential primary for Florida Democrats after party submits only Biden’s name
Federal judge asked to place Dean Phillips on Florida primary ballot
Living Luxuriously
A long running Vatican trial finally came to an end. It was called the ‘trial of the century’, but was it over the sexual abuse scandal? No. It was about the other type of scandal that continues to resurface within the Roman Catholic Church. Financial crimes.
A Cardinal was given a five-year sentence for embezzlement, the first Cardinal to ever be convicted in a Vatican trial. To quote the linked article below, “The trial has been a critical test for Pope Francis and his long running battle to bring transparency and accountability to the Vatican’s notoriously murky finances.”
The trial centered around the development of a former Harrods warehouse into luxury apartments. Obviously, these were not intended for the poor and needy, although donations were allegedly used for the the building purchase. After the conviction, Cardinal Becciu will retain his Vatican luxury apartment and his jail-time is pending the repeal process of his conviction which has already been announced. Living Luxuriously is what the Archbishops and Cardinals are known for!
“For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her (the Whore’s) fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, ‘Come out of her, my people, that you be not partakers of her sins, and that you receive not of her plagues… How much she has glorified herself, and lived
Revelation18:3-8deliciouslyluxuriously…”
Vatican’s ‘trial of the century’ sees cardinal given five-and-a-half-year jail sentence
A Cardinal is convicted of embezzlement
Historic Vatican sentence leaves questions about the power of the pontificate
The Vatican’s ‘trial of the century,’ a Pandora’s box of unintended revelations, explained
Will Cardinal Becciu serve time in prison after corruption conviction?
The Lavish homes of American archbishops
COP28
The annual UN climate summit was held in Dubai this December. The summits stated goals include pushing for a shift away from the use of fossil-fuels. With that, the selection of a top fossil-fuel executive as the COP president, Sultan al-Jaber, made many question the conflicts of interests. Al-Jaber increased the controversy when he said his firm would continue to invest in oil and he was accused of using the conference to ‘strike oil deals’ for his company. Like many of these world conferences, the attendees say one thing and do another.
What is COP28? The UN climate summit, explained
Cop28 president says his firm will keep investing in oil
COP28 leader hits back at allegations he used climate talks to strike oil deals
“And why behold you the twig that is in your brothers eye, but consider not the beam that is in your own eye? O how will you say to your brother, Let me pull out the twig out of your eye, and behold, a beam is in your eye? You hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of your own eye, and they you shall see shall see clearly to cast out the twig out of your brothers eye.”
Matthew 7:3-5
Scandals
Sex Abuse Scandals
The Roman Catholic Church still has not been able to bring their other major scandal, the sexual abuse of children, to an end. The New Orleans Archdiocese, one of many archdiocese to declare bankruptcy, made news due to the revelation that the New Orleans Archbishop tried to free a convicted child rapist who was serving a life-sentence.
An ongoing series by The Guardian, covering the sexual abuse in the New Orleans Archdiocese, looked into an orphanage called ‘Hope Haven’ which was full of anything but hope. It was a place notorious for sexual abuse of orphans.
In Australia, the church has been using the tactic that if an accused priest has died, any proceedings regarding abuse allegations should be halted. Two abuse survivors successfully convinced a court that this tactic should not apply and they will be allowed to proceed with their case.
A Baptist church in Arkansas made the news when acknowledgment of abuse charges against a staff member where withheld from the congregation. They feared creating a scandal, but obviously, one already existed.
US archbishop secretly backed bid to free priest convicted of raping child
Two alleged abuse survivors win first challenge against Australian Catholic church’s legal tactics
‘The devil was in that building’: New Orleans church orphanages’ dark secrets
Arkansas pastor under fire for not disclosing abuse charges against staffer
“In the seventh week there will come priests; idolaters, adulterers, money lovers, arrogant, lawless, voluptuaries, pederasts, those who practice bestiality”
Testament of Levi 17:11
“For God shall bring every work into judgment, every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.”
Ecclesiastes 12:14
Wars and Rumors of Wars
Israel-Hamas War
The Israel-Hamas War continues with the death-toll surpassing 20,000. Biden has not budged in his support for Israel, even as many push for a ceasefire. The UN voted to approve a resolution for a cease-fire, but the US stepped in to veto the resolution, the only country to go against a cease-fire. Meanwhile, Israel is warning about an escalation of the war with a potential expansion into Lebanon. There is already fighting within the West bank and at the northern border with Lebanon.
The above news clip highlights the US veto of a cease-fire resolution, but also shows the personal impacts on both sides of the war. In Gaza, Palestinians are being rounded up by the Israeli forces. In Israel, the son of a top commander was killed in the fighting.
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear/listen, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man is not the righteousness of God.”
James 1:19-20
Casualties of the 2023 Israel–Hamas war
US defies appeals to back UN resolution for urgent Gaza ceasefire
Biden under scrutiny after bypassing Congress to supply tank shells to Israel
Biden administration again bypasses Congress for weapons sale to Israel
Fears of regional escalation as Israel warns of ‘multi-front’ war
More than 8,000 Palestinians in Israeli jails, rights groups say
West Bank: Israel opens probe after videos appear to show troops shooting Palestinians at close range
Middle East Military Escalations
Airstrikes, drone attacks and shipping interruptions have continued in the Middle Est as a consequence of the Israel-Hamas War. Multiple countries including the US, Australia and Britain are already or are planning to support the shipping industry with warships in the red sea. The US is already stationed in the Mediterranean Sea.
Australia considers US request to send warship to Red Sea as Houthis target shipping lanes
Britain ‘considering airstrikes’ on Houthi rebels after Red Sea attacks
US Navy downs missiles in Red Sea after ship attacked by Houthi rebels
Biden orders airstrikes against Iran-backed militias after US troops wounded in Iraq
US announces naval coalition to defend Red Sea shipping from Houthi attacks
Pentagon has ordered a US aircraft carrier to remain in the Mediterranean near Israel
“And it shall come to pass in the last days… many people shall go and say, ‘Come ye, and let us go up to the Mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and He will teach us of His ways, … and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.”
Isaiah 2:2-4
“And the king (leader) shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself… But in his estate (place) shall he honor the god of forces (weapons): and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honor with gold and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things.”
Daniel 11:36-38
“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understands, there is none that seeks after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that does good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulcher; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
Romans 3:10-18
Ukraine-Russian War
The Ukraine-Russian war is still at a stalemate. Zelensky again visited Washington to push for more funding, but met resistance from US representatives. The Biden administration is pushing for a $61 Billion aid package, but it has not been approved by Congress. In the meantime, Biden did provide an additional $250 million, the most he could provide without additional approvals. The UK has pledged two mine hunting ships to Ukraine, although they haven’t figured out how to get them there due to existing blockades.
Ukraine has been ‘forced to cut military operations’ without the additional funding. Meanwhile, Zelensky is still looking to add at least 450,000 more troops to the military.
Zelenskiy struggles to get US Republicans to back $61bn Ukraine military aid package
Biden administration announces $250 million Ukraine military assistance package as US exhausts available funding
UK to give two Royal Navy minehunter ships to Ukraine
Ukraine war: Kyiv forced to cut military operations as foreign aid dries up
Ukraine military seeks extra 500,000 soldiers – President Zelensky
“Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths. The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goes therein shall not know peace.”
Isaiah 59:7-8
African Continent Wars and Conflicts
The War in Sudan continues with civilians describing 2023 as the ‘year of hell.’ The fighting has extended into Sudan’s second largest city, a place many had fled for safety. In Nigeria, conflicts between herdsmen and farmers escalated into a massacre of 140 villagers.
Survivors give harrowing testimony of Darfur’s year of hell
Thousands flee as war reaches Sudan’s second-largest city
‘Why are they forgetting about us?’: Sudan watches allies turn from war to aid Ukraine and Gaza
At least 140 villagers killed by suspected herders in weekend attacks in north-central Nigeria
“You shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that you are not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.”
Matthew 24:5
Violence
Violence in the form of mass shootings escalated again 2023. In December, a gunman opened fire at a University in Prague, killing 14. A shooting at the University of Nevada resulted in three deaths. 2023 was a record year for mass-shootings in the United States.
Gunman kills 14 people and wounds 25 others at Prague university
Shooting at US university leaves three dead and one critically wounded
US breaks record for most mass shootings in single year
“When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked bears rule, the people mourn.”
Proverbs 29:2
Protests
Protests have continued both in support of the War in Gaza and calling for a cease-fire in Gaza. The entrance to LAX, a major Los Angeles airport was blocked by protesters as was a major LA freeway. Protestors ‘swarmed’ the US capital and took to the streets in London. Many protested the Israel-Hamas War on Christmas Eve as well as Hanukkah. In Israel, protests took place against the war in Israel.
Meanwhile, the right to even protests is under attack in Britain with new laws put into place that have resulted in the arrests of peaceful protestors.
Protesters shut down major Calif. freeway during rush hour
Protesters block off entrance to LAX, snarling traffic to airport
60 anti-Israel protesters arrested inside the Capitol Rotunda: Activists demanding a ceasefire in Gaza drop shoes for the Palestinian victims and are cuffed on the floor of Congress
Thousands call for Gaza ceasefire on central London march
‘No Xmas as usual’: pro-Palestinian protesters demonstrate in US cities
Ahead of White House Hanukkah celebration, a wave of faith-led cease-fire demonstrations
Dozens attend protest in Tel Aviv against Israeli bombardment of Gaza
Israeli women call for ceasefire
The right to protest is under threat in Britain, undermining a pillar of democracy
“And there shall be… upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring (protests).”
Luke 21:25
Extreme Weather
Solar Weather
Two X-Class solar flares erupted from the Sun this December, the largest to occur since 2017. The largest, an X.5 erupted on the last day of the year. It is no coincidence that several earthquakes followed in the first week of 2024.
Sunspot 3514 erupted on Dec. 14th (1702 UT), producing a strong X2.8-class solar flare
On Dec. 31st, big sunspot AR3536 erupted, producing a major X5-class solar flare
Nasa images show ‘amazing’ solar flare that caused radio interference on Earth
Earthquakes & Volcanoes
There were a significant number of strong earthquakes in December with 15 quakes of magnitude 6.0 or greater. The largest was a 7.5 magnitude quake that struck the Philippines on December 2nd. In China a 6.2 earthquake killed over 120 citizens, the deadliest quake to hit China since 2014.
7.6 magnitude earthquake strikes off the southern Philippines, briefly prompting a tsunami warning
Gansu earthquake: Over 120 killed in China’s deadliest quake in years
The volcano in Iceland that has been threatening to erupt, finally did so. The eruption lit up the night sky with flowing lava. It subsided by the end of the year.
In Indonesia, over 20 people were killed when a volcano erupted from Mount Marapi.
Iceland volcano: eruption begins on Reykjanes peninsula after weeks of activity
Iceland volcano eruption, earthquakes weaken, but scientists warn of lurking danger
Mount Marapi eruption: 23 people confirmed or presumed dead in Indonesia
“For now disasters have come upon the whole world, and you will stay among them, for God will not deliver you, because you have sinned against him.”
2 Esdras 15:27
“…there shall be earthquakes in diverse places…”
Luke 13:8
Caught in Unawares
“And take heed to yourself, lest at any time your hearts are overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness1“The serpents are the leaders of the peoples and their wine is their ways.” DD 3:19, and cares of this life, and so that day comes upon you in unawareness. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth, You watch therefore, and pray always, that you may be able to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Adam.”
Luke 21:34-36