Author Archives: Stephen Nielsen

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About Stephen Nielsen

I'm an author, a self publisher, and a painting contractor. I live in beautiful Minnesota, USA . Welcome to my blog site.

The Future Fall of Jerusalem

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Many scholars agree that while all the armies of the world are headed toward Jerusalem to fight her, this is when there will be a strike against Babylon to destroy it. Ron Rhodes writes, “What an irony we have here. While phase one of Armageddon is underway, with the antichrist preparing his armies to attack Israel, God will cause a military force to attack the antichrist’s headquarters of Babylon.”2

Rhodes and others seem to think (according to Jeremiah 50:41-42) that Babylon will be attacked and destroyed by a military force from the north. However, I think it is more likely that these verses are referring to the armies of Media Persia in 539 B. C. The future destruction of Babylon (referred to in Isaiah 13:19 and Revelation 18) is clearly God’s own doing, just as He destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.

Now back to the fall of Jerusalem. The clear teaching on this is in Zechariah 14:1-2:

Behold, a day is coming for the Lord when the spoil taken from you will be divided among you. 2 For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city will be captured, the houses plundered, the women ravished and half of the city exiled, but the rest of the people will not be cut off from the city.

From these verses we see a three-point account of the battle and the fall of Jerusalem.

1. The gathering armies of the world will move into the city, plunder the houses, and ravish the women. What a brutal and ruthless bunch.

2. Half of the people in the city will be captured, and the rest will be left standing among the ruins—a sad picture.

3. Much spoil is taken and divided among them. John MacArthur comments: “Jerusalem will be so overcome by the enemy that the spoil will be leisurely divided in the midst of the city, illustrating how completely Jerusalem will be overthrown.”3

Another Scripture reference on Jerusalem’s fall is Zechariah 12:2-4:

“Behold, I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that causes reeling to all the peoples around; and when the siege is against Jerusalem, it will also be against Judah. 3 “It will come about in that day that I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who lift it will be severely injured. And all the nations of the earth will be gathered against it. 4 “In that day,” declares the Lord, “I will strike every horse with bewilderment and his rider with madness. But I will watch over the house of Judah, while I strike every horse of the peoples with blindness.

These verses give us a true perspective of what will be going on, or what God will make the nations to become through their fighting over Jerusalem. Verse two tells us that “Jerusalem will be a cup that causes reeling.” What does that mean? I think it means that because of their sin of lust and greed over the spoils of war, they will become drunk with it, and thus disoriented. Hence, they will be easy prey for God’s divine judgment. They, in effect will be trapped. And it will be all of God’s doing. He will gather them together; and He will make them easy targets for His coming judgment.

2 Ron Rhodes, The End Times In Chronological Order (Eugene, Oregon: Harvest House Publishers, 2012), p. 166.

3 John MacArthur, John MacArthur’s notes on Zechariah 14:1.

18 Facets of Importune Prayer

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Stephen Nielsen's avatarPrayer A to Z

PRINCIPLES OF PRAYER

Here, in summary, are eighteen facets of importune prayer that I have written about in my book Principles of Prayer.  Importune prayer… 

  1. is an appeal to the friendship of God for our friends.
  2. goes beyond friendship.
  3. keeps asking with a shameless boldness.
  4. keeps increasing in intensity.
  5. is never discouraged.
  6. is prayer that would wear out and trouble any person of this earth.
  7. is prayer at all times, even in difficult times.
  8. is prayer that cries out in desperation for an urgent need.
  9. persists in asking even when God seems distant.
  10.  is always with great faith.
  11.  is prayers that is made out of a genuine concern for its object.
  12.  is prayer that has a concern for righteousness and for God’s reputation.
  13.  is prayer with a fearless boldness.
  14.  is motivated out of a fear of God’s wrath.
  15.  has a sacrificial passion and love for people.
  16.  is prayer that has an…

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Huge Earthquake — More than 2,300 Dead

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The 7.8 mag. Earthquake in Turkey and Syria that had claimed the lives of more than 2,300 people, has brought my attention to what I have been reading in Revelation sixteen. Verse 18 and following, tells us that there will be a great earthquake—the greatest there ever was. It will be so great that it will cause all the cities to fall. And it will cause every island and all the mountains to disappear below the earth. Read it yourself (Rev. 16:18-20).

As great as this quake in Turkey is, the one coming up will be so much greater. I hope you who are reading this will not have to go through it—in the Tribulation. You need not experience it if you are a Christian and are raptured.

Here is an article on this recent earthquake.

More than 2,300 people dead in Turkey, Syria after 7.8-magnitude earthquake

 February 5

A 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck southern Turkey and northern Syria early Monday, killing more than 2,300 people and taking down countless buildings. 

The earthquake prompted a search for survivors in the rubble in cities and towns across the region. The death toll is expected to rise. The World Health Organization (WHO) said the numbers could increase as much as eight time as rescuers work to find more victims. 

“We always see the same thing with earthquakes, unfortunately, which is that the initial reports of the numbers of people who have died or who have been injured will increase quite significantly in the week that follows,” the WHO’s senior emergency officer for Europe, Catherine Smallwood, told AFP.

Read the full Article

Persistent Prayer: Demonstrated In the Parable of the Persistent Widow – Luke 18:1-8

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Stephen Nielsen's avatarPrayer A to Z

Luke 18:1-8

Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, 2 saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. 3 Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ 4 And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, 5 yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’ ” 6 Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. 7 And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? 8 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son…

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Wisdom — Proverbs 9:10-12

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The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,

And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

11 For by me your days will be multiplied,

And years of life will be added to you.

12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself,

And if you scoff, you alone will bear it (Prov. 9:10-12).

Wisdom begins by fearing the Lord and by knowing Him. If you acquire wisdom you will have long life.

Armageddon — The Fall of Babylon

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The fall of Babylon definitely occurs early in Armageddon. In Revelation 16:19, John said of Babylon: “Babylon the great was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of His fierce wrath.” Hence, Babylon’s destruction is something that God does. He may do it by a nuclear attack from an enemy nation, or He may do it by His own means—whatever that will be. It seems clear from Scripture that Babylon will be completely destroyed just as Sodom and Gomorrah was (Isa. 13:19; Jer. 50:40). And since Genesis 19:24 states, “Then the LORD rained on Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven,” this seems to me that He may do it through the great earthquake (of verse 18). And we suggested earlier that the earthquake may be triggered by a nuclear exchange. I will talk much more about the fall of Babylon in a later blog.

Hope for the Persecuted

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We are living in a time–right now–when many are being persecuted for dong what is right (you know what that is). Jesus said that they (we) are blessed, and we are to rejoice and be glad–because we have a great reward in heaven.

Matt 5:10-12
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Abortion is Out of Control in America

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This Sunday morning (1/29/23) I got the news that the new Minnesota abortion laws just past are now the worst in the country and even in the world. Minn. ranks equal with North Korea and China on abortion.

I also saw this resent news article (below) on what they have done in New York City. (This article is just one of the articles I have posted on one of my blog pages entitled U.S. and World News. please check it out.)

New York City Erects Satanic Statue on City Courthouse to Promote Abortion

Micaiah Bilger  |   Jan 25, 2023  

A new, golden idol to abortion stands on top of a New York City courthouse this month, a reminder of the religiosity with which abortion activists defend the mass slaughter of babies in the womb.

The “NOW” statue also hints at the satanic: a naked, golden woman with braids fashioned into horns coming out of her head as she emerges from a pink lotus, according to photos in the New York Times. Images used by Satanists and The Satanic Temple often depict Satan with goat-like horns.

Andrew Beck, of the advertising agency Beck & Stone, drew attention to the statue Wednesday in a post on Twitter.

“The statue, named ‘NOW,’ is a female figure emerging from a pink lotus,” Beck wrote. “It has braids shaped as horns with a judicial lace apron. It is meant to pay homage to Ruth Bader Ginsburg and her fight for abortion.”

According to the New York Times, artist Shahzia Sikander created the 8-foot statue as an homage to the late U.S. Supreme Court justice, an idol of the pro-abortion movement. It recently was installed on top of the Courthouse of the Appellate Division, First Department of the Supreme Court of the State of New York in the city.

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God will judge this country for murdering babies! Our practice of abortion is no better than the old pagan practice of the sacrifice of their children to their pagan gods. Christians must remain strong in faith.